Texture Tuesday: Out on the Pond

A couple of Sundays ago, my second daughter, my husband, and I went out for a walk and down to our ponds. It had been awhile with the cold weather, short days, and activities going on in our lives.

My daughter proceeded to "perform an ice ballet".  If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen my fast speed video. 

Also out on the small pond today, Bonnie graced us with a little ballet. #balletonice #fastmotion #icedancer

A video posted by Jill Ruskamp (@jillruth) on Jan 18, 2015 at 3:31pm PST

The day was gorgeous with the colors of fall still there and the hint of the winter that we've had still lingering.

So pretty even when the only bold color comes from my husband's work gloves. :)

All three of the images were textures using an overlay blending mode and Kim Klassen's textures from her November Trio collection.  The textures add just the subtle warmth needed for the photos.

So, after the fast motion video, I tried a slow motion one.  I'm telling you I can have fun with my phone.

 

 

Out for a walk by the pond today. #slowmo #slowmotion

A video posted by Jill Ruskamp (@jillruth) on Jan 18, 2015 at 3:16pm PST

(I hope the embedded videos work!)

Friday Finds

 

I thought I'd post about some of the treasures I've found during the last month.  I haven't been out much but did find a few things at an antique store, thrift store, and an estate sale.

 

I maybe should have passed on this stool since I have quite a few but gosh, a person needs a place to rest with character, right?

 

 

 

These old aluminum spice containers made me smile all big inside when I saw the price.  Yep, they're coming home with me.  We've used two sets of salt and pepper shakers that match in our kitchen for years.

 

 

 

And these were found in the same antique store.  It was my first visit there where I actually got to go in and not just peak in the window....will be going back. 

 

 

Art Deco graphics....

 

 

Pretty wonderful!  I have not decided if they will actually store items in my pantry or in the sewing room.  Because we all know that truth be told....Tupperware is better for storage.  Ouch.  That does hurt.

 

 

 

I used to walk on by the old metal frames, not old enough to be really neat, but I'm seeing them in a new light now.  Especially the hinged ones.  Not sure why I like them now, but thought I'd bring home a couple and see if I find a use for them.

 

 

This one had a cool label in it as a bonus

 

 

Also at the thrift store:

These hand made round knitting looms looked like they were full of potential.  Maybe loom knitting for my little girls or perhaps to use for a round weaving project?

 

 

I thought I better take them too. 





 

Maybe these paper dolls and clothes will find their way to the new frames?

 

 

The dresses are magazine page thin and they don't all "fit" a doll.

 

 

These are sure cute even though the poor gal on the left has been decapitated.

 

 

My offer for this set of quite chipped and aged dishes at the estate sale was met with an overly exuberant "Gosh, yes!"

 

 

And I thought...hmmm...should have offered less. 

 

 

Not needing any more dishes at all, I was so excited to leave with only three of the 7 cups for sale at the thrift store.  (What? that didn't make sense to you?)

 

 

 

Old books always have a new home here.

 

 

I liked the title and content of this one.

 

 

Lots of fun information in it and possible collage material.

 

I'm happy you stopped by!  Have you found any treasures lately?

 

 

Black and White Wednesday

"Hmmm...what should I do today?"

I saw this over here on a blog called Simple Joys and thought it was so cute.  In a moment of avoiding work, I cut my own.  

I have to admit, mine looks a little more like she's doing deep knee bends instead of pondering the day, haha!

Memory Game From Fabric Scraps

 A while back I found these tutorials, here and here, to make a memory game for a toddler from fabric. I thought it was the neatest idea.  The one used wool felt and Liberty of London fabric.  

I went looking through my scraps and found what I'll call Liberty of London wanna-bes.  They do a pretty good job of it and all were picked up at a garage sale...someone else's scraps.  Kept in a shoe box by them, then to my stash, and now they live on in a cute game for my granddaughter!

I don't have a tutorial for you, but if you are a sewer/maker kind of person you can do this easily.  The above links to the tutorials are really nice games but FAR more time consuming that I wanted.  

I used one color (orange) for the back, muslin for the other side of the backing and then 12 different patterns for the front game part.  I fused the muslin to iron on interfacing and the small pieces to iron on interfacing too.  Then with  brand new pinking shears (I was so excited to finally break down and buy a new one!  I had four pairs of pinking shears all of which couldn't cut butter)

I don't remember what measurements I used for sure, you'd need to make a practice one to see what you like...I think it was 3 1/4" for the smaller square and 4" for the larger one. I was in a big hurry as it was before Christmas and just started cutting and sewing and now it's not here to go measure.

The Process: I drew with a pencil a 3 1/4 " square on the patterned fabrics and then pinked right on top of my pencil line.  I cut out larger 4" squares of the orange and muslin. I laid down the patterned smaller squares on the muslin and stitched around, just inside my pinked edges.  Then with wrong sides together, I put the orange fabric to the muslin and sewed all around the edges about at a 1/2" seam allowance and then pinked the edges. 

I made 24 blocks, 2 each of 12 patterns.

Then from the left over interfaced fused scaps I made the bag for her to tote them around in.  VERY simply constructed, but it works!

I made the one handle big enough that the game pieces could easily be slid in there, or if my granddaughter puts them in, stuffed in there!

These pictures were hastily taken in my sewing room with my phone so I'm sorry about that, but so it goes.

I ♥ hand-made.