Winter Warmers

Here's a fairly easy project to make with an old scarf. To keep hot drinks warmer longer and to protect your hands from extremely hot beverages, try one of these knit warmers. You could of course knit or crochet one yourself, but for a quick and easy alternative, just cut a section of a wooly scarf to size and sew into a tube. Make sure that the tube is at least an inch or two shorter that the glass, unless you want a mouth full of fluff with each sip. Slide the selected glass into the tube, making sure the fit is snug enough that it doesn't slide out. The same can be done for a mug but remember to leave an opening in the seam to poke the handle through. Lots of colourful fun for winter!

These colourful warmers should be removed before washing the glass or mug, and if they get soiled or stained just throw the tubes in the laundry.

Blue on Blue

Finally, I get to see how snow looks on the fence since I painted it blue. The wreath, festooned with blue-coloured berries, was picked up at a thrift shop, a great place to find holdiay ornaments at a fraction of the price you'd pay at regular stores. It makes sense not to spend a fortune when a decoration is going to be exposed to all sorts of weather. The blue wreath looks pretty but I think something red would really pop!

Gone Fishing!

Just look at what I caught on a lunch hour thrifting trip. Every now and then one comes across something totally unexpected among all the usual mismatched chinaware, old sheets, and cast-off mugs. I hesitated for just a moment when I spied this charming wooden fellow, not knowing quite what I would do with him. But then I came to my senses... of course I would take him home with me. At $1.99 what did it matter!

Wrapped in Comfort

What could be cozier than hand-knit woolly socks? I've been collecting them in preparation for the inevitable chilly winter days, picking them up for 99 cents a pair! Aren't they scrumptious? It's heart-breaking to think of all the effort, patience and loving care that was put into making them, only to have them end up as cast-offs in a thrift shop! I'm so pleased to have given them a home. My toes will wiggle happily wrapped in their comfort.

Mung Beans

Mung beans have a whole new function when they are used to display a treasured object, and I just love their gorgeous green colour. A carefully chosen pebble would look just as nice in a bowl filled with mung beans.

Sweet Storage

My friend M. offered me this sweet little cupboard recently. After a good scrub with soap and water it was ready for shelf liners made from some wallpaper borders. It could be filled with anything: teacups, bath things or linens for starters.

Sidewalk Art

Nature is the artist in these sidewalk leaf transfers.