Winter Survival

Now that Spring is in full-swing and since I revisited an old post about going to a certain store in Spokane, I felt it would be appropriate to give away my winter survival secret. No, I'm not talking about how to survive a night in below zero temps should your snowmobile break down in the backcountry. I am talking about how a busy-body-turned-housewife survives her first winter without going crazy with cabin fever and lack of social interaction. I looked at the colder-than-what-this-Texas girl-is-used-to winter as an opportunity to take up some hobbies I had been wanting to explore for a few years. I had mentioned a while back about how Michael's Craft Store was the end-all, be-all for all your cabin fever prevention needs. Well, here's how it worked for me.

I knew, moving from the south to a place where it actually snowed and got cold in the winter could prove to be overwhelming. I actually heard a couple of semi-horror stories from a couple of the other wives I have come to know up here. So, I was convinced that I had to have a plan. My plan was two-fold. First, I attempted to get back into scrapbooking. I bought some stuff to add to what I had started collecting 6 years ago. Yep, 6 years ago. I have exactly 5 pages in a scrapbook documenting part of the first year of our marriage and then I helped do a scrapbook for a friend who got married last year (made the pages ready for her to add the photos). That has been the extent of it. I have thousands of photos in print and on the computer dying to be put into albums and scrapbooks. Needless to say, I didn't end up getting very far because I was distracted by my second undertaking...beading/jewelry making. I also bought stuff to make a go at this hobby several years back and made 1 necklace for a friend before life got in the way. However, this time around, it has stuck and it has been even better because I have a friend with whom I often do it. It was truly my saving grace this winter and I have ended up making jewelry as Christmas gifts, birthday presents, and personal rewards for myself for surviving my first real winter. :) I have even made jewelry for a couple of friends who are getting married soon. That was a real honor, by the way. Now, I am gearing up for spring and thinking of new ways to keep going with my little hobby/venture. Here are some photos of my favorites and at the end, check out my latest co-creation which I hope will be all the rage this spring. :) Let me know if you need anything for a gift or special occasion...you will be contributing to my cabin fever cure! PS. I have since started up with scrapbooking again....this time its my years of horse photos and I am having a ball with it!








Here is the newest creation....chiffon/organza flowers that can be made to any size and color specifications and can be worn as a brooch on a hat or cute sweater, a pendant on a necklace, and more! Start by cutting out circles of chiffon/organza/tulle in your choice of color. Larger/more circles=larger flower.


Then burn the edges of each circle causing them to curl and turn into gorgeous flower petals

Stack the "petals"....


Stitch them together through the center and add beads, colorful thread...or our choice, pretty buttons. Wa-la...flowers!



Coming soon: flowers in different colors and on necklaces and bracelets!

Score!

We were headed to town a few days ago and guess what we spotted!  Eagles!  Not just one, but two Bald Eagles sitting in a tree.  These were close enough for us to get some decent, though not great, photos.  Hope to see some more soon and get even better shots!