Cold, Crafting & Junk (Beautiful!)

The weather in Arkansas has certainly been different this year. Yesterday it was in the 30's all day and then it dropped down to 18 degrees last night. We drove around town today and noticed that some people didn't cover up any of their fragile plants, while others went a bit overboard. I saw on house that, I kid you not, had their tree covered with a tarp. Their tree! It was a smallish tree - not newly planted, but not huge either. Hellooooo...Trees can survive a freeze. On Saturday it is supposed to be nearly 80 followed by severe thunderstorms on Sunday.

My favorite thing this time of year are strawberries. Since I featured my wooden strawberries in the past post, I thought I would share the real deal this time. These strawberries are huge. About two inches tall at least. And so good. We eat them by the bowlful for dessert and throw them in yogurt during the day. They are dee-lish! When a fruit is in season, we devour it like crazy. But we never buy fruit out of season. So, we have been waiting for strawberry season a very long time!

Between the colder weather and a sick kid, we have been holed up in the house, him recuperating and me being crafty. I've taken to finding patterns on line that I can cut out and complete in the course of a movie. This was my project during High School Musical 3 (in between checking out a certain Mr. Cutie Zac Efron). My bad.

I found this pattern at Felt-O-rama with a link leading to Q.D. Patooties and thought it looked like something I could handle. I hand sew everything, so it takes a lot longer than machine sewing would. I made the teeniest little stitches in this guy. I embroidered his little face before I put it in the inset.

I think he's pretty darn cute. If I do say so myself. I like a project that I can complete in one sitting and this fit the bill. Now, I had to ask myself, do I really need a gaggle of little snow bunny's in pastel colors? The answer? Yes, yes I do.

I went to the thrift last Wednesday. I was about to leave nearly empty handed when I spotted something by the door that made me take a second look.

A big heavy duty cardboard barrel from the Office of Civil Defense. Emergency supplies for fifty people including ONE can opener and ONE toilet seat. Eh gads.

It's big - about three feet tall and very sturdy. When I asked about it I was told it was $5.00. It just intrigued me enough that I bought it. I have been reading Junk Beautiful and I think it inspired me to rethink this old barrel. I think it is cool. Even if I only use it for storing my wreaths or something, it is way more interesting than a Rubbermaid tote! I think it would look cool on a porch with a plant on it or even holding a checkerboard. If only I had a covered porch....

If you haven't checked out Junk Beautiful - Do!

Ki of Junk Camp has been known to read some of our blogs - so check out her book!