Book Nook project (Part 5)

 Hello dear readers,

Suddenly it is December again.  I feel as if I skipped November doing very little.  For example, the book nook isn't finished yet. Anyhow, before it will be finished I want to show you how the opposite wall looks because after assembly it will be difficult to take photos.

My friend Sarit is ordering the mirrors and when they are ready, she'll come over, and together we'll fix the lights (with what I have in my stash because the ones ordered online have not arrived). We'll also assemble the book nook and install the mirror.

The empty spaces are for the mirror.  I add stairs for the entrance to the book shop.

When my husband, may he rest in peace, and I resided in Bogota, Colombia,  we enjoyed very much the months of December, especially the time before Christmas when the stores and shopping centers were decorated with hundreds of pots of poinsettias and other Christmas decorations.  Just for nostalgia I decided to make these flowers and did my best with what supplies I had at hand. 

I made all the pots, the large one from egg-carton, the smaller pots from fired clay.

I used this punch to make the plants.

This is a smaller version of the plant.

I used this star punch for making it.

 

Please do not forget to follow the new 2020 Advent Calendar organized by Matxalen. 24 tutorials, a new tutorial each day!

I wish you safety and good health with blessings.

Hanging flower baskets

 Hello dear readers,

A few weeks before celebrating the 8 days of Hanukkah,  Kids in the kindergartens all over the country make menorahs to bring home to their proud mothers.  

These menorahs are usually a piece of long wood with nine round candle containers glued or nailed on it (with teachers' help). Day 1, the server candle, called the SHAMASH is lit and when it burns it is used for lighting the first candle. On day 2, the server candle is lit and then it lits two candles and so on until we reach the last day 8 when the server lits all the 8 remaining candles  The server candle always stands higher or apart from the r

And why all this information?  It's the time craft stores carry small candle containers of various shapes and materials in packets of 9 pieces and these are very useful for miniatures. Last year I bought metal containers which are in reality jewelry findings. I made my hanging flower baskets from them. 

I painted the metal bead caps used cotton crochet twine instead of metal chains which were too heavy. Now I have 9  hanging baskets. It was time-consuming but calming. 

Tomorrow for the first time in a long while, I'm going out to see what the craft shops carry for Hannukah this year.

Here are pictures of Hanukkah menorahs made by children.

Still working on the opposite wall of my Book Nook project.  I'm taking things slow and easy.

Blessings and good wishes to all.  Stay safe and healthy! 

 

Book Nook (Part 3)

Hello dear readers,

Like most of you, I'm working on my Christmas and Hanukka gifts.  I still do not know when it will be possible for me to go out and send them to their destinations and they'll be probably late in arrival but my friends and family will have to forgive me this time, we're all in the same boat.  Better late than never.

In between, and while waiting for the light fixtures and mirror, I was able to make a little progress in the book-nook project.  Just adding colorful flowers to the rather boring stone walls seemed not enough so I stole from my accumulated hoarded staff an old piece of stained-glass contact paper, framed it with a piece of plastic net, and glued it on the door of the bookshop. I realized too late that a shop if it wants clients to enter has to have a door.  I was lucky there was barely enough space for the door but I managed to create one and install it as part of the shop facade.

Before and after

There are more, lots of time-consuming flowers, plants and a hanging flower basket to make for the balcony and windows of the opposite wall. I'll tend to it after I finish the two Holidays gifts.

Please take care of yourselves and your families and stay safe.  Blessings!

A Bench for the Book Nook

 Hello dear readers,

As I mentioned before,  the bench I ordered arrived in time but was too small.  I had to create another. .  All the materials are from my stash.  Sometimes it's good to be a hoarder.

There are only balsa sheets for sale here.  I buy craft plates that can be cut with a sharp knife.  Usually, I work with craft sticks but sometimes a wider or thicker piece of wood is necessary and I cut it from these plates to the size I need. The seat is from the plate, the back is from the square piece of embellishment cut exactly in half and glued together as you see in the photo.  Then, glued between two pieces of 3 mm wooden sticks.  The sides are from the small triangle wood embellishments and the 4 legs from the end of chopsticks.

Waiting for the glue to dry.

Waiting to be painted.

Painted

Self-crafted bench versus bought bench

This is for all the wonderful talented knitters among us

The following photos feature the work of a 91 years old British lady who knitted, during the lockout, a miniature hospital for raising funds for 3 local hospitals. I have still trouble with inserting a link. I hope this time it will work.  Here.

Isn't she amazing?

Please keep on taking care of yourselves and your families. Stay safe!

Baalatova and friends - Halloween 2020

 Hello dear readers,

Skelly and Skella together with their pet cats come to visit Baalatova. They encounter Baalatova sitting outdoors with Solly and Kitty, enjoying a lovely sunny day.  

Baalatova: Welcome dear friends.  I know that what I'm going to tell you will disappoint you, but this year's Halloween you will not be turned into ghosts.   There's an evil worldwide epidemic spreading fast around us. No festivities, no crowds, no trick or treats. People will just stay at home to be safe. They'll have enough health worries, there's no need to frighten them by adding ghost haunts and boos.

Kitty and Solly: ( with tears in their eyes):   No treats!!

Skella: (Deep sigh)  Our only once-a-year treat is being taken away from us.

Baalatova:  I can make it up to you.  Turning you into ghosts is possible only on Halloween but nothing prevents me from casting a spell, sending the three of us, just as we are, to Brazil, for example.  Every February they hold a carnival and besides the incredible samba festivities, Rio de Janeiro inhabitants love to masquerade wearing different costumes including those of skeletons and witches. We'll have a fantastic time there, no one will notice that we are two genuine skeletons and a witch.  We may even receive a  prize for the best costumes.

Both Skellies:  But there are dances and everybody will take part while we can scarcely move.

Baalatova:  You don't have to dance, just move to the rhythm of the samba.  The sound of your shaking bones will make them think you are playing the maracas. You know, now that I think of it you may even win a prize for being the best maracas virtuosos. 

Solly:  Please take Kitty and me along with you.

Baalatova:  Sorry kids.  This will be a one-night outing only for grown-ups but we'll bring back treats for you. The cats can stay and take care of you while we are away.

Skelly:  Suppose Brazil too, is infected with the virus and decides to cancel the carnival?

Baalatova:  In that case, we'll postpone the fun.  I've seen epidemics come and go through the ages and I assure you this one too will be over.   Who wants a delicious cup of eye soup?

Both Skellies:  Thank you, we have no stomachs for it.

So the Skellies stayed spending the whole afternoon with Baalatova,  practicing the samba. to the sound of shaking bones and maracas.  Solly, the young flying bear, and Kitty the little cat girl were having a hilarious time and tried their first steps in dancing along. The Skellies, for the time being, forgot all about their ghost's dilemma. Suddenly the future seemed brighter.

To continued next Halloween (or sooner?)

(Witch made by Sarit.  Catgirl made by Tatiana. Flying bear made by Birgit. All, including the skeletons and cats, were gifts for which I'm very grateful.)

I had fun concocting another silly Halloween episode.  It's good to smile, it gets one out of worries and sadness.

Happy Halloween and blessings to all my friends and readers!

 

Book Nook project (Part 2)

 Hello dear readers,

Since my previous post about my book nook project,  there is more progress on my work.  

Here are a few photos of what I managed to accomplish.

I curved stones on the walls and curved sidewalks and a pebbled road between them.

I also curved the bottom side of the road and painted it all over in grey to see which side I like best.

Haven't made up my mind yet.

It looked like something was missing from this wall, so I made another, smaller window and glued it on top of the existing one.  The bench is too small.  I'll have to create a larger one.  This one was ordered online and arrived in time but I was disappointed with its size.  It will be useful for my vignettes.

This is the wall which will be facing the one above.

On the grey painted road.  Which one do you think looks better?

My friends and I are still waiting for the lights fixtures ordered online to arrive.  Until then, nothing will be assembled permanently.  I still am unable to buy the mirror which will have to be cut exactly to measure. For the time being, I still have enough hoarded materials to use without going out to shop for them. I scarcely go out, only if it's completely necessary.  Besides the bench, I have to do more plants and flowers.  I hope the end results will look good.  If I'm lucky and my book nook will look good, I'll start making book nooks for my daughters and grandchildren, they are all great readers ("book worms") and have large book collections.

I wish all my friends and readers good health and safety with blessings.

    

The Skellies in COVID-19 times

Hello dear readers,

Halloween is not so far away.  The Skellies are very disappointed.  How will they be able to haunt this year if, like rumors say,  there will be no crowd gatherings?  That most families feel protected from the epidemic by staying safe at home. 

So far, the Skellies have long been debating the pros and cons of becoming ghosts without reaching a firm decision.

Skella:  It's so nice sitting here together with the sun warming our bones.

Skelly:  We are going to miss our beloved cats.  

Skella:  Who else will be able to give them the good scratches they love like us with our boney fingers? 

Skelly: We'll have to see Baalatova and ask for her advice. Remember what she told us about fully trained ghosts? Ghosts CANNOT haunt together, even when they are trained graduates of the Ghost Academy. It's a rule. One ghost in one house. This means we'll be separated from each other.

To be continued.....

Meanwhile, here is a photo of the latest  COVID-19 fashion. (Smile, it's good for the soul)

Have a great weekend with blessings!