SDGPHOTO

DIY Easy Crochet Loofa Soap Purse (Soap Saver) Made with RedHeart Scrubby Yarn

2015-11-13T08:17:00.001-05:00

I have been working on these crocheted little loofa soap purses. I came up with the idea when I was working on a dishcloth and decided I like how the Redheart Scrubby Yarn felt to my skin and would be great as a loofa scrubby with soap inside it. It also works as a soap saver since the soap doesn't have to sit in the soap dish in the shower or bathtub.

The best dimensions for the loofa soap purse is 3.25 wide x 4.5 long. I single crochet using a vintage INOX +4 crochet (which I think is close to a size E) hook 3.25 across then 2 single crochets and back across using double crochets. I then slip stitch the sides together and single crochet the strap (handle) and then continue to slip stitch the other side. This size works well with a bar of Ivory soap.

The one that is a little funny shaped with a bar of Dove soap in it I crocheted 5 single crochets and then made a loop and crocheted inside the loop and then doubled crocheted until I thought the size was right and then added the handle.

I am still working on the dimensions so I will have to update my blog as I go along. I thought I would go ahead and share since it isn't too complicated if you know how to crochet. You might come up with better dimensions and directions!

Folk Art Wood Carved Christmas Birds

2015-11-11T13:43:00.001-05:00

Here are some of my folk art carved birds that I have been working on for Christmas. I like calling them prayer birds because I hope they bring peace, love and joy. They are all different since they are handmade by me, Redbean. :) They are made from walnut, maple, oak, basswood and whatever else kind of wood I can find. I wood burn my design and then paint with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and acrylics. I use wax or varnish to finish them.

FALL 2015

2015-10-12T10:56:00.001-04:00

The Bayou

2015-09-14T10:14:00.000-04:00

I was lucky enough to be able to spend a few hours on the river while visiting home this time.

https://youtu.be/tjPdM8qzEn0

Enjoy!

Dog Days of Summer

2015-08-21T16:37:00.003-04:00

These pictures of my dogs and their wolfhound friend makes me happy.

Happy Summer!

A Sample of My Photography

2015-06-27T21:01:00.001-04:00

I have been asked lately for a sample of my work. It took me forever to pick some pictures and then I realized I forgot many of my favorites. I think I have too many favorites. I love the people I photograph so I guess I become emotionally attached to all of them!

Dachshund Picking Blackberries

2015-06-25T18:14:00.002-04:00

Roxy loves blackberries! I love that she only picks the sweetest ones.

Cowboy taught Roxy how to pick blackberries and now she is passing it down to Roux.

Dachshund Popping Bubbles

2015-06-25T17:00:00.001-04:00

Roux chasing bubbles.

Easy Homemade Frozen Doggie Treats!

2015-04-25T13:44:00.000-04:00

The weather should be warming up and probably is everywhere besides here! It is April 24th and is 54 degrees today! Yuck! While I'm waiting for the those warm summer dog days, I'm making frozen dog treats in anticipation.

They are easy to make! I used carrots (I only used these because they didn't have fresh ones at the store that I visited today.), 12 oz bag frozen green beans, 12 oz bag frozen corn, 12 oz bag frozen peas, natural peanut butter and water. I put half a bag of each vegetable, 2 TBS of peanut butter and about a 1/2 cup of water into my Vitamix and mixed on purify but then changed it to smoothie setting so it would have a smooth consistency. I then put the mixture into cute little ice trays I bought at the local thrift store. They are made by IKEA so they probably still sell them. If you don't have ice cube trays, you can use parchment or wax paper on a cookie sheet and drop small spoonfuls on it. I put them in the freezer and let them freeze overnight. Four to five hours would probably be fine. I took them out of the trays and put them in freezer bags. Roxy and Roux love them!

2014-09-22T18:19:00.001-04:00

A prayer bird for Adam

2014-09-18T20:08:00.003-04:00

I have never met Adam but my heart goes out to him and his family. When I was carving this bird, Adam came to my mind so I decided this bird is for Adam. I hope it brings some comfort to him and his family during this difficult time.

Adam's story reminds us all how in an instant our life can change. After hearing about Adam I called my children and told them how much I love them. I hugged my husband. I read Adam's mother's post daily. I try to share her post to friends so we can get as many people as we can to pray for Adam's recovery process. His recovery will take a very long time. He will need love, patience, encouragement, strength, courage, and prayer. His family will need these same things.

Adam's was in an accident in Texas. Here is the news story. http://www.12newsnow.com/story/26430823/update-i-10-remains-shut-down-due-to-accident-truck-fire

If you are on facebook, please follow his story and keep him and his family in your prayers. Here is his facebook page link, https://www.facebook.com/AMiracleForAdam?fref=ts.

If you are able, please donate to Adam's fund. His recovery will be very costly in medical expenses. Here is the link to help out if you can, http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/a-miracle-for-adam/235122r

This prayer bird is made from cherry wood. I have not mastered my wood burner tool so my writing is not so great. Even though it isn't perfect, I hope it brings comfort to Adam's family. He will be on his way tomorrow to Texas. If you would like to send a card of comfort and prayer to Adam and his family, here is the address:

Adam Doiron
P O Box 2523
Galveston, TX 77553

I did know Bob, Adam's dad, when we were much younger. Bob and Skip were friends in high school.

Please uplift Adam and his family in your prayers!

My Furniture Maker!

2014-09-09T13:40:00.002-04:00

Yes, I have my very own furniture maker. He builds beautiful tables, benches, desks, etc. in his spare time. The only problem I have with this is when I see something in a store he exclaims,"I can build that!" Really? that is built out of steel! lol! Oh well, the reason I'm sharing his furniture today is because I was chatting on the phone with a guy from Arbortech about a new tool that I had ordered and was anticipating its arrival. Weird, uh? Me? Ordering wood tools and being excited about it! It is a cool new contour sander. After chatting it up (doesn't sound like me at all, does it? ) with the sales rep he asked me if I would send him pictures of my husband's furniture and my little birds (bird pictures are on the blog before this one.) I decided to post the pics of our work for y'all to see too. Roxy wanted to be in some of the pictures. By the way, Skip planed the floors in the office from rough wood and put them down by himself.

Desk

Another Desk

Bench

Coffee Table

A Little Bird Told Me.....

2014-09-09T11:32:00.003-04:00

Here are some of my little folk art birds that I have been making. They are

all a little different since I cut them out and carve them myself and then paint them. The little walnut ones and others I only varnish them. I was inspired to make these by seeing my husband's great uncle's carved birds. I still have a long ways to go to make the ones like the ones he made.

Duely singing to his sister, "Don't Be Afraid," on his Cowboy Guitar, ak...

2014-07-03T15:50:00.002-04:00

Part Two

Donkey!

2014-07-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Dana and her hollering donkey!

Frog Moon

2014-06-18T07:42:00.002-04:00

Old Jail Museum Jim Thorpe, PA

2014-06-15T20:01:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, our photography club, The Lehigh Valley Photography Club, went on a photo shoot to the Old Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe, Pa.
Here are a few of my pictures that I took. I will try to add more pictures later this week.

I'm not sure what is lurking in that dark doorway.

Front porch of Asa Packer's Mansion

Frog Pond turned into Water Feature

2014-04-27T18:45:00.000-04:00

My frog pond is completed! It is beautiful!!

My frog pond might be finished this Mother's Day! I wanted a small frog pond last May. I guess my husband had grandiose plans than that and is in the process of making a water feature and not just a frog pond. I'm sure it will be spectacular when completed. I should have taken pictures when he began it last May. Yes, we had a hole in the backyard for almost a year!

Recycled DIY Plant Markers

2014-04-27T17:41:00.000-04:00

Recycled DIY plant markers from plastic ware.

A cold morning walk around Philly!

2014-02-18T10:44:00.002-05:00

These pictures were taken around the University of Pennsylvania.

A cold winter weekend in Bucks County

2014-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

2014-01-15T21:22:00.001-05:00

Folkart Paperclay Bayou Angel Christmas/Mardi Gras Tree Topper

2014-01-15T20:58:00.001-05:00

Angels are God's messengers. In the Bible these beautiful beings are sent from heaven to people on earth to deliver help, warnings, or exciting news. I believe angels use to walk the earth as humans and suffered the trials and tribulations as we do. We are in awe of angels no matter if they look different from us, love differently, have lopsided wings, have purple hair with gold streaks, have a Spanish moss tutu and if their clothes are a little shabby and frayed. We should love one another just like we would love an angel. When we look at someone who looks differently or doesn't act or behave the way we think they should, let's treat them like they are an angel.

This little angel tree topper looks like it is ready for Mardi Gras or Christmas. It is 12 inches tall.

I made this angel from paperclay. I crocheted the skirt from burlap type yarn. The skirt has vintage moss green rickrack trim. The tutu is made from spanish moss and purple thread intertwined through it. The stars are made of wood and the large one is covered in gold beads.

#mardigrasangel #christmasangel #bayouangel #hangsoutonthewrongsideofbourbanstreet

#swampangel #angeltopper

Look for this angel on Etsy soon.

Sleepy Hollow ~ Headless Horseman, Cemetery, Washington Irving's tombstone, Headless Horseman Bridge, Lyndhurst Castle, scarecrows, Lighthouse, Hudson River

2013-10-30T10:01:00.002-04:00

I read an interesting story about Jemima Smith and I thought I had a picture of her tombstone. I couldn't find the picture when I went through them but I love her story. Her husband was Rev. Thomas G. Smith (died 1837 at 81) who was the pastor of the Old Dutch Church during the early 18th century. He attracted a large congregation even though he had tobacco stained whiskers and dirty clothing. People would come miles away to hear his fire and brimstone preaching. He would wake sleepy parishioners by screaming, "Fire, fire!" The one person who was not very fond of Rev. Smith's preaching was his wife Jemima. Her nickname in the community was, "Cantankerous Jemima." She would show her disapproval of her husband by locking him in his study before service. The deacons would have to search for him and set him free to perform service. She would make a raucous riding her horse up and down in front of the church so the congregation couldn't hear the sermon. Sometimes she would go so far as to bring a pillow into the church and lay down on the first pew and snore loudly during her husband's service. The town's people thought the Reverend was a saint to put up with his wife's antics but Jemima would answer, "If you knew old Tom Smith as well as I do, you wouldn't think so much of him." Now they lie side by side for eternity in the church's cemetery.

Headless Horseman Bridge

Lyndhurst Castle

Australia Ugg's company sponsored a scarecrow contest at the Lyndhurst Castle.

I used Topaz Adjust - Stylized Collect - Dark- Ghostly to make these scarecrows look scarier!

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze

2013-10-28T21:53:00.004-04:00

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in Sleepy Hollow is amazing. My pictures do not do justice to all the carved pumpkins they have on display.