Don't lose those keys!

The Crafty Side of me has been making some keychain holders.

I'm not sure why they are called keychains when there is no chain involved.
I've also been working on my crochet covered coathangers and now have 15 of the 18 complete.

This is an idea that I have come up with to stop your keys from getting lost in the bottom of your purse or bag.  I've had an empty key ring on my work bag for several years now and I always clip my keys onto it so I have quick access to them at the end of a busy day.  All you have to do is attach a clasp to your keyring.

So I thought that I would make some that were a bit fancier for gifts for Christmas this year.
They are made out of 14 count plastic canvas.  I used some patterns that were originally created for coasters on 7 count plastic canvas and stitched them with 6 strands of embroidery floss.

Once you cut out the plastic canvas, you can bend one end and slip the keyring over and through to the center strip.  You then stitch the pattern on, and fold over to overcast stitch together.  The square part of the plastic canvas is 17 threads x 17 threads and the joining part is 5 threads wide.  Of course it all has to be cut out in one piece.  I have also made some plain coloured ones with initials on them, but showing them on my blog might be a clue as to who is getting one as a gift.

Many years ago when I was involved in Girl Guides of Canada I made lots of these to give to other guiders.  You can see them here with a trefoil design on them.  I'm attaching that pattern to give you an idea of what the piece of plastic canvas looks like before stitching as I forgot to take a photo of the canvas before stitching it.

I found some really nice clasps at a local craft store.

You attach the clasp to the keyring that the plastic canvas is joined to.  The extra keyring is clipped on.  I'm going to attach a small direction card as well so that the recipient knows what to do.

You can convert any keychain just by adding a clasp to it and the putting the extra ring inside your bag/purse. You very often see people with their keys attached to the loop on their jeans but for that you would need a much larger clasp.

Why don't you give it a try and you will never have to go digging to the bottom of your bag again.

Thanks for taking time to visit today.

© Crafty Gardener blog and website.

(added as someone is using data harvesting of my posts and images and using them on their site)
I am not associated with furniturecustommade.com, designedgardens.com, tranquilgarden.com or any sites created by NameMedia Home and Garden sites who are using my posts (and maybe yours) to promote sales of various items

It's 2sDay in a November to Remember

It's 2sDay - the day when I post photos of things I have discovered that come in twos.

Today it's a couple of photos of the anemones ... and yes these photos were taken on November 22, 2009.
 It has been a November to remember as far as the weather has gone.  We have had gorgeous weather all month with afternoon temperatures reaching 10 Celsius and above on some days.  We have been able to enjoy the outside by taking enjoyable walks and just sitting and watching the birds in the garden.  We even cut the grass and mulched the leaves last weekend.
 The anemones that I planted in the spring have been phenomenal this year.  The blooms just kept going and going.

 The photos show one bloom that is just about finished and another that has recently opened.

 

I just haven't had the heart to cut down these plants yet.

The weather forecast is for change starting tomorrow.  Lots of rain is moving into the area and more than likely the colder weather is moving in too.  Until then I will enjoy the few remaining blooms in the garden.

Thanks for taking time to visit today.

Just Waiting

The weather for November has been amazing.  The temperatures have hovered around 10 Celsius and above.  There has been hardly any rain.  Yet, I know this can all change in an instant and  winter weather will set in.
My weather predictors are ready and waiting.

 The latest addition is Grim, who sits atop the post by the front door.  I wonder if any snow will dare to settle on him?

 

Then there is my faithful Gary the Gargoyle, who has graced the deck for a couple of years.  I used to take him inside in the winter but he got teased by the Boys in the Hood over at GardenJoy's place.  So now he bravely sits outside all winter, just waiting to let me know what the weather is like.

 

Remember the fun garden whimsy I made last year?  I have it hanging by the deck fence just waiting for that nasty weather to arrive.  Have a look and see how I made it.  There is a cute poem that goes with it and it would make a fun gift for the weather watcher on your gift list.

Are you just sitting around waiting for the winter weather to happen?  I'm not I've been enjoying this wonderful weather.
 Thanks for taking time to visit today.

Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their site)These sites are havesting my posts/feeds/images. I am not associated with furniturecustommade.com, designedgardens.com, tranquilgarden.com or any sites created by NameMedia Home and Garden sites who are using my posts (and maybe yours) to promote sales of various items
Labels:  weather,  whimsy, weather predictions
Edit - this post has been reposted again .. look to see if yours is there too ... they change every few days, so keep checking back ... if it is complain

Crochet Covered Coathangers

The Crafty Side of me has started on some crochet covered coathangers.  I never know how many extra little gifts I'll need for the holdiay season so I like to keep a stash of some already made.  These hangers work up very quickly so I decided to complete about 18 of them.

Here are the first two completed ...

so that means ... 

 

only 16 more to go.

 

This pattern is a great way to use of some of your stash yarn as well.  I do try to match the yarn to the colour of the coathanger if possible.I originally blogged about this pattern here and also on my website.Awhile ago someone asked if I could create a pdf version of the pattern as they wanted to use it as a handout in a class they were teaching.  I just happened to have a program that converts files to pdf format so it didn't take much work to come up with it. You can download a pdf file of the pattern here. I didn't create this pattern, but just did some adjustments to one that someone gave me.  I have no idea where the original pattern came from.  You can find a few versions of this on the interent.Thanks for taking time to visit today.

Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.

Still Going and Going

For Friday's flower I'm still flaunting my Christmas Cactus.

It just keeps going and going and going.

Thanks for taking time to visit today.

Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.

(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their site and they could be taking yours too)

 Be sure to put your name on your images so that when the post shows up elsewhere at least you have some credit.  Usually the 'other site' removes any links you have in your post so no one can get back you you.  The site that's taking the posts this time has several sites, all that look the same, but with different names.  They are trying to sell domain names and products related to gardening.  They are at least leaving a link to say where the post came from but I'm not leaving a link to them as I don't want to advertise their site.  I have notified many bloggers whose posts are appearing there with my own little email campaign and I hope each of them is emailing to complain.  I know that some have complained and others are letting it go.  As of this morning my posts seem to have been deleted, but I thought that once before and then they reappeared after a day or so.  I'll keep checking as linking back to me or not as I think they are stealing posts. I don't think it is right that they use our posts to sell domain names and profit themselves.
Thanks for listening to my rant.

When-sday Memories from November 2008

Welcome to When-sday Memories - the day for showcasing some of my previous garden posts.

When were they previously posted ...  way back when, but not necessarily on a Wednesday!

Today's revisit is from November 21, 2008 ... just about a year ago.  The weather was certainly different then, very winter like.  This year we have been so lucky to have had some lovely fall days at the beginning of November.   On some of the days the afternoon temperature reached 15 Celsius.   This has been the driest start to November for our part of Ontario.
But not so a year ago ... remember when

~~~~~~~~~~

The weather forecast was right in predicting our first snowfall of the season.

Starting late on Wednesday November 19 and overnight we got our first taste of wintery weather. We didn't get a huge amount, probably about 4 cm. but it was enough to get the snow plows out onto the roads in the early hours of Thursday November 20.

I took these photos just after 7 am on Thursday morning before it was totally light out. The snow covered the deck, the gardens and the lawn.

One of the winter greenery arrangements looks very festive covered in snow.

Our part of Ontario got off with just this dusting of snow. In other parts of the province they get upwards of 50 cm. of snow over a couple of days.

This was our first taste of winter and we all know there is much more to come.

 ~~~~~~~~~~ 

Back to today, when the afternoon temperatures are set to reach 10 Celsius.  I'm glad the weather is the way it is this Wednesday and not like it was way back when.
Thanks for taking time to visit.

Winter Greenery for GBBD

The Gardener Side of me has started decorating for the Christmas/winter season.

The garden doesn't have anything in bloom for this GBBD but I have been filling the pots with winter greenery for added interest over the winter months.  I started doing this many years ago and at that time it wasn't a popular practice but now many shopping areas are filling baskets and tubs with greenery.  Now you can buy arrangements (for a high price) from garden centers. But it is much more fun to get out into the fresh air and gather your own boughs.

On a lovey fall day last weekend we went for a walk around the garden snipping off branches from the yew, the cedars, the dogwood and the sumac.  We also went for a stroll through a wooded area and got some branches from the spruce and cedar.  And the arrangement wouldn't be complete without some of those plumes of wild grasses that grow in the ditches along the roadways.

 Why not stop over at May Dreams Gardens and see what other bloggers have in bloom. Better still, why don't you join in the fun of Garden Bloggers Bloom Day or GBBD. I'd love to come for a stroll around your garden and see what is blooming. Thanks for taking time to visit today. 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)I am not associated with furniturecustommade.com, designedgardens.com, tranquilgarden.com or any sites created by NameMedia Home and Garden sites who are using my posts (and maybe yours) to promote sales of various items nor did I give them permission to use my posts/feeds/images on their sites

Labels:  GBBD,  winter greenery

24 hour Sky Watching

I love watching the sky and trying to capture photos of the moon, the sunrise, the cloud formations.Over the past 24 hours these are some of the images I captured.
 

 

Yesterday morning there was a sliver of the moon showing.

  

Last night about 6:30 pm there were the most interesting clouds in the darkening sky.

Here is the sun just rising this morning on a cloudy sky.

 Thanks for taking time to visit today.If you love sky photos be sure to check out the other participants in Sky Watch Friday.
 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)  

Labels:  sky, moon, 
 

Waiting turns at the feeder

It's 2sDay - the day when I post photos of things I have discovered that come in twos.

Today it's a chickadee and a woodpecker waiting for turns at one of the suet feeders.

With the winter weather coming in the not too distant future we move a couple of the feeders closer to the deck.  This makes for great viewing of the feathered friends that visit the garden.   It also makes it a lot easier to fill the feeders on those really cold days.  And the real plus is that I can set up the camera on the tripod by the kitchen door and get some wonderful photos of the birds.

Thanks for taking time to visit today. 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)

Labels:  2sDay,  birds,  woodpeckers,  chickadees,

The Christmas Cactus Blooms

Since the beginning of October my Christmas Cactus has been forming lots of buds.  Just a couple of days into November the buds started opening, giving a gorgeous show of blooms.

A quick look here will show you what it looked like in October.

Why don't you stop by The Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and see what some other participants have created. You just might be tempted to create a mosaic photo of your own and join in the fun.

Thanks for taking time to visit today. 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)

Labels:  Christmas Cactus, 

Keep the warmth in

I recently knitted some mittens and a hat for a busy little boy.  However right now he won't wear them outside because there is no snow!

As he wouldn't keep the hat on for more than a couple of seconds I used one of his building block toys to model it for me.  I used the basic pattern found here, and just changed it to suit the yarn I had.

Some multi coloured yarn in his favourite colours knitted up into a pair of mittens very qucikly.

Our granddaughter,  (or Little Pumpkin, as I've been calling her) was born on October 31, 2009.  She looks adorable in the pumpkin hat I knitted for her.

Thanks for taking time to visit today. 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)Labels:  knitting, hats, mittens, grandson,

Mushrooms

With the damp rainy weather that we have been having there has been an appearance of some different types of mushrooms.

Mushrooms are one of Mother Nature's sophisticated and successful spore producing  machines.  A good sized mushroom can shoot off about a hundred million spores in the few days it lives.

 There are many varieties of mushrooms and I am not up on all the different types except the ones you buy at the grocery store. This clump was on a maple tree.

 Here is a different formation on another tree. I do have a lovely book titled Mushroom and Other Fungi of North America by Geoffrey Kibby so I had better start looking up the varieties that I have found.

 

A clump of ink caps popped up on the lawn.

I know that some wild mushrooms are edible and some aren't.  I won't be trying any of these mushrooms but will leave my mushroom buying to when I'm at the grocery store.

Thanks for taking time to visit today. 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)

Full Moon A Risin'

In the darkening sky, if you cast your eyes,

You will see the silver lady rise,

Bathing the world in a steely blue

Edged with a haunting, silver hue.

Higher and higher she rises with grace,

Shrouding the trees in a cloak of lace,

Sending her rays to the waters below,

Casting reflections in ripple and flow.

Oh, such a majesty gracing the sky,

Passing a twinkle to stars riding high,

Oh, what a magical sight we purvey

From dusk, till the night gives in to day.

And so, she sinks in horizons west,

Content in the knowledge that we saw her best,

She'll return once again when the sky turns black,

And if you should whisper, she might whisper back.

©Darkwing

Thanks for taking time to visit today. 
Posted for sole use on the Crafty Gardener blog and website.
(added as someone is taking my posts and using them on their blog)

Labels:  sky, moon,

What do you read on a blog? A Revisit

It's time to revisit a post from the past for this weeks Sunday's Favourite.

Happy to Design created a way to share some favourites from the past.

Many of us have been blogging for years and we have published some really great posts. It would be so nice to share them again! There are always new visitors to blogs and they haven't always read the posts from way back when. So her idea is to choose a favourite post, and then repost it for all to see and enjoy again.

Stop by her blog and perhaps you will be tempted to join in.
~~~~~~~~~~

Today's revisit was originally posted on March 8, 2008.

I picked this post because I thought it would be interesting to see what your views about reading blogs is today compared to when it was first posted.  You can read what others commented here when it was originally posted.
~~~~~~~~~~

Today is a day to view the world through the windows, especially in my part of the world, where we are getting dumped on with a huge snow/ice storm once again. I have an unexpected day off as schools and some businesses in our area are closed due to the awful weather.

I didn't want to write about the snow and I'm sure you have probably read enough postings about snow to last you forever.

So what will I blog about today? How about blogs?

Blogging has become so popular it is getting harder and harder to keep up with the reading of them all. That got me thinking ... what do you actually read on a blog?

What actually attracts you to a blog?
Is it the header photo? the give aways? the great photos? the humourous posts? the informative posts?

First there are those Label lists - is it worth the time adding numerous labels to a post? Does anyone ever look at the long lists folks have up on their blogs? or is it better to have a simplified list of labels? So instead of listing all the various flower names is it better to just list flowers?

How many posts? - Some blogs boast they are on their 400th (or some such number) post. Is that important to you, or are you just interested in the present post?
Once a post has been lost in the back pages of a blog does anyone ever go and read them again? Now I know some bloggers keep an online journal and then all those previous posts are important so you can keep up with their lives.

The photos in this post actually have nothing to do with the content of the post.  But I think a post is a bit boring unless it has a photo or two.  And these photos keep to the gardening theme of my blog.

And last but not least ... the comments. Do you read all the comments on your blog? I know that I do and I even try to respond to some of them. But does anyone ever go back and read that response? I have that feature where you have to enter a series of letters before the post is accepted. Do you find that annoying? I know that sometimes I do, so I'm thinking of removing it from my comment section.

So if you feel the urge to answer some of my questions, please leave a comment. You never know, it just might influence me in how I continue to blog.

PS: Thanks to all the members at Blotanical that chose this post and boosted it close to the top of the weekly favourite posts.

PPS:  since this post I have taken away the verification code, but comments still have to be approved by me