Note to Self... Some Words Aren't Safe

CALM CALM CALM UUUUUUMMMMMMM CALM CALM CALM

When it happened the first time I was a bit cranky BUT when again this morning I found another one I got torqued!!! I mean I still live in that little fantasy land where some places are just safe from the ever present obnoxious, insidious SALES PERSON. Blogs Maybe?? I know these are very trying times for every one, however I don't find it a bit acceptable to open my posts to find a dad burn (cussing rated PG) sales pitch!!!! :c( Why that's like opening your closet to find the Fruit of the Loom Guys (eeeeuuuu)

Like I said it happened once before, and I thought what popped up on my blog that sent a flag out. Now this morning there is this one.

Don't press that--->Doll Clothes Gal said...
What a fabulous blog post - you have some lovely and delightful things.

It could really do a number on a gal's self esteem. First you see you have comments so quickly you go to read them, to find that someone new has found you interesting. So of course you hit their name to go leave a thanks for visiting on their blog only to find out. SHOOT ( again rated PG) it's a website sales pitch :c( It seems to me and my little cyber challenged mind that there are certain words in the titles that are triggers. I mention dolls and what comes a visiting? Yep doll salesperson.

This certainly is a very good example of your mom's warning "think before you say something" :c) So starting tomorrow I promise to think before I post a catchy title and I will be a bit more suspicious of those somewhat generic sounding posts.

Have a wonderful day or evening bloglandians depending on what part of the world you are in :c)

Dresden Paper Doll Ornaments : A Tutorial

I was surfing along on the internet, looking for reproduction brass Christmas tree candle holder clips. I stumbled onto the Dresden Ornaments site, and what did my little craft addicted eyes light on?? The DIY tab of course!! They have a wonderful tutorial on making their Dresden paper dolls. They have the templates to copy for the dolls' bodies, supply list and also a couple of sources for vintage materials to make the dolls with. :c) Of course I did what any good little crafting Bloglandian would do if presented with a wonderful tutorial...... :c)

Here is a copy of the tutorial:

Make Your Own Ornament We want you to have some of your own fun and make an ornament in the same fashion that Victorian families did over 100 years ago. Crafting was an enormously popular Victorian pastime. Families often made their own ornaments with supplies that were available around the household. We'll show you how you can make handmade paper doll ornaments that look like the ones below, or use your own imagination as you desire. Look for delicate vintage lace trim, cording, ribbons, netting and fabric that you may find around your home or at flea markets and antique stores. We also provide you with companies you can contact for other beautiful trims and accessories! Dress the dolls in different ways and fill a feather tree with your creations!

What You'll Need Below is a list of supplies and suggested sources. However, feel free to use ANY kinds of novelty trims, fabrics and papers that catch your imagination! Just remember, vintage materials will make your dolls look more old-fashioned.Special Note About Gold Dresden Paper Trim The gold Dresden trims are old-style foil-covered embossed papers imported from Germany. If you want to use these specialty papers, we recommend that you order them via the mail order sources provided below.
Your Local Craft Store:-Mini gold circle brads-Small hole punch-Quick dry tacky glue-Glue applicator-Small glue applicator tip-Precision cutting scissors-Mini-scallop edging scissors-Light-weight cardboard-Crepe paper-Feathers Thrift & Antique Shops:-Vintage crepe paper-Petite vintage ribbon or cording-Petite vintage lace trim-Vintage cotton netting-Vintage fabrics-Vintage tinsel garland MAIL ORDER:Blumchen:(866) 653-9627 (request catalog)Part numbers for items we used on specific dolls are provided below:-Gold Dresden paper trims-Tinsel garland-Dresden "Graduated Stars" #DT83G; Dresden "Rosette Star" #DT84G; Dresden "Pennant Points" border #DT28G; Dresden halo #DT73G-Ivory chenille roping #CRF16Sandy's Lace and Trims:This company has the best selection of small-scale fabric laces and trims that we've ever seen!http://sandyslace.com/; (309) 689-1943 (request catalog)
Print Out and Assemble Your Paper DollsThe first step is to print the page below and cut out and assemble your paper dolls. We have provided you with three rare circa 1880's German-made paper dolls. Simply click on the picture below to print it out and follow the instructions to assemble your dolls. (Unless you have high-speed internet, please allow several minutes to download this file.)If you have trouble printing this picture, you may not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is a free downloadable product. To get a free copy of the reader, click here- download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

I'm sure there must be a way of linking the picture to my post so you could "click here to print" However it is a bit beyond my simplistic skills. Soooo click on the website here, then then drop down to the paper dolls to print and print them from there.

Decorate Your Dolls Embellish each doll in creative ways to suit your fancy! Print out more dolls, dress them in fanciful costumes and fill a small table-top tree with your creations! To get you going we've provided you with instructions for decorating two dolls: "Blue Ballerina" and "Golden

Angel"How to Make Blue Ballerina
Load your white glue into glue applicator bottle and attach a small glue applicator tip to the open end. To create petticoat, cut a piece of (1.) cotton netting or lace 16" wide by 2 1/2" long. Hand-baste top edge and gather threads to approx. 2 1/2" wide. Glue petticoat around the waistline of blue doll, starting and ending on the center of the back side. For skirt, cut a piece of (2.) light-blue crepe paper 13" wide by 2" long. Cut bottom edge with mini-scallop edging scissors and baste and gather top-edge to 2 3/4" wide. Glue over petticoat, starting and ending in the middle of the back side and overlapping front and back edges. Glue back sides of skirt together. For bodice cut a piece of (3.) crepe paper 5" wide by 1" long, hand-baste both top and bottom edges, and gather top and bottom edges to approx. 3" wide. Wrap top and bottom of bodice around mid-section of doll and glue it in place, using the same technique as the skirt. Make sleeves with two pieces of (4.) crepe paper 2" wide by 3/8" long, cutting bottom edge with mini-scallop edging scissors. Baste and gather top-edge of each sleeve to 1" and glue down to shoulders. Glue (5.) 1/4" wide cotton lace trim to neckline, covering up your baste stitches so they don't show. Glue lace trim 1/4" above the bottom edge of skirt. Glue (6.) gold Dresden trim and stars as shown on finished doll. For headband, after you glue trim around the head, glue a small piece of (7.) blue feather to front of the headband, and cover glued edge with a Dresden star. Tie together an 8" length of (8.) blue silk cording and glue the knotted side to the back of the doll, right below her head. Cover the raw edges of the cording with a gold Dresden star. Your doll is now finished!

How to Make Golden Angel
Load your white glue into glue applicator bottle and attach a small glue applicator tip to the open end. To create skirt, cut a piece of (1.) cream-colored crepe paper 4" wide by 10" long. Baste and gather top-edge to 2 1/2" wide. Glue top-edge of skirt around the waistline of yellow doll, starting and ending on the center of the back side. Glue overlapping edges and back sides of skirt together. For bodice/sleeves cut two pieces of (2.) crepe paper 1 1/4" wide by 3 1/2" long. Fold each piece in half along its length, and hand-gather and glue one side of each piece to front of skirt at waistline (as seen on finished doll). Wrap one piece over the shoulder and glue it down on the back side of the doll at the waistline. Wrap the other piece over the other shoulder and glue it down on the same spot on the back of the doll (overlapping the pieces) . Glue (3.) 1/4" wide cotton chenille roping to neckline, creating a deep "V" shape in the front and back of bodice. Glue (4.) 1/4" gold lace trim in an upside down "V" shape on front of skirt. Glue (5.) gold Dresden trim and stars as shown on finished doll. Cut (6.) gold Dresden wings in half and affix them to back of doll at shoulders. Glue 2" piece of (7.) gold tinsel garland behind doll's head. Center (8.) halo behind head and glue it in place. Tie together an 8" length of (9.) metallic gold cording and glue the knotted side to the center of the back of the halo. Cover the raw edges of the cording with a gold Dresden star. Your doll is now finished!

I can't wait to give these beauties a try. I would think that this would be a great ornament making project to do with kids. Especially preteen girls :c) Give it a try and please post your creations so we can all see. ;c)

Have a great day or evening dear bloglandians depending on what part of the world you are in :c)

PS In case anyone was wondering if we ever get winter here, we do. In fact I think today it officially started!! Saw my first kids going to school this morning with coats and hoods on!! Must be down to 60-65 degrees at night :c) No No No don't be throwing those snowballs at me!! After all temperatures are only relative ;c)

Paper Doll Tutorial courtesy of The Dresden Star Ornament Company.

A Little Thanksgiving Gift

Thanksgiving festivities at our little house have been mighty quiet. LW woke up decidedly under the weather. So after formulating a plan B we sprang (okay sprang's not exactly correct) into action. The beautiful standing rib roast for two out on the patio was put on hold. Instead we are having nice steaming bowls of home made Chicken & Noodles :c) Guaranteed to cure almost all germs known to man ;c). We love to share in this little family and that means the crud too, eh LW? Doc Mom is prescribing early bedtimes with hot cups of tea and good mysteries to read :c)

Here is a little gift that was shared with us earlier, and I think it's a wonderful way to end the day :c)

Have a wonderful day or evening bloglandian friends depending on what part of the world you are in :c)

Shopping for Dinner Tomorrow.

Thanksgiving this year is just be LW and I. There are a number of restaurants here in town that will be serving "real turkey" dinners Hmmm what would a not real turkey look like I wonder. Tofu or spam shaped in the form af a turkey??? :c) Hey don't laugh I've actually seen both (euuuu to both) But some how the thought of going out doesn't sound as cosy as having dinner here. I'll dress up the patio, light a few candles and we'll be secluded in our own little romantic bistro!

Turkey is not so easy to find here. There will be some in the stores in anticipation of Christmas but most of them are smoked. We can find frozen turkeys at SAMs, they are brought in for the US expats. But they are generally big and roasting anything in our ovens is always exciting. We don't have a way of setting temp. nor is there a way to keep the oven at a constant temp. I don't know if most of you guys are familiar with the wooden spoon method of temperature regulation. You know when you prop the door open with the spoon more to lower the temp, less to raise it?? :c) Yep that's the hi tech method we employ here. Ovens are really not used here. In fact if you open the oven door in most Mexican kitchens, you are likely to see where the large pans are stored :c)

So tomorrow morning LW and I will head off to the market to look up our favorite butcher and have him cut us a nice 2-3 rib roast, Yum !!! That should be plenty for dinner and left overs on Friday for hot roast beef sandwiches. Yeah I know it's not a turkey sandwich but darn if it isn't a close second :c).

So my Bloglandian family have a wonderful day or evening depending on what part of the world you are in :c)

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas... uun uun :c(

All over Bloglandia everyone is "happy, excited, can't wait, in the mood" for Christmas. But I have to admit that this little Bloglandian is none of the above :c(

This is just so unlike me. Ask my kids, I'll bet they would love to tell you stories about their mother's Christmas brainstorms. Mette my first born and only daughter was always sucked into being my co-conspirator :c). It started after her 2nd birthday. That year we found those stained glass ornament kits. Remember the ones where you had a bunch of tiny plastic beads that you filled in the "glass' part of the plastic lead frames? Then you stuck them in the oven so the beads melted and WOW you had stained glass ornaments. Although Mette like her mom never has been one to color in the lines sooooo those were some funky looking stained glass!! :c)

Maybe part of the reason for this bit of a funk I'm in is because it's in the 80s here. We also haven't had a drop of rain for 2 months so things are drying up, turning brown and beginning to get the orange dust coating of the red dirt here. It certainly isn't because the stores haven't been advertising since early Oct!! However beyond the commercialization of the Holiday the Mexican culture doesn't do a lot of decorating for the holiday. You don't hear carols on the radio, you don't see huge Christmas tree stands going in on every corner, and for the most part house decorations are minimal.

So here I sit trying to find a bit of spark to light even just a bitty fire under me. I've been visiting blogs, planning the tree and other decorating, I told Dulce that Saturday we'd put up the tree when she was done cleaning. There just isn't anyone I can think of around here that wants to have a Christmas crafting day. So I think what I'll do is ask my little friend Hannah (my cute 9 year old crafting buddie) over on Sunday to do some baking and crafting. I also pulled out all my old December Victoria Magazines today. I'm hoping with a bit of an overdose of their incredible eye candy I'll start humming carols in no time. :c) Here's a few of the pictures I've been drooling over

Now I have a question for you. What are the things that help get you into the Christmas frame of mind??

Have a wonderful day or evening my Bloglandian friends depending on what part of the world you are in. :c)

When The Store Comes To You

Have you ever had one of those days when you are really making head way on your to do list when a crucial piece of equipment bites the dust? Well of course you have we all have....

The other day Dulce (means Sweet and is also the term for candy) our gal that cleans a day and a half for us a week was motoring right along until the mop decided to throw in the towel :c(

Okay a couple of cultural note and then back to the story. In this country cleaning house is considered a very good and well respected occupation. It is actually one of the highest paying trade jobs, even higher then most men's jobs. The average daily income for many workers is the equivalent of $50.00 pesos. Yep less then$5.00 US a day. The work day is 10-12 hours six days a week. Now if you are lucky enough to clean house. Your work day starts around 8-9 and ends around 5ish. This way you can still take care of your family. Your daily income (here in Mazatlan) is $150 pesos between $14-$15 US a day. So you can see that cleaning house is a coveted job. One of the first things that happen when you (whether you are Mexican or Foreign) move into a neighborhood is have everyone offering their relative to come and clean for you. Nuff culture for now. More on employer/employee responsibilities later when annual Christmas bonuses are due.

Okay so the mop has gone down for the count. What to do?? Well lucky for us the mop died just moments before we heard the mop, broom, cleaning supply pickup coming up the street :c) The couple that sell in our neighborhood ride in a very old, seen better days, way past it's prime, held together with wire and gum, blue pickup. Now lashed on top of the cab are two of the LARGEST speakers manufactured. The P.U. is dwarf by them ;c) And blaring out of those speakers is an unknown little ditty meant to get your attention just in case you didn't here them coming from 6 blocks away. So you get a little jingle then a laundry list of what is for sale. along with the price. Mrs, Mrs, brooms the best brooms for only $4 dollars, mops for only $4,.... once it runs through the list there's the jingle and the list.... As Dulce and Larry are surveying the damage and deciding on a game plan, I came flying down the stairs, The broom guy is headed this way, why don't you guys flag him down and have Dulce pick out a mop??!! :c)

Great idea. Dulce had a new mop to finish the floor with. But best of all our neighbors (translate the ladies ) saw Dulce's employer take her out to the truck to pick out a mop. The Senor respected her opinion enough to know what the best mop was. Dulce's reputation and respect with the neighbor ladies grew 10 feet that day ;c)

Have a wonderful day or evening my Bloglandian friends depending on what part of the world you are in. :c)

Q-Tips, Tangerines and Roses

Every day there is probably a hundred different reason why living in Mexico is where I want to be. Most are just very simple reasons, like the sun is shining, it's 80 degrees, and I don't have to wear down and scrape my windows :c)

Today we had to run to the store for a few things. Tangerines and Bananas were two of the items. Just like the stores NOB (north of the border) there usually are a few cut flowers and plants hanging around the produce section. I have a small confession to make. I think that to be able to always have a bouquet of roses sitting where you can see them when you are working, whether it's cleaning, creating or cooking is one of the nicest pleasures in life. :c) But NOB that pleasure is not such a small thing considering the price for a dozen roses ;c( So most of the time roses are reserved for special occasions. Ah but here fresh flowers are considered one of the joys in life that not just the occasional big event. In fact there is a street near the large public market with a whole block of flower ladies selling the most beautiful blossoms, calla lilies, bird of paradise, mums, roses....

When we go to the grocery store I always take a peek at the fresh flowers. There are lots of times that they will have fresh rose bouquets of 18 stems for $50 pesos. Yep less then $5 US !! I have yet to get any home that didn't last 5-6 days and then dry quite nicely. I know to you 5-6 days isn't all that long but here with our heat & humidity that very good.

Soooo today I was rewarded for my efforts and there were some very red, fragrant beautiful roses. Well some how they fell into the cart, then slipped into the car and rode all the way home then jumped into a pitcher- vase. Now they are sitting up on the little end table next to the reading chair in my little craft corner :c)

I hope you have a wonderful day or evening dear bloglandian friends depending on what part of the world you are in :c)