Spec's

Loving a liquor store does probably not rather harm my reputation instead of improving it, but next to the Oh!Mart - Asian grocery store and the Hobbylobby it is one of my favorite stores in the next town. I can take care of most of my errands around here and only occasionally make it into Killeen since shopping is definitely not one of my favorite things to do. But I love stopping at Spec's, an Texan liquor chain store with a huge variety of special things from alcohol to specialty food. There are not many places you could find Limoncello for sale or four different types of Irish cream in all sizes. It is interesting to browse through the aisles and see all the bottle and label designs and the huge selection of wines from all different countries. But I definitely ALWAYS stop at the rack with the Haribo gummies. Spec's has the biggest selection of Haribo gummies (produced in the States), even I am missing my favorite Haribo gummies which are only made in Germany. Thirteen years ago Leland and I lived just a tow away from the Haribo factory in Germany and visiting it was definitely worth it. But Spec's has an even bigger incentive, they sell cigars. I am not a smoker, but I do love cigar boxes and also the smell of them.Spec's sells empty cigar boxes for $1.49 that includes paper and wooded cigar boxes. I used them already for wrapping gifts and of course kept some for myself whenever I can find one. and the last one works perfectly for the collection of stamps we own which got collected it a Pooh Bear shoe box before - since the girls were little. Definitely an improvement for organizing!

Just a little

There is literally not much time for crafts or sewing right now. Once a while we squeeze a tiny bit in and I do miss it, but we are just busy.

We are almost finished putting up the fence in the yard. Just a few things left to do, but the gates are already closed. If it would have been after the kids the poles and the gates was all what we needed. The literally walked all along the property line to get back to the gate to enter the yard instead of just going through the openings in between the poles. That would be no fun. Now even Soren spent a couple minutes outside before we left this morning and also since we are back I am still waiting for the rattling on the gate that now limits his adventuring and our searching and running.

But he is the best yard helper of all three of my kids. Always right there in his boots and with his shovel when I am starting to dig another hole to plant something. He loves being outside and being busy there.

We did spent a Saturday evening opening our button factory again and the girls are getting more and more creative with FIMO. Soren instead is in charge of the pasta machine. He squeezes everything through he gets his little hands on including me finished button - thanks, little pasta machine monster. But he also makes cute little snakes.

It was not done in a day, but after wanting to try out mosaic since ever and having a small kit here, I did finally do it. A mosaic trivet out of a beautiful tile with tuscan print. Just a tiny bit of Italy. I love doing it even I need to get more practise with grout - from the right consistence to spreading it nicely. It was a first time.

not perfect ... yet

Yes.

I easily can just go and order labels, but no I wanted to make them myself. And I did. They didn't turn out perfect and these are not the first attempt neither. A few of these are okay, some not, but truly on the picture they look better as they are. LOL

I have to see if I keep experimenting with what kind of tape or ribbon works best and what I actually can find - while smacking mosquitos flying around my nose again and again. I hate mosquitos.

Now I will start back with the pencil pouches after stocking up on new types of  fabric. Some I never used before. Experimenting. Again. Before that two more seam that need to  be finished on the last bag that is waiting to be done. Karin and I were sewing the last three days and worked on two bags each. You can call us productive. We also visited the fabric and craft stores productively. More as once since she is visiting.

Yesterday's production made all kinds of weird things from the typical buttons to the not so typicalor unrecognizable somethings called buttins by the kids, ladybugs, snails, snail food, ..... all made out of FIMO.

We had to stock up on fimo suppplies again today, luckily JoAnns had the perfect sale because little friends already announced they want to participate in our button factory.

I got bored with the normal buttons, too.

P.S. Important question - How do you make SMORES?

handmade buttons

Yes, playdough is a permanent habitant in our house, but usually the girls are so happily occupied with it that I stay far away from it until it comes to the clean up part.

Today I played playdooh FIMO. It's a long time ago I touched it, but I saw something and I just couldn't resist trying it out. Handmade Buttons. I had no design in my mind, just getting started with it.

They didn't turn out perfect, it's a while ago I played playdooh, but I already learned one lesson - stay away from the Effect FIMO - it was so much harder to work with as the Soft FIMO, and leaves streaks when you cut it, but it looks neat with the glitter I have to admit. They are not totally round, I tried, but each of them is unique. Does that count?

After baking them for 3o minutes in the oven they first attempt of making buttons was finished.

Now I will have to see what I am actually going to use them for.

P.S. Soren put his hand hand right away in the jar, grab a handfuk and tried to stuff them in his mouth. I guess the look good enough too eat. Yummy.

One of my little artists was at work here.