This week in a small seaside village

My first issue of Mollie Makes arrived!!!

oops, this one, I actually bought at Wally World. 

When I came home, Neve came out of the post office with a ... you guessed it...

a Mollie Makes Magazine. I was a little disappointed, I just bought one, but then,

the one that was mailed is for August!!, this one is July. Yay.

Anyhow, I had to make this girl.

 After all, she is the cover girl.

She has tattoos and everything. 

Next time, she'll have a headscarf instead of a turban.

 Fun enough to make another.

Looking forward to this coming out in full bloom. I purposely didn't prune it last fall.

It should be a beauty, orange honeysuckle.

 The ladies have been enjoying dust baths. Surprisingly, they don't touch the veggies in the garden.

They just scratch for bugs.

 The date on the camera for this reads June 9.

Love this little town. 

 On a trip to Islands Park, Rafael and his friend decided to decorate this rock. 

Nice job boys.

 Neve decided to be a drummer for the Re-enactors this summer.

 We're working on her costume. Have to dull it up a bit. 

I don't think they would have had such white clothes. :}

I've been going to Frenchy's all week. 

Guess it was a bad one for finding period costumes.

That's the kind of week it's been here.

School is out!

We're going camping for the weekend in the Annapolis Valley. Yay.

Going to take the kiddies to my Alma Mater, Acadia University.

I'm ready for a rest and adventure.

Have a good one,

Amanda

String puzzle

So this.....

 became this.....

 Just a little mind bender.

 there it is solved.

 If you want to know the solution, you can go here...

Cassette Puzzle

I hope this weekend was a sign of a good summer to come.

Biking, yard sailing and farmer's market on Saturday. Even found a new bike for Miss Neve. Yeah.

Kids spent time with friends on Sunday, apart from each other. whew.

It's been a little intense around here lately. Mood swings. Wow.

And to end the weekend, dinner guests, nice enough to eat outside

 and a little of this.

 I'd like to say they were so fast, the camera couldn't keep up, but I think it was more operator error.

England vs. Portugal. England took it 10-9.

Hope you had a good one.

Amanda

Sorry Rod!

Sorry Rod Stewart, Cory Hart, Chicago and various Christmas Carol renditions. 

 In the name of crafting and repurposing, I must take out your innards and silence your crooning.

I wish my kids were here to help me in this liberating, pulling out of millions of miles of cassette tape.

Then again, they probably wouldn't get the satisfaction of doing it so freely, after growing up in fear of the dreaded.. "the tape broke! " The obligatory cutting, taping and splicing of said tape, so you could listen to your music again, but this time with a big skip in the verse where the tape was cut and the scotch tape covered it over.

If you want to know what I'm doing with all this mess, 

come visit me at the Shelburne Farmer's Market tomorrow 9-1, Guild Hall.

It is a cute gift for Dad's day.

Amanda

Spacemen amongst us.

A few years ago, I made this little playset.

I brought it back today in this rendition.

 The spaceman helmet and air pack on his back.

 Cute little things, I think.

Come see them at the Shelburne Farmer's Market on Saturday!

Amanda

Woodland Finger Puppets

Introducing my latest friends in the finger puppet world

(my zoo finger puppet friends can be found here)

Woodland creatures.

You know it had to happen.

Here's hedgie..

 Madame Racoon

 Friendly Fox

 Barney Beaver

 and Madge the Moose

I developed a few new things with these puppets. Instead of sewing ears in between the front and back layers (except the moose), I cut the ears out of the back piece only.

Another theme is the heart shaped face for some of them. 

And then... punching the eyes out of the felt to show the under layer in the hedgehog and the racoon, instead of sewing eyes in.

They were fun to make. 

They will be coming to the market with me on Saturday. Come say hello!

Amanda

Meet Ronald

the newest furry friend.... Ronald

 And his friend, Blue Ronald.

 He was much fun to make.

Almost as much fun as deciding how to make Ronald's facial expression:

 Did he even come close?

Peace out,

Amanda

Meet Laila

You've heard me lament before about not being able to buy birthday presents in this town. 

Good thing I'm a mama who makes things!!

Here's my latest furry friend, Laila (Lay-La)

 She was fun to make and has legs. Her future siblings will have arms instead.

I also liked using the safety eyes. 

(for you local folks, I got these at Atlantic Fabric in Bridgewater)

 Of course, as soon as it was spotted upon returning home from school, there were cries and pleas to make more! Even a request to make a male version. Which, I think, I have in my mind.

 And lastly, one of my favourite photos of the moment.

Here chickie, chickie.

Its a beauty day out there. 

I think I'll go make some friends in my studio.

Amanda