Auntie's Workshop

Not a sponsor While summer breezes are still blowing, crafters and decorators are already creating for fall.  I wasn't going to join in so soon, but I went to the Dollar Tree and... Well, you know the rest.  I go there for soap and toothpaste and I come out with that, plus a couple of bags of craft supplies. Anyway... I saw some fabulous new supplies and decided to try my hand at another mesh wreath: No, this isn't my new challenge, but it's pretty, ain't it? In the supplies I bought were some picks (floral stems with stuff on them besides flowers) and a fall leaf garland, plus I had a package of Dollar Tree metal words that Diana had given me.  I had a 12 x 16 practice canvas that I'd painted a few times and a 9-inch grapevine wreath I bought at the thrift store when I first moved here.  It had decorations on it that worked when I first moved but didn't go with my decorating scheme ... now that I have one.  So I took them off. Voila!  An idea for a mi...

Not a sponsor Several years ago, my niece Cassandra started making Deco mesh wreaths and selling them on Facebook .  She offered to teach me how, but life happened and I moved away.  Over the years, I watched several YouTube videos to see if I could get a grasp of the concept.  They looked quite tedious (yeah, I know this is coming from someone who will paint on a 16 x 20 canvas with a brush with 4 hairs in it). Anyway... In the winter of 2018, I determined to make myself a mesh Christmas wreath and purchased what I needed, but later chickened out and returned it all to the store. Yeah, I know. Leave me alone. Fast forward to last month when my sister Clara and I decided to keep our tradition of starting Christmas crafting in July and planned a crafting day over video chat.  I decided I was going to tackle this project since I knew sis would be encouraging and honest all at the same time.  If it looked a hot mess, she would tell me.  So, th...

Not a sponsor One of the YouTube crafters my sister introduced me to is Amber Riley from This Southern Girl Can . She's an awesome creative from North Carolina.  Her specialty is Dollar Tree crafts.  This past week, she did a simple Independence Day craft that looked fun and I just had to try it.  Here's her video explaining the craft: The only things I needed to buy were the picture frame and the bag of Styrofoam stars. I already had clothespins, craft paint, and hot glue. I haven't figured out an appropriate space outside my apartment complex where I can spray paint, so I hand painted the clothespins.  I liked the color of my picture frame, so I didn't paint it.  I also had some jewels and metal letters in a box of craft supplies I was given a while back that I used on the plaque.   The only things I would do differently if I made this again are 1) I'd paint the inside of the frame backing since the pins don't fit perfectly (she warned abou...

Not a sponsor Part of what I've been doing during quarantine is watching some of the YouTube crafters my sister, Clara, introduced me to.  Many of them know how to take inexpensive items from the Dollar Tree and create gorgeous crafts, art pieces, and home decor items.   This inspired me to take up the challenge and see what I can make.  So, at least once a month, I'll attempt a project and let y'all know how it went. When I first moved into my apartment, I was given a gorgeous set of canisters that were the perfect size for every day necessities like coffee, and salt for use and display.  However, I've needed some larger ones for things like flour and sugar for baking.  When I started drinking Link's Smoothie , I saved the protein powder containers for use as canisters.  The only problem is, they were ugly: See? I know they're just in the cabinet, but I want to enjoy using them, so I decided to use my first Dollar Tree challenge to deco...

Well hey, y'all. Just checking it to let you know that I'm sill here! One bit of good news.  I am now accepting PayPal for payments.  If you wish to purchase something, please e-mail me (link to my e-mail is in the "Order Now" tab on the right) so we can arrange for quantity, color, personalization, etc.  After we've finalized your order, go to PayPal, click "Send," enter the e-mail auntiesworkshop@outlook.com, enter the amount, then chose either "sending to a friend," or "paying for an item or service" (I am incurred a fee for this one).  Then confirm your information.  That's it. At the beginning of quarantine, my creative mojo was shot into the toilet.  Slowly but surely the creative bug hit and I made a few baby blankets for Colorado Family Life Center.  I started with a couple of familiar patterns to prime to pump: This is one of my favorite "go to" scrap projects. "My Daisy Square" pattern b...

Auntie's Workshop continues the motto of Art + Compassion = Hope with a way for you to help bring joy and hope to pregnant women in crisis.  Introducing: One bag, based on a chosen theme, consists of Auntie's handmade baby items (list subject to change): One baby blanket (crocheted, knitted or quilted). A hat and one pair of booties (crocheted or knitted). One diaper bag (sewn). One toy (crocheted or sewn). One art piece (painting, cross stitched item, etc.). Other items at the discretion of the artist (For example:  a tissue topper and/or a purchased children's book). An added bonus is that I make extra hats, booties, and/or blankets out of any scraps left over from projects.  Since relaunching these when I moved to Colorado, I have sponsored each bag (I wasn't going to wait around).  I recently took several to Colorado Family Life Center in Aurora CO.  Would you like to help Auntie spread the love?  You can sponsor a bag for $125.  One h...

Book :  Real Artists Don't Starve. Author : Jeff Goins Info :  Copyright 2017: Nashville:  Nelson Books Where acquired : Library check out. Rating (on a scale of 1-4 stars):  ✮✭✭ ✭ What it's about :  Author Jeff Goins tackles the notion that a creative is only a "true" artist if he is constantly behind the eight-ball financially and must succumb to the image of the starving artist.  Through extensive research of both historical and contemporary examples, the author elevates the creative from starving to thriving. Woven through this volume are instructions and examples on changing one's mindset, marketing one's work, and dealing with money. Category :  Impulse Read :  I was watching a video interview of the author on Michael Hyatt's Facebook page. I'd never heard of Jeff Goins before, but his description of he subject matter hit home and I was immediately curious. Favorite Quotes : ...