The Lazy Crafter: Fabric Candy Canes

This year when I needed respite from writing, I started doing holiday ornaments for my tree. One of my friends introduced me to the hot glue gun, which is an essential for anyone who likes to make quick and easy crafts. I’m pointing at me when I write this.

You won’t find me with a fine paint brush, painting eyes on a small doll. You won’t even find me doing beadwork. I found out years ago that even though I am highly creative, my fine motor skills are not that good although I am good at cross-stitching.

So here is a quick tutorial on how to make one of these fabric candy canes. I warn you–it is easy.

1. Use a one inch strip of homespun fabric. You can cut it or rip it, depending if you want a primitive look or a more finished look.

2. Using a bit of hot glue, glue the fabric on the bottom of the candy cane.

3. Wind the fabric on the candy cane, using a bit of hot glue to anchor it.

4. You can decorate the candy cane– in this instance the crafter put ribbon, evergreen branches, and bells.

I keep my plain or I use jute twine. You can find red, green, and brown twine colors.

Now here is a tutorial with pictures on how someone else wrapped their candy canes.

I get my fabric at Joann’s or Ebay. I got the candy canes at the Dollar Tree. They are a dollar for six of them.

So now you know why my friend calls me the “lazy crafter.”

Yule tide in Southern Nevada

CCO Public Doman from Pixabay

This time last year, I was grieving for the loss of my late-hubby. As a unit, we didn’t celebrate the season. It had a lot to do with only the two of us in the house and how hard it is to keep secrets from each other. I remember buying a blue Norwegian sweater in Germany. When the late-hubby asked where I got it, I told him “Thank you for the Christmas present, honey.”

He found that funny. When he wanted something, usually tool or Amateur radio related, he would tell me that it was a great Christmas present. So our little joke was preserved.

This year without him and over a year away from losing him, I had the urge to decorate. Since I am short on cash and long on wants, I ended up getting a small tinsel tree and some lights at Wal-Mart. When I need some thinking time, I sit on my chair with my little dog on my lap, listen to the crackling of my Yule log DVD, and look at the lights. Even if our Christmas tradition was to avoid the holiday shoppers, I have found a new tradition of lights.

Listening to the crackle, feeling the warmth of the dog on my lap, and feeling the yarn and needles in my hands– for a moment I am at peace.

It has taken me months to realize what my late-hubby meant when his last words were “I want you to be happy.” He said this to his daughters and to me. It was the most important thing for him. I am of Norwegian Viking blood so I come naturally to the somberness of that breed of people who conquered the Northern wastes. I was even born south of the Arctic Circle.

I do love the sun, but I have that fair skin that burns easily. So my best seasons are spring and fall. Summer is the time I get to look out the window and lust after the sunseekers.

So happiness is something I have to work to gain. I meditate. I walk the dog. I am mindful of what I eat. I am learning –painfully sometimes– that joy is fleeting, but happiness and peace comes from balance.

Thank you for the success with Hilda’s Inn for Retired Mercenaries. When I saw the numbers rise and stay high, I felt joy.

May your holiday season bring you peace and happiness… and joy.

As Cold as Ice

Overlooking Carson City, NV taken by Otto Tune 2014.

While I was cuddled with Foxy, the house chihuahua, I heard a bang, then another crash, and then the wind moaned and yelled outside.

After that huge announcement, the prince (hard and heavy rain) banged against the windows, roofs, and doors. I ignored the noise after the first peek outside the bedroom window, by watching some show about some disappearing woman. The dog had crawled under the covers during the height of the noise, and I could hear her whimper as she pushed against my knee.

This morning, the rug in my patio area was rolled up and the huge red and white ribbon on my door had blown to the ground. There were yellow leaves carpeted on my patio and the sidewalk.

Yes, there was ice. Three cars rolled over this morning on their drive to work. The morning news was full of pictures of two cars banging into a house and one rolled and landed on its roof. The front end was crunched. That car was not going to move again without help.

While the East is enjoying record highs, we just got hit with the first of our winter storms. There has been a little snow on the peaks, but not on the valley. I won’t be surprised if we have some this year.

So Happy Holiday Season. May you have joy… and not crashing this season.

Plus if the Prince of rain knocks on your doors and windows this year, don’t let him in.