Kid Mitts

Found a great fingerless mitt (texting mitts) pattern for kids that is adjustable in size.

Some of the great nephews in the fam will get these for Christmas '16.

Necktie Owls

When I made the necktie necklaces, most of the fat end of the ties were left over. I saw online that they make wonderful little owls.  So I sent them to niece, Laci, because she's a teacher.  I knew that she or some of her colleagues would find a use for them.

She also let her son Ethan create his own kind of owl with them!  He loves a good art project!

Generational Photo

I saw this fun idea on Pinterest a year or so ago.

October 2016:  So when we were in Wichita in October, we got it done with our 4 generations of McClintock's fellas.

Knotted Up Bracelet

When Pam and I were browsing a gift shop in Lead, SD in September, I spotted this bracelet and thought, that should be easy enough to make.  Sure enough.

I just used strands of leather, pearls, chains, and rope that I'd bought for the Hanky Bracelets.  Tied them in a knot together and glued the end caps on.  I think I'd try to make it smaller next time.

Necktie Necklace

Another fun Pinterest idea!

Brooke helped me pick out some fun ties at Goodwill

so she got this one for her birthday!

1.  After washing and drying, take a man's tie that has design on the skinny part of the tie.  Cut the skinny part off up near where it starts getting fat.
2.  Carefully remove the stitches from the back
3.  Remove the white batting and throw away
4.  I kinda squared off the unevenness of the tie
5.  Iron
6.  Stitch the long ends together.  Silk is tricky to sew with, so I googled the best way to do that.  Basically, use the smallest stitches your machine has. And I went over it twice.
7.  You will now have a tube, so turn the tube right-side out
8. Tie or safety pin one end of the tie.  Place wooden beads in side the tube.  Place as follows: 5 small, 3 medium, 1-3 large, 3 medium, and 5 small. Center them in the tube.
9. Take embroidery thread, or regular or metalic thread, and wind around and through each bead.

Sew up short ends and tie in bow.  You can also put necklace end caps, etc if you prefer.  I just tied in a bow.

My thing now is that I'd love to find some Razorback ties.  Wouldn't that be fun to wear on game day? 

I also looked for Christmas ties but now luck.  But I found some that were kinda Christmas colors and I just added some Christmas ribbon to them.  My Benton Fitbit peeps (who are also educators) love to do the Ugly Christmas Sweater thing.  Thought that might go good with one. Maybe after Christmas I'll find some for next year.

If it seems like a waste to you that the fat part of the tie isn't used......not to worry.  They make great starters for owls!

2018:  Found a few Christmas ties at an estate sale recently.  So I made myself one to wear to the CWF Christmas party.

I used some clear beads between the beads

They went well with the snowflakes on the tie

Cranford's Christmas tie has Santas on it

Kathey Graves gave me one of Cranford's Christmas ties which I turned into a necklace and gave it for the CWF gift swap.

it was in the gift that Hugh Dean got and looks nice with her outfit

Made one with snowmen to go with my Ugly Christmas Sweater

Coin Lace Fingerless Mitts

Love this pattern that I found on Ravelry.  the finished product kinda reminds me of Owlings, except no cables.

Brooke got some for her bday

Odestine's on the left and Laura's on the right

Vintage Hanky Key Ring

My new Spearfish friend, Marie Anderson, gave me a ton of vintage hankies that belonged to her and to her late husband.  So, before I being crafting with them, I decided to make her a few keepsakes out of her own hankies.  One is this keyring.  Super simple.  The magnetic locket can be found at Hobby Lobby or Michael's -- or probably other craft stores.  I cut a very tiny floral piece of one of her hankies and crammed it into the locket.  You could cut it exactly and lay it flat inside.  But I'm kind of an abstract, non-perfectionist kind of girl.  I like this look better.

October 2016:  My new bunco friend in Wichita, Rosemary, gave me a bag full of her mom's hankies.  She had hung onto them but didn't know what to do with them. So I made a couple of key rings and some bracelets for her to have and share with family.  Lovely little memento of someone you care about.

October 2016:  Brooke made the ones above and below on our craft days at her house.  When making the hanky bracelets, there are always some little scraps left over.  These lockets are the perfect way to use up every piece!  Or many of the pieces anyway.