Counting Blessings

The last few months have been grueling and I am ready for a new year and hopefully a good year!  My husband has been ill and is slowly recovering, it has been a very long process.  He spent 16 days in the hospital last October and 8 of those days were spent in Intensive Care Units.  The two main arteries going to his intestines were blocked and it took the doctors what seemed like forever to discover what was going on.  I almost lost him, my world almost crumbled, but with God's help he survived and is on his way to a slow but complete recovery.

On top of my husband's illness, my daughter was in ICU a couple of weeks ago.  Her son found her unconscious and having seizures.  Turns out her doctor had her on meds that should not be taken together.  It was a very intense time until she  regained consciousness and was able to be moved out of ICU and into her own room.  I am happy to say she is recovering and getting stronger and healthier everyday.  There was some fear that her heart had been permanently damaged, but it has also found its way to a complete recovery and is as good as new (thankfully).

I would like to take a moment to thank my friends and family for all the prayers.  The strength I received from you is beyond words and we would have never made it through without you.

These near death experiences for my husband and daughter have been a wake up call and reminder that I have so very much to be thankful for.  My life is filled with love and joy as I continue to nurse my husband back to a full and healthy life and watch my daughter continue with her life and the business of raising her wonderful family. Thank you God for all of your blessings.

My poor little Etsy shop has suffered tremendously from all of this, all the plans I had for an Etsy Christmas have been put on hold until next year.  Sometimes you have to weigh what is really important and redirect life in a different direction.  I hope to be back at full speed on Etsy after the first of the year, and hope I do not lose any of my wonderful followers.  I may even be able to list a few things in December.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, and remember to be thankful for all you have not only on Thanksgiving , but everyday.  Let those you love know it today,  you never know what tomorrow will bring.

See you soon,
Happy sewing and creating
Glo

New On Etsy 9-23-12

This weekend I have been working on hair accesories.  I have made a little bit of everything!  I have just finished listing them all on my Etsy Shop.  So let's get started with what is new on Etsy this week!



Korkers, Korkers, Korkers!  Some of every kind!

Also, all kinds of headbands.

And combs, combs, combs

That is it for this week!
Happy Shopping!
Happy Sewing!

Korker Fun

Korker ribbon is a fun project for a weekend afternoon!  True it is time consuming, but it is also very rewarding!  With just a little patience and a lot of ribbon you can make quite a mound of korkers!  It is like Christmas when I open my oven and see all those wonderful Korker Ribbons!

I know one thing for sure, I am going to invest in a wood burning tool.  Using the cigarette lighter to seal the edges begins to hurt my thumb after a while and with the wood burning tool you can cut and seal all at the same time!

To make korker ribbons you will need
ribbon ( I use 1/8 or 3/8 but you can use any size you choose)
wooden dowels  ( I use quarter inch, but play around and choose your size)
clothespins
baking pan
oven,
timer,
scissors or rotary cutter.
something to seal the edges (lighter, woodburning tool, or seam sealant).

Begin by setting your oven to 275.  I use an oven thermometer just to double check my temp.   Begin wrapping the ribbon onto a quarter inch dowel.  I used 3/8 ribbon. I try to keep it strait, with no spaces and tight.  Secure the ends with the clothespins.

Place the ribbon wrapped dowels in a baking pan (I line mine with foil but this is just my preference) and place in preheated oven for 25 minutes.  Be sure to set a timer, you don't want to forget about them ( I am speaking from experience here).

After 25 minutes take them out of the oven and allow to cool.  The magic is about to happen!

After they have cooled, about 5 minutes, take the clothespins off and loosen the ribbon on the dowel.  The ribbon then will slide off in one long curly piece!  wow this is the part that reminds me of Christmas.  I find it exciting every time ( I know, it is possible I need to get a life!)

I trim up both  ends of the ribbon where they were secured by the clothespins and then cut each ribbon 2 1/2 or 3 inches long.  I cut at an angle, but if you are going to seal the ends it doesn't really matter how you cut them.  You can play around with this, you may like them shorter or longer.  It is all up to you.  I seal each end with a lighter so they do not fray.

There you have it, a mound of Korkers!  It is such fun!

Now I am ready for some Korker Bow Fun!

Happy Sewing!
Glo's Crafty Creations