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Friday 10 November 2017

Cooking, Crafts, And Cats

A collection of odds and ends today.

I've literally been out of the house only once since my trip to Emergency about my back. But I've been cooking real food for supper meals, which is good.

Maybe pizza isn't the best example of "real food" . . . but it's the only meal I thought to take a picture of


I worked on a few craft items that I can do while standing, because standing was more comfortable than sitting for quite a few days there, plus I have the chance to enter a couple more sales.

I don't make the vases, just the flowers. They are made with florist wire and buttons. I'm trying to decide if I need to make more flowers or if I'm just as bad at arranging fake flowers as I am real flowers, which is quite awful, really.



More of the same. These are fantasy flowers, so I can make them any colour I want. At least that's what I tell myself.


Vases still waiting for flowers. I admit that I have a thing for vases. And there are several of these I'd like to keep. All of them were bought at thrift stores, top price was $2, cheapest was 50 cents.



Maybe we should get the rest of the craft pictures out of the way while we're at it.

 

Draft blockers! Pictures requested by Joey! I'd already sold a couple before I remembered to take a picture. I sew the casings, which are fully lined, and stuff them with sliced-up fabric from worn out and out-of-style clothing.


In the process of filling a bag with chopped up old fabric, all cut with a pair of scissors. As always, I got a blister from using the scissors so much. If there's a better way, I haven't found it. I tried one of those rotary cutters, but it was hard to use, and I didn't feel safe. I'll stick with my blisters.


 And more things made with buttons:


. . . and empty wooden thread spools, bits of old Christmas cards, and (I confess) new beads and lace . . .


Closer, but somehow not all that much clearer . . .





Ho Ho Ho!


Christmas trees for your Christmas tree . . . what the? . . . but people buy them


Snowmen

Angels

Can you tell that I have a thing for buttons as well as vases??


One last picture, not craft-related! Our cats have been helping me stay mobile and limber as my pain retreats. They've both missed the litter box (which they never do otherwise) and they've both regurgitated their kibble at least twice each. I inch my way to my knees to clean up, and they peer over my shoulder to make sure I'm doing a good job. Then they wander off, apparently satisfied, to find a clean piece of upholstered furniture to sleep on. Meanwhile, I haul myself up using the nearest solid object. Not a cat. Some other solid object. It's a new form of physio, folks!

Not our cat, but the look is familiar. The look says, "You're a bit slow today, human. I hope there won't be any delays in getting my supper." Oh, they care; it's just buried really deeply inside :)

(photo from icanhas.cheezburger.com)


Hope you have a good weekend, folks, with lots of good eating, buttons to hold your clothes together, and pets who care :)


46 comments:

Diane Henders said...

Your button crafts are so cute! And your pizza looks absolutely yummy. Now I'm craving pizza... mmmm...

Elephant's Child said...

Love your crafty creations. And have a passion (indulged) for vases.
A question: Would a shredder work on cloth?
I hear you on the barfomatic front too. Jazz is good at that. And only expells his dinner on carpet. Or the bed.
And we won't talk about kitty litter failures. Suffice it to say our definition of UDO (unidentified disgusting object) is usually related to cat digestion.

kylie said...

I love the button ornaments!
As for the cats making sure you clean up after them properly, just this week I had Harry stand next to me so I would have company while I cleaned his pee off the floor.
Life would be peaceful without them

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I hope all this work has helped in keeping your mind off the pain. I have gone through back pain and it is horrible. Get better soon.

Marie Smith said...

Such a diverse post, love it. Lots of news. Not good about your back. A combination of physio and chiropracty got me back on my feet again.

Love the ornaments! You have patience in abundance!

Even in their measured indifference, cats are great companions!

Chicken said...

Hi Jenny, I didn't know you were so crafty. I love these-particularly the little angels. And pizza is ALWAYS a good idea. I like vases, too. Not just vases, but china, in general. I have to stop myself from buying it because I haven't thought of a way to upcycle it that doesn't involve breaking it (for mosaics) which I'm not sure I could stand to do to a pretty piece of china.

Joanne Noragon said...

Pizza is real food, especially if it starts with real flour.

The Happy Whisk said...

Glad to read you can stand and work, at least some relief on your spine. Love the mix of stuff and pizza looks darn good. Happy Weekend and boogie boogie.

Red said...

You certainly have been busy with crafts. I've never seen the button creations.

River said...

Those Christmas decoration buttons are just perfect, I would never have thought of doing that.

Steve Reed said...

I had no idea you make such a wide selection of crafts! You're very creative! I actually like the little button trees a lot -- I could see why people would go for them. As for the cats, they're just trying their best to make sure you heal well. :)

Yorkshire Pudding said...

I have a confession to make. Cough-cough In my whole life I have never made a pizza. There! I have said it.
By the way, I especially liked the Christmas tree button baubles. Very clever.

jenny_o said...

It doesn't take much to make me crave pizza - just reading your comment did it for me :)

jenny_o said...

UDO - shall have to start using that one. Unfortunately, it's pretty easy to identify them. Maybe they should be just "DO" . . .

I'm thinking it would have to be an industrial shredder to try cloth in it. My husband ruined one perfectly good shredder at home by putting too many pieces of paper in it at a time!

jenny_o said...

Aw, good for Harry! I can picture his big grin while he stood there :)

jenny_o said...

The interesting thing was that I had no pain as long as I was standing or walking, just sitting or leaning over (to clean the floor!). So I was able to do a few things. I've known a few people with chronic back pain and you are right, it really is crushing. I hope your back is behaving.

jenny_o said...

Hah! measured indifference is such a great way to describe it!

I was prepared to go back to physio (went for quite awhile last year for hip/back problems on the other side) because it was really effective for me, but it looks like once the initial bruising goes down I'll be okay. I hope.

jenny_o said...

I have to say the angels are my favourite of that type of ornament too. I hear you on the china front. Real china is so elegant and beautiful (and strong! you might wear out your arm even trying to break it, seriously). We have all the china we need but I always look at the stuff in the thrift store with longing.

jenny_o said...

Well, it did, although (whispers) it wasn't whole wheat . . .

jenny_o said...

I think that's my first ever "food" photo, Ivy :) Happy Weekend to you, too!

jenny_o said...

Here's where I confess I get all my ideas from the internetz, Red!!

jenny_o said...

See my reply to Red, above :) But I had to actually, you know, DO them :)

Anonymous said...

I love your button ornaments and was trying to see how you made them as I have a lot of buttons, both my own and some inherited from my mum. Can you still get wooden cotton reels in Canada? Over here they are all plastic.

Glad to hear that your back is easing. Back pain is very restricting.

Joan (Devon)

jenny_o said...

Yes, they're thoughtful like that - hah

I love buttons so these crafts are pure fun for me.

jenny_o said...

Well, thank you, but I got the idea from the internet, so . . .

Get yourself in gear and whip up a pizza, Pudding Man! Have you ever eaten one? Maybe you're not fond of them?

jenny_o said...

Our thread spools are also plastic now; I had some left over from my high school sewing and received quite a few from a crafting friend who had cleaned out her mother's and cousin's sewing rooms when they stopped sewing. The same friend gave me a huge bag of buttons to supplement my own collection, but I find to make these ornaments you need such particular sizes and colours it is hard to do it from a random collection. At one of our local second-hand used clothing businesses, they sell buttons from unsaleable garments. It's a fairly expensive way to get buttons but not as dear as buying them in a sewing shop! If you really are interested in making the ornaments, there are no instructions that I know of; just run a narrow ribbon through the stack from top to bottom and then back up through. I made a small wire post (bent at the bottom to make a loop to hold in my hand) to stack the buttons on to get the shape right; this might help you too. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me, Joan. (newjennyo at gmail dot com)

dinthebeast said...

I like the draft blockers, especially the dark one.
And what's with the cats? Our visitor-cat vomited on my bed three times before I got wise and just keep the bedroom door closed when he's around.
I know I can't expect him to understand my mobility issues, but the little jerk has taken to lying on the corner of the rug where I have to step over him to get by, and he sniffs at the door like he wants out, and I'm the closest one to the door, so I get up to let him out, and he flops back down on the corner of the rug.
Better that than having him pee on the couch again...
Glad to hear you're feeling a little better.

-Doug in Oakland

jenny_o said...

Oh my, that little guy has taken over your place pretty quick, huh? He'd better watch himself; peeing on couches is a major issue.

Be careful; like you say, they can't understand but they sure seem to like to make it hard to get around and you don't want to have a fall.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Jenny, I'm going to try. I have the same trouble as you, as although I have a lot of various buttons, nothing the same in varying sizes. I'll have to have a good sort through. Made a note of your email, just in case.

Joan (Devon)

John M said...

Glad you are starting to enjoy some hobbies again.

Mr. Shife said...

Well you have been busy. Everything looks great but I am really liking the looks of that pizza. Glad you are on the mend and great job on all of the crafts. Fabulous work.

jenny_o said...

It's good to have something to de-stress with :)

jenny_o said...

Too kind, Mr. S. :) I'll send you a piece of the next pizza by email since that one is all gone . . .

Martha said...

I love those button crafts! I have a whole container full of buttons and they'd be wonderful as ornaments. And the pizza...looks...so...good. I could live on pizza for the rest of my life.

Cats. As long as we're able to crawl to meet their needs, we're still somewhat useful. I hope the healing process keeps going well for you. Happy weekend.

jenny_o said...

This may sound crazy but the sorting is one of my favourite jobs. So relaxing :)

jenny_o said...

"still somewhat useful" - ha ha! so true :)

Yeah, pizza is one of the major food groups, isn't it? Well if it isn't, it should be.

LL Cool Joe said...

Hey thanks for the shout out. I've just returned from 11 days in AZ so I'm very jet lagged and am trying to get around to all my favourite blogs. I love the stuff you do with buttons. Very creative.

I was looking for a draft blocker everywhere in the States because we need one on our front door which is very wide. I never found one and now you show me yours!

Coming back to the buttons, I have a friend and he's got a button phobia, how weird is that? I'll show him your post. :D

Vivian said...

Incorrect use of "literally". Jeeze. Does language matter to you or not?

jenny_o said...

I'd think it would be hard to find a draft blocker in AZ anyway - would there be a need for them? It's not like there's a lot of cold air there, is there? And please don't freak out your friend on my behalf :) ha ha

jenny_o said...

Please explain, because I LITERALLY was out of the house only once in the time frame mentioned :)

baili said...

Wow these button flowers are soooooo pretty and cute!!!!!!

LOVED them really! what an idea to utilize buttons .Back in village i saw girls and women working on cloths with beads and glittering plastic stars but button decorations are new to me .
it must be quite a hard work .But resulted in awesome way:)

how nice that these vases are cheapest yet so pretty .
you have brilliant mind to do all this dear Jenny!

sorry for your dear cats who made you sit uneasily but i am glad that your back is getting better .

i always LOVE your humor which push away all the odds and shines through your brave beautiful thoughts and words

37paddington said...

Your button crafts are so inventive! Beautiful work. How is your back doing now?

jenny_o said...

Baili, you are kinder than I deserve - I tend to want to complain about things, but to counterbalance that, I try to find the humour in most problems. I'm glad I'm not coming across as too much of a whiner :)

I have seen from your blog pictures of intricately beaded and embroidered garments and they are simply beautiful and I'm sure a lot of work. My button projects don't come close to that. But they are fun and a good stress reliever!

jenny_o said...

Not original crafts, I confess - the internet contains everything that could possibly be done with buttons, and I just copy :)

Thanks for asking about my back - it was doing better but I tried going in to work today and it did not go well. I'm thinking I need to get it checked again.

37paddington said...

Get it checked, jenny. My husband's issues all began with a painful back. I'm not saying you have anything like what he did, only that it is important to get it fully assessed. Maybe an MRI?

jenny_o said...

The initial check at Emergency was quite casual, I thought - no x-ray, just a resistance test. With the return of pain I decided to go to my own doctor if I could get a quick appointment, and luckily I did. He'll probably start with an x-ray but that's fine with me.