Just Putzing Around

I've been making little glitter houses (also known as Putz houses) all week! Thanks to the AMAZING how-to's from Howard Lamey and his adorable and educational Little Glitter Houses website. They're only about 4 inches tall and you put lights in the back so that the windows and doors glow.

I remember every Christmas my Aunt Grace would put out her nativity village and I was so in love with it! Gail also has a set of the originals that are so special and nostalgic. I think Putz villages are so beautiful and really capture the spirit of Christmas, so I wanted a Putz village of my own. I'm making a set for Christmas and a set for Halloween. I finished the first house in each set tonight, and I have four more houses under construction.

When I get the other houses finished, I'll post about the completed villages.

A Summertime Visitor

I was watering our patio this afternoon and a little Pacific Tree Frog hopped out of one of the pots and enjoyed a shower from the hose. :) I guess she lives under our palm tree.

I think the herps in this area know that I'm a science geek and they're safe here. I once had a Spade Foot Toad hop right in my front door, and I found an Alligator Lizard in my Ugg boot in the living room.

Harry Elephonte, the Southbound Pachyderm

I just finished this adorable elephant for Baby Max. I downloaded the pattern from Cicada Daydream. I had a couple problems with his tusks, but other than that he turned out pretty cute. You can just print the whole pattern on one sheet of paper and make a little baby pachyderm. But, I printed it at 100% and he's a good size.
I also made Max a train quilt. Well, I can't really say I made the quilt. I purchased the pre-quilted baby quilt panel and then I applied extra wide double fold bias tape to bind the edges.

I LOVE these. The prints are always so cute and they're really sturdy quilts. These are the kind of quilts that can hold their own with kiddos. They can be used to sit on for a picnic, they can keep you warm and cuddly in the winter, and they can be puked on in the car. They hold up to being washed and re-washed and can be used hard.

I don't like to use the satin baby blanket binding anymore. I've tried a few times and I just can't get the hang of making the mitered corners look good enough. So, I use a bowl to cut the corners of the panel round, and I bind the whole thing in extra wide bias tape. Plus, bias tape is easier to find, and comes in more colors.