Jousting poles

Becoming a knight is something one of the kids is interested in. This works well for horsemanship and also gave us an idea for our next art project...jousting poles!

We happened to have some pvc water pipe lying around. I cut it into sections, sized to each childs size. This section is curved because the pipe was in a coil. But hay, it was free, so we just keep bending it and it will eventually straighten out. We cut the top of a milk jug and positioned it as a hand guard. Then taped it into place.

Next we wrapped the "business" end of the pole with a piece of pipe insulation.

A piece of insulation, about 1 inch long, was left extended past the pipe. It was folded over the end and taped with electrical tape to make a soft point. You can get any color electrical tape you like at the hardware store. The bigger stores may have better color selection. We happened to have green already so that is what we used.

The whole thing was wrapped in the electrical tape, including the hand guard.

You could use multiple colors for a more dramatic pole.

Then the knights mounted up!!

Scout's stocking

Coming onto this Christmas I still had not made Scout a stocking. Last year she was too little to need one and I hadn't decided what the perfect stocking would be yet. But, time was ticking and she needed one this year so I had to get started. When I am building, crafting, creating I don't use patterns, plans, recipes much. I will use them to spark ideas but then I change and add to my liking, mostly as I go along, rarely do I do much preplanning. This stocking was no different. I started by looking in the bags and bags of fabric I had. I grabbed several pieces that were to my liking. OOOOHH, there is some fabric from the wedding I must use that (first light bulb moment).

I have never made a crazy quilt but have always liked the look and the idea of it. I would sew scraps together to give the stocking that look. I don't know how to knit (though I would like to learn) and I love crazy yarn. I decided to use the crazy yarn to sew the scraps together.

I have a box of old buttons...put some on that will look cool.

I took some more yarn and braided it into a rope. The I used the rope to spell out SCOUT. It is turning into a thing of beauty. Now I am thinking...maybe this is the idea. I am always seeking an idea to make something to sell. I have lots of them, by the way, just can't ever settle on one. One reason is it has to hold my interest for a long time, I can't make the same thing over and over, I would get bored. People can send me their scraps of material from important events or just give me a list of fav colors etc. I can piece it together into a memory stocking. This would be different every time...perfect. I have an Etsy account I just haven't put anything there yet. Maybe this will be the start.

As I am finishing the stocking the final light bulb moment hits! The horse and dog fetish I made and wore on my wedding dress. I have been waiting for a great idea to hit about how to use that.....it now lives on the stocking.

Mery Christmas