Craftopia -or - Why Winter Isn't Long Enough (Sometimes)

What do you do when you are in the middle of a Polar Vortex and are snowed in more often than not?

Put your hands to the spindle, that's what.

Here's a sampling of what I've been up to lately - 

In between tearing the house apart and scrubbing things with a toothbrush....

And celebrating my 52nd birthday...

And keeping the chickens alive during the Vortex...

I've been up to a few things.

Don't hate - but I actually have that panicked feel in my gut that I won't get everything finished I'd hoped to before it's gardening time, and oh - how anxious I am to get back into the garden.

I've gone on a bit of a houseplant frenzy - I have one for every 50sq feet of house now. 

Did you know that Lowe's has a clearance rack for plants?  Some, if not most are goners, but once in a while you can find a good one - like this one - for $3.

A little Epsom salts, a little love, an episode or two of Downton Abbey - it'll be just fine.

I've been trying to get out and get photos of the lovely snow we've had.

And boy, have we had it - over 30" this month so far, and 10 more due Saturday.

I miss photography.  I wish I would take it more seriously again.

Yes, those are extensions!  Aaron's been having fun with my hair.

I've been knitting - knitted myself that hat right up there - I need to find the pattern and post it - it was super easy - it knits flat, and then you sew it up the back.  I posted this picture on Facebook and got a few comments about my skin - this is unretouched and I turned 52 last week.  I swear it's my skin serum (available on Etsy! - look at the bar on the right), the fact that I've never smoked, and some good genetics from my momma.

I knitted a scarf for Glenco - he was woefully unprepared for the Vortex.

And you saw the scarf I made for Aaron...

I've also made a few rag quilts.

I just finished this one yesterday - for my sister Vivian in Missouri.

I made this one for Aaron - 

I made one for my sister too - but didn't get a pic.  : -/

Some miscellaneous things I've made....

My first attempt at wool felting - it was a total fluke that the head turned out so good...in fact, the legs are a nightmare, and that's why it's in bed, covered up.  It's a paraplegic raccoon.

It was a gruesome accident, involving a trap.

This was a lot of fun to make.  I made the bed, a little oval rug to go under it - and found that little shotgun at Hobby Lobby.  My cousin Jim is a coon hunter - and I made this for him.

I made this paper mache sculpture for my friend Gina - it symbolizes her grandson, the apple of her eye.

I made this pillow for my sweet friend Renee, fellow Glamper.

Took a quick photo right before it got wrapped up!

I made this pillow for myself - I'm not entirely sure why I made a pillow that said "go" - but it just seemed like what I needed at the time I made it.

I've whipped up a new batch of serum, and have made a delightful, all natural, organic body butter!

Stay tuned for info on that soon.

And last but not least - just a teaser for now - cause it deserves it's very own blog post - 

My mouse house.

So ya see, winter just isn't long enough at times - and we haven't even started talking about books, and all of those that beg to be read.

I've much to learn about the bees this winter.

So I say - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!