I just finished these banners for Palm Sunday at Genesis Lutheran Church, Buchanan Dam, Texas.

 

Church Banners

I made these banners to go behind our church's altar for Holy Week!  Now I'm working on Palm Sunday banners and just finished Easter.

It's been awhile and not all good things have happened to us.  In October, we put both our old dogs to sleep because their quality of life was getting worse and worse so we let them die with dignity.  Then in November, a coyote came into the neighborhood and killed Bill the Cat, all of the outside cats are missing, and our 8 month old kitten Lucky went missing, too.  All out searches, newspaper ads, rewards, house to house inquiries yielded nothing, other neighbors' cats are missing too, no new neighbors in the 'hood, and I saw a good sized coyote twice at the end of the street.  From there is an open field and ranch land, it's so dry there is no water and food so the wild animals have started coming into the neighborhoods.  Then Christmas was busy as always, work was plentiful this summer and into the winter (we actually had a couple of days below freezing), which we are grateful for.  And of course, church keeps us happily busy.  I am now teaching guitar through the prestigious Harmony School for the Creative Arts and have 9 students.  It keeps me on my toes, I'm blessed with some really great students that are easy to teach.  Who'd a thunk it - me a guitar teacher?  Our Praise Band that we have nicknamed New Beginnings is doing great and I'm still the bass player.  With the addition of an electric guitar, we have an even bigger sound.  I rejoined the Highland Art Gallery and the Friday Art Bunch is going strong.  Check us out on Etsy.  www.fridayartbunch.etsy.com and me www.joyceweaver.etsy.com.  Now that I'm able to get back into my blog, I'll try to stay more current!

I made a New Doll!

Here's my newest doll creation.  I started with Christine Shively's Treasurer Keeper pattern - the doll is mounted on a boat shelf that you can find at the craft stores, I did a scrapbook paper collage inside the shelf.  You probably can't see it, but I have little cupcake & pie buttons along the top shelf - yum!  The doll's dress is made from my mother's Aunt Helen's hand embroidered, crocheted, and tatted laces and linens.  I've had these linens in plastic bags in my closet which wasn't doing anybody any good and they are going on 75 years old so I wanted to do something to show off Aunt Helen's beautiful linens.  I'm going to give this doll to Mom but this pattern would work up so nicely as a wedding/bride gift, Christmas, Halloween, or any kind of keepsake.  It was a fun project and Christine loved it!

Big Wins at the County Fair!

This doll was just one of the handful of ribbons I won at the Burnet County, Texas Fair last week.   My teddy bears (Mr. & Mrs. Ted E. Honeypot) made from an upcycled, vintage, faux fur coat and sitting on a hand made, refurbished doll bench - got another blue ribbon.

A drawing I did and a mixed media painting each took a third place ribbon and my famous peanut butter blonde brownies got second place in the baked goods division!  It was a fun time and I'm so glad our Master Gardener group has taken over running the fair every year.

Update on Lucky the Rescued Kitten!

Update on Lucky!  Sorry I haven't posted an update before now - life gets in the way sometimes!  She's doing great, it's been 6 weeks since her rescue on Highway 71, she scares the other cats and Gizmo the big calico is now her best friend!  Thanks for all the good wishes and interest!

We named her Lucky!

I found this poor tiny kitten on busy Texas State Highway 71 so close to the road that I could see she was still alive, so I stopped & picked her up.  She doesn't look to be injured, but I'm not sure if she is going to make it, she has been sleeping since I picked her up this morning, no telling how long she was laying scared on the side of the highway.  A couple of big trucks flew by and she is so small that she ended up being rolled all over the side of the road.  She may have hurt her front paw, but for now I'm going to let her sleep until she's had enough.  She's got some food right there when she wants it.  Gizmo is fascinated but hasn't caused any trouble YET!  Like I need this!