Blog Feed: It's Just Frankly Kute

It's Thursday, The Happenings for Today May 17th 20012

Published on 2012-05-17 19:20:00

Heaven's it seems this month is just flying away! Today I have been adding some products to my Etsy store Maplea's Rag Dolls and Animals. I created these all some time back, the first is a cute set of small primitive kitties. I used some scraps of Berber and quilting cotton fabric. I did not use any patterns, I just took some scissors and began cutting these guys out of the fabric to my amazement they turned out not too bad. I have filled them both with fiber fill and used black beads for n [..] > read more

What I have been working on this week and my Mother's Day present

Published on 2012-05-14 18:31:00

Late afternoon to all!Anyway this is when I started writing this post, I have been crafting just a little these past few weeks before the grand baby arrived. I did some painting on small chalkboards. I used oil based paints for the painting and some oil pastels for the wood around the chalkboards. One chalkboard wall hanging is for fall time and the other one is for summer time. I drew the crows and scene free hand using no ideas or patterns, basically just going with the flow of things.Both [..] > read more

I am a Grandma!! Josephine is Finally here!

Published on 2012-05-04 18:17:00

I became Grandma April 30th 2012 Josephine is so wonderful we are so blessed and thankful she is here! > read more

Today Working on 3 Different Projects That are Simple and Fun

Published on 2012-04-24 17:59:00

Today I have been working on 3 different items for my store different in that 2 are painted plates and the other is a wooden sign for Halloween decor. I am painting on each of these my very own designs or ideas all done free hand with no patterns.At the top is the small wooden sign for Halloween decor I have used some wonderful graphics from the Graphics Fairy at http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ What I did was to paint a scene around the the graphics I have printed up. Next I will stain and [..] > read more

What I have been Working on a Wall hanging " Love for the Crows"

Published on 2012-04-12 16:56:00

I am finishing up this wall hanging! But first I should tell you all how I began this project; first I took some muslin and sprayed it with chalkboard paint. > read more

Crocheting again with No Patterns a small Purse and Wrap

Published on 2012-04-09 13:27:00

First off I hope everyone had a very nice Easter! This year I did no cooking but had brunch out at a wonderful cafe called the Wet Dog. > read more

Grubby old Miss Tattered and Bee, a primitive aged rag cloth doll

Published on 2012-03-31 20:33:00

I created this 15 inch rag cloth doll from a vintage 1982 pattern that was just laying around doing nothing. In the original pattern you are to use felt, buttons. I did the pattern a little different, instead I used muslin and stained it heavily with what I call my sludge, coffee, vanilla and cinnamon. I make it up extra thick and set the solution in the refrigerator over night then I brush it on the made up doll several times depending on how stained and dark I want the doll to be. I had lo [..] > read more

What I have been Working on this Week Paper Mache' Boxes

Published on 2012-03-24 13:52:00

Howdy to all! I am hoping everyone has a great weekend for March 24, 2012. Well I have been busy creating some really cute decoupage boxes and this is how they turned out. I went to Jo-Ann's the other day and found some sweet 3 inch round boxes, some colorful scrapbook paper and cute card stock items! I also did a video on how I did these boxes on YouTube and this is the link to the how to do these boxes http://youtu.be/2GV-KlVRMCs The Spring boxes are now in my Etsy store here http://www.e [..] > read more

Crazy Weather On the Oregon Coast for March

Published on 2012-03-19 12:47:00

Oh my have we been having some wild weather! yesterday was rain, snow, hail, rain mixed with snow just snow, then some sun! I took some pictures of last Friday's weather and thought I would share....This is just out side the house ready to travel, the second picture is Astoria and one of the many hills in town this is the big reason why Astoria closes down when snow rolls in. It's kinda of hard to see how steep this hill is, it's one of the worse hills in town.In this third photo you can see a [..] > read more

Very Proud Mother and 2 Dolls, Paper Mache and Grubby

Published on 2012-03-10 13:53:00

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Wow! I am so proud of my son and this being his last year, he just lettered in wrestling and has gotten 4 different offers from 4 colleges. He was fast last year in the 100 yard and here is a link to the video, the boy in red that crosses the finish line first is my son http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=215867158427747&set=t.100000133945510&type=3&theaterAlso in a very short while I will be a grandma! The baby girl is due April 12th!Well now on [..] > read more

The Finished Fabric Bowl Pictures

Published on 2012-03-05 10:55:00

I decided to take some pictures of the fabric bowl I just finished. The bowl measures 11x12 and I will be adding it to my Etsy store shortly. You can find the video here also on how I made this bowl out of a recycled dress http://youtu.be/45-NlH_khsIThe dress was an old cotton floral print that was only half way finished, now its a nice fabric bowl. > read more

How I Create my very Own Fabric Bowls, video demo

Published on 2012-03-02 10:20:00

I put together this video just to show how I created this fabric bowl and recycled an old dress I had laying around. My Aunt taught me this way in making fabric bowls and I really enjoy it so thought I would share with you all, hope you enjoy the video. > read more

A Rag Cloth Doll Cat, What I am working on Monday

Published on 2012-02-27 12:22:00

I designed a really cute 12 inch cat by making a really simple pattern. I then cut out body pieces using muslin. Next I created my favorite stain a bit of coffee, vanilla and cinnamon, I brushed the stain onto the fabric and baked it in the oven until the fabric was dry. I then added some brown stripes and facial features, painting them on free hand. The body pieces were attached by hand sewing them on with cotton thread. The dress is my own design and I used some homespun fabric for the dress [..] > read more

Part II of the Making of Primitive Easter Rabbits

Published on 2012-02-20 16:08:00

These are the rabbits after the staining has dried and what I am doing here is painting some cute little flowers onto the rabbit with oil based acrylics.In this photo I am sewing the two from pieces and the two backs, leaving an opening in order to turn and stuff the rabbits. The second photo is another picture of the opening in the back. In sewing I am sewing about 1/4 of a inch in from the sides.I have now stuffed the tiny rabbit with fiber fill and I am about to paint the facial features wi [..] > read more

Working on some small Primitive Rabbits for Easter

Published on 2012-02-18 14:48:00

These are some Rabbits that I have designed and love doing up from time to time, I am thinking about doing a pattern up to sell also in my etsy store. Today I thought I would share the video I have created in making these cute guys. There will be a part II to these cute rabbits, I will show the sewing, painting and re-staining, finally the finished rabbit. > read more

Just Finished a Happy/Grumpy Topsy Turvy Rag Cloth Doll

Published on 2012-02-13 16:10:00

I have just finished up a project I had going before I became quite ill. I designed thisTopsy Turvy doll. I created the pattern and designed the facial features, the doll is made from cotton fabric called Onsaburg. The facial features are painted with acrylic paints and she is a happy doll and a grumpy doll. She was lots of fun to create and simple, she is 24 inches long. The clothing is all cotton fabrics the darker yellow is broad cloth on the grumpy side and I used cotton thread to make t [..] > read more

What I am working on Plate painting for Spring and Easter

Published on 2012-02-08 11:04:00

Yesterday I had some plates that I bought at the dollar store and I began thinking about what I wanted to do with them.So I decided to paint on them for Spring and Easter. I just began painting free hand, using paints in markers and sealing the plates when I am done. The first plate is about Spring and the proverb " No Matter How Long the Winter, Spring is sure to Follow". The plate with the rabbit is for Easter and it looks like the Easter Bunny has taken a bite out of one of his chocolate [..] > read more

A Yummy Healthy Recipe for a Treat that is not Fattening

Published on 2012-02-05 12:41:00

These look yummy and fattening but they are not! Instead these bars are low fat and have only 20 carbs.What you will need:1 1/2 cup of sugar free maple syrup 1 cup of of low fat peanut butter3 cups of Grape Nuts CerealHeat the peanut butter and syrup on the stove over low heat until it mixes together and the peanut butter is melted and mixture is bubbly. Pour the 3 cups of Grape Nuts in a large mixing bowl and add the peanut butter mixture gradually mixing well and quickly, add to a 9x11 grea [..] > read more

A Day on the Beach on the Oregon Coast

Published on 2012-02-03 12:19:00

Hi to everyone!yes I am finally back blogging again, the blood pressure, and sugar levels are doing much better. A few days back I was feeling well enough for a beach ride and so I thought I would share some pictures of the Oregon beach. This is a shot of the Peter Iredale, it was stranded on the beach many years ago and this is what is left of the ship.I just had to take a picture of Oreo in her new winter coat she got for Christmas, she also loves long drives on the beach, that's me hiding b [..] > read more

My Wonderful Christmas Present is I am Still Alive

Published on 2011-12-27 11:38:00

Hello to all!My gift for Christmas is that I did not die, and I am so very thankful for that. I know in my heart my heavenly father must have been guiding, watching over me. As many of you might know I have been really ill off and on, battling my health. Well last week I got a call from my doctor telling me to get into the ER right now! my blood sugar was 720, yes 720! Some how I was able to drive to the ER and not die on the way as it was put to me many times over this past week. Once in t [..] > read more

What I am Working on for Decemember 8th 2011 Alseep and Awake Dolls

Published on 2011-12-08 10:32:00

Good Thursday to everyone;I have been busy with a special order I got in my Etsy store to create some dolls. Two of the dolls are for little girls and one is for a boy and I am having lots of fun creating them. The girl dolls are being made from craft robing and the boy doll is from some off brown muslin. I have painted their faces with acrylic paints and I am fill them with fiber fill.These dolls are going to be 2 sided and look similar to the children, a kind of buddy doll for them. I have [..] > read more

A Paper Craft, I did up a While back, this can be a Journal, or Keep your Favorite Recipes

Published on 2011-11-30 13:06:00

This was a fun project I did back some time ago working with ribbon, card stock, brown paper bags, a hole punch and some really cute stickers. This one is for recipes that are of the past and yet still yummy!I found all kinds of old time recipes and left a few pages blank to add in more. I used small brown paper bags to create pockets for holding some of recipes and small tags with recipes on them. The book is about 7 inches and I have used all kind things to put into it. The idea is take so [..] > read more

A Very Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!!

Published on 2011-11-22 17:23:00

Come see me here this holiday season as this is a thanks for some loyal customers!! and a thank you!Please be sure when shopping at my or any of these great stores listed to do the following so that you will be sure to get the discount, under payment area in your shopping cart it will say apply shop coupon code, just click on that and enter OFGthanksyou2011 and the discount will appear, this will apply for all items in your cart.There is a wonderful gathering of team members for this token of th [..] > read more

Heart and High Blood Pressure Troubles

Published on 2011-11-04 11:17:00

Hello to everyone,I have not been blogging much lately as I have been quite ill dealing with some serious heart issues but I have also found out that I have a very serious problem with high blood pressure. It took and ER visit and about a day and a half in the hospital to get the both of these problems under control.I have not been crafting to say it honestly because even at home now I am still having problems. I am working on seeing a heart specialist and getting my blood pressure under contr [..] > read more

What I am working on for Thursday Oct 20th

Published on 2011-10-20 16:27:00

I am busy working on 2 items at the same time I started this Paper Mache’ doll a few weeks ago and soon I will have her finished. She is for Halloween and a devilish character and I have quite a bit more to do. I have used balloon's to create the body and head so far and I have done up my own sauce for the strips of news paper I used to cover the balloon's and then I let the dry and popped the balloons inside, now I am painting with acrylic paints and I will use yarn for hair create some le [..] > read more

Time to Blog Again, Crochet purse and Table Cover

Published on 2011-06-30 11:35:00

Time to blog again; seems life throws something at me every time but with prayers and realizing that it will be alright, trials seem not to be as they appear. Some of the trials have been health issues again with a bout of pneumonia, RA reacting to > read more

New Hand Crafted Items for the Month of May; The Milk Maiden, crochet hand bag, crochet rag rug

Published on 2011-05-22 13:17:00

I have just finished crocheting this purple little hand bag with some really nice heavy wool yarn. I did just a very basic double stitch to create the body of the purse and the strap is just a simple chain stitch. Next I took some strands of the yar > read more

The Sea Story, a large wall hanging quilt, whacked out by freehand

Published on 2011-04-28 15:26:00

This is a quilt a did a while back, it is all my design, no patterns were used I just cut all the pieces out by free hand. I used all kinds of fabrics for this quilt there are cottons, rayon's, corduroy, flannel, polyester, muslin, quilt batting, bu > read more

Winner of the Contest is....

Published on 2011-04-21 09:30:00

Howdy to everyone; well the contest is over and I have picked a winner. The winner is..."Hi please sign me up for your giveaway.Congrads. on your 200th post" I just picked the last person to comment I was going to just do a drawing but then changed m > read more

The 200th Post and the Give Away Contest!

Published on 2011-04-08 10:52:00

The 200th Blog post and Give Away Contest!I was amazed that I have made 200 posts, so thought it would be nice to have a give away celebrating the fact I have made that many posts. So are you ready!Okay then...Be the 27th person to comment on these 2 > read more

Aretha is a 18 inch Rag Cloth doll, an Original Design

Published on 2011-04-04 09:57:00

Aretha is a 18 inch rag cloth doll that is designed entirely by me, I created the pattern and the looks for this sweet doll. I finally finished her Sunday evening. She is made from muslin and filled with fiber fill.This time I only lightly stained t > read more

More on The frenzy of making Rag Cloth dolls

Published on 2011-04-02 13:32:00

I just wanted to share with you all the frenzy I have been in about making rag cloth dolls, these five are what I have finished this week, and this morning I just finished the larger rag cloth doll. I just have been in the mood to really get busy an > read more

Doll Making Frenzy in My Home, Primitive, Old looking Rag Cloth Dolls

Published on 2011-03-31 09:39:00

Well the little flower doll started me off into a real doll making frenzy! I started on some smaller dolls that are 10 inches the pattern is from a very favorite place I love to visit http://www.chestnutjunction.com/ The pattern is called Lill' Anne > read more

What I Finished for Monday, a 18 inch Flower rag cloth doll

Published on 2011-03-28 19:05:00

Today I have been busy crafting away! I just finished this rag cloth doll and wanted to share it which is kind of funny because yesterday and today I have just been as sick as can be but yet I felt like crafting a little later today. In fact I think > read more

Talking about What I Love to Crochet; Rag Rugs

Published on 2011-03-24 09:33:00

I thought I would talk about one of my second favorite things I love to do, which is to crochet. Many years ago I wanted to crochet and I had a friend who could really crochet up a storm and really win big for her crocheting. Well to say the least t > read more

Doing up Another of My Favorite chicken Pie Recipes

Published on 2011-03-19 17:37:00

Once again I made up my favorite chicken pot pie but I did a little different this time around; I used 3 cans of canned chicken, 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup, spinach, packaged American cheese, 1 egg, 1 cup of milk and Bisquick baking mix also ad > read more

Sharing just some Pictures taken of the new toy and a few scences

Published on 2011-03-16 20:04:00

My son on the new bike, right now hubby and son will be sharing it but if my son gets good grades the rest of this year and his senior year the bike will be his.I was able to finally get a fairly good picture of my little blue jay that comes around t > read more

Fabric Bowl and some Tiny rag cloth doll Rabbits

Published on 2011-03-05 14:05:00

I just finished these guys and the bowl a few days back. The fabric bowl is a green cotton fabric that I created using a brown thread for contrast on the bowl and added a plaid ribbon around the bowl and for the handle of the bowl. The tiny rabbits a > read more

Cooking up Homemade Black Eyed Pea Stew with Elk Meat

Published on 2011-03-03 10:17:00

I love Black eyed peas! and this is one of my favorite ways to make it. First I throw a bag of uncooked black eyed peas into a crock pot and add cut up onion; my guys like the onion sliced this way, but you can slice anyway you would like. I add a bi > read more

The Finshed rag cloth doll rabbit 18 inch Miss Surefooted

Published on 2011-02-26 14:34:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68736269/18-inch-rag-cloth-doll-animal-rabbitThis is Miss Surefooted as she is now completed and in the Etsy store for sale. I think she came out pretty cute, I love her big feet and that is why I named her Miss Surefooted > read more

What I am working on for Tuesday, rabbits

Published on 2011-02-22 08:34:00

I actually started this Monday evening but I am continuing and will finish the the rabbit later today. I am using a wonderful old pattern from my collection called "floppy friends". The pattern was created in 1995. I am only using the body design > read more

New Recipe! What to do with left over Cabbage

Published on 2011-02-20 09:41:00

A few days ago I had some left over cabbage and I was trying to figure out what to do with it because in my family cabbage is not a favorite food.So I had some stewing meat about 2 1/2 pounds, some spinach, onion, instant rice, and cream of mushroom > read more

Recycled Denim into a 20 inch Rabbit

Published on 2011-02-14 09:24:00

I had some old denim jeans that belonged to my hubby that I used to create this goofy rabbit. The Jeans had bleach stains on them, making them old and worn out so I decided to recycle the jeans.I began by sitting down and doodling out some ideas of > read more

A Second Crafty Idea on Making a Unfinished Wooden Jewelry Box Aged

Published on 2011-02-09 08:22:00

Another howdy to everyone; this is the second half on what to do with those cute wooden unfinished boxes or jewelry boxes you can find in craft stores.I have done this one a bit different, in that I used acrylic paints; I took some dark yellows and b > read more

A Crafty Idea; making a wooden jewelry box look old and primitive

Published on 2011-02-06 14:30:00

Happy Super Bowl weekend to everyone; this weekend I thought I would share a project I just finished. I love hunting for these little unfinished wooden jewelry boxes in craft stores. I like to get them and aged them and I thought I share how I do the > read more

A Spice Sauce to Spice up Chicken for Dinner

Published on 2011-02-01 09:11:00

This is one of my favorite recipes because in is all in just the sauce you make to pour over the chicken to bake in the oven.Here is what you will need:A whole chicken cut uplarge baking pan15 oz. can of tomato saucefresh pineapple slices or canned p > read more

The Finished 18 inch aged HeirLoom rag cloth doll

Published on 2011-01-28 09:35:00

This is how the larger 18 inch aged Heirloom rag cloth doll has come out; as I have stated I stained the body several times first staining the fabric and baking in my over along with the clothing also at 200 degrees. Then I kept some of the staining > read more

Step Two on what I am working on, a Set of rag cloth dolls

Published on 2011-01-24 13:51:00

This is the second step to making my rag cloth dolls; I have baked the first stage of the staining in and have darkened the fabric.Now I took what stain I had left over and used a small paint brush to drip the stain onto the rag cloth doll and and le > read more

What I am working for Jan 21, 2011 Rag cloth dolls

Published on 2011-01-21 17:22:00

I got busy this afternoon, I found an old rag doll pattern and decided to use it but I will be making some serious changes to to the dolls as I create them. The pattern is an old McCall's pattern that I am altering somewhat; I just love using a patte > read more

Talking about a Wall Hanging Quilt Called Colors of Winter

Published on 2011-01-13 13:58:00

A big hello to all! I am back at working on my blogs once again. Christmas and the new year were very busy for me this year and so my blogs did not get the attention they needed but here I am again and off to a new year and a new start on the blog.I > read more

What I am Working on for Tuesday Dec 7

Published on 2010-12-07 15:17:00

Well I just finished up this primitive winter scene on a chalk board all I have to do now is add the cording for hanging. I have a ton of fun painting with acrylic paints on the chalkboards you can find in any craft store. I start by sanding down the > read more

A New Cookie Recipe; Snow Melted Mud puddles

Published on 2010-12-03 12:31:00

Hey to all!I have an unusual cookie recipe for you, I just happened one day to make these by mistake and they are quite ugly looking but, oh yum!Most of all they are easy to make... here is what you will need:One box of chocolate cake mix1 cup of sma > read more

Sharing just bit of Winter in the Coast Range

Published on 2010-11-27 10:19:00

Well last Monday I went for a ride in the my Hubby's log truck to get a peek at the beauitful winter weather we got in the coast range and thought I would share some of those photos with you . In this photo we are crossing over Mist Mountain; I just > read more

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Published on 2010-11-24 08:17:00

I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and share one of my most favoritive videos.I have so much to be thankful, yes even those adverse times, good times, but also thankful for little things, such as sunshine, rain or snow even and the be > read more

What I am working on for Friday, a stuffed plush polar bear

Published on 2010-11-19 16:45:00

Good Friday to all!Today I have been busy sewing up my own idea of a polar bear, I designed the pattern this morning and cut it out and began sewing and I am almost done but not quite.I am using some white fake fur to make the bear and filling him wi > read more