shop Archives - Linda Nelson

HOW BAZAAR

Well, Thanksgiving came and went, as did Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. But, what was up with Sunday? Oh let me guess – Take A Breather Sunday? I doubt it. Air Travel Sunday, perhaps.

Seriously, though, I do hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving spent in the company of your loved ones. I made this apple pie for my family, my first time making an all-butter crust. It was yummy, but next year I’ll just stick to my usual shortening crust; it’s much flakier and preferred by my “critics”. I’ve yet to make a butter/shortening combo crust. Perhaps I should give that a try.

©Linda Nelson 2018

Anyway, the next few weekends are sure to be filled with holiday bazaars in every town, and I do hope you’ll take the time to attend a few. They’re fun, child friendly and often help support local organizations. Be sure to visit the local art galleries and museums too! They’re a fabulous pick for finding beautiful gifts. And, while you’re there, take some time to view the current exhibit. Seriously. Stare at some art even if you don’t get what da heck the artist was alluding to. If for nothing, you’ll be gifted a few moments of calm and an opportunity to entertain your inner Picasso.

I’ll be setting up shop at local fairs for the following two Saturdays and plan to attend a few as a browser/shopper this Sunday. Here’s a peak at what I’ve been making in preparation for the two events I’ll be participating in –

©Linda Nelson 2018

And, yes, I agree – the photo quality is less than stellar. Sorry about that. 🙁

Now, go browse, support and shop creative… in your home town, of course.

THE SHOP ROOM PUMPKIN

September 19, 2014

I present to you, the palm-sized shop room pumpkin – “made for a man, yet still decorative enough for a woman”.

©Linda Nelson 2014

To make one, here’s what you do –

Unroll two wads of #000 extra fine steel wool(sold in packages at any hardware store) and gently stretch their fibers lengthwise and widthwise to make two very thin sheets. Roll one sheet up into a ball; use the other sheet to cover over it to make it larger. Gently cup it in your palm and shape it into a nice ball.

©Linda Nelson 2014

Using a 3 1/2 ft. piece of florist’s wire and a tapestry needle, create your pumpkin grooves. To do this, feed the wire down the center, then come up on the outside, feed the wire down the center again, then come up on the outside a little bit further away from the previous section, and continue until you have created six sections. Remember to leave about a 6 inch tail of wire; you’ll twist it together with the other end when you’re done with this step. Maintain an equal tension with all groove sections. Stick the wire ends into a tiny two-hole button, then twist to secure. The button step isn’t absolutely necessary; twisting the wire ends together is probably sufficient enough. Snip off the excess wire ends or leave them intact to use as curlicue tendrils.

The remaining steps for making this pumpkin are open to your imagination. Glam this pumpkin up, take it down an industrial route or anywhere in between.

To make a smaller pumpkin, use only one sheet and simply roll it up into a ball, then proceed as directed.

There you have it.

Now, get creative.

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