"Hand"kin carving

The best part of Halloween is carving pumpkins!! I absolutely LOVE carving pumpkins and the more intricate, the better. I have even taken a few days off of work before Halloween just to carve pumpkins. Each year I chose a theme, some have been Wizard of Oz, Michael Jackson, and Charlie Brown. This year I had to make my theme Hands. There were surprisingly a lot of patterns on the web for hands which delighted me immensely. However, my hands take a beating in the process. I have scrapes, cuts, and get pumpkin guts jammed under my fingernails (which KILLS!!).

Foot Long Fingers (almost)

If you build a fire, you have to roast hot dogs. I twisted wire to make a hand and used the franks for fingers. The wire wasn't as strong as it should be, so I had to use a stick to support it while roasting and photo ops. They were delicious too!!

A Hand in the Fire

I am not an expert fire starter but I can hold my own. This is a combo of a star fire and log cabin. It is fun having a portable fire pit so I can smell like camp fire whenever I want to, Bleh!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my Mom's XX birthday. I reminded her of how old she was today and I don't think she appreciated it! Her favorite treat is a chocolate donut and her favorite color is blue (it is hard to tell but the candles are blue). So combining the two makes for a great birthday treat. We were just a few candles short of her age though. That would have been a crazy hand had I used a candle for each year! Love ya Mom!!!

Rememberance Hand

In honor of the 10th anniversary of 09/11, I had to make a hand depicting the World Trade Centers. This universal sign of peace is not the real sign in ASL, but I thought it appropriate for the occasion. Just as everyone else knows where they were when they found out about the attacks, I too remember. I was still asleep on the sofa in our living room and my sister, who was going to the doctor's that day and I was taking her, had turned on the TV and I awoke to the frightening news. I don't remember when I awoke or what first saw. I think I was just in a daze, not understanding what had happened. After dropping my sister off at the doctor's office, I went to the fabric store that I used to work at to buy some camo fabric to make a skirt (go figure!). While there, I was talking to my coworkers about it and Dawn, a mildly handicapped girl that helped out at the store, joined in the conversation. She told me that 2 planes crashed into the World Trade Centers and they should have been more careful. I, regretfully now, told her that I think they did it on purpose. She looked down for a bit with a confused look on her face, said "Oh" and walked away. I felt, and still do feel bad for admitting that terrible truth to her. She was so innocent and sweet but that great evil had to creep in to all of our lives. God Bless America!!

Peanut Hand

Saturday night, my family and I went to Texas Roadhouse. It was really good this time. Usually it is just mediocre, but it was super good tonight with lots of leftovers. The only downfall was it was Freemont's Homecoming that night and there were tons of giggly high school kids everywhere.

Beaded Hand

I found these gradating beads at the store a while back and thought they would make a great hand. So after adding other beads I had "on hand", here is another hand.

Peachy Hand

I love peaches! This time of year is so great with all the peaches in season and multiple varieties to choose from at farmer's markets and roadside stands. I love making peach crisp, and eating it too!!

Rorschach Hand

What is the first thing you think of looking at this ink blot?

Edward Scissorhands

I never liked that movie. Johnny Depp creeped me out. This hand is kind of a stretch, just tilt your head, squint a bit and maybe you will see a hand.

Lucky Hand

I have wanted to use bamboo to make a hand, but had a hard time figuring out what to put it in. After having the bamboo sitting around, I just went ahead and put them in a vase. Hopefully they will bring me luck!!

Bolt Hand

Here is another hand made out of found objects from Smith and Edwards. Large rusty bolts and some circle thing. I love looking around Smith and Edwards finding odd treasures.

Cactus Hand

So I have been out of town over the weekend so I was unable to make hands over the weekend. I had some catching up to do today, but here they are...

Fly Swatter Hand

I think I am cutting up everything in my house into a hand shape. If  you see a sofa in the shape of a hand in the future, send help!

Quilled Hand

I have always wanted to try Quilling. It is a technique using thin strips of paper, rolling them up tightly and pinching where you need a corner. I have never done it before and it was pretty fun to do. It did take a while to roll up all the paper strips, but was still fun to make. I will have to do it some more.

Spaghetti Hand

What did Michelle have for dinner you were wondering? Why yes, I did have spaghetti, how did you know?

Golf Bahl Hand

My Grandpa Bahl was an avid golfer and a bit of a couck. He used to make all kinds of things out of golf balls but his forte were golf ball dogs complete with a tee tail and red felt tongue. We didn't have any left over golf balls from him, so I had to buy some new supplies. FORE...

Hand Chime

I love wind chimes. My Grandma and Grandpa always had wind chimes outside their window, and still do. Whenever I hear a wind chime, I think of them. I hung one on my chicken coop and every time I open the nesting box door, I get to hear it. Music to my ears!!

A Handful of Cherries

I didn't get this hand done yesterday because I was sick as a dog! Note to self and others: make sure to check expiration dates on canned goods!

As I was laying in bed all day yesterday, I decided I would do this hand if I ever got out of bed. Obviously, I did not get out of bed so here it is today. Man, yesterday was the pits (hehehe, get it!?!? pits- cherry pits)!

Upcycled Hand

I have wanted to try out this technique for awhile now. It is just plastic shopping bags that I cut apart and ironed together. They form their own fabric which can be pretty sturdy. I bought a back pack at the SLC Arts Festival this year that was made out of it and I love it. (It has a hand on it so I was a sucker for it!) I cut out letters that spell out the word "HAND" and multiple hand shapes too. I was going to make a little clutch or zipper pouch, but I like it so much, I might frame it or something.

French Fry Fingers

These fries and onion rings are from Crown Burger. MMmmmm. I think they have the best fries and onion rings. I tend to prefer the soggier fries to the crispier. I don't know why, I just like them.

Hand Quilted

Today is my Great Grandma Story's birthday. She was such a sweet lady. She would hand quilt a full size quilt for each of her kids, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren. I still have my quilt on my bed and love it. It is peach with lots of flowers on it (my bedroom was peach and green when I was younger). I got it when I was pretty young, I would say around 10. She would give it to you as a Christmas present and the was the BEST gift to get and it was so exciting when you were up to get your quilt! She was a speedy quilter and would get about 8-10 quilts done in a year, and she would get them to her grandkids at a pretty young age. The funny thing is, there was a wayward thumbtack that got bound into my quilt. The post broke off, so it doesn't poke you, but sometimes rolling over, you get a surprise. I wouldn't take it out though, it gives it charm and character. She never pieced her tops, she would only use preprinted fabric to quilt on. I love making the quilt tops but I don't like hand quilting them. Maybe when I get older I will take the time to quilt my quilts.

Puzzled Hand

So late this evening, I grabbed a puzzle and was just going to lay out puzzle pieces in the shape of a hand. Well, after looking in the box, I noticed after putting the puzzle together the last time, I cheated as usual and put the puzzle back in the box with large sections still together. Hello! I still had to put some of the puzzle back together to get a space large enough for the hand and all four fingers. It definitely took longer than expected, but it turned out just fine.

Q-tip Hand

Here this hand is made with Q-tips and cotton balls.

Back to School, Be sure to raise your Hand.

I loved back to school time, not for returning to school, but getting new back to school supplies. New pencils, pens, folders, maybe a new Trapper Keeper or a pencil box that inevitably the top would get pushed in and you would be unable to get it back out. Happy Back to School (started back 3 weeks ago).

Hand Ball

I found a cheap paddle ball game at the store and after cutting it into the hand shape, it is now a game of "Hand Ball"! It had a cheesy sun on the front so I Modge Podged some paper over top of it. I am still trying to perfect the technique, but I am struggling. It is harder then it looks.

Clothespin Hand

We had these brightly colored clothespins, I don't know why, but they lended themselves to be great fingers. So with a plastic circle, here is a hand made from clothespins. The clothespins can be used after doing your "hand" wash!

Hand Brand

Today is my Great Grandpa Story's 106th birthday. He, of course is not still with us. He died 2 years before I was born and I know we hung out in heaven. I have so many characteristics of him and have many of the same likes as he. Our favorite TV show- Bonanza, we both love animals including our favorite dog, the Pomeranian, and the list goes on and on. I made a brand a while ago of one he had and burned it into leather and wood so I wanted to make my own brand. I think on my farm I will have someday, I will use this brand, but maybe only on wood and stuff, I don't know if I could do it to animals.

Another Crayon Hand

So yesterday, I made a hand out of crayons. Today I tried again to form a hand out of crayons. I first used my hand mold and tried to melt crayons in it. Well I ended up with a dark brown hand. Not to pleasing! So, I then used a metal cookie cutter, wrapped it in aluminum foil, filled it with broken crayons, put it in the oven and the crayons melted without blending into each other too much as before. It turned out OK, I wish it would have been better, but it is getting late and I needed to finish it.

Crayon Hand

I loved the smell of a brand new box of crayons. What was better than getting a new 96 pack of new Crayola Crayons. That was the best!!

Stapled Hand

Yep, this is just a bunch of staples in the shape of a hand. I once stapled my finger in elementary school. I still remember it and it hurt like a bugger! Never did it again.

Fixture Hand

This is another hand that I got the supplies from Smith and Edwards. I guess they are fixtures or something with a belt buckle.

Sugar Cookie Hands

I love making sugar cookies and I have a killer sugar cookie recipe and along with my butter cream frosting recipe, it is a delicious combination! I especially love making the cookies around Christmas time and decorating them with all different kinds of candy and piping frosting. The secret to the recipe is sour cream and nutmeg. Mmmmm

Palm Hand

Ha ha ha, Palm hand, get it.

Topiary Hand

After visiting the local nursery, I came home with an ivy plant with very long tentacles and wanted to make a topiary. I made a wire form and wrapped and wrapped and wrapped the vines around it forming a hand. It was fun and hopefully I have a green thumb and can keep it alive.

Pipe Hand

While at the hardware store looking for supplies for other hands, I came across the aisle with all the metal pipes and accessories. I wanted to make a hand out of metal pipes but thought it would be too hard and expensive. Well the second part was accurate but it was fun to make. A little bit of trial and error, but for the most part it turned out great. I might use it as a lattice for vines or peas or something. My hands hurt thought from twisting and tightening the pipes.

Lotion Up Your Hands

Tonight, with no idea of what hand I was going to make, I looked over and saw a bottle of lotion. Bingo. Yep, that is my hand and it is cheap lotion. I can't stand "fancy", heavily scented lotion. The best lotion is advertised for cows. Yes, that is weird but I love Bag Balm and Udderly Smooth Lotion. They are the best but hard to find. Usually the only place to find them are at fabric stores.

Chalkboard Hand

 

This was a hand I already had and spray painted it with chalkboard paint. I always used to write on my hands and sometimes still do if I need to remember something important. PS, I was going to call my blog Handy Hands but got a better idea from my friend Sheri.

Frida Kahlo Earrings

I have always wanted to make hand earrings, but thought it was kind of creepy. A few weeks ago, my family and I went to a restaurant called "Frida's Bistro" named after the artist Frida Kahlo. I looked up at the large sign hanging over the restaurant and there was Frida looking down at me wearing her hand earrings. It made my day! I wasn't the only one that thought hand earrings were cool. Later upon investigating those earrings, I found out they were a gift to her from Pablo Picasso! How cool is that?!?! Now I had to make them. I thought the size and shape of Barbie hands were perfect. It was quite an experience going to the DI and searching all the Barbie's and seeing which of the dolls I would like to cut their hands off and make an accessory out of. I am glad no one knew my true intentions! It was also quite an experience amputating her arms off. I did not find joy or pleasure in it. Don't worry, I am not a sociopath!

Toys from the Past

My sister and I kept a lot of toys we had when we were little. I don't know why, I guess they are just hard to let go. Here are some of the little trinkets we had when we were little. It is so interesting how so many of the things we were into when we were little are in turn coming back, i.e. Smurfs, Chipmunks, Cabbage Patch Kids, Strawberry Short Cake & Care Bears. Some still to make a come back- California raisins and Muppets. Aw, good times!

Fridge Magnet Hand

Remember the alphabet fridge magnets we used to have when we were little. I still have some from watching Dillon so I used them to make a hand.

I didn't get this one done yesterday. My family and I went to the Park City Arts Festival so after getting home late at night, I was so tired and went right to sleep. Hopefully this won't be a trend and I will get my hands done everyday.

Tomato & Tortilla Hand

I go to Cafe Rio too many times. I, of course, get the famous Pork Salad and love it. If you get the salad, you may recognize the tortilla strips they put on top as the fingers in today's hand. I inserted them into our very first red tomato from our garden. Cute little hand.

Flat as a Pancake Hands

I am not a big fan of pancakes, they always seem to get too mushy and soggy from all the syrup and junk. These pancakes are made from Lehi Roller Mills Whole Wheat Hotcake Mix. They are really good. They are thicker and more dense than regular pancakes and really fluffy too. They are extra good with fruit added, especially as fingernails!

Energizer Hand

It keeps going, and going, and going, and going..........

Aluminum Hand

The title is pretty self explanatory. A hand made out of aluminum foil. Maybe the next time I go to a take out restaurant, instead of getting my food wrapped like a swan, I will ask for a hand. We will see if they can and will do it!

Needle Felted Hand

I have always wanted to try needle felting. You start with a piece of wool and then with loose wool, you use long, sharp, barbed needles and pierce the wool into the fabric wool. It kind of takes a long time, but it was fun. I will have to do it more and perfect my technique. This was my very first time.

Rick Rack Hand

I haven't sewn a hand in a while now, so I had to break out the sewing machine. I love working with rick rack on all types of crafts. It adds such a cute aspect to crafts.