The Bowen Knot ⌘: Craft

Sunday, December 20, 2015

What in the World Has Candy "Mama" Been Up to Since Moving to Cumbe, Ecuador? Find Out Here!!!

It's that time of year! And we wanted to share a little bit of what Mama has been up to here in Ecuador. She has been making lots of Christmas crafts. This includes felt Christmas displays and a Counted Cross Stitch Stocking for Dan. Check out Mama's Beautiful Completed Projects.

Christmas Felt Wreath for the Casa:

Christmas Felt Wreath

Felt Christmas Tree Skirt:

Christmas Tree Skirt


Christmas Tree Skirt

Wreath made with Construction Paper, Cardboard, Hot Glue Gun, Glue Sticks, and a few Ornaments:

Paper Wreath

Felt "Believe" Christmas Wall Hanging:

Felt "Believe" Christmas Wall Hanging

Felt Nativity:

Felt Nativity

Felt Hot Air Balloon:

Felt Hot Air Balloon

Felt Gingerbread House:

Gingerbread House

Her latest Counted Cross Stitch Stocking for Dan is also finished.

Counted Cross Stitch Stocking for Dan

Garland for the Fireplace was Made by Candy "Mama"

Garland for the Fireplace

Last project was completed by Mama, Dan, and Myself. We hand painted a bunch of Christmas tree ornaments:

Hand Painted by Mama, Dan, and Heather

Denver Broncos Set Hand Painted by Heather

Mama does have one final felt Gingerbread House she is currently working on and as soon as it's finished I will post pictures.

Happy Holiday to Everyone!!!

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Our New Tropical Fun, Funky, and Crazy Office Furniture

Unfinished Table

Unfinished Tables

We needed some tables for our computer room. And we looked around at many places and balked at paying hundreds of dollars for something that we didn't even like. Then we came up with the idea to head down to the Rotary and do some shopping for several woven baskets. So Happy we did since we spotted the exact tables we were looking for all over Cuenca!

We found two matching tables we liked and even a hutch. All were unfinished/unpainted. The fun part is the folks that make the furniture are recycling unwanted materials, as well. Big bonus for us. They are taking pallets apart and making all kinds of furniture with the wood.

We got the tables for $45.00US each and the hutch for $25.00US. Then all three of us went to Kiwi hardware store and bought several fun tropical paint colors and polyurethane for under fifty bucks. Oh, and some sandpaper and paintbrushes, as well.

Sanded and Primed

Momma and I sanded, primed, and painted the tables and then I urethaned them several times so they were protected. After several weeks of effort they were done. It was well worth it...we have some of the most colorful, creative, and very inexpensive tables around. We liked them so much we even went back and got a few more things to paint.

Early in the Urethane Process

Starting to Paint the Shelf

When we came to Ecuador we knew we wanted to have some colorful bright and cherry things that would be more local. As we have decorated our home we keep adding more things we find that we like. I must say these tables have added quite a bit of fun to our days.

Urethane Process

Finished Desks...Still Setting Up the Office

About Our Blog

Our blog is about a lot of things. Our daily lives, our move to Ecuador, and the vacations we plan to have. Please read and follow our travels through life. We welcome comments! Making friends along the way would also be great. People have described us as being colorful and animated. Our family looks at a glass and always considers it to be half full. We have an easy going attitude. We think things should get accomplished and that in the process you can still have fun. Feel free to come along on our families journey.

The Bowen Knot - Shamrock Rating System

One Shamrock: This indicates the worst service possible. If awarded, it means we would never EVER use the service again. If it was a food establishment the food was barely editable. This means a complete fail with little to no redeeming features. We will never go there ever again.

Two Shamrocks: This is a service that we might consider using again to give it a second chance. But, the experience that we had would normally cause us to award one shamrock if not for some key redeeming features. If it was a food establishment the food was okay, but still sub-par. We didn't like the food. Serious room for improvement exists.

Three Shamrocks: Normal middle of the road service. We might have had some bad or some good but they were offset somewhat. This is service we would use again but we will look for a better provider. If it was a food establishment the food was good. We like it and will return. There might be room for things to get better but it is still a decent meal.

Four Shamrocks: Great service. This is a definitive repeat for us. We like a lot about the service and recommend it. If it was a food establishment the food was excellent. We liked it a lot. We like the place enough to return frequently. There are very few detractors.

Five Shamrocks: Outstanding service. This is service that treats us above and beyond what we think we deserve. We consider this what we would want to find all the time and what we hope all service providers would want to obtain. If it was a food establishment the food was perfect. No issues whatsoever. We loved it and would eat there everyday.