HANDMADE HEAVEN

INCORPORATING

2012-02-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

I'm combining all of my blogs into one. Please visit Sweet Peas & Chickadees.

THESE HANDS

2012-01-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

Since we moved into our new home I've been trying to get my craft room/studio put together but it seems everything else comes first these days. We'd barely moved in when the holidays came along so we put all the Christmas decor out. Then I did a lot of baking and candy making. Then we put away all the Christmas decor and put the other stuff back out.

I have been working on the craft room, though, and it should be ready for me to create something new and fun very soon! And it is a fun time to create with Valentine's Day just around the corner.

Last night I cut out hearts. I want to make a curtain of hearts for the living room fireplace. We don't use the fireplace much to my dismay. Hubby says we need to get them cleaned out and then he wants to put gas inserts or stoves in the recess. My point being that I can hang a curtain of hearts from the mantel and not worry about them catching on fire.

And I want to make some cards for my grandchildren. So I've been downloading free clip art from the Internet and Pinterest. If you haven't been introduced to Pinterest, you should click the link on the sidebar and check it out. It is so much fun!

Since I am this close to creating again, I think I can get this blog going once again. I've learned so many new things and can't wait to try them out. With my spiffy new and organized craft room I will enjoy it every so much! Come back soon and if you have any questions or ideas to share, just make a comment.

FEELIN' THE NEED TO CREATE

2011-11-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

When you feel off-balanced do you need to create something? I certainly do. My mind gets full of ideas and I must soon go to the craft room/studio and do something creative. And that feeling is here now...time to do something. My room isn't finished being set up though I think I'm going to have to do something whether or not everything is in its place and a place for everything. Know what I mean?

Need to do/ideas:

put the edging on my collage, thereby finishing it
use some of the iron-on transfers I bought over the weekend and embroider a snowman on a dish towel
start tearing strips off hubby's old blue jeans to make a rag rug;
bought a large crochet hook over the weekend to do this with.
make wind chimes

Well, that's all for now. Gotta get with the program. Have a creative week!

KNITTING PROJECTS

2011-10-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't knitted for awhile but I have no completed projects on hand. I sent them to a charity in Kentucky. So I now need to begin knitting again since we have moved and are a bit settled. I like to knit while watching t.v. when my body cannot do anything else. (I have a feeling that I'll be watching and knitting a lot. My FMS seems to be worse than ever.)

So I looked at the Red Heart yarn website and found a hat I'd like to try to make. It's really nice looking and its supposed to be easy. I am self taught and don't know much other than knitting and purling so I choose the easy patterns. I'd like to take a real class on knitting one of these days, if I can find one!

Here's a photo of the hat:

And here is the link: Red Heart Yarn Faux Brioche Beret .

BEING CREATIVE

2011-10-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe the number of talented artists out in the world today and we are so fortunate to have the Internet which allows us to connect with one another. We get inspiration from websites and blogs such as The Creative Connection. My inspiration to make the owl project came from Inspiration Avenue. Another blog or website I love to browse is Where Women Create. Check this one out, too: Big Picture Classes

We have just recently moved into a larger home and I have my very own craft room. I have not finished unpacking and organizing all my supplies yet but I'm very motivated. So motivated that I have actually been creating things atop my work table that is covered with all kind of goodies. I am anxious...

Once my room is ready to work in I have no idea what my first project will be. I have so many thoughts in my head - projects, supplies to buy, etc. Stay tuned to see photos of my finished workspace and photos of the projects I choose.

Meanwhile here's some fun vintage clip art for you to snag.

WHO goes there? OWL bet it's you!

2011-10-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the owl project I made for the Inspiration Avenue contest but couldn't enter because my camera broke. Then I borrowed one but it was too late!

The owl is made of simple cardboard, brown coffee filters, buttons for the eyes, and craft paper for the mouth and horms. The corks are from wine bottles, buttons are hot glued to the end of each cork. The ribbon is crinkled and dyed seam binding.

My $2.95 wreath.

Autumn Wreath

2011-10-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

I went to the dollar store yesterday and had a great time shopping. Spent too much but I hadn't been in awhile! I got a wreath base and some silky leaves and made a wreath for the front of the house with them. I had ribbon in my drawers - 50 cents for one spool and 45 cents for the other. So for $2.95 and some glue, I made a cute wreath! I could post a photo of it here, IF MY CAMERA WORKED. I'm not happy with the fact that it died. I was all set to take photos with new batteries and all. NOT. Dang it. So I can't show you the tree and the owl or the wreath. I'm going to have to borrow a camera for now. Since we just moved we've had lots of extra expenses and a camera was not on the list.

BACK AGAIN...ITS MY PEROGATIVE, LOL!

2011-10-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

I have decided I need this blog to keep me motivated. I had heretofore deleted it, but decided to continue with it. I have inspiration from many sources, some on the sidebar, and I'm always coming up with new ideas, so this blog will help me keep my creative endeavors on the front burner, so to speak.

My project right now is based on a challenge from Inspiration Avenue. There is a Weekly Challenge there, and lots of other activity, too. The inspiration for this week is "Owl." I'm not an owl lover, I usually shy away from anything owlish, but this is the challenge and I'm gonna do it. Each Monday an inpsiration is offered and you have the week to create something and post it on your blog by Sunday. Then you create a link from the Inspiration Avenue blog to your blog post with a photo of your creation.

I'm going to go work on my creation now. I'll be back when it is finished!

MY NEW SPACE

2011-09-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

We have moved to our new house although not everything is here from the old house. My craft room is awesome! My two sisters-in-law on hubby's side wanted to spend a day helping me so they painted my room lavender! I love it! Then hubby and I bought shelves to house all my supplies. I haven't unpacked everthing yet but I'm getting there. I'll be so happy when I can finally create something again!

The shelves are metal, chromed. They are about 6 ft. high. I store most of my "stuff" in plastic boxes with lids so they stack on these shelves nicely. They are the kind that people use for kitchen storage a lot. Very sturdy and not too hard on the eyes. I will post a photo once I get the boxes unpacked.

What do I want to work on first? Hmmm. Maybe a scrapbook. I am making one for each of my children and I need to get with it. Two down and four to go!

What have you been working on?

NEW INCLUSIVE BLOG

2011-08-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

This blog will soon be deleted as I'm combining three blogs into one new blog. Click here to go there: From Our Home on Harrison Hill . See you there!

A REASON TO CREATE

2011-07-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

I had surgery a little over a week ago and was told not to do any lifting, packing, etc., to take it easy and not get my blood pressure up. So I took the doctor at his word and I sat at my craft table and created. Well, I actually decorated. Or altered. Whatever you call it I had fun and have 13 decorated bottles, a little purse/bag and a decorated primitive wooden spoon to show for it. And some gift tags, and some bookmarks...

Here are the photos of my bottles:

A perfect place to hide a love note is inside this pretty bottle in the rolled up music page.

Each bottle except the Coke bottles and the large one decorated with the brown cross has little treasures inside. Most of the lids are not removeable so that a choking hazard cannot occur.

Each bottle with items inside has either a cork decorated with a button or a pearl or a lid which has also been decorated.

My favorites are the one on the far left an the one smack dab in the middle.

Coke bottle all dressed up for the prom.

A sweet little bottle.

Another small one. This one has a pretty floral label and little faux pearls inside.

SINCE LAST WE MET...

2011-06-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hubby got "better." He had heart procedures. Then he had pneumonia and bronchitis. Then we moved from our beach house. Sadly. Then it was time for the peony harvest which was very late this year, and very poor. A lot of the plants died. We won't go into that! But hubby's dad says, "That's farmin' for you."

I haven't been creative. At all. Well, yes I have been. I just haven't been consistent! I made the coffee filter wreath. It took well over 300 filters! It is thick and pretty. Different.

I have not been using the Cricut lately either. Miss it? You bet!! I miss being creative but with illness, unpacking and all sorts of interference it is the last thing to do, or the first thing to go, I guess!

So what do you have going on in your craft room/studio? Or do you tend to take summer off so you can be outside? Its too hot for me to be outside so I stay in most of the time. I have skin cancer on my nose right now until my surgery for same in July. Another reason I stay inside. This is my third episode. I guess those sunburns when I was a child are showing the results at this late stage of my life! I burn very easily and have had several critical burns in my life. No sunscreen back then. Or we didn't realize how necessary it is/was way back then.

I am planning some projects soon so I'll be back with more on that. I still haven't started the weaving project but I have added elements to the pile that will someday become the finished project!

And the Bloggerette Society just had a matchbox swap so I read up on the "how-to's" earlier. I haven't been around so I missed out on that one. Maybe next time.

Ta ta for now - and remember: A creative mind is seldom tidy!!

OVER THE HUMP...MAYBE!

2011-05-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well, the heart problems are over and the pneumonia DH got during the heart problems! Sheesh. When it rains, it pours, does it not?

Creativity has been keeping me somewhat sane, LOL! I am almost finished with my coffee filter wreath and it looks so full and pretty. But I can't find my paints! I packed up quite a bit of my artsy-fartsy stuff to take to the other home and now it has mostly been moved back to this home since we are taking leave of the beach house, but where are the paints? Can't find 'em. In order to be complete, I need to brush a bit of paint here and there on my wreath with a foam brush. After all the work I did to get it to this place in its completion, I'm a little hesitant to put paint on it. What if I don't like it? What if it doesn't work out? All that work then would have been for naught. I'm thinking of adding some silk flowers here and there, or some colored tissue paper made like the coffee filters by folding and adding those. I can do either without gluing them in just to see what it would look like. I'll take photos and show you!

I've been off the knitting for a bit. I'm one of those random people. I like change, to change up what I'm working on, give a little variety to myself.

I got three new cartridges for my Cricut machine so I've been playing with that a little bit, too. My younger grandchildren love the little items I cut out for them: cars, butterflies, etc. Today I'm spending time with two of them and plan to take them some of the die cuts, glue sticks and paper to create pictures.

Well I'm off now to get ready to go visit those little ones. Hope you have a great weekend.

HEART MATTERS

2011-04-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've been away dear readers. My sweet hubby is having heart problems and we've been running back and forth. And I've been worrying, of course! And I had not been feeling well, and some other of life's problems came to visit, too. That's why I haven't really been blogging much. Sometimes its hard to think of something other than the problems that one is facing and I didn't want to make depressing posts on my blog, LOL!

I've been knitting away. Had a visit to an art gallery last weekend and got inspired. I'm doing a weaving... Knitting long narrow pieces as the beginning to a woven wall hanging. Not just made with knitted pieces, though. I plan to weave some ribbon into it, and maybe some belts. Anything that is the right length. The knitted pieces will have to be placed up and down so as not to sag. They might still sag, depending on the framing if I do a frame. We shall see. This is something new for me...an idea that came to me after visiting that art gallery.

A good lesson was learned here. If I am kind of down and not into my art, go visit a gallery or take a walk online through Etsy and get inspired.

Have you been inspired lately? And what came of it? Be sure to make a comment and tell us.

Bye for now; I'll be back soon, I promise!

Knitting

2011-04-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

That's about all the serious crafting I've been doing lately. I spent all last week sick, which is why I haven't been blogging.

Spring Break was the week before and I had the pleasure of the company of several grandsons, six to be exact, that week. We did crafty things and they seemed to enjoy our projects. Here's what we did:

looked for driftwood on the beach to make scrabble tile signs (we dried the pieces in the oven on low heat so the glue would stick)
decorated sugar cookies (and ate them up, too)
made woven mug mats with yarn and a metallic trim about 3" wide with holes in it. It was silver and they got to choose the colors of the yarn
made the Scrabble tile signs
colored one of those black velvet posters
made mini-pizzas

I think that was all of our projects. Oh, I did forget one - drawing. Pappy (my DH) draws so they had a couple of drawing sessions, too.

We went fishing. Lots of fishing. We ate the catch one night, too. Lovely trout! Pappy taught them to clean a fish and then to debone it. All but one grandson ate the fish and he was the one who caught the most! One grandson had never eaten trout before and he did that night and said it wasn't so bad!

I hope the kids had as much fun as we did!

COFFEE FILTER WREATH and THE FICTION PROJECT

2011-04-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

I read about this on another blog and I can't remember where. A spring wreath to be made with coffee filters on a straw wreath form. I had been looking for a wreath form of some type, styrofoam or straw, but had no luck. Remember I live away from cities with craft stores. Anyway, I went to some thrift shops today at the beach where I am staying this week, and lo and behold, I found THREE straw wreaths! One is brand new in a package, one is a heart shape and the other is a round straw wreath. I'm using it since I haven't made one before and I'll practice on this one.

You need a wreath form and A LOT of coffee filters for 8-12 cup coffee pots. You separate the filters. Fold each one in half and then in half again. It would be good to sit and watch t.v. while you are doing this part because you needs LOTS of the filters! I found them on sale today, buy one package, get another one free! Then you begin to glue them on the pointed end and stick them on the wreath. Begin on the back and then flip the wreath to fill in the entire wreath form. It is time consuming but no prob! Do have a cup of ice nearby; you may burn yourself like I did! I plunged my hand into the glass holding my soft drink and ice cubes!

I've taken some photos so here you go. I'll take more as I finish it up, too. After the entire thing is covered, you cut the filters because there will be different levels. Then you paint it. Not all of it, and not heavily. We'll get to that part tomorrow maybe. For now, here are the photos:

Wreath forms - use straw wreath or styrofoam. If hard pressed, you could make your own form with wire and newspaper or tissue paper.

Fold the coffee filter in half, then again.

Begin gluing the pointy edge onto the wreath. Start at the back and glue on the inside of the form and on the outside.

You will need many, many coffee filters, LOL!!

These are plastic rings. They were 10 cents each. I know I can figure out a use for them, if nothing else, a Frisbee with a hole in the center! They were labeled "pipe grommets."

This is a checkerboard and I don't have a clue what I'll do with it but I know I'll think of something! It was $1.99 and 75% off, so how could I resist?

This is the writing project I am working on, THE FICTION PROJECT. The black book is what I write in, fill up with stories and artwork. It is to be postmarked by May 1st and sent back to Brooklyn Art Library.

Some of the paper I'll use in my project. I made the little envelope of purple cardstock to put a business card or two in.

A FLOP

2011-03-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make little Mother's Day hats for spring. I have done it before and thought it might be fun to include my grandchildren in the project. But first I had to find the right supplies. The little hats are made from styrofoam cups. I know from experience to find styro cups with no lines on the outside. Then you put them upside down on a cookie sheet and put them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. You watch them like a hawk because they melt quickly. The first batch I had put in at 200 degrees because I couldn't find the directions. Nope, that didn't work at all. They all fell over and turned into hard pieces of styrofoam.

So the next batch I made I did after I found the directions. But, the styrofoam must be different nowadays than what I had about 6-7 years ago. They didn't turn out right. After they are finished, provided they turn out the way they are supposed to, you add foo foo, like ribbon roses, little velvet leaves, pearls, bows, etc., with glue. Then you glue them to a stick such as a popsicle stick, or a small dowel (wooden and about the diameter of a sucker stick) which can be found in craft stores. Then you put them in floral bouquets or plants or where ever you wish to. They are really cute. Unfortunately mine look like something the pilgrims wore and one even looked like a hat the Rebs wore during the Civil War. Not Easter bonnet or Mother's Day faire. Rats. I wonder if I bought the larger styro cups...

NOTE: I just read about doing this craft on familycraft.com and they said the cups didn't work right on silver cookie sheets. I had put foil on my cookie sheet so maybe that is why mine didn't turn out right. Also, I had not painted mine in the past and these are really cute that have been painted, don't you think? Paint AFTER they cool when the get out of the oven.

IT'S HERE!

2011-03-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

My blank book is here! I'm so excited! It's just a plain black covered book of pages with lines to write on. My subject is "Storybook" - I can write up to 51% and do the remainder in artwork to go with the story or stories. I can decorate the covers, front and back, and can make fold out pages inside the book as long as the size folds up to the size of a page.

Now I am really going to have to put the thinking cap on and jot down the thoughts that have been rambling around in my head since I signed up to participate in this project.

Should I write about dogs?

Or should I write about cats?

How about shoes?

Or maybe a hat.

It could be about flowers,

Or sweet little girls,

The house I grew up in,

Or maybe something that twirls.

Hmmm? Stay tuned...

THE FICTION PROJECT AND WRITING

2011-03-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

I'm waiting impatiently for my empty book to arrive. The one for The Fiction Project. I've been thinking about what I'll write about. How I'll do it. The format, etc. I'm really tickled with the concept because I have been worried about handwriting in general with all the technology in this day and age. I am worried that people will forget how to write...the actual physical act of writing, and then, too, the connection between the brain and the hand. I am seeing more and more horrible handwriting - no one practices it anymore. We don't write letters. (Well, I do.) I rather enjoy writing letters and I think that getting a handwritten letter or note or even a greeting card in the mail is still a very fun and rewarding experience. We get so much junk mail that occasionally it is fun to find some "good" mail in the pile.

Today is Monday. Why don't you make it a point to mail a letter or a note to someone this week? Practice handwriting and random acts of kindness together!!

MY IDEA BOOK OVERFLOWETH

2011-03-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have so many projects floating around in my head! I think I get bogged down and pathetic (yes, I meant to use that word) when I have not allowed my muse to work through my brain and into my hands. Art is one thing I can get excited about in my dreariest of hours. That is why I have a multitude of books on the subject, paints, pens, canvases, flowers, papers, embellishments, buttons, charms, ribbons, scraps of fabric, laces, bits of oddness found on the ground or wrapped around produce, driftwood, seashells, bells, watch parts, feathers, yarns, stickers, pieces of magazines cut or torn into bits, and, well, MORE!

And the other side of my brain is full of words, weird words, non-words, stories, tales, poems, silliness and such. A kind of art in itself.

I must go now and let some of this ART out of my head.

CRAFT OF THE MONTH - NO. 3 - SCRAPBOOKING

2011-03-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

Another craft I thoroughly enjoy! I have done about 10 scrapbooks so far. I have many more to do, too. Why? I do enjoy it a lot, but also, I do it for the children and grandchildren. To preserve our family history. But also to have some fun.

People have been making scrapbooks forever. I have a couple of black paged, leather bound books from my grandparents. A lot of the photos are missing. The photos were smaller, much smaller, and the preparer of the scrapbook often didn't indicate who was in the photo or photos. When they did, on the black pages they wrote with a white pencil. They used photo corners to hold the photo onto the page.

When I was a young wife and mother, I used those photo albums with the sticky stuff on the page under the filmy cover. Needless to say, many of my photos were ruined by the time I found out you should never use those albums. Photos can sometimes be removed from those pages but it is painstaking and not always successful.

Scrapbooking has evolved into an art form. And it doesn't matter if you are artistic or not, you can still produce a lovely scrapbook with the many materials offered in the craft stores and home party businesses such as Creative Memories and Close to My Heart. If a person is really not artistic, or if you are not sure of yourself, you can find premade scrapbook pages for sale on Etsy.com and eBay. If you need supplies you can find them online and in craft supply stores such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

Some of the items you will need if you decide to start scrapbooking:

an acid-free scrapbook with pages & page protectors
extra pages & protectors
acid-free and lignin-free papers-patterned and plain
acid-free and lignin-free cardstock
adhesives (there are many kinds made just for scrapbooking)
acid-free pens to journal (tell who is in the photo and what they are doing)
photos
scissors
paper cutter
paper punches
die cuts
acid-free and lignin-free stickers and embellishments
TIME

If you can possibly leave your supplies "out" you will have a better chance of finishing the scrapbook.

It's a lot of fun to scrap with other people, too. Have a few of your friends bring their stuff over and do it together. You can give each other ideas for layouts, etc. If you serve food, do so in another room so the food doesn't get spilled on any of your supplies.

If you need ideas for layouts, there are books and magazines galore in the craft stores and online to help you out.

Here are a few shots of pages I've made. I have several smaller albums that I made with one grandchild featured so some of the photos highlight those smaller albums.

My grandsons Kooper and Ajay.

Me with Ajay.

Our Grandaughter Macie with her Mommy, Katie, our daughter.

Our son, Matt, on his wedding day.

Macie again.

Ajay with his Mommy, Melanie, our daughter and with his Great Grandpa, Bud.

Our beautiful daughter-in-law, Jessica, and son, Matt, on their wedding day.

Grandson Kooper with Nana.

CRAFT OF THE MONTH NO. 2 - HAND EMBROIDERY

2011-03-08T12:41:00.000-08:00

I don't think I will make a post every day but I have decided to highlight one craft per post this entire month since it is National Craft Month.

Last post was about knitting and crochet. This post I will give you some links and maybe some patterns for hand embroidery. I love embroidery and have been doing it since I was a young girl. I'm sure there are others who do a better job than I, but I do enjoy it! My favorite piece is a baby quilt I did. My husband's grandma had started to embroider some squares for a baby quilt. Not too many of them were finished but she had them all ready to go and the thread with it but she had long ago passed away. When I saw them I told my mother-in-law that I would finish embroidering the squares and make them into a baby quilt for her. It rests on a little child sized rocking chair and has done so since I completed it.

I remember my Grandma always had a chest full of embroidered pillow cases and towels as well as other handcrafted items for sale to women from her church (they made excellent wedding gifts). She had a very fine hand in embroidery and crochet and edged them all in crocheted lace. Her perfection and talent couldn't be matched.

Wikepedia says: Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins.

Here is a website you might enjoy if you embroider, or if you would like to learn:

Embroidery.com.

Emblibrary.com is another website. They call themselves "the number one resource for embroiderers." They just might be!

Here is another website and I think these three will get your started in embroidery. Any questions? Make a comment and I'll reply! embroideryonline.com

Here are some designs from embroidables.com, although you can find designs online, or you can draw your own designs. There are iron-on designs for sale, too.

You can emboider on baby bibs and onesies.

(embroidables.com)

Embroider flour sack dish towels or pillows.

(embroidables)

How about embroidering a quilted potholder?

(embroidables)

Embroider on aprons, towels, bibs, collars, pillow cases, etc.

(my files)

NATIONAL CRAFT MONTH

2011-03-01T14:40:00.000-08:00

Today begins National Craft Month! A good excuse to pick up your latest abandoned project, finish it and begin another! Are you learning to knit? A couple of good websites to find patterns and how-tos are:

Ravelry.com - for knitters and crochet

Knitting at About.com

Crochet at About.com

Lion Brand - both knitting and crochet

I know a lot of us do our knitting and crocheting in the winter months and that is what I have been doing lately, thus this craft post is directed there.

What will you be doing this National Craft Month?

TWO FER

2011-02-25T14:38:00.000-08:00

I was working on a scarf for myself, knitting it. I finished it and started a matching hat. Then I decided to put that aside and finish my hubby's scarf I started last year BH (before hand surgery). I thought I'd better get it finished since the weather had the temperature dropping into the teens. I finished it last night so he could wear it today. He said it was warmer than he thought it would be!! You know these men, they think they don't need hats and scarves! He still won't wear a hat (stocking type) unless he has to be out in the weather for quite awhile. I like to wear hats when leaving the house even if its just to go to the car! They say that's where we lose the most heat from our bodies, the top of our head. I know they mess up our hair, but we really could be a little less vain, I guess.

Now I'm off to have a weekend with my sisters! Always fun, and this one is different than the others we've shared. We aren't going out - just staying in and spending time together, playing games, etc. The hostesses say it is a "stay in your jammies all weekend" event! I'm sure we will have a blast!

Have a great weekend. I'm taking my knitting with me.

CROSS THAT ONE OFF THE TO-DO LIST

2011-02-23T21:17:00.000-08:00

I've had this lovely Nippon sugar dish without a lid sitting near my work table for ... hmmm ... quite some time now. Two years? Maybe. Anyway, I finally did something with it. It did not have a lid and it was too pretty to throw out, which I'd never do anyway, so I wanted to make a floral design in it. And there it sat all this time, waiting. Looking lonely, but beautiful! "Just do it!" I told myself. So its done and I like it! I thought I'd take it to the antique store with some other items I am selling there. Everyone needs a little bouquet to brighten things up!

CURRENT PROJECT

2011-02-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

I have been away from a computer for awhile because my Washington home computer got a virus and had to go to the computer doctor. My Oregon home computer is fine, however, I was in Washington for a couple of weeks! So now I'm in Oregon but we have the Washington computer back, too.

I recently finished knitting a pretty scarf that I had begun before my hand problems became so bad that I could no longer knit. I had the reconstructive surgery in October and was happy to get all the bandages and splint removed in January. So I picked up that scarf and finished it. At first I could only knit two rows before my hand cried, "uncle." But it wasn't long til I was able to knit away as if nothing had happened to my hand. The scarf was made with a pretty variegated yarn of pastels: blue, yellow, green, mauve, etc.

Now I am working on a scarf for myself from yarn given to me by my sister for Christmas of 2009. It is turning out to be a very nice scarf and I've decided to make a matching hat. It is purple, my favorite color, and is fluffy like mohair.

I've moved my scrapbooking and card making supplies and tools to the Oregon house but haven't done anything with it yet. I've had two surgeries on my eyes in the past couple of months and I've been going back and forth between our homes a lot, which means I don't get much done at either place! Luckily, knitting projects are very portable so I've had something to keep me busy.

What are you working on? Hope you are enjoying whatever it is. Post a comment and let us know.

WHY WE DO THINGS "HANDMADE"

2011-02-05T11:32:00.000-08:00

Coming from a family of 14 children, I learned early on that there was never enough money. Never enough money for anything: food, clothing, rent, etc. When your shoes got holes in the bottom you didn't necessarily get a new pair. Only if it was your turn. The holes in someone else's shoes were probably larger!

Though there was never enough money, our mom and dad instilled in us the best use of the money that was to be had, especially in the gift giving department. We always made gifts for the grandmothers and other loved ones in our lives.

Then when I got married and my family began, there was that frugalness to fall back on and we made things for our loved ones, too. I sewed clothes for the children, even making dress pants for the boys. I made baby layettes, blankets, my own clothes, etc. I learned by doing.

What I'm getting at here is that homemade was once a necessity and now it has become more than that, it's a special gift indeed that has been handcrafted. It takes more time and more care to make something than to go to a store and buy. And usually the handcrafted items are made better than the store-bought.

I have an apron that I made for my mother when my children were young. It is a bib apron. The bib part says, "Let us give you a hand in the kitchen, Grammy." And the skirt has a hand print of each of our children with their name underneath. The idea came from my mom. She made a skirt type apron with a little picture drawn by each of us (at the time there were five of us) and our name beside it. She embroidered it. For mine with the hand prints, I used liquid embroidery paint. It was popular at the time.
These aprons are family heirlooms now.

When I make something to give as a gift, I think of that person the entire time I am sewing, knitting, painting, crafting, etc., so of course I want to do it well and as near to perfection as possible. When I create to sell, I am equally tenacious. But when I make a mistake, I either remove it or fix it in a way that cannot be seen. I remind myself that perfection only exists in Heaven. And another thing to remember when chastising self for making errors, "A blind man would be glad to see it." I learned that from a friend a long time ago!

So have fun no matter what the reason is behind your hand-crafted or handmade projects.

NO, LET'S DO IT THIS WAY...

2011-02-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

It's a good thing I overly think everything I do. I have decided the entry closet isn't large enough for my arts and crafts supplies. I've spent a lot of time categorizing and sorting my "stuff" and put them into see-through plastic containers. Some of those are rather large and won't really fit into that entry way closet. I'm glad I thought it out before I cleaned the closet and wasted all that time! So, the "stuff" is going into our over-large walk-in closet. The sheets and bedding in there now will be moved to another closet downstairs so I won't have to carry my arts and craft supplies up and down the stairs. (Since I have trouble with stairs anyway and have to minimize those ups and downs.)

After my terrible day yesterday (see other blog: Sand in My Shoes; link on sidebar), I have been in bed most of today. But the computer beckoned me and I just had to get up and see what was happening in the world today.

Hope you are having a great week. What have you been working on? I am anxious to start making Valentine's for my little chickadees and sweet peas (my grandchildren) so I better get myself pulled together here one of these days and start. It is now February after all!

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT

2011-02-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

A vintage shop here in Rockaway Beach where I now live is having a contest. The name of the shop is "The Frugal Crow." I love it - and always manage to find something to carry home with me. They've decided to have a contest - buy a crow and decorate it. Only 100 crows will be sold to patrons such as me who want to decorate their crow and enter it in the contest. On the designated day the crows will be numbered and put into the window. No one will see the crows until that day. Then the public will vote on the crows and the top three will win prizes. How fun! I bought a crow right away and have an idea that I might buy another...if there are enough left. I don't want to hog crows, after all. After the contest you can take your crow home or you can donate it to be auctioned off to the highest bidders with the profits going to the local senior meals program.

Okay, what are the chances someone will read this blog and enter the Crow contest? Slim. So here are a few ideas I have although some I wouldn't exactly know how to decorate.

Barack Crow-bama
Crow-ella Deville
Crow Magnum
Michelango-crow

Be sure to make a comment with any ideas you come up with! I'll take a photo of my crow before and after later on.

A NEW PLACE FOR MY SUPPLIES

2011-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

We have decided to really move this time. My art and craft supplies have to have a place to live and can't have a dedicated room this time. (Rats!) So I've been trying to come up with a suitable way of storing said items that can be easily accessed and easily returned to their own space when I am going to have guests, etc. The closets are huge in the bedrooms, but I don't want to have to trudge up and down the stairs to fetch my "stuff." So I've decided to remove almost all of the items in the entry closet and put my things there. It's where the vacuum cleaner is stored and the mop, so they will continue to live there. Not all of my things will fit, I'm certain, so I'll put all that pertain to the endeavor I like the most, or do the most and that is scrapbooking and card making. My other stuff, i.e., for jewelry making and knitting, can live in one of the closets in the downstairs bedrooms.

I'm anxious to begin the transfer so off I go! The sooner I get it done, the quicker I can start creating again.

I'M BACCCKKK...

2011-01-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

I was gone, though not by choice. My computer at home in Ea. WA got a virus from an e-mail message and I couldn't do a thing with it. Not even play a game. And I've just arrived at the beach house where there is a computer that actually does work! Woo Hoo!! I'm back...

In my absence I've made greeting cards. Lots and Lots of Greeting Cards. What am I going to do with them? Hopefully find a place to sell them because there are more than I can possibly use!!

No pictures yet. Have to dig my camera out of a suitcase and find the battery charger, too. Then I'll post some pics. But I'm away from the card making stuff right now and the camera.

I'll post something soon about "Handmade" I promise!

CARDSTOCK

2011-01-17T10:16:00.000-08:00

I had nearly run out of cardstock in my stash due to the cards I made early last year for the Spirit Jump "Cards for Cancer" event. So I went to the craft store and wasn't satisfied with purchasing a little package of ten cards and envelopes. I prefer to purchase my cardstock in bulk. I remembered that I had bought a package of cardstock already cut into cards (and creased) one time a few years back but couldn't remember where. I didn't find it at Michael's though, where I had stopped to look. We continued our travels and stopped at Fred Meyer's for groceries so I went to the craft section and found just what I was looking for. It was not with the other card making and scrapbooking supplies, however, it was around the corner on the uppermost shelf. I was pretty pleased to find it and then to get 20% off the $9.99 price. The cardstock is acid and lignin free, archival quality and there are 300 cards in the package. So if you are out and about and in need of card making supplies, try your local Freddy's. The cardstock is all different colors so it makes card making fun and easy! (What do I do for envelopes? I buy a box of invitation sized envelopes in white and one in ivory and use those. You can get them at most any stationery/office supply store.)

MUNDANE MONDAY

2011-01-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

Thought for the day: "Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

HELPFUL HINTS FOR CARD MAKING

2011-01-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

I'm working on Valentine's Day cards and thought I'd share a few things to help you out if you are a newbie at card making, or maybe refresh your memory if you aren't so new to the craft.

wash your hands often so glue (and ink) don't transfer to your paper
baby wipes are handy to keep on your craft table
if you have made a mistake, don't throw it out - you can always cut off the bad part and use the remainder of the paper
the paper a little bit crooked? Put it at an angle on the card and it won't be visible.

when making cards to sell you should indicate to the buyer if your card needs to be "hand stamped" at the post office
sometimes bulky cards need extra postage

some cards can't be mailed in a regular envelope; for example, I just made one with a 3-D flower and a button. That won't fit into a regular envelope and it would smash the flower if I did put it in one. I'll put it in a larger, padded envelope. It will cost more to send, or I can give it to someone "in person".
if using buttons with a shank, cut the shank off with a pair of wire snippers
when gluing paper onto the cardstock be sure to smooth all the air bubbles out
wipe away any excess glue carefully - it can ruin your card and others stacked with it
toothpicks are handy to keep on your craft table - they help wipe away extra glue, they unplug glitter and glue bottles
wipe excess glue off the table right away or it could ruin a card - use a baby wipe
if you are putting buttons or other small objects on your cards and you sell them, be sure to do the warning about "not suitable for children under 3"

wait until the front of the card is dry from all glue and glitter before doing the inside

MY MUSE HAS AWAKENED OR SHE'S BEEN UNWRAPPED

2011-01-07T22:23:00.000-08:00

I had the bandages/splint/wraps removed from my hand on Wednesday and now I can use my hand and thumb and do some therapy. I do have a little contraption to wear called a "thumb stabilizer" but it is not nearly as cumbersome as the other crapola I had to wear. Do you realize that I wore that "stuff" since October 15th? October 15 - January 5. No wonder I was sick to death of it!!

So yesterday and today I cleared my table - filed stuff, threw away stuff and just generally got busy and prepared my work table so I could get busy and work on my project. I can't work on the project yet I discovered. Have to have hubby schlep a box from the storage building to the house (still have to pamper my hand) and wait for the items to arrive in the mail that I ordered. So, I made some Valentine's Day Cards instead. I love making cards. I started doing that 15 years ago, was it? Sometimes I'm a card makin' fool, too. But today I made six and two tags. I made them "vintage" style. Of course. Victorian and Vintage, two of my favorite words. And styles.

I'll take photos tomorrow and post them here.

MY NEW TOY

2011-01-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about my new toy! I have/had been wanting a Cricut machine since I saw an infomercial on t.v. one time. That was about 5 years ago, I think. But they are kind of spendy so I kind of just figured I wouldn't be getting one! I could do without, I thought! Lately I have been looking for a sewing machine with zig zag stitch on Blank's-List, you know the online website where you can find things other people have for sale in your area. Anyway, I also saw lots of Cricut machines on the site and thought to myself, hmm. So, I just made a note to self how much said machines were being sold for .

Down at our beach house there is a big store with groceries and clothes, furniture, and housewares but a small craft department. I was looking for a new address book for myself and went to the craft department... And what should I see? But a Cricut machine, just sitting there waiting for me! It was $100 off!! There was a coupon for an additional 20% off!! So, I asked DH if I could buy one. And he said I could and in fact, encouraged me to buy a cartridge, too. It was also on sale and then 20% off. I could barely contain myself! When we paid for our purchases the machine rang up even $10 less than stated, which was $110 off the regular price and then the 20% was taken off that amount. I was so tickled!

I played with my machine while we were at the beach but brought it home with me. Now I just need to clean off my crafting table so I can actually use it for the scrapbooks I will begin soon. It was awesome! I can't wait to play some more and to get the new cartridge I bought off eBay today!

I'll post some photos of layouts I make with my machine once my table is cleared off!

I'M GOING BANANAS!

2010-12-29T22:25:00.000-08:00

I am beginning to purchase items for a project I will soon begin. I have six children. I have made quite a few scrapbooks but mostly for us to keep of the kids and grandkids. But I made my eldest a scrapbook last year for his June birthday. You know what I did to myself, don't you? Now I have to make rest of them a scrapbook. In fact, at Christmas a daughter-in-law gave me a pile of photos and newspaper clippings and said my son said for her to give them to me to do because she will never finish them!! LOL!! But he's not next in line. The youngest son already has his because I had started it when he was a senior in high school. So that means I still need to make one for each of the three daughters and that son. The three daughters are before him, though. Or maybe I'll get ambitious and do them all this year!! I do the scrapbooks from birth to when they get married. (So far anyway!)

I regret that in our younger years we used those albums with sticky under the cellophane or plastic that you peel up, stick the photo down and lay the plastic back down over the photos. Big mistake but we didn't know that back then. A lot of our photos were ruined from those photo albums. Some I was able to salvage, but not many. If you have your photos in any of those albums, get them out, quick!

My favorite kind of scrapbook albums to use are those made by Creative Memories. I have not used any of the newer ones, but have used many, and I mean many, of the retired albums. I'm certain the newer ones are just as wonderful. I will be finding out because I have ordered some to use in my upcoming projects. I'll let you now how I like them.

I've also ordered some stickers and got out my huge scrapbooking idea book to get my brain going on different layouts and such. I cannot buy any paper no matter how much I like a new paper that I see. I have a banker's box full (really) of 12 x 12 scrapbooking papers. Yes, I have a thing about paper. My name is Nancy and I'm a Paperholic.

I have also used banker's boxes to put my kids' photos, newspaper clippings, awards, cards they made me, etc., in. I have one for each child. And one for my siblings. And one for hubby's siblings. And...well, you get the picture.

Another Contest to Enter

2010-12-27T14:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a contest. If you win, you will get a copy of the new magazine, Vignette in Stitches.
Vignette in Stitches Blog.

ONLINE CLASSES

2010-12-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

I often click links on other blogs and travel around blogdom that way, looking at things that interest me. As you know, I haven't been able to do anything creative since before October 15th when I had reconstructive surgery on my left hand. And yes, I'm typing but using the hunt and peck method so as not to involve my left thumb area. I had arthritis and had the joint rebuilt with tendon from my arm above that area.

Anyway, I have found a wonderful blog and website called "Shabby Cottage Studio" and "Shabby Cottage Blog." Gail is an artist and offers workshops from the Shabby Cottage Studio. She also sells papers, embellishments, etc., from her studio. I placed a small order in anticipation of having my hand back after Jan. 5th. I hope so anyway. That's my next ortho doc appointment. I ordered a distressing ink pad, some little gift bags made of papers I chose (I will make the gift bags, the pattern is printed on the backside of the decorative paper), and some gift tags. I can't wait to get them!! Here is the link for Gail's beautiful studio Shabby Cottage Studio. And here's the link to her beautiful blog Shabby Cottage Studio Blog.

Have fun browsing and maybe you'll decide to take an online class. I intend to once my hand is operational.

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS

2010-12-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

These items are for sale on Etsy.com. Go to the site, choose "Handmade" and type in "Christmas" on the search bar to see all the fun things that people have made for purchase in their shops at Etsy.com.

2010-12-03T20:27:00.000-08:00

Last year at this time I had finished knitting hats and scarves for my 14 grandchildren and some for charity. Then I made charm bracelets for each of our daughters and daughters-in-law which made 6, and one for a special friend.

This year I've done nothing and I can't stand it! I had surgery on October 15th on my left hand, reconstructive surgery, and it is out of commission until further notice. Next time I see the ortho doc is January 5th.

So I decided to remind myself of last year and put some photos here for you to see. Enjoy!

I TRIED, BUT I COULDN'T DO IT...

2010-11-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to do something creative and tried to make a little bird by shaping some styrofoam. I made a mess but it started looking somewhat bird like. My plan was to make a bird shape then paper mache' over it with paper and add a birdy beak and feet afterwards. My left hand had to get too involved and started screaming at me so I had to stop. Darn it! I could use any kind of paper on the bird from a paper napkin to a piece of an old dictionary page, or Christmas wrap or ??? I was going to make it into an ornament to hang on the tree. I'm getting the pin removed from my thumb on Wednesday so maybe after that???? I'll keep you posted.

Since I can't make the bird I can't show you a photo of it or even a photo of some thing like it, so I decided to give you a glimpse of the offerings on Etsy.com for homemade Christmas ornaments.

I love these adorable snowmen by Cloister Creations.

Isn't this a pretty ornament from The Shabby Chateau.

These sweet little ornaments are from Pinsies .

Birds...I love these birds! These are sculpted, etc., see them and more unique ornaments at

Trieste Prusso Design Creations

MEMORY BOARDS

2010-11-17T14:05:00.000-08:00

Since my surgery on October 15th, I haven't been able to do much in the way of creating or being artistic. And if you read my main blog, MY BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAHG, you know that my brother-in-law just passed away on November 7th and his memorial was on Sunday, November 14th. I was staying with my sister to support her in this difficult time and ended up making "Memory Boards" for the services. Memory Boards can be used at birthday parties, quince anos, weddings, funerals, etc.

Memory Boards can be made like a page in a scrapbook, using thematic colors, stickers, etc. Here are the items you will need to make memory boards:

foam core triple fold presentation board (we did two)

colorful construction paper or cardstock paper (choose a theme: pastels or brights or monochromatic)

scissors - plain cutters and decorative edged ones

double stick tape

photos

stencils or different shaped items to use as patterns

stickers

The first thing I did was print out a piece of cardstock with my brother-in-law's name (first and last) and his nickname below that and his birthdate and death date below that. I did this on a computer and printed it out. Put a border around the poster if you so desire. I does make it look nicer. Place this at the center top - or bottom - or middle - of the tri-fold board. Attach with double stick tape.

Next, I cut out all kinds of shapes in the brightly colored card stock. I used squares, rectangles, rounds, triangles and cut one of each from each color I had: royal blue, red, green, yellow and orange. (I didn't want to do flowers for a man but they make a lovely board, too.)

Then I trimmed up the photos if the edges were rough. My sister did not mind using the original photos but if you want to preserve the original photos I would suggest you make copies of each. I would also suggest using a colored copier.

Place the shapes randomly around the board. I made sure to scatter the colors so that there were no same colored pieces next to each other.

Choose photos and put them on the shapes but don't tape anything down yet. Once you have arranged the photos and the colored shapes to your liking you may begin to tape them down.

Since I did two boards, one was for his service to our country in the Army and the Air Force. I printed out colored copies of the ribbons he was awarded and added those to the board. The other board was for his life other than the service. Photos of him and his brothers when they were young, photos of him and my sister, etc. I also used scrapbooking stickers on this board. We didn't write on the boards, i.e., no captions were used. We figured the photos were self-explanatory.

If you have used the original photos, be sure to remove them soon after the services or party, so that they do not being to deteriorate. Carefully lift the photo off the background paper, then gently remove the double sided piece of tape. If you remove everything from the board it can be used again for another function.

So I was able to be creative in a special way even though my hand was all bandaged up. It took a little longer to do everything one handed, but I enjoyed doing it and both boards turned out quite nicely.

A CONTEST - YOU COULD WIN SOME PRETTY JEWELRY

2010-11-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

One of the blogs I read is Willow Walker Designs. Check out the blog to see all the pretties and you can even enter to win a piece of handmade jewelry.

http://willowwalkerdesigns.blogspot.com/

HANDLAID - UP THAT IS!

2010-10-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

I had reconstructive hand surgery on my left hand on Oct.15th which has put my creativity on hold probably for the remainder of the year! It's already driving me nuts but I've been in a lot of pain and the left hand/arm are in a sling most of the time.

I'm full of ideas, though and can't wait to try some of my ideas later on. I've also been thinking of better ways to organize and store my supplies and tools. At some point in time I'll share the ideas and photos after I've implemented my ideas.

I hope you are busy creating and especially I hope you are enjoying your time doing so.

Nancy

DO YOU HAVE CHRISTMAS PROJECTS?

2010-10-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Do you have Christmas projects to work on this fall? Of course I have too many and will never finish all that I would like to. Especially because I'm going to have surgery on my left hand sometime this fall. I won't depend on my projects getting finished, instead I will just enjoy the process and the creativity while I can. They can always be finished up later on. I've always had any number of projects going on at once because my motto is, "Better to be busy than bored." I've made certain I'll never be bored because of all the projects I have started and those waiting in the wings.

So my message to you is to go ahead and start your projects but don't feel pressured to finish because then it won't be fun. You can feel the pressure in December but not yet! (Yeah, like I take my own advice and actually listen to it!)

MORE ABOUT THE BEER AND SALT

2010-09-27T21:31:00.000-07:00

This concoction comes off easily when you are ready to remove it. Soap and water is all it takes. I saw some recipes that said to use ammonia, but so far I've practiced putting it on and taking it off my hand mirror and all I used was water! Once applied, the recipes state to let it sit overnight and it will dry and produce the crackly crystal effect. I'll let you know tomorrow how it turns out but from what I've seen already, it is working and it looks pretty.

SOMETIMES I DO REMEMBER...

2010-09-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

It often takes a bit of time but I do eventually remember something I know is there somewhere in my brain! The other day I wanted to purchase some spray to "frost" a long, narrow window by the front door, and the half moon window at the top of the door. Why? Because I went to answer the doorbell and there was this young face looking through the door window, waving at me. Hmpf. I was not impressed. Anyway, I know there is frosty contact paper but hubby asked me not to do that because he would be the one who would have to scrape it off when we move away. And I read the can of the frosted window spray and there was no way I would use it. Toxic fumes, anyone? And, one would eventually have to remove it with paint remover. So what happens to the window sills and frame when the paint remover hits it? Yep. We rent...so that was out of the question, too.

So I'm driving home and thinking...what did my mom and my aunt do one time when they wanted to make a window in a door private? They used beer and salt. But not able to consult them I decided to try it just to see what would happen. I got my hand mirror and a bottle of beer and some salt. Made a concoction. Hmm. Kind of runny and weird looking. Then I decided to do an Internet search and actually came up with quite few hits. The salt required is Epsom salt. I didn't have any of that so put off my project til another day. Went to look at my mirror that I did the experiment on. Hmm, it was kind of frosted but had grains of salt on it and a blurry coating. So I could see that it will indeed work when I do get the Epsom salt. I'll let you know how it turns out but I'm certain it will because I remember it working when my mom and aunt did it. In fact, it looked kind of pretty!

DAMMIT DOLLS

2010-09-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

I think it was last year about this time, maybe two years ago, in fact, that I made a number of Dammit Dolls. They are so cute! Anyway, I decided to make more of them. Most all the ones I previously made were either given away or sold and I don't have one for myself. Not that I need one, dammit! Ha! So I began last night. I've sewn two heads of hair and am on the third one. I sew yarn on the heads and double knot them so they won't pull out. After the hair I will begin to sew the clothes on. I use ladies socks for the clothes. They wear a dress and they have a hat as well. Then I put "shoes" on them, i.e., ribbon with a little flower or button. The final touch is the poem. I am hoping to sell these here in town. There are so many little gift shops and I'll ask my favorite one first if they'd like to carry them. I'm so excited to be doing something creative again, FINALLY. If you have been watching my other blog, MY BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAHG you know that I've been going back and forth between the Oregon Coast and Eastern Washington. I've been hauling my arts and crafts supplies a little at a time to the beach, where we will be setting up permanent residence. I must have deleted the photos of the rest of the dolls, dammit! You can get the general idea from this one photo. I buy the bodies of the dolls already made. They are made of 100% cotton muslin and are about 11 inches long. In my younger days I would have made the doll entirely from "scratch" but these bodies are well made and save me time. After all, the creative part is doing the hair and the clothes. I'll post photos of the new batch as soon as I finish them.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

2010-08-11T13:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't done anything crafty or artsy in so long that I am having withdrawals. I have been busy otherwise in my life and haven't had time or the availability to do anything handmade. It is wearing on me. In order to be "complete" or "whole", I need to create.

Therefore, I have decided to get out the Christmas trees I started several years ago and finish them! If I start now they might be done by Christmas! Or sooner. Since they are a Christmas decoration they need to be done by November 1, I'd say.

Here are some photos of the trees. I don't have my camera here but after I've worked on them for awhile I will borrow one or get the other one from it's place at the Beach House.

I'M HAVING A CONTEST!

2010-05-26T11:13:00.000-07:00

Contests are fun! I'm hosting one on my main blog, MY BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAHG. Rules and how-tos are posted there. Here's a link for you to click on and you'll be sent there ASAP:

MY BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAHG.

BIRDHOUSES

2010-05-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

I just love birdhouses. They are "quaint" and decorative ones are fun, too. We have a few out in our yard and I have a few on the porch as well as in the house. A neighbor makes wonderful birdhouses from scratch. He has them decorating the fence along the street and has others on poles that have feeders attached. His wife feeds the birds in his decorative but usable birdhouses. All the birdhouses in his yard sans the fence decorators have birds inside. I love birds, too, and there's no better way to attract them than birdhouses and bird feeders in your yard or garden. I'm not a wood crafter but I do like to purchase ready-made birdhouses to paint and decorate.

Online one can find handcrafted birdhouses on Etsy, ArtFire and eBay. Here are a few of them I have found:

This creation is for sale on Etsy at cavaliercreations2. It has been decoupaged and painted.

The birdhouse shown here has been made using mosaic. It is for sale on ArtFire at the shop Garden Path Decor.

This church birdhouse was found on eBay. It is for sale here: eBay auction. It may be closed before you read this. In that case you will find a broken link. I put in a search for "birdhouse" and found all kinds of them.

This birdhouse is adorable! I love it. It was also found on eBay. Click here to go there: THATCHED ROOF WOOD BIRDHOUSE.

Spring is an excellent time to put birdhouses outside. You will soon be rewarded with the chirping of baby birds.

RUBBINGS

2010-04-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

I had been wanting to do some leaf rubbings for awhile but had to wait for spring! Here are the steps to doing the rubbings.

Select several leaves to use. They should be veined and have a lot of detail.
Select the paper to use. I used tracing vellum which came in tablet form.
You will need a paperweight and colored pencils or crayons.
Place the leaves under the vellum in any design that you would like.
Put the paperweight on the vellum where it will help keep the paper and leaves in place. I might suggest to tape the paper to the counter or tabletop to hold it in place. It tends to slip even with the paperweight and my other hand holding the paper down.
I used colored art pencils. Use the side of the pencil tip to do the broader parts and the tip to do the narrower parts. Gently rub the pencil across the leaf. You will get the feel for it. I had an eraser handy, too, to erase the color that went "out of the lines." As I did more, I got the hang of it.
Do not use the same leaf more than once. I did. I made a mess and some of the rubbings don't look as good as the others.
This was my first attempt, done on 8-1/2" x 11" vellum.
I used a red Japanese maple and a mauve colored pencil.
I tried a house plant leaf, an Angel Wing Begonia, it didn't work. It has too much moisture in the leaf.
I don't care for the rubbing of the leaf with a crayon. There isn't enough definition of the leaf veins. I also prefer to use the darker colored art pencils.

What to do with the final product?

make a greeting card or a note card
frame it and hang it on the wall
make a calendar using different leaf rubbings for each month

I clearly need more practice before I do anything with the rubbings.

I don't know what the other leaves are. One was on a flowering plant which showed up in our flower bed voluntarily. The other was just a leafy plant which also just happened to show up.

Have fun making your rubbings and be sure to let me know how they turned out.

The Giraffe

2010-04-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

The giraffe has been accepted by the One Million Giraffes and he said he loves it! I'm thinking that he loves all the giraffes he gets and rightly so, they are all so unique! Here is mine:

It's made with buttons. One of the "rules" is that one has to put their name, age and location on the item so that's why I've written my info there.

Another crafty thing I did was use my permanent markers on a piece of white cardstock and draw a bunch of circles all over it and color them in. I'm going to post it here and you are welcome to save it and use it to print out on your own cardstock to use in card making, scrapbooking or whatever.

Here is the polka dotted paper print:

i feel the need...

2010-04-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

to create. it's been too long. so day before yesterday i made a giraffe. remember the guy who is proving to his friend that the internet is an amazing tool and that he can collect 1 million giraffes in one year? i wanted to make a giraffe for him and then got busy and forgot. i saw the link on my favorites and it reminded me. so i made him a giraffe. not how i wanted to. what i planned to do didn't work out so i chose another medium. i'll post a photo of it here after i take one. meanwhile, if you want to see the other giraffes, go see at: http://www.onemilliongiraffes.com/blog.

as soon as i start to feel a little better i will go to my workroom and make something. my card frenzy is over since the delivery day was yesterday. it's time to sink my heart and soul into something tangible. what will it be? i know not. when i go to the workroom to create, something just pops into my head and that is what i do. or not. sometimes the think that pops into my head is crap. meaning i can't make it look right. or i hate it. or maybe it's beautiful and i love it. but it doesn't matter, i still get the anticipated fulfillment of having created...something...

go see the giraffes. you'll love them.

BACK TO BUSINESS

2010-04-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have discontinued my sabbatical! I am proud of myself for shutting things down for as long as I did! I knew I couldn't last too long, though, without blogging and having my shops to tend to. I have a goal with my shops. I've been using the proceeds of my shops to augment our income, such as it was. (More out-goed than in-comed!) So now I've decided that I am going to try to save up and by a new sewing machine that embroiders. Maybe. Knowing me I'll change my mind again. I had decided to save up and purchase a die cut machine system like Cricut. And yes, it would be nice to have such an invaluable tool but realistically, I'd use another sewing machine more. When I was in my sewing days, I had two machines because I could pop back and forth between different colors of sewing thread. That is so helpful when sewing dolls and other crafty items. I had purchased a new machine and just kept the old one. But (you may remember) prior to moving here, we were going to live in a motorhome and travel so we got rid of many, many items. Then decided not to do that and purchased a manufactured home. Which is larger than a motorhome, but still not as large as any of the homes we've lived in since we got married. I mourn the loss of some of those hastily disposed of invaluable things like ... sewing machines.

Since I've taken on some sewing related projects, such as altering clothing, I could use a couple of different machines. I do have my Grandma's old machine which will be fine for straight stitching. In fact, it will probably be better than anything a person can buy new these days. I have to get it cleaned and oiled before I use it and since it is in a cabinet, I haven't quite decided how to do that. Maybe I'll do it myself. If I get some of that "canned air" like that they make for computer keyboards that might work. Then the oiling I'll look up on the Internet and do.

Meanwhile, I'll keep plugging away at my shops and save up for a new-fangled machine.

My project "Cards 4 Cancer" ends this week. I will deliver the cards on Wednesday, April 7th. I took photos of some of the cards after I had already addressed and put some of them in envelopes. My total so far is 130 cards. I did not make all of these, some are store bought and contributed by my team members.

Happy Easter Everyone!

TAKING A BREAK

2010-03-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'll be taking a break from blogging as often as I had been. My Etsy shops will also be closed for a bit. I have a list of things I need to work on as well as trying to feel better. I have been feeling poorly and having too much to do adds to that. So a little respite is what I need, I'm thinking. Part of it will be taking time to do some creating so I may be adding photos now and then to show what I've been working on.

Check back now and then - I doubt I can stay away too long!!

HAPPY SPRING AND HAPPY CREATING!

MY CREATIVE SIDE IS UNDER THE COVERS

2010-03-11T09:53:00.000-08:00

I almost said my creative side was in the closet but thought better of it.

Though I am still "away" I did bring some supplies with me so today I plan to make some more mini felt items such as the pin cushions and whatever else my mind thinks of while I'm doing that. I believe I brought some embroidery with me as well so I should be able to calm my urge to craft somewhat! Though I had been gone the week before last, I did have a couple of days to work on something crafty, a birthday party package and a springtime banner. I will have to post photos when I get back home. I had fun working on those items.

I've decided to keep a notebook of things I think up that are creative or that I see in a magazine or ?? to make. I find that I forget things more easily as I mature. And that might be an understatement. I remember that I wanted to remember something...haha.

How are you doing in your crafty-ess and artsiness? Hope you have had a little time for yourself, too.

IT WAS TIME TO REARRANGE THE FURNITURE...

2010-03-05T21:54:00.000-08:00

So instead I gave the blog a facelift! It's bright and cheerful and makes me think of spring! It is on the way. There are lots of green sprouts out in the flower beds. DH pruned some of the roses today.

I'll be back soon with my "major" project of the past few days. I've been working on a party package to sell in my shop. I don't have a die cut machine other than my hands and my scissors and I've cut out so many flowers these past couple of days I should be dreaming about them at night!

GIRAFFES

2010-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

My blog friend, Katy, had a link to a site called "One Million Giraffes." http://www.olahelland.net/giraffes/blog.php. How fun and unique. Thanks, Katy, for the tip. You can read Katy's blog here: http://girlindustries.blogspot.com/2010/03/few-fun-things-to-do.html. (She is not my daughter, Katie.)

What is it? A contest to see how many giraffes the blog author can collect. The rules, etc., are here: http://www.olahelland.net/giraffes/rules.php.

I think it will be fun to make one and send it to him. But even if you don't want to make one, you should go to the first link I've put up to see all the different giraffes people have made! It's amazing ~ there are some talented people out there in the world and some very creative ones as well. I'll have to post a photo of my contribution here when I make it. I've already got it planned out!!

Weaving

2010-02-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

Recently I read a magazine article about weaving your own fabric and making something from that fabric. The author suggested making your own small loom by pounding nails in the wooden frame, etc. I thought that a little too much for me and put that article aside.

While we were gone (we are home now after a couple of weeks of being away) we went to some second hand stores, a rummage sale and an estate sale. At the estate sale we bought a box of "stuff." It has a wooden weaving loom in it! It's vintage and it is small and would be perfect for the project mentioned above. It may be awhile before I get to it but I'm planning on using it one of these days.

What I liked about this project is that the fabric is not going to be plain, you weave into it all kinds of pieces of "stuff," such as ribbon, yarn, fibers, etc. and use all colors. The randomness appeals to me.

CREATIVE WITHDRAWALS

2010-02-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

I'm having creative withdrawals since I haven't been home for awhile and thus haven't done any knitting, card making, etc.

Going home tomorrow, maybe I'll have time to do a little something!

SOMETHING NEW

2010-02-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

I bought a magazine solely for the cover project. The magazine is Sew Beautiful and the project I'm interested in is the ribbon roses. There are so many "how-to's" in the issue that I am dying to try!! But, I'm not home. I bought it when we were away, then we went home for 45 min. and left again. If you read my other blog, "My Blah Blah Blah Blahg" you will know that there are some bumps in the road of life right now, but soon enough I'll be home and able to try out the new craft (new to me, that is). I'll post before and after photos and tell you how much fun I have making them. Meanwhile, have fun crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting or whatever you do that is HANDMADE.

EMBROIDERY

2010-02-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

In the past I've done crewel embroidery, cross stitch and plain embroidery, i.e., on bibs, dresser scarves, etc. At some point in time I could no longer do the cross stitch because I couldn't see well enough to put the stitches where they belonged. That was the cross stitch done on aida cloth, not pre-stamped.

When hubby and I decided we were going to travel upon retirement and took to downsizing, I got rid of a lot of my hobby equipment, including all that had to do with embroidery. I also got rid of knitting needles, crochet hooks, sewing machines, etc. We were planning to travel in a motorhome with no home to land in. Therefore, we had to downsize tremendously. And so we did. And my health got worse, and life was therefore, different. We decided to have a home base. But it was too late for some of the items I had already disposed of. So now that we have a home base and don't travel much, because I can't, I am slowly but surely adding back some of my hobbies!

When I decided to do some embroidery a little over a year ago, I was amazed at the difficulty I was having in obtaining prestamped items to stitch. I couldn't find bibs, nor dresser scarves, nor pillow cases... Rats. I was stumped! And the embroidery hoops were expensive. So I bought flour sack type dish towels and some transfers and a book of patterns and did my own thing. I found a few hoops at a second hand store in addition to the one I had purchased when I started up again, so I'm pretty much all set for embroidering and have been enjoying it. I've made quite a few dish towels and now I'm working on a frameable piece for a new baby. I had also started a Christmas themed item but put it aside since I didn't finish it. It can come out again in the fall.

I did notice something I had not known or noticed before. The transfers I ironed last year have faded quite a bit and it is difficult to see the lines to stitch. I had to outline them again with a pencil. So now I know not to do the iron-on transfer until I'm ready to do the stitching.

Another issue I've noticed is that the thread is not as "nice" as it was in the past. It tangles and knots way too easily. Now this might be significant to the brand, I don't really know. When I find out, I'll make a note here. All I do know is that I am not happy with the quality of the thread that I have. I had someone pick it up for me and there were not multiple brands to choose from. Therefore, I am planning to order the next batch online and to purchase a different brand.

I have found a website dedicated to embroidery where they actually sell prestamped items and kits. It is Emboidery.com http://www.embroidery.com/default.asp?sid={2135B14B-EF33-4DFB-AA7F-30E2899A1E35}&productsetid=118762&shopstop=2/. The sampler at the beginning came from this shop. There are all kinds of things to choose from and I'm going shopping there soon!

Let me know if you embroider and what you have been working on lately.

IT FELT GOOD TO USE THIS FELT...

2010-02-04T22:30:00.000-08:00

I purchased a few pieces of felt to make some of the bottle cap pin cushions. The only colors I could find were red, white and green. Christmas leftovers? Probably!

I used a water bottle cap on the smaller ones and the two larger ones were made with caps off of prescription bottles.

The pin cushion to the right looks like a Christmas decoration, doesn't it? Like three poinsettias.

This one is sweet. I love the colors. I've learned to do the embroidery before making the top of the pin cushion, much easier than when it is finished.

The pin cushion in the middle has a piece of fabric for the top. I cut it from a fat quarter. The green and white one is made with a piece of vintage trim. Someone wove two pieces of rick-rack together then added crochet to that. It looks much better than the photo portrays.

Hubby found some more felt so I'm going to try some other colors and make more pin cushions. I thought I'd give each of my sisters a pin cushion when we get together later this month.

And here are some hearts I cut out and embroidered. The little Scottie dogs are an applique which I embroidered onto the hearts. I am going to add hanging loops on those without one.

If you are interested in making some of these little pin cushions let me know and I can tell you how.

I'M HYPERVENTILATING...

2010-02-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

My appointment with the hand doc (orthopedic) is tomorrow and I'm beginning to hyperventilate!! I can't stand the thought of not being able to do my arts and crafts for a long period of time. Can I actually commit to surgery? How long will I be out of commission? They said it would be more comprehensive than the carpal tunnel surgery I had on my right hand a little over a year ago. How much more? Will I be in pain afterwards? No jewelry making, no knitting, no card making, no embroidery.

Then again, NO DISHES. No cleaning, no laundry, no bed making, no vacuum cleaning. I don't do those things all that often anyway, so don't feel too sorry for me. There is always work to be done here at the "home." (Tee hicks!) No cooking. Huh? What's that? Oh, that's what the hubby does in the early evening for dinner, right?

I'm thinking about what I can do. You know I'm one of those people who can't just "sit" and do "nothing." I'm always multi-tasking. If I am not feeling well I might "sit" and watch t.v. but my hands are busy even while doing that. I knit, I embroider, I cut out magazine articles or pictures for future projects, I even write letters. So what will I do instead? Hmmm. Read a book-I should be able to prop up a paperback somehow and turn the pages with my right hand. Type on the computer one handed. I'll still have to keep up my shops and my blogs. And e-mail. To an extent. I'm certain I won't be typing as fast or as much as I do now!

Okay, my hyperventilating is finished. For now. I think I'm going to be second guessing myself until my appointment tomorrow. Surgery? Postpone surgery. (Again.) Surgery? Postpone surgery. (Again.) You get my drift... The surgery is going to happen. I've already put it off to get me through the holidays and my knitting projects. Stay tuned... The continuing saga of surgery and the hand. Will she do it or not?

CRAFTING TO BE PUT ON HOLD?? SAY IT ISN'T SO!!

2010-01-30T22:45:00.000-08:00

I just realized that Wednesday I'll be setting up an appointment to have reconstructive surgery on my left hand. I have all kinds of things going on with it and wanted to wait until after Christmas to have surgery so I could finish my knitting projects. Yes, I knitted all those hats and scarves in pain, but I was determined to get them done with no excuses. But now I'm almost finished with the after Christmas projects for the parents who made orders! I am working on a dish cloth but I can get that finished quickly. The part I didn't think about...the other crafty things I won't be able to do. For some reason all I was thinking about was knitting, that I wouldn't be able to knit. Duh. No, I'm not blonde, although I have been, no offense meant to you blondes...

So I guess I better get the cards I am making for Cards 4 Cancer finished before the surgery, too. I have, at last count, made 74 for the project! I can still collect cards from other people with my hand out of commission so if I just finish mine up I'll be okay. I have to sign them, put labels on them (telling about Spirit Jump) and put them in envelopes. Which I don't have right now. Yikes. Better be thinking about those things in the next couple of days and get it all taken care of.

PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON

2010-01-29T02:35:00.000-08:00

I just finished the swimsuit cover-up/tunic today, ironed it and listed it in my shop, GARMENTURE, on Etsy. It is black with red and white highlights. I envision it with a white tee shirt or long sleeved tee or mock turtleneck under it, black leggings, red and white or just red leg warmers and either heels or Army boots. Not on myself, on someone else. Here's a photo of it. It sure is hard to photograph black items. The back has embroidery but no beads. Didn't think it would be comfortable sitting on beads! You can't really see it but there is black embroidery which is original to the piece. I've upcycled it with the red embroidery and I've sewn some vintage white pearly beads on it. On the neckline I've added vintage cluny lace in red. It can be used as a swim suit cover up, too, since that's what it is, really!

I have three knitting projects going on right now. I am still working on the pretty green scarf that I am making for Melanie with the basketweave or 4x4 pattern. It is about 45 inches long now.
I am also still knitting the green camo scarf for DH. It is almost finished, too. The weather is almost spring like so he may not get to wear it this season.
The third project is a dish cloth in a red and white variegated cotton yarn. Just plain. I plan to pair it with an embroidered dish towel with strawberries on it. I haven't started it yet.

Another project I'm working on is embroidering dish towels. The one I'm doing right now has a happy flower with a face. The flower is yellow. Haven't decided what color to make the face. There are leaves on it and they will be green. Here's another one I just made and listed in my shop.
In between times I am making a card here and there. I made over 70 of them in the past week for the Cards 4 Cancer project I'm working on.

I love to be doing something with my hands while I watch t.v. but there haven't been any good shows on lately. They are all repeats. Bleck. But sometimes I just sit in the chair and knit with the stereo on or I watch a recorded movie.

How are your projects coming along?

CRAFTY IDEAS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

2010-01-27T18:44:00.000-08:00

There are several places I go to get ideas. The first and most obvious is to look at what others are doing on Etsy. I don't mean that I steal ideas from other artists on Etsy, I go there to see what people are doing and look at their creations. That always INSPIRES me in some way or another.

Another place I go to is About.com. About.com has many, many areas of interest and not just ideas and patterns for creating handmade. Most recently I have been there to get free knitting patterns. Along with the knitting patterns, they have crochet and other needlecraft patterns. They have "how-to's" also. When I began knitting again in September after being away from it for years, I couldn't remember how to "cast off" or "bind off." I watched a video and had it mastered lickety-split. I believe this site to be the most comprehensive I've run across in my Internet browsing. Here is a link to the sites "Family Crafts: Crafting Tutorials" page: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/craftstechniques101/Crafting_Tutorials.htm/

Some e-commerce sites that sell supplies will also offer free patterns and hope you buy the supplies from them. One such business is Leisure Arts. I recently bought some pocket guides for knitting and crocheting from them. Here is a link to their free projects page: http://leisure%20arts/

Another place I frequent is Threads eLetter. They have items for sale, a print magazine and the newsletter. http://www.threadsmagazine.com/ Lots of good stuff here.

This is a project I think I will try because they are so adorable and such a sweet little gift. This website is "craftstylish." http://www.craftstylish.com/item/945/how-to-make-pretty-pincushions/

If you have a favorite place on the web that you go to for ideas, won't you share it with us? Just make a comment.

CARDS 4 CANCER ~ SPIRIT JUMP

2010-01-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

I mentioned briefly that I would like to be a part of the Spirit Jump* event "Cards 4 Cancer." I am now officially a Team Leader so here's the scoop:
Spirit Jump wants to deliver 100,000 cards to cancer centers and hospitals on Saturday, April 10, 2010.
The Team Leader gathers cards from friends, neighbors, relatives, etc., and delivers them to the predetermined cancer center or hospital on April 10, 2010.
The cards can be handmade or purchased. All signed with inspirational messages and signatures and marked to show Spirit Jump information so that the person can contact them if they desire to do so.
The Team Leader has Team Members to help gather the cards.
The Team Leader contacts newspapers, writes in her blog, sends e-mails, contacts anyone she knows to request cards for the event. There is no quota on the number of cards a Team Leader can deliver and there is no amount of cards to small to donate.

Why am I doing this?

Because it is something dear to my heart since my father, two uncles and an aunt died from cancer.
I am also a cancer survivor since I've had two different types of skin cancer. One of my brothers has also had skin cancer. I have been on my soap box many times to inform people that they need to wear sunscreen, make sure their babies wear sunscreen, etc.
And another reason, I've been reading the stories on Spirit Jump and want to make a little bit of difference to someone who is suffering from this horrible disease.
It is something I can actually do with my health issues.

What do I plan to do?

post it on my blogs
make a bunch of cards
have a card making party
notify television and newspapers in my area
send info to churches
send e-mails

And, finally: WILL YOU HELP? Just make a comment saying you will help and I'll send you my address to send the cards to. April 10 seems far away but lets not put this off. The more time, the more cards we can gather. Tell your friends and fellow church members, coworkers, etc. Or refer them to this blog post.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP!

*Spirit Jump is an organization that sends out stories from cancer patients who need a little support and inspiration. The stories are sent out via newsletters to Spirit Jumpers. The Spirit Jumpers then ask for the patient's address and they send a card at least and sometimes small gifts to give the patients a "Jump." There is a link on my sidebar if you desire to learn more about this and become a Spirit Jumper, or if you are a cancer patient and could use a little boost!

I'M TICKLED KNIT-NESS

2010-01-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

You know that I have been knitting like a fool since September when I decided to make scarves for my grandchildren for Christmas. Then I decided to knit hats, though I had never made anything other than a potholder prior to September! I made two hats for charity and then decided my grandchildren needed a hat to go with their scarves. Anyway, I made these hats and scarves but made them 'plain.' I didn't want to have to learn a pattern when I had so many items to make. Then came Christmas and the requests for hats and scarves for the parents of the grandkids! I am still knitting like a fool but finally decided to try my hand at a pattern, an honest-to-goodness knit pattern. So last night I broke out a skein of a pretty green colored yarn and set myself to knitting a scarf made with a pattern. It's called 4 x 4, but I've seen it called basketweave. I don't know if the two patterns differ, I need to find a basketweave pattern and compare. Anyway, the pattern is awesome! I really like it! DH liked it too. He isn't one to make a fuss, but he mentioned how neat it was twice!

So if you are new to knitting, I got the pattern at About.com under "knitting." The pattern's full name is 4 x 4 Woven Scarf. "If you can count to four, you can make this scarf." (Sarah E. White, About.com Guide)

A VERY HANDY GADGET

2010-01-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

I happened upon a "pocket guide" to embroidery and just had to have it. It is an accordion folded brochure type thing but it has been encased in plastic like it is laminated, however it is pretty stiff. There are six pieces so twelve pages. It was manufactured by Leisure Arts, Inc. and has a wealth of information on embroidery stitches. There is also a handy ruler to help with placement of stitches. Other helpful information is listed: what type of thread to use for which fabrics and what needle to use for them also. I was very tickled to find this because I have been embroidering for a very long time and some of the stitches I've never seen or heard of before. The best part of the deal was the price: $4.95!! I am going to try and find out if they have one for knitting and one for crochet. They did not at the shop where I found this.

Here's a link to the Leisure Arts, Inc. site where this brochure is sold:

http://www.leisurearts.com/items/56003/Embroidery/default.aspx.

MAKE IT HANDMADE

2010-01-02T15:12:00.000-08:00

I have finished the two hats and will deliver them tonight at a family birthday party. I started right in on a scarf. I have enough camo colored yarn to make my father-in-law a scarf after making my son-in-law a hat. The f-i-l got a "neck warmer" for Christmas but asked if he could have a real scarf. He's so small I thought the neck warmer would be just right for him, but he saw the others and asked for a longer scarf. So his wish is my command!! He is so frail now that he needs to keep himself warmer, no meat on his bones!

I mentioned some other projects I have on the back burner and I have one that is making its way to the front burner. I purchased a swim suit cover up at a thrift store some time in the recent past. It is made with a rather lightweight fabric, in black, with black embroidery and black sequins, its sleeveless and it has a fringe at the bottom. I washed it by hand and its all ready to go. I'm going to upscale it. In its finished state it will still be a swim suit cover up or it can be used as a top to wear with leggings, a long sleeved shirt, leg warmers, etc. I'm thinking of removing the fringe because it is kind of messy looking. I want to add color to the top, also. The black emboidery doesn't show up very well, so I am thinking of adding embroidery in red, or maybe in pastels. I haven't decided. I envision the top with a fringe of narrow silky ribbons at the bottom rather than the string fringe. If I do that, I will have to decide to use many colors, or just one, or maybe three. The embroidery and the ribbons, if used, should match.

I also got an idea to upcycle a hat I've had for sale in my shops for quite awhile now. It is black wool felt with a grosgrain ribbon around the part that flares out. Very plain, but nice. I want to remove the grosgrain ribbon and use tulle, flowers, ribbons and pearls to jazz it up.

Watch for photos of my upcoming projects! What are you working on? Do you have a list of handmade items you want to make in the New Year? If so, share here! But most importantly, have fun doing your handiwork. I do!!

MORE KNITTING

2009-12-31T20:48:00.000-08:00

I'm still working on the requests for hats and scarves that I got when the grands opened their hats and scarves at the family Christmas. I've finished one scarf and have two hats almost finished. I think I will finish one tonight. Then the other maybe tomorrow. Then I have 2 more scarves and 2 more hats to make after that.

I have some clothing to alter, too. I've purchased some heart yo yos made in satin that will look lovely on a silky tank top I snagged at a thrift shop. I'll doll it up just in time for Valentine's Day. It is a creamy color and the red satin should look great on the neckline. I'll add some creamy single pearls in the center of the hearts and add some embroidery or lace to the neckline as well. I've been putting my "altered" or "refashioned" clothing in my new Etsy shop, GARMENTURE http://garmenture.etsy.com/. I have lots more to list there including some vintage evening bags.

One idea I have is to make a door stop out of a shoe or a boot. I have yet to find the right shoe or boot. As opposed to the left? No, I mean the "perfect" shoe or boot for my project. Or "correct" shoe for my project!! LOL!! I want to fill it with plaster of paris after I decorate the shoe. Then I will poke things into the plaster before it sets up to add to the decoration. I need a doorstop in the main bath of our house and it has to be fancy-schmancy, don't you think?

What else do I have in mind for the new year? Before I can do much of anything creative, other than knit, I have to clean up the workroom because it is SO MESSY. It is a STY. I'll get to it soon.

Happy New Year and happy handmade to you, too!!

AFTER CHRISTMAS NO NO NO

2009-12-28T17:23:00.001-08:00

This is Junior. He's been with our family since 1984. He's modeling the most recent scarf I knitted. It looks like a serape! It's for sale in my Etsy shop, VICTORIAN VISIONS. (Not Junior, the scarf!)

Some of the scarves I made for the grandchildren.

A vest I upcycled recently. It's for sale in my Etsy shop, GARMENTURE.

The workshop-it's much messier now.

I made a decision to cut back on making things after my Christmas gifts were finished. I decided to list items for sale in my Etsy shops that I already have that are waiting, and have been waiting, to get listed. Every drawer, every cabinet, every closet I open has something that I meant to sell... Someday is now here and I must do it! In doing so, it will make me be more organized as they will all have to be put in the same place and not scattered throughout the house.

The bad thing is that I still have knitting to do! After the kids all opened their hats and scarves, some of the adults wanted a set! Or just a hat, or just a scarf! So I'm busy knitting, still, hats and scarves! And surprisingly, mostly the men asked for them!! But since I can't "work" all day long, I will have sit down time watching t.v. or movies and I can knit while doing that.

And, I need to clean up the mess in the workshop from making all those charm bracelets, getting wrapping paper out, etc. It's a disaster in the workshop, as I have begun to call it. It's not an office, though it has a desk, it's partly craft room, art room, office, junk room, so while I was being an elf the term "workshop" came to mind and it fits perfectly. Photos above of the "workshop."

CONTEST

2009-12-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

Over on the sidebar I've listed info about my upcoming contest. Be sure to check it out and come back again to enter. The contest starts on December 26th and runs for two weeks. I'll post photos of the prizes soon.

MORE BUSY

2009-12-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

The camera card has been found. I am once again able to take photos, phew! Now it is time for tidying up the house and getting the pretty tablecloth and Christmas dishes out since I've wrapped the gifts. The multi-functional table can be for eating once again...
Are you able to do any handiwork? Probably not unless you are rapidly trying to finish handmade gifts. Mine are finished as we had our family get-together and gift giving on Sunday. The hats and scarves were a hit as were the Scrabble tile name signs for the grandchildren. I have a few orders for hats and scarves from the moms and dads! I have now lost track of all the hats and scarves I've made since September!
Two charms to add to the last bracelet and I'm finished with the gifts.
DH is gone for a few days so I'm counting on getting a lot of tidying up done and being totally ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ on Christmas Day. How about you?

PHOTOS ON HOLD

2009-12-18T12:04:00.000-08:00

I took a photo of the signs I painted and made. Went to remove the card to upload them to the computer so I could post them here. No card. Where is card? I have no idea. I cannot fathom where it might be as I have looked high and low. I leave it in the camera except to upload. Then I remove it near the computer, walk to the computer, insert it and upload. So someone came into the house during the night and took it, we have a little ghost named "not me" or I am losing my marbles. I prefer the 1st or 2nd option to the last. I have crawled around on the floor. I have changed purses so I could completely search my purse. I've gone through the mail thinking it may have been under the new mail after it was opened and scooped up and put in the mail basket. I've looked under the computer, under the printer, under the microwave...I think it would be easier to tell you where I haven't looked! So, please, if you are "praying around" could you add a little one to help me find the camera card? I can't sell if I can't take photos. I'll keep you posted, and if and when I find it I'll post photos of the name signs I made for the kids.

PAINTING FOIBLES

2009-12-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

I tried painting my Scrabble tile holders with craft paint. Ugh. It's not "smooth" and looks "dull." (They are made of wood.) I was thinking they would look sort of "distressed" and/or "whitewashed" only not "white." I've painted them before and have been happy with the results, but I used spray paint.
So I braved the cold and went out on the porch, laid down some newspaper and anchored each corner in case the wind blew. Then got the spray paint down from it's place high atop some shelves hoping I wouldn't fall since DH was not at home. Put on a jacket and went out to the porch. The big deal was getting the lid off the spray paint cans! Gees, what were they thinking? I got a screwdriver and even that was very difficult and I ruined all the tops to the cans. (Which explains why one of them was lidless when I got them out!)
I sprayed the tile holders the colors I wanted, set the paint down as anchors, and went inside. I knew it would take longer for the paint to dry than it does in the spring or summer because of the cold.
Waited quite a while, went out again ready to do coat no. 2. Yikes! The paint cans were terrible cold on my bare hands! More shaking, more spraying, decided to take the paint cans inside. Good idea.
Went out later, paint still tacky. Let it dry more. Did some other things. Went out in the cold again. Paint still tacky. Decided to put painted tile holders in a box and carry into the warm house.
Now house stinks like paint. House stinks like something on fire because something green was in the burner pan when I heated water for hot apple cider. Dumped soda on the stinky smoking green thing. House is smelling pretty gross with paint smell and stinky burner smell.
Good news though. Painted Scrabble tile holders are no longer tacky and don't smell so bad anymore! Bad news? Have to clean darn burner pan now.
Why am I painting tile holders? Making name signs for the grandchildren!

JEWELS

2009-12-10T13:05:00.001-08:00

This necklace and the earrings I made for myself. I've had the smaller pink pearls for a couple of years, they are nearest the cross. My son, Matt, had these purchased for me in the Phillipines. The cross was made by my father and given to me by my brother, David. Three important men in my life contributed to this necklace and earring set! (My Dad has been gone since 1987.)

The bracelets are going to be gifts, not for sale.

I'm pretty tickled with the bracelets. I think they turned out nicely. I put a lot of time into them, I do know that! All of the items have been out on with split rings to ensure that they don't snag on something a get pulled off the bracelet. I have two items on the gold one near the bottom that I need to replace the rings on. I had run out of supplies and had to send out for more!

COCKTAIL RINGS

2009-12-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

My contribution to the Twilight/New Moon craze. A wolf ring. Or werewolf, maybe a coyote if you prefer coyotes to wolves, like I do!! Jacob Black is the wolf in the New Moon book/movie so here's a ring for Twilight lovers who prefer Jacob's camp.

My absolute favorite. This one is so beautiful I can't stand it! Of course, I love purple anything and this happens to fit that bill. It's listed for sale in my Etsy shop, VICTORIAN VISIONS. Here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36463119

This is my other favorite ring. You can see it at my Etsy shop, "VICTORIAN VISIONS BY NANALEE." Click here to go there: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36463836

This one is pretty nice, too. I haven't listed this one for sale yet.

This is a vintage porcelain rosebud ring. It's not listed yet.

I have been busy making rings today. I broke a toe, too. So I've been content to sit a lot of the day, keeping my hands busy and my foot stable. It was just clumsiness...or something...which caused my toe to break and ache! But you know how toes are, nothing you can do for them but wait for the hurt to go away.

I finished most all of my knitting. Right now I have one scarf in the making but there's no name on it so I don't have to rush or worry about getting it done.

Then once my knitting was done I started making charm bracelets. I haven't taken photos of those yet. I ran out of some basic supplies so I had to turn to another project and I'd been saving things to make rings so it was a good day to do them. Hubby went and found the jewelry supplies I needed to complete my other projects, bless his heart. He's so good to me!

So I'll post the photos but they will be up top instead of down below... I wish there was a way around that particular bug. I'll be listing more rings for sale in my shops tomorrow.

Hope you are enjoying this month and not rushing too much. Don't forget to take care of yourself in all of the hustle and bustle of the season.

PICS OF ITEMS FOR SALE BY ETSY HOARDERS UNITE TEAM MEMBERS

2009-12-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

1. These buttons are for sale by FindingThings. There are other fun things in the shop as well. Check them out at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23916191&ref=sr_list_19&&ga_search_query=hoardersuniteteam&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=19&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title.

2. Such a sweet little photo. A tutu petal skirt by GothFae. Click here for more fun little girl tutus and head bands. So cute! http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20775881&ref=sr_list_11&&ga_search_query=hoardersuniteteam&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=19&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title.

3. Satin baby shoes by WhoaItsMe. Click here to see all the info on these adorable little shoes. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21118256&ref=sr_list_14&&ga_search_query=hoardersuniteteam&ga_search_type=all&ga_page=18&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title.

4. This is a beautiful magnet made by Blueberry Manor. Click the link to learn the details. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36144372.

5. Cathedral Window Ornament by NoelBelles. Available here:http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34918500

MY TEAM MATES ARE TALENTED

2009-12-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Doing a search on Etsy of all items, using the word "HoardersUniteTeam" I found 28 pages of items for sale in my team members' shops! Here is a sampling. (See next post. We aren't able to put our words first on the individual posts. It you choose to add images, they always go on top, or first.)

HANDMADE ITEMS FROM ETSY

2009-11-28T21:09:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorites, handmade, from Etsy. Enjoy!

The shop is "Creations by Judy" on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18586461 The dress is for a Cabbage Patch Kid or Baby Alive.

The name of the shop on Etsy that features this lovely pin is called "Its Pamdemonium!"

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24382374

A pillow made from a necktie! How cute! The shop is TwoLeftHands.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19978823

A cotton baby hat from Reimagined Treasures.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22884143

A SNEAK PEEK AT HOARDERS UNITE SALE

2009-11-18T23:36:00.000-08:00

From the Etsy shop MyInnerPrincess. This frame is so beautiful and she has lots more in all different colors. She has other items in the store as well. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is PlushWorld's little mousy. Isn't it adorable?

Plush World did this sofa for a doll house as well. I love the colors. I don't have a doll house. Sniff. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These little angel cutouts are by Raajma.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And this lovely bikini bra top was crocheted by Mamta.

Go shop our sale and you'll find all kinds of goodies! See the fine print in the post below!

HUGE SALE ON ETSY ~ HOARDERS UNITE TEAM SALE

2009-11-18T23:31:00.000-08:00

We are having a sale. The 'we' being a group of sellers on Etsy, Hoarders Unite! We will offer 20% off certain items although some of the stores will have their entire inventory 20% off. To find the shops, do a search of all items when you get to http://www.etsy.com. Type in the word "fridayfinds". You will see a page of items from the different shops, probably more like 10 pages. When you find something you would like to purchase, put the word "hoardersunite" on the message to seller line when you pay. That will trigger the refund of 20%. As I said, some of the stores will already have the prices lowered. I don't because I have over 200 items and it would be labor intensive. Okay, so I'm too lazy to do it...

Have fun looking through the shops of these talented artists and sellers. I have already done some "sneaky peekin'." I have put photos of a few of the things in the next post.

WHAT SNEW WIT CHEW

2009-11-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

I've been home trying to feel better after the trip to see my Dear Sister, Patti, who was in an auto accident and suffers from lots of aches, pains, bruises and a fractured pelvis now. I hadn't been feeling too great before that, then of course, I became worried, thinking only of her and her circumstances and the fact that we almost lost her, or could have lost her. The Jaws of Life had to be employed to get her out of her vehicle. (she hit ice and consequently rolled her pick-up)

Once I got back home I continued to feel poorly so I decided to go to the doctor, what with this swine flu epidemic and me with a compromised immune system. Anyway, I have bronchitis and a sinus infection, my blood pressure was high (and I take meds for that) so I'm on anti-biotics now. Since I haven't felt much like doing anything housework related (what?) I've been doing crossword puzzles, cryptograms, sleeping, knitting, and I've made one "cuff." I see them for sale in the online shops all the time so I thought I would give it a try.

I started out by knitting a base for the cuff in black yarn. I added loops of crocheted yarn for "fasteners." I sewed on three vintage metal buttons. That is the underside. The topside that one sees is layered with ecru lace, gold and black lame', a rosette of the same lace, sewn-on imitation pearls, and topped off with a beautiful antiqued brooch with red crystals. The brooch is removeable in case the owner of the cuff wants to remove it and wear it otherwise.

All of the cuff is handmade except of course the brooch, and all of it has been sewn by hand, no machines were used in the manufacture of this cuff, lol! Well, maybe one made the buttons, or the pearls, or the lace. So I guess we'll delete the part about "no machines."

It is a larger cuff - which means plus sized women can wear it. Since the base is knitted, it stretches, but also it is a larger size to start with. Being my first ever cuff, I plan to make subsequent ones a little smaller. And with a different base. I don't know about the knitted part. I guess its okay, though, it will keep the wearer warm, thats for sure!

What have you made by hand this week? Oh, and I made a cake, an apple cake, from a recipe that was my Grandma Dillon's. It is written in her hand, too. That was fun! I thought of her the whole time I was making that cake. If you'd like the recipe, go to My Blah Blah Blah Blahg. You will find a link on the sidebar.

Enjoy!

RINGS

2009-11-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

This is a little green frog but it looks brown here. It is made of glass.

A lilac colored butterfly. It looks more blue but it isn't, really. It is also made of glass.

This was an earring. It is much prettier in person. I have two of these.

I had this button lying on my work table. It spoke to me and ended up being a ring with a satin rose. I rather like it!

Not all of the rings are shown here. I accidentally deleted them when I was editing the photos! I have not listed these for sale in my shop yet.

WHEN I'M NERVOUS I...

2009-11-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

Fill in the blank... When I am nervous I (eat, sing, bake, clean...) make rings. So I was waiting on phone calls most of the day yesterday. My sister had been in a bad automobile accident and had to be removed with the jaws of life. She was in ex ray for a long time. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Her, her husband, me (for phone calls). She doesn't live where I do so I had to depend on the phone. I had things to do, errands, but couldn't concentrate on those, so I went to the craft room and cleared a space at my table. Then I sat there and wondered what to do. Then I saw a pair of earrings I bought a couple of weeks ago to make into cocktail rings. Aha! So I made rings. I made 14 rings. I love all of them, too! Want to keep them all. NOT! Anyway, that's what I do when I'm nervous, I guess! So I'm off today to go see my sister. I'll take pics of the rings when I get back. I sure enjoyed making them while watching a "Lifetime" movie. Actually I watched three movies yesterday while waiting for phone calls, doing laundry, making rings, etc.

INTRODUCING...

2009-11-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

My first "refashion." I made an evening dress/gown out of a skirt. I got the skirt at a thrift shop. It's black and silver lame. I had some roses made to order to use on the bodice. I used black velvet ribbons for the straps. The straps can be worn, or tucked down if the wearer wants to go strapless. The dress has side slits so it's a bit sexy...I guess! Anyway, I'm so tickled with how it turned out. I have had it on the back burner for awhile, first while I figured out what I wanted to do with it, and then waiting for the roses that I had custom made. (From and Etsy seller.)

If you want to see the listing, go here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33736021

Now I'm all excited to do the gold lame' top that I have waiting. I laid some things out to get the feel for it, but its not quite "there" yet...

PROJECT PHOTOS

2009-10-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

The skirt that will become an evening dress. It is floor length as a skirt. The roses were custom made by Jen Porter of http://www.creativityporterjen.etsy.com. They are just perfect! Exactly what I wanted!

I haven't attached the roses yet, they are just sitting on the "dress".

This is the gold lame' blouse or top that I want to upcycle. I have it sitting on the couch so I can see it and think about it. I have since purchased some fringe in black. I am not quite sure if I am going to use this lace, nor am I sure if I'll use the fringe. In fact, nothing is written in stone, yet, in regards to this project! I'm sure I'll get a "voila!" or "eureka" moment soon!

Before the upcycle. Stay tuned for the finished project. I have to finish it soon since it will be a holiday type fashion. No, not for me. I wish I could wear something this small. It is a medium but it looks mighty small to me. It does have some stretch to it.

LATEST PROJECTS

2009-10-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of projects on the drawing board and yet I continue to knit. I found more yarn at the Goodwill store yesterday. Ten skeins of yarn for $2.50!! Good colors this time, not just orange and red.

The projects I have just begun have been in my head for awhile. I ordered some handmade roses on Etsy from Jen Porter. I saw some of her items and wondered if she would make me some custom roses. She did, and they arrived yesterday. They are perfect! Her shop is here: http://creativityporterjen.etsy.com. Check it out. So anyway, the project. I purchased a long skirt made of silver and black lame' type fabric. Elastic waist. I plan to turn it into an evening gown! The roses I ordered are black with silver glittery edges. There is a large one in the center, smaller ones on each side of it and then on the outside two even smaller ones. It looks so good! I'm very pleased. Now I have to attach the roses and attach straps. I want to do it so that the straps can be worn or not. The elastic will hold the dress up over the bust. It is not for me, of course, as I do not wear things like that here at the senior citizen trailer park, (LOL) but also, I'm a bit too chunky to pull it off anyway!

The next project on the drawing board is a gold shiny top. Very plain styling but evening wear type of fabric. This one is a little bit harder to refashion. I have it lying on the couch so I can see it and think about it and finally come up with a suitable upcycle. I have a silk rose piece to use on it, some lace, some fancy vintage buttons. And at the WM store I purchased a bit of fringe trim, loops and not too long, to try on it. So that one is still being thought out. I'm excited to get the two projects going. I'll enjoy the endeavor, I just know it!

What projects are you working on? What is on your drawing board? Christmas gifts, maybe. Make a comment and let me know!

ETSY TREASURY

2009-10-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

I snagged a Treasury on Etsy. Go check it out:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=90518

I chose items by members of an Etsy team I belong to, Hoarders Unite. We got together to challenge ourselves to use supplies we have on hand rather than running out and buying new supplies.

I've been knitting but not as much as I had been. I've been working on my online shops, organizing my jewelry and giving it a numbering system. I have a lot of it to sell and it's going to be much easier to find a piece when it sells with my new system.

I'll be back later on in the week to tell you about a project that is in the work basket right now, just waiting for me. And for something I washed by hand to dry. Curious? Any guesses? Ha, you never know what I have up my sleeve!

~Nancy~

WILD MAGNOLIA STUDIO

2009-10-26T16:46:00.000-07:00

Bingo Scrabble Tile Pendant. Click here for more information:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28153953.

Vintage Posters Magnet Set (4)
For more information or to purchase, click here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=29589942

Alphonse Mucha's "Danse" Domino Tile Pendant
More information available here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32702492

Our featured seller today is actually two people, one shop. Mary Alice and Sally Franklin are the owners of Wild Magnolia Studio on Etsy.com. It is interesting how the name for the shop came about. Mary Alice once read that magnolia plants are often unpredictable in shape, size, structure and color. Since each of them would be bringing something different into the shop, and there would be a variety of items, the name would be a good definition for their endeavor.

Mary Alice and Sally are truly dedicated to pleasing their customers. They are always willing to work with people on custom orders or bulk orders. They also try to keep their shop fresh with new ideas and strive to evolve in their styles, products and creativity.

Both women have an art background. Sally has a fashion illustration background. She currently focuses on Fine Art in mixed media works, especially colored pencil paintings. Mary Alice has a minor in Art History, has worked in art galleries and has a passion for photography.

At Wild Magnolia Studio you will be able to find holiday items such as holiday/seasonal pins, handcrafted gift boxes, gift tags in large quantities and ornaments with a vintage flair.

In addition to their shop, you can find Mary Alice and Sally on Twitter, Facebook and their websites and blogs, listed below:

Sally's Fine Art: http://www.sallyfranklin.com/

Mary Alice's Photography: http://maryalicefranklin.imagekind.com/

Mary Alice's Blog: http://artfeedonline.com/

Through the holidays and the end of the year any order over $24 at Wild Magnolia Studio will bet Free Shipping!

I'm sure you will have a great time shopping online at Wild Magnolia Studio! Tell them Nancy sent you!

I'M HOOKED...OR NEEDLED?

2009-10-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have been a knitting fool since I started working on the scarves and hats. I am enjoying it so much. I do have to sit with my legs up for part of the day and I've always needed something to do while sitting. Even if I'm watching t.v. I need to do something else, always have. In the past I've cut things from magazines or paper, embroidered, crossword puzzles, etc. But this knitting is the cat's meow. I told you about getting some of my yarn at thrift stores. Full skeins with the paper still wrapped around it. But I still do buy new stuff. Today I bought three skeins because I decided to make hats to go with the scarves. My hats are looking better and I'm getting my gauge figured out. As soon as this project is over I am going to challenge myself to learn a new pattern or make something else, not a hat or scarf. I would really like to make some slippers. I will need full instructions though. I can find a pattern online I'm pretty sure. I did find hat patterns and scarf patterns so there ought to be some slippers out there, too.

There are some other things I'd like to do besides knitting but I'm almost done with this project so I'll do something else for awhile. I need to make some more rings. They seem to be popular and I picked up some pretty earrings to use for two new rings. I think I might have to keep one of the rings when I make them. It's pink rhinestones. Every girl needs a pink rhinestone ring!

Hope you are having some handmade fun. Let me know!!

I'M IN A TREASURY!

2009-10-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Click the image to make it larger.

A fellow member of an Etsy team (Hoarders Unite) I am in got a Treasury and featured an item from each of my Etsy shops! You should go check it out not just to see my items but to see all of the items in the Treasury made or listed by my team mates. And pass it on, please! You won't be helping just little old me, but our entire team. Thanks so much!! Find it here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=72010

WANT TO BE A FEATURED SHOP?

2009-10-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm back and plan to stay, I want to feature a shop which sells handmade or handcrafted items on either Etsy or ArtFire at least once a week. If you are reading this and you have such a shop and you want to be one of my featured shops, here's what to do:

Make a comment on this blog telling about your shop and providing a link to it.
Visit my ArtFire shop or my Etsy shop and choose one item you especially like.
Send me a message on ArtFire telling me which item you especially like and the name of your shop, OR, do the same at Etsy with either of my two shops.
The links to my shop are on the sidebar here.

I hope to get a list of shops to feature and therefore help to get noticed in the BIG WIDE WORLD of e-commerce. Thanks!

LIKE A PHOENIX IT RISES FROM THE ASHES...

2009-10-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

I deleted this blog and another one, "Vintage Visions by Nancy" but I can't stand it! I have this need to write and though I can still write on my main blog, "My Blah Blah Blah Blahg," it makes the posts entirely too long. So this blog, "Handmade Heaven" has risen like the Phoenix from the ashes.

What have I been making? I'm still on the scarves I'm making for Christmas. I've got 9 finished and 2 to go, although I do keep thinking of other persons I can make them for that would possibly need a scarf...

And, I've learned to make hats. I've experimented with a couple of different styles and I'm learning the sizing. The first two I made for two grandchildren were too small. One now lives on a teddy bear and the other will fit a new grandbaby. I've made a total of 7 now. There is a scarf about 2/3 way finished and a hat on the needles that just got started.

Sunday I gave my 6 year old granddaughter, Macie, a lesson in knitting. She watched me and expressed an interest so once I took the hat I was making off the needles, I gave her a lesson in casting on. She gets the concept but her fingers are a little awkward. I told her next time we will practice some more and I'll take a pair of needles and some yarn that she can keep when I am not there. She lives about an hour and a half away.

The winter's cold has crept into the air and it seems fitting to be knitting... And since the new shows are on television I am getting more knitting time as I watch my favorite shows.

A YARN ABOUT YARN

2009-09-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

This is a fleece set of a scarf, hat and gloves that I upcycled by adding lace to the edges, a fabric yo yo on the hat and scarf and a vintage button on each yo yo and on each glove cuff. Warm doesn't have to be "plain."
Obviously the two with pink are for the girls. I used the size 13 needle on the variegated scarf and I don't like it as well as I do the middle scarf which is variegated but I used a 10-1/2 on that one.

The variegated tan one in this photo is the largest I've made yet. The middle one is an experiment with stitching. I used the garter stitch and the stockinette stitch, whereas I used just the garter stitch on the other two shown here.

I added buttons for "interest" and "fun" but of course this one cannot be given to a younger child.

I think I really like the way they all turned out. Except maybe the one plain tan one. It is "different" though, so maybe once I add the monogram it will look even better. Notice the smaller pink scarf and the black fringe and the bows. Pink and Black are really "in" right now and I think one of the Little Chickadees will enjoy it.

I have six of the scarves pretty much done. I may want to add some foo foo to some of them, or a monogram. I'm working on scarf no. 7 and a hat right now. I have never made a hat but I am giving it a try! The hat is for a challenge project for the Etsy group, Hoarders Unite. We have a challenge to make a hat or socks for a Veterans' home in southern Oregon. I am using tan yarn for my attempt. It is the October challenge so I've got plenty of time to get it finished and mailed off to our fearless leader.

I'm finding that I like the look of certain stitches more than others. And the tightness of the knit looks better with some of the colors of yarn than others. The larger needle that I have been using is size 13 and the smaller one is 10-1/2. I like both but the smaller needle with the variegated yarn looks much better to me.

I've posted the photos of what I have accomplished so far on my project. I need to make 10 or 11, I haven't decided yet.

SCARVES ARE COMING RIGHT ALONG

2009-09-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have five scarves made so far! I'm working on number six and there was another one I was working on but I stopped and started too many times and it's out of the picture now. I did find some yarn at the thrift shop and picked it up because I like the colors. So I'll be done with my Christmas project before you know it! I'm also going to try to make a knitted hat. I belong to a group that is going to have one challenge a month and the challenge for October is to make a hat or slippers or both for some veterans in southern Oregon. I'm really excited to try to make a hat so I'll let you know how it goes.

I found a pattern I liked and thought I'd use it on some of the scarves but I'm doing something wrong because after the second row of the pattern, when I'm doing the third row, I end up with four more stitches on the needle! Don't ask me how I did it. I ripped it out and tried a couple or three times and still had the same thing happen. I was at the beach without a computer so I couldn't look for a "how to" to see what I was doing wrong. But I'm home now and I'll try again once I've settled in, got the laundry caught up, etc.