Over the Memorial Day Weekend - my sister and I went to Newport Beach to cater a graduation party for the daughter of one of my best friends. I have known her since first grade and her daughter graduated from Long Beach State that weekend. My sister is the caterer - I was chauffeur and dishwasher. We had such a wonderful time - the weather was perfect and the rented house was FABULOUS - so beautiful.
This salad is call Mojito Fruit Salad. Rum and mint are reduced to a syrup and poured over the fruit - everyone loved it!!!!! So refreshing.

These were the appetizers served while waiting for everyone to arrive. Pesto Grilled Shrimp, Macadamia Nut Hummus, Thai Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce and Corn with Chili Powder and Lime - They went rather quickly. Everyone raved about the food - my sister is the best chef ......More later about the main course......Let me know if you need recipes.......

Isn't this cute? I just love the colors.....I drilled through each ball and added a post and looped the top. I then thread them onto an elastic cording and added a few bright colored bead to the mix and there you go -a cute summer necklace. Larger holes could be drilled then the balls could be threaded directly onto thin elastic cording for a different look......hummmmm I have a few balls left over - I'll have to try that...... Let me know what you think.

Here I am at the party - getting all excited over the bounce balls.....I "borrowed" a few from other tables to get the right colors......check in later for the project......

We had our company party at Duncan Enterprises this past Friday. "Carnival" was the theme and on each table they had small toys - our table had these small high bounce balls. I just love the colors and just knew I had to do something with them. I took a few home and made something special - will show you later exactly what I did. I guess a designer"s mind always sees something and wonders what can be made with it......

I wanted to show you the beautiful bracelet I made this weekend with friends. Debbie Rines, a friend and fellow designer at Duncan taught a few friends how to make this. It is really rather easy once you break it down - isn't it gorgeous? This picture really doesn't do it justice. The crystal beads are so sparkly - just love it - I made this one for my sister - these are her colors - the next one is for me.

These are a few of the supplies I plan to use on my "Fireworks" ring - will show you later how it turns out.

Wanted to show you my "helper" while I'm creating my projects for Amate Studios. Her name is Little Poof - her sister is Big Poof. Little Poof always wants to be wherever I am and always manages to lay down right in front of me - whether it's while I'm reading the newspaper, painting (I have had to be creative with my design trying to cover up footprints or a swipe of a tail with paint on it) or any craft project. Many a time I have had to pick up stuff from the floor where it fell from a swish of her tail. Right now she's laying on my beads that I plan to use for my 4th of July ring.

I wanted to show you my new sewing room and cleaned up craft studio. Te former was my mother's bedroom - she passed away about 6 years ago and my sisters and I haven't been ready to change things until this last month. My sister came out and we decided we could do it. Doesn't it look great! - so light and airy - can hardly wait to get sewing.

The studio may not looked too picked up - but it is. I actually have more than a 12" square to work within on the table - and my fabric on the shelves is all color coded. To make room for the fabric I moved my sweaters into SIX color coded bins in another room - how did I get so many sweater? Oh well everything is all picked up and ready to go.

Now I can get started on my AmateStudios
Will keep you posted on how they are coming along.

This little purse is created from the sleeve of the shirt - just added a ribbon for the handle and sewed a cute botton just under the cuff.

I wrapped an inexpensive bracelet with torn strips of the shirt fabric then tied knots with contrasting fabric - I think they turned our really cute.

It's amazing what you can do with just one shirt. Let me know what you think - I would love to hear from you.

Here is closeup of the cuff cover for bottles - I think these are so cute - they could also be vases after the contents are finished. Everyone at the party would have their own cuff - each would be different.....the Gift Bag has a sewn bottom and a bow tied for a closure. Even the gift tag is from the seam of the shirt glued to cardstock then a little button glued on. I punched a hole and used thin ribbon for the tie.

I want to show a few things a made for our local morning show. All these things were made from a men's shirt - great recycling project.

Here is an apron from the front of the shirt, bottle covers from the cuffs, a bottle gift bag from the sleeve, bracelets from the left over fabric and even a pillow from the front of a shirt.

In my attempt to post something new everyday (or so) - I wanted to show you these cute pincuhshions I made.

I found these great thick felt placemats with die cut flowers at Joann's this Easter. They came in three colors and there were only three in the store so I snagged them.

To create the pincushions, I cut off one of the flower shapes and glued it to a base of cardboard between fabric then sew around the edge. Add layered with another piece of felt and added the poof for pins. The leaves are cut from an old blazer I picked up the the Goodwill store. I added a few stitches for dimension - glued everything together - and there you go. I love them both - I made them to sell at a craft show but I think I may need to keep the turquoise and red for myself - those are so my colors.

I will add a tutorial when I make the next round - then you can see how easy they are.

Let me know what you think.

Wanted to let you in on some exciting news. I have been chosen to be on the 2009-2010 Design team for Amate Studios. The are the makers of really beautiful bezel jewelry - bracelets, rings pendants and more.

I first saw them at the CHA show in Jan. I make a Make-It-Take-It with one of their rings. They mentioned they were looking for designers for their Design team and gave me a few things to create with. I took them home and made some fun things - hoping they would like them too. Well I guess they did - they invited me to be part of the team. Very exciting. each month they will send me different things from their line of great pieces, I create with it then add to our blogs - what could be more fun. Hope you will be as excited as me to see what we will come up with each month.

Here is their site AmateStudios.com - please look their blog to see what others are doing with their fun things.

Here is my first package - how exciting - wonder what treasures are inside. Unfortunately you'll have to wait till after the 16th to see what they are.

I will be posting pictures of everything and even the steps - so hope you'll keep coming back to see the fun in action....

Some of the things for the craft show - made some really cute pin cushions out of felt (of course)

Close up of pear apron

Thought this looked like Minnie Mouse - now have to make Mickey!

Love this little bee apron - the pockets are so cute!

My fruit salad arpons - cherries and pears......

Hello -

I'm back!!!! Have been very busy making and creating - and had lots of fun doing it. I had to clean up my studio just to see what I have to create more with. I am planning on making a vow only to use what I have already have and not to buy more - hope I can keep it.

Wanted to show you a few aprons I made for my last show - guess I'm in an apron roll - they are so fun to make - I love the feel of the fabric as the needle goes through, I love choosing the different fabrics and even sewing on the seam binding.....I love it all.

I also was part of a craft show - wanted to show what I made for it. Did OK at the show - but still somewhat slow.