Christmas Stockings......

Burlap with felt snowflake and jewelry detail.....

 Here are a few other stockings I made this year....hope you like them.....

Bright with fabric flowers

 

Love the cupcakes and  jumbo rick-rack....

I like the pink and black together with fabric flower and felt leaves.  Added a jewel leaf too.....

Had to make a plaid one....I like the flowers in center and the ruffled cuff.....

 

I like the retro look of this, a small pom-pom is glued at each intersection.



Loved this snowman fabric and  it worked so well with the wood grain....each snowman has a sewn on button.
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.



MUSHROOMS.....the cute kind.....

 I love red - I guess you can tell.....and I love polka dots.....so I just love these cute mushrooms.....I found this great plain turquoise felt coin purse and just had to have it.  A perfect background for the mushrooms. I found some polka dot felt - so cute - then cut and embroidered the design onto the front.

 The inside was unfinished so I added some cute fabric for a lining.....I even added the heart zipper pull....love how it turned out. 

 Here are few more mushrooms I made.  Love these pincushions....the base is a wood spool covered with sweater and the top is half a foam ball covered with part of a pair of socks I found in the $1 bin at Michaels...add a few details, ribbon, rickrack and darling pins and they are ready for action.

I just love these mushrooms - wish the ones I have growing in my backyard were as cute.  Hope you like them too.

Happy Halloween.......

 Here are some cute little onesies I made for  Halloween this year.  I really like them and they were so fun and easy to make.....Felt or fabric pumpkins were glued on then stitched in place. 

 Add a few ribbons - the bow is pinned from behind so it can be removed for washing - and rick rack for cuteness.....

 Sew on some buttons for color then add Tulip 3-D Fabric Paint dots on the sleeves - have to have polka dots....and they are done.

Also made some Halloween and Fall bibs - love the chevron fabric....I like how they look with the ruffle around the edges and the button detail....hope you like them too.....Happy Halloween to everyone.....

Fall Has Arrived.....

I can't believe that Fall is already here....so to get in the spirit of things I made some projects using burlap. 

Here is a cute little pumpkin I made from a foam one I found at the $ Store.  About 6" tall - it's just the right size.  I used a technique I saw on Alexa's site - Swell Designer - a very clever way to cover a pumpkin and so easy.  I cut out the stem then glued the strips of frayed burlap around the pumpkin, pushed  the ends inside and held them in place with a few short sequin pins and glue.  The leaves are two layers of burlap glued together for stiffness then cut into leaf shapes.  I added a single strand for veins on each then glued these inside. 

I covered the stem then pushed it back into place to hold everything together.  Add a bow and it's done.  I like how it turned out. 

Here is my wreath - I found the foam wreath in the $ section at Target.  First cover with strips of frayed burlap then glue and pin a pleated strip around the edge.  Make easy flowers and leaves from different colors of burlap, glue into place and it's ready to hang.  Very fun and easy to make.  Well, now that Fall is done - onto Christmas - which will be here in no time.   Hope you like them.

Stitching Away......

I can't believe September is almost over.....where did the year go?.  I have been busy these past weeks sewing and crafting things for Halloween and Fall.  Here are some of the things I've been sewing. 

 Love how this little owl bib turned out.  Really easy with edges cut with pinking shears.  These will fluff up when washed.  Think he turned out cute.  The most fun part is deciding on which fabric colors and prints to use.  As you know I  have plenty to choose from.....

 Chevron designs are very popular right now.  I found this fabric and couldn't resist.  Added a ruffle around the edge, a few buttons and they are ready to go.  Halloween colors but not scary.

I really like this fabric, again I had to have it (I know it's a disease).  I also used it for the waistband.  Had to add the rick rack or it wouldn't be me.....Love the big button. 

I made lots of other things these past weeks and will post pictures in the next few days. 

Hope you like them.

Too Cute!

I love Washi Tape - the patterns are so cute.  I saw this great idea on Pintrest and couldn't resist making some for my friends - even made a few for myself.  This technique makes an ordinary pen into something special.  The pens are very inexpensive so lots can be make cheaply and quickly.

 They are really easy to make - use clear Bic pens and remove the insides.  Roll  tape around the length of  ink holder and trim ends.  Insert back into pen and they are done.  So easy and cute. 

There are so many different tapes out there - no two need to be alike.    Hope you give it a try. 

Chrismas in August !

Last weekend some friends and I got together for a wonderful day of crafting to make our Christmas cards for the year.  My friend Debbie (the lady in green) designed all these beautiful cards then was nice enough to cut, punch, and assemble all the parts for us.  I hate to ask how many hours (days) it took her.  It was SO much FUN!

 Here are the cards we made - we were given enough to make two of many of the cards.   Aren't they wonderful?  I can craft, paint, draw or sew anything under the sun - but put paper in front of me and I freeze.  That is what makes this so wonderful - all I had to do was glue....no thinking involved - just what I like.  Debbie also incorporated different folding and cutting techniques with each card - it is always fun to learn new things.

 Chris and Bonnie are working hard on their cards.....we had such a wonderful time together - laughing, crafting and eating the day away.....

This is Debbie - the Paper Wizard - and Colleen - creating away.  Such a fun day - the hardest part will be seeing if I can actually send them out.......

Fun With Paint!

Here is a child's rocker I painted for our Annual Historical Society Auction.  They had an old one that someone refinished and asked me to paint. It was so fun to get out the paints and brushes again.  I just love the feel of paint on wood......I haven't painted in a long time - I've been sewing so much lately -  that it was fun to use a different medium. 

 Here is the finished chair -  real easy flowers, leaves and a bow.  I think the colors really pop on the black.

 Sorry -  this is a fuzzy close-up of seat design.  For some reason I can't get away from red and turquoise.  Hope someone likes it enough to buy it.....I'll let you know.

While I had my paints out - I thought I would paint these S&P shakers.  I got them on sale years ago - unfinished.  I really like how they turned out....will just match my kitchen.  Painting these really got me back in the mood....I have plenty of surfaces to paint on....maybe some Christmas presents......Hope you like them.

Corn Relish and Pickles and Aprons - Oh My !!!!

Hello!

I have been busy this summer.  Haven't posted in a while - but plan to remedy that with a few things I have been making over the summer.  I would like to start with these.....I just love to can - remember my post about the Onion Jelly....Well, here are my newest endeavors.....Corn Relish and Refrigerator Pickles.  It was so fun.  I had picked up some corn at a local stand - bought way too much - and decided to make the relish.  Planning to use it this weekend as a dip with corn chips.  Hope everyone likes it. 

 Love the Pickles - have already finished off one jar.  So easy and yummy with lots of onions and bell peppers. 

 I have also been sewing a few things - have to keep busy.  These are aprons made from a leg of jeans.  Just cut along inside seam, open up and curve sides.  I am a big fan of oil cloth and have lots of pieces sitting around.  Thought it would be cute for the pockets.  A little bias tape and ribbon for ties and they are ready to go. 

Here is my second apron - with a visitor just as I snapped the picture.  Little Poof has really grown.....hope you like these as much as him - let me know what you think.....

The daughter of my friend has a new little baby girl so I made this little banner onesie for her. I think it turned out really cute and it's so easy to make. I ironed fusible web to back of rainbow colored fabrics then cut out the small triangle shapes.  After ironing them in place I outlined each with a blanket stitch of white floss.  They "hang" from a line created with white floss in a basic outline stitch.   

I added securely stitched buttons on either side for a bit of cuteness - and I was done.  The whole thing only took a couple of hours.  I hope she likes it...I'll let you know....let me know what you think...... 

Out the Door!!!!!!

In case you were wondering where I've been - I have been BUSY.....working on some projects for a friend.  This is how my kitchen has been for the past few weeks.....I would have worked in my clean studio (see other post) ...but I don't have cable in there....and I have to be able to watch Turner Classic Movies....

I designed and created 12 projects with steps-outs.....I loved every minute...it is so fun to design and create.  Will let you know how everything turns out later.

 No matter what size table I start out with - it seems I always end up with a 12" square to work in.....

Here they are....all ready to be shipped....My new little kitty - I named Little Poof......loved all the junk that fell on the floor - just more things to play with.  But now it's all cleaned up - ready for the next project.....

Such Beautiful Flowers

Just got back from vacation.  My sister and a friend went on a Disney Cruise from LA to Vancouver Canada.  It was a repositioning trip - they will now cruise to Alaska instead of Hawaii.  A great trip.  One of the stops was San Francisco - so we went shopping. 

We also stopped in Victoria Island in Canada.  We went to the BEAUTIFUL Burchard Gardens.  They were spectacular.  It is family owned - it used to be a quarry and the wife didn't like to view so she created this fabulous garden.  These pictures don't do it justice.  Everything was in bloom - except the rose garden.  But the tulips!!!!!!so beautiful.

 Here is just one section the gardens - the quarry area....a wonderful meandering walk with unbelievable colors from so many different flowers and different colors of the same type. 

 Here is a cherry tree in bloom....so beautiful....

 Here is Krissy with just one of the tulip beds.  The tulips are tall and so many...all types and colors....pink and purple....

 Red and white - I couldn't even guess how many there are....

 Don't know what these are - but three colors where planted together......Couldn't take enough pictures to show everything.  A real treat to see.  I usually plant silk flowers.... so I really appreciates all the work and planning that went into this wonderful garden.

Here are some of the Indian totems in Stanley Park, Vancouver...these are so wonderful.  Love the colors and the very graphic designs are great - I plan to craft with these designs in the future.  Two great places to see if you ever get a chance. 

A New Addition to My Family

Here is my new addition!  Isn't he the cutest thing!!!!!! I have wild cats in my backyard and one of them left this in the bushes.....I heard him meowing for a day or so - I couldn't find him - then he came out.  He was so small and so cute.....I had to take him in.  Last year I had to put my old cat down due to illness and was waiting for the right moment to get another one...I have to admit it was nice not having to change litter boxes and buy food - but I sure missed having a cat by my side.....

So now I am feeding him with a baby bottle, trying to teach him how to use the litter box and eat canned cat food.  I actually got up at 2:00 in the morning for a few days to feed him - then I realized he didn't really like that - so now he sleeps through the night.  I thought this was a good day to show my new pee-wee - Mother's Day.  Now I have to think up a name.....any ideas?

New Aprons

Here are a few aprons I made this summer.  I have to keep busy.....I love the process of putting the different fabrics together  - it is such fun to figure out all the colors combinations. As you have seen in past posts - I am a fabricaholic....so I have plenty to chose from.  Then I get to choose and sew on rick rack and bias tape....I just love to sew......

 I thought this was the cutest bird fabric - kind of Scandinavian and retro together......

 I had to have this fabric it's red and turquoise - again a very retro feel -

 This owl fabric was so cute - I just had to have it.  I liked the pleating around the edge - a fun look.

Love this pink one - it was fun finding all the different prints for this.  Add a few buttons and I'm finished. 

I will show you more later.  Hope you like them. 

I Made Onion Jelly - and Didn't Cry

When my sister was here we went to the Coast and Wine Tasted.  I was designated driver - so no drinking for me - instead I tasted food.  One of the wineries had some Onion Jelly - kind of like Pepper Jelly.  I bought it and we tried it at home with cream cheese and crackers.  So good.  Well I decided to try to make some myself -I have always loved to can things.

 I found a recipe and proceeded.  Chopping onions in processor really helped - no tears.  I through I had read the recipe right but realized I put in twice the vinegar - so had to change the rest of the recipe - luckily Krissy was there to help.  After adding more sugar and pectin - we waited to taste the outcome. 

 I made Carolee try it and she liked it....we actually had it with dinner that night.  How bad can it be when put over a glob of cream cheese?  So I lucked out with my first try of Onion Jelly.

I put cupcake liners under the lids for quick cuteness and am ready for gift giving.  Who will be the lucky friends to recieve my wonderful Onion Jelly.....

A Very Polished Necklace

I  few years ago I purchased some small glass glob ornaments.  I knew I wasn't going to use them as ornaments - but as a necklace - and use fingernail polish to paint them.

 I mentioned this to my sister and she said she would like to make it. Here she is testing each color on aluminum foil. Some of them really change color when brushed out.

Once the colors where chosen, she poured a puddle of polish onto the foil. Roll the glass in the polish covering the bottom half.  We added ornament hooks then hung them to dry - which doesn't take long.

 Here the are all dry and ready to go.  I just love the colors....she is making a necklace but what a great bracelet it would make too....there were a few leftovers that I can use....

 They look like jewels in her hand.  This technique of dipping could also be used with glass Christmas ornaments and lot of other things....hope you give it a try. 

 So Beautiful.......