You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2007.
Here it is in all it’s prettiness! I am so thrilled with the finished product! I purchased some 6″ Michael Miller squares from Ebay a while ago and even though they didn’t quite meet the 5.5″ X 6.5″ that the project called for I used them anyway. I made adjustments in all the subsequent measurements to accomodate for the bit of a size difference. Truth is, I used the sewed together squares as a template to cut all the other pieces.
I made some other changes, too. I used less than the yard per cord handle. I used about 24″ per handle. I thought that the 36″ made them too long. I also added an interior pocket to the purse. I lined it with a brown paisley fabric that is on the back of this postcard. You can see a bit of the paisley at the top of the folds and it is just the right touch.
I spent about 2 hours making it last night. It was really easy to make. The hardest part was the corners at the bottom of the sides. I reinforced them by sewing back and forth on the stitches a few times.
I will definitely make more of this one! And since it is so pretty, I must show it again! Thanks Crafts ‘N Things for my new purse!
Here are my swap-bot Just Stuff items all wrapped and ready for the mailing box. I had 2 partners for this one. One in CA and one in TN. The sad thing is that they are not the people that send back to me. I like it better when there is reciprosity.
I received a package from one of my partners who lives in England yesterday. I got a couple of gel pens, some postcards from her area in England, some stationery and buttons and ribbon for crafting. Cute package and it FLEW from England to me. The other person has e-mailed me it is on the way!
Thus far I have not been thrilled with my Swap-bot experience. In my first swap I got back the fat quarter from my partner. In my second, I sent 3 fabric postcards only to receive one back. The other 2 partners flaked on the swap. I know that is the risk you run, but one of the flakees was the swap coordinator! It also appears this is not the first time she has done it either. Wonder why they would let her coordinate a swap then??
I did sign up for one more which is a handmade Halloween card swap. You have 2 partners and you send them 2 cards each. I enjoy making the cards lately, but have to get working on my bag I mentioned here that I was to make. I have the squares all ready and will sew them together this evening.
I got an e-mail from Vicki that she received my Self Portrait postcard and that it was a “really clever self portrait.” She makes some pehnomenal cards and from her that is quite the compliment!
On the job front, not much to report. I briefly spoke with a recruiter from a company in the city and I hope it proceeds further. Time will tell. I keep hopeful that it will all work out okay and I will end up where I am supposed to be. I believe everything happens for a reason, but most of the time I think that reason must be a twisted one (LOL)! God does have a sense of humor, right?
Enjoy your day and the LONG weekend! Travel safely and if you are beaching it…beach it for me!
This is the postcard I am sending to Vicki for the final card swap of my class at Quilting Adventures. The rest of the class opted not to create a final postcard since we were not getting together again. Vicki and I made one final swap. Vicki was working on a card for another swap entited Self Portrait so I agreed to follow that theme, too.
I decided upon a glass and to make it half full. I try to always think in terms of the half full. As I was cutting the fabric, I thought also that this was a glass of pink lemonade one of my favorite drinks.
Vicki, I hope you like the card.
I saw this idea in Adorn magazine and thought I would give it a try. The one in Adorn uses scallops on the edges and fancier stitching. I am still navagating on the fancy stitching.
Pretty good for a first try, huh? It is relatively short (28″) and would be great to add some color to a solid turtleneck you are wearing. I have several bagfuls of the felted sweaters and lots of time on my hands, so try… try… again!
I was watching a show this weekend and they featured this clip. Maybe you are not too young to remember it.
I took this picture while in Williamsburg this past spring. I did some research on the book in the window and these are Washington’s rules on civility:
The Rules: |
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It amazes me how some things never go out of style! Washington’s rules included.
I am participating in a swap on swap-bot entitled “Just Stuff.” You have 2 partners and a list of possibilities to send them. You send them 4 items based on the likes they indicate in their profiles. One of my recipients likes quilting and tea. So I made her this pinchshion using felted wool from thrifted sweaters and a vintage thrifted teacup. It is a quaint way to be green. I now have to figure out 4 other items to send.
For my second partner, she indicated she liked to collect Nun figurines (she is not Catholic, but thinks they look serene). I thought she might enjoy these notecards that I made. All of the images I found using Google image search, printed on ivory paper. I crumbled and smoothed out the paper prior to printing on it. I really like the effect.
Today at the Goodwill I found a Coach purse that I will take to Kim’s to consign. Got it for $6!!!!!!!!! I was psyched and it is REAL!
And lastly, my very crafty swap buddy Kirsten has entered a challenge on Monogram Momma’s blog. In my humble and totally objective opinion she should win. And to give you a little hint she is number 3! It is a bit hard to navigate through the entries, but check them out and if you are so inclined leave a comment and tell them that She (#3) is the best. Oh…did I mention she is #3? Kirsten is #3!
Happy crafting y’all!
Life has blessed me with a big lemon lately and I am trying to be positive about it. On the 16th I was downsized from my job. I had been there for a whopping 4 months and 12 days. I was understandably stunned, but am determined to turn this around!
As is always my plan, I am throwing some humor at the situation. Here are some lemony fresh quotations:
When life hands you a lemon, say, “oh yeah, I like lemons. What else ya got?” -Henry Rollins
When life hands you lemons, stick ’em in your bra. Can’t hurt, might help, ya never know!
-Birthday Card
And always remember…. when life hands you lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt and call me over!
If life gives you a lemon, sit down and eat the d*** lemon
-friend
if life hands you lemons, chuck them at the person next to you.
If life hands you lemons you hand them back to life and say i dont want your god d**** lemons!
“Practice pitching. When life hands you lemons you’ll have good aim and free ammunition.”
“When life hands you lemons, find a kid with a paper cut.”
And my favorite sweet recipe!
Lemon Bars
- 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 5/8 cup lemon juice
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
- In a medium bowl, stir together 2 cups flour and confectioners’ sugar. Blend in the melted butter. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Combine the sugar, baking powder and 1/4 cup of flour so there will be no flour lumps. Stir the sugar mixture into the eggs. Finally, stir in the lemon juice. Pour over the prepared crust and return to the oven.
- Bake for an additional 30 minutes or until bars are set. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Have any of you picked up this magazine at the store? It is full of great projects in all media:
Halloween Favorites
Needle Felted Kitty Treat Tote
Vintage Needle Felted Centerpiece
Vintage Halloween Décor
Frightfully Fun Game Cards
Bag of Spiders
Country Autumn Décor
Quick & Easy Treat Packages
Glowing Skull & Crossbones Luminary
Jack-o-Lantern Jar
Bats Table Runner
Spooktacular Sock Lights in Five Easy Steps!
Papier-Mâché Crow Box
Spooky Jar Friends
Treat Pail
Ready-to-Decorate Cookie Haunted House
Bug Potion #9
Batty Appliqué Tote
Flying Bats Centerpiece
Knitting Pretty
Felted Mini Purses
Bliss Sweater Coat
Top Stitched Knitted Belt
Drop Stitch Scarf & Beret
Ruffled Scarf & Hat
Knitted Ripple Afghan
Quick & Easy Baby Hat
Flirtini Necklace & Earrings Set
How to Knit
Classic Cable Knit Scarf
Quick Knit Fingerless Gloves
Gift Boutique
Scent-sational Lavender-Rose Sachet
Kitchen Comforts
Appliquéd Bird Apron
Pretty Pleated Apron
Country Cherries Set
Sew Easy Chair Cover
Mademoiselle’s Potholders
Cute as a Cupcake Apron
Ribbon-Embellished Apron & Dishtowel
Hot Tomato Apron
Mommy & Me Cross-Stitched Cupcake Aprons
Reversible Placemats & Napkins
Woodland Trail Potpourri Jar
Crafting Green
Halloween Treat Cans
Country Centerpiece
Gourmet Gift
Trim The Tree Trio
Rag Doll Ballerina Ornament
Paper Doll Ornaments
Worry Doll Ornaments
Santa Tree Topper
Girls’ Night In
Purse Style
Country Tote
Contemporary Tote
Quilted Bohemian Purse
In Every Issue
From Your Editor
Gift Boutique
Crafting Green – New
Gourmet Gift
Trim the Tree Trio
Girls’ Night In
Patterns
Bragging Writes
I am going to make this bag from the issue:
I am also going to sign up for a subscription to it. There are a ton of great ideas.
Here is my latest creation that I promised you a picture of yesterday, the cup cozies. I was inspired on a trip to my local WAWA when I was getting the cardboard one. I thought how nice would it be to have a custom made and sassy one?
I took an extra for the template, rinsed out my cup and saved it to check the size and after one error, here they are. I closed them with a sewn on button so they would have some more give if needed. There are 10 here and I finished 10 more this evening. Tomorrow they are off to Torman.
Here are the gift tags I made with the tutorial from the Purl Bee I mentioned yesterday. They are super easy to make. Instead of pinning the fabric and thus piercing the cardstock, I placed a bit of glue stick in the center to hold the fabric while I sewed. I don’t know if I mentioned this yesterday, but space your stitches farther apart if you use the straight stitch. I sewed the first one with the straight stitch on a 2 and the circle about dropped out of the card. Let me know what you think.
Today, I went to the sewing machine repair store and got a new bobbin case. He also gave me a used one. Evidently, it was my bobbin case that was giving me all the issues. He said that the screw was likely stripped on it. Mystery solved and I am back in business again!