Autumn Blossom Designs - Home of The Eclectic Crafter

Wedding Fever

2012-01-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Well, most people think that life will slow down and regain it's normal routine after the holidays. And for most people, that is true. However if you are a crafter and have wedding in the immediate family coming up, it never slows down!

My stepdaughter is getting married at the end of June and to help them save some money, I have volunteered to help make a lot the wedding necessities. The necessities include the invitations, save the date cards, bouquets, jewelry, veil, flower girls baskets, accents for the unity candle, favors, reception decor, table and alter decorations and an alternative to a guest book.

Personally, I have decided that I don't like typical guestbooks. Unless you are having 1000 people attend you wedding, most of the pages remain empty and after the big day, it sits in a box and doesn't every really get looked at. So I suggested a signature quilt that could be hung on the wall, displayed with happy pride. We have the design picked out, a very simple block with borders in the wedding colors.

So I obviously have a lot of work ahead of me. Fortunately, I've already gotten a few pieces done (and will be posting pictures this week), including the bridesmaids bouquets and much of the jewelry.

I have lots of work ahead of me as I prepare for this wedding and continue to work on creating inventory for my etsy store. So please bear with me as I get through this all. I will post as often as possible, and share the progress I'm making....

Some of my favorite organizational ideas...

2012-01-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Last week, I shared some amazing ideas for beautiful crafting areas that are well organized, functional, and comfortable. Of course, not all of us can afford to go out and purchase furniture or specialty containers to create designer looks. Like so many, I live on a very tight budget and would much rather spend my small crafting allowance on supplies rather than storage. So, being creative, I look around my home and see what I can make or recycle.

One of my favorite way to store loose beads - everything from tiny seed beads to larger beads - is to recycle glass jars. As we finish off a jar of pickles, mayo, maraschino cherries, or whatever we have in jars, I start the process of making them storage containers. I rinse them immediately, run them through the dishwasher, and then soak in a sink filled with hot soapy water to remove the last adhesive residue and odor. Once they are dry, they are ready to be filled and stacked on a shelf.

Speaking of shelves, one of the centerpieces of my craft room is an antique kitchen cupboard given to me by my mother-in-law. I couldn't use the piece in my kitchen, so it makes great storage for my paper crafting supplies. Take a look around your house and find furniture you already have that can be moved to your craft area.

If you don't have a room and do most of your crafting at the dining room table, being able to keep your supplies organized and packed away is vital. I love my clear plastic totes, particularly the ones for shoes. They stack easily, keep things organized fairly well, are inexpensive and can be gotten in multiple sizes.

Organization can be difficult to maintain, but it is so important in order to keep your crafting area functioning and you happy. That being said, it's also important to remember that organization doesn't have to expensive. Get those creative ideas flowing and get organized. Please share some of your favorite organizational ideas.

Quick and Easy Crafting Organization

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Crafters are always looking for clever and innovative new ways to organize their supplies. Keeping things where you can easily access them makes any crafting project that much more enjoyable. Not mention easier to share with others.

I found this last article at BHG.com with lots of great ideas for organizing the supplies that can easily become a big mess. It's always important to keep your supplies organized so not only will you be able to get to them, but it will also save you money by keeping your supplies neat and well maintained. Click here to get some great ideas!

A Craft Room With Purpose

2012-01-05T07:00:00.001-07:00

If you are as lucky as I am, you have an entire room dedicated to your crafting endeavors. But when you do as wide a variety of crafts as I do, it's easy for any size space to feel a bit cramped. I do lots of different types of crafts - quilting, sewing, scrapbooking, card making, needle felting, jewelry making, and painting to name a few - which means I have many different types of supplies. Being able to keep everything in it's place is some a daunting task, but so worth it when I sit down to work.

Advice on setting up and maintaining a well organized craft room is always helpful, no matter how long you have been crafting. Check out this handy little slide show with some neat hints and tricks on how to get the perfect crafting space set up. Click here to view the slide show!

Crafting Organization Ideas

2012-01-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

Let's face it, you have lots of ideas for incredible projects, but not always enough room to sprawl out with all of your creative craft ingredients. So what do you do if you only have a single corner in which to set up your creative domain. Fear not - it can be done!

I found a great article over at BHG.com that shows you how you can transform a corner in any room into a wonderful playground for crafting fun. With careful organization and clever use of space, you really can fit a lot of crafting possibilities in a compact area. Click here to see how easy this space is to set up!

Scrap Supply Storage

2012-01-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

When you are a scrapbooker, card maker or any other paper craft, it is easy to get overrun with supplies. It's not always easy to know how to organize all of the pretty papers, embellishments, pens, punches, pictures, and stickers. What's the use of having all those pretty things if you can't find what you want when you are looking for it?

I ran across a great slide show over on BHG.com that offers 20 Creative Scrapbooking Storage Solutions. There are some really cool ideas here to help keep things organized and easy to find. Click here to read the article.

Happy 2012!

2012-01-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it is 2012? I have no idea where 2011 went! But I know I got a lot done. From gardening and canning, to gifts and prepping for a wedding next summer, I have had a lot going on. Of course, once the schedule gets filled it is hard to keep up with the blog.

Part of my New Year's Resolution is to keep up with the blog better. Since most people resolve to get better organized, I'm going to spend the next few days sharing some really helpful articles about organizing craft supplies. In the coming months I will be sharing projects that I'm working on, items that will be for sale in my etsy store and some great projects from around the web.

So I hope everyone will join me for an eventful year of projects and ideas. I have my step-daughter's wedding in June to prepare for and lots of neat little projects for the grandkids that I want to tackle. It's going to be a lot of fun and a very productive 2012!

Flower Girls Baskets

2011-08-08T08:00:00.002-06:00

I wanted to make something really unique for these baskets. So I went for elegant, simple stripes and modern, fun embellishments.

The basket is only five inches tall and five inches square at the top. The fun modern flowers on the front add a dramatic element to each basket.

A close-up of the flower embellishment and beaded handle. The green beads and green fabric in the flowers almost perfectly matches the green in the basket and the dresses.

With the custom order completed and delivered, it's time to get to work on other projects. I have another wedding I'm working on multiple projects for as well as creating inventory for my etsy store. Come back tomorrow to get an idea of what's coming next!

The Throw Away Bouquet

2011-08-05T08:00:00.002-06:00

The final bouquet is one that is sometimes overlooked: the bouquet to toss at the eager female guests. When you use silk flowers to create your bouquet you have the luxury of keeping the bouquet perfect for many years. Because it becomes a keepsake you really don't want to toss it.

With that in mind, I used the flowers that were left over to create a simple bouquet perfect to be tossed.

I criss-crossed some pearl stems over each white flower. The stems are wrapped in white and lime green ribbons. It is a simple bouquet sure to make some lucky guest feel very special!

On Monday, I will show you the flower girls baskets I designed for this special day!

Matron of Honor Gets Something Less Than Matronly

2011-08-04T08:00:00.001-06:00

The matron of honor is my daughter-in-law. I know her personality and it matches the brides - fun loving and youthful. I knew she would need a simple but dramatic bouquet. It needed to be smaller than the brides' and be elegant but fun.

I took this picture before wrapping the stems in white and lime green ribbon. The bouquet fits perfectly what I wanted to accomplish! It's simple, elegant, fun and dramatic. It will look quite lovely coming down the aisle.

One more bouquet to share - come back tomorrow to see it!

The Brides Flowers

2011-08-03T08:00:00.001-06:00

First priority on this custom order was the bridal bouquet. The bride told me she loved the large flowers, she wanted lots of them. With this and the knowledge I had of the bride's personality, I knew I had to do something very dramatic. So I separated all the stems and started playing with different shapes.

It didn't take long to figure out a cascading bouquet would be perfect. It would be dramatic without overwhelming the bride or covering the dress.

The true dramatic impact fails to come through in this picture. It is a large, beautiful bouquet with an inverted teardrop shape. The bride was thrilled.

Come back tomorrow to see what I did for the matron of honor!

Custom Orders Keep Me Busy!

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

I love getting custom orders from brides that know they want something unique but not quite sure what they want. The freedom affords me the opportunity to create beautiful, unique items to perfectly compliment their special day.

A friend of my step-son is getting married in the middle of this month so I asked if there was anything she needed help with. She quickly accepted my offer, needing help considering the short time remaining and the tight budget she was working with. She needed help with the bouquets and two flower girls baskets. Not a problem I said and a day later she was dropping off her supplies.

These are the flowers she brought me and pearl stems for embellishment.

Her colors are lime green, black and white. She fell in love with these small black leafy flowers as an accent.

These white flowers remind me of hibiscus flowers, which is what I opted for fern greenery to accent the slightly tropical feel.

The white flowers got covered in silver glitter fabric paint to add a little more interest. Almost as soon as she left the materials with me, I was beginning to work out what I wanted to do for the bouquets.

Come back tomorrow to see what I came up with!

Pretty Little Hair Bows

2011-05-31T10:02:00.000-06:00

Everyone knows a little girl that loves to dress up. Whether its a daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin or friend, little girls have a need to 'feel pretty' by dressing up and doing their hair. Making hair bows in all shapes, sizes and colors gives them many options of handmade goodies to play with.

Hair bows are surprisingly simple and inexpensive to make. You don't need expensive ribbons, tools or supplies. I personally love going to Michaels and Joanns to find clearance and on-sale ribbons. The snap clips can also be purchased at these big name craft supply store, however I haven't had much luck finding the alligator clips in my local stores. I was able to find a great seller on Etsy with incredibly affordable prices. I was even able to find self-adhesive no-slip grips for the clips from the same seller.

The Ribbon Retreat has a wonderful selection of instructions for the most popular styles. The instructions are in pdf format and have lots of detailed pictures. Just think of making beautiful hair accessories to match any or your little princess' outfits.

And don't think that these can't be made for older princess'. Simple bows are very popular among pre-teens through college aged girls, who love to accent their personal style. Give these a try and you'll be hooked.

Happy Crafting!

Summer Plans

2011-05-26T12:18:00.002-06:00

The last few months have been insanely busy. But with summer upon us, life is settling down and I can more readily focus on the important things in life: family, relaxation and crafting! That being said, I've been working on learning some new crafts, including making hair bows, hair accessories, and shoe clips to name a few. Plus I have been working on beaded flowers for a bridal bouquet, a couple of throw quilts and a crocheted tablecloth from a vintage pattern.

No promises on how often I will be able to post as I want to get a lot of things accomplished. But there will be posts. I hope everyone has a fabulous Memorial Day weekend and I'd love to hear about some of the projects you've all been working on!

Amigurumi Resources

2011-02-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

So did I get you anxious to try some amigurumi? The patterns are simple and take only a few hours for experienced crocheters. For beginners wanting to try dolls and stuff animals, these are great starter projects.

If you want to try out a pattern or two, but don't necessarily want to invest in pattern books, there are lots of great free resources online. Here are just a few or the ones I really like:

Lion Brand Yarns: While it requires a free registration, you will have access to loads of patterns. There are lots of adorable amigurumi patterns, along with afghans, clothing, accessories and home decor items.

RoxyCrafts.com: This is Tamie Snow's home on the web. You can find both crochet and knit patterns, her blog, and patterns for sale.

Free Amigurumi Crochet Patterns: This is a great resource blog for patterns scattered all around the web. There are more than just adorable animals, there are also patterns for food, dolls and other toys.

Pretty Penguin

2011-02-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

This rolly-polly penguin was super easy and took around four hours from start to finish. The pattern was a free download off the Lion Brand website. While the Lion Brand amigurumi patterns generally call for Vanna's Choice yarn or Lion Wool, I used what I had on hand - Red Heart worsted weight yarn - and it worked out perfectly.

Happy Crafting All!

Unbelievably Cute Beaver

2011-02-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yet another adorable pattern from Tamie Snow's "Tiny Yarn Animals" that I couldn't resist making. He was a little more intricate to make simply because of all the little pieces that had to be made. Each tooth and cheek was individually crocheted. Even with the extra pieces, I was still able to finish this little guy in an afternoon.

Even his little tail is adorable.

I would suggest using embroidery on this little guy for the facial features. Otherwise you will need three 6mm doll eyes, which will leave you with an odd number left over in your stash. Unless you plan on making at least two of these little guys.

Happy Crafting All!

A Cute Koala

2011-02-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Once the little lemur was finished, I just couldn't help myself. I had to make a couple more of the adorable little animals. So I flipped through my copy of "Tiny Yarn Animals" and decided on this cute little koala bear.

He took me all of an afternoon to complete. The best part about the patterns in this book is the materials are fairly inexpensive. I used Red Heart worsted weight yarn, and was able to make several of the little toys with each skein. If you don't want to invest in the snap-on doll eyes, you can opt to embroider the eyes, and on some the nose and mouth.

Happy Crafting All!

Lemur...

2011-01-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

When I posted last week about an unfinished amigurumi lemur, I had every intention of finishing the little guy before the end of the month. As it turned out, I finished him the same day he was posted and I couldn't resist making a few more little critters to keep him company. So this week will be Amigurumi Week.

The pattern for this little guy can be found in Tamie Snow's "Tiny Yarn Animals" book. It is one of my favorite patterns in the book because the face just has so much personality. He's easy to make, as are most of the patterns in the book, and for experienced crocheters, he can be completed in an afternoon. Provided you don't set him down and forget about him!!

Happy Crafting All!

Tiny Teddy

2011-01-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

This tiny little teddy bear is a needle-felted creation that has been waiting several months to get finished. He needs his little feet finished, pads added to his paws and to be put together. Needle-felting is a bit more detail oriented, especially when working on this scale. You can see the quarter next to his little head for scale.

Ultimately, this little guy look a lot like his brother when he's done. When seen side by side, they are quite similar. I'm hoping that when he is done this little teddy will have a personality all his own. But first I have to finish him!

Happy Crafting All!

Almost a Lemur....

2011-01-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

This little guy is all in pieces, and missing a few! The pattern for this crochet lemur comes from the book Tiny Yarn Animals: Amigurumi Friends to Make and Enjoy by Tamie Snow. The pattern is actually pretty easy to follow and there is no real reason why this poor little critter hasn't been finished.

All he needs is his tail, his ears and to be put all together. This is another project that should be easily and quickly finished. Of course with those large pleading eyes, it will be hard to resist finishing him at last.

Happy Crafting All!

Swedish Weave

2011-01-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

On New Year's Day, 2010, my husband and I wandered into an antique shop that just happened to be open. We noticed a wealth of beautiful fabrics being organized and found out they were getting ready to add a fabric shop in one corner. As I talked with this charming 90 year old woman about all my crafting endeavors, she asked if I had ever tried Swedish Weave. At the time I had never hear of it but the idea of a new craft got me excited.

I did my research and found a couple of pattern books. All you need is monk's cloth, yarn and lots of time. The end result is a beautiful blanket that will astound people when they hear you made it yourself. The intricacy of the designs can vary, and I chose one that seemed simple enough. I'm nearly half way done with my first project and am determined to finish it up sooner, rather than later!

Happy Crafting All!

Wall Hanging...

2011-01-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love doing needlework on road trips. It's a compact hobby that can produce some beautiful results. A couple years ago I started a wall hanging to commemorate my relationship with my husband. It consisted of squares depicting important memories from the time we were dating through our wedding.

I've had the needlework and piecing done for more than a year now but have never found the motivation to back, quilt and hang the quilt. Until now. With my attention being turned to my UFOs, this one is at the top of my list of things to actually finish. It realistically should not take long to complete. In fact, I bet I can have it done by the end of the week.

Happy Crafting All!

UFOs abound...

2011-01-24T09:03:00.002-07:00

As crafters, we all have them. Those projects that we start and never finish. UFOs - UnFinished Objects. I have lots of them and this week I'm going to put a spotlight on them. Some can be finished quickly, others will take more time. But the whole point is to show that they can be finished.

So this week, I'll be showing you four projects that need to be finished, projects that can be finished with just a little focus. (All providing my internet will stop giving me trouble.) Why not pull out some of your UFOs and start working on them.

Happy Crafting All!

Wedding Jewelry

2011-01-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

The last thing I did for the wedding was the bridal party jewelry. The bride herself had jewelry, but wanted something appropriate for her attendants. The bridesmaids wore strapless, royal purple dresses and the bride wanted to keep the jewelry simple and elegant.

I found lovely snowflake pendants accented with Swarovski crystals and paired them with a simple silver chain broken up by white glass pearls. The look was understated and classic. Plus, each of her attendants had a beautiful piece of jewelry that would always remind them of the special role they played in her special day.

Flower Girls Baskets

2011-01-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

With two flower girls, there needed to be two baskets. The baskets also needed larger than baskets that I was finding in stores. The bride wanted snow dropped down the aisle rather than traditional flower petals as to keep with the snowflake theme.

I ended up finding a great pattern online for a fabric basket. The pattern that I found was geared more towards being an Easter basket, but using a snowflake print material instantly made it wedding appropriate. The basket retains its shape because of the heavy duty, double-sided fusible interfacing.

Once the base of each basket was completed, I strung large plastic pearls on to 18 gauge wire to construct the handle. The handle was sewn into place and the basket was finished with an accent bow in the wedding color and large, irridescent crystal button.

Seeing my adorable nieces walk down the aisle, tossing a delicate layer of snowflakes had an amazing effect.

Happy Crafting All!

Ring-Bearer Pillow

2011-01-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

There is no more important accessory to a wedding than the ring-bearer pillow. It is the showcase for the rings the bride and groom will exchange as a symbol to their ever-lasting love. The pillow should fit the theme of the wedding adding continuity to the ceremony decor, but it should not over power or overshadow the rings.

Keeping with the snowflake theme, I used silver-lined seed beads to stitch a snowflake design onto white sateen. I decided to make the sateen in to a pillow cover and made a simple pillow insert. Now the pillow cover can be easily added to a scrapbook or shadow box. The pillow was finished with a thin white ribbon to secure the rings to the pillow for the walk down the aisle.

Happy Crafting All!

Guest Book...

2011-01-12T09:33:00.005-07:00

The guestbook at a wedding is so important to the couple once the day is over. There is just not always enough time to spend with all of the guests that attend the ceremony and reception. Having everyone sign in is a great way to remember everyone that attended and know who to send thank you cards to.

My step-son and his bride decided on a snowflake theme for their wedding. So all of the accessories had to match that theme. When I was deciding on what to do with the guestbook, I knew I wanted to do something special. Most guestbooks are five pages of signatures and fifty blank pages. I wanted to give the couple a book they would be happy to look through again and again.

For the outside, I created a book cover out of white sateen and used white embroidery thread to stitch a snowflake. It was a long process but so worth it when it was finished. The completed cover fit snuggly over the book and looked amazing.

Each page was hand made and embellished with either snowflakes, ribbon in the wedding colors or a picture of the couple. By making each page a little different, the entire book is unique and filled with visual memories of the day that will last forever.

The guestbook must also have a matching pen. I bought a plain silver guestbook pen on a clear plastic base. There was not much that needed to be done to this. Because of the small size, too much embellishing would have easily been overkill. To decorate the base, I cut the tabs off of silver snowflake brads that I found in the scrapbook section of Michaels. Using double-sided adhesive foam, it was easy to fix the embellishments to the base.

This is how the guestbook was presented to guests the day of the wedding.

Happy Crafting All!

For The Bridesmaids...

2011-01-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I showed you the bridal bouquet from an important wedding last November. Today, I'm sharing the bridesmaids bouquets.

These arrangements were made in line with the bridal bouquet, each featuring a beaded lily centerpiece surrounded by ribbon flowers. The ribbon flowers coordinate with the the wedding colors and the bridesmaid dresses.

As you can see, the Matron of Honor's bouquet was just slightly different indicating her place in the bridal party. Her arrangement featured more the dark purple than the others.

The effect was amazing and the best compliment I received was when the photographer's assistant stated he didn't even realize they weren't real flowers.

All told, the flowers were a little tedious to make, only because I don't like doing the same thing over and over. But the end result was well worth the tedium.

Happy Crafting All!

Bridal Bouquet

2011-01-10T07:00:00.001-07:00

When my step-son got in engaged, I was eager to lend a crafty hand to help the young couple out. Weddings are expensive, especially if you want something you unique and hand crafted to made the day special. He and his intended happily accepted my offer and I was asked to make several important items. I'm going to spend this week showcasing the items I made for them.

First up is the bridal bouquet. This is always a key accessory for the bride. Many times it's the only splash of color to be seen against the white of the bride's dress.

The only instructions I received from the bride was that she lilies and a cascading bouquet. So I decided to take the opportunity to try beaded and ribbon flowers. For the centerpiece of the arrangement, I made 3 beaded lilies using 3mm plastic pearls and gold seed beads for the stamens.

The remainder of the flowers were all made out of ribbon that followed the chosen wedding colors. The puffy silver faux-carnations were some of my favorites. They added a little sparkle while filling out the bouquet. To achieve the cascading look, ribbons in the same colors and textures as those in the bouquet, flowed down from the arrangement in varying lengths.

This was a great thing for me to make. It challenged me and offered the chance to try something new. I loved every tedious moment of it.

Happy Crafting All!

Day 4 and the progress is getting noticeable!

2011-01-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with seeing hard work paying off. Each and everyday, a little more of my room becomes more usable. It's thrilling to see an end in sight to what seemed like and overwhelming task.

Naturally, going through all that lovely fabric has made me antsy to get sewing, and with my sewing table now cleared, I have room to work. But I must stay focused. I will just keep my mental notes of the four or five quilts that I decided that I have to make, and keep my unfinished projects within grabbing distance and push through to the end of cleaning.

Today's goal is to get through my beads and fiber crafts. Now, I have tons of beads and for the most part, they are fairly well organized. So I will get to just refine the organization and make things more accessible. As for my fiber crafts, that's going to take more work.

I'll need to gather and organize all my yarns and threads. I have stashes of different weights and textures for various projects and patterns. I'm anxious to see what inspiration comes out of today's work!

Happy Crafting!

Day 3 and I've lost a little steam...

2011-01-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, today I'm playing catch up. Housework and helping my son-in-law prevented me from accomplishing all of my Tuesday goals. I got the filing finished and caught up on housework, but didn't get all of my material organized. I'm kinda disappointed in myself to be honest, and know that I need to really pick up the pace if I'm going to get that room cleaned out and get back to work.

So my goals for this frigid Wednesday are: get the material completely organized, clean off my sewing table and organize my craft books and magazines. This should be completely do-able, as long as I don't procrastinate. And I don't get caught up in the books and can push through.

Tuesday may not have been as productive as I would have liked, but today is a new day and will be as productive as I make it. All I have to do is keep myself motivated!

Happy Crafting All!

Day 2 of cleaning...

2011-01-04T07:00:00.001-07:00

My goal for Monday was simple: move my lightbox to a better location. I'm happy to say that goal was accomplished! And since it took less time than I thought it would, I got started on filing a year and half worth of paperwork. Ugh, I hate filing. But once the papers are organized and put away, I know my office will be much more functional.

Tuesday's goal is to finish the filing and get my material organized. Today's goal will take considerably more work on my part. I have tons of material stored in a six-foot long, nine drawer dresser. The idea I have is to get some semblance of order to it. Clothing material in one drawer, fat quarters in another, scraps in another, and so on. Since I know I have a some fabrics for specific projects, they will be grouped accordingly. Once I have all my beautiful fabrics organized I will have fewer problems trying to decide what quilt projects I want to work on.

This year I want to make lots of throw quilts! That's a long term goal I've set for myself and one I think is attainable. Hopefully by next week, I will have everything ready to go and I can start on my first quilt of the year!

Happy Crafting!

Happy New Year

2011-01-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

For me, a new year is a fresh start. It's a new month, new calendar and new possibilities. So many things can and will happen in the next 12 months, and it's all up to me. I've decided to start this year out with a rededication to myself and my crafting. A lot of 2010 was spent working on items for my step-son's wedding, and I lost track of the crafts that I did for fun and to sell.

Rededicating myself is a positive thing and it requires a positive working environment. Unfortunately, the disorganized, chaotic disaster that is my office will not lend itself to the creative process. Therefore, the next week or two will be devoted to reorganizing, cleaning and inventorying my supplies. Throughout the process, I'm sure I'll be getting inspired to do all kinds of crafting - projects that will distract me from my end goal of a functioning office in which to create.

Today's goal is to get my lightbox set up in a better location within my office. My lightbox is super important to me. I take pictures of everything I make to share the end product with friends and family that can't be here to see for themselves. It's also important to my jewelry making as the right pictures will help me make more sales.

Wish me luck, Happy New Year, and happy crafting!

What a long year it's been...

2010-12-07T13:20:00.002-07:00

2010 has been quite a year! High school graduations, weddings, family get-togethers. All year long, it's been one thing after another, and while there have been some amazing memories made, I'm glad this year is coming to an end.

2011 is already looking like it's going to be an amazing year. I've got lots of projects to share, ideas and inspiration to pass along. Starting January 1, this blog should be updated daily again with quilting, crochet, jewelry and paper crafting projects to get everyone in the mood to craft.

Wedding ideas, cards, journaling, baby gifts, simple quilts and fashion jewelry ideas are all right around the corner. Enjoy your holidays and prepare yourself for an incredible new year!

Memory-Wire Bracelet

2009-10-27T11:54:00.004-06:00

I broke down and bought some memory wire. For a long time I resisted it because I just don’t like making bracelets. I don’t have much luck selling them and they just seem to take up space. It was on a whim that I actually bought the memory wire in bracelet size. I figured it would give me the opportunity to make bracelets in a simple and quick way. And I hate to admit it, but I am hooked!

This blue bracelet is one of my first experiments with the memory wire. It is a simple pattern of glass beads in a lovely shade of blue. The second picture illustrates how I simply twisted the wire in to a basic loop to hold the beads on the wire. There are end beads specifically designed for memory wire, but I have found that twisting the wire works just fine.

Happy Crafting All!

Luxurious Face Cloths

2009-10-27T11:42:00.002-06:00

Face cloths are so easy and versatile. They make a great addition to gift baskets or combined with scented soaps for a quick simple gift. Similar to dish cloths, face cloths are a basic crocheted square made of luxurious chenille yarn. Watch for store brands and sales to stock up on skeins of chenille as it can get a little spendy. I use the smaller skeins and will usually get one cloth from each skein.

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to start considering gifts and crafters love giving what they make. Simple gift baskets are a great way to combine small items like face cloths with other home made and store bought items for memorable and useful gifts!

Happy Crafting All!

Simple Clip Magnets

2009-10-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Aren't these clip magnets adorable? They were sooo easy to make too. All it takes is some wooden clothes pins, pretty papers (I used a photograph on the front printed on plain white paper and scrap scrapbooking paper on the back), some .5" magnets and Modge Podge.

Use the Modge Podge to adhere the papers to each side. Once dry coat the paper and side of the clip with Modge Podge to seal; when dry coat the side. Be careful to open the clip between each sealing coat - it will get stuck closed but should easily be opened again. After the Modge Podge as completely dried, I used a gel LocTite Super Glue to adhere the magnets. And that's it! Super simple, super quick. I plan to make these for shows next year. Each magnet should securely hold 2-3 sheets of paper without the magnets giving out.

Happy Crafting All!

A Spooky Greeting

2009-10-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

It is the time of year to plan for the sugar-fest known as Halloween! Are you having a party? Maybe just want to say hi to former ghoul you tricked and treated with? A simple little handmade card is a great way to send that greeting or invitation.

The above card was so quick and simple to make that I whipped it up in about five minutes. I glued the orange cardstock paper to the blank card, used two different $1 Michael's stamps and some black metallic dots ($1 at Joann's) and I was done. These would make great invitations to Halloween party because you could make as many as you need in a very short amount of time. Then you can focus on all the other frighteningly fun things about Halloween!

Happy Crafting All!

Another Crazy Quilt

2009-10-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

This is the quilt that I made for my husband as a birthday present. I love this quilt myself - so snuggly and so easy. It is another design from the Crazy Short Cut Quilts book. He loves it because it actually covers him.

Next week I will post begin posting more information on how to make these quilts, so you can try one for yourself!

Happy Crafting All!

Copper Bracelet

2009-10-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Since I signed up for the Wire-Sculpture.com newsletter, I periodically receive interesting new patterns to try from some of their wonderfully talented designers. The above bracelet is one of those patterns and I must say, for never having made anything like that before, I think it turned out rather well.

The wire I had on hand was a little thicker than what the pattern called for, but I made it work. The main part of the bracelet (top picture) was a little challenging because of the way the wire was twisted back on itself, and because I was using a thicker wire I was not able to get the rows as straight and uniform as I would have liked. The links, on the other hand, (bottom picture) came together beautifully. This is a bracelet I can see myself making many times and in many different colors to match a mood or outfit!

Happy Crafting All!

Dish Cloths

2009-10-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Dish cloths are the amazing little towels that everyone needs but few people actually ever think about. What makes them fabulous for crocheters is they are the perfect medium for trying new stitches and patterns. The dish cloth is essentially a swatch of material - for crochet and knit, think about a 10"x10" square.

What makes them practical is that they don't need to be out of a fancy, high-end yarn. A worsted weight or 100% cotton yarn will work the best. Lily Original Sugar 'n Cream is what I used for the cloths show above, though I've heard a worsted weight such as Red Heart works great as well for scrubbing.

Every one needs dish cloths. They may not be practical to mass produce to sell at a show, but they can be personalized to fit a friend's kitchen decor and given as part of gift basket or house warming gift.

Happy Crafting All!

'Tis Almost The Season...

2009-10-09T06:01:00.000-06:00

Christmas and the holiday season are right around the corner. It is the time of year that we are all a little more generous to strangers. We give the anonymous Santas on street corner, food banks and toy drives. For those of us who do a lot of crafting, this is the time of year that we can give back with a little extra personal touch.

One of my favorite charitable groups is Project Rudolf which distributes holiday goody bags to service members overseas at during the holidays. The bags are simple - a lunch bag decorated by a child, a handful of candy, a handmade ornament and 3 hand written letters (2 from children and 1 from an adult). My husband has been deployed three times so I have an idea how rough it is from the service members being away from their families at this time of year.

I strongly encourage everyone to visit their site, read about what they do, and then get involved! Every little bit helps and it really does have a profound impact on the men and women who receive the bags!

Happy Crafting!

Thinking Of You Card

2009-10-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

This is the time of year when it is so nice to remember our friends and family that may not be close to us. Kids that have gone off to school or siblings who have followed a path that led them to another state. Whomever you want to remember, a simple handmade card can bring a warmer feeling than any store bought card.

The card above was made with a simple $1 stamp, some metallic dots, scrapbook paper and self-adhesive ribbon along the bottom. Using colored pencils, I added a little more color to the stamp. This is one of my favorite cards - at least that I made this year! I am typically not a big fan of brown, but it seems to work here.

Happy Crafting All!

Hour Glass Block Tutorial

2009-10-07T06:00:00.000-06:00

The Hour-Glass Block that is demostrated in this video from Missouri Star Quilt Co. can be used to create some very dramatic looking quilts. If you notice the quilt in the background on the video was made with Hour Glass and Nine-Patch blocks (which I posted the video about a couple of weeks ago). It is a very simple block that can be used to create very intricate looking designs and Jenny does a fabulous job of teaching how to make this block. Enjoy!

Happy Crafting All!

Sun Valley Scrapbook Page

2009-10-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sun Valley Idaho is a winter wonderland that attracts people from all over the world for not only it's winter sports but also its sheer beauty. We are lucky to live only about an hour and a half south of Sun Valley so we can drive up on the weekends to explore the scenery and shops. Earlier this year we did just that.

I chose a simple black cardstock paper for the background because it allowed the white snow, blue sky and green trees to really jump at you. Using dark green accent paper and glittering foam snow flake stickers to add character, these pages are so simple yet so elegant. I didn't have very many pictures to choose from so I decided to group the pictures I did have and added the typed journaling and title.

Again, so simple and so elegant. Anyone could do pages like these without spending a fortune!

Happy Crafting All!

Half-Triangle Block

2009-09-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

Triangles can be very intimidating if you are new to quilting. Cutting and piecing them seems so tricky when you start thinking about lining up the corners and points just right. Well, the ladies at the Missouri Star Quilt Co. have taken a lot of the mystery out of the Half-Triangle Block in this video. What a wonderful job Jenny does explaining the process and showing, step-by-step, how to make this traditional block as well as a couple of it's many uses.

Enjoy!

Happy Crafting All!

Thinking Of You Card

2009-09-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

The new school year has begun, and a lot of us have children who have gone off to college. This can be a scary time for the student and parent a like. Why not remind your child how much they mean to you with a simple hand made card. The card above was made with a scrap of pretty scrapbook paper, two different $1 stamps from Michaels, some $1 metallic accent dots from Joann's, colored pencils and stamp pads. It took only a few minutes to whip together but what a wonderful way to say hi to your loved one 'Just Because'.

Happy Crafting All!

Four-Patch Quilt Block

2009-09-23T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here is another wonderful video from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. I love their videos because they explain things so clearly and concisely - much better than I could! The Four-Patch Block is another basic block in quilting making and is very versatile. Have fun with it!

Happy Crafting All!

A Day At The Falls

2009-09-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

One great thing about having family visit from another state is being able to show off the natural beauty of the area I live in. Believe it or not, Idaho has more than just potato fields! Shoshone Falls is wonder that rivals Niagara Falls in size and sheer splendor. When the water is pouring over the rock face, it is an awe-inspiring site.

Obviously I had to show this gem off to my sister and nephew when they came to visit. The resulting pages showcase a simple layout on a black background, really complimenting the vivid colors. Though there is very little embellishment, the striking blue rick-rack at the top and bottom make a bright statement and add to the continuity of the two pages. Personally, I feel it is best to let the pictures and journal entry tell the story, rather than the embellishments!

Happy Crafting All!

Nine-Patch Block Tutorial

2009-09-16T13:25:00.004-06:00

I recently came across this fabulous series of how-to videos that beautifully illustrate how to make different basic quilt blocks. This series was put together by the ladies over at Missouri Star Quilt Shop. I'm sure you will find it incredibly helpful, and hopefully it will inspire you to get out the sewing machine and some beautiful fabrics and have fun!

Happy Crafting All!

Wire Jewelry Video Resource

2009-09-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've been fascinated with making wire jewelry for the last several weeks, and the results of my experimentations have (mostly) been posted here on my blog. But what was the inspiration that got me hooked on this new skill? A quick visit to Wire-Sculpture.com is what started it all.

Not only do they sell all the supplies you'll need, they are a wonderful resource for wire workers of all skill levels. I signed up for their daily tip newsletter and have not been disappointed - especially when I asked a question and had the answer in my inbox 2 days later!

Plus, the added bonus is they have a collection of free patterns and videos to not inspire but help you get started. I have watched nearly all of them and I love them. They make it look so simple! Here is a link to the video collection.

Happy Crafting All!

Scarves, Scarves, Scarves

2009-09-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Maybe the middle of September is the wrong time to start thinking about this, but I love scarves! I love to crochet them and give them as gifts. They are so simple and quick to make, and now is really the perfect time to start thinking about them - and making them!

Holiday craft shows are right around the corner, and a what better item to offer is scarves that you've crocheted or knit by hand. Think of all the possible variations - school colors, fashion colors, so many different yarns offering different weights and textures. Not to mention, they whip up in no time!

Patterns for scarves are in abundance, but I couldn't help but write my own. Hopefully it will get you motivated to make some of your own! This is a one skein project, using Homespun yarn. I love Homespun yarn for scarves because it is so soft and warm, and it stays soft even after several washings. Watch for sales at your favorite craft stores and you should be able to find it fairly inexpensive.

Materials:
One skein Lion Brand Homespun yarn (6oz)
Size K (2.5 mm) crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch= chain
dc= double crochet

Ch 21

Row 1: Dc in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across. .
Row 2: Ch 3*, turn. Skip first stitch, dc in next stitch and in each dc across.
Repeat Row 2 until you run out of yarn. Fasten off, weave in ends.

Fringe is optional.

*= ch 3 is the first dc in each row

Happy Crafting All!

The Importance of Taking a Break

2009-09-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

We all know how easy it is to get burned out on work, cleaning, driving, taking care of a family - all of those things we have to do in our daily lives. When we get burned out on the responsibilities of life, we turn to our hobbies - crafts, sports and other activities to take our minds off of the stresses of life.

It is so important to have these hobbies to help us keep our sanity. When we can't take a break from the things that add pressure and stress to our lives, there are a lot of negative consequences. The stress and unhappiness is soon reflected in our relationships, our disposition and, if not dealt with, our health.

For some of us, our crafts are our jobs. There have been times that I can't stand to look at a bead or my sewing machine because I have simply been working too long a particular project or I've put too many deadlines on myself for a show or getting my shop taken care of. When I get to that point, I know it's time to take a break and go for a drive. It's time to deal with something that has nothing to do with work. When I do come back to my project, I feel refreshed and excited about it again.

We can not forget to have some kind of healthy fun in our lives. It is something we need, whether we want to admit it or not, we need that little bit of fun, that break from the normal routine.

Happy Crafting All!

Family Fun Journaling

2009-09-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Being in a fairly rural area, we have the good fortune to be able to enjoy the outdoors in ways that people in urban areas just can't. Especially when you have access to four-wheelers and miles of open desert! So when we had a Sunday with nothing to do and perfect weather, we jumped at the chance to go get dusty and have fun.

Those kinds of spontaneous adventures usually make the best and most vivid memories. They are the kinds of days that are perfect for journaling. The page layout is, again, simple and filled with pictures rather than embellishments. One of the big differences between this page and my other recent pages is that I used hand-written journaling rather than printing off the title and excerpt.

The only embellishments used were a couple of chipboard tags fastened to the pages with decorative brads and a scrap of scrapbook paper. All the written elements were done on blank tags. The black pages bring out the vivid summer colors in the pictures. So simple!

Happy Crafting All!

Quilting Supply Resource

2009-09-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

In this current economy, it is always nice to find a reliable supply resource that offers wide selection of supplies. I have heard some great recommendations about Home Sew Inc. They have a huge variety of all kinds of crafting supplies, including a nice selection of material and patterns. Check them out here:

Home Sew Inc

Do you have a favorite quilting supply source? I would love to hear about it! Drop me a line or leave a comment with a link!

Happy Crafting All!

Wire Wrapped Ring

2009-09-08T08:00:00.000-06:00

The time had come for me to attempt a wire wrapped ring that did not include beads. The result is a little weird, a little rough, a little unbalance, but not too bad really. Considering I was just playing around and experimenting, the fact that it even looks like a ring amazed me!

Yes, I still have a lot to learn, but at least I can see that I am making progress. And that makes me happy. If I can't see improvement in my own work, then I get frustrated and it's better for me to stop for a while. (Keep in mind, this is not the first wire wrapped, non-bead ring - trust me, there is a ton of improvement!)

Keep Crafting All!

Free Crochet Patterns

2009-09-07T08:00:00.003-06:00

I'm always looking for new and fun patterns to work from. And free patterns are the best! Recently, I came across a great resource for crocheters in search of fun, functional patterns. Free-Crochet.com has a diverse collection of patterns for crocheters of all skill levels. Patterns are searchable and downloaded in PDF format, which makes them easy to keep track of and print. I love browsing their selection and downloading patterns for future use.

Check out their site: http://www.free-crochet.com/

Happy Crafting All!

Stocking Up

2009-09-04T05:00:00.000-06:00

I love Back-To-School time! There are so many great sales going on that it's hard not to stock up on some of the basic supplies. This is the time of year that I will stock up on everything from glue, glue sticks, colored pencils, card stock and printer paper to organizational supplies and seasonal items.

It seems every store has a sale and that is the best time to shop. It seems we are all on budgets these days, some tighter than others. With two teenage boys, my budget stays pretty tight - as my mother-in-law would say, I turn a nickel three times before I decide to spend it! I know it's rough out there. That's why I love sales!

These next few months is generally when I will stock up on everything I might need for projects next year. I look for material in bright spring and summer colors and prints - fabric stores want room for the seasonal tones and patterns of fall and winter. I stock up on scrapbook papers that are marked down to $0.10 for 12"x12" sheet. I watch for the summer themed beads to go on clearance, along with any other summer-themed items that can be used. I think about some of the new things I want to try and start gathering supplies. (I tend to shy away from the fads though - I don't want to spend the money on the supplies and then not be able to sell what I make.)

This is also the time I start thinking about Christmas gifts. My mother loves lighthouses and ocean themes - things that can get difficult to find in the winter months. I start making lists of what I might want to do, and then watch the sales to see what will be least expensive to make. I have a large family to make things for, I need to do it cheap!

Of course, I am a power shopper year round - shopping the sales, clearance aisles and discount stores for supplies. This is how I've accumulated my stash of supplies, my inventory of goodies to create with. Thanks to this time of year, I will usually have what I need (or most of what I need) on hand before I begin my project!

Happy Crafting (and shopping) All!

Just A Little Note

2009-09-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

It makes me feel incredibly old to say this, but I miss getting letters in the mail. I remember as a kid I would always get extra excited as any holiday approached because it meant I would get a card from my grandmother. It made me feel important to get mail.

Now, I would love to find something in my mailbox other than bills and advertisements. Don't get me wrong - email is a wonderful thing, allowing me to keep in touch with family and friends in ways I couldn't as child. At the same, though, I'm sure a lot of people out there would love getting something pretty in the mail.

The card above took me all of 15 minutes to put together. On a blank card, I glued the green rectangle of textured card stock and embellished it with a photograph of a rose (made into a die-cut). Using an inexpensive stamp, ink pad and colored pencil, I added the embellishment to the right of the picture. For very little expense and not very much time, I created a card that will make someone's day when it shows up in their mailbox. Why not try to make a card for someone special in your life, and see just how happy it will make them!

Happy Crafting All!

Simple Quilting Resource

2009-09-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

I love when I can finish a throw quilt in a day or two. That is no easy feat, but this book makes it possible. Think traditional crazy quilts on a large scale. It is so easy and fairly quick because you don't really have to worry about precise cutting. I've made two quilts from this book and I'm planning on making a few more for Christmas gifts.

If you are new to quilting and wanting something that can offer some instant gratification, this is the book for you. I've already recommended it to several people and they love it. For more information, be sure to check out the authors website and blog at http://www.crazyshortcutquilts.com/ .

Happy Crafting All!

Silver and Amethyst

2009-09-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

As my confidence in wire wrapping grows, I'm deciding to try new things - or rather the same design with different materials. The ring above is the first ring I've made that I do actually wear quite often. It is sterling silver wire (26 gauge, so it is pretty thin) with a natural amethyst stone and two accent Swarovski bicone crystals.

It is very simple ring design - the same exact design as the copper rings I posted over the last couple of weeks. However, the thinner wire gives the ring a daintier look. Overall, I am pleased with the way it turned out, and am very happy with the compliments I've received on it.

Wire wrapping requires a lot of practice, but as you get better there is a definite feeling of gratification, especially when you are complimented on your hard work!

Happy Crafting All!

Is It Time To Learn...

2009-08-31T08:00:00.001-06:00

...To crochet? I love crocheting because I can create some really great gifts for the people who mean the most to me in my life. We have one friend of the family that still raves about the afghan I crocheted him for Christmas last year. Whatever you choose to make, the recipient will be touched that you made something by hand. The first step in making something, though, is knowing how to crochet.

So to help you get started, I've found some great teaching links. These sites offer detailed instructions on how to crochet, for the beginner!

http://learntocrochet.lionbrand.com/

http://crochet.about.com/od/learnbasics/a/beginners.htm

http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_cr.php3

http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/
This site offers instructions and patterns!

Happy Crafting All!

Why We Craft...

2009-08-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

One thing I love to ask people, regardless of their profession, is why? Why did they choose that particular line of work? Why do they keep doing it? It's not to make them question themselves or their decisions, but my own curiosity. I like to know what drives people to do what they do, whether it's something to just pay the bills or something they truly love.

For myself, I craft because I love to create. It is only been in the last couple of years that I have tried to sell my creations, even though I've been doing one type of craft or another for as long as I can remember. Some skills I've learned in an effort to make money - like my jewelry making, photography, and (someday) quilting. Others I do just for myself, that other people are generally not allowed to see - my painting is a perfect example. I am a horrible painter, I know I am, but it is something that I truly love because it relaxes me. So when I paint, it is for me and I typically don't show people what I create.

I am always fascinated to hear why crafters choose their various disciplines. The reasons usually have to do either with a love a particular aspect of the craft or just to make money. Whatever the reason, creating something with your hands nearly always gives a person a sense of accomplishment that is intensely gratifying. And it seems the more difficult the process, the more gratifying it is.

So why do you craft?

Happy Crafting All!

Silver Creek Remembered

2009-08-27T08:50:00.002-06:00

I love journaling because it gives me a chance to revisit great days of the not so distant past and allows me to relive some of those wonderful memories. Way back in May, my husband and I took a drive up to Silver Creek which is south of Sun Valley. Naturally, we took our dogs to give them a day of roaming the countryside, exploring to smells and sites.

When I was putting these pages together, I knew I didn't want a lot of embellishment on them. I wanted to remember the day, the sights and the people I was with. Using a lot of pictures is the best way to capture that give a lot of visual reminders. The journaling and title element for the pages were both done in Word which allowed me to preserve the written memories in a more legible script and I was able to design the pieces in a way that complimented the layout. The only real embellishment on the pages are the strips of self-adhesive ribbon on the outside edge. The ribbon adds interest and a different dynamic without competing with the pictures.

It's not hard to create a lovely page to preserve memories without losing those memories to the fancy embellishments. Pages like these prove that less really is sometimes more!

Happy Crafting All!

Make A Quilt With Me, Wk 6

2009-08-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

We are in the home stretch. Everything for your beautiful baby quilt is done - except the binding, the very last step.

Attaching the binding can be a very frustrating process for new quilters. I have been quilting for a few years and it is still the only part of the quilting process I truly dread. Rather than drag this out, lets get to the instructions so you can finish up that quilt!

First, you will need to get out those four 2.5" strips of Fabric B that you set aside all those weeks ago. You are going arrange them with right sides facing, to create an 'L' shape. Then you will draw a diagonal line as shown in the picture below.

Join the two pieces by sewing on the line you marked. Then trim the triangle of excess fabric and press the piece open. Repeat this step until you have all four strips connected into one long strip. Where you connect the strips should look like the picture below. Trim the ends at a 45 degree angle.

Once you have all four connected and the ends trimmed, it is time to press your binding. Fold the binding in half as you press to create a strip of material that is double thickness with the right side facing out. (This is where you can see the reasoning for connecting the strips with an angled seam. Once the fabric is folded in half, the seam will not over lap which reduces the bulk that you will be sewing through when you attach the binding.)

I have been contemplating the best possible way to explain the final binding process. I have realized that I probably could not write instructions that would be clear enough to guide you through this very important step. So, when you have finished assembling your quilt binding, please watch the video below with Eleanor Burns showing you how to finish binding your quilt.

The very last step to any quilt is sign it. I use a fabric marker and will write my name, pattern name, date the quilt was made and who it was for on the back of the quilt, generally along the binding. I like to keep the signature subtle and small on the back.

Now that your quilt is completed, it is time to sit back and enjoy the efforts of your hard work. You should be proud of yourself. It can be frustrating, but hopefully you made it through the whole process and have a beautiful baby quilt for your own little one or to give a very special gift.

Congratulations on completing the quilt! I hope you had fun!

Happy Crafting All!

Copper Bauble II

2009-08-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

After I made the simple cocktail ring show cased in last's jewelry post, I knew I could do better. So, after a few deep breaths and some searching through my bead stash, I got back to work.

The result was this more refined and proportionate looking ring. By using smaller beads and the same techniques as last week, I was able to create a ring that I would actually wear - which is a first! Most of my experiments so far have not been all that great, so one I would wear is an improvement!

I am starting to really enjoy creating these rings and have been looking through my beads for the same appropriate size in more dazzling color combinations!

Happy Crafting All!

A Fair Challenge

2009-08-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

At the beginning of August, the community I live in held it's annual county fair. I will admit that I was surprised to see some interesting exhibits that I really did not expect to find. Beyond the carnival rides and food, the animal displays and largest vegetable or flower competitions, there was also a wide variety of home arts and crafts on display.

The quilting, jewelry, photography, knit and crochet displays were amazing. There is so much talent in this area that doesn't always get noticed. The sad thing is there weren't many entries in each of the home arts categories. So I decided to challenge myself.

I made the decision to enter next year's fair competitions in as many categories as I can. (The more I enter the better chance I have of winning! hehe) I am going to start with a crochet piece. I choose the lovely 1949 afghan pattern above as the first thing I will make. If I am satisfied with how it turns out, I may enter it. If not, I will make something else and go from there.

I have about 10 months to make as many items as I can and then decide on which should be entered. I will try to update everyone on my status about once a month, and I may even ask for your help in the making the final decisions.

Happy Crafting All!

The Importance of Failed Experiments

2009-08-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

Whenever I decide I want to try a new crafting discipline, I do my research. I read a lot of how-to's and instructions, try to find instructional videos, look into the cost of supplies and try to determine whether or not it could be sold at shows or in my online shop. The final step before jumping fully into a new craft is the experimentation.

I personally believe that the failed experiments while I'm learning a new skill are more important than the successful experiments. When I fail, I learn something, whether that it's a particular method just won't work for me or, as is the case with the pictured ring, I will need a lot of practice before I try my own designs for something. The ring is a result of finding beautiful jasper tube beads that I thought would make a lovely ring. Unfortunately, the limited experience I have with wire wrapping resulted in a failed experiment. But I'm not about to give up. I am going to continue working with wire until I can make the ring the way I envisioned it.

Sometimes a failed experiment will even teach me that I would rather appreciate someone else's hard work than try to make something myself.

Ultimately, no experiment is a complete failure if you learn something from it. The end result may not be what you wanted, but if you learned something about the skill or yourself, than it can not and should not be called a failure.

Happy Crafting All!

Birthday Wishes - Classically Simple

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

I love this birthday card. It is so simple but classic with it's textured background, the rolling letters stamped on simple white paper, self-adhesive ribbon and the beautiful metallic butterfly in contrasting pink. This card design could easily be altered to make it a little more masculine or more feminine. As it is right now, it would be perfect for a woman who loves to be active or loves the calming ocean tone the textured paper lends to the project. To make the piece a little more interesting, I used double-sided foam tape to raise the birthday greeting and left the butterfly tag loose, adding dimension to the piece.

Again, simple, classy and handmade in less than a half hour. It's sure to make someone smile!

Happy Crafting All!

Make A Quilt With Me, Wk 5

2009-08-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

We are in the home stretch now! Of course, this is also where the quilt making can get a little tricky and very frustrating. These last steps will require a lot of patience. By now you have you quilt top completed and pinned to the batting and backing in a 'quilt sandwich' and you are ready to start quilting through the center.

One of the easiest ways to do the actual quilting is what's called 'stitch in the ditch.' This basically means you will be stitching next to (in the ditch) your block seams. I personally love this method because I have a very inexpensive sewing machine and straight lines are easier to do than trying to do fancy curves and designs.

Unroll your quilt on one side, just to the center seam. I prefer to start stitching in the center of the quilt and work my way out. The rolled part will stay under the throat of the machine as you sew a straight line down the center seam.

The biggest key here is to go slow. You may want to drop your dog (feeder) feet so you can guide the quilt through the throat and past the needle. I found that it helped me to leave my feet up - they aided in moving the material through a little more smoothly with less effort on my part.

For this week, take your time and sew all the straight seams between each of the 36 blocks. On the back, you will notice a grid pattern take shape. Once you have all the vertical seams sewn, rotate the quilt one quarter turn. This will make the vertical stitching you just finished horizontal. Roll half of the quilt and repeat the process. Make sure you also do the seam connecting the border to the squares.

That's it for this week. Again, TAKE YOUR TIME! Keep a slow, steady pace as you move the quilt through the machine and before you know it, it will be done.

Now is when you should be getting really excited! Next week will be the final step and once you've completed it, you'll have a beautiful quilt you can be proud of. Until then....

Happy Crafting All!

Copper Bauble

2009-08-18T10:51:00.002-06:00

A simple cocktail ring seemed a good place to start on wire wrapping journey. There is not much concern for swooping curves and bends in the wire and only a couple of beads to adorn it.

The ring above took about 20 minutes to create. It was more challenging than I expected simply because getting the beads to stay where I wanted them on the wire and getting the wire stay on the mandrel can be a daunting task. But I managed it. The finished ring is actually very nice even if the beads I chose where a little too big for a ring. That is what experimenting is for though: Making mistakes and learning from them.

Happy Crafting All!

Cute and Hip-po!

2009-08-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here is another adorable little creation straight from the pages of 'Tiny Yarn Animals' by Tamie Snow. This little hippo was whipped up in just a few hours and would make a great gift for someone who collects either hippos or amigurumi.

The book, 'Tiny Yarn Animals,' has a total of 20 amigurumi patterns including this little guy, the lamp I showed you last week and other adorable little critters such as a koala, lemur, hedgehog, bear, octopus and fish. The patterns would be great for any experienced crocheter. (Those who are new to crochet may find the lack of instructional pictures a little frustrating.) Nicholas Noyes did a fantastic job photographing the finished projects in ways that give each little critter it's own personality.

Happy Crafting All!

Pictures To Die Cuts

2009-08-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

If you have ever ventured through the paper craft sections of you favorite craft store, you'll undoubtedly have seen the lovely die cuts available for your projects. But why buy them when you can make them at home. It's easier than you think.

Above is the perfect example of how easy it can be. I used a picture of a blooming rose that I took at a city park, cut around the rose and made my own rose 'die cut' perfect for cardmaking or even scrapbooking. If you don't happen to have a collection of pictures to use, you can always search domain-free images to use in your projects - simply download the free images and cut them out.

Obviously, using something like a Cricut system would be easier, but those can be expensive. Using my own pictures, the only investment I have to make is in printer ink, paper to print the pictures on and a pair of sharp scissors. And with the economy the way it is, saving money anywhere you can is a definite plus!

Happy Crafting All!

Birthday Wishes - The Simple Way

2009-08-13T08:00:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the sideways picture, but for some reason the Blogger likes to turn some of my pictures when I upload them.

Anyway, this is another example of a super simple birthday card. All I did was glue a piece of lavender paper to the front of a blank card, added a stamped cut out which I used colored pencils to add some color to and some simple glittery flower stickers. The stamp I used was another of (my favorite) Michael's $1 stamps and the stickers I found at Wal*mart for a $1.

I love to make these cards because the handmade aspect makes them special. However, handmade paper crafts don't have to cost a fortune. Always check $1 bins at your craft stores, a lot of dollar stores will have craft sections (you just have to look for them) and watch for sales and coupons. Once you accumulate a stash of simple stamps, papers and stickers, you'll be able to whip out these cards in no time!

Happy Crafting All!

Make A Quilt With Me, Wk 4

2009-08-12T08:00:00.000-06:00

If you have been following along with me, by now you have sewn all your blocks together in the pattern of your choice. Hopefully it all came together fairly easily for you and you are ready for this weeks instructions. Now, because lasts weeks instructions were a little involved, this weeks homework will be fairly easily.

The first step this week is to out four strips of Fabric B which were set aside when we started. You will need to sew one strip to each side of the quilt, adding the only border to the quilt. Press the top to smooth it out. Once you have that done, the top of your quilt is finished! You should be proud of yourself! You are half way to having a completed quilt ready for your own little one or to give as a gift.

Now, get out your backing material (Fabric D), and your batting. It is time to make your quilt sandwich. You are going to need a fairly large area to work. I will generally lay everything out on the floor at this point, however if you have enough space on your dining room table, I would recommend using that surface.

First, you'll need to press your backing material flat. Lay it out on the work surface. Then open up your batting, unroll and unfold it, smoothing it over the backing material. Use your hand to smooth it over the entire backing material; it will sort of adhere to the back material and not slip too much. Next, lay your quilt top over the batting and smooth it down with your hand as you did the batting.
Once you have it all smoothed and flattened, grab your safety pins and start pinning through all three layers. I prefer to use safety pins for this step because, even though they are a little more work to get on and off, I don't have to worry about stabbing myself on a straight pin while I'm working.
As you can see, I put one safety pin in the center of each fence rail block and along the border. You really need to use a lot of pins so that your materials don't shift and move around as you are quilting. Nothing is more frustrating than working so hard to quilt the layers together only to find out it shifted and won't lay flat once it is done.
After you it is pinned, trim the backing and batting to 1.5" - 2" larger than the quilt top, all the way around. Then, starting from one side, start rolling the quilt like cinnamon rolls. Go ahead and roll the entire quilt and set it aside until next week. As I said, this week is pretty simple. It is very important though, that you roll the quilt from this point on. If you fold the quilt in half, you risk shifting the material or allowing the batting to bunch or crinkle. This can cause problems when you are quilting with your machine.
So that's it for this week. Now you have a good idea of what your quilt look and feel like. You can feel the actual weight and texture of finished quilt. Next week we will do the actual quilting through all three layers of your quilt sandwich! Until then...

Happy Crafting All!!

Silver Leaf II

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

Again, I couldn't resist the call of natural inspiration. This time I utilized leaves cut from white shell, lovely green glass beads and silver accents and chain.

I love the this necklace and have worn it several times (acting as my own advertising!). Each time I've worn it, I've received several compliments. This is another that will soon be listed at AutumnBlossoms.com in plenty of time to make it a perfect Christmas gift!

Happy Crafting All!!

Counting Sheep

2009-08-10T11:58:00.002-06:00

I love creating little stuffed toys. The pattern for this adorable little guy came from 'Tiny Yarn Animals' by Tamie Snow. I've finished a couple of the patterns in the book and am very pleased with the results. I would highly recommend the book to experienced crocheters. The pictures of the finished animals are fun and inspiring.

This little lamb took me about four hours to complete, start to finish, and is made of inexpensive worsted weight yarn. Cute and durable - a great combination!

Happy Crafting All!

Alternate Resin Hearts

2009-08-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

Last week I showed you a simple and patriotic resin heart pendant from my Fourth of July inventory. This week I wanted to show you how easily the same basic pendant can be altered for a completely different look.

While last weeks pendant was highlighted with star confetti and dyed resin, this week's examples illustrate how something as simple as glitter can offer two distinctive looks. The pendant on the left was another big seller on the Fourth of July because of it's patriotic theme. The pendant on the right, however, is a solid glitter for year-round wear.

Using glitter offers you an easy and inexpensive way to create sparkling accents for day or evening wear. Catching the light beautifully, the glitter makes these fun for all ages while keeping the price of the piece cheap to make - and in return, cheap to sell!

Happy Crafting All!

Super Simple Birthday Card

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

I have three August birthdays in my immediate family - much more once I start counting in-laws and cousins. So over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to share some of the super simple birthday cards I've made to help celebrate these special days.

This card took me about 15 minutes to create. I used a neat birthday paper, a $1 cupcake stamp from Michaels, colored pencils and glue. Granted, the picture is not the greatest, but you get the idea of how quick and easy this card was to put together. Now it is ready for when I need it.

If you were able to find a similar birthday paper in a 12"x12" scrapbook sheet, you could easily make multiples of this card to always have on hand.

Happy Crafting All!

Make A Quilt With Me, Wk 3

2009-08-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

By now you should have all your quilt blocks ready to go. Last week you had your fabric washed and pressed; cut into strips and those strips were sewn together and then cut into your ready-to-use fence rail quilt blocks.

This week is when the fun really starts. Gather your blocks and lay them out on a work surface to design the look of your quilt. It is crucial to know how you want your quilt to look finished before you sew any further. If you make a mistake, you can fix it by taking the blocks apart and resewing them, however that can be hard on the material and it is time consuming. That is way knowing what you want the finished piece to look like before you start is so very important.

There are two popular ways to use fence rail blocks, the first is a very traditional look achieved by alternating between vertical and horizontal lines in the blocks giving the quilt a stair-step look, as showing below:
The second is the one I prefer because of the cute pinwheel-esque design that is achieved with with teal and purple fabrics, as shown below:
To me it gives the quilt a little more personality and focus. However, the design is your choice - I just wanted to illustrate a couple of the options available. Play with your blocks until you find the look you want. Now we get to start sewing your blocks together.

There are two ways to do this:

1. You can sew strips of blocks together, six block long, and then sew your six strips together to form your quilt top.
2. Sew sections of blocks together and sew those sections together to form your quilt block.

I prefer the latter, especially when using the fence rail block to make the pinwheels. By sewing four blocks together to form a pinwheel, I know that I am correctly placing the blocks for the pattern. Also, I find that sewing long strips of blocks together can make it somewhat cumbersome and difficult to line up seams at the block corners so I have always tried to construct smaller sections that will be sewn into the whole. (Hopefully that makes sense.)

Once you have finished sewing your blocks together, sit back and relax, you are done until next week. Are you feeling good about the progress you've made? You should! Your quilt top is nearly completed. Next week you'll finish the top and prep the piece for the actual quilting. Trust me, it won't be as difficult as it sounds!

Happy Crafting All!

I love this layout simply because

Silver Leaf

2009-08-04T08:00:00.002-06:00

I just couldn't resist the lovely glass leaf beads when I saw them. The shade of green is perfect for spring or fall, and amber bicone accent beads are such a lovely touch, giving the piece a very natural and elegant look. The silver plated accent, toggle closure and chain make the necklace deceptively simple looking, even as the chain snakes around the ivy leaves.

I made only two of this asymmetrical design with a front closure. Watch for it to be added to the inventory at AutumnBlossoms.com soon!

Happy Crafting All!

Crochet For The Baby, Updated

2009-08-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

There it is, the completed baby afghan that I first posted about last week. I love the way the colors play off each other and give the blanket a little more personality. It is just four granny squares, slipped stitched together with two rounds of accent border and finished with a round of single crochet. The only thing left for me to do is snip the stray tails and weave them in.

It took me about a week to complete this blanket. I'm not entirely sure who will be receiving this blanket yet, but I know it will be going to a loving home sooner or later!

Happy Crafting All!

Resin Hearts

2009-07-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Jewelry that is both attractive and inexpensive will always sell really well at craft shows and fairs. The resin heart pendant above cost me only pennies to make so I could easily sell them for $1 at the local Fourth of July festival earlier this month and make a profit. These turned out to be one of my top sellers that day.

If you are new to doing craft shows, the best piece of advice I can give you is to tier price your merchandise. Have several items priced at $1, have several more priced at $5, $10 and so on. The lower end items may sell better, but sales are sales and it is those lower priced items that will attract customers to your space. I noticed that having something that will attract a child's eye, such as these resin necklaces, will do wonders for bringing more people to your space. Just something to keep in mind as you plan your inventory!

Happy Crafting All!

Scrapbook or Journal?

2009-07-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

When I was young, there was really only two options for what I could do with photographs: 1) Stick them in a shoebox to keep them safe or 2) Put them into a photo album, which was usually the kind with adhesive and clean plastic covering. Now that I'm older, I know that those old albums are the not best place to store my memories simply because once the picture has been in there a while, it's impossible to get it out.

Scrapbooking and I just don't get along. I have seen some absolutely gorgeous scrapbook pages that showcase a genuine artistic talent. However, I still believe that a scrapbook should be a photo album and I just can't bring myself to spend hours designing a page with $50 worth of embellishments for just one picture. It won't tell the whole story attached to that memory.

Lately, I've found myself leaning toward journaling, which is almost a hybrid scrapbook. Combining the artistry of scrapbook with a little storytelling, the journal saves the complete memory in both images and words.

Showcased above are some simple journaling pages I created for a recent family trip to Craters of the Moon here in Idaho. In mirroring 8"x10" sheets of paper, I was able to place several pictures taken at the park with pictures of the family and a little written reminder of what I loved about the day. I used mostly scrap papers, left over from other projects and was able to whip the pages together in about a half hour. Simple and fast - two things I love in a project!

Happy Crafting All!

Make A Quilt With Me, Week 2

2009-07-29T08:00:00.002-06:00

So if you did your homework last week, you'll have your supplies. Now is the time to get down to the fun and actually start playing with the material.

Below you can see the material I started with. I chose purple, yellow and teal fabrics with a very subtle print design. The purple will be by Fabric A, Yellow is Fabric B, Teal is Fabric C. For my backing fabric (Fabric D) I chose a cute patchwork flannel print in soft pastel tones.

For right now, Fabric D will get set aside.

Step One: I highly recommend you wash and dry fabrics. This will take care of any shrinkage and color bleeding that could distort a finished quilt if not done before hand. Once the fabric is dry, iron it smooth. Some quilters like to press their fabrics with a little starch to make them a little stiffer and easier to work with.

Step Two: Cut the following strips:

Fabric A: 6 strips 2.5" x width of fabric
Fabric B: 14 strips 2.5" x width of fabric*
Fabric C: 6 strips 2.5" x width of fabric

(*Set aside 8 strips of Fabric B for the border and binding. You only need 6 strips of each fabric for the blocks.)
Step Three: Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew together one strip of Fabric A to Fabric B. Then sew one strip of Fabric C to opposite side of Fabric B. You end up with a long strip of the three materials approximately 6.5" wide. Repeat the process until you have 6 identical strips.

Step Four: Turn each strip over and press your seams to the darker fabric. Some quilters prefer to press their seams open. For this project, to keep it simple, just make sure the seams on all the strips go the same direction.

Step Five: From each long strip, cut six (6) 6.5" fence rail blocks. (Double check the width of your blocks and make sure you end up with squares. If each block is off a little, it will make sewing the blocks more difficult later on.)

Step Six: Set your blocks aside and relax. Next week we will go over arranging your blocks and sewing them together. I recommend putting your blocks into a gallon size plastic bag that can be sealed to protect them. (I actually like to store material for quilt projects that I am currently or soon will be working on in zip-lock bags to keep them clean and all together.)

I really hope you are enjoying the process so far. Are you excited now that you are seeing the materials you picked out actually joined together? Just think, in a few short weeks, you will have transformed those strips and blocks in a wonderful little quilt!

Happy Crafting All!

Wire Wrapped Ring

2009-07-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

I have always been fascinated with the beauty of wire wrapped jewelry. There is so much skill and artistry that goes into making each piece. One thing I love is the wire tends to have a life of it's own and you can never make the same exact piece twice.

This fascination and my desire to constantly learn new techniques in jewelry making, has inspired me to try my hand at wire wrapped rings. Above is my very first attempt. It's really not very good, but it is simple and wearable. I used half hard 24 gauge sterling silver wire, not the best choice for learning, but that is what I happened to have on hand. The dark green stone (which I think is bloodstone) is accented with simple glass seed beads.

Again, not very fancy, but it looks like a ring which is good. It's always important that your first attempt at something at least somewhat resemble what you were trying to make! I have ordered some less expensive copper wire to practice some new techniques on and can't wait to start experimenting. Hopefully this will inspire some of you to try something new as well!

Happy Crafting All!

Crochet For The Baby

2009-07-27T12:00:00.002-06:00

No matter where you are or what time of year it is, it seems everyone knows someone who is expecting. My stepdaughter is expecting her second child in Sept. A co-worker of my husband's just found out they were expecting a little girl. There is always someone, and there is always a need for a gift.

I love to crochet baby blankets for the expecting couples because even though they will probably have a ton blankets of all types, on that was made by hand and with a lot of thought and consideration seems to mean more. Anyone can go and pick up a gift set, but to be able to give a that shows that much time put in to it really makes a statement. More often than not, the crocheted blanket turns into a child's favorite blankie and then a cherished keepsake.

The blanket pictured above is about half finished, but will be a total of four granny squares and a border in white, pink and green. The soft tones will work well in any little girl's nursery. If you don't know if the blanket will be for a boy or girl, or just want to make some to have for future gifts, yellow, green and white also make a great combination.

I'll post new pictures when the blanket is finished. Until then...

Happy Crafting All!

Basic Baby Quilt, Wk 1 - Let Process Begin

2009-07-22T09:03:00.005-06:00

Last week I showed you a sample of the simple square block to make this lovely quilt. Starting this week, I will walk you through making the quilt pictured above. The whole process should take about 6 weeks to complete. I have broken the process up so that there isn't too much to do each week and you don't end up feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Plus, I understand that in this day and age, people are busy and can't always set aside a huge block of time for something. The idea is to have each step take only a few hours a week - so if you can block out a half hour a day to work on this, you should not have any problems. A new step will be added every Wednesday until the quilt is finished.

Now down to business....

For the first week, the only thing I am going to have you do is gather your supplies.

You will need:

Four cotton fabrics, in 44"-45" width

1/2 yard each of Fabric A and Fabric C (for blocks)
1 yard of Fabric B (for blocks, border and binding)
1 1/4 yard of Fabric D (for backing)

Batting, Crib Size (45" x 60")
Coordinating Thread
Rotary Cutter
Rotary Cutting Mat
Quilting Ruler (I prefer 6.5"x 24")
Safety Pins
Straight Pins
Sewing Machine
Iron and Ironing Board
Comfortable Work Environment

This ends up being about a 40" square quilt, perfect for a new baby. When choosing material, I like to use solids and tonals to keep the quilt from being too busy. Plus, solid cotton fabrics will tend to be less expensive than some of the lovely prints you can find.

When considering your work environment, you will need to be able spread out a bit. I used to sew at the dining room table with my ironing board set up in a corner. Look at your own situation and determine what the best place will be, especially if you are having to set up and take down your work area each time you are ready to sew. Make it as easy and convenient as possible so you don't lose interest in finishing to project.

That's all for this week. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line and I will be happy to answer them as best as I can. Have gathering those supplies!

Happy Crafting All!

Simplicity Is Key

2009-07-21T11:30:00.002-06:00

When it comes to earrings that can go with multiple outfits and occasions, simplicity really is the key to success. If a person is going to spend money on an accessory, they will generally want to get something that can go with almost everything and accent rather than dominate a look.

These simple drop earrings featuring aqua resin beads accented with teal and white beads lends itself to so many different looks - from a lovely wedding reception dress to summer work outfit. Classy or jeans, most people will love (and feel more comfortable buying) an accessory that will go with everything.

This is a point many jewelry makers need to keep in mind as they are designing their pieces to sell. While it always great to have extravagant pieces that showcase an artist's skills, talent and voice, it is also important to have pieces that a woman can wear on a daily basis. Just a little food for thought.

Happy Crafting All!

Fiber Resource

2009-07-20T15:49:00.004-06:00

Recently, I have been showing off my crochet handy work with patterns that I found on LionBrand.com. For today's crochet post, I thought I would share a link to the Lion Brand site.

I love the Lion Brand site, which currently has over 2,300 knitting, crochet and yarn craft patterns. The do control how the patterns are downloaded however, but requiring you sign up for a FREE account. This is actually not a bad thing because you will also be able to choose mailing list options. The mailings I get include few patterns and information on new yarns, exclusive sales and other fun things that the company offers.

The site is a fantastic resource for knitters and crochets alike, from all skill levels and definitely worth looking at! Why not create your own project with one of their patterns and send me a picture of your creation so it can be shared with the cyber world!

Happy Crafting All!

Summer Is Wedding Season

2009-07-16T13:17:00.004-06:00

It seems that summer is the best time of year to get married - the beautiful weather lends itself perfectly to outdoor ceremonies and receptions. The simplest way to let the bride and groom know you wish them the best on their special day is through a handmade card.

Of course, the idea of a handmade card can seem overwhelming to someone who doesn't necessarily enjoy paper crafting or someone who is short on time to get that card ready. The card I made, displayed above, is simple, elegant, conveys a heartfelt sentiment and only took 15 minutes to make.

A plain white card, a scrap of soft pink card stock paper, a pair of stamps (each costing only $1 at Michaels) and an optional decorative paper punch (like the one I used on the pink, which is from a line by Martha Stewart), created this super simple card. The flowers in the bouquet were colored in to give the perfect accent colors. This card can easily be personalized to match the wedding colors by switching up the colors of the flowers and the background paper.

Again, super simple, inexpensive and straight from the heart - what could be better?

Happy Crafting All!

Make A Quilt With Me

2009-07-16T12:56:00.003-06:00

Have you ever wanted to try making a quilt, but thought it was too time consuming? Too hard? Too frustrating? Well, I have great news for you - starting next week, I will be sharing instructions on how to create a beautiful baby quilt using the super simple Fence Rail quilt block, shown above. If you don't have time to learn quilting, this project is designed for you because each step should only take a few hours a week. When you are finished, you will have a great quilt to give as a gift or keep for a little one in your life.

The first step will be next week, and the whole project will take about 5 weeks to complete. I hope you are all as excited about this process as I am!

Happy Crafting All!

Sometime Simple Is Best

2009-07-14T10:41:00.003-06:00

When designing jewelry that I plan to sell, I try to create something beautiful that can actually be worn. This means sometimes a piece a less artistic than it is functional. These earrings are a perfect example of that principle. Made from crackle glass beads and creamy Druk glass beads, this pair of earrings is simple, stylish and sophisticated - or everything a woman could want in a pair of earrings! Afterall, why spend tons of cash for a pair of earrings that can be too heavy or bulky to be worn comfortably, just because they are more artsy? The artistic pieces are great, but every jewelry collection needs its functional pieces as well!

Happy Crafting All!

Eight-Legged & Fun To Make

2009-07-13T14:38:00.002-06:00

This little guy seemed perfect for a summer project. The pattern is from the Lion Brand Yarn Website; another of the amigurumi patterns they have listed there. He was so quick and easy to make you could easy put together a whole octopus family the kids - perfect for a trip to the beach or the sand box (with a little imagination!). This project is sure to be a hit, no matter who you give it to!

Happy Crafting!

Simple Invitation

2009-07-09T09:55:00.002-06:00

An invitation to a get together is the first impression your guests will have of the event. An invite that looks slapped together does not give a promising first impression. But, you don't have to spend a fortune on the invites.

The above invitation was put together for a family barbeque. It was simple and inexpensive. By layering dramatic green tones of scrapbook paper that I found on clearance, I created a striking background for the simple glitter foam flower stickers. A $1 "You're Invited" stamp on plain white paper and colored with colored pencils completes the card. It is simple, fun and, best of all, inexpensive. Guests loved them and it only took a couple of hours to make a dozen of them!

Happy Crafting!

Simple Quilt For A Weekend

2009-07-08T14:47:00.003-06:00

It took me roughly 8 hours to make the above 48"x48" quilt. I used in great method from "Crazy Shortcut Quilts" by Marguerita McManus & Sara Raffuse - a book I highly recommend because it turns the most difficult part of a quilt (the actual quilting) into a fun step.

There are several different varieties of quilt designs in the book, and since I was trying it for the first time, I chose the simplest and smallest to do. Because I don't have a full size quilting machine, I am forced to do all of my quilting on my little Singer, which can be very challenging once I start working on something larger than a twin size quilt. However, the book illustrates beautifully how to create simple crazy quilt blocks, do all the quilting and then sew the blocks together!

I've decided that Wednesday will be the day I discuss my quilting projects, and starting next week I will be going step by step through the current project that I am working on. (Which will unfortunately not be one from the above mentioned book.) Hopefully I will inspire a few beginning quilters like myself to follow along and maybe even try some of the things I'm doing.

(Don't worry jewelry fans and all other crafters - I am aiming at having different projects from different crafting disciplines every day of the week. Mondays will be crochet projects, Tuesdays are for jewelry, Wednesdays are quilting, Thursdays are paper projects and Fridays will be some of the eclectic other things that I have been working on. This will help ensure I post more often with a little more consistency. Hopefully, everyone will join me!)

Happy Crafting!

Sparkling Earring For Summer

2009-07-07T08:57:00.004-06:00

Earring are a simple accessory that can add drama or glamor to any outfit, year round. However, summer seems to be the perfect season to show off your favorite pair of earrings. With up-dos all around, summer is the perfect time to dangle something pretty from your ears!

These two pairs of earrings that I recently created would be great for whatever summer might bring. The pale yellow faceted beads in the above earrings are simple enough for day to day wear, while the dramatic contrasting orange and cream in the earring below are sure to get you noticed when you wear these to a summer party!

For whatever reason I need to wear them, summer is my favorite time to create jewelry and earrings become the simple must-have accessory for women!

Happy Crafting!

Summer Is Busy

2009-07-06T11:27:00.002-06:00

Even though these last few weeks have kept me too busy to post, they have not kept me too busy to craft! My projects have been eclectic to say the least, including the above crocheted amigurumi pig that I made using the free pattern from the Lion Brand Yarn website. It was super easy and took me about 5 hours over two days.

I love amigurumi projects - they tend to be so adorable and sooo easy to do. Many of them take very little time and can even be done on a road trip. Plus, my younger brother loves them, so I know they will never go to waste, just sitting on a shelf somewhere. As an added bonus, they can make such wonderful gifts, for young and old alike.

Happy Crafting!

A Beautiful Monday Morning

2009-06-22T08:37:00.003-06:00

I am kind of at a loss for what I want to work on today. I have so many things to do to get ready for my sister that is flying in from Ohio on Wednesday. It should be fairly simple - clean the house and wash linens. However, for a crafter it's never that easy!

This last Saturday, I went to a local festival and was invited to be a part of the Fourth of July festival where I will be sharing a booth with a really nice lady who co-founded the local military support group. I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a craft show, the only problem is I need a whole new line of products with more of a patriotic theme. I have definitely learned my lesson from the first show - I need some items that are much less expensive, easy and quick to make, and I have only about a week to make them!

So that is what I will be focusing on for the next few days. However, I do have a few more cards to share today. These were all made recently using nothing more than some pretty papers and a lot of components from the $1 areas of my local craft stores! Which proves you can do a lot with very little money!

Happy Crafting!