Thread and Bead Bracelets

I made these for myself as examples of what I was teaching yesterday--beads tied on waxed linen thread.  The workshop was a lot of fun but my hands hurt today.  Four and a half hours is a long time to use arthritic hands.

Cross Stitch Blanket Is Done

All I need now is to put his name and birth date.  It was enjoyable but this thermal blanket is not the same plush as the others I've done so I hope the stitches stay in.  Working over two spaces was hindered by an awkwardly placed "center" hole so I had to concentrate on placement.  I think it's cute.  The pattern came from Leisure Arts leaflet #2878 (All rights reserved and copyrighted by Nina for Daisy Kingdom, Inc. 1995.)  I've been making jewelry.  Our church is having a craft day tomorrow and I'm doing a workshop on making thread bracelets so I just HAVE to practice, you know.  Photos tomorrow.

Art Challenge

Relics in Peoria is having an art challenge this year.  They are checking out old encyclopedia volumes into which people can put something creative, since the word for the year at Relics is "create."   When the year is completed, they will be displayed at a First Friday's Gallery Event and then they will be donated as a collection to the Peoria Historical Society.  My submission is a take-off on a Christmas ornament I sold this past Christmas.  It's called "And the Angel Said," a title taken from Luke 2:10--'And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  I thought it fitting to place it next to an article about The Shroud of Turin.

I used old lace, white and tea-stained cheese cloth, metallic ribbon, stick-on rhinestones, feathers and a copy of a vintage angel.

Off to finish the cross-stitched blanket since my lunch date was cancelled.  I hope to post a photo of it tomorrow.

Flowers and Crystals

Here's the gray and cream necklace I mentioned in my last post.  I used a reconstructed new necklace (only $5.00 at a well-known dept. store).  They are real faceted iridescent glass beads with wire connections.  I removed a couple of the large beads and left the smaller ones in a line onto which I connected the flowers, all made from recycled fabrics.  I used new and old beads to decorate them and sewed them on lace.  I think it's lovely and I hope someone else does, too.
The little shop in which I have been selling these pretties is closing the end of Feb.  Maybe it's time for a change.  I think I'll take a little break and clean my art space--not that it needs it, mind you, and certainly not a fun thing to do, but necessary.

Pretties Have Taken My Time

Birthday Card for Oldest Son



Bib Necklace on Pearls




Sweater Before




Sweater After

I did spend a day on my cross stitch blanket and the other two days I spent making pretties.   My oldest son got a "token" card from me.  You might say I threw it together but maybe what I placed inside the card will make up for my iffy jiffy art. 
I made a bib necklace of pinks and creams and placed it on the side of a pearl necklace.  I just sewed the roses on lace fabric backing, cut around the lace and literally sewed the whole piece on the necklace.  It worked and I like the way it looks and it wears well.  (Yes, I do try out my works sometimes to see if they stay in place and do what I want them to do.)
I was commissioned to rework a sweater.  She hated the animal fur trim so I removed all of it and replaced it with a field of flowers.  She's the one who purchased my first pink and cream bib necklace and wanted me to do the same thing for the sweater.  My next one will be gray and cream with bronze on a crystal necklace--at least that's what's been in my mind.  Stay tuned.

Bib Necklace

I can envision this on a bride wearing a vintage wedding gown.  I've used an assortment of different fabrics, old buttons and vintage beads and lace on a new chain.  After my first one sold, the buyer was asked about it by her client who came to the shop to buy one.  Guess I'll start working on another pink and cream one.  It's time-consuming but fun--especially when they sell.

I Can't Do Just One Thing

Dyed Agate, Charcoal Stone, Silvertone Beads

Silvertone, Crackle Agate Amber Rounds, Crystal Black Quartz Nuggets

Fluffy Pistachio Yarn

Wedding Necklace

I don't know why but I can't just do one thing at a time.  I had been working on the cross-stitch project for two days but the call of knitting and jewelry-making was strong in my heart.  My house is a wreck all the time with lurking projects in every corner and on every flat space.  If I were ever put in isolation, I think I'd take apart my sweater and create a necklace--or something.  I'm obsessed with creating.  I love to work at it and I do WORK.  Most of the time things don't just fall into place--not for me.  It's the rare occasion when that happens.  I spent all morning today putting together "wedding necklace."  S'more Couture is starting a wedding section and I'm working to fill it, bit by bit.  I saw a gorgeous necklace in the background of some fabric flowers photo and I fell in love with it.  This is a rendition of it.  The top two necklaces are my version of green with gray--seemingly the newest fashion color trend.  The second one I actually made for myself.  I thought "very long" was a different way to knit a scarf, so there it is.  Now, back to the cross-stitching.

Finally Winter

We finally have cold and snow.  It's been a very mild winter in central Illinois but a couple of days ago it started to snow.  I awoke yesterday to about 6 inches of snow and the wind had blown huge drifts across our yard.  It blew snow up against my kitchen window and this is what I saw yesterday morning as I was making my coffee.  I was happy to snuggle in and work on my cross-stitch blanket for grandchild #14.  He's due in March so I have to turn on the booster rockets to get it done in time.  Now, if my fingers will just hold out.

Creative Days

Bird Earrings

Chunky Eiffel Bracelet



Chunky Heart Bracelet




Chunky Swallow Bracelet

I've had fun the past few days making jewelry.  I used new bird charms and vintage glass droplets (except the blackbirds have new beads.)  I was wondering what I would do with the glass drops and certainly didn't want to sell them or give them away--and here you have it.  I saw the prototype for the bracelets in a ritzy catalogue and decided to give them a try.  I think they turned out cute.  The birds and the first two chunkies went to Relics.  I'm keeping the third bracelet, if I can stand the dangly bird--not much on dangles.  It's been a blast.  Now I'll be working on a cross-stitch blanket for grandbaby #14 due in March.  It will take a while!

In The Shoppe

Commissioned for shop

As I was making the necklace above, I realized that the components needed to be just a little bit bigger.  I'll do that next time.  I used old and new beads and vintage glass/shell buttons and crocheted it using a chain stitch with waxed linen thread.  I like to wear my necklaces and they're fun and fairly easy to do.


Fluffy Loveliness

I loved making the scarf. The yarn is a blend of nylon and mohair (thus the fluff) and it looks like a little pink cloud. Both the necklace and the scarf can be found at S'more Couture.

My bib necklace pictured below sold last Thursday, just two days after taking it in.  I'm so happy.  Now I get to make some more!  I loved it but my daughter and husband thought it look too "old lady."  I call it "Shabby Sophisticate."  I guess I know my market; that's all I have to say.

  

Now for some earrings for Relics and I'm going to try to make some headbands (my style) like some I've seen there before.

Wedding Flowers

Here are the remaining x-large wedding flowers for a backdrop commissioned about two months ago for S'more Couture.  The commissioner found the idea on a blog post, The White Wedding by Therese Jacinto.  Can anything be more beautiful? dreamy? gorgeous?  I don't think we've made enough to cover a whole backdrop but maybe the person can put something together.  Sidenote:  There's no amount of money offered to get me to make this many flowers--very time-consuming.

Cowl Scarves

Here are a couple more scarves that have slipped off my needles.  I'm working on a couple of pom-pon scarves now.  Seems all I want to do in the evenings is knit.  Live is good.  (I love how my wall looks chartreuse in the morning sunlight.  It's really cream.)

The Creativity Begins

Idea from pinterest.com



Fabric Roses Necklace




Fluffy scarf

 When I saw this idea I went to the sewing machine and added some velcro to two of my kitchen towels--one long strip to the ends and a tab addition to a corner.  If you haven't visited Pinterest, allow me to invite you to a lovely experience--fun and full of ideas.

I saw a lovely example of a fabric necklace as I was searching for my muse yesterday and this is the result.  I love it and will wear it today and may not be able to give it up to sell.  We'll see.

With snow blowing outside, my fingers were itching to knit.  This is one of three I created in the last three days--more to come.

Whirlwind Christmas

Flower Hair Clips

BlHankie for Stuffed Dog (back)



BlHankie for Stuffed Dog (front)




Presenting The Quilt




The Family Elves

I got to see all of my family this Christmas but we had to really travel a lot to do so and visit two families separately but it was worth it. 

 My grandgirls got chiffon hair clips but I didn't want to leave out the three-year old grandboy in the presentation so I made a BlHankie (Hankie Blankie) for him.  He was thrilled as were the girls.  I made enough for them to choose a couple each (I have 5 girls).  It's difficult thinking of handmade things for boys--seven of which didn't get anything handmade.  They are all over eleven years old so I don't think they missed anything.  Purchased gifts were enough for them.  I'm going to have to do some research on that one for the future, though.  

I presented the quilt I pieced and my husband quilted to our granddaughter and she was adequately pleased.  Now, on to quilt #10 with only four more to go after it. 

The elves visited my sister's house.  The big one is my oldest son.  The story of the outfit goes something like this:
The person doing the announcements in church asked for his help and asked him to wear his most "Christmasy clothes."  Because of my son's wacky brain, he chose this outfit.  Uh-huh.  We have a lot of fun at our house.
The littlest elf, quilt-girl, was dressed as herself.

I'm thankful that God allowed all of us to get together.  We had way too much food and not enough time but at least we got to hug each other, exchange gifts and talk a little.  That's enough to carry me through until we can be together again.