What a Productive Week!!!

So they are all little things but, hey, a finished piece is a finished piece. The first one is another scissor fob. I'm trying to pace myself so I don't wind up with 50 of them. Like I said in my last post, they are SOOO easy.

Then I wanted a case for my ipod. Just something to put it in in my purse. So I came up with this little nugget. I can't decide what button to put on it, so that's the reason for the pin.

After the Surface Design class, I was flipping through a recently purchased beading book by Larkin van Horn. She makes these beaded buttons while she's on the road. I thought it was wonderful so I made one. The bad part was while I was putting it on the button form I loosened some beads, so I took the picture before I took it off so I can fix it. The good thing was I found out why I like Silamide better then Nymo. This was really fun to do and definitely helped me practice my beading. This might become the centerpiece of a new quilt.

Finally, it was mentioned that Altoid tins are good to transport beading projects. Well, I've had this kit (including heart tin) for quite a while and decided it was time for it to be made. Anyway, real easy -- a little cross stitch, some embroidery and a few beads. Hot glue onto the tin, add the cording, and a piece of felt on the inside -- PRESTO, bead tin!

Michele

Two more finishes

Before I get to the pretty's I must show a Natalie picture. Last Saturday we had a few errands to run and we needed to kill some time before one place opened. So, we went to a little bakery and someone wanted a chocolate cupcake heaped with frosting. It was early in the day to run off a sugar high, plus she was spending most of the afternoon with my mom. This is her with a frosting mustache. Can you tell she's quite proud of herself!

A few weeks ago I got the chance to take a workshop with Lyric Kinard. We all had such a great time learning to carve our own stamps and use them, paint, foil, screen print, bead, photo transfer. The cover of my book is stamped and foiled with the large cabochon and beading in the center. The inside of the book cover is screen printed. The photos don't do the final piece justice.

The other little trinket is something else for my guild's Christmas in July. It is a scissor fob made with Art Girlz wool beads, buttons and a silver charm. There will probably be more of these then anything because they were SOOOO easy to make.

Michele

Two Little Things

Here are two little things I did this week. The heart on the left is needle felted. We had a great speaker at our Lake Norman Quilters Guild meeting Tuesday. Vicki Clontz from Annie's Keepsakes did a brief lecture and then showed us all how to needlefelt. Vicki is a really great teacher and I think we're bringing her back later in the summer for another workshop. I've put a pin back on it so I can wear it.

The other piece is a pin cushion. We've decided to have a "Christmas in July" craft donation event (we can't call it a sale) for the guild. I'm planning on making some little things like this, so this is the first of many.

Michele

Peach

In what started as a new project quickly became one of the funnest things I've ever made (to this point). Her name is Peach and I still can't believe how easy she was to make. It all started at Hancock's. I saw one of Patti Medaris Culea's books and flipped through it. I couldn't stop thinking about how much fun they looked. I checked it out on Amazon and then ordered her first two books. As soon as they came I started studying them until I felt ready to try it.

In her book, Patti dyes the fabric for the doll and I thought that was a little intimidating, so I went to my LQS and bought a piece of peachy-pink hand dyed (thank you, Judy). Her dress is silk hankies I bought from Janet Lasher at Barnful of Quilts. I beaded the top of the bodice. Her shoes are sewn on her feet. Her hair is chenille yard which I ran out of, but thanks to Rene I will be able to fill it out. The headband is, I think, temporary. It was placed there to help cover up the "bald spots." I may make her a hat though. I just got Patti's third book and it includes a hat pattern. Here are some other pictures of her in different stages and a closer look at her face. I was really intimidated by her face. I did the one practice piece and then unfortunately some time passed so I felt I needed to practice again. I did another practice face and then immediately did her face. Patti gives really great directions throughout the whole process but the face was the best. I have admired the dolls at the Charlotte Quilt Show before but never thought I could do them. I have since bought Susan Oroyan's books and although they are wonderful eye candy, I'm glad I found Patti's books first because they fit my style.

I so enjoyed this process! I can't wait to do the next one. And really I already own most of thethings I needed so dollmaking is just another way to create. Natalie thinks she's pretty.

Michele

A Kind of Anniversary

Today is a very poignant day for me. Ten years ago I loaded a moderate amount of stuff into my blazer and waving good-bye to my grandmother, headed south. I had just finished grad school and I had a job. I moved 500 miles from anyone I knew or anything familiar. I remember being excited, anxious, and a little apprehensive. But I was so looking forward to being on my own. I arrived in Mooresville, NC at about 4 pm. Tomorrow was my first day of work.

It is amazing what has changed in 10 years. I literally left a life behind. My parents were in Florida and everyone else in PA. The relationship I was in came to a dramatic end a few weeks earlier. But I remember I didn't care because I was doing what I set out to do. This is me at Dover my second weekend on the job. Now that seems so long ago and far away.

Beautiful Day

Natalie is very excited to wear sundresses. Who knew that such a sweet little girl could get so dirty. She has comandeered my necklace, even to the point of wearing it to school. Speaking of school, Tuesday is her last day. I think she made a lot of progress this year. She's enjoying her time outside, smelling (and picking) flowers, chasing butterflys and dancing in the sunshine. This summer should be very interesting. We're excited about the pool opening this summer and I think we're going to enroll her in some sort of gymnastics.

We've had some more visitors of the four legged kind. Last weekend, I went out the back door to put the trash out and was unexpected greeted by fowl.

Yes, quack quack.

And then, Natalie was playing in the backyard while I was pulling weeds and I saw this little guy hiding from me.

I'm working on several different projects but not one long enough to finish. Plus, I lost last week being sick. But things are looking up and the sun is shining!

Michele

Lessons from Nature and Something New

When the weather warms we start to hear the familiar croak of frogs and toads. There is a farm pond and a stream not far from our home and the little buggers come out of the woods in the spring to entertain us. We have found them in the fish pond, burrowed in the mulch, clinging to the side of the house, living in the closed deck umbrella, and desperately trying to get in the French doors.

This morning I went out on the deck to get a read on the day and spotted this speck (which honestly looked like a big spitball) on our fire pit. I'm always wondering if the neighborhood kids reek havoc on the surrounding homes during the night, so my initial thought was the aforementioned spitball or maybe gum. So I had to get a closer look, with the ever present shadow in tow -- "What's that momma? Can I touch it? Can I play with it? Why's he sitting there, momma?"

Well, look how cute he is!! He (or she) is very smooth and looks just like a rock. I couldn't tell if he was looking at us or not because it's eyes were the same color as the skin. Natalie refrained from touching him and at last check he was still there. Whatever possesses them to choose such odd sleeping places is beyond me. I mentioned the deck umbrella earlier...last year we had one take residence there all summer long. Whenever we went out to open it up we got the hairy eyeball from a toad. Excuse me...Anyway, funny critters. Soon they'll be all over the driveway at night and one of us will unknowingly run one over.

Fun stuff...I'm working on a particular project I think I mentioned (a doll)and tested drawing the face. She's not bad for the first attempt. I know some things I need to do differently next time. I may do another practice before I do the real thing. The book I'm using is really specific which is helpful. I used watercolor pencils, which smudged but I think I could blend them better. Still testing this, lots of fun, can't wait to finish her.

Stay tuned,

Michele