What’s On My Design Wall And A Gift From Liz (Thank YOU!!)

(4-30-12 Update: Nicole won the extra fussy cuts.)

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No, I didn’t fall off a cliff.

Just been under the weather for the past week. Spring flu symptoms and a stuffy nose which just won’t quit. Maybe a trip to the doctor is in order. Anyway, I haven’t done much since my last post. A bit of sewing, on and off. Mostly resting and napping. But I did want to show you what is up on my design wall and tell you about a gift I received.

First off, remember those umbrella blocks I told you about last month that I made for my quilt group’s Block Lotto. Well, guess what? I won this time. Got all of them, including the five purple and green ones I made.

What to make.. decisions, decisions. Aren’t they pretty!! Maybe I will make more. The pattern is perfect for scrap bin diving.

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And then… I won again!!

Well, actually Liz won. Liz is one of my faithful regulars. She won this fab book from Cyndi at Mixed Media Artist and had it sent to ME.

Can you believe it!! Pinch me!! I have flipped through it several times and it really gets my creative juices flowing. So many beautifully done works of art. There are several I want to try. Beads I have. Buttons I have. Plus tons of other items I can use for embellishments. Now just have to slice off some Bead Minutes and sit a spell.

Thank you, Liz. And thank you too, Cyndi.

This is what Amazon had to say about my new book.

Quilters have expanded the traditional boundaries of their art, embellishing their work with beads, embroidery, and surface design. They, as well as other fiber artists and sewers, will warmly welcome this idea-packed resource that opens up a new realm of creative potential. An illustrated basics section and quilting primer, fun techniques to experiment with, and 24 unique projects created by well-known designers–including a retro-chic throw pillow, miniature wall quilt, and fabric greeting card–will provide quilters with hours of enjoyment, instruction, and inspiration.

Wow!! Sewing and quilting with beads. Can’t wait to see what I come up with.

Go here to check out Cyndi’s site. Lots of great content plus she throws regular giveaway parties.

http://www.mixed-media-artist.com/search/label/Giveaways

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What else have I been doing in between emptying out kleenex boxes and napping…

Working with more 2 1/2″ squares.

Getting better at fussy cutting and sewing in grid formation which I learned about here. http://www.vroomansquilts.blogspot.com/2012/02/b-i-n-go.html

Here’s how mine turned out when I tried it. You sew the squares per the instructions.

You can better see the connecting threads in this photo.

This photo is after clipping the first column.

OMG!! It is so much faster. You will have to try it. My squares align better when matching up the seams.

There are 750 little squares displayed in this next photo.

30 blocks of twenty-five 2 1/2″ squares each. All fussy cut, except for the center black polka dot squares!! I actually cut about 100 more squares. Just didn’t use them all. (If anyone wants the extra 2 1/2″ squares, post a comment saying you want them. I will select one person.)

My plan is to turn the blocks into a game for our upcoming family reunion in July. A quilted game board for Game Night. With prizes. I haven’t decided whether to do a group table runner or individual game boards. Or both. I still have a HUGE amount of work left. And my idea keeps growing by leaps and bounds daily. I already have three pages of notes and want-to-do’s.

I hope to have it finished in time. More details and more photos coming soon.

So….. what have you been up to. What are you working on?

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Linking up to…

http://conniekresin.blogspot.com/2012/04/linky-party-tuesday_30.html

http://sewhappygeek.co.uk/index.php/2012/04/30/manic-monday-linky-party-35/

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/04/finish-it-up-friday-week-25.html

http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/04/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-little-fancy-fmq.html

Making Room For My Fabric

ONE IN. ONE OUT.

That is my new rule. So, when I go on a shopping spree and bring in 10 items, ten old things have to go.

Where are these books going? To my local library.

They will sell them at their book sales they have several times a year. I am helping them make a little money and at the same time reducing my tax obligation to Uncle Sam.

Some of the books, I hate to part with. But I don’t have any plans to reread them in the next ten years. (Too busy quilting.) And if I do, I can probably find them all on line. Somewhere. In some form. There are 50 of them. Actually there were just 49. I added one more. I like round numbers. Easier to remember.

So…. off they go… today. Hubby already loaded them in my car.

Now I have to rearrange a few other things and donate a few other things. To free up about 4-5 shelves on my bookcases. It will take me dropping “stuff” in the box and saying Bye-Bye. I know I can do it.

To Make Room For My Fabric.

I want them all nice and neat. Folded and stacked in piles. Color coordinated. I don’t have bolts of fabric. Just yards and Fat Quarters. Lots of FQ’s. And it has gotten to be a chore looking for a particular print or color. I know I have it. I know I didn’t use it. But where is it!!

Time to organize my little Fabric Stash. Then it will be easier for me to create all the craft ideas screaming to get out of my head.

Is your fabric organized? How did you do it? Do tell.

New Quilt Books and Tools

Look at my new quilting books I found on the net.

First one. Just 42 cents!! For real. No joke. Regular price $19.95. And there is not one thing wrong with it. No rips, tears, markings, highlighting, pages missing, notes. None of that. A perfect 9″ by 10 1/2″ softcover book. 256 pages. From Amazon.

Can you say “steal”?

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And another great find. Another steal. Also from Amazon.

This one just $5.20. AND IT IS HARDCOVER!! Only thing I could find wrong was a small water stain on the inside first page. Which is blank. And a small rip on the bottom corner of the spine. You can see it in the photo. For five bucks, I will tape that, no problem.

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This is a gift from my good friend, Lennette. A quilting fanatic. And she wants me to be one too. A one year’s subscription to American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Many, many tips and projects. Surely to keep me busy all year.

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Got these at Michaels yesterday with my coupons. If you haven’t signed up yet to receive coupons via e-mail, what are you waiting for. Every penny saved means you can buy more stuff!!

50% off.

40% off.

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And this I found while searching for something else. Forgot I had it. I tried it and it doesn’t hold that long. Could be the tackiness is gone. I bought it about 3 1/2 years ago.

Well…. that does it for me. What did you do to move the economy along?

From My New Book: Beaded Pillow Beads

My new craft books, I told you about, arrived several days ago. I flipped through them looking at the projects. Some seem easy enough. Some will be a challenge.

What did I try first?

Little beaded pillow beads from More Seed Bead Stitching, pages 91-92, by Beth Stone.

To tell you the truth… I didn’t GET it until the 4th try. As usual, I thought the author had made a mistake. So I ignored one of the steps. After the third try, I said, what the heck!! Do as it said. OK!! Ended up with these.

I used 6/0, 8/0 and 11/0 seed beads per the book.

They make up tiny. About a half inch. I will try them without the 11/0′s to see how much bigger they make up.

I really like the look of my “mistake” so I tried to duplicate it. The 2nd one kind of looks like the first though it feels different. Not as tight. I remember what I did wrong so I’ll make a couple more. I am thinking earrings. Maybe connect two and dangle them.

And of course, I went off, way off, on my own. With a little practice, I think I can get these to line up straight. But they need to be larger, much larger.

So far, this is one idea I have. Using Swarovski crystals. Not sure if I want a necklace with pillow, crystal, pillow, crystal, and so on. Might be too much green.

What do you think?

New Books Just Ordered From Amazon

Took over an hour of searching various sites but I think I got the best on-line deal. At Amazon. And using their SuperSaver Free Shipping, I saved $7. Being on a fixed income, every penny kept in my pocket is a bonus.

Here’s what I bought.

They are due to be shipped the 12th and I should have them a few days after that.

Can’t wait!!

New Book: 101 Crochet Squares

Sunday, May 3

Lots of crochet squares in this book. 101 of them. Wonder why 101? Makes you think someone said “bet you can’t make a hundred squares” and they said bet I can!! And topped THAT…

Well, let’s see what I can do. Bet I can make all of these. Going to try it. Could take years but I figure I will learn lots by attempting them. Already started on one. Square 35. Figured that one would be an easy one to try first.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996. I scanned the color photos from the book so you could better see what I am crocheting.

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Go here for pattern instructions.

101 Crochet Squares is by Jean Leinhauser, American School of Needlework, published 1996, ISBN 978-0-88195-715-0.

New Books.. New Ideas..

Thursday, July 24

Got my new books in the mail yesterday.

Don’t remember if I told you but Interweave Press recently had a Hurt Book Sale and offered over 100 craft book titles for 50-75% off. I found two on their list that were on MY list. My To-Buy-List. I got them for under $5 bucks each.

I had my fingers crossed that the books would be usable. I was expecting MAYBE a few dog ears, foggy covers or smeared ink… some reason for them to be considered “hurt”.

But surprise, surprise!! No flaws anywhere. Perfect books, at least to my eyes. I am delighted!! I saved $31.

Go here for information on next year’s Hurt Book Sale. www.hurtbooksale.com

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These next two books I got from Michael’s. Used a 40% off coupon for each. Don’t you just hate paying full price for books. Had to go two different days though.

July is Wireworking Month

Tuesday, July 1

This month should be interesting. I am looking forward to working with wire. I have been buying books for several months and studying the techniques and designs. And flipping through the pages looking for something that will be kind to my hands.

I have struggled with wirewrapping in my short jewelry making past and have avoided it like the plague. But there are so many beautiful pieces that can be created from wire and the only way to learn is by trying it. Experiment with different types and gauges. Hopefully my skills will improve and my hands hold up.

Here are the books I will be using as resources this month. There’s plenty here to get ideas from or to attempt the actually piece.

• Contemporary Bead & Wire Jewelry by Nathalie Mornu & Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott. Lark Books, 2006.
• Creating Wire and Beaded Jewelry by Linda Jones. North Light Books, 2004.
• Beading with Charms by Katherine Duncan Aimone. Lark Books, 2007.
• Findings & Finishings by Sharon Bateman. Interweave Press, 2003.
• Creative Metal Clay Jewelry by CeCe Wire. Lark Books, 2007. (Not sure why I bought this one. I won’t be making any metal clay jewelry. But it was a bargain. 50% off. And it has great pictures.)
• Step by Step Wire Jewelry. Interweave Press, Winter 2008, Vol 3, No 5.
• Step by Step Wire Jewelry. Interweave Press, Summer 2008, Vol 4, No 2.

JUNE is Button Month

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Monday, June 2

The month of May sure went by fast, didn’t it? For you too?

I had only just begun getting my hands all tied up in macrame cord. I find tying knots very relaxing. Even though June is here and I am going to create things with buttons, I am still going to find some time to macrame. I have a list of things I want to make. I will overlap like I have been doing with my beloved beading.

Anyhoo… I have lots of buttons. I have been accumulating them over the years. I wouldn’t say I am a button collector since I didn’t intentionally go out and hunt down any of them. It just happened.

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Just about every button has its own “story.”

Pink buttons from a linen suit hubby bought me during our first summer as Newlyweds back in July 1964.

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Rhinestone buttons from After 5 black satin shoes bought around the early 70′s. Very pretty and very worn. Ready for the trash years before they finally made it.

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Buttons from suits I bought for the corporate world I no longer play in. No, I didn’t get rid of the suits. I emptied out all those little packets of extra buttons.

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Buttons from clothes long gone and so outdated even the most retro person out there would toss them back. Now tell me. Who ever heard of a Nehru jacket anyway!! LOL!!

Leather buttons from hubby’s coats as a teen-ager. Yep, he bought them with him after we got married. After all, he was only 21, still just a kid.

Even fabric covered buttons from knit suits, remember those. And HUGE 2″ buttons from a black and white check swingback coat. Yikes!! The stuff we used to wear!!

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And hundreds more stored in ziplock plastic bags.

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In preparation for Button Month, I browsed my local library. They had a few books on button crafts featuring mostly jewelry. Some items looked easy enough. Things I should be able to start and finish within the 30 days.

I also purchased two books showing various ways to reduce my button stash. I flipped through them but haven’t yet decided what to make. Lots of pretty things, great ideas.

This month should be interesting. So.. stick around. Maybe my button creations will motivate you to recycle a few of your own.

Books: New Arrivals

Thursday, March 20 

I made a quick trip to Border’s Bookstore yesterday. I knew exactly which books I needed and wanted. I had my list in hand. Found everything except one book which was out-of-stock and had to be ordered.

Adding these two books to my Beading Craft Resource library.

Findings & Finishings by Sharon Bateman. A BEADWORK How-To-Book. Published by Interweave Press.  Copyright 2003. Soft cover, 118 pages. Trade secrets and techniques for finishing off beadwork. Lots of beautiful bracelets I want to make.  

         

The BEAD Directory by Elise Mann. The complete guide to choosing and using more than 600 Beautiful Beads. Published by Interweave Press. Copyright 2006. Hard cover, spiral, 256 pages.  This book covers everything: glass, crystals, semiprecious beads, precious metals, base metals, clay, plastic and wood. It also has chapters on other natural materials and findings. I am sure this book will become my new BFF. Best Friend Forever!!