Paper Roses

I'm having this wet scrapbook paper carnival in the craft room today and all I'm missing is the funnel cakes!!! I have a feeling the powdered sugar would just make a mess, though, so it's probably best that I just avoid those until after the crafting ends. And I don't have balloons or elephants...but wait, what was I talking about???

Ah yes, scrapbook paper! I don't scrapbook, yet I have two or three big pattern packs of scrapbook paper just sitting around taking up space. Today I decided to put them to work but started out totally unsure what I wanted to do with them. I started rooting around in my craft room junk drawer and came across a handful of paper flowers I'd started working on several months ago but was never quite happy with. BAM...IDEA! I decided maybe I should try something a little different and really like the end result.

Instead of cutting my paper in spirals as I'd done before, I did it the fun way and ripped it. Then I threw it in some water!!! How could this new-to-me process not be completely fun? 

Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to decorate with all of these little beauties!!! I'm debating over whether I want to add them to a wreath or a mirror. What's funny is that I have about 4,025,487 more paper squares left, 2 grapevine wreaths awaiting jobs and I believe 47 more mirrors needing cleaned and put to work. I'm pretty sure I can add scrapbook paper roses to anything my little heart desires today.

Detailed instructions on how to make Scrapbook Paper Roses can be found here.

A Fine Piece of Glass

50 sweet little pieces of square glass plus an additional 12 rectangular slivers for me to play with...and they've all found their way into the craft room. OH OH OH!!!! This is just so thrilling! I could not wait to dig into those little bad boys as soon as I had the chance tonight.

But first, why were there so many on the wall in that house? And why were some glued? Some taped? Some glued and taped? Some only held on the wall because they were taped to one another? I am so perplexed by the mysteries surrounding these mirrors. Don't worry, my intrigue will exist for days, weeks, maybe even years, but it will never overshadow the excitement that surrounds my desire to with these mirrors.

I set to task immediately with the first one by gathering up some leftover burgundy velvet Christmas ribbon and the trusty old hot glue gun. I think it turned out pretty, well, pretty!!!

For instructions on how I created A Fine Piece of Glass, please click here.

Alter Ego

Tomorrow I am expecting a plethora of square mirrors from a house that's being remodeled and I am super duper excited about repurposing them!!! But since I have to wait until tomorrow to get into all that, I needed to find something to get my hands into today. Upon scanning the scenery of the craft room, I discovered I still have ample supply of mason jars, so I decided to put them to use.

I took time to learn a little about altered jars this afternoon and quickly took to designing a few of my own. The first  one was, I believe, appropriately named Treasured Love Mason Jar. It includes sheet music from my ginormous stash, one of the doilies I purchased from a garage sale just a couple of weeks ago, a jewel accessory that sort of resembles a pocket watch and another that bears the word "love". The lyrics I picked out from the sheet music say, "You are my treasure...the world's greatest:" The pocket watch-looking accessory I felt was an appropriate addition to this jar because, well, pocket watches are often treasured possessions and love should withstand the test of time. Yeah, sometimes I get pretty deep with my crafting.

If you are interested in learning more about how I created the Treasured Love Mason Jar and others like it, you can find detailed instructions here. Enjoy!!!

Their Worlds Collided!

I found these precious little adornments at a local thrifty consignment shop a few weeks ago. I definitely liked the cross pendant and sort of liked the beads of the other necklace. Since they were a package deal for just under $4.00, I figured I may as well bring them into the craft room and see what sort of magic would happen.

After staring at them for several minutes a day and walking past them countless more times, I finally sat myself down with them this morning and began the painstaking task of deconstructing each one. Ok, ok, it wasn't really as daunting a task as I'm trying to make it seem, but I hadn't yet had a full cup of coffee, so take a little pity on a gal, would ya???

After much deliberation...with myself and only myself...this is the final product. Well, let me be totally honest here, this is the second final product. That's right, I made the necklace twice. Remember how you're supposed to measure twice and cut once in carpentry, right? And you recall that I didn't have my usual full cup of coffee prior to starting this project, right? Yeah, centimeters don't equal inches. 'Nuff said.

Aside from all of the silliness it took to actually get this one finished today, I can't wait to show it off because I really like how it turned out. This is one of my favorite pendants thus far.

And She's Back!

I broke out of corporate world once again and have returned to the craft room! Today I spent some time on a few writing assignments and did a little homework, but all work and no play makes this lady a superbly dull girl. Soooooo, I let the creativity run amok!

First I dove into the wool roving and made the ugliest praying cowgirl cross I could've ever thought up. Somehow, some way, I'm going to perfect that design because I think it has a lot of potential. I might have to bribe dear daughter for a needle felting lesson or two to get me there, but whatever it takes, right?!?

Then I got a wild hair up my you-know-where to paint... on canvas!!! And believe it or not, I actually had one tucked away in a craft drawer! Ok, so I admit that it's actually mini-me's canvas, and I admit that I used it without her permission. If she wants me to replace it, I suppose I will. Yes, yes, I will. The important thing is that I have an actual plan in mind for this new little project and it's going to be majestic, but this is what I have so far.

I had to leave my praying mama in the picture so you could see exactly how tiny and precious this canvas is. So adorable! But I don't intend for the final product to be cutesy; it'll be a more serious and meaningful piece if it turns out how it looks inside my head. We'll see how that winds up transferring!!!

Oh, it's so great to be back!!! Love you all!

On Hiatus

It seems my anticipated couple of days hiatus has turned into something much bigger, and for that I am very sorry, yet very thankful. I feel so neglectful - of my readers, of my sewing machine and of the poor craft room in general, which has been turned upside down to become an impromptu home office.

My trips back into corporate America have evolved beyond what I could have imagined and opened up more than just the cupboard door, so I have opportunities at my feet that I didn't expect and, therefore, quite a bit to contemplate over the next week.

Never fear, though, because no matter what my decision or the outcome of said decision, I will still retreat to my reliable craft room and continue to express my creativity and ooze it out into the world. Just maybe not in quite the same capacity I intended a few short months ago. There's a reason for everything that happens in our lives, we just need to trust in the Lord and the path on which He places us.

Making Progress

It was such a beautiful spring-like day outside today, so I set the hubby up on the patio with my window frame project to make a little progress for me. Once I pulled it down from it's perch on the wall and threatened to use his power tools myself, that is. :)

I got everything situated first by measuring, cutting and stapling the screen onto the back of the window frame before hubs stepped foot outdoors, so the hard work was already done for him. I even pre-drilled the holes for the knobs. Ok, so I didn't truly enlist his help until I realized the screws weren't long enough - OOPS!

Being the reliable and handy carpenter type guy that he is, though, he was happy to countersink the screws for all four knobs. Not only that, but he also installed 10 of the 15 hooks for me across the top of the frame.

That was enough for one day (I mean c'mon, there was a NASCAR race I had to watch and a basketball game of which he needed to know the outcome) so we brought it back inside to remount on the wall until I get the next few components ready to install. Perhaps you've already figured out what it will be. Maybe you haven't. Only time will reveal it's final purpose. :)

XOXO until next time, peeps!!!!

Back by Popular Demand!

I awoke MUCH brighter and earlier than I really needed to this morning. In fact, I'm not even sure there was a hint of brightness outside the window when I woke up. But that's ok. Darling daughter had a band competition to be sent off to and I enjoyed a little time with her before she headed out of town. I chatted up a few folks at the school and, just as I put old Tonto the Jeep in park at the homestead, I received a text message that put a big grin on this old lady's face.

Names have been changed to protect the identity of the innocent (and the not-so-innocent)...."Would u make my hubs a JD pillow please so he stops stealing my son's?" Of course, when I made my friend's son a John Deere fabric pillow, it was a very special one-of-a-kind model, so her husband gets a slightly less-than-super-special model. But it's made especially for him just the same. Apparently these little babies are super comfy to cuddle up with, because mommy requested a pink camo John Deere model for herself. I whipped up daddy's in no time so the little man can snatch his back up and keep it to himself. :)

Since I've been in corporate world quite a bit recently (and not complaining about that at all - I'm enjoying my time there), I haven't been living in my creative mind quite as much. I have some projects floating around in my head that I hope to get out into reality before next week's sale. Plan to see a few new things before March 17 rolls around!!!

The Rundown

I had a grumpy body day and had to skip out on riding, but from what I hear, Dear Daughter and her cohort had an equally wonderful time with both the long-eared and short-eared equines. I hate that I had to miss out, but sometimes that just happens.

Now before I go any further, didn't that awesome kid of mine do a great job writing her very first blog post for all of you last night?! I, for one, was incredibly proud!!!  She went from being a nervous wreck to being so humble. It was cute as cute could be.

In other news, I have a rapidly growing stack of mending work to do and some new projects to get finished before March 17 and share with you. However, my bill-paying workload also took an upward turn and must take priority. I'm in the midst of finding a positive work/craft/life balance so I can get it all accomplished and still maintain my childlike youth. Or my sanity. Oh, who am I kidding?! I get to work the majority of the time in my comfy clothes, jammin' to my favorite tunes, chatting with my gal pal with my feet kicked up on a pair of canine foot rests!

What I'm trying to say is I don't know when I'll get a project out for you to drool all over, but it will be sometime this week. So...

Ba-Donkey-Donk

Guest blog post written by Darling Daughter!

I recently was assigned a project in my FFA/Ag class about endangered animals and was able to select any animal from the endangered species list I wanted. So, with my love of equines, I quickly found the Somali Wild Donkey. Besides the PowerPoint presentation that I put together, I was also responsible for  creating a quiz to administer to the class and build some sort of display.Naturally, I decided to needle craft a cute little donkey!

I started making the model by felting wool yarn to form one oval ball for the body and another smaller one for the head. After that I cut pipe cleaners for the front and hind legs. Then I grabbed my stash of wool roving, special felting needles and work sponge. The colors I used were gray, black, camel and white.

I covered the body, head and pipe cleaners in gray roving, the nose in white and the tips of the legs in black to form the hooves. Next came the two long ears and a tail for the critter, with a little black at the end. When all of these individual pieces were done, it was time to connect them and make me a donkey!

The final touches included a short, roached mane down the neck and a dorsal stripe from the base of the neck to the top of the tail. Because the Somali Wild Donkey has zebra stripes on its legs... yes, zebra-striped donkey craziness... I had to needle in very long, thin strands of black roving around the lower portion of all four legs. The face was the last part to finish, with two tiny white eyeballs with black dots in the middle. Next, I stretched a small piece of camel roving over the white nose so it was just barely visible. I added two small black nostrils and a thin black mouth before I bent the legs so the donkey could lay down and rest.

Finally the donkey was ready to hot glue to his piece of wood, which the dad-man had graciously burned "Somali Wild Donkey" into for me. The donkey was quite adorable and the overall project was a success!

PS - Boss lady said there may not be a post tomorrow, since we're hoping to load up horses and mules and go riding after church and chores, so everybody enjoy your weekend!!!

Showing Off My Assets

Oh, now don't get too worked up when you see this project because the reversible green vest came ready-made. The embellishments, however, were mostly my handiwork.

For this particular task, I needed to design a specific applique and thought, hey, why not use my very favorite male model...

I did my thing to Z's photo and turned it into a black and white mirror image so I could trace it onto some Heat n' Bond.

Once I had my applique ready to go, the fun began with ironing and cutting and sewing, until I had this final product:

I can't take credit for the Z - it was an iron-on I purchased over a year ago and had tucked away in a drawer just waiting to find a purpose.

But I can absolutely take credit for that signature "A" on Z's butt there! All in all, I think it turned out pretty cute and I love that it's my actually my little boy being shown off on the back of my new-to-me vest.

Today Went Swimmingly...

On this fine, fine Monday, I confirmed my deepest, darkest fear. Dear daughter is truly a gal cut from the same cloth as her mother. We went to our mecca, AKA the local Goodwill store, in search of that much despised ready-made jewelry display I told you about the other day for a little something special I've got going on in the near future, right? Right.

So I say to her that I need this certain kind of fabric to make this certain kind of thing and it's her job to go find it hanging on a rack somewhere. Of course, she continues to follow about 3 steps behind me and I have to remind her that whatever it is she's supposed to locate is most certainly not on my backside anywhere. Once convinced, she wandered off alone in search of the holy grail of mystery fabrics and I in the other direction to find that dreaded jewelry display.

I rounded the corner to find her just as proud as can be, prepared to present her findings. Not only had she found the right fabric, she'd hit the motherload and had put a great deal of thought into it. Then she took off and started feeling everything - pants, shirts, jackets, skirts - EVERYTHING IN SIGHT - shouting out what it could be transformed into. At last she's experienced what it's like to live inside my head when the creative juices start a'flowin'!!! I loved it.

Needless to say, our little shopping excursion gave us a few goodies to bring home to the craft room. I should have some new creations to start sharing with all of you tomorrow!

I've Seen The Light!

Last minute prepping for tomorrow's big tack sale had me a little frantic this morning while I made up one last batch of Wild Thang headbands, trying to figure out everything I need to grab, finish or scrap before we head out in the morning. WHEW! I needed a break - I had to walk away for a little bit and take a mental breather. So I went to my happy place. You know...Goodwill. :)

I wandered around, just waiting for the creative juices to start flowing, needing that one special thing to reach off the shelf and grab me. Well first I found a heavy duty zipper for 49 cents. I don't know how to sew in zippers just yet, but I've started quite the collection of brand new ones because I find so many of them at Goodwill for the day I decide to give 'em a go. Well that wasn't quite it, so I moved on to the baskets, worked through the wreaths, found a little wrought iron jewelry display that would kinda-sorta-maybe work for tomorrow's table, especially since I don't have one ready, so I laid it in the cart with hesitation.

I pushed my trolley up and down the aisles and stared at that poor jewelry display with near disgust because it just WAS NOT what I wanted. It didn't speak to me. I didn't connect with it. I wandered back to my safe haven one more time - the sewing/game/alarm clock/box 'o' wig aisle. Yes, seriously, I found a box stuffed full of at least 3 wigs today. But I digress. I made small talk with a bearded stranger while I fumbled through different things, basically wasting time and feeling a little defeated when HELLO, LADY, there she was, sitting on the shelf smiling at me. It took me a minute to realize that her twin sister was sitting right next to her. Ahhhh, yes, these are exactly what I needed.

And a few other things. Oh, and to put back the poor unwanted jewelry display that simply will not do.

I snatched up my two new-to-me lamps, my sugar and creamer set, then scurried on home, so excitedly, to get started cleaning and polishing and snipping and super gluing. It was a festival of shiny happiness at my house this afternoon!!!

Oh, and to cover that unsightly hole where the electrical cord used to be... why BLING, of course!

Don't get too worried if I'm silent until Monday - it just means I had a really great Sunday. Happy weekend, everybody!

Check Your Pockets!

Wahoo! I finally had a chance to sit and relax at my old buddy the sewing machine. I think the other day I referenced an apron pattern I wanted to take for a test drive. Well today I gave it a whirl and failed miserably. But I figured out why relatively quickly and recovered, which resulted in making my own pattern and I like it even better. Can't beat that, right?

What I did was start with the cleaning apron pattern I found, followed the instructions as best I could - as you should all be well aware by now, pattern reading is not my strong point - and got started. I was probably almost to the half-way point of completion when I started asking myself why I was doing this or that and things really stopped making any sort of sense at all. I gave up, took a break, watched the live video feed of Vicci Martinez at the IHeart Listener Lounge today in Dayton, Ohio (because I sadly had to pass on an opportunity to be there myself), prepared and ate lunch then went back to the drawing board. Literally.

 First I got out my cheat sheet for joining
two strips to make a long waist band.

 I don't think it turned out too bad for a first try!

Then I pinned one continuous 19" wide x 48" long piece
of fabric to form my apron and front pockets.

 The finished product is a horse grooming/braiding apron with a tie waist band, two strong side loops for hanging spray bottles on and six deep front pockets to hold rubber bands, combs, hoof picks, gloves and, well, whatever else will fit!

Notions & News

I'm not sure why, but I feel compelled to share this story in the hope that it inspires someone else not to give up when things are looking bleak. I was really struggling with some things this morning when I heard a statement on television that really caught my attention..."Sometimes in life you have to lay one thing down so you can grab onto another." This really got me thinking and changed my whole frame of mind for the day. Almost immediately I received an invitation to participate in a future joint business venture.

A little later I received a phone call that set me back, got me worrying and really had me feeling a heavy burden. I turned to a friend for support and read my daily Bible verse to get over that hurdle, then went back to concentrating on my work. Much to my complete and total surprise, the very next phone call I received was an amazing opportunity that I have been praying about but wasn't sure would come my way - and I certainly didn't think it would roll along this quickly. Somedays I am truly taken aback by the blessings in my life. Then I realized the absolute hardest part of the whole day was waiting to share all of this with my family!

Once I finally got around to creative time, I spent all of it up trying to figure out what to do with these thingies. Ok, I should probably just throw them away, but they intrigue me. They're the remaining pieces to the curtain tie-backs that I had tucked away for years (I used the cord in my Artsy Heartsy Satchel on Valentine's Day). I keep flipping them around, situating them, rearranging them and trying to find a purpose for them but continue to come up idea-less. What would you do with them?

 

Perhaps tomorrow will be more fruitful??? One can only hope!

Way Back Wednesday

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster, which led to today really being out of whack. But it was messed up in a mostly good way, so it's all ok. Monday's journey back into corporate America was very rewarding for me, and hopefully fruitful for the folks I worked with. My intention was to go in and impart some of my wisdom upon them and I feel I was able to accomplish that. Yesterday took me out of commission for some personal business and I expected to be back in the swing of thing today.

Wellllllllllllllll, here's what happened. Last night I joined in on a conference call for At Home that was so informative and got my business mind flowing again, which is odd because evening is usually my creative time. Anyway, so I got to work on some marketing plans, etc., etc. I went to bed with a very clear idea of how today should look. I woke up with a totally different view, though, and the only things from my original agenda that I accomplished were creating one sewing pattern and packing up a few more items for this weekend's tack sale. So, in lieu of a completed sewing project I planned to show you from the pattern I worked up, I decided to surprise you with a few floral creations I'm rather proud of from way back when. I hope you enjoy them!!!

 Choose Life Ribbon Designed for St. Mary's Catholic School

 Support Our Troops and Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbons

Rewind

For Valentine's Day, I made an attempt at the Pink & Blue Potpourri Backpack Pattern, which turned into my Artsy Heartsy Satchel instead because I ran into some technical difficulties. I decided that, as I'm learning to do in so many other facets of my life lately, I need to be patient with each and every step of this pattern. So I rewound and revisited it, rather than allowing myself to feel conquered. (It also helped to have "Patience" by Guns N' Roses playing ever so softly in the background.)

I must confess, I did a happy dance when I finished this pocket. 

It turned out soooooo nice, inside and out. 

Nice stitching, eh?!

 I love the subtlety of the neon green thread throughout
to tie in the front pocket. (That almost makes me sound
like I know what I'm talking about!!!)

I have a 2-tone liner because I used fat quarters, not expecting this backpack to turn out as nice as it did.

Either way, I really like the effect.

 And here's my finished product. One John Deere drawstring backpack with a fancy front pocket and a 2-tone liner.
Not too shabby if you ask me.

Just a heads up for my loyal readers that I'll be venturing out into corporate America tomorrow, so you may not hear from me until Tuesday or Wednesday. I certainly don't want you to go thinking anything terrible happens to me when I'm in hiding for more than a day at a time. ☮ and ღ

Cut It Up

We've had a good dose of under-the-weather-ness running rampant here today, so manufacturing has come to a standstill. Lots of other things have been done, don't get me wrong. I just haven't operated the sewing machine or ironed fabrics or any of that good stuff.

But the sickly girl wanted something to keep her bust while she recuperates, so I assigned her the fun task of hunting down quirky little appliques and maybe a new bag design or two. Why? Because we need some things to cut up and piece together when she feels better. :) She's done a great job so far. Once or twice I've glanced at her screen and seen a top hat or owl, and at one point I'm pretty sure there was one of those bikini t-shirts staring back at her. But hey, who am I to judge how a creative mind works???

Despite getting off course a bit, this afternoon was a great writing time for me and I actually got several assignments knocked out well ahead of my deadlines. If ever you find yourself interested in other activities with which I keep myself occupied, by all means check out some of these links:

My Published Articles

At Home With Karin 

Napknacks on Etsy 

In case you don't hear from me tomorrow, have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!!!

Lead 'Em On

Rambunctious horses tend to get a little destructive from time to time, and our draft horse buddies are no exception. The other night I came across a stash of draft halters with broken buckles that had been tucked away in a corner of the barn and forgotten about. You know me, I decided to bring them into the craft room and see what I could do. I mean really, what was I going to hurt by trying? They haven't been used since the buckles got broken anyway, so there was no harm in making an attempt.

I gathered up all of my supplies, including 2 of my 3 Piece Locking Pliers Set the hubby picked up at Lowe's, because seriously, who doesn't use hand tools for stitch 'n' repair jobs?!

I assessed each halter individually. Some could be repaired on the spot. Others had to be set aside for further review.

Those that could be repaired had the broken hooks removed first. Since none of the material was ruined, I folded it over the ring and started stitching it together with upholstery thread by hand.

Because this is the first time I've done a repair such as this, I don't know how long the stitches will hold. For that reason, the halters I was able to fix by hand will be used only around our barn. Safety first!

Oh, and nevermind the dirt seen in all of these pictures. I did not wash the halters before working on them. However I did thoroughly cleanse and disinfect my workspace, tools and ironing board cover when I finished this project. See, safety really is important around here.