A new tool...

My birthday was over a month ago.

I got a little $$ and had to think hard about what

I wanted to spend it on.

 

 

This is what a decided: A Zutter bind-it-all.

It may not look too exciting to you, but its something I've been wanting for quite a while, but it seemed pretty frivolous.  BUT, for a birthday gift? Just right!

It arrived in the mail today!

 

(happy birthday to me!)

 

Thanks, mom and pop!

 

This is the type of binding it does.

I made this book tonight.

It worked just like I hoped.

 

I seem to be a little obsessed with making books.

This is just what I needed.

Wrapping up the weekend.

I haven't posted many of my projects lately, I suppose I'm waiting for a fabulous finished product to share.

 

 

This month I have been taking the Liberty Jane Design Academy (online class). Above is the one thing I have mostly finished.  I am learning a lot though and should have more to share soon. The class is teaching us to look at doll clothes in a whole new way.  Make them fashionable, like what a 9-12 year old would want to wear; or copy the fashion of preteen icons, like Katniss, Hannah Montana, Taylor Swift...taking care in choosing fabrics and watching proportions. I am mostly interested in making doll clothes for my granddaughters that have a real "wow" factor.  I might think about putting some on Etsy, but "wow" the competition is stiff!

 

After my latest shabby journal from "dispatch from LA", the 'remains of the day' journal, I decided to hurry up and make a Christmas Journal for myself.  I have finished the bare-bones and can tuck it away until December 1st.  I sewed jingle bells into the binding.

 

 

 

I used some scrapbook paper, but other stuff too - like calendar pages, music pages, old Christmas cards, doilies, ribbon and postage stamps. 

 

One thing I learned from the previous journal was not to fill it up with so much stuff that there's not much room for journal entries and photographs.  Better to leave lots of space and fill it in later if needed.

 

I think I will make one more Christmas one, for a gift. And then move on to other projects.

 

We still have a few beautiful things in the yard.

  Above are Snowball Bush leaves.

Very pretty in our back yard.

 

And these Hardy Fuchsias will bloom until a hard frost.

 

My Hydrangeas are done for, but still pretty in their own way as they fade away.

Olympia seems very beautiful this year, with many beautiful trees gradually showing their fall colors.

Thirteenth of December

This time of year I get totally EXCITED about making things and doing crafty stuff! Of course, it is also just the time of year when I have so many things going on already that it makes it very FRUSTRATING not to be able to find the time to do the cutesy craftsy things I find...

I really LOVE the above teacup chandelier! I have sent photos of it to certain people I know, I guess hoping THEY will make it and inspire me further! Some day I will find one of these chandelier fittings and BUY it! I already have the teacups!

And this adorable candlestand! I am sure I can find the pieces to make this! And the candle itself it adorable. Music paper, lace and glitter - three of my FAVORITE things! All it needs is a vintage postage stamp.

What are you making this Christmas?

...and one more party...

I've had so many parties this weekend! Today was a baby shower for a young lady I know from homeschooling. She is the age I was when I was expecting Carissa! She is having a girl baby - they are naming her Waverly. Cute name.

I made this gift card holder, from an article in a Somerset Magazine. I had to make a fake cover for the gift card because it was ORANGE and clashed a bit.

The mother-to-be and her mom, admiring gifts.

So much PINK!

And a cute cake.

Very fun to share in her happiness. I went with my friend Vicki and her daughter. The gifts were unbelievable! Everyone wanted to shower her with the best.

Party Party Party

This cake needs 83 candles!

That would be quite a blaze, but hardly enough to show EIGHTY THREE years worth of experiences...Three daughters, 6 grandchildren, 20 (?) great grandchildren, a couple of great-great-grandchildren! We had fun today celebrating my mom's birthday. FOOD: IKEA-style meatballs with gravy and rice and lingonberry sauce; Asian lettuce roll-ups; cole slaw; pumpkin muffins. And of course CAKE and ice cream! All three daughters attended, and our cousins Mike, Suzie and Samantha came too. We planned out Thanksgiving. A lovely day in spite of rain.

Many flowers and cards too.

Mike took a picture of "all the girls" that turned out nice and I hope I get a copy of it to share here.

Earlier that day...

At our scrapbooking group, it was my turn to make cards for the two birthday ladies. I had a lot of fun making these and they were easy! torn paper, ribbons, music paper and stickles.

I always like incorporating music paper into my crafts.

I don't know why, it just always looks so elegant with all that black and cream.

We also planned our annual Christmas party at this meeting.

I made these pumpkin muffins using my "Colonial Pumpkin Bars" recipe, but putting the batter into muffin tins. I piped the cream cheese frosting on top, moderately, and then put a big bowl of cream cheese frosting and a spoon nearby.

All that socializing - I need a nap!

November 7, 2010 Two pies and pincushions

I made two pies this weekend! "Rustic Apple Pies". We love them, so it is hard to make them to give to someone else! We took one with us to Vicki and John's when we went there for dinner. We got to see Vicki's new kitchen with granite countertops and all new appliances...it was gorgeous. She cooked us a really really good dinner too - shrimp fettuccine. Yum! So, we did get half of that apple pie for dessert.

The other pie we took to Phil's dad today. He shared it with us too, so we actually got half of each pie. He really enjoyed having a home made pie. We found out we can reserve a room at the facility where he lives and we are going to start planning family dinners there. These pies were about the last of our apples from our apple tree. There are a few left, suitable for applesauce. All weekend I've been making these "craft room pincushions" from little Goodwill picture frames I have been collecting over the last few months. They are meant to be used in a craft room, for those times you need a straight pin to unplug the glue tube or stick something down until it dries. I plan to sell them at a craft fair I hope to be involved in, and if that doesn't work out, or they don't sell, I will give them away for Christmas gifts. These are two of the 8 I have been working on this weekend. Notice the special pins, I made those too.

And even the backs are decorated. I've been having so much fun with these, making each one unique and trying to make each one very special - something I would love to keep.

Its been a nice weekend and I'm thankful for my craft room that I can make a huge mess in and no one (usually) comments on it!

October 22, 2010 Friday accomplishments

This is a project I have been working on since my project weekend at Claudia's. Its almost finished (but I keep thinking of little additions). Its a Christmas journal. I may have an outlet to sell some home-crafted items in November so I am making things I could sell there, or give as gifts myself . I have two more of these in progress.

I have been wanting to try making these bows out of old music paper - After the first one, these went fast! I made ten of them. Most of the time was spent cutting the paper into 3/4 inch x 7 inch strips...I think I will put something in the very center - it's begging for a brad or a photo or a little TO/FROM tag inside...

...in progress, little cardstock covered books for journals or albums. I bought the chipboard albums at Michaels for $1 each. They have rings to hold them together, which I will decorate with coordinating ribbon ties.

I have a nice "unbusy" weekend that should make it possible to finish up some of these projects. I have a fridge FULL of fresh vegetables I need to make a plan for! W is off at an "away" football game, somewhere near Detroit. He says its fun to travel with the football team. The "coach" they ride in is really nice and comfortable, with overhead lights and individual movie screens. They feed those boys well (even on the bus) and W gets in on that too. He does a little work, but gets paid for the whole time he's away from school and has time to study as well. He is going bonkers planning the classes he wants to take next semester - too many interesting choices, too little time.

***

Happy Weekend to you.