Good Morning Sunshine

Who wouldn't be cheered upon entry to the kitchen to be met with a cook wearing this apron?  This is indeed a happy morning greeting and a lovely redwork motif from the Embroidery Library.  I designed this apron for a special friend and I can't wait to see her wear it as she makes one of her favorite breakfast dishes -- Eggs!

Talavera Purse

Instead of working on one of many, many unfinished projects, what do I do when walking by a pile of denim jean scraps in my sewing room?  Yet another light bulb turned on in a burst of light in my chandelier head to create something new from something old.  

This was practically ready-made --with just a few hours of engineering to get the look I wanted. 

Before I could get the lining (with elastic pouch pocket) and ring tab to hold a set of keys sewn into it, my middle daughter had a hold of it and wouldn't let go.  It will make its premier showing tomorrow as we travel on vacation. 

The talavera embroidery design is from the Embroidery Library with a few crystals on the body for a little sparkly.  The strap is a belt left completely intact with the silver rings. These can be used to hold a scarf or as another way to carry the purse.

I still have the other half of the jeans -- so maybe I'll get a purse too -- unless my other daughter sees what I am making.  

Update -- I am delighted that the Embroidery Library posted this project on their facebook page resulting in 143 Likes; 9 comments, and 20 shares -- and 266 views on my blog! 

Anatomy of Cowboy Bear

Flight of Imagination

I just love this embroidery design called "Flight of Imagination" from Urban Threads.  http://urbanthreads.com.  Dain and I collaborated on the colors in this design working towards a vintage look with the design embroidered on a coarse linen backed with light-weight batting and a field of fill design for the look of Aida Cloth.  Framed, this will be a great addition to my studio wall.  A great reminder that my imagination is always in flight.

 

Spirit of the Moment

May Baskets have all been delivered and the promise of a very warm spring is here in the "Valley of the Sun."  Another fully too long hiatus has brought me back into the fold to reunite with my blogging buddies with a new banner and my latest show and tell. 

A little mini quilt in preparation of Memorial Day created on my lovely little 380 Bernina and the help of my friendly teacher and project designer, Denise, at Sew From the Heart.  It is called a "table top quilt" and is designed with a flap on the back to slip over an upright plastic sign holder.  A great little project that inspires to create other seasonal versions so that the "sign" will convey the spirit of the moment.  The star was cut with a Go Cutter -- I am hopeful that I can enlist my Sizzix to do the same thing.  Another reason to have a "laundry room" full of 'tools."

And, if I had paid attention in class, I would have known to cut my binding at 2 1/2" instead of 1 1/2" and it would have been a lot less trouble.  But, I love a challenge.  What next will be the spirit of the moment?  I know Denise has some ideas.....

Happy New Year

My list just gets bigger and bigger every year!  There are so many talented paper crafters out there that stimulate, inspire, and encourage the rest of us to continue cutting, embossing, stippling, and curling paper that it could be a full time activity just visiting their beautiful blogs and websites.  But, of course, we all have the "need" and desire to make our own stuff so hence, my BIG list.  Paper arts notwithstanding, I still enjoy crochet, and am immersed in sewing as well as many other art-related activities.  Despite the fact that I live in a warm climate, this time of year provokes an attitude or sense of cold weather so I have launched into a crochet project to make afghans for my two grandchildren.  Just to let you know what I am up to and to promise that new cards and card challenges are also on their way to this blog.

Happy New Year and Happy Crafting!

Rock Star

Rowlf  -- the Muppet pianist (Inkadinkadoo) was perfect for a musician and song writer friend of mine.  Rowlf is a three layer dimensional and lifted with foam mounts on top of the piano keys.  Accents are a red gem for a cufflink Sizzix die cut stars from sparkly fun foam (a new discovery from visiting my blogging stamping friend Sue Drees), a Sizzlet guitar and DP from stash.  The background for Rowlf was direct to paper - die cut panels from Nestabilities, "Rock Star" by Hampton Arts (Michael's Dollar stamp). 

Joy

Joy to the World!  When I began this card for Stampin' Sisters in Christ's last challenge to make a Christmas Card the word "Joy" kept resounding in my mind and all week long, fussed in the laundry room with how to put Joy in my card. I wanted to make a very special card in honor of the Stampin' Sisters in Christ closing so I went with "sparkly" because this challenge blog has been full of joy and sparkly and an inspiration to all of us.  Thanks Stampin' Sisters for a great run.  And, thanks to Spellbinders, Sizzix, Bernina, and Martha Stewart for giving me the tools to make some Joy.

Coco Chanel

"Ink it Up Finally..." Challenge 44:  Use It Tuesday challenges us to find and use an uninked stamp -- Ho Ho -- that's an easy one for me!!  I have shelves and drawers full and could create endless projects if I didn't have to do the laundry once in awhile.

I adore this Paula Best Coco Chanel image/quote that was obtained at a stamp convention about four years ago.  "Nature gives you the face you have a twenty it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty."  The backdrop is stitched with my DGD's Bernette sewing machine from scraps on my workbench, the medallion issues from the same scraps.  More "Use it" Stuff -- surely five years ago, I made a flock or swarm (?) of these dragonflies with a PSX stamp, embossing powder, and aluminum from a soda can.  They were just "refound" and provided a perfect accent for this card. Wishing for you a face that you merit at 50 (ala Coco Chanel).

It's Your Day....

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge this week is to create a card for a child.  I've had this little fisherman for quite a few years just sitting in the drawer waiting for an opportunity to ink up -- and he was just right for the job.  This diorama has three layers of different lengths -- the longest layer is the back with a mountain range, the middle layer (second longest) is water and a trout jumping up and the first layer (shortest) is the focal point and message.  When fastened together, it creates arcs so that the card is free standing.  I purposely used large paper fasteners instead of small brads for assembly as it will be mailed flat and little hands will be putting it together.

Inspiration from Sandy Genovese's book "Pop-Up Cards and other greetings that Slide, Dangle &  Move".- page 76

.Stuff I used:  Azadi Earles All Night Media, and Darcie's, Martha Stewart border punch, Sizzix, Cuttlebug embossing folder, prismacolors, and glitter.

A Purrrfect Thank You

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, thank you cards are a favorite challenge theme this month. I am meeting the challenge with this card by posting at Pause, Dream, Enjoy -- Simon Says Stamp Challenge -- Papercraft Star Challenge 121

A Sizzix die cut embellishment attaches the Delafield cat image (one of my very first stamps!!) and still a favorite.  The image was stamped and  colored on the reverse side of vellum and mounted on cardstock, before matting with another layer and then silk leaves and a ribbon from stash for the finish.  The Hero Arts "Thank You" was punched out with an Emagination tag punch.  And speaking of Thank yous -- I wish to thank you for stopping by - please let me know what you think. 

Turkey Feathers

Use It Tuesday Challenge #43:  "Be Thankful."  Yes indeed I am thankful for so many things.  Top on the list, of course, is family so I created "Turkey Feathers" for my DGD.  This card sprang from a Splitcoaststampers Holiday Blitz Tutorial wherein I learned how to make a telescope card and a center step card rolled into one --a clever invention of Cindy for Splitcoaststampers.  You can see my original card here and Cindy's tutorial here.  

Stuff I used: a few "pristine" dies and punches I have coveted and collected:  turkey Sissix die for the main feature, two circle die cuts, Sissix pumpkins, Sizzlet pilgrim hat -- with only the wings, beak and waddle hand cut.  Ribbon from stash. Extras:  cuttlebug texture, All Night Media grass punch, Marvy punch oak leaves, Family treasure larger oak leaf.

I am also very thankful to have so many great tools and supplies in my laundry room (aka, "studio) to play and create with.

Turkey Feathers is in the mail to my DGD for Happy Thanksgiving wishes. And here I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.