Trick or treat

Erik the Viking, Myra as Hello Kitty in Oriental outfit, and Noah as the Amazing Spiderman.

Birthday Cake!

German Chocolate Cake! Happy 11Th Birthday Erik! Yummy coconut.

It's a Wrap!

The wedding present is wrapped and ready to be given.

I had no wrapping paper, so I improvised. Tissue paper with an origami lotus flower (also tissue paper) for a bow. An origami crane made of fabric, with wire in the wings. The crane is an ornament too!

Bus Wallet

For Dee! Can you guess what Dee does?
She is a Bus Driver!
I had this little scrap of fabric in my stash. I knew I had to use it.

First I had to come up with a pattern.

I had several pictures in my ideas folder to work from.

I hope she likes it.

Wedding gifts.

Wow! I am finished two weeks before the wedding!

The happy couple is planning an Asian theme to their wedding with flower choices and decorations. So to keep with the theme here are the gifts.

The biggest part of these gifts is the Cross Stitch piece. It did not call for nor did I add the names or the date since I wanted it to be more like "Blessing" or wish for the couple.

The wooden Double Happiness was a great find while I was out looking for a frame for the cross stitched piece.

The coaster set is store bought with the Asian characters stenciled on with oil based stencil paint.

The hand embroidered greeting card just makes it all flow together nicely. Inside the card reads "Harmony for a Hundred Years" a traditional wish for the bride and groom.

A really big tote.

From swapped stash to really big tote.
I think I could even fit my Laptop in it.
Almost all the strips of fabric are from the fabric I received in my swap.
I only added a few reds and a couple of blues.

Swap Stuff!

Lori at Moda di Magno and I did a little swap. I am so happy with the results.

1. Teddy bear pattern, eyes, noses, and rotating joints.
2. Great fabrics in several colors.
3. Trims and Tapes.
4. A little book with great embroidery patterns for Crazy Quilts.
5. A Beautiful bracelet.

You can check out what I sent Lori at her blog, Moda di Magno. I sent lots of beads and 3 stamps I made just for her.

Stamps

Rabbits and Water, inspired by a Japanese Kimono stencil.















Five stamps made from stencil that was purchased from the local craft store.













There are a few more I made this week but they are part of a swap.

It is a set!

I finished the second table cover! I need to make a couple of underskirts to cover the table legs.

I also did a little crochet. I made two little pink granny style hats with flowers on the side. I don't have a picture of them and I have already gave them away to two cute little girls.

Next up I have a wedding gift to make.

One down one to go....

End table with a new look.

Mixed Mushrooms

Salt and Pepper.
They may not be a matching set but they look cute together.

Green Circles

Yes it is a new project. There were no rules to how the pieces were placed together. I just picked them up and sewed. And before too long little strips became really long strips. Then the long strips became seven inch wide group. Next I cut the really long (almost seventeen feet) group into sections just a tiny bit bigger than twenty-four inches. Group those together and create two twenty-six wide pieces. These were then cut into the two twenty-four inch circles.

More to come as the project continues.

Thrift Store Stuff

I bought this vase for the fish.

What is this? A search for Tanuki teaches us that this is the animal's name.
Tanuki translates as "Raccoon Dog"
Is it a String holder? Is it a souvenir drink cup? People on eBay have it listed as both.

Where have I been?

I have been.......


Cleaning the Basement!,

Reading everything Moomin,

and Making stamps.


I have also been crocheting the shrug/wrap. I have about 40 inches or more of what looks like a single crochet black scarf. I thought I had bookmarked the pattern, but can't find it so I am finishing this by memory. If anyone knows where I saw this please let me know. It is simply a pair of sleeves conected by a long flat section you wrap around your shoulders with a cross over in front, back or under one arm.

Getting Organized

I have not been working on any projects the last couple of weeks. All of my free time has been spent sorting organizing and getting the work tables uncluttered. I had a bunch of stuff to put away. I am still not completely finished. I put away bags of fabric from generous family members who cleaned out their stash. Sorted beads from My grandmother. And just about completely rearranged all the furniture and shelving in the basement.

I am hoping when the kids go back to school next week I will get back to finishing some of the many projects I have started. Projects to finish include no fewer than four quilts in various stages of completion. (Honestly there are probably a lot more than four.) Other works in progress include a large cross stitch (previously picture in the blog), a knit scarf that has been put aside several times for other projects, a crochet shrug/scarf, and finishing a bunny doll for my sister (she started it, but I am going to finish it).

Of course I doubt I will be able to resist the urge to start something new. Which is why I have so many unfinished projects.

Books!

I have been getting books at the thrifts lately. I found three children books that have great artwork.

Magic Heart by Jan Wahl(1972)

The life adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum(Wizard of Oz)(undated reproduction and condensed) The story can be read Here; The life adventures of Santa Claus

Christmas is a Time of Giving by Joan Aanglund(1961).

I also purchased a vintage crochet book. The Complete Book of Crochet by Elizabeth Laird Matheson (reprinted 1947). This book has lots of doilies and edgings and some nice hats. Even a mini top hat.

And as Mentioned on monster crochet, Wild Knitting on Interlibrary loan. Now I can try to figure out how to make the Armadillo Wrap!

Finally a finish.

After a week of vacation I have finally finished something. I have been having trouble getting motivated and back into the routine of everyday.

This Little scrappy quilt was a make it up as I go kind of thing. Fabric choices and quilting were all decided as I got to each step. I wanted it to look sort of heirloom.

A bit of fun

Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti

So I have to wonder how one goes about writing up these little tests. I would say that Inigo was a character I liked the best. But how do ten little questions associate my personality to his or is it all random?

Birthday Cake!

Polite Panda Care Bear Birthday Cake! Happy sixth birthday to Myra!

Also a Thrifty Find. I got the Cake pan at the thrift Store and was really excited it was a great deal.

Maternity blouses to quilt

One blouse was a hand-me-down from my sister, One was actually store bought, all the others were homemade by myself or my mother. My mom Has made them all Into this beautiful memory/scrap quilt. Thanks Mom!