DARE TO BE CREATIVE!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Another Snowman Pillow


When my DH saw the pillow I made for his brother and wife (and cat), he asked if I would make one for his mother and her cat.  I finished this pillow today.  This is another of the Snow People from Anita Goodesign. 

My MIL lives in assisted living and it is difficult too select something for Christmas.  Last year we sent a lovely "fresh wreath" and the facility rejected it as a fire hazard.  Rob and Connie (from the previous post) enjoyed the fresh wreath and purchased a potted plant for MIL.  We're hoping a pillow won't be an issue.  We don't fault the facility.  We should have checked first.  We have sent small live trees in the past and just thought a wreath would be nice.

That's the last of the Snow People for awhile.  I have a block of the month quilt from last year that is calling my name.  Goal is to finish the top by December 31, 2012 (should have been finished last December).

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your weekend.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Snowman Pillow


I've been away from blogland for a few days.  We've been busy with things here at the house.  washing windows, trimming shrubs, finishing some decorating projects, and planting a new shade tree.  I was however able to get into the studio yesterday afternoon.  This is the pillow I made for my brother-in-law's family.  I used Anita's Goodesigns SNOW PEOPLE Collection and Horizon Link for my Janome 12000 to design the pillow front.  .  There were a number of snowmen to choose from and I decided the king and queen would be perfect dressed in their holiday red and green.  Once the center panel was completed, I auditioned a number of fabrics and decided on this Christmas print.  I had the pillow form in the closet. 

Another present finished.  I'm making progress on the Christmas list.  Would like to be finished the middle of November.  We have a cruise in December.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Owl Sisters



I finished the Owl Sisters yesterday evening while watching the baseball game.  I posted the first pillow yesterday.  There is also info on the pattern source there.

Aren't they cute. They are for my two grandnieces.  Their room is decorated in pink and green.   I decided to reverse the fabrics so the girls can tell "WHO'S is WHO'S"!

Not sure what will be my next project.  I still have a couple of potholders with copies of recipe cards to complete.   Maybe I'll work on them tomorrow.  After church today I'm taking the granddaughters to see  Hotel Transylvania.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

An Owl Pillow - a must-have for fall


According to an article in today's Your Home section of the newspaper- "If you give a hoot about your decor, be aware that one design element is a must-have this fall: an owl."  I just finished this owl pillow yesterday.  I had ordered the book, Curiosities & Mischief, by Nancy Halvorsen, from my local quilt store and I picked it up on Wednesday.  I had fallen in love with the owl pillow they had on display.

I am making Sister Owl Pillows for my niece's two daughters.  They share a room and the colors are pink and green.  This is Sister # 1 and I finished her last evening.  (Before I knew she would be a "must-have".)  Today I began on Sister # 2.  She has a pink polka dot body and green wings.  By making them with the same fabrics but reversing colors, I'm hoping they won't fight over the pillow! 

I'm now thinking I "must-have" one of these pillows for my sofa.  Maybe I'll make one in vintage fabrics from my vintage fabric collection. 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Special Potholder & Sculpture in the Botanical Garden






 
I made this potholder for one of my nieces.  I save ideas from magazines and keep them in a folder.  I recenly found this idea in my folder.  Don't know what magazine or how long ago.  The idea is to make a potholder and embellish it with a special recipe.

 I used vintage fabric from my collection.  This is vintage cotton from Indian Head Mills, Inc.  When I  washed it,  I found that it isn't pre-shrunk since the piece I put in was much larger than the piece I took from the dryer!

The recipe of one of my mother's in her handwriting.  I know my niece will appreciate a recipe from her Grandma.   I think I make a tea towel and embellish with the vintage fabric.  They will be a small Christmas gift with a very special message.

Now for the Botancial Garden


As promised yesterday, here are the photos of the "Whispers of a New World" exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden.  The sculptures are by Carolina Escobar.  She works with steel and resined cloth to create these organic sculputres.  These are only a few of the sculptures.  I hope to go back on a day without kiddos and photograph all the sculptures in the gardens.  Yesterday was a "Kid's Day" with butterflies as the focus but we did encounter these sculptures as we visited the butterflies.





Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fall Break and Desert Botanical Garden

 
The granddaughters are on Fall break.  Today DH and I took them to the Desert Botanical Garden to see the Monarch Butterful Exhibit.
 
The girls took the photos below in the Butterfly Pavilion.  I'm not sure which is a male and which is a female but one of the workers explained to the girls how to tell the difference.  Thegirls went around explaining which ones were male and female.  I need them to identify the photos.  





This photo was taken at the entrance to the gardens.  Shown in the background are the Desert Towers by Chihuly.  Chihuly had an exhibit at the gardens a few years ago and these were purchased by the garden and remain on display at the entrance. 
 
The graden just open a new exhibit called Whispers of a New World  by Carolina Escobar inside the garden.  It features beautiful organic sculptures.  I'll have pics tomorrow of some of the sculptures.

Monday, October 8, 2012

From Halloween to Christmas

 
Yesterday I worked on a Halloween project.  Today I'm on to a Christmas project.  This little framed machine embroidery (11" x 14") is for a friend that collects snowmen.  I loved the design from Anita Goodesign's most recent design pack, Christmas Trio.  I was able to use fabric from my stash and the frame was in the garage.  I try to pick up a few frames at yard sales and thrift stores to use for craft projects.
 
I love this little snowman and may have to make one for myself.  Next time I think I will use fusible web behind lighter blue background.  It did wrinkle a little during embroidery.  But I still love it and know my friend will too.
 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Halloween Matchbox Swap

 
I haven't participated in a swap for a long time but recently I signed up for a Halloween Matchbox Swap on the Yahoo group Sharing Our Mixed Media Art.  I had participated in a Christmas Matchbox Swap a number of years ago and loved it.  All 25  boxes are mounted and proudly on display in my studio. 
 
I had no idea it would be so hard to find matchboxes.  I finally found them at store # 4.   One store said they no longer sell any matches,  2 others only had books of matches,  but I finally found the small boxes I was looking for.
 
Here is the box I made complete with drawer pull.
 
I tucked some Halloween confetti inside the box.
 
 
I then had to decide how to mail the box without it getting crushed.  I searched my studio and found this jewelry box from Penneys.  I used two of my Halloween stamps to embellish the outside and signed my name.
 
I then covered the Penney's name with a Halloween stick-on and added a few others and placed the matchbox and some cute Halloween earrings in the box.
 
 
Now I'm ready to mail when partners are assigned. 
 









Friday, October 5, 2012

Poodle Skirts

 

 
I finished the poodle skirts this morning just in time for the girls to try then on after school today.  They are both so pleased with their skirts.

 
Here they are modeling them on the front porch.  The sun was bright so they are both squinting.  The scarves were my mothers.  They are wearing their tops from school but they still look cute.  All they need is some rock-n-roll music.  I've never made poodle skirts but they are quite easy to make.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Fall Table Runner

 
This table runner was a gift from my friend Nancy.  It is a patchwork design made from the most beautiful fall fabrics.  It looks lovely on the table.  I purchased the brown ceramic pitcher at Goodwill last weekend and silk flowers from Big Lots.  I've had the squirrel salt and pepper for a number of years.  Since we will be in AZ for awhile, I've decided to decorate for Halloween.  We had hoped to go to KY next week but DH's is still having health issues.  It will be nice to be here to see the granddaughters at Halloween.
 
Speaking of granddaughters, I got a call yesterday from my son asking how hard it would be to make the girls Poodle Skirts.  I called two friends and searched on-line and decided to make them without purchasing a pattern.  I bought felt and a poodle applique from JoAnns and designed my own pattern.  You actually use math skills to draft a circle skirt pattern.  I'll post photos later but they are turning out nicely.  I'm adding waistbands tomorrow.  Poodles and leashes were attached today.  They are attending a birthday party with a 50's theme. 
 
 


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Back from Vacation and Ready for Fall




I am now back from a vacation and decorating for fall.  I purchased these little signs at the dollar store.  Plate is from my collection of Blue Ridge pottery.  I found the cute little vintage creamer and sugar at Goodwill a few weeks ago.

 
This is a dish cloth from my friend Nancy.  She made it on her embroidery machine.  The leaf is actually a scrubber made from layers of nylon mesh.  This is the first time I've seen one of these.  It is such a cleaver idea.  You can see a close-up below.  Nancy also made me a fall table runner which I'll show you tomorrow.


Happy Fall to All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!