Holiday Trinket Boxes

I was going thru a batch of craft supplies that I had tucked away, when I ran across a bag full of small paper mache boxes I had purchased some time ago.  If you are like me, you have supplies that you forgot that you had!

I decided to do something with them. Since my theme for this season's holiday shows is primitive kraft items, these cute little boxes were perfect!

You are welcome to follow along and make your own cute box~maybe a little box to keep ornament hangers in?  So . . . add to the mix some Mod Podge, sponge brushes, and material of your choice. That's it! Although you might want to decorate yours differently.

 

 Supplies ready:

 

As an option, I had previously painted one of the boxes red and never finished the project!  You know, those UFO's lying around.

I finished it first, of course!  Had to!  Added plenty of Mod Podge to the box top, picked the fabric for it and covered it.

Did another box top that would match my theme, leaving the bottom unfinished.  Again, you can decorate your box however you want. Use your imagination!

I decided to add a little button to the top; actually the glue is not dry in the photo--it will dry clear.   

All ready to house my ornament hangers.  Yay!

Whatcha think?

Another Crazy Quilting Stocking!

Working on some new Christmas stockings!  I did several last year of different types for my big Christmas Market show, but this year I am concentrating on Crazy quilted stockings!  Here's the one I am working on now:

Of course, I am not finished.  This is just the first stage--the patchwork and the embroidery.   Some of the bead work is done, but it needs more.  I love the pastel colors; different for Christmas!

I will share more when it is finally finished!  What do you think so far? 

Do you like pastels for Christmas 

or are you the traditional type?

New Project--Romantic Wrist Cuff

Seem to have had writer's block lately, so I have been filling in with creative projects.  The book will have to wait!  (Re-writes in progress.)  I needed some new items for my Etsy shops anyway, so here is one that I just completed and just listed!   A romantic wrist cuff.

I could use a young model!!  This cuff looks awful on my wrist--for picture that is!

 . . .ugh!

Even tho' I can't wear this one, I love making them!  I love the creativity!  And, just so you know, I do wear wrist cuffs.  I like a more simply styled cuff, and often wear one like this patchwork quilted one. It inspires my quilting work and reminds others of what I do!

Age shouldn't be a factor to pull them off, if you like them!   

Confidence and style is all that is needed!

Ever try wearing one?

Craft Show Stock

Working lately on stock for my largest craft show of the year.  The show is not until November, but life will be busy in September and October with commitments, so I am getting as much done NOW as possible.

My focus for this show will be on sewers with lots of pin cushions, scissor keepers, Crazy quilting caddies and needle books, along with my hand embroidered hoot art and a few other offerings.

 Handy Machine pin cushions

Non-traditional 'tomato' pin cushions

Designer fabric with needle keeper

Upcycled vase in a figurine cushion

Designer fabrics 

Other pin cushions with hand embroidery will be offered, and a cute felt characters yet to be made.  Sewers should be able to find a cute pin cushion with all the style choices and the various price points!  Lots of gifts for sewers too!    Wish me great sales!!

Gathering Supplies for CQ project

Gathering supplies for the project! 

Sequins, floss, seed beads, pearl beads, venice lace, charms!  

WooHoo!  

Time to get going! 

P.S. Last post, I showed how I pieced this block.  You might want to start there. (go to previous post.) :)

Santa Ornies

On Monday, I shared with you about my technique for saving time when sewing multiple pieces of a product that I was working on. (See post.) Promised to show the finished ornies!  I'm not quite finished, but progressing . . .

Will try a few other decorative differences . . . but basically . . . Santa!

Another project in progress

Do you do chain stitching when you are creating?

What's chain stitching?

When using the sewing machine, especially for quilting the same type of pieces over and over, sewers use a chain stitch method.  

Groupings of pieces are sewn one after the other, without cutting the thread between each one.  

Look closely:

These are a grouping of Santa ornament pieces all sewn and set for final stuffing and decoration.

Will show you the finish product later this week! Stay tuned!

Forgotten Projects?

I was looking back at my list of posts and I realized that I have not been featuring my craft!  I'm sure that I took pictures to show you, but I guess I just got lost in life!  Anyone ever done that???

Here's a few projects that I forgot about:

Hedgehog pouches for my oldest granddaughter's pet. Soft blue interior!

Nutmeg

A special order of wedding boutonnieres using yo yos!

Making little exchange gifts for sewers and crafters to take to seminars or camps!

Vintage Lace on a wooden spool in organza bag! 

Have you ever been to a craft seminar, or camp?  A blog friend of mine goes every year to one that she loves. She's made some very good friends!  I would love to go to a quilt camp!  How about you?

Work in progress, a question, and a prize!

Working lately on half market aprons.  Here one that I think turned out so cute!  I just love this chili pepper fabric!

Since it is Spring, I wanted to use up the yellow fabric.  Here is another combination with the yellow:

I had used this gray fabric to make my DIL an allover apron some time ago, and had some remnants.  Also working on some other combinations:

but . . .
would like your opinion on this next one. It's a cute multicolor print of fancy birds on a white/cream background.  What do you think? What color do I put with it? Try not to be influenced by the blue quilt background :) Options are a pale green gingham, t a bright teal scroll print, light teal butterfly flower print, red/salmon texture print, or an allover tiny floral pale teal print.  Or should I keep looking?

A) 

B)

C)

D)

E) 

Not so easy is it?  Sometimes the best combination for a particular fabric is hard to choose!   Let me know what you think in the comments and I will share some finished apron pictures next Thursday!  I might even send a set of coasters to one lucky commenter!

Good luck! 

And . . . Thanks!

Process Document and Final Product

I have worked on the scary stairs page until I was satisfied that I have the image that I wanted.  I started work on the final watercolor using a 140 pound acid free 11 by 15 inch watercolor paper. 

With all the previous practice pages, I had developed a sequence that I wanted to use on the final piece.  It went something like this:

First step: Sketching

Next, use a water resist medium for all the white areas of teeth and stairs

3.  Then do a wash for the stairs

4.  Do the lion wash

5.  Paint in the stair railings

6.  Paint the lines of the stairs

7.  Remove the resist medium

Then, the final details of the lion face and stair details.  Of course there were periods of rest between some of the steps for surface drying. 
(You may not be interesed in my sequence of process, but it's here for my documentation and future use.)

Here's how it turned out:

I'm not sure this is my best rendering of this subject but it is done now and I will have to stick with it.  It turned out a bit light, but the entire book illustrations are on the light side, so it is OK. 

Now, onto the next illustration!

New Adventure!

I am currently in the process of changing my focus for creativity.  For the last few years, I have been concentrating on my Etsy businesses of hand crafted jewelry and hand sewn products and not my art or writing.  Oh, I have had two blogs to keep my hand in writing practice and I have participated in Blue Chair Diary's Sunday Sketches but mostly this blog has been an 'on again, off again' project as far as any writing is concerned--not consistent nor concentrated.   My other blog  has been my focus, including my Etsy businesses, my BBA team, my handcrafted business friends and acquaintances.

Since recently re-thinking my outlay of time in regard to blogging and writing, I have decided to take August thru October to rest from my other endeavours and return to my writing and illustration in this blog.  I will concentrate on a couple of writing projects that were left on a back burner in my brain.  One project is actually a part of this blog, called Abby's story.  There is a tab on my home page to find this project.  But, alas, it is unfinished.  Another project is a children's book series that I started about eight years ago.  Then my breast cancer tragedy struck, my life changed a bit, and I just let my book writing plans go.

So if you are up for it, I will pull out one of these latent projects and take it up again.  I hope you will go on this journey with me to see if I can complete it. I will try to post about three times per week plus posting on Sunday's with my illustration progress on Sunday Sketches.  Your participation with me may be the boost that I need to keep plugging along toward the finish line. 

And, just as a taste of the future, these pictures show what I pulled out of a closet of that old project.  (I will explain in subsequent posts.)



Some old practice pieces

What have you dreamed about completing?

Join me, won't you?