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?

November Giveaway!

As I announced on the 27th of last month, we are starting a monthly giveaway on this blog!

In our very first giveaway for this season, we are giving away a handmade child size apron!  It's a lovely cinnamon stripe with ric rac edging. Accent pocket and ruffle bottom are done in a fun black print! Has adjustable black neck strap. Ties in the back.  Will fit kids approximately ages 5 thru 9, depending on child.  (Dimensions available later in this post)

Autumn's child apron

And it's easy - - - just comment in this blog during the month of November and you are automatically entered!  The more comments, the more entries! You'll like the posts too--lots of creativity projects, sewing instruction and an occasional tutorial!  Start commenting today!

Bookmark this blog, visit each post and comment--it's just that EASY!! 

On the last day of the month, the winner will be announced on this blog!   (Make sure your comments are not anonymous, need a way to contact you if you win!)

Enter often--you'll have a ready made, handmade gift for holiday giving 

if you win!

P.S.  apron is 23" top to bottom, 17" across with 18" tie strings

New Stock!

With the season's craft and holiday shows coming up rather quickly, I needed to take inventory of my stock.  Zipper bags, check.  Fabric coasters, check.  Aprons, hmm . . . I might need a few more. Coffee cozies, oops, definitely need more!

Sew . . . I got out my trusty supplies, pattern, yardage, rotary cutter, and mat.  After a cutting session, at my new cutting table, I went to the sewing machine, sewed up the three layers.  Since I cannot spend a long time at the sewing machine these days with my back problem, I took the stack to my easy chair.  I turned them all, readying them for the final sewing.

Turning and pinning, even some Christmas ones!

Back to the studio for the final batch--

Here's one that my daughter picked out for her personal use:

Whew!  

Now I feel a bit more prepared for my shows! 

Wish me lots of sales dust from the sales fairy  

(as the saying goes around Etsy sellers!)

*`•.¸(¯`•.•´¯)¸.•´ ♥
  ☆ º ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸

(ＳＰＲＩＮＫＬＥ
`.¸¸♥´¯) ¸.☆´¯)
```-`☆~).¸¸.♥
┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ☆
┊ ┊ ┊ ❀
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☆

New giveaway program on this site!

I'm starting a new gift program on this site.  

I will be gifting one handmade item, or set of items, each month via random

drawing from entries of the current month's blog commenters.

Just comment and you are entered! 

Giveaway posts are scheduled for the first of the month and I will be awarding gifts at the end of the month.  Did you do the math?  That's 12 winners -- one per month!!   Some gifts will be mystery gifts and others will be specific items.  Each month the give-away item/s will be listed on the first post of the month.  All you have to do is comment throughout the month on any posts that interested you. (be (And there will be loads of interesting handmade items to check out! sure that your comment is NOT anonymous, I need a way to contact you if you win!)  Each separate comment enters you once for that month's random drawing.  Bookmark this site and Good luck!

If you like handcrafted, DIY or just watching creativity take place, you will love this blog!  Just plain fun creativeness! First give-away item will be posted on November 1st to be given away on Nov. 30th! 

Stay tuned!

Finished Costumes!

Thought I would bring you up to date on my latest project and the latest on me personally.  Although I haven't mentioned it here, I have recently fractured several vertebrae in my back, so have been experiencing quite a lot of pain, trips to the doctor, x-rays, and not much they can do about it.  It will take quite a while to heal; I am learning to cope with the nearly constant pain.

So . . .sew . . . I struggled thru my latest project--a couple of Halloween costumes for a valued client.  I got through it!  Whew!

Thought I would share how they turned out, just received this picture from her with her comment:

"She has the attitude of Mal (malicifacents daughter) down, haha"

 . . . and the completed Baby Hercules costume for her baby boy:

 I was happy to help my client and she was happy with the results saying,

"Thanks so much for everything! It's like Christmas getting your packages in the mail :) "  

Moral of the story is like the old saying:  No pain , no gain! 

P.S. Sorry for the dark photo, not feeling like perfection today!

Costume Progress

Thought you might want a look at what is coming out of my studio, currently.  I make all sorts of things; I enjoy the variety! 

I have a client in Texas that I has given me loads of unique sewing projects to do for her family, who loves all things animated!  A couple of years ago, I made Disney ornaments  and Christmas Stockings! This year I am working on a costume for her little daughter . . . Mal from the Descendants movie!  I have never seen the movie, but thru internet images, I have begun to recreate the jacket for my little client. 


I think the original jacket was made of leather, and obviously I am not making it from leather material.  It would be cost prohibitive!  But, I found some taffetta's that are a nice second for a child costume!  They provide that shiny surface that is needed. 

I was nervous about making the costume, since I could not use my client's child for an actual fitting.  But thru emails, I got her measurements and hopefully it will turn out just right! 

So far . . . here's the progress . . .with one sleeve and pinned in some places:

I'll share the finished product before I ship it!

Watch for it!

Halloween Clearance

Halloween is just around the corner, and I am making a costume for a client.  Fun!  I know that you might be decorating for the holiday! Everyone loves the fright, ghoul, and fun of dressing up and participating! 

I have several items that you might like for the sheer delight of a bargain!

I have one set of Halloween coasters left--the set with the zebra print (cute Halloween print on the reverse side):

source

And one Wizard of Oz pillow remaining:

source

One table topper/centerpiece for the Harvest season!  something that may delight your children year after year:

source

These must go!  Available in my shop here. Although it might be a little late for shipping times this year, (but maybe not).  Possibly the slashed prices on these few items will cause them to be a good buy to save for next year's celebrations!

Scraps!

Those of you who know me personally, know that I love scraps of fabric! I save all sizes of scraps

and I use them in all kinds of projects, so when I saw a similar art hoop with flowers on it,

I decided to use up some of my scraps!!!  Fun!!!

source

Available in my Abigail Jayne Art shop on Etsy.  

Over hill, over dale . . .

The other crisp autumn morning, I was looking at my old quilt cover and happened to see something

in the folds of the fabric that reminded me of an old song that I sang in grammar school .  Can you

see it?

Even if you don't see what I saw, 

aren't pictures of old quilts fun anyway!

Granddaughter's Wedding Gift

Recently I attended the wedding of one of my granddaughters. I worked on a quilt that I thought she

would like, since she likes romantic things.  This one had muted color and vintage doilies.  I was

very pleased with how it turned out and immediately got orders for two more of them!  Whew!

Although it is beautiful, I think that I am most proud of the free motion quilting I did on this one!

I have never before done an all free motion quilt!  It's not perfect, but was an accomplishment for me!

Whatca' think?

Photo Summary Part 2

Well, we were up to May, weren't we?!  (Previous post here)  May was packed with fun in Puerto Vallarta, and a big disappointment that led to our moving.

May continued . . .

Beautiful blossoms . . . 

 . . .and my view from my apartment deck . . . before . . .

. . .  more than 20 trees were cut down!

Needless to say . . . I was livid!  Gave my thirty day notice! Found a new home---fast!

June - Not all was a disappointment . . . a new home, with lots of space for my new studio with lots of high windows for light!

Storage and a built-in desk . . .

with room for my desk trinkets!

More storage, trinkets and my books!

And best of all, hubby raised my cutting table to the correct height and so I could have lots of fabric storage underneath!

I realize it may look a bit cluttered but everything has its place and I have plenty of work area!  Yay!

Now for some projects--Next post!!

Photo Summary Part 1

Much has happened over the last few months, including a move to a new home! (Stay tuned to see my new studio!  Yay!)

A quick photo summary before I get back into the creativeness:


February

February trip to babysit this crazy crew of grands

March

New project!  Inchies!  (More in a later post)

April

Trip to the 'Old home place' with oldest daughter

May - Trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

Creativity:

New cuff

Textile art!

Well, that's the first part, Part 2 -- next post!  

Click on my handiwork if you want to see a bit more!

Thanks for visitin'!