Fun with beads.

 I made these!  OMG, I am having fun.  Do I love them, Dunno, but I have to start somewhere.  I am having some fun.  

Like everything else I do, YouTube.  I found a great 4 part video series on making jewelry.  So what the heck.  If nothing else I will have something to do when the weather isn't good outside.  You know because I have nothing else to do beside sew, cross stitch, crochet.  LOL!

On a side note.  The great little shop downtown I found to sell in is closing in the spring.  Oh, well darn.  It wasn't perfect but was pretty darn close.  What to do, what to do?  I don't want to go back to my previous spot, too expensive.  So I'm thinking I will do the local farmer's markets.  I can sell locally on Saturdays and then in a larger town an hour away on Sundays.  See what happens.  I want to have fun, I want my hobbies to be self supporting and I'd like to make some money so it's worth my time.  Otherwise, I might as well gift it all away and keep working OT.  

Happy stitching and beading Ya'll!

Just finished

I made a gift box for someone.

 

Kitchen towels, Alma Mater & Just for fun.  

Pretty Bathroom Towels. I'll let her wash away the stabilizer.

And then just for fun, some little bags.  I might make more for my store booth.  Think I'll gift these to my nieces.  

I am still learning about stabilizer and I recently found some I really like.  I was using Light Tearaway 1.5oz.  I ran out and went to buy more and bought Tear N Wash.  It is similar in weight and feel of the light tearaway but washes away.  I still use clear stabilizer on the top and it too washes away.  

I was struggling with that darn bird. I hate to admit, to get 4 towels I had to stitch out 7 times.  Two are not too bad and I think I will put on a quilt for my daughters, they are alum.  The third was a mess.  It all came down hooping.  I finally switched to my large square hoop, kept the position of the bird alone instead of flipping 90 degrees.  I did move the bird to the place I wanted but with my square loop I was able to ensure the towel was held firm along with stabilizer.  

I use to get so nervous when embroidering.  I have come to learn that it just takes some practice and a little knowledge which I have gained via trial and error.  Machines I have owned:  Brother PE (15 years ago), Janome 350E, Singer Futura, Janome 11000SE and now Baby Lock Destiny II. 

All good machines but with each up grade, definite improvement.  The Janome 110000SE is an awesome machine, you can pick one up used for a good price.  Make sure you get all the hoops. 

I have also learned to use good thread.  It's worth the money to avoid the headache.  I use Robinson-Anton because I can buy it locally and it's good thread.  I also use Sulky without any issue.  I have had problems any time I have tried to use Coat & Clark for embroidery.  I have lots of Coat & Clark embroidery thread so now I use it now for quilting if the stitching will be seen.  I use Schmetz Gold embroidery needles.  I love them!  I travel often and make sure I hit up quilt stores along the way.  

I'm going to Texas soon,  Time allowing I will post pictures of some of my favorite stores in the San Antonio area.   Happy Stitching!

Pretty Things

Pretty things. . .

 I bought new wine glasses.

 I made a new Jalisco.  

 Minky & Flannel, sating trim Blanket with Matching Burp Cloths.  

My Consuela Purse, LOVE!

Burp Cloths for sale on Etsy & Local Shop.  $5 each or $4.50 each if 2 or more purchased. 

Crochet Wash Cloths, for sale locally @ 3 Flowers Shop, Downtown Topeka, KS.  

Love this color combo, Fleece Blanket with pretty crochet trim.  

Crochet trim Fleece Llama Blanket.  

Another Quilt Done!!

Done and ready for the craft sale! You can see the floral quilt stitch made with my Singer Futura Quintet.

I hope to get more quilt designs. A new friend, Berneice showed me some she had titled Baltimore quilt designs. She has a Brother embroidery machine and a brand new Viking Epic, ooohhhh! The Baltimore quilt designs came on a CD she bought from her Brother dealer.
I really enjoined making this quilt. Yesterday, I purchased more fabric, like I don't have enough, for more quilts. Look out Etsy, here I come, LOL!

I think I might have a surplus, LOL!

And some more. . .

That's just some, my goal, to stitch it all! A little crochet on the side.

Happy sewing, crocheting, cross stitching, relaxing!

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Glasses for sewing

I had perfect vision until my late 30's, then only a mild correction. My 40's I needed bifocals. Now 50, I can't see without my glasses and struggle to see when I sew or am on the computer working. My optometrist explained that he could give me a prescription just for sewing, because that is most important, and if the computer screen was less than 2 feet away the glasses would be good for work too. I got them, I can see, I can see! And they're pretty too!

I spent a little extra to get the Tiffany frames. Pretty! But most important, I can see!!!

Sometimes, you have to spoil yourself.

Yesterday, I spoiled my family.

 

Chile Reyellenos, yum! I filled them with diced sweet potatoes and oinion sautéed before mixing with cheese. I made 3 this way and the rest I added shrimp to the mixture. It is time consuming and messy, I will own up to being a messy cook, but since I do the clean up afterwards I'm the one who suffers my mess.

Back to quilting. Happy sewing folks!

 

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Getting done, More Quilt fun

I'm making another quilt. I plan to donate it to the church craft sale. I've made chevron and what I call strip quilts so I thought I'd try simple blocks. I cut out 5.5" squares, finished 5" squares. Now remember, I'm a self taught sewer/quilter so I may be using incorrect terminology.

I used my Janome for the straight lines, Eliose is my main gal, we stitch everything together.

A tight work space but it worked.

I just bought this gal, but classic me. I bought this gorgeous machine and it sat for a couple of months before I could work up the confidence to use her. In the mean time, I've misplaced the bobbin case and part of the power cord for the bobbin winder. Lucky for me, I took a "fun" part time job with our local Viking store and will be able to order the right parts first time out. You never know when you're hunting on the internet if you've ordered the right part or if it's actually made by the company.

I did some decorative stitching on my Singer Futura Quintet.

Sandy, in action, LOL!

I'll post again after I have the quilt binding on. Wish me luck, usually I put on piping or gathered satin around the edges. This will be the first time I actually bind my quilt the traditional way.

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I'm Back!

After a brief hiatus, I've returned. I've not sew any dance costumes in a couple years, but I have request and do plan to get back at it. But I have been sewing.

A quilt for Ezra, my newest granddaughter.

I learned by making a quilt for Everest, my first granddaughter and older sister to Ezra.

Two years ago, we became grandparents. Five years ago, our oldest son moved to Texas, meant the woman of his dreams and married. They've had 2 blessings since.

My daughter ran for Fiesta Mexicana Queen, a large fund raising event for our church Our Lady of Guadalupe in Topeka. The campaign consumed our lives for five months.

She won! Here she is with Father Jerry at the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Two more quilts I made for the girls. Sorry the lighting isn't the best. I promise to get better.

The lighting doesn't do this quilt justice, it is very pretty. Light pinks and cream colors.

A little bit of crocheting on the side.

Everest and daddy sitting on grandma's porch Fiesta time!

My Ezra Joelle. Precious.

Well, I'll be back with pictures of my latest quilt. I've misplaced part of my embroidery frame, so I took a break.

I just had the frame, I put it down and it walked away. Ho hum, I'll find it now that I've had a moment of calm.

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