Bellesanbeaus Crafts

The BIG news

2011-07-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

For the first time in the history of my family all the girls are pregnant at the same time! My daughter and 2 daughter-in-loves are each welcoming a bundle of joy to their families. They are all due within weeks of each other which is going to make me a busy Mammaw come next year.
I made this tutu from a youtube video I found for one of the grand daughters already here. I know 2 of them will be finding out the sex of their child in mid August and early September. Not sure if the other one is going to find out or be surprised...either way I have been looking at videos for rag quilts and looking at baby material! It's a happy time here for sure. Hope all is right in your world and big hugs to you all!

Christmas in July

2011-07-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

I am seriously thinking about doing the craft show circut this fall. And with that in mind I thought how cute this idea was when I seen it on someone else's blog...so sorry I don't remember whose...memory is a horrible thing to loose. I am still going strong with the flat spiral bracelets but started some earrings last night. It is too funny to watch me with my youtube video, 2 needles and beads at this small computer desk trying to learn RAW!!! You know it's bad when you laugh at yourself!
We are currently involved in a heat wave here in Ohio...think most of the country is feeling it too, so it kinda nice to turn the air on and make Christmas things. Try and keep cool out there and as always ...big hugs to all

Hello again

2011-07-09T12:03:00.001-07:00

Wow I seriously need to start posting more! May was the last time I posted? Seriously...May? I love summer but this one has been crazy! Busy time but good times. First off we are going to be having 2 new grandbabies next year...both daughter and daughter-in-love are expecting new bundles of gramma kissables in January and in February (hoping one is on my birthday! lol)
My next bit of news is so awesome! I won a $500.00 shopping spree at http://www.limabeads.com !!! If you have not shopped there...run right now and check them out! They have this awesome contest open still and they have the BEST customer service! I get my orders so quickly from them and I love their quality. It was such hard work to spend that much...but I did it! So now I am off to teach myself some more stitches! Hope you all are having an awesome summer! Oh and by the way...the picture above only shows half my spending!!! lol Big hugs to all!

Jack's Mother's Day

2011-05-06T10:44:00.001-07:00

This is my Grandson Jack saying hello to you all. (Actually he is telling me how many Jelly Beans he wanted...but it's just as cute)

As many of you know this little guy is at my house every morning at 7:30 a.m. Monday thru Friday. His Mommy and Daddy work full time jobs so it is my contribution to the family to watch him and bypass the crazy outlandish prices of daycare here.

My daughter, as well I am sure a lot of working mommies, suffers from terrible guilt not being able to be with her only child. Our family has also had to endure the pain of 2 miscarriages last year with her. So in an effort to cheer her up, Jack and I made her this last minute gift today for her for Mother's Day. We hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day, and as always...from our home to yours...BIG HUGS!

May need to build an ark

2011-05-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

I think we just past our 400thmillionbizillionquadrillion day of rain! I always wondered what Washington state weather was like...we always heard it rains everyday there....I now know...and don't like it!!! Here in Ohio we do have seasons...spring, summer, fall and winter. Now some may only last a few days and some may last long after they are suppost to be gone (winter usually is guilty of hanging on wayy after the party is over) but I think we must add a new season. RAIN. We have it during every season so we may as well give it the due! I think the new line up would go soemthing like this....Rain, spring, rain, summer,rain, fall, rain winter, rain. Not sure the kids would get time out for it like spring and summer but they may as well...with the colds associated with getting wet and cold they loose school time. The Flu-season could be changed to the Flu/rain season. Can you tell I am just a little over the rain??? lol ok then enuf said...on to other news.

I have just about flat spiraled my way out of bracelets. I keep saying I am going to learn a new stitch...and I honestly have! Then it doesn't look right so I tear it out and go right back to this stitch....knowing it won't disappoint me. What surprised me more after looking at the bracelets is that I normally work with only blue and purple. If I am looking to buy beads...straight to the blues and purples. Fabric...the same and most of all my clothing! Surprise...not a blue or purple bracelet to be found in the bunch! lol I do have a light lavendar one that still needs it's toggle...but thats it!

I still have more seed beads than any normal person ought to and am ever seeking the simple pattern for those.

My other news is coming soon and in it's honor I am thinking we must do a give-away. But that news is a bit off yet...hehe...how mean is that? Hoping you all are not floating away like us...have an awesome week...big hugs from our waterlogged home to yours!

new things

2011-04-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Yep....number 7 grandbaby is here. Miss Aryelle Faye came into our family on April 14. She is shown here with her big sister Miss Belle. I can't wait to meet her in person...this is the thing that hurts the most when your kids live so far away...watching your babies grow up in pictures. My son now has 4 daughters...some days I feel sorry for him...he's so out numbered! He and my daughter-in-law touched our hearts so much..they named this baby with my Grandmothers middle name.

On other news...I am still trying to learn a differant stitch...I have 2 in mind so maybe I can catch up with my quoata of a new stitch a month for the new year....so far I'm not winning this race, but, on the other hand...I may be ahead if you count that I know how to string, have done 2 needle RAW once (with good results) and at one time designed 5 differant beaded collars for Christmas ornaments. I am working my way up to peyote so I can bead around one of my own cabs!!! lol I think this last bracelet shown here is my favorite...maybe it's the toggle...but it just seemed to fly right together. Why is it you have to fight with some to get them done and others are just done so easily? I have fought so hard with a purple one..which is a shock...I normally love anything purple...then to find I can't finish it until I get a silver colored toggle only adds to the frustration with it. I wonder why this happens? I am trying so hard to build up a bracelet stash for a later craft show and am still fighting with how to set it up. A 6 foot table becomes a monster to fill when you have 2 inch cabs!!! lol. I am thinking of setting the table up as a vanity...I have a bracelet tree, a necklace tree and thought a cute little Easter tree I bought would look cute for the earrings to hang off of. I have 4 wooden jewelry boxes that I can take the drawers and open them to reveal the cabs hiding in...oh I just don't know...any ideas out there??? I think my kitchen table is 6 foot so maybe I should do a few trial runs on it and let you all vote!!! That means I better go make some cabs...or this sale will be only bracelets!!! Have a great day everyone!

I think I need to learn a new stitch!

2011-04-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

Yep....think I should learn a new stitch....this is what I have done with this stitch so far...have 3 more on the bead board in various stages of completeion. My personal favorite was the first one (middle on left) but it got quickly replaced by the very bottom one.

With very few additions I made my $10.00 bead allowance from Artbeads go far enough to complete all 3 of the bronze colored ones. I also have enough left over beads to make earrings to match the bracelets. I was at first concerned with pricing, with all the things I do with the cabs I really didn't want to tackle another expense. I am so pleased though to know that this might not always be the case but for my first time out it's a wonderful learning experiance with minimal cost.

The bracelet at the top is going in my daughters Easter basket. Bless her heart at her age she still wants to be a kid and being mom...well do they ever get to old to baby once in a while? Since she doesn't read my blog she won't know so shhhhh...it's a secret!

We had such a beautiful day here yesterday...although windy the temps soared to the upper 70's. I was blessed enough to get out for a bit and enjoy it but it only made me greedy for more. Today is not co-operating...it's back down to the 50's with wind and rain...a perfect day to make more bracelets!

Hope you all have a wonderful week...big hugs

Mastering the mistakes

2011-04-07T14:25:00.001-07:00

I cannot even begin to tell you all the mistakes I made to make this. First there was the one that turned to a ring, then there were several others that just bit the dust! Last night I decided to give it one more shot...everything was going well til ......oh no the thread was tooooo short. I have some bird wrists and it wouldn't even fit me!!! lol So I went to bed and dreamed of this silly mess!!! By now I have almost convinced myself I will never learn to bead. I kept putting it off, even doing some chores not on today's list ...just to not have to face disappointment again. Finally with everything else done and no where else to go with this boo-boo face I dug in!!! What you see here is my final attempt at flat spiral. Well at least for this bracelet...I am happy with the outcome and I think I have finally mastered the elusive stitch!!! Have an awesome day...big hugs

Some times you really need lemons

2011-04-02T12:46:00.001-07:00

Yep...some times you really need lemons to make lemonaid. I couldn't wait for my items from Artbeads to come in, I wanted to learn the flat spiral stitch. Here's what I know went wrong, my tiger eye beads were not the right size. So to compenstate, I used less seed beads. I started making a bracelet and it started going all wonky.....so I decided to make a ring!!! lol. Actually when you have it on...it's interesting... that's me being kind to myself. The good news is I have no issues ripping it apart. The bad news is...I'm forced to wait for shipment from Artbeads to try this again.

The family has been fighting a nasty bug...don't know if it's flu or cold and they don't much care what the name is...they have been miserable. Thankfully I have not caught it yet...so hoping I won't. It's been a tight race to see who the real 2 year old around here is but thankfully husband is on the road again and kids have the weekend to rest.

I am thinking of entering my first craft show and need to get busy with everything that fell behind this past week. Not sure what I am getting myself into with this craft show...they advertise they are not a garden variety type show...they are edgy, on the fringe and Asian and tatoo inspired. Ok I know I'm getting older but I cannot wrap my mind around all those things!!! lol. I know one thing...this poor ring won't see that table!!! Have an awesome weekend all...and may you all have all the lemons you need for your lemonaid! Big Hugs

Busy...Busy...Busy

2011-04-01T07:34:00.001-07:00

My newest thing...no calorie chocolate bunnies...not sure we would want to eat these poly clay creations...but I just had to make them! I became interested when I seen a fellow blogger have them in her home. And as all things I see I think I can make...I spent a couple restless nights trying to figure it out. Who knew the answer was candy molds! Go figure...I didn't put 2+2 together til about the third sleeples night! These are the baked version and heres what I did with them. They now sit on my fireplace ready for the Easter Bunny to bring his goodies...hopefully some reall chocolate bunnies for me! lol.

I got to work on some cabs and made a custom order for a very nice lady. I hope she likes them when she gets them. My grandson caught a nasty bug and I have been trying so hard to fight it off...one day I feel human and the next is another story. I really don't like colds and such as they most often turn to bronchitis on me...and trust me it's no fun going somewhere and going into a huge coughing fit! So far so good...just tired alot lately. I could not believe we had 4 inches of snow Tuesday night...so over the snow...where is my summer??? Well I am off to try and force myself into cleaning the house...I think I will do the 15 min method...I clean for 15 and rest for 30! lol Hope you all have a wonderful creative weekend! Big hugs

A fond farewell

2011-03-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

Such a big news day for me! First off I made my first sale on artfire...yippppeeee me. The way I was dancing around this morning I think my 2 year old grandson thought his Mamaw had finally lost it!!! lol He didn't know why but he shared my excitement and jumped with me.

Here's what I sold....I must say a fond farewell to Miss Attic Annie, but I know she is going to a loving home.....Thank you Miss Lynn for purchasing her...can't wait to see what you do with her. I am always so amazed when I see these cabs in another artists work...I am proud and humbled at the same time. You can find Miss Lynn's beautiful beading at http://beadingheartart.blogspot.com/ I am just in awe every time I see her work.

I must also thank you all for posting my artfire account on your blogs and on facebook. I knew the blogging community was a tight knit group and your support has really touched me. Please give yourselves a huge hug from me! I only wished I could see each one of you in person to do it myself.

And out of this experiance has come a really cool idea...a lady wants me to paint cabs like the rock group Kiss...how fun is that??? Of course it sent my mind reeling and I heard this morning that Alice Cooper was being inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame which is here in our city. Hmmm maybe a set of "Tributes to Rockers" cabs is next! lol. What a selling gimmick...pictures of my rocker cabs with the rock hall in the background!!! lol Hey a girl can dream! Ok I am out of here to play with clay. Have a great evening all and of course...and I really mean this...sending you all big hugs!

I'm such a biggie girl now!

2011-03-13T19:34:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it...I finally have an Artfire account!!! and as soon as I can figure this all out I will give you a direct link to it but for now if you want to visit...look me up...BellesandbeausCrafts. I feel so grown up now!
Also while on facebook tonight I learned I won a give away from a lady I so admire. Talk about doin a happy dance!!!! 3 cute silver wrapped bunnies that are photo holders. If you get a chance go visit my new friend, www.seasonalhome.wordpress.com She has awesome ideas for little money to decorate your home.
So as you can see this was a big day for me and now I must bid you good night! Big hugs to you all

A couple UFO's

2011-03-13T09:58:00.001-07:00

I have had this experiment in my brain for some time now. I happened across some glitter that is so fine grain and irredesent that I could not pass it up. Then it sat on the shelf for who knows how long! lol. I also purchased some translucent clay and wondered how to go about making a cab that looked marbled with it. So I combined both to make this cab. I am not too pleased with the painting but i love the marbled effect and the glitter stayed glitzy after the clear coat so experiment was a huge success as far as I was concerned! The bugs in my head that come up with these crazy things are now happy! Shhh as to not wake them...who am I kidding they are on the forty yard line coming up with more for me to do I know! I was so proud of myself yesterday...I got so much done and did this and got another ufo completed as well.

The bugs are steady working on another idea but that I will reveil in time...lets just say it involves all of you! Scarey isn't it? I promise this idea won't hurt as much as my dental experiance.

I finally finished my first attempt at crazy quilting and I am hooked but other things are pressing me more. My mental list has grown so much I now have a hand written list to back it up...but there is some satisfaction in checking things off as I get them done. Well I am off to see what the bugs and I can get into today. Have a blessed Sunday. And as always sending you all huge hugs.

A blueberry morning

2011-03-12T09:16:00.001-08:00

Well...where to start....when we last seen our heroine she was complaining on life getting in the way...little did she know bigger and worse things were to come! Funny how pain that starts in the night feels so much worse...maybe it's our sub-fear of all terrible things happen in the darken corners or maybe it's just knowing there are hours to feel this way til the doctor is even up. That helpless feeling that knocks you down and tramples you into bits begging for mercy from any source. Yes this big baby had a toothache! Mind you I have had 4 pretty good sized babies...all natural, a couple of surgeries..nothing major but this toothache brought me to my knees! How can 1 itty-bitty tooth cause so much stinkin pain? And in so many different places...Lord even my eyelashes hurt! But that could not compare to the feeling of utter shock when I got my dental bill! Having no insurance in this country is the pits! In looking for any dentist that would see me on such short notice, with no insurance and no primary care dentist is like finding the needle in the haystack. But, I did happen upon one. I was loving life that the first exam and x-rays were free...yes I did say free. So off I go...me and my painful tooth on a cold rainy day to see the man who if he is giving me a freebie can't possibly charge too much for what I want done....the doctor was very nice and the x-rays went without too much pain. He and I agreed on a course of action but I needed antibiotics before he would start. He then tells me to go see the office manager to discuss the financial details. Still feeling confident I strolled into this office and sat before a young man that had organized bunches of papers before him. Now I have bought a home and new car in my time and I swear there was more paper work this time than those times! Young man tells me there are 2 courses of actions to be taken and this stack is for having extractions being put to sleep (always my favorite) and this stack is for just the Novocaine. I never knew what "sticker shock" was til I looked down and I am not ashamed to tell you that one price was $11,000.00 and the other was $9,000.00. All I could say to this young man was "guess what I'm not being buried with" He of course was insulted..that I would not just jump for joy at those prices and give him praise beyond the heavens for saving me!!! Needless to say I walked out with my antibiotic prescription and did not look back...not even for a moment! So I have spent the rest of the week in pain and taking these pills that make me know once their gone I'm really gonna have to go back to square one and find a dentist. But for today...I am pain-free!!! AND hungry!!!! All my errands and big plans for the week were shot down by 1 lil tooth and now its catch up time...house-mouse chores galore and I am going to get that ETSY shop this weekend no matter what!!!!! lol To start this day off right...I baked a small batch of blueberry muffins...all is right in my world munching on their golden goodness..so there you have it...warts and all...my week in the darken corner of pain. Hoping your week was so much better!!!

Life

2011-03-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

Life happens....life gets in the way....it's my life....what has happened to my life... life is what happens when you make plans...and so many more quotes on life. From spinning out of control to boring...life. One single word denotes and evokes so many ideas and feelings. It is often used as an excuse...which is what my post is about today. Right now I think I fall under the category of " life is what happens when you make plans" so many things planned for this past weekend and now I can honestly say I need a weekend to get over my weekend!
My ETSY plans got shelved for one but only for a few days. No biggie...gives me more time to get organized and create more things. But none the less disappointing that it didn't get done. Then a huge free favor for a friend put Saturday in whirlwind of things. She needed a Sponge bob blanket for her 3 yr old birthday. I super hate disappointing kids so 3 hours later Nate had his blanket done...not my best work but my best work under pressure! lol At least she didn't ask me to make the cake!
Sunday of course is catch up day on cooking, cleaning and I really should have gone to church but by the time I got done with everything and dinner done it was wayyy past time to go.
I so need a time management skills coach. My 15 minute cleaning routine is down the drain and today I am just so disgusted that nothing got done I am a party pooper! Such is life! lol Oh well tomorrow holds the promise of a new day and new adventures so I am off to plot it out secretly so no one knows what's in store...maybe then life won't pass me by!!!! Big hugs to you all

2011-03-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here are the pretty painted ladies. All of these have been spoken for but if you would like a painted lady of your own....big event..... I am proud to say I will be opening an Etsy store this weekend!!! Taadahhh...that's my first big news. The next big news is that I have all kinds of wonderful ideas swirling in my brain...keeping me up late at night. I just keep seeing more painted ladies in my head when I close my eyes! Set's of them, singles and doubles...oh my! Tonight will be an early night for me though...poor brain is on over load and we fear she may xplode captin!
I do have more wonderful news to share but it will take a few days to work out all the bugs...nasty bugs! Details are a wonderful thing til they take over. But I promise..it's worth the wait.
In the mean time, I need to catch up with some of you to see what you have been up to. Have a great day and sending you all big hugs!

Long time....

2011-02-25T13:46:00.001-08:00

Well this is the progress I have made on my very first attempt at Crazy Quilting...and guess what???? I am hopelessly hooked! All I need to do to this now is to sew the backing and a ribbon for hanging and stuff it. I tried free hand Bleeding Heart flowers on the right side of the stem and just put pearls on the left...no flower in mind on that side. I tried a few new stitches I taught myself using the websites I found and outside of being painfully new at it I am proud of this.

I am currently working on some more Painted Lady Cabs..one for a trade from my special friend Miss Lisa, http://indigosbeads.blogspot.com/ who sent me 2 of the most beautiful bracelets she made for our swap. Thats my beauties in the other picture up there...I know my picture taking skills do not do them right...I was so excited I wore them both all day yesterday with my finest cleaning scrubbie clothes! Also I bought a pretty good sized tote of necklaces from my sister-in-law that I can either re purpose or make other things from so I have been super duper busy of late. Today we had another bad storm hit but now the sun is shining and hopefully all this will melt soon...snow if so beautiful and makes our city look so clean and peaceful...but I am over being cold and needing to take a loan out to pay the high heating bills while I freeze! Wonder where global heating is taken place because it's sure not Cleveland Ohio!

I have one more detail on my crazy life...I am ready to take the plunge again and move...I am hoping to do so next spring but knowing I am down sizing has me giving everything a second look for yard sale possibilities. I think I have mentioned before I moved my 30 odd year accumulation of junk...I mean treasured items into a house that my Mom had her stuff and my Grandmas...it has been interesting but the neighborhood is getting so bad here and I simply do not like the city anymore so we are looking at manufactured homes in a 55 and older community. Not sure this is where I will land but that's the flight pattern for now. Do any of you have any experience in either a manufactured home or a 55 and better community? I would love to hear from you! Other than that I need to get busy going through things that have been packed for well over 20 years and still have time for family, watching the baby and most importantly growing in my crafts! Until next time...big hugs and stay warm all!

Start, stop, start

2011-01-24T07:34:00.001-08:00

Well This is my attempt at a crazy quilt heart shaped pillow. I had so much fun with this I got carried away and made 2. So I am thinking a Valentines gift for dear daughter. The one on the left in the solid red patch for some reason developed a stain from the spray starch. So I think it needs a rinse before I start with the fun part. The only part I wished I had done differently is chose fabrics all the same weight. The white part on bottom left of left one is very light weight, therefore sorta see-thru. It's really no biggie I plan to add a muslin backing before I start embellishing. The seam flipped over though I can see. I can see where this would be an issue if the contrasting material would be showing thru. This broke in my new sewing machine dear husband bought me for Christmas, and while I so want to use one of the 60 built in stitches to embroider this...it is only a practice one so I need to do it myself to learn some of the cool stitches in links my mentor Miss Debbie has sent me....hehe maybe on dear daughters I will try some...you know just to save time so she gets it this Valentines and not Valentines Day of the UFO pile! I am so sure if I looked I have a project for every holiday and/or season! I did find one for Mardi Gras...now how many of you have a UFO for that occasion??? I am off to plan my stitches, watch the grand baby and enjoy another day God has given me...hope you are too. Big warm hugs to you all.

I really do finish some projects!

2011-01-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

I was so disappointed yesterday when I went upstairs to gather the clothing I thought I could use for my weekend project...there was only a flannel gown and a pair of corduroy pants. Well I did get the lace and buttons off the gown and will use it for cleaning rags. The pants I put back in hopes of someday using them or donating them. So in an effort to still keep this project going, I went to my fabric stash and found this quilt I had finished some time ago.

We used to own a camper when our children were small and every weekend we would head out for the camp ground. Only 45 mins away from Cleveland but far enough out to let you know you were out of the city. Right before the turn off to the camp grounds was an Amish village. I loved going thru there on wash day as all the beautiful quilts were lined dried. I think was my "Amish phase" I made this quilt and several Americana wall hangings and I think I even cross stitched our whole family...including the dog and cat in Amish figures. It was fun meeting this old friend...I remember covering with it the first winter..it's really afghan size so it was perfect for me. She will be laundered today and put on the quilt rack later. I am off to work on my project now...breakfast is done and I have a pork roast in the crock for some pulled pork bar-b-que sammies later. Hope you all are staying warm and doing your favorite things with your favorite people...me I am gonna stay in today...it's 10 below 0 with our wind shield factor...perfect day to quilt!!! Sending you all big hugs!

Weekend project, old memories and a new friend

2011-01-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

I am determined to do a small project this weekend! I know I have spoken of my momma on here before, she was to me the epitome of southern grace. My mother was the daughter of a preacher that married kinda late...at 25 years old back then almost put her in spinster mode. It was a classic tale of good girl meets bad boy and marries. To this day I cannot hear a song by Waylon Jennings..." Good hearted woman in love with a 2 timing man" and not think of the hardships Mom endured being married to Dad. My mother struggled with weight issues her whole life. She would never have been a svelte model but in my eyes she was the most beautiful lady I have ever met. Her heart was gorgeous, her spirit graceful and her manner was so soft spoken. When mom passed I donated what I thought was all her clothing to a lady that had been on hard times, was over weight and had recently just started a new job and was trying to get her life together after leaving an abusive husband. The other day while on the bead quest..gathering them from all corners of this house...I found a bag of mom's clothing. Not a large bag and I couldn't even look at them. I know they are brand new...something she had ordered from Roman's that didn't fit I am sure. Which brings me to this weekend's project. My dear new friend Miss Debbie from http://mosaicmagpie.blogspot.com so generously walked me thru the basics of how to get started with a crazy quilt. With her help from her generous spirit and email and links she provided I am going to make a small crazy quilted pillow this weekend using those clothes I had forgotten. I don't even care what they are...and I know the shape will be a heart...something my mom and Miss Debbie know about sharing. So there you have it...my new weekend project..a few of my memories of my dear mother and my new friend...God bless them all. I so admire Miss Debbie for taking the plunge and helping me...so many don't want to take the time or are afraid to share info on how to's. If we do not share our wealth of information for fear of copy right things and what ever else the reason our crafts will end with us. Families used to make sure skills like quilting and embroidery were passed thru the generations. And isn't that what we all are now...one big cyber filled family? Why is it fine to share sympathy or hugs but not enlighten and encourage others in your craft? I, for one have never turned down anyone asking me how to do something...it's rare anyone wants to know...lol..but I would never even consider turning away someone or not helping if I could. I know some have shops that they hope will earn income and think they have the corner on the market of something and to share info would cut profit and maybe they have a point...or maybe their craft will make a profit in this life but who will continue it? Just my opinion...that and a about 3 dollars will get you a cup of coffee. So enjoy your weekend friends...and if you ever get the chance to help...please do...I know I have to...I know too many that already have shared with me and some day it will be my turn to pass it on...and I'm ready! Big warm hugs to you all!

A question for you all

2011-01-20T10:19:00.000-08:00

Does anyone know of a wood working blog? Like one that would show projects to make out of wood or even how to search for one on here? Any thing that would show simple bird houses or toy boxes? Husband has all kinds of saws that need to be put to use...him not me...I like my fingers...all ten of them!!! Thanks for your help and have an awesome day! Big hugs

Welcome to my nightmare

2011-01-18T08:43:00.001-08:00

this is todays 15 min clean up...I find I am now playing beat the clock with this little exercise. Todays took one 15 min drill with the next one only being 10 to finish up so not bad for 25 mins. Funny thing is I'm not just clearing it off and shoving it some place else...things may start to be getting organized...can it be? I even took time to wipe off the wall heater hubby put out there for me. I am sharing this room with the pantry and dishes. As a matter of fact this cabinet top I cleared off this morning holds the Halloween and Christmas dinnerware and glasses. BUT.... I did not get to the bottom part yet so the Christmas glasses are still in the kitchen, the dishes are on another shelf and Halloween things are still all junked up there too...oh well another day. I am finding this 15 min works in perfectly with all the other household chores I have to do in one day...trust me ...running after a 2 year old..not alot is getting done but the vac sure gets a work out! I think I have wayyy to many hobbies...is that possible and should one ever admit that out loud...or put it out there for all to see? If I have broken a sacred secret...shhhh...just don't tell anyone! I dream of a day when all my beading, clay, cross stitch, quilting, painting, mini, and paper crafting can live harmoniously in one room and everything is at a glance...not hours of tearing out to find one thing that I may or may not have (finding 6 glue guns today was good for a laugh though)Leaving you today with the extra thought of why do we do this to ourselves? If I live to be 125 years old and never from this day forward buy another hobby related thing to do, I still would not use up all I have amassed. Am I greedy...I sure hope not...but I sure plan on giving what I do have a run for its money...after I escape the nightmare it has become! Hope you all have a warm blessed day...sending big hugs from my mess...umm...I mean organized wanna-be home to yours!

Trying to get organized

2011-01-17T11:43:00.001-08:00

This lil table is proof that some times I can get in the mood to really clean. Oh you should have seen it before it got this good...piled up with so many things with no rhyme or reason. I even found a clean unmated sock!!! So yesterday before we went to church I decided to tackle it. I have read all these monthly magazines with tips on how to organize and the only hint I found do-able was the 15 minute rule. You set a timer for 15 mins and do what you can and when the timer goes off...walk away. Do something else. Then if you still fell motivated come back for 15 more. Hmmmm I says to myself...I think I can spare 15 mins...as long as there a cup of hot chocolate as a reward. So I set my oven timer for 15 mins and set off to do just those 15 and then my cup of cocoa and then I had to get ready for church. Needless to say those 15 mins was just the kick in the seat of my pants that I needed. When I came back home I don't want to tell you how many more 15 min mini-cleans I did..BUT...I got er done! I actually found the table cloth underneath...haven't seen that since June! I am so excited that I may clean the whole house in times sessions! Of course my rewards are gonna have to change...theres only so many cups of hot chocolate I can drink. Theres even a bakers rack to the left of the table that I started to clean but it really needs a complete over haul. Would love to be able to just have it for all my beads...so they could be in one place. The only problem is the small baby food containers that each group of beads are in are smaller than the bars of the shelf, making it possible for the whole container to slip thru and if they were stacked the whole column would come crashing down. I don't want to put all of them in shoe boxes as they are now because then I have to rummage thru the whole box to see what beads I have. Funny, I am so diligent to put even the smallest quantity of beads in a lil container, even write on a paper what they are and where purchased...then the containers make their way all thru the house...right now as we speak there are some in the Dining Room hutch, the desk and now the bookcase and bakers rack.Oh some day I will be so organized...wonder how many 15 mins are in some day???? Have a great day all and sending you warm hugs from a frosty cold Cleveland!

My UFO Friday

2011-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Ok...here it is ...the one thing I have to finish this year! I started making this lil envelope type purse for my granddaughter last spring. Oh I had such high hopes of having it finished for her by August of last year!!! Yeah well...it did manage to make its way to the top of the heap of my unfinsihed projects. She has a birthday this year in June so maybe...just maybe!

The top flap ( kinda looks like a triangle) will just flip over the bottom part and I need to bead the entire back of this thing...very time consuming, and add a chain...was thinking maybe beaded daisies. I had bought hot pink silk for the lining and still have it here...somewhere! There was no particular design in mind when starting this other than having her inital on it...good grief at this rate the child might have it when she graduates high school! So here it is...my biggest shameful UFO...bad gramma I know. But to tell you the truth those lil lines of beads were driving me bonkers...maybe next time I will try to sketch something out to make better use of my space...but hey...no pattern and no sketchs is how I fly...that and by the seat of my pants!!! lol. Hope you are all staying warm and cozy...now if any of you have any ideas on how to take up space on the back of this thing without me going completely crazy...give me a shout here...until next time...big warm hugs from our artic home to yours!

Working in mini and going blind

2011-01-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

I started this blog to chart my progress with my daughter's older dollhouse. It is a huge Victorian that she had put together during her teen years and now is a sad former shell of itself. Not much has been done to the house...its been painfully slow progress, and of course I get side tracked so easily. Thanks to Miss Casey over at http://caseymini.blogspot.com/ I found this chart for cross stitching a rug that I think will fit beautifully in the front parlor. Miss Casey so generously details her own creations mixed with adventures of her side kick Miss Tessie (who is a mini witch) Learning has never been so entertaining, and Miss Casey (and Tessie) are so talented, you never know what you will learn from them. So I guess in some sort of way I am still in hopes or restoring the grand old manor to its former grace...if I don't go blind doing these little projects first! This is the first time I have ever worked on 18 count and let me tell you...these poor old eyes are blessed to have the lighted magnifying glass my daughter bought me for my birthday last year. This is now a front burner project along with a little Valentines hearth rug I am making from my own chart. Oh to have one of those programs that charts it for you...well I do have another birthday coming up!!! lol and daughter seems to like buying gifts that will help move along some sort of work in her old house!!! Back to work...big hugs to all