Winter Project #1 Jewerly

It's been months since I've written on my blog...and lots has been going on...Now with winter on it's way......My canning coming to an end (still have chicken to put up next week, my first time using a pressure cooker!. I'll have do another posting when I get done)...anyway back to my winter projects...I was trying to be supportive of my daughter-in-law...she has some old necklaces that belonged to her mother, and she wanted to turn them into new ones! We have a friend that offered to teach us how to make jewerly...WELL, OMG, that's all I needed...An invitation to learn how to make jewerly...and I'm off and running...now the problem I have is: Jewerly -vs -quilting...hummmm!! Both are so much fun and use my creative juices...So okay, here are a few of my jewerly pieces I've made in the last week...
This necklace is dark raspberry....I'm wearing it today with a black top...

Next I completed a pink and kindof yellow necklace...don't know what I'll wear it with...oh wait, I have a pretty jacket it will go with...there you go....I knew I had something.

This is my favorite set...Necklace, bracelet, and earrings. I love the color, I have another jacket that this set will go with...

This is a little brown piece I put together in a hurry...still need to make the earrings to go with it...

This necklace is in browns and golds...very pretty and nice looking for the fall...yes, I have something to wear it with too...(brown skirt and jacket). Need earrings for this one too...

This is my last piece...black...I have plenty to wear it with...this has been so much fun....can't wait to get started on my next project...Fun project for winter!!! Ok, now to be fair to my other projects...I guess I need to go work on my quilt I have ready to sew together....catch ya later!!!

Just Thinking!

I am so sorry I haven't had much to post for awhile...but about 6 weeks ago I had hand surgery
and all my crafts (quilts etc) had to be put on hold for awhile...I have pressed my fabric and hope to start cutting out some squares for my next fat quarter quilt...So please continue to visit
me and watch for the uncoming pictures of my next project....Til then, keep your chin up and remember 'It isn't the impression you make when you enter a room or meet someone, it's the impression you leave behind that matters"

The Finished Quilt

Can you guess what I was able to put into this 12x12x6" priority Mail box? Love these boxes!! Can you say queen size quilt!! Yep, you got it right!! A Queen size quilt!!! Pretty good huh?? These are my new 2 best friends! Let me introduce them to you...Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine and a Simplicity Bias Tape Maker...love, love, love these little machines...They too, could be yours..just hurry down to Jo-Ann Fabric between April 3 and 23. They are on sale!! (Just a note, the Rotary Cutting Machine can also be used with scrap booking! Sweet!! Another plus as to why to buy it. Never have too many tools)

In my last post I shared with you the Rotary Cutting Machine so this post I will explain the Bias Tape Maker.

This is what the machine looks like when you first open it...comes in a nice little case...packs away easily...

My bias tape is ready to go into the machine and be folder...that's what the Bias tape machine does..it presses the fabric in half...ready for you to sew to your quilt or place mat or what every you're making that needs the bias tape. Mine will be on the quilt I'm making..

Here's the first picture of my finished quilt...I really need to learn how to display my projects..these pictures really don't do it justice...(not to brag...just fact!!! If I do say so myself)

Okay, so I moved into the dining room and tried there...not so sure it is any better! however, you can see the squares better. this quilt is called 'turning twenty' using 'fat quarters pre-cut fabric' love, love, love the fat quarters....it makes the quilt go together so quickly...Back to my quilt, I quilted a flower in square. I used crochet thread #10 rather than quilting thread.

Here I am holding my finished project...Zach and Lizzy's wedding gift! (I'm only 2 months late with it) sorry not real good lighting...or maybe too much light!! Anyway this was a fun project and I see in the next ad from Jo-Ann Fabric they have some fun color fabric that I'm going to have to go buy so I can make more of these quilts....I figure if I keep working on the tops and getting them together...then when the next grandchild gets married I'll be ahead of the game...going to have to do some spring cleaning and make room for my quilts...I'm hooked on making quilts...it was so much fun...and like I said before I love, love, love the fat quarter fabric!!! Guess now it's time to make my list and check it twice for projects I've not completed and get myself busy and add a new word to my vocabulary. Can you guess what the word is??? 'COMPLETION' (of projects). So until I find the time to get back to you...have fun and I'll be as busy as a bee, working hard to complete these outstanding projects so I can make room for my quilts!!! TaTa!!until we meet again!!

Turning Twenty

Have to start at the very beginning and say "excuse the mess under my sewing table!" What I want you to look at are the colors I've picked for a new quilt top. My grandson, Zach, got married on the 9th of February to a very sweet girl, Lizzy. I've decided that as each of my grandkids get married I'll make a quilt for them. So saying this, I have now started on Zach and Lizzy's quilt. These are the colors I've chosen for their quilt. (Just a note: The title of the book I got my pattern from is called 'Turning Twenty' that's why the title of this post is Turning Twenty!!)

I layed all the colors on my queen bed and it was kind of funny cause each time I showed one of my friends, they would move one of my squares around...then I'd take a picture and send it to my daughter, Margo, and she also made her change. So 2 friends and 1 daughter later this is the layout we came up with...

This quilt is using fat qarters, and takes 20 squares. Each square measures to be 16x16". 4 squares across the top and 5 squares down, then a 3 inch border and then another 1 inch border and last is a 6 inch border. This quilt measures 90x102. (queen size).

Oh I have to share my new littl maching I just bought and boy, is it fun to operate!!! It's by Simplicity. It's called the 'Rotary Cutting Machine'. It can be used for scrapbooking, quilting, rug hooking, and more!!! It's suitable for cutting paper, felt, oilcloth, fleece, cotton, lightweight, wools and more!! the adjustable guide will cut strips from 3/8" to 2 3/4". The blades cut by pressure, not by sharpness and it has 2 blades; straight and a pinking blade. I bought it at Joann Fabric when it was on sale for half price..I believe the full price is $89.99. Anyway, I've done my commerical!! love, love, love, this little machine.(just call me Teresa) It is so easy to operate...

I'm sorry to say I had no other place to lay this quilt top out but on my living room floor...and it doesn't do it justice. Okay, so ends the first part of this post...I now need to finish putting it together and then I'll be quilting a design in each of the squares (all 20 of the squares)...So I'll come back later with more pictures...stay tuned and keep checking. Til then, I've rested long enough...back to work!!!

What the heck, where has the time gone!!

I can't believe we are already into the second half of the second month of 2011!! And even more surprising I've only posted one time in January!! What the heck!! I know I've been working on projects..but I just forget to take pictures...and sit down and get them onto my blog...soooo here's what I've done so far in 2011...(keep in mind, these are just the projects I remembered to take pictures of)...These pictures are in no special order...point being, I just stuck them in so you can see a little about my life. Two of these projects have been things I've never done before!! so lets get moving and do my show and tell!! #1 This is my first Apple Tart I've ever made and I used my home canned apple pie filling (first time to have ever canned apple for pie filling) Boy, all I can say is they were/are sure good...After serving this tart to my friends I have had a couple of requests to make it again..so guess you could say it was a hit....

#2 Double weddng ring quilt...First time to make a quilt and use my sewing maching to quilt it....now if you look closely you will see I have crochet thread..well, here's the story behind that...I was going to quilt by hand and use the crochet thread it's a little heavier thread..however, my hand freezes up making it hard to work the needle as I'm quilting making my stitches uneven...so I decided it was taking too long and I took out all my stitching (call that reverse sewing) and went to my sewing maching...Now I'm working hard to keep the circles looking like circles as I sew this quilt...


It's a challenge to sew...but it's coming along...I'll keep this quilt for myself as I have too many 'mistakes' (I'm naming it 'MY Pucker Quilt') It's good practice for me...but (and there is always a 'BUT') maybe I shouldn't have taken on a queen size quilt for my first machine quilt project....will I ever learn...it's good to practice on something smaller to get the experience first...Next time it will be better!!!

"My Van" Now this isn't my first...but just thought I'd show you how my 2011 started out...January 3, we had some icy roads and we were on the way to the doctors and stopped at a stop sign..the guy behind us forgot that he needed to apply his brakes long before he stopped when there are icy roads...Our van ended with a owie!!! I was surprised as to the amount of damage our van ended up with. They had to replace our complete tailgate door and bumper...what looks like a little owie...was expenive!!! no cost to us however, and no one was hurt...the young man felt so bad..and just kept thanking us for not yelling at him...Kindness goes

a long ways!!!

Okay, you have now been brought up to date with the happenings in the last 45 days of my life.. I sure hope to do better in the future...and keep up to date with my postings. take care and check back in maybe a week or so, I'll have more to post...I will try to do better..I promise!!!

I love themes, so my new theme for 2011 ~ 'A project is just a project until it's completed'

New Year, New Look

Phase 1: A New Year, A New Look!! Got all my Christmas decorations down. Now I've been looking at my blank walls/shelves........I decided I needed to recycle some of my decorations...So come take a walk with me as I show you the change I made on my Entry hall wall...This is where I started...I've always loved this picture I've had of Christ but I've never cared for the frame...I thought what a good time to change it....so here's where I started....

The picture I had on my wall in my kitchen/dining area was of a pretty flower arrangement, and I really loved the frame, picture not so much...so I spent the morning trying to get the picture out of the frame (and it was a task, I tell ya!!). This frame was much bigger and looked better on the entry wall...at least that was what I thought in my minds eye...Okay this is the new mat I placed over the old one...adding to the look....So far I like the look....continuing on.....

this is the finished product on my wall... What do you think?? The table I've always had in my entry...however, I changed what was on top of it...I think it looks much better and fresher...Love the picture on the wall...I think this frame is so much prettier...Now I have to rethink the kitchen/dining area wall and get rid of the floral arrangement that has been on that wall way too long!! that is still in progress..tomorrow I'll try and work on my living room shelves but I need to sit back and think about it...don't know just yet what the look is I want...but I'm sure I can once again recycle some of my decorations...I'm trying two new things this year...reminding myself to: 1. take pictures BEFORE I start my projects and 2. not spend money but instead recycle my decorations....So hang in there more pictures will be coming when phase 2 is completed.....I'll go right now and get some pictures of my living room and shelves while their empty... promise!!!! Til then...keep smiling and come back and visit anytime...