Making a living and unwinding

So, it's been a while! I haven't been neglecting my creative side, just working a lot and unwinding. We've got 2 grandsons and another one on the way. My step-son and his wife are also expecting but we don't know what we're getting!

I've made quite a few things but haven't taken pics of the finished projects. I've made a t-shirt quilt, lap quilt, girl's purses, appliqued pillows, painted shoes, baby bibs, neck pillow animals, etc. Below are a few pictures of the finished products.

My favorite project was a dress/tunic I made for my daughter using the Simplicity Dottie Angel pattern. Love, love, love it! She'll be home from college this weekend and if it fits, we'll be picking more vintage fabric designs and making the various styles!

Graduation cap topper for our son Tyson. So proud of his accomplishments in the USMC and at Cal State San Marcos!

Bapron for our soon-to-be grandson Cooper!

The flip side

Another Baptron for our Cooper

The flip side

"Kiss my little Heine" for little Cooper (because his last name is Heine so thought it would be super funny!)

Painting with a Twist is one of my favorite places to be with friends!

Back side of t-shirt quilt in process

Front of t-shirt quilt in process (completed pic to come)

Lap quilt for a family friend :)

Dottie Angel pattern - absolutely love!

Dottie angel frock completed!

Flamingo Toes applique completed for a co-worker going away gift

Flamingo Toes applique done, final product still "up in the air"!

Flamingo Toes applique pillow done for a favorite friend that lives in Florida.

Canned 5 cases of salsa!  Woohoo! I'm hot!

Side #1 for Miss Martin (our daughter currently completing her student teaching in Arkansas)

Side #2 for Miss Haley (what she prefers to be called if she can get away with it)

Playing with my embroidery machine :)

Gifts for a friend having girl #4!

Busy as a bee

I've spent the last year working away on several projects and not really posting any of them. Here's a collection of a handful of what I've been up...

Baby wreath for our newest grandson, Parker! 

Baby wreath for a friend at church.

Baby wreath for a sweet young girl (pardon my feet).

Some pictures to hang in our grandsons' bathroom.

The quilt top for a friend who's having a baby girl in December. Still have a ways to go on this project!

Homecoming mums and garters

Something I've done for years has been to make homecoming mums. I can't even remember when I began making them. For a period of time I owned and operated a flower shop and after making a couple hundred mums and garters in addition to working on 9 funerals in one week I decided I needed to "retire."

As part of the sales agreement for the shop I was required to sign a non-compete agreement for a period of 5 years. Which was nice because I then had a rest. The agreement indicated I could make things for family and friends but I couldn't make a profit.

Here are just a few of the final items I made for my daughter and her boyfriend their senior year.

Haley's senior year homecoming mum (GCS)

Chandlor's homecoming garter (REL)

 

 

Supplies were purchased from Hobby Lobby and Michael's. For the most part I do not use the traditional white mum centers (except for the garter that was shaped like a baseball).  I like tying small organza boys with metalic ribbon and making a floral centerpiece that's a little different. The first mum we used artificial gerbera daisies in pastel colors. Haley loved the little stuffed giraffe so we added it to the center and it was perfect!

 

Christmas Stockings

Years ago I made a felt tree skirt from a kit. Used it for many years before passing it down to our son after he got married.

With the kids grown and new hobbies to explore, I began making them felt Christmas stockings. I made 4 from a kit (here's one of them).



Zack's first stocking (our grandson)

Then I got brave....
I began designing my own stockings based on family interests and personalities. Here are the ones I have finished thus far.




Billy's stocking - #30 on football helmet is his # from high school, South Carolina Gamecocks (favorite team), Alabama, Texas A&M, "Gig'em Aggies" and high national championship ring from college.




Haley's stocking - she loves colors and flowers, especially hydrangeas

 

I've got another one in the works right now for my daughter's boyfriend. I'll add the picture when done.

To create my own designs I make a blank stocking outline and cut felt for the base. Then I found graphics on the internet and used them as reference points for design and color. Each stocking takes several months from start to finish but it's a labor of love.

For the stockings made from kits, I think I'll be going back and making personal stockings for those family members.

Kits and supplies for custom designs bought at Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

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9/22/15 - Completed another stocking this summer for our son-in-law, Casey.

Shadow Box

My first project in our new "home" (after putting away all my junk) was to create a shadow box of my husband's Junior College National Championship memorabilia. This isn't a great picture of the completed project but it is what it is...




1979 Ranger Junior Collge National Championship - Billy Martin #60

Throwing away and editing old pictures and documents was a little daunting. However, I finally realized that this is going to be an heirloom for our children and grandchildren. After a couple of failed attempts to attach the items to the back wall of the shadowbox I decided to use my favorite glue, E600. Wouldn't go anywhere without it...and I'm not kidding.

Here's my shopping list:
Shadowbox - Hobby Lobby (these are relatively expensive so I would wait until they are on sale)
Mats - Michael's (I chose black to give it a clean look)
Velvet watch & ring holders - Michael's
Adhesives - Michael's & Hobby Lobby (always keep several kinds on hand)
Stickers - Michael's (I tried to keep these simple in this project, again, for a clean look)
E600 - Hobby Lobby (you can get this at WalMart, Michael's and other stores as well)

(I will add better pics when I get them)

In the beginning...

Well, I'm going to try this "blog" thing! This is HUGE for me since I have no idea what I'm doing or the purpose of a blog. And if you know me, this is nothing unusual! Primarily I will be doing some crafting, sewing, cooking projects and documenting them. More for myself right now than for anyone else. This should be interesting to say the least.