MORE Pincushions

I'm on a pincushion binge.....made these in the last few days. More on the way in various sizes and shapes. Where will it end?????

I think jewelry will be my next project. Has anyone tried paper beads? I've seen a lot of the long cylindrical shaped beads but only a few truly round beads. Does anyone know the trick of getting a round bead? I've searched online extensively. Everyone says that a long skinny triangular strip of paper will produce a round bead. I haven't had luck making round ones yet. Any suggestions? mypapereden on flickr has some beautiful round beads posted. Check those out and see what I mean about round.

Roses and other things I like...

This is the first bloom this year on my rose bush in our back yard. Beautiful color.

Ready for a weekend of crafting...lots of projects ready to start. Perhaps I can get a few things accomplished between yard sales and other activities. I will post pics as progress is made.

Pin Cushion Afternoon

This afternoon has been spent making a few new pincushions. It seems like no matter how many pincushions I have in my sewing room, I am always looking for one. These are ones I've made today. I saw a neat pincushion idea on http://primmartcommunity.com/ but am not having any luck finding the wooden pedestals. I've checked a lot of different stores and looked at all the yard sales this weekend but no luck so far. The tall wooden pedestal (in the second and third pics) is the only one I found that was even close to what I need. Anyway, I will keep looking.

Happy Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday to my dear daughter who is 27 today. I couldn't ask for a better daughter. She is smart, creative, thoughtful, caring and very resourceful. Also my dear friend. She is always making me something great. Check out her lastest project at http://ratherbecrafting.blogspot.com Love you Jen!!

Giveaway Winner Announced

Whew! What a busy last few days with all the blog visits and commenting. The winner of my site giveaway is Stacey from Elle Belle. I have notified her via her blog but have not heard from her. Stacey...contact me and I will get your shipping information. Congratulations to ALL who have won a prize.

This morning has been a busy one. I have sewn an Insulated Water Bottle Holder. It is made from BOHO BLOSSOM, a Michael Miller fabric. I insulated it which will help keep my cold beverage cold a little longer in this warm weather. I will be making these in kid-size as well as adult sizes.

I ventured into the backyard yesterday to admire some of the flowers in bloom. The lovely day lillies caught my eye. I obviously don't know how to place my pics where I want them....will work on that. I transplanted zinnias that had srpung up in the yard rather than the flowerbed. I will photograph them once they are blooming.

I have hats to mail today...Yey! More Water Bottle Holder to sew as well.

Last Day for Giveaway....

Are your fingers tired and is your mind reeling from all the great blogs and project ideas? This has been my first giveaway and my first time visiting all the participant sites. WOW...a bit overwhelming. I still have not made it to all the sites. I guess I know what I will be doing this afternoon. I will be sure to post my winner's name on Monday morning. I will be mailing out the fabric bowl and coaster set tomorrow as well.

The tutorial for the bowls can be found at www.craftstylish.com I have sent purchased the book It's A Wrap by Susan Breier and it has lots of neat project ideas. It shows how to make square bowls (something I wasn't sure how to do) and also purses and lids for your bowls.

Thanks for all the visitors and comments. Have a great Sunday.

May Giveaway Day!

Welcome all Giveaway Participants. This is my first time to take part in the giveaway and I am excited to get started visting all the different blogs. I am giving away (to some lucky blogger) one fabric coiled basket and matching coaster. (The winner will have their choice of the pink set or the orange set...just let me know after you have been proclaimed the winner.) This posting will remain up from May 27-31, 2009. My winner will be chosen randomly. I have already selected a number. The blog comment corresponding with that number will win (for example, if I have chosen #17, the 17th comment to the blog giveaway will be the winner). I am shipping to the U.S. only at this time. Good luck and have fun visiting all the blogs. Hope you win something neat!

PLEASE leave links to any crafts or projects you think I may be interested in. I like sewing, felting and most anything craft related. If you know a really great site, please feel free to share the link. (I'm always interested in any hat patterns suitable for scrub hats or chemo hats.) Thanks!

Blogspot Banner

Tell me guys...how neat is this lovely new addition (i.e. the colorful BANNER) to my little blog??? I would love to take credit for it but all kudos go to my very talented daughter. She prepared it today and I really like it. THANKS Babe!

I've just returned home from a week with this same daughter. We had a great visit. We live so far apart and any time spent with her is treasured. We were in Florida for 8 days and it rained 6 straight. So much for sunny Florida, hehe! Actually I preferred the cooler temps associated with the rain over the heat and humidity usually present during our visits.

I have posted pics of some of the wall clocks I have revamped. The third pic (the one of the smaller white clock) is the one I took to my daughter. The other two are my second and third attempts respectively. I think a body could make some really pretty clocks with the right fixins.

I have started making coiled fabric bowls. (The above pics show bowls with matching coasters---I have a bowl and coaster on my desk at work. The bowl is a convenient place to toss your keys and cell phone and the coaster does it 's thing to help keep your paperwork dry.) Anyone tried one of those? Coiled fabric bowls, I mean---not coasters. I really like the look and have plans to make something bigger like a purse. I use a 1/4" poly rope from the Dollar Tree to make my coiled bowls, plates, purses, etc. I bought several rolls but then the Dollar Trees near my home suddenly had NONE. What a bummer! The price of $1 for a 50' rope can't be beat...have you priced cotton clothesline? Most tutorials/books suggest cotton clothesline but the 1/4" poly rope works great. Anyway, once again, my daughter came to my rescue and located several (try 35 or so) at a Dollar Treet store near her home in Florida. Now that i have a supply of rope, the creativity can begin. I plan on giving away a coiled fabric bowl during the upcoming Sew Mama Sew give-away. Check it out at that website to see a list of all participants who plan to give away a variety of neat things. You simply need to visit the various blogs and leave a comment to register for each giveaway. If you want to participate by giving something away, you need a blog and will need to sign-up at the Sew Mama Sew website by TODAY Monday May 25th.

It's good to be home but I have lots to put away and lots of projects to get started. Be creative :)

Forgot I Had A Blog

Really, can you imagine?  I am new to this blogging thing and I simply forget to keep it up.  I have been busy making this and that.  My work at the hospital has been cut to one day a week so I have more time than ever to create.  I've been making a few things for my daughter who I will be visiting this next week.  I will go into more detail after I give her the items...wouldn't want to blow the surprise by posting pics now!  

My newest interest is felting.  I have been making felt balls.  I received a huge bag of fleece straight from a sheep and have been learning what to do to pick, clean and process it for the balls.  My first few attempts have been promising.  Working with raw fleece is a process to be sure.  Thankfully, there is much information available online for newbies like me.  Why felt balls you ask?  I am making large felt balls using colorful fleece.  Once the balls are finished, I cut them in half to reveal the pretty colors inside.  The halfs are then used as pincushions.  I really like them.  I can always use another pincushion, how about you?

Other projects include revamping battery powered wall clocks.  Pics to be posted on those a bit later.  I'm also taking a crack at making paper beads.  Just getting started but I think these could be pretty if made from the right paper.

New Season, New Blog

This is my first blog as well as my very first entry! I read a lot of blogs during my searches for sewing tutorials. I am amazed at all the neat/creative ideas people come up with and are willing to share in their blogs. At this point, I have more project ideas in my Favorites list than I will ever find time to try. Even so, I keep searching and reading blogs. By the way, if you come across any sewing/craft projects you think I would be interested in, please let me know.

I have been sewing since my teenage years. First I made clothing for myself and then there were many years when I sewed nothing at all. Lately (i.e. the last 3-4 years) I have been sewing surgical scrub hats. I went to work as a circulating nurse in a hospital OR over 10 years ago. I eventually started sewing scrub hats as a means of self-expression in the workplace. The scrub hat is about the only way to express oneself in the OR---especially when everyone wears the same color scrubs every day. I have sold hats on eBay, Etsy and to co-workers. Lately, I mostly sell hats to repeat customers who contact me directly. I still enjoy making the hats and will probably continue until I grow tired of it. By the way, does anyone need a scrub hat/chemo hat?

I love to sew and really enjoy making useful things. I absolutely love shopping in craft and fabric stores. Like most sew-ers, I have tons of fabric....way more than I will probably ever use yet I still buy fabric. Been there and done that? I have slowed down my purchasing in the past year. After a while, there is simply no where to store all the fabric and still be able to look at it and locate it when you need it.

Another favorite place for me to shop is thrift stores and yard sales. I absolutely love a great find for a discount price. I especially enjoy buying an item and then using it (or converting it) into something other than it's original purpose. My sister and I share the love of sewing and thrifting. My daughter is somewhat onboard with the sewing but doesn't fully share my zeal for the thrift stores/yard sales. I'm thrilled though that she has started sewing and enjoy when she goes shopping with me.

Enough about me for now. I will use this blog to post ideas and tutorials as they come to me. Pictures will be added as well but not this evening.

Spring has sprung here in Tennessee and the weather is making it more and more difficult to stay indoors! Bedding plants will arrive soon and our front yard already needs a good mowing. Regardless of the weather, devoted sew-ers will always find time for their creative pursuits.

Till next time.....keep on sewing.