Wow - at home

All I do is centred in HOME.  From a contented place I create.  I create things for home.  Home reflects my creativity.  It really is a fun circle!

The best way I know to put my own personal stamp on my place of abode is to make as much of what goes into it myself.

Hence today's project.  Fitted sheets for the Sunshine Room's bunk beds..

The foam for the mattresses has arrived.  We'll cut it, make up the beds and await the weekend guest.
I had bought yards of pillow ticking thinking I'd use it to dye my own fabric. And it does dye wonderfully. But it is also a very tight weave and difficult to be doing a lot of stitching on.

These bunk beds are specially sized so I'll use the fabric to make sheets. They will be white for now but I'll dye them this summer when I make pillow cases and such to go with the quilt tops I have waiting to be machine quilted. The top is on the left and the backing on the right.

I also need to finish painting the doors and colour coordinating the odd woods and file cabinet.

So that isn't too exciting.

What I'd rather be doing is reading my new book.  I need to identify my artistic signature because it will affect everything I make whether it is an object of art or an home that reflects me.

Okay, back to the sewing but I'll definitely be thinking hard about 'my signature'!

Please click on the TN&TN button on my side bar to see other Canadian artist's work and their signatures.

Key to my...

Keys are intriguing.  This is for the hallway and I need to find a good hook to hang these heavy Home Sense keys.

Our beading student does not wear earrings so I thought a key chain might employ some of the earring techniques.  When I saw the key ring the grand kiddie's aunt made I thought this could be a lot of fun.

I already have some 'good stuff' we could incorporate

Then we rolled up some polymer clay, baked it and then put some modge podge on them. I think I'd find something better than that as it is messy.

The flower making was kinda fiddly but FUN!  We fixed the flower on with E6000 adhesive.  I guess we'll see how fragile the petals are! :O

I do think we found a key to success with this project.

Springing into action

I shall be moving 3 times as fast. Shoot, make that 3x3 faster.  Whoo Hoo!  I just need Out Look Express to convert to Broad Band and I lost some time this morning fixing what I fixed.  LOL

As I look about the yard and see so much bare ground I am sure I am also seeing Dandelions, stretching, and pushing at their bed covers.  Shh, was that a yawn???  I'm not sure I'm ready to add yard work and all the plans for outside work to an already busy schedule, but the calender says spring officially arrives on Tuesday, the 20th.  gulp!  This photo was a few days ago.  It is all bare as of Saturday.

The grand kiddies are all ready:

Some of us have bigger plans than the others!

There actually isn't much water at all so the two duckies are very happy to find a small ditch that still holds the spring melt.

This week my focus is the Sunshine Room.  A good friend is coming for a visit and with son #3 occupying the spare room I need to have the alternative up, functional and pretty.  This will involve getting the closet door back on, the pictures hung, mattresses laid down and sheets made. I think quilting the 2 quilt tops may be beyond reasonable.  lol

Son in law and the grand kiddies got the new doors on the old cupboard.  The Rooster will do all the picture  and door hanging.  First I have to find what safe place I put the hinges!!!  :(

Beading this week is with polymer clay.  I'm appreciating all the comments and suggestions as we prepare
for our key chain.

I'm not sure if any sewing or messing with paper and glue will happen as it is time for a good clean and some spring decor throughout the whole house.

No race horses this week, just a fast moving vacuum!

Friday Finish

Chickens are ordered and will arrive for the May long weekend.

Does this look like I am making great strides in photoshop?  Now if I can file and retrieve it!

Beading was a snap with the elastic. Pun intended!  We started on making polymer clay beads for the key chain which comes up next.

Nina stitched out more patterns and is now telling me she wants the red loops fixed.  So I'm trying to figure out what she wants as things look fine to me!  Sometimes she and I don't speak the same language but we are getting along just fine. lol

No class in AB for this week but I did add some more to the various pages.

The snow is disappearing as fast as my time for creative endeavours.  I'm looking ahead to more finishes next week so I'm prioritizing my scribbled list in anticipation for more on Monday.

happy weekend!

administrative days!

Some days there just seems to be a lot of activity but not a whole lot to show for it.  I'm considering it an administrative day as I actually haven't created anything.  I have done quite a bit of prep work though and that makes things flow when the push is on.  And the push is coming.  Spring is in the air!

WOW stitching again

The patterns are all stitched out, trimmed and joined into back to back pairs with edge stitching.
                                                                 

                                                               
I seem to have a few of these type of patterns so I stitched them out in close proximity so I could compare them.
                                                                    A few  favorites!

These are delightful cross stitch patterns in the lovely gold colour.  I don't cross stitch but I might.  

Embroideries in the duller colour.

The alphabets and numbers could be used as they are or I imagine the length and width dials could be adjusted to alter their appearance.

 There are many variations.  The thinness or thickness of the threads would change the stitches.  I haven't experimented with that  but I will.  I did some experimenting with changing the stitch length and then trying the length.  The balance function will also distort the pattern. Stitches can be placed close to each other, on top of one another or even crossing over one another.

The possibilities are quite limitless.

This example uses a basic honeycomb stitch, #8 in my basic utility section of stitches.  I can also swing the fabric as the pattern is stitching out and this makes very exciting options as the rhythm of the swing could be fast, slow or a herky jerky!.  Some patterns open up and look pretty better than others.  Again, lots of options.

For those who sigh for lack of patterns on their basic sewing machine, there is always the good old zig zag stitch.  And then there are the various kinds of fabric that get in the stitches, causing them to be filled with threads or nap .  Gauzes and velvets are just two that are very exciting to this chick.

Sew...  what if a spring chick took her machine out on the dance floor and after a slow dance to warm up, threw off those heavy confining winter covers and   salsa'd!!!

Happy stitching.  Perhaps you'd like to go see what others have on their worktable this Wednesday.  TNTN

Baked Beads

Can you eat just one potato chip, one peanut, one ...   Can you make just one bead?

The stretch cord bracelet took maybe 5 minutes.  A key chain is next and we had no satisfactory beads.

 We jumped to lesson 8 and started making beads.  It takes a bit to get going and now we have lots of ideas for making and baking!

Making plans

I jotted down notes as I went along last week.  Friday I fine tuned the rush from this morning's starting gate if we use Friday's checkered flag analogy.  LOL  If I'm not mixing metaphors, I am mixing the horse power!

I need to explore some of the functions on Nina for opening up and altering the patterned stitches.  A balance function refigures stitches and the stitch width and stitch length can all be changed to create different effects.  Imagine the variations are mind boggling but not every stitch will be a 'keeper'.

The toy box sat in front of the design wall that made way for the new look in the hall.  I set the toy box in the landing and I'm wondering if it could be a window seat?  ;^)  We'll see.  I did pull a few fabrics in case I need to actually make a cushion for it.

 I'm actually waiting to see how many times The Rooster will mash his toe on it.  So far he has only rearranged the jars but that was because he kicked the sander as I'd put it by the stairs to put away.  oops!

I'm thinking there is an AB class, lesson 4- wet glue, dry glue

I am also wanting to learn about my Photo Shop Elements program.  I think the biggest challenge is figuring out how to save, sort, and successfully find an image.  :(

And of course, the beading class which is a key chain.

Chicks and chooks,  start your horses???  Speaking of which, The Rooster is considering these, The Berg Grazer. Oh, my. They look like they have racing on their mind!

Oh, and yes, there is a little mouse who always seems to elude the grand kiddies!

Friday Finish

                         

Get that checkered flag!  I'm crossing the finish line. 

A goal for this year is to have my garments reflect more of who I am.  I'm starting small and shy.  Here are the new buttons for my thrift shop coat!

Sew glad to have the patterned stitching finished for my Threads- the basics and beyond!

The Altered Book 'book along' (?) is up to date and ready for lesson four.  My theme is leaves and trees.

I am already lining things up for the starting gun on Monday morning.  
But first pass that cup full of the bubbly!!!