Letter "e"

Green Anna Griffin's background paper with a floral image from my paper stash. I glittered the BG monogrammed "e". Stamped a foam floral stamp on the background before adhering the monogram and stamped another, cut it out, mounted it on popdots and added a button for visual interest. More rick-rack, this time in a different direction, adds additional texture.

Alexxis's banner...

This is the "L" for Alexxis's banner. Again, I used Anna Griffin paper for the background {adhered to cardstock for sturdiness}. The fairy is a wally which I added purple glitter to her hat and petal skirt, and white to the bouquet of blow-aways! {That was mine and my sister's word for them!}

Banner for Alexxis

I decided that I'd like to create an banner for Alexxis's nursery here at grammies, so I started one today! Since this is all new to me, I started out small using a 4 1/2" across and 6" deep, so that once it is completed I could hang it over some smaller framed prints all ready in the nursery. I decided to personalize it by spelling out her name and decided to use my Basic Grey monograms just to speed up the process just a bit; although due to the size I went with I may need to customize just a few. I also desired to use general girly images so that the banner will be perfect for use in her room as she grows. I chose to use Anna Griffin papers for this just because I love them and they are so soft and subtle --- perfect for a little girl's room! The little charm says, "Live!" and the ballerina was simply meant to be --- what little girl doesn't dream of dancing and twirling like a ballerina? {smiles}

Rainy days and Monday's....

always get me down...... Ok, maybe not exactly true but all this recent stormy weather is certainly making me blue! I was so ready to get all the items in my home taken out to the studio today; at least until it started to pour rain and rumble with sounds of thunder. Scratch that idea...

The last several days have been spent running, shopping, and visiting with family. I made it to JoAnn's to pick up the Fiskar's cutting mat, hand-held rotary trimmer, and guide. From there we made it Mickey's for a surprise birthday party for my dd, Amber's 26th birthday. Picked up pizzas to eat, had cake and ice cream {Breyer's Rootbeer w/ Vanilla, yum!}, watched Amber unwrap gifts, visited and laughted, as well as squeezed in some more cuddling with Alexxis!

I spent some time online doing some research for the quilt I desire to start making. Got a little frustrated that I couldn't find info on the size of a full size quilt...... one site said 80"x106"; another 86"x112" so I called my mom who quickly located some old quilt books she has in her library and it said 84"x110", LOL! Okay. What a dilemna! So, I thought well I want to use a full size flat sheet for the reverse side so I desided to check Linens and Things website to discover that the size of the sheet isn't listed so back to square one...LOL! Then, it hit me. Just use the queen size sheet that I have on our full size bed. It is the same one I have in mind for using in the 500 thread count Egyptian cotton. Only one problem there, my fabric measuring tape is in the studio and it's raining! But the good news is, that once I have that information, I can adjust it to fit my needs since our pillow top matress is deeper and box springs are deep.

Since this is going to be the first quilt I've ever created, I did some more research on whether to wash the fabric prior to beginning, why you should or shouldn't, thread type to use for sewing, and some patterns to use. I've decided to do a simple 12" quilt block pattern, using 4 1/2" squares with 1/4" seam allowance in a 9 block pattern. To use a variety of the fabrics I've purchased, I've decided to alternate 2 9 block patterns on the quilt and alternate the rows as I work sewing them together. So, I made some sketches to allow the idea to brew a bit before I make my fabric choices. Once I'm ready to start and have some 4 1/2" squares cut out, I can play a bit with the actual design and determine how many squares I'll need to cut of each. I'm certain that I've purchased enough fabric that I should be able to create two matching pillow shams with a ruffle border and possibly two 18"x18" throw pillows. And if not, I can always go get some more of the fabrics since I choose some patterns that had a lot left on the bolts. Heck, while picking up the Fiskar mat set, I also grabbed two more fabrics and had them cut to 1 1/2 yards each.... one is a bit over 2 yards since I got it 50% just to purchase it! Gotta love those end of the bolt deals!

I'm sitting here watching Get Crafty, well, more listening, then looking! I'm amazed to see Pam Garrison on there! She's making her home book and then, this just up! She's gonna show how to make the banners!!! Oh, happy day!!!! Gotta go, need to take some notes............. {*smiles --- really big smiles!}

Here is an example.......

Taken from the story of Puss in Boots. Aren't these just the cutest things ever?

Is the entire universe against me making it into the studio?

Isn't it amazing that no matter how hard I try to the last several days to knock out everything on my to-do list so that I can spend some guilt-free time in the studio, it's all for nothing! LOL!

Like yesterday, I cleaned the house, washed our bed sheets, dusted, swept, vacuamed and mopped floors, and Amber calls asking if I'd keep Alexxis for a bit. And you know that I'm going to.....

Anyways today, just as I finished up updating my blog earlier, Nancy, Chris's mom comes to the door and asks me if I'd like to go to some yard sales with her and her dd, Mickey. So, I get my shoes on really fast, put Chaos outside, grab my purse, some $$$, and a bottle of cold water.
I did discover some terrific finds! but here I sit at 3:30 p.m. hot and tired from our adventures: not to mention that I'm ready for a nap, LOL! The hot sun certainly took it out of me today. Figuring I should eat something I fixed me a hot dog, ate some cold macaroni salad and am lounging in the air conditioning. Ahhhhh, maybe I'll make it out in the studio on Monday. Today has just got me shot! I've still got to go to Joann's tonight and one other place this evening and tomorrow is Don's day off.

I guess I'm just gonna have to get up bright and early and escape to the studio without the telephone of any way for anyone to distract me! Don watches wrestling on Monday nights so with a bit of pre-planning a crockpot meal maybe I'll get to creating something yet!

The good news is that today I discovered a wonderful old book of children's stories at one yard sale for $2. The stories were still popular when I was a child, in the early 60's although they were written in the 1930's, and it has some excellent illustrations in it! When I called Amber on the telephone to wish her a happy birthday just a bit ago, I was telling her about it and asked her if she remembered a few of the titles. Titles such as, "The Shoemaker and the Elves", "There was a Tammie!", "The Oldest Story in the World", "The Owl and the Pussycat" and Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" Okay, I'm probably dating my age a bit but I mentioned to Amber that I'd love to read these old stories to Alexxis, and Amber was like, "Mom, I don't remember them either." So, I quickly replied, "I'll have to read them to you, too." Anyways, I know what content I desire to use to create Alexxis some soft filled books. I'm thinking I can trace some of the illustrations onto material and embroidery them and stamp the story lines! A handmade gift and one I'm certain she'll always treasure! I'll just have to put them up for her when she outgrows them. {*smiles}

If I get some time, I'd be happy to scan in some of the illustrations for others to use. But right now, I cannot make that a promise. I've too much going on just trying to make it into the studio, LOL!

Some random thoughts before I head out to the studio...

While at Joann's the other night, I looked at and priced a large Fiskar's cutting mat with a hand-held rotary trimmer and a plastic/acrylic guide and decided I'd like to have one. Imagine my surprise when I got home and scoured throught the next week advertisement to discover that it is one sale for 50% off this week! I spoke with Don this morning and we are going out to get it later this afternoon when he returns from work. {Having only one vehicle is the pits sometimes! But such is life...... hopefully soon we'll get the Jeep repaired and running once again... hmm, by the time winter rolls in!}

I have a smaller Fiskars mat, scarred and worn from my rubberstamp and mixed media use, splattered with inks and paints that overlapped off of the paper I've inked or painted, sprinkled with bits of markers that ran off edges of paper that I create on. I wonder how it would take alcohol inks, LOL! The only problem is those babies warp when heat from a heat gun is applied..... care to ask how I would know that? {big grin} Anyways, I have sort of reserved it's use to paper use only... and my bookbinding, as I often use it to protect my tables when cutting and covering bookboards. Anyways, I'm planning to keep this new larger one for fabric use ONLY!

Another kewl item, I may purchase is a pinking shear rotary blade! I never knew that Fiskar's even made one. I have several different rotary blades already that I use in my Fiskar rotary cutting device, a deckle edge and a Victorian scallop but I have never seen this one. I'm thinking I'll pick it up although it will sort of cut into the amount of savings from the sale price of the cutting mat itself. I am sort of anxious to begin working on creating my first ever quilt. I've decided to also purchase a few more yards of fabric, one in a lighter shade of solid blue and another in a either a green or a purple; probably a lighter shade of the green most likely. I'll make my final decision when I actually see them. That ought to about eat up the savings I made this last month off the grocery bill, LOL!

I spent some time online yesterday creating a new wish list of some rubberstamps that I'd like to purchase. I know that I'll probably scare the be-jesus out of myself when I add them all up, LOL! But I quickly realized as my list grew and grew that I don't have to purchase them all at once. I can simply divide it up into some smaller orders and order them a bit at a time. I think that I will also leave just a few for my Christmas wish list for Don as he is always asking me what I want and by the time Christmas rolls around I really don't know what to tell him! So, I'm preparing a list for him in advance this year.

Speaking of gifts, today is my dd, Amber's 26th birthday! I haven't purchased a thing for her because I didn't know what she needed. Speaking with her yesterday, I asked her what she'd like and she totally amazed me with her response. She told me she'd just like some cash so that she could apply it to getting Alexxis's baby pictures she had recently had taken so she could give some of them to close family members and friends. I instantly thought to myself that the statement was spoken like a true mom! Always thinking about your children and other people first before yourself. So, I think I'm going to give her some $$$ on the photographs and do something nice just for her. I haven't decide what exactly yet but I do know that I'd like to do something that will allow her to pamper herself a little bit and maybe offer my time watching Alexxis while she does it. A gift card for anice lunch out with a girlfriend, a haircut and color, a manicure, a gift bag of bath and body works with a candle--- something! I'd thought about buying her a few new nice silk camisole top, but then it hit me the majority of her days are spent taking care of the house, baby, and her family so she'd probably have opportunity to actually wear it, LOL! so something pampering would be better. I also thought a quilt and good book would be nice as a Christmas gift for her, she could sit, read, and relax after Alexxis's is in bed at night... hmmm, I better wait and see how this first one goes before I decide to create another one!

Anyways, I need to check my emails, make a few telephone calls, and get Chaos settled in before I head out to the studio so I suppose I should get to doing..... again. The house is cleaned since I cleaned yesterday before the grandbaby came over and while she was sleeping. I even managed to strip the bed, wash our sheets and bedding and hung it outside to dry. It was great sleeping on clean sheets and smelling that crisp, clean line dried scent. Needless to say, both Don and I slept well, and today are ready to start our day!