Shabby Chic purse

I have always wanted to make one of those great shabby chic purses...

You know...the ones with whites and creams, lace and more.

So last summer I made myself one.

I had tons of fun getting things out and layering them onto my bag base.

For the base I used 2 quilt squares that have button holes around the edges.

I also re-purposed some pretty sheets from the thrift store for the fringe on the bottom and the strap.

The strap is long so it can be used as a cross body bag.

I printed a few fun images on muslin.

When I do that, I make tons all at one time and then use them as inspiration strikes.

Time to make another purse soon I think....

Thanks for stopping by....

Art Queen Bee Set

It has been a busy week.

Our weather was HOT!

It finally cooled off which makes me begin to start rushing around like a squirrel gathering nuts for winter.

It was a busy weekend cleaning areas for the coming cold weather.

I can gleefully say the back porch and wood shed are winter ready.

Yay!

And inside I have been making beads.

So many beads from polymer clay.....

I have  new series planned and it is going to take lots of beads.

You may see some glimpses of them on an upcoming Workbench Wednesday.

For today, I am sharing this necklace and bracelet set I have made.

These are glass beads.

I did not make them.

They are knotted on waxed linen cord.

You know how I love to do that.

I think the blingy bottle cap is fun.

I use my homemade wire clasps.

I am liking my own better and better.

They suit my designs.

They are easy to use.

They add a little something to a piece.

When I first started my Etsy store, my husband made me a light box.

It worked ok, but often my photos had a yellow cast I could not quite get rid of even with some photo editing.

Now I take pictures on my front porch or the back porch depending on the time of day.

I love the look of the indirect natural light.

This set has a little multi strand bracelet as well.

The little crown dangle is a sweet addition.

Looking at these pictures makes me want to knot beads all day...

But work calls.

Beads will have to wait.

Hope you have a great week.

Thanks for stopping by....

                   Linking up with these great blogs.

Workbench Wednesday: Canning Lid Ring Pumpkins

Inspired by a canning ring pumpkin I saw  in Mary Jane's Farm magazine, I decided to try my own.

Pen N Paper Flowers made a fabulous white version with book page strips added.

I bought a couple dozen mason jar rings at the flea market and set off to make myself a pumpkin.

I followed her directions and tied together about 2 dozen rings.

Then I spray painted them....

That did not work out. 

 I had to keep moving and respraying them, many, many times.

So I cut my string that was holding them together and repainted each one separately.

This was actually much faster, easier, and used less paint.

I did some with white paint and a few with ivory paint I had leftover from another project.

Ready for the next step...

Gluing on the book strips.

This took forever. 

Each lid needed more than one strip.

For my wide mouth lids, each ring needed 2 1/2 book strips.

Each pumpkin has 24-25 rings.

Once the strips were all glued on, I used cotton twine to tie them all together into a ring.

Then I cut a piece of a log about 3-4 inches long.

I glued it to the top of my pumpkin and covered the glue with spanish moss.

I also turned it over and added extra glue underneath to reinforce it and then used Spanish moss to cover the glue there as well.

I do love the way it turned out.  I am sure the other rings are on their way to becoming fall decor as well.

Thanks for stopping by....

                 Linking up with these great blogs.

Needle Felted Bunny

So how cute is this bunny?

Pretty cute, right?

He started with one of those needle felting kits.

I love those.  

They come with a mold.

After you make the front and back, you just felt them together.

When you finish your bunny, you can make more bunnies.

Since you already have the mold, you just need to purchase more wool roving.

You can make a bunny any color you want.

I love this brown roving the bunny came with.

I like the way he turned out but I think I was hoping for a more natural bunny.

Like a real bunny.

This one is like a cartoon bunny.

Still, he is a cute bunny.

I felted him much better than the dog I made last year.

This bunny is very firm.

He fetched a second place ribbon at the fair...

Yay, bunny!

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Feeling Puzzled Earrings

Today is just a quick share of some earrings my daughter makes.

She uses puzzle pieces and wraps them with wire.

Simple and fun.

Each puzzle design lends a different look to the earrings.  

These are more sophisticated due to the subdued colors and design.

Thanks for stopping by.

Linking up with these great blogs.

Have Paracord?

One of the things my daughter has made for years is paracord bracelets.

She started at the beginning of their popularity a few years ago and continues to still make them.

While you can find them everywhere it seems, hers are such high quality.

Her knots are tight and even.

My husband has worn his since she first made it for him years ago.

She sells them in our Etsy shop Artistic Endeavors 101.

She has collected paracord in varying weights and colors.

Thanks for stopping by....

Linking up with these great blogs.

Delicate Pink Jewelry

I am not really a delicate kind of jewelry gal.

I don't buy it.

I don't wear it.

And I usually don't make it.

But sometimes a girl just has to try something different.

  Armed with lace, silk, beds and buttons, off I go.

Into the delicate pink yonder.

Join me, won't you?

First up: a  choker made from recycled silk strips and lace.

A little white linen cord to tie off the ends.

A few handmade jump rings make it adjustable.

I have a big neck but I try to remember the rest of the world may be much smaller than me.

This sweet little buckle was the inspiration for the whole piece.

Next up: a triple strand seed bead necklace.

Also not my style, but fun to try.

Simple beading with a little lace choker layer added at the end.

And last, but not least: a button choker.

This one I WOULD wear.

Simple white buttons from the many, many button jars I collect.

Knotted together with white waxed linen cord.

I love working with that stuff.

I finished it off with a strip of pink silk and a little white flower button.

Do you see  anything that is your style?

Which one?

Thanks for stopping by...

Craft Lightning Recycled Edition

I am delighted today to be participating in another great round of Craft Lightning.

This time it is Recycled Crafts in 15 Minutes or less.

Today I am going to show you how to use dryer sheets and a few simple supplies to create this sweet angel.

You will need

dryer sheets

scissors

a scrap of yarn or twine

a piece of lace ribbon

a wooden doll head

glue (I used hot glue and a glue gun)

Optional :

DecoArt Chalky Finish Paint

vintage sheet music

Decoupage from DecoArt

wooden wing shape

paintbrushes

sandpaper

Flatten and stack 3 (or more if you desire) dryer sheets.

Cut them in half so you have the longest pieces possible.

Cut the dryer sheets into thirds to create strips.

Neatly gather all  the strips into one pile.

 Use one of the strips and tie it around the middle of all the strips.

Fold your yarn scrap in half and tuck the ends into the hole at the bottom of the wooden head bead.

Add glue.

Use the tip of the scissors to push the center of the dryer sheet strips into the hole as well.

Allow it to dry.

Smooth out and stack 3 more dryer sheets.

This time cut them in strips the short way across the dryer  sheets.

Again use a strip to tie them together in the middle.

Glue these wings to the back of the angels head.

You may also want to glue the yarn up the back of the angel's head a bit to keep it from tipping forward when it hangs.

Optional:

You can add wooden wings in addition to or instead of the dryer sheet wings.

Paint the wooden wings with DecoArt Chalky Finish paints.

Once dry, trace the wings on a page of vintage sheet music.

Cut it out and use DecouPage to attach it to one side of the angel wings.

When they are dry, use a piece of sandpaper to remove any paper that extends over the edge of the wood.

Glue the wings to the back of the angel.

If you don't want to hang the angel, substitute a skewer for the piece of yarn.

Just use the skewer to poke the dryer sheet body into the head.

Leave it there to dry.

Now you can stick it in a plant.

That would be perfect for Mother's Day...

Or you could add it to the garden for a touch of recycled whimsy.

For another variation, you could dye the dryer sheets.

Our gracious hosts for Craft Lightning this time are:

Country Chic Cottage

30 Minute Crafts

and Creative Green Living.

You can pop over to any of their blogs for a complete list of participants and projects this week.

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs this week.