Bead Crochet Bracelet - Made by Me

Just a little item I thought I'd share with you. I am thinking about entering it in the County Fair this year. What do you think??

It was fun to make once I got the hang of holding the beaded thread. The hardest part was probably pre-stringing the beads on the crochet thread in the correct order!

What I did on my Summer Vacation.....or

Band Sampler Update

Last week my mother-in-law was in town visiting. I am very lucky and get along (and even like) my in-laws so her visit was not a bad thing! She is also very easy to entertain. We went out to eat a few times, drove over to Evergreen (it was cooler) and walked around. We went to downtown Littleton and walked around. But mostly we all hung out together at the house. She reading, hubby on the computer or watcing TV or doing little things around the house (like laundry :) ), and I mostly stitched!!  Truely a good time was had by all despite the record high temps (house has air conditioning). Miss Maddie slept as usual.

So with all that stiching time I made pretty good progress on my band sampler and thought I'd share.

 Below is a close-up of the left side completed

 Below is a close up of the rest of the piece still being worked on.

This section is the first part of the second part of the three part series (got that?) Go here to see the entire top part (first third of the sampler).  The last third should be in the Fall issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly and I hope to be caught up by then---could need another vacation!

Hand-Beaded VW Beatle

Here is a news article about the hand-beaded VW Bug that is on display at Denver International Airport (DIA) through Aug. 31, 2012. I snapped some shots while waiting for my mother-in-law's plane to arrive. Great fun to see up close. It on the public side of security, so we were able to get a good look. It is right outside where people arrive off the train from the concourses. ENJOY!!

 Beaded inside and out!

Now get to work on yours!!!

I last told you about "Flower Patch" here when I finished it. Many of the ladies in the Sampler Guild sent there finished piece to Jill Rensel in Ogden, UT because she does great work and had the perfect frame for the piece. So I decided to give it a try to, having never mailed out stitching before. It all worked out great, price was good and Jill was great to work with. I had called her on the phone first to make sure she still had the frame and then we corresponded by email. She even sent me an email when it was all done that included a photo of the finished piece. I was not sure where it would end up in the house so I had her use conservation glass which would help with any ultraviolet ray issues. Turns out it is in the hall way to the upper levels, with some, but not much, sun exposure.

I think you will agree that the frame is perfect for the piece....look closely at the design on the frame and the aqua blue stitching around the flower patch! Picture is at a bit of an angle to avoid glare, but you should be able to see it quite well.

Happy day everyone!!

Band Sampler Update and TUSAL

Here is my TUSAL new moon offering for June. Check this link for more information.

 Since 99% of the orts in the jar are from the Sampler & Antique Needlework Quarterly Magazine's year long (well in three parts anyway) offering here is my progress so far:

 I am a third of the way done and now starting the next part which is in the current issue. That is about all for now, tomorrow or the next day I will be showing you how nice my Flower Patch looks framed.

Gifts for a Friend

My college roommate is a quilter and appreciates the handmade, so I made her a couple of things for her birthday this year (it was June 9) and being a sewer/quilter she understands over due gifts.

I saw this cute grab-it and go kit at a quilt shop. All the pieces were already cut, I just appliqued them on and added the backing. I purchased a sugar cookie scented candle in a jar for the center. It was great fun to do.

I know she likes rabbits and the color red, so I stitched this cute bunny in red and black. I used variegated DMC floss, I think number 75 and the chart from Gift of Cross Stitching  Issue #71(Mar/Apr 2012).

Here is a close up of the trim I glued on the edges - I attached the stitching to some comic book board padded with batting.

I found a nice box at Hobby Lobby and stained it a colonial pecan and then lined the inside. I used some brick red ultra suede for the inside. My husband provided the technical support for prepping the box through the final steel wool - which included the suggestion to add a second coat of stain.

I just got word that she received the box and know it is safe to post about it now. She was very happy with her presents. So once again HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY Sandra!!!!

Fun Friday (June 8) Report

This past Friday I went to a 60 years worth of craft stash sale! It was amazing, I had never seen so many different trims and lace and tons of fabric and boxes and boxes (and I mean big boxes) of mounted buttons. Also button jars and bags of button. The lady doing the sale was a member of the button society which would explain all the buttons. But she had lots (maybe 4 six foot tables worth) of fabric. I thought I'd share what I picked up all for $22.00.

Most everything was nicely marked and in zip lock bags. Here is some fabric I picked up. Harder to see at upper right is fabric with button designs on them.

 At the upper middle are two bags of snaps then clockwise is some lace then some buttons and back to the fabric.

I also picked up a McCall's pattern from 1978 or 1979 and a quilt book from the 1930s that is still in good shape (no brown acidified pages).

 I also picked up a book for my brother, so it is not shown here (early Christmas gift purchase) and two Whitman Sampler tins with hinged lids. The top one is about 2 inches deep the bottom one is 3 or 4 inches deep.

Then since I had the day off and it was still early in the day I decided to make it a "Mary" day and on the way home stopped at all the yard/garage sale signs that I saw. I would guess I hit about 6 sales. The last one (and closest to home) I found this box marked cross stitch with some fabric and hoops all for just $1.00.

Inside was a treasure trove of things as you see below:

Some of the items I really did not need and since the next day was the Sampler Guild of the Rockies Retreat at which I could sell stuff, I put some of it on sale myself. I sold 4 things from this box for $1.45! A good deal was had by all.

That is the report for the day!!