I'm Drowning!!! Let's have a Give-a-Way!

I'm drowning... in CLUTTER!! And it just keeps getting worse! I've pulled out so many things to de-clutter...and this week, it was books! This is not easy work! I have selected about half of my bookshelf to "dispose" of...around 60+ books. But, to put them on the Studio site..they have to be photographed...then the webpage has to be built. Actually, several pages...because I like a variety of subjects...cross-stitch, quilting, silk ribbon, etc...etc. So, for the past two days I'm stuck working on this laptop and with my books surrounding me! It is more mess than when I began! But, I am so looking forward to when all of this stuff has found a new home, and is being enjoyed by someone...instead of just sitting on my shelves gathering dust! I hope to have all of the pages ready for publishing today or tonight!!

 And to add to the problem...these (and about 20 more styles) of gorgeous Czech Glass Buttons arrived this past week! I have spent more computer time...loading them on my Etsy shop! 

 Yes, I'm adding to the "clutter" as I am disposing! But, the Etsy will be limited only to cabochons, buttons, and my autographed book! This square button is my favorite! What is your favorite? Oh, I know...let's have a little contest! 

 You pick a favorite style button from the Etsy shop...and come back and post a comment here...Tell me your favorite! On, Sunday...I'll pick a winner and you get your favorite button! I'd appreciate your passing the work along that the buttons have arrived in the shop as well of course. Hugs! PS: Books are now loaded on the Studio....and next, I'm going to start working on photographs, etc of PATTERNS!

First Thursday Thimble - Late

We did not get to vacation at the beach this year, as we did last year...and the fun was really missed. Hope your family was able to catch a few waves...but if not, here's a little thimble for you. Perhaps it will remind you of days past with sun, sand, and lot's of beautiful water! I've include a png and a jpeg format photo for your use.

Wednesday Wine Country Monograms - Q

 

Large Rose Clay Bead

I'm still trying to get over all the work for the wedding...feel so tired! More rose beads came in on Saturday, and I've loaded them on the Studio Clearance Page.

It's Over..Woot!Woot!

The wedding went just fine...everyone loved the dress...and the candy! Thankfully. The bride was especially happy...and that make all of her "contributing aunts/uncles" happy too. Here are a few photos of her dress, here ceremony, and one of my brother (bride's dad) and my Mom. These are with the cell phone...so excuse the quality of the distance shots. Now, it's off to bed...I'm dog-sitting until the honeymooners return on Tuesday...and I hope that "Bella" doesn't wake me at 6:00 tomorrow...like she did this morning!

More Candy!

For those of you keeping up...no, the veil is not finished. But, it will be today. HUGS!We spend the afternoon and evening making candy yesterday. Here is a recipe for the one that was the fastest...and the best tasting (IMHO). Of course, I was on chocolate overload when I tasted these...so that might have contributed to their getting the highest vote...cause those chocolates were pretty good too!The ingredients are 1stick of butter (1/4 cup) softened; 2 cups of confectioner (10X) sugar; 1 small bag (about 8 oz) of shredded coconut. Make sure the butter is super soft. I left mine on the counter all day...so it was just right! Mix everything together...(wash you hands and use those...they work the best!). Form into balls. Place on cookie sheet. Put in freezer for about 15-20 minutes. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top (optional). Bet these would be good with chopped pecans added as well!And, these are great to get kid's involved in rolling them up, or even mixing them together...as there is no cooking involved!!

Still working...

I'm working on the veil, 12 feet of lace to adorn with sequins and beads...here it begins.And, here you can see the second layer that is not yet begun. 

 At this photo, there is about 10 feet to do. As I type, I have about 3 feet left...but I had to take a break...to make some candy.

Here are some caramel pecan pieces getting dipped into melted milk chocolate. 

 Tonight...more of the veil will be done...and more candy. Tomorrow...repeat. Hugs to all!BTW, if you are wondering about the 1st Thursday Thimble design...this month...it will have to be the 2nd Thursday as I'm not finished with it yet...and have no time to worry over that right now.

Flower Girl Dress Adorned

Still stitching lace motifs on the wedding gown bodice...should be finished this afternoon. But, last night I took a break from the dress to put crystal trim and buttons on the flower girl dress. 

 She will be sporting some "Bling" and will be so happy about that!

Would You...Could You...Cut This??

In the mid 80's my husband and I were living in Europe, courtesy of the Army. We loved our 6 years there, and were fortunate to take several trips. On one trip to Belgium we bought a tablecloth after seeing a young lady working to create a similiar one. 

 She sold this one to us for $300 at a time when the conversion rate was very good. Today, it would be impossible to find a hand-made lace table cloth anywhere near this price I'm pretty sure (especially one measuring 47 x 73 inches). A machine manufactured or Chinese knock-off perhaps...but not true handmade lace.

 So, here is my dilema...I've had this in a hope-chest for the past 30 years. And it has never once been used...which seems like such a waste. I'd love to sell it, but I don't know of any high-end designers that might think $300 for a tablecloth is a steal...do you? Seriously, I don't know anyone.So, I'm considering cutting it up for crazy quilt projects. So, far...I can't seem to make my self pick up the scissors...it just seems like a waste to cut such a great object up. At the same time, it's not fair that it just lies in my hope chest...What would you do? Could you ...would you...cut it?

Clearance Sale Continues--

Yesterday, I showed you the brooches and pendants I "unearthed" in my storage cabinets. Today, I added some enamel butterfly charms...

Cherub charms...Butterfly charms w/inked wings...

five different slides for button clusters...

 and four more lace motifs.

That's all the time I have to pull more stuff until after the wedding. I'll fill orders as they come in...and then after the 5th, I'll try to upload some of my "slightly loved" books and perhaps the spider bead kits too.
[Note to all you ladies on "fixed income" like myself. If you are waiting until the first of the month to order...please don't. Just email me the stock number, item, price you need...and I'll pull the stock to make sure it won't be gone by the 1st. I fully understand how that is.]

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, ...It's Off to Work I Go!

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? Well, this one was stuck there for several hours last night as I stitched lace motifs on Melissa's wedding gown. And, I woke up to the tune still ringing in my ears this morning. It's been several weeks at least since Aidan and I watched the Disney DVD of Snow White...so I have no idea why it "popped" into my head last night!

Anyway...here is the lace that is already on the dress. The dress is ivory and so is the lace. Problem: Lace trim we ordered/received to go around the hem and down the side (bride's request) was white. So, now that it is on...it sticks out like a sore thumb. No big surprise to the seamstress...(me)...and the solution is to add bits of the same lace to the bodice to hopefully tie all of the components together. 

 This is not the only adjustment...and when I have a few minutes...I'll post on the problems with purchasing a wedding dress off Ebay! For now...the lace trim is being cut into individual motifs...floral and little bits that can be pieced in a pattern. Can you see the floral and the little pieces "trailing" off of that like a lace vine? That's what we're trying to do...and it covers some of the ivory...making it look like a background. At least that's what we are hoping. I'm 2/3 done with the front bodice and then I move to the back.

Marvelous Monday Motifs - 8/29/2011

You can read all about my idea for Marvelous Monday Motifs here. Today we have pages 33-34 of the J. F. Ingalls Company, 1886 Catalog of Perforated Parchment Stamping Patterns. 

Please NOTE: This catalog is not under copyright any longer; but the scanned version released to the public domain on 17 July 2007 (the source of my information) does come with restrictions. None of these designs can be sold. They are for your individual use.

I Must be Nuts!

Why else would I run a huge clearance sale on my web-store at the same time I'm trying to get ready for a wedding! 

 Tonight I constructed a brand-new page of pendants/brooches to add to the web-store...but I won't launch it until tomorrow afternoon. Why? you ask...because I have to go to Hobby Lobby with my niece tomorrow looking for clear snaps and pretty buttons for her wedding gown...which I have to finish THIS WEEK. The wedding is Saturday!! And, I have a limited supply of these pendants...

 ...and brooches. 

 So, if someone buys several...and I'm not here checking the e-mails...I can't update the inventory. And, if I don't update the inventory (has to be done manually) then I could "over-sale" the items...and someone will be unhappy...and I truly don't want that. So, I'll have to wait until tomorrow.And, I have more lace and charms...but I'll post about that tomorrow night...because I have to sew some lace motifs on the wedding gown bodice. Hugs!