Ivanhoe--1952

It is funny how something you see or do makes you think of an adventure or episode of your life of younger years.   Be it a flutter of a leaf, a dog barking, some little something of a glimpse of something on television.   Just like a little alarm clock so to speak.  There it is stuck in your mind until you either write about it or write about it. 

The other evening I thought yikes I have not written on my blog and y'all are going to tar and feather me.   Oh just kidding on the tar and feathering.   While thinking that I thought of Ivanhoe the movie I almost got to see in 1952.   Yep the world was perking along even then.   I had always thought that Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor were brother and sister.  Well, you have to remember I was only 8 years old then also.  When that movie came out I was so excited and thought I had to go see it.   The movie came out in an interesting time in my life so a lot was happening besides Ivanhoe.    I was 8 and my brother and sister that went to the movie with me was 7 and 6.   We stood inline like all the dressed to the nines adults in line.  We had our 25 cents in our hands so excited.  It was enough to get in the movie and get a popcorn.   We got closer and closer to the office box and while waiting looking at the movie poster and chattering about it.   Yea our turn at the box office.  The person, I can't remember if a guy or girl, calmly said it is 60 cents each please.   60 cents?   Oh my that was a giant sum for us and I remember asking why and it is because it is a special movie.   So we all three held hands and off to walk back home.  It was dark dark by then but we made it home safely but no Ivanhoe.   Never did see that movie but oh love movies still.   I remember later that year that we could go to a movie, have our popcorn and stay all day to see our Westerns and the cartoons and newsreels.  

Now I know some don't remember that is how we got news.  The newsreels at the movies.   At least that is how I remember it and along with the previews of the upcoming movies and the wonderful cartoons.  Such a delightful Saturday afternoon.  I have loved movies always and a good place to take you away and be in a fantasy world for a while.  I am always not watching the movie for it's self but seeing the lighting, the decoration of the rooms and props and the make up and costumes.  Man there is a big job to go to a movie for me.  

 

This is some images of the Alien can you imagine how my mind checks out these costumes and  the backgrounds.   I can't tell you how many times I have seen this movie and A vs P.   Many many times and my friend Ginger even bought me the DVD of A vs P  .  

Now days our Sunday afternoons is watching the Dallas Cowboys play football and in the spring and summer the Texas Rangers play baseball.  Well I usually do stitching and sketching during all of this time and when we go to the movies during the week it is an early movie so we won't have lots of people talking and sharing the movie on their cell phones.   A lot has changed since 1952 I do believe.  

My art has changed a lot also from my stick people scenes I use to draw to what I am doing now.   I don't believe I ever shared the last couple of pieces I did with Tracy Verdugo.   Years ago I tried to get as lifelike and totally controlled what I drew and painted, then into photography and now back into traditional art.   Wow during all that time my muse really has grown or she has been there all the time and I am just now listening.    I can thank Tracy for letting my muse just come out and play.

 

One of the pieces I did, but recycling me gessoed on the back of an old display photograph and tada a new painting surface.

 

This is how my muse led me to do this 34 inch by 34 inch piece.  Yep it is big but was fun and no telling how many layers are on this sort of canvas.   Of course the photo does not do it justice with all the textures and colors and what is peeking thru for the eyes to see.    I like to think my muse and all my movie going all played together and this is what came out.   I can see an alien in a spaceship, underwater that is ( Jules Vern? ) and so many other little images in it. I am thinking the movies just helped my muse grow.   

 

There you go and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

                                                                     XOXO

                                                                    Annette  

Ciggie used in another way

Well it is getting close to the end of NOVEMBER !!!!  All I have to say is just WOW !  Here in Texas we had an early snow.   That is unusual for us this early in the year.   It was only an inch but still early and I guess Mother Nature just spoils us with the weather.  She compensates us I guess for giving us the wind and sand.   Just thinking that from me to you. Right now as Hubby just said "do you want to go out and look at the country side or just sit in the house and watch it go by?"   The sand is blowing and the wind howling.  BUT  a good thing it is blowing the dead leaves off of the trees.  An early hard freeze tens to have the trees hang on to the dead leaves, hanging on for all they are worth.  Saying no no  I am not ready to drop and leave the tree nude.  

I have been taking another on line class, I love those things.   You can log in and play whenever you want to and they all have little groups if you want to visit about them but still in jammies if you want. When a football game is on and Hubby is watching it and you are in your own little art world creating and messing with art supplies.   Of course I have my TV on.  No girlie movies or music, I do think they would put me to sleep.  

I am taking a class with Roses on My Table about Journal Journeys  taught by Zinnia.   http://rosesonmytable.ning.com/the-journal-journey. it is for a year and only a $35 donation to a great cause.  

Had to share what I am doing right now, chip board and gel medium flying here and there and fingers getting dirty and can't forget bits of paper either.  I guess sometimes if just feels good kinda like when you made mud pies when you were little or just doing some yard work.   On the yard work I think oh do I really want to change clothes and get out there, REALLY?  But when I go outside and start doing the yard work I am so glad that I have done it.   Hubby is right along side me with the yard work but I don't think he thinks about it like I do.  Now I do have to be sure and pick up any pieces of paper that have landed on the floor because our new furbaby Charlie thinks it is something for him to eat. 

One of my Journals I made I used a ciggie from a painting I did of our Princess as a Mermaid.  I thought she might like a journal featuring her as the star.   I know I create the ciggies for my CQ work but why not for other forms of art?  There is no Ciggie police that tells me I can and can't use them for other projects.

 

 

Here is the Mermaid journal, it contains just paper for writing notes to self and then some mixed media paper in case the Princess choses do sketch and doodle.   I happened to have some ocean type stencils that were close to a million years old.    You have to keep everything don't you?  Just in case you need them.   I have been guilty of throwing something away and then saying rats and double rats I could have used that.  

 

 

 

Now this little journal is so not me with the soft colors but thought I would try to see if I could.   Now the beads were part of a necklace that was like a whole $1, I think I have gotten my $1 worth out of it.  I haven't done anything with the other side of the window yet.  It will come to me I can almost bet on that.   Now this journal when I started was the stucco color and the window was turquoise and I was going to make it the wonderful Mexico influence.  I made the mistake and went to bed, gotta sleep sometime and when I woke up the Mexico influence left, gone, vanished.  So I had to rethink where I was going with this one.  

 

 

 

My watercolor Journal.  I thought I would use one of my digital watercolors for the front.  I so enjoyed doing those little flowers.  The spine, OK are you going to get to stay little flower and leaves?   I fear they will be trashed and something else will replace them. After doing watercolors in the book they may not play well with the book.  Only time will tell.

  

 

 

The first Journal I did, nope didn't start out this way I can guarantee that.  I think 10 layers of colors and combinations are on there.  Then before I went to bed that night I thought TEAL/TURQUOISE might be the answer so the next morning drip and drop here came the paint.  

 

 You know as I am writing this I am thinking I guess sleep and a fresh start might be a good thing with art.  We just get to close to the art piece whatever it may be.  We need to stand back and take a breather and have a fresh look at it.  We are our own worst critiques you know. 

 

There you go what I am working on at the moment and right now doing a painting  that is a secret right now.  Then back to some Tracy Verdugo style paintings.  I am so loving being able to do art everyday.  It may be for only an hour or two or the whole day.   I am so blessed with having that ability.  

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOXOXO

Annette 

 

Art in Many Forms

You know Art does come in many forms doesn't it?   In flower arranging, cooking, sewing, painting just about anyway you can think it is art. Just taking walks and seeing what Mother Nature has created, that is art and some don't take the time to "smell the roses" so to speak.    So we are all artists in some shape or form.  We may not think so but we are.   I know each and everyone of you have a talent and it may be hidden deep into our sub conscious but it is there.  I could go on about this but don't want to lecture just gently say you can do it!!!!!!   I don't have a clue where this paragraph came from, I guess my Muse just wanted to touch base with all of  y'alls.  Sounds good doesn't it?

Now this post as Grandson told me that sometimes I go on little bunny trails with my subjects and wander around.  I loved that and true so here goes and come join me on my trip down some Bunny trails.

As you might or might not remember for the past 6 weeks I have been taking an online class, the best way to do a class.  You don't have to put on make up if you don't want to, you can dilly dally and not be put in the corner for that d and d or dress to the nines if you want.   Tracy Verdugo teaches from her heart and that is great for us all.  If you get a chance to take a class she is offering again in February.   Here is a little dabble of what I have done, I still have not finished all the lessons but she is leaving the videos on for a year so guess who is doing it again and again?  Yep yours truly. 

 

Fun fun class and really stretched me in every way.   I did color out of the lines on this one and did some art that was not me, but I can do it !!

 

Now in the evenings we open up the front shutters to tell the world good night and get to see our sunsets we have.  Most days they are beautiful and so colorful, my kind of sunset.   Now if we don't have any clouds it is not so show offish.  Not sure if that is a word or not but we will pretend it is. 

 

 

 

Now there is no way in the world could I describe these or make up the colors with the purples, reds and oranges.   God's paint brush just flows and sometimes I think wonder what media does he use?   Silly me.  

 

 

Now it is November and time for the plants that decorate the patio to come in and show us how pretty they are and to drop every one of their leaves and blooms and then start all over again.  You would think they would say thank you and hang on to all that pretty but NOOOOOOOO they have to shed it all.  It looks like we are a King and Queen when we go out there with all the flowers at our feet.  Now I can't complain it is only about 10 plants and while in Seminole with my photography business I bet we had 100 plants but we did decorate our yard and make it lush and not look like West Texas.  I loved it when a client first came to the yard and that is exactly what they said. We loved that and was well worth the work of saving the plants.  We usually waited til late at night when the wind was howling and it was colder that a bear to bring them all into a little green house we had. 

 

I don't know if we are getting smarter or just think to watch the weather and we put them in now before it freezes and we run out and cover everything with sheets til we can get them into safety.  

 

 

This is the view we have from the dining area.  We call it the baby window because we can see the furbabies while sleeping so comfy and they can't see us.  You know when you go to the hospital and see the newborns?  Well we see our fur babies.   

Another view past the baby window, now the ficus tree in the corner?  Well I bought it when a $1 to us was money.   It was about 5 inches tall and this baby has grown and is we figure over 41 years old.  Yes your eyes didn't play tricks on you 41 years and has been moved and shook around but just hangs in there.  Not sure what comes next it is 12 tall now and wants to grow more.  We keep trimming it and I read where they can get 30 feet.  Sorry little tree you are not going to get to grow that tall, just live with it and no attitude please.

Oh the two little beds there are Libby and Charlie's beds and the chase is what we call the Throne, they both get up there and share it and give us the stare when they are not inside the house.  Fancy dog house don't you think?

 

 

One more view, not a giant room but giant enough and Libby is at the door thinking why in the world is my human taking pictures of my back side?  Doesn't she know I am fluffy this time of year?  

 

 

 

The last two pouches I have made, delivered them today to two special people and I think they loved

 

 

 

Well that is enough of wandering on my bunny trails and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOXOOX

ANNETTE 

 

A different take on a CIGGIE?

Hello on this start of a new week in OCTOBER !!!!!! OCTOBER !   We have been lucky and have not had to bring in the plants from outside yet.   According to our weatherman we will have at least until the end of the week.  We haven't seen the weather for past then but the plants are loving it.  We will then snip snip and make the plants look like they have had a "Little Boy Regular" hair cut.  Not the prettiest cut in the world but manageable in the sun room.   

I am so enjoying the class with Paint Mojo with Tracy Verdugo.   I can't think of what else I have painted, well except on my giant canvas.  Remember it is coming when finished.   I did use the Acrylic Inks for this pretty guy.   Now I do wish I had done it on Watercolor paper but didn't.  I only use the mixed media paper.  It does ok but kind of curls and twirls like a dancer I guess.   Who knows maybe it is happy that it is getting to play with the big boys---the canvases and watercolor papers.  

When I finished this little gem it reminded me of some of the Mexico art we have seen.  I love it and it is so cheerful.   Maybe that is why this little guy came to the party wearing this set of wings.   Who knows?

 

I have several other little class doings to do for this week, but you know sometimes I stray a little.  

 

I was thinking this might made an awesome piece of CQ with this as the center?   Just an out of the box thought there.    One sweet friend told me that I think out of the box and I jokingly replied that when we grew up we didn't even know there were sides in a box.   You know me and my sense of humor. 

 

There you go what I have been up to in the art world this week.  Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.

 

XOXOXO

Annette

Acrylic Inks and CQ almsot pouches

Sometimes you just have to try new things don't you?   Be it a new recipe, which I do often, a new route to a place or how about a new spin on art?  WITH a new art supply.   There is nothing better I don't think, well besides Chocolate, than getting to go shopping for ART SUPPLIES...No not clothes or a new car or furniture.   BUT ART SUPPLIES.

Now after I "retired"  I did drag out all my old art supplies, they have been patiently waiting in boxes for me to come and play with them.   Shockingly there are some new things out there.  Yes, I couldn't believe it, I figured that everything had already been invented in the art world.  Like years ago with Michael Angelo and artists of that talent range.  

I am taking an E-course, love  internet courses by the way, with Tracy Verdugo.    A Mojo Journey.   What  is new to me is she introduced Acrylic Inks.    I bought a few colors and had to order some more of them last week, I just didn't have enough Annette colors.   The colors are beautiful and just the cutest little bottles with droppers in them.    Cuteness is the key isn't it in art?    Now Tracy teaches all over the world and I bet will do the e-course again next year.  It is well worth the money and each week comes with lots of videos.  Good videos. 

Back to Tracy, she has introduced us to a 6 week class and for the last 3 weeks I have been glued to my art room.  Funny though sometimes life gets in the way but I fixed that---- I have a giant magnet in there that draws me in.  Oh it is a computer but almost as good as a magnet.   

Acrylic Inks is one of my weapons of art, I love that---weapons of art.   You can probably tell it is one of Annette sayings can't you?    I get to drip and drop and use water and my fingers and make the biggest mess.  I am in Hog Heaven as the saying goes.  

So I have to show some of what I am doing, can't wait for you to see the BIG canvas I am doing.   Gotta hold your horses though, that reveal is coming when finished.    It is 30 x 30..

This class was a present to myself.   Hubby and I for years now don't buy each other presents.   We have gotten so when we want it we get it.  Well within reason that is.   Our trips we take are our presents, we must not have been good lately we haven't taken may trips.  One day we will crank up and do that gift to ourselves.   

The following is some of what I have been doing with Acrylic Inks.  They are different that what I usually do but that is great you have to keep doing new or you get dull. Now forgive the watermarks.  Not that this is the greatest work in the world but there are some bandits out there in the world.   I know y'all aren't one of them but you never know who peeks in and cops an image.  Sad but true.  

 

This is on canvas I think for Hubby's bathroom.   We have some other things going on and this would be great to go with the "other things". This is a dream catcher. Well Hubby says it looks like a shield but it could be a dream catcher and really blocks the bad dreams away.  

 

Another dream catcher, I need a good name for her.  Mary Patchet where are you ?   Mary is an awesome lady with such a  beautiful way with words. 

 

Can ya tell this is a Mermaid?     She is splishing and splashing and letting me play with the Acrylic Inks to my hearts content.

 

 

This little guy just came to me and said my turn please.  

 

A cutie indeed and just enjoying the  butterfly and it's beauty.   These are all so not my style, whatever style is but I love the freedom of it. 

 

This Mandala is maybe finished or not.  Now the circle is hand drawn with not a compass in site so it is a tad wonkie, well sometimes we are all a tad wonkie. 

 

Now there you go some of my art and loving just playing and doing.

 

I have not forgotten my CQ.  No sir eeeeeh Bob.   I have finished, well the fronts of the rest of the cell phone/sunglass pouches.  I am donating  10 to a Christmas Extravaganza for the proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. I am also selling 10 of them to all proceeds going to Haven here in Lubbock.  It is a no kill shelter for furbabies.    I have sold 3 on my Etsy shop.  Thank you three angels that have helped. 

 

Sooooooooo, here are some of the last ones I am fixin to finish up.    Making them a complete little pouch.  Some may be already finished I just make them I don't really count them. I made a few extras for gifts and try to make them all different.  I am using my FAERIES that I have painted and made into ciggies/silkies  the sweet little images in the centers.

 

 

 

 

That is it for the day, thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.  

 

xooxxoox

Annette

 

September RR

I have my September RR block finished.  Like I have said this is the first time I have done a RR of this type and love it.  A challenge every month to work on another artist's block and someone you don't really know.  

 

For some reason I was at a loss what to do with Rengin's block.  She is from Turkey and this is traditional  hand dyed  fabric.  It is so soft and the colors are beautiful.  Then I thought ---OK Annette just create like it is your block and play. I think Rengin would want that.  She is going to put all 6 of the blocks in a wall hanging and we are to make them all coordinate them. 

 

 

The empty block I choose.  The remaining 4 all just had the same colors and just different configurations.     

 

 

 

Here is what I did with Rengin's block.   I hope she likes it. 

 



 

 

 

I actually got brave and dyed a little piece of trim that came from Ireland, thank you Ger.  It is part of a medallion I had cut in half.   Now the piece I put it on is really grey not the color shown here.  I then put a button styled after Depression glass in the middle of it.   The pretty ribbon is some my friend Denise sent me and it is so pretty.   Then I added bits of Australian lace my friend Betty sent me.  This is a friend contributed block let me tell you.  I love getting packages of pretties and I use them all.  Of course I always share back.  The pretty ribbon is some from Flights of Fancy, well worth the price and now on sale.  

 

I needed a main eye focal point so I used some of Nicki's beautiful dyed lace, sorry Nicki Lee what I did to your lace.   Nicki's shop is RavioLee Dreams.   I just embellished to my hearts content and this is the finished piece.  

 

 

I am still working on my Haven/Meals on wheels pouches.  More pics later.

 

There you go and thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

 

                                                                          XOXO

 

                                                                        Annette



Crazy Quilting Fingers at Work and the death of a Pillow

Hello there, here is it the middle of September.  I guess I am your calendar today.   Now I have two things to cover today.  Well many things of two subject.  Our wonderful Crazy Quilting and the death of a pillow. 

So hang on this post goes on and on for a while.  Maybe a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa or a hot toddy?

We have a no kill shelter here for furbabies of all kinds.  Even a horse and a goat.  Mainly dogs and cats that people drop off as unwanted garbage.  Even some that have been so abused and shot, yes shot that limbs have had to be amputated. It is not a pretty picture but unfortunately so true.

I thought I can help, not so much as the manual work anymore,  somehow Mother Nature has a play in it-we love you Mother Nature.   BUT if there is a will there is a way right?  

I have so fallen in love with Crazy Quilting and thought why not create some Crazy Quilted cell phone/sun glass pouches/cases and sell them and allllllllllllllllll the proceeds go to Haven here in Lubbock?  So that is what I did. So far I have sold 3 and so excited.  At first I wanted to donate it all for a furbaby out at Haven that had no back legs.  Someone so injured her with a gun that her legs had to taken away.  I wanted to get her one of the little carts with wheels.  Well they have purchased her one of the little carts.  So they are always looking for "stuff' for the babies so just will donate all of the funds from me and y'all.  

Just wanted to show some of the pouches.  Here they are then the death of a pillow coming.   : )  Here are a few of them  Hope you enjoy seeing them as I have creating them. 

                                                                This beauty is sold.

 

The wings and little butterfly here are from Little snippets in Ireland.   Thank you Geraldine

 

 

 

This tree Faerie is sold also.

 

 

Fayette is sold also

 

This a few of the hand drawn by myself and then created into a silkie/ciggie to play on my work.   Now not to sound like an advertisement they are at my Etsy shop Art of Annette.

 

Now for the pillow death.  

 

As you might remember we lost our precious Jewel, sweetest full blooded dog ever.  We miss her terribly and have a giant hole in our heart.  Well our sweet Libby missed her also.  Just hung around with no life in her at all.  We thought we have to adopt another fur baby, surely that will perk that baby up and she can live the rest of her life with some playful antics. 

 

We went to Haven and found no one that we thought would be compatible with  Libby.  To the pound we went.  There were barking and lunging dogs and thought oh my goodness we can't do this.  So went home and thought about it and then went back to the pound.  In the first cage with the bigger dogs was this sweet black non barking baby.   We thought non barking while all the others are going nuts?  Oh my.  We took him out to the little area where you get to know them.  He was so happy and we took him back to his cage.   We went back and got Libby to meet him to see if they would gel together and get along.   Libby is the Queen here at our home.    They did get along  and adopted we did.  Libby has a new  boy toy named Charlie.

 

Now they said he was 2-3 years old.  Nope don't think so,  maybe 1 1/2 years.  This guy has springs in his legs and oh loves to play.  We thought he might be to rough for Libby.  She is 9 now and a rescue fur baby also.  We call them 100% dog. Libby is Brittany  Spaniel and Australian Shepard.  Now Charlie is Border Collie mix.  Only his mother knows what the other part is. We are all mixed breed. 100% human.  

 

 

Libby and Charlie the cone head here.  He has slipped thru the cracks and still had his boys. 

Playing all the time,  He loves it and Libby does not lay around all the time now. 

 

 

We have several places in our enclosed sunroom-AKA dog house they can share.  It has a heater and air conditioner so they are very comfy.  

 

 

A lot of movement in this pic but they are watching Hubby for one of the most favorite times of the day.  We feed them twice a day. 

 

He has their full attention.  Libby gets special food she has allergies, gotta spoil these babies.

 

Lots of play time.  Now when Charlie wants to play and Libby does not, she lets him know in a not shy way.  They play like this several times a day and giving Libby new life.  Her boy toy .

 

 

He loves the Frisbee,  he goes and gets it and brings it back just not where we are.  He will learn.

 

Now this treasure of a toy.  At the pound he loved it so we forced ourselves at Petsmart to get him one.  Oh he works it over let me tell you.  His prize and he hides it so Libby won't get it.

 

 

 

Here is Charlie, there was a pretty pillow on this chair but I guess it fought him on who gets on this chair.  Sadly the pillow lost and gave it's life so Charlie could rock on this chair.  The pillow did have blue stuffing but not any more.

 

 

Sharing here.  Now we did have a pretty cotton rug on the floor of the sun room.  There are parts of it now so I guess another item gave it's life to Charlie.  Libby just sat and watched and thought silly dog you are going to get into trouble.  We have a doggie door as you can see in the background, he would not go thru it.  So we tried the taping of the door open with nothing in front of it.  That worked.  Next step is to tape a towel in front of it.  That worked.  The next step is go thru without the towel and the door closed.  That does not work.  No sir eeeeee.   Nope, nada nothing.   Even with his food bowl outside.  Lots of jumping and flipping but nothing. 

 

We are going to keep trying, he is so smart so surely he can get that little simple trick.   Oh he does bark in the sunroom and when Libby goes out with him we will venture out with the bark. We have no Dragons in our yard at all.  Charlie keeps them out and we can sleep at night.  

 

There you go.  I hope you enjoyed it for a few minutes.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOOXXO

Annette 

 

Beading and Sewing

Beading and sewing, well it goes together but here it is---- the small and then  the large projects.   Funny isn't it how your projects GROW into something sometimes bigger than you are . Then you dive into the project and think did I bite off more than I can chew?   I have never ever said that to a cookie or desert or even making the cookie or desert.   Somehow they just seem to go with the flow of life, the cookies or deserts that is.  The hips also but we won't say that very loud. 

 

Now Annette,what in the Sam Hill are you talking about or what  might are you thinking?   Well have a seat I am fixin to tell ya.  

 

As you might remember I am doing a Round Robin with several ladies and for the month of August I receive Nicki Lee's beautiful blocks.   I was going to choose a baby that was encased in blue fabric and so pretty.  Then I saw the yellow block.   I love yellow if you haven't noticed and a lot of people just don't like the cheerful and happy color.

 

I chose of course the yellow block.  The sweet little girl just looked like she needed a hug.  So I gave her a hug in beads.   I tried to make a garden scene that a little girl like this might love to wander around and just see the pretties and little things that goes on in a secret garden.

 

 

 

Here is the sweetie all dressed up  the little spidie and all.   It was fun making the spider aka spidie and the little bee.   I had to give her a bow in her hair and then embellish her little dress also.  I never know when the blocks or pieces are finished,  I don't know if I let the piece tell me of if it weighs 100 pounds with beads and trims.    Kind of a toss up there.   Anyway this little girl is finished and Nicki Lee loves it so we are good to go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I don't consider the beading and playing with pretties sewing.  Just good therapy I guess. Watching the TUBE at night.  Anyway to me that is how it is.   I didn't know I was going to be addicted to CQ but I think I am.   I sometime rip out stitches  and replace with something else.  Here is the same block, don't compare the color computer color plays tricks on you. Compare the two the upper one is the one who got to stay like it is.  The bottom one is the before  the rip out trick. 

 

Now this next project, oh my goodness grew and grew and was not where I was going the day I was looking at fabric on line.  I found a little piece  of fabric and it was blue/turquoise and I called about it. The lady who helped me said it was outside fabric and might not hold up as well as upholstery fabric.  We talked, if you can imagine, a bit and she said let me pull up some fabric you might like.   Well I loved it, I ordered two yards of the fabric.   I thought two yards is big enough so I can see what it really really looks like. 

 

I thought I can do this make slip covers for the two big ugly chairs, yes we picked them out but I think were having a beige and blah moment when we did.   I can do this !!!!!!! I had a book I had purchased years ago and read it and thought yep I can do it.   I mean I use to make wedding dresses and everything between so a chair slip cover?   A piece of cake.  Don't laugh it could happen. 

 

So I pranced down to the fabric hangout and bought 12 yards of muslin to make a big pattern.  After making the pattern I ordered 19 yards of fabric.    Did I want  all of the fabric in one piece the online store asked.  Yes sir eeee bob I did.  I know color lots don't always match. So glad I did the two yards I ordered were a lot lighter that the 19 yards.  Whew, dodged the bullet on that one.   

 

 

 

An impressive and big and what the heck am I doing this project for arm piece.  

 

 

 

 

I was a good trouper and continued on, even marking little pleats and all.   Now I hit the jackpot I do believe because Hobby Lobby had the right color of Turquoise to match the fabric of bias tape.  I needed to cover all the million yards of cording you know.   Now remember this is suppose to be just a cover.  Remember that.  I did run out of the bias tape and Hobby Lobby had it on back order.  You know the drill.  Anyway there was a fabric store here I haven't been inside of since they moved to their new location 30 years ago. I was busy with my own business during this time. The only thing I sewed is Halloween costumes for Grandchildren and a few things for my clients to be photographed in.  That is it !!!!!  Any way I went in  the store and asked if they had bias tape.   "M'am" (gurrr) we make our own and don't buy that kind.  Ok thank you very much and thought now what?

 

Well hubby said, good ole hubby, why don't you go online and order it from H. L. ? I did and was here in my hot little hands in two weeks or two days.  It was two days. 

 



 

 

 

 

The back of the chair, just had to show you that the fabric is brightening it up already

After wrestling with the cover, I won by the way, it is a slip cover here.   I only ripped it off twice before I was happy with it and remade it totally once.  The blue fabric I think needs to have interfacing or something on it but will rest a bit.   The six inch seat cushions are high density foam and when we bought it  Hubby and I wrestled it to fold so we could get it in the zippered seat cover.   Let me tell you that was a feat in it's self.  So glad no one but us could see us and we got tickled once while the foam was winning.

Well I didn't care for the slip cover look so I got the handy dandy staple gun and that sucker isn't going anywhere.  Only 10000000000000 staples later the "cover" is taught and looks so much better.

This is one set of two that I did.  The ottomans top inside layer is always lop sided but thought it did well for a lop sided ottoman.  Staples are my best friend, well besides duck tape and safety pins and several other things we use to repair anything.  

 

The next dilemma is what to do about the side panels we have at the French doors.   They go with the carpet but not with the chairs.  I am hoping an idea will just pop in my heads

 

There you go, whew I think I am tired of zig zagging all  the bare edges.  I know they have surgers for this but my machine is new, only bought it in the late 60's or early 70's.  Still has lots of life in it.  

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.   Have a new member of the family but will share that next time. 

 

 

XOXO

Annette