Making my nest

I have been making my nest a little more organized so to speak.   Shuffling and rearranging and labels and whatever else we do when we do this little adventure.  Then usually play hid and seek of where we put things. 

I am lucky enough to have a bedroom that is my art room.  One time grandaughter came in it and said  "Nana, why did you choose the smallest room in the house for your art room? "  Well it is actually the same size as the other two bedrooms on this side of the house.  Just has lots going on in it.  LOTS.

I use to work in a tiny area in our utility room, just a little dab of room. But you know I have always figured out that the more room you have the more mess you make and you just have to clean up more.  Like a kitchen.  I have had giant kitchens and small kitchens.  Ours right now is small but I cook the same food out of it that I use to cook in giant kitchens.  When we moved into this home 5 years ago, can't beleive it has been that long.  Anyway when we moved in here I thought where is everything going to go?  Well it all found it's home and just sits there for when I use it.


                                               THE BEADS

 

I first started with my beads.  On a blog and goodness knows I can't remember whose but thank you talented lady for sharing the container idea with us.   She had used the containers from JoAnn's.  So I got online and they were on sale and in different configurations.   Of course you need to order twice as many as you think then you won't have to reorder again like I did.  

I was storing them in little plastic bags in a pretty box.  Well let me tell you I needed a hoist or fork lift to lift the box.   But now here they are all sorted in their little homes and I can unscrew which one I need and love it all.   Hubby put the shelves up for me and I can just pick and chose as I need them.  No hide and seek here, they are just sitting pretty and waiting to go on some fabric and be a CQ piece.  I have sequins and some fancy buttons and all kinds of goodies that a CQer needs in her work.

THE PRETTY BOX AND JARS OF RIBBON

 

You will see  the pretty box that held the beads.  It now holds pretties I sell on etsy so it will keep safe and no dust.  We do have massive dust here in West Texas.   I have a basket that hold purse handles and my jars hold my silk ribbon.  Grandson gave me the jars.  I rewound the silk ribbon on little wooden spools  ( thread use to be on real wood and I never throw sewing stuff away )I had from forever ago and sorted in colors.  I printed labels and I am in hog heaven.  

THE SPOOLS AND PRETTY BOX OF CIGGIES

 

Next set of shelves are more labeled tubs,  aka shoe boxes,  and some bigger fancy laces to pretty to hid on some wooden bobbins I had from a million years ago.   The little flowered box I covered and now stores my ciggies in them.  Well the ciggies I drew and painted.  

MORE TUBS AND FRIENDLY CRITTERS

 

More tubs and I had to give the friendly critters a tub of their own.    The computer was my friend in the labels, it is not always friendly.   I think sometimes it just wants to show me that this machine is smarter than I am.  It is but I don't want it to get the big heaf and it is a time stealer if you let it.  That is one reason why I retired from professional photography.  I didn't want to be tied to the computer and it was getting that way with digital photography.  I loved film.  You composed and exposed it correctly and printed and you were good to go.  Of course you can do tricky things with digi .  

MIXED MEDIA ART WORK

 

 

Some of my faeries and journal and just doings that share the art room.  These pretties share the wall with my CQ work and I didn't want to hurt their feelings and not say something about them.   I try to keep my wet messy art separated from my CQ work. Paint does have a tendency to splash and splish around.  My clothes attest to that.  I do have an apron but usually wait til my clothes get paint on them before I put it on.  You know the drill.   The art here is resting on a box I made years and years ago, the 70's, to hold my pastels. 

PART OF THE WALL

 

                                            Here it is all together.

There you go my doings for the time being.  I am working on a mermaid block right now.  Not elegant how I wanted but whimsical, I guess to match the drawing I did and printed.  I mean blue glitter and all.  You know how I like my bling.  

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

XOXOXO

Annette

When to say Uncle

Uncle !!!!!  One of the words you hear on TV.   When you say uncle and that means enough, I give up or I am finished.  It is funny the words we use and for different situations isn't it?

Sometimes I have a tendency to use the words wrong and dear Hubby will say you mean this don't you?   Probably  I do.   I pay attention to details, especially when I watch Movies or TV shows.  I can tell you what they had on the walls etc really important things like that.   Once, years ago mind you, I needed a new typewriter ribbon for a little manual-gasp-typewriter  my Mother In Law bought for me.   She knew I like to write about nothing but did like to write with my imagination.  Still have the typewriter by the way.   I went into the local office supply store and asked for a typewriter ribbon.  The sales lady knew me well and said what kind Annette?  I promptly said a black one.  She just laughed and said Annette only you would say that, no I need to know the make of the typewriter.  Of course I had to go back home and see the make of it.  Who would have thought you needed to know the make of if it.   I surely didn't.

I finished my February block and finally had to say UNCLE with it.  I just kept adding and adding things and every time I thought I was finished with it and announced it to my patient Hubby he would say yeah yeah I have heard that for 3 days.  He was right and finally I thought UNCLE !!! I am absolutely finished with it I just fell in love with this little block and didn't want to leave if half finished

My last post it was half finished in my book.

Soooooo with no more yacking here is the block and it's little close ups.


                                                 THE FINISHED 8 INCH BLOCK

     

CLOSE UP OF THE CENTER AND ALL THE LITTLE BUTTONS THAT EACH HAVE A STORY TO TELL.  THEY WERE RAIDED FROM MY BUTTON TIN FROM YEARS AGO, WHEN I USE TO SEW EVERYTHING.  

 ANOTHER VIEW OF THE CUTE LITTLE ROSES AND THE DEPRESSION GLASS BUTTONS

 

THE TOP OF THE HEART BUTTONS AND THE LITTLE BIRDIE HAD TO FLUTTER BY AND SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.

JUST ANOTHER VIEW OF THE BUTTON HEART AND OF COURSE I JUST HAD TO ADD MORE PEARLS AND LITTLE PURCHASED ROSE BUDS

 

AN INSPIRED70'S OR EARLIER YOYO , THIS ONE I MADE WITH LACE AND SOME ORGANDY RIBBON .  I FORGET TO MAKE THESE CUTE LITTLE THINGS, I MEAN IT TAKES JUST A MINUTE TO DO IT.  

There you go some close ups of my block for February.  Now I hope this brings a tad of sunshine to your winter day.  Now I know some of you are enjoying Summers so we will send you some of our refreshing cool weather, just a tad.

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

                                                          XOXOOX
                                                            Annette

WIP and Somethng that HARDLY NEVER EVER Happens in My World

WIP----  nowdays they have WIP's , OMG  and whatever in the world saying different things and expressions.  So many of them I cannot keep up---BUT I do know what WIP stands for.  Work In progress!!!!!   I could write a little piece about the abbreviations and all the cell phone goodies but won't.  I do hope it doesn't come down to that people don't know how to talk and just do letters of the alphabet for communication.   I think y'all know how I feel about that subject, guess my pet peeve  ( one of them) about cells is people lighting those things up in a movie. Give me a break what is that important that you have to use a phone in the movie?  If something that important is going to come thru why in the world are you at a movie?   AND you don't even have to put it on Facebook that you are at the movie.   Just saying, like I said I could go on and on about this rudeness but won't.  See?  My soapbox could go on and on. 

Now this is one of my newest WIPs.  Yep used that sort of word.    I am playing with Crazy Quilt Journal Project again this year and this is the in the middle part of my block.   To me the part of when the square gets it's own little personality and sings to me.  

Being February I thought why not a heart?  I saw this idea on Pinterest.   I didn't see who came up with the idea but hers was really pretty in the pinks.  I only had a tad of pink silk ribbon so used some real satin ribbon for the pink you see here.   So red, being a dark pink, got to be the choice of color.

So with fabric sewn together and some embelishments put on here and there the block is being created.   It could be ok this way but you know I love the bling so will try and finish it this weekend and share the whole finished piece.  The top right corner is a lace yo - yo type thingie I added and will play with it also.

I don't have a clue of what I am going to do with the squares but they keep me off the streets and keep me busy while watching TV with hubby. 

 

Now you may be asking what in the world  hardly never ever happens in Annette's world? 

 

A SUN RISE!!!!!!!

A beautiful Texas Sunrise at that.  I have not altered this sunrise one tiny tiny bit.   I just don't get up at early to see them.  I have heard they exist and Hubby does take pics of them for me to prove that they really do happen and the sun just doesn't pop up and say here I am.    Get busy and remember an early bird gets the worm.  Thank goodness I don't eat worms.   I would never get to eat.    The world just shouldn't have to bring beauty like this before 7 A.M.   Of course I may be the only one in captivity to not see these beauties every morning.  

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

                                                                       XOXOXO

                                                                       Annette

CQJP 2013 FINISHED

Hello hello, here we go another start of another year.   I hope you all create to your hearts content this year.  

I have just finished my 2013 CQJP.   I just mainly made a book, front and back covers newly done and put a pretty spine on it.   What am I going to do with it?   No one knows, who knows when I go to heaven they may sell it in a garage sale for $1.   I did make it so it can be cut apart for other projects.   Who knows I many get a wild hair and cut it apart and sell on Etsy.   It is done though and loved every second of it.

 

Did you notice I used one of my Faereis on the front.   Love those little gals.

 

I have started 2014 CQJP and have my first one finished.   I made it smaller 5x7 but not sure that will be the size for the whole book.  Kind of like sizing down when I scrapbook.   From giant to 12x12.   IT was hard to do.

 

Now believe it or not it is all white, so many shades of what but it is white.   I had to use one of my faeries on this one also.   I printed her on silk and made the colors almost "not" so was perfect for this white block.   I had to add some bling thread to her hair to go with the shimmer and shine of the whole block. 

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

                                                           XOOXOX
                                                           Annette

 

   

The Mystery of Adding a Clasp

Well really not a mystery like a Sherlock Holmes mystery but believe you me if you don't know how to put one of the little things on your work it is indeed a giant mystery.

Now I am not an instructor, if I were to tell you how you would scratch your head and say WHAT did she just say?   Hubby and Grandkids say sometimes I have my own language.   I agree with them totally.   I wonder sometimes if it wasn't a combination of how my Mother talked while I was growing up.  Mother was English and  I didn't realize she said sentences sometimes differently or that she even had an accent at all.  A few years ago and also here while back Hubby said yes she had a very strong accent.  Funny what you don't notice when you are raised with it isn't it? 

My best way to tell about putting on a clasp is just giving links to how and where.   I have had several inquiries about it so here goes my friends.

Pat Winter is where I was first taught the Crazy Quilting, well or addicted to it I guess.   Almost as good as chocolate I would say.  She creates a magazine once a quarter and this is the magazine  article about attaching a clasp.  You can order digital issues or I think the old fashion paper ones so you can take with you and touch the paper.   Sorry trees .
 
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/661091?__r=84546 



This is the link to the magazine for the Winter 2011 issue that has the tut in it.  


http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/301030

 

This is the magazine that has the instructions for adding a purse clasp.   Pretty magazine cover isn't it and has so much eye candy inside of it.   I do have to admit I have some of my pieces in some of the later articles.     June of 2012 is when I got addicted to this beautiful art and getting to see other people from around the world's creations.

 

Part of the article in the magazine.  

 

Pat also has a DVD for sale on her Etsy store about the clasp and the sweetest little purse instructions if you really really want to play.  

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108362315/cq-accessory-case-video-class?ref=shop_home_active

 

There are all kinds and sizes of clasps, some ornate, some antique finishes, some with bling and all shapes.  Whew makes your head spin and of course we have to try them all.   Some with the sweet little beads to attach, some with a plate and you use screws to attach them  ( you gotta be tough to do this or have your Hubby help you  and that is my choice of how to attach them).

 

Now where do you get the clasps?  Well JoAnn's did carry some plain Jane ones and ours now no longer carry them.  Can you image that?  Don't know why but I think I bought the last one in captivity here in town.   You can order online and I have done that a time or two but there is a shop in Michigan   Tisha's Needle Art Studio   810-678-8191.   She has a treasure of clasps and of course supplies.  She does not have a web site but a very unique way of running her shop.  You call and tell that precious lady what you want or need and she sends a package to you.  You choose or keep it all and what you don't want send it back. and then she runs your credit card.  Eazy Peazy shopping.   Of course I can honestly say I have never sent a thing back.  My stash supply is new so I have to have it grow.  Isn't that what a lady is suppose to do?  

 

My friend Nelda use to say she who has the most when they die wins.  LOL be it quilting supplies, china painting supplies, beads or whatever strikes your fancy.  We always joked about that but you know as well as I do material things isn't really what you should be collecting but was a fun saying when we went shopping. 

 

Now this precious clasp is one I am being shellfish with and going to keep for myself.   The clasp is one to sew in and off you go.   Now sometimes my measuring and the clasp don't play well together but usually and most of the time I win.  Most of the time.   It is from Tisha's also.   Don't you love the little shoes?  She also has back issues of Pat's magazine  if you don't want to go to McCloud. 

 

 

 

There you go about the clasps, I hope that answers some questions about them.

 

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

 

OXXOXO

Annette

The Transformation

I just thought I would share the finished piece I teased you with the other day.   I always love making the CQ pieces, they are a lot like life.  You start with the basics and then just keep adding and adding layers and see where they wind up.  You really never know it is finished.  Each and every piece takes on it's own personality.   I don't plan one stitch or embellishment at all. Nope not one.   Even the material I sew on doesn't get planned at all.  Kind of like Hubby and I go thru life. 

A lot of the times when we go on a trip, nothing is planned.  Nothing ----we get in the car and see where our steel stallion takes us.  Which direction and all.  We just know we will wander and site see and then when absolutely tired come home.   That is it.  

  CQ is lots of layers and sometimes it is hard to know when to stop.   Dear Hubby is my guide sometimes, he asks do you have a 1000 pounds of beads on it yet?   You know I don't actually have 1000 pounds on them but close.  

Here is the purse from the other day.   I had already added some trims but it was not finished by my standards ---far from it.   

 

 

Here it is transformed Texas style.  Stitches, beads, ribbon work and just some treasures added.  Pieces of jewelry and oh did I mention beads?   I wanted to of course add beads to the faerie also.  

There you go the transformation and a little guardian angel charm added just for good measure. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Merry Christmas and oh what 2014 will bring to us all.

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

                                                              XOXOXO
                                                               Annette

Merry Christmas Y'all

Can you believe it is already Christmas?   I know when you have smaller children you are reminded nearly hourly but when you are a tad older like we are you still enjoy Christmas and all it stands for.  Well 50% of us do in our duo household.  The furbabies don't care as long as they are loved, petted and fed and give us the "stare" often.  You know the one.

I just wanted to wish you all Merry Christmas and see what we create for 2014.   I know it will be a great and creative year.  Soooooooooo        
       
    Merry Christmas Y'all and a Happy 2014 !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Merry Christmas

 

xoxoox