Bead Weaving - Twisted Bracelet

I was wearing this bracelet today and I realized I haven't shared some of my beading projects.  

So I thought I would show off this one.

This bracelet pattern is from Bead and Button Magazine, April 2010.  The designer is Jimmie Boatright and it is a combo of Brick Stitch/Twisted Tubular Herringbone stitch.

I used a beautiful vintage crystal button as the clasp.

I think I made it last year and it is definitely one of my go to bracelets.  It is very comfortable to wear.

Etched Copper Journal Book Necklace

I made this necklace this week as a little experiment in metal etching.  Actually, it turns out that the  etching was the simple part and getting the book assembled was the challenge.

I loved how it turned out. I actually made a tiny scrapbook for the inside pages.  There are pictures of my family and other ephemera with personal meaning.

I think I'll try another one with really nice blank tea stained paper or crisp linen.

Silhouette Projects!

Here's what I've been doing with my new Silhouette Cameo electronic cutting machine.

Fabric Stencil Material

Our kitty cat named Ike got a new dish.  

It was done with the stencil that came with the fabric kit 

and I used Etch All for the etching.

I created a couple altered bottles.  Just something to look pretty.

These had Believe stenciled on them the same as kitty's dish.

You can't see the Believe too well on this one, 

but it turned out gorgeous.

I really had trouble getting a clear shot of this ornament/box. 

It's pretty but fairly delicate.

A new removable decoration for the bathroom wall.
I'm thinking of changing it out for seasons and holidays!

Vinyl

Some vinyl wall art that we started cutting before I remembered to take a picture.

Print and Cut

 Image printed on normal HP T-shirt heat transfer and cut with Cameo.

Heat Transfer Vinyl

Here's the story, my sister calls my son (the goofy one on the right) "Weedwhip" as a nickname. So his shirt is easy to understand.  Her's is a better story, he is constantly asking questions, and when he gets a answer he often queries deeper to ask specifically how you know the answers.  Trust him to question you to death.  My sister learned quickly to simply answer with a "I know things".  She's been using that response for years.  He believes it too!

Stencil and fabric paint

I actually think I like the fabric paint better than the heat transfer.  I've asked the recipients of my gifts to let me know how each stand up to washing, etch.

Whew!  That's it.  I did four other bags but gave them away before remembering to take a picture.  I've also been downloading free fonts and images from the web.  Good thing I'm on vacation!

Someone opened their Christmas gift early!

Oh, the weather outside is gorgeous!

Seriously, it hit 40 degrees here in Minnesota.  No snow.

I can live with that.

Although my hubby didn't know what it was, he bought me a Silhouette Cameo!

I spent all day Friday (day off for the holidays!) and most of Saturday making Christmas gifts on it.

I made vinyl wall verses, iron-on T-shirts, ornaments, ornate boxes...

I am in LOVE!

And, it didn't involve a bb gun, leg lamp, or shooting my eye out...a perfect Christmas Story.

Zipper Flowers

Oh what fun I am having growing my own zipper flowers!

I got a shoebox full of metal zippers from the 40s - 60s at a garage sale for $.75.  Dozens of them were pale pastel colors of the era and still in the packaging.  Perfect!

Several of the instructions posted on other people's blogs suggested that you gather the zipper with a basting stitch and sew the petals.  I made the one above with that method.  

But really, that was simply too slow and tedious.  The versions below were made with my trusty glue gun.  The petals are assembled on a circle of felt.  I cut a slit in another circle and slipped in the pin back.  Then I simply glued the two circles together to get a nice clean finish.

I wore the red scarf to my company  Christmas part and slipped a few more of these into my purse to give away if anyone liked it.  I ran out way too fast with my little Santa gifts.  Time to go hunt for more metal zippers.  (Tip: the plastic zippers just don't cut it.  The beauty is all in the contrast of the metal with the fabric)

Knit Light-Weight Fleece Swirl Scarf

Thanks to Pinterest I found directions to make this beautiful 

girly scarf on the The Pink Peony of Le Jardin blog.  

Don't tell my daughter, but this might just be one of her Christmas presents.  Oops. The secret is out.

The original posting used t-shirt material, but I happened to have this super light-weight fleece on hand that worked wonderfully and feels much softer than a t-shirt. 

The trick is to simply cut around a paper plate and then cut a swirl out of the circle.  The thinner you cut the longer the strands.  Once cut, simply pull to stretch and let the material do it's ruffly thing.

One of my zipper flowers attached.

Martha Stewart Inspired Book Pages tree

Martha Steward has the instructions for this tree posted on her website.  

I made mine out of old book pages instead of the newsprint she used and added a glittered star. 

Then I went rogue and experimented on my own.  Using a small styrofoam tree I curled a corner of  leftover 1 1/2 inch squares and hot glued them to the foam.  I finished off by adding a big pearl to the top.  I restrained myself from adding glitter to the edges just because I'm trying to maintain some discipline.  Oh heck with it, I'm adding glitter to the next one I make!