Oh, Gluei Belles!

Poobah Gini, of The Order of the OPUS GLUEI, has set forth FLOURISHES as the challenge for this fortnight. Use a flourish, or create something about what makes you flourish.

I decided to make a card. And then things just fell into place when I spotted this paper. It's kinda cheating, I know, but I just HAD to use it. AND I could use it for the Jingle Belles challenge too. Also feels like cheating when I have one project for 2 challenges, but I had to go with it. KWIM?!?!?!

Faked all of you out. Just when you thought I was done with Christmas cards, I fooled ya.

Getting glue on my fingers again...

The Jingle Belles are taking back Christmas. One card at a time. It's a bi-weekly card challenge to make a Christmas card. Each challenge hosts a different topic. This time around the challenge is titled "The Sketch Before Christmas..." and we have been given this sketch by the uber talented Amy Tsuruta:

I haven't been playing with paper lately, or making cards, or playing along with the Jingle Belles, but this sketch caught my eye. It's simple. Something that I looked at and thought I could handle for my paper comeback.

Not too fancy. Just something sweet. I love that Christmas light paper. Not sure who makes it. Also love that little medallion thingy. It came in one of those grab bags full of buttons. The ribbon is from my stash. And the sentiment is a sticker. Again, not sure of the manufacturer. I am willing to dig out the info if you REALLY want it.

What do you know?

What do you know? That's the challenge right now on OPUS GLUEI. Use a technique you know, but haven't used in a while.

I had intended to make a card. I haven't been playing with paper, and it is high time I got back to it. But when push came to shove, my muse threw me at fabric, a bottle cap, a little thread, some fiberfil, a magnet and a glue gun. Can't explain it, just have to go with it.

I made this little beauty:

I surfed a bit, found a couple different tutorials. None of them put magnets on the bottoms, but I suppose not many other folks use a tin as a portable sewing kit.

If you are interested, I could be coaxed into making a tutorial of my own so you can make one of these little gems too.

What do you know that you haven't used in a while? Go on. Do it. And then go over to OPUS GLUEI and show us.

We dare you to.

Almost time for a citrus treat...

I have all the blocks now. Thanks to all of my swapping pals. I made 5 of these blocks.

And I have the layout. And picked orange for the little set in squares. (Done in Photoshop Elements)

Now I just need to sew them together. I am keeping this one. I LOVE this color combo.

Hello there friend

WOW. It's been almost a month. I can't believe I have neglected bloglandia for so long. I wish I could give you a good reason. But I can't. Just a bunch of LIFE happening here. Nothing earth shattering or mind blowing. Maybe I'll post a recap of events/happenings. Maybe not. I've been working. Should have taken a business trip that was cancelled because of work in the office. That bummed me out. It would have taken me to my sister's and parent's neighborhood. I miss them. I have had several late nights working. Lots of work.

I have also been sewing. I know that I said I would limit my swaps, BUT....

I made these for the 3x6 Swap on flickr. They are 12.5 inch blocks. I hand stitched all the hexies and then machine appliqued them onto the background blocks. I really love the way the rainbows look against the black. And am now smitten with the other color choices too.

And these for the Bitty Block Committee Pirate Swap on flickr. These are 3.5 inch blocks. I am pretty pleased with them. But I have a bit of a warped sense of humor. This was done in a couple of stages. I used a fusible stabilizer to help me keep all of those tiny pieces in place while I stitched them down (machine). The numbers were added in PSE so the other swappers could pick their pet Kraken. You should see the other Pirate blocks these talented swappers have made. Seriously. GO HERE. There are generally two themes every month. So you'll find all sorts of little treasures.

And these for the Scrapbuster's Wonky Bento Swap also on flickr. These are 8x8 blocks. Made in the Log Cabin style out of 16 inch blocks cut into quarters. I sent off 24 blocks to swap. I kept one quarter of each of the larger blocks I made. I LOVE the way these quilts look and am really looking forward to making mine.

I am still making hexies. Those little cuties are addictive. Just thought I would warn you in case you are contemplating delving into that sewing arena.

I managed to decrapulate a bit more. I feel better about some of my scrapbook papers going to help the special education kids my SIL teaches. But I still have a long way to go. I am having a hard time getting rid of some of my scrapping things. I have decided to go digital so I shouldn't think twice, but I really LOVE my die cut machine. I blame my love of gadgets in general.

I have only cooked a handful of meals. I am not counting the frozen things shoved into the oven. Those aren't really me cooking. I just don't enjoy cooking like I used to. It's a challenge when no one can agree on anything. Ever. AND they won't eat leftovers. What kinda crap is that!!! Dorks.

I have been reading that terribly addictive series GAME OF THRONES. I am on the 4th book (I think) A FEAST FOR CROWS. I love the twists and turns and the ruthless politics. It's so foreign to me. I don't think that way so this fascinates me. I also love that the characters are evolving and growing by their experiences. They evoke very stong emotions. Yeah, it's one of those series.

I suppose this is enough for now. Just wanted to catch you all up. And I think I have.

Thanks for sticking with me to this point. I know that you are a true friend.

Oh, yeah. Remember the decrapulating I have been doing? Well, I have put together a couple of boxes of scrapbooking/mixed media items. I am going to have a giveaway sometime in the next couple of weeks. So check back.

See you soon. Friend.

That's the Ticket

THAT'S THE TICKET

That's the challenge right now on OPUS GLUEI. Make something with a ticket, or make something that was inspired by the phrase. I was going to be literal and use a ticket. Or a hundred. My youngest decided that she wanted me to re-create a ticket reward system that I had in place a few years back. I want my children to stay young for as long as possible, so I said YES. And I WILL make this for her. BUT it isn't what I made for this challenge.

I went with the inspirational aspect. I have lots of fabric scraps. I was trying to organize them. I don't want them to multipy to the obscene. I have too much of other things to add another stack-o-crap to the mix. SO, I was thinking about these wonderful pictures:

All from Flickr. AND I had a wonderful

"THAT'S THE TICKET"

moment. That's what I am doing with my fabric scraps.

Making hexies. Lots and lots of hexies.

I don't have a plan. I just know that I will do something with them. One day. Maybe a quilt. Or a pillow. Or a pouch. Or a placemat. Or I'll just keep making them. With my scraps of course.

I made a little hexie kit to take with me. Just in case I have to wait. In the car. For kids.

The kit doesn't have all the finished hexies in there when I take it with me. But they look so pretty in the picture. I just had to include them. It's a big mint tin I picked up in Disney World. The mints are gone. The tin is a GREAT size. There are scissors, thread remnant, templates, needle, needle threader, pins and of course I take the ready to be basted hexies.

See the red one in the middle? It's an after hexie. I didn't sew through the paper. The hole is there to make taking the paper out easier after I have them sewn together. I got the templates HERE. I know there are places out there that you can order pre-cut hexie (and other shapes) templates, but I want to do it on my own. (Yup, sometimes I act like I'm 2.) AND I can print more whenever I run out.

Here are the before and afters. Side by side.

I think I'm gonna like this ride...

WIP Wednesday

The past week was pretty productive. Both in my Studio and with my teenage daughter. The one who has her driving permit. And needs to get practice before she can get her license. Thank goodness I have a wonderful creative outlet.

I was able to get my NuBee blocks done. I really love the way they turned out. Mine is in the upper left corner. It was the experimental block, so it's a bit different than the others. I am okay with this. With the blocks I get from this swap, I will have enough to make my Citrus quilt. (Well, I'll have to make one more, but it's pretty much done.) I'm excited about this. The colors are so cheery.

I also made a block for another Flickr group - Quilting for Kids.

SUMMARY:

Worked:
Bitty Block Committee - Pirate theme - blocks designed
Citrus quilt - last blocks made
3x6 Swap - block designed

Finished:
White crochet afghan - 2/26
NuBee's quilt blocks & mailed
Quilting for Kids block & mailed
Composition Notebook Cover - 3/26

Ignored:
Melissa's - needs back
Farmer's Wife - needs more blocks
Leaves - needs back
Sunflowers - needs back
Pastel Log Cabin  - needs back
Hexie Placemats - need to quilt
Rainbow - needs more blocks
Christmas - need to piece
Swoon - not yet started
Bento Box - not yet started

Thank you Lee @ freshly pieced for helping keep me on track with a bit of accountability.