Happy Halloween!

Envelope bag class

Had the most fun making this envelope bag today at Gone Sewin'. I used Alexander Henry fabric from my stash. The best thing about the bag is that in addition to it being roomy, it has a big envelope type pocket on each side as you can see from the lower picture where I flipped it up.

It starts out as a 38" square and is folded and manipulated into this wonderful bag. I can't wait to use it although it doesn't go with any of my winter coats which were brought out of storage this morning. It may have to wait until spring. I think I'll make one in darker colors for the winter.

Day of the Dead Bag

I had some fabric left over from covering my dining room chairs and thought it would make a fab little bag. I added some beaded embellishments to jazz it up a bit more, as if it wasn't show stopping enough.

Today I am taking a sewing class at Gone Sewin' to make an Envelope Bag. I have the most adorable Alexander Henry fabric with birds on it in aqua and orange. Hoping I won't mess it all up.

Loteria bag

This loteria fabric bag I whipped up is screaming for glitter, buttons, beads and whatever do-dads I have in my stash. Stay tuned.

Fine Silver Perfume Pendant

I created this fine silver pendant in a class with Hattie Sanderson in Texas.

We impressed a design from a texture mold into the PMC and used a drinking straw to raise up the interior of the pendant. We did the same for the other side. It's quite a conversation piece when worn.

Love Birds

Experimenting With Printing On Fabric

For this quilt block which has yet to be embellished, I printed a couple of tombs from a New Orleans cemetery on silk (Jaquard product) and am now in the process of adding scrappy bits of fabric and antique lace. Then I will do a bit of embroidery and some beading. This will be part of a series of blocks that will comprise a wall quilt or perhaps pillow tops, depending on my mood. Or maybe it will become a bag. Stay tuned, but do not hold your breath.

Hobo Bag

Tried my hand at a hobo bag this weekend. I got the pattern here and it totally rocks. I'm sure by the time I make myself a second one, I'll be pretty good at it. My sewing skills are still rather rocky.

New Market Bag

What a great way to go green.

I made this market bag for my friend yesterday with skull lace fabric I bought a year ago at Joann's. I backed it with hot pink cotton and lined it in black. It has a lovely feel to it and it sparkles in the light.

Enamel on PMC

I took a class in Texas last year where we mixed enamel in with silver clay, PMC, but I didn't like the look of it. So I took another class with another teacher where we put enamel over the PMC and was able to save this little flower pendant from never being worn.


We then made these nifty silver hearts with enamel.

The wire wrapped pendant phase

Here's a few things I made when I was obsessed with wire wrapping.

This one is also part of my obsession with turquoise and coral.



I thought this picture jasper bead was screaming to be wired up at the time.


There's no need to stop there.


Silver wire wraps


More at flickr
As always, click image for larger view.

The start of apron mania

I never wore them, but maybe now I will. aprons. I'm such a slob and my clothes get wrecked when I cook or work in the garden, so it would be a good idea to wear an apron, but these are too pretty to mess up.

I'd like to get into making more artsy and funky aprons but I haven't made an apron since 1960 something in my first sewing class. So before I get all artistic, it's time for the basics. The first one made without a pattern is my faux poodle skirt pink apron. It features a cute little poodle I picked up at Joann's in the iron on decal section. Too cute to actually wear for cooking. Maybe I'll have to hostess a dinner party or something.




This is the second apron I made without a pattern. It's a full length job that features cocktail waitresses.



as always click for larger picture.

Today I am going to a rally at the park across the street from me to see Crosby and Nash. Woohoo!

The Sewing Disease Kicks In

I thought that only beading was a disease. But being the bipolar gal that I am, now I like to sew. I have a huge fabric stash because like beads, I can't help myself when I see interesting fabrics which I am saving for when I get good at it. Right now, I'm not that good at it and I intend to make art quilts because I have so many vintage scraps in my stockpile, but for now I am practicing with less wonderful fabric and making useful items now that my money went down the tubes thanks to the Republicans.

On Thursday evening before I went to the tiki bar for happy hour, I took a class at my local Joann's to learn how to make this table topper. It was supposed to be 2 colors, but I kept screwing up and since they didn't have more of the fabric squares I was using, I had to pick different ones to complete it. I should have taken a picture of the back of it, which is quite lovely and makes this reversible.


Gosh, with all the scraps I have from my sewing disasters and successes, I tried my hand at some crazy quilting over the weekend because crazy is right up my alley. I never officially learned how to do it, so I made it up. That was probably the original point of crazy quilting. I used a pattern I found online at BH&G for the 2 smaller bags and made up my own for the larger bag.



Since I love making jewelry, I intend to try my hand at some fabric cuff bracelets that use beads and other kookie findings I have kicking around my mess I call a studio. Stay tuned.

When I find just the right fabric, I want to make this purse.

Polymer Clay Pendant

What possessed me to make a whole lot of little polymer clay pendants with bronze powder escapes me. I was experimenting. They look good strung up on antique brass or copper chain though. I have dozens of these.

My sewing machine broke so I brought it to an authorized Brother sewing machine repair place. The guy told me that I had a cheapo machine (I know, that's why I bought it) and he almost sold me another one but they cost over $1000 these days and I lost a bundle in the stock market and don't feel like pissing away that kind of money. So I told him to fix mine. I brought it home yesterday and it sews like a dream. I made an apron and a pocket book. There's a quilt I have to finish for a baby but that's what broke my machine in the first place. I think the machine is too delicate to handle quilting. Tomorrow night is another sewing class where we are learning to make Dresden Plate quilted table toppers. I'll take pictures.

Result of Bangles Class

On Saturday, I took a class at BeadsnStiches where we made some sterling silver bangles. We got to play with hammers and flames which is always a great favorite of mine.

There are lots more photos at my slideshow which you can find on the sidebar. Enjoy.

PMC Results

I'm really into precious metal clay (PMC3) and made a couple of pendants of pure silver with neat texture molds and cutters.

There's more to come after I photograph them.

Tomorrow I am taking a one day silversmithing class just for the heck of it. Can't wait to see what I come home with.

Shrine crazy

There are so many little shrines in my house, I can't keep track of them all. Here are some and there are more coming.

My shrine to Hawaii with tourist candle inside.


Devil woman shrine.


Crafty chica-esque mermaid shrine made with card from the Crafty Chica collection and various goodies from my craft stock pile.


Ikea shadow box with cake decorations and dazzling papers and knick knacks from my junk drawer.


Oh No! Anima sola doll in box



Darbella's mermaid looks great in this painted tin nicho


This glittery shrine was made from Crafty Chica's wood frame, glitter and papers. The little dead couple was picked up in Arizona. I'm beginning to get the hang of working with glitter. Liking it.

Some necklaces

I started these a year ago, but finally got around to finishing them recently. As always, click for larger picture.

I just love these picture jasper beads. Chunky jewelry is in style now. I finished it just in time.


This is a polymer clay cross I sculpted and finally got a chain for it.


Yay. Hand colored Catrina pendant on nifty beaded necklace. So hip!


I bought this white coral because it looked like teeth. The silverish beads are from Africa.


The mermaid beads are from Green Girl Studios. The beads are silver, fire agate, shells, coral and turquoise. The clasp is sterling silver and turquoise. It's a bit heavy, but very summery and chunky enough to be stylish.


This guy was screaming for this necklace made from polymer clay amber beads and other beads from Africa.


This sodalite necklace has a reversible soldered pendant I made. I thought Frida looked so Virgin of Guadalupish, I couldn't resist!

Results of class with Christi Friesen

I made this necklace during and after a polymer clay class just last week with Christi Friesen at Darbella Studios in New Hampshire.



Christi taught us how to make hibiscus and I couldn't resist sticking a little skull in there... for Halloween, you know.

That's a stylized peacock, a la Christi

As always, click picture for larger version.

Sewing Lessons Results

click for larger version

I took 2 classes at my local Joann store. Made this snappy wall quilt and quilted tote bag with sugar skull fabric. Next week, we are making a quilted table topper. Can't wait.