Necklace organization at last!

I have tried many different types of necklace racks, both store bought and DIY and never found anything that really worked for me.  Yesterday I couldn't stand the tangled mess any longer and tried one more time.  I found a board I purchased months ago at the dollar store and some cup hooks that have been hanging around waiting to be put to use.  A little white spray paint and a few minutes with my cricut later I have a fantabulous new necklace display!  I think I finally found something that works for me.  Now to figure out what to do with my bracelets and rings...

Come over and check out the other great projects:

I'm back...with a knockoff!

I have been very lazy about posting.  I still love to read other blogs and visit often, I just never post on my own.  That is about to change!  I got the new Anthro catalog and was browsing the website when I fell in love with this necklace.

I thought "hey, I could make that"...so I did!  Here's my version:

Sorry about the crappy picture.  I can't find my camera and had to use my phone.  I have worn this for the last 2 days and LOVE it!  I have a few more to share, but I'll save them for another day.

I'm linking up to:

It's a brand new year!

Now that the worst year ever has finally left us and we have moved on to a new year...a new decade...it's time for me to finally decide what I want to do with my life.  Having the last 10 days off from my normal 8-5 job has taught me something.  I hate my normal 8-5 job.  I would love nothing more than to be able to stay home, play with my beautiful fabrics and yarns and make things all day long.  I have always dreamed of owning my own shop.  I would sell fabrics, yarns, misc. craft supplies, along with handmade items made by me and other talented people.  I want to have time to create my own patterns for purses and other sewn items.

I took the first step tonight and applied for a NYS Sales Tax / Resellers ID #.  Once that has been processed I will work on getting some inventory built up for my Etsy shop (which has been dormant for way too long) as well as for the upcoming spring craft shows.  I will start looking into how to open an online fabric/yarn store with the ultimate goal being to also have a small brick and mortar shop where I can give sewing lessons for adults and children.  I would love to invite other crafters and artists into my shop to give demonstrations and/or lessons on their craft.

I am excited and hopeful and afraid all at the same time.  I think that this will be the year that I finally answer the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?"

And, because I can't have a post without a picture...

Happy Birthday Mom...

I lost my Mom to Throat Cancer on August 2nd. Today she would have been 62. She was beautiful, smart, witty, crafty, loving...everything a mom should be and so much more. I owe who I am today to her. Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you.

Dino Backpack

My daughter asked me to make her a backpack / purse like this one I made her sister a while back.  I used a different pattern, and Taylor requested fabric with a slightly different motif.  She loves dinosaurs, especially T-Rexes.  Here is what she picked out.

I think it turned out really cute...

 

Using the webbing for the handles was much easier than sewing fabric ones - I always have trouble getting my straps to look nice,

There's a magnetic snap for the flap...

...and lots of room inside all kept secure with a drawstring closure.

She loves it.  Did I mention she's almost 19???

I'll be linking up to some great parties this week - come take a look!

First attempt

I was at Joann's yesterday and found purse frames in the handbag section. I was pretty excited because I have been wanting to try making a little snap frame coin purse. The frames they have at joann's are the sew in style. I think I will order some of the glue in ones and give them a try too. This little purse was easier to do than I thought it would be and I'm happy with the end result. What do you think?

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Butterfly Art

I have been seeing these butterfly specimen art pieces all over blogland and decided to give it a try. I found and SVG file of a butterfly and started cutting out butterflies with my trusty Cricut. I then went on a shopping trip looking for a frame and mat with enough depth that my butterflies would still have some dimension when the glass was put back in the frame. I found this framed artwork (I guess it could be considered artwork) at Dollar General for $10. I removed the "art" from the frame and covered it with a piece of linen I had left over from another project and got to gluing my butterflies. My original plan was to spray paint the frame and mat ivory and antique the mat. After thinking about it though, I decided that I liked the dark frame and left it as-is. (It may have also been that I am an impatient crafter and I didn't want to have to wait for the paint to dry.)

So here is it...my version of the Buttefly Specimen Frame...




A close up of some of my butterflies.

I'll be linked up to

Have a happy Day!!