Day 31 - Beading

Worked on another beading project as my sewing area isn't usable at this time.  It is a lariat type necklace and isn't quite done as there are some "tassel" type pieces that have to be added onto each end.  I have one tassel on right now.

Basement/studio update: I have filled the holes in the wall behind my sewing table and also used lemon oil on all of the wood in the same area.  Still working on finishing the two newest outlets with a small frame around each one so the sewing table needs to stay pulled out.  Michael began to disassemble one of the windows.  This is one of the two windows we are replacing.

This is the other window that has begun to be taken out. You can see the cement that is all around it.  Now we have to reconfigure a new frame around the new window that will fit this opening. (You can see the reflection of one of the new light fixtures inbetween the floor joists in the ceiling.)

Day 30 - Counted Cross Stitch

Made some chocolate chip cookies and brought a little plate to my 90 year old neighbor this afternoon and stayed for 3 hours visiting!  What a wonderful gal! Worked a couple more hours on this counted cross stitch project and you can notice the difference

Basement/studio update:  Michael and his brother were again at work in the basement.  Tonight I have 2 additional wall outlets!  There is now a total of 5 wall outlets in the basement compared to the original 2.  This will make it so much easier to have all of the computer equipment plugged in, the radio/CD player, the sewing machine and OTT light, the treadmill, space heater, the iron and the tv.  Wow!  Here is a snapshot of one of the new ones!! All of the electrical work is now completed. How cool is that.

.

Day 29 - Jewelry

Tonight I was without much light as Michael was working on the electricity again.  Decided to finish up this little tea party bracelet. One of my favorite parts of this piece is the toggle clasp in the shape of a teapot and the matching little teaspoon.  The beads add a little whimsey in their candy like colors.  Just for fun.

Day 28 - Counted Cross Stitch/Flower Pens

Did a little more work on the counted cross stitch piece tonight.

Also made 24 flower pens for work....

Well, there you go...

The end of Day 28.

Day 27 - Counted Cross Stitch

Well, my day was made by a short but sweet visit to meet my neice's new little one this evening! What a beautiful baby and not yet a month old...not too much time to spend tonight but did get some time in on my current counted cross stitch piece.  Any ideas yet as to what this will become???

The last day I worked on this was day 2 and I can see a stitch that I missed crossing the second time!    Yikes!  I had better go back and do that stitch....

Day 26 - Quilt Flannel Baby

I realized last night that I had to get a jump on this last planned baby quilt as my friend in Wyoming had her first little baby (boy) almost 2 weeks ago!  I had the layout planned out (very technical and accurate) and had the fabric so today I began to cut out my pieces.

My goal is to have the quilt to her BEFORE the baby is walking or in kindergarten....

Day 25 - Beading Necklace (again)

Once again I felt a little pressured for time and decided to do another necklace that has been on the "to do" list.  It is turquoise and lime green and was simple to do.  I would like to do a pair of earrings sometime to match as I broke one of the earwires I was trying to use tonight...

I also wanted to share another photo.  Whenever I am in the basement/studio, wherever I am sitting be it my computer/craft table or my sewing table or ironing or walking on the treadmill this is the pleasant sight I get to see...of my beloved little friend- Pete.

Day 24 - Beading Necklace & Earrings

So tonight was a simple 2 hour project: agate and freshwater pearl necklace and earrings.

They match the bracelet I made a couple nights ago.

.

Check this out:  my husband worked on the basement today and finished electrifying all of the ceiling lights!!  There are now 8 lights with 2 bulbs each in them.  It is heavenly bright!  I have begun to fill holes in the knotty pine paneling and when each panel is done I am wiping with Old English Lemon Oil.  I have only done a small portion as the hole filling is hard on the hands but what is done is lovely!  It continues to feel like an entirely new room.

Day 23 - Painting

                                 Finished the painting on the Christmas project for my Craft Group.
                                              

Also added a little beading on these....

Basement/studio update: Today my husband and brother-in-law worked on the electrical.  Tonight I have 5 sets of 2 each flouresent lights WORKING!!!  They were also able to install a 3rd switch on the wall plate  so that the lights are turned on in 3 different banks.  I have NEVER seen this room like this before.  It feels like an actual addition to the house!  Nothing short of a miracle.

Look at all of the light!

Day 22 - Collaging Cards

Well, had some fun tonight shopping with my daughter at JoAnn Fabrics.  The best part is the sharing of ideas and spending time together...couple of bargains purchased.  Late start on the crafting but worked on collaging the insides of 5 greeting cards while I watched a netflix movie called "Neverwas".  Interesting and the time flew by! Here they are!

Day 21 - Beaded Bracelet

Made a little bracelet tonight using some agate stone beads and freshwater pearls.  Not the most exciting thing I have done but have more beads and will make a necklace sometime too.

Day 20 - Quilt Camping

Did some more cutting of quilt blocks.  If I counted correctly I have 210 4 inch blocks cut out.  I do like the look of the homespun fabrics as the subtle colors match the embroidered blocks quite well.  I think I need close to about 300 blocks for the quilt being 90 x 60.  Will refigure again before cutting more.

Day 19 - Quilt Camping

I squared up the 12 embroidered blocks that I have and it looks like they are 4" squares.  I started to cut some of the homespun fabrics I had chosen from my stash also into 4" squares. Somewhere I think I wrote down  the dimensions of our T@B trailer bed that this quilt will be on but not sure where I put it (and currently the T@B is in the backyard covered with snow)...more to cut and press.  Feels good to be onto the next phase of this quilt!  I do remain pleased with the colors chosen so far...

Basement/studio update: my husband now has 3 additional light fixtures mounted in between the ceiling joists. They are not wired in or working yet- but it is progress!

Day 18 - Quilt Embroidery Camping Quilt

IT IS FINISHED! Well all of the embroidery is finished!  Did the last stitching tonight.  Now I get to cut bunches of blocks out and do some figuring on size.  I started this embroidery a year ago- wow, does this feel great!  The quilt cutting, sewing and assembling is going to be a piece of cake.  Looks like I will also have to deal with a design on the bottom that isn't even...still, a piece of cake.  Will have to do a bit of ironing too...

Day 17- Beading - Bracelets

Well, did a few more simple bracelets that had been in the "to do" pile....

Day 16 - Beading - Bracelets

I had designed this bracelet a while ago but found that I needed to have an "extender" of sorts on the pole end of my toggle clasp to allow the pole to go through the toggle.  Tonight I reworked it...

You can see the little 3 beaded extender on the pole end of the toggle and now it is wearable! I also made the two little stretch bracelets tonight.

Basement/studio update:  Today my husband, my dad and my brother-in-law worked all day figuring out and moving some wiring and by this evening I have my first of 8 double floresent bulb light fixtures in the basement!  Also a switch to turn it on and off!  In 22 years I have never seen the knotty pine paneling look like this!  You can see a little into the brand new bathroom we just completed too.

Day 15 - Quilt Embroidery Camping Quilt

Watched "The Godfather" with the family tonight and did some more work on this project.  The only parts left are the logs for the fire, handle of the fishing rod and the block with the bumble bees in it- then it will be on to cutting blocks and sewing a quilt top!!

Day 14 - Painting

This is an interesting project.  I bought these but didn't like the color on them (see the one on the left? that is the color they were when I bought them).  So I have tried to change the color and started putting some green on the last one on the left.  Can't show you the full project as it is Christmas gifts for my craft group for this Christmas and must stay a surprise!

Day 13 - Quilt Embroidery Camping Quilt

Well, due to my not being in my basement studio I worked on the embroidery again tonight.  The finish is within sight!  My allergy symptoms are beginning to subside so will keep out of the studio a few days longer.

Day 12 - Collaging Cards

Spent some time tonight with a dear friend in the work room of Archivers collaging 3 cards.  Always seems a shame to have a beautiful card front and inside blank white with a little saying so....I LOVE using the bits and pieces leftover from other projects to collage inside of my purchased greeting cards!

(Side note:  I am on a break from spending time in my basement studio as I have had a terrible allergic reaction to all of the dust from removing the ceiling...time will tell...)

Another peek at the basement studio area without the ceiling.

Day 11 - Quilt Embroidery - Camping Quilt

Embroidered the 4 little deer today on the camping quilt.

This is a peek into the basement after the ceiling has been torn out.

Day 10 - Beading - A watch

Today I put this watch/bracelet together.  The flat beads are abalone and the blue are crystal. I think it turned out nicely.  I like the two little unnecessary fobs at the end of the toggle! The only problem is that I gave up wearing watches the summer of 2009 when I went camping in Door County....

Day 9 - Quilt paper pieced

I managed to assemble one piece of this quilt: it was made in 4 separate sections.

(3/4 of the basement ceiling tiles and support boards down. What a mess of dust and debris!)

Day 8 - Quilt paper pieced

This is my "little" work for tonight. It will become 3 tulip stems and 2 leaves. This piece gave me some trouble as I ended up sewing and ripping out TWICE!  I think it just may have been to late to be sewing.

Day 7 - Quilt paper pieced

Tonight I started a new project.  It is paper pieced quilt. I have 3 sections done so far.  Finished dimensions of this mini quilt are about 11 x 16 inches.

(The other "creative" endeavor of the day, besides work, was to tear out 1/2 of the basement ceiling-we are going to add some much needed electrical in the basement, new windows, new ceiling and best of all new ceiling lights!! My challenge besides packing up so much of my studio to make room for remodel is to be able to keep creating through this for the 365 days...oh, we are doing this ourselves with the help of a dear brother-in-law.)

Day 6 - Quilt block with polyester

Well, the best laid plans...This is what happens when I don't just "get rid of something" and try to use it.  I spent some time sewing (struggling) to get these polyester 2" squares together!  They slip and slide and when I stopped and did some figuring I would have about an 18" square block when I was done.  So this one goes into the "could have used my time better" folder...and we are parting with the polyester....

Day 5 - Quilt planning

(Now I see that I have entered these from the last to the first so you have to read this bottom to top of the entry! Ahhhh, always something new to learn...)

Then there is the little pile of 100% polyester squares... I do believe that there are enough cotton squares to make a usable size quilt- we will see about the poly squares...

The "pattern" piece was still with the blocks...it is made out of a carefully cut piece of linoleum.

So I separated everything and found that there were quite a few different patterns with some up to about 10 cut in a particular fabric. The small pile on the right is single cuts.

Well, I had this jar of 2" squares given to me by a friend...Decided to see what was in it and if it was usable or time to let go.

Day 4 - Decoupage a chair

So I got the sayings around the seat of the chair: "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting..." and "A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions." One coat of decoupage medium around the seat edge and number 5 coat on the seat itself. Pete got in the photo too!

Day 3 - Decoupage a chair

So I am working on a repurposed chair (without a back) to use in my sewing room. Base is painted white and the top is decoupaged. Not done yet. Want to add a couple of quotes around the edge of the seat.

Day 2 - Counted cross stitch

Worked on a counted cross stitch project today. You will have to see what this one becomes...It is a Mary Engelbreit pattern.

Day 1 - Quilt Embroidery- Camping Quilt

Stitched the snow covered mountains today. This will become the center of Michael's camping quilt for our T@B trailer. Have already stitched 12 5" blocks for this quilt.