"The Wired Quilter"

Love Apples 2011 Quilt Show Challenge Entry

2011-03-08T23:00:00.003-05:00

For every quilt show my quilt guild has a quilt challenge. If you scroll through some of my older posts you'll see some entries I've done in the past. With the birth of the twins I really didn't think I'd have time to create an entry this year (I usually do a quilt). I managed to have some time on the actual deadline day the challenge entry was due (thanks to my wonderful husband taking the twins all day!!) and decided to go for it. I certainly didn't have time to make a quilt or clothing item in a few hours time, so I opted to enter something into the "Other" category. I Googled to get some inspiration and this challenge piece is what I came up with at the 11th and a half hour!

I made his "Little Girl's Bunny Basket Play Set" as my entry. Per the rules (which you can find if you follow the "quilt challenge" link above), all entries had to have at least one basket that contained something. This certainly qualifies!

It was a fun (if rushed) project. I learned a new technique making the basket and had a blast making the carrots. If I were to do this again (when I had more time!) I'd add a face to the front of the basket and a cotton ball tail to the back. I'd also have made a dozen carrots instead of ten, and would probably make other types of fruit too. But either way, not too shabby for a last minute entry!!! Maybe I'll win in my category. :)

To see my inspiration for this play set, please visit these links:

The tutorial I followed (and modified slightly) to make the carrots!

The tutorial I followed (and modified slightly) to make the basket!

The idea to do the bunny ears (I didn't follow this pattern, but it did give me the idea to do it)!

All the challenge entries will be displayed at the 2011 Love Apples Quilt Guild Quilt Show in March. If you are local (South Jersey) please do come!

Completed: February 2011

2010 Christmas Craft

2010-12-23T21:00:00.000-05:00

If you scroll through the old posts on my blog you'll find several posts about my annual Christmas craft. I have been doing this since my early teens. I wasn't sure with all the pre-twins, home improvement, and Christmas hustle and bustle I'd get it done this year. But I carved out some time the Monday before Christmas and made these
wire and bead ornaments. They are humble compared to other years' crafts, but they are done!

They are made with two sizes of Argentium Sterling Silver Wire, Seed Beads, and Satin Ribbon.

Completed: December 2010

Baby Amish Puzzle Balls

2010-12-23T16:54:00.004-05:00

I made these three Amish Puzzle Balls as new baby gifts for family members and friends. One is entirely hand made (pink) and two are machine made (so I could get them done in time!). They are fun to make, show that I care enough to make something by hand for the recipient, and make great gifts for all ages. Here are some others I've done in the past.

Completed: December 2010

Christmas Pillowcases for My Nephews and Niece

2010-12-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

I've done pillowcases before for my nephews and niece and other young children. They are always a hit because I pick fabrics/themes that they are into at the time. This year was the year of Scooby and Space! Sorry the pictures are sub-standard as they are from a phone. I forgot to snap some shots before I wrapped them!!

Completed: November/December 2010

Santa Paper Ornaments

2010-12-19T16:48:00.001-05:00

I used my Cricut Expression Machine to make this paper Santa ornament using one of the new seasonal cartridges. I then mailed one to my nephew and another to my niece and nephew. Unfortunately the postal service saw fit to temporarily lose them and then return them to me undelivered and neither was delivered before Christmas. I ended up hand delivering them after Christmas.

Completed: December 2010

Baby Shower Thank You Notes

2010-11-07T16:37:00.002-05:00

My wonderful family and friends threw me and my husband the most lovely baby shower in early November. Since I had done something special for both the initial announcement and the gender announcement I thought the thank you notes should be special too. The theme of the shower was "Two Peas in a Pod". I used my Cricut Expression machine and I think the "New Arrivals" cartridge to make these thank you notes that followed the theme. They are varying colors and slightly varied designs just because I wanted to change things up a bit. If you are reading this and got one of these, the design/color you got was purely random and was the one on top at the time! I also made two special thank you's. One for my nephew who got me a special gift himself and I knew would enjoy getting his own thank you and one for my dad ("Big Daddy") who also got me a special gift on his own (a huge thing for my dad!).

Completed: November 2010

How We Announced the Twins Genders!

2010-09-21T16:08:00.000-04:00

On the Tuesday right after the big mid-pregnancy anatomy ultrasound where we found out the genders of the twins and just before we let the local family know, I quickly made this t-shirt to use in the "big genders reveal". I got the t-shirt from a local craft store and fusible appliqued the "boys" on there. I then put on a second shirt to cover the t-shirt. We went to my parents and then to my mother-in-law's and "flipped up" the cover shirt for the big reveal. We then texted the above picture to all the non-local family (and of course Facebooked it too). After the fun box announcements we couldn't just follow up with a boring gender reveal could we?!?!

Completed: September 2010

Quilt Show Boutique Items

2010-08-30T16:25:00.006-04:00

Here are a few things I've made for the boutique for my quilt guild's upcoming quilt show (March 2011). The first picture shows medium and large size Humbug bags (not affiliated). I also gave one of the oriental ones to my mother-in-law for mother's day and one of the rabbit ones to my niece just because. The second picture is a folded fabric pot holder that my guild gave out as a kit and I finished and returned. It reminds me of a Florida beach house!! The last picture is of an Amish Puzzle Ball.

Completed: August 2010

Twins Announcement!

2010-08-07T15:31:00.018-04:00

My husband and I have been together over 19 years. Our families gave up on us ever having kids as we were busy, career minded, and big travelers. We KNEW we had to announce this in a special way! With everyone not even knowing that we were trying, we announced to our family and friends that we were expecting twins (a big surprise to us too!) at my husband's birthday party. Right before we were going to cut the cake we said that we had "party favors" for everyone and to please all open them together. The first picture shows the boxes we handed out. The second picture shows what you saw when you opened the box. The third picture shows what you saw when you picked the "smelling salts" up (aka table salt) and pulled the ribbon which revealed what was under the tissue paper. Then happy crying and pandemonium ensued! Once everyone slowly calmed down a bit we told them that there were ultrasound pics in the bottle. Those pics revealed that we were expecting twins. Did I say pandemonium before? Well it was repeated times 10! That was how we told our local family and friends who came to the birthday party.

Siblings got phone calls immediately following. For the rest of the close family and friends we mailed this announcement (pictures show front, inside, and back) which was already in the mail at the time of the party. Several more shocked and happy people followed! This sure was some fun stuff!!!

The mailed announcements were made using my Cricut Expression machine and one of the cards cartridges ("Wild Cards" I think) where I suited the designs to my needs. The "party favors" were my idea.

Completed: August 2010

Why Has Melissa Been So Quiet?

2010-04-09T12:11:00.019-04:00

Why have I been so quiet lately? Simple, I have been quilting. A LOT! Ever since my room was cleaned I have been trying to spend my free time in there creating quilts. I actually have five different projects going! One is a long overdue project, and the rest are all new projects. I also have the added incentive that my guild's quilt show is coming up in March 2011. If I want quilts to hang in it I best get cracking!

This post is a sneak peak of what's cooking.

The Dogs Get Some Lovin' Too!

2010-04-09T12:00:00.012-04:00

After cleaning my quilt/jewelry studio, my first project was for my greyhounds. They are getting up in years at 13 and 12 years, respectively, and I wanted to get them some nice 4" thick memory foam dog beds to ease their old bones. Since they are larger sized dogs they needed really big dog beds. When I priced out four of them (two upstairs and two downstairs) plus tax and shipping I was going to have to spend about $400. GACK! They were worth it, but there had to be a better way. There was. Me making them! I purchased a huge piece of 4" memory foam, cut it down, and sewed the covers myself with sturdy fabric I had on hand. I made the covers intentionally a little loose because the dogs like to circle and "nest". Each pair of beds took about an hour. Total cost of me making them was $25 a bed and two hours of my time. That's pretty awesome compared to the $100 per bed I was prepared to spend.

The beds are HUGE at 40"x35" and the dogs love them and are pretty much comatose on them all the time! And yes that is Bear's tongue sticking out! The black dog is named Bits.

Completed: February 2010

"Cleaned" the Quilting/Jewelry Studio....Finally

2010-04-09T11:49:00.014-04:00

I spent some time in late January "cleaning" my quilting and jewelry studio. I say "cleaning" because other than some vacuuming, I mostly organized the chaos. My room had gotten so over run that I had a path from the door to my sewing machine. It was so cluttered it was killing my creativity and desire to create.

I spent a whole weekend purging, organizing, rearranging, etc. I picked up some great three drawer storage containers from Wal*Mart ($15 each!!) and I went to town. After two intensive days I could see my studio again! The HGTV folks would still fall over dead, but for me this is nirvana. I can find everything. I can move around. And best of all, I've been creating quilts like crazy ever since!

It feels so good. Now I need to motivate myself to tackle the rest of the house!! But at least I have my priorities straight! :)

Christmas Earring Gifts...6 Pairs!

2010-01-30T19:00:00.018-05:00

Piece Names: Christmas Earring Gifts

Every Christmas I usually make earrings for a few family members to give them as gifts. The usual recipients are my sisters Cindy and Shona and my sister Cindy's mother-in-law Mrs. Garland.

I made the above earrings as inspired by instructions that can be found in the book Earrings by Helen. They are made with Argentium Sterling Silver Wire, Swarovski Bicone Crystals, Sterling Silver Beads, and Faceted Amythest Beads. They were made for my sister Shona. The swirled wire moves freely. They came out exactly as I had hoped!

These earrings were also made for Shona. They are made with Argentium Sterling Silver Wire, Sterling Silver Starfish Charms, and Frosted Glass Beads. The charms and beads were purchased in a bead store in Duck, NC. The earrings are supposed to remind her of sea glass and childhood family vacations to OBX, NC. These were my own design.

Much like the above earrings were meant to remind Shona of the beach, this pair was made for my other sister Cindy for the same reason. The beads and charms were purchased in that same bead store in Duck, NC. They are made with Argentium Sterling Silver Wire, Sterling Silver Flip Flop Charms, and Frosted Glass Beads. These were my own design.

These earrings were also made for my sister Cindy and are probably my favorite pair that I made of the six earrings in this blog post. They were inspired by another Jewelry Artist named Szarka. She made a pair of Labradorite Ruby Swirl Earrings. I saw them on her blog, loved them, knew I would make my sister a pair for Christmas inspired by Szarka's, left a comment on her blog telling her I was going to do this, and then made them! I was totalllly pleased with the results. My sister hasn't taken them off since Christmas so I must have gotten them right! Thank you for the inspiration Szarka! Mine are made with Argentium Sterling Silver Wire and Glass Beads (also purchased in Duck, NC). The center beads spin freely (something my sister loves)!

These were made for Mrs. Garland. She loves turtles and frogs and bright colors. These were made with Argentium Sterling Silver Wire, Amythest Beads, and Sterling Silver Tortoise Charms. These were my own design.

Following the same theme as above for Mrs. Garland, these were made with Argentium Sterling Silver, Dyed Mother of Pearl, and Sterling Silver Frog Charms. These were my own design.

This last picture is not of earrings of course, but instead is of a repair job on a bracelet of my sister Shona's that my mom bought for her. The original very thin string holding the heart broke and frayed. My mom asked me to fix it using some leather rattail she provided. This is the result. The rattail is secured with Argentium Sterling Silver. I replaced the original flimsy clasp with this sturdy Sterling Silver one. My sister is glad to be able to wear it again. So is my mom!

Completed: Christmas 2009

Amish Puzzle Balls...A LOT of Them!

2010-01-30T18:17:00.012-05:00

Piece Name: Amish Puzzle Balls

If you've been reading my blog for awhile or are related to me you know I do a yearly craft to give as Christmas gifts. I've done all sorts of different techniques and crafts over the years. The last two years I did wire items and wanted to get back to a fabric item. I did a lot of Googling and came across Amish Puzzle Balls. There are many different techniques to do these. I even have a few books with patterns in them, but I ended up making these by looking at various pictures online and figuring out how to do them using fabric intially cut into circles.

I dug into my stash and ended up making 15 of these balls!!! Each one was a different pair of fabrics. I tried to pair the color of the ball with the person receiving it. Thankfully I started in the fall and other than a few last minute balls I had most of them done far in advance (not usual for me).

I did some all by hand and some mostly by machine depending on whether I wanted to sit up in my studio or sit downstairs watching TV with my husband.

They are actually puzzle balls as they are formed by three units that are put together to make the ball. The challenge for the people that received them was to figure out how to take them apart and then how to put them back together again.

I enjoyed making these so much I taught a Love Apple Quilters workshop to my fellow guild members in November 2009.

If you'd like to see ALLLLLLLLLL the puzzle balls that I made please follow this link.

Completed: Holidays 2009

Warren's Christmas Cards...Continued!

2010-01-30T13:50:00.004-05:00

Piece Name: Warren's 2009 Christmas Countdown Book

If you are a reader of my blog you will remember this post where I made Christmas Countdown cards for my nephew Warren. Knowing that my sister and my nephew would want to keep these as keepsakes I decided they needed something special to hold them all. So this soft sided book was born. I spent a Saturday combining my quilting/sewing skills with my scrapbooking skills and created this.

I wrapped it up and gave it to him as a Christmas gift. He had a good time putting the cards in all their right spots. My sister was glad that I came up with something as she was going to hole punch them and put them all on a metal ring. Much more durable (and cute) this way! This was my own design.

Completed: Christmas 2009

Fabric Poinsettia Ornament

2009-12-17T21:18:00.008-05:00

Piece Name: Fabric and Oil Paint Poinsettia Ornament

I have been making a handmade ornament for my former Pastor's wife on and off since I was in our church's Youth Group. Let's just say the last time I was in Youth Group it was 1991!! So I've been doing that for quite a awhile. I can't remember if I have made something for every year between then and now, but I have done a lot of them and especially since they left the church and moved on from ours. Click here to see an example of one I made in the recent past.

I usually tuck the ornament into their Christmas card, so by necessity it has to be light weight and pretty flat. This year I went up into my quilt studio with a vague idea and sat down in front of my sewing machine. This is what I produced. It took about an hour and is my own design. For an off the cuff project I have to say I am pleased. It gives a good impression of being 3D while being very, very flat and thin. The flower uses four different fabrics with matching thread. I used a layer of embroidery stabilizer between the front and back fabrics to give it a bit of body. Because I thought the flower lacked depth I used Shiva Oil Paint Sticks to add a bit of accenting and color depth (which looks far better in person than in the photo). It was the first time I have used them. I got them for Christmas a few years ago but haven't had the occasion to use them until now. They are so cool. I have to find more uses for them!

I am kind of sad to mail this one as I like it quite a bit!

Completed: December 17, 2009

Homemade Christmas Cards

2009-12-15T01:11:00.006-05:00

Piece Name: Homemade Christmas Cards

I guess this blog will start having paper crafts now in addition to the jewelry and quilting! I'm not changing the name to "The Wired Paper Quilter" though!

I needed a Christmas card for a coworker and had some left over trees from another project. I decided to make a homemade card. It reminded me of evergreen trees on the side of a snowy peak. I loved the result so much that I cut out more trees and made a whole forest of cards for all the people on my list to which I mail Christmas packages. I am so pleased with how they turned out and how they all look similar but are all unique too. I don't have much free time for my own hobbies let alone creating things for others. The people I make things for mean a lot to me else I wouldn't take the time or effort to do them. I hope they realize that the making of these cards shows how much I care and that I gave up my precious little free time for them. Even if they don't, I know...and if they are reading this they know too! :)

Pieces Completed: December 2009

An Infomercial and a Black Friday Blowout Deal?!?

2009-12-03T01:26:00.018-05:00

Piece Name: 25 Days for Warren

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Everything I am working on is destined for Christmas gifts, so no goodies to share for now. I do promise a glut of posts after Christmas though!!!

Anyhow..back to this post. So I fell asleep on the couch watching television. I woke up in the middle of the night to an infomercial about the new 24" Cricut Expression scrapbooking machine by Provo Craft (NAYY). I thought wow what a neat machine, but I'm not a scrapbooker. I kept watching anyhow. Then they showed how you can use it for quilting to cut out applique shapes. OK SOLD! If it is a quilting tool odds are I own it!!! Anyhow, this is NOT an inexpensive machine. So I was good and didn't order it (unusual restraint for me I know!), but I did keep it fresh in my mind and did a little web searching. Even the cheapest prices I found online put the machine in the $250 range. Still too steap for occasional use for quilting. Then on Black Friday in Walmart I found this exact machine for a blowout deal of $100 even! OK SOLD! I thought it was mismarked. It wasn't. YAY! I also picked up two cartridges which were also on sale. I cracked the sucker open and started playing.

I decided I needed a project to get myself familiar with the machine and the cartridges. Remembering that my 3 1/2 year old nephew loves getting mail, I decided to send him a "Days Until Christmas Countdown" note everyday leading up until Christmas to get him uber excited. I am using 4"x6" colored index cards as the base for each. Everything else, including the envelope is made on the die cutting Cricut machine. How cool is that! I am officially addicted to this machine and have a couple of quilts using it rattling around in my head. After Christmas maybe I'll have some time to actually start them!

I have all the notes done and have begun mailing them daily. I usually create three at a time. Here are the notes in order of delivery. WARNING TO MY SISTER AND NEPHEW: Don't open this link if you haven't received all the notes yet...else you'll ruin the surprise! The rest of you...you can look right now by clicking here. I apoligze for the couple of blurry shots. I sealed the envelopes already so I couldn't retake them.

This has been fun even if it is a very, very simple scrapbooking type project. It certainly is familiarizing me with the Cricut machine and even more important is making my nephew smile and get excited for Santa.

Pieces Completed: December 2009

MidSummer Night's Dream Swap/Challenge...Finally Posted in October!

2009-10-26T22:15:00.013-04:00

I belong to a boatload of jewelry related Yahoo groups. Mostly I lurk and absorb the talent displayed, but occasionally I join in on the fun. Back in March on the WWJSwaps-n-Challenges group one of the members named Lisa proposed a swap/challenge. The theme was Shakespeare's "A MidSummer Night's Dream". We had to create a wire item of our own creation that could be used in a completed piece (e.g, a clasp, charm, focal, etc.) and that fit with the theme. We then sent our completed item to our partner and they in turn sent theirs to us. I made this pendant named "Fairy's Lyre" in copper and pale pink and green Swarovski crystals as that was the metal and colors my swap partner requested. This was of my own design and not from a pattern. The superstructure of the lyre is all one piece of wire. The tight weaving work took awhile! I was quite pleased with the results and was sad to send this one on its way! I told my Swap partner Betty that I preferred either sterling silver or rolled gold and to surprise me. This is the fabulous pendant Betty made for me.

That was the swap, now for the challenge! The second part of this activity was to create a full piece in the theme that incorporated the completed item we were mailed. This is the piece I made using Betty's pendant. It is called "Titania's Torque, Necklace of a Queen" after one of the characters in the play. Betty made this stunning necklace called "Celtic Spring". Gorgeous isn't it!!

If you've never taken part in a swap or a challenge I suggest you jump in and try. It's fun and enlightening! Thank you Betty for your lovely work and insrpiration and thank you Lisa for thinking of and running the challenge!

Pieces Completed: April 2009

A Celebration of the 2009 Four Generation Boos Family Reunion!

2009-10-26T22:10:00.004-04:00

My wonderful in-laws hosted a four generation family reunion in October in Walt Disney World. It was wonderful. All my husband's siblings (and their children and children's children) were all in the same place at the same time which very rarely happens. It was so awesome to have all eighteen of us from four generations and four states all in one place together!

Just days after my return I attended my guild's October meeting. I was running a Notebook Quilt guild activity where everyone participating had to create an 8.5"x11" mini quilt in the theme "Real or Imaginary Places or Things".

I decided to celebrate the wonderful family reunion with this creation for the guild activity. Pluto is my niece Allie's favorite character so I chose to make him the theme of my entry. Great fun to make!

Piece Completed: October 2009

ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD!

2009-10-26T22:05:00.011-04:00

WOW! I feel like I've made it big time by receiving a blog award. LOL! I feel so very honored to be nominated by the EXTREMELY talented and lovely Mei (open in FireFox) for the "One Lovely Blog Award". It's like when your role model that you admire and aspire to be like recognizes you and your talent. You're on top of the world. :)

Per the rules, I am to provide the name and link of my nominator (see above) and I am supposed to pick out 15 blogs that I just found out about. I spent a couple of hours picking out my 15 blogs to nominate. So much so my carpal tunnel is bothering me from all the scrolling and clicking! I found these from trolling through the people who follow my blog, some I already knew about but wanted to recognize anyhow, looking through other people's followers, and Googling. They are listed below in random order. They are all "One Lovely Blogs!"

Stop by their blogs, say hi, and enjoy! I know I certainly have a whole messload more blogs I am following!

Lorraine - The Rabbit Factory

Karen - The Quilters Hall of Fame Blog

Kathie - Inspired by Antique Quilts

Lynda - Peripheral Vision

Cluny - The Jewelry Blog

Sheela - Eclettica Bijoux Haute Couture

Gina - More Minis @ Blogspot

*** Removed. Blog owner changed hands and Blog completely changed content direction. Blog no longer one of my choices. ***

Anna - Blue Almonds Bespoke Hand Crafted Jewellery

Supermom - Quick Queen of Quincy Quilting Blog

Shrimpton Couture - The Shrimptom Couture Blog

Zoya - Gem and Beaded Jewelry

Mimsy Muse - Musing on All Things Mimsy

Kim - Kusz Jewelry & More

Christie - Pretty Paper Blog

Love Apple Quilters 2006-2008 Executive Board Quilt

2009-06-10T21:20:00.022-04:00

Piece Name:
LAQ 2006-2008 Executive Board
Quilt Show Volunteers Quilt

My quilt guild Love Apple Quilters of Cherry Hill, NJ has a quilt show every two years or so. For the 2007 Quilt Show the Executive Board that just stepped down at the time started a new tradition. They made a lovely group quilt. Every member of the guild who volunteered at the show got their name thrown in a hat. One lucky winner's name was drawn and won that quilt...and it wasn't me. DRAT!

The Executive Board during my presidency (2006-2008) loved the tradition and wanted to continue it for the LAQ 2009 show. We chose an ambitious quilt pattern from the March 2008 "The Quilter" magazine called "Jewel of the Night" by Roxanne Carter. We just loved the quilt and the colors used in the magazine and wanted to mirror them as closely as possible because they just glowed. We went on a fabric buying road trip to Amish country in Lancaster, PA and purchased the fabrics from three different quilt stores. It was a fun day!!! We did pretty darn well I think! If you'd like to compare the magazine's quilt to ours click here to see theirs.

We each made blocks and I assembled and quilted the quilt. I didn't get it done in time for the 2009 show in March (bad me!!!), nor for the April or May meetings (hey a I work full time and am a busy lady!!), but I FINALLY got it done for the June meeting and handed it over this week (tearfully I might add!). I am going to ask the lucky winner (not me again darnit!) to hang it in the next show.

The quilt turned out so nicely! There is a label on the back (above) listing all of our names and the offices we held. You can see us here with the quilt.

Left to Right: Melissa S. Boos (Me), Rachael Victor, Denise Mohan, and Donna Walker. Not pictured Phyllis White.

Quilt Completed June 8, 2009

Helm's Weave Chain Maille Bracelet

2009-05-24T22:56:00.006-04:00

Piece Name: Helm's Weave Chain Maille Bracelet

This is a very feminine 8" Helm's weave (aka Parallel weave) Chain Maille Bracelet made with 20 gauge Argentium Sterling Silver wire using two mandrel sizes. This is another bracelet I wear all the time.

This isn't the first time I've done Chain Maille (click here for another example), but it is the first time I FULLY made the bracelet from start to finish. That means I selected the two mandrel sizes, coiled the wire myself, used my Koil Kutter to cut the rings (the most fun you can have with power tools BTW!), tumbled the rings, and then finally wove the bracelet. The ONLY thing I didn't create was the fancy Sterling Silver lobster clasp I had previously purchased. Prior to this bracelet I bought pre-cut rings. It is soooooo much more fulfilling to have done all these steps myself (even if it is more work)!

I have been wanting to make this weave for awhile and I have a necklace to match in the works!

Piece Completed: May 2009

Cubic Drop Pendant

2009-05-24T22:13:00.003-04:00

Piece Name: Cubic Drop Pendant

I purchased the Love Knot Cubic Earrings tutorial from the very talented "de cor's Handmades" shop on Etsy (along with most of her other tutorials!!). This was my first attempt at this tutorial. I used Argentium Sterling Silver. I wasn't 100% pleased with the final result (I need more practice) and didn't end up making a second earring when I made this piece.

This sat unused for awhile. One day I remembered the loan cube and thought it would look pretty as a pendant. I put it on a silver chain. I was right. It does look pretty! It is simple and elegant as a pendant and isn't too small or too large. When I wear silver I most often wear this as a compliment.

I HIGHLY recommend any of "de cor's Handmades" tutorials. They are first rate.

"Woven Checkerboard Bracelet" Class at Beadfest Wire

2009-05-24T22:06:00.009-04:00

Piece Name: My First "Woven Checkerboard Bracelet"

Lest you think ALL I do is quilt....let's post some jewelry!!! I took a class at the May 2009 Beadfest Wire Convention called "Woven Checkerboard Bracelet". The class was 7 hours long and I finished the bracelet in class. I LOVE when that happens. YAY! The instructor was Debbie Williams. What a neat technique! The class sample was tri-colored but I opted for all Argentium Sterling Silver. Even though it has many first timer imperfections, they aren't noticeable to the casual viewer unless I point them out (and I won't!). I wear it ALL the time (which you can see since it desperately needs a tumbling to clean and shine it up) and I can't wait to make another one to fix all my first timer sins and improve upon my technique. I am also looking forward to trying different colored wire combinations.

If you find yourself at Beadfest in need of a class, I suggest learning this technique. Email me if you'd like an attendee's review of the class.

Piece Completed: May 2, 2009

My Mini Quilt Auction Purchase!!!

2009-05-24T21:32:00.005-04:00

Piece: United States Flag in Mini Yo-Yos

Remember this post and this post? These were my contributions to the 2009 Love Apple Quilters Silent Mini Quilt Auction for Charity. This year I was lucky enough to win the one I bid on! This wonderful mini quilt was made by Love Apples member Nancy White. These are some tiny yo-yo's I can tell you!!! I admired it while she was making it and knew I had to own it. It's great isn't it!? Even better that the proceeds went to a worthy charity.

Purchased: March 15, 2009

Pre-Civil War Quilt

2009-05-24T21:15:00.008-04:00

Piece: Pre-Civil War Lily Quilt

I was at the 2006 Lancaster, PA Quilt Show. In one of the antique quilt vendor stalls this quilt was folded up in a stack with just a hint of the flowers peeking out. I was smitten even before I unfolded it. The bold yellow-y/green on such an old quilt just spoke to me. It was old...older than any other quilt in my antique quilt collection. I wanted it! The price for it was quite fair for $475, but was WAYYYY more than any price I had paid for a quilt to date or since. The vendor was kind enough to take layaway. YAY!

At the 2009 Love Apple Quilters Quilt Show member Mary Cahilly had a Reproduction Civil War Gown display. This quilt hung as a backdrop to the gown display. While it was hanging I had my quilt appraised by certified AQS quilt Apprasiser Karen Dever. It is hand appilqued, pieced, and quilted. Unusual for the period, the borders are mitered! I found out that the quilt dates to approximately the 1840's...Pre-Civil War! I also found out that the value is quite stupendous. A smart buy that I made in 2006! I love this quilt and it is the jewel of my collection.

Purchased: Spring 2006

"My Hawaiian Rainbow" Quilt

2009-05-24T20:05:00.014-04:00

Piece Name: "My Hawaiian Rainbow" Quilt

I have been working on this quilt on and off for YEARS. It is satin stitch machine appliqued and machine quilted. I started it in 2004, had all the blocks done and two of them quilted by early 2005, and then let it sit for years until early 2009 when I finished machine quilting each of the blocks. I then used an entirely machine quilt as you go method to finish the quilt. I LOVE the vibrancy of this quilt and it reminds me of a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands my husband and I took back in 2004. The back is a gorgeous red Hawaiian fabric print. Most of the patterns come from the book Hawaiian Quilting by Elizabeth Root.

This quilt hung in the 2009 Love Apple Quilters quilt show.

Quilt Completed: March 8, 2009

"The 1930's Were A Good Decade for Tulips" Quilt

2009-05-24T20:00:00.006-04:00

Piece Name: "The 1930's Were A Good Decade for Tulips"

This was another UFO quilt that sat started and unfinshed for years. I made the top in late 2005. I only recently finished it for the 2009 Love Apples Quilters quilt show. The quilt is zig zag stitch machine appliqued and machine quilted. I used many many prairie points. I named it after my use of several 1930 reproduction fabrics. I love this quilt because it is bright, fun, traditional, and modern all in the same quilt.

The pattern is from the book Pick a Pattern Applique & Variations by Joan Sjuts Waldman.
Quilt Completed: March 3 2009

"My Lone Star Garden" Quilt

2009-05-24T19:20:00.014-04:00

Piece Name: "My Lone Star Garden"

I made this quilt for the 2009 Love Apple Quilters Quilt Challenge. The main rule of the challenge was that we had to use the two floral prints you see in the pictures. The fabrics from the challenge just didn't speak to me until the VERY LAST MINUTE. Usually for these challenges I know almost immediately what I am going to make. Not this time as I really sweated it out and almost didn't do one. I put this together in the final weeks just before the challenge deadline. I am so glad that I did and I am pretty darn pleased!

The pattern is from Debbie Maddy's Shining Star Quilt as seen on HGTV's Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson. I had printed the instructions out right after seeing the show way back when and pulled them out for this challenge. I love the look of the star and I love the total lack of diamonds and inset seams! You have to be a pretty good piecer though...lots of seams to match up!

This hung in the 2009 Love Apple Quilters Quilt Show.

Quilt Completed: February 2009

3D Tutu!!!

2009-02-08T23:56:00.012-05:00

Piece Name: "For the Love of Ballet...and Little Girl Dreams" Mini Quilt

You'll remember from this post that I had made two mini quilts for my quilt guild's charity mini quilt silent auction. I had hoped I would make at least one more after my own quilts were done for the show (which they aren't all yet...GULP!!). Anyhow, I was making the ribbon hair scrunchies this weekend for the boutique (see previous post) and the first one I made didn't turn out right. I didn't want to waste the ribbon and it looked so pretty even as a failure. After playing around with it it reminded me of a ballerina's tutu...and well, this was born. I used the failed scrunchie as the 3D poofy tutu on this mini quilt. I framed the whole thing with ribbon which reminds me of ballet slipper ribbon laces. Hopefully one of the quilt show goers will have a special little ballerina in their life and will bid on and win this little mini. 100% of the proceeds from the silent auction go to charity. P.S. The quilt is crooked in the pictures based on the angle I snapped the picture, but in real life it is correctly shaped.

Completed: February 8, 2009

Boutique!!!

2009-02-08T23:25:00.018-05:00

Piece Name: 2009 Quilt Show Boutique Items

I belong to Love Apple Quilters Quilt Guild of Cherry Hill, NJ. Every two years or so we put on a very professional quilt show. Our next one is in a few weeks on March 14-15th. I am sewing and quilting in HIGH GEAR in preparation, so you probably won't be seeing any jewelry posts until I survive the show. :) Anyhow every show we have a boutique of finished items and other steals and deals. The quilt show attendees STAMPEDE there! It is one of the major money makers of the show that allows our non-profit, charity based guild continued existence for the next two years! So the members do a phenomenal job of making items for the boutique. Here is a small sampling of some of my items: tomato pin cushions, a stuffed cat with ribbon, button flower ponytail holders, ribbon hair scrunchies, and a two sided table runner.

All Completed: February 2009

Lullaby Lamby!

2009-01-18T21:19:00.012-05:00

Piece Name: "Lullaby Lamb" Baby Pillow

Made this baby pillow for my cousin's baby shower. She and her husband are going to have their first child...a boy. This pillow was adapted from a quilt pattern called "Lullaby Lamb". It uses the layered chenille technique, fusible machine applique, and echo quilting. It is 21"x21". I used a safety pin with a pretty blue bow to attach a little "cow" bell to the lamb which adds a nice tinkly bell sound and furthers the 3D effect of the pillow. I know I made this so I am biased, but darn this one is precious!

Completed: January 17, 2009

There Be Flowers on My Quilts!

2009-01-18T20:36:00.024-05:00

Piece Name: "My Blue Baltimore" Mini Quilt

This a mini quilt that I made for me...all me! Not giving this one away! No way! I made this just for fun because one day I wanted to do applique. This is what I came up with after flipping through my library. I pieced the background in beige and cream (which you can't see in the photos). It gives very subtle visual interest to the piece. A simple a thing as that and I've never done before...I've always used solid one piece backgrounds. I have to say I like the subtle difference and it was worth the extra work. The block design came from one of Elly Sienkiewicz' Baltimore Beauty books, and the border I designed after being inspired by traditional swagged borders. I decided to stay in all blues because I thought the look would be powerful and clean against the cream/biege background. The quilting is traditional cross hatch and I have to say I am mighty pleased with this little quilt (22"x22"). The applique is fusible machine applique. I love making traditional designs using modern applique methods (modern meaning it gets done in my hectic schedule without fiddly hand work!). This quilt will hang in my guild's quilt show this March 14-15th (Love Apple Quilters of Cherry Hill, NJ). Completed: January 4, 2009

Piece Name: "Elizabethan Gardens of Manteo, NC" Mini Quilt

This mini quilt (24"x24") is entirely machine embroidered with a design pack you can purchase on the Secrets of Embroidery website. It took many hours of work stitching out each block with all those thread changes and then joining all the blocks together like a jigsaw puzzle (that took some skilled easing!). I chose very traditional rose petal colors, and when it was all done it reminded me of the Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo, NC. This quilt will be a very belated wedding gift for a cousin. It's been done for awhile but I have procrastinated over putting a label on it (where have you read that before!!!). It is going to be even more belated because it too will hang in my guild's quilt show this March 14-15th. Completed: Jan. 2008

Christmas Present Earrings

2009-01-03T21:58:00.008-05:00

Piece Names: Sparkle & Luster Earrings and Irridescent Snowflake Earrings

Every year my husband gives his Aunt Kathy (his Godmother) a Christmas gift. Most years this translates to me selecting and taking care of the gift for him! This year we gave her a purchased silver mesh sterling silver bracelet, but I wanted to add to it, so I created the following two pairs of earrings for her from him. This first pair are what I call the "Sparkle & Luster Earrings" because they are made with two shades of red 4mm Swarovski bicone beads (the sparkle) and 7.5mm freshwater pearls (the luster). The metal is either Argentium Sterling Silver or regular Sterling Silver. These were made with simple bead wire wrapping techniques that I thought looked pleasing together and weren't inspired by any artist in particular.

Remember that fabulous wire artist Corra I mentioned in my previous post? I purchased her Snowflake Earrings tutorial and made these "Irridescent Snowflake Earrings" as the second earring pair in the Christmas gift. What a great and easy to follow tutorial! I used multi-colored irridescent seed beads with Argentium Sterling Silver to make these. They stubbornly resisted being photographed well and look crooked (I didn't feel like getting my light studio out so that's what I get)...but I assure you they came out wonderfully (and straight despite what they look like in my photos) thanks to Corra's wonderful instruction!

Both pieces completed: December 2008

Experimentation Yields Sparklies!

2009-01-03T21:29:00.008-05:00

Piece Names: Green Ladybug Pendant and Garnet & Silver Pipa Knot Pendant

After making so many snowflakes adhering losely to a pattern I felt creative and wanted to "play" with wire with nothing set in mind. The two pendants in this entry are the result. The first I call the "Green Ladybug" pendant. It is made with two gauges of Argentium Sterling Silver wire (20 and 28 I think), a 7.5 mm freshwater pearl, and three green shades of 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone beads. This one was all my design from start to finish. I need to find a dressy enough reason to wear this one!

The second pendant was inspired by the work of Corra an EXTREMELY talented Jewelry Artist whose work I admire and follow closely. I have purchased a couple of her tutorials. This Pipa Tear Drop Knot done in wire is actually a Chinese knotting technique that Corra elevates to new levels in wire. I was able to make this version of the knot by studying her lovely pieces and doing Chinese knotting research online. If you'd like to learn I HIGHLY recommend one of Corra's tutorials as they are FIRST rate! This pendant is made with two gauges of Argentium Sterling Silver wire (20 and 28 I think) and 4mm faceted garnet beads.

Both pieces completed: December 2008

Christmas Craft 2008 - Snowflakes!

2009-01-03T20:58:00.009-05:00

Piece Name: Christmas Craft - SS Wire Snowflakes

If you know me you know that each year I do a Christmas Craft project that I give to friends and family members as gifts. I have been doing this for almost 20 years now. I have made things in all sorts of techniques, but like last year (scroll below for 2007's craft) I settled in on wire wrapping again. This year I made snowflakes. They were inspired by a bracelet tutorial by Karen Traeger Rakoski that was published in the Winter 2008 edition of the "Step by Step Wire Jewelry" magazine. I got pretty good at making them and just like real snowflakes each one is a little different!

These snowflakes were made with 20 and 24 gauge Argentium Sterling Silver wire. They either use faceted Blue Lace agate beads or light blue 4mm Swarovski crystal bicone beads for the center stone. I used narrow light blue satin ribbon as hangers for these ornaments.

Completed: December 2008

Mini Quilts for a Good Cause!

2008-11-17T14:06:00.004-05:00

Piece Name:"Jug of Black Eyed Susans" and "Kimono Fun" Mini Quilts

My Quilt Guild Love Apple Quilters of Cherry Hill, NJ has a quilt show every two years. The next show is March 14-15, 2009. We always have a Miniature Quilt Silent Charity Auction with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Camp Bright Feathers...a camp for Kids with or affected by HIV/AIDS that lets them forget the disease for a little while and just be kids. All the Mini Quilts are made and donated by guild members or friends of the guild. These are two (with at least one more following) are the ones I am donating to this worthy cause.

Black Eye Susans were my wedding flower and I've loved them since I was a child and picked them roadside while walking to/from the beach in Kitty Hawk, N.C. as a child. This quilt is machine embroidered and the two focal flowers are 3D. The main design was embroidered on the beige fabric and the 3D flowers were embroidered on water soluable fabric that melted away leaving only the stitched design.

I have a treasure trove practically of oriental fabrics and decided to use some of them. I have a pattern for a 3D folded Kimono that I used to make the Kimono and I randomly placed the squares and rectangles so that they pleased my eye and appliqued them in place. They were both fun projects that I did over the course of one weekend! P.S. If the mini quilts look crooked or misshapen in the pictures it's only the perspective as I quick snapped the pictures before running to work and used the nearest available chair back to prop them up (a curved chairback!!!).

Completed: November 1-2, 2008

Last Jewelry Birthday Gift of the Year!

2008-10-17T22:33:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Argentium Silver/Freshwater Pearls Pendant and Earrings Set

My youngest sister's birthday is this month. I wanted to make her some earrings using silver and these really nice oval shaped pinkish/purplish freshwater pearls. I actually made the pendant first and didn't like it for an earring and set it aside thinking I wasn't going to use it. I experimented and came up with these earrings. They aren't from any designer in particular, but they are inspired by earrings I've seen in my books and magazines. I am mostly happy with them and would do things a little differently on second implementation, but they turned out nice enough to use for a gift. Heck I'd wear them! I looked back at my first aborted earring attempt and thought that would make a nice matching pendant...and so it now is. I hope my sister likes these. She is PICKY!

These are made with Argentium Silver wire in gauges 18, 22, and 24 in dead soft. The freshwater pearls are pinkish/purplish in color and measure about 7mm, maybe 7.5mm.

Completed October 17, 2008.

One Melissa, Two Melissa!

2008-10-17T21:45:00.002-04:00

Piece Name: "Golden Scrolls Paisley"

I belong to a lot of Yahoo groups dedicated to various methods of handmade jewelry making. An artist by the name of Melissa Muir was mentioned. I visited her website. Her jewelry is just exquisite. I was taken with many of her pieces, but this one inspired me and just stayed on my mind. Later on I sat down in my studio and started doodling with that piece in memory. I don't use the same techniques as Melissa used to make her piece, but knew I could make something inspired by that piece using the techniques I do employ. And so after much doodling, "Golden Scrolls Paisley" was born. It is almost identical to the final doodle except I removed one scroll.

This one is a keeper and I envision putting it on a burgandy cord of some sort. It is quite large...but I LOVE large jewelry that makes a statement. It is made with rolled gold in wire gauges 16, 18, and 24. The frame and center scroll are 16 gauge half hard. The other scrolls are 18 guage dead soft, and the coiling is 24 gauge dead soft. I worked on this piece on and off for three days. I'd work until I got sick of it!!! Those scrolls were fiddly to attach and the coiling was tedious! But I was diligent and I always returned to make a little more progress. I am quite proud of the result and that it was my very own design from start to finish thanks to Melissa's inspiration pendant! Thanks Melissa! Please do visit Melissa's website.

Completed: Early October 2008

Jewelry Gifties A Plenty!

2008-10-05T04:25:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Smokey Pearls" Earrings and "Liquid Links" Bracelet

Like I said in the previous post, September is a big jewelry gifting month for me. This post discusses the gifties I gave my sister for her birthday. My sister adores pearls and has several pieces of purchased pearl jewelry from her trips to Hawaii. I figured she'd like one more! So I created these earrings for her. They are made with Argentium Silver, Freshwater Pearls, and Smokey Quartz. The design inspiration is from Marie Lee Carter in the Winter 2006 "Step by Step Wire" Magazine. These use 18 amd 24 guage round Argentium silver wire, 7mm freshwater pearls, and 7.5mm smokey quartz faceted briolettes. These went together in 45 minutes and wear very nicely. They flounce and dazzle with body movement. My sister loves the length and has already requested a duplicate using blues and greens so they have a ocean feeling to them. I'll be happy to oblige!

I love jewelry sets so I just had to create an accompanying bracelet. So this Argentium Silver bracelet was born. The design is by Pepper Mentz in the Fall 2005 "Step by Step Wire" Magazine. The bracelet measures 8 inches and uses 18 guage round argentium silver wire. This one took me about an hour and a half or so. It is easy to make but a bit fiddly so you have to be friends with your tools or if you're a newbie have patience. I'd love to do this bracelet again in a hunky guage of wire. I am happy to report that these gifties were well received!

Both pieces Completed late September 2008.

Earrings! A Jewelry Making Gifter's Best Friend!

2008-10-05T04:13:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Woven Amethyst Earrings"

My sister's birthday is September 20th and her mother-in-law's birthday is September 21st. They both love jewelry and they both love earrings. This is awesome for me as a gift giver! This post will discuss the earrings I made for her mother-in-law and the post after this one will talk about the birthday gifts for my sister.

These are Argentium Silver and Amethyst Drop Earrings. The design is inspired from Lisa Newton in the Spring 2008 "Step by Step Wire" Magazine. I used 18 and 24 guage round argentium silver wire and 5mm amethyst drops. These earrings took me approximately 4 hours to make, 95% of that the weaving. This was the first time I bent wire to a pattern (the framework) and then had to do it a second time to match. I came pretty darn close and am quite pleased. These earrings are bold but not overly so. If they didn't take an exhaustive 4 hours to make I would have made me a set too. I may just still...one day!

Completed: Late September 2008

Purple Beads Always Work...Even if It's Not as You Originally Intended!

2008-10-05T03:04:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Purple Foil Majesty

This September I had a flurry of jewelry making and quilt making (nothing finished in the quilt arena yet...all still in progress). This is mainly because my studio is sooooo hot in the summer even with the air on that I don't do a lot of quilting or jewelry making then. But come September's crisper nights and cooler days I have returned to my studio again! I missed it!

Upon returning to my studio this is the first jewelry piece I made. It is a Purple Metallic Foil Lampwork bead (maker unknown) and Argentium Silver Necklace. The Design inspiration is from Kerry Bogert's bracelet in the book "Wire Style" by Denise Peck. I originally wanted to make a bracelet too, but I wanted to use more beads than the original design's three. So I shortened up the wires a bit and played. What I found was that this bracelet didn't wear well along the curvature of my wrist and in fact I don't think the original design would have either. It was so pretty though, so I was going to use it come heck or high water! I lengthened it figuring it would wear well as a necklace. I was right. This necklace wears so nicely and has weight but isn't heavy. It is bold and makes a statement but isn't over the top. I love it and wear it often and it receives compliments often. I wish I remembered where I got those beads because they are amazing!

This necklace uses lampwork beads and 16 guage round argentium silver wire and sterling silver beads.

Completed late September 2008.

The Sea Meets the Gem and Silver Mines

2008-05-31T19:54:00.001-04:00

This necklace was inspired by one of the necklaces in the book "Simply Pearls: Designs for Creating Perfect Pearl Jewelry" by Nancy Alden (on Page 80 if memory serves). This is a great eye candy and inspiration book!!! I will definitely be making more from it. This took one solid evening of many, many hours worth of work, but it was so worth it. The necklace wears so nicely (especially on a darker colored mock turtle neck) and is very flouncy. I enjoy wearing it and especially love the combined materials for the overall look.

Now for the technical stuff. This necklace was made with 8mm multi-colored faceted Tourmaline drops, a 12mm Green Amethyst faceted disc, 6mm round Fresh Water Pearls, clear seed beads, and Argentium Sterling Silver wire (24 and 20 guage).

Piece Completed: Mid May 2008

Mystery Unveiled

2008-05-31T16:30:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: No. 25 - "A-Tisket A-Tasket" Quilt

I apologize that my posts are so few and far between! A lot of what I work on are gifts and surprises so I have to wait to post. This one I am technically revealing even sooner than I should, but I am doing it anyway!!! I taught a Mystery Quilt Class for my quilting guild back in March. I actually finished the quilt back then, but I couldn't post it because it was...well...a mystery! People from my guild sometimes read my blog and I didn't want to ruin the surprise. But I actually made the quilt as something more than a class sample, I made it for my neice (pink pillow several posts back) as her baby quilt. I usually make baby quilts shooting for first birthdays. This time I acually made deadline! I however procrastinated over the label and only did that recently...so I missed the deadline. I know I know, such a little thing to be late over! Anyhow, instead of mailing it, my in-laws are visiting my sister-in-law next week, so I am sending it down with them. This way I KNOW it will arrive safely.

This quilt was from an issue of "The Quilter" magazine from a few years ago. It is bright and cheery and was a fun one to make. It would flatter any fabric choice and even ditch quilting (which I did because it's a kid's quilt) yields a nice design to look at.

Piece completed: 03/14/2008

Another Pink Baby Pillow!

2008-03-07T21:46:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: Pink Baby Pillow

You will see baby pillows repeated many times on this blog. I make them because they require not too much time (2 dedicated evenings) but enough time to still show I care for the person for which I am making them. I'd love to make quilts for everyone, but until I am a "kept woman" or hit the lottery and don't have to work, that's just not gonna happen. So this gives me the same sense of making something handmade and allows me to get it done too!!!

This pillow is for my husband's sister's husband's sister's daughter (say that six times fast!) who is expecting her first child a girl. If you have seen my baby pillows before you'll notice this one is a slight departure. It is a little easier for me to make and the results are still lovely.

Piece completed: 03/05/2008

"Winter View" Fabric Postcard

2008-03-07T21:27:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "Winter View" Fabric Postcard

Once again we had a fabric postcard swap among several members of the Love Apple Quilters guild. The theme was winter with no other rules. Being a creature of Spring and Summer, I associate winter with staying warm and picturesque winter views. I combined both of those into this "Winter View" fabric postcard. The pane of glass is really tulle. The view outside includes an evergreen tree and a snowman, though it is hard to see in this picture.

Piece completed 03/01 (one day after deadline of course!)

Toot Toot My Own Horn!

2008-01-15T20:40:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "Florabundance" Quilt

Well, you might recognize this quilt from several blog posts ago. I made it for my quilt guild's 2007 quilt challenge. The pattern is from a book called "Floral Abundance" by Rosemary Makhan. Great book!!!! NAYY! Anyhow, every year a little, quaint shopping village called Peddler's Village in LaHaska, PA puts on their Quilt Show in the Gazebo. We'll this is the third time I've entered and this time I chose this red and white quilt. I have been lucky in the past with my only other two submissions to win Second with the Blue Jacket (see previous blog post) I made for my guild's 2004 Quilt Challenge and a little wallhanging I made took Honorable Mention last year. The show is VERY small compared to what quilters are used to but the judges are sticklers and ribboning isn't easy even with the very small competitive field. They always get me on my binding (and rightly so)!! Anyhow, I entered the red and white quilt into the Potluck category and not the Applique category because Pot Luck allows machine quilting and Applique must be hand quilted (in fact other than Clothing, Pot Luck, and Kids they all pretty much require Hand Quilting). I haven't gotten the official letter yet, but I cheated and went to their website. My quilt took First Place - Machine Applique!! They apparently moved it out of Pot Luck and into Applique, and then split the Applique group into Hand and Machine. I am tickled pink (or would that be red in this case?)! I hoped that I might get a second, but didn't think it would get first because the binding on the back is typical Melissa (meaning not always even, though not too bad!). Yay! I don't quilt to get ribbons, but dangit they are fun to get!

If you go to Peddler's Village in LaHaska, PA between now and April (and I recommend it for the shopping and the brownies) please stop in in the Gazebo and check the quilts out! Some are even for sale (though not mine).

Christmas Windows

2008-01-05T18:04:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "Cathedral Window Ornaments"

I took a Cathedral Window class though my quilt guild with Linda Victor (scroll down a few posts) and really enjoyed it and made a pillow. I wanted to try a few ornaments on a far smaller scale. These were the result. Fun, fast, and pretty! They came in handy too. I have been giving the wife of my former Pastor handmade Christmas Tree Ornaments for years. The fabric ornaments slipped very nicely into their Christmas card!

This was made with muslin and metallic Christmas fabrics and pretty buttons. Pieces completed 12/2007 sometime.

Catholic Rosary

2008-01-05T17:54:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "Catholic Rosary"

My sister's mother-in-law prays the rosary every single day and sometimes several times a day. She wears her rosaries out! She saw the Franciscan Crown Rosary I made and her eyes fairly lit up. My sister told me that if I made one for her it would make her day! Well I did, had it blessed, and we gave it to her for Christmas, and I am happy to report she loved it!

This was made with 8mm Rose Quartz round beads, 6mm purple (her favorite color) Cats Eye beads, Sterling Silver medals and bead caps, and Argentium Sterling Silver 22 gauge wire. Piece started and completed 12/20/2007

All Wired Up!

2008-01-05T17:40:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "2007 Yearly Christmas Craft - SS Wire Ornaments"

Every year going back to my teens I have made a Christmas Craft as one of my gifts to people (at least 16 years). The crafts have encompassed many different materials and

techniques and the people that get them tell me they look forward to seeing what I make from year to year. This year I came right down to the wire (no pun intended)!!! I had a few ideas floating around but saw a picture of a wire ornament (very similar to the simple bells above) on the internet and was inspired. I got crafting that very night! The ornaments would have all been the simple

bells but I ran out of the heavy guage wire I was using and went improvisational with the remaining ornmanets. The star is the only one I kept for our tree.

These ornaments were made with varying guages of Argentium Sterling Silver wire, glass beads, rose quartz beads, and new jade beads. Pieces completed 12/14/2007.

Franciscan Crown Rosary in Pink and Silver

2007-12-12T05:30:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "Franciscan Crown Rosary"

My husband's aunt is a Franciscan Nun. She just celebrated her 70th birthday. I wanted to do something really special for her. So I made her a rosary, but not just any rosary but a Franciscan Crown Rosary that is favored by that order (Google it for more info). It differs in construction from a standard rosary in that the beads on the drop differ slightly and there are seven decades rather than five. We give it to her this Saturday! Can't wait. Just need to have it blessed before that!
This was made with 8mm Rose Quartz round beads, Sterling Silver medals and bead caps, and Argentium Sterling Silver 20 gauge wire. Piece completed 12/12/2007.

Pillowcases A Plenty!

2007-12-12T05:19:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: Fun Kid Pillowcases

I went to a Love Apples Saturday Sew In for Charity. We made fun, child themed pillowcases for the charity ConKerr Cancer, an organization that gives bright pillowcases to kids undergoing cancer treatments in hospitals. We ended up making 54 that day!!! I enjoyed it so much I made these two for the children of a family friend for early Christmas presents. Boy were these a hit! Pieces completed 12/02/2007.

Pink In Every Window!

2007-12-12T05:10:00.001-05:00

Piece Name: "Pink Cathedrals"

I took a Love Apples Cathedral Windows workshop taught by Linda Victor. What a blast! I decided to use the class sample we made to knock something off my to do list! So this pink, white, and buttoned baby pillow creation was born and is for Mikaela a new cousin to the family. This is really a fun one and the buttons hide a multitude of transgressions! The picture is me at my guild's Show and Tell. Piece completed 10/28/2007.

Feathered Birthday Wishes

2007-10-29T03:22:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Untitled Postcard

This is the final postcard I made for the 2007 RCTQ Birthday Postcard Swap. This is for my online friend Jean. Happy Birthday Jean! The postcard is all machine embroidered and the design can be found at SecretsofEmbroidery.com (NAYY). This took about 2 - 2.5 hours to do. It is very bright and cheery in person. Piece completed 10/28/2007.

"S" is for Sandal

2007-09-30T23:51:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "S" is for Sandal Postcard

This is a VERY BELATED postcard for my quilt guild's summer postcard swap. The postcard swap theme was the "S's of Summer" and had to use a ribbon in some way. I was inspired by the decorations in the cottage of our vacation home when we went to the beach in Corolla, NC for a week this September. The ribbon is 3D...though I am sure it will be squished in the mail. Piece completed 09/30/2007.

I See Pink!

2007-09-28T13:42:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Allie's Baby Pillow

I make baby pillows as gifts. My husband's sister had a baby girl named Alexandria Genieva earlier this year. As they live in Georgia and we live New Jersey we don't get to see them very often. I met Allie for the first time this past week and of course showered her with lots of spoiling as any aunt should do. This was among the gifts. The size is a 20" pillow and the designs are by Hatched in Africa. Pillow completed 09/22/2007.

Argentium Sterling Silver and Rolled Gold (aka Gold Filled) Earrings

2007-09-28T13:19:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Various Argentium Sterling Silver and Rolled Gold (aka Gold Filled) Earrings

Along with my sister's birthday this week it was also her mother-in-law's birthday as well. She recently had a break in at her house (thankfully she wasn't home!!) and lost her jewelry box with all her beloved earrings. While I can't replace what she lost, I thought I'd soften the blow a bit by making her some new ones.

I literally spread all my beads out before me and went to town mixing and matching combinations. It was quite fun actually...though it is hard as a beginner getting the earrings to turn out the same length!! I can't remember the guage wire I used for them or what all the components are, but ultimately three were Argentium Sterling silver and three were Rolled Gold (aka Gold Filled). I am quite happy to report that they were very well received!! Earrings completed: 09/20/2007.

Blue Lace Agate & Argentium Sterling Silver Jewelry Set

2007-09-27T14:48:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Argentium Sterling Silver & Blue Lace Agate Jewelry Set

Finally a new post!! That's what happens when you are working on birthday and Christmas gifts! You can't post about them until they are given!!! Anyhow, I made this set for my sister Cindy for her 30th birthday earlier this month. What is funny about this is my sister was pretty sure she was getting jewelry because we went to a BeadFest together in April and she picked out beads she liked and said make it a birthday gift. I will make those beads into a jewelry set for "a" birthday...it just wasn't for this one. So she was totally suprised when she opened this set up. I am very glad to say she loved it! Now for the nitty gritty...

Necklace and Pendant: The pendant is inspired by a Lisa Niven Kelly design and instructions were featured in the Summer 2007 edition of "Step by Step Wire Jewelry". The chain wire is 20 gauge argentium sterling silver. The pendant wire is 24 gauge argentium sterling silver. The stone is a faceted blue lace agate flat tear drop. The beads are 4mm bicone Swarovski crystals in three colors. The 22" chain is woven in the "byzantine" (aka "bird cage") pattern.

Bracelet and Earrings: The earrings and 8" long bracelet are of my design. The wire on both is 20 gauge argentium sterling silver. The stones are faceted blue lace agate. The chain maille weave is "byzantine" (aka "bird cage").

I worked on this set on and off over the summer, but it was ultimately completed 09/18/2007 when I made the pendant (which took 3 hours!). I thoroughly enjoyed making this and giving it to my sister! I really wanted to do something special for her 30th. :)

Ocean Friends Bracelet Swap 2007

2007-07-24T01:24:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Starfish Waves" Bracelet

I created this bracelet for Debbie (a fellow New Jersey-ian) for the Beadingaholics Yahoo Group 2007 Bracelet Swap. The swap theme was "Ocean Friends". The design is my own and *kinda* resembles the original idea in my head! It is 8" and is made with round gold filled wire in guages 16 and 20, cloisonne beads, starfish beads, and small beige beads. I went for a crazy, sloppy wire wrapped look that is supposed to emulate the chaos of waves in the ocean. I made a pair of matching fish earrings. It is a very bright, tropical bracelet that will fit right in on cruise vacations and at beach parties!

If I were to make this again there are a few small design and execution changes I'd make to neaten everything up a bit. But you don't learn if you don't try!!! I tried and I learned! It was fun creating something of my own that wasn't from someone else's tutorial.

"Grandma's Lace"

2007-06-28T01:33:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Grandma's Lace" Postcard

This is a fabric postcard made in the crazy quilt style for the 2007 RCTQ Crazy Quilt Postcard Swap (a group I belong to of online quilters who swap fabric postcards). Went all out on this one for my friend Flossy! I used vibrant green and purple scrap fabrics, fancy stitches in colorful coordinating thread, and lace trims that I received a few years ago from crazy quilters as thanks for running a velvet swap. This one was not difficult to make but was labor intensive. Took somewhere between two and three hours to make. I call it "Grandma's Lace" because it sure looks like it could be things raided from a beloved grandmother's sewing stash!

I can't savor my creation for long...this one is bound for jolly ol' England tomorrow!!!

Quilt Show Follow up...

2007-06-10T12:46:00.000-04:00

Went to the quilt show yesterday with my mom. We had a lovely time and it was as well a put on show as ever! I did not win a ribbon, BUT.... I did improve since previous years. Let me tell you why. The items I put in ranged from being started 2003 (finished 2007), 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Like any craft you work and practice at I have improved and those pieces reflected it. The judge's comments on each piece (which were awesome by the way) were so kind with their praise and the constructive criticism was spot on. One thing that I am still struggling with is to get a very nice binding done by machine (I won't do it by hand). The four earlier pieces had comments (deserved) on the binding. The 2007 piece (red and white) was the first time ever I didn't get a word on the binding from the judges at this show. YAHOO! BUT it still gets better. Three of my five entries never got out of the general pool for ribbon consideration. But two did (you could see extra checkboxes filled out on the form) and had a special "participant" ribbon included with the comments. They didn't ultimately win anything...but I consider it a personal victory that something I made got a little further than the general pool. YAY!!!!

Now if only I could convince my husband to let me be a kept woman so I could quilt and make jewelry all day everyday instead of finding time for it on night and weekends...I would be set!!! Think of all the improvement in my craft being made if I lived and breathed them every moment. Oh well...at least now working pays for the fabric and pretties! It will have to do! ;)

Quilt Show this Weekend...

2007-06-04T15:12:00.001-04:00

I have five of my quilted creations entered into the NJ State Quilt Guild's quilt show this upcoming weekend (June 7 - June 9). It is a non-juried (meaning any quilt sent in is accepted) and judged (has official judging and awards) quilt show. It is a large show and if you win an award here it is a top notch accomplishment. The quilting talent displayed ranges from children and beginners up to the masters in the art. It is amazing to see all that talent assembled in one room. That being said I have entered quilts many times and have never won. LOL! Don't worry I don't feel bad and never expected to win. I am just glad to hang the quilts in public once in awhile. And I admit to casually standing near them to eavesdrop on what people are saying about my quilts!! These are the quilts that I am entering in this year's show. The only one that has the tiniest, slimmest chance of possibly ribboning is the jacket.

This one I made in 2005 for my parent's 40th Wedding Anniversary.

This one I made for the Love Apple Quilters Guild 2007 Challenge.

This one was a "just because" Christmas gift for my mom in 2006.

This one is shown unfinished (have to find my finished pictures!) and was made in 2007 just because I wanted to do it!

This one I made for the Love Apple Quilters Guild 2004 Challenge.

If for some amazing reason I do actually get some kind of award (I doubt it highly!!!) I'll keep you posted. :)

Denim Coils...

2007-06-03T15:15:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Denim Coils" Bracelet

Created with 16 and 22 gauge copper wire and eight 10-13mm polymer clay beads (made by ArtisticJen on Etsy). Design is by Wendy Witchner and is from the Bead and Button Wirework Special issue 2007. Created 05/25/2007.

Boy this one was kind of a bugger. Not a hard technique to understand or do, but hard for a newbie wire jewelry maker whose hands don't feel totally comfortable yet working with wire. I cannot wait until my wire working feels second nature like my quilting does. It's all about growing and learning isn't it!!!

Copper Beaded Ring...

2007-06-03T15:05:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Beaded Copper Ring

Created with 20 gauge copper wire, two 6mm cat's eye beads and two 4mm bicone Swarovski crystals. Design from a member created tutorial on the Beadingaholics Yahoo Group. Created 05/25/2007. NOTE: Sorry about the blurry photo. I really liked that shot of it and just couldn't get it to turn out! I am going to read my camera manual for tips on close up pics. If I can get it to turn out I'll replace this photo.

This was a quick ring but it sure does look elegant on my finger! This will definitely be done again with many wire types and beads.

There be Dragonflies...

2007-06-03T15:00:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Dragonfly Postcard with Copper Wire

Made for a dragonfly themed postcard swap. One of the rules was that I had to use the color green. Not only is the fabric green (and have dragonflies), but the copper will tarnish to a lovely greenish color over time. Created 05/10/2007.

This was fun and it combined my love of quilting with wire work! The dragonfly was my own design and it was freeing to just create something of my own and not follow a tutorial or a book. I am looking forward to when my wire jewelry skills advance enough to the point I can get the designs in my head out and into reality effectively!

Copper Waves...

2007-06-03T14:40:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Copper Waves" Necklace

Design came from the Spring 2005 edition of "Step by Step Wire Magazine". The design is by Marie L. Carter. I followed the tutorial pretty closely using several gauges of copper wire and 6mm faceted tanzanite colored cat's eye beads. I varied my necklace from Marie's by using larger beads and much much larger jump rings. I like the airy look the larger jump rings give the necklace. Completed 05/14/2007.

I LOVE cat's eye beads. I NEED to get more and more. I really really enjoy wearing this necklace. It has great weight and wears beautifully. I will definitely be using this technique I learned in Argentium wire.

Swirling Copper...

2007-06-03T14:30:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: "Swirling Chain" Necklace and Earrings

The second (Necklace) and third (Earrings - left over links) pieces of jewelry I ever made. The design is from "Wire & Bead Celtic Jewelry" by Linda Jones. I added beads to the design. Made with 20 gauge copper wire and glass beads. Made 04/30/2007.

What I learned from this piece and what I would differently is skip the beads, use a larger gauge wire, and hammer it flatter. This would give the necklace a bit more substance. It is a pretty necklace as I made it, but it gets all tangled easily. A little more "heft" and it would be perfect.

And the Wire Jewelry Making Begins...

2007-06-03T14:20:00.001-04:00

Piece Name: Ornate Ring

This is the first piece of jewelry I ever made using wire. The design is by Eni Oken, a tutorial I downloaded from her website. This was one labor intensive ring! Made with various gauges of copper wire, glass beads, and a common purple stone cabochon. Made 04/30/2007.

I'll definitely be making this one again, but I want to try it in Argentium and I have a gorgeous stone I picked up at a Bead Fest in mind for the second try.