Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I made these little Button Flower Bouquets for a Valentine's Day Swap with a group of artists we hang out with: Women of the Arts or WOTA for short. Easy peasy and oh so darling.

Hope you get to spend some quality time with your loved one....YOU! -- Lisa

Happy Valentine's Day

Have a great day!

Valentine's Week Continues

Lucky, lucky us – more Valentine’s Day loot! Lisa and I each received our own ideas journal, adorned with a handmade keepsake in these striking colors, from our friends Judy and Colleen. Of course, we can’t unwrap these yet. Our ideas will still have to be written on that standby yellow legal pad. Or pads. I seem to need one in each room where I work. Lots of ideas. So little memory. -- Beth

But wait...there is more!

I made these needle-felted heart pins for the girls.

And then wrapped them up in heart shaped jello-molds in a bed of shredded sheet music with some organza ribbon. Yum! -- Lisa

Pearl Pendant

Thanks to our DVR, I whiz through Martha’s television shows, and stop to watch the crafts segments. I caught this one demonstrating a Heart Pendant last week, where they made simple heart-shaped pendants with wire and crystal beads. The idea stuck with me for a few days, and I decided to make my version of it with a small string of pearls I got at Beads and Beyond for $2.00 (at a swell sale they had last year), and some wire I had on hand.

I cut the 7 inches of 24 gauge wire like the video suggests. Then I simplified. I strung on 19 pearls (make it an uneven number) and attached the wire ends together in a tidy little twisted ball. I encouraged the sort of circle-like shape to be a heart shape, with the wire connection part landing in the top center. I attached a large jump ring to one side, and used rayon seam binding tied in knots instead of a chain. The seam binding was too poufy and smooth at first. So I got it wet, crinkled it up and let it dry.

I saved one for myself, and made three more for gifts to special friends. -- Beth

Sewing Machine meets Artist Trading Cards

I have finally discovered what a blast it is to use my sewing machine on paper! I had some artist trading cards left over from our recent swap, and thought they could evolve into Valentine's Day cards.

With a simple zigzag stitch, my sewing machine from the 1950's connected the cards to some cardstock in no time at all. I added a few more turns and loops as long as I was at it.

I'm also finding that I use my machine way more if it is out in the open and not stashed away in its' case. Hauling that big boy out was a chore. I have found a small cubby in our downstairs area, where it is set up all the time now. Less gluing and more stitching for me! -- Beth