OPAM December!

Well, I made it! *whew* I actually finished 12 projects this year. Some of them were small and some more substantial, but I did it! And thanks to Kris for being such a wonderful and gracious OPAM hostess! Here is my final 2010 OPAM project, yes, another set of crochet booties! I have another friend having a baby :) I find myself saying that I'm "crocheting and praying" when I make these booties for people. And now I know that I will be working on another baby quilt in the future! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

November OPAM finish

Yes, I am posting my November finish now (way too early for me). The reason? We are going to be moving in the middle of the month. I figure if I got a finish in now, I have until late December for another one! That gives me a bit of time to get moved and settled. This one is a baby quilt for a friend. It's summer weight (again because we live in Florida) and I did a sort of wonky ripple effect quilting. I did NOT prewash this fabric (rare for me) and I kind of like the way it rippled even more after washing. Lately, every project seems to be an experiment! :)

Here are a couple of napkins made from leftover scrap fabric from the baby quilt. I like to use cloth napkins everyday, not just to be green, but because if feels elegant and celebratory :) I like these pink gingham ones. I have some yellow gingham napkins I made several years ago, so they kind of go together.

October Finishes for OPAM!

I actually have a finish BEFORE the end of the month :) Here are photos of my completed baby quilt, roughly in the style of ticker tape. I did random "over quilting" and added yarn, yo yos, a knit flower, and ribbons. I zigzagged them down VERY tightly so baby won't be able to pull them off! I washed and dried it (on hot) and it shrank up to a wonderfully wrinkly texture!

Here are the photos :)

Next project: a camera strap for ME :)

OPAM September

Here is a sad, and completely gratuitous, photo of our sweet baby Dakota. I also have a semi-sad OPAM this month... because October crept up on me! Yes, it is the complete fault of October! I did NOT finish my baby quilt :( But I did a lot of knitting and am trying a new pattern for spa face cloths (pink in the photo below). So several washcloths and spa face cloths are my finished project for the month. I am considering selling them to a friend of a friend who sell soap and needs an extra goodie for packaging her soaps. I am making several samples to send to her... wish me luck! AND, I am hoping to get back to work on that quilt.

Elmer's and Xacto

I am part of a site called (www.bzzagent.com) and I am fortunate to get to test different types of products. I have tested food and make up, but imagine how excited I was to receive this kit filled with wonderful crafting goodies from Elmer's- Xacto!

I'm working on a couple of projects using these new tools!


If you are looking for ideas, go to Elmer's site for crafters...

I am filled with hate...

... for my dishwasher.

While this may seem humorous, I can tell you that this is real serious hatred. It is hatred toward that thing for not doing its job. I have to rinse and wipe my dishes before I use it. I have to rewash things if I find they weren't properly rinsed. I have to let things soak in my sink before I wash them. And I hate doing those things. I really do. I have complete disdain for dishes with food on them sitting in my sink. I feel like it is the beckoning invitation to bugs "come and eat". I hate that!

I hate it so much that I just seethe inside when I see dishes in the sink. But what does my hatred do to the dishwasher? Yep, you see where I am going... My hatred does not do a single solitary thing to that dishwasher. The object of my hatred does what it has always done, nothing. And it has no remorse. And what is my hatred doing to me? Well, probably raising my blood pressure, definitely making me procrastinate about the dishes, and making me generally disagreeable in the vicinity of that thing. Hate is like that. No matter what people are hating, it always hurts the hater more than the hatee. And it is always unproductive.

Before you clock me upside the head, I know as a Christian, I am supposed to hate evil (Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9). Now there may be a case to be made that my dishwasher is evil, but even if that's true; hatred is still tearing me up. Maybe that is how I know that the dishwasher is not evil.

So why am I holding on to the hate? I really don't know. I just know that it is truly hurting me more than it hurts the dishwasher. Is that productive? Ummm, let me think about that... NO! So, here I go, I am letting go of the hate! I think it may help my kitchen be a place of peace again. If it can do that for my kitchen, what can it do for my heart? And what about those other things, those other people, all the little "hates" we carry around with us? Yes, what do you hate that is only hurting you? It could be as silly as a dishwasher.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12

Quilted Wall Hanging

I am submitting a quilted wall hanging as part of an art auction that is a fund raiser for North Brevard Charities, which does amazing work here in town! This is the first thing I have ever "submitted", so I feel kind of nervous and wonder if anyone will even be interested in this piece! I like it, and that should be enough, but suddenly there is the need for validation from someone else. I guess I feel pressured because if someone else DOESN'T like it, it won't raise money for the charity! This was a complete experiment with color and raw edge technique, along with some embellishments that I normally wouldn't have used.

Below I have pasted my artist statement, which is new for me too!

“Love is a Many Colored Thing”   Love has so many colors, forms, faces and textures. The various elements, colors, textures and shapes represent the forms of love. We love our friends and family. We love pizza or McDonald’s. We love because we desire love. We love because we can’t help ourselves. We love the blessed and prosperous and the disenfranchised and the hurting. We love those who love us, and those who do not. We were created for love. It is our divine purpose in life. The beaded wire represents our lifetime journey of love, the twists and turns of life and the people (beads) that we encounter and love along the way. The tulle represents the Spiritual realm and the love we find within it. This love is for and from our Creator and His Son (cross of Christ charm).

Quilt and OPAM August

Ok, so I did finish a project for August OPAM, but it wasn't the quilt I was working on... Instead, I made two pillowcases for Craft Hope. The current project there is to make pillowcases for kids and teens with cancer, to give a bit of cheer to their hospital rooms.

As far as the quilt goes, I am not happy with it. I thought that because we live in Florida, I would make a "summer weight" quilt. So I chose a flannel for the back and went to work. I thought that because there was no batting, I could skip the walking foot. HAHAHA! I now have a lot of ripping to do. I don't know if it is my machine or the combination of the flannel with the muslin top, but I have small puckers- YUCK! In fact, I am debating whether to trash it completely and start over instead of all the ripping. :(  I am determined to make SOMETHING for my friend with a new baby, so we will just see what happens :)

a quilt, a quilt...

So I am FINALLY working on a quilt... I have been mulling around a ticker tape baby quilt for a while now and I finally got all the parts out and started assembly. Why, you ask? Because my friend had her baby... it seems I can't finish a quilt until the baby is born... The gorgeous girl was born two days ago, and here is the state of my quilt... almost ready for binding. It should only take a few more days, right? This is my OPAM project, so I have until the end of the month... :)

School and Organization

Now, I am not known for being organized. In fact, I have been known for my creative (read completely unorganized) side. I spent last year as a homeschool mom trying to have some semblance of order in our household. NO MORE! I am attempting to institute what can only be described as an orderly style of organization (can we say military?) when it comes to chores, school, and assignments. I have the almighty checklist (for Mon-Fri only- we can't take this too far, can we?) prepared and printed out. I have instructed the recruits (ahem, children) of their duties and responsibilities within said checklist. I have stressed that when the checklist is completed, all chaos will once again reign for that day only. I think we all get it!

And, yes, that is a very much younger me, in the Navy :)

I have a plan- yes me!!!! Here is hoping I can stick with it!

Big Idea Festival

If you aren't involved yet in Big Picture Scrapbooking, now is the perfect time to give it a try! There are always free scrapbooking classes there, but Aug 12 starts a new class with 39 different projects! That is a ton of inspiration! Go to BPS and check it out!

OPAM July

I got an idea from another blogger to use individualized coasters for each of my children to put their glass on every day. That way they always know which glass is theirs! So I crocheted a couple of those and I knitted a couple of dishcloths for a friend. All my sewing has been mending jeans- argh! I am hoping to get back to some quilting or other stuff next month. I am looking for fabrics in my stash to do the Craft Hope Project #9- cheerful handmade pillowcases for hospitalized children. If you want to join me, click on the craft hope button on the left hand side and check out the project! :)

Fridge Magnet Tutorial

I have been leading a book study for the women’s group at church for the last nine weeks (based on the book “So Long Insecurity: You’ve been a bad friend to us” by Beth Moore). We have had a lot of fun and came up with a theme verse to remind us of our value as women (Proverbs 31:10b, 25 She is worth far more than rubies. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come). I wanted there to be a lasting reminder of our value for the women in the study, so a sweet and creative friend and I decided to make fridge magnets with the verse on them. She makes jewelry, among many other beautiful things, so you can definitely see her influence! I had a request for the tutorial and since it was already written, I thought I would post it here. You could use any inspirational quote!

It was fairly inexpensive to make these magnets. You may already have the tools in your scrapbooking stash. 

Tools used: 

Inspirational Quote

mat and craft knife

scrapbook paper

printer

paper adhesive (I used a spray)

heavy duty magnets

thumb tack or hole punch

beads that come with a wire ring (or buy beads and rings)

charms

a sheet of foam core

jewelry pliers or needle nose pliers 

The most costly part was the charms, magnets, and beads, which we bought at Michael's. I spent maybe $25-30 to get enough to make 24, which is really not much. I bought two packages of each of the beads, magnets, and charms, so you could spend less to make fewer.

1. Design your verse and flourish (think clip art) in a word processor or graphic editing program. You could use a business card template to make this easy! I inserted a clip art image and then flipped it upside down to make a top and bottom flourish.  Print your verse and flourish on scrapbook paper (I cut mine to 8 1/2 x 11 to fit the printer). Cut out each verse with mat and craft knife (or paper cutter)
2. Cut foam core (sometimes found at the Dollar Tree for a dollar, or pretty inexpensively at Wal-Mart) with your mat and craft knife, to the same size as your paper and glue paper to foam core. I used spray adhesive to get a good seal around the outside edge. Definitely spray this outside!
3. Punch a hole with the thumbtack or hole punch and open the wire ring that came with the bead. String the wire and bead/charm through the hole. Close the wire ring with the pliers.
4. Glue two large magnets to the back to make it sturdy. Voila, you have a fridge magnet!

I would love to see links in the comments if you make a magnet and post it on your blog!

OPAM June

Sadly, I finished something yesterday, but didn't get the email off to make it count! :( But I did finish a project I have been working on for a while: a crochet tank for my daughter :)So I went from this wonderfully soft cotton/bamboo yarn:

To this:

Hurray!
I have been knitting a lot of dishcloths and have actually sold a few. But I am getting the quilting bug again. I just don't know what kind of project to start (or finish). I guess I have  "quilter's block" (which is like writer's block for quilters, not like a "quilt block" which I haven't made... ). I guess I need to browse some blogs and the internet to get inspired, right? Or maybe attend a quilt show or go to a fabric store. I think THAT is what has been missing. I am trying to use up my stash, but maybe I need a few "inspirational pieces"to help me along.

May OPAM finishes

Here are photos of my finishes for May! One knitted and one sewn :) I got the pattern for the little card pouch on Ravelry and I just love it! It is felted and I can keep all my cards - library, grocery store, etc. in there. My son loves his football pj shorts too.

April OPAM finishes (note the s at the end... woot!)

Although I haven't done a lot of blogging lately, I have finished more than one project for the One Project A Month challenge! I have made 1 pair of sleep shorts from some fabric I bought to make 4 pair for the kids :) No photo there :(

I went to visit my mom, dad, and grandmother in Kansas. We had a great time and had a chance to relax. I made mom the pink "lace" for her table and I made several dishcloths and also a few sets of baby booties for friends back home in Florida.

While there we even had time to put a line in at the lake :) We didn't catch any fish, but it was enjoyable :) I'm now starting a crochet tank top for my daughter, so we will see if I can finish that one by the end of May.

I also have noticed that our two pineapple plants have begun to bear fruit!

OPAM 2010 March Finish

I have been doing a lot of knit and crochet lately. I guess I can sit and do that while sitting next to hubby at night, so I like that. Plus I have an older machine, which I LOVE by the way, so it kind of makes a whirring noise that I'm afraid will wake the kids, overcome hubby's TV show, etc. etc. I have several projects on the needles, but I do have some finishes :) Here are my OPAM finishes for the month of March: Numerous knit dishcloths as gifts, to sell, and for the Batten Disease Auction and this crochet doughnut at the request of my daughter :0 I think it turned out pretty cute :) All the patterns are from Ravelry- my latest obesession! I have also been watching Quilting Arts on TV and I am working on a few concepts for art quilts. I am excited to get back to quilting, I just need to get more time and energy, argh!

Batten Disease

Yep, I'm still here! I am crafting like a mad woman in between homeschooling and going doctors appointments- I still don't know what is wrong. I am doing all this hard work in order to send gifts to be auctioned off to benefit research for Batten Disease. I have a friend who has two children with Batten Disease and it is a horrifying and always fatal disease. We need to eradicate this one as soon as we can! If you are interested in helping out, leave me comment and I'll get you more information. You can also go to my etsy store and purchase ANYTHING or request that I make something that you may have seen on my blog (knitted discloths, stuffed animal sweaters, knitted bags, Christmas stocking ornament, baby booties etc.). If you send me the word BATTEN somewhere in your purchase, I will make sure the entire purchase price goes to Batten Disease Research.

The Color Pink

As I was recently taking a look at my blog I realized something has happened to me in the last 10 years. Around 10 years ago, we found out we were having a baby girl ♥ Now I was a serious tomboy, even to the point that my parents gave me a shotgun for my birthday one year. I have only brothers and I jumped my bicycle on mounds of dirt that we dug up and packed hard to make a good ramp. I grew up around animals and showed cattle and trained horses. My first date was to the drag races and I thought that was the best. And I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER liked PINK. I mean I had a serious spiteful attitude toward pink. Other people might *gasp* wear pink, but I would not. I was entirely too good for pink. Because of that, I had a bit of anxiety about what having a girl would bring. But I figured she would be like me. Ummmm, that was mistake #1.

When my daughter was born she was so beautiful and I dressed her in all the little pink lace dresses that had been given to us by such loving and wonderful friends and family. This may have been mistake #2.

As she grew, I learned that I had made mistake #1 and that she, indeed, LOVED pink. Oh well, I thought, she will grow out of it... She, however, did not. Now she holds her own when it comes to being around animals and she is tough as nails. She can play with boys without any problems. Much of the time, however, she is an incredibly girly girl. Throughout the last 10 years, she has taught me such an incredible amount about femininity, wearing pink, tiaras, and the finer points of being a princess. And you know what, something happened in me. At first I just stopped hating pink, then I started to think of it as neutral. Then I began to think of her when I saw something pink, and I almost like it now, almost. She is now 10 and she said she didn't like a pair of pink shoes today for the first time. (Pink and shoes, what girly girl could resist, right?) And then I took a look at my blog. Ummmm, it is very pink. I did that without even realizing it. I think I have really started to like pink after all. Thanks sweetie, I needed that. I hope you continue to

love ♥ pink!