The Power of Seed Beads....

While on vacation in South Carolina my middle daughter Jamie bought beads for me to make her a necklace...I used silver size 11 seed beads with the tiny black ones she had to create the chain. Attached the glass medallion with a brick stitch band I made using size 11 black seed beads...She was pleased with it...Jamie  liked the way I used the seed beads with her beads.....Isn't it amazing, such tiny beads, yet the power they hold. :0)

At first I had placed this picture of it for her on Facebook...She wasn't sure she liked it.. She thought she wanted more of the square beads...Decided to wait till she saw in and touched it before she had me redo....The picture doesn't do it justice...The silver shows up white and you just don't get the full effect...

In this picture is my youngest daughter..She wanted the necklace of course...I told her she was my prop for the picture only...so out came the tongue...so I am posting..To show how rotten she is..But then I raised them and they can't help how they turned out...giggle..

The Ol'Blogger

Glorious Two Days

My comments are in black for this posting..I received an email with two pictures attached for the blog..HURRAY!!! I love those kind of emails..The email was from Cindy and I am going to share with her words.....
Elaine- I have had the most glorious two days! Been home playing! Kent's been content working in his garage! Just what I've always wanted retirement to be! (And it just took 5 years  :) Have completed my August UFO, and a couple of other projects not even on the list!
These pictures are not her UFO's. She didn't send me picture of it...so if I have to wait then so do you all...giggle!!!!

  "Before"

Anyway, since I can't drag my chair to our SoTA day I decided to go ahead and share it now. It makes me smile every time I walk in my room- now I want to do my folding chairs and card table:-/

  ....................."After"

It made me smile also Cindy...It is very cheerful... I love the fabric.... 

      In Chicago there was a booth that had folding chairs she had "recovered" and Rhona, Kathy and I went a little nuts over them (as did lots of people at the show) Guess I must be in my whimsical - anything goes - stage - When Kent came in my room and saw the chair he only blinked his eyes and said "hmm" So now he knows I've gone off the deep end. Jumping off the the cliff has been a lot more fun than I ever imagined and I'm glad you gals have jumped too! (remember the old saying our parents used "If Johnny jumped off the cliff would you jump too?" hmm guess I would have to answer yes to that now :-)

We need to change that to "If one SoTA jumps will you all jump too? YES

Boy this posting was sure a lot easier...Thanks Cindy dear...

The Ol'Blogger

Happy Birthday Gift

My daughter Jamie (middle daughter) turned 42 on Saturday. For her birthday I made her the watch  pictured here. Front view.... Also I might add I placed it on a yarn cone to take the picture..Not a hairy pitty arm...:)

Back view...sterling silver clasp she bought some time back..A little pricey but pretty...

Side view below...The first try I made it too big...so I took apart and started over...when burning thread to seal it I got to close...Okay, third time charm....giggle..Geri "baby daughter" tried telling her she was going to take it...they love fussing...

Granddaughter wants one now...The Ol'Blogger

Chinese for Lunch on Friday

On Friday Cindy T, Jody, Sherry and I had lunch with MJ...We met at our local Chinese restaurant. Food was good and the company even better...Jody had a doll she is working on. She shared how she had progressed since we were last together...Cindy had some magazines to share so Jody and Sherry took those home to enjoy....Sherry  wore a couple pieces of jewelry she had made...We did miss Kathy and Rhona but they both were working...

Below is a necklace I have finished for my granddaughter...I spiral stitched using black as the core and silver to spiral around..with a turquoise bead every so often..The pendant is one she had...

Hoffman Challenge Update: both Cindy and Kathy received verification that their pieces had arrived...

Of course we do wish them the best..

The Ol'Blogger

Sweatshirt Make Over

Sherry machine embroidery on the front and back. She  used interfacing's and added a collar with cuffs and binding...By placing a plead in the back out of the same fabric one would not know this jacket had another life as a sweatshirt...Of course we all want to make one...All the little details made all the difference...Sherry you did super great...The Ol'Blogger

The Teeny Bopper

Final I got around to making a pair of Softies House Shoes...Have had the pattern, jiffy grip for a few years..:) I saw this fabric and the teeny bopper in me arose to the surface.....The older I get the more different ages tend to surface from time to time...giggle

Anyway back to the shoes.....I knew what I was going to use the fabric for...

Perfect for everyday in the house wearing and can even do a quick run to get the "Times Mail"...like going barefooted, just better..I love wearing them.

And then they are my "one of a kind" Elvis memorabilia..

The Ol'Blogger

Hoffman Challenge 2010

We have two entering the Hoffman Challenge this year..I am starting with Cindy's quilt. Just because C comes before K :)             

Name of this quilt:  Helianthus and Hippodamia   (hope I spelled this right)                 

 (Sunflower and Ladybug Genus )
The sunflower is a little more obvious than the ladybug..but she is there...                          

Next is Kathy's

Named :Inside the Black Hole

We all got the honor of naming her quilt on Saturday...

Yes, we can see all the planets and outer space objects floating in side this black hole..Now the world knows whats in one...giggle

One of the neat things about both quilts..the girls use not only the Challenge Fabric...but also from their share of  fabrics we won from the Challenge last year....So these are extra special...Girls you did great as always..

The Ol'Blogger

Cindy P Update

As promised here is an update of the doll Cindy P is molding of her husband as a child...The teeth and the squint on the doll is just like the picture she has of him from his childhood...A very talented lady...I will keep doing updates as she joins us..She is using polymer clay.Cindy P is painting on her skirt make over, using Rhona's paint sticks...Sorry no picture of the finished project. When she arrived she held up the skirt and said" I need help...I don't like these bright yellow spots, what can I do? I know you all can help." She was right as she heard the words "paint them using Paintstik." Of course Rhona had some...lol We all have some...

The Ol'Blogger

Knitted to Felting

Before boiling is pictured here....If you all read the posting on our June meeting, you will remember Kathy had progressed up one level in her knitting..from dish cloths to purses.. Starting her first one...Since then she has finished one and has another ready to boil...the one above is ready to boil...No she isn't going to feed it to Mike for dinner..giggle...but after boiling, it will be felted,which has been done in the picture here...Now I don't know about you, but for me it looks nothing like the first picture...I am not sure when Kathy dyed this,but I would assume after boiling...She finished with fabric lining and pockets inside and button hole edges....Okay, I am ready to see if I can move up to a purse from my dish cloths...Kathy said this is very forgiving and I love forgiving....Kathy says even knitting impaired can do this...

The Ol'Blogger

Blick,Blick,Blick

First off I would like to thank Rhona and Tony for a wonderful "Fun Meter Fill Up Monthly Meeting". Your home is so lovely..The view from the kitchen window is so peaceful and perfect with the corn fields, garden, cement pond, and the log cabin...I wasn't allowed to take a pictures of the view today, I have to wait till the log cabin is finished, but I will eventually...giggle  
Tony thank you for over ruling the executive decision that we would each bring our own sack lunch for our monthly meetings... lunch was delicious:) The Warlock spoke....and Rhona listened she prepared a Mexican meal and Kathy made a grape salad that was really good. hmmmmmmmmm
For breakfast we had brownies (made by Jody) and home made ice cream made by Cindy T.  Hey it worked for all of us...we just couldn't wait till lunch...Besides our dear Cindy P.joined us and she brought peanut butter pie for dessert...

We solved all the worlds problems today as usual...if only they would listen to us...Tony could hear our laughter upstairs, as he watched and listen for the timer to let us know when lunch was finished..... As we each arrived we were greeted by the Blick Trio pictured here...These three stopped by Blicks while in Chicago and won these shirts...

Jody worked on her shabby chic pieces...and dear sweet Kathy presented her with this lovely quilt pictured below..Name: Bygone Romance....

Sherry also worked on her "I am a Little Tea Pot" quilt...wait till you see it finished...oooooh. Kathy was sewing on her label for her Holfman Challenge Project...Cindy P used paint sticks and change a skirt into a completly new skirt. When finished with that she brought out the clay doll she is working on I will have an update picture later...Cindy T.was still embroidery on Crab Apple Winter pillow. Rhona on the tea cup blocks...Yes, I was making jewerley...:0)

Girl there aren't enough words for me to say how much you all mean to me and what a grand day we had today...I love you all..

Show-n-Tell will be featured in the upcoming post...Our August meeting will be at Jody's..

The Ol' Blogger

P.S. Thank you Tony for the cucumbers from your garden...He sent us all home with some...

Fun Sleeping at Grandparents....

Abbi and Alex came to visit with their grandparents Cindy and Kent for a week before their Dad would be joining them...When Cindy told Jason about the bunk beds he told her they would both want to sleep on the top bunk ...So she planned on them taking turns...As she expected Abbi said she wanted to sleep on top...but when she saw the sun and moon on the bottom of the top she changed her mind and slept on the bottom the whole time..giggle...

Here is Alex with his pillow case Cindy made for him...I would say he likes it from that sweet smile...

                                                       

                                                                      Abbie's was made from Chocolate fabric...it does look like she is ready to eat her pillow case :). A SoTA sister in the making...

The Ol'Blogger

Sweet Dreams

This is the bunk beds before Cindy got her hands on them...The head board after she begin the make over..Foot board...bugs..bugs and more bugs.Okay I am not sure which is inside and outside of head and foot board...Top I am guesting..

With mattresses in place and ready for Grand Children...Off to Grandmothers house we go...Sweet dreams await the children....The child that sleeps on the bottom has a wonderful painted sun and moon above them to send them to dream land...What a wonderful surprise for when Cindy's grandchildren arrived to spend summer time with her..Tomorrow I will post the children at Grandma's..

The Ol'Blogger

Sewing Studio/Salon Hop

Kathy sent me these pictures of a Sewing Studio/Salon Hop that happened a few years back.....The first three are from the Elders house.And true to her nature she had snacks...

Next stop was Cindy's I believe...

Lots of changes have been made at Rhona's since these were taken...

Girls I am out of pictures....we go to Rhona's on Saturday and I will take some then...but if anyone has something they would like posted feel free to post or send to me..hehehehehehe

The Ol' Blogger

Froggy Went a- Courtin'...

Froggy went a -courtin' and he did ride,a-hu

Froggy went a -courtin'and he did ride,

Froggy went a-courtin' and he did ride,

He had old Jerry by his side, a-hu, a-hu, oh yeah...

When I opened this picture from my email I smiled and decided Froggy deserved his own posting....Phil had told us about this fellow when we were visiting..He comes out and sits on the rock and I am sure he sings the above song just as Elvis did... can't you just hear Elvis's a-hu sung by this Froggy.......giggle  
We didn't get the pleasure of meeting Froggy while there...but now we see what he looks like...I love this, every detail shows up...Phil I do believe this should become a quilt or at least a painting...How about "Froggy Went a- Courtin'.. And yes, I am a Elvis fan through and through...

The Ol'Blogger

Phil Beavers Shares...

Phil Beavers sent me some pictures of his gardens..so I am going to share them with you..

This walk leads to the "Farm".. I do believe every thing he touches turns to art...Thanks for sharing the pictures with us, Phil...

Ashley and Sophie...

American Doll has nothing on our Rhona...As promised here is Ashley (Rhona's grand daughter) and Sophie (her doll) in their matching dresses...Rhona bought the pattern when the SoTA Sisters took and outing to Washington and the Stitching Post.Rhona said "I am sorry Ashley doesn't like to have her picture taken!...We can tell..hehehehehehe...Ashley and Sophie are living their own story..dressed alike...

I talked to Rhona earlier tonight and she is working on another dress for them both...Don't you just want to kiss Ashley's sweet cheeks...We will expect pictures...

The Ol'Blogger

Our Outing in French Lick comes to an End...

 As we came around to the back of Jim's house all of our senses but the one of taste, were activated by the sound of running water,smells of flowers,the beautiful sight of his garden....He had built the gazebo that over looked the whole back yard which is his garden.... Perfectly enclosed by a white picket fence.. There is seating on three sides with storage under...also the columns are storage space...One could follow the walk and climb the stairs for a breath taking view or walk ahead and around to the other side of his house...every where were flowers and plants growing...This finishes our outing from French Lick with Phil and Jim...But the memories will remain with us for ever...

Tomorrow I will have a nice surprise from Rhona's family...be sure and return...The Ol'Blogger

Jim sent me this picture of his garden.

So I am adding it here since it is a close up....Enjoy...

Coal Bin Reformed....

Jim showing Cindy and me one of his many books..It is hard to believe this was once a coal bin...Jim remodeled this area himself...

Rhona, Kathy and Phil look on as Jim is explaining his framing section...Tomorrow I will share Jim's beautiful gardens...The Ol'Blogger