Gem Show Results

I spent way too much money, but I am having way too much fun.  Here are some necklaces and bracelets I made with what I purchased at the gem show.  FYI - The brass "dear zoe" necklace I made in my metalsmithing class.

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Gem Show Day One

Nothing better (or worse) than cash in your pocket and girlfriends to support your decisions (no offense husbands).  But I love the Tucson Gem Show and stash cash all year round to prepare for it.  Here are some pictures, most of them are gifts, and some are inspirations.

Stones and various Buddha amulets for $1-$3

Tiffany inspired bangle (looks just like the real thing though) for $25

Huge "rock" and roll rings for Zoe and friend

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Baby Quilts

I wanted to make a set of quilts for an upcoming shower. I was inspired by Sweet Softie Play mat to create a play mat. I used ripstop nylon for the bottom so that it can be used at a park, beach, campsite, emergency diaper changing pad, etc. But I didn't want to quilt through the nylon, mainly because it would probably be too slippery to run through my machine. So to quilt the top layer onto something, I bought prequilted fabric, and then used basting spray to attach the top fabric to the prequilted layer. Then nmachine quilted the two together, just in lines following the fabric. I attached the nylon fabric around the edges only, then sewed on the binding. Pretty simple.

The quilt is a simple nine patch, machine quilted.

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Easy Kaftan

I like finding fabric boutiques on my trips, like Maisonette in Oceanside, which just switched from a fabric store to a children's clothing design shop.  Anyway on a recent trip to Colorado to visit some dear friends and see my daughter's volleyball tournament, my friend took me to Fancy Tiger. This crafting boutique offers great classes, fabrics, yarns, and patterns.  I picked up a pattern for a kaftan. It was simple and easy to do.

 


I am planning on making two more. One out of this Joel Dewberry shirting fabric and another out of a light weight grey linen.  I would love to open a store like the Fancy Tiger, anyone want to lend my $15-20,000?  Doesn't hurt to ask.

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Decorating Zoe's Dorm Room

I really like the challenge of decorating a dorm room - small space and small budget. Zoe and her dad say I go overboard, but I think Zoe secretly likes it, and we have a lot of fun planning, designing, shopping, and doing it.  Anyway, this year we did a video as well as some final pictures.

Here are also some pictures we took right when we were done.

 We just put pillows onto two chairs. Zoe's roommate was bringing a little couch.

Here are some pictures taken later, during Parents' Weekend.

 I made this bean bag later and shipped the cover, and got beans locally, but it needs some more.

Zoe and her roommate got into the spirit of things and redid their bulletin board and added their room number to the transom.   Also, Zoe's dorm won "Best Overall Dorm Room" and "Best Use of Space." Pin It

Fixing a problem

I love it when creating something fixes a problem. I like to run, bike, and go to the gym for exercise. I have had a hard time finding shorts that don't bunch up, cause chafing, or look ridiculous on my over 20 year old body. Spandex shorts are the most comfortable for running and biking, but not to flattering on my booty. Yes I said booty.  So I would often wear shorts or nylon pants over them, which was too bulky and hot. I also run some errands after the gym and didn't want to look to gym ratty. Yes I said ratty. Anyway this morning I was inspired to make a quick tank top dress that I could easily wear over my shorts. It was simple to make and when I walked into the gym, the first woman I saw said "Wow your dress is so cute."  Anyway I have ran, biked, and gymed in it, and it's so comfortable, and the pocket I added to the back was convenient for keys, ipod, etc.

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Topiary Conundrum

When I bought some plants for the terrariums I was making with my mom, I got a small variegated ivy.  Well I didn't have room for it, so I just stuck it in a pot.  I jammed a dowel in the pot for a makeshift trellis.

I thought that I should give it a proper home, so I began searching for topiary frames. I could not find easily any cool ones on the internet, mostly topiary balls and animal figures like dolphins. I eventually found a modern one at www.cb2.com, on sale. So the morning after our first monsoon rain (it was in the 80s at 8 am), I assembled it a together, using a galvanized planter also from CB2.  I put a couple of inches of rocks and gravel in the bottom (the planter doesn't have a drainage hole), then a layer of charcoal (the stuff that is used in aquarium filters). The charcoal helps clean and destink the water. After planting the ivy and the trellis, I put a dressing of rocks from Ikea.

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