Catchin' Up!

Sorry I am behind on some posts, but I have been busy with end-of-school activities, Zoe coming home for the summer and general life distractions.  Anyway, I have had some time this last week to finally put in a peg board to help me keep my craft stuff organized," a place for everything and everything in it's place" certainly helps me keep things tidy.  Now I need to tackle my clothes closet where I have too much of everything and not enough places.

Love the helpers at Ace hardware.  FYI - They sell empty paint cans, which are a quick way to organize.

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Crafty Classes - Survey

I get requests to teach some craft classes, but I need more information, so please help by filling out this anonymous survey, thanks so much!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HQH9MQ8

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Crafty Class - Making Resin Pour Pendants

Cost: $45 (FREE SUPPLIES, except scissors) Snacks included. Ages: 16+ Deadline to register - March 2 You will make: 1 square silver pendants (1 inch) 1 square antiqued silver pendant (1 inch) 1 rectangle silver pendants (2 inches long x 1 inch wide) 2 circle pewter pendants (about ½ inch in diameter) 2 bottle caps (1 inch diameter) You will receive one snake chain or ball chain necklace. Class size is limited so sign up early. Supplies to bring: Scissors, plus your imagination, but if would like a photo, bring a photo printed on photo paper. I have had luck with photos printed from Target, because sometimes the resin can react with the photo paper. I will also supply little shells and beads, but if you want something else, like particular words or dried flowers, little watch parts, bring those along.

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Gem Show - Knotted Jewelry

Here are three necklaces and two bracelets that I made over the weekend.  I love the three different knotting techniques: crochet, braiding, and over-hand knot.

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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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