Rusty...Aug 1, 2006 - Aug 30, 2007

We lost our little buddy, Rusty last night, a great hole has been created. I wanted to pay tribute
to him with a few picture of our little friend.














Rusty was part Jack Russel and Red Healer. Full of antics, full of love, he was always into whatever we were doing. Unfortunately he also like to chase cars, try as we may we could not get him to stop (he is a cattle dog), and he chased one to many.















I am not sure what Lady thinks, they were always together, she raised him.















His first day with us,
















Rusty we love you and miss you so much. Thank you for the love you gave to us.

Etsy ReOpen

I have reopened my Etsy shop, Big Horn Mountain Creations.

There are 5 offerings, more will be added later.

Come on over and have a look.

Thank you for visiting.

Studio Work Space and Storage

I have seen others sharing their work space and storage ideas so I thought I would share mine.

Most of my embellishments and tools are stored here on this book case. My work area is at one end of my bedroom so it is not large and fabrics and other items are stored about the house. Below I am showing some close ups, but remember you can click on the picture for a larger view if you'd like.




















I was trying to figure out how to store my thread and decided that the nuts and bolts cabinet for the guys shop would work just right, now I do need another one, but room is shy so for now this will have to do. This is only my DMC and Rayon flosses.




















On this shelf are some beads and SR (right), tools, and lace storage. The basket holds some purple bags I collected and may use one of these days.















Next are my beads, buttons, jewelry, motifs, some of my SR, pen and some machine threads.
I found that plastic tackle boxes work wonderfully for these supplies. Another item for beads are the containers on the left front, which have smaller boxes inside, I really like these because I can take the small containers anywhere and just pop the lid and stick my fingers in there for a bead.















A close up of the little containers. I got these at Harbor Freight, need more. The have some with larger little containers, too.















A close up of the tackle box, and below of one of the containers.





























Here we have my sewing machine and cutting space. Outside my window is where we stack the winter wood, it is now very full of wood and I told DH, that I had a view of the woods. LOL.















In the living room is where I sit to do my hand work, the quilt on the chair is from my friends on one of my online quilt lists.




















That is it, nothing to grand, but it works. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

Special Project - Update

Block 1 is done for the Special Project, Leslie is doing.

Turtle and friend. These are fun little quiltlets, 6 x 8 inches in size. Mr. Turtle is appliqued, he was fussy cut from another piece of fabric. The seaweed consists of rick rack and eyelash yarn. The rick rack is held down with DMC floss and beads. I worried about making a starfish, but he turned out pretty good. Lace and french knots help depict sand, the 'sand' fabric is really snowflakes and I have very little of it left, it is an old fabric I got from a stash that an older friend was getting rid of. Click to get a closer look at all the goodies in the sand.

















Mr. Fish was an experiment he is made of dryer sheets painted with Lumiere paints, padded with batting, a backing applied and then zigzag around the edges in a multi color thread. His eyes are beaded with seed beads and a black sequins. Isn't he cute, I think I will try a seahorse next.....they will go with the blocks, hopefully Leslie can use them on the overall quilt.


Here is a sneak peek at block 2, more to come.

Christmas Stocking #2 - front details

It is done..........well the front is done.

This first seam is across the toe. Done in DMC floss the buttonhole stitch is shaped into a pinwheel which hugs a pearl. It is a delicate seam treatment and I feel fits perfectly here.
















Next comes the center piece. First to the ribbon white seed beads finished if off nicely.
Below is a silk ribbon motif that I fashioned with 3 roses below it swags made of pearls, and the hearts and star where in the Evening Star Designs, Treasure Club pack.
















The beaded seam next to the motif has organdy roses and lots of beads and pearls. Remember to click for a close up.





















The completed stocking front. Now on to the back. Enjoy!

Special Project

Today I am sharing with you the blocks I have created for the special project Leslie is putting together. Now to give the turtle and dolphin a under the sea home.







































Next I will be sharing with you the completed front of the latest Christmas stocking!

Stay tuned.

Christmas Stocking #2 - more details

Tease, tease, tease...................here is another addition to the WC&G Christmas stocking. I am not sure why I decide on this motif design for here but I thought the wispy look would be good, kind of like a winter branch with berries. Done in a cream 3 strand DMC floss and mixed golden seed beads.



















Tomorrow I will be posting the beginnings of a couple of blocks I am doing to add to the special quilt project Leslie is putting together. Our online group CQI have gotten together to do some very special projects. You may have heard about the comfort dolls that Pat is organizing. This project is for children who are in the cancer ward....brain cancer in particular. Leslie is going to assemble these little quiltlets, which will be completed separate quilts, with machine embroidered fishes.

I have begun my little quiltlets (2), and will get a picture up for you tomorrow. We could use more quiltlet makers so if your interested contact Leslie @ pinyoncreek@peoplepc.com
she will send you the guidelines. Each quiltlets is 6 x 8 and the theme is under the sea. Hope you'll join in.

Until later.....

Christmas Stocking #2 - details

Another detail the gold french knots are made with KNK silk thread from Evening Star Design. It is lovely to work with and added a nice bit of punch.

I am in the process of adding to the ribbon and buttonhole shown.

More to come.








(Click to enlarge)

Christmas Stocking #2 update

Here is a little peak at what is happening on the new stocking. Gold bugle beads, Cretan stitch done in DMC rayon #30676 a soft golden color, spider roses in 4mm silk ribbon by Bucilla #502 Banana and taupe pearls.















I have been making more roses for another part and hope to begin adding pearls, beads and buttons to the area with the roses. Stay tuned.

Nice Matter Award

Susan gave me this award, I am so honored....Thank you Susan!

I would like to give this lovely award created by Bella, to;

Kate at High Altitude Gardening, thank you Kate for your gardening inspiration.

Susan....back at you friend.....Susan has been a most generous and supportively friend and is most deserving, to receive this award again.

Fran....who has been a good friend from the time we met on QOR, thank you.

Veronica....who has been thru a very tough year and is always supportive of everyone around her and boy oh boy can she turn out the quilts

Jo....who has been given this award a couple of times, I would like to add my award to her stack.

Debbie....such an inspiration in all parts of her life and always publishes an uplifting blog.

Annie.....thank you for so generously sharing you talents and techniques with us.

I am honored to give this award to these lovely ladies for sharing so much in my life.

The award is to recognize truly nice bloggers, hopefully the award will move all over blog world. Ladies if you have not already, now it is your turn to tell some special bloggers you think they are "NICE".

Another fun test

Your Power Element is Earth

Your power color: yellow Your energy: balancing Your season: changing of seasons Dedicated and responsible, you are a rock to your friends. You are skilled at working out even the most difficult problems. Low key and calm, you are happiest when you are around loved ones. Ambitious and goal oriented, you have long term plans to be successful.

What's Your Power Element?

Christmas Stocking #2 - details

Oh this is going to be a lovely stocking. I am enchanted with the way it is progressing, I just hope it continues. First, a look at the whole stocking. The big white fabric in the background is the foundation fabric and will be trimmed away later.




















In this close up you see the silkie that came with the April- Treasure Club by Evening Star Design.. The trim around the silkie was included in a goodie bag from my friend Jill Phillips and the beautiful flower motif came from my MIL when she was cleaning out some of her things. She had a bunch of fabric and trims she had acquired and did not want, isn't the motif fantastic? I have been saving it for a long time waiting for the perfect project.







remember to click for a close up







Here you will get a better look at the ribbon and lace also included in the Treasure Club kit. Isn't this 1 inch wide ribbon wonderful, it is so elegant? The ribbon is edged in button hole stitch using Wildflowers by Caron, in pearl, which was also included in the club kit. This same thread using the herringbone stitch holds down the rick rack. In the valleys some straight stitch with french knots add a bit more decoration.














Below the lovely ribbon is a delicate lace (also club kit) that is tacked down over a seam, I am thinking about some roses with pearl centers along this seam, too.

Now for the back of the stocking. The trims from the front are being used on the back as well, to give the stocking completeness.





















This center motif is a crochet piece that my MIL made and is the center piece of the back, it is not done, not sure just what I will add, just know it is not done. I have removed the lace from the toe and will do something else there. That's it for now, another installment in a day or two.

Christmas Stocking #2

First I want to say a big thank you to everyone for your support, and now to move on.

Christmas Stocking #2


All in cream, white and bits of soft gold, this stocking will be very fancy, for a lover of beautiful things.

I went thru my stash and picked out items to go with the April -- Treasury Club packet from from Evening Star Designs. (You can see all the kits for months so far at the link above.) Carolyn does a fantastic job of putting these together and the April club packet inspired me to do this stocking.















There must be 30 or so different fabric, thread, lace, beads, buttons and pieces of jewelry that will be considered as I put this together.

The front and back of the stocking are pieced. Yes, both front and back will be decorated on this stocking, updates will be forth coming.

One of a Kind

Morning all, I have decided what I will tell anyone who asks "Do you sell your things?"


Yes, I sell my pieces but I have to warn you...they are not the quality of Walmart, and they are one of a kind not one in a million.

Hope everyone has a good Sunday.

Disappointment

Blogs are for all kinds of things, sometimes even a rant.........................................


I am feeling quit disappointed at the moment. I asked a group of ladies what they thought I should price my Christmas stocking for if I should decide to sell it. I was thinking $45.00 would be a rather low but ok price for something with all the fancy fabrics, laces and glass beads, not to mention all the hours I spent on it. My husband said $75.00. I am getting answers of $15-25....$30.00 at the most (and comparisons to Wal-mart). Talk about a disappointment, some of that lace is $4.00 a yard. Heck I spent 10 hours on the poinsettia alone.

So I guess I won't be selling it, I'd rather give it away then sell something like this for China prices.

I give up, I have tried to find something to sell that might give me a little income and everything is a bust because no one wants to pay a decent wage, be it CQ, quilts, longarm work, glass work, soaps, lotions...so I give up. I am not going to try anymore, (some people look cross eyed and can sell a rock), I could not sell ice cubes in hell. My Etsy shop is closed as of now.

Thanks for listening if you read this far.

Gail

Christmas Stocking - It is all done!

Done, done, done. I am happy with the finial product. The top cuff is Burgundy satin, with a beautiful lace trim and a few gold seed beads to bring the gold to the top. A Burgundy satin bow with green glass beads dress up the hanging loop.







Click picture for a closer look.












The heal has a hand painted motif that I did a few weeks back and pearls to add even more glitz.
Below is the back of the stocking which is a deep rich green velvet.





















I have picked out the fabrics and trims for the next stocking, all in white, cream and golds. I will share those with you shortly.