Gingko Cathedral Windows Quilted Wall Art Raffle

"Gingko Fantasy"

Gingko Cathedral Windows Wall Art

Mostly handstitched and handmade by me in 2005, this quilt is being donated & raffled off this year to benefit the Old Miakka Schoolhouse's ongoing Restoration Fund. The Old Miakka Schoolhouse is the only original one-room schoolhouse left in Sarasota County. The Community Club members are once again hosting the Hootenanny, their one annual fundraiser, this fall on October 2nd.  For last year's blog post about the schoolhouse see: http://earthnsky8d.blogspot.com/2010/02/old-miakka-schoolhouse.html

Same Quilt - Another View




Raffle tickets are available for $1.00 each. If you are interested in purchasing one or more please ask for my mailing address in a comment. You will need to send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your postal money order, or if you want to pay in postage stamps the club is always needing postage stamps too. Or, we can use Paypal to receive payment, too, with a small fee added to cover Paypal's commission & postage for the tickets. No need to be present to win.  

Hirsute Spider

Hirsute Spider

Not liking it...he's in my bathroom ......it's gotta be a "he" with those hairy legs, right? I want someone to remove him to the exterior of the house unharmed. That would only solve the problem for a while because there are more in the house. OK, Fred has responded to my request for removal. He says its just a little one. That must be the boy in the man speaking....

Buddha Nature - 喜多郎 Kitaro

Shabby Chic Earring Holder

From this....

and this...

To this!

I am going to reupholster the chair as soon as I know which fabric to use. And I do have another green picture frame to use for more of my earrings.

It All Began with Linen Table Napkins

 The walnut brown frames fabric was a set of (real) linen table napkins from Goodwill or a thrift store. (It's been awhile since acquiring them) The fabric insets on the front are cut from the same fabric as the backing fabric.

While these photos leave something to be desired it the way of clarity etc., I believe you can get an idea of the possibilities for using fabrics like these to get different effects on Cathedral Windows quilts.

Cinnamon & Hearts

Rather than swatting at wasps and destroying spider webs and spiders I much prefer to sew.

Womens' Clutch

 I do so adore the cinnamon color!

Another Version

And the hearts aren't too shabby either! Well, one is a bit...shabby chic, I guess.

NOTE: the heart graphic came from the etsy store of graphique.

When Sloppy Housekeeping Turns Deadly! Yikes!

I have been looking at this spider web daily. In fact, every time I do anything at the kitchen sink I see this web! And, every day I notice that I have been looking at this web. I have seen how one part of me thinks this is very sloppy housekeeping. And, another part of me thinks this is a part of the bigger picture of life. How balance happens as things keep each other in check.

Spider Engages Wasp

Personally, I don't like wasps. I was afraid of them when I was very young. It always seemed to me that they were strategizing on how they could sting me. Or, maybe just keep me in suspense that they would. I could see it in the way their eyes followed my every move, and the way they bombed me without any warning. I don't care for spiders much either. But today, as I see how this spider is slowly but surely wrangling this wasp to its death, I feel vindicated. Well, sortof...I mean, for all the times I've been stung by wasps. And maybe I can sortof justify my lack of housekeeping, because we don't like the wasps flying around in the house. Ya' think?

What's a RehabiTote, Anyway?

Rehabilitated Tote Bag

Too bad I didn't take a "before" photo...this was a rummage sale find that I picked up for pennies. It had navy webbing handles, and the name of a business screenprinted across it.  I washed it, cut it apart, and reconstructed it using a black and white trim to hide the name and then used the rest of the piece of trim for handles. A little part of the name still appears along the bottom of the trim. All in all, I feel pretty good about the interesting turnout of this particular tote bag!

Upcycled Shoebox Bookmarks, etc.

Still very pretty even though it has a little hole in the upper left corner....especially with the new iron-on bird nest transfer! I do want someone to tell me exactly what this was used for...a hand towel?

Vintage Linen with Bird Nest Iron-On Transfer

 Anyway, this is going to be listed on my Listia very soon....to hopefully find a good home with a lover of all things vintage.  Ditto for the bookmarks. I mean, they're going to be offered on Listia.

Upcycled Shoebox Bookmarks

                          Payless shoe boxes...you just cannot not do something with them!

I Think I Like This!

My First Framed Cathedral Windows Wall Hanging

This  rustic wood frame with little hearts in each corner had  needlework in it when I bought it at Goodwill. I plan to auction the needlework on Listia, soon. I think this frame and Cathedral Windows were made for each other, albeit they came together by some circuitous route!

New listings in my Listia account - May 3,2011

Cathedral Windows Pillow Top - Used



Lot of 22 Vintage Yo Yo's



Leather Thimble - New in Package



"Community" Silver Spoons - Vintage



Two New Wooden Buttons

My Listia

May 1st, 2011 And the Winner of the Cathedral Windows Pillow is....

Teal Cathedral Windows Pillow

Thank you to all the entrants of this Mother's Day Giveaway of a Teal Cathedral Windows Pillow, complete with a feather insert and postage paid shipping. Now to announce the winner! Drum roll!!! And the winner is Deci of http://flowertrek.blogspot.com/

The Making of an RFID safe Wallet Insert for Men

Fred wanted an insert for his wallet. He brought me a business envelope that fit exactly into the back of his billfold. The kind with a little window.  

Men's Billfold Insert Image #1

  First, I fit a piece of aluminum foil into the envelope and sealed it.


Men's Billfold Insert Image #2

 Next I cut a piece of cotton fabric, and used a straight stitch to attach that to one side of the envelope. Then, I attached  two strips of duct tape to the other side (or duck tape as it is now being called in stores...thanks, "W".... I'm guessing, but I digress), and used a zigzag stitch around the edge. It fits perfectly! 

There are probably as many different wallets around as there are men. Wait. Wait! I take that back. There may well be more types of wallets around than men, but best not get too philosophical right now. ;-) Point is, when using this idea the standard large business envelope may or may not be the right size to use. It doesn't have to be an envelope either. Paper wrapped around foil would do, also.

Oh, and btw, this was a very-mini tutorial on making a wallet insert for a billfold! I know! Blink and you miss it!

RFID Blocker Credit Card Sleeve

  

RFID blocker credit card Sleeve

For more information regarding RFID scanner concerns, and/or to to purchase click this  etsy store link .

Prototype - (unavailable)

Listia...

Elegant Women's Clutch



Interior View

For more information about this clutch and how to bid on, and possibly win this elegant women's clutch, see the listing details in my Listia account. Listia is a website that works like a combination of Freecycle and Ebay. Bidding works similar to ebay, and the items sell to the highest bidder. By establishing an account you get a certain amount of free points to get you started. Selling your own items is how you earn more points to use in bidding on things you would like to purchase. I do so feel an addiction coming on! 

What is That Thing?

Hanging Vase Holder

I made a few afghans when I was a teenager. That's quite awhile ago. I  remember never being able to get them started, but as soon as the first few loop de doops were made I was on my way.  Recently I got a hankering to relearn how to do some basic crocheting so....bought the book at Amazon, and the hooks from an Etsy store, and the bookmark came from an Etsy store, and the cheater reading glasses at Dollar Tree. Yarn - was an old T-shirt nightie that was becoming holy. I did not really set out to make this particular thing. At first I thought... Oh, maybe this is going to be a hat. Then it became obvious that it wasn't turning into a hat. Then I thought maybe it's going to be something for a guy (don't ask!). Then I realized that I could fit a glass vase into it, and so now it is becoming a hanging vase holder. Although, I may very well take it apart and turn it into something else. Never can tell!

An Om Etsy Treasury

Gifts for my Mom....

Ticked Up!

Upcycled Pillow Ticking Tote Bag

April 3, 2011 Turquoise Delights

My Sunday morning Fabulous Finds from the very talented shops on etsy.com!