Say Hello to My New Little Friend.

I was not at all happy with my apron photos in my Etsy shop so I got some photos taken of a gal modeling the aprons.  While this was happening Mr LC and I ventured into town yesterday to buy some fabric.  After that I suggested that we go to Winners/Homesense to see what we couldn't afford to buy.

Lo and behold I met my new friend!

She's French!

Look how much better my aprons look now!

Can you tell I'm excited??!!!

Big Box Shopping.

A couple of months ago I saw this blog post by Brooklyn Limestone.  The post shows how to make designs on dishes.  The script plate she showed was so pretty that I wanted to try it. Here's a photo:

link

So I looked on the internets for the special  brand of marker that she used to write on porcelain.  The price was good and the shipping reasonable so I ordered one.

Google images

I received a box at the door this morning from the mail lady.

After rummaging around in the box for a minute I pulled out all the packing paper.  This is what I found at the very bottom of the box:

A six inch marker in a 12x8x4 box.

  link

I know More is More, but isn't this a bit of overkill???

Back to Business.

Yesterday Mr LC and I brainstormed some items for my Etsy shop.  As you know, I will be featured in this magazine so I figured I better start loading up on some new things.  I decided to try some aprons.  I just wish I had Janet to model them for me!

At the very least, I wish I had one of those old style dressmakers forms.  Anyone have one for rent?

The Little Teapot That Could.

This little teapot has traveled around the world.  Literally.

She started off in Norway.  Then she was seen in Australia.  Now she makes her home in Canada.  My good friend MMMC sent her all the way from Brisbane to the LC.  MMMC loves Scandinavian design.  Being the good friend that she is, she is converting me to her way of thinking.

I hate to use her but I've had my orders.  Maybe a soothing cup of Brisbane Breakfast tea would be lovely.
My friend was afraid the the teapot would arrive and do for a Broken Item of the Week but she arrived all safe and sound with a little house tucked in alongside her.

A Scandinavian style crafted house!

Thank you so much MMMC!  I love ya more than my snowbanks.

stop the presses!  I just found out my little teapot is vintage!

Craftastic?

Upon my many trolls around the 'net I noticed a lot of handy people making their own subway art.

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and other retailers provided the inspiration I believe.  A lot bloggers jumped on the bandwagon and devised ways to make their own. Here's a link on  how to do it by a lovely blogger.  She did a great job but it was too detailed and time consuming for me.  If When I craft it has to be short and sweet.  I was not about to cut twenty million letters out of vinyl and line them up and space them out perfectly.  So I made up my own New York street sign in different sizes and fonts.  I put the document through the negative function on PaintShop.  I searched online and found a site that makes posters out of your photos. posterjack.ca was my weapon of choice.
All you do is download your photo, pick the size you'd like, the paper finish, whether you want it on paper or canvas, etc.  They tell you right away whether it is possible to make one in your selection.  Easy peasy!  It is then delivered to your door in a few days.

Et voila! The paper is a lovely heavy weight in a matte finish.  I just chose an 18x20" size because I'm cheap like that.  I gave it to #1 for Christmas as a reminder of our trip to New York.  She loved it!

Please forgive the horrible photos.  I tried to take it straight on but the glare was terrible.  The poster was fun to do and so easy.  My kind of craft!

Note: I did not received any compensation from Poster Jack for this craft, but they could send me something if they would like!

A Quilting Story

I'm still a bit under the weather so I thought I'd show you some pictures of quilts the hubby is making.  I know he's just too good to be true.

This is a baby quilt he did for our daughter #1's friend who just had a little boy last week. Hubby performed the ceremony when the couple married about five years ago.  This is their first baby.

The baby's name is August.  How sweet is that?  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the quilt when it was all quilted. Bad me.  That's my dollhouse hanging out behind it.

I got some Cath Kidston fabric on Ebay ( I just love her) and the dear man whipped up a little throw for me.  I'm just waiting to get it quilted.

I know, I know, he's a keeper!

Cheers!

Altered Art?

Every time I drive by this I want to take a picture to show you and I finally remembered to take my camera with me. run on  sentence.

What do you think?  Like it or loathe it?  The young guy who owns this usually has huge wooden carvings that he makes out there.  When he does some more I'll try and show you.

This is my latest foray into altering things:

I saw some stamped ribbon on an online shop somewhere and decided to try it for myself.  Easy peasy!

Just make sure you use waterproof ink.

I got the stamps on Etsy from a shop called Nora Jane's. I think that's the name.

 I also tried stamping on sheer organza type ribbon too and it worked beautifully.  Did I take a picture?  Nooo  because I am doing this nonstop:

Cheers!

An Eggscellant Adventure

I was planning to post a few pictures of spring decor around my house this morning.  When I looked out the window lo and behold:  A snowstorm occurred overnight!  However, I will not let that stop me.

This little birdie nest has been around here for a long time.  It was originally a Christmas decoration but I like to use it in the spring too.

Someday this mantel is going to get a big chunky wooden top on it.

I cross stitched this picture a looong time ago.  I can't even see well enough to do that anymore!  I just really love the colours in it.

Unfortunately, the true colours are not showing up.

I did this picture for my daughter a long time ago as well.  Can you read the date on that?  Oh my, time flies when you're having fun.

The sun is shining and the snow is melting. Yay Spring!

A Cushy Job

Here are pictures of some pillows I made for Christmas gifts. They are easy to do using printer friendly fabric sheets.

This one was made using an iron on transfer.  Easy peasy.

This final pillow was made using a silkscreen.  Not so easy peasy.  Now I have a question for you gentle readers:  Do you think these pillows would sell on Etsy?  Enquiring minds want to know.  Cheers!

Pass It On

My friend Karin over at Creative Chaos creativechaos.typepad.com wants to share this great news for crafters everywhere:

First.......I have it on good authority that I and/or my group in no way shape or form scared, frightened or struck terror in Carol Duvall with our frenzied meeting. Thank God. So that leads me to my second piece of good news. Not only was I not banned from any future meetings, gatherings or correspondence, I was given top super secret information about the eventual return of Carol by her long time producer Kelly Ehrlich. Kelly and I have quickly become, as one might say in the industry, BFF's since that fateful meeting in the lobby. Ok, she's only written me twice.......but, hey, that's BFF material in my book.......Hi Kelly! Coffee next week? I'll have my people call your people!

Anyway, the super top secret information is that Kelly is trying to get an online craft community together called icraftnetwork featuring Carol. Although the site is not up yet, she is hoping for beta testing in the next couple of months. If you email Kelly at icraftwithcarol@yahoo.com , you will be put on the mailing list, as well as, be part of first beta test group. Meaning you will get to see the site before the general public. It’s like a backstage pass to a rock concert!

So, anyhow, I got a chance to chit chat with Kelly about the new site...........

Karin: So, Kelly, now that I've been "personally chosen" to spread the word, what can you tell us about the site.

Kelly: Ummm, I’ve actually told many people about this; but I'm glad you can help us out! The site is not up yet; however, we are hoping to have it ready for beta testing in a a couple of months. What everyone can look forward seeing on the site is the largest fully interactive craft community online which will include many of your crafting idols, a market place where members can sell their own crafts, they will have access to amazing craft projects from the craft industries most talented and most recognized craft experts. We will be the HULU of craft programming.

Karin: That sounds exciting! Can you explain to everyone what that will entail?

Kelly: Well, they will be able to view and discover craft programming they never even knew was out there. We will be producing original icraft Network programming with all the Carol Duvall show regulars and the craft industries leading craft designers as well. There are so many bells and whistles on this site it will literally be a crafters utopia.

Karin: I love utopias! Especially when it involves crafts. So how can crafters participate on the icraftnetwork?

Kelly: There will be a variety of ways crafters can participate. Members will be able to upload and share their own projects and craft videos. We will be highlighting craft bloggers, events, news etc. The purpose of this site is to bring the best of the crafting world all under one roof.

Karin: So does that mean Carol will be back on our screen soon?

Kelly: Carol is going high tech; so keep an eye out for Carol and friends coming to a computer screen near you soon!

Karin: So, Kelly, can you let me in on any other secrets....please........pretty please......

Kelly: Ok.....I will say this, top secret of course, there is power in numbers and my wish is to build the largest online craft community that will support the launch of a 24hr craft network. I think the networks are missing out by not seeing the huge demand there is for this type of programming. I want to prove to them that there is a HUGE demand and an audience that will support this type of programming. THAT is why I need every crafter who misses The Carol Duvall Show and other shows like hers to email us at icraftwithcarol@yahoo.com and let your voice be heard!!! In the meantime, we will producing online craft segments and shows for your viewing pleasure on the site.

Karin: So one last question.....now that I practically know Carol on a personal level, do you think she would come over to my house if I cooked her dinner?

Kelly: Maybe with a little added security and some guidelines, you might get her to accept a dinner invite.....lol......

Karin: Yay! Carol's coming over for dinner! I hope she likes Costco

Waiting for Spring

Here in the arctic er, the Maritimes the winters can be long, cold, and dreary. What's a snow hating, cold hating couple do on these long winter evenings? No, not that, we sew, we quilt, we... wait, that's all I know how to do!
My husband is a renaissance man, he can build, he can teach, he can preach and he can also sew! He has made all the curtains in our home, slipcovers and upholestry too. My mum was an avid quilter and I always knew that one day I'd be sorry I never learned. Well, that day arrived a little over a year ago when my mum passed away. After going through tons of my mum's quilting fabric, patterns, etc. the DM decided he would make a quilt and he did. This is that quilt. The cute little girl you see in the picture on the right is me. 'nough said.
I on the other hand make pillows. I used a silkscreen to make the one pictured above. So that is how we fill our long winter evenings except for Monday when 24 is on!