Before I get too excited, would anyone be interested in doing this. Also, we need a theme! Any ideas? Any feedback would be great!
POLL CLOSED! Click here to join the fun!
Official Blogging Business: EDITED WITH POLL!
I have an idea, but I need your help. I was doing my usual blog-hopping yesterday and saw that someone participated in a swap. The girl who organized the swap paired everyone up and they sent each other summer essentials. There was a $25 limit (not including shipping.) And it looked like SO much fun! I don't know about you, but I love getting mail...and I love shopping for other people!
Before I get too excited, would anyone be interested in doing this. Also, we need a theme! Any ideas? Any feedback would be great!
POLL CLOSED! Click here to join the fun!
Before I get too excited, would anyone be interested in doing this. Also, we need a theme! Any ideas? Any feedback would be great!
POLL CLOSED! Click here to join the fun!
Candy Polymer Clay Jewelry
Everyone loves candy, right? I'm sure when you were a kid, you're teeth we're all damaged because of these sweets. And now that you're a grown up, why not let the world know you're favorite candies by wearing them?
Photo courtesy of: http://www.theartzoo.com/pictures/earrings/polymer-clay-lollipops.jpg
This earrings look very yummy, right? If you're fashion for the day is to go colorful, then put on this earrings. But be sure not to tempt kids when you wear this because they might just put it in their mouths. This kind of earrings are made from polymer clay. Polymer clays are sculptable materials that are so flexible. You can create almost anything out of these.
Photo courtesy of: http://www.ebbtidedesigns.com/
If you do have daughters, this is a perfect gift for them and they will surely thank you for it. No one can deny that these candy jewelries are just lovable and cool.
These jewelries are also cool accessories for the holiday seasons.
If you want to learn how to make one of these cool and yummy candy jewelries, follow this link: http://www.squidoo.com/sculpting_tips
For a video tutorial here's a free video from craftybabyhope. If you can't see the video here, then follow this link: http://www.diylessons.org/How-To-Make-a-Basic-Polymer-Clay-Earrings,name,100390,item_id,0,ad_type,ad_details
Download lots of free jewelry making tutorials at DiyLessons! Are you a jewelry (jewellery) making teacher/ tutor? You can also list your tutorials here too.Don't miss a post! Subscribe to Handmade Jewelry Club by Email FREEFind the website useful? You can easily link us using the codes below by just copy and paste them into your blog or website. You can also include the codes in your email and recommend it to your friends!
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Mixed Media Project
Now I'm well aware that you guys, my family and friends, are probably looking at the time stamp on this one and going, "Ruthie you dear goober...what on EARTH are you doing up and writing a blog at this time of the morning?" Well, at least some variation of that. The answer is two fold. 1. I've been sleeping weird do to meds anyway. 2. I spent about an hour and a half lying in bed developing this idea in my head and I simply had to get up and draw it out, and then write it out! There will be no rest until I do :P I actually got up and drew it out and then laid in bed for another half an hour or so developing it more in my head!
So what are you looking at? This is going to be a mixed-media piece that's based in cross-stitch. I'll go through and explain what I'm thinking for each of the elements. I did try to label each of the elements so you can decipher my drawings, but you'll need more than that to really know what I'm thinking!
~ First: This will be done on cross-stitch fabric. I don't know what count yet...I'll figure that out as I evaluate the project more. I thought about doing embroidery, but I just don't have the talent/experience for that and I DO have the experience to do this in cross stitch!
~ "To Live is to Create." I love this quote! This is where it all started. I was originally going to do a book mark with the words and then maybe a butterfly (and I still might) but then I started thinking about how it was more appropriate to include crafty type things with this quote. I thought of a couple of elements and next thing I knew it was starting to get too big to be a book mark. That's when my brain jumped to this multi-media piece. (I should mention here that I've always been fascinated with multi-media). For the main quote it will be cross stitch. I'm thinking the words "To," "is," and "to," will be done in a base color like black, and then "Live" and "Create" will be in a rich, vibrant color.
~ Butterfly - Since this was part of my original idea, and I love butterfly's, I wanted to include it! Besides, I've always thought that the butterfly is one of God's most creative and beautiful creations :) I also like how it helps to space the words out.
~ Journal - I'll make this out of construction paper or scrap booking paper. I'll make 3 rectangles (different colors?) and glue them together at the center seam using a toothpick to apply the glue. I'm toying with the idea of using a gel pen to write inspirational words on the inside pages like, "Live, Love, Laugh, Dream, Dance, Dare." Then I'll stitch along the back seam to attach it to the fabric and to create a finished journal look. This is to represent both paper crafts and writing.
~ Flowers - These are to represent all sorts of growing things and the art involved in nourishing them. Don't know what type of flowers I'll use, but something basic :P These will be done in cross stitch.
~ Quilt - I'm going to hand quilt a couple pieces of fabric (no actually batting) together in a 2"x1" square. I'll have a single color for the fabric and then use some fancy thread to quilt it. Tack it down on the corners to the fabric maybe? This is to represent all of the sewing crafts :)
~ Vase - Can't forget the clay and ceramic artists! I'm hoping to have one of my etsy friends to make a half vase with little holes along the edges so I can tack it down. I have a friend here in town who's a clay artist so she's first on my list :)
~ Easel - I'll do the easel in cross stitch and then I'm planning on getting some fabric paint and using toothpicks to make a small impressionist painting out of two or three colors. Yay for all the artists who draw and paint! NOT my specialty - hence - the impressionism :P
~ Bracelet - This IS my specialty :) I'll do bead embroidering to make a band of sorts. I'm thinking I'll put either a very small dichroic cab or a lampwork bead in the center to represent the glass artists. The majority of the bracelet will be completely sewn onto the fabric, but I'm thinking the toggle and the loop that would go around it will be "popping off" of the fabric to add to the 3d effects being created in this piece.
~ Baby Photo and Frame - Having children and raising them is a form of creation as far as I'm concerned! I'm hoping that my brother will let me use a picture of his twin boys. I'll probably get some small pieces of balsa wood to make a small frame, glue the picture to the frame, and then tack the frame down.
~ Guitar - I've always wanted to play guitar so I figured it's the best instrument to use to represent the musical arts! This one will be another cross stitch piece.
~ I'm going to put a plain backing on it and frame it with the same hoop that I make it on. That will add to the crafty/kitschy look. I'm thinking add the backing, tack it down to the back of the hoop using first glue and then some staples to secure it. It's probably going to take two sets of hands to glue it right....and maybe some clothes pins to hold it while it's drying... The outer piece of the hoops I'm going to wrap in ribbon (probably purple) then I'll use the fastener for the hoop to create a ribbon hanger for it and cover it up with a bow or something like that.
I plan on using blues, purples, and greens in jewel tones for the projects (my favorites!) I'll probably put it up for sale, but I'm making it more for me and I'll hang it in my crafty area until it sells, or never sells. At the very least, it'll be a great show piece!
I have a lot of projects that really need to come first, and my bad wrist is acting up, so I don't expect to complete this for at least 6 months. It should take me that long to find the time to do the actual design and assemble all the pieces and do all the cross stitch.
My plan is to see if I can find paper online that is the actual size of cross stitch squares to help me to do the design work. Or maybe they'll carry it in the craft store. There have to be some good tools to do stuff like this. I can use graph paper or my bead program to create a lot of things, but it will be much simpler to create the elements to size since this is as complicated as it is. Then I can create a representation of each element, put some sticky tape on the back, and move the elements around until I'm happy with it. If anyone knows where to find the right type of paper for that, let me know!
Also - if anyone can think of any really important creative things that I should be representing - please give me your ideas!
ACK! I just realized I missed the fiber arts! Like crochet or knitting. Hmmm....I'll make a note that I need to figure out how I want to include those...
~ First: This will be done on cross-stitch fabric. I don't know what count yet...I'll figure that out as I evaluate the project more. I thought about doing embroidery, but I just don't have the talent/experience for that and I DO have the experience to do this in cross stitch!
~ "To Live is to Create." I love this quote! This is where it all started. I was originally going to do a book mark with the words and then maybe a butterfly (and I still might) but then I started thinking about how it was more appropriate to include crafty type things with this quote. I thought of a couple of elements and next thing I knew it was starting to get too big to be a book mark. That's when my brain jumped to this multi-media piece. (I should mention here that I've always been fascinated with multi-media). For the main quote it will be cross stitch. I'm thinking the words "To," "is," and "to," will be done in a base color like black, and then "Live" and "Create" will be in a rich, vibrant color.
~ Butterfly - Since this was part of my original idea, and I love butterfly's, I wanted to include it! Besides, I've always thought that the butterfly is one of God's most creative and beautiful creations :) I also like how it helps to space the words out.
~ Journal - I'll make this out of construction paper or scrap booking paper. I'll make 3 rectangles (different colors?) and glue them together at the center seam using a toothpick to apply the glue. I'm toying with the idea of using a gel pen to write inspirational words on the inside pages like, "Live, Love, Laugh, Dream, Dance, Dare." Then I'll stitch along the back seam to attach it to the fabric and to create a finished journal look. This is to represent both paper crafts and writing.
~ Flowers - These are to represent all sorts of growing things and the art involved in nourishing them. Don't know what type of flowers I'll use, but something basic :P These will be done in cross stitch.
~ Quilt - I'm going to hand quilt a couple pieces of fabric (no actually batting) together in a 2"x1" square. I'll have a single color for the fabric and then use some fancy thread to quilt it. Tack it down on the corners to the fabric maybe? This is to represent all of the sewing crafts :)
~ Vase - Can't forget the clay and ceramic artists! I'm hoping to have one of my etsy friends to make a half vase with little holes along the edges so I can tack it down. I have a friend here in town who's a clay artist so she's first on my list :)
~ Easel - I'll do the easel in cross stitch and then I'm planning on getting some fabric paint and using toothpicks to make a small impressionist painting out of two or three colors. Yay for all the artists who draw and paint! NOT my specialty - hence - the impressionism :P
~ Bracelet - This IS my specialty :) I'll do bead embroidering to make a band of sorts. I'm thinking I'll put either a very small dichroic cab or a lampwork bead in the center to represent the glass artists. The majority of the bracelet will be completely sewn onto the fabric, but I'm thinking the toggle and the loop that would go around it will be "popping off" of the fabric to add to the 3d effects being created in this piece.
~ Baby Photo and Frame - Having children and raising them is a form of creation as far as I'm concerned! I'm hoping that my brother will let me use a picture of his twin boys. I'll probably get some small pieces of balsa wood to make a small frame, glue the picture to the frame, and then tack the frame down.
~ Guitar - I've always wanted to play guitar so I figured it's the best instrument to use to represent the musical arts! This one will be another cross stitch piece.
~ I'm going to put a plain backing on it and frame it with the same hoop that I make it on. That will add to the crafty/kitschy look. I'm thinking add the backing, tack it down to the back of the hoop using first glue and then some staples to secure it. It's probably going to take two sets of hands to glue it right....and maybe some clothes pins to hold it while it's drying... The outer piece of the hoops I'm going to wrap in ribbon (probably purple) then I'll use the fastener for the hoop to create a ribbon hanger for it and cover it up with a bow or something like that.
I plan on using blues, purples, and greens in jewel tones for the projects (my favorites!) I'll probably put it up for sale, but I'm making it more for me and I'll hang it in my crafty area until it sells, or never sells. At the very least, it'll be a great show piece!
I have a lot of projects that really need to come first, and my bad wrist is acting up, so I don't expect to complete this for at least 6 months. It should take me that long to find the time to do the actual design and assemble all the pieces and do all the cross stitch.
My plan is to see if I can find paper online that is the actual size of cross stitch squares to help me to do the design work. Or maybe they'll carry it in the craft store. There have to be some good tools to do stuff like this. I can use graph paper or my bead program to create a lot of things, but it will be much simpler to create the elements to size since this is as complicated as it is. Then I can create a representation of each element, put some sticky tape on the back, and move the elements around until I'm happy with it. If anyone knows where to find the right type of paper for that, let me know!
Also - if anyone can think of any really important creative things that I should be representing - please give me your ideas!
ACK! I just realized I missed the fiber arts! Like crochet or knitting. Hmmm....I'll make a note that I need to figure out how I want to include those...
Do or Don't: Wide-Legged Pants on Petites?
My mom gave me these LOFT pants a while ago (see alterations post) and I haven't broken them out yet. It's really too bad because I love the lightweight linen fabric. I'm just a slim/skinny pant kind of girl, because I feel that wide pants make me look...frumpy dumpy.
In Boston, most women commute to work in flats or flip flops, which makes it even harder for me to pull off the wide pant look. Who wants to be seen wading/flopping over their clown pants while boarding the subway?
I wish I took another full-body shot to show the billowing pants, but I was in a rush. What do you guys think about wide pants on petites?
I think that in the future, I will look for pants with more of a curved boot-cut instead of straight up and down. I saw a pair of wider trouser pants on Ping which I thought looked quite flattering on with heels.
I also wanted to share this new top I picked up a few days ago from H&M. The color is a pale lime green, which makes skin look nice and tan. It looks even better tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt. It is 100% polyester, but actually drapes nicely like a silky/chiffon blend. Not bad for $19.99!
Unfortunately the top did not fit perfectly right off the rack. As you can see, it is guilty of the typical indicators that a garment is made for regular-height women. The armholes are too big, neckline is too low, plus the bust darts on both sides are an inch below my natural bust. I solved this by stitching in 2 inches on the straps, but didn't do a perfect job.
If you peer at the photo above, the stitched in part is obvious. Oh well...I'm too lazy to go to the tailor for such a small job!
In Boston, most women commute to work in flats or flip flops, which makes it even harder for me to pull off the wide pant look. Who wants to be seen wading/flopping over their clown pants while boarding the subway?
Blouse: H&M ruffle top sz 2
Pants: LOFT sz 00P (waist taken in)
Heels: Banana Republic sz 5.5
I wish I took another full-body shot to show the billowing pants, but I was in a rush. What do you guys think about wide pants on petites?
I think that in the future, I will look for pants with more of a curved boot-cut instead of straight up and down. I saw a pair of wider trouser pants on Ping which I thought looked quite flattering on with heels.
I also wanted to share this new top I picked up a few days ago from H&M. The color is a pale lime green, which makes skin look nice and tan. It looks even better tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt. It is 100% polyester, but actually drapes nicely like a silky/chiffon blend. Not bad for $19.99!
If you peer at the photo above, the stitched in part is obvious. Oh well...I'm too lazy to go to the tailor for such a small job!
Do or Don't: Wide-Legged Pants on Petites?
My mom gave me these LOFT pants a while ago (see alterations post) and I haven't broken them out yet. It's really too bad because I love the lightweight linen fabric. I'm just a slim/skinny pant kind of girl, because I feel that wide pants make me look...frumpy dumpy.
In Boston, most women commute to work in flats or flip flops, which makes it even harder for me to pull off the wide pant look. Who wants to be seen wading/flopping over their clown pants while boarding the subway?
I wish I took another full-body shot to show the billowing pants, but I was in a rush. What do you guys think about wide pants on petites?
I think that in the future, I will look for pants with more of a curved boot-cut instead of straight up and down. I saw a pair of wider trouser pants on Ping which I thought looked quite flattering on with heels.
I also wanted to share this new top I picked up a few days ago from H&M. The color is a pale lime green, which makes skin look nice and tan. It looks even better tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt. It is 100% polyester, but actually drapes nicely like a silky/chiffon blend. Not bad for $19.99!
Unfortunately the top did not fit perfectly right off the rack. As you can see, it is guilty of the typical indicators that a garment is made for regular-height women. The armholes are too big, neckline is too low, plus the bust darts on both sides are an inch below my natural bust. I solved this by stitching in 2 inches on the straps, but didn't do a perfect job.
If you peer at the photo above, the stitched in part is obvious. Oh well...I'm too lazy to go to the tailor for such a small job!
In Boston, most women commute to work in flats or flip flops, which makes it even harder for me to pull off the wide pant look. Who wants to be seen wading/flopping over their clown pants while boarding the subway?
Blouse: H&M ruffle top sz 2
Pants: LOFT sz 00P (waist taken in)
Heels: Banana Republic sz 5.5
I wish I took another full-body shot to show the billowing pants, but I was in a rush. What do you guys think about wide pants on petites?
I think that in the future, I will look for pants with more of a curved boot-cut instead of straight up and down. I saw a pair of wider trouser pants on Ping which I thought looked quite flattering on with heels.
I also wanted to share this new top I picked up a few days ago from H&M. The color is a pale lime green, which makes skin look nice and tan. It looks even better tucked into a high-waisted pencil skirt. It is 100% polyester, but actually drapes nicely like a silky/chiffon blend. Not bad for $19.99!
If you peer at the photo above, the stitched in part is obvious. Oh well...I'm too lazy to go to the tailor for such a small job!
What is it about blue?
Couldn't resist doing a quick blog about this bracelet. It combines two things I'm really wild about at the moment, the 'Picasso' lampwork beads that look like someone in the millefiori-making room has gone mad, and cobalt blue.
I haven't always liked blue so much - green used to be it for me, but I did read somewhere that it's the nation's favourite colour. Who knows how they work that out?
Anyway, it's available in the Folksy or Dreamaid shops. Do I want to keep it for myself? Absolutely!
Solution: I'm off to break the habits of a lifetime and make a second one for me - belated birthday present!!
What is it about blue?
Couldn't resist doing a quick blog about this bracelet. It combines two things I'm really wild about at the moment, the 'Picasso' lampwork beads that look like someone in the millefiori-making room has gone mad, and cobalt blue.
I haven't always liked blue so much - green used to be it for me, but I did read somewhere that it's the nation's favourite colour. Who knows how they work that out?
Anyway, it's available in the Folksy or Dreamaid shops. Do I want to keep it for myself? Absolutely!
Solution: I'm off to break the habits of a lifetime and make a second one for me - belated birthday present!!
Burn.
I wanted to blog about this last night, but after finding Danny zoned out and Miley chewing on my charger..I had other things in mind. Like, how much I hate Call of Duty.
Yours truly is apparently accident prone, a huge dummy, and a fatty. Yes, a fatty.
I was so excited for dinner last night that I grabbed the hot oven rack with my bare hand. UGH. Obviously not on purpose. I had to stir the food, so I slipped the oven mitt off. I don't know what I was thinking but when it was time to slide the rack back into the oven...I did it with the wrong hand.
I ate dinner with one hand..while the other was nursing an ice cold bottle of beer. It served two purposes..icing down my fingers and quenching my thirst!
Here's the damage.
Yours truly is apparently accident prone, a huge dummy, and a fatty. Yes, a fatty.
I was so excited for dinner last night that I grabbed the hot oven rack with my bare hand. UGH. Obviously not on purpose. I had to stir the food, so I slipped the oven mitt off. I don't know what I was thinking but when it was time to slide the rack back into the oven...I did it with the wrong hand.
I ate dinner with one hand..while the other was nursing an ice cold bottle of beer. It served two purposes..icing down my fingers and quenching my thirst!
Here's the damage.
Wire crochet tutorials
We are in the midst of developing series of tutorial on jewelry making using wire crocheting techniques. So stay tune for for the release. We will offer special price for our members. If you are not yet a member, do consider signing up to get the first hand news.
Cheers
Cheers
Download lots of free jewelry making tutorials at DiyLessons! Are you a jewelry (jewellery) making teacher/ tutor? You can also list your tutorials here too.Don't miss a post! Subscribe to Handmade Jewelry Club by Email FREE
Share the Love - On Fire for Handmade Feature
I have been selected as this week's featured artisan on the On Fire for Handmade's Share the Love Group! Please visit this site and visit all the wonderful, super friendly artists there. It's an excellent group. I already sold the green bracelet thanks to Share the Love group's networking. Join us!
This weeks Featured Artisan on Share the Love... Blogger's Unite is
Finding Charm
I started making jewelry because I had outfits I just couldn't find that perfect piece to go with. So I thought I'd buy some beads and give it a try. I was hooked, it's almost an addiction! It's important to me that I create charming pieces that don't break the bank. I started getting compliments and requests and decided I should help others in their journey of finding charm.
I am a member of the Etsy Texas Crafters Team. Search for items using the team tag 'TeamEtsyTx' to find listings of fabulous crafters!
I am a member of the Etsy Bloggers Team. http://etsybloggers.com/ Search for items using the team tag 'etsybloggersteam' to find listings of fabulous crafters.
Female, Born on February 10
You can find Finding Charm on:
Etsy
Artfire
Zibbet
Blog
youTube
Check out this Finding Charm treasury! Give it some "Share the love". http://bit.ly/bz8ImV Curated by @madeformebyoaklie
Five Reasons Why I Hate Call of Duty
1) Turtle Beaches. The first time Danny told me he wanted Turtle Beaches my initial reaction was, "that sounds like a nice place." Not sure what Turtle Beaches are? They are headphones. Very expensive headphones.
2) I'm never sure when Danny is actually talking to me or other gamers. If I answer, he usually isn't talking to me. If I ignore him, he's always talking to me.
3) When Danny isn't using his headphones I can hear the other players. Why do they insist on singing? And the swearing has got to go.
4) The "narrator" drives me crazy. It's like he's speaking a foreign language.
5) Danny goes into a Call of Duty coma whenever he is playing. Example:
2) I'm never sure when Danny is actually talking to me or other gamers. If I answer, he usually isn't talking to me. If I ignore him, he's always talking to me.
3) When Danny isn't using his headphones I can hear the other players. Why do they insist on singing? And the swearing has got to go.
4) The "narrator" drives me crazy. It's like he's speaking a foreign language.
5) Danny goes into a Call of Duty coma whenever he is playing. Example:
I just got out of the shower (nursing my freshly burned fingers...that's another story!) and see that the dog is going to town chewing something.
Me: What's Miley chewing?
Danny: Nothing.
Me: Really? She is really close to my computer (I knew exactly what she was doing)
Danny: OH SHIT.
Yes. That's right. I have 42 minutes left of my battery. And then I'm stealing my husbands computer until he replaces my battery charger.
ARG!
To Live is to Create
I ran across this quote by Bruce Lee of all people and had to share it!
"To Live is to Create -
To live is to express, and to express you have to create.
Creation is never merely repetition.
To live is to express oneself freely in creation."
~ Bruce Lee
Winner Announcement!
I am so sorry for the delay...Mom has been keeping me ultra-busy! I know you have been waiting for this moment....
...which makes Laurel the winner!
Laurel, please contact me with your address before Thursday to claim your prize...otherwise, I have to pick a new winner :(
Thank you so much for participating, everyone! I'll be back at the end of the week to spill what I did with Mom while she was here.
Oh, and the family get-together went very well :)
...which makes Laurel the winner!
Laurel, please contact me with your address before Thursday to claim your prize...otherwise, I have to pick a new winner :(
Thank you so much for participating, everyone! I'll be back at the end of the week to spill what I did with Mom while she was here.
Oh, and the family get-together went very well :)
Featured in a Fabulous Way
Thank you Chloe!
My Past in Pictures: College Years!
I thought this was a good idea:
Telling my followers all about me
but only using pictures!
Enjoy!
Freshman Year: Yes, I totally put on the Freshman Fifteen
My roommates, the one in the middle was AWFUL.
I was almost kicked out of school for enjoying a little too much whiskey..
The first time I brought the girls to our camp in Maine.
First of many roadtrips to Wilmington, NC (who would have thought I'd be living so close!)
Sophomore Year: The year I decided to lose weight!
I'm not sure why we were so angry!
Me with my favorite band: OK GO!
I like this picture because it was the first time I could fit into A&F jeans!
Junior Year: The year we all turned 21, celebrated Earth Day and I traveled A LOT!
This was taken in Ireland. I would go back in a heartbeat!
I met another favorite band: THE HUSH SOUND!
I sunburn easily, so I sat like this in St. Thomas!
Before I even lived in NC...we were on the local news!
This was Earth Day. No alcohol was consumed.
My friend once dated a Chippendale...
The girls I used to work with! I love them!
Me and Chad Michael Murray...best buds.
Senior Year: MY FAVORITE YEAR!
I had 5 different costumes this year! I was a wench at this party!
I got very very drunk at our Chrismukkah party. I don't remember putting my cape on...
The best roommates EVER.
I danced on a bar in Aruba!
We made awesome Earth Day bags!
I made Veronica's birthday cake! So so yummy!
We drove 6 hours to go to Sonic and Joe's Crab Shack. Then turned back around to go home!
Me and my parents! I graduated with a BS in History
Class of 2008!
Class of 2008!
My graduation brunch!
Ashley's graduation luau!
I miss college! A LOT!
Okay, maybe I just miss living with my best friends!
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