Happy Birthday Taylor!

I made these for the 15 year old across the street's birthday party today. I hope she actually likes them and wears them! :)

Crochet "O"

My mom had a framed filet crochet "O" that my sister made in her bathroom. It was backed with a peach floral fabric to match her bathroom, but after their recent remodel of the bath, it no longer matched. I told Mom that I'd take it and make it match her brown bath. This is what I came up with.

I took the cardboard out of the frame and used a roller to roll brown ink all over to give a leathery appearance to the backing. Then cut the fancy corners with the cuttlebug Mom had given me a while back. Then put it all together. It was a pretty easy project, and I love taking something that is no longer useful (did not match) and making it beautiful again! I hope she likes it!

Pink Earrings

I made these the same as the green pair in the last post, but different size ring and different beads. I am liking these earrings! Especially since it is so easy to customize a color! That embroidery floss is in every color imaginable!

Green Earrings

A pair of earrings that I created today. I made the green circle from getting a plastic washer and knotting around it with embroidery floss. Then topped it with beads I already had and put it on wire. Lightweight and showy. I like it!

Dainty Earrings

I think this is my favorite project of the year! I just crocheted this pair of earrings! My first completed crochet project in years. They were quick and simple, they're so light I can't tell I'm wearing them, and they're grey/silver - my fav! I bet my mom and sister will be asking me to bring some of this cool thread before I see them next week so we can make some! :)

Here's the site with the pattern for anyone who would like to try them!

http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/jewelry/f107008_daintyearrings.shtml

Quilled Layla

I made this to go in a Pooh themed room for a cousin of mine. I didn't want to do the actual characters, because I'm sure I couldn't make them look right, and because I thought it could be used in the room longer. I decided to go with the honey/bee theme and found a proverb about honeycomb for the bottom. Hope it matches!

Finished Curtain

My dad made this shelf/curtain rod hanger for me while he was here last weekend playing with the kids. I painted it and stapled a topper for this curtain and my hubbie hung it on the wall on Sunday. Looking good! Now I'm looking around the house for some fun, decorative things to put on it. I was thinking some little monkey figures would be cute....

Paper Cutting

I tried my hand at a new craft yesterday. I was again inspired by a library book, so I brought it home. I tried to get my husband to try this craft with me, but he was totally UN-inspired! :) The book recommended you start with scraps of low-quality paper so you won't be upset when throwing them away because you won't like the first things you make. So, during quiet time yesterday - one hour - I took a paper bag that I'd gotten while shopping the day before, my little scissors from the kitchen, and cut these shapes.

I did not trace a pattern, but looked at the pictures in the book as I cut and didn't throw one of them away! I was so proud when our daughter came out of quiet time and named them. She could tell what they all were....except the birthday candle, she thought it was an arrow.

Hairbow

My daughter finally wants to wear hairbows, so I made this one for her today! Loving the site:

http://www.girlythingsbows.com/

which shows you how to make almost any hairbow you would want to make! This is mine, with a scrap of ribbon from who knows where that was in the disaster I call my craft closet.

Hairbow

If you've been folowing for a long time, you will know that I used to carry a purse from this fabric. I really like it, and I really liked this flower. I wanted to be able to show it off a little, so I decided to try to put it in my hair. I sewed and glued it onto a bobby pin and had my little girl take some photos:

Also, I put this one one an apholstery tac and stuck it into a candle.

Just when I think that I've finished with these flowers, I

think of something else.

More Kanzashi

A few more flowers from today and yesterday:

Information on how to make Kanzashi

All these flowers after just a quick look in the "New Books" section of the library. When I saw this book, I knew I wanted to take a closer look! I am so glad I did!

http://www.amazon.com/Kanzashi-Bloom-Fold-Sew-Projects/dp/0823084817

After a look, this was the best tutorial I found on the internet for how to make the two types of flower petals I have been making.

http://gabriellepollacco.blogspot.com/2009/11/kanzashi-bloom-tutorial-fun-handmade.html

My Favorite Kanzashi

My absolute favorite, so far, was taking this boring hat of my husbands that he doesn't want anymore.....and adding this!

Kanzashi

What am I doing with all those little flowers, you ask? Here are a few:

I put a few flowers on a pillow, which was my Mom's great idea! I've not sewn them on yet, because I want to be sure I like these spicific colors/flowers first, but I think they look great on there!

I made one in colors to match my room and glued a button to both sides so both sides are finished and sewed it onto a piece of chain for my new fan pull in my bedroom. So fun!

And then I made two almost alike:

And put one on a nail that I hang this souvenier from our honeymoon on, the other I put on a ribbon necklace, though I think it might be a little too big....what do you think?

Pillows

I made these two pillows for the new living room to bring the colors together a little more. The one with the fabric that matches the curtains has a frilly fringe that I put around the outside. The creamy colored one has a cording (I don't know what this is actually called) that I made by sewing the same fabric over a cord made for that purpose . It was my first time doing either of those techniques and I am quite pleased with pillows that don't look so homemade!

Almost feeling finished in the living room! Do you think I need another pillow on this loveseat, and if so, what color?