Anthropologie Copy

I attempted to copy the Verevine Necklace from Anthropologie, because I thought it was beautiful, but would NOT spend $42 on it!

I tried a bunch of different things, had a lot of things I had to re-do, but this was the final product. My knock-off:

I took the photo on two different shirts to let you see it well.





While I am aware that mine looks nothing like theirs, except in general structure, I am pleased with the final product. Now I just have to have enough guts to wear the thing!

Kanzashi Butterfly Ornament

I have started working on Christmas ornaments! I like to give a different one each year and I am bound & determined to have them finished for the season. This is not the one I'm making to give everyone, and I had never made one of these, so I thought I'd share a photo:

It is made with fabric, using a kanzashi fold. The larger wings are simply a larger square of fabric. Then you put a string through the wings at the bottom (order: small, lg, lg, small) the same way you would a kanzashi flower petal and they gather together to make the shape of the butterfly. I hot glued on a piece of black cording I had that is kind-of flat and put a hanging string through the back of one of the large wings.

I know I hung it on a pineapple plant...I do like to put my Christmas tree up early....but even I can't do it this early!

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!