Sundays Project Started and Finished Today

Last week my granddaughter asked me to make her a messenger bag for school. I wanted her to have a part in making it so yesterday we cut it out. I next had her do all the quilting, which she really enjoyed. So I ironed while she quilted. She did a great job!  Today I finished it and surprised her with it when she got home from school. She really loved her new messenger bag.

A Little Crafting Fun With My Grand-daughter!

I bought a new toy not too long ago, a Janome Xpression needle felting and punching machine. While I was googling on how too use this new toy I came across a video by

Crafted By Us I thought it would be fun to make these bracelets with my grand daughter.

We gathered up some felt,roving, fabric and beads. We made yo-yos from the fabric first and then sewed on a button. Next we cut a strip of felt and needle felted some wool roving into it then we machine embroidered on the edges. We finished it with some bead embellishing and used a button for the closure.

She is 8 yrs old and really enjoyed using the machines. The hardest part for her was making the fabric yo yo's.

Fall in Love With The Village

Fall in Love With The Village

The Village Market is having a Giveaway at the County Fair.

All you need to do is visit The Village Blog and leave a comment and you might win a collection of handmade products from the merchants in The Village.

Sharing your thoughts with the Artists and Crafters of 1000markets. Your online shopping venue.

A Tutorial for a Jewelry Bag

I like to always mail my jewelry with a little handmade jewelry bag along with instructions on how to take care of their new found Keepsake Treasure. So here are some very quick and easy instructions."

How to make a drawstring bag for jewelry.

Materials: 1/4 yard of fabric

2/3 yard of ribbon (about 20" long)

a blunt end needle (I use a large Tapestry needle)

Step one:

Cut fabric - 6"x 7" (or desired size) and iron.

Step two: Make a 1" hem on long side (this will be the opening of bag). I use a zigzag or decorative stitch along the raw edge or you can fold 1/8". After the hem then make a 1/4 inch casing (2 rows of straight stitching 1/4 inch apart).

Step three: Bring the wrong sides together and then sew the sides and bottom with a 1/4" seam. Turn right side out.Iron

Step four: Cut 2 pieces of ribbon about 10 inches long and using a blunt end needle insert the first ribbon into the 1/4 inch casing * work your way around coming out on the same side and tie an overhand knot.

With the second ribbon enter from the opposite side and repeat being very careful to stay free from the first ribbon already in the casing.

• You will be making a hole in the fabric with the needle

Tania

My Latest Home Show in Spearfish South Dakota

Just thought I would share my latest show that I did here in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It was two days long. The weather started out very cold but as the day went on it did warm up a bit.

I was able to get all my handmade jewelry,purses and cross stitch set up the day before.

There were very few people there Saturday and Sunday afternoon it started to pick up a bit but the fire alarm went off and then everyone was asked to leave. So we did only to be told to go back in. Unfortunately the only ones that went back in were the vendors.

At this show I put out my purses and cross stitch for the first time. I found that the young teen girls loved my felt purses. Had one keep coming over and asking how to make them. It is fun to help the young ones and great to see their desire to learn.

I got an invite to set up at a Chocolate and Wine Show for May.

This is one of my Ammonites that I have beaded around using shell and seed beads and mounted on leather. The chain is made with Jasper, Obsidian and Onyx. The clasp is Sterling Silver.

My Purses from Indygo Junction

This is the beginning if a journey with my purses from Indygo Junction.
I was in my local(Sturgis,S.D.) quilt shop Fabric Junction and found the cutest purse pattern by Indygo Juction so I just had to buy the pattern and a couple jelly rolls.This is the finished product of my first one of three so far..I have had soo...many great compliments. One comment was "Take me to the tea party please" The name of this pattern is Serged Satchel IJ826 If you love purses you will have fun with his one. I will add more pictures soon so come back and check them out!!
Well I have finished two more of Indygo Junction purses Serged Satchel IJ826.
The Handmade Batik Fabric Purse was made with Timeless Treasures and Bali Fabric-Princess Mirah and The spring purse was made with jelly roll Buggy Barn - Sherbert I bought the fabric from - Fabric Junction a local Quilting Shop here in Sturgis,South Dakota.

My Rag Quilt and Rag Quilt Coat

A friend of mine showed me some of her quilts she made and called them rag quilts so I did a Google search and found out how to make them. Went to my local quilt shop and bought all the supplies I needed to make my son a Rag Quilt bed spread. He loved it and I loved making it. Another trip to the local quilt shop and more supplies for another "Rag Quilt Blanket" this one for the living room, it gets kinda cold here in the "Black Hills of South Dakota" and everyone was fighting over it so back to the quilt shop for more supplies and made another one. Now both couches have quilts!

Now what to do with all the left over supplies? Seeing how cold it gets here I thought maybe I could make me a coat. So I did and here are the pictures. I wanted to share my wonderful experience I had making these one of a kind "Rag Quilt" and my "Rag Quilt Coat" treasures.

Sterling Silver Bangle Crystal Bracelet

I made this "Sterling Silver Bangle Crystal Bracelet" with sterling silver wire. It has a hook and eye clasp. It has Bali silver and a 6 mm Turquoise Swarovski crystal in the center.

This measures about 6 3/4 inches and the widest point is 3/4 inches.

Big Bold Fancy Jasper Gemstone Necklace

I used Picture Jasper Roundels,brown bone and sterling silver spacer beads to made this a "Big Bold Fancy Jasper Gemstone Necklace"

It has a three ring sterling silver toggle clasp.

Measures from 19 1/2 to 20 1/2 inches long and the Fancy Jasper beads are about 1/2 inch wide.

I strung these beads on very flexible nylon coated stainless steel beading wire.

The earings measure 1 3/4 inches long from top of sterling silver ear wires.

Turquoise Felt Purse

This beautiful "Turquoise Felt Purse" measures about 7 inches high by 10 wide and about 6 inches deep.The purse strap hangs about 7 inches. It has a magnet snap on the flap.

I knitted this bag with wool and fun fur first. I then washed it which felts it.This is a very fun purse and it hold a lot. It has a very comfortable strap.

This purse will make a great gift and become a keepsake treasure!

It can be washed in machine cold water. You just shape it by stuffing it with plastic bags and hang to dry.

Pearl Purse Pendant Necklace

This is a beautiful "Pearl Purse Pendant Necklace" made with Pearl thread and egg shell Czech Seed beads.

I started by threading the beads onto the pearl thread and then knitted them into this pearl purse with very tiny knitting needles.

I added some filgree spacers and beads,mother of pearl beads and gold over silver roundels. Added a 34 inch daisy chain chain.

It has a handmade 14 kgf hook clasp. The "pearl purse pendant necklace" measures 2 1/2" by 2 1/2".

Red Jasper Swarovski Crystal Necklace

This is a beautiful "Red Jasper,Black and Burnt Orange Faceted Swarovski crystal Necklace" the Red Jasper is adorned with some very nice Antique Copper Bead caps.

I made a button and loop clasp.

This handmade "red jasper and swarovski crystal necklace" measures about 19 inches long and the Large Red Jasper are 14mms wide.

The earrings are about 2 inches from top of ear wire. They have a copper ear wire.

Red Felt Purse

This hand knitted and "red felt purse" measures about 9 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" deep by 8" high with a strap that hangs about 19".

There is no lining so you could line it with what ever suits you, also would be fun to embellish.

I got this pattern from Black Sheep Bags. The name of the bag is Sophie Bag. I have changed it a little but this pattern is easy and a good one for beginners.