Can I Try To Fit More Hours In The Day

I don't know about you...

but it seems like lately there just

does not seem to be

enough time in the day for all the things I want and

need to do.

Jill and I have been so busy these last few

weeks getting Junkin Gypsies up

and going.

That Leaping Frog Designs has gone a little

quiet.

My Etsy store finally has some new vintage items

listed...and on that note,

Last week I was invited to join the

Etsy Vintage Street Team

This next week I plan on exploring the team blog and my

fellow team members stores.

Since I could not sleep

this morning

I made up a treasury of one

of my favorite things

Crazy Quilting.

Here is the link

Hopefully some of you will stop on over

and take a look

So many beautiful quilts and amazing

artists.

Have a great Friday everyone!!!

Don't Forget

Junkin Gypsies Giveaway is today also!!!!http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d8caad49b168eef50a23499/busy-hands-make-crazy-quilts?index=0

Venise Lace Arrived Today-I Am So Happy

A few weeks ago I found Patrica Winters new Magazine

Crazy Quilt Gatherings

One ad caught my attention and imagination.

RavioleeDreams

Spilling from a small trunk...Luscious

Hand Dyied Venise Lace

Ahhh The Crazy Quilter in me sighed...Just what I have

been looking for.

At last..this week I took a little breather (shhhh-Do not tell Jill!)

and ordered the mini's.

The Last two or three weeks Jill and I have been working

like crazy women putting

Junkin Gypsies together and getting ready

to open on Etsy.

Our gift box giveaway you can see in the post before this.

So...My point is.  There has not been much

extra time.  In fact my poor family has been the most patient

with me along with my sweet Quinn girl (my German Shepherd)

I bet you would love for me to get back to my story..

Today I cut my timing a little close...Jill and I had been working on

some fun things for the store...I just had to

stop and pick up Quinn before we picked up my son from school.

It was going to be close...

And there on my front porch was two packages.

Well....One package and one larger envelope.

Happy Day!!!

Goodies!!!!

I had to open the one I knew came from RavioleeDreams

and here is what was inside

Really Nice !!! I can see why she is having

a hard time keeping them

in stock.

Last night...I ordered the middle motif  package...

They are going to be so fun to

create with.

Take a little visit  over to Nicki's store on Etsy

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/RavioleeDreams?ref=seller_info

And see the wonderful treasures she makes



Seam Bias Tape Flowers Step 2 Added ToThe Cuff

 Excuse my pictures....They are a little out of sequence

The seam bias tape flowers

in green

I Looove green

and I also like reversing colors

 I decided to use all of these green flowers and you know...the ones

I thought were too poofy

look really great

and the ones I liked that have fewer petals.. They are ok, but not as lush

on this cuff.

This is how she started out...The edging from a vintage pillowcase

and pretty peach brocade

Underneath peach bias tape vine...I wish I had grabbed pink or maybe

brown...but

you can't see it anyway...

There is much more to add I can feel it

More crystals...a few more smaller

flowers. It is hard to say

when it is finished.

The inside still needs lined...Maybe that beautiful antique peridot

velvet I have been saving.

I can see several loose threads need snipped



Seam Bias Flowers The First Attempts

                                 

Bias tape flowers

Currently the project on my table is a Victorian cuff type wrist let.

It started out with some beautiful soft peach brocade.

Edged with hand crochet pillow edging.

But...just covering it with crystal beads like the last one really

is not much of a challenge...so.  I thought it was time to learn how to make

some ribbon flowers.

There are some wonderful tutorials on you tube.

But for some reason last night they would not play for me. 

As you can see...to the right, my first flowers are very poofy,

but it did not take me long to figure out that was not the look I was shooting for

so...Less tape...bigger stitches...Take your time..

and then you end up with flowers that look more like flowers and not

something so wild looking.

I am going to make a few more...and see if I can get them very tiny. 

Then add them to the cuff.

Pink vines to go with the green flowers...

Lots and lots of crystal beads

Perfect project to work on as my son does school projects and we watch the snow that we so seldom get here in Eugene.

This Weeks Big Project Victorian Cuff Bracelet

One of the things I have missed the last few years is my embroidery needles.  I put everything away after starting a huge crazy quilt project for my son.  Working on it at night after he and my husband went to bed really wore my eyes out...Last year finally breaking down bifocals came into my life...Thank Goodness!!!! I could see again at last. 

Cruising on the blog I have seen so many beautiful projects...It just did not hit me until this last Monday how much I yearned to create again with fabric and  beads.  It is so typical that the project you dream about making ends up not being the project you actually make...Maybe that only happens to me and not other people.  But it happens to me quite often...ha ha

I love pink...and I have a pretty piece of peachy pink brocade fabric that was going to be the base for my bracelet.  But.....This beautiful maroon-rusty satin has been calling to me for the longest time.  I rescued it from a large pile of junk left by my parents next door neighbors by the side of the road when they moved overseas. (I know..I know...I am a scrounge)  But it is so beautiful and it called to me to be rescued and made into something new.  Anyway....

Thought pink....ended up with maroon and black.  I really love how it turned out!
A single vintage earring...Hundreds of crystal beads in assorted sizes.  Two Victorian black glass buttons.  This was a lot of fun to make...and I have already pressed my next pieces of fabric to start the next one....The peachy pink brocade with a lush vintage gold satin...mmmmm