Christmas Just Past

Well I can now tell about some of the Christmas presents I made this year.  Didn't want to ruin their surprises.

• Made my second son that is currently deployed to Iraq, a brown crocheted hat and scarf set.
• Made my dh a medium blue crocheted hat with a large black band on the bottom.
• Made my new step-granddaughter a yellow crocheted hat with a scalloped loop edging.
• Made my new step-grandson a heather crocheted hat.
• Made my oldest son a crocheted medium blue hat and a matching wide scarf.
• Made two OSU crocheted striped hats on commission.
• Made a navy blue crocheted hat on commission.
• Made my youngest son's girlfriend a crocheted purple hat with a ruffle.
• Made my youngest daughter a crocheted hat in her school colors of black and orange; the main body of the hat was black and the ruffle was orange.
• I made my oldest granddaughter a crocheted pink hat with a scalloped loop edging and a crocheted flower accent.
• I made my second granddaughter a crocheted peach hat with a scalloped loop edging and a crocheted flower accent.

I'll post pictures of these when I get back home, I am out of state right now, since my aunt passed away.

I have a denim cathedral windows quilt half done for my newest son-in-law, but got sick for almost two weeks and it isn't done yet.  He is a retired US Army Sergeant, so instead of denim for the background, I am using all his old camo uniforms, and for the inset centers, I am using a solid black and it is setting the camo off perfectly.

They're married!

My second daughter is latest of the kids to get married.  Congratulations, Rachel & Earl.  Best wishes for a happy and long life together.  This also adds two grandkids, welcome to the family, Chris & Alicia.

On the Road Again

December has been another busy month.  The rush of making Christmas cards, Christmas gifts.  Then being sick for almost two weeks.  Just as I was feeling better, I got word that my Aunt Thelma had passed away quite suddenly.  So then it was hop in the car and head to Ohio; got to spend Christmas with my family, which was nice.  But soon it will be her funeral and that is sad.  This is the 3rd death in our family this year.  Uncle Bob died in January after a long battle with lung cancer.  Uncle Zeke passed in November after a longer battle with lung cancer.  Then just weeks after Zeke's passing, Aunt Thelma, she was diagnosed with lung cancer but passed within days of the diagnosis.

Post Thanksgiving

Well Thanksgiving is over and it was a nice day, started out warm and by night we had snow and ice on the ground.  Only three of the seven kids made it this year; but heard from all that couldn't make it.  My youngest two still live at home, although as older teens I don't see them as much, they are busy with school, sports and socializing.  My oldest son is in college, but lives in town, so he came over.  Two of the ones that couldn't make it are in college, my son in Ohio; and my daughter in Florida plus she is active duty down there doing Honor Guard at veteran funerals.  My third son is currently deployed in Iraq, but he got to call.  My oldest daughter is currently deployed in Afghanistan but she was able to call also.

Have another hat for Christmas half done.  Today I cut all the circles for a denim cathedral window quilt, I am using Army uniforms in place of the denim in this one.

Artfire

I have a free store at e-crater and another free store at webstore.  A few weeks back I subscribed to a store at Artfire when they had a deal going on.

However, between traveling and preparing for Christmas I hadn't listed anything yet.  Well I am happy to say that I have started listing ads in my Artfire store.

HeritageScraps' Artfire store

A Chill is in the Air

Well it is the week before Thanksgiving and it is getting cold here.  The leaves are almost all blown off the trees; and the days are hazy and sunless.  And all I got to say about that is 'Blah'.

Been crocheting, I have finished five hats for Christmas gifts and am working on a matching scarf for one of them.  Can't load up pics of them now, or wandering eyes might see them ... shh.

Been making Christmas cards for deployed military people; for a project with the DAV Auxiliary.

October is Gone --- Wow

Wow, October has flown by.

It started on the 1st with a trip to see my middle daughter in Tampa.  We had a great time, went to Clearwater Beach and had fun.

After about a week home catching up; I took my granddaughter to Ohio to visit her daddy during fall break.  While I was there, got to see my dad and step-mom, brother, sister-in-law, sister, and two of my aunts.

When I got back, my husband was in the hospital with an intestinal blockage (he is better now) and had the flu on top of it; and I was in pain in my hip.  After waiting for a week or more for it to heal on its own, it was finally to the ER with me.  I was diagnosed with hip bursitis.

Add to that having my 4 year old granddaughter living her with her mom, and she (the granddaughter) has started preschool this year.

Worked on some crafty things, a little drawing, some on the crazy quilt, and some crocheting.

Second Crazy Quilt Wallhanging is Half Done

 

Just finished piecing the second block for this crazy quilt wallhanging.  I am liking how this is turning out.  It is in a similar color palette as the first one that I am embellishing.  

It has been too long since I did any handwork like embroidery or beading and I am enjoying it alot.

Master List of Sizzix - Green Dies

I have searched the internet unsuccessfully many times for a comprehensive list of all Sizzix dies.  And not finding one have started one. 

Here is a link to my flickr page for the green Sizzix dies; I think it is complete, I have searched eBay and Google and can not find any other green Sizzix dies.

Master List of Green Sizzix Dies

I am working on the rest of the Sizzix and Cricuts also; but they are not complete.

Got a New Family Member - Meet Izzy

This is Izzy, she is a Weimareiner (can't figure out how to spell that), she is working out well, gets along with the cat and the kids.

Sketchpad

I tried photographing my sketchpad last night and will be sharing some of them with you.

This is one of my first drawings in my sketchpad.

New Quilt Design

Got inspired to draw up this design last night .. I am calling it Irish Pinwheels.

Monday's Crazy Quilt update.

Got some time to work on the Crazy Quilt last night and tonight, yippee! 

Here are some pics

I added a multiple length green blanket stitch to this seam and then added tiny white beads.

This is a way cool vintage button with neat patina from years of love ( it is slightly blurry in the pic for some reason).  Then the seam between it and the beaded spiderweb has a pink row of leaf stitched and then I went back and added a crossbar at the intersection of each stitch.

The white washed out a little from the flash in this pic.  The white lace medallion is really two pieces I cut out of a lace edging and rearranged into this design, I added a large pale lilac bead in the center and beaded tiny pearl beads around the edge and a small spray of them coming off the upper left and trailing down.

This shows the pink edge trim that I cut from a fancier design and then added the green pearlized beads on it.  The central motif starts with a huge vintage button and has a beaded loop hanging from its holes.  I gold metallic corner is tooked under the left side.  Two beaded green loops and a large lilac bead and a seashell are up top.  Further on the right is a groupings of mother of pearl and old off white vintage buttons, interspersed with a purple bead from a pair of favorite earrings that bit the dust.

This lovely lavender motif is a vintage piece I inherited from my Grandma Kuchenmeister that adopted me.

The flash messed with this a little.  The red teardrop jewel is surrounded by tiny white beads that trail off into a flourish of larger beads.

Finally this is the block (lower left in the piece) and how it is looking so far.  You can see the small string of pink pearls that I couched down along the long purple seam in the upper right.

Update on Heritage Scraps webstore

Got all my die cut ads for my green Sizzix dies listed in my webstore, on to yellows.

If you want to take a peek and see what I've got listed go to

http://heritagescraps.webstore.com/

I have so much more to list, so keep checking back.

Opened a Webstore - Heritage Scraps

I opened a webstore called Heritage Scraps at  http://heritagescraps.webstore.com/

So far I have 47 listings there.

Please stop by and take a look; bookmark it and come back often as I have so many more stuff to list.

Thanks and have a blessed day!

Ecrater store update

Well after some long hours writing ads, I have all 73 green Sizzix die cuts ads listed in my ecrater store, Heritage Scraps.  Now on to listing my 60 yellow Sizzix die cut ads.

Crazy Quilt progress

Been making some progress on my current crazy quilt project.

I am liking how this is coming along, I think it is going to turn out well.

Opened an ecrater store - Heritage Scraps

I opened an ecrater store to sell my stuff in, currently I am listing die cuts, but have much more to add. 

Heritage Scraps ecrater store

Hope you will stop by and see what I have and find something you can use in your craft projects; I have 1000s of more die cuts to list, but am listing some everyday as possible.  If you are looking for something in particular, you can email and ask.

First I am focusing on getting all my small green Sizzix dies listed.

Third Quilt Design Post

This design is made entirely of log cabin blocks; but they are colored in such a way to look like a Lone Star or Star of Bethelehem star.  A couple of the lines are darker than they should be; because the markers I used to color it, were NOT exact to their lid colors.

The colors are a variety of blues that blend well for the star, a variety of yellows for the background; and each log cabin block will have a red center.

Another Quilt Design

Here is the second design I drew:

I like how it appears to have circles and curves in it, even though it is all straight lines.

Some Possible Future Quilt Designs

Been drawing up possible new quilts.  This is the first one, totally different from what I usual do.  But I think I like it.

Started on a New Quilt

Have started a new quilt, it is a crazy quilt, done in 12 inch blocks.  I have draw the design up in mostly greens with a little yellow and brown; to give it a feel for being like a walk in the forest on a sunny day.

This is the design drawing I made up; however, the lady that is getting this wanted purples thrown in as it is her favorite color.

I got 3.75 of the blocks pieced and am liking it so far.

Quilt Designs

Been drawing up some quilt designs for my next few projects, since I finished the US Navy Denim Cathedral Windows quilt. 

Got a Nature Crazy Quilt in the planning stage.

One I am calling Expanding Exploding Star Within a Star.

Then there is a Log Cabin Star quilt.

Then a Scrappy Star quilt.

There are two others I have drawn but not sure how to describe them and haven't named them yet; but they are nice.

That is nice and vague, isn't it?  LOL.  More details to follow.

US Navy Denim Cathedral Windows Quilt

Just finished this quilt for an 80 year old Navy veteran.

This is done with the Navy version of Robert Kaufman & K&Company's Patriots fabrics.

I really like how this one turned out.

Back - sorry been gone so long.

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted.  Been busy.  Been job searching.  While I am waiting to find my job; I have been babysitting two 3 yr olds.

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial to all our Servicepeople past and present.

We would not have our freedom without your sacrifices. 

I thank you for all you have done and are doing.

Never forget FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

If you ever want to see the price of freedom visit a VA Hospital or VA Nursing Home and visit Arlington.

Enjoy your freedom to do what you like?  Thank a vet.

Personally, I want to thank my Dad, Uncle Roy, Sarah, Josh, Joey and Rachel my soldiers.

Newly Published: Spring Into Summer Festival

Just published this news article on Associated Content.

3rd Annual Spring Into Summer Festival

This is about a family-friendly free festival, the 3rd Annual Spring Into Summer Festival in Oak Grove, Kentucky.

Published a Poem: Sweet Bliss

I published a poem on Associated Content.

Sweet Bliss

It is a love poem.

Published a Children's Story: Boomers to the Rescue

This is a children's story that I just published on Associated Content, hope you like it.


Boomers to the Rescue

It is about a rescure kitten that becomes a hero.

Movie Review: It Happened One Night. (1934) Directed by Frank Capra

Here is the link to a movie review I just published on Associated Content of the classic movie, "It Happened One Night."

Movie Review: It Happened One Night. (1934) Directed by Frank Capra

Starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert; this movie has one of the most famous scenes in movie history in it.  He is trying to teach her how to hitchhike, but is unsuccessful.  She shows him how to do it by lifting her skirt and showing some leg; which gets them a ride immediately.

Print Your Own Coloring Books or How to Cure Rainy Day Boredom

Sorry for the delay, here is the link to an article that I published on Associated Content earlier this week:

The Top 3 Websites to Print Free Coloring Book Pages

We have all had to deal with bored kids.  Bored kids get whiny and the gets old fast.  This article will help you deal with their boredom.  There are literally thousands of pages that you can print of coloring pages and crafty projects at the websites listed in the article.

Got a New Cricut Cartridge - Heritage

I got a package in the mail today, woohoo!

My second daughter, got me a Cricut cartridge for Mother's Day; and it arrived today.

It is the Heritage cartridge and I am about drooling over it here.

So many images that are so cool; and will be useful in scrapping those old heritage and heirloom photographs.

Another Article Published at Associated Content

Have been published again at Associated Content.

This article is about

8 Simple Ways to Use Paint Chips in your Scrapbooking

Lots of great ideas to use this free resource creatively in our scrapbooking and paper crafts projects.

Trip to Big Lots

Took my neighbor to Big Lots  yesterday.  Got some clear contact paper, to use in making handmade postcards. 

Then I was showing her the scrapbooking aisle in the store and I turned around and there it was. ..

Cuttlebug embossing folders and dies; mostly Disney ones!  And for only $2.00 each.

I got:

Shell Collage
Invitation
Best Pals
Harlequin
Bon Voyage
Ahoy Matey
Fore
Santa's Coming
School Days
Wild Ride
Ta Da!
Team Spirit
Kickoff
Baseball Gear
Belle
Cinderella
Go Team
Ariel
You're A Winner

Published Family Reunion Tip article at Associated Content

Got a lovely email from Associated Content letting me know they wanted to publish my latest article.


Here it is for all of you with inquiring minds or with a family reunion looming in your future.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/3008666/family_reunion_tips_making_it_easy.html?cat=7

Let me know what you think of it and if you have any tips that working especially well at your reunion.

Visitors

My daughter-in-law and my 3 year old granddaughter and her 2 year old cousin came to visit last night.  Wow, high and energy and high volume and cartoons, oh my!

Spongebob and Dora and Lilo and more, weee!

Separation Prior to Divorce

Been putting off posting this for a little while.  On Mother's Day weekend my husband of 29 years (and father of my seven children) and I separated and will be divorcing.

He went I had to drive him to Florida to go live with our oldest daughter.  I borrowed my second son's SUV to haul all his crap precious belongings to her place.  My son decided to ride along -- which was good he helped with the driving and helped stop any arguments.

We went to Navarre Beach which has beautiful white sugar sand, seashells, gorgeous blue green water that you can see through.  It almost made me wish to switch places with DH -- as my daughter lives 1 mile from this gorgeous beach.  But he hates the beach - go figure.

My son had never seen the ocean before.  He jumped in the surf like an overstimulated puppy and then without thinking bent over to grab a seashell and then it happened!  His new (two month old and cost $600) camera was hanging around his neck.  When he reached down, the camera went SPLASH! into the water.  Also he forgot his wallet was in his pocket and that got soaked too.

But he was so thrilled to be seeing the ocean for the first time that he couldn't stop having fun to get mad.

We stayed to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico -- with more colors than a Sherwin-Williams paint store.

There was a small boat that came in at dusk and they had caught a 37" shark and they let us take pictures of it and my son got to hold it.

Then my daughter and son-in-law took us to Pensacola to a sports bar called Sidelines.  We sat on the patio and had sandwiches -- I had the catch of the day and it was a huge sandwich and large hand cut fries -- nice.  The only cons about Sidelines were that it was very loud for my tastes.  Also the ceiling fans on the patio were under the ceiling lights and that gave a weird strobe light type of effect; which freaked my eyes out, but didn't seem to bother anyone else.

All in all the evening at the beach and at Sidelines was a good time.

Glimpses from Centennial Park

Right in the midst of Nashville, right by Vanderbilt University is a gorgeous park called Centennial Park.

It has a lovely lake with fountains and a walking track around it.  The lake's edge is built of awesome stonework.

Sorry that this picture isn't the greatest; I have a supposedly nice fairly new Nikon CoolPix camera; but I can not get it to take decent pictures.  But it could very well be operator stupidity.

Of course, there is the prerequisite park benches and picnic tables.

Wildlife abounds here and it is so friendly it is almost tame.

Birds are flying around everywhere.

Fat iridescent pigeons hop across the clover filled grassy areas.

Canadian geese honk as they waddle amongst the people; or swim sedately across the surface of the beautiful lake.

A family of Canadian geese stroll serenely down the driveway, oblivious to anyone thinking they have the right to drive their car there.

Poppa and Momma Goose strutting along proudly with their brood of about 10 big fat fluffy babies.

People pushing strollers, riding bikes or walking the paths.

Across the lake there is a couple walking their big black lab dog past a man fishing.

Lush trees and bushes and flowers make this a little oasis of beauty and serenity within the hustle and bustle of city life.

Fat squirrels chase each other across the grass and race around and around up the tree trunks.

And amidst all of this is a life size Parthenon, like the one in Greece -- only better, in some ways -- as this Parthenon is complete.  This is how the Parthenon looked like in Ancient Greece.

May 4th - Finally home from Ohio trip

Well we got home from Ohio at 0430 hours and then I had to have dh to a doctor's appointment in Nashville by 1100 hours. 

It rained pretty heavy about half the way home.

And as usual, we hated to say goodbye to the folks in Ohio so much so that we lingered and lingered until it was way late.

Today on the way into Nashville we got caught in a pretty nasty traffic jam.  Dropped dh (by this time he was starting to become DH) off at the VA hospital for his appointment; and went about 2-3 blocks away to the Parthenon.  I am writing his blog post from my daughter's but have some pictures I took to post later.

The Parthenon is a truly amazing place and right in the middle of the city in Nashville.

I will write more after I unpack and make a "What I have to do to catch up" list.

Note: I wrote this blogpost longhand while at the Parthenon and have not gotten to post it until now.  That is why I dated it for May 4th.

Day 3 of our mini Ohio vacation

Well it is day 3 of our mini Ohio vacation.  We are going home tonight.  It finally quit raining, yeah!

My daughter-in-law and granddaughter came over to visit again this morning.  I sure will miss them when I go home.

My dad, daughter-in-law, uncle, brother and sister-in-law played games last night, that was nice.

It has been a pretty good weekend; didn't get to run around like I usually do; but in someways that made it nicer.

Tried to take a few pictures to share with you; but just like my cell phone, my camera batteries died ... hope that doesn't mean anything in the bigger picture of things.

Still Raining

Still raining here, if it rains much more I will need to work on an ark.

Stay dry y'all.

Ohio Trip - Day 2

Another very rainy day here in Ohio.

Was up late visiting with family.  Got sick for a while last night, throwing up and all that fun stuff.  But think it was just temporary; feeling basically decent today. 

Was too 'up' from the day to fall right to sleep last night; so ended up online til almost 0300 hours.  First I caught up on some of my favorite blogs ... definitely not all of them.  Seems I follow so many of them.   Then I was playing games on Pogo.

Not really sure what's up for today, hopefully more visiting with friends and family.  Seems returning home for a visit is always a little bittersweet.  You are happy to be home and visit and see people; but you have to go home.  You are not one of the blessed people that is able to live their entire lives near to their loved ones.

But thankfully today we have cameras, and cell phones and the internet and so much more to allow us to live apart and to still be a part of each others lives.

Ohio Trip

I'm in Ohio for a short weekend visit!  It's kind of cool and rainy weather, but I am happy to be able to visit.

You know how you always seem to forget something?  Well sure enough, I left without packing the phone charger. 

Got to see my sister-in-law for a little bit.

Then went to Golden Corral with my Dad and my granddaughter to eat.
Then visited with my Dad for a little bit.  We looked at his pen collection (if you know Dad you know he is pen crazy & it tends to run in the family) and he gave me 4 pens I was drooling over.  I purple glittery one; and a fine point purple gel pen. And a yellow glittery one and another purple pen.  And since purple is my favorite color, I was happy! .... I know, sometimes, I am easily amused.

There is this cool office supply store in town called Bihl's and they not only have cool pens; then let you try them out in the store.  They have little scratch pads by the pens for you to check them out.  How cool is that?

Woohoo! Published at Associated Content

Had an article published at Associated Content; hope you will check it out.

How to Find Free or Dirt Cheap Scrapbooking Supplies
Scrapbooking supplies need not be expensive to be creative. In fact, creativity often increases as we focus on cost-saving ideas.
Read More

Making the Basic Card

I thought maybe you would like to know how to make the basic blank card to embellish.  It took me a little bit to figure it out.

Take a piece of 8-1/2 x 11 inch cardstock and turn it sideways so that it is wider than tall.  You want to cut this in half so that you no have two pieces of cardstock each 8-1/2" x 5-1/2".

Fold them in half, using a bone folder, if you have one or if not creasing the fold crisply with your fingernail.

You now have a basic card blank that is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

These card blanks will fit in Invitation Envelopes which are available at Wal-Mart or at office supply stores.  Invitation Envelopes are 4-3/4" x 6-1/2" in size.

Today's Scanned Cards

Scanned these cards today. 

This first one is an elegent wallpaper fussy cut.  It is highly texturized.

The second one has a star border cut from a wallpaper sample.  The moon is a Sizzix die cut called Crescent Moon (38-0275) and I die cut it out of a textured wallpaper sample.

This third card is a Sizzix die cut called Gingerbread Man (38-0932).  The smile did not show on this so I simply took a small pair of curved scissors and snipped his smile bigger so that it showed up well.  This was die cut from a wallpaper sample.

This fourth card was cut from two pieces of wallpaper samples in the same pattern but different colors.  It was die cut from Sizzix die Balloons #2 (38-0146). 

Cards Again

Four more, been on a scanfest today, lol.  Cards 2-4 are fussy cut wallpaper samples.

Card 1 is Sizzix die cuts: Dove and Heart (2 separate dies)

Four cards

Four more scanned cards.

This card is on a background of pink cardstock.  The architectural detail on the bottom was trimmed from a wallpaper sample.  As was the word, Innocence.  The stylized sun is a Sizzix die cut (38-0707) I cut it from wallpaper.

These are die cuts from Sizzix Flower #1 (38-0224); I die cut them from paint chips in various shades of purple.

The last two cards are made from fussy cut wallpaper samples.

Two More Cards

Here are two more.

These are two of my favorite cards.

More Drawn Cards

Here are some more cards I drew.

Drawn Cards

These are cards that I drew.

Savannah's Second Birthday Card

I made this card for my precious granddaughter, Savannah, for her second birthday.

The background is a pink cardstock, that I edged with a pale purple scrapbook marker.

The 2 is a chipboard cut out that I colored with scrapbook markers; then dotted with a white paint pen.  Then I covered with the entire 2 with some glossy goo (sorry can't remember the name but I think they are from Ranger Ink); I hit the glossy goo with a heat gun and that made it bubble up slight to add texture.

The pastel heart paper was from a book of kids scrapbook papers, maybe from Paulette Jarvey's company (hope I didn't kill her name, I remember seeing her on scrapbook shows).  I tore the paper and lightly inked the edges before I glued it down.

The sun was fussy cut from a paper of scrapbook elements, I think from the same book as the pastel heart paper.  I used the glossy goo on it and added some glitter to it while it was still wet.

The teddy bear was a button, that I snapped the back shank off of and attached with a glue dot.

Bayleigh's Birthday Card

This is a birthday card I made for my little niece, Bayleigh.

This card started out with a greeting card blank that had an embossed border.  I rubbed chalk over the embossing to make it show up better.

I used a scrapbook marker to outline the embossed area on both sides.

The flower is a chipboard accent.

I added silver ribbon and a metal queen bee charm.

I spelled out 'Happy Birthday' in glossy sticker heart letters.

Another Batch of Cards

Here are four more cards I made; and finally got scanned today.
First one is a cute little critter that I fussy cut from a wallpaper sample.

The second one is a pencil drawing that I did.

The last two are fussy cuts from wallpaper samples.  I love these stylized flowers; I think they are absolutely gorgeous.  So classy and sophisticated.