embroidered clips

I like embroidery. My mother taught me in grade school how to do embroidery.  She still has the dresser scarf I did for the low dresser in the bedroom I shared with my sisters .  I didn't do anything else in embroidery then, but it stuck with me and in my 30's  I found silk ribbon embroidery.  I collected books , patterns and silk ribbons ;  practiced various stitches and made pillows.  Then the passion subsided for a few years until now.  I'm back doing some simple emboidery again.  This time with the complete rope of floss on felt.  You guessed it! I'm making barrettes!   These were inspired by the etsy shop "Sprinklebaby"  Check out her store on Etsy.  She has some really cute designs.  I would call her a felt artist.

 felt clip barrettes $4.00

We will be taking our designs to the craft shows to see how they do.   I hope you enjoy them.

real soap

I've always had a hankering to make soap.  I wanted to know how long would it take, was is worthwhile and did it work.   I purchased a video called "Homestead Blessings"  by the West sisters who explained how to make a simple soap.   The video had tips and a recipe for my first batch.   It was easy to find the ingredients I needed.  I purchased the 100% lye from Ace Hardware.  I also learned that it is drain cleaner; don't know why I didn't know that.  Seems like one of those tidbits everyone should know.   The fats and oils were purchased from good ole' Walmart.  I did have some trouble locating some essential oil and had to go to my local health food store.  It was pretty expensive for a 5 oz bottle.   I also bought a bucket to mix it in and a stick mixer and stirring utensils.   I also bought a dish pan to pour the final product, but then used a plain rectangle box lined with a white kitchen trash bag.    Then fear set in.  Lye is caustic! It burns!  I finally decided to go ahead and with Talitha's help mixed it up on the back porch where there is plenty of ventilation.  

I checked it after the first half hour and it looked good!   Then at the second half hour it  did not look right!  I ran to the computor and goggled soap making and what could go wrong.   I found out that the citris essential oil we chose would cause it to take longer to set up and make it a little oily on the top.  Also, we could have had a false trace before we poured it.  I did determine that it wasn't caustic so we decided to wait.  By 9pm it was still in a jelled state so we waited until morning.

In the morning, I took off the towel and opened the box and lo and behold we had what looked like soap!  It just took longer.  Since is was still lightly soft I was able to cut it and take it out of the box to dry.  It now needs to dry for a minimum of 2 weeks so it is really hard and will last.   I did use some shavings that fell off and it did lather.

All in all it really was pretty simple.  It is a soap with several types of oils (including Crisco!  There is a use for it!)  which are beneficial to the skin.  My next try will be to use some of it for a remilled or French soap.

artwear inspiration

Inspiration.   I get ideas and inspiration from blogs and websites.  Sometimes I spend way too much time in Blog world.  So I am trying to limit myself to a certain amount of time on certain days so that I can actually get something accomplished.

Today, however, I received the newsletters from Diane Erikson and Marcy Tilton.   They co-teach seminars and workshops and have some good ideas.   I was especially inspired by the patterns and screen painting on Marcy's blog.  http://www.marcytilton.com/   She has some beautiful screen printing designs and fabrics for sale.  I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the combinations of fabrics and printing she did.  This is definately something I want to try and do this summer.   

God Bless,     Teresa Gayle

graduation quilt

This past Sunday, (yesterday)  we went to the graduation reception of my niece Evianne.  She is the last of my sister's three daughters to graduate.  Time does fly.  I made a quilt from a magazine that I've had for a year at least.  My 11 yr old daughter helped me chose the fabrics.  We were trying to go for a shabby chic style.  The circles were cut and sewn on leaving raw edges so they will fray. 
  On Tuesday evening I attended a prayer shawl ministry meeting and met Robin who also quilts and now has her own long arm machine and has a business quilting and teaching.  Check out her site at http://www.ormondbeachquilts.com/ .   She was able to quilt the top in a rose pattern.  I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  This is the first time I've had someone else quilt the top for me.   I can really only do straight lines and stitching in the  ditch type stuff on my home machine and it's difficult to push a quilt through the machine.  I've tried rubber finger tips and quilt rings and still end up with sore arms and hands.  I know it's difficult to see it really well, but trust me it was beautiful.     Have a great day!!   

Teresa

diapers

here is a picture of some completed diapers. They are made with flannel and have terry cloth soakers in the middle.  When I thing back on the money that diapers cost, I wish I had paid more attention to cloth diapers.  I guess I wanted to be "modern".   Now cloth diapers have changed so much that they are the new "modern" way to save money and the land fill.

New project research

I've been researching diapers lately.  No we are not pregnant, no chance of that, no we aren't adopting any more kids unless God gives us another.  I'm researching types of cloth diapers for a missionary friend in Guatemala.  Evidently, they have a hard time finding diapers there.  I didn't realize there were so many styles and types out there.  For now, we are going to make simple prefolds that will need a plastic pant to cover them.  Hopefully, down the road I  will figure out how to make  more efficient diaper covers with PUL fabric.  Our first diapers will be made with flannel, since I have 12 yards in my stash!!!  The centers will be filled with terry cloth for absorbency.    They are quite easy to make and wish I had looked into it when my kids were babies.  It would have saved a ton of money!!!!  I'll try to post some pics when we get some made.  

In His grip, 

Teresa  

Amy apron and skirt

The top one is called girlfriend skirt made with "girlfriend fabric".  both the apron and skirt were made for a friend who wears them in her shop.  I've made six skirts for her so far of various vintage tv shows or color combinations.  I get to be creative with each one.