A Silver Smither!

Look at what I made!

Aren’t they cool?

I took a silversmithing class on Saturday at the university art department as a part of their continuing education programs. There were only four people in my class, so we were each able to get personal attention from the instructor, Kay Rashka. She’s a hobby metal smither who teaches jewelry making and design in her spare time.

All those lovely earrings pictured above were made by our instructor, and we were able to choose one of the designs on the bottom row for our beginner class project. The designs on the top two rows involved soldering or more advanced techniques that we didn’t have time to learn on the first day.

We got to saw a raw sheet of metal, sand and file the shapes, forge texture into the shapes with hammers or stamps, melt a piece of silver wire to make a bead on the end, drill holes for the wires, shapes spirals with wire, and assemble all the pieces into a cool pair of contemporary earrings. I have always wanted to learn the art of metal smithing, but I’ve never had the opportunity until now.

Our instructor was so well organized that she had stations set up for each step of the process, as well as individuals work stations for each of us to come back to and continue at our own pace.

It was fun learning about the tools used in silver smithing, from the hand tools to the power tools. It was also a great feeling to take raw materials and shape them into art wear. I’m already sketching ideas in my new sketchbook for more earrings and pendants, so I can’t wait to try this again!

TGI-the-Weekend!

I am so glad this week is over and the weekend is here! I had to deal with internal audit at work, which I really hate doing. But I don’t like to talk about work, especially here in my creative space, so let’s talk about something else.

(Callie trying to get some sun on her belly!)

I am taking an art class today called Silver Art Wear. We are going to learn to cut a raw silver sheet, forge and hammer, file, pierce, and dome, all toward finishing a pair of silver earrings. I have always wanted to try silversmithing, so I’m excited for the day’s adventure. I hope to have some pictures to show you tomorrow.

I have also been working on some unfinished projects, a quilt, a table runner, a couple Christmas gifts, just the usual. Enjoy the best day of the week!

Swap With A Friend

Awhile ago, my blogger friend Amy did a post on her blog looking for someone to do a swap with her – knit her a pair of fingerless gloves as a trade for something she could make for the volunteer. I volunteered! I made these fingerless gloves to help Amy get through the winter.

In return, she made me this Denyse Schmidt Promenade Market Tote!

The back is just as cool as the front.

It has a big inside pocket and a flat bottom with a sturdy plastic insert, making it great to carry a book or groceries. I will probably use this tote to carry a winter knitting project, but I could also take my newest book to the cafe and hang out for awhile.

Amy even included one of her new scrap-busting cards and an adorable drawstring bag with this cute ribbon and vintage buttons.

I really enjoyed this swap because it was a one-on-one  trade with a fellow sewing friend, making me feel more grateful for the personal touch that went into her efforts. Thank you SO much Amy!

A Fun and Productive Weekend

We had a nice dinner party on Halloween night. We invited my aunts and uncle who live in a retirement complex so they could see all the trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood.
I think we had at least 30 kids, and they were all wearing fantastic costumes. I was so impressed! After our guests left, we hung out at the neighbors’ bonfire for some cocktails and a few laughs.

Next up, I finished quilting my table runner today! I mentioned previously that I used Anina’s pattern, which I liked and would recommend. I don’t think I was as precise as her pattern calls for, so it turned out a little more wonky, but in a good way, of course! This project is made from the Natural Territory fabrics by Terry Atkinson, which I found at my local quilt shop.

(My photos turned out a little dark – I had to hurry before the sun set early today with our Daylight Savings time change.)

I used the walking foot to quilt random lines across it, which was fun. I think the straight lines gave this project a cool, modern effect.

I just need to finish hand sewing the binding to the back and then it will be ready to use through the month of November. It measures 17 inches x 46 inches, just right for our buffet.

I am looking forward to working on a few patchwork products this week to post in my shop for the upcoming holiday seasons. Hope you all had a great Halloween weekend, and have a great week!

Progress!

I am excited to share my progress for the week, so please be impressed. I get so easily distracted by lots of creative ideas of things to make, so I’m happy when I finish what I originally set out to do.

First, I finished my red wonky star mini quilt.

I really like making these mini quilts because they are quick and also a great way for me to practice my machine quilting.

I love how these look for the holiday season! Not sure yet where I’ll put these; maybe just hang them at my desk at work, since it’s so drab there.

I like these so much that I started another set for a gift for someone.

I made lots of progress on my fall table runner too!

I pieced it, sandwiched it, and now it’s ready to be quilted. I haven’t decided whether to do a free motion design or random wonky lines. I am even ready with the binding.

My goal is to finish this table runner on Sunday because today I have to make chili, cornbread, and cookies for our Halloween party tonight. Happy Halloween everyone!

Mid-Week Progress

You know how we are always making lists of things to do to keep us focused? I was getting worried about my lack of progress this week on my to do list because of TV show distractions, songs and podcasts on iTunes to check out, and just general hanging out.

Then I remembered how quickly these wonky star blocks come together, so I managed to piece together a red version (which is technically more of a raspberry color) similar to my green star.

Just needs to be sandwiched and quilted. I think this will look cool with my green mini quilt for the holiday season.

I do have the strips of fabric cut to make a table runner using Anina’s tutorial for Fall, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.

The best part of my mid-week progress is fixing these gloves. I know, it’s not very exciting, but I’ve never darned anything before, so I just winged it.

They are just basic gloves I bought for probably $10.00 at a department store several years ago, but they are fleece lined, making them warmer and more wind resistant than basic knit gloves. So I’m happy to be able to wear them again.

Well, now I actually feel like I’ve made some progress this week. Hope you are making progress too!

Another Monday, Another Week

Thanks for all the travel bag love! I really appreciate you all stopping by and taking the time to leave such nice comments.

We had a nice weekend visiting my parents in Milwaukee, from a successful shopping spree for a few mix and match outfits for my mom to seeing the Cinderella ballet. I wanted to take a picture of the ballerinas’ costumes, but photography wasn’t allowed in the theater. Trust me, they lit up the  stage, making it beautiful.

I didn’t feel like raking when we got back home. Instead, I took a couple pictures of the fall colors still left. We saw some colorful leaves glowing in our backyard and along the road sides, but the peak has past, and now we’re starting to see more bare trees. Boo hoo!

For the week ahead, other than a few boring meetings at work (which are a good time to practice my drawing or just doodle), and my usual exercise routine on Monday and Wednesday nights, I am already looking forward to next Saturday – Halloween! We have to pick up candy for the trick-or-treaters, and carve our pumpkins. I might even wear a costume this year! I am hoping to have time to work on a fall table runner and another wonky star block, in red this time to go along with the green one I made recently. Hope you all have a happy week!

Have Bags, Will Travel

We are headed to my parents’ house in Milwaukee for the weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing them, even though it’s only been about a month and a half since we last saw them. My mom and I are going shopping (SHE needs clothes), and then she’s taking me to a ballet. Dave is going to hang out with my stepdad, maybe work on some guy-chores and rent a guy-movie.

I decided I needed new makeup bags for traveling. I’m not very good at packing when we travel, always bringing too much or ending up with a bag that’s too heavy (so naturally Dave ends up carrying it).

I have several fat quarters of each print from the Good Folks fabric collection in my stash, so I decided to use up some of it for lighter makeup bags than what I’ve been lugging around the past couple years.

I made these two zippered bags to hold my makeup and toiletries. I didn’t use a pattern, but I knew I wanted them to be fairly big with a flat bottom so they would stand up. I also wanted them quilted but not pieced; just one fabric to show off on the outside and one for the lining. The larger one measures about 7 inches tall by 10 inches wide, and the smaller version is 6 inches tall by 9 inches wide.

I really love how they turned out, but I think they need a little embellishment. I’m going to attach a felt flower brooch, or maybe a vintage brooch if I find something funky in the stores this weekend. (Doesn’t my little drawer of buttons look so boring?)

Hope you all enjoy a grrreat weekend!

New Patchwork Bags for the Shop

I have been sewing more products lately to add to my shop.

I finished two more laptop bags similar to the one that I’m going to keep because I love it so much.

It has a zipper pocket on the inside so you can store your charger cord or other secret things you want to carry with you.

One of these bags measures 14″ by 15.5″ wide, which will fit a laptop with a 13″ screen.

The other other laptop bag measures 13″ by 16″, which will fit a laptop with a 15″ screen.

Both of these laptop bags are made from home decor-weight fabric, making them more sturdy to hold your computer.

I also made a couple of patchwork zippered bags from these same lovely fabrics.

These zippered bags can be used to carry pens and pencils, art supplies, even makeup brushes. They measure about 5-inches tall by 11-inches wide.

Stop by the shop to check things out! I will be adding more new products and gifts ideas for the upcoming holidays.

Fall Duties

CORRECTION: I forgot to include the 3/4 cup brown sugar in the recipe I posted below! (Thanks Amy!) I’m so sorry about that! I hope I didn’t mess up anyone’s baking adventures.

We spent a lot of time this weekend working on many Fall duties, especially yard work. We are usually so enthusiastic in Spring to get out into the yard and plant new things and tend to the gardens. But now it’s just tiring and not as much fun anymore!

We had to stop at the garden center to pick up some bulbs and fertilizer for the lawn.

They had the coolest pumpkin displays set up next to their entry way.

I bought a few more tulip and crocus bulbs to plant around our new trees. Then we spent a lot of time raking, mowing, and cutting down the dead foliage.

Because of all that yard work, we didn’t have the energy or time to go on our usual Sunday hike. I didn’t do a lot of sewing either, but I had time to make a batch of Apple Spice Cookies, which taste even better than plain old oatmeal cookies. My husband doesn’t like fruit so I didn’t tell him they have chopped up apples in them. He didn’t notice and he loves them. Ha!

If you’re interested in trying these cookies, here’s the recipe:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 small apples, peeled and chopped (2 cups) (I used Macintosh)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter, shortening and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until thoroughly mixed. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well blended. Beat in oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and flour, scraping side and bottom of bowl until blended. Stir in apples.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoon-fulls about 2-inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 13 minutes or until edges are golden brown and centers are set. Cool 2 minutes on pan.

Drizzle with vanilla glaze… and enjoy!

Hope you all enjoyed a nice weekend too! I’m off to get some rest before Monday gets here.