Bead N Button Contest Winners

Oh my, you won't believe some of the beautiful pieces on display at Bead n Button.  All of these pieces participated in the contest in one division or another and are absolutely amazing.  The pictures really don't do them justice.

There were probably eight cases like this full of contest pieces, separated by category.  This is the Seed Bead Jewelry Category and also the Case holding "Best of Show".  Really amazing stuff

This is the Third Place Winner:

 Second Place:

First Place in the Seed Bead Jewelry Category and BEST OF SHOW:

This is another piece in this case that I love.  How beautiful.

This case holds jewelry from the Finished Jewelry Category as well as "Best of Show Runner-Up".

 The piece on the left is third place in the Finished Jewelry Category:

Second place and probably my favorite piece of them all:  Those are little felted birds with blown glass mouths and eyes.  Adorable!  The creativity and imagination is so inspiring!

And..... BEST OF SHOW RUNNER UP as well as First Place in the Finished Jewelry Category:

Also in the Finished Jewelry Category and pieces that caught my eye:

Wow, some amazing stuff.  That's enough for now but I've got tons more to share.  Such a great trip!

Our First Project of The Season- Weekly Update

 

 

Just a little reminder of where we started (after ripping off the old deck and putting on a new ledger board), it's really come a long way.

When I left you last week all the decking was completed and railings were about to begin.  Yep, still in that stage but it's really coming along nicely.  Another one of my hubby's drawings. 

 

 And here's his set-up to drill the holes. 

 

 He spent all day Saturday getting the holes drilled in the posts and Sunday got the first four set.

 

 Monday night we got the first pieces of rebar in.

 

 Tuesday, well, that first curved post was a bear.  Most of Tuesday went to cutting it out and getting it set.  Wednesday evening, in the half hour between getting home and leaving for church, the first set of curved rebar went in. 

 

  Still quite a bit to do but it's really looking great.  After the railings its time for the water dispersal system, that could get interesting (meaning might take a while).  We've got all summer!

Hanging Day Today!

This is always an exciting day, the day that window treatments I've made are making their way into their new home.  Today I will be hanging two sets of panels.  One I shared with you in an earlier post, "My Next Sewing Project is Almost Done" and today I'll share the second pair.  Hopefully, by tonight I'll have pictures of them completed, hanging in their new locations. 

 

 
 These tab-top panels were given to my client and she wants to turn them into puddled panels that shir on a rod in the same fashion that the Living Room panels I made for her do, "Easy Floor To Ceiling Window Panels").  So, just how is that done?  It's pretty easy actually.  Here's a step-by-step look at what I did to "make it happen".

First things first, choose a coordinating fabric and buy enough fabric to get you to the added length you need plus seam allowances/hems.  My client wanted a red fabric for the accent fabric so I chose a fabric of similar texture and weight to the original panel.

 

Next, cut your new fabric to the necessary length and iron in your bottom hem, pinning as you go.  I did a double 2" hem in both the front fabric and the lining (cutting the lining roughly 1" shorter than the front fabric).

 Then, in order to attach your new fabric to the bottom of the old panel you'll need to separate the lining from the front fabric, just far enough up to allow you room to work.  (you can see I've already pinned my fabrics together, ignore the red, I got a little ahead of myself.  Just release the stitching roughly 2" above where you'll be stitching the two together).

Now, place your fabrics, right side together and stitch.  I used the old hem line as my guide.  When adding new fabrics to old and making two-tone panels I tend to use the 2/3 rule (don't know the technical name for it) I just know that the ratio is pleasing to the eye and it worked out perfectly to use the old hemline and add my new fabric right below it.  No extra marking or measuring.  After I sewed it on I simply cut off the old hem, ironed the seam between my newly sewn pieces and then ironed again from the front.  You're going to repeat the process for the lining.


You can barely see the old hem line along the fraying edge of the new red fabric

Here they are all sewn together.  Now it's time to fix the messy edges, and they usually are all kinds of wonky.

See what I mean, all kinds of Wonky!  It takes a little time and patience to blend these together, then iron them, giving you a nice, crisp edge (fold them in, doubling up the fabric to contain the cut edge).  Again, pinning as you go.  I did not capture the side seam stitching in pictures, all I do is hand stitch using a doubled thread from where I pulled out the original side seam to add the red fabric, all the way to the bottom hem, being careful not to go through to the front, only capture the lining.

Now, you should have completed panels, with the original tab-tops.  That's about to change.  I simply cut across that narrow stitched backing piece and removed the stitching along the tab side, as shown in the 2nd picture.

 

 I left the little other piece alone, it's gonna be covered anyhow.

I measured the diameter of the rod they'll be shirred on, added a couple inches to make it a little easier to shir and made a "pocket" of lining fabric.  You are looking at the back, top of the panel.  I will simply run a stitch along the top and bottom where my "pocket" is at and it's ready to go. 

 Here they are waiting for today, hanging day! 

 

Here's the second set that I'll also be hanging today.

 

  Stay tuned, more pictures coming soon.

 

 

 

My Bathroom is Begging for a Change

 

We built our house eight years ago.  The bathroom looks exactly as it did then.  I am ready for a change.  Nothing drastic,  I still like the foundation of the room.  I don't want to spend a lot, but a change is in order. 

 

Here's a look at the bathroom as it is now and a look into the changes I'm planning.  Decorating is a process so I'm sure things will change, but here's my plan.

 

 This is the view to the left, standing at the entry from the bedroom into the bathroom.  Directly across from this door is the door into the closet.  I have always wanted to paint or wallpaper above the tile-work but as you see, that hasn't happened.  It's about time don't you think?

I am also considering changing the window treatments.  I made these right after we moved in, never finished off the hem of the roman shade and wanted to add some trim (I love trim).  Again, hasn't happened yet.  Depending on what I do with the rest of the space will determine my decision for the windows.  Hmmm!  I'm considering using that scarf as a valance and just putting a film on the window to let us see out but others not see in. 

Stenciling is also an option.  I took a look around but am not impressed with what I've seen in stores.  While sitting here writing this I see a roll of paper and am thinking, "what an awesome pattern".  I could make my own stencil, lightbulb moment!

 

This is the view into the right side of the room.  I still like all the structural pieces and my tile-work.  Just want to add a little something with paint or wallpaper to finish it off.

A few accessories and it'll be good to go.

That's the closet door I spoke about earlier.  I am also contemplating painting the doors.  I love the look of painted doors but not sure my husband would go for that.  I'll get everything else done and then re-consider.

Adding some paint, stenciling or wallpaper above the tile will completely change the look of the room.  Not sure if I'll keep it neutral or jazz it up with some color.  Decisions, decisions.

I have chosen a wall color for the bedroom so I need to get that painted first and then build off of it.  I would like to contrast.  Stay tuned for the end result.  I'm really excited to be taking some baby steps and making some changes around here.  Eight years is a long time.  Bring on some change!

Our First Project Of The Season

When I left you last, the new deck was almost ready for decking.  Now, the decking is on and it looks fabulous.  Hubby is doing a great job!

We had a couple days of rain where he really couldn't work outside too much so he spent that time planning and prepping.  He planned the decking out on paper and got much of the cutting done and laid out in the garage. 

 

We are using IPE Wood for the decking material.  It is a really hard wood and lasts much longer than other decking materials, and the best part, I don't have to stain/seal it every year.  That was a major selling point for me. 

 

The Cedar posts are here as well and the rebar for the railing. 

 

 It has been quite the adventure and we're at the final stage, can't wait to see the railings go up.  Hubby is working on the water dispersal system as well, it'll be metal but not sure if we're going to let it rust or have it coated?  We both like the rusted, aged metal look but there is going to be an overhang and not sure we want it dripping onto the concrete patio below.  Not sure what he'll decide on that one.

This area underneath is where an outdoor kitchen will eventually go.  That's going to be a fun project too.  Not sure when that'll get started?

 

Stay tuned!  Railings and water dispersal are coming up next.

 

 

Happenings in the Garden

Take a walk with me through the gardens:

 

Primrose is blooming beautiful and the Knockout Roses are all budded out. 

 

 This is going to be full of Purple Coneflowers.  I can't wait for them to start blooming.  The birds deposited all kinds of seeds in the front bed between the walkway and the stone wall and the back area between the purple bush (can't remember if it's a cherry or plum) and the crab apple tree is full as well.  It's going to be gorgeous when in bloom.

 

 I bought two of these clearance roses last year at Home Depot, lost one but this one is happy, happy!

 

Siberian Iris popping at the seams.  I really need to divide them but man, is that a job.  Last time I had to use an axe to get them divided after digging some out, which was not an easy task.  It's exhausting.  Some day it'll have to happen, probably not this season.

 

 

 One of the berms out front is having some bug issues.  I haven't sprayed yet but I'm going to have to.  This plant is a purple coneflower, yet its pretty much unrecognizable and completely eaten. 

 

Here's one of the little buggers.  This is another plant in the same flowerbed, at the opposite end.  Gotta get rid of these critters before they completely destroy this bed and move on to another.

 

 

 It seems a little early but I've got a few Purple Coneflowers already in bloom.

 

We also got the "water works" up and running this weekend.  I just love the sound of running water.

 

 

I know I've said it before and I probably will again and again, but I just love perennials.  I like for my gardens to kind of "sprawl" all over.  Not so orderly and I tend to let them grow wherever they pop up.  Here's another example of "babies" that I'm just gonna let grow and fill in.  I almost pulled them while weeding until I realized, "I think that's a balloon flower" and sure enough, I've got a handful of babies popping up in my front flowerbed.  Thank you little birdies!