Watercolor Painting

I recently did some rearranging of furniture in my craft room/studio to set-up a table I bought, gathered all of my paints, supplies and books to paint again.  It's been YEARS since I've done any painting, but it's a great stress reliever for me which I especially need now... The lesson was to add white flowers using only the color of the paper and to bring them out using color all around. I've named the little painting "Spring".

My first watercolor in years - just a small 4x5.

I joined a watercolor Yahoo group and have already received some critiquing which I'm grateful for as I want to become better.

Handbag/Tote From A Pair Of Jeans

As Summer nears, the handbags and totes each made out of a pair of jeans start showing up here and there online. I found a really helpful 2 part, instructive youtube video to get ya started making one for yourself or to give as a gift.

Below is my version of a jeans handbag/tote. I found this cool pair of jeans with embroidery all down the outside of one leg, and I fell in love. I had to make something out of them. I also decided to make a key ring to match. I incorporated some of the embroidery as a large patch (and for a key ring) and did some decorative stitches here and there and added some buttons.

The flower cart pin is one that I wore quite often when I used to have to dress-up for my job. The manufactured, silver key ring on the back loop says - Live, Laugh, Love. I always loved that phrase. The small, off white hankie tied to the same belt loop was also something that I wore quite often tucked into a suit jacket.

Recycled Crafted Merchandise

I recently closed down my two Etsy shops from lack of sales and to put my energy elsewhere. So, I have a nice box of stuff I can shop from.

Hence, my first "purchase" - a t-shirt pin with a ladybug accent pinned to my current handbag/tote.

NOTE: If you remember something that you liked and wished you'd purchased - I still might have it. Contact me at kittyred@gmail.com.



And, "purchase" #2 - I added this t-shirt pin to an old train case I'm now using as a sewing basket.

Traditional Friendship Bracelets

If you love making friendship bracelets or your kids do or grandkids do, here's a fantastic website with all kinds of free patterns/tutorials.

And, here's one I found in my jewelry box that's never been worn yet that I made several years ago using a design wheel made for just that purpose. I have a whole box worth of all colors of threads and design wheels (and a couple of books) to make many more - just another thing sitting there waiting for me to take interest in again. And, I will eventually...

Let's visit the pillowcase tote again.

Are you tired of me making and blogging about These yet?

Please indulge me one more time (and maybe yet another time soon)...I found this beautiful, vintage pillowcase in a shop at Etsy and knew I wanted to buy it for a pillowcase tote. When I received it in the mail it is was kinda thin from a lot of use and washing I guess, but I decided to make a tote out of it anyway. I'd been tempted to buy it in the first place because of how it was constructed knowing the edge print would make cool, accent handles. I found the pin-on flower accent for only a dollar at a JoAnn new store opening.

I should write a book or at least a small article on how to fix or what to do with things that you screw-up or things you think you've ruined 'cause I think I've become an expert at it. For me, maybe that's what "my creative talent" is mostly rather than dreaming up things to make. The arrow points to what I finally came up with after I accidentally cut my almost finished tote bag with my SUPER sharp sewing scissors. :o( I tried to make it look kinda like a logo or something.

Almost St Patty's Day

I wasn't sure I'd find cheap enough decorations for St Pats Day in time to enjoy before the actual day, but Dollar Tree came to the rescue. I'm not wanting to spend much each holiday for either tree decorations or stuff to make a fireplace garland. Hopefully, for Easter, I can sew up a fabric garland.

Decorating For Valentine's Day

A lost, then found, little fiber optic Christmas tree found in the basement has now become my holiday tree that I will decorate for different holidays as the year moves forward. At night it is is so pretty and cheerful...

This year I would have loved to make decorations, but in an effort to save time to do/make other things I spent only 97 cents at Walmart for some super glittered confettii; found some tape and some ribbon and made some quick ones.

Also, I've always wanted to make a garland for the fireplace so I did this year for Valentine's Day using simply ribbon, tiny, tiny clothespins and store bought Valentines. So simple, yet effective...

Maybe I'll make something out of fabric to hang there after Valentine's Day is over. Plus, I have some really cute Easter fabric I could use to make a "flag" garland to hang there.