Paintings

This is an oil painting that I painted for my in-laws.  It's a barn that my Father-in-law worked at in 1934 before he got drafted into the Army and disabled in WWII in 1945.  This is what the place looked like in the early 1970's--I painted it from a photo that we took in the 70's.

This is another picture (below) that I painted in oils.  I used to do a lot more painting than I do now.  I think I got burned out on painting when I painted these classrooms.  I may take it up again sometime--we'll see.  I have kind of wanted to do a painting or two of cows ever since I saw this post on DustyLu's Blog.  I just have too many hobbies.

Above are a group of paintings that I have in our Guest Room.

The picture below is another oil painting I did for my In-laws.  It's of a windmill that was close to the farm that my father-in-law grew up on.  My FIL actually saw a man who hanged himself on this windmill, and my MIL wanted me to paint this very windmill for his birthday--so I did.  (Hmm, very interesting.)  I know this windmill looks short, but it actually was short--not like most I've seen.

The picture below is an acrylic painting I did for my Mom, who is no longer with us, and I miss her.  She wanted a painting of old milk cans by a gate.  I see so many things I would change if I were to paint it now.  The problem with being a painter is you have to look at your paintings, and see lots of things you would like to change in most of them--especially the older paintings.

Below, this is another acrylic painting I did for my Mom.  She was my biggest encourager in my painting endeavors.  I would like to change a lot about this painting too.

And here's a close-up.  This is actually one of the first acrylic paintings I did.

This next small painting was one of four that I made alike in size and frames.  I sold one of them and I'm not sure what happened to the others.  They may be in my attic.

The following acrylic painting I did for my dad--I miss him, too.  We all had so much fun as a family--so many wonderful memories.  I was so blessed with wonderful parents.

This, below, is a close-up of the large oil painting in the group of paintings photo above.  It was one of my first oil paintings.  I think my actual first paintings that I painted I threw away--ugly.

I have more that I could show you, but I need a new scanner to show them to you.  I no longer have the paintings, someone else does, but I have photos of them made from negatives--remember those?  I've done some watercolors also, but other people have them, and I'm not sure if I have pictures of them either.
I am linking with Punkin Seed Productions and Fireflies and Jellybeans.

Embroidery Work

 I made a heart sachet, but I added embroidery work before cutting it out.  I learned something important with this piece--to iron fusible interfacing to the back of your material before doing the embroidery.  I was pleased with my satin stitches for the very first time.

I made twisted cording with embroidery floss to stitch to the edges of the heart and to make a loop to hang it with.

The color of floss I chose for the stems and leaves kind of fades into the fabric--I guess that's okay.

In the picture below I put it on my tatted hankie for a picture. (I love that hankie, but it sure did take a long time to tat the lace edging.)

Sorry the picture below is so fuzzy, but that's where I hang it--on our floor lamp switch.

You can click on the picture below to see the satin stitches I'm so proud of.

 You could fill it with lavender and use it in your lingerie drawer.  Putting it on the hanger of a lovely outfit to display would also be nice.

Below, I embroidered some tea towels--I just love embroidered tea towels.  I got some at our wedding shower 40 years ago from my MIL and others--they are long gone now.  Bleaching them takes a tole after a while, but it's necessary so I just make more.

Sorry, another fuzzy picture, but you get the idea.

There's a linky party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.  Go check it out. I am linking up to amylouwho.

Americana Bag and Journal Cover

          I bought some patriotic fabric to make a banner, and I had enough fabric left to make a bag.  I didn't finish the banner in time for the fourth, so maybe  I'll get it done for next year.  I was sewing on the dining table because my sewing room was a mess, and I had to clean up before I was finished.  "Life is what happens when you are making other plans"--that's one of my favorite quotes, and I don't remember by whom, but I quote it all the time.        

The picture below shows the other side of the bag.  I use it for some of my Bible Study books.

This next picture is of my Journal Cover.  I used some the the same fabrics that I made the  GPS Bag with.

I sewed a piece of ribbon into the top cover seam to use as a bookmark.

The picture below shows the back side, and the eyelet hole I made for the elastic closure to go around the button on the front.

This is probably my favorite Journal Cover of all that I have made.

Sum-sum-summertime

I took some pictures of my yard.  It was so hot and steamy outside and my camera was so cool from being inside that my lens fogged up for some of the pictures.  I like the effects so have a look-see.

Above, I recently deweeded this end of the flower bed--my vinca's not doing so well.  Maybe it needs some miraclegrow.  Below is the back yard.

My elephant ears are doing great.

You can see the little pond below--the fish are doing great and the water lily I just started this year.

Sewing Room/Craft Room Hidey Hole

 I've been needing to sew for my granddaughter's Birthday.  Lately when I needed to sew, I just took my sewing machine to the kitchen table--cause the sewing room was packed with STUFF.  Now, I want to be able to go off and leave my sewing without having to put it up.

I didn't get any before pics, but trust me it was a mess.  It's not as neat and tidy as it could be, but I know where everything is.  AND it's a whole lot cleaner than it was.  Since inheriting some of Hubby's parents things it's been a mess--you couldn't even walk through it.  I just set things in there until I could get to sorting through it, but now it's done--Wa-hoo! 

I could do with some table skirts and curtains for the wall shelves, but this will have to do for now. I've got extra folding tables in there, extra stools, an exercise bike, and a lounging chair that folds up, a step stool, and it's a very small room. It looks like chaos, but it's not.

And here's MY SWEET JANOME.  Wa-hoo!  Yes, it's a sweetie.

To the left of the sewing machine, behind the wardrobe I have all my scrap booking stuff, AND there are bookshelves I haven't shown here.  It's just amazing what all is in this room.  Craft Heaven.

Eyeglass Case and Clamp

 Here is an eyeglass case I made with felt, fabric, and beads.  It's made similar to the Dragonfly Pouch.

The photo below shows the back side, and as you can see I don't use it for eyeglasses.  I keep pencils and pens in it.

The picture below shows my Hemostat Clamp.  I bought it at Hancock's and they called it something else, but my hubby who works in surgery says  it is a Hemostat Clamp.  I absolutely love it.  It is irreplaceable when making dolls.  It is great for turning small projects right side out when sewing.  It's also nice for stuffing small pincushions or strawberries that I like to embellish some of my projects with.

The strawberries are made from part of a circle of fabric.  You could make them from 1/2 of a circle or so.  Fold the 1/2 circle in half with right sides together.  Sew the straight edges together, turn right side out and stuff.  Gather the rounded edge closed, embroider some green little leaves to the top, and add a little cording.  I make my own twisted cording from embroidery floss.  I also like to add seed beads. 

GPS Bag and Thread Catchers

My hubby and I went to Eureka Springs yesterday and it was a pleasant trip in spite of the rain all day long.  We took this little bag--it holds his GPS--he enjoyed playing with it and I enjoyed my quilt magazines.  

We ate at the Bavarian--a German Restaurant--and it was very nice.  So were the prices!  

I made this bag manly looking because he likes to hide it when we get out of the car.

Below are some thread catchers I made.  I got the instructions on some one's Blog I think.  I have made a ton of these.  I made one each for each of the girls in the embroidery class I was teaching.

 I like to have one of these close to my machine when I am sewing.  It makes for less of a mess--you know--  not so many threads throughout the carpet in house.

I'm particularly fond of the patriotic one here.

It requires eight strips of material, some machine sewing, and quite a bit of hand sewing--which I enjoy.

I found the link I got it off of here.  It's a very nice tutorial.

Green Bag and Rose Pin

 Momma's got a brand new bag.  Well, really it's not very new.  I made it earlier, but I didn't like it because it gaped open so I put a zipper in it today and I love it.

Now it looks like a bag is suppose to look.

WA-HOO!

I've been cleaning out my sewing room--sorry no pictures--it was bad.  Now that it's clean I spent the whole day in there sewing and mending things.  I just love it in there now.  I've been wanting to get this done for a while.

We had a nice fourth at our daughter Celeste and Jeff's house.  She fixed a real nice meal and we celebrated Gracie's 9th B-day, then we went to watch a fireworks display--eleven of us.

Here's my rose pin I made to wear on my jacket.  I didn't wear the jacket yesterday because it is too warm for that now, but I did wear it on my new-to-me denim jumper.  I got it from my sister Alice--She contributed it to the garage sale and I got it.  It's funny how a lot of us wanted each others things.