Edible Bouquet

Tessah & I made this cute edible "flower" bouquet for a coworker's family who just welcomed a new baby girl. We had fun!

HANDMADE ITEMS AUCTION

The Baumgarten family {daddy Josh, mommy Kristen, sweet rambunctious boys Kimball(6), McKay(5), Benson(3), and baby Eliza due in May} call Vernal, UT home. They are known for their kindness, enthusiasm for life and constant serving of others in church and the community. They recently learned that Josh has a brain tumor. He is recovering from surgery and will soon learn about radiation treatments that will come next. Friends of Josh and Kristen have created a blog and are asking for your help so they can focus on Josh's recovery and Eliza's arrival rather than financial stress.

The Sending Smiles blog is having a handmade auction May 6-May 8 to benefit this family- I have donated an item to this great cause for the Baumgarten family - see thier blog HERE

To check out the auction and bid on my item starting May 6th - click on the Sending Smiles button to the right :)

Join me!!!

I am a proud follower of Sending Smiles - I tried adding the button to the right - but am having technical issues. Please Check it out HERE! It's a great feeling to be charitable....


Also check out the Seasonal Swaperoos button....I joined last fall and have found some wonderful online friends - It's fun to make and shop for gifts for someone you don't "know" and in turn get gifties from all over.... I used to be involved in a few swap groups on flickr....but this is the only one I am a member of now...and the people I have "met" are truly great women and inspirational...

J

Modge Podge Danskos

I came across this awesome tutorial for Modge Podge Shoes - and guess what...I did it....I picked up a pair of beat up Dansko Professional Clogs at a thrift store for $3.50 - even in their rough condition it was a heck of a deal. Add some fabric from my stash and Modge Podge and VOILA -

BEFORE : Rough & Ugly





AFTER: Snazzy new clogs :) - One of a kind get the tutorial HERE

Glorianne - it's on the way.....

Here's the final result of the wall hanging for the blog giveaway winner....Glorianne Schott. Enjoy!

Another Quilt Finished!

This quilt was made for one of Brent's co-workers new baby. I'm only a few months late on this one!!!! She was born last fall.

It has a pink camo influence (per parents request) - and I loved the way it turned out. This is the first time I have used fleece as a backing with no batting inside - and no real quilting - just stitch in the ditch.

And the winner is.....

Sorry I am late in my first ever giveaway! Thanks for the support guys....

The entries were as follows

1. Tricia Z
2. Kirsti
3. Michelle
4. Michelle
5. Sara
6. Glorianne
7. Michelle

I used random.org to generate a number....

AND THE WINNER IS #6 - Glorianne....congrats Glorianne.

email me at tessahjake@yahoo.com and we can talk about design options, color and wordings.....

Giveaway Drawing TOMORROW ---

Don't forget to enter my giveaway BELOW!! Tomorrow is the drawing!

Giveaway Closed

I have 2 topics to discuss today...

1) My jewelry has been a mess lately...so I hung some fun stuff on the wall (including an owl - thanks Kirsti) that gave me organization and art at the same time.... I have been in a creative funk lately - but I think I am on the up swing.



2) I'm doing my first give-a-away! Up for grabs is a personalized stamped/ framed wall hanging - similar to the one I made HERE.
You get entries for doing each of the following...make sure you post a comment telling me which ones you did!!!
1. Post a comment below - 1 entry
2. Mention this giveaway on your blog - 1 entry
3. Send friends here to enter - for every person that mentions you sent them here in their comment - 1 entry!!!

Good Luck - I will draw on February 24th at 10 pm Alaska Time

A little giftie

Here is a pic of a little gift I am sending to someone far away to send some cheer....



Hope she likes it...

A new business venture for me -

I am in the process of starting my new online business (part-time/on the side) kind of thing ~ making custom/handmade wedding invites. I made these invites for my bro-in-law and sis-in-law to be for their upcoming destination wedding to Hawaii. They gave me an idea and a sketch and I went with it. Each invite was individually water colored painted by me. The phenomenal response to those invites was the driving force behind my trying this new endeavor. I am making a website and and etsy shop - hopefully I will be fully ready to go this week. Cross your fingers for me....and wish me luck.


My biz will be called: CrazyStokes Designs......unique custom wedding invitations -

Here is a glance at the invites I made for Dane and Jess:

Our new "Liquor Cabinet"

Here is our makeshift liquor cabinet....I'm thinking of painting the wall behind the shelves in some interesting geometric patterns and or adding some witty vinal wording about drinking...we'll see.

Finally Back at it!!!!

Here are BETTER pics Iof the quilt I made for a co-worker's coming baby!!! Using my crazy shortcut method - I modified it a bit - but they loved the doggie theme...considering their new boy's middle name will be Labrador!

Check out this Give Away!!

Go see Traci here and enter her Give-away!!!

Before and After Wall hanging

I totally forgot to take the before picture of this ugly wall hanging until after I did the first coat of blue around the edge.
I found this hideous piece of "art" at the thrift store for 50 cents. Had no idea what I'd do with it - but brought it home anyway!

Fast forward about a month to October 18, 2009. A 2 o'clock baby shower and no gift. I had planned on a quilt...but ran out of time (good thing - mom-to be got like 5 quilts) . So I hauled out this press board covered frame-less circa 1985 painting thingy and got to work early that morning. The result was kinda cute and I think mom-to-be really liked it.

It was a challenge because the nursery's theme was Americana - red white and blue..however I don't have a lot of supplies in the Americana theme. So I went girly American....

I think I might be doing this kind of thing a lot now... The picture doesn't do it justice...truly.

Canvas Painting

I took a canvas painting class at my local scrapbook store...and this was the result. I am feeling pretty good about my first foray into canvas painting to display photos...it's like a scrapbook page art. I hope to get better with practice.

Work in progress

It's been a while since I have tackled another quilt besides the CSQ method that I love so much. But a camo baby quilt is in the works...

the green stripe on the right is a off kilter center divider for more blocks on the right side....plugging along.

Calendar Blocks - so stinkin' cute!

I found the tutorial for this cute little project here...It was so easy and such fun to make. Tessah helped me with the stickers on the blocks... Inking the paper made all the difference. Our Girl Scout Troop is doing a craft Bazaar on Nov. 14 - we will be making mini - ones of these to sell. I'll post those pics later :)

PLease Vote for me!

I recently entered a t-shirt re-do contest. Winner can receive a $999.99 new sewing machine. Votes cast here:

You can help me win. I entered 2 items. I made the funky scarf

and the "Grease" bag. Don't feel obligated to vote for me...but I'd love the support.

Thanks

Retro Stool Re-Do

I picked up this AWESOME stool at Bishop's Attic in Anchorage for 6 bucks! Had some left over fabric from the $1 grab bag (you may recognize it from the checkbook cover) - add some aqua spray paint and...VOILA! I love love love this so so much I could scream! This was how I spent my birthday weekend. Thrift store shopping and re-purposing my finds! YAY!