how to make a pattern with lids; house items that can help make a pattern for sewing

A Time to Reflect and Dream Big Dreams, another whacked out quilt

This 22x18 quilt is one of kind in that I designed it entirely, no patterns were used just a bit of whacking. The quilt is all about fall time, with the ripe pumpkins, the clear cool sky, leaves are just about done falling off the trees and where is everyone? well they are all tucked away in the small house keeping warm. I used all kinds of cotton fabrics to create this whacked out quilt, some flannel for the roof of the house and white broad cloth for the clouds. In a couple of the lower pumpkins I have even added a little extra fiber fill to make them more dimensional. The quilt is backed with quilting batting and black denim. This quilt will also come with a dowel stick to help hang it and it is not in the photo. You can find it here to purchase http://www.etsy.com/listing/82584395/a-time-to-reflect-dream-big-dreams-life

Revamping a Doll to Look Grubby as can be

Today I am having a little fun with one of my dolls I made up a while back. Originally this doll was not stained but rather plain I would have to say; so I am redoing her just a little I have have stained her to look grubby and I used one cup of coffee and and 2 table spoons of water, a real thick stain. I just dribbled the coffee onto the fake white fur and let it spread naturally the rest of the body I did use a sponge paint brush to get the stain on her legs, body, arms hair and face. I will take some light weight sand paper to her and some cinnamon for a more Grubby look. I find it so much fun to find things I have done up a while back and go and redo them over again, its kind of fun seeing what changes can take place when you redo over something!

Today I will finish her up and the Topsy Turvy doll.

What I am Working on for Tuesday Sept 20, 2011

I am having a bit of fun making this 12 inch Topsy turvy Halloween doll. I have cut out my pattern one will be a cat and the other a girl ghoul, I am using Osnaburg fabric and I have painted one with green acrylic paint and the other with black.

At this time I am adding facial features with oil pastels and acyclic paints. On the green ghoul girl I also did a bit of a black acrylic wash over the green and green on the black cat. I really enjoy using the oils on the fabric the eyes and coloring on the black cat is turning fairly well. Oh yes I found these new wonderful acrylic paints in pen form that I have been using, I found them at my local art store along with new oils.

I am blending two different shades of purple, with white acrylic paint, red acrylic paint and black. I am also using yellow oils for the eyes.

This is a close of the green girl ghoul, again I am using black acrylic paints, yellow oil pastels, red acrylic paint. I should have her done in a few more days, but I will give you a look at how I do my hair for my dolls on this little one and show how she is coming along later on this week. Not sure if I will use pink yarn or black yarn? for hair, you are welcome to leave comments on what color hair she should have give me your idea!

Astoria Oregon Coast Guard Air Show and Open House

I just love attending the Coast guard Open house and this year I got some great pictures to share with you all! Plus a few great videos! I am very thankful for the service these men and women do here.

Caught some action in the air with a neat stunt plane

thought this was a great picture in the rain

I got to film one of the demo's of a rescue that the coast guard here often does and I was happy with how well it came out. Hope you enjoy watching this video.

Something new I just finished, Set of Three Oregon Black Bear Ornies

These were just a ton of fun to create! I design a 10 inch pattern for these Oregon black bears and cut them out from Osnaburg. ( that's right I finally learned how to spell it lol!)

The fabric then was stained with instant coffee and black acrylic paint. I made sure the seam shows so that the edging part stands out with the fraying. The faces are painted with acrylic paints and I used some twine for bows. I tried to make each face just a little different I think these guys will make great bowl fillers! and you can find them here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/81650237/set-of-three-black-bear-primitive-ornies

Creating Ideas for my Whacked Out Quilts

Today is kind of a lazy day for me this Saturday, so I am sitting down and just drawing out ideas for up coming whacked out wall hanging quilts.

I thought this one just might make a cute Halloween quilt some kitty cats ruffled by a ghost.

I have to you all that a few weeks ago I found out I am going to be a grandma. My daughter of 20 years of age is 8 weeks pregnant the baby will come in April, it's thrilling news! The second quilt idea is going to be a bit more serious, a fall scene with a deer in it. This drawing idea is really in the rough I have only done it in pencil and not ink yet so I hope you all can see it. Sometimes I will sit down and start drawing out ideas for quilts and then start whacking and making patterns, most of the time I just start cutting on the fabric. It often depends on how complicated I want to get with a quilt idea. You can see that the top picture/drawing is going simple to whack out but the deer is going to be harder and I will need to put much more thought into how exactly I will whack out the quilt. I think I better come up with a Thanksgiving wall hanging quilt with some goofy turkeys! So it's time to head to the sketch pad and get busy!