I'm still here!

Can't believe it's been two weeks since my last post but I have been busy. I've completed the secret squirrel project and for now it's still a secret . I've also been working on my Angels Story Quilt, getting there slowly but surely.

I have one project completed this month that I can show you...

...yes another pincushion to add to my collection, Larry the Lamb by Hatched and Patched. This is a wool felt pincushion, so quick and easy to make, plus I used alot of scraps! Note: Never throw out your felt scraps, they're great for these little projects. The wool felt comes from my favourite store, The Quilted Crow.

I also completed two snugglybug blocks, more of the Peter Rabbit theme!

So now it's back to Angel's Story, I have to make Stina's deadline this time!!

A Button Necklace Tutorial

I'm no expert at beading and jewellry making but I do like to dabble occassionally. So this is my tutorial for a button necklace that I made on an earlier post.

Things you need are:

30" of 28 guage craft wire

2 x 4 1/2" of chain (best to make these a bit longer for the first ones so you can adjust the fit to suit yourself, maybe try 6" lengths)

4 jump rings

1 toggle or parrot clasp

17 Buttons of various sizes (large)

17 Buttons of various sizes (small), I use 2 hole buttons as they're on the front

2 pairs of flate nosed pliers (useful for opening and closing jump rings)

1 pair of wire cutters

1 pair round nose pliers

Now here's how to put it together-

Layout all the buttons in the two rows (Back buttons and front buttons )of how you'd like your necklace to look.

Fold wire in half to find middle point. Starting with middle buttons first (largest one), thread the wire through the back and out the front of it's matching button and then to the back again.

Add the next button threading through the back of the larger button and out the front of the smaller one.

Position the button so it sits behind the first button and pull the wire, now thread the wire to the back again, basically a running stitch.

Now repeat this until all the buttons are added. I prefer to add a set to the left then the right and so on and so on.

Trim the wire to leave approx 3/4" at each end.

Using the round nose pliers curl these ends up to form loops at each end of the beads.

Attach one chain to the wire loop with a jump ring and repeat the other side.

Attach the toggles to each chain with a jump ring

You've finished, now try it on. You can adjust the length of chain to suit by shortening the chain and reattaching the toggles.Hope my instructions were clear enough for you all to follow. I've also thought about adding little beads to the very front, might try that next time.

I'd love to see your creations so make sure you put it on your blog and let me know!

Good Luck!!

This is it.....

...my 100th post and also my blogoversary!

1 year ago today I ventured into the abyss of blogging and what an adventure it has been. I've travelled the globe through cyberspace where I've been welcomed into everyone's sewing rooms and shared in your crafty adventures. I've cried for the loss of loved ones and pets too, I've laughed at your funny stories and I've felt joy for all the good times.

I love that you all get me and that there are others out there as obsessed as I am. I no longer think I'm strange, I feel part of a community and I enjoy the comfort that brings me. My soul is feeling very fullfilled.

So to mark this special occassion I've decided to giveaway some little goodies but this is a giveaway especially for all those who have commented on my blog in the last 12 months. I scrolled through all the comments and for every comment left your names were entered into a draw. There were some that had commented over 40 times, talk about terrific support. I put all the names in a list and then using a random generator mixed them all up. I then used a random number generator and came up with No 175 which was.......

drumroll please.........

The lovely Wonderwoman!!!!

Congratulations!! I'd like to add that Wonderwoman is one of those who has commented over 40 times and I'm so pleased with the result.

Here's the goodies I'll be sending you so please send me your address and they'll be on there way, might be a few little extras that sneak in the bag too!So to all those lurkers out there in blogland, jump in and leave a comment or two, who knows next year you might win something too!!

My friend Kate from Stitched With Love is looking for PIF participants, so if you want to play, pop over and leave her a comment.

WISPs vs UFOs

I know Kris and May call these things WISPs but I'm sad to say these projects haven't been worked on for at least 3 years and it's only a few of them, there's more in my storage box.

I stopped them for various reasons ranging from boredom, too big a task, not how I thought it would look and well any excuse really.

Shown here is a quilt top, an embroidery, a table runner, a wall hanging plus part 1 of a Chookshed BOM that I have the complete kit for.

Maybe the One Project a Month Challenge might actually get me motivated to get in and finish a few of these.

I've also got other projects not yet started all ready and waiting but these will all have to wait because Stina's changed the Angels Story deadline to the 15th April and well it's do-able, I'm going to finish it once and for all. Mind you I've got to finish 3 PIF's too. So no swaps from me for awhile, there's way to much to do!!

The Great Summer Holiday Mystery

Pop over to Helen's blog and check out ....

You've got a week to raid you stash, first block will be posted next Monday!

Buttons!

Here's a craft I don't do alot of, beading but using buttons. Whipped this necklace up last night while chatting with my mum.

I had seen something similar at a fair. It fits well, not too bad for a first attempt!

Wonder if I can include that as a finish for January?

EDIT: It doesn't make the one project a month challenge guidelines but it's still my first crafty finish for 2009!

EDIT NO. 2: Keep an eye out as I'll be putting together a tutorial for this soon!

New blogger to welcome!

I'd like to introduce you to a new blogger, and a fellow Tasmanian, Fiona from Mothers Cupboard, please pop over and give her a big blogging welcome!

Jelly Roll Quilt

When my Bestie and I get together we always make something and this time we decided to make a jelly roll quilt. It was a bit ambitious given the time frame but we were determined.

Firstly we picked a jelly roll pattern "Sparkling Gemstones" then we chose our fabrics. We went with "Spring Magic" and a beautiful white tone on tone for the background.

We sewed, cut and ironed, taking turns as we only had one machine, one cutting mat, and one iron.

V deviated from the pattern a little and I said she was taking a short cut, in the end her blocks looked beautiful too. Where I've got 4 fabrics in a block, she only had two.

I sewed all the strips together and then when I sewed the first two rows together I discovered the blocks needed to be trimmed to 6" squares . (The pattern hadn't mentioned this...gggrrr). So I didn't get it finished before I left South Australia.

Since I've been home I've unpicked all the rows, trimmed all the blocks and reassembled it and Here's the completed top....

No idea when I'll get it quilted, so if Lizzie's Page is reading this, this is the quilt I want stippled, feel like practicing on it?