Quick Packaging...

Hello faithful followers. Do you ever have those days that just get lost? I completely lost yesterday while it was happening. Today I have decided that there is just no catching up so I shall merely move forward from here. Even my computer has been misbehaving for no known reason. Right in the middle of my post yesterday it decided to just lose all capability of functioning. Maybe my computer was relating to how my day was not progressing well.
I have always been told I am unfocused and therefore not able to stay on task. I like to think that is a good thing as I get more done...or not. :o) So anyway today I have been flitting from task to task to task and I will admit I feel like I haven't accomplished a thing, however I have cleaned and cooked and helped Mr. C put together a BBQ by fetching and holding, which is something I am very good at by the way, sewed two more lace bunnies as Easter is approaching quickly, opened the mail and paid a few bills, visited with a friend who stopped by, answered the phone several times and been able to put away some winter themed candles. Whew! Even I am impressed with all that I have accomplished and it is only early afternoon.
Let's get to the title of this post. Quick packaging is what I made for a couple of my Sister's birthday gifts. I used a beautiful ribbon that I knew she would like. Stitched the sides of the folded ribbon. Then I wrapped a blue Swarovski crystal tennis bracelet I made in tissue paper and slipped it into the ribbon case. I am sad I didn't take a photo of the bracelet as it really is stunning and Marie loves blue as much as I do. In the shorter ribbon case I placed a dragonfly key ring wrapped in tissue paper. As for the closure I decided to keep it very simple and used a small red colored safety pin that I attached a charm to for decoration. I am sorry my scan did not come out very straight or clear. I think you get the idea of how simple and quick these ribbon cases are for giving gifts inside of them. Next I will use the beautiful gold embellished ribbon Marie gave to me on my present as her next packaging for something I shall make and give to her. Ribbon is not only for wrapping around a gift. It can be the gift as well as the packaging. Now her delicate bracelet has a safe case for storage as well.
Let me see what shall I accomplish next? Maybe I better file the stack that has grown taller on my desk that also looks ready to take a dive over the edge. Of course better the papers than me. Oh thank you bloggers for staying with me as now I feel a little better realizing just how much I have completed today.
Happy mid-week to everyone...

Another Checked Off the List...

So as we prepare to close another year I have been trying to check some to-dos off my list. For longer than I can think I have wanted to change my etsy shop banner. The photo on the top is of the old banner. It sufficed but was not very clear or classy. As most of you already know I am not the computer whiz I would like to be. Mr. C has always been that for me and done it all. However, when it came to my blogging and my etsy shop he was not interested at all. He was, after all, still working and did not have spare time for such nonsense. Well...

Mr. C is fully retired and when he was helping me the other day with my new blog banner I guess he heard me say I also wanted to change my etsy banner. Yay!!! He made me this new banner (second photo) and I so love it! Simple elegance. Thank you Mr. C...I love it!

Checked this off my list. It feels so good to head into a new year with a fresh clean slate.

What is on your list you would like to complete before 2011 arrives?

Happy creating...

Whew!!!

Whew!!! I have been wanting to change my blog banner to a collage of items I have created. Not being a computer person or software programmer or even remotely familiar with this type of activity I have been putting this task at the bottom of every list for quite a while now.

Well!!! Here is my new blog banner and I am so happy with it. Of course I had lots of help from Mr. C who is very familiar with computers and their nuances. Thank you honey!

I also had help from this wonderful blog tutorial http://memoriesoncloverlane.blogspot.com/2009/08/tutorial-on-how-to-make-blog-banner.html

Thank you so much Sarah for your help even though you don't know me or my blog. Your tutorial was the boost I needed to get started and spend the energy and hours with Mr. C to accomplish something I have been wanting to check off my list.

As 2010 comes rushing to a close I am reflecting and trying to finish some of the items I feel will help me most in 2011. Maybe my word of 2010 "Focus" really wasn't in vain after all.

What are you reflecting on at this time of year?

Are you completing tasks on your list before the new year arrives?

My grandmother (and now me) always had to have all the ironing completed before midnight New Year's eve even if it meant ironing frantically until 11:59 pm. The thought was that if it weren't completed it would merely continue to pile up all year long and it would never get done. So that is how I function and this week is my week to try to complete things before the new year. Hey...what ever works...right?!!

May you have a very relaxed and rewarding week...

Momentum Monday...

Isn't is wonderful when things come together and you are able to accomplish some things you have begun?! I have had so many projects started that I just had to get some of them completed. So in keeping with my Friday last week and on through a beautiful sunny and relaxing weekend with DH here I am posting about keeping up the momentum and completing a few more projects.

The first photo is of Creative Cue that I have been participating in since inception. Three Creative Studios is hosting this. It is a no pressure very easy and inspiring weekly cue to be creative. Last week's cue was STEM. I will admit that I am not putting a ton of time into this nor am I trying to be super artistic on them but I am able to complete each week on time and it is a spark of creativity to come up with something that no one else is doing.

My second photo is a very simple bookmark. Yes, it is in the color green which for some reason is the entire beginning of March until St. Patrick's day has come and gone. I used one of my little heart yo-yos and handstitched some 6.0 seed beads to it. I handstitched it to a sheer ribbon which also has a strip of grosgrain for detail. The edges of the doubled sheer are a simple straight stitch which adds to the dimension of the overall bookmark yet keeping it very flat so as not to harm your book you are reading. Lots of time and handwork but the result is lots of love and care put into this for my chosen recipient.

And lastly but not least is the photo of five Comfort Dolls. This is a project I have blogged about before and I am passionate about this. People from all over the world make and donate small dolls that get coordinated and sent to Battered Women Shelters for them to have some "comfort" and know that many people are thinking of them and wishing them safe. Check out http://comfortdollproject.blogspot.com to see how you might want to help support this worthy cause. Pat Winter was the founder and has recently turned it over to Brenda Hutchings so let's all do whatever we can. My five little dolls are happy to spread cheer wherever they go. They will travel to Brenda, along with a few coins for mailing expenses, and then she will post where they get to go to give comfort. In the past I even had some of my dolls go to our local shelter. That was heartwarming. Thank you so much Pat and Brenda and all the people who contribute to this amazing and fun project. Bye bye comfort dolls and enjoy your new homes.

Well, my Monday is rushing along and I must get busy. I want to keep the momentum going. Can you believe I still have things to complete. Whew!

What are you working on and would like to complete?

Finish It Friday...

Happy Friday and the sun is shining. I declare this to be "Finish It Friday". I must have at least five unfinished things/projects sitting here on my desk all at once. Yes I have a very large desk as it is at least 3 feet by 6 feet and I manage to fill up every flat surface space there is. So that is how I have so many projects and unfinished things around me all at once. No, that doesn't count the ones that are in the studio or in the sewing room. I don't think I could count that high or if I could I would drop from exhaustion. LOL
So getting back to "Finish It Friday" I am planning on completing at least the five projects I have right now on my desk surrounding me. None of these will take more than a few hours each so therefore I definitely have enough time in the 24 hour clock.
I have the right supplies to finish each of them so what can my excuse be? Lazy? Procrastinator? Undecided? Not Me! I merely begin more than I should all the time. Can anyone relate to doing this? I recently read that we don't finish things yet begin new ones because it is more exciting to start something new. Well, here I am declaring this to be "Finish It Friday" and before I go to bed tonight I will have completed these five projects. I know I will feel amazing after I am done. I know I will have renewed energy and excitement from such an accomplishment. I know I will feel good that I no longer have to worry about getting these done in time as some have critical deadlines I must meet.
So beginning with the picture above...I purchased these little canvas bags at the $1.29 store in town and embellished them for St. Patrick's with some green ribbon and one of my little green fabric heart yo-yo's I have been making. These are for my friends when we get together for lunch on St. Patrick's day. Of course I am putting a little surprise inside for the ladies but shhh I want to keep that a secret for now.
I will be sharing my other projects in future posts however for now they shall merely go on the endangered UFO list. I must get very busy as my clock is ticking away and I have very few hours left to complete my mission.
Would you like to join me in "Finish It Friday"? I know I will feel better and less overwhelmed.

Hello March...

Hello March and all that you bring us. The hope of Spring as the plants and trees begin to bud with new life. Daffodils are sprouting forth from the ground and the blossoms are unfurling to show their bright burst of beautiful yellow.

For us here in the United States we have St. Patrick's day to celebrate on March 17th. We eat and drink green colored food and beer. We color our rivers with green in honor of the day. We wear green clothing.

We look for Leprechauns and rainbows and the ever-elusive pot of gold.

We love four leaf clovers and shamrocks. I have made a shamrock-like pin to wear so that I don't get pinched that day. Okay, maybe no one would actually pinch me anymore but a girl can still pretend. I used a beautiful green fabric to make some heart shaped yo-yo's. I mounted them to green wool felt. I used a green dyed shell bead for the stem and some 6.0 seed beads to embellish my pin. I shall be wearing this when I meet my girlfriends for lunch on March 17th.

This month begins with a Monday and that is always a challenge for many. I endured the post office today and got some important things sent off to their destinations. It feels good to begin a new month with a list that I can actually check off as having completed.

I shall soon share another project I am working on.

What are you working on that you would like to complete this month?