Copper Heart

Here is herringbone stitch in odd count, changes the whole look of ndeble/herringbone. This has a free form copper wire heart attached.

Thanks Flo! L&L

Our Green Tree

Artificial or natural? Store it (where?)? Or have it shipped in? Each year we wrestled with these questions and more. Having moved to Florida, not the Christmas tree capital of the US, we knew that purchasing a natural tree meant having it trucked in, as well as surviving the climate change upon arriving. Adding to that we are almost always away for some part of the holiday and unable to water a cut tree, we have needles everywhere as we haul it out for disposal, and then where does it go? We have VERY limited storage space so any artificial tree will take up room we can use.

So, we brainstormed one evening and this is what we came up with. I am sure we will fine tune it in the years to come (last year it was just the quilt top). Here is our quilted tree . It holds lights and ornaments, requires minimal floor space and storage, and best of all: it is ours!

Helping Hands

A friend of mine had meningitis recently. She is a widowed mom who homeschools her three girls and manages to do everything with grace and good spirits. She has some BIG hospital bills following her illness. Some other friends of mine have set up a website with donated crafted items that can be purchased with 100% of the money going to the family in need. Please take a look and consider some Christmas/Holiday shopping. http://www.unschoolgathering.com/teri/index.htm

Silver Dance

For the first time since we moved here, I sat down at my workbench and answered the call of the silver dance. After a bit of cleaning up and making space to work, I found myself coiling some 18 gauge fine silver to cut some jump rings. After closing all the rings, I fused them. Now I'm off to shape and see if the idea I have flows into a wearable item.

Buttons included

Caboch-style on ultrasuede background.

Thanks Nicole. L&L

Right angle

And another...

Right angle weave with hearts added on top.

Thanks Wendy S. L&L

Modern twist

And one more beaded square for the Bead it forward challenge. More to come. Herringbone or Ndebele stitch

My design, adapted from design in Bead and Button by Carol Perrenoud. L&L