Needle Case Tutorial

Hello Everyone,

Needle Case Tutorial

Handmade Needle Case

The inside of the needle case

 1. Cut fabric to the size you want.

*Note* You could embroider a design on the main front fabric and pocket before you start layering the pieces to be sewn together. I did not however.*
 I used a piece of felt for the inside piece to put the needles in.
 See Step 7.

The piping placement

2. Place main fabric right side up on table.
3.   Place piping on main fabric layer with the bump where the cord or yarn is on the inside.
*Note* I made my own piping out of a 1 inch strip of fabric and yarn.

adding the inside layer

4. Layer the inside piece right side down on top of the piping.

Adding the batting

5. Layer on your batting piece.

Pinning it all together

6. Layer on your last fabric piece. This piece does not matter whether you place right side up or down as it will not be seen. Pin it all around and stitch it leaving a 3 inch opening to turn it. Turn it right side out then top stitch all the way around the outside of the needle case.

Added pocket for embroidery scissors.

7. The pocket can be added on the inside piece before layering the pieces together or it can be added at the very end if you do not mind seeing the stitching on the backside of the case.

For the pocket, hem the top edge of the pocket piece. Then place it on the fabric where you want it and pin it on then stitch it.
* Note*  I put mine in the back side of the felt.

Adding the felt and marking sides for which kind of needles you want to put into the case.

8. Cut your felt to a size that is about a 1/2 inch smaller then the needle case and secure it to the inside of the case by stitching down the middle of the felt in the middle of the case.

9. Then take a ribbon of your choosing and cut it into 2 pieces of equal length long enough to tie a bow.  Stitch one side of the ribbon to the inside of the case at about the middle point on the front and back cover.

10. Close needle case by tying the ribbon into a bow.

There you have it ! Enjoy your new needle case :o)

Please send me pictures if you have used this tutorial I want to see your creativity and beautiful fabric choices.

Have a lovely creative day! Until next we meet. *waves*

Petal Pincushion

Hey there,

I just thought I would post a link to my next upcoming project after my Needle case I plan to make.

Petal Pincushion


I thought I would use more milder fabrics though like a light floral. I'm not much for the bold geometric materials but on the rare occasion I do find one that strikes my fancy. I have one such one in my possession I plan to use to make a tote bag with. It is one my niece gave me for my birthday so ,of course, I have to use it! :o)

I plan to get started on my Needle Case today, but I need to see if I have some green felt to use, If not, then I will have to hunt down another piece of fabric to use. I have a very soft pretty floral fabric I plan to use.

Well, toodles for now!

Got a lot of crafting to do!

Teaching Myself To Embroider

I am determined to teach myself how to do Elegant Embroidery. I want to incorporate some of it in our Vow Renewal Ceremony.

I am thinking of embroidering with matching beads on my ballerina slippers and I am also wanting to make a embroidered heart shaped ring pillow for Pepper (Our dog) to wear on her fancied up harness as she will be our Ring Girl ^.^.

I have a beautiful design all picked out and ready to transfer to the light oatmeal colored cotton fabric I found that I think could be a linen.

The design will be a oval with ribbon flowers at the top and the bottom of the oval with embroidered stems and leaves and little French Knots hanging from some stems. There will be our Monograms at the bottom just above the flowers then just above the monograms I think I will add two ribbon roses with several light colored 1/8" satin ribbons to tie the rings on with. I think I will do it in the colors of the fabric I am using for the skirt part of my dress.

The fun part will be convincing Pepper not to try to scratch it off. O.0 LOL

This is the day I became her official owner Oh Happy Day!

Early Birthday Celebration with Family

I just had a most wonderful time celebrating my 40th birthday with most of my family!
I received a beautiful teal blue tie-at-the-waist sweater from the Matron of the family. My Sister-in-Laws surprised me with a $50 "Girls Day Out" coming up in June. My Niece and Nephew-in-law gave me some wonderful fat quarters and three postcards from Hawaii.

It was so wonderful!

Then this evening I took a very short romantic walk with my hubby. That was the highlight of my day! I fell in love with him all over again. It was so lovely to gaze at the foothills, to see the lights reflecting on a pond and to see Pepper, our dog, jumping through the field of high grass. The frogs croaking to each other, It is so romantic the way they answer each others call. The crickets were chirping along. A very sweet birdie sung a happy birthday song to me. It was truly a beautiful moment and the perfect way to end my day.

With that, I bid you all a Good Night and happy crafting until next we meet :o).

Much Love,

Karen

My New Look

Hello All,

I just upgraded my look to one that to me looks more Artsy/Craftsy. So Holler and let me know what you think.

I have a pair of blue leather ballerina slippers being handmade for me complete with blue satin ribbons. An Etsy friend Just Plain Flats of mine is making them for my birthday. I am so excited that I can hardly wait to see them. I just know that they will be beautiful!

I managed to get just one square crocheted on my French Provincial Afghan, Woohoo!

Seriously, my health is bugging out at the moment so it is really hard to get much of anything done.

I did manage to clean my dainty antique Victorian detailed necklace and earrings today. The best cleaner for Costume Jewelry is Colgate toothpaste, my friend, in just plain white with a soft bristled toothbrush. Then just rinse under a tiny stream of lukewarm water until the toothpaste is completely rinsed off. Then set onto a couple of paper towels to air dry.

Anyone have a pet rock that they prefer over any other natural made rock?

I do, Mine is Quartz! All clarities of it. I am partial to rose quartz but alas do not own any. I would dearly love a piece to set on my desk in front of my computer monitor.

Well, I hate to cut this short but it is my nap time--I take three hour naps to rest up to be able to make it through the evening most days, not all, in Summer, it is so light I manage to grab just about an hour. But then I usually feel better in the Summer except for my new found allergies and the major painful Concentric Bulging Disc in my L4-L5 region. When that flares up I am down for the count with my friend the Ice Pack.

Happy Creating!

Head Pain Finally Figured Out!

Hey there Everyone,

I finally figured out my head pain on my own on Mother's Day when it finally came to a massively severe pain-wracking full blown Migraine. Now it is just down to a Allergy Headache. SO No Tumor as originally thought!!!

My sweet hubby surprised me with a Orchid corsage and a dozen Carnation Pink Carnations for Mother's Day! I love them Darlin'! Thank you so much and I love you dearly!

I am working on a French Provincial Afghan pattern I found in an 1986 Afghan book I bought at the Goodwill here. I have changed the color scheme a bit to adjust to my tastes. I will try to do a tutorial on it as I go. It may be after I finish it completely that I post it though. As it takes quite some time and money to make at least 55 squares, then to single crochet two different colors to each square, make 55 flowers, attach the flowers then to join all the squares and to finish it with a Picot edging. But then I am taking a Lap Robe project and turning it into a full blown afghan for a queen sized bed :O).

I have been getting quite the crafting bug here lately but my poor thumb is so sore I cannot do much other than to crochet. I may have to talk to my doctor again about it as it has been really sore at rest and I have not sprained it. I think it is an inflammation in my ligaments. Very painful. Nonetheless, I have been perusing other crafting blogs for inspiration and to see creativity at its finest as a Do-it-yourself kind of person.
I just may show you my ugly dining room slipcovers and afghan if I can ever feel well enough to finish them...actually they are not that bad.

I am sitting here wishing I had a craft room all my own...but I am crammed into the bedroom with a meeting table with a table skirt I made. I just wished I could afford the right kind of chair to use for my sewing and quilting, Right now I am using a dining room chair which causes my lower back to really hurt after an hour of sitting at the machine.

Ah well, tis the life story of one who is extremely poor and disabled and cannot work.

Anyhoo, back to designing more crafts to do when I am able to do so!

Happy Creativity and Crafting Y'all!

Good News and Even Better News

Hello Everyone,

Today is a grand day for me......

I found out that my MRI of my head came back normal which means there is no tumor like originally thought. Still does not explain my symptoms though. Maybe it is just a new form of headache that I have never had in the past. I am going to see if I can see a headache specialist as this was just too painful to ignor especially when my vision was so affected.

The greatest news of all I won my auction and am now the proud owner of a dainty Victorian matching necklace and earring set. 

Victorian Earrings

Victorian necklace

I have also purchased a lovely pair of hand beaded appliqués. I am thinking I may use them on my veil on the main layer which reaches down to my ankles or thereabouts. Thinking I will finish it with some lace trim and possibly with other smaller appliqués and extra pearls and crystal type beads.

Hand beaded Appliqués
Happy Weddings and crafting!

My Vow Renewal Plans

Hey there Everyone,

I have pretties to show you today!
Lace, trim, ballet slippers, and the pattern for my Vow Renewal dress I am hand making.

This is the pattern I plan on using with some tweakage.

This is the fabric for the skirt and maybe the upper sleeves. But I have not completely decided on that .

These are the hand made English Ladies Style of leather Ballerina slippers I plan on embroidering with beads and adding ribbons to. But the ribbons will be tied as they really should be tied which is only around the ankle with the knot discretely hidden on the inside of the ankle. I will not tie them up my leg as that is not safe to do and can actually lead to injuries.  I will be getting them from  Just Plain Flats. Check Bob out he does awesome work!

This will be the trim i will be using.

This is the imported lace I am using for the inside of the lower sleeves.

This is the hand beaded appliqué that I will hand sew to the bodice.

A matching Victorian necklace and earring set I have my eye on, I sure hope I win it!

Cannot see it too well, but this is the hairstyle I am aiming for if my hair will cooperate :o).

This is the cake I am aiming to imitate with a dairy-free cake recipe using a candy clay to cover it with. I know it won't be completely dairy-free as i will be using white chocolate for the clay. I will have to make a trial run of it first.

This is the invitation I designed myself. I am planning on printing it out on a soft blue paper with a tracing paper insert with a small blue bow on the inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Afghan and Health News

Hey there Everyone,

   How are we today? Me, not so well.
 
   I have been having intra-cranial pressure building up since February 23rd. The doctor thought it was Shingles so I have gone through two prescriptions and still not any better. So I am trying to get her to okay an MRI to find out what is really going on with my head. I have developed visual disturbances and I have almost fallen three times this week. The pressure is building steadily. She wants to send me to the pain clinic to get a nerve block but I told them that I was trying to get my doctor to order an MRI and that I really did not want to waste the doctor's time with the nerve block if it calls for something else. They were very understanding and told me to give them a call if I changed my mind.

   On to the good things!

   I finished that baby afghan I have been teasing you guys with and I think it is gorgeous!

 
    I started out with oversized granny squares.  I was desperate to find a way to join them. My way just wasn't working. So I googled and ran across Carina's Craft Blog
She was a life saver and didn't even know it! Check her out sometime. 

  You cannot see it in the picture but the light colored squares are actually a pale pastel blue, yellow, green,  pink and white.  Man was this yarn ever soft! I even made a couple of washcloths with the antique white yarn and they left my body so soft and silky. As soon as I have time and get to feeling better I plan on making some more. I wove ribbon throughout the edge of the afghan and stitched it down with my sewing machine. I also gave her a photo album that I had decorated with ephemera, ribbon, and buttons. It was so cute.  I divided it into activities and special moments such as "Playtime", "Daddy's Boy", "Dream it Up Little One", "Momma's Sunshine" just to name a few. Then I also gave my niece a devotional book just for Mommies. I was so very touched when my niece told me that our gifts would be family heirlooms. I almost started to cry because I was so very happy as that was my very wish while I was working on the baby afghan. I prayed over that afghan so many times as we all were afraid that since both parents were Preemies that this baby would also be a Preemie. But so far he is heading towards full term!. He appears to be strong and very healthy. According to my niece she told everyone when they had a 3D Sonogram (?sp.) that he looked so cute and angelic.  I cannot wait to see him!  I am so looking forward to being a Great-Aunt.

  In other news, I ordered the fabric for the skirt part of my Vow Renewal Dress. I received the lace trim yesterday. I just love the fabric to my skirt I plan on mixing it with a white polished cotton as it is polished cotton as well. I cannot wait to get started on my dress but I have to wait until I can order the rest of the fabric needed.

 Here's a snippet of it:

   Is this gorgeous or what! It is so romantic. I am such a romantic at heart and very sentimental. I just love the roses.

  Well, that's it for now. Happy crafting until next we meet!

What's Happening Lately

    Well, for starters, I finally finished that cute little hat I was crocheting along with the lap afghan I had been working on for the past few months.

Hand crocheted hat based on a child's pattern by Red Heart.

Lap Afghan hand crocheted.

Shell stitch made up of 5 Double Crochet.

   In the hat picture you can see what my next project will be. It will be new pillows for my sofa. I just have to wait for my sewing machine to get looked at if the machine oil does not do the trick.  That is why I have a month's worth of mending left to do. My sewing machine went wonky on me. I am trying to fix it on my own. But if it needs to go to the shop I am pretty much out of luck as I do not have that kind of money. I am operating off of a $20 a month allowance. I am disabled and cannot work at all. Due to my disabilities but I cannot seem to get that Administrative Law Judge to see it. So we are appealing again from a different angle. So wish me well in my endeavor.


   Right now I am working on a secret project that cannot be discussed for a few more months. At the right time I will post pictures of my project. I cannot let my little secret out ahead of time or it would ruin the surprise factor. It is a grand little surprise I have!


Here is a picture of the very first Ripple afghan I ever made.

Me and my first ever Ripple afghan taken on April 4, 2007.

 

 

 

 

  I really must make another sometime. Only this time in blues.

  Well, I guess that's it for now until I get my machine working right again.
  Have fun creating and please do share your crafts with me!

Please Help My Good Friend Al

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

       Why is this at the top of my post?
       Because I strongly believe in this gentle man's right to stay in the United States of America! We are to be a safe harbor to those who just like us are just seeking to live their lives in freedom. Is that not what the United States has stood for all these many centuries? Why now change our Motto: In God We Trust? To say simply that we only trust God sometimes but only when it is convenient for us. My dear friend Al, we are all on our knees praying for your freedom at this very moment and for the safety of your mother.

       In other news, my back is still in the process of healing. I've been denied Disability benefits due to too many discrepancies between what I am telling the judge and what my records actually show as I can never seem to catch my own doctor in the  office to get her up to date. Then when I do, the time frame is too short to really discuss anything and due to the clinic's new policy I cannot be treated by the other physicians there as I am considered a complicated case.  I invite the Administrative Law Judge to live just one day at my house and she will see that I am telling the truth. My lawyer is appealing with a different focus this time. Personally, I feel that Fibromyalgia has completely wrecked my life and that without proper healthcare access such as the medical coupon through DSHS, I never will get better. Right now DSHS is still mailing me paperwork to fill out once again declaring my Adult Functionality and my Ancient Work History 15 years past. So I am still in limbo on that decision as well.

     In recent news, my father-in-law fell on Christmas Eve and fractured his spine and the family is going through a huge adjustment period as he has been taken in by my brother-in-law and his wife. and poor Pa Bear as we call him still insists on being an Olympic Jumper at 84 years old. Gotta slow down there Pa Bear!

     I have not had the chance to do much crafting as they are increasing my Gabapentin and it has pretty much had me tied to the bed as has wrenching my back trying to help poor Pa Bear the one time I was able to visit him in rehab. The back is doing slightly better with the medication increase and the wonderful present I received from one of my sister-in-law's Suzy,{ Yay for Suzy! }She bought me a really nice thick foam mattress for my bed and two other pieces for my desk chair and my crafting chair! They have been a huge help with the back pain.
    I am still battling trying to get my Fibromyalgia under control. Seems like I have been on one huge long flare-up. With the increase in my medication I am sleeping better and most of the way through the night. I am still so very stiff in the mornings that it is usually an hour after taking my morning medications that I can even think about loosening up my muscles and start moving. I am still really exhausted. I can manage being up for about five hours max then I take a four hour nap then I go to bed early to boot. So it kind of makes it really hard to have much of a relationship with the hubby. But as long as the hubby has his computers he is entertained. However, I made the audicity of asking him to play a movie for me on his puter as my monitor gave up and I am using a loaner monitor that the screen is all messed up on so I am not on the puter much these days due to it giving me a headache trying to read the old CTL way, not as crisp and clear as an LCD monitor. Anyhow, the movie was "G-Force",  Loved it! But then I am a computer artist who fiddles with 3-d models *sheepish grin*  Rump is giving out, I'm off for now and please remember to help my good friend Al out !!

Health Update

        Just a short post to let you know that I am battling with no health insurance and a herniated disc in my L4-L5 region. I am trying desperately to get coverage so I can have my surgery to no avail at the moment. I am very frustrated and in an excruciating amount of pain on top of my usual Fibromyalgia pain. So please keep me in your prayers.

       New News- 11-08-2011: I have a Referral Request in the works and am just waiting to hear back from Virginia Mason Spine Clinic as to when the appointment is. Wish me well! 

      The pain has increased and it now feels like my low back and right hip are on fire constantly. Also it feels like my right hip is actually bone-on-bone which makes it excruciating to walk even from the bedroom to the bathroom which is like just five feet from each other. The last three days I have pretty much spent all my day catching up on missed sleep due to the increase in pain. Using an ice pack several times during sleeping hours.  The pain is somewhat tolerable upon waking but as soon as I sit up on the edge of the bed it kicks into high gear and becomes unbearable. 


        To give you an example of one such night: I went to bed at midnight, woke up at 1 a.m. grabbed an ice pack and laid with feet propped up on pillows on the loveseat. I went back to bed and fitfully slept until 2:30 a.m. I painstakingly made my way to the bathroom, took 2 Percocet then grabbed ice pack and laid on loveseat again. this time it took until 4:30 a.m. to get the pain level back to somewhat bearable then I went back to bed and slept until 6:17 a.m. at which time I was friends with my ice pack again and my over-the-counter Salonpas pain patch. I was awake until 9:45 a.m.  then I laid back down in bed and fitfully slept until 10:30 a.m. at which time I then got up to spend time with my hubby until 12:30 p.m. and then I crashed and burned until 4:30 p.m. 


        I am truly hoping in my case that the surgery improves my sleep. I however, have heard of cases where one surgery begat five more surgeries and then chronic pain. I am truly praying for a decrease in pain as far as my back is concerned. I know that I will never be pain-free because of my Fibromyalgia, but I do pray for my constant level tolerable pain back again. Having my back out pretty has pretty much bedridden me even though I do when the pain is somewhat tolerable get out and walk my dog, Pepper.  I truly miss being able to sit at my craft table working on my crafts whatever they may be. I do, however, have an idea for an adult sized version of a beautiful baby afghan made with 2 yarns crocheted at the same time into little shells. Hopefully, I can get stated on it soon and maybe I can work on that while I am laid up . We'll see! In the meantime, please keep those prayers rising up to God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.


       Also, share some of your crafting websites with me so I can get even more creative ideas :o) So I have something positive and cheering to look forward to!

My Baby Girl, Pepper, My Emotional Support Animal

     Keep on creating and exploring different crafts this week and I will try to get back to you later this week or as soon as I know when my surgery appointment will be.  God Bless and keep you!

Day One of a New Journey

            I am beginning a new journey to rediscover my inner crafter. I call myself the 'Masquerading Crafter' due to the fact that I have Fibromyalgia. There are many days I can barely crawl or often times fall out of bed. But on the days I can do my crafts, I do! Right now I am experimenting with different modes and types of crafts. I have been a very crafty person from the beginning until tragedy struck ( whole other story) and my health took a turn for the worse.....I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the age of 31 yrs. although I had carried the symptoms for many years before I could never afford proper medical care. That is until I met my wonderful hubby! He has been my saviour in many ways. Thank you, Darlin', I love you!

            My mother-in-law keeps telling me I can write a novel about the way I have survived life during my troubled years of growing up and away from my biological family. It was the best move I have ever made in my life! I'm not a heroine I am just an average person who has just refused to let Satan win one more battle in my life, anyone can do that. It does not take a hero, just takes determination and some bruises that do heal after time with the right kind of attitude and love. It's all a matter of the right kind of attitude. Even I falter at that at times :-) . I'm human and prone to err!

            Anyway, back to my new journey, I have been interested in learning to scrapbook for a while now. There are just so many diverse ways to express yourself with scrapbooking, whether it be with albums, journals or making cards. It amazes me that you can take 10 women and put them in a room with each having the exact same supplies and you will end up with 10 different outcomes! Each one unique to the creator herself. Many times I think we, women, craft with our emotions more often than not and each of us is just as likely to be too critical of our own work thinking that someone else's work is better than our own. It's not that it is any better, it is just different. Each is to be treasured!! I have come many years before that saying to finally sink into my hard head.

           I am just sitting here playing with a design for my "Renewing Our Vows" Album and the color blue keeps coming back to mind as it resembles the old saying of one being "true blue". The fact that it is my hubby and my  favorite color isn't being considered, honestly !  I am planning a Victorian ceremony on my part complete with the ballgown and the hubby gets to wear his blue jeans and sneakers as that is his true self. I am so excited about it! I am eagerly making the crafts needed for the ceremony myself at a lesser cost than it would cost to just buy them ready made. In fact as I write this, I am eagerly awaiting my Antique Victorian silver bridal bouquet holder! Should be here tomorrow....*does little happy dance*

              I am just beginning my journey and I hope that you will join me and we can travel together.......


              Until next time Happy Crafting! Celebrate Life, Focus on what you do have even if it is not much, it may be more than the person next to you has.