Sleep is a Good Thing...

...especially when you're sick! I started with a sore throat (for a solid week), then it turned into a head cold, and now I'm coughing my way through the night - not a good thing for sleep!

Am I whining? You bet. But! I have not stopped working on my projects - between cups of hot tea and snuggles from my mini-dox "Teddy".

About those projects... 
Here's an example of the backside of my work. Yikes! (I know - nobody shows that!) But in the spirit of "I have nothing to hide", and "look how much work this is!", I'm breaking rules again and showing you my backside - well, sorta...

I think I need some "SISSY" cuddles...

Totses - the Journey...

...not the destination. Since I've started posting my Totses (pronounced "tote-SEE") on Poladora, my Etsy boutique, I've gotten a lot of favorable feedback. But I thought that since the item is so unique (I know, I know, how unique can a tote be?...), that I would show you some of the process so that you can see what goes into making one. You'll also see why they take so long.

Almost everything about the Totse (combination TOTe and purSE), is different than traditional thinking - but that's who I am. I like to break the rules in my creations and the Totse does that. First, no two Totses will ever be exactly the same. So, if you're looking to buy something unique to carry but you don't mind seeing someone else with it, then buy a Coach or Vera Bradley. Both great in their own way - high quality, beautiful patterns, soft and quilted... but, if I'm going to buy something relatively expensive and unique in some way, I don't want to see it coming and going down the street while I'm carrying it on my arm. Plus, the Totse is nearly all hand made, except for some seaming.

The first thing I do when creating a Totse, is to select the fabric (I have to love it - it's my rule), for its ability to be texturized, quilted, and/or beaded in some way to accent its personality. Then, I cut a square larger than I need, since I will be "shrinking" the piece as part of the texturizing process. I then attach that fabric to the same size piece of Warm & Natural all cotton unbleached cotton and a piece of texturizing material. So now I have three layers and it's time to begin the slow process of hand embroidering/quilting/beading/whatever prior to shrinking the material.

These pictures illustrate the stitching and beading process of one of my latest selections - one of the coordinates of a collection by Moda called "Verna". (Don't let the close up fool you - there are tons of flowers on this piece! Yikes!) The top photo shows a flower that is finished next to one that hasn't been started yet.

I will continue this series as I make progress... I hope you're patient!

It Sounds a Little Fishy...

...but I do keep my promises - everyone should. Well, a long time ago, I promised to post a lampworks glass fish that I made myself  - on "Facebook". Well, a little late, and the wrong venue...but! here's the fish! (I'll share this on Facebook of course.)

I will be placing some of these on Poladora - my Etsy Boutique - for sale.

Now there's a typical fish story! 

I'm been busy!

First, there's that pain in my head we can't seem to get our arms around - not even after seven doctors! Oh well - I'll keep plugging along until I get some answers.

Then there's the addition of a new son-in-law Eric! He's a great guy and we're very happy for our daughter.

Oh yes, and then there's this little thing called being a "Grandma"... 

Here's a little cutie named "Hannah" (she's just one of six grandchildren I might add - not bragging at all!). I helped watch Hannah and her brother with one of my daughters while her hubby was away. She sure loves Grandma's yogurt! "Can I have more?"
 

Aren't I cute? (Of course, ALL of my grandchildren are adorable - but again, I am certainly not bragging at all!)

So if you've been wondering where I've been...well, there's more but I won't bore you with the details.

The good news is that I have not stopped making wonderful things for my boutique on Etsy - Poladora. I'll soon post some sneak peeks.

In the meantime, check out my latest promo - anything in my "featured" block (four items that change from week to week), for free shipping (domestic), on any item. No minimum!

Hmmmm...Fall is in the air...could be lampwork torch time!

Two More Tidbits...

...less expensive items made from leftover fabrics as promised once again:

Finishing up with pieces of Mocha Meringue in dark chocolate, we have a very well priced eye glass case that holds two pair of full size glasses (or readers if you prefer).

Hand beaded, texturized, padded, and both machine and hand stitched, the glasses case includes sterling silver and gold filled beads. I have even used tiny gold beads to attach the "Poladora" tag!

The other item is a little treasure pouch. "Treasure", as in coins, credit cards, lipsticks, nail stuff, jewelry, whatever...eveyone's treaure is different and so is this. Again, with the hand beading, and this time including dangled lampworks Italian glass beads from my own torch! Included with the little bundle of beads are sterling silver, 14 kt gold, copper, swarovski crystal, and all wired with sterling. This pouch is fully lined and I used french seams for a nice smooth interior.

These items are priced at just $35 each! Every once in a while, I hope to surprise you with just such a bargain so you'll be back to check often! (I'm pretty much a "high end" shop, but I also want everyone to have a chance to buy something from Poladora if they'd like to.)

Remember, expect the unexpected!...

It's Veggie Pizza Time!...

Veggie Pizza Pizzazz, that is. I finally finished the bulk of the "Garden Fresh" by Andover designer fabric family of pieces I've affectionately named "Veggie Pizza". You can now see them in my boutique, Poladora.

This is the main quilt wall hanging. It is hand-beaded, hand-embroidered, hand-quilted, hand-appliqued, and...well, you get the idea. If you look closely, you'll see that every white dot on the red squares is beaded with a white bead, as well as most of the veggie parts and pieces throughout the quilt.

 There's a smaller mini version of the quilt that is actually designed to be a table scarf to match the wall hanging, but could be easily used as a wall hanging itself, for smaller budgets.

I've also promised to make some smaller items from leftover fabric and I'm doing just that. I've already posted napkins and pot holders at Poladora, but am also working on a set of placemats that will appear as soon as they are finished.


Then, it is on to some leftover fabric items for the fans of Mocha Meringue!

The Lost Art of Hand Embroidery...

I stitched these two children's pictures many, many years ago. My daughter loved them and used them in her home for a while but I recently got them back. It made me think of all of the wonderful things that my grandmother taught me to do as a girl. One of those things was to embroider - by hand - not the machine kind you see so much of today. Then I realized that my love of hand stitching and hand embroidery is what inspires me to embellish everything I make! A wonderful gift from Grandma brought back to life in a more up to date way. I knew my work looked different from anyone elses - but I just thought I was strange...