She Kissed a Frog

And found her Prince.

After 2 years of dating a very nice young man, my daughter and he got engaged last month. The wedding is set for next July; plenty of time to get things in order. I'm very excited and not at all anxious ~ My one and only baby girl has always been very smart, confident, opinionated, headstrong and marches to the beat of her own drum. In other words: she knows exactly what she wants for a wedding and has it nailed down. I just smile, nod and get out the credit card.

In the last couple of years she'd ask me how I knew her dad was my Mr. Right. Oh. Um. Gee, how does one know...for sure? It's a leap of faith. It truly is. But what did I say? "You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince charming." Yeah, I said that.

After last month's Big Announcement I recalled the kiss a lot of frogs comment and remembered I had the frog and turtle panel by Julie Paschkis somewhere in my craft-room closet. I'm taking a break from Christmas items to work on it. Perhaps it'll be a gift to the bride, or her Prince.

Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of frogs, but what about the turtle?

News from My Craft Room

Thank you to everyone who said such wonderful things about my post over on Kim’s Snug Harbor Bay blog. Kim's blog  And a huge thank you to Kim for the great opportunity!

I have finished another little pillow pendant and will have it available in my Etsy shop soon. my shop


I’ve also just begun another pillow; this one is from a panel of 6 sewing notions and kittens. It’s a very detailed print; and check out the coordinating button print fabric on the back!

An Update from the Craft Room

Row Row Row Your Boat is almost finished…

 And plans for my next project are taking shape. After a visit to my mom’s House of Fabric (you have to see to believe how much material is in her sewing room!), I came across a wonderful panel of quotations. I only had to ask once and she gave me a wonderful saying by Anonymous.

 I haven’t made a postcard pillow in a while and thought this would make an excellent one.

WIP: Mermaid

From the imagination of Julie Paschkis ~ http://www.juliepaschkis.com/ ~ my work-in-progress is Mermaid from Oceanica.

I have completed panels from this story line in the past. The Frog Prince and Turtle Man is available in my Etsy shop.

It is a joy for me to work with each and every one of these; the colors are so vibrant and the characters are so unique.

Mermaid is progressing nicely. I have finished her lovely hair and gotten a good start on her guitar.

Some of the colors planned for this pillow: gold pearls, black seed beads, orange seeds, red iris, pine green, grass green and sea blue.

How Much is That Doggie?

A few months ago my friend, artist Melody Lea Lamb, worked her magic for me and painted a portrait of my little dog, Nikky ~ Very special and meaningful as Nick passed away in 2006. The photo I had sent to Melody is one of my favorites; it captured the very essence of Nick...a happy little dog who was quite content to doze while I worked on the computer, follow me around the house, fetch a toy or just enjoy lay next to me on the sofa during a movie (enjoyed even more if I shared the popcorn).

I wanted to share the happiness of Nikky and decided to create a little of my own magic with what I know....beaded pillows. Here is the first.

This pillow is now available in my Etsy shop. Click on the link to find out more details.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/82107069/white-beaded-maltese-dog-with-blue

A Prince Among Frogs

Well, another very challenging beaded pillow is completed ~ Meet The Frog Prince....

Although I mainly work with seed beads, I had some fun adding a faux pearl here and there on this pillow (the butterfly and the turtle). I also included some facet-cut glass beads (butterfly and turtle's eye). There are a few other surprises on this special One-Of-A-Kind pillow, too.

Stop by my Etsy shop to see more views and get more details on this whimsically sweet pillow.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thebeadedpillow?ref=si_shop

My Current WIP

On a recent road trip to Hayward, WI, I picked up some very vibrant fabric from the Quilt Loft. My first thought was to make a couple sets of beaded mug mats. Then I thought about year-round ornaments. A hanger? Hm. Finally I decided to make one large and cushy pillow ~ the better to show off all the Painted Ponies. The fabric on the back is a remnant from the Hayward Salvation Army.

As of now I have beaded each side of this large pillow with fuschia and light aqua seed beads (this took a long time, my friend!). I've also beaded the mane of the largest pony. I have a long way to go before these ponies are ready to roam but this unique pillow will trot into my Etsy shop eventually.

The Swan ~ A Work in Progress

My current pillow project has a little something extra; my mom, Quilting Goddess, free-motion quilted the water and lanterns. At first I had an idea that I'd like her to quilt the swan, but upon further discussion we decided the swan should be beaded with ceylon pearl seed beads. I did highlight the quilted pond with green faux pearls.

I plan to bead the swan's beak, the lanterns, butterfly, branch and blossoms. Also I am looking for just the right gem for the center of the swan's eye, which has already been outlined with gray and teal seed beads.

Let me know what you think of this one; I love to read your comments.

Fish & Fowl: WIP

My current work-in-progress is another fabric block from Tuesday Rose on Etsy.

I call this one Fish & Fowl. The large fish has been beaded with orange, green, yellow and  crystal seed beads. The sun, which was very fun to bead, has yellow, orange and crystal seed beads. I will also bead the birds, flowers and leaves.

This pillow will be completed and for sale in my Etsy shop soon.

What Has 8 Tentacles and Is Orange All Over?

I'm pleased as orange punch to announce I've finished my octopus pillow. He is currently listed in my Esty shop for $75.00.....I ended up embellishing him a little more than I thought. He has a blue "diamond" ring and strands of neon green seaweed floating around him ~~~ it brings out his orange. He's a real cutie!

Orange Crush (Work in Progress)

One of my favorite colors is orange and if you stop by my house you'll see the proof.  I don't paint the walls, but I have splashes of orange here and there in candles, flowers and -of course- pillows.

When I saw the orange octopus quilt block available from Tuesday Rose on Etsy, well...I sent for it immediately. And now I am creating a beaded pillow of an Orange Octopus with whom I've aready developed a crush. He's very sweet and bright and colorful; and apparently he's spoken for because dangling from one tentacle is a pretty diamond ring (soon to be beaded) for his lady friend.

Miniature Art Close to My Heart

Recently my friend, artist Melody Lea Lamb www.miniatureanimalart.com/ put her talents to work and delighted me with an ACEO of my sweet dog, Nikky. For those who may not know what an ACEO is, here is the definition from Melody's blog:

In 2004 the unique little art form known as ACEO (Art Cards Editions and Originals) was born on eBay. ATC (Art Trading Cards) have been around for centuries and are usually traded or exchanged rather than sold. In contrast, artists primarily create ACEOs with the intention of selling them. ACEOs came to be as a result of the public's interest in acquiring and collecting these tiny works of art that were (up until the ACEO) strictly traded between artists.

My family adopted Nikky when he was just 8 weeks old from a breeder in Wisconsin. St. Nicholas of Crocus (his official name by which he was never ever called) was a Maltese and spent the next 14 years as a much-loved member of my immediate and extended family. Nick passed away 5 years ago. But he will never be forgotten. And, thanks to Melody, I have this beautiful ACEO to keep with me always.

Melody also had Nick's portrait transferred to fabric by www.spoonflower.com/welcome so I could create and bead pillows for family and my Etsy shop.
I have begun the process and, through my blog, will share it with you.

The backing has been chosen and the first pillow sewn and stuffed. Next step: choosing the beads....and that will be another day, another post...

Another Current Project

You might roll your eyes if you could see my craft room; it's filled with "current projects." Ah, but that's what makes life (and crafting) fun. And when you are in business for yourself, it's also your perogative. (I adore that!)

A couple of months ago I ordered some fabulous fabric squares from Tuesday Rose  http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuesdayrose
and shortly after it arrived sewed one of the pieces into a medium size pillow. And then it sat there. Looking at me. Day after day.

Finally I couldn't stand it another moment and yesterday chose the beads I wanted to use and began beading. I cannot explain the pure joy I get from beading incredible prints. This pillow is so cheerful and festive. Beading is going much quicker than with Orchid (which is still one of my other current projects.) Look for Red Pony in my Etsy shop very soon.