Strings ...... of Metal?

We've spent the last four days in Tahoe weaving threads of 3/8" steel rod. Does this count as a thing from strings??

The Crew:

Michele and Ginnie working the patina and waxing station.


Larry expertly cuts, rolls, fits a loft run.


Stu shaping one of the 154 "buttons" -- rounding off the rough end cuts -- up in the loft.


Stu and me. There's lots of fitting to do! Cut and "button" one end, fit, finish cut and button again.


Monty executing one of the 308 welds on four floors.


The finished railing:
The loft view.


The run down from the loft to the main floor.


Run to entry (and there's a third one to the basement.)


Happy. Done!


Oh, and the view? It's only the entire lake!

The Amazing Envelope Organizers

These organizers are perhaps the thing I am most proud of making. And they are incredibly useful for keeping track of all those bits of paper: receipts, stamps, business cards, lists, notes, etc. I got the original instructions for them from an old Martha magazine, but I like to think I've made improvements on the idea.

The covers are mat board covered with cotton fabric. The envelopes and covers are attached with bookbinding tape (which is really hard to find even online). The inside covers are rectangles of paper glued in to cover the mat board and rough edges of fabric. Picking the paper to use as an inside cover is one of my favorite parts.

Once assembled all you have to do to help keep track of all the paper bits is write a title or catagory at the top of each envelope and tuck in your purse...I dig a stamp or a phone number out of my own just about every day.

I attended a craft fair last weekend and sold a fair number of these. It was great to have others like the designs and idea enough to buy them, very flattering.

Hawaiian Throw

Finished! Now I am working on the Snoflake Quilt but am dying to start a queen size Hawaiian for my guest room- agony! What colors? Hopefully inspiration will strike.

Durable Dragon Sweater

Today we are getting out the fall clothing bins for the girls and I found this treasure. Jeanette knit this cute little sweater when Hailey was a baby and it has survived in perfect shape for Kaitlin to wear this this fall. That is saying a lot about how well made it is because my kids are hard on clothes and I am a hot wash and high heat dry kind of laundry girl.

Kaitlin was pretty pleased with how cute she looked in it.

Dirty Little Secret

I completed the dust ruffle for Kaitlin's crib last week. Now all I have left is the crib sheet, bumper pad, drapes, and then paint the room. I might pick up a bright rug if I find one in the right color.
Since I have little experience sewing, I was pretty proud of myself. Any true seamstress would be horrified. I didn't have a pattern. I just laid out her old dust ruffle and put the fabric on top to get my measurements. No rulers or pencil lines, just estimate and cut!
So the front and the sides look really good.
The back is where my dirty little secret is. I have always thought there is a fine line between deception and lying, but there IS a line. I mean magic is deception and everyone is OK with that. So I ran out of fabric with the same run of pattern. The thought of dragging them all to the fabric store to get more when I had enough, it just wasn't perfect, was too much. Plus I like instant gratification and didn't want to delay my project anymore. So I used all the pieces I had left. I put the correct orientation on the sides so that should someone catch a glimpse of the corner it would appear or deceive that it is well made all the way around. The crib is pushed up against the wall, so chances are slim that anyone but you guys will know the truth.

Socks Galore

I am a pretty dedicated knitter. Generally, I would be knitting right now --
in fact, this blogging may seriously cut into my knitting time. But these
socks are not mine, they are my mom's, GiGi's. Delighted with the socks
I had been turning out, she decided my brother, Phil, in Alaska, could really
use some. And just look at these! Fabulous!

Inspirational Fabric

I was in the fabric store with Jeanette when I passed by this beautiful fabric. For some reason I fell in love with it and just had to have it. What for? I had no idea. If it weren't for Jeanette, I never would have gotten it. Instead, I would have just gazed at it and caressed it every time I stopped by the store. She helped me quickly figure out how much I would need to make a new comforter for Kaitlin. Kaitlin never did get a special nursery. She got Karlie's leftovers. Poor third born. So this is the launching pad for an entirely new nursery with bright and bold colors. I did go back and buy a bunch more. The only problem is that I bought the fabric in May and its now almost August and I just completed the blanket (which is the easiest part). With any luck she will have her whole room done before she is a teenager. ☺

A Blankie for Owen

Katie is too modest. Really she is quite handy with a crochet hook and a whole lot of string; she made this blanket for Owen's birth. Nice isn't it?

Stitch Detail

It's Snowing!

This is the quilt I'm working on at the moment. The dot fabric is for the background. I still have some sort of border to put on there. I thought snowflakes would be a good theme for Michigan.

Pillows Part II

Hailey still sleeps with hers everynight!

Pillows

This is a little pillow that Anna made for Laney. She has made one for each of the girls. Satin on one side and flannel on the other. All four of them sleep with them. A nice way to be literally in touch with the kids from so far away.

Here are Kaitlin's and Karlie's.

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I'm Knitting as Fast as I Can

I guess it's my turn to post, but I haven't been able to get much knitting done lately. I am working on a few things and will have them to show soon... In the meantime, here is a little guy I knit as a baby gift a while back. Maybe he can keep the rest of the strings company while I get to work?

Happy Hat

The majority of the posts you all will see from me will be ones displaying your talents and gifts. Unfortunately, I don't have the crafty gene. My attempts are a good laugh though and give me something to do once and a while. So the first beautiful thing from strings is this adorable hat Jeanette made Kaitlin for her dedication. She loves to wear it and the brim is large enough to act as a sun hat!

Aloha!

These are from my Hawaiian quilting phase. I got all the patterns from Poakalani. She has published a series of books with patterns for pillowtops but also has a website with larger patterns on it. I like them because of the animals and flowers in them. For example below are sea turtles and whales.


Kanani O Ka Home

This pattern is Woodrose.



John's 70th birthday quilt has Helekonia, dolphins,Pua Melia, mangos, turtles, and Lokelani (patterns are clockwise from top left).

This one is Hibiscus.

Pineapples.

This is the current project. I'll show it to you when I finish it.

flowers

So, things with string...these are not quite as impressive as the beautiful dress mom made, but they are quite literally made with string. They look much better when they are tacked onto a skirt or shirt or something, but for now you just get the pic of them alone. I recently added a few to a skirt for Haileys bday (I'll have to get Max or Katie to take a pic of her in it to add to this so you can see how incredibly cute they look). The flowers are amazingly simple and easy to make...they just require a little time, busy fingers, and the ability to count to 20.

A Dress for Laney

I made this little dress for Laney. Her mom loves the Hannah Anderson label so I choose this big bold bright Hannah Anderson style fabric. Most of the items I have made for the kids have been knit, so it was fun to turn something out so quickly.

Actually I did do some kid sewing a while back. These are his and her outfits for cousins Spencer and Hailey. We were visiting Max and Katie in Colorado along with Sam and Heather from Michigan, GiGi, Grampa Larry, and Aunt Anna for the Fourth of July. The fabric design includes little outlined houses and kids holding hands and the words "me and Max are friends." Fun to sew and even better to have so much of the far flung family together!