Because we are thankful for so much in our life!

We adore our creations, but sometimes you wonder if others do — and you know what, they do!  Ali’s scarves got some love and attention today as we were featured over at Sheena’s blog, Oh The Handmade Life.

We are totally excited and hope you will stop by over there to say HI

What do you look like from A to Z? I thought these were darling and finally, a favorite blog convinced me. Thanks to RetroChick for the inspiration!

Imagine putting a snapshot collage of yourself together, but based on the alphabet. TaahDaaaah! You get to peek behind the curtain little naughty one I’m willing to be even between my sister and I we will see a few and say, “really??” What are you all about, A to Z? Will you remember my favorite animal and buy me a new pet when my birthday comes around??

A-Age: 28
B-Bed size: Queen, because my cat is convinced he is in fact, a queen
C-Chore that you hate: Dishes, because I have meat eaters at home
D-Dogs: Adorable, especially the larger breads. No yard = no pups for me. Cat reins supreme
E-Essential start to your day: Coffee my looooove

F-Favorite Color: Turquoise to remind me of the Mediterranean sea
G-Gold or silver: Best of both worlds, white gold
H-Height: 5’6″ the only ‘average’ in my life
I-Instruments you play: Learning piano at this time
J-Job title: Rheostat – all encompassing
K-Kids: Today is a “no” day

L-Live: San Francisco bay area, California USA
M-Mothers name: Sharon, like a lily of the valley
N-Nicknames: Ali is short for Allison (my father had a love for Ali McGraw)
O-Overnight hospital stays: Only when my husband has been in the hospital
P-Pet peeves: Poor customer service really pushes my buttons!
Q-Quote from a movie: “Nothing is impossible, only improbable” -Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
R-Right or left handed: Lefty except for when forced to be typical, like most scissors, etc

S-Siblings: Younger sister, you’ve met her here on the blog, as well as a 12 year old sister and 9 year old baby brother
T-Time you wake up: By 0615 except mayby 0900 on the weekends if I’m lucky
U-Underwear: Two drawers, labeled – “utility” and “fun”
V-Vegetable you hate: Beats, but I love nearly everything else
W-What makes you run late: Typically 5 minutes early or late, rarely more or less. Maybe if I under estimate traffic
X-X rays you’ve had: Broken elbow (yes, strange) and sinus cavities (thank you chronic sinus infections via pine trees)
Y-Yummy food that you make: Quiche, sugar bread and potato leek soup
Z-Zoo animal: Panda bear, my first love. I try to always get to the zoos that host them

If you too utilize this, leave a comment and link back so I can poke my nose in find out more about you too~

One of my earliest project favorites was decoupage and collage work.  These days, I am loving all the word art coming out so I thought I would make you a Word Art collage to use as you wish. Print it out on cardstock, printable material, etc.  You can sew it into a quilt, on a tote bag, decoupage it onto a studio lamp shade or framed above your sewing machine. Enjoy!

We dressed up and made alter gifts of candles, vases and flowers for our mother and grandmother. We used their favorite colors, glass beads, material and threads (sewers, both) images of them both, pandas (moms favorite of anything) and more. We were less than impressed with the actual turnout, but made the most fun we could find!

They had free face painting, but only one artist so the line became out of control quickly. There were vendors of various sorts and a more than impressive array of food trucks.

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Spray Painting- Alternations to Steampunk Jewelery making bring some color into you clock pieces

Spray paint, that’s right you heard me, the best new addition that I have found for steampunk jewelry making has been the addition of spray paint coloring. All my most favorite gears, cogs, and most importantly pocket watch movements (and all other clock movements) are usually only two colors silver or brass. But what if you want to add some color to you pieces? Adding beads, fabric, and chains provide some color to you items but it is limited. Also many ring backs, pendant bails and hair clips come in specific colors (ones that silver does not go to).

So after becoming frustrated with my rings never matching their settings I began experimenting with spray painting the movements and have had a wonderful turn out. My rings now all match and I am able to create a larger number of bracelets, pendants and brooches all which can be customizes to match different clock faces, pendants and anything else I might have laying around the house.

Boy do I have a lot of pieces laying around, alarm clocks, watches, grandmother clocks, travel clocks you name it I probably have part of it laying somewhere around ready to be dismantled. If you have any suggestions for the parts of a clock please leave a comment with your idea and I will be sure to show case it once it’s created!

Kinda depressing but a reality all the same. It happens: suddenly someone you know is in the hospital.  Here are a few ideas to help.  I recently went through this situation and know how utterly helpless one can feel!  The family is caught up in dealing with the situation and rarely to never prepared.  How do we make sure they have what they need without having to ask too often?  So, some ideas I took up and others I have seen…

I created (actually sewed to fit, but you could just buy/reuse a bag) a bag that was durable but easy to carry. In it I placed:

• Photos of the injured person – Remember tape so they can be hung in the room! Their smiling image makes them real to the nurses and doctors and keeps your own spirits up
• Large Notebook – sooo many notes from doctors and details to write down, contact information of friends, etc
• Small Notebook – so visitors can sign in and leave notes for the person injured–it’s wonderfully healing when they can read through these
• Pens and highlighter
• Maps of the area if they are not local there – highlighting food, stores, etc
• A blanket for the injued can make them feel more comforted, or can be used for the family on a long night at the hospital
• Large manila envelope – for all the paperwork given by the hospital
• Fresh fruit and energy bars – many a meal may be missed but you want to ensure they have something
• Parking ticket – most hospitals charge by the hour but you can purchase a weekly or full day pass for someone so they don’t have to fuss with the added cost
• Deck of cards and magazines – there may be many long hours of waiting
• Heat massage patches – for the sheer stress
• Lotion – it’s the little things that so often are forgotten
• Gas Card – for the commute to and from and to and from
• Handmade coupons to do their laundry or clean their house

Keep in mind that they likely will not take time to go somewhere for food, so offering gift cards can be somewhat useless.  Better to ask about dietary restrictions and simply bring something along!

The same post has been shared also on Squidoo

What else do you suggest??

We have our Etsy store and have been enjoying the offerings and sharing of idea in their community and team areas. But several folks have asked if we sold elsewhere. In that same vein we thought it would behoove us to diversify so we have added a shop at Zibbet with some of our personal favorite items.

So let me make this perfectly clear, we are not writing this blog for advertising. That being said, I feel that I must at least post this item. My sister and I have been working recently to get together a whole bunch of different artists on Etsy to create a lovely gift basket for the Halloween Season, and I am glad to say that the out come was surprisingly amazing. Hope you enjoy observing this basket.

A $65 value for only $25, great for a raffle or party: