Fun With A Thank You

I've never made a thank you card quite like this. I've had a stack of 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 canvases {my favorite size} on my work table for the past couple of weeks. I was in the process of making a small thank you when I decided to work a canvas in somehow. I like the idea of using the back portion of a canvas to house small scenes or treasures but I had never done it myself. I used a thick piece of plastic for the window with lots of small colorful beads inside. I love the closure, ribbon wrapped around an old borealis rhinestone that had what looked to be some kind of screw back I'd not seen before. I bought a package of them at the flea market several months ago.



Just a small sweet change from a completely paper thank you.

Mannequin Update & Recipe

Yesterday I had a home studio class and one of our projects was converting a 17" paper mache mannequin into a dress form of sewing notions. Each person chose to make theirs a different color (mine is pictured, a buttery yellow) and some added special notions that they'd brought with them.

The simple aprons were layered and then sewn...



A close up of part of the necklace...



Our second project was a small shadow box of notions. My friend Carole had requested at the last class that we continue the notions theme using canvas. Again, each one was completely different in color and placement.



Yesterday I served an oriental chicken salad that I've been making for years. It's one of my favorites. Everyone wanted a copy and I thought you might as well so here it is:

Oriental Chicken Salad

4 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 large head of lettuce
1 jar of sesame seeds
1 pkg of slivered almonds
1/4 c of cilantro

Dressing:

4T sugar
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 c oil (I use vegetable)
2T toasted sesame seed oil
6T red wine vinegar

Toast sesame seeds and almonds and set aside. Make up dressing and shake well. Add chicken, cilantro, almonds and sesame seeds to lettuce and add dressing.

My next home studio class will be in June. In the last couple of classes I've had people signing up for the next one before they leave class so for the June class I only have two spaces left. Email me if you're interested. The girls from yesterday requested a paper doll class using the new Mannequin Cafe stamps. I already have an idea for that project and for now I'll just say that it will be a multi-functional project :)

Let's Catch Up

I made it a point this week to stay off the computer and focus on some of my pending projects. This is a very early on picture of the dress form that I'll be teaching this Saturday. I had it all planned out in my mind and it's come together nicely. I think everyone will enjoy all that we're going to do including painting, aging, sewing both by machine and hand, etc.. I will post pictures of the finished project after the class this weekend.

Don't think that my sampler has fallen by the way side, I've actually worked ahead several days. I've found that it's hard to do just one square a night. Once I get started I want to do a few more.



I'v also been packaging up some items to sell including this coarse pure silver glass glitter. I love the patina that the pure glass gets in time, so pretty.



I'm so grateful for the extra hour of sunlight that we have as of today. It makes for what feels like a longer evening. I'll be back to share more work in progress as well as a recipe I've been wanting to try. If it's good I'll post it so that you can give it a try too.

Flea Market Review #29 & Sampler Update

What a beautiful day at the flea market! The SF skyline was crystal clear and it was so sunny I would have taken my coat off if I wasn't weighed down with junk. I found this old lingerie box, faded to a nice light blue, along with a bunch of old velvet and silk flowers.

I love this very faded purple jewelry box that I picked up for $2. The inside shows the original bright purple but the outside has faded to a gorgeous lilac. It will be perfect to store neeedles in.



My love of industrial metal wouldn't let me pass up the silver strongbox and this round floral wooden box is in great condition with a few well worn chips.



We'll be using this barkcloth on the 20th in one of our projects...



This ledger was a great buy at $5 and the binder in the same exact shade of blue/green has nice strong old metal rings inside.



And finally here is an update on my sampler. I'm finding that once I start on a square (that we're supposed to do one a day of) I want to do more so I'm a bit ahead for once!

A Little Sparkle For Day 3

Stitch-A-Long Day 2

I tried the lazy daisy stitch tonight and it was fun to do. I sewed a tiny bead to the center for dimension. I threw my floss choices into the pic so you can see my color palette. Soft and muted. I have pulled several bits that are under 1" to add over the next few days. I think my sampler might be a little heavy once it's completed!

I'm also working on some upcoming classes so check back for some peeks of those later this week.

Stitch-A-Long

I joined the stitch-a-long that Amy Powers is hosting for the next 39 days. You can read more about it here. The 5x8 piece of linen is made up of a grid of 40 one inch squares. I started mine today with a simple little rosette. We're to stitch one square a day and post pics of our sampler in progress. If I stay up much later I can start working on square two!