STAEDTLER Summer Giveaway!!!

You are invited to post a project you have made with any STAEDTLER product here on my blog
and you will be entered to win a

STAEDTLER prize package,

a $30.00 value.

 One winner will be chosen randomly on Thursday July 31st. 

Open only to residents of the US and Canada. 

Take a photo of your project and post it on any social media site with a brief description of the STAEDTLER product you used.

Write a comment with a link to your project photo on this post.

Make sure you mention what STAEDTLER products were used in your project 

and mention that you are posting for the STAEDTLER Summer Giveaway. 

We're looking for NEW projects made for this giveaway specifically. 

Projects must be posted no later than July 30th to be considered for a chance to win.

Prize package includes: 12 pc Karat Watercolor Crayons, 6 pc Triplus Fineliner Pastel set and 1 package of FIMO air dry clay. 

Posting a photo link in a comment below also allows STAEDTLER to re post your photo on their social media sites.

Can't wait to see your creative entries!

Tiny Rose Blouse From Simplicity 6550

I've made blouses from this pattern before and it's one of my favorites. I decided to make figure 2 this time. I only just had enough fabric.

Follow the jump to see how it turned out this go around!

Button Hole Making

I've been asked quite a few times to share the steps I take to make button holes.

So here goes!

I took these pictures at different times of the day and they all look like a different garment. If you would like a more detailed tut on button hole making just send me a line and I'll get on it!

I'll have heaps of opportunity to record  the button hole making. We're trying to make our complete summer vacation wardrobe from scratch. There's only a month of sewing time left! 

EEEEEK!

Wish us luck!

Random Summer

Maggs has been spending heaps of time in her veggie garden and things are coming along spectacularly. 

Mom's been keeping the porch beautiful and welcoming.

I've been helping the dining room table disappear!

Hope you're all keeping out of trouble!

Garden Flowers

Some of the beautiful flowers that have been waving their heads around our yard. 

Thought I'd share them with you.

Hope you're getting some lovely sunny weather too!

Work Help

 George is my work buddy. He loves to hang out and see what's happening. He's also pretty chatty lately. He lets me know it when he thinks a design is going south.

We've been knee deep in projects the last few weeks. I'm pretty excited about starting new things and George is right there to keep my toes on the ground.

I've craftily invited this owl to sit in on the work table pic to avert your attention from secret projects. 

I can't wait to share! 

You're going to love these! 

A Post With No Reason

Maggs has come up with some interesting backyard ar-KEY-ology...

Eh.. Eh.. You see what I did there?
(sorry I couldn't help myself)

I've become addicted to Time Team of late. I can't stop watching.

Maggs found this little guy buried in our back herb bed, I wonder what it was made to open?

Her garden is growing really well. It's been heaps of work but she'll end up with a walloping load of veg. These are the white radishes. We grew them last year too and they were delicious!

Lilac time is almost over. I'll miss them smelling up the kitchen through the back window. 

Happy Dog

Sebastian loves to find smelly parts on the lawn.

He sniffs all over until...

He finds the very smelliest of all spots. 

Then he rolls in it!

Look at the joy!

Why can't little things make us as happy as he seems to be right here?

I'm going to try to find what makes me as happy as Sebastian and his smelly spot.

George doesn't seem to be able to find his happy place either.

Cat's are too noble to show that much glee I guess.

What makes you this happy?

Mini Popcorn Earrings for Kate

Sometimes folks suggest design ideas to me. This was one of those times. Kate said it would be fun to have teensy popcorn earrings. It was a great idea. Here's how things turned out.

You'll need STAEDTLER Fimo soft in:

white

caramel

metallic red

STAEDTLER Karat Soft Chalk

Two earring stud findings with backs

I used a clay roller

a pointy dental tool but a toothpick will do in a pinch

a soft paintbrush to apply the chalk

some sort of jewellery glue I used E6000

Pretty Pink Beads

Made some pretty pink beads this weekend.

 I also spilled a wee dram of my evening cocktail into my old friend Lappy (aka my laptop). I learned that Lappy doesn't know how to hold his liquor. He's in at the Dr.'s. Thank goodness for LOD Custom Computers & Consulting. May be time to put the old computer out to pasture after many years of loyal service. We'll see how things work out. Neil at LOD is a genius and a magician, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a happy reunion.

Although... (and don't tell Lappy!) A new toy wouldn't be horrible... Would it?

Cue the Lotto winnings...

Here are the pretty beads.

I used STAEDTLER Fimo effect in colour # 206 rose quartz

STAEDTLER Fimo soft in colour # 0

a heap of fine sparkles in iridescent and pink

STAEDTLER Fimo gloss glaze

Several round toothpicks

a paper plate

First I conditioned some of the rose quartz Fimo by kneading it in my hands until it was soft and pliable. I added some sparkles and kept mixing.

When I thought I had enough sparkle added to my clay I rolled it into a 3/4 cm thick worm. I wrapped a 1/8th cm thick worm of white Fimo soft around the pink worm and rolled slightly in more glitter to seal the two worms together.

I cut the worm into 1 cm long segments. Some of the segments were rolled into balls and others I left as cylinders. I poked a round toothpick through one side of the bead. When it was just barely poking through the other side I stopped pushing, removed the toothpick and poked it through the other side of the bead. The double poking helps keep the bead round. Sometimes poking through one way only, makes the bead look a bit tear shaped.

I poked holes in the bottom of a paper plate so the bead loaded toothpicks would stand up while baking. I poked all my toothpicks into the plate and baked the beads in a preheated 230 degree oven for twenty minutes. I allowed the beads to cool before finishing them.

I glazed the beads with three coats of Fimo gloss varnish and let the beads dry.