Collage...Flowers

1. Pale Grey Blossom Corsage by AAliciaAccessories
2. Doin' the Numbers by HappyFind
3. Lychee Flower Corsage by SisilyLove
4. Leather Poppy Brooch by tmStudioDesigns

Photo of the Week...Happy Thanksgiving!

Big Orders this Week

Just working away in my sewing room this weekend. Lots of big orders! Yay!

Collage...Aqua and Coral

1. Necklace Pendant Turquoise Lampwork Heart by WildWomanJewelry
2. Girlie Girl 11 x 14 Painting by lauratrevey
3. Set of 6 Small Cotton Star Ornaments by sosorosey
4. Scooter Bag by retrofied

Photo of the Week...Turkey Cupcakes

How cute are these!!!

Crochet Obsession

If you've been keeping tabs on this blog, you might have guessed that I'm a little preoccupied with crochet. Here is my latest project...cotton dish cloths.



I have seen so many cute things on Etsy by talented fiber artists who crochet. So, I've been teaching myself. YouTube video tutorials are very helpful and there are a lot of them out there. I've also found two books that are very simple to follow. They both have great pictures and instructions. The first is "Teach Yourself Visually-Crocheting" by Kim P. Werker and Cecily Keim.



The second one is called "Crochet Adorned" by Linda Permann.



I knew the very basics going into it...chaining and single crochet. I've taught myself double and triple crochet and how to do granny squares and flowers. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I can't wait to try some of the things in the Linda Permann book.

Craft of the Week...Christy's Italian Bean and Sausage Soup

Okay, I know cooking isn't the kind of craft you are expecting in this feature, but it is really a craft of sorts. Anyway, my sister gave me this recipe and I just love it. It's perfect for a cool autumn day like today. And, it's so easy.

Ingredients:
1 lb of mild sausage
1 small onion diced
1/2 cup celery diced
1 carrot diced
1 46 oz can of beef stock
1 28 oz can of diced tomato
1 15 oz can of lima beans
1 15 oz can of kidney beans
1 15 oz can of butter beans
1 tbsp Italian spice


Brown the sausage with the diced onion and Italian seasoning. Then put the meat mixture in a large stock pot. To get all the bits of sausage from your skillet, de-glaze using some of the beef stock. Pour that into the stock pot with the meat. Add the rest of the beef stock, the tomatoes, carrot, celery and kidney beans (drained). Simmer on low heat for 1 hr. Add the lima and butter beans (drained) about 1/2 hour before serving. They are delicate and will cook down to nothing if added too early. Salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with grated parmesan cheese and a crusty Italian bread. So yummy!

Photo of the Week...Veteran's Day Poppies

Thanks to all the men and women who defend and protect our country.

Craft of the Week...Granny Square Ornaments

We have a holiday tradition in our family of giving Christmas ornaments at Thanksgiving. After turkey and pumpkin pie, we sit around the table and open packages. There are 19 in my family, which includes Mom and Dad, two brothers and one sister and their spouses, and 9 grandchildren. I prefer to make my ornaments because, as you can imagine, it gets costly to buy 19 ornaments. And, it's so much more personal to make them. I try to find something that isn't extremely time intensive...mostly because I usually procrastinate and have very little time to make anything. I also try to make an ornament that isn't too big because after years and years of exchanging ornaments, we either need 2 trees or very small ornaments.

This year I took my idea from a fellow Etsian, namolio, whose work I have lately admired. Her work is much more detailed and beautiful than mine, but I thought I'd give it a whirl. First, I went to YouTube to look for a tutorial for granny squares and was amazed at how many videos there are out there. This tutorial in particular was very easy to follow.

I used lace making cotton and a #4 crochet hook to make these 2" x 2" granny squares.


Than I made little 2" x 2" pillows using red and natural colored linen.


I attached the granny squares to the pillows with the red side up.


Now, all I have to do is attach a ribbon to hang them. Cute, huh?

Collage...Moths

1. Moth Queen Card by artspell
2. Moth Burnout Shirt by vital
3. Moths Original Mixed Media by potatobirdstudio
4. Brooch-Art Deco by redwhisper

Photo of the Week...Autumn Frost

Collage...Some New Pouches for the Shop

Collage...Candy Corn

1. Felted Candy Corn by QueenHeronCreations
2. Candy Corn Crochet Coasters by HCKCrafts
3. Newborn Candy Corn Hat by ToddlerToppers
4. Amigurumi Crocheted Candy Corn by trendycraftcreations

Photos of the Week...Pretty Pumpkins

Wonderful Weekend Home Party

I thought I would share some of the pictures I took this weekend. My sister, daughter and I had a holiday open house party at my sister's sister-in-law's house. She has a beautiful open concept home and it was the perfect setting for our party. We were able to showcase our products on the bar, mantle, coffee table, and foyer hutch. Our hostess, Beth (she's in the picture) had decorated for the holidays, so it was beautiful. Enjoy!

Collage...My Favorite Drink

1. Recycled Aluminum Can Magnet/Brooch by KMStudioDOTcom
2. Coke Is It Print by dfrdesign
3. Flattened Bottle Cap Earrings by blingismything
4. Diet Coke Hello Kitty Necklace by FunkyRecycling

Photo of the Week...POUNCE!!!

Craft of the Week...Crochet Flowers

Okay, it's a really busy weekend, so I'm taking my craft of the week from another blog. I've been wanting to learn how to do crochet flowers and this tutorial is pretty easy. Aren't these cute?

Here is another site that gives tons of pattern links for different styles. Enjoy!

Photo of the Week...Apples

Can't you just smell the cider and popcorn of a great farmer's market in fall?

Collage...Fantastic Furniture Finds

1. Arne Jacobsen/Paul Smith Chairs by SEEDmidcenturymodern
2. Peacock Pouf by RECOVERED
3. Humilitas Table by upcycler
4. Colorful Red Suzani Upholstered Armchair by MaterialRecovery

Craft of the Week...Fabric Embellishment

Here is an embellishment you can make with all those scraps you have accumulated. You will need a circle of thick felt, 4-5 circles of scrap fabric, a button, matching floss and your machine. Cut the felt into a 1 1/2" diameter circle. Cut the fabrics into circles starting with a 3", 2 3/4", 2 1/2", 2 1/4" and finally 2". You can pink some of the circles edges for extra interest. Layer the circles on top of the felt. Using your machine, sew them together. Then you can embellish the top with a coordinating button. It's that easy and you can use these instead of bows on gift packages, to fancy up a greeting card, as brooches, on purses or belts, wherever you need a little bit more decoration.

CABTeam Giveaway...Come Join the Fun!

We're having a team giveaway. Go to our team blog to join. You could win one of 7 great prizes.


1. DS Chic Boutique -Japanese Koi Zippered Pouch Set
2. Sew Artsy-Change Purse Pink Ice Cream
3. Eclectic Armadillo-Cash Shoulder Bag
4. Eclectic Armadillo-Shoulder Bag and Coin Purse Set
5. Taylor Made Bags-Batik Bi-fold Wallet and Mirrored Keychain
6. Midnight Creations-Aqua Swirls Pouch
7. Apiary Designs-Zippered Pouch Duo
8. Alonia Creations-Blue Floral Mini Clutch Change Purse
9. Alonia Creations-Blue and Green Mini Clutch Change Purse
10. Alonia Creations-Pink Floral Mini Clutch Change Purse
11. Sandras Bohemian Bags-Rusty Paisley Swirls Pouch
12. Sandras Bohemian Bags-Plaid Cargo Zipper Pouch
13. Bags and Buds-Stiped Denim and Patterned Cotton Coin Pouch Wristlet
14. Alamodestuff-Womens Seatbelt Wallet-True Blue
15. Satin Doll Handbags-Pocket Purse Lilu Button Pocket
16. Satin Doll Handbags-Pocket Purse YMI Button Pocket
17. Satin Doll Handbags-Pocket Purse with Beaded Handle
18. Miss Pretty Perfect-Reptile Embossed Leather Wallet with Lime and Turquoise Paisley Lining
19. Spirit Designs-Zippered Clutch
20. Allie Analogue-New Wave Change Purse
21. Creations by Nora Marie-Small Coin Purse
22. Allie Analogue-Emmy Pouch

Collage...CrochetWeaveKnitFelt

1. Tide Pool Bracelet by nadene
2. Verdigris and Rust II by barefootweaver
3. Fingerless Gloves in Burned Orange by homelab
4. Pin-Felt Nest by madeinlowell

Photo of the Week...The New Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago

My husband, daughter and I took a trip to Chicago yesterday and visited the new modern wing at the Art Institute. It's absolutely beautiful. This is the view from Millennium Park across the street.

Craft of the Week...Coloring Book Pages

This week's craft is for all the little ones in your life. I found the greatest website where you can search different categories for coloring book pages. You can select all the pages you'd like, print them and put them into a book. You just need a computer, white paper, 2 pieces of construction paper, a stapler and a printer. Print as many as you like and put them between the construction paper pages and staple. Decorate your cover however you like. Add a package of crayons and you have a super cute gift. I'm sure all you super crafty people out there can come up with even more elaborate covers and ways to bind the pages. Have fun with this one.

Here is a sample of the pages you can get.




How cute is that!?!

Grizabella Helping Out in the Sewing Room

She found the fabric pile.

Collage...Acorns

1. Oak leaf and acorn necklace by lulubugjewelry
2. Acorn resting on an oak leaf Waldorf doll by Rosemary4Remembrance
3. Hope by hint
4. Pool 10 Needle Felted Wool Acorn by truLuxe

Photo of the Week...Autumn Harvest

I'm in love with this pastel by Susan Ogilvie...