"Beaches in Mind"

It happens to all of us.  We've all had at least one classic craft fail.  Here's the story of mine.  Not to worry though, it has a happy ending.  It started with something I saw on Pinterest (of course).  Here's the photo from the original pin.  I'll fully admit, that I didn't follow the directions, so I'm in no way saying that it couldn't work the way described.  However, I have this thing against Mod Podge.  I've never had good luck with it (am I doing something wrong? I don't think so, but admit it may be possible!)  So, being anti-Mod Podge, I decided that I would use double-sided scrapbook adhesive to attach the pictures I had chosen to the canvas.  It was looking good! I was feeling pretty proud...but then, the final step, putting the copper-looking foil between the pictures.  This is when things went terribly wrong! I saw them going bad but kept going, hoping for everything to fall together in the end.  Well, it didn't.  The pictures were not attached to the canvas firmly enough, they were not laying flat, the copper tape was not laying flat.  To be honest, it was now looking horrible!  Not one to give up, I kept hoping maybe I was being over critical.  I gave it a day to sit while I pondered where I had gone wrong and what I could do to correct the problems with it.  I came to the conclusion that there was nothing that could be done to fix it.  The only way to get the end result I was hoping for was to start over.  So, I ripped all the photos and the foil tape off the canvas and headed back to Michaels.

I decided that to get the look I was going for, the canvas was the first problem.  It was too flexible, and there was no way that the photos would adhere to it without using Mod Podge or something like it.  Still being very anti-Mod Podge, I had to look for an alternative.  I ended up choosing a 24 x 36 inch white poster frame.  The original project was 24 x 30, but since my pictures were 6 inch square, another 6 inches really didn't matter.  It just added a row of pictures, and I decided it looked better sideways than lengthwise. The backing in the frame was good and solid (much more conducive to attaching photos using double sided adhesive).  I used Scotch Double-Sided Removable Scrapbooking Tape.  It took two 8.33 yard rolls, and wasn't the cheapest product I've ever used, but it worked beautifully.  I stuck rows of the tape all across the frame back in about two inch row intervals.  Then, as I placed a row of photos, I peeled off the tape backing a row at a time.  The photos were easy to place, could be re-positioned if necessary, and stayed perfectly flat once attached.

Thankfully, I had plenty of photos from three years worth of the "page-a-day Islands gallery calendars" which I've been holding onto because they were just too beautiful to throw away.

Now, the final step was to get the decorative tape between the rows.  Since this is when the last attempt had started to fail, I was a little concerned.  However, never having been one to give up, I crossed my fingers and kept going.  I hadn't really liked the copper foil look with these pictures, so this time I opted for white, to match the white frame and hopefully look a bit like window panes.  I used a product  called Recollections Mounting Tape.  It was double sided and acid free.  I placed it between the picture rows, and just didn't remove the white covering of the double sided tape.  If Michaels web site had a more comprehensive list of the products they sell, I would link to it, but I couldn't locate it online.  I found it easily in the store however.  It comes in 15 ft. x 1/4 inch packages.  I used two packages.  Now, the final step, putting it in the frame.  So far so good.  I was starting to feel confident now!

So, here's the final product.  Granted, it really doesn't look like the original Pinterest pin, but I love it!  It really looks exactly how I was hoping it would.  Other than the original fail, this project went really quick.  I had the whole second try done in one evening.  I've named it "Beaches in Mind" after the title of a Beach Boys song on their new album "That's Why God Made the Radio".  It's a beautiful song that matches this project perfectly!.

Research and development

I've been having some fun doing "research and development" (translation - playing at my sewing machine) in trying to find the type of items that I will sell on Etsy when I retire.  Even if that never comes to fruition (which I really think it will), I'm still building a lovely inventory of baby gifts for future babies of friends, or even future grand babies!  I'm still working on appliqued onesies...I just can't get enough of the fun colors and shapes.  Yesterday, I made my first denim bib.  Naturally I found the idea on Pinterest, which can be seen here.  It was actually one of my first pins back months ago when I first discovered Pinterest.  The pictures are below.  Let me know which ones you like and what  you think the selling price should be if it were for sale on Etsy....be a part of my research and development!

Batik tablerunner

I've just finished a table runner using the beautiful batiks I ordered from Keepsake Quilting.  I used fat quarters from "Batavian Batiks Collection" and "Autumn's End Batik Collection".  The pattern I chose is from  "Anka's Treasures" and is called "Framed Four Patch".  I absolutely love batiks and I have lots left from the two fat quarter collections I purchased.  Oooh...what to make next!

Onesies!

I've been working on such a fun little project that I just have to share it! As a favor to a coworker, I said I would applique fabric numbers onto onesies so she could take her newborn son's picture each month for his first year.  After completing the number appliques, I was having so much fun, I started experimenting with shapes - birds, giraffes, turtles, dinosaurs, flowers, cupcakes...OMG, the possibilities are endless!  I've had such fun playing with the designs, that I'm almost certain they will be the first item I list for sale on Etsy when I retire.  In fact, I just may not be able to wait another year...I may list them this summer!  Here's a sample.  Let me know what  you think.

Baby Boy Quilt

Finally, the third baby boy quilt is complete!  This quilt is for a fifth generation namesake, so I wanted to choose a pattern where I could incorporate a "five theme".  Somehow I was thinking that a star has five points so I would choose a star pattern, but most quilted stars have eight points, so that didn't work.  I could have appliqued a five point star, but i'm not that accomplished when it comes to appliqueing, so I kept looking.  I finally settled on a pattern called "Chautauqua" designed by Lorena Laumer.  The pattern was to make a 64 x 64 quilt, and since I wanted a baby size, I decided to size it down by eliminating two of the borders, and generally sizing down each square by a third.  Sounds simple enough right?  Not exactly!  It turned into a giant math problem that took me more than a little time to get to where I thought it would be close to right.  All in all, the quilt went together without any major issues, and I'm pleased with the result.  If you look carefully, you will see the roman numerals 1 through 5 placed on the quilt to recognize each of the preceding generations and to welcome, the fifth!  Hope "James the Fifth" gets many years use out of this gift. Now...can someone PLEASE have a baby girl!!!

Welcome Little One Cards

Since I've been making so many baby gifts, I figured I might as well make some baby gift cards too.  I'm a complete amateur card maker, using stuff I have around the house, and just plain creativity, but I like the results.  Here's my baby boy gift card:

The front:

The inside:

In case you can't read the sentiment, the front of the card says "Welcome Little One" and the inside says "Life's most amazing journey begins with the tiniest feet - Congratulations"  I just love that sentiment!  What an amazing journey having children is!

Bugs on the Nine Patch Quilt

Now that a certain special lady has had her baby shower, and she has seen the quilt I made for her, it's safe to post it on my blog.  Since she's a Pinterest fan, I didn't want to spoil the surprise by posting on my blog about her quilt.  Since she was decorating her baby boy's room with Pottery Barn Kids insect themed sheets, I used one pillow case from the sheeting set to start the idea train.  From there, I went to my go to fabric guru, Janice Shoup at Quilters Haven, and the "Bugs on the Nine Patch" was born.  The pattern comes from "Quilts for Babies & Kids", which can be purchased here.  It was a fairly simple project, which was quite a change after the Hollow Cubed Block quilt I finished in March.  Hope you like it!

Here are the fabrics I used, including the pillow case:

The finished front:

and the finished back:

Now, there's one more little boy about to be born that needs a quilt.  I've purchased the pattern and fabric, but am struggling with trying to size the pattern down to a baby quilt size.  I'll get it, but the math is challenging.  Does someone know an easy way to convert patterns to smaller sizes without changing the basic layout?  Once I finish the upcoming quilt (assuming I figure out the math), I would really love for someone to have a girl!!! Enough boy projects...I miss pink! :)