Okay, so it took me a little while to finish this quilt top. It is amazing that I find I...

Make some amazing Crochet Necklace patterns for unique gift ideas or to add flair to your accessories with easy-to-follow instructions.

The rich and zesty pan sauce is what makes this simple, seasonal chicken recipe something you'll want to eat again and again.

Okay, so it took me a little while to finish this quilt top. It is amazing that I find I don't have as much time quilting as I would like, but I am making it work and the quilts I am privileged to wo

Sweet Surrender by Sue Cody, pieced by Beth and quilted by Judi Madsen

Crochet projects make amazing handmade gifts! I can’t get enough of them, so I thought I would share some of my favorites free crochet patterns along with some that I would love to work on soon. Simple crochet projects are perfect for me because my skill level is pretty basic and I like to finish… [read more]

Looking at their impressive work, it’s hard to believe Sydney sisters Lauren and Kassandra Hernandez, otherwise known as Crossing Threads,…

Explore skblanks' 1175 photos on Flickr!

Ranunculus Romance and Cracked Glass Technique an amazing technique to give your project that Vintage Aged look.

This pattern is available in English. It consists of 21 pages of the detailed description in the pdf format and contains more than 40 quality photos. This crochet pattern doesn’t contain the crocheting lessons. Yoy should have the basic crochet skills. Skill level - easy/beginners. The size of finished toy is approx. 18 cm = 7,1”. Crochet hippo is done with FOLLOWING NATERIALS: Yarn Yarn Art Jeans (50% cotton/50% acrylic 50g/160m) of a light gray (49), light beige (05), white (62), blue (17),colors, yarn Alize Cotton Gold (50% cotton/50% acrylic 100g/330m) of a red (243) color, some pink yarn for the cheeks; The hook №2; Stuffing (hollofayber); Black halfbeads 12 mm in diameter for the eyes; A black sewing thread for decoration of the muzzle; A thick needle for sewing of the details; A moment glue or glue gun. Scissors. You can use any yarn, which is convenient for you. USED ​​ABBREVIATIONS: MR – magic ring; ch – chain; sl st – slip stitch; sc – single crochet; hdc - half double crochet; dc – double crochet; inc – increase (crochet two sc in 1 stitch); dec – decrease (crochet two sc together); bk lp – back loop. THE RETURN OF THE GOODS IMPOSSIBLE. This pattern is delivered by digital Instant download. After payment independently download the file. This crochet pattern is my author’s work. Please don’t sell and copy. Don’t translate it to another languages. It’s intended only for you personal use. You are most welcome to contact me if you have any questions about the pattern. Thank you for visiting my shop!

Discover our creative ideas and free hand swen gift patterns you can make today. Surprise anyone with a personalized gift.

3 ways of how to finish a neckline: with facings, with bias tape and with a lining. Don't hem it; use these methods instead to make your dress amazing!

Welcome to Bepatterns, your ultimate destination for beautiful crochet patterns and tutorials. Whether you're a seasoned crochet enthusiast or just starting

Welcome to Bepatterns, your ultimate destination for beautiful crochet patterns and tutorials. Whether you're a seasoned crochet enthusiast or just starting

Now that The Nuns Quilt is down to the last 10 beads it dawned on me I have NO handwork to do while on the plane and in my hotel rooms. aaaaaahhhh! I'll go nuts if I don't have something to keep my hands busy. I bought this gorgeous linen while "junkin" with my daughter Emily last year and I think I paid about $50 for it. It's been bugging me ever since I acquired it and this is the perfect time to get another long detailed project going. I have some significant air travel coming up next year so I would have one project that would keep me busy all year long. I have always wanted to do a wholecloth Baltimore Album quilt and this one is perfect for that. I could only photo a third of the linen...it actually has nine 12" blocks. Each block is held together and bordered with the MOST exquisite lace. You really have to see it and touch it to believe it. There are also these beautiful fingers of lace that jut out at each intersection around the border that are small baskets with a flower coming out of the top. Oh my....sigh. I happened to have on hand some beautiful linen yardage for both the underlayment and the back. The light silk/hemp piece will be directly under the linen and the gray heavy piece will go on the back. The back is perfect for this BUT ended up being about 4" short. So I am going to patch a strip on the back to make it the length I need and use that for the rod pocket end...nobody will ever know. It was so perfect I had to make it work. The Baltimore Album designs were copied from Elly Sienkiewicz's books on Baltimore Album quilts. I acquired four of these books a lifetime ago and they are one of the best used resources in my little library. I go to them constantly for inspiration. I will also be adding a beautiful small rope cable to help frame in each design. Each of the designs will be quilted with Superior Threads' Kimono Silk in a variety of neutrals...hand embroidered details will be added and of course jillions of beads added in the lace. I am off to the Abbey today to meet with Father Paul Mark in hopes he can help me with the history of The Nuns Quilt. I am hopeful there will be a blog post coming up soon with some good news on that! Hugs, Cindy

Welcome to Makeover Monday!! Today's project is a beautiful Valentine card that is a 'stepped up' version of yesterday's Simple Sunday card.It always amazes me the difference a few changes or additions to a project makes to a finished project. In this case, I added additional hearts, designer series paper and embossing.Here is a side-by-side look at both projects. Which one do you prefer?I hope you have a wonderful day!!

An adept furniture maker is familiar with scrap - but this artist has turned leftover materials into something just as fantastic as his designer projects.

My Harvest Moon blanket project is finished! It's off my hook and ready for snuggling! All I can say is: Wow! What a fantastic journey i...

Aileas is worked seamlessly from the top down and features decorative faux cables on both fronts, the back and sleeves. Knitting starts at the shoulders. Back and both fronts are worked to underarm length, then joined and worked back and forth to final length with set-in pockets. Sleeves are picked up and worked in the round from the top down using short-rows to shape the sleeve caps. Collar and button bands are worked last. Sizes XS (S, M1, M2, L, XL, XXL) finished bust circumference: 32.5 (35.25, 38, 41.5, 44.25, 46.75, 49.5)” 81.25 (88, 94.75, 103.5, 110.25, 116.75, 123.5) cm Grey sample is size S worn with 3” (7.5 cm) positive ease at bust. Pink sample is worn with no ease.

Hello everyone! Handbags are indispensable accessories in any woman’s wardrobe. Every modern woman, regardless of age, should have at least a couple of these items. Handmade bags, in particular, have remained fashionable for many years. In today’s video tutorial, we’re excited to present a lovely handbag that is easy to create and we hope you’ll […]

I began this post after I finished my pre-stitching, before I actually attended Jackie Du Plessis's 'Ode' finishing class, in Buffalo, NY last October of 2016. My Ode is to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of JA's death this year, 1817-2017. Ode is a 'miniature writing desk' box (made by Miller Carpentry Creations) filled with hand embroidered finished smalls pictured below. Note, all the design's shown in this post are copyrighted. Any questions or interest in a project should conclude by contact with the accredited teacher, to determine the 'where and what', of her teaching schedule...Some classes may no longer be available but these talented ladies will be very obliging... Ode is opened with a fob. I modified Jackie's key design to duplicate the key to St. Nicholas church. The box floor is a miniature sampler, mostly over one thread, no not JA's sampler...but similar in style to English band samplers. A fabric band of linen edged with Hedebo scallops holds tiny bottles, who in turn hold tiny mother-of-pearl finishing buttons. Mine has included an ink bottle from the Winchester Cathedral gift shop, along with it's matching JA inspired pen and pencil. Note the plaque on the lid in the picture above. It is inscribed with a JA quote from one of her prayers, along with a thread spool holder, housewife, pin keep, sweet bag and needlebook to store inside the box. I tucked in other treasures such as a deck of JA playing cards. It's a very tight fit!....Very fun!!.. I also changed Jackie's housewife a bit with the addition of my dedication and 'signature' below the alphabets depicted in the top most picture...I hope both Jackie and JA approve... Jackie's class has prompted the following discussion on finishing....Finishing can take on quite a few different meanings to different groups of embroiderer's. To someone such as myself, I enjoy historically inspired embroidered items. After I complete a reproduction sampler, I do not commission a framer. I finish my edges in hemstitching (like early 16-17th century samplers) mount it on a linen covered foam core board and stick it in a frame, myself...The example below is a reproduction sampler from The Scarlet Letter. Note the neatly finished edges around the perimeter, also the background filling stem stitch of the center 'boxer' band. In addition the bands of queen stitch, montenegrin, rice, bullion and satin filling stitches all added to the interest of this sampler originally completed by Rachel Jarrett at the age of eleven. What is even more interesting is that she completed it in 1768, and the band designs were actually popular motifs a century earlier. Rachel's sampler is actually a reproduction sampler in it's own right! I pace myself by working each band over a month or two period. Too long at work on 36 and finer linen causes eye strain. The magnification and lighting investments of some embroiderer's is beyond the scope of this blog...ha ha... Next, I want to discuss a few of my favorite teachers and finishing classes. Realize, before I consider investing in a class, it needs to be worth my time, money and foremost intellectually stimulating. An example is an Elizabethan sampler class of Nan Tyson Euler. Arbella is a fictitious sampler inspired by the Jane Bostocke sampler (the oldest known 'signed' sampler to date 1598, V & A). Arbella has interesting stitching techniques with Holbein and goldwork but what was worth the two day drive and hotel stay???.... I learned, along with a discussion on ciphers, a tack/lock stitch which anchors the thread used in tiny singular stitch/knot's. I have experience with this stitch in crewelwork but the concept of a different use was eye opening...That tack/lock stitch is invaluable for reversible embroidery work! Let me describe other classes with wonderful teachers I have taken over the years. More than a decade ago I finished Merry Cox's 'French Bonbon Box', pictured below. This was my first experience with French seams and techniques which employed both linen and card stock in finishing this silk drawstring bag. Next, Betsy Morgan and her wonderful twisted cord and tassel finishing classes. My 'Four Season's Pin Cube' and 'Edinburgh Sweet Bag' are below. I also attended Betsy's 'Toy Chest Etui' class in 2010, (poop, that's a long time ago). An embroidered etui chest inspired by Pennsylvania Dutch painted motif''s, the sub-title is, 'A big girl's box of toys', and it flipping is.... I have to finish this while I'm still in PA.... Then...Sherri Jones, from my home state of Michigan and her skillfully designed classes, with more of a Victorian flare. Below is the 'Ring of Roses', a bag constructed of rings covered with a silk thread Hedebo technique. Also, pictured below, a Tulip Tray, Hare Box, and Blue Ribbon Sewing Box (woodwork by Miller Carpentry Creations). All are great finishing classes, in techniques I can utilize for my caskets. Sherri also has a 'Button Lover's Brag Book', which became an Ebay crazed pastime for me, I may post that too, once finish! Barbara Jackson, who has graciously passed on techniques in Crewel embroidery obtained from the Royal School of Needlework in preparation/mounting of embroidery work, combining wool and silks and over all very traditional and professionally appealing designs. Crewel work and punched needle will be my techniques of choice as my eyes age.... Catherine Theron offered a 'huswife/wallet' finishing class with a very traditional Irish stitch design I completed this for my son's High School graduation. Yes real men do sew...!!... Marcia Brown Smith has written finishing techniques for Dr. Tricia Wilson Nguyen's projects over the years but has had great examples of box finishing of her own right. Two of her classes are shown below... CA Wells taught the first finishing class I ever attended the Acorn Etui. Also pictured below, a Sampler Storage Roll and Sailor's Valentine (JA casket motif???). CA's classes are very entertaining.. She will usually keep you interested by story telling or twisting cord, by hand... I was completely engrossed and deeply concerned to keep up in class, but somehow, tangled my threads on my cardigan buttons and fell behind.. I made a complete mess and distinctly remember the day because of it.... Catherine Jordan, who along with her dyeing and fiber classes has fearlessly crossed the creativity line by combining paint in her embroidery projects. I have two embroidered maps and accessories which utilize this technique. Rae Iverson is a master in etui designs...as I finish her kit's I will post. I have a set of Williamsburg etui's of 'The Needlework shop' and 'Bruton Parish' I am determined to complete before the Williamsburg AGM in 2019...and a Shaker box with a matching herb garden housewife...all so wonderful...add to the masterful written kit texts, quality materials and Rae's accompanying well informed historically inspired lectures they are the icing on the cake!! Enough contained in this post, which has inspired me to return stitching...

This step-by-step tutorial shows you exactly how to bind your own journal and create a leather wrap-around cover. You can achieve a professional finish with this project, even as a complete beginner!

I just finished another sampler. This one's a gift. The squares are a bit smaller...only about 1". This was a bit of a challenge but it really helped me keep the stitches more delicate and fine. I had this Marie Antoinette idea in my head for a while...I just kept making french knots on top of french knots making her hair-do comically tall. I was thinking it would be fun to do a sampler of all sorts of funny hair-do's....maybe next. I used a beautiful, delicate piece of lace which I stitched over. I thought a couple of little birdies would like to call this prettiness home. I really love making fat french knots....sometimes I wound them up 6 or 7 times. I tried once to do 10 but it made a big fat mess. I really love the 3-d quality of the cupcake frosting. yum. Hey! I didn't even notice that little bit of black thread that is peeking out of the border... a sweet little springtime hat. My favorite of all. Metallic thread can be so hard to work with because it separates and knots easily but I really like the effect of it. This itty bitty cakestand looks so sweet in person. I like how this little pink house turned out...I did a little loopy thing with the treads along the roofline to make a scallop. Tah-dah!

Want to share another mini album I just finished, guess it's true I am OCD.....I started this last Friday and finally finished it today, I haven't done much else but that's okay.....I'm retired now and can have fun when and how I like LOL. I do want to give credit where credit lies, I followed the wonderful tutorial by Shellie at Designs by Shellie. Mine isn't just like hers but very close. I love making these and with the wonderful stamps, dies and paper from Heartfelt Creations it's so easy!!!! Thanks for dropping by and having a look, hope you like and will give one a try.

Happy Holidays! I'm peeking in just in time for the last Day of Giving Friday of 2016. Shhh....I have a house full of company and have stolen away a couple of times today to get this finished up and online. It's been an amazing holiday and although it wasn't planned, I was able to see all…