How To Make A Valentines Card
Hi all! I started a youtube channel! I know, what am I thinking????, but so far it's been fun.
I'm learning how to edit and talk in front of a camera. EEK!
This is actually my fourth video not counting the one I did 6 years ago and thought "Oh no this is too much work".
I'm just thinking I'll record me while I'm sewing, crafting or painting.
So we will see how it goes.
Thanks for watching and if you like subscribe.
Hugs,
Charlotte
Big Bend National Park Texas
As you might know, (because I wrote about it here), I had breast cancer. I say had because I've been good for 2 years. I hate those words breast cancer! Nothing is more devastating then hearing you have it. I am lucky. They found it early and I did not have to go through chemo, but I did have the lumpectomy and rounds and rounds of radiation. Now for five years I'm on a drug called Tamoxifen. The side effects suck but at least I didn't have to go through chemo. Now I just live in fear of it coming back.
So I'm kinda of weird now. I mean it changed me. I don't think anyone can be diagnosed with cancer and not have it change you. One thing that has changed for me is I don't do anything I don't want to do. I let things go and stuff just does not need to be perfect...... I think that's a good thing.
I'm also doing more of what I want to do. I'm not saying that my life before I didn't get to do what I wanted, because that's not true. I had and have a wonderful life.
Moving on, my point is this blog might go through some changes as well.
I want to share my photos of our trip to Big Bend National Park that we visited last October.
The old me would think that it's too late to share something that happened 3 months ago.
But who cares when we went.
Going to a national park like Big Bend was not on my bucket list. I always wanted to visit the place. I just did not think it was possible to go there. It's a long drive and not on the way to anything. But we made it happen and I'm so happy I got to go. It's a beautiful place and completely secluded.
So I'm kinda of weird now. I mean it changed me. I don't think anyone can be diagnosed with cancer and not have it change you. One thing that has changed for me is I don't do anything I don't want to do. I let things go and stuff just does not need to be perfect...... I think that's a good thing.
I'm also doing more of what I want to do. I'm not saying that my life before I didn't get to do what I wanted, because that's not true. I had and have a wonderful life.
Moving on, my point is this blog might go through some changes as well.
I want to share my photos of our trip to Big Bend National Park that we visited last October.
The old me would think that it's too late to share something that happened 3 months ago.
But who cares when we went.
Going to a national park like Big Bend was not on my bucket list. I always wanted to visit the place. I just did not think it was possible to go there. It's a long drive and not on the way to anything. But we made it happen and I'm so happy I got to go. It's a beautiful place and completely secluded.
Halloween & Day Of The Dead Aprons From Charlotte's Collection
My 2019 Halloween Aprons are now listed in my Etsy Store Charlotte's Collection.
$30.00 price tag includes shipping.
And also two Day of the Dead aprons which can also be worn for Halloween.
I really love this fabric....Such cute sugar skulls and happy flowers. I can't decide if I like the orange or the red trim better.
Girls Pony Tail Holder Fabric Flower Hair Bow Tutorial
I can't let anything go to waste and fabric scraps won't get thrown away in my house.
If I have one nice piece of fabric left it goes in the fabric bin. I know one day I might find a use for them. Sometimes I think it's a disease....lol!.....but at least I'm organized.
Actually making these flowers are a lot of fun to do with your friends or family who like to craft and a great way to use up left over scraps.
My sisters and I get together frequently for sister day so we like to do crafts instead of shopping sometimes and I say sometimes because we really like to shop.
These flowers make a great craft day project. No sewing machine required.
Here is a picture tutorial on how to make them.
But if you don't feel like making them yourself....you can head over to my shop to buy one. 😄.
Here is the link to Spring Mix Set.
Recycled Vintage Linens Turned Into Aprons
I'm still making aprons.
I had a nice order to make 6 exact aprons for a birthday party. They turned out really cute and are completed and shipped out. Yay, First time making so many at one time. I had a great assembly line going.
But these two in the photos above are recycled / refurbished vintage linen scraps turned into aprons.
While antiquing the other day I was digging though a pile of linens and found this cute cutout of Holly Hobby or Sun Bonnet Sue not sure who she is, and then this lovely doily with an embroidered victorian girl riding a bike.
Ding, ding, ding went off in my head that they would work perfectly on one of my aprons.
So voila..... here they are. You never know what you might find in those shops. Although these linens are fairly typical in antique stores and I always admire them, sometimes they just don't seem to fit my idea of what I want to do with them, but these were just the right size.
I think they are so cute!
They are a little smaller then my other aprons because they don't have a ruffle. Very simple apron made out of muslin fabric.
I think they would be great for someone who likes to sew.
They are listed in my Etsy shop.
Girl on Bike
Holly Hobbie
They are listed in my Etsy shop.
Girl on Bike
Holly Hobbie
Pretty In Pink Spring Apron
I just love the daisy pattern with the contrasting pink ruffle. I really enjoy sewing these aprons. I'm happy that I can sell one ever once in a while. It keeps me motivated. Etsy has gotten so huge. It's really competitive and over crowded, but I'm sticking with it even though I don't get near the amount of traffic I used to get. I'm hoping for a better year this year, in terms of sales. I really have to buckle down and get busy. I love it. I guess I'll be like a cat lady with too many cats. I'll be the apron lady with aprons coming out my ears because I can't stop sewing them. 😁
Jack & Sally Skellington Costume Nightmare Before Christmas
This year I made our Halloween Costumes.
I have always been in love with the movie "Nightmare before Christmas." Jack and Sally Skellington are two of my favorite characters by Tim Burton.
I was seeing a lot of homemade costumes of Jack and Sally run through my feed on Pinterest when the light bulb went off in my head that I could make these costumes.
First of all I like to sew,.... so I knew I could pull this off.
I'm not saying it was easy. It took me longer to make then I initially thought but it was so much fun.
I don't think you have to know how to sew to make this dress, but it helps.
The key to making this dress is to buy a cheap dress either from a thrift store or other cheap dress outlet that fits you. Make sure it fits well. Get one that has simple lines, like a good A line dress.
Gather up some scraps of fabrics to cut into strips, squares, circles, triangles.....it really does not matter.
Come up with a good color combination for the fabrics you pick. I went with orange, purple and black with turquoise and lime green.
Sally's dress has a different color combo, but I was not trying to copy it it exactly.
She is a rag doll so the point is to make a scrap/rag dress.
Then you just sew each scrap directly onto the dress. The hardest part is sewing around the neck and sleeve. I did not sew fabric over the sleeves on my dress. I let the sleeves of dress underneath show.
I drew in the swirls on the orange fabric with a black fabric marker. I made the bottom hem jagged. Then for finishing touches I took thick knitting yarn with a large needle and hand stitched x's and hatch marks to make it look like the scraps were sewn together.
If you can't sew I think the best way to put the scraps on the dress is to use fusible webbing and iron on each scrap.
I covered the entire dress with scraps except for the sleeves so I used a lot of fabric.
I bought white tights and drew the stitch marks on myself. It's easiest to put the tights on and draw the lines on your own legs. Doing it this way ensures the marker does not bleed to the other side.
I bought my wig online.
I wish I would of bought a better quality face paint because you can not see that I have white face paint all over my face. The one I bought had the turquoise /teal in the package. I needed teal for her eyes so that was good but the white was crap.
I made my husbands costume too.
I could not find a black vest so I just made it myself and then drew in the white lines with fabric paint markers. I had to go over twice because the first pass through was kinda light.
I found a long sleeve black tee and painted the front section with white gesso and then drew the bat on top of that.
My husbands face paint shows up better. I should of used his.
I bought those teal arm sleeves because I did not want to paint my arms white. I got them at Spirit Halloween.
Love, love, love Halloween.
HALLOWEEN & CHRISTMAS APRONS By CHARLOTTES COLLECTION 2018
Here is my first batch of Holiday aprons for 2018.
I truly intend to make more. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can. I'm just so slow and have to take numerous breaks. We did go on vacation in the midst of making these so I can't totally blame it on my slowness.
I really love the new designs that I'm using for this year.
All listed in my Etsy shop!
I have links on the titles of each picture.
Hugs,
C.
Charlotte's Collection New Mixed Media Art
Here are my newest paintings for summer 2018. All listed in my Etsy shop
I'm having a great summer and feeling really good. Hope you are too. I'm exercising more and trying to eat right, but the main thing is I'm not in any pain anymore. What a difference that makes.
They say things come in three's and for me that was true with my health issues. When I look back I can't believe I went through 3 surgeries within one year. I had a knee surgery, shoulder surgery and lumpectomy. Yikes! Glad that is over with.
The best part of my life right now is I'm just going with the flow. I give myself a lot of grace. I do a lot of yoga and meditations, and when I'm tired I rest. I don't have to prove anything. I'm happy the way I am, perfect, whole and complete.
Of course things can change, that's life, just a series of up's and downs and of course learning the lesson from any struggle.
So here we go, life goes on. Have a happy summer!
💗💚💜
Charlotte's Collection Handmade Aprons
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| Black & White Polka Dot |
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| Pink Polka Dot |
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| Pink Heart |
Here are some of my latest aprons listed in my Etsy shop. Click the caption under the photos and it will take you directly to that listing. Lately I've been sewing more then painting..... I guess because I'm not in so much pain anymore. I found a way to raise my sewing machine on a small table on top of the desk. This way I can stand and sew instead of sit. It works! I've read that sitting for long periods of time is terrible for your health. Now I just have to figure out a way to stand while painting. I don't like to stand and paint. I have an easel but still sit while using it. Oh well something I have to work on. Baby steps.
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