Hello everyone! I just wanted to share some wonderful news with you! I have been helping Barb set up her very own etsy shop. Yes, you can now view all the amazing quilts that Barb makes herself and easily purchase them.

There are currently seven items listed in her shop. Over the next few days and weeks we will be listing even more things.

This process has been really exciting for me as well. I've seen some of the things she's made but every time she sends something to me to photograph and list I am pleasantly surprised! One of my favorites is her Hand-Dyed Wonder Convergence Wall Hanging. I think it is absolutely gorgeous and so fun to look at...I see something new and different each time!

I am also absolutely in LOVE with her minky blankets! The fabric is just so adorable and the blankets are so thick and cozy! I secretly want one for me but I already have a ridiculous number of blankets. These would be so wonderful to just cuddle up in and read a book or to wrap your little girl in!


And then there is the 'Wizard of Oz' panel quilt. For you Dorothy lovers...here's the quilt for you. It's made of gorgeous panels that have scenes from the classic movie and then is quilted in a wonderful maze pattern that reminds me of the yellow brick road!

Diane and Barb attended a workshop taught by Ricky Tims and have made some amazing wall hangings and quilts using the convergence method. Three of Barb's convergence wall hangings are listed right now, but hopefully I will get two blankets that she made listed as well soon...they are absolutely stunning! I can't wait to list them!

One quilting book is currently listed in the shop right now. More books and patterns are coming soon!

Make sure to check out Barb's etsy site and enjoy the beautiful items that are listed! Be sure to check back often to see all the new creations!

As you saw in a previous blog entry I showed off the murals that I painted in my girls room. Both girls started out there lives living 'Under the Sea'. The quilt I'm showing off in this entry is one that was given to my daughter Cedi by my aunt Barb and her daughter Katrina at my baby shower.



Barb put it together using the book pattern Double Pinwheel Quilt: An Easy Strip Method by Eleanor Burns. Word on the street is that Eleanor Burns directions for piecing is amazingly simple, but ways one would typically not think of. I have analyzed this quilt for long periods of time and I still cannot quite fatham exactly how it was done. I guess I'll just have to try it out myself someday!





She combined a bright and colorful fish printed fabric with a bunch of her hand-dyes and some white to create this amazing quilt for my daughter!





Of course, once she was done machine piecing the top, she put it on her long arm machine and quilted it.





It is such a fabulous quilt that I am sure my daughter will cherish for many years to come.

Make sure to check out Barb's etsy shop for more amazing quilts that you can buy!

Last Saturday I was at Capri Gallery in Poynette, WI, for the a special 'meet the artist' afternoon. I was there along with two other jewelry makers and one antique jewelry collector. It was wonderful to meet other's that share my passion for jewelry making. One of the other's there, Jodi Anderson, from Odilla Products, has young children like myself. It's always nice to chat with other SAHM's that understand what that's like as well.

While we were there we worked on making jewelry so the customers could see how we do what we do! I had a really difficult time packing up my jewelry making supplies since I have an insane amount of them. I narrowed it down to one tupperware and two totes of beads. I had also prepped a few necklace's and bracelets to do some wire wrapping projects.

Once I got there I realized that I would probably just make some earrings. They don't take a super long time and I didn't have to have all of my things unloaded everywhere to make them. I decided to play with some new earwires I had gotten. You basically just add the beads right to them and then loop the bottom to create a stopper.

I had a lot of fun using them and I am excited to make some more. All of the creations you see on this article can be found in my etsy shop in the section Earrings/Rings. (that is, until they are sold)

Earrings have typically been my best seller at the apple store in the fall but I have had a tough go of it on etsy thus far. I have a feeling it has to do with the fact that there are so many amazing jewelry artists out there that it may be a bit difficult to get my foot in the door. That's okay. I love making them and I know that my friends always love to recieve them as a gift. It's also really difficult to take good pictures of jewelry. I have a light box. but I'm going to be asking for some better table lamps for the lighting of the light box for my birthday (hint, hint). Unfortunately, my birthday is not until April so what I do know is just going to have to be enough!

I would love to hear what you think of my newest creations!

I have been doing these treasury Saturday features for a few weeks now...to find out more about them click on "What is A Treasury."