Saturday, July 30, 2011

Knitted Necklaces

If you are wondering if I have actually launched my ETSY SHOP the answer is no not yet!  I wanted to have "enough stuff" on there to actually start it!  I am working on downloading pictures and getting prices in order!  I will have my ETSY GURU my niece Aaron (no I didn't spell her name wrong! :)   )   who has Mudpies and Marigolds, she has been at it long enough to give me some advice!

But here is a picture of what I have been doing in my spare time!


Ear Rings, Bracelet in the center and the necklace!

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RAGBRAI

RAGBRAI, The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state. Heading into its 39th year, RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in the world. Des Moines Register Media has been the title sponsor of RAGBRAI since 1973.

If you are a bicycle enthuist you have probably at least heard of RAGBRAI!  Since it was passing nearby we decided to head over to Durant, Iowa this morning as these amazing bicyclers were headed onto Davenport, Iowa on the last leg of their journey!  It started last Sunday! 

Here are some pictures I took this morning, and I might add that they were a friendly bunch even though they had some very warm weather to travel in this week!




Yes, these guys would be the cheeseheads!


This guy has a lei ? sp?  around his neck and a bouquet on his helmet!




They keep coming over the top of the hill!




none too young for the experience!

Lots of crazy get ups!



Lots of Tandems

They just keep coming!  This highway will look like this till late afternoon!

And Yes that would be Mark talking to the lady to see if she needed some help!



Thursday, July 21, 2011

I just linked up to:

and to:The Shabby Nest

Lunch for the Ladies!

I guess you have gathered by now I kind of like to entertain!  Today I had my "Suddenly Single" gals out for lunch!  What does Suddenly Single mean?  We all lost our husbands....  Yes, I know you might say but you are remarried, they know the pain I have felt and they still claim me!    (The pain is for a lifetime)

These gals have cried with me and laughed with me and cheered me on when I announced I was getting married!

Today we had my famous homemade chicken salad, on whole wheat buns, Strawberry-Romaine- Salad with poppy seed dressing and chips, with some awesome Blueberry/angel food cake (a weight watcher recipe) for dessert!

We had a good visit and some of them had not been out to see our house yet!  Sylvia joined us too and she enjoyed visiting with the ladies!

Did I ever mention that I love my chalkboard I painted onto the wall?

I also love my canning jar holder, I can decorate it for any season!


Kathy, Sue at the top, and Dianna, Nancy and Donna (Kathy's sister who is visiting)

Kathy, Sue, Dianna, Lucy and Donna

Donna and Me!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Monday Monday

I have been in craft overload lately!  I have been wanting to make a Subway Art Sign for the Family Room for what seems like forever!  I bought the art canvas many months ago but something always got in the way of me doing it!  I used my "Sure Cuts A Lot" program for Cricut Machines on my computer which made it super easy to make the letters the correct size before cutting them on the machine!  I used my vinyl and in no time had them cut out and pressed onto the painters canvas!  This morning I took it outside and sprayed the whole thing black and then spritzed white paint onto it to make it look a little more worn.  NEXT time I will use plywood and will be able to roughen it up with sandpaper!  So here are some shots I took as I was doing it including what the screen looked like on my computer!

the letters are all stuck on!

This is the board all painted black and of course you cannot see the letters!

and as I peel each letter off!







Ta Da!!!  So if you are looking at this, The Illinois towns are all the ones I have lived in since birth!  So which town do you know me from?  :)

Nancy

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Craft Maniac

Yes, Yes, sometimes that would certainly describe me!  I have had so many crafts over the years!  I just love to make things and love to make things for other people!  My latest knitting project includes beads lots of beads 185 to be exact on each necklace!  These are so fun to make!  I plan on making earings and bracelets to match!  BUT..... this morning between cleaning my craft room and playing I am CLEANING up my mess and working on starting up an Etsy Store!  When I create I always make a mess! 

So here you go ... some pictures of the beaded necklaces!





Thanks for looking!

Nancy

Friday, July 15, 2011

And the Trees come tumbling down!


I hate it when OLD TREES must come down!  We had a HUGE Maple tree in the front yard and another on the side of the front yard, one was half dead, and the other really hollow and losing limbs with each storm we have had!  So the guys FINALLY came yesterday to take them down!  What a mess we have left behind... Since our chain saw broke last summer in our bush cutting escapades we were going to have to go out and spend a chunk on a chain saw besides use time on them we need to use elsewhere, when outside looking it over last night one of the neighbors offered to take care of everything for less than what we can purchase a new chain saw big enough to handle it!

The tree cutter, found a nest of baby raccoons in the tree!

So here is what it looks like in the yard today!





Thursday, July 14, 2011

Craft Binges

Yes, I go on crafting binges, do you?  I have had some free time this week (I know that sounds strange coming from someone who is retired) so I have a couple of projects I am working on!  I am working on making sequined headbands with flowers and feathers (they are great for photo shoots) and I am working on vinyl lettering!  OH and I am really thinking of starting an Etsy Shop... seriously my grandkids can only wear so many of these and Lord knows they have tons of headgear!






As you saw in my previous post I have finally gotten some scripture up on my soffet in the kitchen but I am also working on a Subway Board with all the names of towns Mark and I have ever lived in!  I am about half done with it but keep getting interupted with other things and then something sparkly catches my eye and I am off! 

Today I am headed down to a shop to learn how to knit a beaded necklace and then on down to Fairview to see my little ones (and their momma)!  

Here are some pictures of my wares from yesterday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Nancy