tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64706141606866967622024-02-21T13:01:20.838-05:00Beth Stone StudioThis blog features my murals, original artwork, handmade items, photography, works-in-progress, DIY projects and tutorials, and a smattering of other things. You can also access my shop and contact me for more information on custom murals, commissions, and great gift ideas!Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-47000179648547485662016-03-31T11:47:00.000-04:002016-03-31T11:47:44.462-04:00A Traditional Boy's Nursery (In A Long-Overdue Update)Wow, it's been a while. I think I'm just beginning to come out of the fog of sleep-deprivation, stress, and complete lack of personal time that go hand in hand with becoming a new parent, moving across the Atlantic, changing careers, living out of a suitcase for five+ months, searching for and purchasing a new home, and the mounds and mounds of paperwork that accompany all of the above.<br />
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If you're reading this, it means you've stuck with me over the past year of approximately ZERO posts (or stumbled across this for the first time), and I thank you for your loyalty and interest in my little space here. I hope to make up for the lack of posts in the coming months!<br />
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Our stuff will remain in storage until we officially close on our home, which means all of my inventory and art supplies are inaccessible to me at the moment. Once we get settled in, however, I will be reopening my Etsy shop and accepting commissions for commercial and residential murals and other projects.<br />
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Since my focus over the past year has been on a certain tiny person, I don't have much new artwork to share with you at the moment. I think the last few things I painted were pieces for the nursery, so I'll share those with you. Sadly, this nursery is no more, as we have moved out of the charming Spanish house it was in...but happily, all of these items have come with us and will have a new home shortly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHarUZR_-iPFlJC-KHoZLbMOXdkFTGIMv2iq0QGWjmz6ASghdxs-flZwT8Hxw6Emra2V0s4m4nccRSjvlPWmiznWWuwaaolinpdgc-tc_qf7HrAv0yRDt-WFxxWHKnEa4FHoZ7GeXHqL0/s1600/068+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHarUZR_-iPFlJC-KHoZLbMOXdkFTGIMv2iq0QGWjmz6ASghdxs-flZwT8Hxw6Emra2V0s4m4nccRSjvlPWmiznWWuwaaolinpdgc-tc_qf7HrAv0yRDt-WFxxWHKnEa4FHoZ7GeXHqL0/s640/068+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This painting was inspired by vintage travel posters and illustrations from children's books from the Golden Age of Illustration (in the vein of Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Jessie Wilcox Smith, etc.). It's enormous - I wanted a big statement piece for over the crib. I wound up stretching the canvas myself in order to save money and find the size I wanted. You can see the scale in the photo below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfaMF_L8HHuP_U_Z5iu1YIsdqYkOMUg40OXHe6mrC0lYh5vFl-ey5Ami5IVap3va4pZjg7Hsq8chyphenhyphenmteW_DlOW_2IIJfxQ0dQjU5FeqewRuR91PkFXMSRy4DVOTwPca__pHiOUfXaFBQQ/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfaMF_L8HHuP_U_Z5iu1YIsdqYkOMUg40OXHe6mrC0lYh5vFl-ey5Ami5IVap3va4pZjg7Hsq8chyphenhyphenmteW_DlOW_2IIJfxQ0dQjU5FeqewRuR91PkFXMSRy4DVOTwPca__pHiOUfXaFBQQ/s640/088.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I also painted the alphabet lamp and the chalkboard-art style Scripture piece on the wall (although the design is not my own - I found it on Pinterest, although I can't seem to find it there anymore).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ4BXvURffhpFJh8fXYq-t_Mw-YK4M_scM7M8iVCZO0ZGPuDjD7Uy7B8MCrQAkgTCbi4O5Lot2luhMrmyZ2TXCupm8lwfnWOkm-Vve6i8Zqe7N6Ni4zqS6OMy3vrAC1lXitVLSCpnOvNi/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ4BXvURffhpFJh8fXYq-t_Mw-YK4M_scM7M8iVCZO0ZGPuDjD7Uy7B8MCrQAkgTCbi4O5Lot2luhMrmyZ2TXCupm8lwfnWOkm-Vve6i8Zqe7N6Ni4zqS6OMy3vrAC1lXitVLSCpnOvNi/s640/032.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Here's a close up of the lamp. It originally had cherries between the checkerboard borders (painted by my Mom during a Mary Engelbreit craze), but we scraped them off to make it more suitable for a boy's nursery. I love it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnZoNhttUi_6usvf2fNGO2ewHnWtBGIm6J8ieNLB_LvBM_Qqv1PkKlq50av-w4DB-facAIDcdOqOZt9ffo6b8RzlIk1R_XW2-fFgWACkwh-8xc0THEmEtOQGgLga385z3SJAR6Rl5Ig8l/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnZoNhttUi_6usvf2fNGO2ewHnWtBGIm6J8ieNLB_LvBM_Qqv1PkKlq50av-w4DB-facAIDcdOqOZt9ffo6b8RzlIk1R_XW2-fFgWACkwh-8xc0THEmEtOQGgLga385z3SJAR6Rl5Ig8l/s640/034.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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As you can see, his nursery was somewhat eclectic, which is the look I wanted. Themed nurseries are perfectly fine, but I wanted something a little more subtle than having the same fabric/pattern/picture repeated on every item in the room. I guess if you had to describe my theme here, it would be an eclectic nursery based on classic children's literature, travel, adventure, and a traditional European boy's room. I'm not sure if I accomplished that entirely, but we liked it. It was a happy little room, for a happy little person (well, happy MOST of the time, haha!). I was sad to leave it behind... But, it's nice to be back in the States, and I'm really excited about moving into the new house and making it our own. I'll be posting about our home improvement projects as we tackle them, so be sure to stay tuned for those!<br />
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Thanks for visiting.Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-43241573483918684642015-01-15T10:56:00.000-05:002015-01-15T10:59:22.852-05:00The Adventure Begins...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj0vndKY1KmPyMtPvdYgRhwuaM8FkDCW4klaj_U_TiqfxOCj-YGWtSZGzrTNU2HnzcJrEGdAFpUq8M1mtsbGEn61L6Lw0mlNhKGhS2Hkf_8E38kmMp4WRlPrs36_ZFvB0YUdCCVF0XLP3/s1600/DSC_0045+-+Copy+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj0vndKY1KmPyMtPvdYgRhwuaM8FkDCW4klaj_U_TiqfxOCj-YGWtSZGzrTNU2HnzcJrEGdAFpUq8M1mtsbGEn61L6Lw0mlNhKGhS2Hkf_8E38kmMp4WRlPrs36_ZFvB0YUdCCVF0XLP3/s1600/DSC_0045+-+Copy+copy.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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Happy 2015! </div>
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We are charting new territory over here - our first baby arrived over the Thanksgiving break, and it's been an amazing (and exhausting!) few weeks. We are totally in love though - and who wouldn't be with a face like that? </div>
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Needless to say, my creative endeavors have been on hiatus lately. I did manage to squeeze a few projects in during the last few weeks of my pregnancy (since I was vegging on the couch most of the time), so I'll be sharing those with you in some upcoming posts. I may also throw in a couple of baby-themed posts (since that's my life these days) - we'll see. </div>
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This set was one of my last projects before our little explorer arrived, and it's definitely one of my favorite things I've made for him. He looks SO cute in it! The patterns were really quick and easy too, which was nice. I'll include the pattern links below - you'll need to have a (free) Ravelry account and be logged in to access them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimApEUZfofI4fhnSPwsX91JxMQ4Fn-XfOEKEG_Dr2Ukxcdldf4azEmB3YrF03MB-lBeZc_31GAVANL9jMaO_EaTBfs-uvEamjI0oHzh-XwU_7ptBWrsxgwRBsOhlvFbMb4vvPaGXw1Dpa/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgimApEUZfofI4fhnSPwsX91JxMQ4Fn-XfOEKEG_Dr2Ukxcdldf4azEmB3YrF03MB-lBeZc_31GAVANL9jMaO_EaTBfs-uvEamjI0oHzh-XwU_7ptBWrsxgwRBsOhlvFbMb4vvPaGXw1Dpa/s1600/130.JPG" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hat - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-aviator-hat-2">Crochet Aviator Hat by Sarah Zimmerman</a> (I was using up yarn in my stash, so my white yarn isn't as thick as the yarn called for in the pattern.)<br />
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Jacket - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cute-as-a-bunny-set">Cute as a Bunny Set by Lion Brand Yarn</a> (I modified the jacket pattern by adding pockets and top-stitching, as well as the aviator patch.)<br />
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Both patterns are available free from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-41022951346617047742014-10-22T18:49:00.001-04:002014-10-22T18:49:40.467-04:00Another Spanish CasaSome friends of ours recently moved back to the States from Spain, and before they left, they asked me to do a watercolor of their home for the last three years... This was the result: <div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXv1hHmxNL4f_YeXjnyoKltMQvLkeqWlnu-sy4ebS4B-aSrk4NXVQJxUAR33bwT8ttAA5TsZlZMEskCXKhEc2MHvjnUzvdWsYp9cpbU_SGogWPo27ntg_8kotdvn8xFjei71j0QhpAW_k/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXv1hHmxNL4f_YeXjnyoKltMQvLkeqWlnu-sy4ebS4B-aSrk4NXVQJxUAR33bwT8ttAA5TsZlZMEskCXKhEc2MHvjnUzvdWsYp9cpbU_SGogWPo27ntg_8kotdvn8xFjei71j0QhpAW_k/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think they were pretty happy with it. I certainly enjoyed painting it! It was a relaxing break from the craziness that our life has been lately.... </div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-32088373265794022882014-03-03T09:38:00.000-05:002014-03-03T09:38:11.155-05:00New Hymn Collage - Come, Ye Thankful People, Come<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A little out of season, but it's my latest project nonetheless:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Come, Ye Thankful People, Come</span></b></div>
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<i>based on the hymn by Henry Alford and George J. Elvey</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqOcrjbBHo8_zrQqa8vYRkAMNDwHOVphNQjwYFWYJ131DYHtZAiriXFc5iPhzGeSQQMFDf4l6PVYLz1oKCVstrK0hUsQ4_xPZL1SCBMz2F6Lel6CDs6nbNzthyphenhyphen3ZutGbALxbvnstozDYH/s1600/Come+Ye+Thankful+People,+Come+Watermarked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqOcrjbBHo8_zrQqa8vYRkAMNDwHOVphNQjwYFWYJ131DYHtZAiriXFc5iPhzGeSQQMFDf4l6PVYLz1oKCVstrK0hUsQ4_xPZL1SCBMz2F6Lel6CDs6nbNzthyphenhyphen3ZutGbALxbvnstozDYH/s1600/Come+Ye+Thankful+People,+Come+Watermarked.jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></div>
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Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;</div>
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All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.</div>
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God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;</div>
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Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.</div>
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All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;</div>
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Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.</div>
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First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;</div>
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Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.</div>
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For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;</div>
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From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,</div>
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Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;</div>
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But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.</div>
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Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;</div>
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Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,</div>
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There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;</div>
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Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.</div>
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<i>I will have prints and greeting cards featuring this collage available later today in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethstonestudio">my shop</a>. </i></div>
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<i>Thanks for visiting! </i></div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-86419333137739385272014-01-27T08:54:00.000-05:002014-01-27T08:54:02.537-05:00Magically Delicious...Back in December, Josh and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary (say what? Have we really been married that long?). Since it was a milestone, we decided to do something special... and for us, doing something special means traveling!<br />
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We tossed around ideas and decided to spend 8 days visiting a place we'd both always wanted to see - Ireland! It was the BEST. TRIP. EVER.<br />
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Here are a few highlights from my 2,000+ photos (you're welcome for sparing you!): <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dublin Doorway</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shepherd's Pie - Yum! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJKu_t_8CdcCFZsoyvuJMnDmWHYPXxufJCHlBV0Q6eUcaLaot7gRbBqeX25NEZHOm_VepLvuMnlVb8IzjnGWI2C629eA6aX53FsKQ1l-7s9A6_u7jX3ZAgqNL4-_MuUb701NY3NH_gDg1/s1600/Day+2+-+St.+Patrick's+Cathedral++(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJKu_t_8CdcCFZsoyvuJMnDmWHYPXxufJCHlBV0Q6eUcaLaot7gRbBqeX25NEZHOm_VepLvuMnlVb8IzjnGWI2C629eA6aX53FsKQ1l-7s9A6_u7jX3ZAgqNL4-_MuUb701NY3NH_gDg1/s1600/Day+2+-+St.+Patrick's+Cathedral++(12).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Patrick's Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCrNic7kjpZdHi4DTqD9uA0ZLuiuHs-Y4uuFDEKTlzxWt7bhKba-RUSedEjoBcuDUQUsDLPgnxdMdwWHc7qBbp4WvuH48t2EJ0Zi8DN6MA802k95WB5y66sJNiYHAJuzyHvZhzrodpmlv/s1600/Day+2+-+Trinity+College+(23).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCrNic7kjpZdHi4DTqD9uA0ZLuiuHs-Y4uuFDEKTlzxWt7bhKba-RUSedEjoBcuDUQUsDLPgnxdMdwWHc7qBbp4WvuH48t2EJ0Zi8DN6MA802k95WB5y66sJNiYHAJuzyHvZhzrodpmlv/s1600/Day+2+-+Trinity+College+(23).JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Trinity College Library, Dublin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant's Causeway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WBLOIZ4mUEQK_e2GjrdE3qTp2tiPfUICEpvN8wR9YBvazTir8O2UP-O0NcNh_MMJxpX1IbjHlk2sNjuoSq9WNopJ0X3vgHJ1BByS8J3h7az2vMacQbdAn-5JeFOSn5r5NzlCCn2Hx_7k/s1600/Day+3+-+The+Dark+Hedges++(30).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WBLOIZ4mUEQK_e2GjrdE3qTp2tiPfUICEpvN8wR9YBvazTir8O2UP-O0NcNh_MMJxpX1IbjHlk2sNjuoSq9WNopJ0X3vgHJ1BByS8J3h7az2vMacQbdAn-5JeFOSn5r5NzlCCn2Hx_7k/s1600/Day+3+-+The+Dark+Hedges++(30).JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dark Hedges</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhrrTH3082WaZDhbHNoyFV_sCznkbXChFsYWdck7OFJaI7f1LQZNVq8N3N85REM5jskIDQLITJsdoNzeqsMw62JJjKGYLvWpBAgS8tRXle-HskvzQlAChyphenhyphenwpZGqbR4UAijLwa4QpXyorN/s1600/Day+4+-+Glenveagh+National+Park+Scenery++(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhrrTH3082WaZDhbHNoyFV_sCznkbXChFsYWdck7OFJaI7f1LQZNVq8N3N85REM5jskIDQLITJsdoNzeqsMw62JJjKGYLvWpBAgS8tRXle-HskvzQlAChyphenhyphenwpZGqbR4UAijLwa4QpXyorN/s1600/Day+4+-+Glenveagh+National+Park+Scenery++(7).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenveagh National Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KO7VkiiaPuCajyvgTnz2N1GeeH5wdY24Ew9EhLUHOuYJlDiySsDbMRysoyUwJEoJFNTKqhlt3wm90kGdlRXcMQrpMaRfmtR9_EWIuDmWyX55ebH9rN2ZInZDwu9T9BjlOG6-wkwBgg4q/s1600/Day+4+-+Glenveagh+National+Park+Castle++(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KO7VkiiaPuCajyvgTnz2N1GeeH5wdY24Ew9EhLUHOuYJlDiySsDbMRysoyUwJEoJFNTKqhlt3wm90kGdlRXcMQrpMaRfmtR9_EWIuDmWyX55ebH9rN2ZInZDwu9T9BjlOG6-wkwBgg4q/s1600/Day+4+-+Glenveagh+National+Park+Castle++(8).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens at Glenveagh National Park Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glenveagh National Park Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inis Mor (Aran Island) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBArCLd0iBc49Ahgq3tcrARHXcOLeoVxhtAQoZXm2KxCegI2qcNHJy1UunAKDQQAv0DCzdFEZUXOJXLC3I0Qh99ozBm_2qrr1Z_sXyM8ufnwp1Xy8ML5W8AgkFJBGPh_WJuOWzq_WA1feK/s1600/Day+5+-+Walk+to+the+Fort++(44).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBArCLd0iBc49Ahgq3tcrARHXcOLeoVxhtAQoZXm2KxCegI2qcNHJy1UunAKDQQAv0DCzdFEZUXOJXLC3I0Qh99ozBm_2qrr1Z_sXyM8ufnwp1Xy8ML5W8AgkFJBGPh_WJuOWzq_WA1feK/s1600/Day+5+-+Walk+to+the+Fort++(44).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><ol eid="bl7mUqzmAqub1AXqyICgBQ" id="rso">
<li class="g"><div class="rc" data-hveid="42">
<div class="s">
<span class="st">Dún Aonghasa</span></div>
</div>
</li>
</ol>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1aGx9H2nfc2uAd_rER4jAAQpW27N2j8irtu3AtWNsNcK4mWoqtoz1oYvVdcDj6KeOf8iLUemZInL80PUBc_Hf9cZvwRd_TQgvkdLlawDiqyHGzGMZM0ywoTbV-I0NwzACrFMTM-OjTnL/s1600/Day+5+-+Walk+to+the+Worm+Hole++(79).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1aGx9H2nfc2uAd_rER4jAAQpW27N2j8irtu3AtWNsNcK4mWoqtoz1oYvVdcDj6KeOf8iLUemZInL80PUBc_Hf9cZvwRd_TQgvkdLlawDiqyHGzGMZM0ywoTbV-I0NwzACrFMTM-OjTnL/s1600/Day+5+-+Walk+to+the+Worm+Hole++(79).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Worm Hole, Inis Mor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv15O5BRVWvgxuX1QH7x0-9k5d2VUSvTkWLdbTo5DaMCjNJGfEztdfOJu-1G4fARDhBEKjETfIsjvRs3dJA7EOCQoQJo3hSMlfBuRMLX52-ELKkF4stSJQn7JakHakRL2ANYm-n3XmfSjl/s1600/Day+5+-+The+Seven+Churches++(54).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv15O5BRVWvgxuX1QH7x0-9k5d2VUSvTkWLdbTo5DaMCjNJGfEztdfOJu-1G4fARDhBEKjETfIsjvRs3dJA7EOCQoQJo3hSMlfBuRMLX52-ELKkF4stSJQn7JakHakRL2ANYm-n3XmfSjl/s1600/Day+5+-+The+Seven+Churches++(54).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Seven Churches, Inis Mor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Aq6oypYHS4XmeTYq4Tc81wVtIDzMyM-yYDn1vR-TyZRT_4BvpviWD0xaG_EoAnPsRQNzWC8cr-PAXZAWDXLJ49DuchyphenhyphennmKvvaSpm3YtdzbCLzmuJA5TpT6x-cbeQZtCOLXc3DALPoJxx/s1600/Day+6+Kylemore+Abbey+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Aq6oypYHS4XmeTYq4Tc81wVtIDzMyM-yYDn1vR-TyZRT_4BvpviWD0xaG_EoAnPsRQNzWC8cr-PAXZAWDXLJ49DuchyphenhyphennmKvvaSpm3YtdzbCLzmuJA5TpT6x-cbeQZtCOLXc3DALPoJxx/s1600/Day+6+Kylemore+Abbey+(5).JPG" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kylemore Abbey</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashford Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnvzmA2STgnigezBBGM-UALeLw6lVcwaswuuB5jMSwnmzmy0CB_o8sSuXav7PoWbvhpdW5Py8fz_h_08jpDDj4Qe61MrkIyZqxsoWBTRi5j87H0Wh7JjE4Yq4a6ArlayBJy0G0ndUsxSG/s1600/Cliffs+of+Moher++(29).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnvzmA2STgnigezBBGM-UALeLw6lVcwaswuuB5jMSwnmzmy0CB_o8sSuXav7PoWbvhpdW5Py8fz_h_08jpDDj4Qe61MrkIyZqxsoWBTRi5j87H0Wh7JjE4Yq4a6ArlayBJy0G0ndUsxSG/s1600/Cliffs+of+Moher++(29).JPG" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cliffs of Moher</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blarney Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dingle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beehive Hut, Dingle Peninsula</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The High Kings' Concert</td></tr>
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Dingle Peninsula </div>
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Just in case you're wondering, no, that wasn't Middle Earth... Ireland really is this magical. We had an amazing time, and I can't think of a more wonderful way to have celebrated our first ten years together - it's certainly been an adventure. I'm looking forward to the next ten! Love you, Josh. </div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-77026984054687091022013-10-28T10:27:00.000-04:002013-10-28T10:27:18.132-04:00Busy as a....well....bee...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, Friends...<br />
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Whew! It's been a busy few months for us! When we weren't entertaining company, we were doing a little traveling of our own. I'll try to share some travel photos with you soon, but first, I thought I'd show you what I spent my time working on in the car! <br />
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This first "bee skep" hat was knitted for the new baby of some very good friends of ours... I had been wanting to try making one of these ever since I spotted a similar one on Pinterest, and overall, I'm very happy with how it came out. I'm still working on perfecting the art of using DPNs without the dreaded "laddering" effect, but it's not too terribly noticeable on this project. The hat itself is knitted, and the bees are needle felted and then sewn on. <br />
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My second project was another baby hat for my sister-in-law's new baby. In the first few photos (forgive the groundhog - I don't have any babies or dolls around for models!) I accidentally put the hat on upside down - the scallops should be along the bottom, not around the face. Oops. However, it's on correctly in the photos of my niece (isn't she adorable?). I guess I should pay more attention when I'm photographing projects. <br />
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If you'd like the patterns or my notes for either of these hats, you can find them on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/bethstonestudio">Ravelry profile.</a> If you'd like to learn more about needle felting, check out my tutorial videos in the sidebar! Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-77461342889918057222013-08-24T06:00:00.000-04:002013-08-24T06:00:58.621-04:00{ART} I Corinthians 13 Sign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We recently bought a new king sized mattress set, but haven't found a bed frame or headboard that we like to go with it... I wasn't digging the giant blank space above the bed, so I thought I'd whip up a little something to fill the space while we continue the hunt.</div>
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I've had this piece of plywood sitting around for several years, and I decided that this would be a good use for it. I love the subway and chalkboard art that I'm seeing everywhere right now, so I thought I'd do something in a similar style, using one of my favorite Scriptures from I Corinthians 13:4-8. We had this read at our wedding so it's special in that way, plus it's just a good reminder to have hanging in our home. </div>
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I had a lot of positive feedback when I posted this on my Facebook page, so I thought I'd do a little post on how I made it, and include the graphic so that you can make one too, if you'd like. </div>
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My piece of plywood was 30"x48," and after sanding the edges and front and back, I coated the whole thing with a layer of white acrylic gesso. I used several different colors of acrylic craft paint, ranging from a light celery green to an aqua blue and burnt umber. I squirted small puddles of each color onto a paper plate, then added a puddle of acrylic blending medium in the middle. Using a large, regular paintbrush (like you'd use for painting trim in your house), I dipped the bristles into a few of the colors at a time, including a little of the medium, and then brushed it onto the plywood. I kept the brush fairly dry, and added different colors in a streaky pattern (don't just blend all the colors together - if you dab one end of the brush into one color, the other end into a different color, then tap it into the medium, that should make it turn out like this. You want a streaky, weathered look that makes it seem like it's had several layers of different colors of paint, and they've worn off in places. </div>
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After my base coat had dried, I used an art projector to transfer the lettering onto the board. When you project it, you need to make sure that the lines are straight, and that the projector and board are perfectly facing each other, without being at an angle (or it will distort the lettering/lines). I penciled the letters in first, then used a small flat brush and a small round brush to go over the letters in an antique white. This part can be a little intimidating, but trust me, mine doesn't look perfect up close. </div>
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If you don't have access to a projector, another option would be to have a printing place (like Staples or Kinkos) do one of those giant prints for you (like they do for blueprints), then you could use graphite paper to transfer it to the board by tracing it. </div>
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Once my letters were dry, I mixed a small amount of burnt umber into the acrylic medium, and did a glaze over the whole thing to give it a uniform, "antiqued" look that toned down the contrast between the background and the lettering. </div>
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I let that dry, then added some hooks and wire to the back for hanging! I also used some sandpaper to knock a little paint off the corners and increase the "weathered old sign" look. </div>
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I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of each step so you can see what I'm talking about - this was kind of a spur of the moment project - but feel free to send me any questions you may have. I'd love to see pictures of your finished project if you make one yourself! </div>
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Here's a copy of the graphic I made in Photoshop - feel free to copy for your own personal use.</div>
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<br />Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-13531617317710052752013-08-05T09:25:00.000-04:002013-08-05T09:25:00.985-04:00{Art} Hymn Series: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My latest collage, based on the hymn, </div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">A Mighty Fortress Is Our God</span></strong></div>
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<strong></strong> </div>
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by<strong> Martin Luther</strong></div>
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A mighty fortress is our God,
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a bulwark never failing;
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our helper He amid the flood </div>
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of mortal ills prevailing.
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For still our ancient foe
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doth seek to work us woe;
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his craft and power are great, </div>
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and armed with cruel hate,
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on earth is not his equal.
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Did we in our own strength confide,
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our striving would be losing,
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were not the right man on our side,
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the man of God's own choosing.
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Dost ask who that may be?
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Christ Jesus, it is He; </div>
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Lord Sabaoth, His name,
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from age to age the same, </div>
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and He must win the battle.</div>
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And though this world, </div>
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with devils filled,</div>
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should threaten to undo us, </div>
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we will not fear, for God hath willed </div>
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His truth to triumph through us.
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The Prince of Darkness grim,
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we tremble not for him;
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his rage we can endure,
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for lo, his doom is sure;
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one little word shall fell him.
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That word above all earthly powers,
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no thanks to them, abideth; </div>
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the Spirit and the gifts are ours, </div>
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thru Him who with us sideth.
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Let goods and kindred go, </div>
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this mortal life also; </div>
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the body they may kill;
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God's truth abideth still; </div>
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His kingdom is forever.
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**********</div>
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I hope you're having a lovely week.</div>
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<br />Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-1795767255690983562013-07-23T11:56:00.001-04:002013-07-23T11:56:59.401-04:00Mi casa es su casa...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend we were invited to our landlord's birthday party, and for the occasion, I wanted to do something special. The house we live in is a stacked duplex, of sorts. The top level is our home, and the lower level (which is completely separate) is our landlord's. <br />
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I decided to do a watercolor of the house; the original was a gift for our landlord, and I plan on making a print for us to remember our home in Spain. <br />
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Here's the finished piece: <br />
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And here are the in-progress pictures for you to enjoy... <br />
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The gift was a big hit, and now I've got a special piece of artwork to commemorate this unique time in our lives... <br />
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In other news, I'm in the process of getting my business approved by the command here, so I hope to have my shop reopened for business in the next few weeks.... stay tuned! Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-63070378525879577202013-04-25T08:00:00.001-04:002013-04-25T08:00:12.611-04:00¿Cómo se llama?Before we left the States, a friend of mine casually mentioned that she and her friends were painting the inside of her car, and naturally, my ears perked up when I heard the word "painting." Intrigued, I asked her a little more about it, and then demanded to know why I had not been invited to paint inside her car, at which point I was formally invited.<br />
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A few days later, Bethany showed up with her car, five bottles of craft paint (red, blue, turquoise, white, and glow in the dark), a few Sharpies, and a paintbrush, and told me to have at it... I chose one of the door panels, and about an hour later, there was this...<br />
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Bethany likes llamas. She wants me to bring her one home from Spain, although I'm not quite sure if they're even indigenous to Spain, and I'm quite sure one wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment even if they were. So this may have to do...<br />
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Painting inside a car was certainly a first for me, and I had never really attempted painting with such a limited palette before, but I kinda like the quirky way it turned out... and Bethany's a little quirky herself, so it suited her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcR4l2FHXXMyJl18alSW7IpbjKWkUx5Gd7MSdaoyfdyfx439r-wnatyBZ0PCLj5yNjLpoYuFr1dUD5Jd4flbJk1uDXZq7VC2LDtMZ56H5ARu7MY6oRz5qn3RY1j2RxmYmVI8-xXaJAjTL/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcR4l2FHXXMyJl18alSW7IpbjKWkUx5Gd7MSdaoyfdyfx439r-wnatyBZ0PCLj5yNjLpoYuFr1dUD5Jd4flbJk1uDXZq7VC2LDtMZ56H5ARu7MY6oRz5qn3RY1j2RxmYmVI8-xXaJAjTL/s640/IMG_4324.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think she was happy with it!<br />
<br />Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-31875324449425287732012-11-22T08:00:00.000-05:002012-11-22T08:00:11.854-05:00Give Thanks to the Lord, for He Is Good...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s677.beta.photobucket.com/user/bethstonestudio/library/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="433" src="http://i677.photobucket.com/albums/vv135/bethstonestudio/Blessingjpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Serve the LORD with
gladness: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">come before his presence with singing.
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Know ye that the LORD
he is God: </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">it is he that hath made us, and not we
ourselves; </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;">Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving</span></strong>, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">and into his courts with praise: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>be thankful</strong></span> <span style="font-size: large;">unto him,
and bless his name.</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the LORD
is good; his mercy is everlasting; </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">and his truth endureth
to all generations.</span> <br />
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<em>- Psalm 100 - </em><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Happy Thanksgiving!</strong></span></div>
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Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-83056473653222165452012-10-23T00:36:00.000-04:002012-10-23T00:36:04.806-04:00A quick little thank you...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'd like to thank all of you who came out to Fine Art in the Park in Jonesborough this past weekend. When I pulled into town on Sunday morning for the second day <span style="background-color: white;">of the show</span>, there were a ton of birds flying around the Courthouse clock tower. It was so pretty to watch... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0D9Am4SZpxs9N-px8uk3-Ef0K01c0Vmp-GfD-oMFu0G5seDuXvbx34MXLE6PXr0CraaKZ9eHp553J8d8vZqoFbt8QhbuYMMhfOLg1sfeWOG64cUHHZjk295dGO7EbjVlPjcoDgT5n-O-/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0D9Am4SZpxs9N-px8uk3-Ef0K01c0Vmp-GfD-oMFu0G5seDuXvbx34MXLE6PXr0CraaKZ9eHp553J8d8vZqoFbt8QhbuYMMhfOLg1sfeWOG64cUHHZjk295dGO7EbjVlPjcoDgT5n-O-/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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We had beautiful weather for the show, and there was a pretty good turnout. I appreciate all of you who came by to show your support and also those of you who purchased something - thank you. <br />
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If you weren't able to make it, I reopened my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethstonestudio">Etsy shop</a> today. I have several updates to the shop coming soon, so be sure to check back frequently for new items. It's never too early to begin Christmas shopping... <em><eh hem="hem"></eh></em> <br />
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I'll be spending the next few days getting caught up on everything I neglected while getting ready for the show, but I hope to get back to more regular posting on here soon. <br />
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I hope you're having a lovely week.Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-69454211120652632522012-10-08T12:55:00.000-04:002012-10-08T12:55:49.080-04:00{Art} 4th Annual Fine Art in the Park Hi there. Things may be a little quiet here on the blog for the next couple of weeks - that's because I'm in the final stages of pre-art-show-preparation-manic-frenzy! However, I did want to let you know that you are invited to....<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/402724733133954/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The 4th Annual Fine Art in the Park</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">at the </span><a href="http://www.storytellingcenter.net/experience/visit-the-center/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">International Storytelling Center</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">in Jonesborough, TN</span></div>
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Dates & Times:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday, October 20th - 10am-5pm</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday, October 21st - Noon-5pm</span></div>
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This will be a judged and juried show and will include a variety of fine art and crafts from local artists and artisans, as well as a tasting area where you can sample locally made cheese, chocolate, wine, and honey. </div>
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This will be the last public show that I will be participating in before we move to Spain, so if you've been wanting to browse through my work in person, this is your opportunity! </div>
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I will be selling originals, various sizes of prints, greeting cards, pins, necklaces, and magnets featuring my original artwork. </div>
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Be sure to stop by and say hello if you come, and feel free to share the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/402724733133954/">Facebook Event</a> with your friends and family - the more, the merrier! </div>
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Hope to see you there!</div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-1129529740098714782012-09-28T00:35:00.000-04:002012-09-29T10:28:58.585-04:00Amazing "Artsy" Cakes and a Birthday Giveaway! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's my birthday today, and I just had to show you the incredible "artsy" birthday cakes that my best friend surprised me with last night: </div>
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She made a palette, complete with water dish and real paint brush: </div>
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...and an easel, with one of my own watercolor paintings on it! To do this, she took one of my greeting cards to a bakery where they scanned it, then printed it on edible paper using food coloring! How cool is that? </div>
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Thanks, Keri! What a great birthday surprise! </div>
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And now, I have a little surprise for one of you, dear readers. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY</span></div>
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Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win! </div>
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One entry per person...</div>
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The prize is a surprise from me, to one of you! </div>
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Giveaway ends when my birthday does (EST). :o) </div>
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<em><strong>* This giveaway is now closed.*</strong></em></div>
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Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-24366120061841623612012-09-26T15:37:00.001-04:002012-09-26T15:37:03.568-04:00{Art} Wooden Tile Jewelry DIY Does it annoy you when you ask someone for a recipe, only to be told that it's "a secret," and if they told you, they'd "have to kill you"? <br />
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Yeah, me too. If you've got a good thing going, why not share it? <br />
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I feel the same about art and craft techniques. Because each person brings his or her own unique style to the table, it doesn't really matter if they're using the same technique as I am, because it's still going to be different. That's the beauty of art.... <br />
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One of my lovely readers (Hi, Stella!) recently contacted me and asked if I would give her the scoop on how I make the necklaces, pins, and magnets featuring my artwork that I carry in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethstonestudio">Etsy Shop</a>. Since she's not the first to request this info, I thought I'd share a little tutorial here for all of my readers. Please just be sure to use images to which YOU own the copyright -<strong> don't use someone else's artwork or photography to make your pendant</strong>... It's illegal, and it's tacky. Be original (and legal)! <br />
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Okay, so let's get started! <br />
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Supplies You Will Need:<br />
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<li><strong>Small wooden tiles</strong> - round, rectangular, square: choose the shape and size that will suit your image best. </li>
<li><strong>Sand paper</strong> - if you're buying pre-cut tiles, they are usually smooth enough to use without sanding. However, if you wind up cutting your tiles to size from small craft boards (available at craft stores - I've used basswood strips from Hobby Lobby before), you'll need to give them a good sanding. </li>
<li>Fine grade steel wool - if any of the clear layers get "bubbles" in them, let them dry, and then use this to lightly sand the bubbles out. Add another clear coat on top to bring back the shine. </li>
<li><strong>2 flat paint brushes</strong> (Designate one for the black paint and one for the clear coat. It's best to get a new brush for the clear coat, and only use it for clear coats. If there is any paint dried in the brush, it will flake out into your clear coat and cause you a lot of frustrations!) </li>
<li><strong>Black acrylic paint</strong> or whatever color you want the back and sides of the tiles to be. I use black for most of mine, but I've also used dark brown.</li>
<li><strong>Mod Podge</strong> - "Hard Coat" is my favorite, but any should work since you're covering it with...</li>
<li>Some type of <strong>super thick, crystal clear varnish or epoxy</strong> for the top coat. I use <strong>"Triple Thick"</strong> by DecoArt. Some people use a product called "Liquid Glass." Whatever you use, make sure it's safe for jewelry/wearing on skin.</li>
<li><strong>High quality printed images featuring your original work sized to fit your tiles</strong>. (Please be aware that copyright laws DO apply here - don't use someone else's work for your project without permission - including mine. :o) Thanks!) I make my own prints with my Canon Pro9000 printer on Epsom Ultra Premium Presentation Paper (Matte). I do my editing and resizing in Photoshop. You can use artwork or photographs - Moms/Grandmas LOVE when you make these featuring photos of their kids/grand kids! </li>
<li><strong>Sharp scissors, a paper cutter, or punches</strong> to cut out images (punches are especially handy for round images - they give you a perfect circle, which is very difficult to hand cut with scissors). </li>
<li><strong>Jewelry glue</strong></li>
<li><strong>Metal bails, chains or supplies to make your own cords, glue-on pin backs, magnets, etc.,</strong> depending on what you're going to be making. </li>
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OK, the first order of business is to size your images to fit your tiles. Print them, let the ink dry, then cut them out carefully. Make sure that they fit on the tiles exactly, without overlapping the edges. <br />
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Paint your (smoothly sanded) tiles with black acrylic paint, and let them dry. <br />
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After the paint is thoroughly dry, use the Mod Podge to decoupage the images onto the tops of the tiles. Paint a layer directly onto the wood, then immediately place the paper on top and add a coat on top of the paper. Be sure to take some of the Mod Podge down the sides of the tile. Let this dry thoroughly, then coat the back and sides (again on the sides) with Mod Podge, so that the entire tile has been coated once, with the layers overlapping on the sides. Let this dry. <br />
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At this point, I usually add a little initial "signature" on the back of the tile with gold acrylic ink, but it's not necessary. <br />
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Now is a good time to give the image side a quick little rub down with the steel wool. This smooths out any brush marks and/or bubbles and creates a smooth surface for your top coat. <br />
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Next, you're going to coat the back and sides of the tile with the clear top coat (Triple Thick). Let this dry thoroughly. Flip the tile over, then add a coat of the Triple Thick to the top (image side) of the tile, and allow it to overlap the first coat a bit on the sides. Let it dry. <br />
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If any bubbles have formed over the image, use the steel wool again to smooth them out. <br />
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Repeat the clear top coat at least once more, making sure to let each side dry completely before flipping the tile. Be sure to cover the sides of the tile as well as the top and bottom. Add as many coats as you like, depending on how "thick" you want it to look. I usually do 2 coats. <br />
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Once the final clear coat has dried, you can turn your tile into something! I make a lot of necklaces, so I use jewelry glue (kind of like super glue) to adhere metal bails onto the backs of the tiles, then I make satin cords with clasps to serve as the necklace part. I also have turned tiles into pretty magnets or brooches by gluing round magnets or pin backs onto the backs of the tiles. <br />
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You can get creative here and try all sorts of things: pins, magnets, necklaces, bracelets, hair clips, ornaments, push pins, etc. <br />
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After I glue the findings onto the wooden tile, I usually do a "touch up coat" of the Triple Thick to finish it off. Sometimes the jewelry glue creates a cloudy haze around the metal finding, and adding another layer of the Triple Thick in that area will get rid of that and make it look shiny and polished all over. <br />
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The clear coat needs to cure for a few days before you do much with it - I usually suspend the necklaces by the cords to let the air circulate around the pendants. You just don't want to let them be touching anything until the top coat cures and hardens, or it can leave dents in the clear coat or get stuck to something. <br />
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My studio always looks pretty crazy when it's "jewelry-making time"! I use dowel rods, yard sticks, and curtain rods wedged under heavy items on my shelves to create hanging space for curing large batches of jewelry. Be sure to leave a little space between each tile. I usually let them hang up for at least 3-4 days before packaging or wearing them. </div>
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Well, that's it! I hope I've covered everything clearly here and that you've found this helpful. If you decide to try making one of these yourself, I'd love to see photos of your finished project! Feel free to ask if you have any questions - you can use the comment form below, or <a href="mailto:bethstoneart@gmail.com">e-mail me</a>. </div>
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Happy Crafting! </div>
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Linking up on Friday at: </div>
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<a href="http://www.studiojru.com/blog/"><img alt="StudioJRU" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4902102361_b731d7f31f_m.jpg" /></a></div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-20102422175523273392012-09-21T08:00:00.000-04:002012-09-21T08:00:10.673-04:00{Art} Wedding Pretties and How to Make a Doily LanternLast weekend my friend Keri and I had the honor of doing most of the decorating for the wedding of some dear friends. I thought I'd share some of the prettiness with you here today...<br />
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To save money, we decided to do our own flower arrangements. The only thing we purchased were the roses - everything else was gathered from around our yards and nearby fields. <br />
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Welcome to the "flower sweat shop." </div>
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The day before the wedding, we went out early to pick the Queen Anne's Lace, ivy, and other greenery we used in the arrangements. It was a beautiful morning, and there were spider webs covered with dew all over the field: amazing! <br />
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Thankfully, there was still plenty of Queen Anne's Lace blooming, although we did have to relocate a few little visitors...<br />
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Anyway, back to the wedding.... Keri made the arrangements for the wedding party: the boutonnieres, corsages, and these gorgeous bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids...<br />
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And I did the arrangements for the pews, the altar, and the candlesticks... <br />
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For the reception, the bride had requested a piñata! <em>How fun is that?</em> We couldn't find a "wedding" themed piñata anywhere locally, so Keri found<a href="http://www.etsy.com/blog/weddings/make-an-ombre-wedding-cake-pinata/"> this tutorial</a> online and made this fantastic wedding cake piñata herself! She did an amazing job! </div>
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As you can see, it was a big hit at the reception. <em><groan> - {groans}<groans> You know I had to, right?</groans></groan></em> </div>
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My own craft project for the reception was this doily "chandelier," which we strung up with white Christmas lights and a canopy made from fabric normally used to cover tobacco beds (How's that for re-purposing?!?). We got the fabric at a farm supply store, and it's a pretty economical way to do something like this. The closest thing I can compare the fabric to is interfacing used for sewing, but this is MUCH cheaper than interfacing... </div>
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Anyway, as you can see, it did a lot to dress up a rather plain, dark room and made it look much more elegant for the reception....<br />
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There are already several tutorials online for this, but to be honest, I found it to be WAY more complicated than they made it seem. I thought I'd share what I learned through my own experience with you, and hopefully it will save you from some of the frustrations I faced... <br />
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The first order of business was to go doily shopping! I wanted a variety of real, hand-made doilies made from cotton crochet thread (not the polyester, factory-made ones you get in stores), so Keri and I hit up some of our local antique stores. We managed to snag most of these for around $1-2 apiece. I brought them home and washed and ironed them first. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFS1TO5dzbuX348B-VDZK41ZhLbB8IdutteYhH8pGhwKHUHq7U1blza48SfTZohRcCDtRiWBUbmRsPH4Zdd9T4TXr1PG-FdjmYGY1Uz1asOTU-sok6x19UN6dtPAn6VuftPh4KvGm7Ae2Q/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFS1TO5dzbuX348B-VDZK41ZhLbB8IdutteYhH8pGhwKHUHq7U1blza48SfTZohRcCDtRiWBUbmRsPH4Zdd9T4TXr1PG-FdjmYGY1Uz1asOTU-sok6x19UN6dtPAn6VuftPh4KvGm7Ae2Q/s640/DSC_0006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The tutorial I found said you could use one of these "punch" balloons to form the base. I tried this first; however, my balloon wound up leaking half its air the first night, and I had to re-do the whole thing. So use a sturdy beach ball! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfq1tGeo2BwbjZizjdaPLJFPwmHHwwveHMzelBJRG8KrhP0oCYc8dbuDiBH_3zhGxDEepLZIw0UbWCyVuA8Ybp8HVJ5WDJCabOc8iH4TiwzKClbpi_D6NIDLoqZ_9V9UxSpmGH90k8Fzd/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfq1tGeo2BwbjZizjdaPLJFPwmHHwwveHMzelBJRG8KrhP0oCYc8dbuDiBH_3zhGxDEepLZIw0UbWCyVuA8Ybp8HVJ5WDJCabOc8iH4TiwzKClbpi_D6NIDLoqZ_9V9UxSpmGH90k8Fzd/s640/DSC_0003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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On attempt #1, I tried using Elmer's Glue thinned down with a bit of water. This made the cotton doilies so heavy that they kept wanting to fall off of the balloon. I wound up only covering half of it at first, and I planned to do the other side when this had dried.... However, like I said, the balloon leaked, and I had to start over. <br />
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These doilies were super thick, and in hindsight, I think the thinner you could find them, the better off you'd be. <br />
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Boo! The balloon deflated! You can see the little loser on the right there, after the first night. I had to re-wash all of the doilies to remove the glue, then tried again on the beach ball. This is a 24" beach ball, and in hindsight (once again), I think one of those "clear" plastic beach balls would have worked better than this one (I'll tell you why later). <br />
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Okay, let's try this thing again.... The second time around, I did a better job of preparing my work area and gathering my supplies ahead of time, so it made the whole process much less frustrating.<br />
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I tied a string to the air vent in the ceiling and added a hook formed from a paper clip to the bottom of it. Then I tied another string to the plug of the beach ball, and tied a loop on the end. This allowed me to easily hang or remove the beach ball from the string whenever I needed to flip it over, rather than having to untie it. It's easier to work on if it's suspended, but there are times when you're going to need to manhandle the thing, so it's nice to be able to quickly take it down. <br />
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For the "glue" on this one, I wound up using a mixture of several things (several types of Mod Podge, fabric stiffener, and Plaster of Paris). However, as I learned on another project, I think I would have been better off with straight-up Mod Podge (the one marked for use on fabrics). If you use just the Mod Podge, I wouldn't thin it down any. </div>
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Because I had so much trouble getting the doilies to stick to the bottom of the balloon the night before (the force of gravity won out over the sticking power of the glue solution), I decided ahead of time that I was going to "tie" the doilies together as I placed them on the ball. This would also help hold the whole thing together once it dried and I had removed the beach ball... </div>
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As I added each doily, I used white crochet thread and a tiny crochet hook to help me anchor the doilies to the ones they overlapped. I simply threaded the string through the two doilies in several spots, and tied a good square knot. Once it was dry, I trimmed all of the ends of the string. This was a pretty tedious and messy process, so I don't have any pictures.... sorry.... </div>
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Incidentally, another thing I learned was that it's not a great idea to choose doilies that have such loose, spidery looking areas as you see in the doily covering the upper yellow section below. They don't provide enough support once you remove the beach ball. Look for doilies that are lightweight, but have a fairly sturdy structure throughout the entire piece, like the one on the bottom left.... <br />
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Depending on the type of lighting you intend to use inside the globe, you're going to need to leave an opening or two in the doilies. I left an opening around the top where the string was attached, and I made it large enough to fit my hand inside. I also left another small opening on the bottom, which would allow you to replace a light bulb if you were using this with a pendant light kit. The openings also made it possible to get the beach ball out when it was dry. <br />
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Once I had all of my doilies tied in place, I let it dry overnight, then painted a second coat of my glue mixture over the whole thing. Again, in hindsight, I should have probably added several more coats of just plain Mod Podge and let it dry for a week or so before removing the beach ball, but we were getting ready for the wedding and in a bit of a rush... <br />
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Once the glue has dried and the doilies are feeling good and stiff, give it a few extra days to dry thoroughly, and then you can remove the beach ball. If you don't care about it, simply pop a few holes in it with a sharp knife, or if you want to reuse it, open the plug and carefully deflate it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAng1h93hGbxf1ndnvS6A22jzuawDeOHPulUGMVCUx_YgrsIpYwkllQlhGKzYVMzBepmZwE_3H7bh4YEokEBy_dAJCTk5BIhSv2k9Oryqvyh9EI1f4wDJf7TJ9YYEDVtOXRudjRiQ5lTs/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAng1h93hGbxf1ndnvS6A22jzuawDeOHPulUGMVCUx_YgrsIpYwkllQlhGKzYVMzBepmZwE_3H7bh4YEokEBy_dAJCTk5BIhSv2k9Oryqvyh9EI1f4wDJf7TJ9YYEDVtOXRudjRiQ5lTs/s640/DSC_0078.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At this point, I realized that, while my doilies were stiff enough to hold a shape, they were still pretty pliable. If I had had time, I would have blown the ball back up, added a few more coats of Mod Podge, and let it dry longer.... but again, time was working against me. This type of beach ball also proved to get pretty "stuck" to the glue, so I really had to pry the doilies off of the plastic. I think the clear, plastic-y type of beach ball would be better than this opaque, more "rubbery" ball. (I used the clear type for another similar project, and it pulled away much easier... I'll be doing a post on that project later!) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tJg4ABHQXV331lR5-qeWGift9jAVUe7xv441jaLcXc3hPH0kMJv2TBANij4u10p29RIJzh5A6s7h_ic7N4E990LT8M15OUp2ol5YCxQzbg9z_gx8_4toNg8rblpQ5aKGC7jT7ymY_fe-/s1600/DSC_0081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tJg4ABHQXV331lR5-qeWGift9jAVUe7xv441jaLcXc3hPH0kMJv2TBANij4u10p29RIJzh5A6s7h_ic7N4E990LT8M15OUp2ol5YCxQzbg9z_gx8_4toNg8rblpQ5aKGC7jT7ymY_fe-/s640/DSC_0081.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here it is once I got the beach ball out.... After it hung like this for a while, it started to sink in on itself a little. I wound up reinforcing it with a couple of rings made from a white wire coat hanger to support it during the wedding, and I used white twisty ties to suspend the string of Christmas lights all through the center. It held up enough to use for the wedding, although it became more "balloon" shaped rather than being perfectly round... You can see the difference in the two photos below...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vksqi9b3jYpMqmG988guIx3eCKB-_f1YwDllQ3Y65OHONpKe14guKdeJIQK7s0t5h_dU1xbRw38mN_Id_Hy8EDF6-RjK3DRCCi1PAvc4LSlJVDb7izQ7dHLjMSuvd_8qI_b3wuw_GVOw/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Vksqi9b3jYpMqmG988guIx3eCKB-_f1YwDllQ3Y65OHONpKe14guKdeJIQK7s0t5h_dU1xbRw38mN_Id_Hy8EDF6-RjK3DRCCi1PAvc4LSlJVDb7izQ7dHLjMSuvd_8qI_b3wuw_GVOw/s640/DSC_0031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At any rate, it was still beautiful, and it made the perfect centerpiece for our sparkly reception lighting. Now that the event is over, I may put the beach ball back in and add a few more coats of Mod Podge to get the sphere shape back, but we'll see... <br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial! If you decide to try making one yourself, I'd love to see pictures! Thanks for reading! <br />
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Linking up today with Jennifer: </div>
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Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-39993863003165873882012-09-18T08:00:00.000-04:002012-09-18T08:00:02.471-04:00{Home} DIY: How to Fix a Broken ZipperOnce every year or two, we shop at a {name-brand} clothing clearance center where, in exchange for truly amazing deals on high-quality clothing, you occasionally have to deal with minor damages to your purchases. While it's a little more work to remove a stain, sew on a missing button, or repair an opened seam, the savings I get make it worthwhile to me. <br />
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On my latest trip, I grabbed several pairs of pants for Josh, but I didn't have time to check them thoroughly for damage before I checked out. When I got them home, we realized that the two pairs of jeans I had bought him had broken zippers. Normally, that's one thing that will make me pass up a purchase at the clearance center, but it was too late at that point. Not wanting to throw out two new, perfectly good pairs of jeans, I decided to try to replace the zippers myself. I thought I'd share a little tutorial with you in case you ever need to salvage a favorite pair of pants from the plight of the broken zipper too! It actually turned out to be easier than I expected.... So here goes. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">How to Replace a Broken Zipper</span><br />
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You're going to need thread that matches the stitching on your jeans (they make special gold thread that is specifically marked for jeans). You're also going to need a brass jeans zipper - make sure it is as long as or longer than the old zipper. You'll also need a sturdy needle, and a sewing machine with a zipper foot. <br />
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The first order of business is to inspect the construction of the fly area of your jeans/pants. It's helpful to snap a few digital photos of the zipper for reference later when you're trying to put everything back together. Notice the placement of the zipper - you may want to make some marks with a washable fabric pen so that you see where it should go. <br />
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Just to clarify, I will be giving references based on what you're seeing in the photos, so when I say "on the left," it means on the left side of the picture, not the left side of the jeans if you're wearing them...<br />
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Okay. Now, after you've carefully inspected the construction of the zipper area, it's time to remove the old, broken zipper. Here you can see the missing teeth.... You're going to need to use a seam ripper and remove any stitching that is holding the zipper in or reinforcing the area. However, don't remove any more stitching than you have to, because, of course, you have to put it all back.... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqKRMdoFZiPZ1St0f1OYwBzV6subCijNWPotejQIb-hM8fcM9ShIXfLty_gkmcDmMbmsGRqc0_yOQaQtOALAbDedbjjWYeSNGvAbPEMaefbSGSfeLkHlYXZV8uJ5YX-fi9wKIVmqPTMu5/s1600/IMG_2350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqKRMdoFZiPZ1St0f1OYwBzV6subCijNWPotejQIb-hM8fcM9ShIXfLty_gkmcDmMbmsGRqc0_yOQaQtOALAbDedbjjWYeSNGvAbPEMaefbSGSfeLkHlYXZV8uJ5YX-fi9wKIVmqPTMu5/s640/IMG_2350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can see below that I removed the stitching on about two inches of the waistband, the double row of reinforcement top stitching on the front of the fly, and, of course, the stitches on the actual zipper. <br />
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Once that's done, you'll see that on the left side of the jeans (if you're facing the front of them), there is an extra piece of fabric attached behind the zipper, which creates the background of the zipper when you're zipping it up (and keeps you from snagging your undies or skin in it - ouch!). When you remove the zipper, this piece will be loose in the middle, as you can see in the second picture below...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazmn6ellhL_KDDjWOwXCyb1D2QEy0PXwKkSirpUfU4EiVK-XypFI-IcDpryqwQanGvgdQhmTGm_6NFGOU0VKI9XA-SgBDOJcasd4LjX7CwBzjd4-MVfeJl7EbFLVEjTMfGjkDVqLJ459l/s1600/IMG_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazmn6ellhL_KDDjWOwXCyb1D2QEy0PXwKkSirpUfU4EiVK-XypFI-IcDpryqwQanGvgdQhmTGm_6NFGOU0VKI9XA-SgBDOJcasd4LjX7CwBzjd4-MVfeJl7EbFLVEjTMfGjkDVqLJ459l/s640/IMG_2359.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglof3BNRunZ8FtGzJX3o_uA8IFNe4l1QDJO1gb5e9BrGRfQbhS_gaTlM_vRmSsUe6wqsN7-UziUYmvdaXVhAsu03fDBrSMwogbnkaQUJdfEI2jgMWtiyqvbwK_XMHh8XTMczENK05qIbOW/s1600/IMG_2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglof3BNRunZ8FtGzJX3o_uA8IFNe4l1QDJO1gb5e9BrGRfQbhS_gaTlM_vRmSsUe6wqsN7-UziUYmvdaXVhAsu03fDBrSMwogbnkaQUJdfEI2jgMWtiyqvbwK_XMHh8XTMczENK05qIbOW/s640/IMG_2361.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you've removed the old zipper, take the new one, and (making sure the pull is on the correct side), pin it in place on the "button-hole" side of the fly. This is where your markings and digital pics may come in handy. You can also use the old stitching holes as a reference. You're going to want to tuck the bottom of the zipper as deep down into the seam where the two sides meet as you can. If the zipper is too long (as mine was), no problem - you can trim it later.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8L8gmEvpYkKQOAMIez8jM41A2PJfSfcZFAvVt5A-K2Lb_e3EcEr7DnfQuU8PBeKUyxduk4eRht2AduoQB4s3to_WGYioPlRYxXIn8gqwF1EUQMk9yiF9PVluG1pFMoDZf5Ie-l5RE4Pqi/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8L8gmEvpYkKQOAMIez8jM41A2PJfSfcZFAvVt5A-K2Lb_e3EcEr7DnfQuU8PBeKUyxduk4eRht2AduoQB4s3to_WGYioPlRYxXIn8gqwF1EUQMk9yiF9PVluG1pFMoDZf5Ie-l5RE4Pqi/s640/IMG_2362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you've gotten it pinned in place, carefully stitch it down using your zipper foot. If you're feeling ambitious, you can do a second row of stitching to reinforce the seam. Notice that you are only sewing it through the "flap" part that is on the inside of the fly. It should be folded out away from the jeans when you're stitching the zipper on, like you see below....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRYFonV-pTlXBrtx7Ho_eKzZ4qLATpsrrSwysxzUNRMg4D7abM9VRt6zPwq1fvXY6rgOS8VzJ9SRNdUHcixpr0W0AR-NL4sonuXAOMYwZyGopfdlc96Va4m8RU9hI8g0Vm4O6_LEfRGfE/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRYFonV-pTlXBrtx7Ho_eKzZ4qLATpsrrSwysxzUNRMg4D7abM9VRt6zPwq1fvXY6rgOS8VzJ9SRNdUHcixpr0W0AR-NL4sonuXAOMYwZyGopfdlc96Va4m8RU9hI8g0Vm4O6_LEfRGfE/s640/IMG_2363.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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It should be looking something like this now...Next, you're going to reattach the waistband. If your zipper is too long, you can trim it off at the top. Don't worry if you have to cut the stop and some of the teeth off. The waistband is going to serve as the new stop anyway. Just carefully cut between the teeth. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNau-5LTcUUl_OA_t39sQprmJ9W6nDm0Tjo0syi2koRSaZaUsQ1FIVp5pJfH-jT_aBTqJRo6R_EIWzUXnwBIOQT2i5tN95QFhZywXyTfV99y4kDA-x2fghyphenhyphenZcDQsPNO0ndxtSKmDtXrAR/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNau-5LTcUUl_OA_t39sQprmJ9W6nDm0Tjo0syi2koRSaZaUsQ1FIVp5pJfH-jT_aBTqJRo6R_EIWzUXnwBIOQT2i5tN95QFhZywXyTfV99y4kDA-x2fghyphenhyphenZcDQsPNO0ndxtSKmDtXrAR/s640/IMG_2370.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Insert the zipper part up into the waistband, making sure all the raw edges are covered... It's a good idea to tuck the end in between the fold of the waistband end seam, like you see below. This keeps the rough edges of the top of the zipper part from sticking out in between the two sides of the waistband. (I hope this makes sense.... if you're in doubt, just study the picture below - in this case, pictures are definitely worth a thousand words.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j5lsGzhiaGNRCMpLMlVgzp7CHm8BI7A9LWKycKsPGBGeixOxh2FD7vADg8fPVDVG37q64cTeptPWDANyhcaNU8k4IZrh4zBCeWA4ktbjD1cfrqdlqoJwx1dqUfIlAEPdI6aKo22G0z7h/s1600/IMG_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j5lsGzhiaGNRCMpLMlVgzp7CHm8BI7A9LWKycKsPGBGeixOxh2FD7vADg8fPVDVG37q64cTeptPWDANyhcaNU8k4IZrh4zBCeWA4ktbjD1cfrqdlqoJwx1dqUfIlAEPdI6aKo22G0z7h/s640/IMG_2375.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you've got it placed like you want it, carefully stitch the waistband back in place. Be sure to guide the needle slowly and carefully between the teeth of the zipper when you get to the metal part. <br />
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Once you've done this, the first side should look like this: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_8vwgIJoW6IjZ02dTUj0hIR3I4c-Dl9lDBcCRNsBy5J5KX7TulBpheTwjsMoySwl9CS3TFQQ7scWELSizuiflDVsWRg_wf_00NoqX8oWGpe7_tC9z-FwjPXXZ4AKicPazwgo2_K1rCeQ/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_8vwgIJoW6IjZ02dTUj0hIR3I4c-Dl9lDBcCRNsBy5J5KX7TulBpheTwjsMoySwl9CS3TFQQ7scWELSizuiflDVsWRg_wf_00NoqX8oWGpe7_tC9z-FwjPXXZ4AKicPazwgo2_K1rCeQ/s640/IMG_2380.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can then re-do the double row of top stitching along the front of the outside of the fly. If your machine can't handle the thickness of the fabric down at the bottom, don't worry. You can finish that up with a needle and thread later... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9Z4UymTDbis-z4LhQJTJyU217DTu3_BHel9tNy062usKbAw5E5c19QngTDrZuhEsMOnudc4-vibSnG_Dj-eq-4ZskU5AkfNvi9h3giwOqch5oH9PABxoAL2m2G8YtWtgzIBNr9RoPNE-/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9Z4UymTDbis-z4LhQJTJyU217DTu3_BHel9tNy062usKbAw5E5c19QngTDrZuhEsMOnudc4-vibSnG_Dj-eq-4ZskU5AkfNvi9h3giwOqch5oH9PABxoAL2m2G8YtWtgzIBNr9RoPNE-/s640/IMG_2381.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
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Okay, moving on to the other side of the zipper.... the "button" side. The zipper is going to need to be sandwiched back in between the main part of the jeans and that loose flap piece in the middle, but just start by attaching it to the loose flap part. Use the needle holes from the old stitching to help you get it in place. It's also a good idea to try zipping it up once you've got it pinned to make sure it's aligned correctly with the other side. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqmWns7Q9T6PfuJHL4AX-1pitSuqJTuNaHpDxBiEq1eIobERV-kGGJWOukOEcteS-HD_uwvA9y5RDygrDBdR8MKiL1VqYR7KGuydb3WxiT15QIp3119gbsApOlaOCWaTDkbCJW_OoysFl/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqmWns7Q9T6PfuJHL4AX-1pitSuqJTuNaHpDxBiEq1eIobERV-kGGJWOukOEcteS-HD_uwvA9y5RDygrDBdR8MKiL1VqYR7KGuydb3WxiT15QIp3119gbsApOlaOCWaTDkbCJW_OoysFl/s640/IMG_2384.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREGfCg3oEMKRy2OWMBbeNeXkuHa2Rwmc_tmu7jIdMpWwWkiBq-VEq8rW8zpC0GGf94BLRm1VHtvV34mYbEOqrKjlEphWbGp9QkKvWNJPQm9fU4DL7Z1RlOLBcmZU0wdOL-2wFWtMhkrhD/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREGfCg3oEMKRy2OWMBbeNeXkuHa2Rwmc_tmu7jIdMpWwWkiBq-VEq8rW8zpC0GGf94BLRm1VHtvV34mYbEOqrKjlEphWbGp9QkKvWNJPQm9fU4DL7Z1RlOLBcmZU0wdOL-2wFWtMhkrhD/s640/IMG_2385.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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As you can see here, it's going to be lined up about with the edge of the loose flap (I'm sure there's a technical name for this part of a garment, but I don't know it, and chances are, you don't either!). This is how it should look... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4mQtPIrZwRDG2kcJuqKzRfrmV7d4GYE18Le8EC7LFc3Sh50xdRuTgsXsPDfSs9yO4I3dfPNeQi8sXaV0Hru1q9Z6yUt5EQIvq5PKGxDvd3Vf98Vn6_TkCsjGLKnrlFQ_n0q-SfUwFpHi/s1600/IMG_2387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4mQtPIrZwRDG2kcJuqKzRfrmV7d4GYE18Le8EC7LFc3Sh50xdRuTgsXsPDfSs9yO4I3dfPNeQi8sXaV0Hru1q9Z6yUt5EQIvq5PKGxDvd3Vf98Vn6_TkCsjGLKnrlFQ_n0q-SfUwFpHi/s640/IMG_2387.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Go ahead and stitch it in place on the loose flap, then bring the "button side" of the jeans over on top of the zipper edge, and pin it in place. Once you've got it all lined up, stitch along the old seam line, like you see below... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XLD9e_appckEjCDGGwU33Ha8-NOubGUxm1ifisy-UB3oHU2J7lgypNSxwmqblzbdi81-MGtaM4w1SanlKLnTNo1I460b_2Xp110A27lrwZpQNVwv3zf27DUkKOiAGgZh-5_GWofOVVtX/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XLD9e_appckEjCDGGwU33Ha8-NOubGUxm1ifisy-UB3oHU2J7lgypNSxwmqblzbdi81-MGtaM4w1SanlKLnTNo1I460b_2Xp110A27lrwZpQNVwv3zf27DUkKOiAGgZh-5_GWofOVVtX/s640/IMG_2389.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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Once that's done, you can reattach the waistband on the button side. Once again, cut the excess on the top of the zipper, avoiding the teeth, and pin everything in place. Tuck the raw edges inside one of the end folds of the waistband, so that the threads don't show.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlr_oV0ae_SV-oOj003orjGasHWePab10pM97NqH1SRkkmZ5Qa6IVYjSIC6jyWfSBLDy7BFynvkiZQrS5N3No64PJjJpXkemHSE9r2qOsR-Gm7mWSs0Yorlw_ftnUqeqNTuJKjZ0VU3oS/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlr_oV0ae_SV-oOj003orjGasHWePab10pM97NqH1SRkkmZ5Qa6IVYjSIC6jyWfSBLDy7BFynvkiZQrS5N3No64PJjJpXkemHSE9r2qOsR-Gm7mWSs0Yorlw_ftnUqeqNTuJKjZ0VU3oS/s640/IMG_2391.JPG" width="406" /></a></div>
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Go ahead and stitch the waistband back in place, being careful to guide the needle through the metal teeth and avoiding the button. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdRML1kp79WNXGQsI2YDCTV21SrUMVU8FuWbgvXhnSsWFLzD90AUcvYFWwWkDnU8UYhNCSlVJeXnxXwsmLVwpHkr-EPbvZKPOvcK1cG1EAYJ3Dh3CK0g1HGuEhVEW1EjqehiPCOg6z_BF/s1600/IMG_2397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdRML1kp79WNXGQsI2YDCTV21SrUMVU8FuWbgvXhnSsWFLzD90AUcvYFWwWkDnU8UYhNCSlVJeXnxXwsmLVwpHkr-EPbvZKPOvcK1cG1EAYJ3Dh3CK0g1HGuEhVEW1EjqehiPCOg6z_BF/s640/IMG_2397.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Your jeans should be pretty much back together at this point. You can touch up any extra top stitching that you had to remove at this point... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKm8IXLO8wSgfiejK02LPNSgEWQ6RoeEVS-mnbqnfRVhVjwNhh4F3UkgNjlDLlvC_k_TDarEGy_FqE0cFJE25Wd6XHEAGMKDCZDCtphw_jQahniJUeNyOZjUYJuApCCXxBG2X2sQxAXx6/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKm8IXLO8wSgfiejK02LPNSgEWQ6RoeEVS-mnbqnfRVhVjwNhh4F3UkgNjlDLlvC_k_TDarEGy_FqE0cFJE25Wd6XHEAGMKDCZDCtphw_jQahniJUeNyOZjUYJuApCCXxBG2X2sQxAXx6/s640/IMG_2401.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And if there were any areas where the layers of fabric were too thick for your machine to handle, you can use your needle and thread to finish up the stitching. (A thimble helps push the needle through the heavy jean material.) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFMVGSxicNc1SRP5Ga3cFrfEVHWs9rIwhLOLGf6GBSHWbGFmNjcTF-mzlyyFrZX9W-XskrdyzHvJ0lMpo7a55KW9EaFy7bFx0LL94_0_os8Yr8r_QyGA5h__EPerd2eOlI0UtdEoG3Ruk/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFMVGSxicNc1SRP5Ga3cFrfEVHWs9rIwhLOLGf6GBSHWbGFmNjcTF-mzlyyFrZX9W-XskrdyzHvJ0lMpo7a55KW9EaFy7bFx0LL94_0_os8Yr8r_QyGA5h__EPerd2eOlI0UtdEoG3Ruk/s640/IMG_2408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I also did a little whip stitch along the bottom of the fly area inside, partly to reinforce the area where the zipper meets at the bottom, and partly because having that area joined together makes it easier to put them on and zip them quickly. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgQCm_tU2StKPDcUEJGulg9Z7otmzRcjbjCFYpaMeNfJNdln6AwED1geXtA2rxRtg8DT_Q-93MCeGls9e2YwYkdbYu7l9oxf7jz0vNBzVHWEZQlgIrLAGDSefXf1a9NYE8oPwsgV0QEuV/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgQCm_tU2StKPDcUEJGulg9Z7otmzRcjbjCFYpaMeNfJNdln6AwED1geXtA2rxRtg8DT_Q-93MCeGls9e2YwYkdbYu7l9oxf7jz0vNBzVHWEZQlgIrLAGDSefXf1a9NYE8oPwsgV0QEuV/s640/IMG_2411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the finished view of the inside: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0jIqnPZYtyNJW3x5fkJC2yjvuWeYPkm6XcKOqzB9LEge2nSZaeR4WUvvMOrDnw2xWqm8o0YaYjTDjiDjm9lV7sFMVthVrk3i3pSn7p5zKJgAoVgJOj0MPdPbBEiu1MC-D1Pvkg6EYtLb/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0jIqnPZYtyNJW3x5fkJC2yjvuWeYPkm6XcKOqzB9LEge2nSZaeR4WUvvMOrDnw2xWqm8o0YaYjTDjiDjm9lV7sFMVthVrk3i3pSn7p5zKJgAoVgJOj0MPdPbBEiu1MC-D1Pvkg6EYtLb/s640/IMG_2414.JPG" width="358" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf66Ig1XlvkuCc0W1CxI4GzAo5U3RQZdrtYk_cP-to299ZnrENfR690mZ34w-jh8BXb9ccCRnFI6cIv-fOO1gERNKvbJjTnCpDIhpWNsJPuf-GIjTAzNry1b7ZbLqfKx9RP1qAqy09vxdg/s1600/IMG_2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf66Ig1XlvkuCc0W1CxI4GzAo5U3RQZdrtYk_cP-to299ZnrENfR690mZ34w-jh8BXb9ccCRnFI6cIv-fOO1gERNKvbJjTnCpDIhpWNsJPuf-GIjTAzNry1b7ZbLqfKx9RP1qAqy09vxdg/s640/IMG_2540.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and here's the outside. Good as new! I was really excited to learn how to do this. Josh got two new pairs of jeans out of it, and it saved me from having to pay a tailor to do it or from having to buy two more pairs of jeans. I hope you've found this helpful.... Yay for learning to DIY! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZDnejybSCJWrFqXm27X3Qdom1FtxQ9wYZBVSywmDByY7yfilPDluhmOggz17KS3v_ih6Vp23c0_GMz6pn2wkkc5kIKxi10fYM0-9tdp5Tuvic5ErDSRT_NfpwHMXP0F7V1Bnd7j11dsn/s1600/IMG_2542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZDnejybSCJWrFqXm27X3Qdom1FtxQ9wYZBVSywmDByY7yfilPDluhmOggz17KS3v_ih6Vp23c0_GMz6pn2wkkc5kIKxi10fYM0-9tdp5Tuvic5ErDSRT_NfpwHMXP0F7V1Bnd7j11dsn/s640/IMG_2542.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-90289935662036497262012-09-03T08:00:00.000-04:002012-09-03T08:00:16.440-04:00{Work} Quotables for Labor Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like hard work." </span></div>
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- Thomas A. Edison</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFJmLN1KJOsLEJ_h0AkPBgIiVajfBCplBSVVy5lY-1_dBhVpm-TNheJI3s_ycKrRS5ERL0wtiLhbjsX-9_jBVni-5Rt8mv6-82lyve3XJ0QkCuAqUYOal1m0xLgNlmKppz-_3ViJG660x/s1600/Mowing.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFJmLN1KJOsLEJ_h0AkPBgIiVajfBCplBSVVy5lY-1_dBhVpm-TNheJI3s_ycKrRS5ERL0wtiLhbjsX-9_jBVni-5Rt8mv6-82lyve3XJ0QkCuAqUYOal1m0xLgNlmKppz-_3ViJG660x/s640/Mowing.jpg.jpg" width="506" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"We lived here by our work. Our life and our work were not the same thing maybe,
but they were close."</span> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
- Wendell Berry, <em>Hannah Coulter</em></div>
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<em></em> </div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Labor Day! </span></em></div>
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Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-6065340588205782772012-08-31T13:33:00.000-04:002012-08-31T13:33:13.857-04:00{Art} What I'm Working OnI don't have a huge post for you today... simply because I've been quite busy in my studio this week! <br />
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I've been...<br />
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1) Getting ready for <strong>Fine Art in the Park</strong> at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, TN - <em>Mark your calendar for <strong>October 20-21</strong>!</em><br />
<em></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiwSpas_aWwS9NbJgtQBIDKpXxVDj9-a8P1hv12SegqUnFAqaWIkY242LCPToKiB2FDsozQ_9C9khdefhjw6ctnOPnlOTqMwkDO100adyRGD2ez46w72Oj5Vo9IVei68Pq6uKPDHtHjQp/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiwSpas_aWwS9NbJgtQBIDKpXxVDj9-a8P1hv12SegqUnFAqaWIkY242LCPToKiB2FDsozQ_9C9khdefhjw6ctnOPnlOTqMwkDO100adyRGD2ez46w72Oj5Vo9IVei68Pq6uKPDHtHjQp/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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2) Making some <strong>pretty decorations</strong> for a friend's wedding... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk6ccgciwAZW2Drl_QKel3xh48AvJL6XYvyzoeWU6st38GOG9nIECUsHOoLTMiqcItWgdp77EdL8onvaNGk3DuqT74-f2ul5l_Hj3e6L_p8gJRYgs-qhM4hkAYFgP11whKjB8Qee8GfyW/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyk6ccgciwAZW2Drl_QKel3xh48AvJL6XYvyzoeWU6st38GOG9nIECUsHOoLTMiqcItWgdp77EdL8onvaNGk3DuqT74-f2ul5l_Hj3e6L_p8gJRYgs-qhM4hkAYFgP11whKjB8Qee8GfyW/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
3) Teaching myself how to <strong>replace a broken zipper</strong> on jeans...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMkaws8Hyz8g9LiZ6jMNpLqGkoQq-fd_BPFYb-SXjjmdEb5S5rwmHsC5HCZmYc3YieIK0qGOx-plXjBYdiL4ehA_6wksmqTntKHM6mhIjG3urHXM1hcqQ3RSy7xOOFlKr4JEeKtuLX1Pw/s1600/p1hoto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMkaws8Hyz8g9LiZ6jMNpLqGkoQq-fd_BPFYb-SXjjmdEb5S5rwmHsC5HCZmYc3YieIK0qGOx-plXjBYdiL4ehA_6wksmqTntKHM6mhIjG3urHXM1hcqQ3RSy7xOOFlKr4JEeKtuLX1Pw/s640/p1hoto.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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Sometime in the not-too-distant future, I'll be sharing <strong>tutorials</strong> for both the fancy-schmanzy-doily- Chinese-lantern thing, and for how to fix a broken zipper (which wound up being much easier than I expected). In the meantime, mark your calendar for Fine Art in the Park, and have a great weekend! </div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-16817792138459680522012-08-09T08:00:00.000-04:002012-08-09T09:26:49.716-04:00Needle Felted Nook Cover TutorialWell, after much kicking, screaming, and digging-in-of-the-heels, I have been dragged reluctantly onto the "e-reader" bandwagon. <br />
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My husband, a bit of a gadget geek, decided that we needed to get a Nook. He originally planned on getting a Kindle (my parents are huge fans of theirs), but the option of being able to use either the "E-Ink" screen (that looks like reading actual paper) OR the glowlight was the point that led him to choose the Nook Simple Touch. So now I can read in bed at night while he goes to sleep with the lights off, and everyone's happy. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=betstostu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00884BPUE&ref=tf_til&fc1=5E1E05&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=D17600&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&npa=1&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Disclosure: I'm an Amazon Associate, whatever that means. I've yet to see a check, but here's the link anyway.)</span></em></div>
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I must admit that, for all my protesting, it's actually pretty nice to have it. While I don't think I'll ever go entirely paperless (I love the smell, feel, and look of real books too much... Plus I'm a little suspicious of the "big brother" factor in having my library stored/managed in an online database that someone else controls....), it is a handy thing to have. The convenience of being able to instantly download and read a book is very nice, and it certainly makes traveling with a small library (as I tend to do) much....lighter. So, I do find myself using it. <br />
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Anyway. <br />
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Since we'll be taking the thing on trips and such, I decided that getting a protective case for it was in order. I looked at a few online and in stores, but most of the covers I saw were either terribly expensive, or they were designed to hold the reader while you're using it, with a "cover" that opened up like a book cover. To me, that sort of defeated the purpose of having an e-reader (which is super light and easy to hold since you're not straining your hand propping the cover open all the time), so I decided to make my own "sleeve" that I could pop it into when it's not in use. I took some pictures throughout the process, and I thought I'd share a little tutorial on how I made it in case you'd like to make something similar. The size could easily be adjusted to hold a Kindle, laptop, iPad, iPhone, iPod, small camera, or any number of other gadgets. So here you go....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Needle-Felted Nook Cover: A Tutorial</span></div>
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My first order of business was to raid my fabric bin. I found a few pieces of wool fabric that were large enough to do the trick, and I decided to go with this neutral khaki-colored piece. I simply folded it in half, placed the Nook on top of it, and "eyeballed" the approximate size I wanted it to be. In hindsight, I kind of wish I had factored in some extra fabric so that the "flap" section would be a double-thickness of fabric, but oh well... (You'll see why later.) Anyway, I cut out the shape (allowing for seams), and this was what I came up with....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjlz1pG8u_aSmFDylr_dxTXR1wpHY2d4HdQyP1YyjCUlHzyUhNP9LUeYrrr0aUoVj82Gi77_cqS7xyGnrhB1-lqZ55Rsxlpy7j9k1Nq8yykoyINhlaPCy_3Shx8s70UYdx5oOJ3YqnHcQ/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjlz1pG8u_aSmFDylr_dxTXR1wpHY2d4HdQyP1YyjCUlHzyUhNP9LUeYrrr0aUoVj82Gi77_cqS7xyGnrhB1-lqZ55Rsxlpy7j9k1Nq8yykoyINhlaPCy_3Shx8s70UYdx5oOJ3YqnHcQ/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next, I pulled out my bag of batting scraps and found two fairly thick pieces that would add extra padding to the cover. I cut two rectangles that were slightly smaller than the wool to serve as the front and back padding for the Nook. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIADGI1ZpPaIv8i8oK2RfSr16AyIrvZvuQzvmUqmrHVpa6p87D2ZeGzNSt4QVtUSlsbBkau46cvyCD4x5g-HXL7OOU3tgkjvGvqbSKRvFeVSDXb4tjZ0tTXh4b48h3qLY9PdaLpxux16f/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIADGI1ZpPaIv8i8oK2RfSr16AyIrvZvuQzvmUqmrHVpa6p87D2ZeGzNSt4QVtUSlsbBkau46cvyCD4x5g-HXL7OOU3tgkjvGvqbSKRvFeVSDXb4tjZ0tTXh4b48h3qLY9PdaLpxux16f/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Next came the fun part! Always feeling the need to embellish things, I did a little needle felting on the front and back.... <br />
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(If you're not familiar with the basics of needle felting, you might want to visit my<a href="http://www.bethstonestudio.com/2011/01/needle-felting-tutorial-video-part-i.html"> tutorial video series</a> or my<a href="http://www.bethstonestudio.com/2010/10/hoodoo-voodoo.html"> simple description of needle felting</a>, before you begin. You'll learn what tools you're going to need, basic safety tips, and a lot about technique.... which I won't go into much in this post.)<br />
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Here's how the front turned out, and I'll show you the step-by-step progress on the back.... I love birds! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk44HgQsXRn-pmBb3FJIezVO-wieuMl9CCSz2AiTe6CIaoaHS4T6SntmrBbNA-eDfzwxE4XKrMBWa0_awjSLWZiSf7HObWNydSKBeCR82d1iqPuseM8nHiVqPD_C08cZpHeGsuspOgKAGT/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk44HgQsXRn-pmBb3FJIezVO-wieuMl9CCSz2AiTe6CIaoaHS4T6SntmrBbNA-eDfzwxE4XKrMBWa0_awjSLWZiSf7HObWNydSKBeCR82d1iqPuseM8nHiVqPD_C08cZpHeGsuspOgKAGT/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can see below, I needle felted through both the wool AND the batting... this will help hold the batting in place once the thing's assembled. (Please note: you <em>must</em> do your needle felting <em>before </em>sewing up the sides of the pouch - if you try to do it once the pouch is assembled, you'll felt the front and back together, and you won't be able to slide your gadget inside....) Also, it's important to make sure that you're felting on top of something like a piece of thick Styrofoam or one of the special "brush" pads that they sell specifically for needle felting... You don't want to stab yourself or accidentally felt your pouch to a piece of furniture or something! You can see the block of Styrofoam I'm using peeking out in the photo below... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDHWVpjJxb4PFELDtHx3lgBrUUIcd6xN84UETptX1gBCLcR-KziauLgSLtP02FwIP0nZ6Wh4BToDi2FCszWhKajv_PMgoqnXOlkg275zGy9jldvXPllg3PGh647egCtYnEbM2nieljcY5/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDHWVpjJxb4PFELDtHx3lgBrUUIcd6xN84UETptX1gBCLcR-KziauLgSLtP02FwIP0nZ6Wh4BToDi2FCszWhKajv_PMgoqnXOlkg275zGy9jldvXPllg3PGh647egCtYnEbM2nieljcY5/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's a view of what it should look like on the "wrong side" so far.... Make sure you never do any felting with the two sides folded together, or you'll never get them apart! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih808ei_1A3SIFy6QA7fRjbLvLl59TeEZwKFRmT84zPmynaN3znRMORfU_Chy57Eyi_opyWxBp4vYhi6vdWoHrKqTNJY8cDHQMHVfi43ICHbiASrp0hru6-Ko9MW6yhXNcgyVGKUhJoImc/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih808ei_1A3SIFy6QA7fRjbLvLl59TeEZwKFRmT84zPmynaN3znRMORfU_Chy57Eyi_opyWxBp4vYhi6vdWoHrKqTNJY8cDHQMHVfi43ICHbiASrp0hru6-Ko9MW6yhXNcgyVGKUhJoImc/s640/010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now, I'll show you how I go about felting a design like this.... First, I did a basic sketch with some chalk - you can kind of see it in the photo below, but I'll admit, it doesn't show up well on wool. <br />
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If you're not comfortable sketching a shape yourself, or don't feel confident about "free-handing" the design, there are several things you can try. I've seen people use cookie cutters as guides - simply place the cookie cutter shape you like in the correct spot, hold it down firmly, stuff some roving inside the cutter, and begin felting inside the cutter while holding it firmly in place. Push the roving up against all of the sides, and it will create the shape you want.... You could also get a copyright-free image online and transfer it to your fabric before felting.... I don't think I would use one of those "iron on" things though - they leave a "plastic-y" coating that would probably hinder the felting action. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfkB5LuUKSwKcc3y95ETMBaBZS2T8ahtOCCV1Mb1M7V8GijWzUBtagT-1fW5mQtoN8g6HCno8acHe4Azm0rfi3j7UPzAJIZ0RCQTS-xoFkrKE7xARy88jAEhaUJMLJVhQZ1XRn0iZgBoS/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfkB5LuUKSwKcc3y95ETMBaBZS2T8ahtOCCV1Mb1M7V8GijWzUBtagT-1fW5mQtoN8g6HCno8acHe4Azm0rfi3j7UPzAJIZ0RCQTS-xoFkrKE7xARy88jAEhaUJMLJVhQZ1XRn0iZgBoS/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You need to start with the "bottom" layer of color. I started with the bird's body color, which was green... Take a small wisp of your roving, and using your needle, "tack it down" in a few places along the edge of your design. Once you've gotten the basic outline established and locked in place, then you can go to town jabbing it down inside the design. This is where the "staying in the lines" coloring skills you learned in kindergarten will come in handy.... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcUBr-htCLaGL3R8plufy8NMOg2dAmbgetuar2ZxFCx_7Op2tznMvXbsdktCHat80mCt5Z66rnC2kfPwOlehTHAEoICiopWkVsRwHJA2SDUobDHXEcqV8_rEozAkxNtD6e1qSvWyNYNSl/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcUBr-htCLaGL3R8plufy8NMOg2dAmbgetuar2ZxFCx_7Op2tznMvXbsdktCHat80mCt5Z66rnC2kfPwOlehTHAEoICiopWkVsRwHJA2SDUobDHXEcqV8_rEozAkxNtD6e1qSvWyNYNSl/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Jab away! Needle felting is a productive (and legal) way to work off some frustrations.... <br />
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To save some time when felting larger, less-detailed areas, you can get a tool like the one below... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1r6tGOenqrHsScTV6xJ4TVCLJTFex8omK65GqW_yjnrpjGkLU2bVl95se7hT0LLWriqCJXsMLCPyDLTxiDXQLITjR1N9K5hyI6KUeCYRCbE5qKYJLrFzCvYRx84JkAoG1BE_aY97EkDv/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih1r6tGOenqrHsScTV6xJ4TVCLJTFex8omK65GqW_yjnrpjGkLU2bVl95se7hT0LLWriqCJXsMLCPyDLTxiDXQLITjR1N9K5hyI6KUeCYRCbE5qKYJLrFzCvYRx84JkAoG1BE_aY97EkDv/s640/017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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See all the needles inside? A tool like this comes in handy for large, less detailed areas, because it "jabs" the wool with five needles at once. It saves times, but it's certainly not necessary. A single needle will do the same thing and will give you more control over detail... it just takes longer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT3VZlYTpq-LmPhrKNopNlUHbampmaXFoPwI0oGkLwZmyIQABPdAnBQ7lTaiYFe83lRYxyqOBTkhlvQhrHjot4dNM-SdQ5te1m6klnzHa5wu1KmM-EwcTnlpCCb0SsA8svKFIjc7mLx_m/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT3VZlYTpq-LmPhrKNopNlUHbampmaXFoPwI0oGkLwZmyIQABPdAnBQ7lTaiYFe83lRYxyqOBTkhlvQhrHjot4dNM-SdQ5te1m6klnzHa5wu1KmM-EwcTnlpCCb0SsA8svKFIjc7mLx_m/s640/019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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After you get your base color down, you can start adding details over it. I decided to use some of this beautiful turquoise blue for the wing color... The same principle applies - guide the roving around the outline of the shape, tacking it down around the border. Once the shape is established, then you can start filling in the center... Incidentally, it's always better to start with too little roving than too much. It's a lot easier to add more than to try to remove some once you've started felting... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhhsa7siUW3fTKWK2jmW4VkSxQP4_nUiGZ6OS3iq8RBiNGDEHjJUXzBeBxVuRnERcJkxUPNJK1xznNpATVp_yf7Z77sReNZmEtPo8LtBkhUsjuBHFWD1NOP1H7AQ6DprnnEIuqf0ctFGk/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhhsa7siUW3fTKWK2jmW4VkSxQP4_nUiGZ6OS3iq8RBiNGDEHjJUXzBeBxVuRnERcJkxUPNJK1xznNpATVp_yf7Z77sReNZmEtPo8LtBkhUsjuBHFWD1NOP1H7AQ6DprnnEIuqf0ctFGk/s640/023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Make sure you plan your pattern placement so that they're both "right side up" when the pouch is sewn together.... the bottoms of both images should be towards where the fold of your fabric will be....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxvndHvmegov5HCwAWtBfQHdal1V_IgY6ZqLs4ek4-fANUAvyYlnyLyxNHVJWHd-5Fa-rWxCuvwAyA2qnmt_A9Fu52ECxY4jH0bVUTBSU_E_dsDyQHlOFDIQ56tvSa_zuWdHe94Sj4R_S/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxvndHvmegov5HCwAWtBfQHdal1V_IgY6ZqLs4ek4-fANUAvyYlnyLyxNHVJWHd-5Fa-rWxCuvwAyA2qnmt_A9Fu52ECxY4jH0bVUTBSU_E_dsDyQHlOFDIQ56tvSa_zuWdHe94Sj4R_S/s640/025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Continue adding details, working from back to front... To get small details like the eye, eye ring, and beak, you only need a tiny amount of roving.... <br />
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<em>Hello, birdie!</em> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KbfUJWMKeDr-BUrz4Y6oLJECizD95riJWy50QxuRe4kvpVYn2yDF-7J0Slt8VcIVOrrDgTAlSQSb1r1FhaN9O_Qx6W9O30XjHe3d9iSIiJEVaRF4LD6qUcvwCj-f2Edvl2nrWPlZom3m/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KbfUJWMKeDr-BUrz4Y6oLJECizD95riJWy50QxuRe4kvpVYn2yDF-7J0Slt8VcIVOrrDgTAlSQSb1r1FhaN9O_Qx6W9O30XjHe3d9iSIiJEVaRF4LD6qUcvwCj-f2Edvl2nrWPlZom3m/s640/027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Continue adding to your design until you get all the elements in place. Just remember to work from back to front - the largest "base" areas go first, then add the smaller details on top. Be sure to felt each layer thoroughly so that it doesn't get pulled out... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPAWqrhYOUJoSz2dLHgxzvOYzekcjXhGwTMNmE9ezVMrTpIPBRAKzGWKHRgOTj4Co5lTSTfGRyARLMly0Ye3oNQ6ZtenK06X2XsD-QEHxTiYmuup1yo_4FQ4qhuhqXo5H5siyC2CW6SLX/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPAWqrhYOUJoSz2dLHgxzvOYzekcjXhGwTMNmE9ezVMrTpIPBRAKzGWKHRgOTj4Co5lTSTfGRyARLMly0Ye3oNQ6ZtenK06X2XsD-QEHxTiYmuup1yo_4FQ4qhuhqXo5H5siyC2CW6SLX/s640/029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the mushroom, I started with the white stem, then added the khaki colored base layer for the underside of the top, then the dark brown "gills," then the red layer, then finally the white spots. You can get as detailed as you'd like... you can add shadows and highlights if you want to go all out.... <br />
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It's starting to take shape.... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuZpgOoCTjnVpDk8f2iyYN8_8yDeq4ZqK0F0d_TZdKK9wplmaa0Ew73Rkph2FnEXEow-_PGff4tzBcfeb9jTdLl8kAFy8mX9jkuVrXgp7UtwWOvB3F2gPqObGy_wCBV17lRbNPE6Kbaa7/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuZpgOoCTjnVpDk8f2iyYN8_8yDeq4ZqK0F0d_TZdKK9wplmaa0Ew73Rkph2FnEXEow-_PGff4tzBcfeb9jTdLl8kAFy8mX9jkuVrXgp7UtwWOvB3F2gPqObGy_wCBV17lRbNPE6Kbaa7/s640/031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>On a side note, for my friends who believe I'm a total OCD freak, I've included a few pictures of what my house often looks like "mid-project." </em><br />
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<em>Wool roving everywhere...</em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0iacFFfs29KsPsNsT_nlEnZQnLR_qRToyJ-tIO64MyMWdh7iM-aUHZaGEY-1M8VDdc5gRhyphenhyphenEYTT-SGr_ruc1Wn-G7dhDCrg3xnGdDcBB4tPBIpaYdeqksBFcmMhyt7r3FvJUWHDA_sBI/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0iacFFfs29KsPsNsT_nlEnZQnLR_qRToyJ-tIO64MyMWdh7iM-aUHZaGEY-1M8VDdc5gRhyphenhyphenEYTT-SGr_ruc1Wn-G7dhDCrg3xnGdDcBB4tPBIpaYdeqksBFcmMhyt7r3FvJUWHDA_sBI/s640/033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>...and my studio room looks like a bomb went off in Hobby Lobby! Don't worry though... it's all cleaned up now. :o) </em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3LSQA0O5LyZjOToZ6YhFhFM_eASSVaHHnairaoWzDtrFG66ObHPBz89huUdF5Vxc65yl1ELdDN5IJ4pi9caGVp4_4H5lmcBxiAOIR2Dn1C-ZY0V5H2D3rVIn7yGVM39plpAiXDou1drU/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3LSQA0O5LyZjOToZ6YhFhFM_eASSVaHHnairaoWzDtrFG66ObHPBz89huUdF5Vxc65yl1ELdDN5IJ4pi9caGVp4_4H5lmcBxiAOIR2Dn1C-ZY0V5H2D3rVIn7yGVM39plpAiXDou1drU/s640/035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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OK, so once you get your felting done, you can start assembling the cover... I chose some chipper red gingham to make the lining, then raided my button stash to find the perfect candidate for the closure. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUcMzzGLhp71g7m1oPlaPvJ1Qvo5StF9_ATeHoO175QvkzLmtGFolD1E7HaiKqEmQRF244LQjk_czyxEuinZB6z1W3kU4OCx_Pc24gYFc9VYCacu1A-Up86SGiKm4M1OJTdww2AMLqe9Y/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUcMzzGLhp71g7m1oPlaPvJ1Qvo5StF9_ATeHoO175QvkzLmtGFolD1E7HaiKqEmQRF244LQjk_czyxEuinZB6z1W3kU4OCx_Pc24gYFc9VYCacu1A-Up86SGiKm4M1OJTdww2AMLqe9Y/s640/037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the lining, I simply created a small pouch with the right sides in. The opening on the top is hemmed, and the sides got zipped through my machine for a simple straight stitch. I also used a zigzag stitch to stitch up the sides of my exterior wool layer. You'll be sewing both pouches "right sides together," but only the outer pouch will be turned right side out. The lining you want to leave facing "in." <br />
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(On a side note, you could extend the back side of the lining to serve as a lining for the "flap" part, if you didn't double over the wool when you cut the flap section earlier.) <br />
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Before you sew in the lining, it's a good idea to make sure your Nook or other device will slide inside both the lining and the exterior shell... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOahwvgXjNFzBfWpSgYspdbAXSzqVsdaczGyMZaPwPRLf2vjhjeMaMzgY6Fjdjc7oOaCWup0i25UQ9gGv-lJ9zapepk7UrJmqIncryoz7KubkKNpuOINIgDQv_vGe337HZP92CIigAuSbu/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOahwvgXjNFzBfWpSgYspdbAXSzqVsdaczGyMZaPwPRLf2vjhjeMaMzgY6Fjdjc7oOaCWup0i25UQ9gGv-lJ9zapepk7UrJmqIncryoz7KubkKNpuOINIgDQv_vGe337HZP92CIigAuSbu/s640/039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once you've tested the pockets for size, simply slide the lining into the pouch, and whip stitch around the top, attaching the lining to the exterior all the way around. (If you used the interior lining to extend up the flap area, you'd need to adjust your sewing to tack that part in...) I used a snazzy red wool yarn to do all of my visible stitching. <br />
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I sewed on my button, cut a button hole in the area of the flap that lined up with my button placement, then whipped around the raw edge of the button hole with the yarn. Then for some extra flair (and also to help anchor the batting around the inside edges), I did a blanket stitch around the edges of the pouch and the raw edges of the flap to finish it off.... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTmjbe-0fzLrXmgTGHi7Hyv__dqoqEf1Qoh8L6pCODsWx0Av8IbsSeYyBJIMFrOhml3V3mMu2erbE4hI2wUoTF0YfcsUBSFHxuh7yND0k3Q1vCFa3zSTImlZU8Oi0jzB1WfXtxNWgx4_X/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTmjbe-0fzLrXmgTGHi7Hyv__dqoqEf1Qoh8L6pCODsWx0Av8IbsSeYyBJIMFrOhml3V3mMu2erbE4hI2wUoTF0YfcsUBSFHxuh7yND0k3Q1vCFa3zSTImlZU8Oi0jzB1WfXtxNWgx4_X/s640/057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And there it is - the finished Nook case! <br />
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And here's the back.... The birdies make me smile every time I look at it... <br />
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Here you can see a closer view of how I attached the lining, and finished off the edge of the flap and button hole. <br />
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And - yay! - my Nook fits snugly inside when I'm not using it! <br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this little tutorial and that maybe it has inspired you to try your hand at needle felting! This was an example of 2-dimensional needle felting, and it can be applied to just about any fabric item you'd like to use it on... (Hats, gloves, scarves, ... your couch??? I've even seen it done on jeans!). <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you'd like to learn a little more about 3-dimensional needle felting, </span><a href="http://www.bethstonestudio.com/2011/01/needle-felting-tutorial-video-part-i.html"><span style="font-size: large;">please check out my tutorial video series on how to make a needle felted Teddy bear!</span></a> <br />
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Thanks for reading!Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-62189576052187079302012-07-03T08:00:00.000-04:002012-07-03T08:00:01.180-04:00Homemade Coffee CreamerWell, after holding out for about 31 years, I have recently jumped on the "I've-gotta-have-my-coffee-in-the-morning-or-else..." bandwagon. I blame the Keurig machine that I gave Josh for Christmas (the gift that keeps on giving). <br />
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So now, rather than merely enjoying the occasional treat from Starbucks or a cup with dessert at Bible study, as was my former custom, I am sucking it down by the gallon (or at least the large travel mug size) every morning. <br />
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I must confess, however, that, although I do love the deliciousness that can be found in the grounds of those fantasticly convenient K-cups, a big part of my love of coffee is flavored creamer, and according to my husband, I like my coffee to be more or less a "liquid version of cake."<br />
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<em>"Why, yes, I would like a little coffee with my creamer, thanks!" </em><br />
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However, what I don't like is having to cringe every time I read the label on the store-bought versions... Not only do they contain a lot of sugar and other unhealthy sweeteners, but they also use a bunch of creepy chemicals and preservatives that I'd rather not be consuming every day. Over the past year or so, I've been making efforts to cut way back on my sugar consumption, so this morning I decided I needed to come up with a solution to nip this coffee creamer problem in the bud. After all, little changes here and there add up.<br />
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After googling "homemade coffee creamers" and pouring over Pinterest recipes without finding exactly what I wanted, I came up with my own version. I thought I'd share it with you, in case you, too, were looking for something like this. I'm drinking it in my coffee as I write, and I have to tell you, it ain't half bad. So without further ado, here you go.... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbnwAEr7Y2Ws7BlJbHaAdD6qu4KZkluQnXqU02GkznazUyBxQGlnR3mUefZvGNoyD_vejHvM8NURlBDDoiUYKJgMfENdJl6qQYW0AVOMn_SvRd5CDKKU6BYP8yX7GrYffQjfJkayZMzA-/s1600/Teacup.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbnwAEr7Y2Ws7BlJbHaAdD6qu4KZkluQnXqU02GkznazUyBxQGlnR3mUefZvGNoyD_vejHvM8NURlBDDoiUYKJgMfENdJl6qQYW0AVOMn_SvRd5CDKKU6BYP8yX7GrYffQjfJkayZMzA-/s320/Teacup.jpg.jpg" width="242" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Bee's Homemade Coffee Creamer</span></strong><br />
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Ingredients: <br />
2 cups Half and Half<br />
4 Tbs. Stevia "Cup for Cup"<br />
2 Tbs. 100% pure maple syrup<br />
3 Tbs. Mexican vanilla<br />
5 dashes each of nutmeg and cinnamon<br />
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I poured about 1/4 cup of the half and half into a small saucepan and added the rest of the ingredients, heating and stirring with a whisk until the stevia and maple syrup had dissolved. Then I combined that with the rest of the cream, poured it into a glass bottle, and popped it in the refrigerator. It took me about five minutes to make, so it's definitely something I can do on a regular basis. You could also make a larger batch so that it would last longer - I will probably do that next time, but I didn't want to waste my ingredients in case this turned out to be a flop. <br />
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The flavor is actually quite good - it surprised me, because I thought anything other than the "real" creamers (ironic, since just about everything in them is actually artificial!) would be a disappointment, but I can definitely drink this every morning without feeling deprived. <br />
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I included the maple syrup and spices to mask the tiny "whang" that sometimes comes along with using stevia, and it seemed to work, although you could probably leave out the maple syrup and substitute unsweetened almond milk if you wanted a truly sugar-free version. However, I'm okay with the tiny amount of sugar that the syrup and half and half add, and it's much less than the store-bought creamers have. <br />
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In the future, I may try to come up with some other flavors, but since I use French Vanilla most of the time, this will probably be my go-to recipe... <br />
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Enjoy! <br />
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<br />Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-53515063073847812102012-06-13T11:17:00.000-04:002012-06-13T11:17:39.677-04:00Quotables: G. K. Chesterton<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQXZT0H0pOb4bZfXFPmQaiRgLO1gu8GIE0wvpucEbY5_6GjQzwVsDCegiWdkLsamZnfiJ78_fpH31fYHsk9zxG2TRLvf0j475ms1NJyxSI493A_opEa41eKthqrY-XiGayRu8Fi1ryY9A/s1600/This+is+My+Father's+World.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQXZT0H0pOb4bZfXFPmQaiRgLO1gu8GIE0wvpucEbY5_6GjQzwVsDCegiWdkLsamZnfiJ78_fpH31fYHsk9zxG2TRLvf0j475ms1NJyxSI493A_opEa41eKthqrY-XiGayRu8Fi1ryY9A/s640/This+is+My+Father's+World.jpg" width="498" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This is My Father's World" by Beth Stone.<br />
Prints, cards, and jewelry featuring this piece available <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethstonestudio?ref=si_shop">HERE.</a> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world." </span></div>
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- G. K. Chesterton</div>
Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-86128051860420905242012-05-29T18:02:00.000-04:002012-05-29T18:02:05.933-04:00My Happy Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Above you'll see my little studio with its latest addition, my print cabinet! A friend's frame shop was closing down, and he gave me a great deal on this piece of furniture.... </div>
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Here's what it looked like before:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFX-DramFuTM52_GH0NlNMyJOJ72LddwQmt3I4zx0r7EcOflDzrXmhCuxM6lYkGGC-zpVVqDhq1WBbx0gfr7btMzZrc6xvy1Y8ohhzWboQX1n9OQVyYiw9aNa-EWgkfMwSCasujNogAC4/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFX-DramFuTM52_GH0NlNMyJOJ72LddwQmt3I4zx0r7EcOflDzrXmhCuxM6lYkGGC-zpVVqDhq1WBbx0gfr7btMzZrc6xvy1Y8ohhzWboQX1n9OQVyYiw9aNa-EWgkfMwSCasujNogAC4/s640/010.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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And here's what it looks like now after downsizing, sanding, paint, and new hardware: </div>
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I'm in love. That's all. </div>
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Hope you're having a lovely week...</div>Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-85777284186851915682012-04-25T11:03:00.000-04:002012-04-25T11:05:51.628-04:00My 15 Minutes of Fame<div style="text-align: center;">
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=betstostu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B007X5T2GI&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=5E1E05&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=D17600&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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Hi there. Just wanted to share some exciting news with you all today... I've been published! </div>
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Well, sort of.</div>
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An interview I did a while back for the blog, "My Creative Peace," was published in a collection of artists' interviews by the blog's author, Robin Norgren, and the book is now available on Kindle. I'm planning on downloading it myself because I'd like to see what the other artists had to say in their interviews, and also because - hey - I'm in it!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">If you shop through the link above, I'll earn a little something (supposedly) as an Amazon Associate, and I thank you. </span></div>
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Hope you're having a lovely week! </div>Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6470614160686696762.post-19764489558581422832012-04-17T10:07:00.002-04:002012-04-17T10:07:55.177-04:00I Need Thee Every Hour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Good morning.</div>
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Last night I put the finishing touches on the latest in my collaged hymn series, and I thought I'd share it with you today.... Here it is: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkferhJGPnZn5GLPSWzqOuaKHJPI3r0exEhgHlvlHvBhlXMsytfU5OiqV_78fJZ2pPmaNmE1U41Vj2-FCVNxHuoSKNNcU12HWU82f0UQTOzAd3mF5uyv_YDrMf-NtI0voUrUsYu-wnn-oa/s1600/I+Need+Thee+Every+Hour+Watermarked+-+Compressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkferhJGPnZn5GLPSWzqOuaKHJPI3r0exEhgHlvlHvBhlXMsytfU5OiqV_78fJZ2pPmaNmE1U41Vj2-FCVNxHuoSKNNcU12HWU82f0UQTOzAd3mF5uyv_YDrMf-NtI0voUrUsYu-wnn-oa/s640/I+Need+Thee+Every+Hour+Watermarked+-+Compressed.jpg" width="482" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"I Need Thee Every Hour"</strong></span></div>
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by Beth Stone</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Digital, watercolor, acrylic ink, and ephemera collage on Arches 140lb CP 100% Cotton Rag</span></div>
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This is Josh's favorite hymn, and the original is a late birthday gift for him.</div>
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Have you heard this hymn before? I'll share the lyrics with you in case you haven't:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">"I Need Thee Every Hour"</span></strong> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyrics by Annie S. Hawks<br />Music by Robert Lowry</span></div>
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<em>I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; <br /> no tender voice like thine can peace afford. </em></div>
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<em>Refrain:<br /> I need thee, O I need thee; <br /> every hour I need thee; <br /> O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.<br /><br /> I need thee every hour; stay thou nearby; <br /> temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. <br /> (Refrain)<br /><br /> I need thee every hour, in joy or pain; <br /> come quickly and abide, or life is vain. <br /> (Refrain)<br /><br /> I need thee every hour; teach me thy will; <br /> and thy rich promises in me fulfill. <br /> (Refrain)<br /><br /> I need thee every hour, most Holy One; <br /> O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son. <br /> (Refrain) </em><br /></div>
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Here's a nice version of the song by Fernando Ortega:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tZIMDcgrF-Q" width="420"></iframe></center><center> </center><center> </center><center>If you're interested in purchasing prints or greeting cards featuring this collage, I now have them available in my<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bethstonestudio" target="_blank"> <span style="font-size: large;">Etsy shop</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span> I will also be making necklaces featuring this piece in the near future which will also be available - I'll let you know when they're ready. </center><center> </center><center>Thanks for stopping by! Hope you're having a lovely week. </center>Beth Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16416966258010172328noreply@blogger.com1