Jewelry Keeper Giveaway

It's been a while since I've done something fun for my faithful followers.

SO today, I'm going to start a giveaway contest for this jewelry keeper I made!

Contest is only for those residing in the USA this time around.

It's made from fabric, forms a rectangle that is approximately 3" high, 5 1/2" deep and 9 1/2" long.

Jewelry keeper not your thing? Than use it as a pen/sticky note catch all!

All you have to do is:

 sign up for my blog (your avatar will be shown below)

and leave a comment! 

**If you are already signed up (thank you!!) just leaving a comment will do.**

If you want more chances to enter then:

Follow me on Facebook by "liking" www.facebook.com/quatapoch

"Share" my FB page and leave a comment

Follow me Pinterest http://pinterest.com/quatapoch/pins/

I'll collect all Entries and randomly choose one winner on March 17, 2013

The Unexpected Path

Have you ever gotten in your car to go somewhere, hit a ton of traffic that has come to a stand still, been taken in a different direction and just discovered something so cool? 

I know this has happened to me several times. Today, it happened again. Of course, as I'm making my way down the mountain on the Pali Highway, traffic comes to a complete stop, and all lanes are merging into the break down lane, big clouds of smoke in the sky ahead, a frantic firetruck blaring it's sirens, lights flashing as it tries to maneuver through all the traffic to make it on time where it is needed most. First thought, "OMG, I'm so glad I didn't leave the house any ealier." Second thought, "Someone is in a lot of pain or worse right now, so near by."  Third thought, "Where on Earth is this new, unexplored road going to lead me now?"

Turns out, a car was on fire further down the highway. Both directions were closed down and we were being re-directed to a small road down the mountain.  And what a ride it was.  My little guy and I traveled in silence, turned off the music, put the windows down and just observed this amazing surroundings that we suddenly found ourselves in unexpectedly.  The road was completely covered overhead with lushes, tropical tree's, vines hanging down, huge leaves sweeping in the wind of the new found traffic.  You could smell fresh air, not the exhaust that you normally smell from the cars on the highway.  When traffic slowed, you could hear what sounded like a distant waterfall and birds singing love songs to each other. What an unexpected but most welcome road of exploration. 

I hope to do more of that once my husband is home with us. We found our way on unexpected paths quite often while we were stationed in Japan and today made me smile thinking of those days.  Like the time the highway we were traveling on came to an abrupt end and we were faced with turning around and traveling back 1 hr or trying to figure out our way on a road that was wide enough to fit one car with a 10 ft drop on the other side leading to a rustling stream.  We found our way on that little road, I even got to practice my very limited knowledge of Japanese with a little old man who didn't not understand a word of English (rightfully so) outside tending to his land.  It was exhilarating to discover something new to us and find our way home.

I can say that I do feel blessed to have an opportunity to feel this way every couple of years. Though this is our 10th move in our almost 14 years of marriage, it never gets old.  The packing, moving, finding a new home, new school, yes...that gets old.  But exploring, adventuring, and being exposed to new ways of life, new cultures, well that is pretty exciting.

I hope you get a chance to explore an unexpected path, to make you appreciate your senses, take in unexpected beauty, slow down from the hustle and bustle of every day life and routines.

Until next time,

♡ ąℓexąnʠяą

A lesson learned

Last week, while enjoying my morning coffee, checking my email, perusing the internet, I happened across this beautiful ruffled skirt and I thought, "how perfectly feminine, and gorgeous. It would make a really cute bag!"  Well, I drew out my design idea first.

With the rain coming down at a steady pace, 3 children at home, and my hubs gone, I decided what a perfect day to be creative. So I pulled out my drawing and started mapping my path on fabric.   I posted a picture on Facebook for my friends to try to guess what I was in the process of making.
Stacey guessed correctly but I'd definitely say Katie & Kate had some neat ideas. Perhaps next time around I'll make this into an apron.   I ended up with a crossbody backpack. My first try it's "eh" I like how the ruffles turned out but there is plenty wrong with it that makes it not marketable until the kinks are ironed out, literally.

My issues:

• No interfacing next time around. It made a bag that is supposed to be breeze and free, too stiff.
• Figure out the ruffles at the box stitch, the ruffles missed the stitching and now I'll have to hand-stitch them in place now.
• Use a different closure, though the drawstring might be OK if I don't use interfacing next time.
• Maybe instead of making a backpack I'll make a shoulder bag.
• Celtic knot didn't turn out like my instructions said it would. Boo!

Without further adieu, the pictures of my sewing flop below! :)  Until next time, have an amazing, creative afternoon (night, early morning!)                 

                           ♡ ąℓexąnʠяą

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the bag finished, the ruffles were the best part of it all

The interior

The drawstring, this nylon rope doesn't work well with interfaced fabric

The Celtic knot started out on the right foot, or some I thought!

The "Celtic" knots that just turned out to look like a regular knot

Hey Toots!

I'm thinking of adding a new tutorial, but I keep going back and forth about it. I am thinking of doing a Peony flower tutorial. It's been a popular item of mine and I know a lot of people would like to know how to make it.  I've gone back and forth about making a pattern for it available on Etsy, or just providing a free tutorial for it instead.  What to do, what to do? 

It's been a lazy day here, so I decided to get my creative groove on.  Here's a little look at what I've been up to lately:

If you want to share pics of what you've been working on lately, visit my FB page :)

The perfect Friday...almost

Almost the perfect Friday afternoon.  The kiddos got outside to expunge some of their energy in the swimming pool. I watched them as they splashed and giggled, the girls chasing their brother in the water, my little guy chasing his sisters with the long tube-y floaty thing and a slight breeze across our faces.

The fun moved in doors.  Sometimes I love to sit and work on my orders with music, other days I just like to sit in the quietness of the moment and work on my projects.  Today was a quiet sitting day.  The girls made their way to their bedrooms, the little guy found his big book of dinosaurs and sat on the floor right next to my chairs. And me with my beads and string, sat and worked on the Preserve II.  The sun was shining in, the breeze sweeping through and the birds chirping so beautifully. The only thing missing?  My husband, if he was here it would have been the most perfect afternoon.

Only 2 more weeks to go, but who's counting!

Until tomorrow my creative friends,

                      ♡ ąℓexąnʠяą

The White Tiger

Family-isms make my day,

Started my day off in a moody-tude sort of way.  My husband "talked" my mood away with his cute little texts, I especially liked his perspective on how an ugly personality can amplify negative tendencies.

Had a chance to meet up with a friend from Japan, chatted craft and family stuff, enjoyed the Hawaiian fresh air, nice to have a small break from the daily routine.

My oldest daughter told me I was as rare as a White Tiger. She said that was a good thing. I suspect it had something to do with having breakfast for dinner instead of being forced to eat brussel sprouts and green beans.  She also made me this beautiful watercolor of a Hibiscus plant. It's my new inspirational piece in my creative zone.

My youngest daughter knew I had an awful headache, she sat on the couch with me and tried to rub my headache away.

And my little guy kissed each side of my cheeks while we chatted and face-timed with my husband online, each time he kissed my cheek he glanced at his daddy slyly and made us giggle. 

I will treasure these little things, little memories made on days that don't start off quite right.

 ♡ ąℓexąnʠяą

Popular Wrap DIY Tutorial

One of my goals of setting up a blog was to share some useful, fun tutorials with you. This is my first on my blog, I have done other tutorials before for another page I used to write on but it's been a while.  I love the wrap bracelets that are so popular these days. They look chic alone and mixed up with other jewelry. But, the "normal" more involved way of making these can take a long time and can be sort of frustrating to make the desired bead stay put between 2 pieces of leather or whatever kind of cording you decide to use.  So, I decided to try this easy, effective and equally as pretty way of making the popular bracelet.

Here is what you'll need. Some sort of cord that is durable, I used a waxed nylon cord. Enough beads to go around your wrist, make sure the opening is big enough to fit your cord x2. A pair of scissors, a lighter to singe your cord at the end and a button for closure.

 I tend to cut my cord too long, but here I cut a piece that was 60" long and folded it in half.

 

Now you are going to make a loop at the folded end, use your button as your guide. You want the loop big enough to fit the button but not too big that the button wont stay put.

 Attach the button loop end somewhere secure. I use a simple clip board with a sewing clip I have to hold my cord in place.  Take one bead, string one cord through the side.

Now take the other piece of cord and string it through the bead in the opposite direction.

Pull at both strings until the bead is securely at the top.

Repeat with all your beads. If you have a measuring bead board, see how much further you need to go until your desired length. If you do not, just unclip and try it around your wrist and estimate.

 When you've gotten to your desired length, tie off the cord to secure the beads.

Attach your button, snip the ends and carefully singe the excess cord with your lighter. Be careful!!! If you are young following this tutorial, please ask for your parents help.

TaDa!!! You've accomplished an inexpensive, fast way to a popular bracelet!

Share your pics of your creations at: www.facebook.com/quatapoch

Until next time, my friends, have a creatively fun day!

 ♡ ąℓexąnʠяą