Wedding prep 1

A few weeks ago we had a massive wedding prep day. Noone (read bride and groom to be) was safe from the weekend of crafting.

Chris and Aviva used large amounts of glue and made even larger mounds of hot glue strings in the process!



Aviva is making a lollipop topiary with white fabric. Up close it kinda looks like white and red roses. Not so much in this shot.



Chris was the winner this particular weekend. He created the most amazing Tootsie Roll topiary. Give a guy a job with very specific instructions and plan to receive amazing results.


He was meticulous in his application. However, boys will be boys and after a few hours of crafting fun he couldn't take it any longer and resumed his Mortal Combat game!



The picture of the finished product does not do it justice. You'll just need to hang around long enough to see actual pics from the wedding. Those tootsie rolls are packed tight! It is absolutely adorable. There are about 5 lbs of candy on this thing. He said if you get close it smells like a tootsie roll flower!

A few weeks earlier, I made this starlight candy topiary. It is holding 7 lbs of candy. I made a mistake and used permanent glue! LOL!!! The only way these puppies are coming off is if you unwrap them!

Here Chris is cutting papers to cover water bottles and Aviva is assembling candy bags.



See my sewing machine? I wasn't just the photographer, I was busy finishing the last bits of the kippot.

Just a cool shot. My phone has a panorama setting and I wanted to see how it worked. All that mess you see around is crafting stuff! It was a very busy and very productive weekend!

What are you?

Ms. CalicoCat wanted to know what realization we've come to lately. Funny because I've been formulating this thought all week. I've decided that there are two types of quilters....those that are crafters who quilt and those whos craft is quilting. The difference? I am a crafter that quilts. From time to time I get bored with making "big blankets." I have tons of quilt books and patterns and enjoy dreaming about the bazzilions of king sized quilts I'm going to make, but the reality is, that "ain't" ever gonna happen. I don't do too bad in the making quilts department but honestly I will never create all that I'd like. It takes so long (I'll never understand how some of you pop out these tops so quickly!!! Like OZ, things happen so quickly around here!) and I am a slowpoke! Like I said, I get bored, bogged down and then shut down. That is when you'll see the crafter in me reappear. Like now. I'm having a blast making napkins, fabric coiled bowls, coasters...crafts, fabric crafts, but crafts nonetheless. Even table runners seem "too big" for me right now. I am also in the "geterdone" mood and mode. Soon, I'll feel the need to make another quilt but right now I am perfectly content to craft.

My friend CCCat is a one who's craft is quilting. She makes quilts and only quilts. She makes big, gorgeous, well planned and thought out, impeccably quilted and finished, quilts. As much as I don't get not making crafts, she doesn't really get making these "little projects." She is also one of you "popper outers" that think about a top and poof! it's finished. It amazes me. I'm still cutting fabric and she has a finished top. Another one of my friends told me that making three dimensional items gives her (I paraphrase here) the heebeejeebees. She also is one who's craft is quilting.

I notice in blogland that there are equal numbers of each. Many of us do embroidery. Many knit, crochet, paint, dye fabric...But many of us are out there just making quilts. Interesting, just plum interesting. It doesn't save the world or lower gas prices, it just is an interesting little observation I've been watching.

So what are you? Are you a crafter that quilts or one who's craft is quilting???

Glass Etching

Thanks to Karlie, I have a new fun thing to do! Glass etching. I have to say my first attempt was pitiful. It looked like a 6th grader did it! The etched area was....childlike! I used the diecut machine to cut letters but didn't realize until I got home that the letters were cut backwards and would not transfer correctly. So, had to use hearts. Next, I didn't coat it well enough. Next I tried to fix it by brushing some more etching material on....that just made it splotchy! Then the hearts themselves looked.....hokey! All and all not a good effort. I gave it to Mrs. S instead. Because I bought a two set package of pans, I tried again. Ms. A keeps Kosher....her style, not perfect but pretty good. One thing is that she doesn't mix milk and meat products. She also wants to begin to keep separate dishes. I had this pan so viola' instant marking! Not near as awful as my first project but I think I need to do a few more to get the thickness down pat. Thanks Karlie!