sewing...

I have been sewing every day, making cards and journal pages. I also finally planted some flowers in the backyard. They make me happier for sure.
 After I am done posting, I am going back to sew. Kinda proud of myself doing it every day again. Sometimes I have to really work to get going, but then it kicks in and I do well. Just wanted to show a few pictures....

 June wreath with vintage chenille bedspread roses......

The little circles in the center say "happy Summer."

 I also made a June table topper....I pulled some red from the strawberry fabric that covers the can and then used the chenille to make a crazy topper.

I am using it on a patio table. It is nice and cheerful.

 I love container planting but I sure miss having room for a garden!

I also have my April journal page finished...I did it camping and I think the colors around me were the inspiration.

I hope you are having a great Sunday. xoxooxmelinda

Etsy, camping and dining room pictures.......

I finally opened an Etsy shop...I think it is going to be hard to get started because I am kind of lumped together with a zillion pet artists although only a few quilt portrait people but theirs are different than mine too...So I am hopeful and I am going to keep working on it. I think it will take time. I still think my niche is going to be pet shows or pet specific things...I am going to go to a pet show soon just to talk to vendors to get some ideas and feedback. I was going to do a dog show the end of August and I have a few days to think on it yet. I am worried it might be too soon...I will have to either rent panels or make them for a 10x10....I might just be overanxious about it....( I worry about everything...dumb.)
Ok, so here it is, the dining room painted.....and the furniture redone...Both my roommate and I love these colors so it worked out great!






Before the walls were white and he had the bakers rack and a high table that matched with two high chairs and nothing on the walls..... and my dining set is pine so I sanded it all and redid the cushions and painted it black which I like a lot...in fact quite a long time ago, I posted a before picture of the chairs.







The black one wasn't all done, but you get an idea of the before....









It takes me a long time but I almost have the whole downstairs painted....I will show the kitchen next.....


I went last year camping up by St George (Sand Hollow) with my roommates and his friends and family and I went again this year too...I actually had a lot more fun. I knew people better and the heat didn't bother me so bad. I spent a lot of time listening to a 15 hour audio book floating around on the lake. I enjoyed it and I actually relaxed. It was a nice feeling.


"So Cooper, where is mom?" (yes I call myself mom to my animals... never woulda saw this day coming...)

"I don't know Ruby. I have been looking for her."
"maybe we should take a swim and see if we find her?'

"Haven't seen her" said the bird.

"me either." said the dragonfly.

 "a clue, a clue!" Cooper barked.

"could it be mom?' Ruby barked back. "Let's swim closer."

"I recognize those feet." said Cooper "I sleep right by them every night."

"hi mom!" barked Ruby and Cooper.

"Right back at ya." I said.

Have a great day. xoxox melinda

working on my get it done list!

I had a few hiccups lately and now I am playing catch up. I always try to set goals of projects that I want to do. One of the things I decided on in January, was I wanted to commit to making a wreath and runner for every month of the year. I am behind but still committed to several projects.....










As you can see, you cant keep a good woman down. I am making progress! First of all I finished April's table runner...I had the wreath done...you know, in April. So here is what the wreath looked like.






And TA Da..Here is the tablerunner.






And a little refresher....














I also put together my ochre' quilt block last night. I decided I like ochre. I am enjoying using colors that I wouldnt pick on my own. I think we all tend to lean towards the same color schemes....mine? black, white, red, pink and any brights...Not a Thimbleberries girl here.
Now to show you a little peek at my dining room makeover...re"did" furniture, new paint etc....Here is the table cover I made last night. Forget a tablecloth or a runner with placemats I made a "runner mat" I like it.









I will show the whole thing on another post. This is getting a little long winded....and I am going up to work on my May wreath...
Oh yeah I was invited to a new blog group....blog train...click on the link above right and look at it...I found several new blogs to follow and several people already found me...It is a cool place. xoxoxmelinda

It's coming and a winner......

I actually have been working on it and I just need to get some money in my account so pay pal will use my card...haha.....But, as you can see the name is
FancyPaws quilts.
I was totally inspired by all of you...
three of you used two of the words Fancy and Paws and those three are Arlette, Roc, and Patty so I am going to pull a name....It can be a gift or something for you . I can do a quilt, a bag with a portrait or a pillow....Winner will choose. ok, hang on I will draw a name.....(oh the suspense.)
Drum roll.....The winner is Roc.....just pop me an email and we will talk about what you would like...Thanks everyone for the help. I am going to a pet show soon to pick the brains of vendors. I also am going to try to be a vendor at a big dog show the end of August. xoxoxox melinda

Playing with fabric...

Dont forget to help me pick a name for my Etsy shop and now there is a little twist. You all gave me some good inspiration and I picked a name...if you have suggested and one of the two words I used are in it...I will put you in a drawing..Again it is Friday so scroll back and throw out some names....
I have said several times that I have been working on a slipcover for a recliner and a half. (Just try to find a premade one out there...arghhhhhhhh and the prices for custom. ) It is my roommates chair and for some reason Thomas decided to rip it apart and I felt terrible.
I went to this awesome home dec fabric place in Sandy Utah and picked up this heavy cotton fabric....7 yards for 14.00..I wanted to make something fitted that I could pull off and wash and the cats dont claw cotton. so here it is.








and the side view....







It is all one piece and it fits snuggly...you dont have to tuck things in all the time or mess with it...It doesnt even show pet hair! woo hoo, I did it and I had no idea what I was doing. Lee told me it looks like a brand new chair and he loves it.
I figured I make pillows, I could figure this out....
I also did a journal page for March...I know I am way behind but I will catch up. The theme was "what is the sound you most love to hear" of course for me it is the sound of family. (meaning the grandkids...)





I also have been playing with "made fabric" and making quilt blocks with it. this is a color themed challenge from the "fifteen minutes to play" blog. Again I am playing catch up, but having fun anyway.
Here is made fabric using ochre.








Now the ochre fabric I havent made a block with yet. Here is orange and mauve though....









So there is a little bit of what I have been doing....more to come. xoxox melinda

A name suggestion contest.....

I make custom quilted pet portraits. I have never seen anything out there like them. I have sold quite a few and I want to open my first Etsy shop based on just doing the portraits....I can do them on a frameable quilt, a bag or a pillow...I can also frame them...here are a few samples....



















Laurie from "indulge your shelf" sent me an advance copy of the book "Etsy 101" which she is featured in. One of the things that is talked about it is the importance of a name..It needs to be short and memorable and yet different...Help me think hard and come up with something... I will run this for a week. So it ends Friday May 25th...What will you win? of course a custom pet portrait....

To win, I am just going to pick the best shop name that isn't already being used. I love doing these and people seem to love them. In order to do them I need a good quality digital photo and I really need to see the face...especially the eyes. If I use just a picture that isn't really good, the portrait is going to reflect that. I can use all fabric or make a mixed media background...(paper fabric) you can pick colors or just one background color and a accent. They range in size but generally are about 11 by 12 and up depending on the size of the animals face or if there is more than one. The frames are made to fit the quilt portrait. I am not afraid of the quirky or different so be creative with the names or just short and to the point. I am excited to see what you all come up with...xoxoxox melinda

too many projects!

I have been painting walls and refinishing furniture and it makes it hard to sew or make things. I am behind in a couple of things I am working on...half done things anywhere...
Just gonna share a couple of things first.
I was officially divorced on Friday and the judge ignored our agreement that we made and ordered more money from Don. He called me just screaming that I screwed him over....yes me.... and said he is going to fight it. I could hear his hag in the background screaming and calling me names...I need prayers guys...Things like this just send me over the edge...I just said to God, "this ones for you"...I cant handle it....

My dad also got married on the day I got divorced...I am happy for him because he is so happy. After losing my mom slowly over a two year period and watching his retirement savings go to medical bills he deserves to have someone to love and to have love him.









It was a happy day!

I do have one finished project to show you.... A baby quilt...
This is for my roommates nephew....I used a very light and soft fleece because it is so hot here. Also it makes it snuggly and easy for a little guy to drag around. I have had this Michael Miller panel for seven years. My grandma bought it for me. I just cut it apart and added fabric scraps....











I made the card with vintage baby images. Then wrapped it all up with love and tulle........This little baby has hip dysplasia and his little lower body is in casts so I figure a little love is needed too....








As these projects get done, I will post more...xoxoxx melinda

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday with family and friends. My kids called me but it is hard to be alone. So I decided to be lazy and finished the last book of the Hunger Game series for the second time. Then I slept for two hours and played Cityville which I wish I had never started. I seem to have become obsessed with the darn thing. I started playing because Lisa (problem daughter) plays it and it was the only way to get her to talk to me....I could give her a gift and maybe get a message back from her. As long as she was on Cityville, I knew she was alive. I may have to go to Cityville rehab. It is a waste of productive time, but sometimes mindless things give my head a break. Anyone else play the facebook games?
Through my blog I have always paid a lot of tribute to my mom who was everything to me...I am reading back to see if there are posts (which I know there are ) to re share with anyone who is missing their mom today. Here is one..(They are sad...I have to warn you...but if you have lost your mom, you will get it.)

http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/2011/05/happy-mothers-day-all.html

http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/2010/01/is-for-angel-of-mercy.html


and the last one....

http://melindasfabricfancies.blogspot.com/2008/07/i-forgot-to-post-journal-pictures.html









So mom, you know you are in my heart always but especially today. I am thinking about your beauty from the inside and how you loved me and I love you right back. Sometimes I feel you around me and that is when I feel the happiest. I can't wait to see you again my precious mommy.......Here is your rose. I love you mom. xoxoxoxoxxo



So other than the reading and the sleeping I have been thinking of the things I didn't post about while I wasn't posting....
Remember the Easter dresses and Vests? I got pictures of the kids wearing them.












I got the vest pattern off the net and I had to laugh because it didnt take into account their round little tummies. So CJ got Jace's and I made a big size around but kept it the same length. He loved picking out the buttons.
The bow ties I just made....


Ava makes me laugh, Jace talks my ear off, and little Cj (my nieces son) is the best snuggler. Aren't they cute? I didn't make it over there so when I saw the pictures on facebook I had to post. There is more stuff but this is getting kind of long so I am going to save some for next time....Again Happy Mothers Day! xoxox melinda

I am back.....

Thanks again so much for thinking of me....I am doing better and tryimg to make the most of each day! I got on the section eight list, found a place to go for counseling and a new Dr to help with medications. I try to get some sunshine on my face everyday. And I walk, a lot. My youngest daughter, Lisa who is an addict is doing better. She has been clean for a while now but the state won't let her see Trace. I think Trace's dad is in no way a better parent than Lisa but I don't have any say. I just try to give her positive reinforcement and to take things one step at a time. If she is clean, I would love to have her here for a while but so far, she just says she is coming and then never shows up. Andrew and Olivia are both doing good. One of the other things that had me really down was my oldest daughter was taking the kids (Daniel and Olivia) to Disneyland. There first trip there and she included me. I worried a lot that it would be too crowded or too much as far as my anxiety goes.Well, we went on the last day of April and got back a week later. I was so happy to see the kids that it helped a lot! Olivia was my special girl the whole time. She even rubbed my feet every night because she said I deserved it.....(WOW) It was Liv and Daniels first flight and they decided they liked it. I had moments here and there of anxiety but I kept it under control...Mainly because there were no lines or big crowds. We went to Disney, Sea world and Universal and not a line anywhere. It just was the perfect time to go. Olivia's favorite place was Sea World and Daniels was Universal. The Transformers ride had a preview opening the one day we were there and he got to go on it. It was pretty amazing....Otherwise it want open until May 25th and this kid is a Transformer nut. He was thrilled. We had to have walked at least 7-10 miles a day....

Stacie bought a scrapbook at Disneyland and wants me to make it for her so I have been working on that. I also have been painting the downstairs walls and all the trim and doors. It has been quite the job but it makes me feel better because I cant always pay my way here and it is very much appreciated. I am working on a slipcover for a recliner (winging it) and I made a baby quilt. I want to open several Etsy shops and try my luck at that. We will see. In other words I have big plans. Which is a good thing. The last post my big plan was to get out of bed sometime during the day..Again, thank you all for being good friends.....xoxox Melinda

Time with my sister....

We had a great time but boy, does she have two high maintenance kids...I love them so much but they are busy, busy, busy! I hadn't seen Ava since Portland and she ran to me with her arms in the air yelling 'GaGa, GaGa, GaGa!" It was so darn cute until I realized that every time I put her down it started all over. HA HA. Jace gave me a big ole' hug too then he went back to his little cars and pestering his mama. I took pictures of them while I was there.









I made a photo collage of Ava in the dress that I remade for her...This ended up not being her Easter dress, cause I made her something else.











Such cute kids and I love to sew for them!
Julie and I got a little crafting time together. We both had signed up for Michelle at "something Special's" Spring jar swap. Here is Julie's.









And here is mine for Jeanelle.







When I got home I had a jar waiting for me from Jeanelle...I love it so much. I think the top is so pretty and simple and there are lots of little things inside.












Do you love surprises? I sure do and I got two of them in the mail. One from Kerry and one from Margaret. I am calling these my Easter baskets cause they had candy in them!









From Kerry and look there is still chocolate in there....It is an Easter miracle..Thank you Kerry for being such a sweetheart. It was totally unexpected and so appreciated!

Margaret and I were in a swap together and then started emailing each other..She has been a great listener and friend. She told me that she had so many things in her craft room and sewing room that she could sew till she was 90 and not make a dent and if I needed anything.......I have something I am working on and I needed a piece of black and white fabric. Look what she sent me....

















So earlier I mentioned a new Easter dress...Here it is.



















Jace and CJ ( great nephew) got matching vests and bow ties.....woohoo. xoxoxox melinda