A Place for Everything...

...And everything in its place.

I have admit this scarf holder took way longer to finish that it should have. I searched the internet (i.e. Pinterest) for a neat idea to store and display my scarves. But I just didn't care much for the curtain holders on a hanger, etc.  I wanted to be able to see all of them, w/o worrying about them working their way off the hanger.  Or getting pushed back into oblivion.

I don't have the technical expertise to build the cubbies that I wanted for each scarf.  So, in the end, I purchased a sock organizer from The Container Store and built a frame for it with some leftover crown molding. In retrospect, I should have used baseboard,  or something else b/c the crown didn't have a flat surface to making hanging easy.  We (me and DH) placed a little square block in each corner to maintain square, but they had the added bonus of preventing the sock organizer from being pulled out every time I take out a scarf.  Actually, after I got it built and painted, it took me 6 months to get my act together and get it hung!

Actually, I don't have as many scarves as I thought I did.  And I kind of like the way they look like roses when all rolled up!

Now that the weather is warming up, it's clearly a great time to finish my first pair of Muk Luks.

I love mukluks.  I love them.  Love.  But, I've always shied away from knitting them b/c that's a lot of knitting.  I mean, I have to knit everything TWICE.  I usually get bored after the first one.  That's why I don't knit socks, gloves, or leg warmers.  Well, I do knit leg warmers b/c my feet and legs are always cold.  Oh also, I'm too cheap to buy someone else's pattern.  So when I found this free pattern for Mini Muk Luks, I jumped on it!  Obviously, these are crocheted, and they aren't mini, but I'm still kind of proud.  I just need to figure out what to put on the bottom so the yarn doesn't wear out.  But truthfully, these were super easy.  And it wouldn't be that hard to replace the soles as they are crocheted on after the boot is fully constructed.  Overall, a great pattern, fast and super easy!  Granny Squares and triangles…everyone can do that!  Thanks Wind Rose Fiber Studio!

     

The One That Almost Broke Me

Man, I don't even know how to start describing this one! Well, obviously it's a kaleidoscope. And there are a TON of little pieces, so it's kind of a good project to use up scrap glass. But I have such mixed feelings about it.

This is the last piece I started while I was taking glass class at a studio. Shortly after I started it, I discovered I was pregnant. I got all the way to the point where all the pieces were foiled and tacked before the morning sickness became so bad that I gave up my spot in the class. 

By the time I got into my second trimester and was ready to tackle this beast again, just looking at it reminded me how miserable I was during my first trimester.  Really, just looking at it made me want to puke. That's really not the reaction I wanted. I mean, I LOVED all the glass and the style is so "me." So I put it under my workbench to wait, then I learned to knit (I was having twins, so Doc prescribed mandatory bed-rest. It didn't work, those babies came out EARLY!)

Anyway, busy with work, kids, life, blah, blah, blah...skip to 9.92 years later, and I knew I was going to have to tackle it eventually. Looking at it reminded me of how sick I had felt, but also about how special that time really was.  Actually, all that remained was solder, patina, and polish, less than a day's worth of work, right?  End of story, I finished almost exactly 10 years after I started.  It no longer makes me want to puke, and the story behind it is kind of like a tattoo story - everyone has a story, and unless you are in the story, you don't really care. (That's true for tequila stories as well!) In the end, this one is mine, all mine.

This is a Stained Glass News Project Pattern #47. I haven't yet found a link to it on the internet, so I've scanned the actual pattern I used.  It has my notes on it, you'll have to work around them.

Hats and scarves and hats and scarves....

Now I'm  singing  "boots and pants and boots and pants..." like Maxwell, the Geico pig...

Anyway....

My neighbor, whom I keep wanting to invite on a GNO, asked if I could knit up some hats and scarves for her daughters.  So I searched Pinterest.com, Ravelry.com, etc for  FREE patterns... Mind you, this was early last December, so I was itching to knit some cowls. Instead, I found these two cabled hats that I love, and then translated both patterns into scarves too. Both are Lion Brand Yarns in Jiffy (100% Acrylic.)  Bella's hat and scarf is in Silver Heather.  Snappy hat and scarf is in Dark Grey Heather.  

I actually liked Bella's hat so much, I made one for myself with some scrap yarn I had leftover from another project.  (It looks pointy in the pic, which I don't like. But it isn't pointy once you get it on!) 

The Early Pieces

These are the pieces I first created.  Back before I was married.  Before I had kids.  Before I had a glass studio.  Okay, so really it's just a workbench in the laundry room.  And before everyone had a digital camera and was an amateur photographer (so cut me some slack!)

Several of these are custom designs that I created myself, so I'd appreciate if you use these photos anywhere, please give me the credit!

 

             

                   

Contact me for information on a custom piece I can create for you!  jenschroeder28@gmail.com

My Favorite Mosaics

I had been wanting to use all of my glass scraps for some kind of a mosaic for a long time.  Then I wanted to make a gift for a wonderful lady, and ta-da!  The mosaic cross was born!  Love these!

                                                            

Contact me for information on a custom piece I can create for you! jenschroeder28@gmail.com

The Passport Pouch

My family of six will be taking a trip overseas in the very near future. Of course this means that, as the mother, I am in charge of everyone's passport.  Also, the trip was my idea, so by default, I am responsible for all of the logistics.

Anyway...I found this great little sheet of felt at JoAnn Fabric for $0.97 and I had the zipper in my zipper stash. It took longer to thread my sewing machine than it actually took to sew this little guy. Fits all 6 passports and boarding passes (I'll have to bend those, but that happens anyway!)  Safe travels!