Blissful Banter of a Creative Crafter

2012-02-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

Black silk buttons! Commissioned for a friend, I hope she enjoys them.

Have a great day!

Analisa xx

And yet another........

2012-02-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

Silk Pouch

2012-02-05T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!
As you can tell from the last post I have been playing around with silk. Absolutely love stitching on it. Its crisp and uneven and full of natural flaws. I think it just adds to the charm of it. I was showing my Button around at my weekly Stitch and Bitch and there was some interest in them enough for one of the women to commission me into making some black silk buttons! I cant wait to get statrted!
I made a 9 x 6.5 inch lined, embroidered pouch. I thought it would make a lovely frivolous gift maybe for a new bride or someone who wants a little "luxurious" in their life.

and for a little food! My Mother in law and I made these lovelies.

These are called Fatyr in Arabic. The upper right is chicken with onion, garlic, and Sumac (a red lemony spice). The Bottom is cheese with a non salty white firm cheese that is easy to crumble, parsley, butter, egg to bind. Top left is spinach with onion, garlic, cilantro, and a lemony dark pomagranite paste called Dibis Ruman. These fillings are then rolled in egg roll wrappers. baked in a hot oven 400 degrees, brushed with corn oil. Until light brown. MMMM! We ate them with soup and salad.

Have a lovely day!

Analisa xx

Silk Buttons!

2012-01-31T10:07:00.000-08:00

I saw the most beautiful silk button on this website that I just had to try my hand at my own. They are nowhere near the caliber of hers but I kind of like them!

Not bad eh?

Have a great day! Analisa xx

2012-01-25T02:19:00.000-08:00

This a little purse I made for a friend who was moving out of the country. Another friend stuffed it with a bunch of little goodies for the bath.

with some frivolous crystal beads to round it off.

2012-01-18T12:32:00.000-08:00

This little lovely was a commissioned piece and I have to say I am quite proud of myself I think it turned out very sweet. The pattern is from a Japanese pattern book.

Some wonderful New Blog Finds!

2012-01-12T00:17:00.000-08:00

Those of you who follow my blog may know that now and again I like to share some great blogs with you. Here are a few I can't live without!

This site has one of the most comprehensive stitch pictorial libraries that I have seen around.
http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/

I Love her Beautiful needle sets! Lots of great Freebies!
http://www.xstitchhappy.com/

and finally a beautiful crochet site! Full of scrummy colors!
http://www.lemondedesucrette.com/2012/01/11/back-on-the-wheels-sucrettes-square-two-finished-projects/#comment-9829

Enjoy a little something for everyone is posted for embroiderers, cross stitchers and crocheters.

Have a beautiful day!

Analisa xx

2012-01-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

Some Garden Pictures

2012-01-11T10:10:00.000-08:00

I love this little solitary guy.

Pattern can be found on Blue Ribbon Designs.

Hava a great Day! xx Analisa

A sneak Peek

2011-12-29T07:57:00.000-08:00

September BJP underway (I know so late!)

This is a fully beaded bird I have been working on. If you haven't seen my birds go back and check them out!

Dragonfly!

Have an inspiring day! Analisa xx

4 Little Lovelies

2011-12-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

This is called Flowers of Olde

It can be found at www.withmyneedle.com

This is called Eliza's Pyn Pillow

It can also be found at www.withmyneedle.com

This one is called Four Fat Friends

It can be found at The Drawn Thread http://www.drawnthread.com/freecharts.html

This i a blue tiles from Tante Zolder

it can be found here http://www.gancedo.eu/content/blue-tiles

So what do you think? Does it inspire you to stitch? Analisa xx

2011-12-23T01:17:00.000-08:00

A little cell phone cover I crocheted from some beautiful wool yarn.

A little double sided scissor fob.

another little fob yet to be sewn.

Happy holidays my friends. xx

2011-12-05T11:35:00.000-08:00

Happy December all!
Have been away from blogging lately and have so many changes in my life. My first born went off to college last week just 17 and off to a new future. I am so incredibly proud of him but scared as well because I no longer have the control over him to keep him safe and sound. I have to trust that He is in Gods hands now and wish him all of the successes he deserves.
I wanted to share a few of my favorite websites with you today. I love discovering new sites and devour them!

She has lovely original cross stitch designs. Lovely little Quaker animal and floral stitches. she has a few free designs here. http://www.theworkbasket.net/free

Another favorite is The Drawn Thread. The most beautifully vintage looking designs. http://www.drawnthread.com/freecharts.html She has a generous amount of free stitches on her site. I have stitched up several of her designs so far!

Any Crocheters? Here is a fabulous site full of rich colors. Get your translator out! http://buntenadel.blogspot.com/2011/09/e-book-banju.html

Attic24 is another great blog! But for some reason its having trouble loading these days. Here is her flickr pictures and you get a sense of her bright colors and creative heart. http://www.flickr.com/people/attic24/
I hope you have enjoyed these blogs, let me know of some of your favorite places to dream!
Have a Great Day!
Analisa

Little Blue Sweater

2011-11-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

I crocheted this for a friends Great Grandson. I got the pattern from a friends Japanese pattern book. She was gracious to send me a picture of it.

2011-09-12T01:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I have been doing so many cross stitches lately? But I have finished quite a few! Here is a little 9.5"X7.5" Quaker from Gazette94 website. I have stitched it on Cream linen with Madeira silk #091310

I have stitched it for a friend as a gift. I hope she likes it!

Here are her initials I added as a little finishing touch!

Here is another biscoru I have been working on. I just love the black work that is incorporated in this design.

I found this on Gazatte94's picasa web album as a free design. I love, love, love her designs, just in case it wasn't obvious! haha

https://picasaweb.google.com/gazette94/GRILLESGAZETTE94#5641351612832819938

http://gazette94.blogspot.com/2010/04/quaker-2010.html

Have a Great Day!

2011-08-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a few little gift items and will be turning these into some lavender sachets. I will be making 3 different other ones as well and will post those when they are done. I will also post the finished products when those develop as well.

These can be found on this wonderful site!

http://gazette94.blogspot.com/2009/03/grille-gratuite-78.html

2011-07-25T03:19:00.000-07:00

Here are a few small finishes.

This little door hanger was a freebie from gazette94.blogspot.com

AND I am having trouble rotating my pictures!

These next two are designs from Pelin Tezer here Small Turkish sampler.

This little beauty is 2 inches squared backed in felt.

Thanks for looking!

Analisa

August BJP 2011

2011-07-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Good news! For once I am a month ahead and hopefully will continue this creative streak.

This is multi layered felt circles. Embroidered and beaded. It reminds me of a mandala. What do you think?

Have a great day!
Analisa

Blog Birthday!!!!!!

2011-07-19T00:29:00.000-07:00

As I sat going thorough my blog I realized that I had passed my one year mark. Hardly seems possible, But here we are and I couldn't let another day pass with out telling you Thank you .
Thank you ALL over the year for your kind words and the interest you have shown my meager little crafting blog.

Here is a beautiful summer bouquet I send out to my sisters and to all my cyber-sisters. I will meet you you all back here next year in good health and happiness. XXOO

Lovely day to you all!
Analisa

July BJP 2001

2011-07-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

Here is my July contribution, this pretty piece of fabric also given to me from my friend Janita. Which I believe to be Pakistani cotton as well. I wanted to keep it simple this time. I think the fabric speaks for it self. What do you think!

Here is a close up.

Have a great day!
Analisa

June BJP 2011

2011-07-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

I loved this fabric when I bought it in the states last summer. I thought I would stay with the black and white theme and add a few splashes of color. As the design started to emerge it reminded me of space. So I decided to add a subtle color to it hence the blueish colored beads. Not to mention the Swarovski crystal was burning a whole in my stash and I was dying to use it on something! I am pleased with this end result. What do you think?

Have great day!
Analisa

May BJP 2011

2011-06-24T01:51:00.000-07:00

This piece of fabric was given to me by a good friend Janita. It is beautiful Pakistani cotton with a lovely brown border. I used a lot of my favorite and more costly beads on it, nothing else would do it justice.

here is a close up of the brown banding.

and a lovely charm my sister Stacia sent to me in a box of goodies.

Have a lovely day! xx
Analisa

Bead Embroidery Basics

2011-06-23T00:18:00.000-07:00

This is a great tutorial on bead embroidered jewelery such as cuffs or neck cuffs. Enjoy!

April BJP

2011-06-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here is my submission for my April Bead Journal Project. As I said before I got a little side tracked with my cross stitching and other interests. This lovely fabric is from a fairy series and these are all just wings. I think the colors are beautiful. I never have a plan when I start these squares I choose the fabric piece first and then I prepare it by basting it to a felt backing. I then proceed to stare at it until something comes to me. I hope you enjoy this one. May square is started so stay tuned in the next week or so it will be posted. Have a lovely day! XOXO

A Little Surfing.......

2011-05-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

I know you guys were wondering where my BJP for April is and I have to confess its still only half way finished. You see I met a new friend (Janita) who has enabled me terribly! She is wonderfully creative in so many ways, but my down fall was that she encouraged me to cross stitch on linen. Well that opened a whole new can of worms that started a stitching project we all are working on together. I cant show you yet what it is until its finished. I know sorry!

Take a look at Janita's fabulous blog and don't forget to scroll down and see her drawings. http://janitamantel.blogspot.com/

Sylvia's Freebies is a great blog! She has lovely designs and her finishings are very pretty! http://syku66.blogspot.com/search/label/Freebies

Another of my favorite blogs to follow is The Worlds Largest Collection of Smalls. this site is packed with lovely little finishes and often times where you can find them. I love the fact that it has so many wonderful ideas on how to finish your little masterpieces. Great ideas for gift giving! http://theworldslargestcollectionofsmalls.blogspot.com/

Well I wish you all a fantastic day and see you son!

Analisa

A little taste of Spring.

2011-04-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Arbre du Printemps

Here is a beautiful little gift I made for my new friend Janita. It is a free chart I found on this wonderful stitching blog called Jardin Prive'. It can be found here http://jardinprive.com/index.php?page=gratuit she has beautiful designs and produces wonderful creations herself.

I want to thank Janita for the lovely pictures she took of it, and hope she enjoyed this token of friendship.

Have a wonderful day!

Analisa

March Bead Journal Project

2011-03-28T02:27:00.000-07:00

Here is my contribution for March. Again I embroidered leaves and stems. Added felt hearts and colored beads for the flowers and then an overall beading in green.
Any ideas on how I can finish these 4x4 squares?
Thanks for looking, Analisa

sorry about the horrible images my camera is crap! lol

Arabic Designs

2011-03-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

I have become very fascinated lately with Arabic design specifically those with one continuous line for the design। I found the design I wanted to try and here are the results.

I thought it might intrest someone on the process of how I did this.

This is my design taped to a window to transfer onto my fabric। I chose a poly/cottton blend off white shirting। Don't know why I had shirting but I do

I backed my design with a very thin quilt batting because I had planned to do some shadow quilting to match the design.

Here are the beautiful beads I got as a gift from my sister who sent me a lovely package in the mail with all things beady and good! They remind me of mosaic colors! I took them off the sting as is.

once my design was finished being beaded I then hand quilted on either side of the beaded design,, with the same pattern as the design itself.....I have said design WAAAY too many times in this post! lol

A light pressing and viola!

For those of you who had the misfortune of reading this blog yesterday I apologize I was having trouble uploading pictures. Have a lovely day!

Some Lovely Blogs.

2011-03-12T23:35:00.000-08:00

Those of you that follow my blog know that occasionally I will post some blogs that I love and feel stand out. Here are a few of those.
Atrful Dreamer is a lovely blog filled with wonderful creations. Anne Marie from Toronto has a lovely style and creativity.
http://artfuldreamer.blogspot.com/2011/03/different-perspective.html

Another blog I adore is Kelly Fletcher's blog called Materialistic. She has fabulous one of a kind hand embroidery designs, which many she offers free. She has been published in Inspirations magazine recently with her florals. Take a peek!
http://kellyfletcher.blogspot.com/

Last but certainly not least is NEDbeads. She has recently made a gorgeous earthy looking cuff. Take a look.
http://nedbeads.blogspot.com/

let me know what you think of these gorgeous blogs!
Cheers!

February BJP

2011-03-05T21:30:00.000-08:00

Happy March to all of you. Where did February go? Here is my contrabution for February, I am still having trouble with the camera and not taking great pictures. I might have to take them to someone to take some better pictures. I was wondering what your thoughts are for finishing these 5 X 5 squares? There are so many talented and creative people on the BJP this year I look forward to your suggestions.

This is a great video tutorial for the cellini Spiral stitch technic. Thanks to Lisa of Indigos Beads. Enjoy!

January Bead Journal Project and More........

2011-02-14T02:36:00.000-08:00

Here is my January Bead Journal Project. The center bead is hand blown glass with sterling silver inlay. This square measures 5 X5. This second peice is hand embroidered and the first solid piece that I have beaded. What do you think?

Have a lovely day! Analisa

2011-02-14T02:10:00.000-08:00

Lots of Little Tidbits.

2010-12-07T22:02:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!
Just a few odds and ends this morning. Have had a busy week running kids here and there and have done some hand stitching while sitting in the car. Here is a little lavender set scissor fob, pincushion and needle keep.

Here is the inside.

Here is another beaded pincushion and needle keep. I love the old fashion feel to them I think thats why I enjoy making them so much.

Coffee Pot scissor fob, cross stitched.

back side.

Cross stitched pin cushions.

Back side.
I have been working on teaching myself how to set in a cabachon. Here is a Youtube link that I find helpful http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYpqMOZdoVo So far not bad but not great will keep you informed. Until next posting, have a great day!

Bead Journal Project 2011

2010-11-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

Blog # 1 is now up and running for the 2011 Bead Journal Project. Begining this January. http://beadjournalproject4.blogspot.com/ It has a long list of people who have decided to take this challenge and their blogs. Take a few minutes and check out some of these ladies they are so talented! It will be a pleasure to follow what they will be doing this year as we all embark on this journey. If any of you are interested please go over and join up quickly I'm not sure if they are still accepting entries but its worth a shot. Look forward!

Moon Beams and Tea Leaves

2010-11-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

My newest baby. I wish the lime colors would pop more. It is completely hand beaded and embroidered. You can't really tell from this picture but it is comepletely covered in clear shiney beads.

Bottom Detail.

And the top. I will be putting it in a black frame. I wanted to take a moment and tell you how excited I am to be joining the Bead Journal Project for 2011. You must make a beaded object each month and from what I can see by looking at this years entries is that they make the same size/type of object each month so one woman made 8x10 pages beaded and another made brooches ect. So a theme. Here is a link in case you want to read more about it or are interested in joining. I believe the join date is November. http://www.beadjournalproject.com/ Scroll down to the bottom and you can see the galleries ect.
Here are some tea wallets my friend asked me to make for some gifts for the holidays.

Fairies and Dutch china pattern.

Inside

Fairies and Flowers.

Innerds.

Here are the others. The bottom two have snaps.

Want to wish you all a great weekend and be seeing you soon!

Love This Blog!

2010-10-25T02:35:00.000-07:00

http://pursuingart.blogspot.com/ Pursueing Art, Life and Dreams is a wonderful blog about a very creative bead artist. Scroll through and see the doll she made as a gift for her friend. Even the purse has a tiny wallet. She has beaded shoes! Anyway I know you will enjoy this site as much as I did!

http://beadingheartart.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-10-18T07%3A52%3A00-04%3A00&max-results=3
Beading Heart Art is a lovely blog full of beautiful beaded cuffs and rings, and gorgeous beaded animals. Have a look!
Have a great day!

It's A Pin Keep

2010-10-24T03:21:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's been a while but I am back with a few things finished to show you. My 13 year old son has recently joined a rugby club which requires me to drive twice a week 45 min each way so of course I stick around for the hour and a half that he is there. I needed something to keep my fingers busy and obviouosly can't lug around my beads so cross stitch was my choice.
I found a free design on-line and a nice verigated DMC and stitched away. I used a lovely batik my sister Stacia gave me and of course had to embellish it with beads!

You can just see the beads........

Olive green felt and a beaded loop for the button ( yes thats my finger!).

There you have it....What do you think?
Have a nice week!

What Does it Take?

2010-09-20T01:09:00.000-07:00

I was reading some lovely blogs this morning and was wondering. What sets these blogs apart that they have tons of followers? Is it because they are witty or talented or the pictures they post are gorgeous? Are they short and sweet? What does it for you the reader or subscriber? Your feedback would be invaluable to me.....
I know the blogs that interest me have color and they are short and sweet. With quirky little anecdotes. Maybe a free pattern or a tutorial. Have a great day!

Glitz and Glam.

2010-09-19T00:32:00.000-07:00

I love applique! There are so many possibilities. This flower template was taken from the magazine Inspirations. However, the rest of the design is all mine. Base fabric is muslin and the white petals are embossed with white flowers. I'm not sure what I'll do with this perhaps a pillow..

Here is a lovely Lavender biscornu free chart. I can't recall where it came from. If anyone knows please let me know and I will give credit to the designer.
Have a lovely week!

Beginning Of The Bead Lusting.

2010-09-09T02:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, This is the one that started it all. I love her and every week or so I take her out and fondle and fawn and pet. Sick I know but I can't help it! I think she is beautiful. She is hand embroidered and beaded.

Her tail feathers remind me of a peacock. I used gold thread and royal blue pearl cotton for the french knots.

She measures roughly 5x5", is backed by felt and her hanger is beaded and knotted. I was thinking maybe a 3x3" would make nice christmas tree ornaments.

Just a quick recap of bird number 2. She was a gift for Becky.
Have a lovely weekend!

Dragonflys, Birds and What-not.

2010-09-05T22:52:00.000-07:00

This week I wanted to show you my WIP (work in progress). This little sparrow I have been working on for a few weeks up to this point. I haven't put the amount of time that I wanted to but never-the-less it is progressing nicely

It measures about 5x7" and is mixed media, beading, felt and embroidery. I'm not sure why I chose another bird to do but it reminded me of the little sparrows I saw nesting outside my fathers house this summer. They were swooping the kids whenever they would come within 100 yards of their nest. It is totally drawn by free hand. As you can tell I am not much of scetcher. I only needed a rough idea of where I want things placed.

A bunch of fat quarters from Joann Fabrics (with beading in mind)

Love all those swirlys!

This should be lovely to bead. Love all of the new cottons.

While stumbling around an area called Abu Hail (in english means father of Cardomon) I was looking for something to wear for my Nieces wedding at the end of September. I came across this little closet of a shop that sold handmade tapes of embroidered designs, handmade buttons ect. I thought I had found the pot of gold! What wonderful things I found in this shop! When I return later next week I will take a pictures of this place and all of the treasures it holds. I bought these little flowers with mirrors in the middle. The can be cut apart and incorporated into my artwork....thats what I call it. Typically these are use by the yard to embellish hems and cuffs of dresses or what have you. I have big plans for these beauties! Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Some Wonderful Bloggers.

2010-08-30T02:03:00.000-07:00

I could spend hours reading blogs! Literally. I have stumbled onto some amazing blogs and people. I apsire to be just like them someday soon! or when I grow up, which ever one comes first!

One of my all time favorites is Dot's blog. http://dotslifeandart.blogspot.com/ I encourage you to take a look. She is so wonderfully creative and has inspired so many people to make her lovely Dotee Dolls. She is creatively inspiring and seems like a lovely person to boot. I have literally spent hours on her site drooling an dreaming to one day be as creative as her.

Another of my most recent favorites is Robin Atkin's Beadlust. http://beadlust.blogspot.com/
She is not only inspiring artistically but she is inspiring mentally! Yes, thats right. in every piece of art she creates she adds words to uplift the soul. Every piece she creates weather it is in wool felting or embroidery has little words that mean something to her. I encourage you to go and see her site but only if you are prepared to stay a while!

I will periodically point you towards those blogs that inspire me. Please don't blame me if you end up spending more time than you intended.
Lovely day to you ALL!!!

A Little Bit of Everything.

2010-08-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Finally back where I belong. I have a few goodies I brought back with me from my travels and would like to share them with you. I found a lovely book called Paradise Stitched, Sashiko & Applique Quilts.

It has some beautiful designs for wall quilts and table runners using both techniques combined. such lovely designs by Sylvia Pippen.
The next book I bought was a little frivolous but so inspiring with lovely little projects for all skill levels. Its called Pretty Little Pincushions by Lark Books.

I Absolutely love this book. It has everything from needle books to retro, felted, embroidered, miniature and travel sewing kits. I would make everything in this book, when I find the time! lol

Of course I did make many trips to one of my favorite places on earth! Ship wreck beads in Olympia and spent a tidy little sum. I now sit with it all in front of me as I fondle and appreciate everything all over again!

I found a lovely free cross stitch design that I am almost finished with that I have decided to turn into a needle book. Here is the pattern: http://aurelle.overblog.com She some wonderful designs, go check out her blog.
Until next time have a great day!

Off On Holiday,

2010-07-03T02:54:00.000-07:00

Good Morning,
Have been working diligently on a new Biscornu pattern. I will post the free pattern after I return from holidays. I wish everyone a great summer! To view some lovely patterns and finished work please check out the blog in my "blogs worth watching" Basket of Biscornu site. enjoy!

Blue Birds!

2010-06-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!
This little lovely was hand stitched and bead by hand. It is backed with felt, stitched and beaded. Then backed with a second piece of felt to cover all work on the back side. My influence for this bird came from Dot's blog. You can find her blog in my "blogs worth watching" list. She makes beautiful felted and beaded birds and sells them on ETSY. My version is slightly different.

Kids Out For Summer!

2010-06-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, you heard right. My kids are out for the summer. As my hands begin to shake and my eyes begin to blur I am thinking to myself "Crud"! Now a summer full of fighting and computer hogging and whining there isn't anything to do. Since I live in one of the most unforgiving places in the world weather wise . There is not much for them to do but go to one of the hundreds of malls built here. Or Skii Dubai which costs an arm and a leg for artificial snow. We could travel but since there are 6 of us, airfare costs an arm and a leg to go to the states. "Crud"!

Blissfully Unaware!

2010-06-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Good morning! How many blogs have I read and enjoyed and never once thought "Hey, I could do this too". So my sister suggested that since we live so far away from each other that we should start blogs so we can follow each others crafting and ramblings. So I thank her for the suggestion and setting my blog. For some crazy reason I was unable to access this from my location. They blocked "Ravelry" for ever as well, go figure?

I have been slowly immersing myself into the wonderful world of beading. It doesn't hurt that my Dad lives next to one of the largest beading shops in the world!! So while I was there this spring I stocked up. I have made two beaded birds that resemble Ms. Dot's. I have made a Dotee doll for my daughter and have recently made some Needle books and matching pincushions.
I am finishing a pieced and hand quilted table runner. Pictures will follow soon.
Have a lovely Day.