The Mystery of Adding a Clasp

Well really not a mystery like a Sherlock Holmes mystery but believe you me if you don't know how to put one of the little things on your work it is indeed a giant mystery.

Now I am not an instructor, if I were to tell you how you would scratch your head and say WHAT did she just say?   Hubby and Grandkids say sometimes I have my own language.   I agree with them totally.   I wonder sometimes if it wasn't a combination of how my Mother talked while I was growing up.  Mother was English and  I didn't realize she said sentences sometimes differently or that she even had an accent at all.  A few years ago and also here while back Hubby said yes she had a very strong accent.  Funny what you don't notice when you are raised with it isn't it? 

My best way to tell about putting on a clasp is just giving links to how and where.   I have had several inquiries about it so here goes my friends.

Pat Winter is where I was first taught the Crazy Quilting, well or addicted to it I guess.   Almost as good as chocolate I would say.  She creates a magazine once a quarter and this is the magazine  article about attaching a clasp.  You can order digital issues or I think the old fashion paper ones so you can take with you and touch the paper.   Sorry trees .

 
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/661091?__r=84546

 This is the link to the Winter 2011 magazine that has the tut in it.   http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/301030

 

This is the magazine that has the instructions for adding a purse clasp.   Pretty magazine cover isn't it and has so much eye candy inside of it.   I do have to admit I have some of my pieces in some of the later articles.     June of 2012 is when I got addicted to this beautiful art and getting to see other people from around the world's creations.

 

Part of the article in the magazine.  

 

Pat also has a DVD for sale on her Etsy store about the clasp and the sweetest little purse instructions if you really really want to play.  

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108362315/cq-accessory-case-video-class?ref=shop_home_active

 

There are all kinds and sizes of clasps, some ornate, some antique finishes, some with bling and all shapes.  Whew makes your head spin and of course we have to try them all.   Some with the sweet little beads to attach, some with a plate and you use screws to attach them  ( you gotta be tough to do this or have your Hubby help you  and that is my choice of how to attach them).

 

Now where do you get the clasps?  Well JoAnn's did carry some plain Jane ones and ours now no longer carry them.  Can you image that?  Don't know why but I think I bought the last one in captivity here in town.   You can order online and I have done that a time or two but there is a shop in Michigan   Tisha's Needle Art Studio   810-678-8191.   She has a treasure of clasps and of course supplies.  She does not have a web site but a very unique way of running her shop.  You call and tell that precious lady what you want or need and she sends a package to you.  You choose or keep it all and what you don't want send it back. and then she runs your credit card.  Eazy Peazy shopping.   Of course I can honestly say I have never sent a thing back.  My stash supply is new so I have to have it grow.  Isn't that what a lady is suppose to do?  

 

My friend Nelda use to say she who has the most when they die wins.  LOL be it quilting supplies, china painting supplies, beads or whatever strikes your fancy.  We always joked about that but you know as well as I do material things isn't really what you should be collecting but was a fun saying when we went shopping. 

 

Now this precious clasp is one I am being shellfish with and going to keep for myself.   The clasp is one to sew in and off you go.   Now sometimes my measuring and the clasp don't play well together but usually and most of the time I win.  Most of the time.   It is from Tisha's also.   Don't you love the little shoes?  She also has back issues of Pat's magazine  if you don't want to go to McCloud. 

 

 

 

There you go about the clasps, I hope that answers some questions about them.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

OXXOXO

Annette

 

 

 

The Transformation!!!!!

I just thought I would share the finished piece I teased you with the other day.   I always love making the CQ pieces, they are a lot like life.  You start with the basics and then just keep adding and adding layers and see where they wind up.  You really never know it is finished.  Each and every piece takes on it's own personality.   I don't plan one stitch or embellishment at all. Nope not one.   Even the material I sew on doesn't get planned at all.  Kind of like Hubby and I go thru life. 

A lot of the times when we go on a trip, nothing is planned.  Nothing ----we get in the car and see where our steel stallion takes us.  Which direction and all.  We just know we will wander and site see and then when absolutely tired come home.   That is it.  

  CQ is lots of layers and sometimes it is hard to know when to stop.   Dear Hubby is my guide sometimes, he asks do you have a 1000 pounds of beads on it yet?   You know I don't actually have 1000 pounds on them but close.  

Here is the purse from the other day.   I had already added some trims but it was not finished by my standards ---far from it.   

 

 

Here it is transformed Texas style.  Stitches, beads, ribbon work and just some treasures added.  Pieces of jewelry and oh did I mention beads?   I wanted to of course add beads to the faerie also.  

There you go the transformation and a little guardian angel charm added just for good measure. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Merry Christmas and oh what 2014 will bring to us all.

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

                                                              XOXOXO
                                                               Annette

Merry Christmas Y'all

Can you believe it is already Christmas?   I know when you have smaller children you are reminded nearly hourly but when you are a tad older like we are you still enjoy Christmas and all it stands for.  Well 50% of us do in our duo household.  The furbabies don't care as long as they are loved, petted and fed and give us the "stare" often.  You know the one.

I just wanted to wish you all Merry Christmas and see what we create for 2014.   I know it will be a great and creative year.  Soooooooooo        
       
    Merry Christmas Y'all and a Happy 2014 !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world.  

 

Merry Christmas

 

xoxoox

Annette

Recipe of a Little Yummy Treasure

I was looking for a recipe for some cookies that would ship well.  Not to ship to ourselves, nope I just cook them and they are at our fingertips.  Like we need them to eat.   But this time of year my hips are saying no no no.      Grandaughter moved to Hawaii and  we wanted to send her something yummy, homemade and  that ships well.   Well we sent her some other things also.   Mission accomplished !!!!! 

They are so like the Mexican Wedding cookies we love and  it just amazing though how easy peazy they are to make.  So cute and tiny and not super sweet.   I don't remember who had the recipe on the internet world, I had just typed in cookies that are good shippers.   You know I complain sometime about the internet but it has it's uses doesn't it?   Besides keeping up with old and new friends, learning how to's on most any subject.   You can look like a dog at the computer and it doesn't matter.   They can't see you, well if you have Skype, which I have to get, they will see you.

I have the link here for them:  

   http://homecooking.about.com/od/dessertrecipes/r/blcookie89.htm

They are so cute and easy, hummmmm I think I said that but they are !!!!!!  They are just pop able, zip zap one pop into the mouth and no crumbs or evidence that you have one in your mouth.  Just incase the cookie police see you.   You know that is a good thing to know.   

 

I have a confession I did keep a few for us, we had to taste them and they have a shelf life of------------------- a month.  No eggs in them so that may be why.  

 

I just had to share these with you.  

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOXOXO

Annette

WIP or mabye a Sow's ear?

Abbreviations,  such funny little things and odd letters but we seem to know what they mean don't we?    Now the abbreviations on the texting world, some of those critters you have to really really really work to figure what they mean.  At least I have to.   Now I could get on my soap box about the texting and living with the phone in your hand but I promise I won't do that. 

WIP,   my work in progress on the crazy quilting.    When I piece a block or purse or whatever I am making together I think this is the homeliest thing in the whole world.    Now a saying is you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear might be wrong on this art.   Because my little sow's ears evolve like crazy.   From a homely piece to a beautiful peacock.  

I am worried though because this piece, not finished, I am liking it.   See what I mean?  Is that a kiss of death for this little sow's ear?   I will let you be the judge of that.

 

So here it is the sow's ear evolving.   Probably the reason I like it at this point is maybe the bling already on it?   I don't know and I promise you right now it has 100 pounds of bling on it now after working on it last night.    You know looking at the shape, if I pointed it a tad it could look like a piggy's ear.  No that may be stretching it.  

 

Alright I have rambled enough.   I will post the finished project in a couple of days.   Putting the clasp on is the part I don't like but it is a present so have to get it done.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

XOOXXO

Annette

Yummy Pecan Tassies

Well it is that time of year when I bake and make and play big time in the kitchen.   Do we need it?  Is it good for us?   Do I really really need to make it?  The answer is NO NO NO  and my hips agree.  BUT this time of year I am totally deaf of the screams the hips make.  I use to be a cooking machine this time of year but have ----believe it or not have toned it down.   Yes you can do it but not as much fun.

These sweet little Pecan Tassies are easy and yummy.  What else could you ask for?   Nothing special to make them except the mini tins and if you want to splurge the odd looking "stick" I am showing.

Here you go the mini tin, well I have 5 of them but right now two are in a drawer holding fancy buttons for my art work.   So 3 are on call for the Tassies.   The little wooden stick thingie is a semi new addition to my arsenical of cooking utencils.  Probably 20 years ago it was acquired.   It is so squash down the dough and make the tassies a little more uniform.  Sometimes.

Have to tempt you first before I share the recipe with a little plate of them.  The Holly plate is one of several I China Painted back in the early 80's.  Had big ideas about them but 12 plates did get painted.   They get to come out and be used during the Holidays. 

 

 

Ok I won't tease you any longer here is the recipe I have had since around 1967.  I have it in the family cookbook I compiled and a cousin had it also and goofy me just put the recipe in the book and thought they are the same.   I didn't reread it or anything.  Then I started to use it and they were sort of different with putting it together so I of course wrote all over my cookbook.  It gets lots of notes like that. The original recipe makes two dozen, now come on that is not enough so I double it and will give you the recipe for the two dozen but I always double it. 

 

Pecan Tassies

 

325 degree                                                          25 minutes til golden edges

 

Crust:

4 oz. softened cream cheese

1/2 cup softened butter or margarine

1 cup of flour

 

Mix softened cream cheese and butter together.  Stir in flour as if making pie dough.   Cause you kinda are.  Blend it all together and refrigerate for one hour or if in a hurry stick it in the freeze for a few minutes.

 

Make walnut size balls and press into the mini tart pans.   I use the "stick" and squash it down first then press it inside good to make sure the dough is up to the top of the tin.  If you don't have a stick, no problemo,  just use your fingers and it works like a charm. 

 

While the dough is in the cooling process make the filling.

 

Filling:

1 egg

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 T. vanilla

2/3 cup chopped pecans

1 T. softened margarine

 

Stir this all together.  

 

Layer all together-the creative part:

 

The dough is in the pan already squashed in it, then put a few pecans in the bottom of the pan, about a teaspoon of the filling or enough to cover the pecans you have in the pan and then a few more pecans on top of the filling.  

 

Bake and enjoy.  They freeze well and sometimes you will find your family in the freezer eating frozen Tassies.  Yep I have seen it with my own eyes.  

 

Remember I always double this recipe.   Santa loves them also.

 

There you go the recipe for Tassies.

 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what is going on in my world today.

 

OXOXXO

Annette