My "online canvas" will be colored with:thankfulness, foolishness, poking fun [mostly at myself], quilting, crafting, memories, tsk-tsking, encouragement [I really like to encourage], poetry, recipes, memories, opinions [and boy, am I opinionated. I have left brush strokes on many canvases throughout my lifetime:my children, grandchildren, the rest of my family, my ball teams, my girl scout troops, my Sunday School and Bible School classes, in fact-everyone who I have come in contact with.
If this 73 year old bod would/could stay in gear 24/7, I don't think there would be enough time to take all the online classes available on www.craftsy.com.
I have downloaded several that I am particularly interested in to better my skills and am working slowly through them.
The best part is, I can take part any time I want-in the middle of the night, in the a.m. with my coffee, between working on projects-in my pajamas or even n---- [heaven forbid], all at my convenience. I can pick up anywhere I left off.
AND THE BEST PART IS-a lot of the classes are FREE!
Being a quilter, those are the classes I have concentrated on but there are classes on almost every craft you are interested in whether it be cake decorating, beadwork, crochet, knitting, etc.
Here is the link to take a look: http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=253536&u=705639&m=29190&urllink=&afftrack=
Here are just a few of free classes the above link will take you to:
that reminds me, I forgot to download the serging class just to brush up on my serging. I have had my machine for a long time but never had any instruction on its use.
Put the coffee pot on with extra strong brew and take a look.
The Socksy Monkey quilt pattern has been on the back burner for a while now. Not as far back as other things. They are still there. Some have been there quite some time. All in due time, I guess. One of those projects is an official sock monkey made from the work socks where the original idea sprang from years ago. [Who would think of making a monkey from a work sock, anyway?] I have saved the address somewhere for the work socks in case the mood hits to make the stuffed toy.
I looked for sock monkey fabric but it wasn't available in the Joann's fabric store, just online, so I went ahead and used my original fabric choice anyway. I like it really well. The jungle animal fabric has been in my fabric stash for a long time just, evidently, waiting for Socksy Monkey. I didn't want to wait for an online order to arrive and then not be the exact color I wanted so this is just as well, and, like I said, I really like it and the Socksy Monkeys seem to be right at home with the other animals.
The monkey appliques were almost done and I wanted to finish the quilt and get my pattern online.
Here is the completed quilt top, waiting, like several others, to be quilted:
Here is the background fabric:
one of the 12" Socksy Monkeys showing the blanket stitch
and the blanket stitching around the 24" Socksy. The stitches are longer since the appliques are larger
The muted striped panels blend well with the other fabrics. I auditioned other fabrics-foliage, solids-but the stripe seemed to fill the bill best.
Here is my video demonstrating some of the techniques used in making the quilt:
Socksy Monkey is fairly quick and easy to construct like most of my designs using basic sewing and quilting techniques and is suitable for boys or girls. The pattern is available in my Etsy store-link at right and in My Pattern Store @ http://www.craftsy.com/user/43851/pattern-store?_ct=fhevybu-ikrdql-fqjjuhdijehu.
Hope you enjoy and happy quilting/crafting
God bless you
Carolyn Wainscott
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"SOCKSY MONKEY" quilt pattern is available along with my other designs in My Pattern Store @
http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/43851
2 patterns included in Angel Wings baby quilt pattern
Matching girls and American Girl Doll reversible cape patterns plus many other coordinating separates for American Girl dolls
50" x 50" Sunbonnet Sue baby quilt pattern including 14" traditional pattern
50" x 50" Over Sam baby quilt pattern-14" traditional block pattern included
Socksy Monkey baby quilt pattern-50" x 50"
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Have you checked out all the absolutely free classes @ www.craftsy.com? Being a quilter, I lean towards the quilting classes but, my goodness, there are classes on beadwork, serging, cake decorating, tailoring, etc.
Follow this link: http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=253536&u=705639&m=29190&urllink=&afftrack= and pick up a couple to fill your spare? time. You can follow the classes at your convenience, at any time.
