Can't Crochet....

As hard as I've tried over these many years.... I cannot crochet.. It's something that bugs me like crazy.  Everyone I know crochets and they all say "it's so easy, if I can do it you can"..... HAHAHAHA, someone forget to tell my un-co-ordinated fingers that... When I was in my twenties, I was living in Air Force Housing and my next door ( I mean next door, our living units were connected) neighbor and friend could crochet like a speed demon and she made the most GORGEOUS things.. one year ( I'm gonna date myself so you youngins don't listen) she, just because she could and because she was a wonderfully kind woman crocheted me a Maxi Coat... I'm not kidding, an entire winter coat.. it was gorgeous... dark pine green with light green trim. How I wish I had a picture of that coat.  Probably the warmest coat I've ever had.  It was just stunning.. I have a mother in law and a sister in law... that also can crochet I think in their sleep.  I'm amazed at the things they make..
My sister in law Linda  whipped up these 2 scarfs for me in about 5 minutes each this past winter...

I love them.. I love that crochet is back "in" .... for a few years there it seemed like it kinda died out but no more... it's back stronger than ever... and yes I've tried again to crochet... and no I still can't do it..the mind is willing but the fingers are weak! (grins)  I really do wish I could figure out how to crochet, but I guess I'll have to go through life depending on those I love who can to make me adorable and gorgeous things ( wink wink Linda).. How about you, do you crochet ? Do you have something you really would like to learn but your brain says ... nope!  By the way Linda ( my sis in law) did I mention just how much I love your crocheting ? I really appreciate your talent...and I appreciate the talent of those others out there who can crochet... as for me.. I'm making donuts tomorrow... I can cook and teach everyone how to gain weight... HAHAHAHA!
So what's your one thing that you can't do that makes you crazy ?  I can't wait to hear....


xoxo,
Carri

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No Sew Flower Necklace

Let me start off with an apology, I should have had more pictures for this to make it easier to follow, but my photographer (hubby) wasn't feeling well so I went solo on this tutorial. I'm going to need to get out my Tri-pod for my camera so I can work and take photo's... LOL 

Now for part II explanation... y'all know that I'm doing this A-Z challenge for the month of April.. so today is the letter N... all I could come up with was the following.. Nuts, Nachos, Noodles.. and none of that sounded like anything I wanted to pursue... so I kept brainstorming.. and I thought... what about a NO sew project... so I Googled No Sew and found this link...

 http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2010/12/pom-pom-bib-necklace-tutorial-lmm.html

This is the CUTEST necklace I've seen in awhile.. and soooo easy.  It's not done in an hour but it's not an all day project either, I finished it in an evening. 

So first.... you decide what color fabric you want to use for your flowers.. and then have a piece of felt on hand that will match the color of your flowers... the felt should be at least 1 sq foot.  You'll need fabric scissors, a glue gun, a necklace chain of your choice. 

You will make 5- 1&1/2 inch circles from your felt.  As shown below...

 Once you have your felt circles cut out set the extra felt aside you will need it later...Now take one of the felt circles as a pattern to use and cut your fabric out in 1&1/2 inch circles as well.  I cut mine in stacks as thick as I could cut through...made it go faster and they don't have to be perfect at all.

 I can't tell you exactly how many you'll need, I just cut out a bunch to start with and when I ran out cut some more....

 Once you have cut out your fabric circles you fold them in half, then in half again, then in half again.. til they look this this above... ( Heavens I just noticed how messy my nails looks.. I promise I do wash my hands and have clean finger nails almost all the time, just not while crafting.. YIKES! )

 You glue the little pieces of fabric folded up with a hot glue gun to the felt circles until they look like the circles above... it'll take a lot of little circles but it really does go pretty fast..

 Once you've made all 5 flowers.. you arrange them on the big piece of felt that's left in the necklace shape you want them in.. all but the top 2 flowers... 

 You should have 3 flowers glued down and 2 left to finish gluing... but before you do that you'll want to take your necklace chain and cut it in half in the center front of it...(I didn't get as you can see, photo's of this... but if you follow the link where I found these awesome Necklaces you'll see her photo's show a tad more)....  you will take one side and glue it on the bottom of the flower ( about an inch long) and glue that flower down to felt next to other flowers to finish that side of necklace... and repeat for the other side.. 

 I didn't get me cutting the chain so I took this shot afterwards to at least give you an idea of what I was talking about... my apologizes..

Now with the chain and all the flowers glued down to the large felt piece you want to cut around it so that it doesn't show from the front... ( but using it to keep the flowers connected.)
Once you've trimmed of the extra felt....whaaaa laaaaa you have an adorable no sew fabric floral necklace...Here's the finished look....

 Here's where I wish I had a daughter or granddaughter living close by to be my model for these things.. But hey, if a grandma can rock this necklace imagine what a 20-30-40 something gal can do...
I just love this necklace...I think I need to make them in several different colors ... what do you think ?  What would be your favorite color of Flower necklace ?

xoxo,
Carri

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The Versatile Blogger Award

Amy  from While Wearing Heels who has great talent to decorate her home, do a DIY project, make something adorable for her daughter, and all this mind you while wearing heels.. Yes, she is a classy gal and she just  awarded me ( Oh my gosh I'm so excited ) the Versatile Blogger Award.  I feel like Sally Fields... "You really do like me"... (giggles) okay so much for my Oscar Versatile Blogger speech.. 
                                                                       

Here are the RULES for the Versatile Blogger Award-
1. Add the award to your blog.
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you.
3. Mention seven random things about yourself. (see below)
4. List the rules.
5. Award to 10 bloggers.
6. Inform each of those 10 by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I've officially added the award to my blog. It's over there some place ---->

2. Thanks Amy ! I am truly so very honored.. it really means the world to me.. you work so hard on your blog and wonder if it's making any difference and then something wonderful happens like the Versatile Blogger Award. Thank You so very much !

3. Seven random things about me. Let's see. 

1- I  was once published in Woman's Day magazine and even got paid $50 for my little write up... I must have bought 30 issues of the magazine when my lil write came out  back then.. this was like in 1984,  I thought I was hot stuff back then... LOL 

2- I'm not sure everyone knows but I just found out I'm going to be a grandma again for the 8th time...

3- I can't sing a whip, but it doesn't stop me from cranking up my music and singing at the top of my crackly manly sounding voice... I scare small children when I sing.... Not to mention my poor family...

4- I also, like other bloggers I know that shall not be named here, cannot find my way out of a wet paper bag... I get lost going to the bathroom.... at home!!! Don't tell me east or west.. I need left and right and I will still get lost... but it's an adventure when I do...well, I think it is, my passengers don't always think so..

5- I to this day still carry a secret crush on Donny Osmond.. I just can't leave his posters up on my walls anymore, people would talk....

6- I can't keep my balance for the life of me, I am a complete klutz, if you can walk into it or fall down it... I'll be there.... 

7- I really think I'll win the lotto someday,  oooops hear that lil voice... it's saying "Dreamer".... lol  

4.  List the rule.  Those are up above some place.

5. Share this honor with other bloggers, I'd love to.  And the award goes to....

Bolo Head  She's one committed and awesome mom who does it all to make sure her family and home are the most important things going for her and her family.  She sews and creates amazing things... Check her out you'll love what she does.

Tara Being Tara Tara is young enough to be my daughter, I imagine her own mother couldn't be more proud of her, Tara can do just about anything she decides to do.  She's a DIY kinda gal who has impeccable taste and juggles it all and does it all well... Not to mention she's from Cincinnati like me and if you're a Buckeye you kinda have to "rock" just cuz!  =)

Sleeping in an unmade Bed Vicky is one of the funniest bloggers I've met to date.. she's a sweet southern gal who has a great theory about not making your bed and everything she posts makes me laugh and brightens my day entirely.. She is the kinda gal you wish was your next door neighbor..(unless you have chairs at the curb, HAHAHAHA) 

Full Circle Creations Holly over at Full Circle Creations is a woman of many talents.  She's quite the artist and can do any DIY project you send her way.  She's a sweet gal with lots of charm and awesome idea's.. Stop by her blog and see the fantastic things Holly can and does do...  You'll love her.

Stuff I tell my sister Paula is a Missouri gal ... and she shares her adventures that she seems to always be involved in one.... she takes great photo's of the things she sees and places she goes.. She just the warmest sweetest gal you'll meet.   She's blogging about her experiences and thoughts and takes us with her on her way... It's a delightful trip... Get on board... 

Bless my Nest Claire over at Bless my Nest is a decorating guru.. she's got some awesome skills. She loves to blog about being a Decorating Junkie, Crafter,  Gardener, and Thrifty Shopper.  She does this and she does this all well

Home Frosting Lesa is busy doing crafting, decorating, painting and sewing, not to mention her fair share of DIY projects.  She freely shares her knowledge with everyone and we are better for it.. She's got great idea's and tutorials for some of the things she does ... You'll love her... besides who doesn't love Frosting ?

Third Times a Charm  The Utah Mom blogger is really awesome, she crochets ( we all know I can't do that... so that makes me in awe right there) sew, gardens, crafts and does beautiful work.  She's got a toddler that keeps her busy so between the lil one and her blogging projects she's a full time kinda gal..

You'll love what she's doing .....

Bleak 2 Unique Lori is another southern gal that knows her way around rehabbing, I don't think there's a piece of furniture out there that she couldn't turn into something gorgeous.. She totally has mad skills.  As Lori says on her Blog.. Repaint, redesign, reuse, no furniture left behind... and she means it..

Polka Dots and Pastries Dianna is amazing not sure how she does it working full time outside of her home, then when she is home she likes to spend her time sewing, knitting, quilting, and thinking about crafts .  Somehow she manages to do it all... 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AWARD WINNERS!!!  

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