Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Another month, another update, another giveaway!!



I really don't know how some people can post updates weekly, or more! I guess it's not my favorite thing to do, although I do read other peoples updates daily!
1st up....I have two finishes! Witches Wheel by Glendon Place was completed in July sometime. I ordered the frame for it today, so it should be done WAY before it needs to be hung for Halloween. The material for this is really what sold the pattern to me. It was th
e first time I had seen any material dyed this way Picture This Plus is a fantastic store for hand dyed fabrics!
You can see more closeups in this album: WW there are 5 more photos.
2nd- I was the lucky winner of a blog giveaway of Kate's from Australia.  

It is Lizzie Kate's 2010 Snowman. She mailed the pattern to me on Monday, I received it Thursday and I finished it on Sunday! He is just so cute I couldn't resist. Not only did Kate send me the chart she also sent a GC for $20 to 123stitch for me to buy the material for it! Little did she know I pulled out threads and material from my stash and started it right away! I didn't have 2 buttons it called for, but I did find one that matched the aqua, so he's a one button snowman. Since I received this pattern in a giveaway, I'm going to offer it to YOU!! One stipulation though! If you win it you must finish it within a months time and then offer it on your blog to another. If you don't have a blog, let me know you've finished it and I will repost it for availability! Giveaways are nice, but I hate seeing the pattern just go into a stash pile! Are you up for the challenge???



Then the only other thing that got worked on is Anne's Amsterdam piece. I got some more done of the roof of the red building. But my work is put to shame after seeing how much Gabi has gotten done on hers! WOW. Check out her BLOG.

And lastly, I left you with my house with deck removed and one big dirt pile. We had a stamped concrete patio put in. I had NO idea the process involved in getting to the finished product. So if you are interested I tried to get all the steps involved to show you! Here is the patio with the pouring forms ready for concrete delivery the next day.


This next picture shows the concrete, which has a custom color already added to it. We picked a yellow/tan base. The red you see is the "release" powder they throw on and then they "stamp" the pattern into the concrete before it cures all the way. The powder is finer than baby powder and it got EVERYWHERE! In the garage, on the cars, the rugs in the garage, the siding, the grass, the DOG!!!!! They had never used red before and they swear they won't offer it again!! LOL Can you see the red all over the house?? Well just multiply that by 20, for how much was in the grass where the dog walked.
This is a picture of the whole patio poured, stamped and released. It has to set like this for 24 hours.

Then they come back with a pressure washer and wash the red off and this is what you get! The last picture is just what the pattern looks like all over.It reminds me of "Tuscany" and I hope to find lots of cool accessories next year. All the patio stuff is gone already this season! Or the things that are left isn't what I had in mind. I hope you liked my stamped concrete tutorial!!!!
We (my mom, Lauren and Amberlyn) were lucky enough to visit Lake MI in Holland in July. The last 3 pictures are from there. It didn't take more than 15 minutes on the lake and Amberlyn was naked. She really doesn't like her clothes! Enjoy!!!

Thanks for stopping by my corner of the world! Until next time.........

16 comments:

  1. WOW, Witches wheel is great, congrats on the finish. Like the patio, too bad it had to be messy, but guess it will clean up in time.

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  2. Congrats on finishing Withes Wheel. It looks great. Love that fabric too. Congrats also on finishing the cute snowman.
    And I love your stamped concrete area!!! I have the same color and stamp (or at least very close to it) in my front yard and drive way - and remember the dust very well too...lol.

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  3. Oh, wow, Nancy, that patio looks absolutely fabulous!! It may have been a pain, but it looks to have been well worth the extra vacuuming!! I don't know about the dog though... Witches Wheel is fabulous too. I love the colors of the fabby. Grats on the finishes!! I have too much in my rotation to take time out to do the snowman, but he's darling!! Can't wait to see what you pick up next!!

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  4. Oh, and I love the beach pics too. They're so adorable when they're little!!

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  5. It's amazing how great your finish looks on that fabric, Nancy--really spooky! And your Just Nan one-button snowman is darling :) I can't imagine doing a piece as complicated as Amsterdam--you are very brave...

    Love the beach photos--there is just something about watching a child romp on a beach that is so enjoyable, isn't there? Amberlyn is precious :)

    Your patio is great, too--worth every amount of aggravation, I'm sure. Have fun finding the perfect Tuscan accessories!

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  6. Nancy, your Witches Wheel is gorgeous! I keep looking at that one and another Glendon Place one & can't decide which one I want.

    The Snowman is cute also and I just love the results of your new patio! It is just beautiful and I'm just a wee bit green about it, :)

    You're granddaughter sure is a cutie - I just love being a Grandma, don't you?

    I would love to have a chance to win the Snowman pattern - my MIL is a huge snowman fan and this would be a perfect piece to stitch for her & I promise to offer it on my blog when I'm done!

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  7. Congrats on finishing WW. I love Amsterdam! I've been watching Gabi's progress since she started. Very cute snowman. I had to giggle when I saw that you won it on Kate's blog. It's about time you won! hahaha I'd like a chance to win, so throw my name in.

    Your patio looks awesome! I love the color and the pattern.

    I can't believe how big Amberlyn is getting. She's going to "regret" all those naked baby pics... lol

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  8. the pieces you did are nice. I haven't seen fabric like that either. The snowman I have done myself. I like the colors in it. The patio, very pretty. I can't imagine going through that process. Amberlyn, before long she wont be doing it anymore. Very cute.

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  9. I love witches circle, looks like another chart to add to my wish list...
    Snowman is cute and your patio looks fab

    X

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  10. Love the new patio and I bet you are getting alot of time out there enjoying it too. And as per the norm, Amberlyn steels the show. My how she has grown!
    Have a great August Nancy and
    Be always in stitches.

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  11. WW looks awesome!
    Congrats on your other quick finish, since I don't know if I could finish it within the month, I'll pass the give-away.
    Cute pics of Amberlyn :)

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  12. My goodness your post has so much. Kind of remonds me of mine. LOL
    Your finish is awesome. I'm sure it will be fabulous in the frame. Love the fabric.
    The patio is gorgeous finished. But oh my the mess. I do hope it came out of everything. Especially the poor pup.
    And of course those photos of Amberlyn are precious. Make sure you keep a copy to show her when she is about 16. That's when you frame one and display when she bring her boyfriends over. LOL Grandparents can get away with that. LOL

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  13. Oh my, Nancy... what a great post! First of all, I've been watching Witch's Wheel - a fabulous piece! Amberlyn will love seeing it at Halloween! Love her sweet lil' bottom! LOL!!! The Lizzie Kate looks adorable with the one aqua button too. Great little snowman. I've also been watching Gabi's Amsterdam, and I envy you stitching it. I've already committed to too many BAP's though, and have too many kits as it is, but I adore the Amsterdam look. Gorgeous!!!

    I was totally fascinated with seeing the process of the patio. I didn't know such a thing was even possible, and who woulda thunk that red would produce such a beautiful color? I would love to have been there! The poor dog, LOLOLOL!!!

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  14. WItches Wheel looks awesome!! I can't wait to see the frame you picked. That snow man is darling but I know I'd not be able to meet your stitch it in a month criteria.

    Love the way your stamped concrete turned out.

    Hugs...

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  15. I adore witches wheel! Makes me want to start mine. What you seen Glendon's latest on similar fabric that is dragons? I can't remember what it's called... but hit their site if you're interested.

    Great pics of the family as well. :)

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  16. Witches Wheel is awesome. I am not usually into Halloween patterns but these past few years there has been some nice one. Must put that one on my wish list. The fabric certainly sold me also.
    Great job.
    vivian

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