Believe me when I say I’ve done just about every craft there is…

The title of today’s post truly says it all. There is hardly anything that I haven’t tried in all my years of sewing… You know I’ve talked about sewing for my dolls and little girls dresses, but there has been SO MUCH MORE in the past. Let me see how long of a run-on sentence I can make to include as many things as I can think of that I’ve done…Okay… I’ve done sewing, quilting, smocking, applique, punch needle, needlepoint, petit point, rug hooking, macrame, cross stitch, counted cross stitch, foundational pieced quilting, air clay doll making, stuffed dolls, machine embroidered baby bibs, silk ribbon embroidery, crewel embroidery, machine digitized embroidery, curtains and drapes, beginner knitting, crocheting, painted glass ball Christmas ornaments, pillow making, fabric bowls, wall hangings, painted furniture, place mats, doll shoes, hat making (my newest thrill!), mohair wig making, yarn scarves, stuffed dolls, welding caps, Civil War frocks, costumes, alterations, upholstery, purses and bags and totes, leather craft, baby corsages, and cakes… and I’m sure I’ve forgotten lots more…

It may have been easier to list what I haven’t done… I’ve never attempted to make soap or any fragrances, I’ve never done basket weaving and never really tried my hand at woodworking…

Whew… I’m exhausted.

As Rebecca and I were weeding out in my sewing room the other day, she pulled out some vintage laces that I had and a card fell out. It was wrapped abound some laces that I remember Kathie had sent me. I read the card, that I hadn’t seen before and it was SO appropriate… for what’s going on…

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It seems like I’m not the only one who has more fabric than they can use in a lifetime… Thanks for the note and the lace Kathie (I kept it all)..even though I’m late reading it.

Rebecca also found one of those accordion folders filled with all kinds of little paper patterns for all the various things I’ve done… Here’s some of what has been hiding in my sewing room…

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Here’s a picture of one of the pairs of Hula Monkey appliqued overalls I made years ago…

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This is a paper pattern for what I called “pocket pals.” I don’t have any pictures of them, but they were fun little appliqued characters that had the head section appliqued to the little girls bodice section of her dress… Then the bottom part was a loose hanging pocket that intersected right at the waist. So if you can imagine, the head was stitched flat on the bodice, but the body part was free hanging and I usually put something on them like a charm or a ribbon or buttons to make them sort of 3-D. They were very cute… and I sold them at Farmer’s Market.

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Okay, and I’ve saved the best for last. I think you’ll get a kick out of this… Years and years ago a friend was talking to my hubby about wanting to find something like a Tarzan “covering” for his honeymoon and “surprise” his wife! My hubby told him he should talk to me. Well, he did, and I didn’t even know it, but I still had this “prototype” of his “covering.” He came over and I showed him very quickly what I could sort of make for him. Rebecca found this and I just laughed… some things are left better untold I think! She wondered why I said keep it! :o)

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Well, that’s it for me today…

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

11 thoughts on “Believe me when I say I’ve done just about every craft there is…”

  1. Hello, sweet Jeanne! I know..you probably thought you’d heard your last from me..it’s been ages. I stopped trying to keep up because I was getting busier and busier and didn’t have time to read and reply daily….I was just putting everything in a “Jeanne” folder and then reading a bunch at once but then could never decide which I wanted to comment on..ended up just giving up. Decided I’d read and enjoy them but not try to reply…oh I’m a mess. A million times though, I’ve seen something that I loved so much I felt I
    just had to say something about it and today was no exception… these adorable hula monkey overalls. They are SOOO cute! Who were they for? Goodness the wonderful things you’ve created in your short time here on earth!! When I think of all the people you’ve blessed with your talent and your sweet spirit it simply amazes me. You are such a treasure! I still read your blog and am grateful I “met” you! Carry on, talented little lady!

    1. Hi Bobi,
      It’s so very good to hear from you again. Don’t ever worry about getting so busy that you can’t comment…I’m just glad you enjoy reading…
      The overalls were just some I made and sold…I made many different pairs of them… thanks for your compliments…
      Blessings

  2. You blow me away with your industriousness, Jeanne. Thanks for sharing some of the creative areas you’ve worked in. It’s eye-opening what’s out there!

    Take care.

    1. Thank you Becky,
      Yes. I always seem to be busy with something…and I always have been…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. When I finished reading your accomplishments list, I was exhausted! Great job. I thought of one, candle making. I really like your latest hat too. You are definitely the creative queen.

    1. Hi Joy,
      No I haven’t done candle making…and don’t have any plans to do so…I have too many other things to keep me busy…
      I guess I should say thank you for calling me the creative Queen…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. Oh my goodness! I knew you were talented, but not to the scope of things you have done! Where do you get the time? I haven’t done anywhere the amount that youi have but–yay_- I DID find something you haven’t done that I have—–basket weaving!!! Not that this is a competition, but you are so exceptionally talented and know how to do SO many things! Thanks to being in 4-H years and years ago, I have done basket weaving!
    I really have nothing to show for it anymore, but it sure was a fun craft for a 12 year old.

    Oh boy—woooo! That last “item”, I can’t believe you actually made that! You know Father’s Day is coming up, what more can I say??!!! 🙂

    1. Hi Linda,
      My younger sister has done basket weaving before…but not me. Too busy doing everything else…
      Yes…4H taught me well…it was the beginning of all my seeing things…
      I wonder if I should have shown my Tarzan project but I just couldn’t resist…
      Thanks so much Linda…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. Thank you so much for the kind birthday wishes yesterday.
    Wow, you certainly have done a lot of crafts. I have done quite a few of the ones you listed and would like to try others. I love counted cross stitch, crochet, crewel and silk ribbon embroidery and did macrame and latch hooking as a child when those were very popular. I also have done basket weaving because our Keepers at Home group chose that as a craft and moms were allowed to learn also.A friend did some punch needle work for the top of a keepsake box and it was very pretty. Petit point must be very challenging. My mom has a wallet that her aunt brought back from Germany when my mom was a teen. She never actually used it because she said she was afraid that it would get ruined.
    The last item was hysterical, I can’t believe you were ask to make that. Did George have to try it on for size?

    1. Hi Laura…
      No my hubby was not asked to try it on…it was a riot when the guy came back to pick it up…and NO…I never asked any questions about what his wife said… 🙂
      I see you have a pretty long list of things you have done too…it’s sort of fun to have tried just about every craft known to mankind!
      Thanks Laura,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Charlotte Trayer

    I thought *I* had tried a lot of things, Jeanne–and I have!–but not quite as many as you, I don’t think. However, I didn’t see tatting on your list, and that is something I have learned (although I haven’t tried it in a long long time, so would probably have to look in the book again!). I also did a lot of ceramics back in the early 70s, and then, a bit later, made a few porcelain dolls–I think three all told. I much prefer making cloth dolls.

    One skill set I’d like to learn is Hardanger; I do have a book, and some day I will teach myself how. It doesn’t seem that hard.

    My best skills are sewing (for almost 60 years now) and knitting (about 55 years), though, and my smocking is improving as I work on it. (Our smocking guild makes bereavement baby gowns under the Wee Care program, which are donated to a local hospital–it’s a good place to practice our skills, as most are fairly small projects.)

    I come from a long line of needleworkers–I had one great-aunt who did lots of different forms of needlework, like I do, another great-aunt who was a milliner, one grandma who sewed and another who crocheted, plus a mother who sewed–so I guess I come by it honestly!!

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