Salt Water Taffy

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Homemade Popsicles

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Homemade Playdough

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Peanutty Playdough

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

A "Hand" Bag

I work at the local community art center teaching youth how to do various art techniques.  The art instructors were challenged to come up with a hand bag entry for the local bag auction to raise money for the Pella Public Library.  A student from every class was asked to trace their hand print and cut it out.  The hands were then sewn to a large tote bag. 

Pudding Paint

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Oz costumes

Helping coordinate over 50 Munchkin costumes for our local High school production this fall was on the agenda.  A hand created hat from craft foam embellished with trims and silk flowers was worked on to coordinate with each costume.  Helping sew over 50 pairs of elf looking shoes created from bright colored felt was the final step to making these munchkins come alive.

Net Molds

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Invisible Ink

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Ice Cream Kids Can Make

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Glossy Paint Recipe

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

BBQ Bulletin Board

This bulletin board I created for a Church BBQ held in 2008.  A large invitation was designed with all the important information.  This bulletin board happened to be in a high traffic area so all Parishioners were well informed of their invitation.  Colorful napkins and grilling tools were added to bring color and interest to the board.

Finger Paint

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Double Chiffon Bustle

This dress was lined in bridal satin with a layer of white chiffon on top.  The back had a lace up closer.  When altering the dress this bride requested straps.  I reversed the lacing and laced from the bottom up, placed two loops on the front of the bodice for the lacing to go through and then pulled the straps back through to the back to create straps.  

To bustle this dress it required a double combination bustle.   Nine loops were sewn under the dress and a ribbon was attached under at the beaded embellishment that was placed on the center back of the dress - the ribbon was then threaded through the loops and tied creating a french bustle.  Then two simple thread loops were made and an over bustle was created hooking the loops to a hook just under the embellishment to give this bustle a  Greek look.

Bubble Dress Under - Bustle

A mermaid bubble pick up style dress with a train.

A bustle was created using color coded ribbons and nylon rings.  I used the under bustle technique folding the dress under and into the lining of the back.  This dress required 5 bustle points.

GAK

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

State Fair T-shirts

The t-shirts are complete and the kids look great.  I screen printed the shirts to reflect each one of the kids.  

The screens were exposed for 18 minutes under direct light and then washed clean with the garden hose.  The were not perfect, next years will be better.  With temps as high as 94 degrees expected we decided to cut out the sleeves on two of the boys shirts.  I then serged them and top-stitched them down. 

State Fair T-shirts

Every year we coordinate the cousins when attending the Iowa State Fair.  This year's shirts are turquoise.  The girls shirts are sleeveless tanks with zebra accented straps.  For the boys shirts I choose standard t-shirts. 

When creating the design I cut and pasted clip art to resemble each one of the children. 


This was my second attempt at screen-printing.  I exposed the artwork for 20 minutes under the lamp and then washed the screen with a garden hose.  The screen wasn't perfect but did give us an acceptable end result.  More pictures to come when they wear the shirts in a few weeks.

Box Elder Bug Repellant

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Homemade Dog Treats

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

4th of July Bulletin Board

This bulletin speaks for itself. I enjoy creating unique and eye catching boards for our church to help people think and celebrate our Christian faith.

Big Bubbles

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Crystal Garden

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Bath Salts

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Clothes Whitener

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

Graduation Bulletin Board

A Bulletin board I created for the Graduates of our church.




I have taught thee in the way of wisdom,
I have led thee in the right path...
Proverbs 4:11

Tulip Time Costumes

All Pella Community Elementary school children are asked to march in the annual Pella Tulip Time parades. I made these traditional costumes for our children.
The youth march in Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon parades at 2:00. The first few years we moved here I constructed a handful of Dutch Costumes for clients, I now focus on Bridal alterations and refer clients to some dear friends that have a Dutch Costume Sewing business or refer them to Fields Fabrics to make their own.

In the News

This bulletin board was up for approximately 8 weeks at our church.  Every 2 weeks I would change the postings to include current events. 

A Tufted Bustle

This Bride had lot of ideas to make this dress uniquely hers. We had a champagne colored sash and used lace from her grandmother's and mother's wedding gowns to create accent and a focal point on the front of this taffeta tufted gown.

The back of this dress had pick ups spread through out the trane. I used the French Bustle method to create an elegant and princess look for this bride. I used 5 bustle points to create the finished look. The Champagne colored sash is secured by two tiny doll buttons and crocheted loops that were created on the back side of the sash to keep it in place.

A Traditional Bustle with 3 Pts.

An elegant and simple dress adorned with intricate embroidery work on the top layer of organza. The bride was determined to not loose any of the detail when the dress was bustled.

We opted to bustle the dress using a traditional bustle over top of the dress. Three satin covered buttons were sewn at the waist and thread loops were crocheted into the trane of the dress to create this traditional look.

A Bustle of Silk Layered Pleats

After working on this dress I reworked the original bustle by creating a double bustle with 2 sets of ribbons and nylon rings.

This bride requested a modesty piece be created for the back of her dress. I used some of the fabric from a layer I removed from the front of the dress when hemming it. You might see a safety pin at the center of the lacing string. That is to help keep the string in the center when lacing up the back of the dress. Once the dress is laced then the pin can be removed and the ties are exactly even.

When creating this bustle I used a double french bustle method.

This picture shows the first set of bustle points tied.

This picture shows the second set of bustle points tied.

The finished bustle. Just beautiful and perfectly spaced.

Magic Bubble Paint

As a coordinator to help with crafts at our local Mom's group one year we decide the ladies would make children friendly recipe scrapbooks.  Each meeting the Mom's came together and created 2-3  4"x6" pages that would be placed in a small photo-album.  Once the year was over I continued to add more pages and create books for gifts.

A Bustle of Lace & Layers

Layers and Layers of Silk Lace.
The bride requested I add the champagne colored sash to the bodice for some color and emphasis.

I used the french bustle technique to create this Victorian style bustle. 5 Bustle points were needed to create the finished look.
Plastic nylon rings and colored ribbons make achieving the bustle simple for anyone to create.