Italian Style Charm Link

BEAUTIFUL American Flag in Crisp Red White and Blue ... Incredible detail on a 10mm x 8mm surface!


Customizing link for the basic Italian style link stretch bracelet. Links are stainless steel with nickel plating. There are instructions for use on the back of the card if you are new to making stretch bracelets.

SEED BEADS ... TINY little gems


Beautiful new selection of Preciosa seed beads ... Sold by the HANK ... Each hank contains approximately 12-14 strands. Each strand is approximately 14-19 inches long and contains approximately 330 beads. Each hank will contain approximately 4000 beads!

Opaque RUBY RED Glass Seed Bead HANK size 11/o

 

Opaque WHITE Glass Seed Bead HANK size 11/o



Opaque PATRIOT BLUE Glass Seed Bead HANK size 11/o

More colors are available ... Please go to the website, http://www.dominionartsncrafts.com/ to see what we have!

YUM YUM !! NEW FABRIC ... 15-piece Fat Quarter Bundles

BLANK QUILTING’S
BLACK & WHITE with a TOUCH OF RED

FAT QUARTER FABRIC IN 15-PIECE BUNDLES!




** Photo is representative only … Sample of fabric available.



• FIFTEEN PIECE Bundles, $45.90 each
• High quality 100% cotton fabric
• 18”x 22” cuts
• Cut & Folded, Direct from Blank Quilting.

 It’ll be fun to order and exciting to see what comes!

Get your friends to order too and then plan to have a swap meet and quilting party when your orders come in!

Do You Enjoy Decorative Painting ?

7" Unfinished Wood Sled

A few new items on the website .... for the decorative painters and stencilers out there :)

Holiday Borders for Stenciling















Plaid brand Stencil Brush Set



Here's an Idea ....

A small but potentially very large gift idea ....

This little wooden "bag" can be painted / stained / stenciled / felted / put stickers upon ... just about anything you can thing of .... except stitched I think :)

It's only $4 bucks and could reap rewards far greater ...

If you have children, just think what fun they could have decorating this for their Grandparents, a teacher, a favorite aunt or uncle ... a neighbor ... this little box could hold trinkets that could be reminders of that special little person much later in the year .... you could fill it with artifical flowers or candy in decorated tissue paper ... give it as a gift to a sick friend or co worker .... see, endless possibilities ! ... if you can part with the thing once you have finished it, that is !

It is small (I prefer dainty), it measures 4-1/4" across x 5-3/4" tall x 2" deep (thick) ... the perfect size to fill with FUN.

In Case You Were Wondering ...

... Only 56 Days Until Christmas :)

Stuck for ideas ?  Here's One ...
An Amazon Gift Card ... Let THEM Decide!

$50 bucks ...
You were gonna spend that much anyway, right ?

In light of the recent events in Chile ....

HOORAY for the safe return of the MINERS !!!!
So very happy for them and their families !!!
Best wishes to them for a speedy recovery, both physically and mentally.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!
Live the life you've imagined"
~ Henry David Thoreau

Ha Ha ! Look What I've Been Busy Learning to Do !!!

Full view of the "pillowcase that came out right the first time"

It's a PILLOWCASE !!  Yay ... it turned out right the FIRST TIME !!  Belive you me, that IS something to cheer about !

Close up of the border fabric and the pattern on the fabric of the pillowcase.

I looked and looked for an easy pattern to follow ... common sense says this should be an easy project anyway. Thankfully, I found http://www.quiltmaker.com/articles/Pillowcases and this $10 fabric (2 - 1 yard pieces for $10 bucks! .. 100% cotton, and it's NOT sandpaper!) at Wal Mart. Actually this is my second pillowcase, truth be told ... valuable lesson learned and believe it or not, significant help from hubby! Really, he was an un-tired, objective eye to veiw the project. 

All of the instructions I found and read said pillowcase projects could be accomplished in about an hour ... hmmm, that first pillowcase took me, well, let's just say that was the longest hour I've ever seen !!  This second one took about half as long, but I can see where it would take about an hour ... I'm getting there :)

Getting this pillowcase done, seeing the finished product ... that's what I love about quilting (well sewing in this case). Really any crafting project. It's such an overwhelming feeling of great satisfaction to see your work finished and looking like it is supposed to ... at least to me that's the feeling.  Like I said above, this is something to cheer about.  Even something this simple.

I have a couple of quilts that are in progress, one or two painting projects that I have all of the "stuff" for that I want to work on so bad I can't stand it, and so so so many beading projects I want to do ... there just are not enough hours in the day.

Life gets in the way of doing what needs done and what you want to do sometimes, and sometimes doing what you want to do gets in the way of life and doing what needs done.

I hope I have inspired at least one person to try this pillowcase project. If I can do it, you can do it. Period. One big piece of fabric that is 27" x 42" and a smaller piece that is 11" x 42" .... really they don't have to be different colors ... look at your own store bought cases ... use the same colors to start out, to practice on or with. Now, this information is the way I did mine .. the instructions show there are THREE pieces of fabric .. another thinner piece still ... I dropped that just to cut down on confusion on my part, I had enough going on :) .. I think it turned out okay without it. 

I learned about the zigzag stitch.  I thought I knew about the zigzag stitch. Hmph!  Handy little thing that dude is, lemme tellya. Stronger than it looks too.  Look inside your store bought case again ... I think those are "serged" really, much stronger than zigzaged (that is HARD to type!) .. but same principal. Helps keep those edges from fraying and helps protect them from wear, inserting and pulling out the pillow. When you get to the point you need to do your case, after you have attached your 11" decorative piece to the case, ZIGZAG the entire piece now ... all the way around. I didn't read the instructions that way and that's why my first case didn't do right I think. I folded before I 'zag'd. I was tired :( 

Anyway ... If you do that, then press ~ NOT IRON ~ press, then fold RIGHT sides together, sew with 1/2" seam on 2 sides  ~~  BE SURE YOU DON'T SEW YOUR CASE CLOSED :)) ~~ you will have a beautiful new pillowcase and that great profound sense of pride and accomplishment ... after you turn it inside out of course :)

GOOD LUCK and  HAVE FUN!  It really is easy ... Just Like Everyone Said. Give it a Try. Make an Easy Gift for Someone Special ... Great for the Upcoming Holidays!  .... You can check our website for fabric ideas ... we've got Marcus Brothers by the yard and we have fat quarters by Hoffman of California ~ they are BATIK ... http://www.dominionartsncrafts.com/category_browse.em?category_id=400271

Humble, Powerful ... TRUE.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

                                                    ~Winston Churchill

Let's Talk BEADING, shall we ?

Similar to the the Owl in the old Tootsie Pop commercials, ever wonder HOW MANY BEADS it takes to get to the finished product ?

Here is a very short "cheat sheet" of BEAD SIZES per inch of wire (or whatever stringing material you prefer)  that hopefully may help you some. 

** REMEMBER ... Lengths are APPROXIMATE and DO NOT include your CLASP, as there is a limitless number of combinations you may use there. **

Beads are in MM (millimeters). 
Stringing material is in IN (inches). 
(SEED BEADS NOT INCLUDED)

5 mm      16"       24"       28"     32"
# beads   82       102      143     164

8 mm      16"       24"       28"     32"
# beads   51        76         89      102

10mm      16"      24"       28"     32"
# beads    41       61        71       81

We have beautiful round Fire Polished Beads in 10mm :
http://www.dominionartsncrafts.com/product_details.em?product_id=1453152

12mm     16"      24"       28"     32"
# beads   34       51        59       68

16mm      16"      24"      28"     32"
# beads    25       38        44      51

This info will help get you started if you are just learning beading and as you go along you will get better at figuring out what you need to do your project. 

Visit our website and our beads and go crazy ! Have Fun ... you can't go wrong.  There is no wrong way to do beading.  You do what pleases YOU. If you intend to make jewelry to sell, your unique creation will be that much more appealing.  Same thing if you give it as a gift.  So you see, you can't do it wrong!

My Good Deed

I wanted to share this with you because I am proud of myself for this contribution. I've gotten mixed reviews from folks about how the kids get the hairpieces (paying vs not paying or how much, etc) .... I checked the website and there is a fee (for some), which stands to reason, but the organization works with all the families and well, see for yourself if you are interested ... http://www.locksoflove.org/faq.html . It makes sense. Nobody can do anything for completely free ...

Anyway ... I wanted to share this in hopes of inspiring some others to do the same.  It's painless and sure does make your heart feel good, knowing you are helping someone less fortunate.  YOUR hair will grow back. I got mine cut on August 13th (ha, it was a FRIDAY too!) and see how well it has turned out :) . It's already a couple inches longer and I'm very satisfied with how it looks. My hairdresser took more than the required 10" off (she got about 12"!) but you'd never know it now. (That's NOT me in the picture by the way!) 

It's a simple thing you can do that takes just a few minutes and can be proud of forever.

Postcard Received from Locks of Love for Hair Donation in August 2010

HOW ABOUT THIS .....

"Take time every day to do something SILLY."

~~ Philipa Walker

The Hardest Part of Quilting ~ Choosing Colors

Over time, this WILL become less taxing and more enjoyable. Mother Nature does it every day! Clothing designers do it all the time, and we trust them because we buy their stuff without thinking twice about it ... look at what you have on now ... be it PJs or jeans or a dressy outfit leftover from work ... or something you created yourself. Whatever it is, it's the same thing when QUILTING ... really it doesn't matter. Sure you want it to look nice, but it's YOUR CREATION, so no matter what you choose, it's GOING TO LOOK NICE because YOU PUT IT TOGETHER. I personally prefer NAVY BLUE and WHITE. EASY EASY EASY !!! Any other color and white you can't go wrong with either ... Red/white, Green/white, Orange/white, duh, Black/White! ... See ... do those a few times then branch out a little, like I was told "get out of your comfort zone" ..

So, TRUST Nature, TRUST your Fabric Shop Ladies, TRUST your COLORWHEEL, and most of ALL ..... TRUST YOUR OWN INSTINCT !!

General Tips for General Crafting

Generally speaking, no matter if you are beading, quilting or painting, if you are a novice or an experienced crafter, it seems like common sense to have "all your stuff" around you before you begin working. It seems like a given ... but please don't overlook this, please don't take it for granted. It seems like, to think about it, that "all I have to do is reach for such and such" or "run to the store to get this or that" ... oh, you will get SOO tired of that! If there are experienced crafters reading this, I'm certain they are thinking "no doubt" or "they'll learn"! I can say from some experience myself that that got old real quick. 

I am the type of person that when I develop an interest in something, I go at it "whole hog" .. so when discovered beading, decorative painting and then quilting, the local craft shops and fabric stores were happy to see me coming ! My den is full of paint jars and wood sufaces that need to be introduced to each other, one corner of my kitchen is reserved for quilting .... containers, my ironing board, and boxes of my scissors and other notions.  We won't even get into the beads .. they are all over the place!

So, I say all that to say this ... again ... please, please gather your tools and materials BEFORE you start working. Make a smart, practical list and take it with you to the store ~ get what you need and nothing more (for the time being :-) 

Get yourself the best possible workspace ~ if it's the kitchen table, be prepared to move your stuff somewhere and somehow you can keep it organized (I have a fishing tacklebox .. it's awesome! works great ... from walmart ... waaaay cheaper).

You have GOT to have GOOD LIGHT and try to avoid TOO MUCH LIGHT as that will cause deceiving SHADOWS! .. experience speaking :( 

I don't have a table top ironing board but my board will fold down kinda short so I can fit it in a small space close to me so I don't have to get up so often ... I learned that was a very nice treat.  My steam iron is an old, old Black & Decker ... I think from 1988 or so .. I wouldn't trade that iron for a Gold one. I can't speak on irons, obviously. I just know you need a good one ... a heavy one is best in my opinion.

Ultimately, you want to have fun at whatever it is you are doing. I have said a lot on sewing / quilting, but really it all applies to whatever you want to do. When I tried my hand at decorative painting, I sat on a couch and used an old coffee table to work on ... the couch was too low and it killed my back! But, it was all I had and I enjoyed the experience. Beading was in my favorite rocking chair for hours on end. There are a few bead samples on my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Dominion-Arts-n-Crafts/139290840504?ref=ts 

Do what works for you, get what you can afford, and don't feel bad if you can't get that fancy drafting table to paint on or the big fabric cutting table so you have room for your sewing machine and all of your fabric scraps and magazines and notions or one of those big beautiful bead organizing cabinets right now. Someday you will.

ALWAYS REMEMBER ...  YOU MUST CRAWL BEFORE YOU CAN WALK.  I tell myself that often.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY ...

"The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead." ~ Robert Brault.

New Charms ....

.... these cool new charms will be added to the website over the next few days.

There are several for Christmas, Halloween and Everyday Messages. 

We have a BALL CHAIN that is 18" that really looks great with these charms.

Please check in and keep up .... YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED :-)

Some "CHARMING" New Items

Charm Measures approx 1" by 1-1/2"

Image shows Front and Back of Charm

Fabric by the Yard ...

... in case I forgot to mention this ...

Marcus Fabrics (Close to My Heart) Collection

Marcus Fabrics (Bonnie Blues) Collection

Marcus Fabrics (Aunt Grace Authentics) Collection

... There is no charge for fabric cutting  :-)

On The Mend :-)

.... the site is up and running again! 

<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

Our website features this Primitive WORD EXPRESSIONS dinnerware ~

Plates, coffee cups and platters.

Reasonable prices + Unique Selection.

it's working ... it's not working ... UGH!!

i'm super sorry folks ... i don't know what the problem with the site is :-(
>> i haven't forgotten about you ... i should have posted something earlier in the week to say as much.
>>>> i sincerely hope monday or tuesday this will be fixed.  thanks for sticking with us.

Facebook | Dominion Arts n Crafts

Facebook Dominion Arts n Crafts

A few new items have been added, with the upcoming HOLIDAYS (wink, wink!) in mind ....

"Word Pottery" in our Primitve Collection

An Unusal 3-tiered Server ....

Wishes - Three Tiered Server

Size: 15" Tall, Plates: 11.13", 9.25", 7.13" Diameter

Pure white plates with well wishes on each level ...
"laugh every day, live every moment and love beyond words" ...
some pretty sage advice, don't you agree?
** this item is on backorder until September ... but I think it is worth the wait ... you can find lots of 3-tiered servers, but I don't think there are any with this much personality! **

Want to Create a Romantic Evening ?

Golden Spice Small Candle

Consider this elegant little candle ... small but powerful ... SPICE Scented

Maybe two or three candles, arranged on a table or mantle ....

other low lighting in the room ....

Let your imagination go .... and let this little candle help out !

Which Is Your Favorite Hobby?

I'm curious to know Which Is Your Favorite Hobby?
     Your answers to this question will help me help you ... I will be able to put better inventory on the website ... stuff you guys like better or are more interested in.

     So, please take a second to click a button on the small survey down below right and let me know if you prefer Sewing or Scrapbookking or
     whatever ... I'm here to please :-)

New Pattern Books by THIMBLEBERRIES

New to Dominion Arts n Crafts.com

Thimbleberries Pattern Books

$8.99 each

There are EIGHT different books

Isn't This NEAT ??!

HOW MUCH FUN WOULD THIS BE TO WORK WITH ???

HOW ENDLESS ARE THE POSSIBLITIES ???

This is part of the
HOFFMAN OF CALIFORNIA
Pre-cut Bali Fabrics
FQB1895 Shaved Ice-477 fat quarters


<><> Dominion Arts n Crafts.com has ONLY 5 Fat Quarters in this color <><>
$3.47 each.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THIS and SEE MORE FROM HOFFMAN of CALIFORNIA:
http://www.dominionartsncrafts.com/category_browse.em?category_id=397569

Bookshelf / Coffee Table "multi-tasker"

How about this for an unusual BOOKSHELF ?

Don't need or have room for another bookshelf ?

Well, then, how about ....

Lay it down and use it for a

GLASS TOPPED COFFEE TABLE!

What a neat conversation piece

this would be in your den or living room ....

or use it in your beach house to store all the shells and fun stuff the kids and grandkids are finding on the beach ....

~~ you know you need someplace to put all the goodies : )

.... think about it .... it's on our website ... http://www.dominionartsncrafts.com/

American Quilter's Society Books added to Website

Hobby books are always good to have on hand ...

for inspiration, tips, how-to's ... even just general reading on rainy days :)

HOFFMAN of CALIFORNIA Batiks

Ah, but this is just a tease ...

BEADALON Stringing Wire ONLINE now

GOT BEADS?

Then you need something to put them on!

Beadalon's stringing wire in .012, .015, and .024, all BRIGHT, 30 feet and sold individually for $8.68, $8.15 and $8.27, respectively.

Please visit

www.DominionArtsnCrafts.com

to place your order.

Quantities are limited.

THIMBLEBERRIES books are listed :)

I have just a few listed ~ I hope you like them. I will get the American Quilter's Society books listed shortly.

Have a great weekend everybody!! Thanks SO much for your interest and keeping up with Dominion Arts n Crafts.com *u*

THIMBLEBERRIES ... Need I Say More ??

I have just gotten some QUILTING BOOKS in .... some Thimbleberries and some American Quilter's Society.  I will get them on the website as quickly as I can ... they look like a LOT of fun .. right much in APPLIQUE and HAND QUILTING....

Tea Clipper Thermopylae 1868 ~ HALF HULL DISPLAY

Traditionally built from hollowed out, stacked planks of alternating color wood. Half models are highly collectable and make beautiful home décor.

While braving furious gales and storms, they passed by lands originally called Terra Incognita.

Their records of passage have been documented and their names are legendary. Half models were built by shipwrights from the Age of Sail as a record of the specific shape of a ship’s hull.

Our Resident GOOD LUCK CHARM !

Just too cute not to share :)

7-piece tool kit for Beading

This is a great little tool kit to have on hand, both at home and while travelling ...

• it zips up to keep your tools clean and safe
• it's small and easy to carry ... fits easily into other bags
• it looks nice too!
• It's only $14.95 and it's everything you need to get started ... besides the beads of course .. but we have those too!

Beaders ... Have You Ever Seen ANYTHING SO BEAUTIFUL ???

Stunningly Beautiful

PRECIOSA

Machine Cut Drop

9x15mm

Crystal Honey

Beads

It is truly amazing to me how something so simple

can be so pleasing ....

COUPON FOR JUNE : )

THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF JUNE, WE ARE OFFERING 10% OFF OF OUR "HOME DECOR / REPRODUCTION" ITEMS (Only)

 For example, this "Sunset Sailors, Set of 4" is $65.00 ... with Dominion Arts n Crafts.com's "dadsday" coupon, you get a really neat gift for Dad (which is actually FOUR gifts ~ they can be displayed individually!) and you can tell Dad you saved money too! It's a WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN situation ...

My 'rookie' efforts at quilting

I wanted to share my photos in an effort to help those who may just be beginning ... and for those experienced quilters too : ) This BLOG leads to a website that has the notions for quilters, but that doesn't entirely mean the owner of the website is the most ~ ahem ~ experienced quilter. Just like beading, I have only recently become VERY addicted to quilting.

This <><> DOUBLE NINE PATCH <><> pattern is from my Level 2 class I took back in January of this year.

It looks crooked from here, but really it isn't ~~ it's just that the navy blue squares are not all the same size, as you can (unfortunately) see in the first picture. BUT, that's quilting, for you "newbies" ... and as my instructor LIZ says, IT'S OKAY! Don't worry about it. And it's true ... it really does take ALL OF THE FUN right out of quilting if you stress over every little part of it. Sure, you want it to be right ... so take care, and try to make it right ... but don't make yourself SICK over it! Then it NEVER will be right, or DONE!

No, this one is not finished. I do have the binding and backing on though.
It is not finished because of the binding .. and believe you me, that's a WHOOOLE 'nother story! :)

TIME TO THINK ABOUT GRADUATION ...

.... it's right around the corner .. if it hasn't already happened! .. from high school off to college ... can't believe it's been 20+ years since i left high school!

are the daughters and nieces interesting in beading ? we have a 7-piece tool kit that will be on the site for only $14.95 next week ... www.dominionartsncrafts.com <><><> check it out ...

Easy and Fun Gift Idea ... Something, too, that may help "break the ice" conversation-wise if going off to College .... A HOBBY to talk about ...

Seafoam Blue/Green Beads

Seafoam blue/green glass BEADS ... smooth, shiny ... oval, flat ... great for necklaces since they will lie flat. These beads are beautiful ... they look like the water in the Caribbean .. at least it's what I imagine! To look at them, they are mesmerizing .........
<><> They are $9.90 for 100 grams and $5.61 for 50 grams. <><>

Pale Yellow SQUARE Beads

Pale yellow.
Flat Square.
Perfect for Necklaces, as they will lie flat.
Pretty, light color for summertime beading.
$9.90 for 100 grams
$5.61 for 50 grams
Please visit our website,
http://www.dominionartsncrafts.com
to order !
Thank You.

Antique Silver CONES, 2-Pack

You can use these CONES to bring multiple strands of a necklace or bracelet together where you attach your clasps, or you can use one or more of them as a unique part in the design itself, say as a separator.

We offer them in a 2-pack for only $4.75!

BEADS, Diamond Shape, PERIDOT Green

These unique glass beads are a beautiful shade of green ... 15 mm long in the stringing direction. We offer them in the 50 gram package which has approx 30 beads and the 100 gram package which contains approx 65 beads. (H08-23) < All bead pictures are taken in full, direct sun to get the best, brightest color effect >.

$5.61 for 50gr and $9.90 for 100gr.

Gold Plated Lobster Claw Clasp

Beautiful shiny gold plated Lobster Claw clasps will complete your necklaces and
bracelets perfectly!
They are a great way to secure jewelry and they are easy to operate.
We offer them in packages of 25 for only $2.95!

Picasa/Blogger-generated COLLAGE

Isn't this NEAT !! This is a sample of the BEADS and FINDINGS Dominion Arts n Crafts.com has to offer, all in one place ... thanks to PICASA and BLOGGER!

I'm finding that this BLOGGING is addicting ... it's much easier than I thought it was going to be !!