The colors of fall are a rich crimson array of shades and hues, swirling leaves and crisp lively days. The color of October is also pink, Breast Cancer Awareness month. This month's Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop is sponsored by  Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools. We were challenged to use Westcott Brand pink tools in creating a design incorporating
Duck Brand® Duct Tape and VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners . Westcott titanium steel non-stick scissors are ideal when working with adhesive products.

Several of the designers involved in the hop have donated their projects to be auctioned off with Charity Wings for the Breasr Cancer Awarenss Foundation, http://www.charitywingsnews.blogspot.com/2011/10/westcott-brand-and-friends-auction-for.html Westcott Brand has a fabulous giveaway for DCC blog hoppers, A Deluxe wonderful designs for a great cause. Please check it out.                    

Assortment of Westcott Cutting Tools (assortment may vary, US Residents only). All you have to do to be eligible to enter is comment on the DCC Blog Hop Post prior to November 1st. You can also visit Westcott Brand on Facebook. 

Now for the design! There is a Wild Gal in every woman and inspired by the Duck Brand hot pink zebra print I created a ruffled belt and pin. I was travelling while creating this design and it was a very portable project to work on. Westcott Brand Scissors, a roll of Pink Duck Brand Tape and a Roll of Zebra Print, Velcro Brand Closures.

How to:
Outer Flower- With adhesives sides of duck tape rolls facing and aligned begin rolling together. Measure and cut 3'. Begin snipping along strip to 1/4". Roll. Use a 1" circle of tape to adhere bottom of flower.
Inner Flower- Repeat as for outer flower rolling tape together for an 18" length. Fold in half lengthwise. Begin snipping through layers at fold to 1/4".

Finish snipping length and then roll for center of flower. Insert in center of outer flower adhering with Velcro Brand dots. Affix a pin back to end of outer flower. 

Belt instructions to follow tomorrow, now get hopping with our DCC button in the right sidebar and see all of the amazing projects created using Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools

September is National of should I say InterNational Sewing Month. I could not imagine my life without sewing or actually remember any time I was not sewing. Some of my earliest memories are of sewing next to my mother in the summer on our front porch. I had a tiny machine and I made doll clothes from the scraps she had. My mom like so many mothers at the time sewed most of all of our clothes. I remember the summer sewing because my mom also worked outside the home as a teacher so the summer was when she had freer time to sew.

I am taking part in a couple craft shows this fall, the first one this weekend Saturday and Sunday at the Capital Exhibit Center in Fredericton. I have had such fun just designing fabric items for the show. I have been working with soft wools and plaids making posie pillows and small pillow animals. I went back in my patterns to a Scottie Dog which appeared in my first book "Nursery Decor". Popped out a pig and of course added a black cat!

Come by if you are in the area, for the virtual world Monday October 3rd the DCC hops again with out October Pink Challenge sponsored by Westcott Brand scissors. We have been sent some fabulous Duck Brand tapes to work with (hot pink zebra print!) and Velcro Brand closures. Westcott non stick scissors make working with these products so easy! A new round of amazing designs from the Fresh Vintage Sizzix Blog Hop today. My talented designer friend Eileen Hull keeps coming out with beautiful die collections for Sizzix. Happy Creating Everyone! Debra

Today begins the reveal of the new line of Sizzix Fresh Vintage Dies by talented designer friend Eileen Hull. Sixty wonderful designers are involved in the hop for the next six weeks, every Tuesday and Thursday a group of about ten designers will be showcasing their designs. I join in on the fun in mid October.

This is one seriously, amazing creative and innovative international group of professional designers. Be inspired and hop along! Next Monday the DCC blog hop is live with the Westcott Brand Challenge!

Coming up this weekend is a local fall craft show at the Capital Exhibit Center, Fredericton, NB. I will be there promoting my local workshops, my work and some fun fall things.

Happy International Sewing Month! Keep creating & following the JOY! Debra

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, sunshine and warm. Summer lingers here and there while the trees turn glorious shades of auburn hues. I took part of the day to wander downtown, I appreciate the pretty town I live in more each day I adventure.

Fredericton has a long rich heritage and many of the buildings downtown have been lovingly cared for and/or restored. Around the corner from my place there are several homes over the past few months that have been rejuvenated. Watching the progress has been both interesting and enjoyable.

Today I met Amy who lives in one of these lovely homes, she was filling the window boxes with luscious bunches of autumn leaves and plump pumpkins. If ever a house was a perfect fall home, this is it with the bright orange door, striking black trim and window boxes. I love my town!

Yesterday I saw on Facebook a post of an event at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre which is just a few blocks a way. It sounded fun, a crash course in Silk Screening to create t-shirts to support their upcoming Emerging Musician series on Thursday evenings.

The Centre is an amazing place, "opens the door of creative expression to all." There are artists in residence, music and dance programs all held in a building with a rich vibrant history. Walking along the tree lined streets up to the Centre I was reminded again of the beauty and history of Fredericton. The Centre dates back to 1884. It was originally built as a school with six classrooms.

photos courtesy of Charlotte Street Arts Centre

Chalkboards were discovered from a Grade 1 classroom with a class list and are now on display at the Centre. Watching the little ones coming from Irish dance and reading the list of little ones from the past, we create and live history.

The silk screening crash class was taught by a talented young artist Angela Black. She explained the process of taking the drawing having it copied on the photo film, essentially like a photo negative. Placing this with the screen to transfer. Inking the screen and pulling the ink over the design to transfer it to a t-shirt. It was something I really knew very little about and now I understand the process. Plus I have a very cool shirt and supported a worthwhile program! The Centre run by two very passionate women who are bringing art t the community through the programs at the Centre and there many outreach programs.

October is going to be a very creative month, two blog hops, the Designer Crafts Connection and Sizzix Fresh Vintage with the talented designer friend Eileen Hull's new die collection. She is having a linky love party right now for all the participating designers. Check it out with the pretty hop button to the right!

I am revisiting one of my favorite designs from the last Sizzix hop, I combined my love of needle felting whimsical characters with the Sizzix Scoreboards TM Teacup Die. Combining what mediums we most often work in with new ones keeps one on creative toes! Be Inspired...Be Creative! Debra, CEO!

I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog County Fair, a fun brain child of Laura Bray & Vicki O'Dell. Just click on the button to hop along to see all the delightful entries in the County Fair!

I created an entry for the Quilting & Sewing Category. I posted earlier about my meeting Diane Gilleland at Clover's booth this summer. (See below) Since then I have been obsessed a little with creating Kanzashi flowers. With fall coming I have started creating the flowers in wool for brooches to wear on fall and winter coats. I have added extra petals in green for leaves and a stuffed yo yo for center!

"One of my favorite booths to visit at every trade show is Clover's to see what new tools and products they have. At the summer CHA show the most delightful young woman was demoing Clover's new Kanzashi flower templates. Diane Gilleland or Sister Diane as she is known online is the author of a beautiful book Kanzashi in Bloom and the popular online blog CraftyPod, "a blog and podcast about making stuff".

Clover developed the templates to create the flowers from Diane's book. The templates are easy to use. The folded petal flowers are an ideal embellishment and a great way to use up very small scraps. In her book Diane has twenty lovely projects from wearables to home decor. A stunning black and white check scarf is punctuated with vibrant red flowers."

Hi Peeps! It is our favorite day Fowl Friday, with Fran & Freda! So much is happening our heads are spinning! Freda almost fainted yesterday with Kate's news of spending time with the hunky Curtis Stone in the Holland College kitchen yesterday. She has been watching his shows since she was very young (as she is only 19 now!) It has been quite the summer for her first cooking for the Royals and now Curtis!

We are also so excited about the Blog County Fair happening, Debra is stitching up something for that tomorrow. There are Blue Ribbons and everything, we have been polishing up our eggs ready to enter! It is hosted by the very talented Laura Bray and Vicki O'Dell!

It is also that spooky time of year soon. Debra took a trip to the local dollar store for some fun stuff. Came home all a glitter literally. Got out her new favorite cutting tools and mat by Westcott , a STYROFOAM Brand foam sheet and Project Blocks from Floracraft's MakeitFun brand.

Glitzy Witchy Wreath! only an hour to make! See how easy peasy below! Happy Haunting Fran & the faint Freda!!!

Supplies: Make it Fun 12" Foam Sheet & Project Blocks
Westcott Brand Craft Knife, Scissors & Mat
Black glittery boa, glittered spiders, hat with netting, purple & teal ribbon
Black acrylic paint, Brush, Ruler & Glue

Mark 1 1/4" in around the four sides of sheet. Use the ruler width to do this, makes it very fast and easy. Repeat on both sides. Cut along lines with craft knife. Turn over and finish cutting on reverse side. Carefully push out center to use for another project.

Cut two project blocks in half. Paint blocks and wreath with black paint. Let dry.

Start gluing garland trim along front of wreath. Glue along outside edges as well. One garland is enough for both.

Then it is time for the fun! Glue project bricks together to make a mini wall alternating brick pieces. Glue in lower left corner. Glue hat in upper right corner. Stretch netting over entire wreath. Glue on bats, spiders what ever you like. Tie a 24" loop through top and hang! Boo to You!

The space I create in is bright, bold and fun with large windows that look out on the treetops. I believe our spaces have to inspire us, to be a place we love being in. There is a beautiful magazine "Where Women Create" that has inspired me to put together my own studio and home to really reflect my creative personality. Does your space inspire you!?

and did I mention my place came with a retro bubble gum pink tiled powder room with black and white accents. I went a little over the top with it but this loft in the tree tops is definitely a girly place!

Monday I posted some of the elements of the room I work in, here it is all put together. Not showing is the seven foot island I work at, still filling those shelves and adding fun containers! Follow the Joy of Creativity! Debra, CEO!

I am drawn to the color pink because it is pretty, warm, feminine, flirty and fun. It makes me smile and feel creative. Welcome to my pink world, where I live, love & create.

A boring beige chair I covered.

I made a table runner & centerpiece.

Fun little desk area! Love my shoes! Kind of a pink version of the ruby red slippers!

My favorite shelves filled with creative stuff!

The tour will continue this week. Our spaces speak to who we are and how we live. Follow your creative joy always! Debra, CEO!