Bird Bird Bird Craftster Swap

It's been awhile since I participated in a craftster.org swap, but I needed to feel inspired and challenged...and there's nothing like a theme with a deadline to do that. This swap was called Bird Bird Bird, and I like birds so that seemed like a good fit! I tried something new this time - a mini art quilt - and I didn't buy anything new, I only used materials and supplies I had on hand.


The whole box - I used pattern paper for packaging, my favorite way to recycle! I tried to make a package that I would love to receive myself.


Mini art quilt/wallhanging. Measurements are about 8" high by 6" wide.


Back of the quilt with my alberta alberta label.


A close up of the fabric print I made using a stamp, inkpad, and some heavy cotton. This was 1 of 3 lavender sachets i made, the other fabrics I used were remaining scraps from the quilt.

I can't wait to try another mini quilt, and making my own prints again too!

-M

Doll Project, Part 2

Here is the finished project! The four dolls together, and with their happy recipient :)

Doll Project, Part 1

Awhile back, my youngest sister Laura and I decided to combine crafty superpowers and make a gift for our 4 year old niece. We decided on the idea of a soft doll set, in the style of Russian nesting dolls (we were inspired by similar dolls on etsy and craftster). We picked a color palette and had a basic design but since Laura lives in New York and I live in California, we did everything by phone and internet (fabric shopping via camera phone, sketch ideas via email attachment). When we met up in July for our sister Kellie's birthday party, we were able to give the dolls to our niece in person, and see how our project came together - I'm so happy with the end result!
Here are some in-progress photos...I'll post the finished product soon!

Pirate Party!

I made some decorations for my sister's recent pirate-themed birthday party. I tried my hand at making a bunting, and it was so much easier than I thought it would be (I definitely took some shortcuts!) but I might make another one for myself, maybe for my craftroom? I also made a treasure chest (a painted cardboard box) filled with pirate loot (mardi gras beads and gold sparkle foam cut into coin shapes), and a pirate flag (I added a skull and crossbones to a preprinted bandanna).

Australian Bushfires and what you can do to help

Last summer a huge part of the Midwest was devastated by horrible flooding. My hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa is still working to rebuild, it's going to take a really long time. Seeing the images from the fires in Australia right now made me think of the flooding again, and made me wonder what I could do to help.

I came across a great website accepting donations from crafters and artists with all proceeds going the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. I donated an item from my etsy shop and I'm sure they'd gladly accept more items.

Please check out the link below and if you are so compelled, buy something, donate something...help if you can.

http://handmadehelpsout.blogspot.com/



-M

Canvas Project - Patty Griffin Lyrics

I just finished this canvas set for my best friend's birthday. It's based on one of her favorite Patty Griffin songs - we are both are huge fans - called "Carry Me" (from the album Flaming Red).

I took lines from the chorus and broke them down into separate ideas...and then created a fabric collage for each one.

"fading into the tall grass"

   "slipping into the twillight"

  "carry me over the ocean, over the sea"

I added a handmade tag to the back of each canvas :) 

-M

No glass slippers, just glass pumpkins...

I haven't gotten an actual pumpkin yet this Fall, over the weekend I was really wishing I had one. I came up with these cute little guys instead.


Very shoddy tutorial follows...



1. Gather your fabric and clean jars in various sizes (mine once held beans, spices, and artichoke hearts). I simply wrapped the fabric around the jar and cut to size.



2. Make a little face...
3. Cut out little face (I started with an exacto knife and then trimmed with scissors).

4. Wrap fabric around jar and glue at seams (I used epoxy which is still holding up, hot glue or fabric glue would probably be fine too).


5. Add a votive, light, and enjoy the glow :)

-M

It's Birthday Season (Part 2)

My godson, Val, had his 3rd birthday party this past Sunday. I was pressed for time and low on funds so I dug deep into my stash and came up with a crayon roll. I don't think he quite knew what to make of it but he did have fun pulling the crayons out and putting them back in their homes...and his mom liked it a lot so that works for me!

All wrapped up, I love that green ribbon.

The front with his name.

My first time with machine applique...don't look too closely!

The inside: I only had that one strip of the alphabet fabric, so glad to have found a home for it. 

-M

It's Birthday Season (Part 1)

Beginning in July I start to feel overwhelmed with birthdays; both sisters and my brother have birthdays within a few weeks of each other, then my dad, 3 of my close girl friends, then James, and my godson. It doesn't let up until Christmas and then, well, then that's a whole new slew of gifts. 

I've been challenged to use only what I have on hand lately and I'm really happy with what I've been able to come up with...and also a little alarmed at the amount of crap I have stockpiled. 

My friend Jill received the below gifts recently, they seemed to be a big hit and I was quite pleased with myself ;)

Vintage-y compact, rub-on letters, rhinestones...
Background of lettering is a piece from an old watercolor.

How did I have a "J" for Jill button just laying around? It was serendipitous! All are vintage buttons except for the fuschia one. The cork was from a tile that would not stay on the wall.

4 teeny pillows filled with lavender from a long ago project. Finding 4 pieces of fabric in my stash that coordinated this well made me so happy. The leather cord is a belt from a skirt circa 1999...

The whole shebang; the basket once held garlic from Trader Joe's :)

-M

Lots of crafting, not so much with the blogging...

I have been neglectful of this little blog here, but for good reason...I've been crafting up a storm! Most of my crafts end up as gifts in other houses but I was really needing something for my own space. I reworked an yard sale lampshade using the tutorial in Celine Dupuy's beautiful book, "Simple Sewing with a French Twist" (a gift from my sister Kellie). It was a vast improvement from the previous shade which was covered in some scary barky stuff. I pulled this off and just recovered it with some scrap fabric from my stash, hurray for no cost home improvements!
I also made a pillow for the living room using fabric from a vintage apron pattern.  The pattern instructions were printed directly on the fabric. I liked the idea of working the lettering into the actual design and I'm so happy with how it turned out, I only wish I had more of it! The pillow now lives on a chair below our ACL Festival poster, and the colors couldn't be a more perfect match...also fitting is the print looks like little mandolins :) :) :)

-M

I'm so tired...but I'm finally finished!

I'm leaving very early in the morning for a flight to see my family - I'm so excited for my first vacation of the year and I've been scrambling to get all my handmade gifts finished. (Please forgive the poor photo quality - the lighting in my house at this hour leaves much to be desired!) My brother just moved into a new apartment, the first one he's never shared with anyone. I offered to help with his decor and his only requests were, "only black, white, and red...and no flowers or polka dots". I hope he approves of the prints I picked! I also made him a multi-media collage using my favorite photo of us from way back in the day. I enlarged it and converted it to black and white and used the same fabrics I used for the pillows. He may only hang it in his bedroom but I think he'll appreciate it :) Since my nephew is just a baby I know he's stocked up on clothing and toys so I made a canvas set for his wall. I had just a little of the vintage nautical-themed fabric and I amped up the muted (and extremely dated) colors by layering primary colors and prints on top. My niece is only 3 1/2 but she loves books so I made a quickie book bag for her from fabric in my stash. I also included a copy of 'Olivia' by Ian Falconer, one of my favorite children's books. I'm so pleased to be finished with all my gifts...now I can pack and shower and possibly take a nap before we have to leave at 3:30 am (ohmygod!)

Signing off until September 2nd...hurray for vacations!

-M

New multi-media collage, "Sisters"

My family and friends are often my guinea pigs when it comes to new projects. My sisters in particular seem to love my handcrafted presents, which of course makes it totally worth it to make things for them! I wanted to somehow use an old photo I found for my sister Kellie's birthday present. I had some copies made of the photo and I played around with some ideas for a few days until I came up with this. I was happy to find colors and prints in my fabric stash similar to what we're wearing in the photo. I hand embroidered 'sisters' onto muslin and then machine stitched the photo to the rest of the material (I totally didn't think that was going to work, how great that you can sew through just about anything!)

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and Kellie left me the loveliest message after she opened her package, she didn't remember the photo so it was an even better surprise than I expected! I definitely want to try this again and think I'll be offering this type of collage as an option on my etsy page soon.

-M

Project Runway Challenge #1

I believe I mentioned I'm a little obsessed with Project Runway...so imagine my excitement when I found out there were online challenges - you can literally play along with the show! Challenge #1 was to use non-traditional materials to create your design. So I took my slightly smaller supply allowance (they gave each designer $75, I gave myself $25) and went to Long's drugstore instead of Gristede's. I'm pretty pleased with what I was able to craft out of shelf liner, an ironing board cover, some stretchy hair bands and a bbq tent (what? what is a bbq tent?!?) I'm going to do my best to stay on top of the challenges and continue to post what I come up with on here. 

-M