"Egg and Cross" wool felt badge, 3" x 3.5"
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Guess Which Bag
Today I have a fun game for you to play...it's called "Guess Which Bag". I will show you pictures of three zippered purses I made for a customer to choose from, and you guess which one she picked.
First, some info about the customer. LeeAnn is a young grandmother who likes teddy bears. I don't have any new teddy bear fabrics, so she asked me to make something to go with blue jeans. All three of these bags have denim for the back and bottom; the difference in the subject matter and color palette.
Bag #1--Apples
Bag #2--Seashells
Bag #3--Sunflowers
Okay, now it's time to Guess Which Bag! (Please hum the Jeopardy countdown music while you decide.)
Did you guess yet?
I personally prefer the sunflowers.
LeeAnn...
chose...
the...
SEASHELLS!!
If you guessed correctly, good for you! (I'm all out of prizes after that big Seven Days of Giveaways last month--sorry!) Thanks for playing!
First, some info about the customer. LeeAnn is a young grandmother who likes teddy bears. I don't have any new teddy bear fabrics, so she asked me to make something to go with blue jeans. All three of these bags have denim for the back and bottom; the difference in the subject matter and color palette.
Bag #1--Apples
Bag #2--Seashells
Bag #3--Sunflowers
Okay, now it's time to Guess Which Bag! (Please hum the Jeopardy countdown music while you decide.)
Did you guess yet?
I personally prefer the sunflowers.
LeeAnn...
chose...
the...
SEASHELLS!!
If you guessed correctly, good for you! (I'm all out of prizes after that big Seven Days of Giveaways last month--sorry!) Thanks for playing!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Felt Badge Obsession
I've signed up for the Felt Badge swap on Craftster, and now I'm seeing ideas for badges everywhere! I really want to stop doing everything else, and just sit in my chair with my felt and scissors and thread! In the past week I've pulled out some things that I had started a while ago and finished them into badges, and I've made a few new ones to "practice" for this swap. Here's my collection so far:
I made the little cloud (below) into a pin for my friend Susan last year, and I came upon this one, partly-finished, in a box of assorted projects; I finished it the way we are doing them for this swap: flat (rather than stuffed) and with a finished, felt back, but no pin or magnet or anything else.
These four (below) are the ones I was inspired to make this week. The carrot design came from a cookie I saw online. The cat came from a piece of fabric; I looked at the fabric while cutting the felt (without tracing of the design onto the felt)--and by the fourth try, I had a cat I liked! The cat badge is 2" square; the carrot is 2" x 1 3/4", and the birds are 1 1/4" square.
The bird and leaves were so small they were hard to hold onto while cutting and sewing them! I love how they came out.
Cats are a common theme with me, and so are hearts.
When my collection is bigger, I plan to display them all together somehow. I will show that to you when it happens!
I made the little cloud (below) into a pin for my friend Susan last year, and I came upon this one, partly-finished, in a box of assorted projects; I finished it the way we are doing them for this swap: flat (rather than stuffed) and with a finished, felt back, but no pin or magnet or anything else.
These four (below) are the ones I was inspired to make this week. The carrot design came from a cookie I saw online. The cat came from a piece of fabric; I looked at the fabric while cutting the felt (without tracing of the design onto the felt)--and by the fourth try, I had a cat I liked! The cat badge is 2" square; the carrot is 2" x 1 3/4", and the birds are 1 1/4" square.
The bird and leaves were so small they were hard to hold onto while cutting and sewing them! I love how they came out.
Cats are a common theme with me, and so are hearts.
I want to have a huge collection of these! If anyone wants to swap one (or a few) with me, please send me an email!
When my collection is bigger, I plan to display them all together somehow. I will show that to you when it happens!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
One Groovy Quilt
Since the age of 14 I've been a quilter; the biggest and best thing I can make anyone is a quilt. So, when I signed up for the Invite Your Partner Swap on Craftster, with the amazing onegroovyday as my partner, a quilt seemed like the obvious thing to make for her. That thought was confirmed with just a quick glance at her Pinterest--she has a lot of quilts pinned--so I knew she would truly love and appreciate a hand-quilted quilt. Here it is:
Anyone who knows quilts will recognize this as a Log Cabin quilt. It has "logs", or strips of fabric pieced into a square shape to make each block; the key is the placement of darker colors on one side and lighter colors on the other side of the block. I had a lot of bold prints and bright colors, but fewer lighter, quieter fabrics, so I sewed some of the fabrics with the "wrong" side up (which is a lighter than the right side) to get good contrast between the lights and darks.
I didn't want the back to be boring, so I sewed together larger panels of the fabrics I used on the front.
To commemorate the occasion, I made this label (below) and sewed it to the back.
I pieced the top on the machine, then did all the quilting by hand. I LOVE hand quilting! There are 48 log cabin blocks, and each one took about 45 minutes to quilt, so that part took about 36 hours. The boarder quilting was probably another 8-10 hours, plus a few hours for the binding--for a total of about 48-50 hours of hand-sewing time. It's hard to calculate the time I spent piecing the top together, but I would guess somewhere in the 8-10 hour range. Each log cabin block is approximately 7 1/4" square, and the whole quilt measures 50" x 64". It's a bit big for a lap quilt, but it's better too big than too small!
I loved making this quilt because the colors are so fresh and pretty! Enjoy it, onegroovyday! (And to all you future swap partners--sorry, I don't think I'm going to make another quilt like this for a swap! I'm keeping the rest for myself!!!)
Anyone who knows quilts will recognize this as a Log Cabin quilt. It has "logs", or strips of fabric pieced into a square shape to make each block; the key is the placement of darker colors on one side and lighter colors on the other side of the block. I had a lot of bold prints and bright colors, but fewer lighter, quieter fabrics, so I sewed some of the fabrics with the "wrong" side up (which is a lighter than the right side) to get good contrast between the lights and darks.
I didn't want the back to be boring, so I sewed together larger panels of the fabrics I used on the front.
To commemorate the occasion, I made this label (below) and sewed it to the back.
I pieced the top on the machine, then did all the quilting by hand. I LOVE hand quilting! There are 48 log cabin blocks, and each one took about 45 minutes to quilt, so that part took about 36 hours. The boarder quilting was probably another 8-10 hours, plus a few hours for the binding--for a total of about 48-50 hours of hand-sewing time. It's hard to calculate the time I spent piecing the top together, but I would guess somewhere in the 8-10 hour range. Each log cabin block is approximately 7 1/4" square, and the whole quilt measures 50" x 64". It's a bit big for a lap quilt, but it's better too big than too small!
I loved making this quilt because the colors are so fresh and pretty! Enjoy it, onegroovyday! (And to all you future swap partners--sorry, I don't think I'm going to make another quilt like this for a swap! I'm keeping the rest for myself!!!)
Friday, March 30, 2012
Cats and Dogs Rule!
This is just my opinion (I have no scientific data to support it) but I think that the vast majority of people love cats or dogs, or both! That's why my friend Susan and I have just opened sign-ups for a new swap on Craftster called "I Love Cats or Dogs". If you are already an established member of Craftster, I invite you to sign up. If you're not, go ahead and start your Craftster profile so you will be ready for our next swap!
I'm excited to craft for this swap, and to see what everyone else makes, because there are so many different directions in which the crafters could go with this theme--we can use any medium, and make any item that we think our partner would like. In the picture above you can see several cat pincushions/stuffies I have received in swaps (thanks wendiek, onegroovyday, and pjr107!), plus the beautiful painting of my favorite cat ever, Toulouse, which my daughter made for me for Christmas two years ago (thanks, Jenna!)
I've always found that dog and cat-themed purses (like the blue one above, and the two below that I just made this week) sell very quickly at craft shows and the local store that carries my work. People just love cats and dogs!
I'm excited to craft for this swap, and to see what everyone else makes, because there are so many different directions in which the crafters could go with this theme--we can use any medium, and make any item that we think our partner would like. In the picture above you can see several cat pincushions/stuffies I have received in swaps (thanks wendiek, onegroovyday, and pjr107!), plus the beautiful painting of my favorite cat ever, Toulouse, which my daughter made for me for Christmas two years ago (thanks, Jenna!)
I've always found that dog and cat-themed purses (like the blue one above, and the two below that I just made this week) sell very quickly at craft shows and the local store that carries my work. People just love cats and dogs!
Right, Q-Tip?
Right, Suki and Sake?
Right, Juniper?
RIGHT!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Helping Update
Last December I told you about my plan to start helping people I see when I'm driving in Richmond, standing near stop lights, holding signs asking for food or money. I made up a bunch of packets of crackers, a drink, and a few dollars, and put them in my car. The first dozen packets also included a small handmade card that said "Merry Christmas, God loves you!" I've since realized that the card isn't necessary; I just say "Here's something for you. Have a nice day!" or something similar when I hand out a packet.
I was so nervous the first time I rolled down the car window and held a packet out to a homeless man! That feeling didn't last long though; after I'd done it a few times, it became really fun! Now I scan the streetcorners as I drive along, and if I see someone standing there holding a sign, I try to time it so I will be able to stop at the light and give him a little gift! (To be on the safe side, I keep all the doors locked and only roll down the window part way.)
I always hold the packet out with the money on top, so they will be sure to want it! Last week, though, when my daughter was with me, we had our first refusal. We were three cars back from the stoplight, and she held the packet out the window. The guy looked at it and made a sour face, then rubbed his belly, and stayed put! I took that to mean he had an upset stomach. A moment later he had second thoughts, and approached our car; Jenna handed him the packet and when he saw the money and the drink, he was pretty happy about it, and thanked us profusely!
A few weeks before that we had our best reaction. Jenna was with me again, and she held out the packet, and the young man came over, exclaiming "All right! That's all right!!" Then he thanked us about ten times, and as the light changed and we started moving, he ran alongside the car for a moment and yelled "I love y'all!!"
I keep a bunch of these "goodie bags" in the car all the time now, so I'm always prepared. It's an easy and fun way to reach out and do some good in the world. If you have the chance, you should try it!
I was so nervous the first time I rolled down the car window and held a packet out to a homeless man! That feeling didn't last long though; after I'd done it a few times, it became really fun! Now I scan the streetcorners as I drive along, and if I see someone standing there holding a sign, I try to time it so I will be able to stop at the light and give him a little gift! (To be on the safe side, I keep all the doors locked and only roll down the window part way.)
I always hold the packet out with the money on top, so they will be sure to want it! Last week, though, when my daughter was with me, we had our first refusal. We were three cars back from the stoplight, and she held the packet out the window. The guy looked at it and made a sour face, then rubbed his belly, and stayed put! I took that to mean he had an upset stomach. A moment later he had second thoughts, and approached our car; Jenna handed him the packet and when he saw the money and the drink, he was pretty happy about it, and thanked us profusely!
A few weeks before that we had our best reaction. Jenna was with me again, and she held out the packet, and the young man came over, exclaiming "All right! That's all right!!" Then he thanked us about ten times, and as the light changed and we started moving, he ran alongside the car for a moment and yelled "I love y'all!!"
I keep a bunch of these "goodie bags" in the car all the time now, so I'm always prepared. It's an easy and fun way to reach out and do some good in the world. If you have the chance, you should try it!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Kindle Cover
In the March Birthday Swap on Craftster, I made a Kindle cover for one of the birthday girls. She said she likes pink and gray, and things that are vintage or girly or sparkly, and I noticed a lot of cats on her Wists and Pinterest. So I dug through my fabrics, and maybe you heard me scream for joy when I found this pink and gray cat print! It's purr-fect!
It needed some sort of fabulous embellishment. I know I love to get things that have been personalized for me, so I added her initial (H for Hannah) inside a scalloped circle. The circle and letter were both cut from wool felt using my Sizzix machine. I happened to have a clear plastic button that adds a little sparkle to the cover.
I made up my own pattern for this, and sadly, my first attempt ended in disaster--the Kindle mock-up I made out of foam-core board could barely squeeze inside--I'd made the durn thing too small!!! When I was feeling calmer the next day I made this one quickly and easily, and the Kindle fits! Yay! And Hannah LOVES it.
It needed some sort of fabulous embellishment. I know I love to get things that have been personalized for me, so I added her initial (H for Hannah) inside a scalloped circle. The circle and letter were both cut from wool felt using my Sizzix machine. I happened to have a clear plastic button that adds a little sparkle to the cover.
Hannah had sent me a birthday gift just a few days earlier--she crocheted these cute little critters that she saw on my Wists! They seem to approve of the Kindle cover!
I made up my own pattern for this, and sadly, my first attempt ended in disaster--the Kindle mock-up I made out of foam-core board could barely squeeze inside--I'd made the durn thing too small!!! When I was feeling calmer the next day I made this one quickly and easily, and the Kindle fits! Yay! And Hannah LOVES it.
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