Category Archives: crafting

30 Days: Day 1 Challenge

Posted on by

When you were a child, how did you express your creativity?

Kids are naturally creative, I think, whether it’s drawing, acting out playing make-believe, musically… I don’t remember being any different. I took piano lessons starting at age 5, and sometimes pretended I was a composer trying to write my own music. I played for hours with the real Fisher Price little people and Weebles family. But, I loved my crayons and markers (aside from coveting my cousin’s Star Wars figures collection). The big box of 64 Crayolas was the end-all-be-all for me and I asked Santa for them every year. Clearly, I made use of my art supplies. My parents kept this drawing.

1984: Creative Writing Assignment drawing

Mom was a nurse working the night shift, so when she took her naps (I was older and more self-sufficient…not like I was a toddler), I remember drawing for lengths at a time just to have fun and keep busy.  I even made my own sticker book and pictures for my friends as gifts. This was one… love the shades on the sun.

Sept 1984: My intro into graphic deisgn as a kid

April 1985: Combining fashion and art

We moved Spring 1985, and that summer was rough. Didn’t know many kids around the neighborhood yet, so my brother and I spent time… riding our bikes, drawing and playing at home. Remember Fashion Plates?

Ed Emberley-inspired

Watching our home being built definitely influenced me… probably why I went into Construction Engineering in college. But back in 1985, I really thought I’d grow up to be an architect.

Then I went back to graphic design… I’m such a product of the 80s.

Later, I got into Altered Books, but I didn’t know they were altered art.  To me, they were my assignment notebooks (Chandler’s, anyone?) and every year, I decked them out with handwritten quotes, sketches, magazine cutouts and a collage cover. I really wish I had taken pictures of those. I would do the same thing to gift boxes – instead of wrapping them, I would cut out pictures and letters from junk mail and magazines. Spelling out birthday greetings with individual letters like it was a ransom note looked pretty wild to us tweens and teenagers.

I’d love to hear how others expressed their creativity… feel free to leave a note.

Celebrating National Craft Month

Posted on by

Who knew, March is National Craft Month, and of course, there’s Martha Stewart kicking it off with her Craft Show and lots of giveaways at her Craft Department blog and also at Craft Critique.

So, here’s the craft-along I mentioned. We’re all busy, we all have those days, but maybe, just maybe this can bring all of us crafters together. I won’t promise 30 consecutive days of Creativity, but this looks like a lot of fun while doing some soul-searching. “30 day” posts will be intermingled with others… that’s what I’m thinking.

And, don’t worry, I’m still cooking away at home. I just have another outlet for my food adventures at Niles Patch.

Project Progress: The T-shirt Quilt

Posted on by

tee shirt quilt

Remember this?

Now it has a backside.

It would’ve been finished a long time ago except for three things.

One – I miscalculated the amount of solid color fabric (Kona Coal) needed and bought too little.

Two – I usually wait until the sales to buy fabric, but Kona Coal is one of the most popular color at our local store which means it’s almost always out. I didn’t attempt to “special order” it, or comb the online stores either. So I waited. And then waited some more. Finally got the end of a bolt last week.

Three – I could’ve just made the quilt back all easy-peasy, but no. I had to get all fancy and try my hand at some wonky squares, and it was difficult just figuring out the final layout. Oh, the amount of sketches I did, and piecing things together on the floor. I told myself, “Sheesh, it’s just a blanket… just finish it already.”

quilt back

And now, it’s done!

quilt back

Going BIG with my first quilt.

Now it’s time to make the quilt sandwich… I have the batting, and a ton of safety pins to put it all together. As much as machine-quilting looks fun, my machine would probably explode if I even attempted to freestyle quilt. So, I think this one will be hand-tied the good old-fashioned way. My daughter really wanted to help out, and I think it’s something we can do together. Any tips on what sort of thread to use? Next time I go to our fabric store, I’ll be asking the ladies at the counter… they’re just as excited that my project is moving along, too.

Peace Day Tote Tutorial

Posted on by

My daughter loves the peace sign, ☮. So when I found this fabric at the local JoAnn Fabric store, I knew she’d like it. She asked if I could make it into a tote bag…uh, earlier this winter. *sigh* Fortunately, I made some time over the New Year weekend and was able to finish it.

What you need

1/2 yd cotton or canvas fabric – print
1/2 yd cotton fabric for lining
1/3 yd cotton fabric for handles
Tools: iron, ironing board, sewing machine (unless you’d like to sew by hand *grin*), large safety pin

What to cut

  1. Cut two rectangles, 12″ x 15″, out of the printed fabric
  2. Cut two rectangles, 12″ x 15″, out of the fabric for the lining.
  3. You’ll need (4) straps cut out of the handle fabric, cut 3″ x 34″.

Sew it up

  1. Put your printed fabric right sides together, pin, and sew up the sides at 1/2″ seam allowance. Press.
  2. Pin the bottom edge (12″ side), and sew 1/2″ seam along the pinned edge. Trim your corners at 45 degrees.
  3. Your tote should be looking tote-ish now, except inside out and the top edge is raw. At your ironing board, fold/flip back the top edge by one inch or so, so that the printed side is showing, press. Then tuck the raw edge in toward the fold. Press. You don’t have to edgestitch now.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 with the fabric for the lining.
  5. For the straps: Pin two handle pieces, right sides together, and sew 1/2″ seam along the long sides. Press seams open and flat on both sides. Turn the straps right side out with the help of a large safety pin, or if you have a loop turner, that works well, too. Finish the other strap the same way. Press both pieces.

Put it together

  1. I attached the handles inside the bag. Take your printed bag, and turn it right side out. Press. Play around with the straps… Once you figure out where you want the handles, pin the bottom raw edge of your handle about 1-1/2″ below the top edge of the printed bag. Stitch in two locations to make sure the straps stay in place (see pictures?). Do this at each of the four ends.
  2. Now take your lining, turned inside out, and drop into the printed bag, so that the wrong sides of each bag are together. Your tote should look just about finished.
  3. Pin the bags together, lined up at the side seams. Be careful with the straps. If you have a free arm on your machine, this would be a good time to use it. Topstitch the bag 1/4″ from the top edge. This will attach the lining, secure the straps and finish the tote. Don’t forget to press to finish.

Catching up on Crafty Inspirations

Posted on by

I love these artists, bloggers and their creations… they just make me drool. Check them out if you dare.

Donna Downey

Image from http://donnadowney.typepad.com/

Of course, this is just a handful of things to check out. I’m completely backlogged with articles to read and projects to finish.

Other random Friday thoughts…

  • I’m excited about working with new reporters at Craft Critique.
  • Still working on the t-shirt quilt, but finished a couple of baby blankets.
  • After hosting a party, I usually have two to three (relatively) unproductive days. I need to clean up.
  • I can’t believe Thanksgiving is nineteen days away.
  • Most of my family will be in the Philippines for Christmas = early Christmas shopping and gifts.