Poet Charms

Upcycled Dining Room Chairs

2011-08-27T18:56:00.000-04:00

We've been working steadily along on the move to my new townhouse, and in between all the lugging, loading, unloading and sweating beyond belief, I've also been working on the new to me, upcycled dining room table and chairs. I did some research online, that stated Kilz Original Spray Primer would cut my time in half when it came to prepping the table/chairs for painting. It works amazingly. I filled in all of the dings I could with wood filler, sanded them down, sprayed the chairs with Kilz primer and went to town with the Rustoleum 2 coat coverage spray paint.

Primed Chair

Even though the spray paint indicates that it's a two coat coverage, it still required a second coat. Ultimately you end up with areas of white primer still showing through, so it just makes sense to go over it again. It's taken about a can and a half to do two chairs.

Here is a glimse of what the finished chairs will look like with their new chair covering fabric. I haven't attached the seats yet because I want to clear coat protect them. I found out this week, thanks to mom, that Rustoleum makes a clear coat coverage spray too, and she got me two cans for the price of the normal sealer. I've finished one chair with that this evening and it looks amazing. Now we'll have somewhere cool to sit in the new apt. Watch my thrift blog for all of the fun new items i've come across recently that will coordinate in our new happening dining room/kitchen.

99/44 100% Drawers Don't stick anymore!

2011-08-18T09:38:00.000-04:00

Here's a helpful little tip for everyone. Ivory Soap is not just for cleaning anymore, well I guess it never really was, but I thought this was a great solution. I just finished painting my desk, and annoyingly one drawer decided to stick where the paint met. I chalked it up to the wood being swollen from the extreme heat and humidity we've been having, but as it's cooled off the problem persisted. I went on the hunt for wax thinking if I waxed the drawer and lip where the paint was sticking the drawer would slide open more easily (kind of like using butter to get someones head stuck from between a banister or something). We'll I guess my mother realized what I was up too because she caught me just in time to not use the wax (which will melt and stick the drawer and desk together!! DUH right?!) and said, what I wanted was soap. I grabbed a bar of soap started to rub it on the desk, and what do you know the drawer opens now without sticking. AWESOME! I just had to share this really easy solution with everyone in case you had a similar situation going on in your home. 

The Current State of Affairs...and Garage!

2011-07-31T09:03:00.000-04:00

Let me start out by saying that I always start out with only the best intentions. I know my capabilities and talents, and yets what I don't seem to learn is my sense of time management. Right now I feel like my life is completely up in the air. I'm sure many of you have had this feeling before, like you've taken all the balls of your life and tossed them into the air, only to juggle them in the hopes of not letting anything drop. Well that's what I feel like, like I'm juggling. With all the responsibilites at work, and planning a move, I've gone and added more refinishing to my plate. I'm in this race to get as much done before I lose the use of a garage to do sanding and painting, and let me not even get into all of the sewing commissions I've gotten behind in because I lost twelve weeks of my life from a back injury. I can't be the only one that does this right? I hope there are some of you out there that do this too, because I'd hate to think I was alone.

So anyway, this week I realized that all the tables and chairs we currently owned were too big for the new townhouse, so that sent me on a search of craigslist to see what I could find, and to make a long story short, yesterday we picked up my "new to me" mid century modern dining table and chairs. They are a bit chippy and have seen some wear, but it's nothing that my capable woodfiller, sander, and can of spray paint can't fix. This is where the additional work comes in.

Here is a picture of the current state of the desk I've been working on for a few weekends now. I've lost track of the time and expense, but at this point, all it needs is two more coats of paint. I've finished all of the drawers and put the hardware back on them. For the picture I inserted one, so you could all see just how nice it's going to look. I plan on protecting the surface with a piece of Plexi-glass cut to size. I will first see if I can salvage that from the desk we are already using, and if it won't come clean, I'll just break down and have a new one cut. Jury is still out, but I should have that decided before the desk is in it's new home and the computer gets set up.

I want to take a minute here for a little product plug. Has anyone else tried this Frog Tape yet? I want to just say here that I will never, ever, ever use the blue painters tape again. This stuff does exactly what it says it does and I've never experienced such perfect, crisp paint lines with no bleeding under the tape, the stuff is amazing!!

Here is the current state of the garage! Lot's of furniture, lots of paint, lots of boxes.

And now, Introducing my new table and chairs! I am completely in love with Mid-Century Modern Design, so when I went on the search for a set, I started with Craigslist. This set is sturdy wood with a modern tapered leg. It has a drop leaf that extends the table larger if we need, but with the leaf down it's the perfect size for our new home. They have some nicks and dings, but I'm more than confident that they will all clean up with some tender loving care, new paint and new fabric.

I've already picked out the paint, and bought four cans to start. This Rustoleum paint is amazing at covering in less coats ( I used it on some shutters for my table display and it was amazing), and I just couldn't resist the lure of the robins egg blue. I'll try to post pics as I go of the progress, but all of this furniture will start with the removal of seat cushions and a nice soapy wash down. Well I better sign off here. If I don't get painting soon, I won't finish any of these projects, and the weather will be getting hot and muggy, perfect for drying paint, but I don't want to be sweaty longer than I have too. :)

Desk Prep

2011-07-31T08:30:00.000-04:00

These are just some photos of the prepping process the desk has gone through over the last few weekends. Lot's of wood filler, lots of sanding. LOTS AND LOTS of sanding!

Desk Transformation

2011-07-24T10:54:00.000-04:00

For the last four weekends I have been attempting to refinish a 1950's wooden desk that I have owned for about 11 years now. I got a great deal on it at a thrift store, and knew that I would eventually refinish it, but never got around to it. I've recently been motivated by the fact that we will be moving soon, and I won't have the use of a garage to do the level of sanding, furniture stripping, and painting that I've been used to up to this point, and since the apt. will be smaller this desk will become our computer desk in the main common area.

It had this horrible yellow veneer on it that took almost two weekends to sand through, before I gave up and bought a non-toxic paint stripper, which took 1/3 of the time to remove the veneer. Lesson learned, start there!

Since I was putting on a more modern looking hardware I also had to fill in some of the grooves that were in the drawers, but the wood filler worked well, and then required a bit more sanding.

The desk looked amazing when it was finally completely stripped of it's veneer, but it's at this point you learn a lot about the furniture's maker. For instance the desk is made from different types of wood, that when stripped are lighter and darker than each other. Still it's a fabulous base to work from.

Yesterday I went over to The Home Depot and picked up a simple white semi-gloss enamel paint with a primer already in it, and put two coats on the drawers. With the 90+ degree heat we have been having the paint dried in no time. It's still going to take a few more coats, but I think at this point it's already a remarked improvement. We have a bit of a cool front that came through today, so I'm heading down in a few to tack cloth the desk body itself and then start painting that. With any luck I should have this all done and ready before we start to move in the next few weeks.

After this there's only a few small spray paint projects left, and I will be all finished with the backed up refinishing projects I've accumulated over the last few years!

From Ugly to Gorgeous in Seven Coats

2011-07-02T18:18:00.003-04:00

Finished Mirror with Butterfly Decals

I've been working at my current position at R.I.T. now for five years, and in all that time, perhaps more, there has been, hanging on the wall this mirror. This big, brown, plastic mirror. I've been staring at it for five years, and every time I look at it, it makes me cringe. Well yesterday I took it off the wall, brought it home, and took it apart. Then I brought out my current most favorite creative tool in the world! Ready for it? Insert Drumroll here!

That's right! Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Gloss White spraypaint! I'm in love with this stuff. So anyway, now that ugly brown, plastic frame is white. It looks absolutely amazing! It's gone from Ugly to Gorgeous in only seven coats.

It's almost ready to be reassembled. I'm going to use the last two butterfly transfers left over from the chair on the mirror itself. I bet now there will be fights over it at work! It will impossible to miss now on the carpeted, cement, BROWN (!) walls.

Mary Shrine from an old Sewing Machine Drawer

2011-07-01T10:50:00.001-04:00

I have a laundry list of projects that I have been working on trying to finish up now that I can get back to them, and one was the shrine for a beautiful Italian Mary statue that yes, I did get at a thrift store a few years back. My best friend mentioned that she had picked up a bunch of old sewing machine drawers and I asked if I could have one. It is exactly the right size to house Mary safely on the wall. The drawer was old with holes in the front and top, had a sticker stuck to it, and layers of varnish. It was a mess, but had amazing potential. I started by using WD-40 to get the old sticker off, washed the drawer and filled in the holes with wood filler. Once that was all set, a few rounds of elbow grease and course sandpaper did it's trick on the varnish, and wood filler. All the sides were now smooth and even, and ready to accept the paint. I used a sapphire blue metallic acrylic paint. It took almost five coats, but when the light hits it, it just gleams. It's the perfect color for Mary, don't you think?

I then had to figure out how to decorate the box itself. It deserved something simple, soft and pretty. I drilled two holes in the back inside (formally bottom of the drawer) in order to put the screws in later when it would hang on the wall. In order to cover those, I used a piece of matte board, cut to the size of the back (formally bottom) and covered it with batting and a beautiful snippet of a blue and white floral Waverly sample I've had sitting around. I taped the batting and fabric to the board and slipped it in. It pops out easily for quick removal from the wall if need be. Then it was onto the sides of the box. They were too plain, and the blue was a bit too intense. I picked up some white craft doilies, and glued those to the sides of the box. Then I used the same Waverly fabric to make different sized floral yo-yo flowers with a bead in the center. I'm very happy with how the whole thing turned out. Now I'm looking for a Buddha figure because I'm envisioning him in a box of his own, perhaps, I'm thinking, in copper!

From Caterpillar to Butterfly, My Adventures with a .99 cent chair

2011-06-14T12:31:00.000-04:00

This is the adventure of the .99 cent thrift store chair. It all started one afternoon on a Sunday at the Volunteers of America Store on Jefferson Road in Henrietta. My mother and I had attempted to make a short trip wandering around the store. Unfortunately at the time I was experiencing severe pain in my back and leg due to a fractured disc fragment embedded in my sciatic nerve. That's a pain I don't wish on anyone. I wandered over into the furniture section and found this funny little lonely chair all by itself. I noticed how the price of the chair had been increasingly marked down, and plopped down, letting mom wander the rest of the store until she was done and came back to find me. This ugly little chair turned out to be one of the most comfortable chairs I've ever sat in. It's soft and has exactly the right amount of lower and upper back support. I had heard somewhere that there was vinyl spray paint, so I decided I would give it a chance at a new life. Mom hoisted it into the cart to roll it to the register, and I asked the cashier if it really truly was only .99.

She said it was my "lucky day!" She has no idea how right she was.

The Mark Down

The Big Reveal!!! TA DA!!!

Once we got the chair home, my friend Richard helped me take it apart. It was dismantled right down to the frame, which was in very bad, very rusty shape! I also asked his advice about vinyl spray paint, since he knows a lot about cars, I'd figure that he had heard of the stuff. He confirmed my suspicions and told me what to look for at the auto parts store. I only knew one thing. That the seat and back should be white. Everything looks better white. I also planned to leave the arm rests wooden. We went to the auto parts store and they had every color except white, so I ended up buying the Rustoleum vinyl paint online from amazon. It took four cans to cover, but it worked relatively well.

Once I get a hold of a can of spray paint, it's very hard for me to resist the urge to stop spraying things, so I thought hey, why not have the arm rests white too? I had some Krylon spray paint left over from another project and set to work putting a few coats onto that, once I'd given them a good sanding.

The one thing I didn't count on was the chair seats sticking to my table surface due to the humidity. I ended up with a few areas that peeled away from the surface of the seat, and no amount of re-spraying was going to cover the indentations it caused so I had to come up with a way to cover these areas. It took me two days to come up with the idea to use vinyl wall decorations they sell at home decoration stores. The only criteria was that the images needed to be big to cover the peeled paint. I initially thought great big flowers would work, but in the end went with the butterflies which had a softer feel to them. For the most part they adhered very well to the seat surface, but to be safe I spray sealed them with a clear sealer. Again Krylon came to the rescue.

Then it was time to attack the frame. I went back to the auto parts store where I saw a heavy duty auto grade Krylon Chrome spray paint. I bought three, because I didn't know how it covered. The frame was horribly rusty, so I had to attack it with a wire brush, and a tack cloth. Then I set about to paint. OMG!! I fell in love with that paint. It only took less than a half a can to cover, and it looked amazing. It did however give off a nice fine chrome colored powder if you touched it, so again I rubbed it down with a soft cloth, to get as much of that off as possible and attacked it with three coats of the clear sealer.

Then is was just a matter of screwing it all back together! I think it came out amazing. It's not perfect but then again, what is. It is however beautiful, functional, and super comfy. It ended up costing almost 45.00 in the end to revamp it, but it was totally worth it. It will be less if I take back the two cans of chrome spray paint (but I really don't want too! anyone want something chrome painted...lol) ;)

This is the finished chair. It has gone from caterpillar to butterfly, and it only took four months!

What do you think?

2011-04-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

Vintage Washer Girlies Wall Plaques

This is the first time I've ever been featured on another blogger's site and I'm so excited. She wrote up this really fun story using different items from Etsy that she found. I have been trying hard to get my reselling business of the ground, so this couldn't be more exciting for me.

You can see the whole story here: The Unique Bird

Be sure to check out and join my friend swap! It's going to be fun!

2011-04-01T08:21:00.000-04:00

Karla showing off her stuff!

My friend Karla of Pinkdotties fame is doing a swap on swap-bot of handmade hair accessories! I wish I could do it, but that doesn't mean you can't! Check it out here!

Reclaimed Vintage Fabric Coasters

2011-03-22T08:50:00.002-04:00

Reclaimed Vintage Fabric Coasters

I have a stack of fabric that is just waiting to begin it's new life as these little lovelies. The wonderful thing about these coasters, aside from the fact that they are up-cycled, is that they are washable. Just toss them into the laundry with your clothing, and they are ready for the next round. They are lightweight and child friendly too. Recently a woman purchased a set of them on my store because her little girl kept picking up the stone ones she had around her house, and she was afraid she might get hurt. I thought "wow, great idea!". These brown ones are a particular favorite. It's difficult to see in the picture but there is a gold highlights. I backed them with a regular solid brown cotton.

Reclaimed Vintage Fabric Coasters

These were made out of a pair of old linen napkins. They had a great mod organic design in green and blue. They came out really nice, and look puffy from the quilting. Since I had two napkins I was able to back them in the same fabric. I hope to list them in the store later today.

Quilting Details

Of Rasta hats and MRI dreams....

2011-03-15T12:36:00.001-04:00

I won't lie to you when I say that it has been an incredibly slow start to the new year for me. Having been waylaid over the Christmas/New Years Holiday with horrible back pain and muscle spasms that lasted over six weeks, I was excited to get back to work and life three weeks ago. Last week I began to have sharp pains in my side and down my leg primarily while sitting so I went back to the doctor to hopefully dig a little bit deeper into why it might be doing that. I have an MRI tomorrow, and I've never been happier to be shoved into a small cramped space. At this point I'll do anything if the pain will go away. My ice pack and I have been best friends for three weeks. The thing that has really driven me nuts is that I'm just not back up to full speed. There are so many projects on hold and no matter how much I want to there is no way that I am completely back to a full life yet. I have been able slowly to work on one or two things, but not for long periods of time. The hat and scarf set above was a custom order that I'd had since December. Since I spent the majority of Saturday on the couch I figured I would knock it out of the ball park. It came out better than I expected, but I don't know why I didn't take a picture of it completely finished. It's on it's way now to the new owner who I've heard vague rumor loves it. Now if I can just get to the two half completed baby quilts, life would be complete, and I could move on to the things I love. Listing things on my store and making things for my store. Well hopefully tomorrow I'll have some concept of what my body is doing and where to go from there. Fingers crossed I'll be back at my sewing machine soon!

Back in the Spring...I mean Swing of things!

2011-03-01T08:14:00.000-05:00

 Purple Floral BOHO Bag 

Above is another one of my BOHO Style bags. It's 18x22" and is made from a wild floral fabric. It's just so bright and colorful, and lets face it, for those of us who have been under a lot of white stuff lately it's so nice to have some bright color now and again.

It's been a long winter for me and now that I am no longer cooped up and on disability I feel compelled to make up for lost time. I've been doing some cleaning and re-organizing of my studio, since I've decided to take a break this quarter from academics, and get life back on track. I've been discovering all of these items that I've made and been stockpiling, and I've been putting them, a few at a time on the store. It's a slow go considering how much I actually have made, but I'm determined.

Reclaimed Vintage Fabric Coaster Set

These are some of the reclaimed fabric coasters I've been making, when I come across scraps of fabric that work well for them. They are generally made from fabrics left over from vintage reclaimed tablecloths, napkins, or clothing. The fabric is quilted to a piece of 100% cotton batting, which makes them more Eco Friendly. It's just another small way I'm attempting to keep as much fabric out of the waste steam as possible.

Reclaimed Fabric Coaster Set (SOLD)

And then there are these, my fabric "cup cozies". I absolutely hate that we use the cardboard ones and then throw them out. It's an incredible waste. I make these, again, out of snippets of reclaimed fabrics, many times vintage, and use cotton batting inside. They fold flat and are great to keep in the car. They are also washable which makes them more environmentally friendly because you aren't going to throw it out after one cup of coffee. It's a small personal mission but every little bit right?

I'm really looking forward to Spring and March/April in general. Not only is March my birthday month, so there will be much celebrating on my part, but it's also national craft month. A happy coincidence I believe. I have a fair amount of commission work that I will be catching up on over the next few weeks, which include two baby quilts and a Rastafarian hat and scarf set. I'll be a busy little worker bee for sure! I also plan to keep working on listing all of my vintage finds on the store as well. For a small preview you can check them out on my other blog: thethriftgift.blogspot.com.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Macabre Oozing Skull Hand Embroidered Pillows

2010-12-20T11:44:00.000-05:00

If you haven't met my dark side yet, you'll quickly discover that I love the macabre, so when I saw this embroidery pattern from urban threads I didn't hesitate for a minute to put it in my cart. The oozing skulls are worked in red embroidery thread on black cotton, and then stitched up into a 16" Pillow. For something different the backs of the pillows are a coordinating cotton fabric. They will be listed in my store soon, and will be sold individually, but can go as a set if the buyer prefers.

Christmas Crafting: Possible Spoiler Alert

2010-12-20T11:20:00.001-05:00

I didn't do as much handmade Christmas crafting as I usually do each year, I think mainly in part of the commitment I made to going back to school, and the heavy homework load, but this is just a spoiler of one of my recent projects. The nativity scene is hand embroidered red work and the fabric is vintage from the 1950's.

I'll post more detailed shots after the 25th! ;)

UPDATE: 3/2/2011

Here are the pics of the full pillow with the red work nativity in the center.

Work Themed "WORD" Snowflakes

2010-12-20T10:54:00.000-05:00

"print"

This year I've been attempting to come up with fun, inexpensive ideas to decorate the office. After putting up the stocking, across the front of the student workers desk, and having fun with the office ladies leaving little gifts and candy, I thought why not make up some paper snow flakes. To add a twist to them though, I wrote words, and very carefully cut around them, with a very tiny pair of paper scissors. They came out great! The fun thing is that it's not instantly apparent that there is a word used to make the snowflake so it's been great watching people try to figure out what they say. Here are some more pics.

 "SPM" Short for School of Print Media

Snowflakes as they were originally cut out  

 "type"

Snowflakes 1/4 open

I MADE THIS: 2010 Screen Printed Holiday Postcards

2010-12-10T08:21:00.000-05:00

I try each year to make my own holiday greeting cards, and this year I think I've gotten them done just in time. I screen printed these on my personal YUDU screen printing machine. Funny story, these took forever because I thought I needed to buy a 220 mesh screen and more emulsion sheets, and so I did, which both became delayed in shipping. When I went down to my studio to clean up the screen printing area, in order to prep for printing, I realized that not only had I already purchased a screen, but that I even had two emulsion sheets left. (Moral of the story: Shop in your own stuff first!!!). I really enjoyed how much more professional the screen printing looks after using a finer mesh, and leave it to me to make a black Holiday card, but the white really pops off it! Of course the black ones were a short run, and only for a select few who grasp my dark humour. The majority were printed on red. Look for them soon in your mailboxes! Only 15 more days to go! ;)

2010 Faculty & Staff Winter Craft Sale at RIT

2010-12-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the R.I.T. Faculty and Staff 2010 Winter Craft Sale. This is the sale that I work all year towards, and this year was great! I put a lot of thought into making the most eye catching booth I could this year, and at first I thought that I had brought too much stuff with me, but it all fit and worked out somehow.

 I have two criteria when it comes to doing shows; 1. The booth must be colorful with modern items and 2. it must all be compact and easily transportable. The weather yesterday was very cold and it took three trips to walk everything inside, but my lovely grad student, Jade, who make the crochet octopi I sell for her, was there as soon as I got in, and helped me lug and unload, and then we were met by my other grad student, Jeanette, and they all helped me set up. What awesome girls! Thanks to both of you! 

I had a great day, a lot of people took our cards, we sold so much that when we packed up we had two empty boxes (that's never happened before) and we were photographed / interviewed all day long. Phew! 

It was just such an incredible success, that I had to keep up with my store all day, removing items from it, as they sold from the booth. Thank god for smart phones. This is also my last sale for the season, so I'll be starting to post all the rest of the items on my store, and then start/finish up my Christmas crafting. Only 16 more days to go! 

 My Mom and Helper Elf, Elaine of the Craft Zone, had a good day herself with the sale of a number of bags and even an apron! 

 Part of C.I.A.S. Row, Shawna Newcomb and her business partner were selling beautiful jewelry. Somehow the College of Imagine Arts and Science girls monopolized the front row, and that was fun!

This is how compact i travel. Light and Easy to carry, but on the way out instead of making three trips, I borrowed the cart for one instead! Now it all starts to get put away, back in the studio! Wish me luck, and Thanks to Everyone who was able to stop by! I really appreciated it.

Store Update: Hat and Scarf Sets

2010-11-27T15:11:00.000-05:00

This year has been a very busy one for me creation wise, and my poor studio has been overflowing with finished projects that were just waiting to be listed on the store, but never seemed to have gotten there. I figured, since I had a five day weekend due the Thanksgiving holiday, it would be a wonderful opportunity to take some time to photograph, edit and list some of them in the store. Up for grabs are these beautiful hat and scarf sets, pefect for both warmth and fashion. There's also a 10% sale running so they are even more affordable. http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoetCharms

Black Friday Sale on My online Store 11/26-11/29, everything 10% off

2010-11-17T09:16:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to post that on Black Friday I will be hosting a 10% off sale on my Poet Charms online store.

The sale runs from Friday 11/26 until Monday 11/29. If there's been something you've been looking at for a while and considering purchasing this will be a great opportunity to pick it up for you or a friend! Happy Holidays everyone!

Late Fall flowers

2010-11-11T11:51:00.000-05:00

There's still a fair amount of fall color hanging around. I love this time of year, don't you?

Church Ladies

2010-11-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

This weekend was my first of two shows for the season, and I know now that all the kinks are worked out, so the RIT show on December 8th, should go smoothly. The booth looked amazing, but I've decided that I most likely won't do the show at this church again in the future. I'd forgotten that they weren't my target market, being mostly older senior ladies, who would do a quick glance, give a hrumpf and move on. The day was slow, although I did have a run on crochet octopi, scarves and hats...lol. I'm usually just happy to make my table fee back, which we did, so I don't consider it a total bust. I also was very frustrated by the little old lady who was assisting a friend at the booth across from mine. She was very keen to tell me what I was doing wrong, fiddle with my displays, and even spent some time table blocking me, by gossiping with a friend who came to perusing the show. All I could think was, what kind of Christian are you bad mouthing your other friends in a church?! It always amazes me how easily it is for people to slip into this mode and forget how to treat people.

Craft Show Booth Prep: Four days to Go!

2010-11-03T09:20:00.000-04:00

My first show of the season is this Saturday at the Atonement Lutheran Church on Westfall Road. I've known this show has been coming up for about two months now, but somehow the fact that now it is only four days away has pushed me back into overdrive. Remember how I'm trying to balance work and homework in there too? Oy! I'm happy to say that it's coming along very nicely! 

I'm getting very excited for the show, even if it only makes me a little money that will be enough, and the goal was to get my feet wet doing this again anyway. I've attached a few photos here of my preset, which I put together last night in the CraftZone. Thank you mom for the use of your table! I'm trying to work out the spacing to make things go a bit faster when the actual set up up happens Friday night. 

My goal this year was to try and streamline the table, making it simple and clean, and also try to go UP with the display space. A few weeks ago I posted about how I found everything I needed to finish the display in one round of Sunday Thrifting and that rocked, when it came to getting things finished up display wise. Purses are hard to display when they are just stacked flat on the table, and I wanted the table to be interactive and allow people to pick things up and look at them. The white base for everything assists with all the different colored items popping off the table. So far I think it looks pretty decent, what do you think?

Happy Halloween from a Modern Stone Age Family!

2010-10-29T21:21:00.001-04:00

Greetings from the Flintstone/Rubble clans. Today was awesome! Somehow it all came together, as it usually does. The costumes were finished in time and everyone who said they would turned up to play their part.

We started the day, as we usually do on Halloween at work, by dressing up, and then slowly wandering into each other offices and laughing until our sides hurt. This year was no exception. We even wandered around the majority of campus to a repeating track of "Meet the Flintstones", which is the height of hilarity, because people just really didn't know what hit them, and it advertised we were coming.

While processing, Dino was in rare form. He ran down deserted hallways, jumped up on chairs to stare at people behind glass windows, went though the lunch line in the SAU, and even got back at some heckling students who yelled "BAD DINOSAUR!" when we walked by them. I won't lie, watching students throw a plastic bone so Dino can run and return, nearly caused me to wet my pants right then and there!!!

Bam Bam even got a bit over zealous with the club, and broke it about half way through the trek. That's one tough kid!

I'll be posting more photos on facebook over the weekend, so don't forget to put the cat out for the night, and Happy Halloween everyone, this Betty is out! ;)

Betty Rubble's no square: She's round, very round

2010-10-28T15:03:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is the group Halloween Celebration at work. Everyone's costumes are done with the exception of my own. I'm Betty Rubble. All the other costumes were very nice, and went together from the image in my head to the sewing machine very nicely, and I have no doubt that mine will all come together after a few hours of work tonight. I've imagined some interesting scenarios for Plus size Betty, that included a box of donuts, chocolates, some smeared mascara, well you get the idea. The hardest part of this costume has been working around the fact that this Betty will be round, VERY ROUND! How do you make a skin tight costume work on a girl with no real angles and ALL CURVES????? It's coming down to the wire, but I'm confident, at least that this plus size Betty will be ready to rock ,and Bedrock Bowl with the best of them tomorrow, blue bow and all, Bam a lam a lam!

Halloween Countdown: Four costumes in Four Days...can she do it?

2010-10-25T12:29:00.001-04:00

The Halloween countdown has begun! This years theme: The Flintstones.

My current to-do list includes:

~~Fred (tunic and tie and triangles)~~ DONE
~~Barny (tunic, need to find a black shoelace for the tie)~~ DONE
Betty (dress and choker)
~~Wilma's mother - time depending~~ DONE
~~Bam Bam~~ DONE!!!
~~Download Flintstone Theme song~~ DONE

Being an avid sewer leaves me wide open to people telling me their desire to participate with only two weeks to the day. We do actually try to start this in May every year, but it never really works out. I really did not feel like doing much more this weekend that sitting on the couch watching movies,and crocheting a scarf, which I don't mind saying I did. When it came to Halloween costumes I only managed to get to Walmarts for a brown and orange sheet, and cut out Fred's tie (which is in pieces across the cutting table).

I don't doubt it will all get done, but I am not going to lie, when I say, the fun has gone out of it a little, of course I do get to put it on my review at work as student retention, so at least that's something, and on Friday it will all be worth it.

As for my plans on Halloween Sunday itself: I'm making sugar cookies, putting on my devil horns, wrapping up with a blanket and a cup of cocoa, and watching a horror movie marathon.

Banner for Craft Table

2010-10-20T09:27:00.000-04:00

I had gotten this cool idea that it would be fun to make a pennant banner that would hang across the front of my table at the shows, or even across the shutters in the future. The goal was to put the letters spelling out my business name on each of them, with my little bird Avitar that Karla designed for me separating the two words. Once I started I liked them better plain.

I bought five yards of this blue fabric yesterday to make them, and even though I didn't need that much, if you have ever gone to a fabric store on your lunch hour, a week before Halloween, you know it's best to buy a bunch of what you are there for right then and there, because going back and getting in quickly will not be an option for a while.

Making the little scalloped pieces was easy. I traced them onto two sandwiched pieces of fabric, stitched along the traced line, and then cut them out. Once flipped right side out, I pressed, top stitched, and then made the bias tap to attach them too. I was up pretty late working on them, and hung them in my room to get a photo before passing out for the night. I like them, and now want to make more to hang all over the room, and maybe even the house!!

BAM BAM Halloween Slam

2010-10-20T08:23:00.000-04:00

This time of year is one of my favorites, it's also my busiest time of year, with craft shows, Christmas craft creating, homework, a full time job, and oh, yeah, did I mention Halloween is next week?? My co-worker and I made a deal a few years ago that she would wear a costume on Halloween, if I could come up with something that slipped on over her normal clothing, she could sit in it, and it didn't have a hat. Every year, hers is the easiest one for me to concept. This Halloween the theme at work it the Flintstones. I have the entire Rubble family's costumes to make, and now Fred. My co-worker is BAM BAM Rubble, and she knows why! LOL! Her costume is above, at least the beginning of it anyway. The fuzzy sash has to be hand stitched on and then cut to look like an animal skin, and the black triangles ironed on to the little orange "skirt". We even bought her a little plastic cave man club!! BAM! BAM! BAM!

Sunday Thrifternoon!

2010-10-18T09:33:00.003-04:00

Preparations are coming along nicely for the craft show that I am doing in three weeks. Wow! Three weeks already, man time is racing. This weekend I had a small list of items that I was still looking for to use as display on the table, and darned if the Universe didn't provide them all at a fraction of the cost.

The list included: Another shutter/bi-fold door, a white sheet, another small wicker shelf (like the one pictured above), and a white turtle neck to use on the bust above. Ask and ye shall receive!

The bi-fold door I found on craigslist.com for $5.00 from someone in Brockport. It was brand new in the package. It's solid mahogany, and I'm going to be bad and paint it. It's in the garage awaiting a cut in half, and about 5 cans of spray paint.
The little wicker shelf I was certain I would not find again locally and had plans of actually spending $20.00 for one on Etsy, but mom has a good eye and found one for $3.99 at the Brockport Volunteers of America Store. It's came home green, but already has one coat of white gloss spray paint. It will match the one above in the picture.
The white sheet I found for $2.00 at this Barn Sale on Rt.104 almost to Holly. We stop there every now and again. It was a JC Penny Full Flat sheet, brand new in the package! Hello tablecloth!! I hope to created a pennant banner to hang across the table in front of it. (I just keep adding to the list don't I).

The turtle neck shirt was $3.99, also at the Volunteers of America store in Brockport. It was pristine, with the exception of a small red cardinal on the collar. I came home, flipped it inside out,cut off the sleeves, and started fitting it tightly to the bust. Now I just have to glue the collar and bottom of shirt to the inside and it's brand new (and white). Perfect for displaying my aprons.

I've had this bust for about four years now, purchased from craigslist.com. It's hand made for sure, but strong. The only problem is that it's ugly and covered in this horrible cheesecloth type material. It also isn't practical for using when it comes to displaying aprons, or items that are long. My goal was to make it pretty and portable. Here's where I started:

The bust, when it was made, had a wooden bar across the center of it. In order to make it higher, I bought two threaded flanges and an 18" threaded pipe. Initially I spray painted the pipe, but then remembered I had just enough of this vintage contact paper to cover it. You have to think to yourself, who would contact paper a pipe? Me, it's all me.

The turtleneck that I picked up at the volunteers of America thrift store was then used to cover the bust. I flipped it inside out, and started fitting the shirt tight to the form. It took a lot of pins, and even more stay stitching, but once it was sewn up, and flipped right side out, it's very form fitting, and looks great! Now I just have to glue the collar to the inside, and the bottom to the underside, and it will be all done.

Now, what to do about a base?? It stands fine now, but if someone knocks into the table it could be a problem.
I love thrifternoons don't you?

Is Clutter an American Problem??

2010-10-14T12:08:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of

http://kasparasregnbue.blogspot.com/2010/10/lopper-i-blodet.html

The more I look at these delicious images from the Norwegian blogs, the more I think to myself, "wow! how do I streamline my life so it's this clean and simple?" I'm a creature of clutter, I love nick knacks and dust collectors! My room, studio, and closets are all full of "stuff". Have I fallen into the American consumer hole?? Can I live with less? I'd like to think I'm working on it, but it's hard, and somehow I don't think I'm doing enough. I've become attached to the things I own. It's hard to not bring home more, and when I do I usually have an excuse to justify the purchase. So, here's my mission. I'm going to go home and re-evaluate everything, figure out if these things are really important, or can I live without them? I have a feeling that there's going to be another round of donations, so family and friends beware!! For a girl who just naturally has "stuff" thrust upon her, this could be an earth shattering decision, and it's doubly compounded by my desire to not waste anything. Wish me luck!! I'm already hyperventilating!

Crochet Critters

2010-10-13T09:44:00.000-04:00

Jade, of Crafty New Yorker, and one of my grad students, brought in a bag of her crochet octopi that I'll be putting out for her at my upcoming sale. I couldn't resist this shot, because they just kept looking at me. They are cute aren't they? They even have their own little boxes with air holes that they will go in. As far as prepping for the upcoming shows, things are moving along nicely!

I may live in NY but my Heart belongs to Norway

2010-10-13T09:16:00.000-04:00

It's decided, I need to move to Norway, lol!! My grad student Jeanette forwarded me a list of amazing blogs, that I am itching to read more of, the color, the light, the crafting, MY HEART STOPPED!! Literally it skipped a like three beats! Talk about inspiration, I can't wait to jump head first into all of them.

Check them out:

http://husetvedbekken2.blogspot.com/

http://kasparasregnbue.blogspot.com/

http://fargesirkelen.blogspot.com/

http://epla.no/handlaget/kategorier/accessoirer/vesker-og-sekker/

Buddha Pillow for Jeanette B, if she wants it??

2010-10-12T10:19:00.002-04:00

When I was experimenting with my personal screen printer, I got a very short run of the Buddha image before the image broke down and the screen needed to be cleaned again. This image of him above was a test run on white muslin, that I just didn't have the heart to scrap (something about tossing a deity in the trash just doesn't sit right), so I dug out a bunch of black and white scrap fabric to strip piece a pillow together, and insanely decided to put a black ruffle all the way around it. I will think twice, before I do that again, or at least until I've bought a ruffling foot for my sewing machine. I then got out my 100 stitch embroidery sewing machine(which spends most of it's life safely in a case on the shelf) and added the white stitching. I like how it came out, but have decided not to list it on my store.Instead I plan to give it to one of my grad students, who comes in to visit all the time. She's also one of my blogs avid followers, and I appreciate that, so this is for her. If she wants it of course! ;)

Weekend Craftiness!

2010-10-11T09:58:00.000-04:00

I've been spending a long time building up to the point I want to take my business, and I think after all these years I am starting to finalize the direction I intend to go, which feels AMAZING! I've been working diligently around the clock lately to do all the creative and marketing for my store/blog, and I think I'm starting to see the light. It's not easy to do both, and juggle everything else too, but right now it's mostly time management, and that's o.k. We are all superwoman after all, right? This weekend was incredible. I managed to get so much done. I made three more BOHO bags, and cut out two more, finished four pillows, one that I started embroidering Friday night, cleaned more of the studio, created a storage/store area, printed out new business cards and labels, and began packaging the items. I somehow, even managed to find time to photograph all the items and get them listed on the store. I feel so good about the direction I'm taking life right now, and it's also safe to say that I count the hours until I can get back into the studio for another round!

Hand Embroidered Dandelion Pillow 16 x 16"

Floral BOHO Bag 18 x 22"

Black and Green Floral Corduroy BOHO Bag 18 x 20"

Pair of Screen Printed Buddha Pillows in Red 16 x 16

Buddha Pillow Detail

Red Mandala Apron

Red Mandala Apron Hidden Pocket Detail

Boho Bag Round II

2010-10-07T08:17:00.000-04:00

OK, what about this one? I really like this style of bag! It's definitely my new favorite! I want to thanks everyone who recently made comments about the one posted I posted the other day. I can't tell you what your compliments mean to me. I usually just keep plugging along, in the hope that someone will like my work, and at some point want to buy it. This one I made last night, and WOW! The fabric and the style play perfectly off each other, don't you think? I have pulled out a stack of fabric that's been around  my studio  forever just for these bags, and I plan on listing them on the store this weekend. By then I hope to have two more done, so there should be a nice selection. The bags are 18 x 22", which makes them good sized. 

I'm pretty sure at some point, I'll be using this fabric again to make one for myself, which will hang prominently in my own closet, but this one will be up for grabs to some lucky person, so keep an eye out for the store this weekend. This is the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PoetCharms

I'm also enjoying my recent decision to focus more on taking this business to the next level. I've been working on packaging and displays, all in preparation for my shows. My studio is going from storage to store, and that was the goal. The organization keeps getting easier. Instead of going home and watching three hours of TV, I spend that time in the studio working, and it feels incredible. I mean come on, I can watch reality TV, or live in reality. This is the better choice. 

Thanks for looking everyone! Have a great day!

Bohemian Bag: Watch out Vera Bradley!!

2010-10-05T09:17:00.001-04:00

As most of you know right now, I'm pretty busy prepping for two upcoming shows, and attempting to do homework plus a full time job as well, so In an attempt to take back some of my life I have decided to spend less time on Facebook (which I had been doing a lot of) and more time in the studio, in order to prep. There's so much to do! I guess I'm considering it Hermit mode somehow, and with the rainy, fall, Rochester weather hitting us hard at the moment I'm fighting hibernation mode pretty hard. So, anyway, I discovered a new bag style for this year. It's a Bohemian style bag, and uses elastic at the top to cinch it closed. This one is made from a really funky corduroy that I bought the whole bolt of at the end of the season last year, and has a simple gray lining. The rings are reclaimed from another old purse and look amazing. After I made this one I decided to shorten the handle so it's more of a shoulder bag than a sling. I have about six more cut out and they only take about an hour and a half to make. I plan at some point to make myself one too. Watch out Vera Bradley! Here I come!! 

Prepping for Craft Shows

2010-09-27T12:34:00.000-04:00

It's safe to say at this point that I have been spending every available spare moment I have prepping for my two shows that begin in November. Yesterday I spent nearly eight hours in my studio, and the to-do list was knocked down quiet a bit. It felt good, but by the end of it, I knew that I had been hunched over a sewing machine for most of it, and I'm very tired today, but still motivated to be crafting. I made a list at the end of the day, and had nearly 14 finished items, and that was awesome. These are just some of the products I have finished. They are 16 x 16" throw pillows with hand embroidery that I did on the ride to the Cape this summer. I plan, at some point, to put them onto the store.

Angie's Apron

2010-09-20T08:17:00.000-04:00

This weekend was pretty productive business wise. In the last few days I've been doing more commissioned work, and tomorrow night have a meeting with someone about making a quilt from her daughters baby clothing. My favorite finished project this weekend, and I feel good that there were a number of them for the time I had, was this custom apron for my friend Angie. I couldn't resist a small unobtrusive ruffle on the pocket. It gives it a little bit of a feminine flair. I am actually amazed by how well I matched the pocket pattern to the apron. It blends right in, and you wouldn't see it right off. I really like this one, and I hope she likes it too!

I MADE THIS: Embroidered Pillows

2010-09-09T13:07:00.000-04:00

Always being one to use every spare minute I have to do something creative, I used my eight hour ride over vacation working on embroidery that's been in the stack of to-dos for ages. This flower above is a hand made applique w/embroidery work. It will eventually be a 16x16" pillow(once I buy the pillow form). Right now it's just the case. I'm whipping stuff out, because I have two shows in November and one in December. Busy,Busy that's what I always say. I'll sleep when I'm dead...lol! 

Upcycled Pillows

2010-09-09T09:11:00.001-04:00

I've been so frustrated lately by the amount of fabric that goes into a landfills. Fabric is one of those lovely resources, that if used correctly, can have countless lives as different things. A while back I found this beautiful tablecloth, vintage of course, but it was in terrible shape. It had stains,holes and odd little marks. After constant washes and soaks, I managed to get it clean, attacked all the bad areas with a sharpie marker so I could see where they were, and set about cutting. I managed to get enough for four 12x12" pillows, countless 4" squares for quilting, and about six 6" squares. After pairing it with some vintage red and white vintage ticking fabric, they became sweet little pillows. It's safe to say that I look at fabric as a sustainable resource, and lately my crafting has turned in that direction (remind me to post about the necktie cup cozies later...lol). When it comes to these little guys...well they are just adorable don't you think?

Karla's Apron

2010-09-09T08:52:00.000-04:00

 This project seems to have taken me forever to do, and I don't know exactly why, but it's for my dear friend Karla in California. I've had the fabric for a while now, remains of a friend (Donna) who gave a lot away a while ago (Recognize it Donna??). 

These two patterns went great together incredibly, so the goal from the start was that the apron would be reversible.

Toy Society

2010-08-31T08:16:00.000-04:00

My toy drops for the toy society were posted on their site yesterday, but so far no one has claimed them as found yet. They don't have too, but it would be nice to know they are safe and in a warm home, since I left them out in some pretty wet weather.

Time will tell I guess.

I MADE THESE: Buttons

2010-07-23T15:43:00.000-04:00

Anyone who has seen my studio will know that it is very full. For a few years now I've been making, making, making, and not getting round to putting stuff on the store. One of those items are covered buttons. It's very hard for me to get rid of scrap fabric, but after a while there is only so much you can hold onto right? This seemed like a perfect way to continue the life of the fabric. Stay posted over the next few days to the Etsy store if you are interested in any of them. They are not expensive, and almost all of them are made out of vintage fabrics.

TONIGHT: Saint Cecilias in Irondequiot to host Angels of Mercy, Dresses for Uganda

2010-07-22T07:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday in our local community newspaper, my mom found an article about a church in our area, St. Cecelia's, who is hosting an Angels of Mercy Dress Making Marathon, for little girls in Uganda and Haiti. Apparently when these girls don't have good clothing to wear, predators are more likely to abuse, or sell these girls into slavery (yes, including the sex trade) because it appears they are uncared for. The thought of this made my heart sick, especially considering I had four completed/semi-completed little girl dresses hanging in my studio, that I made just because I was teaching myself. I ran around, finishing them up, and  then mom and I then  proceeded to fill a bag full of fabric and other supplies. It makes me feel a little like Cinderella's fairy godmother. I have a talent, and I'm putting it to use in the service of other people. It's a nice feeling. Here are the four I'm donating. They are so cute!

Front 

Back (with little pantaloons)

The event starts at 6pm tonight, and they are in need of fabric, gently used pillow cases, and supplies, along with people to sew, cut and iron.Their goal is to attempt to make 100 dresses. I called the coordinator who was very excited for any help/materials we could donate. If you want to help, please email me, I'm sure the more the merrier. 

Quilt Squares for sale: SOLD!!

2010-07-20T07:45:00.001-04:00

These have sold! Thanks.

In the true fashion of sewing and quilting I don't throw any scrap away, not until I cut them down to quilt squares anyway, but I officially have too much stuff, so I'm cleaning. Last night I went through the studio and think that I am finally able to part with my boxes of 4.5" quilt squares. There are well over 800+ squares. I totally lost count, and really I think it was a bit insane to try to count them all anyway. So if you are interested I plan on sticking them on my Etsy store tonight, for $35.00. These are all clean, 100% cotton, some prewashed, provide a great variety of color and designs and come from a smoke/pet free home. As a bonus i've even tossed in some of the heavier canvas squares that I've had left over from the diaper bags I make.

A Craft From the Past: Collaged Postcards

2010-07-16T11:44:00.001-04:00

These past collages I created included found items such as vintage photos, stamps, paper sample pages, sticky backed bar code stickers (from UPS), paint chips and rubber stamps.

Thethriftgift.blogspot.com

2010-07-16T08:19:00.004-04:00

So, I was thinking about how there wasn't enough on my plate (insert laughter here) and I figured..."Hey, why not start another blog?!". I've been playing around for a long time with the idea of having an entire separate place to put pictures of the fun items I've found on my thrifty adventures, hence, The Thrift Gift was born. It's still in it's infancy so bear with me. I have more pictures than time, but I'm also very determined. Hope you'll stop by.

FOUND ART: Home Depot

2010-07-15T07:24:00.004-04:00

One of the things I love about keeping a camera with me at all times, is that when I come across things like this I am able to capture it forever. While wandering the Home Depot aisle on East Ridge road, looking for some drawer pulls, we came across this little guy, who is not a happy hook at all! He's certainly ready for a fight. I mean, come on, doesn't he just scream "bring it on b-atch!"

Custom Order: Robot Love Pillow

2010-07-15T07:12:00.006-04:00

Did I mention that I do customized orders? After I listed the Robot Love Tote bag on my Etsy shop I was almost instantly emailed an inquiry asking me if I would embroider the robot onto a pillow. After working out some of the specifics, size, color, etc. This is the finished product, and it super cute don't you think?

I MADE THIS: Embroidered Tote Bags

2010-07-01T12:43:00.007-04:00

Robot Love
Hand embroidery on Black Fabric

Became a great little black fabric Robot Love tote bag!

Nesting Bird
Hand Embroidery on Black Fabric

Became a great little black fabric Nesting Bird tote bag!

A CRAFT FROM THE PAST: Laminated Collage Recipe Postcards

2010-06-30T20:03:00.004-04:00

I used to torture (well I don't know if that's the right term) my sisters mailman by sending all kinds of weird things in the mail to her. For a while I was making these really fun collaged recipe cards. I just found an old disc of photos of my past craftiness.

I think I want to make more of these.....Look out mailman!!

Applesauce Cake

Dream Cake...yum!! };)

Experiments in Screen Print: Be Happy

2010-06-29T08:11:00.003-04:00

Here is another one of my screen printing experiments. I'm attempting to begin using some of my own designs (I kinda like it).
This is the first print of this image, and although the screen was not flooded with enough ink, the next few came out perfect. I'm planning on using this design for a run of tote bags. As for this print, I didn't have the heart to just toss it out. I've stuck in on my desk at work, just because the message is a good reminder to just be happy if that's what you want.

I MADE THIS: New Bags

2010-06-29T07:51:00.011-04:00

I'm burning the candle at both ends and this could be why I am so tired lately, but here are a few of the bags I've whipped up in the last few weeks for the store.

(On Facebook page follow My Etsy Tab,On blogger follow Etsy link to the Right of the page)

I MADE THIS: Vintage Waverly Aprons

2010-06-25T09:02:00.012-04:00

The sewing room is beginning to feel a brief sigh of relief that some of my many cut out projects are finally getting put together. My girlfriends call me the finisher, so I might as well live up to the name right? Anyway, here's a few of my recent finished projects which I hope to have listed in the store by weekend.
(in Facebook: follow the MY ETSY tab at the top of the page or link through poetcharms.blogspot.com)

This blue vintage Waverly fabric was one of my favorites, and it was heartbreaking to cut into it, but the apron looks awesome.

This was another one of my vast collection of vintage Waverly fabric samples. We met a lovely lady a few years ago who's husband was a salesman for the company. She was selling off her collection at $1.00 a piece. I spent almost $75.00 that day because they were just to wonderful to pass up. I mean, you just don't find a stash like that everyday.

Ok, so this isn't a real vintage piece of fabric, it's a reproduction, but it's still fun none the less, and matched with the red and white polka dot lining, it's just pops! It's also made with the larger sized girls in mind. ;)

Buddha Tote

2010-06-17T07:56:00.007-04:00

Finally...the first completed Buddha Tote. See My store on the right (poetcharms.blogspot.com) for details or click the Etsy tab on my facebook profile.

Reaper Tie

2010-06-16T09:35:00.005-04:00

Here's another fun little screen printing experiment...the Reaper Tie! The pattern is an Urban Threads Embroidery Pattern, but I felt it would be more fun screened. He'll be for sale in my Etsy store later today if you want him! For details check out the right of the page at poetcharms.blogspot.com, or the Etsy tab at the top of my profile page on facebook.

A chunk of wood (doorstop) with style

2010-06-13T13:47:00.007-04:00

I brought this block of wood home a few weeks ago, because at that time I thought it would make a great door stop for my lovely 1950's bedroom door that does not stay latched. Ever like to sleep with you window open on a nice night and have the door slam when theres a breeze? No fun. So this solution worked great (at least it was better than stacking books) but it was UGLY, and needed some dressing up. At my sisters workshop yesterday I decided that this would be my project, so I took my box of collage scrap and the handy modgepodge, and started composing and gluing. Now it's a Door Stop with Style.

Experiments in Screen Print

2010-06-11T10:05:00.004-04:00

Screen Printed Buddha Tie
(I was very happy the detail came out on the first pass)

Geek! Why Yes, Yes I am!

2010-04-05T18:41:00.001-04:00

"What the Lopp Lopp!"

2010-04-05T18:34:00.003-04:00

Recently my niece and I came up with a whole world of stuffed "rabbit like dolls" we called Lopp Lopps. By the end of lunch we had an entire list of different "characters" you might say. This little guy above was made by Susan B., and I think he's cute.

Here's the rest of that day's progress. The one missing an eye I call "Plink!" for obvious reasons.

Only about 30 more to go... Just wait Mandy, I'm still going to make the Octolopplopp and mail it to you!!!

Birthday Present for Donna S

2010-04-05T18:28:00.004-04:00

My friend Donna S. at work had a birthday recently, and we both share a love of all things Japanese. Since I've recently been doing some screen printing of geisha's I thought I would make her up a "kimonoesq" scarf for the fun of it. I finally got around to making it this weekend, and I like how it came out.

Recent Projects in Various Stages of Completion

2010-03-02T17:52:00.015-05:00

Screen Printed Tiger incorporated into RIT spirit scarf

Browns & Orange Left over scrap fabric finds new life in neck warmer

Front with Tiger Screen Print Incorporated

Front and Back Detail (Click to enlarge)

Empire Waist Shirt (missing sleeves) for eventual sale on my Etsy Store (sz. 16 junior miss)

Close up....still missing sleeves

Quilt Submission for Gallery R Auction at RIT titled " Square Dance"

Finished Front Detail (click to enlarge)

Finished Back Detail (click to enlarge)

Initial Design (I LOVE GRAPH PAPER & COLORED PENCILS!!!)

Piecing Together

The First Yudu Screen Print

2010-02-26T08:58:00.004-05:00

It took about four days from the time I took the machine out of the box to figure out how to make a print. After some ruined emulsion issues the third finally took. I can easily see that this is going to be a very fun and useful tool when it comes to my artwork. The only real issue is the amount of time it really takes for Yudu Emulsion Screens to dry. It is not the 20 minutes they suggest in the instructions. By the third try with the emulsion sheet it took more like 45 minutes to completely dry (mine is set up temporarily in my living room so I popped movie in while I waited). Then there's the eight minutes to burn the image into the screen (my favorite part), about 15 minutes to wash the unexposed emulsion out, 20 minutes to dry the screen enough to put on the block after washing the emulsion out, I ended up with some holes that were easily filled in with the emulsion block fluid I picked up when I bought my Yudu, and then about another 40 minutes for the screen block to dry. After all that the fun part started. I will say that the Yudu does make a very crisp clean burn of the image in the screen, and I was not disappointed when I pulled the first print (which is above). All I can say is look out studio, I just opened up a whole new world of sewing possibilities. Isn't the little tiger adorable. Happy Chinese New Year.

My new toy!

2010-02-23T19:53:00.003-05:00

For years and years and years my tax return has gone to practical things, like car repairs, bills, whatever...but this year...oh this year I spent some money on me, and in return I helped the economy out too. Ok so that's how I'm justifying it anyway. It sounds good in my head. I had a list of wants and this just happened to go on sale the day after the tax return hit my bank account, so for everything I paid as much as the unit itself not on sale...and...wink wink...I can write it off next year on taxes on a business expense. It's a personal screen printing machine. I bought it Sunday and it's taken me until now to get my design ready, so that's done. At the rate I'm going I won't get to experiment with actual screen exposure and printing until this coming Saturday, but I hear there's a snow storm coming so it all works out.

Gallery R Auction Quilt

2010-02-19T12:26:00.004-05:00

It took about a month to complete from start to finish but the quilt I was making for the Gallery R auction here at work is now complete.
It was a labor of love for the place that is not only my current employer but also my alma mater.
Here are some pictures of the finished product. I call it Square Dance. I'll post more on the process later.
I think I'm going to do another in blues and browns.

Crafty Christmas Presents 2009

2009-12-29T17:18:00.016-05:00

Almost every year I try to make my sister something for Christmas or her birthday, using her childrens hands as templates. This year, I don't know where I got the idea to use them as the trunks of trees, but I am so happy at the end product. This wall quilt was all hand stitched from start to finish. It was a lot of work but entirely worth it!

It's difficult to see in the picture, but each of their names is embroidered into the trunks of each tree.

Close up detail of the skies swirl pattern, and the blanket binding stitches around the trees and fingers

.
My favorite part was the swirls. They ended up looking like clouds.

Embroidered date in the lower right corner.

At work a few of us adopted a family at a shelter. I picked the little two year old girl named Jax. All she wanted was a baby doll. I bought the doll, but also made both her and her doll matching baby quilts. This one is hers.

Detail of both the large and small versions of this quilt.

The baby dolls quilt (above)

I tried to make almost all of my Christmas presents this year. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes, as in the Hand Quilt above, it can be more of a challenge. Don't get me wrong though, I love every minute of it. There's something meditative in working away at a project meant solely for the person it's being made for. At any rate, I decided to make my niece this Empire waistline blouse. The pattern seemed to just scream her name (well to me anyhow) It's from some fabric my girlfriend didn't want any more. Do you recognize it Donna??? :)

Back detail

Close up

I think she liked it, and it fit!!

But wait! I couldn't stop there, I loved the first one so much that with only four days left until Christmas, I decided to make another one. I loved this one just as much. I think she did too.

Back detail

Close up of front with fabric detail

Gingerbread Tardis

2009-12-17T15:43:00.003-05:00

I just wish I had more time. I would love to make this!!!
Found here.

Bruiser Lives

2009-11-13T11:14:00.004-05:00

Bruiser Lives!! This little guy took forever to finish, but now he's done and will be going to his new home on Monday. It's amazing how long something can take to come together, and how hard it is to find a Harley Davidson Patch smaller than 3", but it was worth the wait I think. I love him, from his Mohawk hairdo to the heart tattoo.

2009-11-11T12:16:00.002-05:00

I'm starting to feel just the slightest glimmer of holiday spirit coming on, maybe because I'm starting to make all of those Christmas gifts, or just because the first snow fall hasn't actually landed here in Rochester yet (boo hiss boo).

At any rate I discovered this lovely new website from a blogger in London by the name of sarahlondon.wordpress.com. She is doing lovely stuff with crochet. I plan to follow along on her project a day, but I'm already three days behind... oh well I'm sure I can catch up, or just do the project after the fact. We'll see.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-26T16:15:00.003-04:00

I'm slightly creeped out...chocolate skulls made from the cast of actual human skulls??? Hmmm....

Nerd Family

2009-08-23T13:53:00.007-04:00

I have finally spent some time actually focusing on my long deprived Etsy store. I've even figured out how to link it to my facebook page, should any of my lovely friends decide to purchase anything they don't have to leave the comfort of facebook. I mean really is there anything this site can't do? LOVING IT!! Melvin and Nona are listed finally, and the little lady in red, Rube, is slated to go off to my friend Donna who recently ran into a ruff patch. She comes complete with her own coordinating red rosary which fits perfectly into her crochet pocket. Donna, did I mention that I need the new address?

I've also spent a few moments listing a lovely hand embroidered vintage tablecloth. I really didn't want to part with it. It's pristine and the stitching is almost perfect, but there's just no room to store all the wonderful things that I come across at thrift stores. Isn't it beautiful? It deserves to be on the table of someone who can love it all the time.

Ok, enjoy the photos. Now that I'm done, I can head back to the studio, but first a stop for an overdue cup of coffee.

Cakewrecks

2009-08-20T08:39:00.003-04:00

Every day I check out one of my favorite blogs, Cakewrecks, and when I saw the post of all the Dr. Who cakes, my heart went pitter patter.

I knew I was in some serious deep inner geekness trouble this week, when the campus delivery guy came in and had a long conversation with me about differnt episodes, and I actually knew what he was talking about,and could match him epsidode for episode.

Check out the post here: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/08/sunday-sweets-doctor-who.html

2009-07-28T11:54:00.001-04:00

Nerds in a Box

Embracing My Inner Nerds:

2009-07-24T10:49:00.006-04:00

I've been in a very strange mood the past few weeks, and with that mood has also come the return of my creative muse, who I have been dearly missing lately. I just haven't been in the mood to really complete anything, but now that the creativity is back I'm taking full advantage. With it's return my mind has been in a whirl, and from that whirl has grown my ever expanding business of making little nerd dolls. Who knew!

Poindexter has been recieving rave reviews just on his photo alone, and so now there is a growing box of them currently residing on the coffee table, and at least a dozen more in my head waiting to exist. They will be done this weekend, and one has sold based solely on his just the sketch. He's not even made yet. With any luck I will be able to put them onto my etsy store before the weekend is over.

Stay tuned for more photos, there's nothing more hilarious than a box of little nerd personalities, popping their eyeglasses over the edge of their box, just glarring at you after being brought to life, and to be honest, I've really needed a chuckle lately.

Pay it Forward...want to participate? I am!

2009-07-10T09:32:00.004-04:00

Recently I made a purchase on Etsy for a piece of swag to go traveling with Poindexter from Wickedmoxie. On her blog she posted this really great idea, so I'm joining in. Come on and play with me. We'll all feel better if we do something nice for someone else. :)

So here's how it works.

Random acts of kindness have turned into little gifts for you. A great opportunity to get some swag and pay it forward. I would especially like the opportunity to create for people I've never met (but I'll make stuff for the people I love too!!)

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.

2. What I create will be just for you, with love.

3. It'll be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to blog.

7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you.

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if I do not see you post your own blog to pay this forward.

Meet P-Dex

2009-07-09T07:36:00.005-04:00

This little guy is Poindexter, but you can call him Dexter or P-Dex. He loves Science, Chess, Science Fiction and does math for the fun of it! He's my doll created for an upcoming round robin my girlfriends and I are participating. He's a bit of that inner geek in all of us. Go ahead! I dare you to talk NERDY to him!

Presents for Peanut

2009-05-28T18:24:00.006-04:00

I've recently become obsessed with making my little niece ,a cooler hipper, little chick, and the sewing room has been busy because of it. She's such an easy going girl. She never asks for anything (at least of me, except when it comes to Halloween costumes), and is always happy to receive a one of a kind piece of clothing, hat or handbag. She always let's me experiment on her.

Here's some pictures of a few new tops for her. They are from a Project Runway pattern, and get easier and easier to put together (with the help of my mothers serger anyway!)

Enjoy Mandy...the second one is on it's way.

Eye Candy

2009-04-29T15:53:00.007-04:00

Last Friday I did a show at Woodcliff Lodge in Fairport. Here are a few of the things I took along with me. The first one is one of my fav's. Those who know me will know why!

2009-03-03T12:49:00.000-05:00

1 minute, 9 seconds

Linus Blankets

2009-03-03T12:25:00.004-05:00

I just want to take a minute to say how enjoyable it is to do a charitable thing for another person. In this craziness right now with the economy and the constant barage of bad or negative news we keep getting bombarded with everyday, it's a comfort to know that simple human kindness is still alive and well. This past weekend, while at the post office we ran into a woman who's car had died. The weather was cold, AAA was called but 45 minutes lat, she was in a horrible spot to be stranded, and the poor woman was just pacing. My mother asked her if she needed help, to which the woman explained what happened, and my mother said, do you need anything, a phone?, something? The poor woman, all she wanted was a warm cup of coffee. No in Irondequoit the post office is right around the corner from dunkin donuts, so we drove over, picked up a cup and took it back to her. She was very surprised, and it was a great feeling to know that just possibly we had made her day a little bit brighter and she may just pass it on. It was also nice to see that AAA pulled in just as we were leaving, so we knew she was going to be ok.

In the vain of charitable giving I'm still going strong with the Linus Project blankets. Combined we have 9 completed, and I started another one this weekend. They are simple, quick little things, but how nice it is to know some little one will have something to cuddle and comfort him when he needs it most. Here are some pics.

Blue and Green Baby Blanket(thanks to Lauren at work and her incredible garbage bag of free yarn)

The Crazy Granny that I started when my back went out this past fall. It was all I could do, since I couldn't walk, stand or lay down. It's made from all the little ends of the yarn from other projects, and could have seriously kept going.

Toys Toys Toys

2009-02-19T19:42:00.022-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post I've been intriqued by the Toy Society blog so off I went to start making some toys that will (when the weather is nicer) find a sunny place where someone will find them and love them. The little darling above was my first attempt, and her name is Marigold. I fell instantly in love with the little dear and set about to make another one for the store. I'll introduce her in a bit.

I should interject here to say that the whole sewing spurt was brought on by my two new mechanical toys shown here...

I've been in need sometime now of a new machine, and at Christmas I was given a very generous gift card which allowed me to shop for a new machine. I bought the first Brother machine because I was desperate for a machine of my own that didn't have a slipped belt, or only do straight and zig-zag. Well and then the second one I found was buried in the stores website under "closeouts". That was actually it's item description "Closeout Sewing Machine". I used the remainder of the gift card, and a little money of my own, and bought it right away. It has 60 AWESOME stitches, a detachable quilt bed, and can even do freestyle stitching. Who knew all it would take to send me over the moon was a machine that could do a few extra stitches? Anyway, so there you have it! Off I went!

So basically after that it was off to the races, although who I'm racing I don't know (except maybe time, which there is never enough of as far as I'm concerned). I then finished up a little dinosaur I started 100+ years ago. How cute is he!

Then is was on to a happy little stuffy names petunia. Who can resist that bright happy smile?

And last, but certainly not least, MEET AGNES, I didn't name her, my mom did. She comes complete with stripped leggings, black pantaloons, red hair ribbons, and pom pom decorations, all centered around a black and white checker board & heart dress! I will be putting her for sale on Etsy.

But for those of you who know me, you know I am far from done... almost my entire world revolves around being crafty, and I will steal any moment to whip out a chrochet needle or work on a quilt, whatever, so I'm showing off some of the other projects that have been in the works, and will be completed soon....

Crochet Hat and Scarf combo

Unfinished Quilt

The Toy Society

2009-01-28T09:38:00.004-05:00

I discovered a really great site today while skipping through blogs. It's called the Toy Society.
The premise is to make a hand made stuffie toy and leave it in a public place for someone to find. I think I might try it! Sounds like fun, and with Valentines Day coming I can't imagine a better way to send a little love out into the world.

How is this fair! CRAFTZINE Your Killing me!!!

2009-01-20T12:39:00.002-05:00

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/01/plush_k9.html

What's up with all the Dr. Who craft going on!

My heart can't take it!

I'm embarresed by my own GEEKINESS!!

2009-01-19T19:26:00.003-05:00

Ok, does anyone know how to knit?

http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com/index.php

I am such a GEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Craftzine what are you doing to a poor Whovian like me?!!!!

So much better than SUPERMAN!! ( sign!)

Overdue & Possible Spoiler Alert!

2009-01-19T18:44:00.012-05:00

Back in 2004 I made this book above for my sister as a Christmas present. Basically I traced each of her children's hands and made a puzzle book. It was to be a little momento of them for her that year. The back even had a page called "our handy work" where they each signed their name. Josh, the youngest couldn't write yet, so his was a cute little scribble.

Well five years later, this past Thanksgiving, I gather them all together and traced their hands again. Josh, in his usual cute, but cocky way said to me "Are you making ANOTHER one of those books?!" Even if I was, man was he vocal about it...I just chuckled. So you can imagine how I felt obligated to come up with another idea. A few weeks ago I saw an article on the craftzine blog where someone did an embroidered family portrait with their hands...and BAM...there was my idea. I took the biggest embroidery hoop I had (I buy everyone I can find at the thrift stores), arranged their hands on paper, traced it onto white muslin, and away I went. The result was great! Jo's into Holly Hobby so the color is themed to match. I painted the hoop in robins egg blue, put a piece of actual Holly Hobby fabric in the back to cover my stiching, glued the edges of the muslin down, and tied it with a cute little matching bow. Low and behold instant birthday present! I love the result.

I also decided over the holiday break that this would be the year I finally, finally, finally make some blankets for Project Linus. The didn't seem fazed by the new rules about lead. They are just in need, so I joined the Rochester chapter, inquired as to what they need and away I went. Here is my first one. It's almost done, just have to put on the binding. I already have three more ideas in my head. If only the universe could supply some more time. Oh well, I'll just make due. If anyone is interested Project Linus really needs blankets for little boys. They can be knit, crochet, or quilted.

Be still my beating heart!

2009-01-12T12:31:00.003-05:00

I'm in love! I'm in love! I'm in love! Anyone who knows me knows I'm a Doctor Who Geek. One of the NewWho Followers. I just found this on the Craftzine Blog which forwarded me to Craft:G33K (the Diary of Geeky Craft) Be still my beating heart. It's a Tardis Tissue Box Cozy!

2008-12-16T11:16:00.002-05:00

The Christmas Holiday is fast approaching, and I can't believe that I've managed to keep my head above water so far. I realize I've been extrememly neglecting my poor little blog here, due, I'm afraid, to an increased obsession with my new facebook page. As of today there are only eight more days until Christmas, and I must say I got a very late start with everything this year. I have however managed to get through it, and have only a few slight things left (thank heavens). I have Christmas Cards, a cookie swap, and the co-workers gifts left to finish up. Yay!

On the topic of facebook, can I just say here, that I don't know why I didn't check it out sooner. I found an old high school friend I haven't seen if 15 years! It was an incredible high!

Well everyone, have a great holiday. I hope to write more over the break (which I will not lie, I'm in dire need of!)

In Wonder(land)

2008-10-30T09:39:00.008-04:00

It's a wonder it all came together but when it did, Halloween at work, was a wonderful success!

Here's some pics....

"Off with Her Head!!"

2008-10-27T09:41:00.003-04:00

This Friday is Halloween and although I feel ahead of the game as far as the costumes and activities go, I still have a lot to do. My back has made me move just a bit slower, so sitting at a sewing machine has been an on again, off again process. However I did finish my costume this weekend and only have one and a half to go. I am the Ace of Spades and it came out really great. Now if I could just find a black turtle neck shirt I'd be all set. Why doesn't anyone have one? I've been to any number of stores, even the mens department!!! Ugh! Anyway, minor problem.

I have a million and one things that I want to finish up, like my room which has been on hold forever. The weekend I planned to finish is was the weekend the back spasms came on. It's just one wall too, which couldn't be more frustrating. Perhaps by Thanksgiving? Well, maybe I'll just take one holiday at a time, first things first!

2008-10-09T17:31:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone! Sorry to not update in a while. September was an interesting month to say the least, but I think the worst is just about over. I started the month with another sinus infection and just as soon as I finished a ten day round of antibiotics, my back muscle decided it was going to start spasming. Seven prescriptions, 2 Primary care visits, and x-ray and Physical therapy later the diagnosis is Arthritis.

So anyway I can now walk again, and all those other good things you can do when your able to bend, so I have some super updating to catch up on. I decided since I couldn't do much else but sit for days at a time I would crochet a blanket out of all the stray balls of yarn I had left from other projects to donate or give away to someone who needed a blanket, and I'm happy to say it's almost done, mostly because I have only 7 small balls of yarn left to finish it, so I'll be sure and put a picture up of it soon.

For now it's off to start the process of catching everything up.

Special thanks to Karla who sent me this really cool necklace she made. It cheered me up more than she knows. I'll post that picture soon too.

More soon!!!

Readymade Magazine

2008-08-01T11:58:00.002-04:00

I have recently been introduced to Readymade Magazine, by a friend of mine here at work by the name of Angie. For those of you who have the thrifty, craft, recycling bug like I do, and hate the idea of things going into the landfill that shouldn't, this magazine might be just what your looking for. I know I plan on subscribing.

Anyway, the video above was linked to their blog. It's just fun to watch. Enjoy, and don't forget to check out the magazine. I've linked it above and to the right of the page.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! I'm off to PA...and I can't wait!

Serendipity Susan...OCC Enabler :)

2008-07-27T12:05:00.005-04:00

Last Monday, my friend Susan, and a new crafty friend from work, Jill, came over for a playday. The only thing missing was Donna, and she was very much on the minds of Susan and myself while we chattered away over the sewing machines. Susan brought, and subsiquently left, a box of 2.5" fabric squares that we just sat and put together in random order. They are called "Serendipity Quilts". What Susan doesn't know is that she left the box behind with an OCC, or Obsessive Compulsive Crafter, who is now compelled to keep putting the squares together. I drew the line however at the bag of strips that were in the box too, and you can see below what I did with just some of them. I love the tree, and the more it evolves the more I think I'm going to add a small bird in it's nest (pattern pinned to tree). This most likely will be the front of a small tote bag.

2008-07-27T11:56:00.002-04:00

As promised, here is a picture of my first two attempts at screen printing. Neither of them are finished yet, but for a first attempt I'm pretty happy. The flowers are done with a paper stencil, and the octopus is done by reduction method. He will eventually be a lovely purple gray, and using the photo method, I'll add detail in black to both him and the waves he's floating in. I can't get over how messy screen printing is, but once you get the groove it can go very quickly, actually the printing is the fastest part of the whole art form. I have been trying to get in touch with my inner kindergartner again, but as you can see in the case of the octopus, I never do anything simple right off the bat.

2008-07-16T08:01:00.003-04:00

Two silk screen classes down and I still have yet to make a print, but I already know that I am going to enjoy this very much. I would have been much farther ahead, if it had not been for the fact that I put way to much block out on my screen for the first time and it took forever to dry, actually almost the entire class, until I borrowed someones hairdryer so I could take it home. It did however give me some time to work out a stencil design, and I'm hoping that by Friday I'll have some finished prints to post for you.

Silk Screen Class Tonight

2008-07-10T10:12:00.003-04:00

Silk Screen Class starts tonight.Yes, I did double check the date (for those of you who have been following the story I went to class a month too early). I'm looking forward to perhaps combining this with fabric I have printed at spoonflower. There's no shortage of inspiration running around my head right now.

I'm going to.....

2008-07-10T09:50:00.002-04:00

...FALLINGWATER...finally! I've always wanted to go see this masterpiece by Frank Lloyd Wright, so I've done the research, made the hotel reservation, and now only 23 days to go and I'm road tripping to PA.

Flea Market Day

2008-06-21T07:12:00.002-04:00

I'm heading off to the Outdoor Flea Market at the Dome today. It's the first outside flea market that I think Rochester has had on a large scale. The Garage Sale Days at the Public market are fun, but this is three times the size. Now the picture above is not, obviously, from the one I'm headed off to today, but I can assure you if this table were here, I would have spent all the money I had. These bags are neat...hmmm....I think I have an idea coming on. Later everyone! I'll post my items, if any. Fingers crossed!!

My Fabric Has Been Shipped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-21T07:09:00.002-04:00

I'm so excited. I recieved an email last night from Spoonflower that my fabric has been shipped. This could be the start of a beautiful relationship. (insert big grin here!)

Apron Swap

2008-06-16T11:33:00.004-04:00

I recieved my apron from my swap partner. It came all the way from Berlin Germany, and may I add it's just lovely. There's a sweet little butterfly detail on the bottom, and it came with a matching linen tea towel. I really like it!

New for the Store

2008-06-16T11:27:00.005-04:00

I've finally gotten around to taking pictures and uploading some new purses for the store. I thought I would post the pics here so you could all see them. I've been madly sewing for my show in November but for now I'm putting them on the store so they have a chance to possibly sell before then. My sewing machine is made at me. I think it needs a new belt, so I'll be taking it in for a tune up over the next week or so...I'm so lonely without it.