Dress Up 2011: May

It's time to bring out your Baroque!  I can't wait to see all the Peter Paul Rubens inspired dresses!  Please submit your link direct to your Dress Up 2011 May dress.  If you still haven't posted your April dress, don't worry, just click HERE (or the button on the sidebar) and you can link up with the other Art Deco dresses!

What's Your Bag?

I guess I'm still thinking of The Charleston, super cool cigarette holders, and flappers because I kept this Art Deco theme going when I created the above ATC for this month's Artful Bag Challenge.  My swap partner is Wendy from Wendy's Adventures in Wonderland.  I just sent her the card; I hope she likes it!  Be sure to click over to Frosted Petunias to check out the other "bag" ATCs!

Speaking of bags, I have been experimenting with my own design for a small gadget/personal items/make up bag.  I'm pretty happy with the size and shape.  I've transfered images (using gel medium) to a few of the bags and then embellished the image with beads, sequins, or just embroidery...like this one:

Here's a closer view:

Here is the the back of the bag:

For the record, I've never embroidered before.  What do you think?  One last word on bags...look at the awesome fabric I bought over the weekend!  It's Echino and too expensive to mess up!  My plan is to make a bag for my daughter.  Wish me luck!

Toodles!

If It's Not Baroque, Don't Fix It!

Get ready to dress to impress...May's Dress Up is going for Baroque!  Yep, the artist for May is none other than Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640).  Rubens, a Flemish Baroque painter, is known for his "extravagant style that emphasized movement, color, and sensuality."  He painted landscapes, altar pieces, mythological subjects and portraits.  Think gold, large, heavy fabrics, and lace.

There were some great suggestions, including Japanese art and the works of Gauguin.  Both of which will be themes in the coming months!   There is still time to post any April dresses still out there.  Just click HERE to see the Art Deco dresses and to post yours!

I need to sign off before I start on a rant about the Royal Wedding (I refuse to watch anything about it!), gas prices, and/or how I am not watching American Idol anymore (since Paul was voted off)!

Toodles for now!

Angels, Punks, Strawberries, and Friends.

First, thanks for all the birthday well wishes!  Second, I can't believe I didn't have any takers for answering my age question!  I am not sure what to think about that...should I feel really old?  Is it taboo for women of a certain age (like me now) to talk about their age?  Years ago I remember hearing some Oprah guest talk about how she felt her 40's were her "best years."  Somehow she felt wiser, confident, and knew who and what she wanted out of her life.  Really?  I can say, now that I am, according to my daughter, officially over 40, I really don't feel any wiser or more "secure in skin."  Granted, I have only been part of the mature scene for four days.  Maybe I should give it a few more days..maybe two weeks?  In the meantime, have a look at this awesome gift I got today:

I got to meet, in person, blogger friend, Dee Dee today!  Dee Dee does all sorts of crafts and she made this angel for me out of metal and glass!  It's wonderful and I'm so happy that I got to meet her in person!  We've both participated in the mug mat swap and are regulars in the Blissful ATC Swap.  Here is a picture of us at lunch today:

Me                                               Dee Dee

Speaking of the Blissful ATC Swap, I received this card from my swap partner, Marlene.  April's theme is "Steam Punk."  Marlene's card is fabulous.  I love it.  Thanks Marlene!

Here is the Steam Punk card I sent to Marlene:

This was my first time doing anything Steam Punk.  The image is from the The Graphics Fairy.  I transferred the image to a piece of card stock using the gel medium/clear mailing label method.  I then adhered this piece to the background piece which I had painted using a stencil a la sequin rubbish.  Never did that before.  I really like how it turned out.  I hope Marlene likes it!  

I've also been working on testing a pattern for Stephanie from Toastie Studio.  Stephanie has designed a pattern for a shopping tote that folds (or scrunches) up and then is stuffed inside a strawberry.  Her design is really cool and I just love how my strawberry turned out.

Pretty smart, huh?  Better run...Chat with you soon!

A Little Tweaking...and a Birthday Giveaway!

Why is it that the weekends seem to go by so quickly?  Maybe this accounts for my lack of productivity?  Or maybe I've just enjoyed myself a lazy birthday weekend??  Yep, my husband and I have thrown our diets out the window in celebration of both our birthdays.  Friday night:  Hawaiian pizza plus two different dessert pizzas!  Saturday night:  supper out at Longhorn...including fried cheesecake for dessert!  Back on plan tomorrow (boo hiss).

I did get a bit of sewing done this weekend.  I'm still tweaking the wallet I made last weekend.  I've made two additional prototypes, but I'm not happy with either.  The main problem is making the pockets secure enough to hold onto cards snuggly.  I've experimented with interfacing and size.  For this last wallet, I've placed fairly stiff interfacing on the wrong side of the outer fabric as well as on the fabrics for the pockets.  I thought placing the interfacing on the wrong sides of the pockets as well as making the wallet smaller, overall, would do the trick.  It didn't.  When shaken, the cards will fall out.  I might try one or two more changes, but if they don't work, I'll scrap this shaped wallet altogether.  I do like the fabrics, however.  I used a snap this time and the button on the outside is purely decorative.  I may have placed the snap a little low.

I also came up with a new template for a little zip pouch.  I made the template out of card stock and then cut outside fabric and lining fabric using this as a guide.  I made a little "belt" in the center using a vintage buckle I found months ago during one of my Flea Market Fridays.  Like the snap, I may have put this little gem a bit low, but it's still cute. I will be tweaking this "pattern," too...but for now it works.

 I am not divulging my age (officially tomorrow's the day).   If you want to do some homework (by finding  a post where I've "confessed" my age), I'll send you a piece of birthday cake!  Well, not real cake, of course, but leave me a comment with the age I will be tomorrow and I'll send you something sweet!

Oh, the lilacs came out of my yard this morning.  Aren't they gorgeous?  The smell divine.  LOVE THEM!!

Have a great week!

Girlie Girl Projects

Girlie Wallet

Girlie Wallet (inside)

What do you think?  I made up this quick wallet Sunday afternoon.  I got the idea to make a "side" folding wallet after once again messing up my measurements for a checkbook cover/tri-fold wallet.  Eyeballing is not measuring!  Anyway, I think it's pretty cute, but I'm not a big fan of the elastic closure.  I just think it looks a bit cheesy...like no one would know that is a recycled ponytail holder!  Call this a prototype then.  I shall make another wallet minus the elastic...how about velcro?  Too little boyish?  Accepting suggestions!

Unfortunately, I didn't get much sewing done this weekend.  Besides the above wallet, I managed to make a sleep mask for my daughter.  I'm not sure why she wanted one, especially since she sleeps with the hall light on, but I promised her I'd make one, so I did.  

I found the directions for this mask at Wolf and Willow.  There was a PDF pattern available, which came in very handy.  I modified the pattern just a bit by drawing the closed eyes onto the fabric with a fabric marker instead of cutting out and sewing black cotton to the pink mask.  All and all it was a pretty quick and easy project!

Sadly, I didn't get a purse done for myself this weekend!  I'm struggling with finding a pattern I really like.  Again, I'm all ears for suggestions!  

Talk to you soon!

Make Something Saturday: Purses & Bags

Lush Stuff Pretty Shoulder Bag

Happy Saturday!  I hope everyone is doing great!  Personally, it's been one heck of a week for me!  I've been busier than ever and just hope to enjoy a creatively quiet weekend.  I do have a few "to dos" to get done including completing my  Art Deco April Dress!  Be sure to have a look at the dresses already posted HERE.  

Besides my paper dress, I do want to get some more sewing done.  I've been working hard on card wallets, box bags, and zip pouches.  I hope to slip in making a new purse for myself sometime during the weekend, too!  Is that selfish?  Don't answer that!  For some new purse inspiration, I've been doing a bit of web surfing.  Here are a few purse projects that might inspire you this weekend as well!

Hobo Bag at Think Liz (PDF available)

Friday Night Clutch at Sew A Straight Line

The Project Corner's A Line Purse

These are all great tutorials!  If you decide to make a new bag for yourself and you want to change up the strap...and make it adjustable, click HERE for my Adjustable Fabric Strap Tutorial or if you like the look of a belt buckle for your purse strap, click HERE for that tute!

Happy Sewing and have a super weekend!

Shamrocks in April

Hi everyone!  I hope you all are well.  Just a quick post today to show you the awesome ATC I received from my Treasure Barn ATC Swap partner, Nichole.  The theme was shamrocks.  I really love this card.  It is my first and only St. Patrick's Day-ish card!  Unfortunately, Nichole doesn't have her blog up and running yet, but feel free to leave her a shout out right here!  Here is the card I sent to her:

This was my first attempt at a St. Pat's-ish theme.  I hand painted the background and the shamrock in the right corner.  I affixed the image I downloaded from The Graphics Fairy.  I then put a few coats of glossy ModPodge and of course glitter!  I hope Nichole likes it!

I've been hard at work at work as well as on building an inventory for my yet to be opened Etsy shop.  Here is a card wallet I made the other day. 

I did a little free motion stitching on the outside of the wallet.  What do you think?  Randomness is actually hard...isn't it?

If you are interested in getting in on April's Treasure Barn ATC Swap, click over to Patti's blog for more information!


Toodles!

Make Something Saturday: Kitchen Sewing Tutorials

Annette & Friends Photo

Happy Saturday!   As usual, we've experienced the ups and downs of Spring weather here in my neck of the woods.  Today is supposed one of those up days!  The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and the grass is green!  If the weather isn't so great where you are, why not get out your sewing machine and make something?  This week's tutorials are for kitchen accessories.  Have fun!  I'd love to see what you create!

TOWELS

Little Birdie Towels

Back To Domestics Towels

Ribbon Dish Towels from AestheticNest

APRONS

 Crafty Dame Vintage Pillowcase Apron 

Craftwhatever Tea Towel Apron

Gingercake Flirty Apron (PDF available)

Please don't forget to check out the Art Deco Dresses already on parade.  I've added a clickable image on my sidebar to take you directly to the links post!

Have a great weekend!

April Dress Up: Art Deco Dresses On Parade

Get your glam on!  Welcome to April's Dress Up!  Post the link to your Art Deco inspired dress at the bottom of this post.  If you have created a dress, but don't have a blog, please email me and I will post your photo.  

I can't wait to see your fabulous creations!

Toodles!