"It is said that the present is pregnant with the future." -- Voltaire
This month's theme at Designer Crafts Connection is "wishes." I can't think of a better wish than for a better and brighter future for the children of our world. I designed this shooting star baby cap with them in mind.
Finished size 16" / Infant 0-6 months
Continue reading "Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop :: Wish Upon a Star Knit Baby Beanie" »
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Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.
-- Lewis Grizzard
Last summer during a blistering heat wave, I made a garment inspired by Hans Christian Anderson's story "The Snow Queen." The top is knit from Lion Brand's Vanna's Glamour®. It's a lovely yarn to work and adds this gorgeous shimmer that shifts with the light - perfect for my Snow Queen Dress. Having recently invested in a large die cutter, I decided to put it to the test. I cut a 100+ cardboard snowflakes which I then embellished. Naturally, no two snowflakes are the same. I painted, rubber stamped and colored with pencil and pen. I glued on sequins, wrapped threads and added small sparkling stickers. The dress became an experiment in how far I could push a mixed media approach.
Continue reading "The Snow Queen: a study in yarn and paper" »
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"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick." -- Gwenyth Paltrow
Look at all the embroidery! And those giant red velvet roses! I'm in love! RED which stands for Romantic Eccentric Dress and is Valentino's trademark hue, is the sister line to the Valentino fashion house. Granted, this middle-aged gal prefers skirts that are a tad longer, say to just above the knees, that little black suit is swoon worthy.
Continue reading "it's in the details :: Red Valentino Fall 2013" »
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"At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet." -- Plato
These easy to stitch felt hearts declare your love to all who see it.
Continue reading "Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop: Felt Hearts Valentine Decoration" »
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Continue reading "As featured on LIVE at CHA Winter 2013 - Knitted Shell and Ombré Skirt" »
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"Unique and different is the next generation of beautiful." -- Taylor Swift
Much to my delight I was invited to the 2013 Lion Brand Yarn fashion show at CHA (the Craft and Hobby Association). I love their yarns, so I was excited to see what fashion design students from around the world would do with them.
Continue reading "Lion Brand Yarn Fashion Show 2013 at CHA" »
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It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. -- Charles Dickens
Every Christmas my Aunt Diane sends me a book, which I then promptly consume along with copious amounts of cookies and tea between now and the new year. For the sake of variety, this year she sent an Amazon gift card.
Too many choices can be overwhelming. I've narrowed my selection to a classic title I've not read. Scrolling through the eye candy of the new Penguin Classics Clothbound editions, I was completely taken by this cover. Not only does it feature a repeat of scarves mid-knit, but this is the only Dickens I've not read and one which Mom frequently quoted. Fate! A must purchase!
Of course, one can't stop with just one book. I've read this classic several times over, but the new cover is too sweet.
The paperback version is equally delicious. I may have to get this edition if only to read the introduction by Jane Smiley, another favorite author.
Last summer I wrote about the Penguin Thread series, but here is another gorgeous cover. I wish the whole book was as sumptuously illustrated.
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"Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play." -- Henri Matisse
I am addicted to making "knick knack" boxes. These boxes holding everything from paper napkins in my kichen to assorted sewing supplies in my studio. They are also the perfect way to explore different crafting supplies.
When invited to participate in the Crafty KT Kool Tak Manufacturer Challenge, I knew what I would do! To get started you need the following:
MATERIALS:
Kool Tak™ 1 Layer Perfect Tool (Use it for centering, piercing, and edge stitching)
Kool Tak™ 10 Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets (Earth Tones)Wood box - 7" x 7" x 3"
Craft Acrylic Paint (to match cardstock)
Sponge Brush
Fine Glitter
Scalloped Circle Punch 1"
Assorted Patterned Cardstock 12" x 12" (to match paint)
Paper Lace or Paper Trim (I used a product from Martin Meyer Imports.)
Paper Trimmer
2" circle of wood
Piercing Tool (or in my case, my high school biology probe!)
Embroidery Needle
Perle Cotton 5/2 Embroidery Thread
Phillip head screwdriver
Sandpaper
Scissors
Pencil / Ruler optional
DIRECTIONS:
Take off the hinges and the closure on the box with the screwdriver. Set these parts to the side. HINT: I put them in an envelope to prevent losing them. Tiny screws have way of disappearing in one's studio.
Lightly sand the wood, removing any rough bits. Don't sand it so much that you end up with rounded edges!
Paint the entire box with the craft acrylic paint using the sponge brush. Do two coats allowing the paint to dry in between layer of paint.
Measure the top of your lid. My box (from Darice) has a 6.5" interior.
Cut your paper into 4 squares using your paper trimmer (or use a ruler and pencil to measure and mark on the back and then use scissors). You need a 6.5", 5.5", 4.5" and 3.5" square. I used two papers, alternating between them.
If you haven't used the Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool, checkout this great video before proceeding!
Using your Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool, mark the stitch holes on the 5.5" paper piercing as you go. HINT: I put a piece of old cardboard underneath as I pierced to protect my worktable.
Cut a 24" piece of the perle cotton embroidery thread and thread your needle. Embroider a running stitch around the edge of your 5.5" paper. Finish off with a knot on the back.
Use your Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool to center the 3.5" square onto the 4.5" square. Tear off a piece of the Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape - 2 ½ x 27 yards and place it on the back of the 3.5" square. Peel off the paper backing and stick the smaller square to the larger square.
Proceed to center and tape the 4.5" square onto the 5.5" square. (Note: I centered and taped my 4.5" square to the 5.5" square prior to the stitching, hence why you see it in my photos.)
Center the 5.5" square within the 6.5" square. Place 4 squares of Kool Tak™ Clear Foam pads in each corner of the 5.5" square, remove the backing and stick to the 6.5" square.
Place your layered squares to the side.
Next tear off a piece of the Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape that is approximately 2" x 2" and place it on your 2" wood circle. Trim excess with scissors. Peel off the paper backing and place a copper colored sheet of the Kool Tak™ Shiny Transfer Foil Sheets onto the sticky surface, pressing it in place as you go. (HINT: Press from the center to the edges of the circle to prevent any ripples in the foil.)
Carefully peel off the foil. Use your finger nail to distress the surface a bit and shake some glitter on top. It will stick to the distressed areas. Brush off any excess.
Center the circle within the the top square (the 3.5" one) using the Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool Add some Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape to the back of the circle, remove the paper backing and firmly press int place. Set the layers to the side.
Using the Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool, place ten squares of Kool Tak™ Clear Foam pads - ¼ x ¼ x 1/32” thick along the top edge of your lid spacing them evenly as you go. HINT: It is easiest to place the squares at the corners and center and then the others to insure that they are evenly spaced apart. Proceed to add squares on the remaining 3 sides of the lid.
Remove the backing of the squares and sprinkle fine glitter along them. Brush off any excess glitter. (I removed the paper featured in the above photo from the lid before I shook on my glitter.) I love how the glitter on the foam squares looks like mini pieces of glass mosaic!
Press a line of the Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape - 3/16 x 1/16 thick by 1.6 yards along the lower rim of the lid. Don't cover the holes for the closure or the area for the hinges! Remove the backing and sprinkle the same glitter you just used.
Proceed to now put your layered squares / wood circle onto the lid. The Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape is fabuously sticky, yet easy to tear. I tore off large pieces, removed the paper backings and then tore off smaller bits to get into the corners.
Place your layered squares /wood circle onto the lid and press firmly. I have to admit, having never used Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape until making this project, I love how it sticks to both paper AND wood.
Measure two 6.5" x 1/2" pieces of paper lace or trim. Cut two 6.5" pieces of the Kool Tak™ Clear Foam tape - 3/16 x 1/16 thick by 1.6 yards and press along the lower edge of the trim. Remove the backing and press firmly into place along the top and lower edge of the 6.5" square.
To make stickers to embellish the sides of your box take one of your papers and add rows of the Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape to back.
Punch 12 scalloped circles out of the paper with the Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape backing using your 1" scalloped circle paper punch.
Turn your box to the side. Using the Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool center three of the scalloped circles. Remove the paper backing from the punches and firmly press into place.
Proceed to do the same on the other three sides.
Screw the hinges and closure back into place.
For the final touch, punch 7 scalloped circles from assorted matching papers. Layer the scalloped circles ontop of each other, sticking them in place with small bits of the Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape.
Cut small notches into the circle at each scallop edge.
Fold each petal forward. Add a small bit of Kool Tak™ Premium EXTREME tape to the center of the back, remove the backing and place it on your copper circle. Use the Kool Tak™ Layer Perfect Tool to center it.
And voila! You have a new box, all glittery and beautiful, to store your favorite treasures.
Want to make one of your own? From September 8 to the 18th, 2012: sign up for Crafty KT Newsletter and you can participate in the Blog Hop Giveaway. You could win a box of the same Kook Tak™ supplies I used. Good luck!
Be sure to check out the work of 11 other designers participating in this blog hop! The variety of projects is fabulous!
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"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." -- T.S. Eliot
This month's CHA Designer challenge is all things vintage. It was difficult to settle on just one project. There was my stash of skeleton keys begging to be made into more jewelry and 40 year old Dresden paper scraps perfect for cards and scrapbooking. but it was the giant box of Paternayan wool yarn that called to me. I inherited it from my aunt who was an avid stitcher and rarely seen without her "work." The colors are rich and vibrant, reminding me of her different projects. She always purchased a little extra to be sure she had enough of a certain dyelot. I needed some coasters, so I chose 3 colors and got started.
MATERIALS:
10" x 13" piece of 7-count plastic canvas in white
3 colors of needlepoint yarn
scissors
tapestry needle (size 22 or 20)
DIRECTIONS:
I wanted a coaster that was 3.5"x3.5", so I cut a piece of canvas that has 24 holes x 24 holes as 7 holes = 1 inch.
Inspired by the paintings of the famous Bauhaus arist Josef Albers, I designed my pattern.
I threaded the needle and began stitching with the darkest color first, in my case it was brown. I used the continental tent stitch throughout the piece, preferring to work in concentric squares rather than row by row.
When I needed to start a new color, I tucked the tail of the old color into the back of the stitches prior to moving on to the next color.
The process of starting a new color is similar to ending the previous one. You simply pull your tail through the back of the stitches, pulling your needle out where you want to begin. Note, when first starting, you don't have any previous stitches in which to tuck in your tail's end. You can do so later using the same procedure for ending a color or work your stitches over it as you go.
Once you have completed the pattern and tucked in all ends, you will still need to stitch over the outer edge of plastic. I used a light color whipstitching over the edge, giving the work a finished look.
As you've worked the stitches in the continental tent stitch, the back of work will be equally coverd, adding a second layer of protection between your hot mug and the table top.
You have enough plastic to make 4 coaster. Make a matching set or have fun experimenting with color!
For more vintage craft ideas, checkout the work in the Designer Crafts Connection webring wherever you see this logo.
Each blog in the hop is written by a designer associated with the Craft and Hobby Assocition. We each have unique styles, so be sure to hop through to see what each is doing with this month's theme on crafting vintage-style!
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"Patience is the ability to count down before you blast off." - Author Unknown
I'm slowly making progress. It's taken 4 shows to finally get a handle on how to develop a collection of ideas that fully show off my range of skills and ideas. This is my table display at the CHA Summer 2012 Designer Showcase. I decided to go for a theme, specifically DIY wedding.
I had so much fun making everything, especially all the work with paper as my diecutter is a rather recent acquisition (ie - toy). I used it to cut out hundreds of paper flowers that I then snipped, bent and twirled into scores of flowers for the initials in the background. I considered different letters "I do," "We do" "Love" etc, but I settled on my own initials to advertise my business, LBO Studio, while also giving the impression that they are the monogram of a newly married couple.
There is a beaded bridal headpiece with matching groom's boutonnière and bridesmaid barrette. The French beaded daisy bridal bouquet is gorgeous and a great momento of the big day. The flowers are among the easiest to make, so a great project for those just learning the art.
I carried the beaded flowers onto embellished boxes for the safe keeping of wedding notes and cards. As I grew up with cornucopias as table top favors filled with candies and nuts, it was a nostalgic trip for me to make my own versions for the display.
I start several months in advance of the show researching trends and thinking about what resonates with me and my design sensibilities. The hardest part is settling on one concept and then carrying it through different mediums. I want to do everything, but have learned that without a bit of editing, I tend to confuse folks. Feedback has been that editors aren't sure how to market me and my work. Thankfully, that's no longer a problem. I am finding my niche. To anyone wanting to enter this business, I have to say - be true to yourself, be patient, and keep making!
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