Penguin Threads

The Art blogging world has been all a buzz the past few weeks with the news that Jillian Tamaki has been commissioned by Penguin books to create stitched covers for their Classics series that will be released this Fall.

This was such exciting news. I too, love to embroider things and there is not always a rhyme or reason to my pattern and I appreciate that in Jillian's work, the beautiful flow. Not only that, but her extraordinary use of such vivid colours for this series just makes them pop out at you. I think I shall now, forever see Emma, dressed like this, with pastel rainbow hair whipping around her face, as she waits for Mr. Darcy.

I can't wait to see what they look like in person! To learn more about this project click here.

DIY: Camo Shorts made into Camo SKIRT

I had found this pair of boys camo shorts at the thrift store sometimes last summer... it took until now for the strong detergent smells to actually be rain blasted out of them (on my clothes line!) ....
I was hoping to make camo short-shorts out of them, but i am actually not that skilled in sewing and they just didn't fit quite right to transform them easily (too much space in the crotch for boy junk!)
So here is a quick sewing trick you can use with boys shorts, your own shorts, old pants, thrifts jeans, etc....
It really is simple as 1,2,3 !!!
.....................................................
STEP 1 ::
Cut off the legs of the shorts or pants to the length you want your skirt. (see pic above) You can make a knee length or tiny mini!
STEP 2 ::
Cut along the crotch seam. Then along the seams in the front a back...

STEP 3 ::

Fold the cut pieces over on top one another to create skirt shape (like inthe pic below, left folded over right). Sew along the new lines they makes, and cut off any excess from the bottom.

FINISHED!!!!!!!!!

Some majorly militia redneck shit going on here!..... i can't decide whether i would like to make my skirt shorter or not? Or maybe take in the sides?

Either way... hardcore!

XOxoxoxox

Spring is in the Air

It is still bitterly cold here at times. As I came home from work last night and proceeded to open the door to come inside, I noticed that my fresh pot of sunshine yellow primroses already had a few ice crystals on their little blossom faces.

There is still the chance of snow, even though green is popping up here and there. My climbing rose has fresh growth as does the jasmine that I am training over the porch cover of the cottage. There are daffodils and crocuses in full bloom in front of a number of houses that I pass in the big red bus on my way to school.

The color of Spring is beginning to be all around us and that makes me smile. There is a promise of warmth and the growth of sunny flowers on the way. While catching up on my blog reading last night, I read a post of Spring Time happiness over at The Purl Bee. I know there is still the chance of snow, very likely more frost and it could be the same for you wherever you live. But, with these bright and happy projects, you can bring the Spring indoors to YOU. Enjoy!

(Click on the images above to be taken to the projects)

Have A Heart

I love these heart garlands that I found on "How About Orange"! They are a great way to use up fabric scraps, an easy sewing project for a beginner and a simple yet effective way to create something beautiful for your home.

A fabric stiffener is used to keep these hearts a fluttering. I looked in my local fabric store this weekend for a fabric stiffener, but they were out. I thought about trying starch but considering I live in a very damp little part of the world, I don't think that is such a good idea.

Alas, I will just have to wait till they get more in stock. In the mean time I can dream of what fabric I will use and how pretty they will look strung along the mantle or on the bannister going up the stairs, or in my cottage window...

For the How-To go here.

Peppermint Twist

I am longing to be crafting. I have a special little project that I need to finish before Christmas.

But with the cottage packed up at the moment, while some work is completed, I can't get to my sewing machine. In catching up with The Purl Bee,  I came across this:

What a fantastic idea it is! And, no sewing, so I can make it, if only I could get to my felt...

Click on the image below to learn how to make a candy cane garland for yourself.

Eco DIY: Organic Cotton "Alf" Dress

Yeah, ya read it right... ALF! ha ha ha.
This sewing project is more of a minor upcycle deal, see ya' don't need "Alf" to make this dress...(even though you might think you do!) All you need is an old t-shirt that is nasty, doesn't fit, etc from your closet, grandmaws closet or the thrift store... a t-shirt with a whimsical logo that can be cut out and re-sewn onto a new outfit. I put mine on an organic cotton dress I made from some locally woven fabric. But you could do this with a hoody and put the old logo/character on the back.

THE BEGINNING:::

I pinned down my dress pattern on the fabric, which was the pattern I traced from another dress I already had.

And then chop chop! Cut out the fabric, leaving enough room for the side seams.

I had folded the fabric over, so that the front and back would be cut at the same time. I like efficiency... :)))

I left the pattern pinned on while I sewed in the seams along the edge... then unpinned the pattern.

I love making things adjustable! So I made the top of the 'sleeves' or straps the kind you can tie to any size....

Once the organic dress was sewn together, it was time for ALF!!!

CAREFULLY pin your logo on, you want it really flat and even so that it doesn't wrinkle or bunch up the front of the shirt or dress or hoody or whatevs you may be sewing it on...

Then SEW! I used the basic straight stitch and slowly went around the circle of Alfness...

ALF HYSTERIA:::::

hysterical? lovable? weird? so was Alf.

You can wear it with or without a shirt underneath... summer time, or fall time...

party time?!? WWAD ? ;)

XOXOXOxox

Eco DIY: Bamboo Ruffle Butt Party Dress

Ruffle BUTT! You can never accentuate your ASSet too much, that's why music makes you want to shake it. I saw a dress like this on Etsy but not only was it too expensive for my personal pocketbook but it didn't come in a sustainable fabric in the color purple. (Purple is my favorite color!) I got some stretchy purple bamboo fabric online, and got to sewing this booty jiggle gem.

STEP 1::

I used a tight stretchy sleeveless dress to trace a pattern... it's important that if you trace another piece of clothing for a pattern, that the fabric you are about to sew with has the same properties of stretch or no stretch. I used the heavy book trick (thanks to reader Liberty for the idea!) to hold the paper real flat.

STEP 2::

Lay your pattern on the fabric. I used pins to make sure it was tight. The fabric was doubled, with the fold at the top shoulder... that way I could cut the front and back out at the same time and the shoulders would already be connected without having to sew them.

STEP 3::

SEW. I sewed seams up the left and right side, leaving holes for the arms, where the sleeves were to go. I also hemmed the edges in the back, front and bottom. I was too lazy to take the pins off the pattern paper, and then put them back on again, so i sewed right outside the paper line for the seam, then removed the pattern.

Step 4::::

SLEEVES::::

Why are sleeves so mysterious?? I don't think I ever do them the same twice, every time I am just shooting chance to the sky hoping a sleeve will work.

This time i took the arm hole existing and drew a sleeve that would accurately connect to it. It was a free hand experiment, with no measurements.

I cut out the arm pattern, then doubled the fabric twice to cut all the arm pieces out at once.

Then I sewed the sleeves on, just right on top the hole.

*

I took the scrap fabric pieces from cutting out the body pattern for the ruffle on the butt. I centered the first one and then just crinkled them up and sewed a seam across the top of each crunched, scrunched layer...

THE END::::::::::

Tight and comfy and ruffley- I am going to wear this all day. :)

YAY! Makes me want to DANCE...!

Xoxoxox

Eco DIY: Fabulous Scrap Fabric Purse

Craft bonanza! After making my patchwork blankie out of scrap fabric I sat down with a notebook & pen and started dreaming up other simple DIY projects. This handbag is not hard to make and looks very eco chic (superior handmade style!)
It's also made entirely out of fabric, so all you need are basic sewing skills to put it together.
*
STEP 1 :
Choose two contrasting fabrics, and pin them together in a rectangle shape to cut out.
I chose some velvety animal print, and a kimono type fabric for their flamboyant contrast.

STEP 2 :

Fold over the top edges of the purse, and sew a strong seam at the very bottom. This is to create a drawstring style hole for the purse straps to pull through.

Both sides should then have the drawstring hole, which are sewn into the inner side of the purse. (see pic below)

STEP 3 :

Fold the purse over, with the drawstring holes lining up evenly. Sew a seam along both sides (left and right) but NOT over the drawstring holes.

The purse should then look like this pic below... my animal print is the inner part, and the kimono fabric is the outside of the purse.

STEP 4 :

THE STRAPS ::::

Cut six strips of scrap fabric (or tie pieces together), make two groups of 3 strips, tie a knot at the top of each one, then BRAID! yay! I love braiding. :)

Use a big safety pin to pull your braided strap through the drawstring holes on both sides...

...tighten the straps, then tie them together at the top.

ALL DONE!

HANDBAG HEAVEN :::::

How easy and cute is that?! Plus functional! You could use this as a purse, but also as a knitting/crochet bag! Or maybe carry your small pets around the house in it. ;)

I like this eco crafting project alot... now back to my notebook to think up more things I can do with this fabric.

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Here is a quick lil' tutorial vid for this DIY Purse project -(if you learn better with music and short commands...) ;)



Xoxoxo