tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-302886102024-02-07T21:22:48.122-05:00Celestial Textileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-53151992124405175742013-09-13T21:39:00.001-04:002013-09-13T21:39:56.000-04:00A tale of two baby quilts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8yzTazZwAtIq-aoPrxNoPK5B8tofg4sH5GN1QS961VOp2yhWOjhfgcFtvn8u03G-ycUGeefwZizdnhCSuRc9GIKGTbBKTse2G9DZ59Mo7pjGEvFO2_xtboCVz4g9UOZQ5RLUvg/s1600/P1040785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8yzTazZwAtIq-aoPrxNoPK5B8tofg4sH5GN1QS961VOp2yhWOjhfgcFtvn8u03G-ycUGeefwZizdnhCSuRc9GIKGTbBKTse2G9DZ59Mo7pjGEvFO2_xtboCVz4g9UOZQ5RLUvg/s320/P1040785.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Recently a dear friend (hey there, Julie!) asked me sweetly if I would be interested to make a couple of remembrance baby quilts for her. Her twin boys had achieved the ripe old age of 3 and she couldn't bear to part with so many of their precious little things from infancy. Knowing exactly how she felt (heh, I have a stash of baby clothes that get me all teary whenever I come across them, too), I happily agreed. She had kept batches of their little shirts and onesies and such and collected a couple of big (ulp!) bags for me. Here's just one of the bags...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufFEScFkMtmJC0Z81bIV-h64uj1_f0DuQVTt5cqQJFU4goe9xcBcvfkxmGzhIojm_4-Ft_H1LtdAyWg7A9x5DpjM9u0GnoEC13LnfzXCFUwPAApbRbdSi7ypMOtKyursZAsnjLw/s1600/P1040786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufFEScFkMtmJC0Z81bIV-h64uj1_f0DuQVTt5cqQJFU4goe9xcBcvfkxmGzhIojm_4-Ft_H1LtdAyWg7A9x5DpjM9u0GnoEC13LnfzXCFUwPAApbRbdSi7ypMOtKyursZAsnjLw/s320/P1040786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Upon sorting through the clothes I realized several important things: A. they were all in very good shape (no horrible stains or damage) B. the colors and patterns were in a range that would harmonize pretty well and C. almost everything was a knit (i.e. t shirt material). A and B had me stoked. C....eh, not so much. See, the trouble with t shirt knit fabric is that its so stretchy in every dimension. Which, of course, is why t shirts are so darn comfy and everyone has a zillion of them. But for sewing, yikes! A nightmare! Cutting and sewing small shapes accurately and making anything that even looks halfway accurate was going to be categorically impossible no matter what I did.<br />
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Hmm. What to do, what to do? I wasn't stumped--it was a fabric after all-- and I am the master, er, mistress of fabrics, am I not? Why, yes. Yes, I am. thank you very much. :)<br />
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SO... I explored my options and did some heavy cogitation for a couple of weeks. Finally, I decided that I would apply my favorite fusible interfacing, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pellon-950F-ShirTailor-Interfacing-White/dp/B00E9GMQCG/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1379122510&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=spellon+shirtailor" target="_blank">Pellon's ShirTailor</a>, to the little mini swatches of knit fabrics and then start cutting my squares from that reinforced and, more importantly, no longer stretchy material. Luckily the interfacing I use is not horribly stiff and scratchy; the resulting bonded fabric + interfacing will be a little less floppy but still be soft enough for cuddling. 4 inch side is my preferred square size--I've made several quilts based on that dimension and I find it just right. Allowing for a 1/4 inch seam allowance I thus cut 4 1/2 inch squares.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyeAUoh6PosRhvCV0Ldtuoz_5qluWoU0gn8nXJcdKD4huZ9SRO250xhCpHx02JyA8d2TkhOUplkkEJhj4p2Mla327I-hlUXQKbnqXy39yASPCOjzexxaVbmrEftrLvOhuJXrH0A/s1600/P1040787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyeAUoh6PosRhvCV0Ldtuoz_5qluWoU0gn8nXJcdKD4huZ9SRO250xhCpHx02JyA8d2TkhOUplkkEJhj4p2Mla327I-hlUXQKbnqXy39yASPCOjzexxaVbmrEftrLvOhuJXrH0A/s320/P1040787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So first I had to cut all of the little shirts and onesies apart, trimming out the snaps and other unusable bits. That took a peaceful afternoon just me and my fabric shears. You can see the pile above stacked up and waiting for the next step.<br />
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Luckily I had several yards of my interfacing on hand and could get right to applying it. Trim to match shape first, then iron. Accumulate another pile of interfaced swatches. Here's one ready for the stack. Guess what else I learned? I'm going to need a lot of interfacing. And when I say "a lot", I mean yards and yards. sigh. Which is fine. <a href="http://www.joann.com/" target="_blank">JoAnn's</a> always has coupons and a single cut of a yard good counts just like any other item.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeg-Afmkx1etVf04-EDzPe4KtEbQJMaD1wjA0Vb8kOHo3AsK3PzXnVM3Uid-sr5Boh5By6Ozlw9W1WCWd26KygzazBkEm_l8XAtKnFjGQT19x75OKsl0l7XwTIBuq6fuagQaPmg/s1600/P1040788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeg-Afmkx1etVf04-EDzPe4KtEbQJMaD1wjA0Vb8kOHo3AsK3PzXnVM3Uid-sr5Boh5By6Ozlw9W1WCWd26KygzazBkEm_l8XAtKnFjGQT19x75OKsl0l7XwTIBuq6fuagQaPmg/s320/P1040788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And here's the first square! Now, I just need to cut a few more....<br />
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stay tuned!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-5434666857145699192013-08-17T22:01:00.001-04:002013-08-17T22:01:43.274-04:00Lunar map covered notebooks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JYyAlss52Dt8-H5aYjSJMLT-6uiaLiFcVA7CcSv9LMUqJcXKgnPqQSyyZv4q6SkXIqNWDmJnNYO6YyEUBSzfIBxayjz7u7yvLDghmBw6A_xuFs2AScNc2Pp_IxYjSXNRNN9ctw/s1600/P1040762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JYyAlss52Dt8-H5aYjSJMLT-6uiaLiFcVA7CcSv9LMUqJcXKgnPqQSyyZv4q6SkXIqNWDmJnNYO6YyEUBSzfIBxayjz7u7yvLDghmBw6A_xuFs2AScNc2Pp_IxYjSXNRNN9ctw/s320/P1040762.JPG" width="320" /></a>Hello my dears, its been a goodly while, hasn't it? So sorry about that--life has a habit of getting complicated and busy and then the dog has to go to the vet and, well, you know. But here's another little post to tide you over. I'll have another in a day or so, too, to make up for my absence!<br />
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Recently was pawing through my map stash and came across an unusual one: a lunar map. Our lovely moon was portrayed front and back by the good folks at National Geographic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A_R56Ic1K-Hg7DwaWbizfL8O9iUO9mArVC1X8eNNasJvl90upmSgjF-vRAw87pk2kzlkMByEprOE5H3IZwKQ65Q1i0EzyPn7JfyUIAdjE-nR7etRr5hyphenhyphen-XlSEu6f9kcm3lJ0Fw/s1600/P1040763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6A_R56Ic1K-Hg7DwaWbizfL8O9iUO9mArVC1X8eNNasJvl90upmSgjF-vRAw87pk2kzlkMByEprOE5H3IZwKQ65Q1i0EzyPn7JfyUIAdjE-nR7etRr5hyphenhyphen-XlSEu6f9kcm3lJ0Fw/s320/P1040763.JPG" width="320" /></a>Well, I've had a lot of success with my celestial map covered notebooks of various sizes. They routinely sell out and I have to track down more maps on ebay quite often. Of course, this significantly drives up my costs but the resulting notebooks are just so striking, I just have to keep making them.<br />
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Luckily, this lunar map was actually larger in size than the Map of the Heavens that I'm used to using so I got more notebooks out of it tha I'm used to getting. I was able to cut 4 full size and 7 mini covers from that one map as you can see here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvuP7sLe-vnOwaaRrk8v3fMrdCqkDaC4nxjBaboho1Tuzd2_YfvQL8953tu-LBlSTHeCBAD6UqER9RwoKYRFG00dQR04x7p6Kabl62Zf2nzYRlvcORw3RsALTwc-_b02iNOGzwg/s1600/P1040765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvuP7sLe-vnOwaaRrk8v3fMrdCqkDaC4nxjBaboho1Tuzd2_YfvQL8953tu-LBlSTHeCBAD6UqER9RwoKYRFG00dQR04x7p6Kabl62Zf2nzYRlvcORw3RsALTwc-_b02iNOGzwg/s320/P1040765.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here are 2 of the full sized finished notebooks. These two are college ruled.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvC9jUaugIFawM8pAOHaauj2njJkZGQ76AZShU7AXgkYhev41uIDo3KakDRm80rY28Sg3dLG2NvzRIZMFVt9qKobSWgEpnTBJR7SuP2yCQB4Y7W12x1sY6IQ8kgfx6P4_G1BcWg/s1600/P1040771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvC9jUaugIFawM8pAOHaauj2njJkZGQ76AZShU7AXgkYhev41uIDo3KakDRm80rY28Sg3dLG2NvzRIZMFVt9qKobSWgEpnTBJR7SuP2yCQB4Y7W12x1sY6IQ8kgfx6P4_G1BcWg/s320/P1040771.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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And here are the 7 mini-notebooks. There were quite a few smaller moon images on the map depicting the different phases and such so I lucked out having scaled moons for the minis. Yay!<br />
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I'll be very interested to see if these are as popular as the celestial map versions!<br />
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-14417027294420754702013-05-30T22:38:00.002-04:002013-05-30T22:41:56.366-04:00Tropical Fruit Salsa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxh4DBUflFZgSXVabV26DKBAwJgHRzj39NiHO6HXwmKZGcM_kY5LSj5Oz2wBuTIosfM5DvfnyMOKXSqQqSxbbSJ5o5blXZr81pRe_yhGXw2ohLH8BZ93m6LVS_gTvzIj2ZtCQdA/s1600/salsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxh4DBUflFZgSXVabV26DKBAwJgHRzj39NiHO6HXwmKZGcM_kY5LSj5Oz2wBuTIosfM5DvfnyMOKXSqQqSxbbSJ5o5blXZr81pRe_yhGXw2ohLH8BZ93m6LVS_gTvzIj2ZtCQdA/s640/salsa.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So the other day I threw together some really fine fruit salsa--I love the combination of heat and sweet. This is excellent for those fish tacos or just to dress any pan fried, steamed or poached white fish. It will knock your socks off, guaranteed. I tell ya, I ran out of fish for my tacos and just had a fruit salsa taco (corn tortillas of course) and it was dynamite.</div>
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Don't sweat it on the measurements; this recipe ain't rocket science (or baking either).</div>
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<u>Tropical Fruit Salsa</u></div>
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1 medium tomato, diced</div>
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1 small mango, peeled and diced</div>
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5 slices pineapple, peeled, cored and diced</div>
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1/2 med. purple onion, chopped fine</div>
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1 fresh jalapeño, chopped fine (or less, or you can leave this out altogether if you like)</div>
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handful of cilantro, chopped medium or fine (your choice)</div>
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juice of one lime</div>
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Assemble ingredients. Other firm fleshed tropical fruits can be added or substituted for the pineapple. Stir together everything and refrigerate for an hour or two before serving. Will keep refrigerated for several days, but beware! It gets hotter as it ages. Serves 6-8. </div>
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-51104539322839675502013-05-12T17:07:00.000-04:002013-05-12T17:07:29.664-04:00Frida Magnets and Map HeartsHelloooo, out there! Have you wondered where I've been, dear readers? I've been right here, of course, but have not posted due to extreme work pressures. I picked up an extra temporary job bringing my total up to 3. Three jobs? Yeah, sure, I can do it, I said to myself, at least for a while to make a little extra money and catch up on some bills. Man oh man, it was not fun. Do that indefinitely? Heck, no. Er, I'd even go so far as to say: Hell, no!! But enough about that--let's get cozy and talk crafting, shall we?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VvqgCd2TxtzEYNUxh_gSCHPa5qwvWUghEuOeAySA9K8yiCpRmfjsKpO07d6CHsO-Qj_8JGRhqFPxozqmVW3KcZdM_HbQ54adxUKllQLHM8I2jmKesNJjebESJNRh7XYGSgPcgw/s1600/P1040668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8VvqgCd2TxtzEYNUxh_gSCHPa5qwvWUghEuOeAySA9K8yiCpRmfjsKpO07d6CHsO-Qj_8JGRhqFPxozqmVW3KcZdM_HbQ54adxUKllQLHM8I2jmKesNJjebESJNRh7XYGSgPcgw/s320/P1040668.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Also in the interim, I've done my taxes including all of my business expenses and profit. The good news was: last year I sold a lot of items from my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">etsy site</a> and in shows. Yay! The bad news was: uh, I may have sold a lot, but I didn't actually make a profit. Booo. I didn't even break even. <i>dammit</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYsJlIg3soFafqMBlxwkEI7Nd3vmDQ4FnJ0E0TsAT5Ijh-u_mLXA8hfy5IkKU_4cIBhPJZYq9wTB7DgAui6xJFtK05KOJEflJy_j4HpWTBHPC1owPR3aZp2CHeqTCLVD6X-odFQ/s1600/P1040679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYsJlIg3soFafqMBlxwkEI7Nd3vmDQ4FnJ0E0TsAT5Ijh-u_mLXA8hfy5IkKU_4cIBhPJZYq9wTB7DgAui6xJFtK05KOJEflJy_j4HpWTBHPC1owPR3aZp2CHeqTCLVD6X-odFQ/s320/P1040679.JPG" width="320" /></a>So, obviously, it was time to examine what was going on and do some strategizing. After reviewing expenses, products and consulting with my awesome CPA, I came to some conclusions. Bottom line: I over invested in supplies and constantly produced many new types of products last year, most of which did not sell enough for me to recoup. (I had a lot of fun doing it, of course, but my goal is to make a profit eventually). I did definitely learn what my most popular sellers are: vintage map covered composition notebooks of all sizes.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMbucejE4jedBJjf_h-GfZGq-KaP260KD9Q3T5GGjaVWstGvmMhlhrEfyxeBEVfRaKnb_qLSY4IfdTIHTUZy6Gof3FgCkoA4dHwn41-cuxpUZXHxNudIf1QyCF0exB8-dpCrNlg/s1600/P1040686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMbucejE4jedBJjf_h-GfZGq-KaP260KD9Q3T5GGjaVWstGvmMhlhrEfyxeBEVfRaKnb_qLSY4IfdTIHTUZy6Gof3FgCkoA4dHwn41-cuxpUZXHxNudIf1QyCF0exB8-dpCrNlg/s320/P1040686.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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OK! Lesson learned! No new products this year unless I already have the supplies under my roof! Purchase supplies only to replace out of stock popular sellers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSJiMRLVb9bwZFX6csCFlUBEpuHN_jx8uHbQB3IKDONuALHYijZ1Qq6M0usAaYh7pdbZDYZXeRMeRTAyuwp11OvAuLm_vXmhF2z4mRHVcLFZ3zcFhxZg0trrBKe8GhqI8yAngWg/s1600/P1040694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSJiMRLVb9bwZFX6csCFlUBEpuHN_jx8uHbQB3IKDONuALHYijZ1Qq6M0usAaYh7pdbZDYZXeRMeRTAyuwp11OvAuLm_vXmhF2z4mRHVcLFZ3zcFhxZg0trrBKe8GhqI8yAngWg/s320/P1040694.JPG" width="320" /></a>So here are a couple of projects that have been on the back burner for a while: some <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle?section_id=11293846" target="_blank">lovely fridge magnets</a> using some glass wafers I had planned to make into pendants and a fine art postcard book of Frida Kahlo art.<br />
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I made four different sets of four each, as you can see here. I'm glad I chose to go with magnets rather than pendants or pins. I only made for sets because: A. there were only so many appropriate postcards in the book and B. I only ordered 16 of the glass wafers way back when.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4nOPImIYLDsvJN9V9uvVxFI5ug_vgz_U-1FRbzwN1RLOwd1haMb0NgbbuYXJwkz8GedKlZz1hP1BzHtxSFoLWZikzlpbdwbmQDsgi6VetBfpdtVs7KUnvTLAzZmsQ_4_gqRaVA/s1600/P1040699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4nOPImIYLDsvJN9V9uvVxFI5ug_vgz_U-1FRbzwN1RLOwd1haMb0NgbbuYXJwkz8GedKlZz1hP1BzHtxSFoLWZikzlpbdwbmQDsgi6VetBfpdtVs7KUnvTLAzZmsQ_4_gqRaVA/s320/P1040699.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Then I got to work on some other supplies that had been sitting around, taking up space! I'd worked on an earlier version of map covered hearts and not liked the outcome at all. But here are some cutie <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151000263/vintage-map-covered-wooden-heart-pin?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">little vintage map covered heart pins</a> that are simple and sweet and just what I was going for!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ylmJV2cOXPYwygrriKd3vnt0O2BPllwqF1Xc2VLghlcSJpFLjdu3CviIIKJFS7CXcfLjmVdM9vx2VL3xejbxJnpJGpD2eL4YDc5wXghPWlncdB0r9jGWBtdowhO5Lfwcm9QeEw/s1600/P1040702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ylmJV2cOXPYwygrriKd3vnt0O2BPllwqF1Xc2VLghlcSJpFLjdu3CviIIKJFS7CXcfLjmVdM9vx2VL3xejbxJnpJGpD2eL4YDc5wXghPWlncdB0r9jGWBtdowhO5Lfwcm9QeEw/s320/P1040702.JPG" width="320" /></a>I just adhered a pin back with some E-6000 (my favorite all-purpose glue) and signed with my etsy shop name. They just measure 1.5" x 1.5" so they're not big and bulky.<br />
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Stay tuned for more items from my too big supply inventory!<br />
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-42334313689297481962013-03-07T22:54:00.003-05:002013-03-07T22:54:54.749-05:00T-shirt yarn challengeYa know, not every craft idea works out.<br />
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I haven't knitted anything with my t-shirt yarn in a while and I thought I might try to work out something that was new for my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle?ref=si_shop" target="_blank">etsy store</a> utilizing this grand recycled medium. I've made bath/floor mats and trivets of various sorts and sizes with t-shirt yarn and I wanted a new knitted project.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2D0kXfb4QlXReQtEZw6y6Loy5b-OwDS0818neHcvzwfOgjsbokxXK7YGXS1kOqO3Wb1BYsdvKIS-ySYEqd5JpxxKjta1gcVaLjaoRFbL1nWJ8QIAZnWn_VUUm460uMUQlYMlkQ/s1600/P1040638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2D0kXfb4QlXReQtEZw6y6Loy5b-OwDS0818neHcvzwfOgjsbokxXK7YGXS1kOqO3Wb1BYsdvKIS-ySYEqd5JpxxKjta1gcVaLjaoRFbL1nWJ8QIAZnWn_VUUm460uMUQlYMlkQ/s320/P1040638.jpg" width="320" /></a>Cup cozies sounded like a brilliant idea! Everyone is walking around with a paper cup from Starbucks or their own refillable tall cup these days and they all need a cozy, right? Right? Of course!<br />
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Time to get cracking: in an effort to eliminate seams, I first tried knitting in the round with (enormous) double pointed needles. These babies are like broomsticks, I tell you. But they are beautifully made and a pleasure to touch and use so I forged ahead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Bmj3MZXdWBBgfbNCPth76x1lk6I0c4VGrH_vN-C0ALEXfcbsfqh-HsWXo4WDA1Tb_eZCHAGEmnK9u2-c9T-52HiuUlrGUTeqjHGYAwN5ZH5zEv__QErho7GrOdMb2v-cNCpPeA/s1600/P1040639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Bmj3MZXdWBBgfbNCPth76x1lk6I0c4VGrH_vN-C0ALEXfcbsfqh-HsWXo4WDA1Tb_eZCHAGEmnK9u2-c9T-52HiuUlrGUTeqjHGYAwN5ZH5zEv__QErho7GrOdMb2v-cNCpPeA/s320/P1040639.jpg" width="320" /></a>Anyway, I thought that tube looked kinda clunky so I ripped it all out again. Stockinette stitch just looked wrong.<br />
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So then I tried garter stitch knit from one end to the other and thus wrapped around the cup sideways. Which, of course, was going to force me to graft up a seam. Oh well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rB_OGcmTE2wz-VV5ffLNQjyesRlKOKdrYYtpP-wvTuK_Dj5_bHhFYKirwqNPbvlE5QAHLRaKAr6q8qe5NAJSzHfih3DHQxQIvzQ71pWU-Y0wF-Nh6ddvVVnQ3-P8v29jMxbz4Q/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rB_OGcmTE2wz-VV5ffLNQjyesRlKOKdrYYtpP-wvTuK_Dj5_bHhFYKirwqNPbvlE5QAHLRaKAr6q8qe5NAJSzHfih3DHQxQIvzQ71pWU-Y0wF-Nh6ddvVVnQ3-P8v29jMxbz4Q/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
And here is the finished product.<br />
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Gotta say: I'm not a fan. Its clunky. Its big. Its so big, in fact, that its hard to wrap one hand around it.<br />
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Uh....no.<br />
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Back to the drawing board....http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-41235156954679077292013-03-05T21:51:00.000-05:002013-03-05T21:51:44.870-05:00Crafting and Wine: a cautionary tale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluX5ryg58pUmz1y4QfWFBve5cdH7kiS5nkdNgJCE0OxefuwqaoCWSUDfiNDZS3zI6YP6onyEfFAAnbtmVWU3c61cnevPTVJAV-WW4zSCP-tRBt3URo9mX3fVeuhe63kMPZ-R3XQ/s1600/P1040628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhluX5ryg58pUmz1y4QfWFBve5cdH7kiS5nkdNgJCE0OxefuwqaoCWSUDfiNDZS3zI6YP6onyEfFAAnbtmVWU3c61cnevPTVJAV-WW4zSCP-tRBt3URo9mX3fVeuhe63kMPZ-R3XQ/s320/P1040628.jpg" width="251" /></a>So last weekend I was catching up on restocking my inventory by making some more of my notebooks with the celestial star map covering. I had just gotten two maps in from eBay and made 7 large notebooks and 4 minis.<br />
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It seems like I've made a zillion of these by now so I took the liberty of pouring myself a little Chardonnay. Things were going swimmingly when...<br />
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I made this one------------------------------------------------><br />
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Do you see it? No?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7v_ohyeTKsI4fvnNvgaULuUmXknm9qWlyeNLC60BU6pggyzt1GJ4qYC5y0AcQkcLhtrxiy2luSwPL4JAXC7YmcEm5cZgqvomjALg3Gaef6bA2pKadJ4Ydnba2pXePrsWrXyVuQ/s1600/P1040629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7v_ohyeTKsI4fvnNvgaULuUmXknm9qWlyeNLC60BU6pggyzt1GJ4qYC5y0AcQkcLhtrxiy2luSwPL4JAXC7YmcEm5cZgqvomjALg3Gaef6bA2pKadJ4Ydnba2pXePrsWrXyVuQ/s640/P1040629.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Look closer. I mounted the paper upside down. Gahhhh. Once applied there is no peeling the paper off, let me tell you.<br />
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Sigh. Anyone want a celestial notebook at a discount?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-9829222646333831282013-02-12T23:07:00.000-05:002013-02-12T23:07:39.446-05:00Covered notebook tutorialHello all! So sorry about the long gap--don't think I haven't thought about you all! Holidays are always crazy busy and then when you get back to work in January its crazy busy catch up time, it seems.<br />
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Anyway, how about a (not so) little tutorial to make up for my time away? This tutorial is for my very popular covered notebooks--my biggest seller this past Christmas. Wow, were they popular--all sizes from the the minis to the full size composition notebooks. Here I will be covering a hardcover journal, but you can cover any book with a covered spine of any size that you like; just no spiral bound jobbies, please.<br />
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Here's our subject for today-- a nice hard cover lined journal. First step: remove and set aside your rings; you'll find out why later.<br />
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Measure carefully: this baby measures 5 1/4" x 8 1/4" and is about 1" thick. Add your width x 2 to your spine thusly:<br />
5 1/4 + 1 + 5 1/4 = 11 1/2<br />
add 1/2 inch for each edge overlap so 11 1/2 + 1 = 12 1/12;<br />
this is your cover width.<br />
Take your height and add 1/2 inch for each overlap so<br />
8 1/4 + 1 = 9 1/4; this is your cover height.<br />
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Carefully measure out your covers from old maps, or whatever paper you like. If its too lightweight, however, you will run into trouble. This technique would not work for tissue paper, for example. You may wish to make a template out of cardboard if you are making more than one or two.<br />
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Now trim close to the edges with zigzag scissors, otherwise known as pinking shears. This step may not appear absolutely essential but it will make folding the paper over a lot easier, especially at the corners. And you want your finished product to look neat so don't skip this!<br />
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See, doesn't that look nice?<br />
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Turn over your cover paper (I'm using a vintage National Geographic map) so that it is face downwards. Place your book right side up on the right side of the cover.<br />
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Fold over the paper cover and center your book with more or less equal amounts of overlap for the front and back covers. If you omit this step and don't have it centered, you may not be able to adjust or shift once you lay your book down on the glued surface! (trust me. voice of experience here)<br />
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After you have shifted as necessary, draw a registration outline of exactly where your book is placed.<br />
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Now, draw a vertical line close to your spine. This is where you will fold back the edge instead of wrapping it around. A good place to do this is at the indentation or valley right next to the spine. You'll get a feel for it pretty quickly.<br />
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WITHOUT SLIDING THE BOOK BACK AND FORTH, stand it up on its spine...<br />
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...and continue to roll it over and place it on its front cover. If you slide it around start over by repositioning at your registration outline, or your measurements will be off.<br />
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Repeat the marking for the other side. Remove your book and clip down those vertical little lines only (but no further!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrNOmap7GFW-6kO68pzkWCdRsPTG4AfZk5Gpu646OoUnP2eLpDd9NrnLYJ6z_iWJyDBzlHwEGywrzWKkZr5HSJOLrg-VnRTgBHg5Vt1vfZLaz85JszSy03uKtCoQ8MF2Kedgf5g/s1600/P1040608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrNOmap7GFW-6kO68pzkWCdRsPTG4AfZk5Gpu646OoUnP2eLpDd9NrnLYJ6z_iWJyDBzlHwEGywrzWKkZr5HSJOLrg-VnRTgBHg5Vt1vfZLaz85JszSy03uKtCoQ8MF2Kedgf5g/s200/P1040608.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Fold these little tabs back. You should have one on the top and one on the bottom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFcfbeFcuufk-SNrfsxGzUZzNCuoeLFXnryUxF_GEEdMwswOLddNjlGvL2-n6LF956I7xv2WK3fkdBF4V2_SoRtDGFJF9m0g_T64a22OtTEvMpTJyNouCd6GeuZ5rCgsdxhbSzw/s1600/P1040609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFcfbeFcuufk-SNrfsxGzUZzNCuoeLFXnryUxF_GEEdMwswOLddNjlGvL2-n6LF956I7xv2WK3fkdBF4V2_SoRtDGFJF9m0g_T64a22OtTEvMpTJyNouCd6GeuZ5rCgsdxhbSzw/s200/P1040609.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Now its glue time! I prefer good old Elmer's and I thin it down with water to the consistency of very runny pancake batter. Certainly you can use Mod Podge for this if you have it. But save some money and use Elmer's.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gb7-Y0VPZ6lKwI-PJ-czqDxNs9gZo7XPsU4vT1YaLgCU8fcUfdF6jH21Vbx9NozdngXQvP0EfmQ9AE4IZgzwVTRjXwA05WJyxWpNq9CGFCJKn-BcF7mlLG5fMFfg1f2jCW8aFA/s1600/P1040610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gb7-Y0VPZ6lKwI-PJ-czqDxNs9gZo7XPsU4vT1YaLgCU8fcUfdF6jH21Vbx9NozdngXQvP0EfmQ9AE4IZgzwVTRjXwA05WJyxWpNq9CGFCJKn-BcF7mlLG5fMFfg1f2jCW8aFA/s200/P1040610.JPG" width="200" /></a>Paint a solid coat of glue on the righthand side ONLY. Get all the way to the edges. Put a little under your tabs to sick them down. See how the paper is starting to curl up a little? You want that--the paper is relaxing and will thus become very pliable (albeit delicate!) but will be subject to tearing so be careful from here on out.<br />
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Place your book down on the cover paper making sure that the flaps stay pasted down. The spine should hold these flaps down. Slide your book to the registration outline you made previously. Depending on your book's surface and size, this slight shifting or adjusting may or may not be possible so be as precise as you can be in your initial placement.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cmhaCyZEi2E3nK05Ou10m5RPJyh5ItBoy53U96ZK630JDTX3axuw-p0fL3LniZE9Ccrj1PCO6aYayXq-MN26VrmGoyRgjcHVe6WPmbSgqEALC_zlYuIIIAhg6AHUtyrCMxwQ7w/s1600/P1040612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cmhaCyZEi2E3nK05Ou10m5RPJyh5ItBoy53U96ZK630JDTX3axuw-p0fL3LniZE9Ccrj1PCO6aYayXq-MN26VrmGoyRgjcHVe6WPmbSgqEALC_zlYuIIIAhg6AHUtyrCMxwQ7w/s200/P1040612.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEND17ob5l9VoHh0JGDyyi1j3DPqjFKW5FiTS7sLqBdxo3SyMnNRLmBNIpQrzFmkXprDyNLmedeQ1qnzka6ATY0du0pE4c69e3hKib0_70r6Tq20ZUrAbD28KGw2KBRjqg-xbPsw/s1600/P1040614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEND17ob5l9VoHh0JGDyyi1j3DPqjFKW5FiTS7sLqBdxo3SyMnNRLmBNIpQrzFmkXprDyNLmedeQ1qnzka6ATY0du0pE4c69e3hKib0_70r6Tq20ZUrAbD28KGw2KBRjqg-xbPsw/s200/P1040614.JPG" width="200" /></a> OK--almost half way there! Pick up your book and turn over. Gently squeegee out the air pockets. Use your the edge or flat of your whole hand and just smoothly swipe. Here's where rings can press into or even tear the moist paper. Keep swiping to the closest edge until you have most of the large air bubbles chased out. They won't ease or diffuse out on their own so this is your only chance to deal with them. If you are dealing with a real hard cover as in this example I am working with here, then lift the front, unattached paper cover free to give some slack and carefully press the paper down into the valley that runs next to the spine and convince it to adhere and stay there. If you just press it down with no slack it <i>will</i> tear and the cover will be ruined.<br />
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Now open the back book cover and lap over the paper edges and stick them down--first the top as shown. Then the sides and then the corners. If they don't stay down, add some more glue. Not too much, though. Neatness counts here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHhPrzapsxPDp6-dQeVGSDuJ5LeeazGJysSwPfyhhSy-FmNMKjfdYY3RhueDIDiCp318iUftx07jklCVd4RiO0AFc81lRUXBzN9xcMX0l2UYdGVrt4dDpMv4qTyFAeGPSuqG9_g/s1600/P1040615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHhPrzapsxPDp6-dQeVGSDuJ5LeeazGJysSwPfyhhSy-FmNMKjfdYY3RhueDIDiCp318iUftx07jklCVd4RiO0AFc81lRUXBzN9xcMX0l2UYdGVrt4dDpMv4qTyFAeGPSuqG9_g/s200/P1040615.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Back done! Set your book down and apply glue to the remaining part of the paper cover: the spine portion and the front.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YA9f0LIilrAgy8UR4A-rsLLdTYK80BdJvWV9dOagYAJUPnJxPbWA5xyTmIOkL4SLgyivek-KEXDBgvwo86bPCvbaM2MPxliktD15EutltUgzJqbLzRKqS3mVD6LXaSG5YZvplQ/s1600/P1040616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YA9f0LIilrAgy8UR4A-rsLLdTYK80BdJvWV9dOagYAJUPnJxPbWA5xyTmIOkL4SLgyivek-KEXDBgvwo86bPCvbaM2MPxliktD15EutltUgzJqbLzRKqS3mVD6LXaSG5YZvplQ/s200/P1040616.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Repeat your process, but this time adhere your spine first and then wrap around and address the valley as I have done here. Lastly swipe again across the front cover to stick it down and eliminate air bubbles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdLF-6Ej8YKq7O0o_lNEhIOC7J3Zyor9F7FEltXYJv__yE1WM2AbenHeb7DOnwWScdtNgt3WcV34TJRKmQcwZ-yoED8Hjob47C_UtWtQp7AhTkf050RaTpsRMnnBS-lrwZnw6Cw/s1600/P1040617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdLF-6Ej8YKq7O0o_lNEhIOC7J3Zyor9F7FEltXYJv__yE1WM2AbenHeb7DOnwWScdtNgt3WcV34TJRKmQcwZ-yoED8Hjob47C_UtWtQp7AhTkf050RaTpsRMnnBS-lrwZnw6Cw/s200/P1040617.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Again, fold over margins. Corners should receive a little extra attention. They might not look exactly neat but as long as they stay stuck down you're good. Does it look neat and crisp from the outside? If not, smooth over with your fingers. Do this along all edges including the spine. Remember the paper is moist and pliable now. Later it will set up and be hard and you will be stuck forever with a sticky-outy-part. If you didn't apply enough glue to the edges to get the overlaps to stay down, add a little as needed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIle5e4wfi1CRR01DdElQTamzUUNJVKrPsej8FaQ1W1kpaveMpjwsZxwtwgZakInrVm3Efmgd8nuPEmNu-7xxU2cKFZ9_ZinZ-fYWXIZfeUmvA6bnvH8lHllVxYz_UtcMpIVc7MQ/s1600/P1040618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIle5e4wfi1CRR01DdElQTamzUUNJVKrPsej8FaQ1W1kpaveMpjwsZxwtwgZakInrVm3Efmgd8nuPEmNu-7xxU2cKFZ9_ZinZ-fYWXIZfeUmvA6bnvH8lHllVxYz_UtcMpIVc7MQ/s200/P1040618.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Looks pretty good, eh? Not done yet, though. The whole thing needs to "cure" or dry out thoroughly. And it needs to be weighted down in the process, especially if you are covering cardboard covered books like composition notebooks. If you don't weight them, they will dry all curved up--not at all attractive. This weighting and drying process takes several days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXKYoE_wxpoOyQhSPCoTAwCvj2rRB383UMQFrpo5Zl9ZJUdYt5d_xJmkPpx12Vw7IHCY30C6Gzm5M0kyKgrOEk32jZdeshGYlCTSqM0n5d3YVlwGIMQ3qEbnJxdZTHWoeV8FLSg/s1600/P1040619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXKYoE_wxpoOyQhSPCoTAwCvj2rRB383UMQFrpo5Zl9ZJUdYt5d_xJmkPpx12Vw7IHCY30C6Gzm5M0kyKgrOEk32jZdeshGYlCTSqM0n5d3YVlwGIMQ3qEbnJxdZTHWoeV8FLSg/s200/P1040619.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Place a section of newspaper on the bottom. Place your book on the newspaper. Insert a sheet of waxed paper (not parchment, but good old fashioned waxed paper) under each cover, front and back. This prevents any excess glue from sticking the book cover to the first page (or the last page). Place another section of newspaper on top of that and put a big dictionary or other heavy book on top of that. Or another covered book, if you have made several. Just interleave with a section of newspaper each time. The newspaper sections help absorb a lot of the moisture from all of that glue. Leave this stack to set up for at least 2 days. Then, remove your weight, the wax paper and check your book. Chances are that it still needs some drying. I usually set them to the side somewhere without newspaper so that air can circulate around the entire book. I still keep a weight on them though as covers tend to keep popping up and warping for another couple of days until they are completely dry (no longer feel cool to the touch; just feel like room temperature.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMCYEok0THpQAtrPcEbPhVQOjHPYI_03pgPh6MrG2j4S4vtHXyKkBw3ouYqa8VixQiiIcbueazLmjo5vl-4djB4mWKQvhi-83aeTitpbn3-FHg5KweeoW5PaygtXtTwGnFYBJqQ/s1600/P1040621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMCYEok0THpQAtrPcEbPhVQOjHPYI_03pgPh6MrG2j4S4vtHXyKkBw3ouYqa8VixQiiIcbueazLmjo5vl-4djB4mWKQvhi-83aeTitpbn3-FHg5KweeoW5PaygtXtTwGnFYBJqQ/s320/P1040621.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here's the finished product! That cover is really on there, too--it will not peel off no matter what you do.<br />
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Now, really: wouldn't you rather write in the Australia journal above than that black boring thing we started out with? I thought so--me too!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-46814451225146282932012-12-07T23:36:00.000-05:002012-12-07T23:48:29.635-05:002012 Holiday CardsIf you liked my page on Facebook, then you have already seen some of these images. But not all of them! And you certainly didn't get the full story about my creative process (and if you haven't liked my page, what are you waiting for? See what goes on in a day to day format! Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LizzieLuvs2Recycle?ref=hl" target="_blank">here</a>). So read on, and see the story of the creation of my 2012 holiday cards unfold before your very eyes. :)<br />
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Well. These days I'm all about recycling and paper based collages. As I got to thinking about the theme for this year, I decided to challenge myself and craft my cards out of my recycle bin (as much as possible, anyway). Since I need to make about 70 cards, I elected to use envelopes and white card stock I already had. All of the collage materials will be recycled--woo hoo!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunXd137lg2MVPQqtDTKyNyb2w4-ezNdpLdno6XjVnUOCvkPyNUYMAWIP_znZ8YAsuFx7Xz9gZy9-SxEVOEE1g50WOepDT7W_Y7H7RaCfhxs5q5e-ED82ROPPBqQDoz9X_TMKurA/s1600/P1040531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunXd137lg2MVPQqtDTKyNyb2w4-ezNdpLdno6XjVnUOCvkPyNUYMAWIP_znZ8YAsuFx7Xz9gZy9-SxEVOEE1g50WOepDT7W_Y7H7RaCfhxs5q5e-ED82ROPPBqQDoz9X_TMKurA/s320/P1040531.JPG" width="320" /></a>I really liked the horizontal strips on the palm tree cards I made recently; I think they easily translate to visual landscape. So I decided to do the same for these cards, but with a fun twist: I'm tearing the edges for a more organic feel. 70 cards is a lot and I also thought I could improve the process by making a continuous roll of background landscape and just cut it up as needed. Piecing all of those individual shapes on each card was tedious for 20 or 40 cards. 70 cards would likely turn me into a gibbering idiot. Luckily, I had a roll of tissue paper (don't ask me how or why I had it) so I was in luck; just had to trim it in half and I was all set to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiIzHArNlrWtphMQpzrk3pYOVA-xWWhoPiLeZlsljXhbLA0A_8xvY5-CuMRDornhmSW6mRN9km5oXgZE10UQOz8EjNkvWq6TLNAD9G3oMmZpOtcv8q9emVJzbtyzaXUend4gNtA/s1600/P1040536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfiIzHArNlrWtphMQpzrk3pYOVA-xWWhoPiLeZlsljXhbLA0A_8xvY5-CuMRDornhmSW6mRN9km5oXgZE10UQOz8EjNkvWq6TLNAD9G3oMmZpOtcv8q9emVJzbtyzaXUend4gNtA/s320/P1040536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I started with a strip of blue ocean from some of my saved bits of National Geographic maps. Next I wanted a feel of distant hills, so I chose newspaper, which visually reads as gray. Close to the foreground I needed something off white so I went with some country interior from the same Nat. Geo. maps (did I ever mention that I save EVERYthing? no? well, I do). I'm almost at the foreground, so I switched to some manuscripts from my office recycle bin. The paper is white but there's printing on it.<br />
[I bet you're admiring my kick-ass tablecloth, eh? One of my favorites!]<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqkbRC5JoZSy-DcarnimDXGQ-FVOUUQmZBiX3nlyAS-2tCu-PpbBNc5csNCJ3InSSTtfK2udvqMnCGn3WpksQEOBA7icduPKjLWDtJyg4Sd13kbRWaYuzxQwxGbaAgbZOzU9RDA/s1600/P1040537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqkbRC5JoZSy-DcarnimDXGQ-FVOUUQmZBiX3nlyAS-2tCu-PpbBNc5csNCJ3InSSTtfK2udvqMnCGn3WpksQEOBA7icduPKjLWDtJyg4Sd13kbRWaYuzxQwxGbaAgbZOzU9RDA/s320/P1040537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Finally, I used unprinted margins or the back side for a strip of pure white at the bottom. Along the way, every bit of the underlying tissue paper was covered.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYw2OHDylBs4XSHJ7Jrgh63GAXb0kLWkiSjenMoizl_9wwvOEgi3J5yoAhrJ9-MbG6r03qu_KKfetAtEOo73UZ7AQralAg8aEloFjlKwCkrS-vNNfg0UHkcUyI451GxekILAAbw/s1600/P1040538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYw2OHDylBs4XSHJ7Jrgh63GAXb0kLWkiSjenMoizl_9wwvOEgi3J5yoAhrJ9-MbG6r03qu_KKfetAtEOo73UZ7AQralAg8aEloFjlKwCkrS-vNNfg0UHkcUyI451GxekILAAbw/s320/P1040538.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Next step is to cut the strips and affix to the card. Here's a rough cut.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXcxMCJvcb6uaFJYqcjWt4W9ns0xTeNvip2-6p53RAxuz58oorlr1-JJwGEJNfCE732Sim12fNfAj9Nv77jI7Q8yF4lCzqzUzyEzLazW9kq2O14Jgi4rsL_i4uD2h-LwWTANbwQ/s1600/P1040539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXcxMCJvcb6uaFJYqcjWt4W9ns0xTeNvip2-6p53RAxuz58oorlr1-JJwGEJNfCE732Sim12fNfAj9Nv77jI7Q8yF4lCzqzUzyEzLazW9kq2O14Jgi4rsL_i4uD2h-LwWTANbwQ/s320/P1040539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And here it is trimmed with doily snow flakes added. Ok ok, strictly speaking, the doilies aren't recycled, but I needed a little something to add interest in the foreground and emphasize the whole winter theme.<br />
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While the snowflakes do do both of the above, unfortunately, I find them pretty boring. Need something else....<br />
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One of my favorite pages on FB, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WithaView?fref=ts" target="_blank">A Room with a View</a>, recently posted a lovely photo of a red birdhouse. I remembered that I had a few leftover red card stock cards from about 10 years ago ( I save..., well, you know) so I dug those out and cut this cute birdhouse. The post and perch are from saved grocery bags, so more recycled points there.<br />
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Hmmm. I like the house, I like the contrast of the colors and the sharp vs. torn edges but I don't think the horizontal format works. And I still need some close-up details.<br />
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So let's flip this baby vertical! Yes!<br />
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A few doily snowflakes come back, too. Yes! Yes!<br />
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A vintage 50's look stamp adds the final touch! (stamped in black) Yes! Yes! Yes!<br />
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[Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=574915462523645&set=a.323362737678920.99863.322317857783408&type=1&theater" target="_blank">photo</a> that inspired me at A Room with a View on FB]<br />
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Let's just tweak the layout a little bit--the stamp on top of the birdhouse was too rigid.<br />
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And here's the winner!<br />
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[Don't worry, the house is still bright red, I just took this photo later in the day with all artificial light.]<br />
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Did I meet my challenge? I cheated a little with the doily bits, but otherwise I did, indeed, use all recycled or leftover materials! I'll sign these cards and stamp my LizzieLuvs2Recycle logo on the back and I'll be done! Yay!<br />
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And now I go into high card production mode...http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-33529695538314394602012-12-05T22:40:00.000-05:002012-12-05T22:43:08.615-05:00Ornament explosion!A variety of interesting on-line tutorials have been tickling my creative self lately--I keep pinning holiday crafts on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/greenplantdiva/christmas-crafts/" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a> and going to Michael's to the point where I just couldn't stand it. So, despite the fact that we have a full supply of perfectly acceptable Christmas tree ornaments already (that I would never part with, of course), I told my daughter last week: "let's make all new ornaments for the tree this year! And let's have a color theme! And let's do it tomorrow!" She instantly saw the brilliance of my suggestion and so the next day we shopped at Target and Michael's and got our supplies. We decided on a cool silvery blue and aqua color theme.<br />
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Four strings was enough to do the trick. Actually, just the lights were very pretty on the tree all by themselves. But we were pretty psyched about the ornaments so the next day we eagerly set up our decoration station on the kitchen table.<br />
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Here's our set-up: several boxes of clear ornaments in several diffeent sizes, floor wax (!), glitter (both coarse and fine) and some odds and ends to include inside the ornaments. [Note the newspaper on the table--the first step that I always insist upon.] You might also notice a couple of plastic cups from the recycle bin. Not pictured are some gloves and mini funnels made out of taped 3" x 5" index cards.<br />
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First step: remove the tops of the ornaments and set aside. Squirt some floor wax into an ornament. Swirl it around evenly coating all of the interior. Try not to create any bubbles. Pour the excess wax into one of the plastic cups and save for the next ornament.<br />
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Add a bunch of glitter and shake the ornament vigorously. The glitter will adhere and get stuck to the floor wax, which, of course, dries clear.<br />
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Here's the finished product! Nice, huh?<br />
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Here's a whole batch. Some have multiple glitters in different textures and different colors. We tried to cover all combinations at least once.<br />
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We let the floor wax dry for a good 20 minutes or more before replacing the tops of the ornaments.<br />
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We also made some ornaments with larger inclusions. No adhesive necessary for these. Here are some clipped leaves from a sparkly garland that was on sale.<br />
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Loose glitter and larger cutouts are featured in this ornament.<br />
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And here's a whole tray of the inclusions ornaments.<br />
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Stay tuned for more and to see the final decorated tree!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-36499380174795539702012-11-17T17:52:00.003-05:002012-11-17T17:57:08.085-05:00Halloween revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And here (finally) is the whole crew that went out for Halloween a couple of weeks ago. My daughter is the Poison Ivy on the right with the cutie little leaf skirt I sewed for her (scroll down 3 posts and you'll see the making of).<br />
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She got really creative with her costume: adhering ivy leaves all the way up her leg and one or two on her face as well. She used eyelash adhesive which worked great--even better than expected.<br />
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Also in the crew is Batman and Cat Woman. And then there's Dracula, too. no--don't ask me why. It was 3 Batman characters and a Dracula. :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-91536852763709932712012-11-16T18:53:00.000-05:002012-11-16T18:54:25.248-05:00Magnets and moreHi all, I've been puttering about and keeping up with my inventory at my online store at etsy. I'm pleased to say that orders are picking up to several a week. Not big bucks by any means as most of my stuff is relatively inexpensive, but its meaningful to me. I hope to get to the self sufficient stage and then slide into the making a profit stage (which I am fast approaching!). <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle?section_id=12120842" target="_blank">Notebooks</a> are popular! In all sizes and with all coverings. Its a good thing. Especially since I like making them. I did have to stock up on more National Geographic maps but that was easy enough to do on ebay. I've also been expanding my horizons with a FaceBook page and trying to get used to posting on that medium (as opposed to the regular blog post). So if you are so inclined (and have not already done so), feel free to wander over to my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LizzieLuvs2Recycle" target="_blank">LizzieLuvs2Recycle FaceBook page</a> and like it! thanks! :)<br />
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Well, I added a new item for me: fridge magnets. I had been thinking about making these for quite a while but couldn't figure out what images to use. Then it struck me: "Duh! Vintage maps. Of course!" So, last weekend I made the first batch with some glass cabochons that I picked up on etsy. I tried initially to use the squashed marbles that you can buy for cheap at Michael's but they are not appropriate: too uneven in shape, scratched often, and with bubbles or other internal flaws. So lash out and buy the real thing that really works.<br />
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And here are some of the sets that I made up. I used the last little bits of maps from the 1964 atlas that I used to make the thank you cards for my dear friends Matt and Mindy recently. The color range on that atlas was really rich and varied.<br />
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Here's a set cut from the greater Washington D.C. area.<br />
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And a set from North America.<br />
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There was one little map that was of downtown Washington D.C. Aren't the colors great?<br />
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All of the maps were cut out and adhered with my favorite multi-purpose adhesive, E6000.<br />
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After that had dried, I used it to affix the magnets on the back.<br />
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Each set got its own padded box and...done!<br />
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-80578880847005427172012-10-24T22:21:00.001-04:002012-10-24T22:25:56.040-04:00And yet more cigar boxesI love me a good cigar box, you all know that. If it does something cool in addition to being a cigar box, well, that's a big bonus!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KH_frRhABseGj_qnUM1GnzOXVRCbZCmNpLqwi6ur95wRyziW2CKMQ5LN71Qqa8Ug-HAj8UnNopSvNEAFvdwO6D17w5SDQfajb5KWEhlQmUXXRBpivWWRga-V3YrECZwz2FcRXQ/s1600/P1040371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KH_frRhABseGj_qnUM1GnzOXVRCbZCmNpLqwi6ur95wRyziW2CKMQ5LN71Qqa8Ug-HAj8UnNopSvNEAFvdwO6D17w5SDQfajb5KWEhlQmUXXRBpivWWRga-V3YrECZwz2FcRXQ/s320/P1040371.JPG" width="320" /></a>Recently, I succumbed to the washi tape craze. I have held myself in check because I can plainly see that these addictive lovely little tape rolls could easily take over. So...washi tape, cigar boxes and a little cruising on the interwebs for inspiration and a new project is born!<br />
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Here is the cast of characters: 4 new (used) cigar boxes fresh from my local cigar shop. This time I chose "naked" boxes with no decorative paper covering.<br />
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My good friend Chris from <a href="http://www.foxtrailknives.com/info.html" target="_blank">Fox Trail Knives</a> was kind enough to cut these little "G" shapes out of some leftover wood I had from another project. We had a nice time brainstorming what their exact size and shape should be for what I wanted them to do. And since he has practically every woodworking tool known to mankind (well not really, but way more than what I have) it was no problem for him to cut these shapes pretty quickly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRfQzpGtReNArWdm7G6ZN9TXwlTNRfsXRmufy6moiYPqw1iOBRMwNHHX3xTEMjtomwTYeYHYSYZs4cGQhyphenhyphen8ljMAdPeg-6o4EeO1IZ80FbhWZ1wVeaqQvbHt75_Uc43gXj3oZV4A/s1600/P1040373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoRfQzpGtReNArWdm7G6ZN9TXwlTNRfsXRmufy6moiYPqw1iOBRMwNHHX3xTEMjtomwTYeYHYSYZs4cGQhyphenhyphen8ljMAdPeg-6o4EeO1IZ80FbhWZ1wVeaqQvbHt75_Uc43gXj3oZV4A/s320/P1040373.JPG" width="320" /></a>Next, he cut and sanded down my dowel rods so that they fit inside each box. The interesting thing about cigar boxes is that they all are unique in size and dimensions. Even those that are for the same type of cigar have some fluctuations. I love that--machine made/computerized precision is death to the organic beauty and individuality of crafts, especially wooden ones.<br />
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I had also purchased some hacksaw blades and now I trimmed these to fit within each box.<br />
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The serrated blade will act as the cutting edge for some of the washi tape.<br />
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A little manipulation quickly demonstrated that if I just glued the blade down to the inside lip of the box (outside mounting would look too crude, I felt) the blade would interfere with the lid closing properly. So I needed a way to tilt the blade inward just a bit. I decided to glue down a piece of string as guard to fulfill that purpose. I used my favorite wood glue which dries yellow. sigh. yeah, next time I'll use the Elmer's so the yellow doesn't show on the white string. But the blade will cover most of it anyway.<br />
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After the string's glue was dry, I mounted my blade with E6000, some of my favorite adhesive. Its smelly, but it sure gets the job done. Then I used the wood glue to adhere the G-brackets and...<br />
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Voila! Washi tape storage!<br />
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The dowel rods easily lift out so that I can switch my tapes out, but because the bracket has a raised lip at the back end, the dowel rods easily stay in position.<br />
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I've removed the back rod here and you can see the where the rod rests on the bracket.<br />
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Thanks again, Chris! I would have had to undergo major contortions to accomplish these wooden cut-outs or something that approximates them.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-16305171954394915482012-10-22T10:57:00.000-04:002012-10-22T10:57:21.635-04:00A happy customer :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld-k_Rxf-VEvz-KIexK3HznCYMsDqSuqwJrhbtTmIVNn-ANBxecJMUMkGtMDj0DWQOx5Ing4I3s0-Pza8p3XE2MjPOrlmPGJt-NybOWtRZ28WeeNQGxPDU9C2YiAmV9us9WWEWw/s1600/jackienecklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld-k_Rxf-VEvz-KIexK3HznCYMsDqSuqwJrhbtTmIVNn-ANBxecJMUMkGtMDj0DWQOx5Ing4I3s0-Pza8p3XE2MjPOrlmPGJt-NybOWtRZ28WeeNQGxPDU9C2YiAmV9us9WWEWw/s320/jackienecklace.jpg" width="206" /></a>My lovely niece recently place a large order from my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> for some early Christmas shopping. I was quite grateful for the business, of course, and envious that she was getting started Christmas shopping so early. I'm sure I'll be running around in December, as usual. [sigh]<br />
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One of the items she purchased was for herself, however, and she sent me a very nice picture of her wearing her new Frida Kahlo pendent.<br />
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She paired it with the perfect black cord, I think!<br />
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Thanks for sharing, Jackie! I don't usually get to see my creations out in the big wide world when they find new homes, so this is a nice treat for me.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-20319362329395816752012-10-21T22:17:00.000-04:002012-10-21T22:17:18.583-04:00Poison Ivy time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Snlqj3V9NnjKHsEQk-51Fdr3W5PisTnbnk6lXnxFVdegkMxN3nQtDOs52ScHVdGUWzxrKxVjNAB6Vp5gjvdFB1V7Ksml1gWbMxuGSc77DIkmPX4CAUnOkZGxhhcKRVvrMO5cSA/s1600/P1040393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Snlqj3V9NnjKHsEQk-51Fdr3W5PisTnbnk6lXnxFVdegkMxN3nQtDOs52ScHVdGUWzxrKxVjNAB6Vp5gjvdFB1V7Ksml1gWbMxuGSc77DIkmPX4CAUnOkZGxhhcKRVvrMO5cSA/s320/P1040393.jpg" width="240" /></a>Its that magical time of year again when all good children rack their brains for what they are going to be for Halloween. My daughter is the same, and this year decided she wanted to create her own costume (with a little help from mom, of course). Since she is a big Batman fan, she chose the character Poison Ivy. A lot of interesting make-up will be involved. Leaves will be everywhere!<br />
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My job is to help make the skirt happen. After several discussions and a couple of trips to Michael's, we got down to constructing the leaf skirt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OFNjzt-gPHui_wr1nnvmOr1tFMbeNcfK5dw8WnTtCdcUbONOCUtdDGFLU0GbrtbGnH67AEf9-UMkJdYM6Ix_bqhvLWq27Zgq6HNiCZrtfVjfMkFpykd7JCrV6ccxEZ-TJxU1tg/s1600/P1040394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OFNjzt-gPHui_wr1nnvmOr1tFMbeNcfK5dw8WnTtCdcUbONOCUtdDGFLU0GbrtbGnH67AEf9-UMkJdYM6Ix_bqhvLWq27Zgq6HNiCZrtfVjfMkFpykd7JCrV6ccxEZ-TJxU1tg/s320/P1040394.jpg" width="240" /></a>We began with a stretchy tube skirt that still fit but is never worn anymore. She cut off the leaves from some bushy bunches and I started to pin them down in straight rows starting from the bottom, sewing them down with a zig zag stitch to allow for expansion. I then overlapped rows upwards trying to randomize the dark and light green leaves as well as the occasional leaf with red veins.<br />
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The sewing looks a little messy, but each successive row covers up the previous row.<br />
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The last row will be hand tacked down. Just a couple of tacks per leaf should do it.<br />
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I'll post the finished skirt soon. Hopefully I'll be able to get a picture of my daughter in the full get-up as well.<br />
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Stay tuned!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-49477206675292434302012-10-03T21:08:00.001-04:002012-10-03T21:11:55.833-04:00Fabulous sunsets and recycled maps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDZQ7jpGaw_D8rPNPl6_JUogCYT-FJO_2mVg1mhbLxvwt2WGkIWy_UWMZo9vsn7i-B9DLoVtpxwNLFHfDtoKVLRmlFt0Cq7b9liRY63aNwKnb49BLMRCyCs6Phj_I9manii-4Jw/s1600/P1040365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDZQ7jpGaw_D8rPNPl6_JUogCYT-FJO_2mVg1mhbLxvwt2WGkIWy_UWMZo9vsn7i-B9DLoVtpxwNLFHfDtoKVLRmlFt0Cq7b9liRY63aNwKnb49BLMRCyCs6Phj_I9manii-4Jw/s320/P1040365.JPG" width="320" /></a>Lately, my favorite medium is paper. Specifically, old maps from atlas or foldable road maps or those large map inserts in National Geographics. I find that the map patterns are instantly recognizable as a map (iconic, really) and thus to use them as the material for a different product entirely results in a pleasant mental juxtaposition that keeps flipping back and forth in your head. "Huh?" you say? Just wait...I'll get there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbioZ9erb_34alt1gmdjhjjuMtwEO5lHQbX-v2cBw2XFYJZgJUgFc3_scXouEr6r9Ap2Gas0z_2de2sWV2TYlXchz1qTX3OHjMN3Q1AEg13-Bq8XB11OhNLWf5FIOoKJu_DMwSjg/s1600/P1040364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbioZ9erb_34alt1gmdjhjjuMtwEO5lHQbX-v2cBw2XFYJZgJUgFc3_scXouEr6r9Ap2Gas0z_2de2sWV2TYlXchz1qTX3OHjMN3Q1AEg13-Bq8XB11OhNLWf5FIOoKJu_DMwSjg/s320/P1040364.JPG" width="320" /></a>Recently, I had offered to making some thank you cards as wedding present for some dear friends of mine who will be married on the beach this coming Saturday in Key West. They wanted something: beachy/tropical/maybe palm trees, please? on the cards so recently I got to work.<br />
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At the top you can see the envelopes that I made. Each was individually cut out using a template I made, folded, then glued down. The final step is painting on the gum on the flap so that its sealable. Et, Voila! A real, live envelope!<br />
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Next, it was time to make the cards. The background was going to be a tropical sunset. Blue ocean pieces were pasted down first.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUhUab0pQdGz1FsWK6OYilweT9lS3GFdLKDsxyQF7tbKtwnISRDKQaHTrLcLzFdlDdhZjLAMjN-hQGG6xJ4Sdf6cTJhAOrhM-NI_8kBafd0OlE8eHKlKppGocb0gv1TNNToeriQ/s1600/P1040366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDUhUab0pQdGz1FsWK6OYilweT9lS3GFdLKDsxyQF7tbKtwnISRDKQaHTrLcLzFdlDdhZjLAMjN-hQGG6xJ4Sdf6cTJhAOrhM-NI_8kBafd0OlE8eHKlKppGocb0gv1TNNToeriQ/s320/P1040366.JPG" width="320" /></a>Next, a series of sunset colored strips and streaks were pasted down in random but leasing more or less horizontal layers. Golds, yellows, oranges, pinks and purples from various different map sources were utilized. An extra strip or two of blue was also added, usually ending in a blue at the bottom. I planned to put a setting sun at the bottom but that just didn't look right, so I left it out. Man, I just love doing collages.<br />
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So far, so good. I thought the sunset clouds looked pretty good, and it was a lot of fun to assemble them one after the other.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG64Y6UfZo4ssPXKdFKuwK23GLAfsbaVCfXDed9_YlfE97EDdJAP2-9PZBU2FtI8l8t0UpuzsZOipGvxNaahOQ25JOHLLlFaTqvW2JHBb7lsmVjXFDPf3FS2SP9lhodqP6d-Bh-A/s1600/P1040367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG64Y6UfZo4ssPXKdFKuwK23GLAfsbaVCfXDed9_YlfE97EDdJAP2-9PZBU2FtI8l8t0UpuzsZOipGvxNaahOQ25JOHLLlFaTqvW2JHBb7lsmVjXFDPf3FS2SP9lhodqP6d-Bh-A/s320/P1040367.JPG" width="320" /></a>Now for the piece de resistance! I had cogitated long and hard about how to get that darn palm tree in the image. Here was my process: palms can look either really cool or very stylized and hokey. Obviously, I wanted really cool. To me, really cool = biologically accurate. Hmmm. Biologically accurate palm trees have a lot of leaves. Each leaf has a lot of leaflets. OK--cut them out of black paper? Gack! Heck no. Take, mmmmm....maybe, 10 years? Nah. Draw them free hand? Too much variation possible and take, maybe, 7 years. I had good luck dealing with <a href="http://www.simonstamp.com/" target="_blank">Simon's Stamps</a> in the past so... I developed a biologically accurate image of palm trees in Photoshop until I had what I wanted, then I sent the image to Simon's and had a custom made rubber stamp manufactured to my size parameters. Here's what I ended up with--a unique palm stamp that I just love. Tell me that that is not a big-ass rubber stamp!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC4ILFGmqNTWTfk4GFofJmrTNNDrjV2KkMjEkBeYG-rmtPV3Shcb_t_1GZrhnQCrD0wWa6mzv2OPGnzgkD4DND3BKXAzvgaVnOJPTO61lwFm9JhXsvQxgoBiRYe5_ETa9nbwD2Q/s1600/P1040368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFC4ILFGmqNTWTfk4GFofJmrTNNDrjV2KkMjEkBeYG-rmtPV3Shcb_t_1GZrhnQCrD0wWa6mzv2OPGnzgkD4DND3BKXAzvgaVnOJPTO61lwFm9JhXsvQxgoBiRYe5_ETa9nbwD2Q/s320/P1040368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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So then I got to the fun part of the project: stamping! Just simple black ink for the palm trees, thank you very much. Because that's exactly what color they are in front of a sunset, don't you know. And the palm tree shape is instantly recognizable too. (yeah, I know, I said that about the maps too, didn't I?)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKVv7tAu0Oq-GY7E5cVb_YtUfEIZ9tv7b_-wy3VZUXDwFQT7CybHuD4Ubu-YtZricSA7nglc8i8EqZrvdW4o7L-hjzy9ASXBzbT9Yrm5Vp_-nd95CqHsvMnzqlOcYEJArSIx2Yw/s1600/P1040369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKVv7tAu0Oq-GY7E5cVb_YtUfEIZ9tv7b_-wy3VZUXDwFQT7CybHuD4Ubu-YtZricSA7nglc8i8EqZrvdW4o7L-hjzy9ASXBzbT9Yrm5Vp_-nd95CqHsvMnzqlOcYEJArSIx2Yw/s400/P1040369.JPG" width="300" /></a>And my last picture is a close-up of one of the cards. Obviously they are all unique as far as the background is concerned. Each stamp turned out a little different too. I also had to do a little touching up with a black marker as the ink image did not lay down at the paper piece edges. But that was fun and quick job, too. Overall, there's a nice continuity. Very satisfying to see all of them together.<br />
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Ok. Juxtaposition time. :)<br />
Look at the bottom picture. Blur your eyes a little. Focus on the background only--its made of maps and countries and oceans and roads, right? Now, focus on the foreground/palm trees. My, those are nice palm trees aren't they? Background becomes gloriously garish clouds that you would see any day of the week at sunset here in lovely Florida. Not maps any more at all. But wait, they are maps! See? look closely! and..<br />
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Boo yah! Mental juxtaposition!<br />
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-18419872812151710102012-09-05T21:23:00.000-04:002012-09-05T21:23:01.910-04:00Celestial Journals<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRaH5s5OblrDs9X_ebamwX3Y1CoPvW6QVZ4d7625oRDH1-twsmxMSNtQB0HeMdgStT1HWdmKO7Hmu9Y6YFegL1yWAZfJGnHVqNNAs_OIvxmN5gh2DNc9cBs_jwCr31RjNzSCLZw/s1600/P1040280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJRaH5s5OblrDs9X_ebamwX3Y1CoPvW6QVZ4d7625oRDH1-twsmxMSNtQB0HeMdgStT1HWdmKO7Hmu9Y6YFegL1yWAZfJGnHVqNNAs_OIvxmN5gh2DNc9cBs_jwCr31RjNzSCLZw/s320/P1040280.JPG" width="320" /></a>You may well ask where I get my supplies, and I would say: that's a good question! A lot of my stuff I have had for years (in some cases since I was a kid, even) and other things I just come across and snap up for a rainy day. But sometimes I need a particular item <u>right now</u>, so I have to go out and get it. I have been known to hit up Home Depot, Michael's and JoAnn's, among others. If they all fail me, or its a more esoteric item, I must search on-line. In those cases I check out etsy vendors, ebay and sometimes even Amazon. So far, I have almost always successful.<br />
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So, recently I purchased a collection of National Geographic maps for my various paper projects and when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised to see that one of the maps was not a world map but a map of the heavens. The journals that I covered earlier in the week turned out so nicely, I wanted to create celestial composition note books too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpCneWnvEoMIyDBUjDerbKHojd3ce2VTWuof7hOS-uPAAy6qJy7sv_tiEeGZnPNbsp2fzFTtXOzFEH3eLBIJw3r9Jm4r1_sM6Jf8VCVzYsczhRM3ZRdMTxUzO0BGv4WHHbZ0hAA/s1600/P1040285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpCneWnvEoMIyDBUjDerbKHojd3ce2VTWuof7hOS-uPAAy6qJy7sv_tiEeGZnPNbsp2fzFTtXOzFEH3eLBIJw3r9Jm4r1_sM6Jf8VCVzYsczhRM3ZRdMTxUzO0BGv4WHHbZ0hAA/s320/P1040285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Above, you can see the full size notebooks; one with the southern hemisphere sky and one with the northern hemisphere heavens.<br />
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Below are a couple of mini notebooks featuring particular constellations.<br />
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I think I will never have to buy another "special" notebook for journaling again!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-8091804906921797522012-09-03T11:57:00.000-04:002012-09-03T11:57:33.963-04:00The August Baldwin Park Art Stroll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzbEVJM__qoiX7uu9er2Haqh_HEqOiCL4OJ6OoB2V-gWldxKTWtFwcvTN-G-0jSlOQwP1IzasSQFvEKTDS7XQ28K3BDHQuyDxRGvbtYkeEnMVbtSEjFp5wrH_J2Mr7p9gb0hbqw/s1600/395879_166782750124412_1791332034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzbEVJM__qoiX7uu9er2Haqh_HEqOiCL4OJ6OoB2V-gWldxKTWtFwcvTN-G-0jSlOQwP1IzasSQFvEKTDS7XQ28K3BDHQuyDxRGvbtYkeEnMVbtSEjFp5wrH_J2Mr7p9gb0hbqw/s320/395879_166782750124412_1791332034_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I thought you all might enjoy seeing a few pictures of the local <a href="http://www.yelp.com/events/orlando-baldwin-park-first-friday-charity-festival-and-art-stroll" target="_blank">Art Stroll </a>that I have been participating in. Its held at the Baldwin Park town center on the first Friday of the month and features all sorts of artists and crafts people. Its just for a single evening which I like--no whole weekend commitment!<br />
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Here I am with my back to the pillar. In the fore ground is my neighbor at the show, Parker Sketch.<br />
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Next to one of my card racks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6p6YB_80IkyHnN4ax1ZdLXqXf3yRTMqHTRzOB-lrurNMWDVnawHr3httOJwtY6LuxUJqNUXOSytI57dZgx1_9fej6kYr881aRyRSiad-tKaPI0NkqvTMiUwcsqta0RWfEcMz-Q/s1600/580901_166783030124384_1277441445_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6p6YB_80IkyHnN4ax1ZdLXqXf3yRTMqHTRzOB-lrurNMWDVnawHr3httOJwtY6LuxUJqNUXOSytI57dZgx1_9fej6kYr881aRyRSiad-tKaPI0NkqvTMiUwcsqta0RWfEcMz-Q/s320/580901_166783030124384_1277441445_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
My daughter, Fiona, helped me set up and kept me company. I was very grateful for her help.<br />
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I'll be showing up for the September Art Stroll this Friday, so if you are in the Orlando area, stop by and say hi!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-62359656497971950682012-09-03T11:39:00.000-04:002012-09-03T11:39:42.702-04:00Map covered composition notebooksHello my dear friends. I have been busy working and crafting and have a couple of new things to share with you. I have made a little progress in the sewing department but crafting once again has been taking center stage. I've also had a big push to get all of my finished items up and available on my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle" target="_blank">etsy store</a>. I find that the crafting is fun. The picture taking, editing and computer work, eh.. not so much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0YshCmMR26jDPKHpSs7WeS_Ls-wT1o3NOAD-PBJ3HB0iGvOxyweb_HrSUnpFBE5Pc5ji9KOEFUZ1-ISsPThx48ozpkiYOK1keBJafuA5Zmym2r8b78wn7ugfmy7wHTdAVrSfXw/s1600/P1040266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0YshCmMR26jDPKHpSs7WeS_Ls-wT1o3NOAD-PBJ3HB0iGvOxyweb_HrSUnpFBE5Pc5ji9KOEFUZ1-ISsPThx48ozpkiYOK1keBJafuA5Zmym2r8b78wn7ugfmy7wHTdAVrSfXw/s320/P1040266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My latest craft is pretty simple but with a super WOW factor--at least I think so. Hopefully, you will too.<br />
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Another map project--this time covering composition notebooks. I love the size and heft of them so it seemed like a natural extension of my love for map crafts.<br />
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Here are four full sized composition notebooks, all covered with vintage maps from National Geographic magazine which I purchased from ebay. (you can buy anything on ebay, I swear).<br />
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Don't you just want to sit down and start writing? I'm very tempted to keep some of these for myself, I can tell you.<br />
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And even more adorable are these mini composition notebooks. So cute! Love the way these turned out.<br />
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My daughter had to snag one of these as soon as she saw them. Perfect for you purse or pocket, wouldn't you say?http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-42123313004364101502012-08-12T23:46:00.000-04:002012-08-12T23:46:07.064-04:00Another felted sweater fabric craftWell, you know I've been working with felted sweaters, right? I really like the stuff--it has so many possibilities. I've made bunches of flowers (check my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/LizzieLuvs2Recycle?section_id=10173691" target="_blank">etsy store</a>, btw, I just added some in the jewelry section.) And I have plenty of flower bits still waiting to be used, either as flowers or something else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PdvqkuqpDsGQ0VH_ds6dukxqTRxIGgsd8BfRd71u6m5F2imhyphenhyphenAyyRmCgH49IFoZgFY0fUZn2rWRpGKYgm3ROGU5uhPJn_gNQLvlv2nuwbMwN5C3ZSzU9LuSmKCE_lpzXOiAvxQ/s1600/P1040098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PdvqkuqpDsGQ0VH_ds6dukxqTRxIGgsd8BfRd71u6m5F2imhyphenhyphenAyyRmCgH49IFoZgFY0fUZn2rWRpGKYgm3ROGU5uhPJn_gNQLvlv2nuwbMwN5C3ZSzU9LuSmKCE_lpzXOiAvxQ/s320/P1040098.JPG" width="320" /></a>But I have all of these sweaters to use (thanks, Carolla, for hitting up those Chicago thrift stores for me!) and so I put my thinking cap on and cogitated about current pop culture. Just about everybody in my circle has an e-reader these days, whether its a nook or kindle or kobe. And everyone who has an e-reader has a case for that e-reader. Its a necessity, really, to protect your investment. Most of my friends, when informally polled, were not excited with their case (too plain, but too expensive to ditch.) So, I decided to construct an e-reader case.<br />
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<i>yeah, you saw that coming, huh? </i>:)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZxHn1HpwYIrLi_8oKUahf-0HHcIvjZRdVC4_BGlQZmrb20ZS6XOc9Tiolb5MXBy_Gxaw5jnCVFaVvAgUFscekYbdjjfnJNQXBbb64ALRQFTXvhvmovM5VvSOJmAS4qF0NCyEcw/s1600/P1040100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZxHn1HpwYIrLi_8oKUahf-0HHcIvjZRdVC4_BGlQZmrb20ZS6XOc9Tiolb5MXBy_Gxaw5jnCVFaVvAgUFscekYbdjjfnJNQXBbb64ALRQFTXvhvmovM5VvSOJmAS4qF0NCyEcw/s320/P1040100.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Anyway... I reasoned that I would make more than one of these so I decided to make a template. I've decided on a simple envelope shape.<br />
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Here is my cut felted sweater piece. I've carefully centered the cable pattern, of course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfc-bAl5IOFMQ0CCjyla1JNa3vzWokvKWji1dP3_Ctr3mayR44fWGYMveWr0KEaFoftR3rXU4llDtLzKHyLzpSOG61G5eHIw-nF8Jkj4PT8AQbgWYNmx1C4o5gA8xnprfr_u6Rw/s1600/P1040101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfc-bAl5IOFMQ0CCjyla1JNa3vzWokvKWji1dP3_Ctr3mayR44fWGYMveWr0KEaFoftR3rXU4llDtLzKHyLzpSOG61G5eHIw-nF8Jkj4PT8AQbgWYNmx1C4o5gA8xnprfr_u6Rw/s320/P1040101.JPG" width="320" /></a>I've folded my envelope shape and it looks pretty good. I did some experimenting with sewing techniques on some sweater scraps and quickly realized that my sewing machine was not going to work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41BrPRBggh-XzavGkazb2gJolzWT66adx7kUzmdcejHntXTPFhJZwfJdY_fDyTCDqujUxypjYbuJ4RciVIoksrTYt7JwDgMopGqJPksJiM1sCdD_cPG3xe9cM7NaTJ8gwXiWIUQ/s1600/P1040105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41BrPRBggh-XzavGkazb2gJolzWT66adx7kUzmdcejHntXTPFhJZwfJdY_fDyTCDqujUxypjYbuJ4RciVIoksrTYt7JwDgMopGqJPksJiM1sCdD_cPG3xe9cM7NaTJ8gwXiWIUQ/s320/P1040105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So, hand sewing was the preferred method of construction along with a little fold at the lower corner to contribute to the depth (sorry, you can't really see it).<br />
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Love how the pattern shows on the back.<br />
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I had a toggle that I had removed and saved (of course!) from one of my felted sweaters before washing it and I used that as my closure mechanism. I had to hand sew that sucker on too, which took a little while, but I'm pleased how this one turned out.<br />
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I'd put my Kindle in that!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-23439133135696266902012-08-02T15:33:00.003-04:002012-08-02T15:33:30.855-04:00Pig tail thing-a-ma-bobs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi all!<br />
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As promised: a bunch of new pics--this time of ornamented pig tail elastics for the little girls among us.<br />
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Some pink wool felted flowers.<br />
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And some blue wool felted flowers.<br />
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Here are a couple of covered buttons that I put together employing the hand embroidered portions of a vintage tablecloth. It was stained and unuseable but the embroidery was just to nice to toss so I have been saving it for years. Finally, I have use for all of that fine needlework!<br />
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And here is a close-up of these pretty little violets. Such lovely embroidery. So sweet for a little girl, I think.<br />
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Here are some covered buttons with a more modern take. This is not vintage fabric, but the whole princessy thing was just to hard to resist.<br />
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If my daughter were still 3, I would most certainly be using these on her!</div>
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Here's another pair, this time from vintage bed linens. Two little hedgehogs; a boy and a girl.<br />
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This cover was my favorite as small child. I would stare at these little hedgehog people and the other critters for hours. Or it seemed so to me, anyway. Brings back the warm and fuzzies for me! :)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-67115083128846466562012-07-26T23:04:00.001-04:002012-07-26T23:04:25.127-04:00More felted flowersOf course I didn't make just one flower! Here are some more pins.<br />
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Note that I placed buttons in the center of these--and they ain't your run-of-the-mill buttons, neither. All of these buttons have been covered in vintage fabric from my extensive and exhaustive stash of fabric.<br />
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An icy cool pink and blue colorway...<br />
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And two in a flamin' hot explosion!<br />
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Tomorrow...hair thing-a-ma-bobs for young and old. Can ya hardly wait??<br />
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<br />http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-46322678437008527282012-07-25T20:52:00.000-04:002012-07-25T20:52:54.939-04:00Felted sweater flowersSo.... what did I make with that glorious felted sweater flower bit stash that I created??<br />
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Well you might ask, my friends! I made a bunch of flowers, of course. And then made them into various items. Here's the low down on one of these babies!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTzFNMtJ06cLZqq1bpk3KlVhf11DBBQAsjgxMQOb__Htfpml3kshy5OQoL4cpedReNwYJWwMIClND9AYwWNNIl-KOlf4vjqLBQn9HlC8IDqT8k7LPtxSKBKFFogZYvIkF9dHUDw/s1600/P1040080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTzFNMtJ06cLZqq1bpk3KlVhf11DBBQAsjgxMQOb__Htfpml3kshy5OQoL4cpedReNwYJWwMIClND9AYwWNNIl-KOlf4vjqLBQn9HlC8IDqT8k7LPtxSKBKFFogZYvIkF9dHUDw/s320/P1040080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's a finished flower using the Kool-Aid dyed petals (the very bottom whorl), the natural shade of heathered blue of the sweater (next whorl up) and then 2 whorls of yellow and then gold for the sexual parts (the stamens and the carpels). [OK, now you're saying: huh? and I have to admit that my grown-up job is teaching biology and botany at the university level. So the terminology just happens. Sorry. Can't help it]<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaJQBcY21Lj2kmRVDI9tjEkvaDg64LR2UzhHIh_f0OLks0Nm4QMYx8b_YNn-Z9IQqFHe_s47NRm-QTaYzWykkqgzgBzgHlZ2BoGBj_pxVXjiosSF8d5NQh93lFebFC5Z5HilUhQ/s1600/P1040081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaJQBcY21Lj2kmRVDI9tjEkvaDg64LR2UzhHIh_f0OLks0Nm4QMYx8b_YNn-Z9IQqFHe_s47NRm-QTaYzWykkqgzgBzgHlZ2BoGBj_pxVXjiosSF8d5NQh93lFebFC5Z5HilUhQ/s320/P1040081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's the flower from the back. You can see that I have sewn a pin on the back. Thus, this flower is a pin/broach. A big, exuberant flower pin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUywDAuwCccjU8s8SCS1MmnBZZWCYdZ1RWQvNMoHuQKQfx812QbnY9o0fHW5XOjjxIAI8e_P8Zs2-2CH4SaO8bPNcx6YJpO8FLmKQysDMlxjkGfeHuuXtwgLOC3ibusvV9bygQ_Q/s1600/P1040083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUywDAuwCccjU8s8SCS1MmnBZZWCYdZ1RWQvNMoHuQKQfx812QbnY9o0fHW5XOjjxIAI8e_P8Zs2-2CH4SaO8bPNcx6YJpO8FLmKQysDMlxjkGfeHuuXtwgLOC3ibusvV9bygQ_Q/s320/P1040083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And a little bit of a close up so you can see the details. While it isn't 100% botanically accurate, I think it still has the flavor of a real flower center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHloW4kZpVlGrvKdAOn19K95FQvtVDD1nRxb96gochQVy-YcjpXF024DDtw7VjKEmVuSVHoMfZ9GqHRSM_iGAuTrcVJ2vz3qMhhQh8wXOCDZeeFc9DZnBND1lU61iVMFidsWTgg/s1600/P1040084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHloW4kZpVlGrvKdAOn19K95FQvtVDD1nRxb96gochQVy-YcjpXF024DDtw7VjKEmVuSVHoMfZ9GqHRSM_iGAuTrcVJ2vz3qMhhQh8wXOCDZeeFc9DZnBND1lU61iVMFidsWTgg/s320/P1040084.JPG" width="248" /></a>I have this ongoing goal of stepping up and developing my brand. That includes developing my logo, which you saw a few posts ago. Currently, I'm integrating that logo into business cards, invoices and product packaging in an effort to really look professional and add perceived value to my items.<br />
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So here you see the card stock mount that the pin is mounted on.<br />
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I'm really pleased with how it looks. And when you see a whole group of these together, it really looks great.<br />
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I made some other stuff, too! More flower items as well as some related items using different materials. So stay tuned!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHloW4kZpVlGrvKdAOn19K95FQvtVDD1nRxb96gochQVy-YcjpXF024DDtw7VjKEmVuSVHoMfZ9GqHRSM_iGAuTrcVJ2vz3qMhhQh8wXOCDZeeFc9DZnBND1lU61iVMFidsWTgg/s1600/P1040084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I</a></div>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-65621121427216098972012-07-16T20:44:00.001-04:002012-07-16T20:47:17.271-04:00Kool-Aid Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSmklxv1srm3tX4QnJzKb6al73oL0MxgFXXmmbMsXc4-nxSMOXaswtO1yyt-XZ8J9VZKL3Ypc8t5FRHwz_NRb7L66R70A95X1_EJ5DW29YfNpPZTVQzptir2vRxd4apq__pxnUA/s1600/P1040058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSmklxv1srm3tX4QnJzKb6al73oL0MxgFXXmmbMsXc4-nxSMOXaswtO1yyt-XZ8J9VZKL3Ypc8t5FRHwz_NRb7L66R70A95X1_EJ5DW29YfNpPZTVQzptir2vRxd4apq__pxnUA/s320/P1040058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I know its been a long while--sorry, my friends!<br />
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Its been a busy time lately and I have actually been working on a lot of crafts. One of the things that I have been doing is working on a lot of felted sweater bits. In have finally amassed a good stash of sweaters to use but the color palette left a lot to be desired. So I decided that I would just make my own colors by dyeing what I needed with....Kool-Aid. Lots of advantages with the stuff--no nasty chemicals involved so I can use my cooking pots. Its readily available (well, more or less). Its already pre-measured. And its cheap!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGzRjDsl18ArEM5rON70B_Zl2d51RFQkX_1m-Pvhyphenhyphenf6KqtF9ucSKbuK_JMYe1-36Dqs-HNTfTAMo-CZHFHYhYN02kIPFT4U2RpoRb37mOZrJS3HGqoiwOQJ2lfXHtts4GveXqPg/s1600/P1040060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGzRjDsl18ArEM5rON70B_Zl2d51RFQkX_1m-Pvhyphenhyphenf6KqtF9ucSKbuK_JMYe1-36Dqs-HNTfTAMo-CZHFHYhYN02kIPFT4U2RpoRb37mOZrJS3HGqoiwOQJ2lfXHtts4GveXqPg/s320/P1040060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So check out this gorgeous peacock blue in my first pic. Isn't it lovely? And here's my pile of already cut up and felted wool bits ready to go. Some is already blue, but its a rather dull blue so I wanted to see if I could beef it up a little with some Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade flavor Kool-Aid. OK, yeah, yeah, basically, its blue. That's all you need to know.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHajDGyA02m6-ZOJXCghhbSag0vifie0FfN-0rVmd-92tYPzlGSoropEuN-hcFLekDHfxXkNS6MjTAkhBgfj4O2qtCnezh8MU_IYr1ur83uw_lY3pJhQo2Lb9c1m4VDSHzIYPaUQ/s1600/P1040061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHajDGyA02m6-ZOJXCghhbSag0vifie0FfN-0rVmd-92tYPzlGSoropEuN-hcFLekDHfxXkNS6MjTAkhBgfj4O2qtCnezh8MU_IYr1ur83uw_lY3pJhQo2Lb9c1m4VDSHzIYPaUQ/s320/P1040061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Here is a close-up of my "before" wool. As you can see I have blue, pink and some off-white.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIQafUUZMeyp6LSwuZwHlCCbpjPKwHq7lWXJ-bu32OKTL5moERAIbeCHgV6qy9CAbQha_2SzhmNJAEloooSuviXuCrKY9hb_31e1bD2vBQV4dHgjUfTKTUDPDbPi02t6E6OMiWA/s1600/P1040062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIQafUUZMeyp6LSwuZwHlCCbpjPKwHq7lWXJ-bu32OKTL5moERAIbeCHgV6qy9CAbQha_2SzhmNJAEloooSuviXuCrKY9hb_31e1bD2vBQV4dHgjUfTKTUDPDbPi02t6E6OMiWA/s320/P1040062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
At this point I have boiled the Kool-Aid and wool for about 5 minutes and then let it sit for about an hour. Note how the water is now clear again--all of the dye has been taken up by the wool. Cool, huh? The citric acid in the Kool-Aid acts as the mordant so the dye is permanent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBfHxtlP6CK9_pY9Nl0Cjujn_SzCR2-SYgZs-YW-h3Cz6bMIYadNcwPlfDro50nWJ10a4mMXYYlp1SuvjiGFkrO8zfmBkSVEj636ICGX_27hwZREjvx-sEhEhFdtTUsJH5fJXPw/s1600/P1040067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPBfHxtlP6CK9_pY9Nl0Cjujn_SzCR2-SYgZs-YW-h3Cz6bMIYadNcwPlfDro50nWJ10a4mMXYYlp1SuvjiGFkrO8zfmBkSVEj636ICGX_27hwZREjvx-sEhEhFdtTUsJH5fJXPw/s320/P1040067.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
After drying in a hot dryer (which further promotes the felting) I have a beautiful pile of various shades of blue felt bits. Much more to my liking!<br />
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Now I just have about 9 more different colors to try!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-77236232738974602112012-05-16T22:13:00.000-04:002012-05-16T22:13:07.234-04:00Creativity from the UK! Hello all--<br />
I'm getting back in the swing of things after my move and have a little backlog of posts for you! So check back, I think I may surprise you with some of the stuff that I have planned!<br />
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So about a month ago I received a lovely email from a volunteer helper at the <a href="http://www.Hexhameast.northumberland.sch.uk/" target="_blank">Hexham East First School</a> in Northumberland. He explained that the class 1 (5-6 year olds) and class 2 (6-7 year olds) students had created some art works using some inspiration art. And, it seems, that that inspiration art was some of mine that they had found on the internet at my <a href="http://www.elizabeth-harris.com/" target="_blank">main art website</a>! What an honor! I sent them a supportive letter (and would have sent them some fabric or some such but the time was short until their Art Focus Day.<br />
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Here are the main pieces of mine that they viewed:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQrHnc_EAE3TYAaNIPgCn6CWovETe2oFFk6hLMQpA393rSPLJw4hBEDRtkg9QrgNN3y-svL0Vsea44lpDCe_Ynvxxy2XpWSttsArVGgJslumh1D0LSvF6CX2Ijh0dIMyZ7qrGSQ/s1600/O%2526B+All.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicQrHnc_EAE3TYAaNIPgCn6CWovETe2oFFk6hLMQpA393rSPLJw4hBEDRtkg9QrgNN3y-svL0Vsea44lpDCe_Ynvxxy2XpWSttsArVGgJslumh1D0LSvF6CX2Ijh0dIMyZ7qrGSQ/s640/O%2526B+All.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b>Studies in Orange and Blue: Triptych</b><br />8” x 10.75 “ (each)<br />July, 2005<br />Private collection of Charles and Jackie Hicks</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WXWRNpSpH3gemomkOlwJ0k0wlhhUn3YqzcyIGDi-VBi8O3ure4WVyTWaL_F7N8wy2eTiapes_jFX4Xg-TKkGdmFCoWq0hxuGwIPfepzTg7bVgRor95JCqH-Hxof8pNo57rB2ZA/s1600/space1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WXWRNpSpH3gemomkOlwJ0k0wlhhUn3YqzcyIGDi-VBi8O3ure4WVyTWaL_F7N8wy2eTiapes_jFX4Xg-TKkGdmFCoWq0hxuGwIPfepzTg7bVgRor95JCqH-Hxof8pNo57rB2ZA/s320/space1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b>Fabric of Space-Time: #1</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">16" x 13.5" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">November, 2007</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Currently on display at the University of Central Florida</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WLWU1f8AhpUT4YHpM2aYy5c1QOoiIsyG3n1_UyWVQiT3BHH5HVGERPsWJ8YyVVO6rProvmMlD_yOtfd9MCCCTZvegmYvbamIV812yMz_-b_8zxwe25rA-0E0iGyl9u6K6IA4Q/s1600/venustransit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WLWU1f8AhpUT4YHpM2aYy5c1QOoiIsyG3n1_UyWVQiT3BHH5HVGERPsWJ8YyVVO6rProvmMlD_yOtfd9MCCCTZvegmYvbamIV812yMz_-b_8zxwe25rA-0E0iGyl9u6K6IA4Q/s320/venustransit.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WLWU1f8AhpUT4YHpM2aYy5c1QOoiIsyG3n1_UyWVQiT3BHH5HVGERPsWJ8YyVVO6rProvmMlD_yOtfd9MCCCTZvegmYvbamIV812yMz_-b_8zxwe25rA-0E0iGyl9u6K6IA4Q/s1600/venustransit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WLWU1f8AhpUT4YHpM2aYy5c1QOoiIsyG3n1_UyWVQiT3BHH5HVGERPsWJ8YyVVO6rProvmMlD_yOtfd9MCCCTZvegmYvbamIV812yMz_-b_8zxwe25rA-0E0iGyl9u6K6IA4Q/s1600/venustransit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6WLWU1f8AhpUT4YHpM2aYy5c1QOoiIsyG3n1_UyWVQiT3BHH5HVGERPsWJ8YyVVO6rProvmMlD_yOtfd9MCCCTZvegmYvbamIV812yMz_-b_8zxwe25rA-0E0iGyl9u6K6IA4Q/s1600/venustransit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><b>The Transit of Venus</b>31” x 47”<br />July, 2004<br />Private collection of Susan Riley</span></div>
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And here are the wonderful pieces of textile art that they created for Art Focus Day:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMF_r7OrmM9Pu16pteTa4xfOr96vDuAqv7s3l82IBBN-hARs5X7NVInbcMEBo1mFqp9yEgaeMpuzXLkTKsU6PA09OBR8W5x8HhoO8oHI2GPZ6LN4Z6MDAKha3nmwoaaBKxMEfJaQ/s1600/ElizabethHarrisart021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMF_r7OrmM9Pu16pteTa4xfOr96vDuAqv7s3l82IBBN-hARs5X7NVInbcMEBo1mFqp9yEgaeMpuzXLkTKsU6PA09OBR8W5x8HhoO8oHI2GPZ6LN4Z6MDAKha3nmwoaaBKxMEfJaQ/s400/ElizabethHarrisart021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUge2sGPONtIfB6PzNgBVEalFmBgSo8L0mwJXTpCYrpRqSKluB-NFEqUYcxu8qNJrjDXKP-Hdz0bjqL-9Vq1ODdOOKOXeB6bmYKgIcoHCKwPc3152oZ901BQMf79n3W8HopQb2Q/s1600/ElizabethHarrisart016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUge2sGPONtIfB6PzNgBVEalFmBgSo8L0mwJXTpCYrpRqSKluB-NFEqUYcxu8qNJrjDXKP-Hdz0bjqL-9Vq1ODdOOKOXeB6bmYKgIcoHCKwPc3152oZ901BQMf79n3W8HopQb2Q/s400/ElizabethHarrisart016.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Didn't they do a great job? I was very impressed. I so wished I could have attended the Art Focus Day and seen all of these lovely pieces of art in person and met all of the children.<br />
Thank you, Mr. Messer (volunteer helper) for contacting me and Ms. Noon (teacher) for sending the pictures for me to share.<br />
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And, of course, the very biggest of thanks to the very talented artists who created these amazing artworks!</div>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30288610.post-14518331207872096912012-04-26T10:16:00.003-04:002012-04-26T10:16:43.907-04:00Boring announcementsHello friends. I'm still recovering from moving and so I have no new creations to blog about. :( <br />
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I'm almost done unpacking, though, and I have a bunch of great ideas I'm just dieing to implement so stay tuned. It will be soon, I promise.<br />
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In the meantime, I am deactivating the comment option on my posts. I've been getting daily weirdo spam comments that are hijacking my site for their own nefarious purposes. I'll leave it off for a while and reactivate in a month or so. Sorry for any inconvenience!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02265623988634548086noreply@blogger.com0