TiLT's creations

Pause

2012-02-09T08:28:00.002-05:00

Hmmm...I know I am repeating myself for those of you that have visited my other site, Crafts Kids Home and Life...so here goes...for another, oh, month maybe, it is time to put this blog on

Batik Dress

2012-01-25T09:18:00.002-05:00

Let me start by telling you how glad I am that I am able to blog this. Why you ask? Well, my last computer went fizzle fizzle clunk clunk crunch. I have found that they operate much smoother with a workable hard drive. Imagine that.

On to the dress.
This was another model garment for work. I am beginning to love these :)

These shots were taken at work after it was placed front & center...such a thrill to see it there when I got to work :)

It may not be easy to spot at first, but the print has a border. It is easier to see from the backside. The background "stripes" diminish until all you have are the flowers.

Pardon the fuzzy pic. At least it fits :) Me that is, not the mannequin. It only fits her thanks to the wonder of pins. Wouldn't mind if it fit me this tiny. It'd cost less fabric wise :P

Xmas Swap

2012-01-06T22:50:00.000-05:00

The Buffyfest Swap has come and gone. More than enough time for the recipients to get their goodies and for me to show them off.

This year I went with a stuffed stocking theme.

And had fun doing it :)

Ahoy!

2011-12-29T09:02:00.001-05:00

Avast ye...thingy! Walk the plank! Arrrgghhh and stuff!

Um, yeah...sooo...this was my pirate costume this past Halloween. Nothing like timely posting :) Actually, it is more like timely picture taking...and posting.

This costume gave me some headaches. The vest did anyway. This is the second one. The first got all wonky. I think it was simply a too stretchy fabric for the pattern. Now the fit, well, as you can see, it was not big enough to wrap around to button at the center front.

But I loved my solution so much better than a simple button. The larger skull and chain are a necklace. I attached the skull on and simply hung the chain over the smaller skull on the other side. Those smaller skulls are earring I found at a costume shop. Pretty neat find!

The flappy shoulder pieces turned out great. I was a little worried at first. It seemed like they were not going to fit. Thankfully it was not too bulky.

The top was super simple. I am glad I was short on time and left the edges raw. The fraying and loose threads is a great look for a rough pirate like myself. Don't believe the rough part huh? Me neither. But it was Halloween, I could go with it.

I also strapped a piratey pistol to my thigh with some of the red vest fabric. Since my dress form has no legs, I could not show that part off. But you can see it in this quick snapshot from an earlier post. (Not the most flattering pic...I will blame it on the angle)
Oh, and the sword too. You can see it there. That one did not live long enough to get photographed. The boys got a hold of it...and not the 6 year old...the 16 year old & his buddies. Goofballs! Gotta love 'em!

Alice'ish

2011-12-18T09:36:00.001-05:00

I say 'ish because it was by no means a traditional Alice costume. But she did inspire it. Too bad it did not turn out nearly as good as I had hoped. The satin got so crumply looking around the lace ups. AT least on it was not so noticeable.

I did like the peplum waistcoat and the poofy sleeve ends though. Comfy :)

The skirt was, well, waaaayyyy short. So I decided to lengthen it by using two different blues. That I did like. Gave it some pop. Oh, and the darker blue is sparkly...not that you can see it in the pics.

And the lace trim, so sweet.

The vest was much too big. But an easy fix. I just need to shorten the straps hat cross behind. I did not bother then since it sat under a closed coat.

Green Steam's Mate

2011-12-10T08:11:00.001-05:00

This is what my husband wore when we went to the costume party around Halloween. It was the mate to my green steampunk get up. We did not want to get too into it with him since steampunk is my thing, not his. Plus, I wanted to make something that could possibly be re-wearable. Which my son was quite happy about...he quickly claimed the coat as his.

The cravat was a bit of a guesswork piece. I did find some decent tutorials online, but when I went to make it just went on memory. Turned out fine. We did have a decent pin he used, but I couldn't find it for this pic...sorry :(

The vest is an awesome brocade I got at Haberman Fabrics. The green really popped it.

The sleeves needed some work up at the top, but the bottom turned out great. I love the button detail.

I posted a quick snapshot of us from the party if you want to see the two together, goggles and all.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-07T11:01:00.001-05:00

Green Steam

2011-12-04T08:46:00.001-05:00

I finally got my costumes on the dressform for a little photo taking. The background, well, just ignore the TV and stack of old VCR tapes.

The color did not come out as good as it looks in person...which is unsurprising given the fabric type. But I think you can still get the idea. Oh, and the cami under the coat...mine. I ran out of time for the bustier and this top I already had matched so well, I just went with it.

I couldn't find a way to show the fullness of the skirt, but the piece below the ruffle and trim, well, there were four and each was about 4 feet long...and took a half hour, EACH, to attach. But so worth it :)

The lacing on the back was a great touch....which I forgot to lace up for the costume party...ugh. Still looked good without though....and comfier to sit. I went with brown to match the trim on the skirt.

The ruffle neckline was awesome! And it was a good thing it was there since the top of the coat was so wide that my bra straps would have shown without the poof of the ruffle.

The little cap over the sleeve top added more to the look than I would have thought.

And I got to play with the new serger lots on this piece! And with metallic gold...fun!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

More Doctor

2011-11-24T09:11:00.001-05:00

Need I say more?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-23T10:45:00.001-05:00

Don't Blink

2011-11-22T09:01:00.001-05:00

This one is for all you Whovians out there.

I love the way her hair turned out...it has a great texture.

The text is nice and simple. I just used my own writing...like a quick note when you can't look away....

Black and Blue

2011-11-18T12:21:00.001-05:00

....and Godets too :) I don't remember which pattern this one started as, but I will try to find it. It was supposed to be a dress. But like that last dress I started, it was just too much print. So i just added a waistline and made it a skirt.

This was also my first time with godets. I love them. It gives such a nice fullness. You can kind of see them here. With this print, it is not easy to spot.

Cherry Denim

2011-11-15T08:39:00.001-05:00

Denim with teeny embroidered cherries on them that is. This skirt is perfect for work. The length is work worthy...meaning I can move around without flashing any unsuspecting victims. Although, it is only good because I extended it from the original length. I used some grosgrain ribbon on the border of the 2 denims. I did not have enough of the cherry left, so I used some plain stuff I had lying around. It worked.

Closer up on the ribbon border...

And you can see the pockets here....very useful at work.

This is the pattern I used, Vogue 1247...

Mmmmmm...Marimekko

2011-11-12T08:57:00.001-05:00

Love Marimekko. I was not so sure about this print as a skirt at first. Horizontal stripes...never good at a larger size. Well, almost. I think this one works because while the strips are horizontal, they are askew and different tones.

This is the fabric itself:

And this is the skirt I made with it:

And the pattern...Burda 8090:

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-09T09:47:00.002-05:00

Watercolor Skirt

2011-11-08T09:52:00.000-05:00

I love this print. It looks like a watercolor painting of flowers. It is getting a little chilly and wintery to wear it much longer. But I did manage to sneak in one more wearing yesterday when it was a tad warmer out.

The fit is pretty good, although it will be better with the loss of a couple more pounds :P The top band is a tad taller than I envisioned. This one was made without a pattern, so it is more like a trial run that wound up wearable. Gotta love those!

It doesn't fit so well on the dress form. If I pull it down further to fit her like it does me, it just looks odd...odder anyway. But you get the idea.

Drawing Room Skirt

2011-11-04T22:03:00.000-04:00

Drawing Room...that's the name of this fabric by Ann Marie Horner...not where you wear the skirt. Although, I suppose you could. Personally, I wear it to work :)

Please excuse the fit of the skirt on the dress form. I can't seem to get the hip area smooth...and smaller. Something went sproing and no longer twists. Bummer.

In case you are wondering, I used the New look 6030 pattern, minus any pockets and belt loops. I never wear belts. They only accent the width...yick :P

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T10:01:00.002-04:00

Pirate Arrrggg

2011-10-31T23:43:00.001-04:00

Here is another costume...a pirate this time. Now this view...not so hot, but you get the gist. I will take some pics on the manni to show it off better. But without the sword since it broke when the boys were sword fighting. And not the little kids...the big ones.

And the winner was...

2011-10-28T22:55:00.003-04:00

Us :)

I had so much fun making these costumes. I wore his to work on Monday and mine on Tuesday. It'll be worn again Sunday so I can show a couple people how it turned out. It is even being photographed by some students and the local college for their final project. Fun!

I'll get a better pic later and show it with the other costumes I have made recently.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T07:59:00.001-04:00

Costume Pile

2011-10-23T13:06:00.001-04:00

Well, costumes-to-be pile. I have been a tad busy. Once all this is made (plus two not seen here), I will show off all the stuff I've made while I was being Bad Blogger. 'Til then....

Circles Skirt

2011-10-08T09:00:00.001-04:00

Yup. Circles. Plural. It's not a circle skirt as in shape, but in print.

I have had this fabric for quite some time now. It's an embroidered linen. I added a poly print for the lining for some fun. Yes, I find fun in small places.

I need to unload my dressform so I can show you some of my new skirts, but for now, you get it on a hanger :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-05T08:15:00.002-04:00

Arkham Harley

2011-10-01T10:17:00.001-04:00

The new Harley. The one from Arkham Asylum. Awesome. Sexy and crazy all at once. I had to embroider her. She has some extra touches of paint and ribbon too. I am still working on possibly adding her ID badge.

Early Harley

2011-09-29T08:26:00.003-04:00

I love my comic book girls...Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Catwoman, Scarlet, Batgirl. As to which version of each, well, I love them all. I finished this earlier version of Harley the other weekend at The Rust Belt Market.

When I brought her home I decided to add some paint. Her collar just did not pop. The white stitching was too light on the neutral background. And her face just screamed for the painted look.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T10:47:00.001-04:00

Hit the Snooze

2011-09-17T08:16:00.000-04:00

...yeah, that's it...that's what happened. Okay, no. I have just been busy and by the time I get home or stop what I had been doing at home, I am too tuckered out to think enough for blogging.
Sorry about that.
I have been making some new things though...mostly clothing...for myself :) Well, and for work.
I hope to be back next week and will show off some of what I have been busy with.
Until then...I shall imagine myself like this...that counts as rest right?

Fanboy Fun

2011-08-19T11:23:00.004-04:00

My latest batch of sketchy embroidery hoopla may leave some of you going 'Huh?' I dipped into a couple of my fave shows for these. Okay, so one was a book first & foremost, but it still made it to the big screen :P

Do you know what they are?

Okay, so that last one was the same idea as the one before it only without the wording...but I still like it. It was also a chance to see which I prefer - print on solid or solid on solid...guess I need a solid on print to really see all options. Gee - guess what I'll be making next :P

Go Bike

2011-08-15T20:58:00.003-04:00

I love my bike. I love my new sketchy machine embroidery. So I did what is only natural and combo'd them. Granted, none of these are based on my bike...yet. But they were fun. And a couple shows back there was an old bike around as a prop that I was able to use in my display. That is where these pics came from....

I think I need to add a BMX, tricycle and Uni to the mix :)

A Dress

2011-08-11T09:34:00.002-04:00

And because I like to change things up...and hone my sewing skills...I have been making clothes for myself. The making has been going well, the photographing...not so much. I had to rely on a mirror - in a dark'ish room - at an unflattering angle. Good thing it's not me, but the dress, that matters :P

So this is me trying to take pics of myself in my newest dress...which I love. I think they show it well enough for here. I used the Vogue 8380 pattern...and without too many adjustments.

And what do you think of the the new cropped 'do?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-10T10:56:00.003-04:00

More Sketchy Embroidery

2011-08-06T11:07:00.002-04:00

Sketchy - that is how I think of my newer machine embroidered hoopla pieces. I am loving the look. I have some more skylines ready to get worked on, but they may have to wait a couple weeks. I have London, Manhattan, Paris & Toronto....any other suggestions?

For now - some Retro:

Michigan Love

2011-08-04T22:46:00.004-04:00

I have some more machine embroidery pieces to show you. I am really liking these...and not just because I can make on in less than, oh the 6 or more hours a hand piece can consume :P

And bonus...it sends some love to Michigan :)

Wow! A Month!

2011-08-01T17:56:00.006-04:00

It has been an entire month since I posted here. Yikes! Sorry about that. Summer seems to be a down time - must be the kids being home. Or me working a new job. That last one is the more likely culprit.

I have been creating though, just in spurts.

Let me introduce you to My Fair Zombie...

She is fabulous...just don't get too close, zombies are contagious. But at least her hair is still rockin'!! I was lucky to find some rhinestone crystals for the retro eyeglasses...love it!

Before my last set up in June at The Rust Belt, I made some new embroidery pieces...this time using my machine. I love the sketchy look that be achieved making them this way. I have lots of them to show off in the next week or so also :) So be sure to stop back in. Hopefully it won't be much longer until they work their way into the shop as well.

This 12 inch hoop is a nice & simple skyline of Detroit.

And I just had to make one of the Detroit D as well...this one sits in a 7 inch hoop.

Finally Sewing

2011-07-01T11:25:00.006-04:00

I may be having a "I am taking a break from sewing" sale, but I have been sewing....just not things for the shop. Things for me. About time, I know.

I am actually hoping that sewing something different will help rekindle the spark needed for the shop. Worst case, it doesn't & I just stick to the embroidery for the shop. While increasing my

wardrobe :)

This skirt actually started off as a dress. This dress, McCalls 5619:

The dress itself turned out just fine...but looked horrid on me. So I whittled it down to this skirt:

This next one looked much, MUCH, better on me. But alas, no one around to snap a pic. On the plus side, it does mean that I have gotten smaller since it fits me but is too tight on the dress form. Time to refit her.

I used the Vogue 1236 pattern for this one.

The fabric is a seersucker that I have had lying around for ages. I figured if it did not turn out, no big loss. But it turned out just fine.

I did topstitch the neckline, which was not called for. If I make this again, which I may, I would use a lighter fabric & leave it "free" so the pleats look like they flow up & over the neckline.

Where's Tilt?

2011-06-13T08:27:00.004-04:00

That makes me think of Where's Waldo....so does this pic...

Needless to say - it is hard to find, well, anything!!! I would like to blame it all on the basement and it's wonderful puddles which led to the squooshing of supplies into one small space (btw -the result of the wet is going to be tearing up our front yard & basement floor)....but I can't. Not fully anyway. I need to do a clean out. Which may be good for anyone looking for some good destash fabrics. And even better for those looking for a sale. Yup - SALE!!!

I need to go through all my stash & supplies, thin things out and decide which things I will continue and which I will not. Either way - all my bags will be going on a big "I am not sewing for a while" sale.

Stay tuned for details. And if you are a sewer, particularly with quilting fabrics, I will be posting a folder on Flickr of all the fabrics I will be willing to part with :)

Resident Evil Times Two

2011-05-29T09:42:00.003-04:00

I finished up a couple smaller embroidery pieces last week. Took forever with everything going on. But they are complete.

This first one is the T-virus container in a 5 inch hoop.

And then there is Alice's eye when it goes all Umbrella. This one is in a 6" hoop.

I had a tough time with the drawn images though. On the scrap fabric I tested, the lines came off...not so much once everything completed. But I don't think it's a bad thing. Actually, in the T-virus one, it looks kind of cool under the lines around the container. Almost like a shadow.

Hoping for a nice sunny day - when I am actually home - to take pics of all my newer pieces so I can get them in the shop. Feels like it has been forever since I posted something new.

Elvgren Bedroom Reader

2011-05-20T06:20:00.002-04:00

I have a few (quite a few) Elvgren pin up girls slated to embroider. I thought I'd start the themes with one of my faves...reading. Granted, she is sexy & in a nightie...quite different than the way I read....but more interesting :)

I tried to capture her hair, but it was not easy...

And for those of you who have not seen the original before...here she is:
I obviously simplified her and changed some minor details. I liked her twirling her hair instead of the pen. And I of course skipped the background.

Sparkly Alien

2011-05-19T06:16:00.003-04:00

I finished her :)

I went with glitter. I did do a light coat of paint first, but it looked too dull. I kept thinking I wanted her to shine. Duh - sparkles! Broke out the glitter glue and BAM! Done :)

I even added some red to her shoes.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-05-18T12:03:00.004-04:00

Because some asked...this is what he is...

Custom Backpack

2011-05-16T19:56:00.002-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of working with a customer to create a backpack. She picked out this great fabric by Richloom called Emily Garden. And I found a cute butterfly pendant for the flap.

Inside is a nice and simple solid red, which matched wonderfully with the floral print.

Choosing the fabrics and doodads for custom orders can be a long and often daunting process,but I love the results :)

Alien Chick Flash Embroidery WIP

2011-05-15T10:40:00.003-04:00

This is my latest embroidery piece. I absolutely love the design. I saw it as a tattoo on someone and went searching for it online. I found the sketch on a free tattoo flash site. This is what she started as.....

I need to adjust a few things though. The print was just too overwhelming for her dress to show up well. So I think I will paint her nightie in. Not too dense, just a light, sheer overlay....like a nightie should be.

And her legs. I tried embroidering the fishnets...didn't work. I may try one more time with a single strand. Or just finely drawn paint lines. Any other suggestions?

The backside. I have been forgetting to photo these. Not that they are pretty, but sometimes they look interesting. In this case, you can see the design much better than the front side :P

Dusty Blue Floral Backpack

2011-05-10T19:48:00.002-04:00

I've been super busy with the new job, the Rust Belt opening preparations and the wet basement, that sewing pretty much ground to a halt recently.

But I was able to squeak in this backpack. There are about 6 more cut out & ready to go.

I really like the bright yellow surprise inside. Although, if whoever gets this is as hard on their bags as I am, it will only stay so bright & new looking for so long :P

And because the lighting was so poor - here's a better idea of what the fabric looks like:

Poison Ivy

2011-05-09T20:42:00.003-04:00

Poison Ivy has struck again. Well, I struck her I suppose. Repeatedly. With a needle. And thread.

I couldn't quite grab the color right for this pic, but I think you can see the texture in the hair better close up. Kind of.

And the vines. Love them. I did draw them out, but found myself free-forming it as I went.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-27T09:49:00.003-04:00

okay - some words....the smiley face is where the Brain Cell hung...which just sold :)

Batwoman

2011-04-26T07:03:00.002-04:00

I can't get the Batman theme music out of my head as I write thing...but don't worry, I have resisted adding the music :)

I think she turned out pretty good. I debated fancy stitches, but I do so like the simplicity of the backstitch. And since her hair is not Poison Ivy wild, there was no need to get all fancy there.

The darker blue background works too. Gives it that dark shadowy edge. And her boots & belt really pop!

And I finished off the I Read Banned Books (design by Urban Threads). I am on the fence about painting the hoop. And if so, what color?

Old Too Big Tee into a Shrug

2011-04-25T09:20:00.005-04:00

I was browsing blogs last week and ran across this fun tutorial on Trashn2Tees. She took a tee shirt and turned it into a fun spring shrug with a lettuce edge.

I just so happened to be going through my clothes later that week and nabbed a couple tees of my own for this fun little project. It turned out pretty good too. I added some lettuce edged strips to one side for a little pop & ruffle.

I opted for a shorter sleeve...same edging.

The biggest bump was the back neckline. The tee was too big to begin with and the new line behind and around the shoulders is a tad too wide to stay on well. Although a different top underneath may be all the difference it needs for a fix.

I am considering adding another strip or two around the neckline area but with some elastic thread to gather it in tighter so it will stay on better. We'll see. If nothing works - it's no loss since the tee was in the to be given away pile anyway.

Any other ideas?

Schedule Update Needed

2011-04-23T08:22:00.006-04:00

Okay - I have nothing to show you. I need to make some adjustments to my schedule now that I am working. It may not seem like much, but the 24 hours spent working takes up lots of time that I used to create. I just hope these adjustments still allow for all the blow off, um, I mean important networking time online :P

But seriously, I do think a little tweaking will allow for even more creative time. I do know that some of my computer time will have to shrink. And it should not be too hard to figure out where to shrink.

But for now, I'll see if this works:

Oh wait - I left 3-6pm blank!!! Well, I suppose that makes sense. Little guy is now home & what I do all depends on him. We may play together or he may want to play alone. If so, I can do some cleaning or more sewing or even online stuff.

So yeah, I left out "clean house" time...hmmm...oh well :P Between the quick cleans that inevitable happen as I am walking around & pass a mess (can't pass it without picking it up somewhat) and the weekend & the older one's chores...it'll be fine. Livable anyway. So no different than now :P

I am raising children, not a home for photo shoots. As long as we don't stick to the floors & fuzzy stuff isn't growing everywhere - it's good.

Okay - so lost what I was going to say. Definitely need to keep blog time when kiddo is not babbling constantly & asking me stuff.

But, um, you do know I was exaggerating about the clean, right? Right?!? It's not that scary here, really. So you can visit safely...just no white glove testing please.

WIPadeedoodah

2011-04-19T06:30:00.004-04:00

WIPadeeaaa...my oh my what a very full day...s

Okay, I was close. But dayS it is, plural. I got myself a big 'ol batch of embroidery hooplas ready to stitch up & go.

I should finish this one off tonight. It's another fab piece from Urban Threads. I tried to make the chain links just wonky enough to look banged up. I also plan to print up a list of the top 100 banned books to go with it :) Hubby & I decided to get a copy of them for a shelf here...although we may already have quite a few :P

And this is what's to come. I know you can't exactly see just what it is that will be stitched...except for that front piece. I took the image from a statue. I of course now want the statue, but after I saw some of Harley & Ivy...well, I only have so much space for such things. I may just draw or stitch them for my own walls someday. Much more room on the walls than horizontal surfaces :P

Anyway... I think you can get an idea of the volume. There are some smaller hoops hiding in there as well.

Wish me luck :) I hope to complete one every other day. It may be a bit too ambitious with the new job and all. What? New job you say? Why yes, new job :)

Youtique Craft Show

2011-04-17T09:01:00.006-04:00

That was me Saturday. It has been quite some time since I have done a show. Feels like it anyway. This show was set up my the Michigan Artisans. It was their Youtique show. Love that name :) The Youtique is a shopping event with the community in mind. Each event has a featured charity and a silent auction chock full of goodies from the vendors. I hope to be a part of their shows again.

My table was on the teeny side - about 3x3. I practiced my set up for a 4x3. But no biggie.

The box with the embroidery is set up the same as I practiced. I do need something to actually show them all. I do not think that could have happened in this space though. I was thinking maybe a hinged set of cupboard doors with a screen instead of the solid door panel to hang them from. or even something taller to set up next to - or instead of - the table.

The bags were just "spilling" out of a storage box thingy. It sort of worked. Looked better when on a larger table though.

I decided to use the chairs off to the side. It almost worked...almost. The pic below shows the bag chair...which looked better later on with some rearranging.

The other side of the table had the pillows. I have an old suitcase that I propped open with two filled pillows set inside & the rest waterfalling over the lip. No close up pic, but you can see it up in that first shot.

Anyone have any ideas for pillow displays?

Luckily, there were some hooks on the wall behind the chair (it looks black in that pic above). I hung a couple of the large bags. That did work :)

Michigan Artisans on Facebook

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T09:13:00.003-04:00

Sunday Sketches

2011-04-10T08:42:00.004-04:00

Another week - another sketch. And another fairy on a mushroom. I like drawing the bodies - but not so much the faces...mostly noses. I do not like noses. It is a good thing that my style is not one that requires reality. If I want realistic looking artwork, I'll get a photo :P Besides, it is so hard to get fairies to sit still and pose.

Getting back to drawing has been so good for me. I still need to do it more...and to get the paints back out. But for now, the pencils are great! I am so glad I tripped across the link party at Blue Chair Diary. Thanks Sophia :)

Pac-Man WIP

2011-04-08T10:13:00.002-04:00

My son asked me to make a "thread painting" of his Pac-Man picture. I thought I had finished it, but then I was told the words, ghosts, dots & Pac-Man were to be filled in. Ugh. This is on a lightweight stretch canvas - this won't exactly be tons of fun.

Off to stitch - the things we do for our kids :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-06T08:54:00.002-04:00

Sunday Sketches

2011-04-04T12:52:00.007-04:00

...on a Monday.

I am a day off with my posting. I was out at my parents yesterday and when I got home, I just never got back on the computer. I did get some embroidery done, but more on that later.

For now - my newest sketch....

And don't forget to pop over to Blue Chair Diary's Sunday Sketches link party...

And Little Andalucia for her Creative Friday Features link party...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-30T09:14:00.003-04:00

Feeling Stitchy Stitch Along

2011-03-29T09:41:00.005-04:00

Such a cute little octopus. I decided to take part in Feeling Stitchy's Stitch-along. This month is an octopus stitching. The text portion was left up to us. She had the alphabet, we had the sayings. My oldest is a huge Beatles fan. So he helped inspire this also. I may even add a small submarine at the bottom. Not sure yet.

I tried some crayon tinting...it did not work out as planned. I may recolor, hand paint a bit or just leave as is. Not sure yet.

And the text color only looks bright enough during the day. I need to remember to pick out colors in the evening.

You can peek at everyone's over at the Flickr pool here.

Biohazard

2011-03-28T07:03:00.000-04:00

Another Urban Threads design! I had a hard time deciding some things with this one. Do I fill in the yellow bits? Paint inside the orange circle and bits? Barbed wire - which color? As you can see, I skipped the filling in of parts. Actually, I did start to fill in the yellow and took it out. Didn't care for it. The barbed wire became a compromise...4 grey and 2 black strands :) You can see it better in the angled pic below...

Have you peeked at my shop lately? I have started adding my embroidery pieces :) Yippee!

Sunday Sketches

2011-03-27T17:46:00.002-04:00

I went to sketch out some new embroidery ideas that were busting at the folds of my brain...and found I was out. The only sketchbook I had not filled up was a giant one I used to use for landscape or take alongs to the art museum. Way too big. So I went out and bought more. I also nabbed a watercolor pad (or two) since my oldest just got some watercolors. Another thing I want to pick up again...and really, what new thing do I NOT want to do? :P

Anyway, when I went digging for my old pencils, I also found my watercolor pencils. So I played. This is the "before". I have yet to add the water. I decided to divide the larger page into strips for bookmarks. Also inspired by my oldest who asked me to make him one. He keeps forgetting what page of Dante's Inferno he is on.

Now keep in mind, it has been quite some time since these old fingers have sketched out anything other than what I have done for my embroidery pieces. And many of those are merely traces of others' designs.

Now for those of you who may know my son well enough - which one do you think is his?

And big thanks to Blue Chair Diary for hosting the Sunday Sketch on her blog...it was another thing that inspired me to pick up my sketch pad again.

Front Page!!

2011-03-26T08:52:00.005-04:00

I woke up to find this on the front page of ArtFire....

What a great way to wake up!!! Depending on when you click over to AF, it may be gone...so just click on the pic here to view the Collection that was featured :)

Backpacks are Coming Back

2011-03-25T08:54:00.006-04:00

A while back I sent all my backpacks to a shop in Wake Forest, North Carolina - The Lemon Tree. Last month I decided to make some more for my shop. I know, it has been a long time coming. But my production has been sporadic at best recently. This is the first of the new batch. I am so glad I started making them again...they are so fun :)

This time I tried something different with the straps. Instead of 2 separate straps, I made it into one long strap going through a loop at the top. This way there is some versatility in the way you wear it.

I just love the exterior fabric. It was given to me for a custom clutch a while back and she told me to keep the leftovers :) Didn't it turn out cute?

It is rather soft and pliable, so I made sure the interior was sturdier. I went with a solid red denim. Gotta love red!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-23T12:53:00.001-04:00

Next New Handbag

2011-03-21T20:52:00.003-04:00

This is the first of the new 6 pack of my Karen handbags.

And this is a reminder of what the first Karen looked like.

That is all for now :) Short and sweet. Off to go ad my new pics from Erin to my shop!!!

Photo Shoot

2011-03-20T10:50:00.005-04:00

I had the best Saturday last weekend. And now I get to share the results with you! I met Erin at a craft show last December. She is an aspiring photographer and we got to talking. Fashion photography is one thing she she did not yet have but wanted to add to her portfolio. Light bulb moment. A couple months later the snow went away and we lit that bulb.

Thanks to some fabulously beautiful friends of hers - you guys rocked it! - we had a successful day. Made even better by Erin's fantastic ad making.

I am not sure which is my fave because I love them all. But these two give a great example:

Pop on over to her site to check out more of the shoot. And don't pass up browsing through her other portfolios. She has some amazing music and portrait images.

Embroidery Wall

2011-03-18T09:06:00.004-04:00

I have spent the past couple days painting embroidery hoops, making the cardstock backings and gluing the fabric around to the back side. And then putting them all up on my wall for display. You can peek on my Flickr to see the wall closer up.

The wall will eventually be used for listing photos. Yes, I have decided to start listing them. Still working out pricing, but hope to start dropping them off in the shop next week.

Now I just need to find a cute way to cover up the hooks I used. I used those inexpensive plastic hooks with the (supposedly) easy to remove adhesive tabs. I did not want to put a bunch of holes in my wall. Especially since once hoop leaves, the next one to go in may not be the same size & therefore need a new location for the hook.

For the cover up, I was thinking of labels. Kind of like the type you'd see in shops or something when artwork is displayed. And done cheaper...probably using cardstock and eyelets to put on the hooks. Still thinking.

Any ideas?

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-16T12:40:00.001-04:00

Peggy Handbags

2011-03-14T20:43:00.004-04:00

I finished up some of the more recent bags I cut early last week. There were 6 Peggy's, 6 Karen's and I think it was 8 Anna backpacks. As I may have mentioned, most of my bags are named after their original "owner".

So the Peggy is based off this bag I first made for my mom:

The Karen is for my sis-in-law. I made a 6 pack for her.

Actually, the Anna was for her too, well, her daughter. Originally these were a pack also. They were the goody bags for my niece's birthday party.

And for the first 2 of 6 Peggy's:

A great red floral fabric that I have leftover from a custom clutch some time back...

And for those who like a little feminine floral...

Geo Chocolate Nile

2011-03-10T08:36:00.003-05:00

That is the name given to the fabric for my 4th Dee shoulder bag. I decided to accent the blue in the print for the lining and strap contrast. I think it helps brighten it up.

The bottom is blue too, just like all the bags with the contrasting color. The blue may get dirtier than the print would, but if I make all the bags with dirt in mind, most of them would not get made. Lighter colors get dirty, it's just the way it is. I actually snicker to myself a bit whenever I see someone set their bags down on the ground & then get upset when the bottom gets dirty. Um, yeah, it's gonna happen when you set stuff down on the ground.

Anyway...

I am really liking what initially was done because of a fabric shortage...the contrasting top bits of the straps. The underside was always a contrast, but the tops came about from a goof.

And lastly, the inside. This sucker is just huge. Seems that way to me anyhow. Although, my bags tend to be on the smaller side. But I could totally fill this up - easy.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-03-09T07:40:00.001-05:00

Resident Evil

2011-03-08T09:48:00.004-05:00

I love Alice. She just kicks ass so well and looks great doing it. I plan to make one hoop for each movie. This is the classic red tunic outfit from the first movie.

You can see the lines pretty well in this angled shot. I only tacked each line down in a couple spots. I wanted them to be as straight as I could. Almost floaty.

Ignore the wrinkles in the organza. They should be easy enough to steam out later. I was originally going to hand paint the dress but then I remembered the organza. It was the perfect color. And has just a little bit of a fun sparkle. You can kind of see it in the light stream here...

I may still hand paint the skirt and/or boots. Not sure yet.

And for those who do not know what he image is referencing...a promo shot from the movie.

Now to go find some shots from the next 3 movies. Either that or re-watch them on the computer and get ready to snap some screenshots to sketch off.

Witchy Willow

2011-03-06T18:37:00.005-05:00

Willow is one of my fave characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Whether nerdy Willow, Dark Willow or Doppelganger Willow - I love them all! This piece is from Season 8's comic. Full out Witchy Willow.

And this is the pic I took it from...

Things didn't turn out exactly as I had pictured, but not bad. Nope, not bad at all. I will make her again. Actually, I would like to do a four square Warhol'esque type pic with each corner being a different Willow.

This super shiny thread was a pain to work with. But sooooo pretty.

And the misty smoke turned out cool with the blendy thread.

I Had Time

2011-03-05T09:08:00.004-05:00

It turns out that I had time to finish up my Dr. Horrible piece. I guess two sick boys at home was not enough to thwart this evil. Too bad it didn't thwart my coughing. That is still here. In spades. Hmmm...spades.....idea :)

Anyway, on to the Horribleness...

It is in a 10" hoop now, but I may see if it can fit into a smaller hoop. And possibly paint either the glove or coat. Thoughts?

WIP Time

2011-03-04T17:04:00.003-05:00

My house has been one of ill repute lately...emphasis on the ill. And since I am Mom, I have done nothing beyond caring for everyone else. So this poor bag has been sitting in the sewing area with all it's parts exposed for all to see. Hopefully I will be able to fix her up soon and make her whole.

Until then - have a great weekend. Hope to be back by the end of it.

And maybe with some embroidery completed too. Too bad the sewing machine is right next to the boys' rooms, otherwise I could sew after they go to bed.

Plant Cell

2011-03-01T13:19:00.004-05:00

I am still quite under the weather and have not been able to finish up my bags. But I did manage to finish up this embroidery piece the other night. It's the last cell for now. A plant cell this time. Think Spring! On a micro level anyway...

And the fun angle view. I tried some double knots in the mitochondia - that's the dark green ovals.

The backside is a bit blurry. It was difficult to tell when I snapped the shot...darn burny eyeballs :P

When I get back into the groove & will have some actual bags to show you. Imagine that, a handbag shop person making actual bags. Who woulda thunk it :P

Bacteria

2011-02-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

More science fun :) I am beginning to think these are also being inspired by the sick little boy I have here with me at home. He has been kind enough to share with Mommy too. How sweet :P

On to the latest germ...

And a close up angled view...

The backsides are turning out pretty tidy now...

I have one more sciencey piece to do and then on to some fanboy stuff...Resident Evil, Dark Willow & Dr. Horrible are the next three that I have hooped & ready to go.

Brain Cell

2011-02-27T06:49:00.005-05:00

Brrraaaaiiinnnnnssssssss. Well, cell anyway. It even looks a little like a monster depending on how you look at it.

I had a hard time getting an angled shot. I think it was the light colors. But you can see the filled in sheath areas here (the coral colored rectangles).

And the backside. I did say I would be taking pics of it, so I figure I should show it. I have been cheating a little and starting my lines with a knot instead of tucked into the line.

And a big thanks to Mr X Stitch for featuring this on their blog!!! :)

Paramecium

2011-02-26T06:02:00.002-05:00

I have my Bachelor's in Biology and have always loved the illustrations. I decided to use some from my notes and old books to make some embroidery pieces. This is the first and my fave single cell organism, a unicellular ciliate protozoa to be exact...the Paramecium - always fun to say :)

It should have cilia, I know, but they are so short I just left them off. I may still add something for effect, not sure.

And the sketch it came from...

Ivy's Backside

2011-02-25T09:42:00.007-05:00

Um, no, not that backside! Although, it is quite prominent in the piece :P

I am talking about the actual backside of the piece. I have been trying to keep things nice & tidy back there.

Some of it, like the hair, looks pretty cool. I might try to make it the front side on a piece sometime.

Finishing off the piece has been making me a little crazy. I browsed many shops on Etsy to see other people's backsides (okay, that sounds wrong). I was hoping to find some I like to try myself. But so few shops had pics of the back. So I turned to tutorials online. I found a few ways that I want to try. This is the first trial. It is simply some card stock cut and lightly glued to the inner hoop to sit between the fabric & hoop.

No matter which way I end up using for the long term, I plan to use this signing method. The awesome Handmade stamp was one I found at a great Etsy shop, Wine Makers Sister. You should check this shop out - very fun!

Science Lab Oopsies

2011-02-24T06:48:00.000-05:00

I am not so sure about the title, but it works for now. This embroidery used an oval hoop - I know, let the wildness ensue!

I based it off a sketch I started making for my youngest. He wanted to see a mad scientist at work.

Here it is hooped, but not quite finished off...thus the excess fabric peeking out.

And a couple close up angle shots...just because they are fun :)

My son decided he liked it so much that he wanted to make on of his own. I think it turned out quite well for a 5 year old...but that could just be proud mama talking :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-23T06:45:00.000-05:00

Don't Be Square

2011-02-22T09:12:00.005-05:00

No, that is not an self help statement :P It is the name of the fabric for my 3rd Dee bag. The color they give it is "Tabasco". This is another burlapy fabric. I am really liking this stuff. It has such oomph. I used red canvas for the contrast - it really makes a 'pop'.

You can see the red on the bottom pretty well in this pic...

And with the snap shut...
Okay, I know it won't exactly hold everything in, but in a bag this large, the opening tends to be, well, more open than smaller bags.

And the red pop inside...

Poison Ivy, Leaves and All

2011-02-20T06:35:00.000-05:00

She is done! Well, except the finishing off of the backing :P And I am quite happy with the results. I should have set a timer or something to figure out how long it took to complete. It was probably around 12 hours all told...2-3 hours over about 4 nights. I know I showed off most of it earlier this past week, but now the leaves are on and it gives it a whole new look :)

So here she is...bit by bit...

This angle shows off the "texture" of the leaves pretty well.

And the flower stands up quite a bit also...

Can't forget her tooshie...rather naked as it turned out...

And her dainty little feet...

This was taken with the hoop on it's side - almost. I think it looks pretty neat, so I am showing it off...

The leaves - and the flower - were all made by embroidering on bits of singed organza. This is them in a bowl. As I went I found that I had to cut most of the pieces smaller. Next time I will burn them with a candle flame...should be much easier on my fingers than always flicking a lighter on. Of course that means I will have to go out and actually buy a candle...

Teal and Tan Burlapy Hobo

2011-02-18T08:38:00.004-05:00

Actually, I decided on a name, so it it now a teal and tan Dee bag. Since I usually go with the person's name whom the first bag went to but don't know the name of the buyer (it was at a weeks long show/shop), I decided to go with the name of the woman who ran the show. It was actually hubby's idea. Go hubby!

It has taken so long to get going on these bags because of a certain little cutie who was home all week with a nasty cold. If he were older, he would have been in school...but Kindergarteners get an easier pass with the ookies. At least I had the evenings for embroidery.

Now for the bag....The fabric has a strong texture to it, almost like burlap but with a tighter more stable weave.

The inside is huge. I put a smallish curved pocket on both the front and back insides. Cell phones and other electronic devices would fit well. Even old fashioned memo pads...you know, that stuff with paper that you write on :)

It looks kind of neat when the snap is closed too. I debated about a zipper, but it is almost too big for that. Besides, with the curve of the top, the placement would be awkward.

Then there are the straps. I was not happy with the first cut - it was a bit short. So I decided to have some fun and flip flop the fabrics at the top center. I like it!

Next week should be the week I finish the rest. Little guy is feeling better and will be back in school Tuesday...Monday is still break time. Three more days with them both home...at least the weather is improving so we can go for a walk.

Yesterday's Teaser

2011-02-17T06:36:00.002-05:00

Yesterday's Wordless Wednesday was a teaser of my newest hand embroidery piece. It is from another comic, this time Poison Ivy. What I am showing off now took 3 nights at 3-4 hours each to complete. But I am not quite done.

I still have to add the leaves. I decided to give the piece some texture by using organza bits for the leaves. You can see from the original artwork that there are lots and lots of leaves. I am not sure just how many I will be adding. We'll see...

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-16T06:34:00.000-05:00

Chocolate Squares Hobo

2011-02-15T09:32:00.003-05:00

Okay, I really need to find a name for this bag...it is not exactly a hobo. I usually name my bags after the first person who bought or received it, but this one sold at a holiday show when I was not there. I'll think of something soon. For now - here is the first of the 5...they are quite large...

note: the color is best in the 2nd picture

Last Blue Dude...er, Gal

2011-02-14T12:21:00.004-05:00

I don't know why I think of this one as a she when the other two struck me as boys. Maybe it is the cute slate blue dottie fabric I used for the body. And tail. The tin y one did not have a tail. This one does. It props her up nicely too.

So now there is a whole family. Although one is just embroidery. And the original was a sketch.

They have been in a few treasuries also, which feels great. Daddy is usually found by his smile :)

America's High Five
Monster Need Love Too
Monsters
Smile
All Creatures Great & Small

Hobo Bag WIPs

2011-02-11T10:07:00.004-05:00

I cut out a 5 pack of bags last week and have slowly been making progress on them. I realized I have only shown off the creations I have made in the evenings...the embroidery. So I thought I would share with you a sneak peek of the cut bags. Of course it just looks like a mashed up pile of fabric...

Oh - and this is the bag they will be. I suppose it is not exactly a hobo, but I have yet to name it.

Fight Like a Girl

2011-02-10T11:01:00.002-05:00

Another fab design by Urban Threads. This time, I may keep it for myself.

Now these wings. Yikes. Have you ever used metallic or pearl essence embroidery floss? Not fun. It is so stiff and the strands do not like to stay together. And at the point of the needle's eye it sort of shreds. But it looks so cute and sparkly :)

She may become part of my gym bag. Or I might just wait and make another since I still have to make the gym bag itself :P

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T06:20:00.001-05:00

drawn by my son who then played with it on GIMP

Zombie Hand

2011-02-08T10:30:00.004-05:00

I am trying to decide if I am done with this piece or not. It is another Urban Threads design...a zombie hand. I like the puce green cotton background - it sets the old and decaying stage rather well I think. The only glitch was the lighter colored stitching. The yellow nails and off white bone bits did not show up well initially. Solution - fabric paint to fill in those areas. Perfect.

So why am I not sure if I am done or not? Well the blank spaces above and below the hand call out "caption" to me. But what? My first thought was ultra cheesy: "Zombies, always willing to lend a hand". Hubby's idea: "Let your fingers do the walking". Since our oldest did not know what that was referring to, I think that idea is out.

So, any ideas?

Peace Dove

2011-02-06T11:30:00.006-05:00

I finished another embroidery piece. I love this one. The design is from one of my fave places - Urban Threads. My son helped me pick out the colors. I am not sure if you can tell in the picture, but the blue is a blendy color.

The hoop is a 10 incher, so it is a nice size. And the time it took to embroider matches the larger size. In total, about 6 hours. Am I slow? I don't think so, but I do get distracted by everyone around me.

btw...the background fabric looks odd because it is wet. I used a water erase pen to draw out the design...and got too impatient to wait for it to dry to take a picture.

I liked it so much I went searching Peace Doves on Etsy and made a treasury blog post

Buffy - The End of Season 8

2011-02-05T13:21:00.004-05:00

Season 8 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer comics are finishing up this month. I decided to mark the end of this season with a hand embroidered piece of the first issue's cover. I hope you like it.

Looking forward to Season 9!!!

New Tee

2011-02-03T10:10:00.004-05:00

It is official. I do not like to sew knit. I just finished up a new tee using Simplicity's pattern 4076. It is not that it was particularly difficult, just a pain in the patookie. Actually, it's just the hems. Any tips from those that sew with this material?

And now to the top...

The center took a little finagling to get the twist through part right.

The view I went with was "F", which did not have sleeves. I am not a no sleeve person. Simple fix - take the sleeves from one of the other views :P And viola...

And now I need to get back on track and cut out some bags. Cutting was on the agenda for yesterday...until Snowapalooza hit and the kiddos were home for the day. Large tables with harsh corners in the middle of the room and scissors snipping willy nilly is not a good mix with shorties that zoom all over all day. So - this tee was born instead. Be back in a day or so with some bags :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-02T11:41:00.002-05:00

Red Floral Skirt

2011-01-28T06:49:00.000-05:00

Another piece of clothing down. I cut this out quite some time ago, just like the pink gingham top. This skirt is from the McCall's 5591 pattern. I made the one that is yellow and black above. The only real changes I made were the waistband & pocket edges...I contrasted them the same as the bottom.

The only snag I ran into was the size. I have lost enough that the original cut size was too large. I just took in the sides before finishing it off & viola! Although, by the time the weather matches the skirt, I hope to be even smaller. So it may need another alter.

The pocket edges are the red contrast and the pocket itself is simply muslin. It blends well enough, and frankly, I did not have that much of the floral print left. But I prefer this since if it were floral, it would not line up correctly.

The zipper even went in nicely. It is pale pink, but you can't really tell. And I don't think, well, I really hope, no one will be close enough to that area to tell anyway :P

This is inside the bands - both upper waist and lower contrast. I wanted to give a shot to a better cleaner finish. It went well. I will do it differently next time, but it should look the same, only the method will be messed with.

Now I need to find...or perhaps make...a top that will go with it.

Another Blue Dude

2011-01-27T06:28:00.003-05:00

He's so cute and teeny. That's my sewing machine he's leaning up against and a 4x6 notebook to his left. See...tiny. But not quite tiny enough to be a key chain like the one in my shop. Well, maybe. I need to think about it some more.

I like the little suckers on the feet. And what a goofy grin. I hope he's not laughing at me. I do look pretty silly sitting here on the couch in my sweats watching TV while I sew him up. Or maybe he's just happy to be a part of the family. Papa is still in the shop. I'll have to keep them boxed together to keep each other company until one sells.

Market Tote

2011-01-25T06:08:00.008-05:00

I have begun the market tote batch. It is a little bit of a work in progress being that it is a new material to me. It is made from a utility fabric, aka "bag fabric". You know, that mesh like fabric so many of the tote bags in the stores are made from? Jo-Ann started carrying the fabric last year and I picked some up.

The seams are something I may play with a little more. This tote has the seams pinched or "sewn in" with a topstitch. It does help the bag stand up. But I may make another with the seams edges folded under. Not sure.

I am keeping them unlined. It will keep the price down and speed up the making. But then I am left with these stitch lines inside...

The handles are nylon webbing that wrap entirely around the bag, lending some extra support.

Here you can see what can fit inside. Not that this is all, but it shows the height and width better. And this is the smaller of the two sizes.

I have one more this size and then two more larger. I hope to have them all done by the end of Wednesday. Wish me luck :)

Oh - and as a buyer - do the exposed stitching lines left from being unlined bother you? Not that there is a way around it if they remain unlined, but I am curious. Personally, since I'd use them for the grocery store, I wouldn't care. But that's just me.