Handmade Christmas gifts

Last year I hand embroidered this chevron necklace for my sister, Anne-Marie, using leather tanned by grandpa. A little sentimental, but also funky. I need to start dreaming up some craftings for this Christmas. 

3 years in the making... Butterick B4790

While I alter a lot of clothing, I don't often sew from patterns. So although this was a "Fast & Easy" pattern, I started it three years ago and just finished it. I am working on altering the dress in the background too. Thanks Randy for the dress form! 

My most current design project...

I've never been hired to do an illustration before. And I wasn't really in this case either. But I was hired to design 4 children's book covers- of books written by children. Here is one work in progress. I'm trying to figure out how to best add color to it in photoshop. I like the hand-drawn look but want it to be professional as well. Thoughts?

Some recent craftings

Thank goodness for artsy friends (Ginger) or I would never be sewing at all. Didn't know these flag streamers were called "bunting" but they are! It's kind of an English thing. They do make good baby gifts. 

Recent Craftings

Who says altered and re-purposed embroidered string pictures can't be stylish? The words say: "This land was made for you and me." A not-so-slight commentary on American history. I'm enjoying this new trial of sarcastic/ironic crafting. See the bottom for a shot of the whole picture.

* I do have to note, that I did not make the original picture. I picked it up at a thrift store. I just did the handy alterations :)

How to make a man's flannel shirt into a women's shirt dress

After cutting along the dotted lines you should be
left with 4 pieces of crescent shaped fabric.

You will need to gather or bunch the edge of the cut out fabric pieces to create ruffles.

You will sew the gathered edge of the fabric pieces down
along the edge of the button line and collar. If you would
like you should sew two layers of ruffles on each side to use
the 4 cut out pieces and add more interest to the shirt.

You will create the collar into a "band collar" by folding it
in half either toward the outside or inside and sewing it down.

Things to consider when making the shirt-dress:

finished product!

• It would be good to surge the outside edges of the ruffles to keep them from fraying after being washed. 
• On one shirt I attempted to simply sew under the outside edges of the ruffles but it made the fabric too thick and the ruffles would not lie flat. 

you need one. mug trees

        It's taken me quite awhile to get this picture up. This is my favorite present I received for Christmas, and I have looked at it and talked about it everyday since. I think everyone should get a mug tree! They're pretty easy to find at thrift stores, and if you don't like the wood, paint it! Upcoming this week, a few more things from around my apartment and some of my recent thrift store findings.

Recyle and Re-wear

Here is my most recent project! I created this shirt dress out of an old, men's flannel shirt that I picked up at the thrift store. The ruffles around the neck were created from the excess fabric I cut off from the sides. So, if you want to make one yourself, make sure you get a men's shirt at least two-sizes larger than what you normally wear in women's clothing.

Thanks to the beautiful model (ahhem! Renata) for making it look all the better :)

Recent craftings

Here is my updated bird purse. I created a design and screen printed it onto fabric to creat a lined coin purse.

My favorite place in Wisconsin

I have always loved my grandparents house in Madison, WI, but just recently I have been able to realize much more about how amazing it is. I wish I could live in this house someday. Sigh...
You know those places where you instantly feel calm and relaxed and at home? I have never gotten a better night's sleep than in the old twin beds (where my dad slept as a kid!) with the amazingly soft sheets. The bedspreads are patchwork quilts, the ceilings are slanted, the wallpaper has an amazing design... there are children's books from the 1950s, I could go on and on!

Here are a few glimpses of why it is so amazing...

A Fond Find

Occasionally I feel inspired to sort, fold and hang the piles of clothing on my floor. That leads to a spontaneous dress-up session and then I end up with new combinations. This is my most recent and now favorite mix-and-match combo. I think it has a bit of a 30s flavor.

The end of Week 2 in Lietuva

I can't believe I have less than 10 days left here!  

This week has been great. Last night I had  girl's sleep over with Emma (10) and Eva and Lana (twin 3yr olds). It was SO fun. We watched the Emperor's New Groove and ate popcorn and drank juice. We only had a few mishaps througout the night like juice spilling on the floor, and falling out of bed etc. I definitely have to hang out with kids more often at home! They definitely find joy in the much smaller details of life.

Tonight we had a talent show for the Summer Language Institute (SLI) students. I was blown away by the talent of these (mostly) high schoolers. We had piano, voice solos, guitar, ballet, modern dance, photography! Wow! 

Klaipeda is also currently having a Folk Festival. They have booths of traditional hand crafts and traditional dances and music. Today I watched a Bulgarian dance group complete with wooden clogs. I am hearing and seeing many accordians here! I love them. Now I have an interest in learning to play one. That with the fiddle could be quite a party.

I'm also quite smitten with a handmade brass ring I got at the folk festival so I'm including a picture of it. I just made a third album of Lietuva pictures... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=35598063&l=17b31628c4&id=185002172

A new simplicty

In college I made some bracelet cuffs by piecing random pieces of fabric together and fastening them with interesting buttons. I tried to resurrect this project last Thurday night but I couldn't seem to get something that looked decent. But I discovered a scrap of beautiful vintage fabric in my hodge-podge of fabric left overs and created this bracelet instead. Its a new twist on my old project because its nice and simple but I think still quite fun.

and the greatest of these is Love...

Some would say that one of the greatest ways to show love is through food. As Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday, second only to Christmas, I decided to plan a brunch with my good friend Kate.

 A glimpse of the table and room decorations. The red candles and owls were already present and perfect. Added a handmade garland of hearts. Garnished the table with platters of food and mini-cheesecake tarts.








Place settings: hand-drawn name placards in red vellum envelopes

 
Home-made blueberry muffins made by Kate, with hand-picked blueberries. A bowl full of sweetheart cherries for a little tangy sweetness. 

My favorite feathered friends

My most recent project and my first step back into sewing in over a year.

A glorious morning

A perfectly ripe pear with oatmeal covered in honey, raisins and walnuts in a handmade clay bowl. What could be better?