Arrrgh, Matey!

I've been creating like crazy around here, trying to get gifts done for Christmas - yes, it's worth it!
Anyway, I just finished Pete's Christmas present, and I'm having trouble not playing with it myself. Maybe blogging about it, will distract me enough, so I can get on with the rest of the gifts I need to make by Friday. (yes, it's worth it!)

I decided to make Peter a bag, for "pirating" - or for hunting treasures.
Here's his Pirate bag, made with scrap corduroy and lined with a used men's shirt:




Inside you'll find some extra special cargo:






I found a map at a local used book store for $1.00 + tax, and I just sewed it to double thick fabric, for easy rolling (as this is how pirates carry their treasure maps apparently). If I were a pirate I would make my maps tiny and laminate them, for easy traveling - but I guess that's not piratey enough these days.



I'm hoping to make a telescope and a compass to add to the bag too. And I like making the maps so much, I might add some to my shop and see what happens. I can't wait to see how he reacts to these maps (he's even been tearing apart road atlases to roll up the "treasure" maps in them!).

If I don't post before the holiday, I hope you have a very Happy Christmas, and are able to spend it with people who love you!
Jenn

It's Hip, come on!

Hey everyone, it's officially "shopping" season and it's time to look at the calendar. Wow, did you look? There aren't many days left until Christmas, and don't you have a LOT of people that you would like to delight with gifts?

This Saturday, from 11-7, the Flying M Coffeegarage, holds it's 3rd annual "Hip holiday Market". It is a fabulous collection of local artists, and their unique gifts - you will NOT want to miss it. This year there will be more artists than ever before, and if you haven't been to the M for a while, you'll note that there is a lot more room in the "garage"for the biggest market ever.

If you are planning on spending any cash this year, please consider shopping locally (no, not at your local Walmart), but by businesses that are owned by local people, who live in your community. And if it's possible, look for items that are made by hand by people you live near. A simple choice to purchase locally, will benefit our community and brings so much satisfaction. Meet the person who created the product, find out that they live within 10 miles of your home, and their handicraft is made without compromising or threatening your family's employment.

I hope to see you there! Join the local and handmade revolution.
Here's a sampling of what I will have to offer...





oh oh... here's a sweet article about this show (and a shout out to fellow crafters!

Sneak Peek

I found this at a fabulous second hand sale...


Funny thing is, I'm not even sure what it is. It is definitely made of seriously cool polyester squares, from previously loved clothing... but it's not a quilt. Well, at least, it's not a quilt that you would put on a bed... or a lap... or anything else I could think of. Maybe it once warmed the back of a couch? It is the only thing I can think of that would require such a long, skinny, quilt.
Whatever it once was, I know what it will be next!! And then the cycle will be complete... or will it?! Just think - all those clothes, from so many people - were then turned into a quilt... and will now be turned again - upcycled, if you will, re-used. :)

I'm not telling what I'm making with it, but I do know where you'll be able to see my recycling efforts:


Craft o copia - The White Pine, downtown Nampa. There will be a group of artists each night, I'll be there Friday evening. But feel free to stop by each night, and start your Christmas shopping before it gets crazy!

Later!

Well, hello there!

Well, hello, where are you boys off to, looking so dapper, and trim?


Whoa, one at a time please - I can't listen to all of you at once.



Much better, thanks.
Oh, you're a new line of Zips? by Revive you say?
Well, you're awfully good-looking, and reasonably priced I'm sure.



Wait!! Where are you going, when will I see you again?


Oh, so I WILL see you again. On Saturday, from 9am-4pm at Idaho Arts Charter School Holiday Bazaar!

Be there, or be square, this is NOT going to be your grandma's bazaar.

Falling Downtown

Wow... ok, I've been super busy, again.
And I didn't even have time to post about this craft show, until today (and it's tonight...).
Anyway, thought you'd like to see what I've been up to:
creating more scarves.... I am using gently used gentlemen's suits - as well as a lot of really fantastic fabric Trish nabbed for me at the Re-Use Market! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.






I also made a LOAD of glass magnets, which are quite fetching, if I do say so myself - they just don't photograph well... so, you'll have to come see them for yourself!

I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow - so I'm hoping this show is worth my while this evening. I always feel like I'm gonna lose it before a show - like, if people don't come or purchase things, that I have wasted my time. And maybe I need to CHILL out about that part, and remember how much fun I've had creating things, instead. (easier said than done... so if you come tonight, make sure to gush the compliments... :) ha!

More knitting... in AUGUST

So, I've been knitting a lot more than sewing, which goes against my theory that sewing is more satisfying because you can complete a project so much faster... d'oh!
Anyway, here's a sampling of what I've been up to:
I finished the stripey socks... then i tore out the bind off because I couldn't get my stinkin' cankles into the socks!!! I found a new bind off called knit 1 purl 1 bind off, which uses your tapestry needle instead of the other knitting needle. It's super stretchy and my cankles are happy :)


Here's the bind off before:



And After:



ok, so maybe it's not that obvious off my leg, but on it's a huge stretchy difference!
On this first pair of socks, I learned - the "magic cast-on"... an invisible cast on for toe-up socks. A short row heel, which turned out really great, and the new bind off - satisfaction guaranteed!

I liked it so much, and had enough yarn left over to make Ella Bella some sweet shortie socks:



I also knit this soaker for a friend this weekend, while we were camping, and it turned out SO pretty!



Here's my next project:






Ok, and I also have these new socks on my needles:


All that to say, I need to get to the sewing machine and sew some stuff for revive!!! Although, this new "make stuff for yourself" thing has been awfully fun.

Later!

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Ok, so we'll test this out and see if my lil bro reads my blog (my money's on no).
I had this fabulous vintage fabric, and it needed to be used - I thought of making a gentlmen's necktie, but I know that my husband won't wear one. Then I thought of my brother, who is dressed by his wife - and thought "this just might work!" :)
So, here's my first gentleman's necktie, what do you think?





Oh how I love this fabric. I hope my lil bro likes this tie as much as I do.
Happy Birthday Drew!

Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

mmm checkers....
Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

Lazy Summer...

Ok, so, even though you haven't heard from me in a while, I have STILL be creating a lot of items. I've also done a lot of creating just for myself (is that ok?). I think, "what's the point of creating things, if you only get seconds?". All that to say, I made a load of shirts and onesies for Sparrow Clothing, and they turned out quite well, thank you very much. Here are a few samples. We'll call this "Show and Tell".

My favorite tree shirt - size 3T


Next up, a sweet onesie, with vintage fabric embellishment - size 6mo.


Oh, and I've been creating these MiniZips... I procured a large stock of zippers, both vintage and new, and wanted desperately to make a small pouch to incorporate these, this is what I came up with.





Then I decided after making about 20 of those, that I would make something for myself - here's an early pic of my first ever handknit sock!


The first sock, does make your brain hurt a bit, but the second one was seriously autopilot, it knit up so quick and easy, didn't even have to look at the pattern for the toe or the heel! So there!

This vintage sheet has been calling my name for months. I made a little sundress for a friends newborn earlier in the spring, but I have been wanting to do something with it for myself too - here's my first skirt.



Oh yes, there is a zipper in that too! :)

So, no, I haven't been blogging much, but I have been creating a lot. Our Etsy group has been frequenting the Nampa Farmer's Market each week, with a new vendor, and that's been really fun to organize, as well as getting to know some other local Etsy-ers. They are a great resource for creative thinking and great instant friends! Please check out their blogs too :
LovelyLittleLovelies and BellaGrano.

A Time for Everything

Alright, yes... I've been swamped. But seriously, three kids keep one especially busy! But, even though I've been silent on the blog-scene, it doesn't mean that I haven't been productive, creatively. So, there!
Our Idaho Indie Works team recently met for a "destash party" - where we traded anything from old sewing machine parts to beading looms. I came away with some exceptional finds. A sturdy set of salvaged wooden bag handles. Several pieces of fabulous upholstery fabric. A bag of zippers (old and new). A pile of adorable quilting fabric. And a collection of scrap fabric.
I also managed to nab some sweet vintage Singer sewing machine accessory boxes... little, perfect... brick shaped boxes... with fitted lids. mmmm
While I was on my way home from the swap, I day dreamed of a dozen creations for my new finds. Some can wait for a later debut, but this bag... is currently my favorite. I have it hanging on my wall... even though I took a picture of it already... I just can't seem to stay away from it. I walk by it and have to linger and stare. It really is a beautiful bag.
I've changed up my "tags" as well. I'm using scrap fabric, and a permanent fabric marker along with my "revive" stamp... I set the ink with heat... and voila! - permanently printed tag!

Please welcome my new bag to my collection. I'd like to call her the "MaLinda" - after the fabulous girl who found it in her heart to part with these gems.




I really love how, she used these fabrics for other things, and then I was able to make a completely new thing with them. And I have more scraps of these fabrics - that are bound to be made into something fabulous!

I will be at Nampa Farmer's Market on June 14th 9am-1pm, if you're in the area, come see me!

mmm fabric...

Yeah, I am really itching to buy some new fabric - and I think after I receive payment on this next purchase, I will buy a LOT of new fabric. Here are some beautiful textiles that have been really singing to me lately.

First up, my very own sister-in-law, Lacey. Not only is she a talented artist, and mom - but she has decided to produce textiles. I mean, she's hand dying, batiking, printing... creating absolutely beautiful fabrics, which I MUST get my hands on!
Her newest prints are available at Puffy Mondaes (our local, fiber art source) - and her Etsy shop is coming along quite nicely.



Next, another artist from my beloved Etsy : Stitchindye!
Her style is simple, and colorful, and very unique. What can I say? Handmade really IS better!







Ok, but maybe hand dyed, isn't your thing? Or the item I want to create demands something a bit different? Well, there are certainly your garden variety fabric shops all over the place - so what makes fabric really pop? I mean, is it just because you might be the only one in your county that has a bit of it in your closet? I think that may be it, but it's also the fact that really unique, beautiful fabric is hard to come by - so when you find it, you really need to buy it and keep it close!

Here are a few other options from the mass production world - I must admit, I prefer japanese imported fabric to a lot of domestic brand ... here are some of my favorites:





And yes, this next one looks like something from the end of the 70's, but so am I, and I really love this stuff - but guess what? You can't find it except from japan!




So, It looks like I have my work cut out for me!! I can't wait to get my hands on this stuff!
Happy crafting!!
jenn