Thread Painting on Card Stock

SHOW YOU: Thread Painting on Card Stock

For a while now I have been interested in embroidering on things other than fabric, so I took a short adventure into the world of thread painting (aka embroidery) on paper. Turned out great, but I don't think overall I love this medium for my art. I prefer something with a little give, with some more texture and flexibility when it comes to mounting/displaying it. But here are a few things I created with card stock and embroidery thread, and other things....

I love this Father's Day card I made for my papi this year. The image is hand drawn by me and the binding for the card is a twig I found while walking through the lovely neighborhood I work in down near Berkeley's 4th Street area.



















This second image is a card I made for my Grandma Dot (full image and close up). Her 86th birthday was this year and she is still spunky, beautiful and full of life! The image is also hand drawn by me.


































Finally, this is a very special gift I made for one of my favorite redheads, Sarah O. I love her so much, we've been friends for so long and I thought I'd try something new as a birthday gift this year. The image is hand drawn by me, on card stock. The frame is stained and adorned with twigs from a deconstructed wreath I bought at the craft store a while ago. I also tried something new, by coloring in the some of the "white space" with colored pencils, which I thought added a little bit more substance to the image. I finished it with a hand carved message on the frame.
















Even though the paper was fun and although I don't love using it, what I did enjoy through the experience of doing these three projects was the exploration of making something with so many different variables. I liked mixing up the elements, making it 3D and including natural elements. I've since moved on to embroidering on artist's canvas and it is my favorite medium by far. A little sneak peak of a project I'm working on right now...

Bad Ass Babe!

SHOW YOU: Bad Ass Babe Thread Painting

This won't be a how-to post, but instead a quickie show-you post. I have been so busy, and involved with killing bird mites that got into our house about two months ago, so I've been unable to really craft the way I would like to. But I am finally again working on some great projects, which are of course presents for people, so I can't post updates on them until they are received.












This project was a quickie I made for my bestie, Jason. He's been doing drag for many years now and only ripens, gets sweeter and more glamorous with every passing year. He does drag as a form of art and he is magnificent at it. He is, hands down, one of the most beautiful drag queens I know of and I am so proud to support his creativity.

Anyway, Jason, aka Veronica Fake when in drag, had a really kick ass wig a long time ago that was dark hair with bangs and this image reminded me of that wig. And I LOVED when Veronica wore that hair, particularly because of her Hispanic background, the dark hair just frames her face and skin beautifully. So, when I purchased Sublime Stitching's Mitch O'Connell series, I knew I had to make something for Jason in honor of Veronica.

It started as an idea to make it into a little clutch Veronica could carry when she went out at night. But then time passed, two years in fact, and I finally realized I just needed to get it out of storage and finally gift Jason with it. So, this year for his birthday I finally framed the image. I love it!

Easy Like Sunday Morning - One Hour Crocheted Necklace

HOW TO: Silky Soft Crochet Necklace

I love to crochet. I think it's way easier than knitting. Although I will say, I'm not a master at either, gaining just enough knowledge of both to do the basics, which I then use as additions to other projects. So, you see, I'm not a Sweater Knitter or anything that awesomely complex. I'm more a of a Scarf Knitter/Crocheter - row after simple row after simple row... I enjoy the less complicated, straight-forward act of knitting and crocheting, more as a practice of meditation and stress relief.



So, using the most basic skills necessary for crocheting, I created a necklace that took me about one hour (a little less 'cause I'm pretty fast at crocheting and sewing). Here's how...



One Hour Crocheted Necklace

Materials:
Super soft yarn
3.75 MM crochet needle
Scissors
Buttons
Large sewing needle (with a large eye)

Time:
1 hour or less

1. Chain stitch a single row, about 20 inches long (or however long you'd like your necklace). Make this number of stitches divisible by three (you'll see why at the end).

2. Begin chain stitching the second row, stitching only four stitches. This is going to be the little scallop on the necklace, so if you want them to be bigger, stitch a few more.

3. Count over three stitches on your first row and stitch the little loop into the third stitch. You made a little scalloped loop!






4. Stitch four more stitches, count three on the first row, stitch into the third one. Repeat until you reach the end of the necklace. Because you stitched your first row a number divisible by 3, you should reach the end with no excess stitches left over.

5. Tie off the ends. Now you should have a naked, scalloped necklace!

6. Next you're going to add the buttons. Thread your large-eyed needle with some of the yarn and sew on buttons wherever you would like embellishment. I love these beautiful abalone buttons!










7. It just so happens that I found this deep mauve-colored button in my button drawer that was a perfect match with the yarn and the perfect size to slip into the scallop loops. I secured this one to the end of the necklace. This button fits perfectly into the last scallop loop on the opposite end, serving as the necklace clasp.

You could use beads also, if you don't want to use buttons, anything you can secure to the necklace using needle and thread.

Enjoy!

Reclaimed Angora Neck Warmer

HOW TO: Reclaimed Angora Neck Warmer

The San Francisco Bay Area is unseasonably cold during the summer months - instead basking in warmth during the Spring and Fall seasons. So, because of the chilly weather of late, I thought about a project I did a while ago that I love, but have yet to share.

I bought the most beautiful Angora wool turtle neck sweater last year at the thrift store and wouldn't you know it, the very first time I washed it (before I wore it) I shrunk it!?! I was so upset, even though I had only spent $7.00 on it. I have never been able to afford real Angora before and this sweater was so nice, so I was heart broken. But I was determined to not let it be a total waste. I decided it was perfect for turning into a cozy neck warmer!

I've made a few of these in the past, but they've always been knitted and crocheted, and always gifts for friends and loved ones.






I figured since it was Angora wool and I had effectively "felted" the material by washing it, so it wasn't going to un-wind if I cut it. So, here goes....

Super Easy, Up-cycled Angora Neck Warmer

Materials:
-old turtleneck sweater made of wool, already shrunk or pre-shrunk
-scissors
-crochet needle
-yarn
-needle and thread
- buttons

Time: Depending on how quickly you crochet and sew, this can be an hour long project.

1. If you have an old, unwearable wool sweater and it's not yet shrunken, wash it in the hottest water setting possible on your washing machine. Make sure to utilize the energy and water you're using running a hot wash cycle by throwing in some other things that would BENEFIT from the hot wash - effectively killing two birds with one stone.

2. Once the sweater is dry, very carefully cut the neck off of the sweater, keeping as close to the seam as possible. Then, cut the turtle neck in half, top to bottom, creating the "seam" you'll use for the opening of the neck warmer.

3. Chain stitch your yarn, checking regularly to make sure it is the length of the entire border of the turtleneck. Be sure to chain stitch some extra length for your button loops.








4. Use a large-eyed needle to sew the chain stitched yarn onto the entire outside border of the turtleneck, using the same yarn, which effectively "hides" these stitches. When you get to the front of the opening, where you'll eventually sew on buttons, sew loops into your border that will fit over your buttons.

5. Sew the buttons on to the opposite side of the opening that you stitched the loops on to. Make sure to line up the buttons to the loops so they are even when you are wearing your neck warmer.

6. You're done! Enjoy the coziness!



















You didn't think I was going to waste the rest of the sweater did you? ;) Stay tuned, I'm either going to create a trim for that and turn it into a sweater for one of my toothpick-thin friends (hee hee) or I'll make it into the softest pillow ever adorned with crewl work, which I've always wanted to learn how to do.

Home Made, Recycled-Content Cat Toy

HOW TO: Recycled-Content Cat Toy
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am OBSESSED with my cats. I love them. I am 33 and don't have children yet, so all of my motherly-instinctive love goes to my two furballs, Shea and Kalyana-mitta.

While I don't like to throw things away, I am a huge proponent of giving things to Goodwill that are no longer useful in my house - one person's trash is another person's treasure (as the old adage goes). BUT, before I give anything away, I always keep it a bit and ponder what might be done with it, what useful thing could I make it into.... not all of these endeavors to turn "trash into treasure" are successful, but this project takes the cake for longevity and enjoyment!

Here's directions for making a Home Made Catnip Toy for your pussy!

Materials:
-used plastic bags
-umbrella cover or an old sock (you know, that one missing a mate, stolen by that wily Laundry Monster we all run into on occassion)
-copious amounts of catnip
-needle and thread
Time: Depending on how quickly you sew, this could take you anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes.

1. Take that weird umbrella sleeve-thingy you get with a new umbrella that you never use (!), or an old sock. If you're using the sock, cut the sock just above the ankle (where it curves as it leads into the foot area of the sock), essentially cutting the sock in half. You'll be using the leg portion of the sock, not the foot.

2. Cut the used plastic bags in half. I used about two plastic bags for the toy I made using the umbrella sleeve. I used one used plastic bag for an old sock.

3. If using a sock, sew up one end of the sock with the needle and thread. This isn't a beauty contest, so just sew it so that it's a tight, straight stitch and the catnip can't wiggle its way out.


4. Pour some cat nip into the umbrella sleeve or sewn-up-sock.

5. Krinkle the plastic bag and stuff it into the umbrella sleeve or sewn-up-sock.

6. Add more catnip, then plastic bag, and so on, until the sleeve or sock is stuffed full of both.

7. Sew up the open end of the sleeve or sock and, viola, you've got yourself a recycled-content, home made cat nip toy!

8. Tease your cat with it and watch them work themselves into a cat nip coma!

Enjoy!*












*These will eventually become covered in drool and dirt (if they play with them on the floor), so they will need to eventually be thrown out and you'll need to make a new one. The black-with-multi-colored-circles toy pictured above is about 4 years old. The cats still love it and because of the material (umbrella sleeve) it's far outlasted the old socks. But the socks hold their own as well, lasting at least a year or more.

It's been a long time and I won't go on about that.... except to say that I have been working really hard for the past two years for a non-profit in all of my spare time, plus another job. I've been too busy to really blog about all of the work that I've done on my crafting. As well as getting married to my partner of 11 years (this year in August) last year. But now I'm feeling some real space to record and talk about the work that I'm doing of late.

I'm a typical Gemini in that I get bored pretty quickly with just one style of crafting, so I'm usually into multiple projects at one time, including aromatherapy and embroidery, or embroidery and knitting, or embroidery and cooking(!), embroidery and stitching, etc. And as I play with each form of creative expression, I continually seek to change it up, to keep it interesting. So, I'm back in the game and I'm going to be updating the blog more to share my passion as expressed through crafts.

So to start us off... here's some mixed media projects I've completed recently. In particular, I was fascinated with the idea of embroidering on canvas, but realized the potential problems with that process, so I came up with an idea of embroidering on fabric, glue it to canvas and then disguising it somehow. The results....




This was a gift for friends for their wedding. It is a hand-drawn pattern embroidered on fabric, stretched canvas, oil paint, dried flowers and a deconstructed-wicker wreath.







This is my gift to my amazing mother. Again, a hand-drawn pattern embroidered on fabric, stretched canvas, acrylic paint, dried lavender and violets. I love my mom!

Kalyana has the secret to life...

I'm not even gonna go there on how long it's been since I blogged last. I did that in my last post and sadly, it's the same situation this time. I have been so busy I can't even believe it. And it's not even the good kind of busy, my friend. It's the kind where life is going by way too fast. It's the kind of busy where I'm trying to open new doors and simultaneously close old ones. It's the kind of busy where I'm so excited about the things that are surely in store for me, but still deeply entrenched in the things I currently have committed to- waiting anxiously for them to end.



I really wish I had Kalyana-mitta's attitude; if I did, life might seem a bit more do-able right now. (Could she be any cuter!?!?!?!)



All the while, I'm trying to remain centered and focused on the things that are meaningful to me. Unfortunately two of my favorite things have had to take a back seat to this mania I find myself mired in- crafting (gasp! I know!!??!!) and working out. Although, somehow I have managed to make a few things, yet all of my bigger projects have been put on hold (Sarah-bug and Jay, I haven't forgotten about your presents, I swear!). Recently, I got to thank the universe that two people humped years ago and, voila! Louisa was brought into the world and eventually into my life! I love her so much and happily made her a couple of things for her birthday - a shirt I found in a garage sale that I added a beautiful melon-colored lavender-esque flower to and a bookmark of 'shrooms. I like both things and think they turned out perfectly for one of my very best friends. Happy birthday, Weezie, I couldn't do this thing called life without you in it, sister!












I think this blogging thing is also going to remain one of the unfortunate victims of the pace of my life for the next couple of months, but I'm gonna try to minimize the trauma as much as I can. I really do enjoy this blog and the fact that it lets me share the things I love to do. I'll be sure to post regular updates on the closing doors and newly opened ones as they happen...