Handmade Holidays

Wracking my brain to figure out a lovely and affordable handmade holiday gift for the ladies on my list, I wanted to make something easy, but still very pretty. Scarves came to mind. Who doesn’t need a scarf? So pretty, so practical…one can never have too many.

While perusing one of my favourite sites, Anna Maria Horner, I naturally gravitated toward her online store and I saw this:

photo courtesy of Anna Maria Horner.com

Perfect! Isn’t it gorgeous? It’s a combination of voile and velveteen from her Innocent Crush fabric collection. I wanted to make scarves, but I really had no inspiration or ideas on how to make it fun or interesting. Several colour variations of this Figure 8 Velveteen Scarf Project Pack has already been ordered and is on it’s way. Some for the ladies, and of course 1 for me.

Christmas is just over 3 weeks away (gasp!) and there are so many things to do. One day…one day… I will be organized enough to manage the season with ease.

As of next week, I am officially a free agent and my weeknights are no longer tied up with appointments and fitness classes. So, the baking, the sewing, the holiday festivities can commence!

Feeling Crafty

2 cans of Rustoleum + 1 red metal tool box = an interesting adventure.

This little tool box is in for a make-over... a bit of personality, with the help of some vanilla and pink hues. I intend to use this as an organizer for my sewing supplies and tools. I love the durability of metal over plastic, I am just not all too keen on the colour red.

Hey, if this actually turns out looking half decent, I may just have to do another one.

Stay tuned for the results!

Knit One...Purl Two?

So, I am finally learning to knit! My future mother-in-law gave me a lovely basket of yarn, knitting needles, books, etc... for Christmas so that I may finally beginning the process.  This is another item that I would like to cross off my to-do list. I hope to be quite skilled enough at it to begin posting my creations.

It's been going pretty well so far. I definitely need to work on my tension and I have to actually pay closer attention to what I am doing. I have managed to drop several stitches all over the place, but I suppose when you are too wrapped up in what is on the television, this is bound to happen. I even managed to knit half a row and purl the balance. Not sure how I managed that, but I must have been knitting, put the needles down to do something and then returned to absent-mindedly purl the rest of the row.  Oh well, it's all a learning curve for me.

I am not so ambitious to start tackling sweaters, afghans or mittens. I really only want to stick to easy peices, like scarves. This is truly all that I can manage at the moment. I have to build up the confidence (and skill) to work my way up to garments and other items. As it stands now, I would probably produce a 3-armed sweater or some other terrible mistake if I ventured beyond practicing my stitches.

My to-do list

From time to time I get these fantastic ideas for projects, things to read or just new learnings in general. Sadly, if I fail to make note of these bright ideas quickly, they are inevitably forgotten and go to waste. It is not until an occasion arises that one of these past ideas pop up, and of course I curse myself for not following through when I originally had the idea.

Fortunately, I have adopted the habit of leaving a pen and notebook around the house, or I carry little jot-pads in my purse. My ideas tend to strike at the most random of times (while washing dishes, eating breakfast, or while riding transit on my way home). I feel compelled to write out my ideas before they fall out of my head, including illustrations where necessary. Sometimes I look back on my notes and see well thought-out plans with several details. Other times, I review illustration after illustration with words hysterically scrawled and underlined, outlining my plans.

I have compiled a list of 8 things, in no particular order, that I wish to accomplish in exactly one year from tomorrow. Why September 1st? No real reason other than the fact that this idea to document a to-do list had struck me at this very moment. I also wanted to give myself a measurable time limit in which to accomplish these things. My list is as follows:

1. Make a sock monkey! (just because)
2. Learn to knit.
3. Have a tea party (yes, with all the fancy petit fours and little sandwhiches. Fancy hats are optional.)
4. Sew 4 dresses (one for each season)
5. Make several fabric party garlands (which will look lovely at my tea party)
6. Make 4 quilts (some to keep, some to give away)
7. Open an Etsy shop (finally)
8. Post a D.I.Y project every month for the next year.

Of course, I will be sure to refer back to this list often when I have accomplished a task. I think this is plenty to keep busy with for the next little while. I will post pictures to keep you updated on my attempts to complete this list in its entirety. Please stay tuned.

Tea for Two- the results

I finally tackled the porcelain painting kit that I had been sitting on for a while. Here are the results--my first scratch at this sort of project. I am not overly fussed with it, but it's a start. I am still figuring out my technique with the paint.

I was inspired by a scrap of fabric that I had laying about after making aprons the other week. I decided to try out the design on the teapot. This is my interpretation of the Sandi Henderson Farmer's Market Petal Party print. The dish was inspired by some Amy Butler rubber stamps that I own. I've always liked the fern pattern and wanted to see how it looked on the edges of a plate. It reminds be of thyme sprigs. I had intended to create a matched set between the 2 pieces, but I was too curious and wanted to see how each design would come out.  Not bad, but I don't feel that it reflects my style as well as it could.

I am thinking that a bold graphic treatment, (perhaps in one colour), would look better. I was considering doing a cherry blossom motif (typical of me), but I am now considering many other things.  We will see what develops. I happen to have a few more vessels to practice on.

Tea for Two

I've had this porcelain painting kit for quite some time now. I've just never been able get around to using it. Every time I pull it out, I decide that if I am going to paint porcelain, then I am going to paint large quantities of it in one go. I had anticipated visiting my local dollar store or close-out section of Home Sense to pick up some inexpensive plain mugs, dishes and teapots to practice on. What I love about this paint is that you apply it to already glazed dinnerware, bake in the oven and you're done!

I've decided to stop procrastinating and just give it a whirl. I think this teapot could use a few pretty touches. Maybe a chic floral motif? Truth be told, I just want something pretty to steep my tea in. If this endeavour is successful and I am happy with the results (or if I simply become addicted, as I often do when I begin any sort of craft), I may create some little sets of dessert plates to give away as hostess gifts. Come to think of it, I can even use plain 4"x4" tiles from my local hardware store to decorate and use as coasters... Oooh, I can even sew coordinating fabric napkins to complete the package! (Do you see how my mind works?) The possibilities are endless!

And away I go!