Because it's cool.

Last night, I announced that I was booked until March and those dangling fresh projects best step back and turn around. I got an offer for a play this morning which I turned down (though I was tempted). And then. And then. A friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend called, in need of a costume for her son's school play and out of ideas. Her five-year-old needs to be a blowfish by next Wednesday. Adorable. Amazing. I am so in. Yes, one needs to make important theatre, tell relevant stories, practice one's craft, make a living, keep a resume impressive. But sometimes it's way cooler to make a five-year-old into a blowfish. 

(photo from Telegraph archives)

A Little DIY Humor

I'm all for the DIY movement, though I've only stuck my feet in the proverbial pool. Although, there's this weird tension between DIY folks and old-school craftspeople, and being a little bit of both can be a bit awkward. Now, I'm an equal-opportunity critic, but my biggest beef with the DIY community is taking themselves too seriously (it's on par with self-righteous bicyclists). Again, I dig DIY (AND ride a bike), but you can't tell me you're a serious crafter because you knit and felt vaginas or screenprint owls with umbrellas on aprons. It's all adorable, clever and fun, but let's keep a little humor about this, eh? 

http://www.regretsy.com/

Almost here...

It's true, a lot of costume folk roll their eyes at Halloween, I do too. It's hard explaining to your friends why you can't magically produce four adult-size bar-friendly Ninja Turtle costumes in an hour for $5. And JoAnn Fabrics? Forget it. 

However, working with children more and more has helped my Halloween-Scrooge attitude. In fact, making costumes for kids is now one of my favorite things ever. Here are the rough sketches for a couple of current projects. 

Once Upon A Time...

In honor of Labor Day, I got a lot of work done. I went to see a run of "1001" at DePaul, and it's shaping up to be a clever devil. I made a dent on my enormous personal project list; alterations, birthday cards, favors for friends, etc. And even though my other projects turned out adorable, this is by far the coolest thing I made today. 

I used to work at Bubbles Academy, a children's enrichment center, and one of the lovely ladies there thought it would be so cool if we had a giant ancient-looking storybook to use as a prop. Well, I thought that was pretty cool too and took on the project. It was easier than I thought, and easier still now that I've already made one. A friend wants to make one for his niece, and I think it's a terrific gift for an imaginative kid.

I just made the cover so the teachers could change out the story inside, but it would be really cool to make personalized pages or mount an existing book inside. I started with a 1/2 inch-thickness sheet of black foam core (about $6 at Blick) and used a razor blade to cut it to size (mine is really big, 42''x36'', so it can be read to a class). I marked off a four-inch section in the middle and scored both lengths to serve as the spine, and reinforced it with duct tape. I used rubber cement to attach a purple taffeta lining, wrapping it around the edges and onto the other side (be sure to leave wiggle room so your book can open and close!). Then, I mounted the outside with some green leather I had laying around (yes, I do have huge pieces of leather and I know that's weird, but fabric or vinyl or wallpaper or lots of things would work too). I used a little E6000 (it's toxic, be careful) to make sure everything was super stuck. Inside, I stitched ribbons along the spine so that teachers can tie in their story pages. To finish, I pounded in upholstery tacks ($2 at Home Depot), added the brown leather bands, distressed the leather with a sanding block, and lettered the title with acrylic paint (note the sexy drop shadow). 

I don't mean to show off, but I think maybe kids would read more if they had enchanted storybooks laying around...

Yellow Flower Found!

I finished the little fascinator for my friend's wedding and it's so sweet. She's only seen parts of it so far, but I think it's totally her style. I love that she's putting these personal little touches into her wedding just to make her happy; like yellow shoes and a sassy little veil. I think that with big events and traditions, people too often get caught up in what they are "supposed" to do, and not what the want to do. So cheers for yellow shoes and a funky fascinator, and all the best to my dear friend rockin' down the aisle. 

A Little Old-School Embroidery

I have the hots for my friend's dish towels. It's true. Her grandma embroidered these great flour sack towels with strawberries and apples and puppies and they are just so cute.

 My mom found me these great potholders at the thrift store (actually, The Community Clothes Closet I mentioned a few posts ago). It got me thinking about embroidery and how colorful and vintage-y it is. And how easy it is... hmm... maybe I need to start taking a needle to some of my plainer kitchen towels. Embroidery floss is cheap, and it's a total fake-it-til-you-make-it kind of craft (my favorite!). Why stop at fruits and vegetables? I might have to start adding trees and bicycles and birds and naked ladies (my favorite!) to everything I own. I love the (free!) old school patterns at Needlecrafter (especially the animals) and the more contemporary patterns at Urban Threads. I've been looking at the beautiful embroidery traditions in Mexico and India, too. Happy stitching!

The Yellow Flower Hunt, Part II

More options, less flowery, again at Tinsel Trading. Awesome. 

Cutting in line

I always have a mental list of all of my projects, some I need to do (Nick needs undershirts, Brian's jacket needs to be aged), some I want to do (paint that old bookcase, sass up my messenger bag), and some I dream of doing (taking apart my favorite summer dress to make a pattern, patching and embossing that leather chair).  And then, it happens. Some little idea just takes over your brain and you can think of nothing else until you satisfy that urge. It's the line-jumper projects that get you into trouble. Everything else on the list is demoted, once again, for these pesky budgers. They always look simple enough, and perhaps you already have the supplies on hand, and you're sure you'll be done before dinner. Not so. 

This simple project from Sew, Mama, Sew, suggested for kids, but currently fermenting in my mind, reminds me of Tibetan prayer flags in a really fun, whimsical way. Watch out, world, and prepare to be decorated. 

The Problem Child

While some single gals focus on their cats, and others on their houseplants, I prefer a more creative, frustrating and potentially hazardous distraction of the crafting variety. And, like cats and plants, sometimes you have a high maintenance project on your hands. Sometimes you craft yourself into a corner. Sometimes you do both. I made this little straw cocktail hat two years ago and it sits, unfinished and ignored. Maybe I just haven't found the perfect trim. Maybe a friend's off-handed remark about it looking like a hat for a funeral made me harbor negative energy toward it. Whatever the case, I'm pulling it from its place of shame in hopes of some inspiration. 

Testing...

Every adventure has a beginning, right? Even if they're awkward. In an attempt to streamline my answers to the ever-coming "did you make that?" "where'd you get it?" "a dollar? no way!" line of fire, a blog. Dedicated to the master thrifters, muses and paint-under-your-fingernails crowd. And my mom.