Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tutorial Thursday Tuesday! Confetti Eggz!

I would wait for Thursday but.. I don't want to. I want to make these now now nowwwww... I want to drink mimosas and sit outside and eat cucumber and dill finger sandwiches and decorate eggs! I want to wear a pastel dress and little white socks with lace trim...
EASTER BUNNY IS COMIN' TO TOWN, Y'ALL.



Background:

Many historians believe the tradition of filling eggshells originated in China. The Chinese filled their eggshells with perfumed powder and gave them as gifts. It's believed that Marco Polo introduced them to Europe. Empress Carlotta, the wife of the Emperor Maximilian, introduced the filled eggshells to Mexico in the 19th century. he Mexicans used confetti rather than powder and called them cascarones, from the word "cascara," which means "shell."... [source]

And here we go!
Materials needed:
One Dozen eggs
Egg dying kit
Confetti
Tissue paper
Glue
Instructions:
1. Gently tap the top of an egg.
2. Peel away just a small 1/2 inch hole.
3. Empty contents of the egg out into a bowl.
4. Thoroughly rinse the egg and shake out excess water. Let the egg dry.
5. Dye the eggs using the egg dying kit.
6. When the eggs are dry fill with confetti.
7. Glue the hole in the egg with tissue paper and finish decorating.

привет!

Having a "real job" really puts a cramp in your play-time. While watching Anthony Bourdain last night, I made this mini matryoshka. She's tee-tiny, fits in the palm of your hand. I was going to fill her with catnip and throw her to the lions but by the time I was done, I didn't want her to be destroyed!

More sweatshop tonight!

Monday, March 29, 2010

the great outdoors!

Ohhh boy was this weekend gorgeous! And so busy!

I kicked it off with a mini-hang out with my crafty friend Tara. We paid a visit to Mr. Bob McDougal who advised me that no, my sewing machine is not a piece of crap, I just don't know how to use it. (Fair enough) Bob-visit followed by a trip to High Fashion Fabrics where we spent almost 2 hours (easy to do..) and found 3 great new fabrics and a few do-dads.

Had a delicious dinner with Lindsey at Oporto, a tapas cafe and wine bar. Ohmygodtheclams. The food here is fantastic and easily one of my new favorites.

Later that night, I walked down to Mango's and had a few beers with some pals I hadn't seen in a while. By then, I was pretty tuckered so I called it a (pretty action packed) day.

Saturday afternoon I went down to the Bayou City Arts Fest with Nora! Was my first time and will definitely attend the one downtown in October. It was almost 80 so it was pretty warm, but the park was shaded by lots of trees and there was no shortage of beverages to enjoy. There was so much to see!

I made only one small purchase but I'm very happy with it. One of the first booths we stumbled on featured some great paper craft, paintings and handmade journals. The artists name is Lisa Norris, a Chattanooga resident and graduate of Parsons School of Design. She works with old photographs, vintage fabrics and papers, buttons and other found objects. I purchased one of her "Love Notes", a little note card made from an old map of Europe and folded into a heart. I'll have to scan it, it's so cute. I bought it with a specific person in mind, but I have to admit I'll have a hard time parting with it. (what's the opposite of buyer's remorse?? That "Damn! I should have bought more!" feeling.
You can see and learn more at her site Made By One Girl.
Here are a few more (quite random) photos of sights from Saturday!

Pretty woodcut birds- I really liked this artist: Dolan Geiman, from Chicago.
RAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!
(Oh haiiii dixieeeeeee!)
I love everyday objects-turned-faces!
pretty enamel blossoms wide shot of a booth

above: this was a person. on stilts....mildly creepy.
above: this is paper!
So that was Art Fest! After the day at the park, we enjoyed a few pounds of crawfish, potatoes and corn. After all that sodium, I was craving dark chocolate espresso brownies (specific..), so I nommed those while watching episodes of The Ricky Gervais Show (true love).
I didn't have much slated for Sunday afternoon so after cleaning up a bit, I was getting hungry. It was a breezy 72 degrees and I wanted lunch, but I also wanted to sit outside... I need a grill. After a little visit to Target and the grocery, I was grilling in no time. Actually that's not true. It took about an hour to assemble the damn thing, another hour to get a fire going, and then an hour and a half later when my shrimp-jalapeno-goat cheese en brochette still weren't cooked because of my weak, weak fire I gave up and stuck 'em in the broiler. Oh well- I'm not entering any BBQ contests any time soon. I'll just have to practice more! I'm thinking veggie kabobs sometime this week!

They wanted to cook... they really tried.
Post grilling- fail, I went up to my little work station and got busy on a new little envelope clutch, using some new fabric I bought on Friday.

I like the little frog closure, although it was a pain to sew on.
Whew! That was a lot. I really should get to work... I hope your weekend was filled with sun, tasty things and good people!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Blogger/ artist crush: Geninne!

Her name is Geninne D. Zlatkis. She's an artist, illustrator, designer, photographer, bird watcher and mom living in Queretaro, Mexico. Her art has been purchased to sell at Urban Outfitters, so you may have even seen her Lovebirds print!


She just posted this free embroidery pattern- so cute. Can't wait to start on it! (after my Matryoshka...which should take another month..haha)
I''m feeling so inspired! So much I want to do and work on AND it's going to be gorgeous outside- Hope your weekend is beautiful and inspiring!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Tutorial Thursday!

Pinwheel, pinwheel, spinning around. Look at my Pinwheel and see what I've found.Pinwheel, pinwheel, where have you been? Hello, how are you, and may I come in? Pinwheel, pinwheel spinning around. Look at my Pinwheel and see what I found.Pinwheel, pinwheel, breezy and bright. Spin me good morning, spin me good night!
These scream "Summer!" to me. I saw some at a shop a few weeks ago, big plastic ones for your yard, but they were so... well.. plastic-y and although they were rainbow, they just didn't seem as friendly as... oh say... handmade paper or fabric ones!


[source]

Big plastic one:
I think I remember these most from childhood- those metallic shiny pinwheels you'd blow into to make spin:



..and if you REALLY love them, you can get one in sterling silver:

- Beautiful pendant found on etsy! (95$ though.. yowch...)

So today's tutorial is pretty patterned paper pinwheels (OOOooohh alliteration!)

Step by step photos below but instructions over here! Hobby Lobby has great scrapbook paper for about 20 cents a sheet and you can hunt around in the yard for some skinny sticks (freeeeee! thanks nature!)

In other news, went to Michael's on lunch and got LOTS of yarn in fantastic colors. Hurray!


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Crazy bag lady

My first foray into sewing yielded a little clutch handbag. Sew Crafty Houston's Intro to Sewing class is 40$ for 2 hours and all materials and instruction provided (but I brought my own fabric because I'm a nerd...)

The first hour was dedicated to learning the machine and the second hour was for actually working on your project, so I felt a smidge rushed (I was the last one sitting at my station when everyone else was done, gone and home having a snack...). I would mess up a stitch, grab the seam ripper, get a little overzealous and stab and tear the fabric like a scene out of some slasher movie.

It was a good class and I recommend it to anyone wishing to dip their toes, but I wasn't happy with my final product. It just looked a little misshapen, the top flap larger than the bag, stab wounds right on the front.... blood... guts... (ok no guts...but I was the only person in my class who pricked her finger on the needle and actually DID draw blood...)

Yesterday I decided to give it another go. I went to Joanne's on lunch, bought some Pelltex interfacing for the inside to make the bag sturdy, went home after work and... well.. got to work. I had the freedom and time to experiment more with embellishments and shapes and I'm pretty happy with my second attempt. I was going for a little springtime envelope kind of look:

Here's a peek inside: It's the same pattern as the outside, just an orangey/red instead of yellow/white. I really liked this fabric so I bought it in 2 different colors. Thanks, Mrs. Reese! I'll be back for more!

Close-up!
This is the bag I made during the class but I reformed the top flap and added a matching bow to hide the stab wound. I love this fabric too (found here, a pattern playground!) it reminds me of a mermaid.


Better, I think. A little more flash...



Both bags are about 9 " wide and 7" tall.




More to come!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

goodwill lunchbreak score!

TWELVE DOLLARS.

Early 70s Smith Corona Coronet Electric 12 complete with original case. WHO GIVES THESE THINGS AWAY???

I just found it online for over 100$.

crazy. today wins.

SEA CREATURES!

Today I am enjoying sea-critter photos and art! It's warming up, y'all- we'll have our toes in the sand in no time!
[source]

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...