Tea Towel Tote

First of all, did you see the PBS special last night, Craft in America?
Incredible.
I tried to email some of you to give you a heads up, but the email got kicked back to me.
Check your local listing to see when the three hour-long episodes repeat.
The show features artisans around the US who specialize in weaving, quilting, blacksmithing, jewelry, sculpture, furniture, etc.

Okay, onward to my submission to the first purse challenge.
I was faced with my own challenge during this project--my eyesight.
I just can't see up close anymore.
Time for reading glasses (groan...).
So this was more difficult than I intended.
So forgive my less-than-perfect stitches this time around.

My tea towel tote started when I found a tea towel hanging in a thrift store for 65 cents.
It still had a little gold sticker on it that stated it was linen.
It was stiff and unused, and I just assumed it was vintage.

I paired it with a plaid in a similar color scheme (an odd brownish, brick red), and a beige linen, both given to me by a friend of my mom who used to be a professional seamstress.

I decided to use one of my vintage patterns, and was pleasantly surprised with how this pattern comes together--I'm sure I'll use it again.

The construction technique was completely different than any other bag I've made previously.
That in itself has been a fun learning experience.

The towel said "Arabic Snacks", and had several recipes.
I utilized the main portion of the towel as the outer pocket.

I actually had the presence of mind to reverse the two portions of the strap, so they hang identically.

I had a few scraps left with recipes written on them...so I thought I might incorporate those somehow on the back.
Initially I was going to place a recipe for hummus and arabic coffee on the back (those were the scraps left), above the large piece that I had placed on the bottom of the back piece.
But it was just too plonked on there. There was no cohesiveness.

So I decided to cut the scraps up at random and do a sort-of seminole quilting technique, but without precision.

I was initially disappointed with myself for being so rash and ruining a perfectly good piece of text.
But I'm trying to get away from being glued to my ruler and a pattern guide.
I figure any sort of experimentation is both freeing and a learning experience.

So I made a band encased with bias strips I cut out of the plaid fabric,
but it was just missing something.

Then it came to me!
I decided to copy two images from a cookbook onto fabric.
I found the cookbook in a box of freebies at the library (written about here. One pic, and the other pic)
Using the entire page was overkill, so I just cut out the woman and placed her to the left under the band.

I then copied the lamp onto shrink plastic and made two buttons, in two sizes.
I like to work in odd numbers, and travel the eye around to (in this instance ) three places.

I think these elements added a unique twist, and the added interest I needed.

On the front, I didn't like the plain 'Kingdom of Saudi Arabia' design, so I partially covered it with a bowl of something (a dessert probably) from the same cookbook page.
I then took a coin from the United Arab Emirates with matching jug imagery
(I found this when working in a cash vault, and couldn't believe my luck. It's so perfect for this project).
I glued the coin to the back of a button-cover to give it a shank, thereby making it into a button.

See how it's the same coffee pot? Cool, huh?

So I accomplished what I intended, which was to learn, to grow, to try something new.

The gallery of all the purses submitted for the challenge will be posted tomorrow (link on my other blog).

Sewing like a mad woman

Ever the last minute, I have been working on my tea towel tote today for the purse challenge.

All those people that *talk* about whipping something out in an hour or two...
uh, how is that possible exactly?

I've been working on this bag for several days and I'm still not done.
My neck is killing me for all the looking down.

I have another bag cut out and ready to start, but that one isn't going to get done right now.
Sigh...

Anyway, I'll post my bag tomorrow.
Anyone who wants to participate, you still have time--pics go up on Friday.

Careful observance

I'm near-sighted, so often times I don't look around enough...I can't see everything.
But when I do notice small details: a play of light and shadow, an interesting reflection, a juxtaposition of color...
I become overwhelmed, fascinated, obsessive.

I want to notice the fine points in the life, like what Andrea talks about.

I was in the PL bagel shop in Point Loma last year, sitting at a cafe table enjoying a cheesy melt on an everything bagel (a little slice of Heaven right there), when I looked up and noticed the sunlight coming through the painted sign on the window was casting the letters onto the plain white counter.

(you can click on the image to enlarge. The icon 'all sizes' over Flickr images enables you to resize them)

Something about this just sends me.
Not too shabby considering it was taken with my cheap camera phone.

Or recently when my mom and I attended a quilt show at the Convention Center in Ontario, we were sitting down for lunch and I started noticing all sorts of wonderful geometric shapes in the shadows.
And the view from the lobby to the trees blowing in the wind outside just captivated me.
I took out my phone again and snapped 17 images, of which this is one

I took my storage chip from my phone to Costco to be developed, and the employee said, "uh, it says you have 92 pictures on here--could that be right?!"
Me: "um, I guess so".
Employee: "you must be snapping all the time".
Me: "Doesn't everyone?"

How is it that I don't have a digital camera yet?

When I went to see Charles Phoenix at the Escondido Performing Arts Center, my eyes were drawn upward to the hanging light fixtures...

a work of art.
(again, sorry for the quality, just my camera phone, but still worthy of sharing)

Several years ago, I knew a woman who had a couple of small children. She would take them out into the backyard and they would explore and discover together.
The caterpillar on the underside of a leaf, worms within the earth, the stamens in a lily and how the powder stains...
She taught them to embrace the details.
Her enthusiasm has always stuck with me--its gentle teaching, its respect.
Its observance of the intricacies that make life so inviting.

I'm not a rose person (unless they're single petal varieties).
I tend to gravitate to more unusual flowers, like Queen Anne's Lace, or wildflowers.
I was at an Asian market recently, and was stopped in my tracks by the beauty of a peach tree in blossom.
Or the brilliant color of the Pride of Madera

Mouth-watering recipe

I cannot wait to try these! Homemade Oreo Cookies (posted by Smitten Kitchen).

*update*
I made these, and all I can say is this recipe is going into the Star file!
So easy, so tasty.
If you make these, remember that Oreos are small--one teaspoon of dough really is enough.
The dough spreads out and flattens when baked.
I followed her advice and used less sugar, and I'm glad I did.
She has some other recipes up that she describes as "OMG", so I'll be trying more goodness soon for sure.
Foodie blogs are my favorite blogs.

Photo Friday

My beloved Elliott (who I have my arm around), Blaise, the smiling Beahr (all my friend Debbie's dogs), and Tala (she was the Husky to my left who I was watching. Unfortunately she had her head turned away from the camera).

At Dog Beach in Ocean Beach a couple of years ago.

Even though the image is busy, I really like it--it has a happiness to it.

Ooh, mail goodness from Down Under!

Gina has noticed I love sewing with neckties.
She said she would find herself thinking about me when she'd see fun examples in Op shops (the Aussie term for thrift stores).

So we set up a swap.

I still have to send my swap stuff to her (I finally found some goodies).
Gina collected vintage embroidered linens.
Looking for items for her has given me a new appreciation for this craft.

My favorite ties are the novelty ones, or the unusual color combinations






Thank you Gina.

I've been tagged

Crafty Gurlz Mum tagged me to discuss seven random things about myself. Ooh, at the risk of sounding insane, I'm going to be honest.

1) I'm going to give away my age here, but this is so odd I have to mention it. When I was a kid in elementary school, my friends Anna or Sue and I entertained ourselves by staging scary scenes around the house. We would lead one another, blindfolded...anticipating a scream.

Uh, we used REAL KNIVES, people.

Little vignettes of Chatty Cathy being murdered.
How lovely.

Hmmm...too bad we didn't take the idea to Hollywood. This was pre-Chuckie but we had definitely been influenced by 'Talking Tina' on the Twilight Zone, and some other scary dolls that were on Night Gallery.
By 5th grade, I was locking my dolls in a cabinet at night. Heaven forbid they'd come to life and attack me.
It's a Small World at Disneyland was even creepy.

When we weren't staging murder scenes, we closed ourselves up in a dark bathroom and screamed at my glow-in-the-dark skull (a Disneyland trinket from the Jungle Cruise area). My mom labeled HER weird--evidently she was in denial about me.

When Sue's staged events starting including words about Satan, it was too much for me. We stopped playing that game.

For the most part, dolls creep me out to this day.
I have always had an overactive imagination.

2) Speaking of overactive imagination, the movie Jaws did a number on me too. I stopped swimming in the ocean. I'm an excellent swimmer, and occasionally I'll force myself to swim a half mile in La Jolla Cove, but it terrifies me. I went kayaking in the Cove once, and was surrounded by sea lions. I love sea lions, but not right next to me like that. The idea of creatures swimming next to me is my hugest fear.

The house I lived in growing up had a pool with a plaster dolphin on one side. When I swam alone, I was positive the damn thing was really a shark and would come to life...chasing me.

3) Well, while I'm talking about fear, I may as well just keep going...
Sometimes I fear the dark. I am a dog-sitter, often sleeping in strange homes alone, and I have a tendency to watch crime and forensic shows all the time. Hmmm, add in my imagination, and sometimes I get creeped. Depends on whether or not I'm with a good watch dog. I refuse most jobs that use dog crates. I don't believe it's a 'safe' zone or any of the other nonsense reasons. Would you want to sleep in a cage? Yeah, me neither. Too, how is a dog supposed to do his job (protecting) if he's locked up? Hello...stupidity. I have convinced clients to toss the crates, and now only sit for people who crate during potty training.

4) Clutter makes me comfortable. If a house is too sterile, too clean, too simple, too stark...it lacks personality.

5) I have a hard time keeping up with reading all my magazines and throwing them out in a timely manner. I used to plead, "but I'm an artist! Artists NEED images...". Yeah, whatever. I am drowning in old magazines that need sorting through.

6) Surprisingly to some, I do not support Canine Companion animals. I find them to be, overall, a sad lot. I completely abhor the no-touching-its-working mantra. Dogs are intelligent beings--they understand when to play and when to work. I once saw an exhibition of police dogs demonstrate that concept--it was amazing to watch. If a dog chooses to help a disabled person, and that person doesn't mind other people coming up and saying hello, etc...well, that's okay. But I've seen too many grotesque examples, so, sorry...but I don't back them. Overall I am more pro-animal than people. Hey, it takes all kinds to make the world a balanced place. You focus on your pet project, and I'll focus on mine. Ditto lab testing on animals--no call for it, for ANY reason. Period. And don't bother to blast me with negative comments--there is no changing my mind.

7) I have mentioned this on my 100 things page, but I'll say it again. I like bugs (Melinda is shivering right now after reading her latest blog post, I stand corrected). June bugs are my favorite. And bumble bees, and honey bees, and ladybugs. Not cockroaches or silverfish, but most anything else. I have loved them forever. Maybe I should have been an entomologist.

I won't be tagging anyone, but feel free to post seven random things about yourself on your blogs too.

For the love of a good voice

I am so frickin' proud of myself.
Friday night I did something I've never done before.
I ventured into new, more confident waters.

I went out alone.

To a CLUB, people.
In a shitty neighborhood even.

And it was comfortable.

I wanted to see Storm Large at the Casbah.

so I did.

You see, most of my friends are more...Sade types.
I mean, I've seen Sade too, but my musical tastes are pretty eclectic, and I'm willing to see just about anyone live.
But I didn't know anyone who would go to a rock show.
I don't get it.
Shoot, even Sue didn't want to go!

I decided, screw it, I really wanted to see her.
So I went.

And I was okay with it.
Really affordable too--with cover AND three rum-and-Cokes, I only spent twenty five bucks.
Oh, and I bought a tee shirt too. So add twenty more.
But still.
Not bad, despite having to wait two-and-a-half hours and three crappy bands for her to come on at midnight.

Yes, it was still worth it.

The venue is rather small anyway, but by the time her set ended, there were only maybe 50 of us willing to hang out until 1:30 closing.
A lot of people missed out, which is too bad really.

One of the greatest things about growing up (uh, it takes some of us awhile...)
is that other people's opinions don't matter so much.
I danced just like I do in my living room.
Good for me.
Even recently, I would never have had the nerve.

If you guys have a chance to see Storm, she puts on an AMAZING show.
Amazing.
Just don't get all trippy about the profanity.

She even did an a capella encore in Italian.
Her voice is so perfectly skilled.

It's the same Storm that was on Rockstar Supernova last season.
Here's a clip of her own song, "What the what is ladylike?"
I actually prefer this tame version to the 'real' lyrics, because I think the play on words is clever.
My God I love that song.

Oh, and her CD comes out June 5.

I highly recommend you check it out (and no, I'm not being paid to say this, in case you're wondering).

Vinyl Hearts Apron

(click on images to enlarge)

I started this apron when Tie One On had a heart theme, but I never submitted it because I submitted it to Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine instead.
I had intended the apron to supplement my vinyl recipe cards article.
The magazine ended up not having room to print it, so I figured I'd share it with you.

I'd still like to submit it somewhere--perhaps the Not Your Mother's Apron contest? (the American Sewing Expo website is not updated at this time, or I'd link the details. Amy has some basic info up on the Tie One On site).
Info here.

The apron is totally impractical but a fun, over-the-top, one-of-a-kind party item.
There are two levels of pleated pockets.
Rather than using bias tape, I finished the pocket edges with strips of vinyl.
These were randomly stitched up and down with pink rayon thread, then accented with silver metallic.

The sash is a wide velveteen ribbon.

I used a current pattern--Simplicity 4597.
The fabric is Curly Hearts by Loralie (On the Mend line–one of the breast cancer awareness fabrics)
A huge thank you to Donna of The Spider's Web fabric shop, for suggesting this fabric.

I added recipe elements to the apron--it's basically a great big recipe card.

The heart that sinks into the top pocket area is pink vinyl onto which "Recipe for Love" is printed onto organza.
The inside is filled with 'ingredients' on slips of paper--hugs, kisses, passion, desire, etc.
The tiny heart hanging off the center line of pockets is just for added fun.

For the lower edge, I made my own 'pom-poms', by stitching two vinyl heart shapes with random metallic stitching.

Each heart is embellished inside with confetti, or mesh, or pieces of thread.
I stitched rayon cording inside the vinyl, then attached all the pieces to twill tape.
The variegated velvet trim ribbon was pain-stakingly hand-stitched, with all the edges facing forward then hidden underneath this trim...so both sides are completely finished.
The stitches were so small, I had to use a magnifying lamp.

At one corner I made two larger hearts.

The two larger hearts are pink vinyl filled with bugle beads and metallic confetti. One has ingredients listed: sugar, and honey.

The focal point, however, is a large vinyl heart filled with metallic heart-shaped confetti.

I enlarged the hearts on the fabric, and used them as my template for all the heart shapes, to give the design continuity.
I'm very pleased with the result.

Sewing ideas

Fun idea--part napkin, part utensils caddy.
From Smart Sewing Magazine, 1953.


Same magazine, unique pincushion ideas.

Gimmes

I've been sick for over a week, so sorry for my lack of creative posts here.

I can always shop though (ha ha), so here are a couple of fun items:


Mini lawn ornaments for your houseplants

pirate party cookie cutters

So much goodness to be had online, like Felt cakes pincushion tutorial

Photo Friday

I came across another pic of one of my birthday parties. The photo is damaged, but still okay.
(you can click the image to enlarge)

I posted another pic on an earlier post.
I'm not sure why in this pic I'm wearing socks and tennies, and in the other (from the same day), I have on black tights.
I do know my mom made the dress I'm wearing.

My birthday parties were famous!
My dad would act like a gorilla and throw pennies.
We squealed with joy.

There were innocent games, like Pin the Tail on the Donkey.
Sometimes the kids got fun packages to take home.
I still remember the names of the girls pictured: Susan, Jeanine, Eugenie, Lisa, me, Jane, Kelly, Kerry.

Years later, I was still referred to as the girl with the good parties.
I was lucky in that regard--my childhood memories are filled with fun moments.

Weight Watchers Pasta Primavera

This is soooo yummy!

2 teaspoons olive oil or vegetable oil
1 cup broccoli florets
2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 cup sliced yellow squash
1/2 cup sliced carrots
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup canned ready-to-serve low-sodium chicken broth
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil
2 cups cooked penne pasta
1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
(fresh basil for garnish)

In 10-inch non-stick skillet, heat oil
Add broccoli, tomatoes, squash, carrot, and garlic and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until squash is softened, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add broth, parsley, and basil and stir to combine.
Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until broccoli and carrots are tender, about 5 minutes.
Add pasta to vegetable mixture, stir to combine.

To serve, transfer pasta mixture to serving bowl, sprinkle with cheese, and garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired.

Two servings.
Each serving provides: 4V, 1FA, 2B, 20C

Clothespin Doll Apron

So cute!
Little dolls made from clothespins, put into pockets in an apron.

From Smart Sewing Magazine, seventh edition, 1953

Aah...80 degrees and lovin' life

Eek, how awesome is this?
Pom-poms on your beach towel? Ain't life freakin' grand?

Circular cover-up or beach blanket or poncho, plus a swimsuit.
Simplicity from 1970.

I used to live for Summer time, but now it's Spring that I love.
Tons of yummy fruit is in season.
Bonfires, and live music, and Cinema under the Stars.The weather is beautiful, with blue skies and a warm breeze,
but not too hot nor humid.
I feel like I've come out from hibernation.

Several years ago, a local pool used to offer
"Dive-in" movie events.
You could float in your inner tube while watching Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Seriously, that rocks. They need to bring that back.

Blog b-day!

It just dawned on me that I've now been blogging for two years!

My intro post was March 2005, but my first real post (with a pic of my mod bag) was in May.

So Happy Blogiversary to me!

I'm in the process of updating the beta version now (adding labels), and replacing all the photos that have gone missing (grrr....).

I'm fighting a cold, or flu or something, but I'll be posting more soon.

Recipe Card Swap!

I forgot to mention that Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine is conducting a swap of vinyl recipe cards, using the ideas from my article!

Isn't that fun?!
The info is on page 45 of the May/June issue.
More info on their site, here.

Magazines have a limited amount of space to get ideas across, so I thought I'd offer more details that the article was not able to convey.

The unique aspect to these cards is that they have a floating element--some sort of loose filler sandwiched between two layers of vinyl.
I describe them as the card version of a snow globe.

As I said earlier, I used a photograph of myself as a kid.

(you can click on the images to get a larger view)

I love this image--I'm seated on Jerry's car (my oldest brother's friend, but more like my fourth brother).
I am wearing a silver necklace that was an eagle that Jerry had given me. I loved it, but unfortunately lost it.
I'm wearing granny boots, a peach-colored dress, and a big toothy smile.

And I'm drinking, as was my usual routine (still is), Coke from a bottle.
This is what inspired the Cola theme.

I hand-stitched that orange fun fiber around the exterior with burgundy embroidery floss (I think maybe it was my grandma's).
That was a time-consuming but worthwhile detail.

The recipe on the back is for Cola Cake.

The filler here is silver micro glass beads (they look like bubbles!)
Because of the thickness of the cardboard pieces, for this particular card I opted to glue the collage together, versus add some stitched areas.

What would you do with a vinyl recipe card, you ask? Well, the possibilities are endless.
Wouldn't it be fun to receive confetti and balloons floating over a photograph as a birthday invitation, thank you card, or a holiday card?
And what if the other side of the card was Grandma's famous coconut cake recipe? What a festive way to receive a recipe in a gift basket!

This idea takes a traditional item everyone has (a recipe card) and makes it into a keepsake, a piece of art, a silly gift, or a family heirloom.
Vinyl is the perfect vehicle for merging childhood photos or old family photos with important recipes to pass down to generations, along with memories applicable to the history.
The recipe card might be attached to a significant item--a favorite spoon, perhaps--becoming an objet d’ art.

One side of the card will be the recipe, but the other side might be pieces of fabric, a paper label off a soup can, a vintage spice jar, or a candy wrapper. Maybe you'll create a collage of images from magazines, newspaper, old menus, grocery ads, fabrics, or use actual photographs.

Maybe you won't collage at all--maybe you'll paint, stamp, embroider...

Basically two sides are placed back-to-back under vinyl, thereby protecting the 'canvas' while keeping the two pieces together.

The second card I made is also a collage with a photograph.
This lady is my friend Sue's mom--someone I considered a second mom growing up.


I used just a hint of the photocopied recipe (handwritten by her daughter),
a photocopied paprika can,
torn label from canned tomatoes,
label from a tomato soup can,
and 'eat' scrawled inside piece of an aluminum can
(Louise always took pride in her cooking. Cooking was interwoven with her identity. When she would serve food, she would say, always in a low growl, "eeeeeeat!")

Miscellaneous beads were used for filler (freebies that came with clothing, for repairs), and the exterior was embellished with vintage buttons and green metallic thread.


For the reverse (not shown in the magazine) I made it like a postcard--the address is a photocopy of a vintage French postcard from the 1920's.
I then color-aged it with a variety of stamping inks applied with a cut Nerf ball.

This collage is both stitched and glued, but I misjudged where to place the recipe on the postcard (oops, stitched over some of the words on the back).
It's always a learning experience!

Note: I make copies of the photos onto photo paper, using a special machine at the copy center. The detail is greater than a color copier can provide. The best option is an actual photo reprint.

Other ideas to consider that might ignite your own spark:
Postcard/letter/ATC
Invitation
Just a recipe for the card box
Holiday or Special Occasion card
Wedding Keepsake
Gift
Art

Go one step further and consider a collection of several recipe cards as wall art. Perhaps a collection of recipes to be passed down as family favorites, each card linked with eilets and jump rings, that commemorate a family reunion.

Or make an album with vinyl pages, held together with colorful snaps.

See the details of my ideas, embellishments, and filler suggestions on the Cloth Paper Scissors site, here.

The article says not to use perishables for filler.
But magazines have to be more careful with potential lawsuits from copyright infringement, allergies, etc versus one friend giving a card to another friend.
I personally do, however, use sugar crystals, silver drages, red-hot candies, cake sprinkles, Jordan almonds, spices, seeds, etc. Shoot, I'd even use a dried wishbone.
Find a filler that best coincides with your recipe, but for submission to the magazine, keep within their guidelines.

Anyway, you have until June 15 to submit a card to the magazine for the swap.
I can't wait to see how creative you guys get!

Splurge....slurp...

Ooh, I big time treated myself today.
(I apologize if it's blurry. I still have not entered the 21st century and purchased a digital camera. This is the best my scanner would do).

Everyone has a 'style'...a list of elements that is the essence of what they represent.
For me, it's leaves and trees and ocean water.

So this ring just spoke to me.

It's unique, it's special, it's designed by Heidi at Blondstone (drool...she lovingly creates silver jewelry, often with sea glass, which I also love).

The irony is that my least favorite color is blue, but it just works for this.
Had this been done in amber versus mother-of-pearl, it would have hit the rickter scale of fabulous.

But it's awesome nevertheless.
It's the largest ring I've ever owned.
I'm actually not much of a jewelry girl.
I can't really wear necklaces or earrings much because I have an allergic reaction to nickel, so stainless touches my skin, and I look as if I've been burned.

I know, it's odd.

Yes, real gold is okay, but all my visits to Mexico have me hooked on silver.
Yes, real silver or platinum is okay too.

For the love of rick rack

The theme for this month's Tie One On apron challenge is Rick Rack.
I meant to make an apron. I really did. But it didn't happen.
My ideas are still fun to share though.
I considered the possibilities:

Add a pattern detail in rick rack, like on this vintage girl's smock pattern.


Or make a design out of rick rack, like the heart on this bag
(from Wrights Idea Book of Trims, 1972)


But I decided, no, I was most inspired by this amazing shawl made by Patti Pasteur
(from the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of Belle Armoire Art to Wear Magazine)

See the fringe? It is varying widths of lace.

So I wanted to make an apron with a fringe of my rick rack scraps, plus some extra wide rick rack that I've seen in quilt shops lately.
It would be fun and festive.
But, sigh, it didn't happen.
Not yet, anyway.