Scrappy IPad Mini Case

I recently purchased an IPad Mini, and I didn't want to pay another $40-$50 for a nice commercial made case for it--but I did want it better protected when I took it with me---so I created this case from fabric scraps. Hence : THE SCRAPPY IPAD MINI CASE. The case has a velcro closure, and has a padded lining.

 front of case (with flap closed)

 front of case--with flap open

back of case

Now I can take my IPad Mini with me anywhere, and it is stylishly protected. Oh, and yes--I do like this device--especially for the portability.

These pillows started life as a cashmere or angora sweater

I really enjoy thrift stores. I think it is about finding that useful bargain---or finding odd stuff I can re-pupose into something useful, or maybe it is the books scout in me that always is looking for the $3.99 book that I know I can sell for $125?

My fave  Aunt Esther used to say "A stitch in time saves nine." I like to think she would have loved the notion of re-purposing old discarded sweaters into useful and pretty pillows since she also was all about re-use. 

How to make a re-puposed thrifty and cheap but lovely pillow:

Recently I scored at my fave thrift store two nice very soft sweaters--a cream all cashmere man's sweater and a blue wool/angora cabled sweater--at 1/2 off! which was about $3.00 a sweater.  I spent another $5.00 on pre-made pillow forms...and then cut the now washed sweaters into the correct size squares ( I used the front and back of each sweater--saving the sleeves for another project) and sewed these pillows. They are oh--so soft! and huggable and now live on our couch for everyone to enjoy.

a Christmas Elf trick : cashmere sweater repurposed into Panda Bear

The Winter Holidays always make me think of toys! I have 3 wonderful Grandsons so let the toy making commence! here is the first one---a Panda Bear for wee baby Aram.

I am always keeping my eye out at thrift stores for good sweaters to felt --especially if they are marked down---and one day I scored this soft brown cashmere sweater for 1/2 price ;-). After washing and drying I proceeded to cut the sweater up and created ---- Aram's Panda! for his holiday gift from Grandma.

Stuffed toys are so much fun to create! even if they are time consuming....

Holiday Elf Invasion

Well, it seems that holiday elves have invaded our house...and my art studio, so holiday fun and creativity is bursting out all over...

with  a little help from my friends (er..I mean the elves..)....I have created these Brooches...now for sale at my Etsy store here! Brooches make great holiday gifts for that special person in your life...

Each one is unique and all handsewn---with beadwork and embroidery.

 quite bit of variety since I just start with a vintage button or postage stamp and let that lead me...I sure had a good time creating these. Of course I have a few more at my shop that I am not showing here--so do go and check them all out!

Sneak Pre-view of Baby Aram's Quilt

Here is a quick sneak pre-view of baby Aram's quilt. Aram is due in about 3 weeks! and his Auntie Serenity and I have been cutting and sewing....

 so now we have about 2/3 of the squares sewn and cut (more than I am showing here)...think it will be nice! once it is all sewn together...and has a border. And it is especially nice to work on this project along with a daughter ;-)

of course I will post finished photos here once it is finished! so check back...

BEAR OVER THE MOUNTAIN baby quilt

.

Finally finished this quilt after 30 years! yup---I started this quilt for my youngest daughter 30 years a go--but with a toddler and a baby I was just overwhelmed and never finished it...but I sure did keep all the pieces..for over 30 years. And so now I have finished for the baby she is expecting this June--a little boy!

Now most of these fabrics are considered vintage ;-) The quilt pattern  is called BEAR OVER THE MOUNTAIN. I am pleased at how it turned out after so many years a a WIP (= Work-in-progress).

Re-vamped Crazy Quilt Purse

My friend Debbie in Alaska made this purse for me eons ago---I used it so much I literally wore it out. So recently I added some trims to cover the worn fabric areas on the edges and a new strap...voila! purse is back in business. What do you think?

I have always loved crazy quilts---I love the crazy fabrics and all the embroidery. I get plenty of compliments on this purse when I use it...even if my two lovely daughters do think it looks too awfully "hippy dippy"---who cares? When it comes to fashion I just go with what I like...not what is the current trend. This purse has a zipper closure, hence it is very practical for a city. I made the strap out of a strip of a vintage quilt top.

Sewing: a brush holder

My friend Cherie travels to India most summers and she was carrying her precious brushes for painting in a plastic bag. I made this cloth brush holder for her...to have something pretty to carry the brushes in and to protect them. This was a fun sewing project which I just kind of made up as I went along.....Cherie assures me it works well.

the outside of the brush holder--I love this fabric...

the inside of the brush holder... I put the ties on it so she could roll it up..

so here it is rolled up ready to tuck into her suitcase....
(and thanks Cherie for these great photos!)

mermaids and dolls!

Yesterday, while enjoying a 3 day stay-over in lovely Sitka, Alaska, I created a mermaid doll! My longtime friend here--Kari--is a fellow craft woman--she creates gorgeous quilts, knits and does beadwork--and makes the most adorable personable dolls....



So, yesterday, while storm winds howled around her snug home, she showed me how to create this cute mermaid doll!

we had fun co-creating---which we do whenever I visit Sitka---in the past we created fiber inchies and fiber ATCs (artist trading cards) and once she helped me piece the top of my daughter's wedding quilt...thanks so much Kari for sharing your expertise with me! it was a fun day!

Today's quote: "I get by with a little help from my friends." - John Lennon

Embriodery Class

I'm teaching a beginning embroidery class at TWISTED here in Portland on Saturday May 2nd! here is the sampler I created to showcase the class.



I have been doing embroidery since I was a youngin' in the '60's...mostly self taught from books. I have a nice collection of out-of-print embroidery books, but my favorite is this vintage pamphlet.


Todays' quote: "I teach to share the wonder of my discoveries and to exchange with my students the wonder of theirs." ----Michele Cooper

holiday crafty links round-up

I have been bookmarking some links to fun crafty holiday project tutorials, so here are few last minute quick projects:

From CREATURE COMFORTS
Loverly gift wrapping idea! plus nothing to buy--just recycle your plastic bags into these POM POMS "eco happy gift toppers" to tie on your package.



From HOW ABOUT ORANGE
A FABRIC FRIDGE FRAME tutorial--so you can frame a favorite photo for a gift. She also is featuring on her blog some downloadable gift tags for you to print.



And from PINK ARGYLE a a quick last minute quick knitting project--TINY MITTEN DECORATIONS for someone's tree!


And for that child inside you or the child in your life from MAKE BABY STUFF.COM a cute MOUSE HANDPUPPET made from a felted sweater.

so--only (oh my!!!) nine days left until Christmas ---if you count today, which is 1/2 gone already--so get busy! and have a HAPPY CRAFTY HOLIDAZE.

Summer Craft-a-palooza: LINKS

I spend more time than I should surfing the crafty blogs and following links from crafty blog to crafty blog---the result is a nice list of crafty tutorials of interesting projects--items I would like to make "someday".....
(when does that someday actually arrive?)
Anyhow---here are some links to a few crafty projects I am intrigued by:

1) from the CraftyPod blog---HOW TO MAKE A BOOK WITH PLAYING CARD COVERS
so cute--a small blank book! to fit in your backpack or purse.




2) a yummy knit HOT WATER BOTTLE COZY --with a cable on it! from Yarn-A-Go-Go. This is just how I want to make that old rubber hot water bottle all comfy....




3) Great sewing pattern and instructions for that essential hippy "peasant skirt" from jcarolinecreatvie. Just like those ones I made in the '60's ! and still as comfortable in hot summer weather.



4) How about a purse made from playing cards? from the Craftbits website. A great way to use up those old worn out playing cards you have lying around.




5) How to make your own Embroidered Buttons from the Feeling Stitchy blog. These would be fun on that fabulous handknit sweater--or just to spice up a vintage thrifted blouse.



Have fun!

Liberty and Justice for ALL

As we celebrate the birth of our country on this 4th of July, let us not forget that it was a Quaker woman ---Betsy Ross---who sewed the first US flag. This thought inspires me as I contemplate what being a citizen of the United States of America means to me.

At this point in my life and in the life of our country, I actually have mixed feelings about being a US citizen. I have done enough traveling in other countries--including to Russia and China---to know that we do indeed have many human rights--(including freedom of speech) here in the US which people in many other countries do not have.

However I find myself saddened by the actions of our current administration---particularly in the use and defense of torture against any perceived "enemy" of the US. Each day seems too bring more information about the abuses inflicted on men and women held by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan, and US prisons around the world.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
—The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 5 (1948)

As a US Citizen, I believe that torture should be as unthinkable to US citizens as slavery is. This 4th of July, the United States should affirm the values that are its pride and strength. Habeas corpus allows a prisoner to challenge the legality of his/her detention in a court of law. It is one of the oldest and most important checks on arbitrary governmental power.

In 2006, at President Bush’s urging, Congress passed legislation permanently eliminating the right to habeas corpus for certain people—non-citizens whom the executive branch declared to be “unlawful enemy combatants.” The legislation defines such combatants to include people who have never been anywhere near a battlefield, much less fought against the US. Any of the 11.6 million non-citizens living in the US could be detained indefinitely without charge or judicial review.

I do not believe that removing "enemies" or non-citizens rights and torturing them will do anything to protect our country from future terrorism. As Ghandi said, "An eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind." We must tell Congress to restore habeas corpus and send a message to the world that even dreadful acts of terrorism cannot shake our national commitment to the rule of law.

I write these words as an American patriot--- (patriot, noun. : a person who loves her country and gives it loyal support) who believes in liberty and justice for all.

Bear Over the Mountain Crib Quilt : WIP

Hand appliqued, with embroidery details---these are calico's from the early '80's---yes, fabric & quilt squares I have had for that long! and moved several times along with me....the pattern is called "Bear Over the Mountain" and I have no idea where it is from...

I plan to make these 9 squares (which I originally created in 1981) into a crib quilt for the new grandbaby who will arrive in late August. I have always wanted to finish this quilt--- and pleased I now will. I'm thinking it might be fun to embroider some snow caps on the mountains...before I sew the squares all together.