8 tiny reindeer November 23, 2009

While we were at the mall on Saturday, we ventured through a craft section and perusef the aisles in the hopes of engineering some Christmas ornaments for the tree my mother will put in her office. When I saw the old fashioned clothespins I automatically thought of the reindeers I made when a little girl studying at Our Lady of Fatima.

It was probably in third or second grade. Although I sort of remember the project being a whole lot easier. My mother and I spent nearly 2 hours making 30 reindeer. Some had red noses, some didn’t. All were so very adorable. We still loved them even after nearly gluing our fingers to every surface that we touched.

Aren’t they just the cutest? All you need is the following per reindeer:
– 3 old fashioned clothespins
- pom pom for nose and tail
- plastic eyes
- craft glue
- pipe cleaners
- paper clips (these you snip into 3 purse and use as a hook in between the legs to hold the pipe cleaner loop)

A lovely purse as a gift November 12, 2009

 

S- 03, white chrysanthemum with purple and beaded border

It goes without saying that I believe this is my best purse creation yet!

I actually embroidered the design of the actual purse and had sewn it into the right shape some 2 months ago.  But I was missing putting it on the frame.  I knew when I made it that it was going to be for my aunt.  She picked the flower design herself.  However, as I lost my job, I knew that my gift giving would be limited as I’d eventually become strapped for cash.  So this year I know a lot of people will be getting handmade things from stuff I have on hand.  Its a good thing that I’m so handy!    

Tomorrow is my grandmother’s birthday.  I’m going to try and put together a coin purse for her.  They are small and very cute.  Not sure what design to put on it.  The purse my grandmother currently has that I made was the first of my creations.  She is so very proud of it and shows it off every chance she gets.  

Bombshell Within Designs June 19, 2009

For those of you who follow me on twitter, you’ve heard me pondering the idea to make pretty handbags for quite some months.  The idea first came about back in January when I was shopping for the details for my nephew’s Baptism.  We’d visited a craft shop, Manualidades Sonia in Mayaguez, and we walked up and down every single aisle in search of inspiration when it came to decorations and doing the favor boxes.  Since I love to embroider and cross-stitch, I peeked over in that section even though I didn’t need anything.  When there I found this cute little pattern pack to make a coin purse using ribbon embroidery.  

 

Embroidered coin purse

The technique was new to me and I found that I enjoyed it.  The look was so classic, I was enamored with the idea of using such floral designs but in a larger purse design.  

I’d spent many nights googling and visiting sites, scouring etsy listings and then googling some more to find the right places for what I was looking for.  But I sort of put it off.  In a moment of continued interest after finishing the coin purse, I found a Silk Ribbon Embroidery Bible on Amazon (ps: Amazon is my new addiction for this year.  Seems I evolved from eBay to Amazon.  I have some issues because not every seller on Amazon ships to PR or to PO like addresses, but I do manage to get what I want) but didn’t look at it too closely because in that same order I got On Writing Romance: How to craft a novel that sells.  That had my attention and then afterwards my attention got diverted to other books.  My mother had looked at the embroidery bible and mentioned the purse idea too; she thought it would look quite beautiful and classic.  

I don’t know what struck me but I went through the book a few weeks ago and started writing down which designs I wanted to try.  Then one evening I did some more searching and found that I knew just where to go, so I decided to just get the materials.  It took about 2 weeks for me to get everything that I ordered: the purse handles, the moire fabric, the silk ribbons & the labels.  However I love getting packages, so each arrival was an absolute delight!  I’d rightly assumed that I would not be able to find the majority of what I wanted locally.  There were even a few things that I didn’t even know how to ask for in Spanish (like the moire fabric).  The only thing I bought at a store in town was the satin fabric for the lining. (They did have moire, funnily enough, called the same but pronounced in Spanish, fabric and I purchased some, which I will be using for some future designs, but I don’t like it as much as the one I ordered online .  Once the black and cream fabric gets used up, I’ll go back to ordering online).

When I went on my ordering spree, I had a few designs in mind but once I got the ribbons, I wasn’t as sure that I wanted to do them as much anymore.  So I placed another order for ribbons at other sites, one with an amazing color selection of silk ribbons (it took me about an hour today to get just the right colors for the designs I know I’ll be doing next) and another with a wide variety of organza ribbons.  For now, this was my trial run to see if my concept was feasible.

I started with the pattern for the purse which I started off with creating with gift tissue and tape once I got the purse frames.  Once I had the sizing (I wanted it to be large enough to hold a Mary Kay Compact, a cell phone and a coin purse/ small wallet), I cut the pattern out into cardboard which I’d attained from re-using one of my large Mary Kay product boxes.  It was quite interesting to try out since I did it all while working one Saturday.  Thankfully calls were slow that day!  

Using a washable marker (which thankfully allowed me to remove it with a moist paper towel and a bit of dabbing when I made mistakes), I traced out the pattern and estimated the spot I wanted my pattern to be.  With the ribbons I had on hand, I opted for Closed Irises in a vase.

I had to enlist my grandmother’s help when it came to the beads.  I had ordered some but they were too big.  My grandmother loves to do different sort of crafts.  She makes lace, crochets curtains and makes blankets and shawls as she sees fit.  She was the one who taught me how to crochet (since my mother is left-handed and I’m not, if she had taught me, she’d have taught me how to do it backwards) and embroider, but all the ladies in my family know how to do something, albeit some are more proficient than others.  But when I confided my latest project with my grandmother, she was absolutely delighted because she loves craft projects and that I was following in her footsteps in doing them.  So my grandmother has boxes filled with craft supplies of all kinds.  With a little bit of digging, I found regular pearl beads and pale pink pearl beads in just the right size which she thought would look prettiest with the fabric.  

I think from start to finish, this purse would take me a day.  I had finished the embroidery in a single evening.  

I would have finished the rest but I was waiting on the arrival of the label.

pale pink satin lining with label attached

  

 

 

In a few hours more I had sewn it all up.  The entire thing was done by hand since I learned with making the apron that I can not sew a straight line with a machine.  I didn’t want to ruin the fabric and all my hard work, so I relied more on my hand-sewing skills for the task.  I’m sure with a machine this would be done in a fraction of the time but I enjoyed taking my time with it.  

I think it came out beautifully done and my mother is most excited to use it for her special work luncheon to show it off.  I’m really glad that my mother has been really supportive with this.  I don’t know how much further I’ll take this project but it seems a few friends have already put their informal order for one.  While I love them, the frame is rather expensive, so I will just have to see if we can work something out for their own unique BombshellWithin purse.  I still have one more trial run to do with a more square design rather than the rounded bottom.  Then I know I have to design one with a cupcake since I promised a certain cupcake loving person one for a giveaway.

The stitching of a cupcake January 30, 2008

Since I was home sick today, I decided I needed something to keep myself busy with.  I would have begun working on the aprons, but seems other people seem to forget things and don’t do what they get asked for!  So, since I know that the little extra something I want to add to each apron will take me some time and patience, I figured it didn’t hurt to cut some fabric and getting to embroider the special little design which I hope to use as each pocket on the pinafore.  I got a wonderful book called Sublime Stitching which has loads of iron on transfer patterns and instructions on how to do basic stitches. 

First up is the cupcake design for my cupcake sis. 

I lightly traced it on with a pencil. 

Then I used a stem stitch in green for the stem of the cherry.

And I used a split stitch in red for the actual cherry.

  I even had a special furry helper!

Currently I finished up bordering the top cupcake area with a slant stitch with a multicolor pink thread.  I’m thinking of using that same thread to fill the area in with a satin stitch.  I probably should have done the satin stitch first.  However, I thought the thread was going to show a little more color.  It’s fine, if anything, I could always add another bordering with another stitch.  Let’s see how I feel as I go along… 

 

    

Ruffle me that… January 27, 2008

I had help, my housemate was kind enough to take this picture for me as I modeled the final creation of the apron pinafore.  I think the apron is just the right touch.  I like that the gingham is on the diagonal.  Because I was feeling up to it, I added on the ruffle by sewing it by hand.  For my apron I decided not to put a pocket.  I’m thinking that on the ones that I am making for friends I will.  Still am unsure as to whether I should put it on the bust or on the apron.  I’ll figure it out.  And since I got that book with the iron on trasfers, I’ll embroider something pretty on everyone’s pocket.  I bought this glorious white fabric which I will use on the pocket and the ruffle for the rest of the pinafores. 

Now… if the ladies would stop procrastinating and would give me their sizes already, I could get to work!  *gives the glare to the right readers*

Ruffle me this… January 25, 2008

I must REALLY love and trust dallas in order to have gone with cockamanee idea of putting a ruffle on my pinafore.  OY!  Gosh darn, I swear it’s the fates conspiring against me.   First off, lemme mention something I have yet to say before… I HATE cutting!  You heard me, I despise it.  I can’t cut a straight line to save my life.  Really, I can’t!  I skipped kindergarten, so perhaps this is why I never learned how to really use scissors. 

The heretofore unmentioned reason as to why I decided to use gingham in the first place…. It wasn’t because I have this fetish for plaids nor was it because it was the only fabric on sale for a dollar a yard at Wal-mart (okay, so maybe both those things had an influence, but those were the main ones!!) was because I figured with all the boxes and stripes, I wouldn’t have to worry about cutting and stitching.  I’d always have a guide along to help me.  And here I thought I’d had it made!  Until I was told that I had to cut the darn fabric on the bias for a ruffle.  What a kerfuffle that was!  I cursed far more than I cut, I wasn’t sure how much fabric I needed and it never seemed to be straight enough.  So, one side I cut and hoped for the best.  I folded it in half (I was hoping for a strip of fabric some 12 inches wide) and went to town trying to cut me one hella long rectangle in as straight a manner as I possibly could.  I actually think I accomplished it too.  So then I folded it inwards into quarters so that I had a double layer of double and went to town with my machine.  I three 3 straight (*cough cough* Okay sure, we’ll call them that!) lines at the longest stitch length.  Then I began pulling on the fabric only to realize that one of my folds had gone all wonky and I hadn’t sewed it shut inward.  

Oh, thread!  How I cursed thee as I had to undo several dozen inches of you!      I got a system down for removing them, needless to say I was covered in loose thread and everything in between.

With a determined air, I proceeded to go about the folding and the sewing again.  I knew what I was going and this took no time at all.  But by this point I was feeling somewhat cranky over the whole thread business and it wasn’t easy being gentle in my tugging so no thread would nap and end up ruining my ruffle.  In the end, I ended up with a nice soft ruffle as my darling friend said I would.  I pinned it into place on the hem and was going to get started.  And then the machine got stuck. 

Fuc …. Oy!

I think it just has to do with the thickness of the whole ruffling and what not.  I SO do not have the whole foot pressure thing down.  So, you guessed it, I set the project aside for the evening.  I’m think that maybe I’ll just save myself the anxiety and tack on the ruffle by hand.  I could do that…

She with the most thread wins! January 22, 2008

 

With all the things going on and all the projects on the way to their conclusion, I can feel the beginning of restlessness settle in.  Honestly, at this point I’ve had enough of crocheting that I can handle for a while.  While I do find it soothing and the like, I really don’t feel like I could be doing a project constantly.  So when I finish working the perpetual last line (just how many scalloped thingies did this thing have?!) I doubt I will be picking up a crochet hook any time soon.  Aside from that, I know I have way more to go with sewing.  I need to sit down and try making the ruffle for my pinafore as was suggested.  It seems simple enough and all I need really do is sit down and actually do it.  Then I will begin on the campaign of making them in many gorgeous colors for friends, given that said friends ever give me their measurements!  *looks out with a specific glare to the ladies who know who they are*

This feeling kind of reminds me of that time with my best friend (now sister in law) when we went about shopping for hobbies.  I came across a book at Borders that had all sorts of embroidery patterns.  Now, I already know how to embroider, as a matter of fact.  They had some very cute patterns, even one with a cupcake!  My mind went whirring with ideas, lemme tell you!   While I do thoroughly enjoy using my sewing machine, I have always like picking up a needle and working by hand.  My dilemma would be that embroidery is kinda an old hat.  I know how to do it, it poses no challenge.  It would just be a matter of getting patterns and going to town with them.  So, I’ve been thinking more on the whole quilting thing my cupcake sis was showing me the other night.  They were cute little squares to sample for quilting.  While she did sound rather offended by the idea that I wanted to do them by hand (puptart, lovie, you really did!), I’ve been thinking more and more that I might just give it a try. 

This reminds me of something my friend dallas said, that she with the most thread/yarn wins.  Now… I have embroidery floss, yarn, all purpose thread but now I want that very gorgeous multi-color quilting thread I saw at Wal-mart.  I just can’t seem to help myself. 

So now I ask you… how much thread/yarn do you have?  Only snippets to use per project or do you collect them as you go along, deciding projects to go with things you simply HAD to have? 

Eternal Sunshine of the Crochet Blanket January 21, 2008

I feel like I’ve been working on this afghan for forever! 

Actually, I began the project back in September ‘06.  I stopped that December when it got large enough to cover my lap and the weather was no longer as cool.  I used a long crochet needle and an afghan stitch to do the main body.  Since it would cover my lap it was uncomfortable to work in this PR heat.  I folded it away into a box and didn’t touch it again until the weather cooled down this last December.  It’s approximately 120 stitches x 180 stitches.  I kept going until it FELT right.  I used a multi colored baby yarn because it was so soft and the yellow, white and pink would blend so beautifully. 

It took some serious consideration to select the outer edging color.  I selected an off white.  To do the edging, I did half stitching for 4 lines, a straight stick stitch, 2 half stitch, a straight stitch and 4 more half stitch lines.  I think it came out very elegantly.  My mother was atempting to teach me the stitches for the edging as I went along.  It wasn’t easy because she’s left handed and I’m right handed.  When we crochet, we do it backwards to one another.  But, luckily, I understood the gist of the stitches and was able to do it.  I was particularly proud of my corners.

As a bit of embellishment on the outer lines, I did a scallop line with the offwhite by making 6 straight stitches in one one stitch and then counting them off for every 4 stitches along the line, more or less.  Then, since I was all out of offwhite and still felt like it needed a little more, I’m adding a final line in what is left of the baby yarn.  It’s been very slow in working.  I’m doing an alternate scallop edging to the first, with 3 chain in the middle of the 6 stitching on the scallop and on the tops of the scallops in between.  I know I’m probably not explaining it right, but if anyone wants to know how to do it, I know I could explain it more in detail.  I just don’t want to bore anyone reading this with too much technical stuff.

I’m still not done.  I’m barely through that final line along the first side of the throw.  It’s going to be a long way in working.  It uses a lot of thread and the baby yarn is very flimsy so it’s difficult to have it hold with so many chains and stitches.  But, it’s getting just the right look that I wanted.  I’m hoping to be able to gift this to my sister in law, who is also one of my best friends in the whole world.  When I finish with all the crochet part, I’m going to cross stitch onto the center her name and perhaps a cute little animal onto it to sort of match the ones that my brothers and I have.  We’ll see how that goes.  Hopefully it won’t take me another year to decide to pick it up and complete it!

C’est fini! January 17, 2008

Look!  And they said that pisces can never finish projects!  HA!

It’s a fairly simple little apron-pinafore.  Very straightforward, I took SO long doing it because the darn machine kept being all mean to me.  But, I got it to stop. 

Here’s a close up of the details:

And here is me being a lovely and ecstatic model and creator:

 

Now that it is all said and done…. I think I should have made it just a smidge longer.  Not that I don’t like it that short, if I weren’t wearing pants it would still cover all the important parts. Very sexy, me thinks.  I want to make this same pretty design for some friends.  I know that it’s very basic and anyone can do it… but I think my gift really is the fabric and ribbon selection.  I realy have some gorgeous ribbons and the thinner ones might work better on top.  But, overall, I would consider this experiment a wonderful success!

Attempts at sewing January 16, 2008

Since I got my sewing machine, I’ve really been on the learning curve when it comes to working it.  I’ve never really sewed on a machine before, so I barely know how to use it.  However, Martha Stewart highly recommended this one- a Singer Simple- for beginners.  And I love it!  Well, at least I do when I can get it to work and the threads don’t get caught in the bottom spool.

 To keep eveything together, my mother also gave me that cute little sewing box you see on top here.  The other two boxes I had lying around my hometown room doing nothing more than secretly hide junk.  So I emptied the out and brought them along with me.  I bought some beautiful ribbons and fabric at Walmart in the past few weeks.  I’ve gotten a lot of gingham because they had them for a buck a yard and it fits in perfectly with the apron/pinafore idea I’ve had in my head for the longest. 

The boxes are just barely big enough for me to fit what I have at the moment so it means that I need to get working on my creations.   I started last night and I had hoped to have finished it by today so I could show my product.  Unfortunately, my sewing machine seemed to have other ideas.  I gave up after cursing the sewing gods and have not returned to check out what the problem has been.  I figure those sorts of things are best done with a level head, which I don’t quite have as of yet. 

This was the area I had as my work station.  I know, genius begets chaos.  But you can see the lovely green gingham I am using for my own apron on the left and on the right you can see the satiny green ribbon I’m using to go with it.  I was going to use the dotted ribbon that you see towards the top of the fabric, but I decided against it.  I am glad I did.  It goes better with another fabric I have.  But, I have grander plans than an apron for that fabric.  One step at a time, though…