Juicy Bits

203: more christmas do-dads

Just a few more little christmas gifts that I hadn't got around to posting.

I added these little embroidered sprouts (vines?) to a yummy fur-lined sweatshirt from Old Navy for my Aunt.  (I know, not my best picture taking this time around.)

Here's some things I learned: Don't over-iron tiny bits of fabric adhered with fusible web.  The glue can sort of start to melt away and they won't stick too well.  Also, use a round-tipped needle when embroidering on knit.  You'd think that one would have been obvious to me since I know to do that for machine sewing, but it took me a bit to figure it out.

I also made these coat hook plaques for my sister's apartment.  They're inexpensive wood plaques from Michaels that I painted and mod podged fabric onto.  When I use mod podge on fabric I find it best to paint a layer on the the back of the fabric before cutting it and let it dry.  This makes the fabric stiff and allows you to cut without frayed edges and it seems to prevent so many bubbles.

JT

202: knock off

I kinda hate to post a negative post (this is my happy place), but I wanted to share and it's really not that bad.

I've been "knocked off".  In a way it is a bit flattering.  Really, my little owl is worth copying?

So, as many of you know I have this little free owl ornament pattern.  The key word there is free.  It's my gift to you.  But it is for personal use, not for people to profit from.  And in reality, anyone's who's asked me if they can use the pattern to sew them for charity or even personal profit, I've said yes to.  I'm fine with an independent crafter using it, but it was not intended for mass production.

Well, a reader sent me this picture:

She bought this cute guy in a store and it wasn't labeled except with "made in China".  Seriously?  China?  Clearly not hand sewn but some dedicated crafter.

Normally I wouldn't go right to "copy", because how many different ways are there to make a felt owl? And I know I've designed things on my own only to find that someone already beat me to it.  But you be the judge.  That's pretty darn identical to mine.  Right down to the decorative blanket stitching.  The only real difference is it's made by machine and glue.

Here's mine:

Since it's a free pattern I put out there I don't really see myself trying for any actual recourse. In this case it would be pretty futile. And I'm OK with that. (No, that's not permission for someone to copy this or any of my other designs.) But it does floor me that someone, somewhere decided to mass produce something of mine without permission.

Someone else was making them for sale on a website called fiverr and, worse, he/she was using my photo with not credit and representing it as their work.  Thankfully the site handled the matter.

Anyway, so that things don't stay negative on here for long, I promised to be back with another post very soon...

JT

200: holidays

Phew!  Nice little "blog breather" there.  Wish I had something more monumental to share on this, my 200th post, but alas, just a bit of catch-up.

In my usual delayed fashion I haven't really talked about the holidays.  Of course they were busy, busy, busy over here.  I made a bunch of gifts, but I'll have to share most of them at a later date.

But to start with, this is an awesome project I did for my sister.  She just moved into her very very own city apartment and of course I had to help with the decor.

This is a large canvas that I painted and then mod podged on some fabric.  The inspiration is actually from a bedding set, but it was totally different colors, in a different scale, and had no print fabric.  So it's not a copy at all.

But I did make it to coordinate with this bedding set I got her.  I'm not going to put a link because I'm sure by the time anyone cares, it will be long gone, but it was from Macy's.  

It was fun to do.  I normally sew stuff so painting was a departure.  Actually if I could have found a background fabric that coordinated well, I probably would have sew this too, and then stretched it on canvas, but time was limited.  Painting is always a bit more difficult than I think it will be, but I'm quite pleased with how it came out.

Our holidays were mostly spent at home.  I enjoyed my newly converted wood burning fireplace and spent lots of time just hanging out with the kids.  I've even completed an entire quilt since the new year! (More on that later).

Here are a few of the basic holiday holiday portraits.  Aurora chose her own dress this year which she was just dying for, so I went with it.

Hope you had great holidays and that your new year is shaping up to be a good one.

JT

193: design wall debacle

I suppose the design wall episode wasn't so much a debacle as pretty fruitless.

What I decided to do on my birthday was to make myself a design wall.  Truth be told, I've never really seen the need for them.  I've always just used my floor and it works fine.  But lately I had been envying some sewists with their works in progress sticking up there for a long time while they mull over the design.  Sounded like a cool idea.

So, following the directions here I set out to make a movable design wall.  I wanted it big, but to be 3 separate panels that would fit perfectly into the corner of my studio I had picked out for it.  So I bought the foam insulation but only had one choice of type at my local Home Depot.  It was pink but I didn't see the problem in that.

It was a problem.  I had to add an extra layer of white fabric underneath so the whole thing looked close to white.   Between that and cutting the panels down to size, it ended up taking more than my birthday to complete and wasn't particularly inexpensive.  

Then I brought them upstairs and realized I was totally kidding myself.  I was never going to put these away in their intended corner. Right now they're still set up in the hall area outside my studio and this is 3 months later.  They're not going anywhere...at least not very often.

They are pretty cool and the blocks I have on there now are from my first ever online Bee - The Busy Bees.  It's fun to play around with them and nice to really be able to step back.  But let's be honest, the same effect could have been achieved  by tacking a big piece of batting to the wall whenever I need it.  And it would have saved me a lot of headache.  Live and learn.

Two other notices:

The Modern Mix blog tour is still going strong.  See the list on the last post and don't miss your chance to win a copy and learn some funny stuff about me...

We're finally going to have a New Jersey chapter of The Modern Quilt Guild.  Hoo-ray!  See the fancy new button on my sidebar?? If you're in the area stop by our new blog and find out about how to join in the fun.

175: I've been busy...

making stuff!

Sometimes I feel like I'm not getting anything done, but the fact of the matter is I really have been making a lot lately.  Mostly because I've been taking up small, easy-to-finish, just-for-fun projects.  yay!

These little cuties were my Valentine's gifts for the kids.

Theo got a little crochet elephant.  The tutorial can be found here. This was my first attempt at amigurumi.  Not too hard, but more time consuming than you would think.  The only problem I found with this pattern is the trunk just kind sticks straight out.  You have to bend and shape as best you can to make it look cute and curved.

Aurora's gift was my first felt food.  Every year I think I'm going to make her some precious felt sweets. I only got as far as one slice. I don't get people who can make a whole cake. This took me way too long. And please be kind and ignore my obvious, uneven stitching. I think I was supposed to use a ladder stitch and I did, but perhaps I have to make them VERY close together. However, that would add hours to the construction... And I don't like how light it is stuffed with poyfil. Is there some kind of heavier fill I could use? I did add some barley in the bottom for weight. I do know there are plastic equivalents I could buy and I will next time, just so it doesn't appeal to mice. :)

What have you been making lately?

JT

165: little time = small projects

Just popping in to say "hi".

I have Aurora's bday pictures, but haven't had time to edit them yet.

This is a little project she and I did over the summer.

It was just an unfinished frame, and we painted it and added some fabric covered cork board.

As you can see, the intended purpose is to give her new Disney pin collection a home where she can admire them and rearrange them to her heart's content.  I personally wouldn't have chosen such a busy fabric, but it's already in her room (some day I'll show you pictures of that) and I let her pick.  The frame is the color of her dresser.  I love that the pins just sort of blend right in now.

Anyway, these are the kinds of thing I had time for over the summer.  Things have settled down a bit since then, but as you might imagine, I'm working away on halloween costumes.  Her school party is friday (annoyingly early) so I don't have much time left.  This year she has chosen Glinda, so I'm swimming in a sea of pink.

What are you up to?

JT

137: a christmas bloom

Just dropping in to say a quick hello.  

Thanks so much for all your kind words about my magazine ad.  I'm anxious to see what you guys make with Timber once it's in stores.  Speaking of which, it should be shipping soon and I promised to post a list of those of you shop owners carrying the whole line so people know where to go.  So once you get your stock in, let me know and I'll link away.

And so this post isn't picture-less, I thought I'd share this little christmas flower that I made to adorn Aurora's Holiday attire.

It comes from the book Kanzashi in Bloom.

I think these flowers are gorgeous and so easy to make.  The book gives basic techniques and then a bunch of sample projects.  To be honest, I doubt I'd really do any of the actual projects, and the basic techniques are really very simple, but the book is still worth it as an easy reference and a good guide to which kinds of glue to use and stuff like that.

The holly leaves are made from wool felt.

JT

134: one, two, three....under the sea

2010 is here.  

I'm not in a very introspective mood right now.  I've been reading lots of lovely posts about what people have accomplished over the last year, and sort of feel that's what I'm "supposed to" write about.  But I'm just not there.  

It's true, my life has changed A LOT in the last year, and almost all for the better, but I think looking forward to all I need to start on this new year is getting in the way.  So pardon me if I don't reminisce with the rest of you folks, and just simply move on to new things...

 

Anyway, this is a little preview of a room I've been meaning to show you.  It's Theo's nursery/bedroom, and it, as you can guess, has an under-the-sea theme.  

This is my favorite project from the room.  A counting collage.  Each number has a corresponding sea animal, and you'll note I didn't forget the often neglected 0.

   

Here's how I made it:

 First I figured out which animals I wanted to use.  Of course you could do it with any theme you'd like, from flowers or fruit to trucks or zoo animals.  Really just about anything works.

Then I researched pictures and drawings of the intended subjects.  The internet is so wonderful for those of us not too confident in our illustrating capabilities.  I wanted to trace the images so they could be recreated in only 1 or 2 colors.

 Then I took the outline drawings and traced them onto Steam-a-Seam2.  Remember you have to do the reverse of what you want in the end.  Then I stuck the outlines on the fabric and cut out the shapes.  Little things like the crab legs I did in separate little pieces instead of trying to cut out one big complicated thing.

I printed out the numbers and traced them on the Steam-a-Seam2 the same way.

 
 

 I had pre-planned the layout and the sizes of each piece I wanted.  They are made from regular wood canvas stretchers you can get at art supply stores (mine were ordered online to get all the different sizes).  

 Using the "frames" as a guide I laid out each number with it's animals onto a larger piece of batik fabric.  When I was satisfied with the composition I ironed them in place according to the instructions.

Since they're going to hang on a wall and not really get "used" didn't feel I had to stitch the edges or anything for stability.  But I did do a satin stitch around the numbers for an outline.

 
Then I "stretched" each one over the stretchers.  All I did was use a staple gun to staple it smooth over an around to the back of the stretchers.  You want to start in the middle of each side and work you way out to prevent wrinkles.

 And then hang them all up on the wall in a pleasing layout.  

I want to type: "That's it!" here, but who am I kidding?  It was a lot of work....

But so worth it.

JT

132: A little Flikr and cheater ornaments

Well, thank you all so much for the owl love.  Those little cuties seemed to have hit a cord.  I wish I could email you all back personally, especially since I seem to have some new readers....but alas with some of the changes Typepad made a while back, that would take me forever.  Curses!  :(

Anyway, I have a NEWSFLASH!  OK, maybe not a such a huge deal to everyone, but I have now officially set up a Juicy Bits Flikr page.  I know, I know, I'm the last one to get on this particular bandwagon.  The reality is I'm a little bit afraid the only pictures on there will be mine.  But, by now enough people have sent me lovely photos of what they have made from my tutorials, that I figure I should be safe.  

So please, please, please come join me at the Juicy Bits Flikr page and show off your handiwork.  We all want to see.  And when the new year comes and Timber hits the store, I'll start a group for that too.

Today's project is kinda a no-brainer, but sometimes the easiest solutions aren't so obvious. 

 

These "almost homemade" ornaments are so easy and fast to make, and give your tree a nice homey feel.

The mushrooms are simply little patches I bought at Fabrichound and stitched a square of felt on the back with the ribbon in between.  Um, can you say "five minutes"?  And there are so many cute patches out there, so can you imagine possibilities?

 

And these are exactly what you think: covered buttons.  Since I'm going for a woodland themed tree I just used little scraps of fabric with critters on them.  

1. Cover the button.

2. Use pliers to remove the back loop or just bend it flat.

3. Cut a circle of felt to match the back.

4. Add a loop of wire and hot glue it under the felt.

 

Presto.  A mini ornament...

You still have what? A whole week til Xmas? Get busy!

JT

131: give a hoot for the holidays

I haven’t made that much this Christmas.  I might make a few last minute gifts, but I feel I have to get most of the shopping out of the way first... especially the online stuff that needs to be shipped.

And no outfits for the kids like last year.  I’m giving myself a break.  Aren’t I nice?

But I did do a little felt hand sewing.  I made the little gnome from the last post and a few other things for my tree.  I’m doing a woodland theme this year.  Hopefully it will be all set up soon for you to see.

 

Anyway, these are the little owl ornaments I made.  And it’s a simple tutorial, just for you!

Download Owl ornament and all you do is cut it out from felt and sew however you’d like.

I love ‘em.

 

And if you make it bigger it would make a cute softie.  I was sewing one on the bus with my daughter’s field trip and a couple of the little girls were begging me for one of their own.  So they could make a cute gift or stocking stuffer.  (Of course, I’d stay away from buttons with real little ones for safety’s sake.)

Enjoy!

JT

*****NOTE: I forgot to mention on the pattern about ric rac.  That's what I used to make the "feathers" on the belly....

118: with this ring...

Thanx for all the kind words and fabric love.  For the most part I know it seems a little quieter in blogland during the summer, so it's especially nice to hear from you all.  

(You know I think I say "you all" a lot.  I should just give in an say "y'all"...I did live in North Carolina for 4 years...)

Anyway, this is just a little side project.  Some friends are getting married in a few weeks and asked me to make a ring pillow.  In all my wedding planning, it was actually something I hadn't done before.

They're going for a rustic, woodsy feel and said the colors were shades of green and deep purple.  This is what I came up with.

Now back to my regularly scheduled workload.  :)

JT

112: more bloomin' crafts

I can't seem to get enough of flowers lately.  I guess summer will do that to you...

(photo from marthastewart.com)

So I happened upon a link to these cute raffia flowers somewhere in blogland.  Cathy Callahan did a spot on Martha's show which you can see here.  She has a wonderful blog of vintage crafts and you can even buy kits of the flower looms needed to make these beauties in her etsy shop.

I can't tell you how easy these are.  A total no-brainer.  Although they're not super-fast or anything.

My plan for these is to make a bunch and use them in centerpieces at Aurora's birthday.  We'll see how many I get done...

JT

102: the first step is admitting you have a problem

OK, first off, thanx for all your wonderful support.  I'm so happy you're all looking forward to the fabric nearly as much as I am!

Now, I mentioned recently that I started crocheting.  It's becoming a problem.  A serious one.

BUT, I am making progress.  So that's good.

What's not so good is sitting in the car for 5 more minutes before I go in the house to sneak in a few stitches.  Or staying up 'til 2:30 am to finish one more flower.  Or convincing my daughter what a fun game it is for her to snip off my yarn ends.

But, then again it's not so bad.

And, look how pretty!  I love these flowers and they're really not that hard to do.  My least favorite part is weaving in the ends.  I sense a ton of unfinished objects in my future...

Anyhoo...this is a little peak at how I'm doing so far on that pillow.  And, yes, she does have a pattern on her blog that you too can follow.

Now, this week I'm planning on hitting an actual yarn shop (not just Michaels).  This is where I could get into trouble.  Like I need another stash to start building.  :)

JT

100: distraction addiction

Help.  I can't stop.  Since I got back from Quilt Market, I've taught myself to crochet.  Are there other much more productive things I should be doing?  Absolutely.  But I saw these pillows.  I mean, come on.  The gorgeousness is overwhelming. 

So I felt I simply HAD to learn.  And I love it.  For some reason I really jibe with it, more than knitting.  I think those poor gloves have been abandoned forever.

It's clear that I did start it as an escape.  I need to be doing something, but wasn't ready to face all the "real" work I should be doing.  But, now since it's so darned portable, I may be losing a good chunk of time to this new-to-me craft.  Ah well.

The first pix are just little test patches I practiced.  I was so impressed with the circle.  And then I made a scarf.  It's a very simple pattern from The Happy Hooker book.  I'm disappointed that it's not a little wider and much longer.  I think I may be doing everything a little too tight.  But Aurora already told me she wants it, so I'll make a matching one fore me... And I'm working on getting the flower thing down, so I know you'll see some of those soon.

In other news, did you note that this is 100 posts for me?  Yay!  I know a giveaway is in order, but my blogiversary is only a month away, so I may be waiting for that.  This way I'll be able to make it something really good.  But here's the catch, if you're a regular lurker, you may want to leave a comment soon, because I think I'm going to do some kind of kooky giveaway that rewards those who have left comments in the past.  

Ciao.

JT

92: things i have no business doing (but am doing anyway)

This list is getting long right about now.

I have a little announcement to make soon (basically me fessing up really) that will explain why I’m so busy and shouldn’t be indulging in these kinds of things.

I always wanted to have “big” secret like the all cool designers do, so that’s why I’m not telling you now.  J

Anyhoo, things I should not be doing include:

Sleeping til 11 or 12.

Going out for fondue.

Writing this post.

Getting a pedicure.

Reading so many amazing blogs.

And starting this knitting project.

I’m not a knitter…yet.  My sister is and she rocks.  So when she came to visit recently and managed to forget her needles, I dragged out mine and couldn’t resist picking it up again.  I know this doesn’t look like much (it’s not!) but I really enjoy how soothing it is.  It’s the start of a little fingerless glove.  Maybe it’s something I can finish before the cold weather returns…

JT

78: remember when?

I feel I have now matured in my blogging ways...

My reasoning?  Well, I can no longer remember what I've posted about and I actually have to go back and read my own stuff.  Generally I have a very good memory, so it's not really like me.  The problem is I've composed many a post in my head and never actually typed it up.  And, I have some pictures sitting all nice and edited, but they've never made it online.  

These are some of those shots.  

When I posted about Aurora's birthday invites this year, I took a few shots of some from past years.

This first one is for her second B-day.  It was a very simple circle theme.  We did polka dots and lots of fun with MANY balls of varied kinds.  The invite is circles of cardstock attached by a little gromit (shown fanned out).

The next year she had a teddy bear picnic done in plenty of pinks and browns.  I didn't design this invite.  My very talented graphic designer sister did...with lots of (probably annoying) input from me.  This particular copy has seen better days, but you can imagine it without water stains...

And finally this is the invite from a halloween party we had a few years ago.  No I did not do the awesome art.  It's a complete rip-off from Target.  I screen captured their web site and then added the text.  ( I smudged out the address and phone numbers on all of these to make my only slightly paranoid husband feel better.  :) )  I cut the front panel in half up the middle and stitched up the side to make it open from the center.

Someday I'll post more details but that's all I've got for now.

And, you'll all let me know when I start repeating myself too much on here, right?

JT

77: won't you be my neighbor...

I'm back to my home sweet home and settling back into my regular life, if there is such a thing.

Remember a while back when I talked about wanting to make a Putz village?  Well, I know you thought I was all talk, but that's not so...

I did manage to make one house before I lost my momentum.  I ended up using the directions from BHG, except that I made it half the size and changed a few details.

It's pretty much complete except for some landscaping (trees and such).  I do intend to make at least 2 more before Christmas, but for now I've put them aside.  It was fun to make but very detailed and time consuming.

Do you like the little train decoration in the front yard?  My husband shook his head like "only you..." when I repainted it to fit the color scheme of my future village.  :)

JT