I am taking a brake. I don't know when I am coming back, but I've been busy. Thanksgiving, kids at home, cold weather...This week I am changing blog's layout. I've missed the red color. It must be present somehow. Resolution for 2008 (just one, because I never make a list, I mean I do sometimes, but I don't even remember the last year's list, ha! If I get the same peace of mind of this year's...it's just great!): stop changing blog's layout. It's starting to get into my nerves, well, I like changing things...but this is a lot of work...I guess I like to work; at night is better, when I have all the silence for me! I added a Radioblog's playlist on the sidebar and I can add more songs later.
I am not adding new items to my shop (for Christmas, maybe one or two). It's almost impossible to sew when kids are around me, they are little and demand a lot of attention, so...maybe in the future. Plus, this is a hobby and not a way to make a living, but I really enjoy creating things and I've been pretty motivated by my feedback at Etsy, I did not sell a lot, I know that, but maybe one day I can have a paycheck working from home! I think is possible!
Phew, finally done! I wanted so much to do this box! Somebody explaims to me, why do I love to make them?! Fun! You can see more explanations over here.
Unfortunately I won't be able to make many things for Christmas. Mostly gifts for my friends and family. Not much, I have just half dozen friends that I love very much. After all those gorgeous ornaments, lights and feast, the meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. If we keep it simple and small, we can also add those in need in our gift list!
Sometimes I don't really know my own style. There is a contrast between the pink bubble gum + modern patterns and the romantic french cottage home! I like vintage small finds, as postcards, images, sewing notions, tea cups...they make me remember stories told by my grandparents and everytime they did, I used to dive into their time, imagining the scenario. But I also enjoy modern design, simple and clean. I would like to blend all styles I like!
Isn't it cool when we know someone likes what we do? I don't really know how the related items on the storque articles (Etsy) works, if the writers pick things they like to be featured on the same page or if is just a search engine working for them, but I loved to see this anyway...
The lovely girls at Handmade Parade Blog, Claire and Missy asked me to make a tutorial for those pincushions (see below). They are going to use these images (again, below) on their blog. I thought to post them here too, so everyone can enjoy it, if you are a crafty gal, go ahead, gather some material and make a nice gift for this Christmas!
Material you will need: styrofoam ball, tea cup (plastic or ceramic), a strong string, a piece of fabric (one fat quarter is more than enough), heat gun (mine doesn't look great!), scissors, embellishments.
See, the styrofoam ball must fit tightly, halfway into the tea cup, I mean, it can't bee loose into the cup...my English is helpless, I swear...I try it hard! The cup below used to belong to hubby's grandma... a real vintage one made in USA (Ha!) by Homer Laughlin. There are only 4 more pices remaining from the set.
Wrap the fabric all around the ball, make it tight...use the string to tie the fabric on the botton.
Yes, my heat gun looks awful and I am not buying a new one! Ok, now hot glue on the edge...
Fun time: Embellish as you wish!
A cottage and romantic look for a pincushion, that works also as decoration!
Have a great weekend, If I get time, I will be back on Sunday. I would like a maid for Christmas. Seriously, that's all I want, that's all I need here!!!
The first shadow box I make...I wish I could find some small "treasures" to complete the vignette. Although we went to a huge antique mall yesterday, I couldn't concentrate very well as I was very tired of all the driving and the kids couldn't stop whinning and nagging after us...not the right place for kids anyway, but we don't travel to Phoenix very often, so...at least, we got some cool vintage cars to decorate their rooms. How about Ikea, hu? Cool prices, but I would like to know about the quality of the furniture they sell. Our kids loved their toys, speacially the train set made in Bulgaria* and this thing, that I think is sooo very ugly! That super swedish royal blue place is huge, it was packed (oh, bugger, it was saturday!) and after getting few things like those cd/dvd storage that I wanted so much, to do some decoupage on it and, other small things for our home, I started to panic and beg to leave in a rush...what a headache. I don't like crowded places. That store is like a labyrinth...
All right, last night I had a blast! Hahaha! It's funny how ideas come up so quickly and these yummy (you will agree that you can almost drink, bite them all!) pincushions weren't in my mind lately. I have a box of stuff that I must drop at the Goodwill and these ceramic cups were in the box too. The other 4 cups broke up a long time ago and their plates as well. So, "wait a second", I thought to myself..." I think I can use these cups and those styrofoam balls that I bought to make Christmas ornaments". If they just fit right, if they are exactly the size needed...do you konw what I mean? They do fit, they do work. Great. Instead of stuffing, styrofoam balls! I just had to apply some hot glue on the edges of the cup to secure the ball (covered with fabric) on place. I see myself thrifting for cups...
I guess my motivation for crafts came back. Yay! Do you remember those vintage tins I made couple of months ago? Well, if you are a visitor of this blog for quite some time, you will remember them. Last night I worked on some more. These English tins are so gracious and I don't know why, I really love to create kits like these below...it's so fun. I've seen ideas out there from other people and when I saw these tins, I just had the insight right away!!! A composition of delicious materials that delights me so much. I think we women are drawn to charming and delicate things and that's how I wanted to ornate the contents of these tins. It must be filled up with simple + gorgeous pieces. Some contents are truly vintage finds that I took months to find. When I go to an antique shop I don't buy the first thing I see. I like small treasures, just like little toys. I am not a collector, but It's a pleasure to create for others. Go figure it out! I do things for myself and the next thing I am thinking about to make, it's a mini shadow box for my craft room. I show you later as soon as I get done. Right now the chaos reign over there and as I am a paranoic person over keeping everything clean, I just close the door of that room and this way I don't get so nervous! HA! Weird, hu?
I have new delicious things coming up...but, sshhhhh, copy cats everywhere. A good thing is to be inspired by others, but using our own ideas, looking for different ways, adding our own style and a BAD, very bad thing is to see people making things exactly the same to rush over Etsy (whatever place they like) and sell for much less, claiming their own creation...nah, not cool. It's a shame! I don't use patterns for my bags. Usually I drawn my own, they are very simple though. I like simple ways to make things. I love to look what people do, because I belive that the most you see, more creative you get, but I wouldn't copy others...sometimes people have similar ideas...but not exactly the same ones.
Supplies posing for a picture...those wooden spools I believe are pretty old... 50 years old or so...I grabbed a bag full of them...not easy to find around here. The crocheted flowers were made by my mother. She sent to me sometime ago...aren't they lovely? I can't crochet! Darn it! My grandma tried to teach me, but I had hard time and I gave it up. I was too busy climbing the trees!!!
I better get stuff ready before Christmas...I was going to Michaels today, but...let me use what I have here first...
Some of the contents of one English tin...stay tuned over my Etsy Shop. I am uploading them tonight or tomorrow...
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A great Christmas gift for those that love vintage things. All these little darlings can be kept to delight your eyes or be used as craft supplies. There are fabric yo-yos made by me with shabby fabric, felted balls, buttons, vintage trims, vintage cards, ginger/vanilla scented and adorned tags, etc...
Phew, Despite all the rush around here...I got these finished today!! I am really drawn to patchwork and linen fabric. I could just spend all day long at Joann admiring fabric patterns, but next purchases I will get online, via Etsy, Reprodepot or Super Buzzy and try some japanese imports: cute, darling, different, interesting!
It's so difficult not to publish personal whisperings...but I guess this way I am saving more time and avoiding curiosity over my life. I don't mind if more than half of the blog's visitors are gone to land somewhere else. I tell you, I am truly enjoying the way it is now...
The bag I made for a friend as a gift and the pouch is available at my Etsy shop!
Zee
♥
mom of 2 little boys, wife, cats, photography, Photoshop, crafts,
sewing, handmade things, Rio de Janeiro, Arizona...
hey, my mother language is
portuguese!
If you like what you see, get a cup of tea and enjoy! Thanks!
♥
