Pinned and Nailed...

... I will try to start posting more of the Pins I try.  I hate that I love Pinterest so much. haha  I don't dare get on there sometimes, time will vanish.  This jean skirt haunted me until I tried it.  (just like the hot glue gun molds on a previous post.) I've had some pin fails for sure and today I'm using the word "nailed" loosely.  The next one, however, is nailed for sure.  I have had a big bag of jeans/pants ready to donate but I was at the thrift with the kids a few weeks ago and these jeans were only $2.  I liked the flat pockets so I thought I would use them to practice on this skirt I had Pinned .  When you click on the picture for the Pin there are no instructions just a picture to go by.  The blog is Moda e Dicas de Costura, Fatima has lots of super cute refashion/upcycled clothes ideas, which I love. 

But I'm all in. Chalk, Scissors, Machines at ready. Thinking how hard could it be?, usually with me end in a mess.  Surprisingly not that hard! It goes together pretty well.  I used white chalk to draw my lines on and I actually folded the pants in half & cut all layers at once. 

(Be careful if you have different pockets & pocket placement on the back)

Next time I will round out the point on the outside of the leg more. It's a little tricky navigating around that point & easing in  the ruffle.  I will do a little better sewing the back together with the weird inseam leftover too. That took a little time to figure that out. The picture above is before I completely serged it - the seams are nicely serged now.  On this one I didn't bother sewing a flat felled seam (jean seam) to attach the ruffles. I thought it might be too thick, but now I don't think so & I may try it.   The front is short, but wearable if you like short skirts. It's falls mid-thigh. Below it is modeled with a purple gypsy-ish slip skirt underneath. Some additional layers in the front would make it more modest.  I didn't take a picture of the back.  boo. The back is just as cute.  I just left all the edges serged but they could be hemmed. As it turns out,  I don't like the pockets that much but it was $2 of fun!  How cute this would be to do to little girls jeans.

After that skirt turning out better than expected,  I decided to use a pair out of the donate bag to make this one...

... but 2 of us couldn't figure it out! and it looks easier than the 1st one.  If you do, let me know! That pair of pants is still in pieces.  I want to try this one next. I may even wear this design...a little embroidery on the longer side...we'll see...

... that bag full of pants to donate may be skirts instead!

Create a great day!

Blessings

Work In Progress...

...I finally picked up a brush. I attempted to finish a what I thought would be a beautiful portrait of a woman today. Hubby and I had a good laugh as I kept ruining her and ruining her.

As I started to wash up and call it "one of those" days, then I saw Him, (she had further transformed - no pictures - no words, hahaha) then she no longer existed. I'm not sure how He will turn out but I believe I am keeping the base color scheme. One side of the canvas purple & reds lit with light, for power & royalty. The other side, greens, blues & yellow for renewal, growth & His Light...

  

Thanks to my Followers who are still following and for stopping by! I know I have been neglecting my blog, "my happy place", a lot more than I should.  Someone I love is & has been fighting for their life so it has been very difficult as of late to paint. I will start pieces and not finish them. I have been drawing and working on some embroidery designs to digitize and doing some zentangles thanks to my sister's persistent encouragement. I should share some of them in my shops ...soon, but mostly I have been pacifying myself with yarn, thread & fabric, it's my comfort food, my soul food.  My BFF gave me an embroidery design for tea light holders, the battery operated kind, so I have been having fun making those.  Honestly, I didn't really like them at first but I was just looking at the picture, then after I sewed one out, I was hooked. In person they are so  much cuter!  Ok so some of you will know what you are getting for Christmas or what you will be getting when you come & visit.  I'm making a set for outside on the patio.  I have a concrete block wall around the patio and when I have a party I put real tea lights in glass holders all over the wall.  It's really pretty but it's a pain lighting all the candles and then making sure they are all out. I think these will be great for that. Combining a portion of the original design I am able to create any design I want as a tea light holder, well most.  I did list them to sell because they are so different and make great gifts.  If I get lots of orders I won't be able to make them all myself but I do have a person that will help.  Depending on the design each can take 15 - 30 minutes to sew out and I can't wait to get a little battery tea light in them as soon as they are finished!  Click on the Live Bold light below to see more.

Peacock & Pieces...

I had so much fun making this peacock bag with all my bits & pieces from vintage fabrics...

The peacock machine embroidery design was free at Free Embroidery Designs. 

Click HERE or on the picture for a link to the free design. 

As you can see I don't follow the rules when it comes to color, I made up my own peacock colors.

 

   The lining is a magical royal purple satin that they don't make anymore.  I only a a little left.  I'll admit I am a fabric hoarder.  I don't think I'll find myself on tv yet, but I do have a good stash.  I am about to bust it loose on some more of these bags though.  I put myself to sleep 2 nights in a row thinking of bags I can make! haha I am working on several now & hope to get them finished in the next few days. On has a Heart Locket w/ keyhole that has wings from Urban Threads, I am also working on a Butterfly bag. and I hand died white cotton fabric today for a Cherry or Strawberry bag that I want to make.  

 I died the fabric by floating oil paints on water, then dipping it in, making pretty marbling that looks so fun! Suminagashi  style. I hope it works, I've never tried it. I figure I will iron it, then wash it with Dawn and see what happens.....if it works you will see it on a new bag!  When it comes to sewing every seam has to be perfect. It has to be cut perfectly, no mistakes, so this is a good exercise to let go of some of that OCD that keeps me from creating at times. No Fear - if I wreck it - it's gone!

I have had peacocks in my brain since our little trip to Daffodil Hill where they had lots of them including a pure white peacock!

 

I hope this inspires you to create something new!

Blessings!

The Time is Near...

I Couldn't Cut It...

...the designer jackets that is.  I purchased 2 beautiful designer blazer/jackets; a Ralph Lauren & a Calvin Klein with full intentions of cutting into them to reconstruct them into awesome steampunk creations with bussles and all but I couldn't do it. I'd pick up the scissors and then chicken out.  One was brand new never worn and the other was in pristine condition. They are a little too tight for me. boo So I listed them for the outrageously low price I bought them for.  If you'd like check them out click HERE. 
I have been unable to sit for long but when I am I have been embroidering, sewing, crocheting & knitting. I love these cuffs. I made one for me then thought I would share them. I plan to take a few to the wineries I am surrounded by & maybe a few to the shops that I have things in.

I made these with the delicious yarn I bought in a beautiful yarn shop in San Francisco.

I love the colors, all of my favorites, and they remind me of the wine country.  The yarn is 70% Merino wool & 30% silk so it feels really good to work with and feels really good on. I have some pretty lavender yarn & I may do some in lavender too, what do ya think?

I have been having fun making quilted embroidered coasters which started as a birthday present for a friend & Christmas presents. Yep I have started on Christmas! Have you? I made a few for my place and I love how they look so I listed some in my Etsy Shenanagans shop. The Sashiko Embroidered black coasters are the ones I made for my hubby and I have sold a few sets already! I have also sold a set of musical notes which I made for my guys.

I have to say that I really love the gypsy rose cowgirl boots & of course you know me & hot peppers! I plan on making a set of 8 of those for my hot & spicy dinner parties!

They make great gifts so I plan on doing a Giveaway and will post it in the next week or so. I'll figure it out. Let me know if you think that's a good idea and any pointers on doing a Giveaway would be a great help.

 

Create a great day! 

 

 

 

Splash!

I'm off to meet up with my best friends in San Simeon in just a few days. Going to  the beach! Splash! We are going to tour Hearst Castle and spend some quality time together, spending the whole week down there. We are spending 2 days at the Castle. They have been very ill & Praises to God for their current health & us being able to get together. I am so excited to see them. I am hoping to get lots of inspiration at the beach, lungs full of salt air & sandy toes.
She is bringing me an attachment to my embroidery sewing machine that will enable me to download thousands of free embroidery designs and if that wasn't enough she embroidered me a tapestry! I can't wait to see it! Here is a picture of it, although I don't know what colors she used yet, that's a surprise. She did say that the thread looks like silk so it's gotta be gorgeous no matter what color it is. It was fashioned after a tapestry in the Palace of Versailles by Anitagoodesign. It's going to look so good in my woodsy home and it will be treasured most of all because it was made with lots of love for me.

 I just finished another "Little Swimmer" I get lots of requests for these! I just listed her in my Etsy shop.  I also finished a few mermaids one a commission. When I get back home I plan to list lots of pieces on Ebay to make room for more & de-stash my studio, it looks like a craft bomb exploded in there! Have a wonderful week!

"Refreshed Spirit"

5 x 7 on canvas panel

TGTG Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind...

Happy New Year Again!

Chinese New Year starts Feb 10th. When I'm not painting I'm sewing or have some kind of needle in my hand. I have so much fabric it's shameful. I decided I better start doing something with it or else... This is the project I just finished and can't wait to start the next one! Some of my next projects may include painted fabric or some of my art printed on fabric.

"Happy New Year"

A beautiful butterfly soars & red Chinese lanterns flutter in the wind over a quaint Chinese village celebrating the New Year.

I was inspired by a piece of designer fabric by Kaufmann, a Chinese Toile.  It started a daydream. The print looks like a rural chinese festival & tea party.

I started with a vintage GUESS George Marciano denim jacket I was lucky to find at the local 2nd hand store.

 

I cut red circles out of fabric then bleached a portion of them for the bottom of the lanterns. Free motion embroidery was used to attach the strings & to complete the lanterns. I added sequins & rhinestones. A pretty blue denim butterfly was on a piece of fabric my sister had sent me that matched perfect! I added it for a little perspective. We are soaring over the festival! I attached  the entire piece as close to the seam as possible with a black machine blanket stitch. The lanterns swing from strings of vintage black velvet that has a glitter print that just twinkles in the light, sequins & diamond like rhinestones top the lanterns.  I used different colored sequins for the strings of the lanterns.  I had put a butterfly at the top of the jacket too but I ended up removing it.  Maybe I will make me one too, I would wear it to San Francisco when we go have Dim Sum!

I hope this inspires you to dive right in & cut something up!

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Back to Business

What? It's almost the end of the month. I have been so busy! It's good to be busy but I have been feeling a little overwhelmed the last few weeks. I am listing some paintings on Ebay with low starting bids. I just listed this mermaid with a starting bid of just $20! Click on the picture to make your bid. I am cleaning out my studio so I will be listing a few more.

I finished a few paintings for the gallery class I will be teaching. Simple and easy. More than a few people have expressed an interest in buying a tutorial painting class to see & learn how I paint. So I tried to make a video of myself giving a class. Oh geez!! I can't do it. I want to but unless I stay totally out of the picture or wear a bag over my head it's not going to happen! The unknown artist instead of the unknown comic! hahaha I'm too shy for my own good. I'm going to work on it though!

I am revamping my studio to make room to sew. I used to sew all the time but haven't touched a machine in years. I am having so much fun "painting" with thread. Free-motion sewing using they embroidery or darning part of the machine is so much fun. I'm not really good at it yet. Here is the first thing I have done. It's going to be a pillow cover. I didn't use stabilizer so it puckered more than I thought it would. If you care to try this be sure to use interfacing or stabilizer, or double the fabric so that you won't get the puckers. I love the look of it, like a pencil drawing. I have a long list of pillows like this I want to make.

Time, juggle, juggle, juggle...

Create a great day!

Tuesday's Altered Thoughts

If you would like to check out more Altered Pages and some Altered pages submitted by other artists! Click here! We invite you to join us in the fun and Alter a page of your own & let us see!

Ok you might think this is gross, (I sort of do), but I couldn't help myself, I couldn't throw it away! I made this doll nearly 18 years ago. The stains on the face are from my son's kisses. He loved this doll. He would carry it everywhere and kiss it and kiss it and kiss it. He is still a very kissy person, loving and sweet. I just had to keep it, kissing stains and all. It used to have a shirt and pants but those are long gone. My grandson was over and we went in my studio to look at all the colors and I spied this doll up in a dark corner of the closet. I pulled it down, showed it to JJ and he laughed and wanted it. I couldn't let him play with it because it's so dirty & beat up. That was rotten because I love to hear that baby laugh. I want to pull out one of my sewing machines when I'm finished with the commission painting I am working on. I am going to make JJ one. Isn't it strange how just a face with little rosey cheeks and 2 black dots for eyes can mesmerized kids?

I had an email this morning from a buyer in Maryland that hasn't gotten her paintings that were mailed priority on 2/14. I am worrying myself sick about it. I have the reciept for the postage but it doesn't have a tracking number on it. It wasn't insured but I am going to have to charge for or pay for insurance from now on. It's worth it. I may be repainting those for her and I hope I will be able to get them to look like the ones she purchased. I don't draw my angels out, I just paint and they usually let me know when they are finished. Well I have had a couple that I thought were finished, but they keep nagging at me, so I do more on them until they quit nagging or I completely ruin them. Like the white ACEO angels. I can't stand it that they are all white now. Maybe I was on color overload the day I painted them, but that didn't last long and they have been screaming at me. I think I will give them some color and make everybody happy. haha