Molecule Ring

Today at work we learned how to make a sample for one of our classes, our Molecule Ring and Earrings class. This is a simple but beautiful method for making jewelry that requires no fixtures, connections, or anything remotely complicated. It is simply wrapping 24 gauge wire and weaving beads into the wrapping to create unique, one-of-a-kind creations. This ring only took me about fifteen minutes!

W.I.P. (Work in Progress) - Tea Towel Quilt

Hootie just enjoyed a lounge on my first ever quilted quilt. I made a small quilt one time for a school project, but I just tied it instead of actually quilting it. Today I just finished quilting this one using a sewing machine equipped with a free motion foot. I brought it home to find some fabric to use as a binding, and Hootie took the opportunity to test its cat-bed capacity. It seemed to satisfy him.

More details when I finish!

Mr. Ugly-Cat Cat Toy

Squishy soft creature + catnip = cat insanity. I made Mr. Ugly-Cat out of half of a fat quarter. I sewed on his felt features with embroidery thread, then stuffed him with a mixture of polyfill and catnip. This combo seemed to do the trick for Fox and Hootie. 

They tried to rip off his soft nose, carried him around by his eyeballs, and attempted to chew through his poor pink body. 

He was like a punching bag for all their kitty anguish and suppressed lion aggression.

 

When they were done with him, they sauntered away to take a dainty bite of their diet hairball control cat food, leaving Mr. Ugly-Cat face down on the floor to gather the remaining shreds of his dignity.

Plush Whale

I think I have an addiction...I can't stop making plushies. They are just so cute, and they are small projects so you can finish them in just a few hours. I made this whale as a retail sample for one of the books that we sell at the store called Softies. He's made of 100% wool felt and floating high on an ocean of ric rac waves. I immediately wanted to make another one when he was finished, maybe in a not-so-whale color like dusty pink or sea grean, but alas, I had to actually work at work.

Patchwork Pillow

One of the most time consuming parts of sewing anything is measuring and cutting the fabric. It's definitely not my favorite thing to do, especially because if you don't cut things perfectly right, it will cause problems later. I always just want to slash through the fabric to get to the actual sewing.

I guess that's why Moda fabric came up with their Bakeshop line - different packages of precut fabric squares and strips, all grouped in coordinating collections. You can buy them as a kind of a short cut and a way to get a lot of different prints without buying a ton of yardage.

I used one of their Honey Buns to make this patchwork pillow. It took a while, but it would have taken a lot longer if I had to cut all those strips out of a big piece of fabric.

Needle Felted Mouse

I made this little guy for the first class that I taught at my new job. Needle felting is a fun craft that's really addicting because it's so easy. Basically, all you do is poke wool roving (loose wool) with a special needle that has barbs on the the end. The barbs tangle the fibers and weave the strands together. This is the same way that felt is made, only on a single plane. With needle felting, you are doing it three dimensionally, so you use the needle to sculpt and shape the wool. 

This mouse is very simple, but I thought he still turned out pretty cute. People can get really into needle felting and make really ridiculously detailed things. I'm not quite there yet.

Edible Notions

Last night at my work there was a book signing party for an author named Christine Haynes. She released a book in April called Chic and Simple Sewing, a collection of over 20 patterns that are modern and cute but also easy and uncomplicated. I volunteered to make cupcakes for the event because I LOVE decorating cupcakes.

I used fondant to make little buttons and sewing needles. Up until now I've never wanted to use fondant because I think it tastes pretty bad, but then I stumbled on a recipe for marshmallow fondant. It's basically a cheat way to make it at home by melting marshmallows and adding powdered sugar to make a dough. It's easy to add flavoring to make it taste a little better than something you buy in a dusty box at Michaels.

Sadly I was too busy at the actual event to take any pictures, so these are the best I have, and there's a thumbprint on one of them, but they will have to do. Halfway through the night all 48 were gone...they were a huge hit!

"Please Hug Me" Plush Kitty

I was inspired to start this blog today while I was sitting at my job, making this plushy. I work at a place called The Urban Craft Center, a craft studio and retail store three blocks from the beach in Santa Monica. One part of my job is to make class samples for different events that we have so that people can see what they're going to be creating. Making this felt plushy is going to be one of the activities at our booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in downtown Los Angeles this weekend. As I was stitching him up, and thinking about all the other things I've already made at my job, I thought, why not keep a blog of all my makings so friends and family can see what I'm doing? So that's what this is. If I make it, it's eligible for posting. Plushies, artwork, cupcakes, whatever. Hope you enjoy!