High Seas Shawl

Above: front or right side of shawl

Above: back or wrong side of shawl (both sides are lovely!)

Above and Below:  back or wrong side shown on top with front or right side shown behind it. 
Hand-braided fringe.

Above: front or right side of shawl.

Above: close up of back or wrong side of shawl and hand-braided fringe.

Above: close up of front or right side of shawl and hand-braided fringe



Additional Details: This handwoven shawl of organic Italian cotton was made for an upcoming art auction.  You can find more details about the draft pattern, yarn used, etc. on my Ravelry project page found here.
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On an aside ...
I've been (clearly) struggling with regular postings on this blog and I'm not sure how I can move past the irregularity that has become my blogging.  I think I struggle with witty things to say.  Why I feel I have to be witty?  --- well, if you've MET me, you know I love making jokes.  Usually as inappropriate as possible.  I think when faced with putting it down in writing it's like "GAH! I can't think of anything to say!!!"

So.  Methinks I'm going to aim for "less words, more pictures" from here on out.  If I feel the need to add details or explanation, I will.  Otherwise, just enjoy the view ....

-- Amy

Extreme DERP!

So ... um ...
Sometimes you try something new and hey, it works really well.

Other times ...

DERP!

Yeah, dying some silk today.  Decided to add some yarn to the bucket.  No problem.  Rinsed/washed the silk in the washing machine.  Again, no problem.  Did the yarn.  Without.  Thinking.  It.  Through.

Aaaannnndddd it wrapped around the agitator.  Like, completely.  Around.  The.  Agitator.

So somedays things go right.
And sometimes, not so much ...



* What's the DERP?! you ask?  Check out answer #5 and #7 for the closest approximation of what I mean here.


** And the silk by the way is GORGEOUS!  Can't post much more about it until after the holidays.  Can't be previewing gifts this early! ;)

Soapmaking Gets EPIC

What am I saying?! 
Soapmaking is ALWAYS epic!

It's that time of the year when a girl's thoughts turn to ... good clean fun!  (Yeah, I made "that" joke.  You should know better by now ... silly readers!)

So, I gathered some gals (and guys!) for another annual soapmaking event at the Community Crafts Studio.  Well, almost annual.  Last year it was just Suzanne and I in my kitchen at home.  But still fun!  This year we had a group of ten or so. 

Check out our workspace, all prepped and ready for class ...

I like to focus on pantry soaps, using herbs, honey, oats, essential oils -- many of which are found in your pantry!

AND I like to encourage the use of "repurposed" soap molds.  Any flexible plastic containers that end up in your recycling bin are great!  They can usually be used a few times before cracking and then can still end up in the recycling bin!  But sometimes I have to supplement with containers found at the Dollar Store.  Hey, they're still recyclable and can be used even longer than the others.

Using a glycerin, melt-and-pour soap base is super easy!  Especially with microwaves and glass measuring cups!

Please ignore my unhealthy (but oh so tasty) iced soft drink there in the background.  What can I say?  Vice!  Thy name is Dr. Pepper!

The above pic is kind of odd looking, I know.  But its what a partial 25 lb. block of soap looks like.  (Oh, I order in 25 lb. blocks, baby!  I like a LOT of good clean fun!)

I'm not going to run through all specifics and "how to"s here*.  You can find that all over the web and in crafty books.  But I can say this, I recommend high-quality soap bases and natural ingredients.  No synthetic fragrances here!  Essential oils and dried herbs, baby!  Better for you!

So here are some extra-nummy-goodness pictures of some of our finished soaps!  Lavender ... Lemon-Sage ... Honey & Oats ... Brown Sugar & Honey ... Cedarwood & Honey ... Green Tea ... mmm!

Lavender, still in a mold.

(What I believe to be) Lemon-Sage still in molds.

Lavendar (foreground), Peppermint (left, dark bar), various others in background.

A couple of us do have a few commercial molds (foreground.)
Don't they all look so pretty?!  Such variety of shapes, colors, smells!

Love, love, love!!! the fun shapes that come from single-serve fruit cups or applesauce!  Yogurt, too!

Mmm .... so pretty!


I love to do this.
I love to share the knowledge.
I love when it's over because it's 4 hours on my feet!
LOL

... and many Christmas gifts, DONE!



* I do have a handout available, but it isn't "everything" you need to know.  I mostly teach by doing.  Hands on learning is the best way.  BUT if you want a copy of the handout of handy tips and resources, leave a comment on this post or private message me at AECDesigns@gmail.com and I can email you a copy of the PDF.  Use at your own risk because I'm sure I left out some details!

Crafting Custom Christmas Crayons

(Again, with the alliteration!  I can't help myself!)

This weekend, I'm participating in an online "craft-a-long" with Trish over at Genuine Mudpie!  She thought it would be fun to get together and "craft-a-long", however many of us are separated by some serious geography!  Did I mention she's in Canada and I'm in the Midwest U.S.  See?!  Serious geography.

So ... everyone, let's "craft-a-long"!

Awhile back I found this blog post about (re)making crayons!  I "pinned it" over on Pinterest thinking it would be a great Christmas project to make for any kiddos I know.  The original steps can be found on the above link, but I will give you a few additional tips.

First off, grab a craft knife -- it's the fastest way to get all those paper labels off of 96 crayons.  Seriously.  Beats peeling them off with your fingernail.  Just slice gently down the length of the wrapper, and they peel right off!  I used Coke cans instead of tin cans because someone here (not me*) drinks a lot of Coke.  We seldom use canned goods as we buy fresh produce and such.  HOWEVER, the aluminium cans present a few ... erm ... issues.  We'll discuss momentarily.

I sorted my crayons into like colors for mixing.  Then broke them up and melted them in batches, from lights to dark.  That way I could re-use cans!  Sneaky, eh?  So here are the light purples melting together.

Why do I have so many cans in the pot?  Aluminium cans float in water.  Like a lot.  And then they tip over.  In the water.  Like a lot.  The other cans are filler to keep them from tipping.  And I could melt multiple batches at one time.  Here's me pouring some melted crayons into a mold.

The beautiful thing about the aluminium cans?  You can squeeze them to make a bit of a spout!  Helpful!  And yes, this is actually me pouring.  Aluminium cools to the touch fairly quickly.  I did have Chris' assistance plucking them from the hot water.  I'm a bit delicate (i.e. whiny) and he has asbestos hands from working in the kitchen all day.  He helped with this a lot more than I intended.  He's nice like that.  (I love it when he gets all crafty with me!)

Anyway, a bit of an aside ... did you know candy molds are CHEAP?!  Like less than $2 each!!!  I got a little crazy with the shapes.  I have 3 - 4 more molds that you won't see today.  BUT you will see soon.  I need to make more crayons before Christmas.  Didn't really get as many as I wanted from the box of 96 crayons.

There are leaves.

Snowflakes.

Spiders.

And toy soldiers!

I will also warn you that the crayons are much lighter when they're in liquid form than when they dry.  Like quite a bit.  So I'll be making more crayons.  I need more anyway, but I want to shoot for some lighter colors to mix in with these.  Some of them were darker than I intended.

Here are some additional shots of the crayons ... just for fun!

I really wish you could see the dark blues and purples.  There were some metallic crayons mixed in the original box and they turned out really cool in the darker colors.  They just didn't photograph real well.

But this was not a difficult project.  Would make a great way to re-make all those broken crayons kids seem to accumulate.  You know, the ones they don't want to use anymore because they're not "new" and don't look pretty anymore?  Oh wait.  Maybe that was just me ...

Anyway, thanks to Trish for bringing all of us together to share a craft ... even from miles and miles (and miles!) away.


* Oops!  Forgot about my footnote ... I don't drink Coke.  I'm a Dr. Pepper girl, just FYI.

Genetically Speaking

Do you come from a line of crafty people?
Is art in your blood?
What about just "making stuff"?

It seems I'm one of those people ... people who can't help but "make stuff" because, well, I'm genetically predispositioned to do it!  I've got artists & poets, sewists* & quilters, crocheters & knitters going back at least a couple of generations.

For example ...

...take this giant granny square blanket!  Started by my maternal great aunt, Eleanor, who passed away many years ago.  Isn't it funny how trends ebb and flow?  Giant grannies granny square blankets are HOT right now!  (That sentence almost took a turn in the wrong direction...)

I digress ...
My cousin Pat handed this off to me.  She knows I'll finish it.  She also knows that the pinks, reds and whites will work with my bedroom decor.

I'm trying to think of  a creative way to mark the last stitch she made.  Kind of a historical "passing off of the yarn" to me.  I don't have that all worked out yet.  Right now, it's just tied with a piece of yarn so I can find it again.

Took a couple of hook sizes to get gauge closer to hers.  I suspect she was a looser hooker crocheter than I.  (I have GOT to stop writing posts when I'm tired.  These sentences keep taking on a mind of their own...)  Had to move up to a J hook to get close.  It's still a little tighter, but close enough!

Now, being a gal who spends LOTS of time at the yarn shop, I do have access to many wonderful and luxurious fibers like alpaca & camel, mercerized cotton & soy silk, mohair & even mink!  Fibers like this were not readily available -- if at all!!! -- 20 or 30 years ago.  BUT you could get the lastest and greatest in ...

... ORLON!!!
Hey, it was QUITE the thing!
Unlike readily available sheep's wool, you could toss it in the washer and dryer.  That was quite a first!  (You probably can't see it very well, but the yarn on the left was bought for 77 cents on sale!  I WISH I could find yarn for 77 cents!  (We don't need to discuss my yarn stash.  I don't want to know what it's worth ... I'm in denial, okay?!)

Anyway, tonight, I picked up where she left off.
I feel the need to see this to completion.  Stay tuned!


* Sewist is a relatively new term.  Why, you ask?  Let's take a look ...

There's this word:  sewer.  Meaning one who sews.
Then there's THIS word:  sewer.  Meaning an underground pipe filled with sewage.

In the middle of a written sentence, if you misread one for the other (since they're spelled EXACTLY the same), you can TOTALLY misunderstand what's going on.

The World's {smallest} Craft Fair

Hey you.
Yeah, you.

If you live in the St. Louis area, you may be interested in THIS:

 
Saturday, October 6
10am - 2pm

We're having the world's smallest craft fair.

Three artists.
All local.
All awesome.

Did I mention yours truly will be there?
If you'd like your very own, personal invitation (which will include all the details, including the address) shoot me an email:
AECDesigns@gmail.com

I'll make sure you get the details to this exclusive, first-time ever event.

Cha-Cha-CHANGES

Oh yeah, baby.
I'm making some changes.

... to my blog.  Have you noticed?

In my quest to become more professional, I've been doing some things here behind the scenes.  "Like what?" you may ask.  Well, here's a list of things:

• Do a craft show (upcoming!)
• Find better, faster ways to make things (Done! ... and ongoing)
• Get an official logo - DONE!!!!!!!!!

  

Check THAT out! 

Isn't it awesome?!  You can also see it as my current Blogger profile pic.  I'm still working on other ways to incorporate it into the blog.  (Still learning the ins-and-outs of Blogger's layout and format.)

My new logo was brought to fruition by Kimberly (I can call her Kimmy) Brooks over at Kimberly Brooks Photography.   I had a temporary logo I had been using for a bit, but it needed to be better.  I sent her what I had and what I liked/disliked about it, she applied her magic and VOILA!  A new logo was created!

I knew I wanted something simple and graphic that would translate easily to labels, tags, stamps and such.  She knew I liked the combo of blocky letters with a scripted font.  And BAM!  A logo! 

Don't you love that wonky D?! 
And that sexy tail on the S?! 
Oh, that S just begs you to follow her little tail.
... minx.

Can I just say Kimmy and I must share a wavelength or something???  (I won't discuss the juvenile jokes that made us giggle like five-year olds -- for that would be juvenile!)  But SRSLY.  She totally "got me" and seemed to read my mind.  She rocks! 

Can you believe that the logo thing and web stuff isn't even her FAVORITE thing to do?!  She's a photographer at heart.  I've linked her website above - you should go check it out.  She's good, y'all.

Chips, Dips, Chains and WIPs!

(Okay, if anyone gets the reference, I'd love to see a comment!)


I've got WIPs coming out my ears! *

I've been neglecting the Sew-A-Long.  Some of the past few weeks of projects weren't really my "thang" so I've skipped a few things.  This week's one looked fun, but I just didn't have the energy or the interest to do it.

BUT I've got projects "on the needles" (knitting, for those who don't know), "on the hook" (crocheting) and a couple sewing things kinda hanging out in my head and on my table.

Here's a current crochet project I'm excited about!

It's the Sardinia Sweater from Rowan's Summer Crochet booklet.  I fell in love with almost every pattern in this booklet!  I decided to start with this one.  I ordered the yarn from Knitorious.  You know, the place I spend a bit of my time ... fondling--er, I mean SELLING yarn.  It's Rowan's Cotton Glace in Winsor.  Ain't it pretty?!?!


I've also finished a little DIY sample for an upcoming thing at the Community Crafts Studio.  Check THIS out:

A little notebook made from repurposed cardboard with a touch of scrapbooking paper,  yarn, a button ... fun and easy!

So, you can see I've been doing stuff.  Honest!




* For those who don't know ... WIPs are Works In Progress.

Scrap Happy

Okay. 

It turns out I REALLY like making these scrappy pins! 
This is numero three:

So much fun!
You can sort of see that I tried out a different stitch on my machine - the fun little diamond thing going on there at the bottom.  Who knew, eh?

Anyway ... this is a little thank you for a rule-breaker I know.
A misbehaver after my own heart. 
A rebel with (and sometimes without) a cause.  
Someone who says "I see your rules and I will break them all!"


Wait. 
Am I talking about her or me now?
Whatever.
Hope she likes it.

And I hope I didn't get her into too much trouble.  ;)

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day ...

Sometimes when it rains, it pours.

I have a friend who I thought could use a little cheering up.  Just a little something to maybe shine a little light into a dark day ...

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Ever since making this pin, I've been wanting to make more. 
Playing around with scraps and ribbon and cotton thread ... pieces evolve ... layers change.

I have it propped up on my new lamp.  Technically, it's an old lamp.  Painted a new fun color.  See my favorite lamp was sent to the great beyond by this little fella:

Erebos*, the handsome boy on the left, had a little ... erm, DERP! moment and took the glass -- the beautiful, orange, smooth, round glass -- lamp with him. 

I heard it happen, but I couldn't look. 
I didn't want to see it.
Seeing it would make it real.

I made Chris do it. 
He had to tell me that my favorite lamp was a goner.

Sigh.

On the plus side, no cats were injured in the breaking of the lamp.
Or in the subsequent moments following the breaking of the lamp.

He's lucky he's cute.

* Marishi is the girl on the right.  Ain't she pretty?

Sometimes It's the Little Things ...

So you know how when you buy a fabric tape measurer, it only comes with some dinky little cardboard sleeve to hold it together? 

Yeah. 
Like that works for long.

Then you end up with a fabric tape that's always a tangled mess in your sewing box.  Or on the table.  Or on the floor.  Not that I know what that's like .... ahem.

Anyway, it's annoying.

So I had some fabric scraps lying around ... idea popped into my head ... and VOILÀ!  An (almost) instant fabric-tape-measurer-holder-together-er was born!

Sometimes, it really IS the little things ...


(Oh, shush!  I was bored.  And procrastinating about another project.)

Nothing Says Love Like a Beheading

That's right folks. St. Valentine was clubbed, stoned and beheaded.
Happy Valentine's Day!

But in honor of a more ... contemporary view of Valentine's Day, I created this card for MY Valentine:



What do you think? Too subtle? ;)

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Today is actually my Valentine's birthday as well. Yesterday I baked him the world's best gluten free cake, made with a layer of strawberry in the middle:



Yeah, that's right. I can out-Martha Martha.

My Little Pretties

Got some new fabric a couple weeks ago.
Thought I should show you.



This "tiki"-like fabric was too fun! I'm thinking of making pillows from it. I've been trying to bring that rich blue into the living room color scheme.



The flower fabric was from the same Hawaiian collection as the tiki fabric. I just thought it was pretty. No immediate plans for it though. I'm thinking something to wear ...

The retro cassette tape fabric is for the lining of a messenger bag for my honey. He started school again last month! Yea!!! He needs something cool for toting his laptop around. I have some wicked plans ... stay tuned for that!

New Year's Eve 2011

I enjoy a good, quiet, low-key New Year's Eve.

At home.

No driving around where you risk running into all the drunken fools who get behind the wheel of a car. Or all the loud parties and craziness. Or feeling the need to dress up and teeter around in high-heels all evening.

I prefer sitting around in comfy jeans and hanging with a few folks.


(Photo of chili at the 1/2 way point.)

So again, for this year, I'm making my award winning* turkey chili and Chris is making spicy, Mexican chorizo (and non-chorizo) queso dips. We're gonna eat, drink and play silly games. Some of us may last until the stroke of midnight ... others may head home early. Either way, good food and company will be had.

Here's to 2011! We hardly knew ya' ...



*Basic recipe was given to a former co-worker many, many moons ago who won a chili cook-off with it. She was kind enough to tell me about it. :)

HOWEVER it has since been "tweaked" and is even better than the original. I could SOOOO kick some chili cook-off ass with this stuff ...

Happy New Year to you!

Be safe.
Have a DD or call a cab.
Don't start 2012 dead.
It'll ruin your whole year ...

The Traveler

I was quite productive today.

My friend Suzanne came over for a little Soap Making 101. We whipped up some Lavender-Sage, Lemon-Sage, Green Tea & Honey, and Oatmeal & Honey soaps. I did a batch of Eucalyptus after she left. I was quite pleased to find a new supplier for the glycerin soap base. Saved me a little coin AND they do not feel the need to add antibacterial chemicals to it. Awesome.

THEN I whipped up a men's dop bag. I call it The Traveler.

Made from repurposed denim (i.e. jeans that ripped) and some pinstripe cotton for the lining. It's based up the Lawn Bag from 1-2-3 Sew. I had a happy accident while making the bag and I like how it turned out. The fabric tabs are different from the pattern and so the construction had to change slightly. All in all, I think it's a great bag for a dude to take whilst traveling. Gotta store your toothbrush somewhere!



And, yes, some of the bars of soap say "Mott's" on them. I like to use disposable containers as soap molds. They can be used a few times before they crack and need to hit the recycle bin. So they get to have more than a "use once and toss" kind of life.

Repurpose, people! THEN recycle!

More Halloween Fun

Halloween is my favorite holiday.
Kids are encouraged to go door-to-door for free sugar.
AND they get to be superheroes or ghosts or goblins.

So here's some of what's awaiting tonights sugar-seekers:



THAT, my friends, is an authentic graveyard marker courtesy of someone who obtained it legitimately. I swear! AND so that you know I come by my craftiness honestly, the skull with glowing red eyes was made by my Dad ages ago. It has now transferred hands and is officially in my possession. (We used to put it inside my parents' mailbox with a sign that said "dead letters office". That was my idea.)



Check out the "bubbling" cauldron.
Full of BUBBLE gum! (I slay me!)



And who doesn't have skulls hanging in their tree?!?



Here is a copy of the invite I created for our Halloween Party. Lewis and Betty Lu Cipher were happy to see those who braved the Highway to Hell ...