Creative Dawn

My own pattern for a simple tote bag Sometimes a creative bug will hit me and I become obsessed with only painting or drawing or whatever.  Lately sewing has become my favorite thing to do.  It could be because of my current job at a fabric store where I am surrounded with fabric and endless inspiration.  Hm... Simplicity #2183 In the past few weeks I have made three skirts, a scarf, a jacket, a t-shirt and a scrub shirt for my hubby and tote bags.  The patterns are all super easy, the thing that takes time is cutting out the patterns.  When it comes to sewing the complex patterns are not for this girl.  Keep it simple and let the fabric do the talking.  The clothes are all patterns that were purchased, but the bag was made up by little ol' me.  :) See & Sew B5516 See & Sew B5516 Mccalls #6107 Kwik Sew pattern # 1750 with modifications This isn't everything, but just a few examples of my sew...

Here is a much better photo from the display I made at work :) The hot fashion item that everyone has to have right now is a fun scarf.  Here is my super easy scarf  'pattern' if you could even call it that.  This fabric was purchased from Hancock fabrics and is 9.99 a yard.  Basically you need a quarter of a yard to make this which means it cost about 2.50.  It's a great bargain and you will get a ton of compliments on it.  The fabric is already ruffled so you just need to sew the two ends together and cut if you would like too.  I gathered mine just a bit for a flower looking detail.  At this point your basic scarf is finished.  I decided to cut between the ruffles with a pinking shears for added interest.  You can use regular scissors also, this fabric won't fray.  There are great colors to choose from too!  Hot pink, black, turquoise, a few shades of grey and white to just list a few. This is the ruffle f...

Hello all!  Tomorrow is Independence Day and usually it is a holiday that I don't decorate for but here is a quick creative idea.  This is made from the cardboard used for bolts of fabric.  Working at a fabric store makes access to these very easy.  Don't worry, you can still go to a fabric store and ask for the cardboard, it just ends up in recycling anyways and an employee will happily give you one or several.  What I did was wrap batting around it first for more thickness and then added the fabric.  There are two patterns here, the main fabric is a miniature flag print and the other was part of an Andy Warhol style soup can fabric.  A bit of ribbon is also added around the stars.  This is so fast to make, everything is hot glued together. There you have it a quick decoration that is appropriate for any patriotic holiday or just because.

I try to do my share and not use too many plastic bags from stores and use reusable totes when possible.  Most of the bags are a larger size and are very handy but at times it is necessary to have a smaller bag.  I couldn't really find any so of course had to make one!  The fabric is from Hancock and was from the marked down area to save a few pennies.  The handle and trim are just ribbon that was on hand already.  The little bag is about 10 x 12 and a perfect tiny tote. The fabric has a Snoopy print, a favorite of mine!  My first ever art contest was a picture of Charlie Brown that I sketched so there is a special place in my heart for Peanuts in general.  The size of the bag is also perfect for a lunch bag so that you don't have to use a paper sack.  

I have sewn numerous bears for friends and family so the teddy bear is not a new project, just different fabric.  It was from the bargain table at Hancock Fabrics.  The card, however, is a new design.  My friends are having a little boy and he is due to arrive any day now.  I thought a simple sail boat was the perfect drawing for this card.  The picture is small but I added on some great Beatles lyrics.  The song Golden Slumbers is so sweet and beautiful so I wrote an excerpt from that song on the card.  As you know if you read my blog, I love the Beatles so it is only natural that I added this.  I have also used a John Lennon lyric for cards in the past.  He wrote a song called Beautiful Boy, it is about his son Sean and it is a wonderful song.  I love to give gifts for weddings and new babies that are special and will be a cherished for years to come.  I love to give gifts for weddings and new babies that have a person...

Seventies owls are fun and have inspired me in a few past posts as well as the one today.  In a recent trip to Hancock Fabrics I was looking through their bargain section and came across this fun material.  It's bright and the owls are adorable.  It cost a dollar a yard so I just got the one yard because I didn't know what to do with it.  It sat in a pile without a purpose until the light bulb when off in my head.  The small owl was cute, but what if I used felt and tried to replicate it in a larger scale?  It turned out great!  Now what to do?  Make a pillow!  It was quick and easy and now I have a great little pillow that brightens up my couch.

Art, my passion, the thing I love to do best.  It lets me express myself while adding beauty to the world.  This wooden letter A was really cheap at Hancock Fabrics.  It was on clearance and then had an additional discount.  It was a dollar and change, I can't remember the exact amount.  Originally I had planned on giving it to my sister in law for Christmas as is.  The zebra print is cool, but after a while I decided to paint it, mostly because I was running out of other things to do.  I may at some point still give it as a gift but for now it's just another decoration for the house.  I couldn't just leave it as A because my initial is D, so the pipe cleaners were added to spell out 'art.'  It may change at some point, that is a great thing about art. Quote for today: Happiness, it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. - Vincent Van Gogh   

Every now and then I get the urge to make things with felt.  It is easy to use, economical, and versatile.  I went to Hancock Fabrics the other day and spent five dollars on felt in various colors.  I have a lot of ideas in my head for felt right now, so you will be seeing quite a few in the coming weeks.  Today, I cut out different colored circles using quarters and half dollars as guides and made twelve flower patches.  This is step one and took a lot of time.  For tomorrow, the finished project will be posted.  I just used a blanket stitch to sew the flowers.  Contrasting colors was the key to making this more fun.  I think it kind of has a 70's feel to it. 

Happy New Year!  I am happy to see 2010 go it has been a trying year to say the least.  This year, my hubby and I stayed home for financial reasons, but it has been great with just the two of us.  We have been having great conversations and bonding time.  I made a chicken stir fry for dinner and we enjoyed a great bottle of Rombauer 2005 Cabernet - very yummy, a gift from last year that we were saving for a special occasion.  My project for the day is a centerpiece.  I got this deer candy dish for 2.00 a week or so ago, actually I got two because they were broken.  The antlers were fragile and snapped off, so Hancock Fabrics had to mark them down and I got the benefit of it.  I removed the lid and decided that it would make a great base for a centerpiece.  With the addition of some discounted flowers and greenery from Mitchael's, all I had to do was assemble it. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Hancock Fabrics is my favorite fabric shop!  Great deals, good selection and they also have a program called dress a doll.  Basically, you take one of the designated dolls home and dress her up.  Any outfit you want.  You can sew, crochet, knit, whatever you like for an outfit.  I made a cute little halter dress with a button jewel.  After so many dolls are made, they collect and distribute them to needy children.  I have done this in the past also.  It is a good way to be creative and also do something for a great cause.