Creative Dawn

I kind of dropped the ball around Christmas time.  As usual I made many gifts, but forgot to take pictures before giving them.  Some of the ideas came from pinterest, others from my imagination.  My sister in laws all got glass block decorations, my nephew got a framed cross made from an old baseball and my niece got a painted cookie tray.  If I can talk my family into sending me pictures, these items may be posted in the future. For today's posting here is a very unique lampshade.  The shade had a cool structure, but the fabric and trim were not in the best condition.  I used my stockpile of yo-yos and sewed them to the frame of the shade.  Next I used some old bits of lace and added the fabric to it. It is very different and not everyone will like it, but it goes with my eclectic and colorful decor.

I am not a quilter!  I can sew squares together for a baby size quilt but that is about it.  That being said, here are a few that were recently finished.  The first quilt is a Simpson theme.  My uncle and his kids are big fans, as are my husband and I.  The fabric was purchased a few years ago and was going to be a scrub shirt for my hubby, but when my cuz got pregnant, it seemed appropriate to make a quilt with that fabric.  The colors are bright and fun. The second one is a bunch of orange scraps that were in my fabric stash.  Until I started to sort through the bin, I didn't realize how much orange there was.  It turned out beautiful and is on it's way to a fundraiser for www.jacobandersonfoundation.org   Hopefully it will bring in some money for a great cause. The last one is more bits that were in the stash and some extras that were recently purchased to add to the quilt.  This one is very bright and fun to look at....

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...

Hello!  It has been an interesting year for this creative person that is for sure!  Jobless, then worked at a call center (ugh) and now working at a fabric store.  Definitely a transition year for me.  I am hopeful for the new year because I see it as a blank canvas ready for life to paint it's picture.  Endless possibilities are out there.  There are a few goals that are being set but no 'resolutions.'  Goals are better :) My creativity has really blossomed over the past year and am looking to see what is next.  Last year after being let go from a job without notice it really got me down for a while but generally I'm happy so it didn't last long, besides, with love and support from family and friends, you can't go wrong no matter the situation.  On with the creative part...for Christmas this year I sewed, crocheted, latch hooked, painted and made many gifts as usual.  On Friday and Saturday last week for whatever reas...

It was a lovely sunny day and part of it was spent with my husbands family in their annual golf outing.  There are prizes for best drives, shortest putts and for the best score but it is more is just a fun excuse to get together with everyone.  I'm not good enough to end up with high scores but I did get an awesome sunburn.  So, as I was getting ready this morning and looking in my closest it came to my attention that my summer wardrobe is lacking a bit of style.  It consists of t-shirts, shorts and skirts.  The reason this is an issue is that after golf we all went to a restaurant to eat and I was considering changing into a non sweaty shirt that was slightly dressy.  It didn't happen but because of that this idea came about. Using scrap fabric I cut small strips with my pinking shears and then gathered them into small flowers.  They were then sewn to a t-shirt for a bit more pizazz.  The contrast of the orange ...

This morning before I went to work, my mom called and asked if I would want some headbands that she didn't use anymore.  Of course the answer was yes, so she dropped off a bag full of headbands and other miscellaneous hair accessories.  After work, I started to sort through the bag when an idea hit me.  Embellishing a simple headband could be fun and a great blog post.  Using the ever useful felt that is always around, I cut out different shapes to experiment with.  At first felt was going to be the only material used but it needed something more.  In the box o' buttons there is also assorted beads and such.  These beads have different shades that catch the light and look really cool.  The light blue middle is a nice contrast to the darker beads.  Beading is not a hobby that ever appealed to me before this blog.  It was relaxing and fun tonight to just sew them on create something so simple but beautiful.  This could be anothe...

I was having trouble coming up with something today.  This is a felt project that I have been playing with but really don't know what the end result will be.  The main purpose was to use up a lot of felt bits and this is what it turned into.  In a way it looks like a millefiori design at least that's what came to my mind while trying to figure out a use for it.  If some beads were added, it would definitely have that kind of look to it.  Most likely it will become a small pillow but who knows!  Short and sweet again tonight, just like me :)

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.  

Hello!  Some days when I wake up there are no ideas at all for this blog then it happens, out of the blue inspiration strikes.  I found this book with sock animals in it.  Not like a sock monkey, but cute unique animals.  The one I chose to make today is a zebra.  In the book it was made from black and white socks, but I used green, red and white socks instead, it's what I had.  My creation turned out looking different from the one in the book, but the author said that there is no right or wrong.  In the end if you like it that is all that matters.  That is great advice!  Go with it and whatever works for you will be right.  There are a few more ideas from that book I need to try so look for those soon.  Have a great day and be creative!

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...

My husband is not in the medical field, but he loves to wears scrub style shirts in the summer.  When he first asked me quite a few years ago to make him some, I thought he was weird!  I finally decided to get a pattern and make him one.  He of coarse wanted something in a tropical style.  There was so much variety and so many fun bright colors to choose from and once I made it, couldn't believe how simple the pattern was.  Now, I try to find new fabrics whenever I am shopping.   We were on a cruise a few years ago and people were asking where he got the scrubs and were surprised when they found out the shirts were homemade.  L ast year we went to see Jimmy Buffett, since we live in Minnesota and the closest he usually performs is at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin.  We get on a bus with numerous other Parrotheads and travel across the two states partying the whole way.  Along the way, we stop here and there and at one particular...

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.

Look at my collection of buttons, WOW!  So many possibilities.  When you go to craft of fabric stores you can purchase buttons in miscellaneous bags for less than five dollars.  This is an item that is great to have around because there is always a use for them.  This is a fun idea using buttons.  It was inspired by a craft book that I got at the library.  The project in the book called for felt, but I have a large roll of vinyl from a past job that worked just as well and it is very sturdy.  Actually with the amount of material that I have you can be sure to see more projects with the vinyl in the future.  I cut out a basic flower shape then sewed on buttons in various sizes.  With a bit of hot glue a pin was attached to the back.  Here is a picture of it accessorizing my favorite sweater.  It could be made in whatever color buttons you would like.  Another option is to attach them with glue but by sewing them o...

Say that three times fast!  I always have those little scraps of fabric that are too big to toss but what else can you do with them?  You make a pillow.  With all of the tropical style items that I paint, sew and craft a small stockpile of fabric bits have accumulated.  After picking through the scraps, I decided on a size for the squares and cut out eighteen pieces to assemble my pillow.  It's kind of like putting together a puzzle to see what coordinates best.  Once the final decision was made, it was time to sew.  This is very basic and when its all finished you have a pillow like no other.  For this project I had the stuffing already, but I have in the past found pillows that are not so attractive at thrift stores and just recovered them.  It is economical and there are many choices for size.  This would also be an ideal project for a crazy quilt pattern.  Left over fabric can always be made into something else.  Actually,...

YAWN!  A bit tired right now.  It was one of those veg out in front of the TV days and stitching for hours was a great way to relax and get the creative juices flowing. Here is part two of my felt project.  This design isn't as random as yesterdays, it is a floral motif.  I actually need to get a more materials to be able to continue on in this project.  So, tomorrows post will be something not related to felt.  I don't want anyone that is reading this to get too bored looking at only one type of craft.  Not so much on the jabbering today, here is the felt piece and now that I'm done with my blog for the day, it's off to my warm bed!  GOOD NIGHT!

I took all of the pieces from yesterday and debated whether or not to make them into a wall hanging, but finally decided on a pillow.  The colors and pattern really remind me of something from the 70's.  As a creative person, sometimes you get a streak of inspiration from different things.  I have the 1970's in my brain right now and have been looking on the Internet for inspiration from that era.  Keep reading and you will see my retro designs soon.  Actually, while trying to find the Seventies decor and patterns, it made me realize that some of my style of drawing is definitely influenced by this decade and also by the late Sixties.  I won't be using any avocado green or harvest gold, the brighter colors are more of my preference and of course black and white.  Keep on truckin'

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. 

 This is the bag inside out  This is a last minute addition to my gift list.  I had made these for gifts two years ago, but was asked to make another one for my husbands grandmother.  The bag is made with cotton batting and fabric.  I kind of eyeball the size, when it is finished it measures about 8 1/2 x 10.  Then I add the instructions tucked inside the bag.  My mom, mother in law and sister in law all use their bags quite often.  It is an economical gift and if you sew at all, is very quick to put together.  The fabric can be chosen according to the recipient so that it goes with their decor.  Here is the finished bag and the microwave directions. BAKED POTATO BAG This simple bag creates a “just right” baked potato in your microwave.  The inside is well done, yet moist, and the skin remains tender. The bag will cook one to four medium sized potatoes at once. Simply wash & dry your potatoes. DO NOT PRICK! Wrap the potatoes in a...