Valentines Day Crafts

Honestly, I'm not too big on Valentines Day. I find it far too full of consumerism, and the pressure to go out and spend lots of money on your significant other (didn't we just do that last month during the holidays?) and the worst part, to act all romantic for one day because we're -supposed to-. I personally would rather romantic little gestures on a day that I wouldn't expect them, since they would mean more that way.

Regardless, Valentine's exists, complete with delicious candies and fun and adorable crafts for decorating, giving and eating. Here's a few that I've seen that I quite like.

Strawberries and toasted marshmallow cream..

A step up (or 20) from the moreo. Oreos, cookie AND brownies.

Rainbow roses tutorial. Gorgeous!

A '52 reasons' book, where you write 1 thing you love about someone on each of a playing card. There's a million tutorials for this online, but I figured I would link the one where I originally saw the idea, when I made one last year :P.

Don't forget adorable and punny cards (lost source, sorry!)

New sew heart garland.

And lastly..

If you're tempted to pop the question, why not do so in the nerdiest way ever?

Love/Hate relationship with corsets.

When I was younger I was obsessed with corsets (I still quite like them, but I'm not as crazy about them as I was), and dreamt of being able to make them. How hard could it be? Turns out, they're really difficult to make. The first one I tried (with this gorgeous fabric) was so twisted out of shape, the grommets didn't stay in right (the fabric frayed and they fell out) and I ended up using the rest of the fabric trying to make it again! Both went in the garbage and I have no photo evidence of their existence.


This was the next attempt. Ended up wonky, the stitches were horrid, and the fabric was so thin that you could see the seams and allowances imprints through the fabric. Needless to say that didn't get worn anywhere. 

Then, after butchering another pattern and making this one way too big, I had to make adjustments to make it fit better. I ended up sewing on the hook and eye closures a little off so it didn't line up perfectly, and the fabric was so slippery I had to use iron-on interfacing on each piece just so I could draw the pattern shapes on. I might have worn it once but was overall not pleased.

Then I tried the same green fabric again but a different pattern (I knew that the fabric was too thin but I liked the color so much...) I liked the shape of the bust (first time I had tried something like that and I lined up the pieces well) but the rest of it just fit.. odd. And the boning was too heavy for the fabric and kept wanting to curl.

Then finally, I made one right! I got the pattern right, everything sewed together correctly, I had at this point invested in a tool to better install grommets, and when I put it on, everything lined up. I ended up making another one immediately afterwards to sell on etsy, and made one other one after that to custom fit the client (the last one was boned, the others weren't). They're made of comic pages layered between vinyl, and they're lined with denim. I learned how to use bias tape, and as I made more, it got better. I've worn this one several times and it's held up very well, only slight tearing on the comics by the seams at the smallest 'waist' point of the pattern, but you can only see it up close.

I still have this :)

I plan on making more of these in the future but I had wanted to complete this one first.

Closeup of patchwork detail and raw leather edges.

Same pattern, not boned, and made completely of scrap leather. And another craft off my list. I picked up 2 huge bags of scrap leather during the summer and had been using it slowly ever since. Wrist bands, fortune cookie charms, a belt (that I will finish soon! I swear..) and a couple necklaces, but this was the biggest thing I've ever made of leather and it was not only a learning experience but a test in patience. I've been working on this on and off since the summer! One thing I'm happy worked out with this patchwork style is that I wanted to not be able to see any seams, to not see where one piece of the lining ends, and the next piece of the pattern starts. Because of how I laid the leather pieces on, it looks like one big mass of form fitting leather. :)




PS: Every year after the holidays craftster comes out with a list of the top crafts of the year before, and I'm happy to say that my dinosaur necklace made the list! I'm so proud. :)


PPS: Sorry for the run on sentences in this post. I'm tired. And for the not great pictures of the last corset. After having worked on it this long, I just want to show it off already!

I wish I could.. Solder.

There's a lot of crafty things in general I wish I could do, but many I know I'll never put forth the effort to learn. One thing however I wish I could do is solder. I do plan on buying a soldering gun someday. Soldering is definitely one of those things I look at and think 'I could do that' (at least the simpler things, squares with stuff in the middle..).

Here's a few items I found that are so unbelievably inspiring for when that time comes.

First of all, I would absolutely NEED my soldering gun to look like this one.

I believe I mentioned their work in another post. I think its amazing. Etsy is here.

Etsy here.

Etsy here. I love that you can do whatever you want with soldering things. Abstract swirls? Sure!

Etsy here. 

Old books and letters (and heart shaped!). From this blog.

Skating and a Jewelry Stand

This morning the Mr and I went skating down on the Rideau Canal (AKA the worlds biggest skating rink). I haven't been skating in about 8 years! It was a bit difficult (especially on ill fitting rented skates) but it came back fast enough and was quite fun. :).

Mid-skate we stopped for beavertails (the store was set up on the ice). For those non-Canadian readers, its a ginormous pastry  (like, the size of my keyboard) with nummy toppings. Cinnamon and sugar, or maple butter (which is what I got) or nutella and bananas, garlic butter and cheese... Mmmmm.

~

I also finally got to hang up my jewelry holder today. (47 of 50 crafts remaining).

Using that large frame I picked up the other week at Value Village, I added a print on top of the damask background that was already in it. I then painted a whole bunch of mini clothes pins silver and glued them to the glass around the print. They work great! For the tinier things (rings and pendants) I can use the top row (and actually put them in the clothespins), the necklaces just get hung over top along the sides and across the bottom. I'm stoked that I don't have to leave my jewelry in a messy pile on the dresser anymore.

 

'Single Again' by Angelina Wrona. A few years ago I bought 4 of her prints. 2 ended up as Christmas presents, and 2 for myself. This is the first time I've gotten to properly hang one up. Her work is just amazing. 

I accidentally put the background in a little crooked, but you can't notice the small gap in the corner in real life. 

I'm tired after skating but I'm also feeling very inspired, so I think I will have a short nap then mix up some epoxy and see what comes of it. Until next time!

10,000 Views!

I woke up this morning to see that I had hit the 10,000 views mark and I am astounded! Thank you to everyone who reads/follows my blog, it means a lot to me. When I started writing this a few months ago I wasn't expecting this to take off so fast. Especially where I feel I've been lacking in interesting posts the past week from being sick.

Tonight I hope to get some stuff finished/hung on the wall/photographed to share with you, and that will help get me back into the swing of things.

In the meantime, I'd like to share a few things with you from the past week.

In trying to destash all my beads, I made this necklace. I've still got a lot of beads left but hopefully I can get them all used up (thus completing another 1 or 50 crafts :P)

Japanese artist Riusuke Fukahori paints on resin creating beautiful 3D paintings. I've never seen anything like it and I find it very inspiring. See the full article here.

A black macaque monkey steals a photographer's camera and takes its own picture. (Article here, can you tell yet how nerdy I am?)

For all the knitters out there (I assume its knitting, it's not in english..), this pattern for mittens looks old school with a hilarious twist. (Notice the deer?) It makes me want to learn to knit as I have absolutely no idea how to.

And lastly, this amazing mani from chalkboard nails is so colorful and inspiring. If you like nail art, you should check out her blog if you haven't seen it already. By far my favourite nail blog.

Uncrafty Times

I've been sick the past couple days, and took two days off work. Now, you'd think I'd be like 'Hey! Look at how much free time I have to sew!' but it was more like 'Hey! I have all the time in the world to sew, lets watch umpteen movies on the couch with a box of kleenex and a blanket.' Quite the lazy days, but I'm now on the upswing. (Which is better than I can say for my car, Turtle, who decided to kick the bucket this week. The muffler is completely detached :( poor thing..)

I did however get one thing finished, my jewelry holder, but I've yet to hang it as the wall I want to put it on, is concrete, and we've got to figure out a way to hang it there. It does look mighty fine though, if I do say so myself! ;).

Hopefully I'll get a couple pictures of it soon, I feel bad for having not posted in a few but I really haven't had the urge to do anything at all. Just wait till you see it though! I'm super happy with it and glad to have a place to keep my jewelry that isn't a giant pile.

Seashell Tea Lights

50 crafts of 2012 project. 48 remaining.

I've been wanting to make these for a while, but wasn't sure how to get the shells now that I'm not living on an island. If I was still back in the cape odds are I could go walking on any beach/boardwalk and find something suitable to try this with, though probably not the same size as what I lucked out and found the other day.

I`m stoked on how these came out and want to get some more wax to make more. I think these would look amazing as a centerpiece of a table in a long rectangle glass dish, filled with sand or maybe those tiny glass fishtank decorations.

Also, may I mention how amazing the song Sail is by Awolnation?? I know it's gotten increasingly popular lately and many people have already heard it, but I've listened to it many times already today after having forgotten about its existence. It's definitely getting my creative juices flowing. Saying that, I'm hoping to scratch another of my 50 crafts off the list tomorrow! Wish me luck on not procrastinating this anymore...

Gone Thriftin'

Yesterday I put visiting Value Village on my to do list and came home with a few fun things.

This smaller frame, which will probably hold one of my photographs within the nearish future (I'd love to have some of my photography on the walls).

This larger frame, which will either become a jewelry holder, or just get used as a frame (I'm undecided..)

These silicon icecube trays, which I will test out as epoxy molds. I don't know if it'll work without mold release but I'm willing to try! (That stuff is EXPENSIVE and I don't want to spend my money on it if I don't have to!)

And these shells, which are on my list of 50 crafts.. You'll see what they become!

Over all I thought it was pretty good for $20, considering the black frame is really good quality. AND I got a bunch of supplies in the mail the past couple days. A whole bunch of jump rings, clasps, chains and shoe clips. Have you seen shoe clips yet? I think they're so great and I want to make some :). I won't really get to use them until the spring/summer but I'm willing to wait.

So on I go to craft away, I'll show you soon what I end up with!

Katimavik: For young lovers of travel and making a difference.

Stanley Park, Vancouver BC

My first time visiting Ottawa, hugging the giant spider statue.

I know I've mentioned a few times about how I participated in a program called Katimavik, but I wanted to tell you guys a bit more about it since I really think its a great program.



Its a 9 month long program where you travel in a group of ~10 across Canada, living in 2 english areas and 1 french area for approx 3 months each. While you are there, you do 35-40 hours volunteer work for non profit organizations, and evenings/weekends are spend doing group things and other volunteer stuff (we did everything from dancing, to glass bead making, helping with a tattoo/body mod art show, to working at an organic farm for a day..). The groups are made up from youth (17-21) from across Canada, divided up between provinces. (For example, only one Maritimer in each group, then we had 4 from Qc, a couple from On, etc, etc).



When I did it, it didn't cost anything to do except $20 to insure your stuff and for a couple pre-voyage things, and all your travelling, food and lodging is paid for, plus you get a couple dollars a day (it used to be $3, now I believe its $5). It isn't much, but it's enough to get you a couple drinks on the weekend, or what have you.

Getting ready for a halloween parade, where we did thriller through the streets.

When I participated I lived in Carleton Place, On; Shawinigan, Qc; and Kamloops, BC. I worked in a thrift store which raised money for a womens shelter, a historical museum, a Salvation Army foodbank & thrift store, and a centre for elderly/persons with multiple medical conditions.



You also get to plan weekend trips with your budget, so we got to travel to Ottawa, On; Montreal and Quebec City, Qc; and Victoria and Vancouver, BC, visiting museums, historical sites, going to interesting restaurants, hikes, with free time to do things like shopping and checking out local clubs.

Second language plays a big part in this program, so while you're in the area of your second language, you get tutoring to help you get by. Doing this program made me realize how much I loved the french language and I eventually went to university for it and it was one of the best decisions I made for myself.

And if you think 'hey, all I'm getting out of this is $3 ($5?) a day? Screw that..' You get so much more than that. Friends I'm still in contact with 5 years later, an amazing volunteer section on my resume, so many stories and learning experiences (hey, remember that time we took raw fish camping in BC and saw that bear? Or that time we got locked inside the bank? Or that time we thought it'd be cool to go door to door with cookies to give to our neighbours and kept having half naked people open the doors?) and if you complete the program, you get a $1000 bursary. Which is pretty sweet, but honestly didn't feel as good as knowing I was one of the people that didn't quit, didn't give up, even when things got hard and the snow was as high as the house and you couldn't see out the windows and I wanted to punch all my housemates..

Yes, there's some rules, and a project leader in each city to enforce them (you can get warnings, and can get kicked out, but it takes a lot), its a house full of sneaky young adults and you learn ways to get away with things. There are also 2 groups in your general area (1-2 hours away) that you make visits with on a semi frequently basis.



If anyone wants more information, feel free to contact me for the cold hard truth, or check out http://katimavik.org/ for all their information.

The organic farm.