Update... it's been awhile

I finally completed an actual project on the new sewing machine (pictures coming soon). Most people would probably be embarrassed by this project but I am filled with pride! It's terrible really but I love it -- my very first sewing project! I had this holiday pot holder lying around and so I decided to dissect it and steal the batting for a new project. I bought some pretty cheap but cute fabric at Jo-Ann's a couple of weeks ago when I first got the machine and thought I would try a pot holder as my first project.

I learned two very important lessons while tackling this last night: 1) I probably should have stuck with square/rectangular shapes until my skills improve and 2) I have NO IDEA how to sew piping? -- the fabric that goes around the border of the potholder. This monstrosity is just so cute...

I have collected the addresses for beaucoup de garage sales this weekend and I am thinking about trying to make it an early morning so I can try and catch some goodies! I probably shouldn't be doing this because we are finally getting the house clean again --- but how can I resist? So many potential craft substrates at such nice prices!

I think I might also swing by Michael's on my way home to pick up some YES! paste and Mod Podge so I can give this tutorial a whirl! I will probably use one of the fabrics I picked up from Funky Fabrix (see older post).

Hopefully I will have a new report by the end of the weekend!!!

Jolly Project #3: Splatter chairs!

We have a neighbor who keeps placing perfectly good items out on his lawn as trash --- now his collection of trash is slowly taking over our garage! A few weekends ago Steve was passing by and noticed two modern chairs just sitting out on the lawn and rescued them from garbage dump doom. In my excitement to repaint the backs of the chairs yesterday, I forgot to take the "before" shots. The chairs have chrome frames with some synthetic black fabric on the seats (all in perfect condition) and had darkly-stained wood backs.

Over the weekend I sat out on the porch in the gorgeous weather and sanded down most of the stain (150 grit). It was a pretty windy day so I dusted them off and put them back in the garage until a less windy day rolled around. Yesterday's experiments in the lab went to hell so I decided to give myself a few extra hours in the afternoon (i.e., I played hooky and went home). Even though it was just as windy, I couldn't wait any longer to paint! Two wooden chair backs, one can of black spray paint, one can of black with silver metallic particles paint, a paint brush, and the leftover "Atomic Vomit Green" Nickelodeon indoor paint from our guest bathroom = NEW SPLATTER CHAIR BACKS!

That's Emma in the background hunting for lizards -- she's an awesome "Gainesville Brown Dog"!!

It's hard to get a feel for the splatter color from these pictures but it's really bright green!

Excuse the oversized bike box in the background and coiled up bike chain under the chair --- that's a pretty good example of our world --- bikes, bike parts, bike lights, etc. EVERYWHERE!

That box belongs to our brand new babies -- Specialized S-Works Enduro Pro -- amazing full suspension bikes that we got a smoking deal on. Sorry, non-craft tangent there.

PS -- The Janome Hello Kitty sewing machine came in the mail yesterday!!! I am intimidated, I won't lie. I picked up an illustrated learn to sew book yesterday that should help, and I think I need to make a run to Jo-Ann to pick up all of the sewing basic tools.

Jolly Project #2: Dragonfly bud vase

Today I tackled my first etched glass project! This was really a "right out of the box" kind of project because I decided to buy the dragonfly stencil, Armour Etch, bud vases, and brush at Michael's. I had big plans to draw out my own stencil but I figured I would take it easy on the learning project. To be honest, this is a pretty easy task -- follow the directions on the stencil/etch and go. The only thing I experimented with was leaving the etch on for a little longer than instructed and that didn't seem to really have an effect. I read a few tutorials/blogs and everyone mentioned being generous with the Etch to avoid streaks and/or inconsistent etching. My first vase came out perfectly (pictured above) and will be delivered to my mom this coming weekend. The second vase had a more interesting design but, unfortunately, I was a little too generous with the etch and a little bit smeared off the tape and onto virgin glass --> small etch smear. This will will stay at our house where I will obsess over the boo-boo until I have the time to make a new one!


For anyone looking to take on an incredibly easy project with minimal time consumption, this is the one for you! I was pretty surprised at how easy it was. Next time I am going to buy the contact paper and make my own stencils.

The next project will be repainting the wooden backs on the chairs I mentioned in the last post. I sanded them down to get a nice rough surface on which I can paint but it was a little windy today and I had to forgo the painting. Next weekend we are headed back home for a friend's wedding so I probably won't get to tackle a new Jolly Project until the weekend of 26th!

Hello Kitty!!!!!

This is my new baby! I know what you're probably thinking -- that looks like a toy! Seriously, this machine has received rave reviews! Let me back things up a little... I have NEVER touched a sewing machine in my life. I can barely sew a button on by hand. This has always been a goal and I decided to make it one of my 2008 resolutions so here it goes! I picked up this adorable little thing on ebay for around $65 with S&H. It's a 3/4 machine but apparently works really well. I'm just a beginner and I think this will suffice for quite awhile. I found a really neat fabric store (Funky Fabrix) and looking at all those amazing fabrics just made me REALLY want to be able to sew. I think I put the cart before the horse a little because I ended up winning an auction on ebay for some really amazing fabric:





So there I was... purchasing fabric with no real plans. I figured it was a sign... buy a sewing machine once and for all. I am guessing it will arrive early next week! More to come once I get it up and running.

Jolly Project #1: Purple Planter

Well, where to begin...
I have struggled to find a hobby for most of my life and it is only in the last few years that I have come to realize that I need to let my creative juices do their magic. The combination of job-related boredom/monotony and frequent financial crunches made crafting an ideal solution. It all began with painting. I don't exactly remember what inspired me to start painting but over the course of about a year I have become pretty comfortable with my "style." However, there were times that painting just didn't quite satisfy my creative urges, and I didn't know what I needed to do with all of that pent up energy. I happened upon a neat magazine called "ReadyMade" and the rest is history...

You won't be seeing too many fabric-based projects any time soon because I don't know how to sew (although this is one of the '08 resolutions). Aside from painting canvases and bathrooms, I will call the purple planter my first official craft project. Last weekend I attended the Kanapaha Spring Festival and picked up a few succulents. I was in the market for a planter and I realized that would be a good project. This past Saturday I hit up the garage sales with the in-laws (as of this coming November) and picked up a few neat treasures for a mere $35 (hardwood desk, bookshelf, modern cube shelving, bazooka bubble gum lunchbox, small gardening tools, top-loading rolling file cabinet, etc). I will post more about these treasures as they become projects.

One of the items that I found this weekend was a set of four camp cookware pots ($1). When I came home from garage sale-ing I decided that I wanted to paint one of the pots and use it as a planter for the new succulents. Behold the new purple planter (see above)!!! I wiped the pot down with a paper towel and applied a base coat of the color "Iris" spray paint and topped it with sprays of metallic silver, and then finally a few layers of clear acrylic (inside and out). The purple looks more like blue in the picture but I think that resulted from the flash reacting with the silver sparkles.

Now every time I walk in the kitchen I look out the window onto our sun porch and smile at the new planter. Hooray for project #1!