tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40172482716185566252024-03-18T19:41:06.793-07:00Handwerk BKLYNArts and crafts for homes and humans.Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-90702326091901930992011-10-04T07:29:00.000-07:002011-10-04T07:37:20.255-07:00It's Called a Tech Problem10:30: For some reason an iPad won't give a scroll bar for blog windows. Oh well. <br />
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Martha is still in the kitchen making an apple cake. She is really cracking on Alexis. Who knew she had such a good sense of humor? Her appearances on Conan were not a fluke.<br />
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10:39: We won't get to actually try the cake and soup, but we will get the recipes for free. I can guarantee that rookies will demand that apple-nut cake.Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-33591172966201092042011-10-04T06:49:00.000-07:002011-10-04T07:20:01.720-07:00Live from the Martha Stewart show!!!!Hello my intrepid, Super Crafters!<br />
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I am so very happy to be coming to you from THE crafting Mecca--the Martha Stewart Show!!!!<br />
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I'll be updating until about 11:30 am on the blog and Tweeting @HandwerkBKLYN, in addition Tweet chatting at tweet chat.<br />
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9:54: Martha is only moments from Martha. And they just let us tour!<br />
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10:06: Alexis's book is not an autobiography! Repeat, the book is not an autobiography!<br />
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10:09: Even Martha believe's that people should stay home and craft.<br />
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10:10: Demo on crackle paint. It can be a messy project, but it looks like the Martha products make it simple. Two steps! The crackle base and the paint overlay.<br />
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10:15: Martha's in the kitchen, but I'm wondering what I'm going to make with the Martha Stewart acrylic paint.<br />
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Walking into the studio there was a HUGE photo of the new <a href="http://marthastewart.lionbrand.com/">Martha Stewart yarns</a> from Lion Brand and I got sudden urge to knit. "Must knit now."Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-25023654269612122052011-09-29T14:35:00.000-07:002011-09-29T14:35:24.136-07:00Set Those DVRs!Greetings, Super Crafters! Boy, do I have some great news for you.<br />
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It should come as no surprise that I have an admiration of Martha Stewart. She may be a symbol of suburban perfection, but the woman is amazingly talented, imaginative, and ambitious! She is definitely one of my role models as I begin my arts and crafts business adventure.<br />
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That is why I am sooooo excited to announce that Handwerk BKLYN has been invited to live blog an episode of 'The Martha Stewart Show' during National Crafts Week!!!<br />
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Next Tuesday, October 4th, from 8 am to 11:30 am Handwerk BKLYN's very first intrepid correspondent, Amanda Jayne, will be gleefully updating the whole Martha Experience.<br />
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There will be more details this weekend on Tuesday morning about the live blogging and the air date of the episode we will be covering. Until then, stay crafty.Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-77854845645954074902011-09-28T18:54:00.000-07:002011-09-29T18:16:46.170-07:00It's To Dye For<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.2164995763450861" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like most people, when you see an item of clothing you like in a store, online, or in a magazine, you look to see if they have it in a different color. Maybe it’s the cute little red dress that you’d rather have in black or it’s the last t-shirt in your size that looks amazing on you, but all they have is plain, old white when all you really want is a shirt in the </span><a href="http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20821&ca=4"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pantone color of the year</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Honeysuckle!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If either of these scenarios have ever happened to you, then you are a person who does not know how to dye fabric.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can understand why dying fabric or yarn can be scary for people. Dying fabric is like baking—an exact science that doesn’t lend well to experimentation if you don’t know the basics. What many people don’t know, though, is that, unlike baking, dying is also as easy as boiling water for a cup of noodles. All it takes is the ability to precisely follow the directions on the package.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To show you, my dedicated super crafters, how easy dying can be I took pictures of the dying process for a personal knitting project, a sweater from the book </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Big-Girl-Knits-Projects-Shaped/dp/B005HKMQ7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317162564&sr=8-1"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Big Girl Knits</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s a little background: I found an absolutely adorable pencil skirt in Lane Bryant, but the tops that matched it were all quite expensive. Being on a budget, I decided to make my own top to match it. So it was off to my yarn stash to find the yarn! Unfortunately, the pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn and I mainly knit in DK or worsted weights. (Basically, for all you non-knitters, the pattern yarn would be a size 2, but the yarn in my stash are mostly 8s, 10s, and 12s.) What could a Super Crafter, then, but jump on the internet and start Googling yarns?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The pattern size that I am making calls for nearly 500 grams of yarn, so I knew that I would be getting a heck of a lot of yarn and budget was still a very real issue. While there are many beautiful yarns out there in the colors that I wanted, the yarn that met the bulk and budget mandates was </span><a href="http://www.lionbrand.com/yarns/lb1878.html"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lion Brand LB 1878</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. The only problem? It didn’t come in the color I wanted—deep pumpkin orange. The solution? That’s right, dye it!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some of the benefits for choosing to dye this yarn:</span><br />
<ul><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LB 1878 is 100% wool, so the color will be more true than if I were dying a blended fabric like cotton/acrylic.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By dying the yarn I have more control over the final color outcome.</span></li>
</ul><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now here are the downsides:</span><br />
<ul><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dying anything is messy, so be careful. Keep paper towels and, most importantly, bleach in easy reaching distance to clean messes.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dying is toxic. Unless you’re using Kool-Aid or soy-based dyes, the dye you work with will be dangerous in some way. Be careful not to get it in your mouth (wear a dust mask to keep out powder in the air) or on your skin (I don’t care what the designers on ‘Project Runway’ do, wear rubber gloves!) Last, but not least, do not mix or heat the dye mixture in anything that will be used for food (buy a separate stock pot, measuring spoons, and wooden spoons.)</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dying is not fool proof. No matter how well you prep the fabric and follow the directions, something might go wrong. Try to think of these moments as “happy accidents” and see how you can work with them.</span></li>
</ul><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay. Saying all of that, here is the step-by-step:</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFcjH8ooHGTIV9-c3gRsu87ls7D1XoeI0uhzJvbtFbhC7kgKHQ1cO2kQUfOFmkj-auw0O8-DGC9HJVAcGTsrTi_rBZMZLTvFjDGmg9dpH9RKYsPllw2tGTDmvK3XrIBEgML1Jhyphenhyphenq3yO_w/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFcjH8ooHGTIV9-c3gRsu87ls7D1XoeI0uhzJvbtFbhC7kgKHQ1cO2kQUfOFmkj-auw0O8-DGC9HJVAcGTsrTi_rBZMZLTvFjDGmg9dpH9RKYsPllw2tGTDmvK3XrIBEgML1Jhyphenhyphenq3yO_w/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 1: Choose your color. I visited the <a href="http://www.ritdye.com/colorit_color_formula_guide">Rit website</a> to find a color and I chose Orange #98.<br />
To achieve the color, I mix one part Sunshine Orange with one part Tangerine.<br />
Since I had so much yarn, I used a whole package of each.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNsgmW0j7fa6sjMLQ7DyxI2GuUxqc1epbI5-JUh6kxjm8cO-oep2u5i_dYheGk9tayGCAV1C9pflJ6kMs5yFc_uItaBE6rtf9g2GV9X7b-CIYJrPYbx2G3_w0eTvOCwnLbWBniuj7AiXv/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWNsgmW0j7fa6sjMLQ7DyxI2GuUxqc1epbI5-JUh6kxjm8cO-oep2u5i_dYheGk9tayGCAV1C9pflJ6kMs5yFc_uItaBE6rtf9g2GV9X7b-CIYJrPYbx2G3_w0eTvOCwnLbWBniuj7AiXv/s320/2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of my basic dying tools: a pair of thick rubber gloves, a long wooden spoon, and a thermometer (I used what I had, which was a meat thermometer.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTBVWs-rCw9t8xJTvWsNCcv1D1_qx53wqQR7fn1wYWxVfSGaxwv5KWKt_tSv4HDNZ18f0i13HIN_CwDeg26hkAJrKix9VaQCNMftHgsbjNP5ygxFlpNr3FAx_x8pe1ZcmeIPtiznR4rXP/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTBVWs-rCw9t8xJTvWsNCcv1D1_qx53wqQR7fn1wYWxVfSGaxwv5KWKt_tSv4HDNZ18f0i13HIN_CwDeg26hkAJrKix9VaQCNMftHgsbjNP5ygxFlpNr3FAx_x8pe1ZcmeIPtiznR4rXP/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While you are preparing the dye mixture, prep the material that is going to be dyed by soaking it in hot tap water. Squeeze the material to make sure that the water penetrates all of the fibers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSjTvrY9eYckkv76H7c7u40njhPHMxX__YGaU2LpNy88K-bZkX1ltK5MxGUhFKiMWjhER_PDpQPTucfL7Llw-afJdWXEH_oTqN1dcG-jcUxoWCuKjdB-EeOYkZ2cjrXzi_mxxqWYF3wWs/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSjTvrY9eYckkv76H7c7u40njhPHMxX__YGaU2LpNy88K-bZkX1ltK5MxGUhFKiMWjhER_PDpQPTucfL7Llw-afJdWXEH_oTqN1dcG-jcUxoWCuKjdB-EeOYkZ2cjrXzi_mxxqWYF3wWs/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get a large—very large—the bigger, the better—stock pot. It doesn't need to be top of the line, either. I found this pot at my local dollar store. It holds about three gallons of water.<br />
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Fill the stock pot with the recommended amount of water. As it turned out, for the amount of yarn I was dying, three gallons of water is exactly what was needed. Once the pot is filled, start boiling the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFo1DgMY2KEgewh1FICER4epQpuoKeB7K3WYQXjBmvTeVwqOKEEKBGonDPTaIJ-kQv4hwRnuT3ZoxwFG1wEMYbUByobHrRLvxc_idQlj783K7feAvjhyBtBlge8RGltS1VPdB4vJhe6Zs/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFo1DgMY2KEgewh1FICER4epQpuoKeB7K3WYQXjBmvTeVwqOKEEKBGonDPTaIJ-kQv4hwRnuT3ZoxwFG1wEMYbUByobHrRLvxc_idQlj783K7feAvjhyBtBlge8RGltS1VPdB4vJhe6Zs/s320/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's where the thermometer comes into use. Use it to check the temperature of the water while it boils. You'll want the temperature to be around 140 degrees; anything hotter may damage the material you're dying.<br />
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Once the desired temperature is achieved, reduce the burner so the water maintains a simmer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah6PEnzyAwCgJkOHiDmt7hJ_wGPD1UWcRjNA2eLbIZ0U8L7-Fom-OgQ5h5SbgclxU2ZDzuO6UrUw6hMQGwnjO0OCxGIaA-d18l13nM8S5mHR6ycAHwaP1WNZD_v4or5NYvMB6lV7iK8T3/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjah6PEnzyAwCgJkOHiDmt7hJ_wGPD1UWcRjNA2eLbIZ0U8L7-Fom-OgQ5h5SbgclxU2ZDzuO6UrUw6hMQGwnjO0OCxGIaA-d18l13nM8S5mHR6ycAHwaP1WNZD_v4or5NYvMB6lV7iK8T3/s320/6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While your water is heating up, you'll want to mix your colors. Pour your packages of dye into a container that—IMPORTANT!—is not going to be used for food after you mix the dye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0GoFsr8dAtBQBeHR2qnjIAn-pbO6YJHHpuceP623jIETycpwmzgThcH7hyajYB4Ie9e1r_mVuJljLt1d3BXk-lVcFcZ5v3qqFzC0WYMJj0Bo6NgRtrCYWI2maEv5btEjPdOeXeAmmGxV/s1600/7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0GoFsr8dAtBQBeHR2qnjIAn-pbO6YJHHpuceP623jIETycpwmzgThcH7hyajYB4Ie9e1r_mVuJljLt1d3BXk-lVcFcZ5v3qqFzC0WYMJj0Bo6NgRtrCYWI2maEv5btEjPdOeXeAmmGxV/s320/7.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add about two cups of really hot tap water. If your tap water doesn't get very hot on its own, heat up the water in the microwave. The hotter the water, the easier to dissolve the powder. <b>SUPER CRAFTER HINT:</b> <b>If there is one point of this process where you wear the face mask, this is that point. Trust me, there is nothing grosser than tasting toxic powder floating in the air.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXMS-HzSVxwawIUySpMK1AhW3h3nO3AF2_SP-VeKqe3ZpzD7RoXYTFsZv6SaczB8-mioobEI68-s3GSH5baeuSgk212RFSFhOzAc5C2fm13uopFeyDF6DCjQ2UoEbooDXf5RxK_rQamTn/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXMS-HzSVxwawIUySpMK1AhW3h3nO3AF2_SP-VeKqe3ZpzD7RoXYTFsZv6SaczB8-mioobEI68-s3GSH5baeuSgk212RFSFhOzAc5C2fm13uopFeyDF6DCjQ2UoEbooDXf5RxK_rQamTn/s320/8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stir your dye mixture until the powder is completely dissolved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm0YhISa5fTpaThbHGiVeYqsxPiRGk4pgYhQiIysPPijkjZrz2Y7umeiJFxSpXaIk9fqBWbvvlZmSiS5ILf0dLac_UoJ5eN-fiF7DlzrLizEVF0GFEh0mPexCDOUXDIkTFrqVjyPI2scR/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm0YhISa5fTpaThbHGiVeYqsxPiRGk4pgYhQiIysPPijkjZrz2Y7umeiJFxSpXaIk9fqBWbvvlZmSiS5ILf0dLac_UoJ5eN-fiF7DlzrLizEVF0GFEh0mPexCDOUXDIkTFrqVjyPI2scR/s320/9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the powder is dissolved and your water is simmering at the correct temperature, pour the dye concentrate into the boiling water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIAXinqgEWXZQp62FfG_3jhbUbaq5_KlWy7lYeXGmlpWx0R-vJsPlH037BERN3bJW-n31l6fnjg3bxxibve0EQ46IAQ7Po0SIRrS_1zHMOFFPACEAssTGLz53lybqu-_EQe-L19wb7bLx/s1600/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIAXinqgEWXZQp62FfG_3jhbUbaq5_KlWy7lYeXGmlpWx0R-vJsPlH037BERN3bJW-n31l6fnjg3bxxibve0EQ46IAQ7Po0SIRrS_1zHMOFFPACEAssTGLz53lybqu-_EQe-L19wb7bLx/s320/11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stir the pot ;)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGvuXMymuLa0TvgbHQUDOVN-I1-aRuPNwAFpDT0u_5rq-TiqWPLGgJyYlBlPckQa1RJBjRlh99Z46bVg6pU4k0MTz1-bs95_0Z7V9M8qegIXyoFBeyxGZ9PjUPtq2ulY7vHx33U5cPWNa/s1600/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGvuXMymuLa0TvgbHQUDOVN-I1-aRuPNwAFpDT0u_5rq-TiqWPLGgJyYlBlPckQa1RJBjRlh99Z46bVg6pU4k0MTz1-bs95_0Z7V9M8qegIXyoFBeyxGZ9PjUPtq2ulY7vHx33U5cPWNa/s320/12.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is completely normal if you get a weird pastel foam on the surface.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganbrApEP5Ra1v8cIHV3AVeFJ4CLWJLy9Sljb-O4LzVW8iyTuf4FMniRn9U0U5tKpZgIf6OgVRGWmP_xSxWu3UNflQrqJyRpF4rOvjkYGAXvj0K27kH4DG8MkapNF8coFwahjruX3INejR/s1600/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganbrApEP5Ra1v8cIHV3AVeFJ4CLWJLy9Sljb-O4LzVW8iyTuf4FMniRn9U0U5tKpZgIf6OgVRGWmP_xSxWu3UNflQrqJyRpF4rOvjkYGAXvj0K27kH4DG8MkapNF8coFwahjruX3INejR/s320/13.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remove the material from the soaking bucket...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5JxCYr8GgU_QClLvHmWhTZtk44MPaUkO4bH9dryfNIbVtEs08Vn32ijHkpewFFWdFR-qUhvmMR70aqiSAfcE7Gpv2uYkNsdTa77Bjr8Q3ruwGf8_ptznRAahxdLe153NzhdHT47dw0tb/s1600/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5JxCYr8GgU_QClLvHmWhTZtk44MPaUkO4bH9dryfNIbVtEs08Vn32ijHkpewFFWdFR-qUhvmMR70aqiSAfcE7Gpv2uYkNsdTa77Bjr8Q3ruwGf8_ptznRAahxdLe153NzhdHT47dw0tb/s320/14.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...squeeze out the excess water...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gnIsVKn1IdJuBkGVpQvWL8oibywzGFF8R972goz1D5spWfK4_rLpd5Hg_ElCZ7-2uwa3uiOpHHtjVWhp2gCU4sxRb-UX9Eix_sB6zJZJ3E75UpnsT2LjC62nmIFlqxBWu2d-9cmUF_yc/s1600/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0gnIsVKn1IdJuBkGVpQvWL8oibywzGFF8R972goz1D5spWfK4_rLpd5Hg_ElCZ7-2uwa3uiOpHHtjVWhp2gCU4sxRb-UX9Eix_sB6zJZJ3E75UpnsT2LjC62nmIFlqxBWu2d-9cmUF_yc/s320/15.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and keep squeezing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxoxEQ1lJbqI-NrfAWqx-qLXYaqULgo8oZMfsn_MO104EhAWy7Qh9erYPxidqgATkLhGAcsH95Z_aBxrN3lp11PHknPRQDGejXgDxQ-BHjK6KykIaF72JzoozNlLgjRtYaR1Xbv6fNHTy/s1600/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxoxEQ1lJbqI-NrfAWqx-qLXYaqULgo8oZMfsn_MO104EhAWy7Qh9erYPxidqgATkLhGAcsH95Z_aBxrN3lp11PHknPRQDGejXgDxQ-BHjK6KykIaF72JzoozNlLgjRtYaR1Xbv6fNHTy/s320/16.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and squeezing (my roommate got a little camera happy, but she got some great shots so it's totally coolsville.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysbNUQWwg75lwTSIEStt66cRKIoDNToPYVRyIThlxijU23ciYge-32VaQKlmdIvjsiig6BvliLJMcdtn9WhK7BDvfo3epSCpSk3QOnERD3p20ZCynTj-g8-2afxRODvMuN7omwCwllgbP/s1600/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysbNUQWwg75lwTSIEStt66cRKIoDNToPYVRyIThlxijU23ciYge-32VaQKlmdIvjsiig6BvliLJMcdtn9WhK7BDvfo3epSCpSk3QOnERD3p20ZCynTj-g8-2afxRODvMuN7omwCwllgbP/s320/17.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully lower the material into the dye vat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBxfhgLDa-48iy0JShnkWQ4Kqt1JIwoahaVamkbyg9stDQt5e1mc7MrlVEt606dLwJ8MsGy1Rv6Uz4wpydGUI2RO0e2EOYCsQ16Ku4bi4oa8WTFZlTwldoSn0YWK7JmU1Ob1QHrEeb_lR/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBxfhgLDa-48iy0JShnkWQ4Kqt1JIwoahaVamkbyg9stDQt5e1mc7MrlVEt606dLwJ8MsGy1Rv6Uz4wpydGUI2RO0e2EOYCsQ16Ku4bi4oa8WTFZlTwldoSn0YWK7JmU1Ob1QHrEeb_lR/s320/18.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And keep an eye on the water level. Seconds after N took this photo, the dye mixture spilled over the side of the pot and I had to do some emergency stove cleaning. Thankfully, I had an old rag towel on hand and my bottle of Clorox spray cleaner nearby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2BVCureeesys7Cw4OI_iuDxMCAH9lAeiRgNH0HVMaIY_vkc7L_2Coh97Z6iH5XxHe3H0bPm7h2yllpSVb2qp7Rj2T8jOj8js4e5UOGalVD3rL0Ndola7Qh5DGuLgOlRyamTVLN5sKIr/s1600/19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMt2BVCureeesys7Cw4OI_iuDxMCAH9lAeiRgNH0HVMaIY_vkc7L_2Coh97Z6iH5XxHe3H0bPm7h2yllpSVb2qp7Rj2T8jOj8js4e5UOGalVD3rL0Ndola7Qh5DGuLgOlRyamTVLN5sKIr/s320/19.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fabric will want to float at first...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-C6D6_YyN9k2l0M-NRNB-PKLqKhykHJ84T7wILvKZzEIxUBmJNShs6NoQZIhmhKwaT1dYBCOg8d32DxywFqbnymKxjdW551sfxrnLIzaxpN5U1cp8mD_XjAyn13xYhi1jb-CoWgdIjUK/s1600/20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-C6D6_YyN9k2l0M-NRNB-PKLqKhykHJ84T7wILvKZzEIxUBmJNShs6NoQZIhmhKwaT1dYBCOg8d32DxywFqbnymKxjdW551sfxrnLIzaxpN5U1cp8mD_XjAyn13xYhi1jb-CoWgdIjUK/s320/20.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...so use your trusty long, wooden spoon to stir the material and press it down gently into the pot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWPmGuG9oB0fzYS6OgSn3DpTFXVLlRtGZqtQrnr6bTBEYVPRvzeFFeUzXsHe7BRFXMURARGdKJBvYgq_NrCcOhnS8suIXjY0yNQ0lUisKLbBvX0hWptu6hI8NEkkYdMfXzUaLE-eefMg0/s1600/21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWPmGuG9oB0fzYS6OgSn3DpTFXVLlRtGZqtQrnr6bTBEYVPRvzeFFeUzXsHe7BRFXMURARGdKJBvYgq_NrCcOhnS8suIXjY0yNQ0lUisKLbBvX0hWptu6hI8NEkkYdMfXzUaLE-eefMg0/s320/21.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Continue to press, turn, and stir the material in the pot. To help the color set better, add one cup of white vinegar to dye vat five minutes after the material has been added.<br />
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Continue to stir the vat for the next 30-60 minutes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Vi7Ty59LJSJ6tS9ixlPux_6C2RSIPko0ifsGG5LOns_fmzKUlD6qO_lecWOwUy__VW5Yra_G1yws7Kj0iQFsn3fuIrRjzDN3nA0sVahi6rws8g1nZdWy1dMehXhJ-a-1bm9kbs-vuo7/s1600/22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_Vi7Ty59LJSJ6tS9ixlPux_6C2RSIPko0ifsGG5LOns_fmzKUlD6qO_lecWOwUy__VW5Yra_G1yws7Kj0iQFsn3fuIrRjzDN3nA0sVahi6rws8g1nZdWy1dMehXhJ-a-1bm9kbs-vuo7/s320/22.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every once and a while, use your spoon to lift the material to check the color. <b>SUPER CRAFTER FACTOID: Color—whether it's a piece of fabric or a freshly painted wall—will look darker when wet. Even with my old, sub-par camera, this color looks more like Ronald McDonald hair than a fresh, Fall pumpkin. I am not worried, though, because I know that the color will change once the yarn dries.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZUEksxSL-TJweRLiiEKN1UhOYMPDMN4g2YikI1g8TTytT931YLSFZIh9ZVpGziF02X50msVJvI6B5u3cQwmtppTeZ02Aqv9fQj82FN9JuhEjgMe_yyP7R_R5yCXgU3jN3nnnZJpn3hZA/s1600/23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZUEksxSL-TJweRLiiEKN1UhOYMPDMN4g2YikI1g8TTytT931YLSFZIh9ZVpGziF02X50msVJvI6B5u3cQwmtppTeZ02Aqv9fQj82FN9JuhEjgMe_yyP7R_R5yCXgU3jN3nnnZJpn3hZA/s320/23.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the material has soaked in the vat for an hour or more, take the pot to the sink and pour out as much excess mixture as possible while keeping the material in the pot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaulpq1Q_5cO9HdiPe2SRM_7fv4nVM6yu7d3rNi1-TAPSt28SvTYlWuKZzbl_T32h4puJJV376V1LYYaTe5eUCE5sNh3gKObdR8mWdzbTq58LthVl5_3k5sDGn1lVgGEbSElOK5cYqYbH/s320/25.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Begin rinsing out the material, starting with hot tap water and gradually adding cold water until it's just cold water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaulpq1Q_5cO9HdiPe2SRM_7fv4nVM6yu7d3rNi1-TAPSt28SvTYlWuKZzbl_T32h4puJJV376V1LYYaTe5eUCE5sNh3gKObdR8mWdzbTq58LthVl5_3k5sDGn1lVgGEbSElOK5cYqYbH/s1600/25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaulpq1Q_5cO9HdiPe2SRM_7fv4nVM6yu7d3rNi1-TAPSt28SvTYlWuKZzbl_T32h4puJJV376V1LYYaTe5eUCE5sNh3gKObdR8mWdzbTq58LthVl5_3k5sDGn1lVgGEbSElOK5cYqYbH/s1600/25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9yHiVS0ggUMEyMI7FYoAxjeak-_hqVMZCPhyphenhyphenbYUBAJ4dLydqgCmpzKhilJzaDlfC4zqB9l4BiMo2bNZUuFuhAiYtTDiilAZ_2A7VsBkCqJL8OxhIM0kjvirMPvuqDsWzpyn9WY1x2if6/s1600/26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9yHiVS0ggUMEyMI7FYoAxjeak-_hqVMZCPhyphenhyphenbYUBAJ4dLydqgCmpzKhilJzaDlfC4zqB9l4BiMo2bNZUuFuhAiYtTDiilAZ_2A7VsBkCqJL8OxhIM0kjvirMPvuqDsWzpyn9WY1x2if6/s320/26.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agitate the material to remove the excess dye, then pour the water out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6NRfHzTc_uffKCgR57G8m8qGMEKtOCfbgUVFNwo8E1HrQzDkNkSB6g3TeMTXup8CEToxWPdrbrFxAVHbyauewAmik0ClR1dTLA609ljyymilFXlboL34gfIsXnd-hQ0UAz2L8gqXfMrc/s1600/27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6NRfHzTc_uffKCgR57G8m8qGMEKtOCfbgUVFNwo8E1HrQzDkNkSB6g3TeMTXup8CEToxWPdrbrFxAVHbyauewAmik0ClR1dTLA609ljyymilFXlboL34gfIsXnd-hQ0UAz2L8gqXfMrc/s320/27.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Continue to add water, agitate the material, and pour out the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqw1s1imH8_k3u3luStafMOpwxoFsgBvPfScHul4wRZZOT52B7NqxyA-d8jZJ49sLkrrISPLe3NWMqiJZEM3QR8EP9-CpK8NbRi6PVVsZo8OOudTDCeQY5M-hnKWIRCLzD3xO10OH0PyrQ/s1600/29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqw1s1imH8_k3u3luStafMOpwxoFsgBvPfScHul4wRZZOT52B7NqxyA-d8jZJ49sLkrrISPLe3NWMqiJZEM3QR8EP9-CpK8NbRi6PVVsZo8OOudTDCeQY5M-hnKWIRCLzD3xO10OH0PyrQ/s320/29.JPG" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When it looks like all of the dye is out of the material squeeze out the excess water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHG-7j36gI9_MDrXdKCdEQAepVN51n1MfT4IXGKetnwgHUmIAsaPlgk9_KLEoPN16O2lQe-MODh_fMrjNsLPTqUbg6KSpW9HYkcsMZC14G_juqDSLFllPSLG9RTl7OTSGC_7yT9xAT8jn/s1600/30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHG-7j36gI9_MDrXdKCdEQAepVN51n1MfT4IXGKetnwgHUmIAsaPlgk9_KLEoPN16O2lQe-MODh_fMrjNsLPTqUbg6KSpW9HYkcsMZC14G_juqDSLFllPSLG9RTl7OTSGC_7yT9xAT8jn/s320/30.JPG" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to run the material under the tap a little more to just make sure it's out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKdC2CFi12I7D9twyZ1IZgvC-3vCmGZ3jxPPICmMi4MiJjyCcLdVatOmwUv_Bv1c74H5ejlAteyEUHmy-HDXzmlp1SHVKzr-YVEEyFzDMVcA-nirdR7DiYUcYoIeeum8UWg6sfNMmw-u1/s1600/32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKdC2CFi12I7D9twyZ1IZgvC-3vCmGZ3jxPPICmMi4MiJjyCcLdVatOmwUv_Bv1c74H5ejlAteyEUHmy-HDXzmlp1SHVKzr-YVEEyFzDMVcA-nirdR7DiYUcYoIeeum8UWg6sfNMmw-u1/s320/32.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put some mild detergent into the pot.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_1f8wXDKlUuCrTzMXm7oi-uhKRfH-X0gbwsLWcw1mhawvnYnTSZLVRVmpVcwrAAmBdk57xdch2A6OOrdK7vbxs4d85sgtQe-cyPZ65tDra6VmgWCdAUim9m9IVMVSLj93y0PqcO0Xxar/s1600/33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_1f8wXDKlUuCrTzMXm7oi-uhKRfH-X0gbwsLWcw1mhawvnYnTSZLVRVmpVcwrAAmBdk57xdch2A6OOrdK7vbxs4d85sgtQe-cyPZ65tDra6VmgWCdAUim9m9IVMVSLj93y0PqcO0Xxar/s320/33.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used a mild lingerie detergent.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJJ4NGqpgFOD3IPJb7xbMDUTTyaBAhYAZNgKoLCNbRtL3dO3GVujmUXX5KBXZ2Di_MNF4eVVBP-5IHcAbAfdmPbrgzZYpCG4mPB3wxXHnhqDE_4vXxrUm1cz3FcDLlXbehS1yeyb8yP0H/s1600/34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJJ4NGqpgFOD3IPJb7xbMDUTTyaBAhYAZNgKoLCNbRtL3dO3GVujmUXX5KBXZ2Di_MNF4eVVBP-5IHcAbAfdmPbrgzZYpCG4mPB3wxXHnhqDE_4vXxrUm1cz3FcDLlXbehS1yeyb8yP0H/s320/34.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then add more water and agitate the material all over again.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwvGp1fdPw0bjdOnWvkRaADko4-6ZYA2dVJlMtZvUGGzl2qLyOEcq8D1l61HMbVH3zvvoMcDKcDDzujR7dcSC0fbi2PC-DfOJFr_q0Dn-95z7-9sSyr77U-E0_2lH_hG3AIyjLmmwIAFa/s1600/35.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwvGp1fdPw0bjdOnWvkRaADko4-6ZYA2dVJlMtZvUGGzl2qLyOEcq8D1l61HMbVH3zvvoMcDKcDDzujR7dcSC0fbi2PC-DfOJFr_q0Dn-95z7-9sSyr77U-E0_2lH_hG3AIyjLmmwIAFa/s320/35.JPG" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll notice as you wash the material that the water will suddenly dark again. And then you'll think, "What the?!" But it's ok. Really it is. It's just the dye that was hiding in the fibers getting flushed out.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9perW9c2z-dtTdHRzuRH2hTVbWS3SWx1Xz4wouUhaXOc7WGp5_fEYWqJio69GzgLKx3WDTWVaum32edut4mTup4KYhGWjTdlj0DzrOdXTD9xZuQ-pK4SF19YjSnQbgr95mu0AFaI1Rg-/s1600/36.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9perW9c2z-dtTdHRzuRH2hTVbWS3SWx1Xz4wouUhaXOc7WGp5_fEYWqJio69GzgLKx3WDTWVaum32edut4mTup4KYhGWjTdlj0DzrOdXTD9xZuQ-pK4SF19YjSnQbgr95mu0AFaI1Rg-/s320/36.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now you go through the rinse cycle again.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-5IH6IlNu06OSCV9C8zehpTWFd4QVT2cUuo7nO2WTMni9u9bJ-M41oq7Wm6OmNMZ7U3L0jo0fwx6Yi9wlmWsjtmOwOGtanN8pv80yREMImfoLjk8YGOWOdplOCU-hzQ7fup-WVppkfy0/s1600/37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-5IH6IlNu06OSCV9C8zehpTWFd4QVT2cUuo7nO2WTMni9u9bJ-M41oq7Wm6OmNMZ7U3L0jo0fwx6Yi9wlmWsjtmOwOGtanN8pv80yREMImfoLjk8YGOWOdplOCU-hzQ7fup-WVppkfy0/s320/37.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at how much dye was left in there!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt2saDq1R8MKyi5LNq4TdJzToJbpNwXTmDXpE8pPbsMEjzsipWFFIzU8D6-8rJNhfuItNQqadLuoDm0aNT7m8huKch_iE_RgK2toCLvvKMoVkR53M55ipQlTYesfXhOOmsgK9habqmyIE/s1600/38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHt2saDq1R8MKyi5LNq4TdJzToJbpNwXTmDXpE8pPbsMEjzsipWFFIzU8D6-8rJNhfuItNQqadLuoDm0aNT7m8huKch_iE_RgK2toCLvvKMoVkR53M55ipQlTYesfXhOOmsgK9habqmyIE/s320/38.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squeeze out all the excess water. Squeeze it reeeeeeeeal hard!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEb9BU5xxXYto3fCFkK54p84_b1THw26AKGujP8YqTRCeK_VR2o0IvqH5ZOw1JTOUEY9T90AOHJZlKEUsgXb1ZmHwfmjtlgcKwWGBZpUBvfK3_fsvxsEfKPHMtzgtNBUtEV3uxfjAYDW1/s1600/39.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEb9BU5xxXYto3fCFkK54p84_b1THw26AKGujP8YqTRCeK_VR2o0IvqH5ZOw1JTOUEY9T90AOHJZlKEUsgXb1ZmHwfmjtlgcKwWGBZpUBvfK3_fsvxsEfKPHMtzgtNBUtEV3uxfjAYDW1/s320/39.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then hang the material over the sink to let it drip more of the water out over night.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr-rnD4Am0bmf1qnBFB19jKLbtMRnrPosETErYHCw4cKeB29Mhyc454uNnH_vjVTikkJdXTyhF1IcSwjeBQx6Z9ZoCha9VjzzHDPZv3Zao023ZZRJuQdR82WecQSlPDO3lvKDaCJcjuo_/s1600/40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCr-rnD4Am0bmf1qnBFB19jKLbtMRnrPosETErYHCw4cKeB29Mhyc454uNnH_vjVTikkJdXTyhF1IcSwjeBQx6Z9ZoCha9VjzzHDPZv3Zao023ZZRJuQdR82WecQSlPDO3lvKDaCJcjuo_/s320/40.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbELp3QcJNimiVRRM_RBuO1DG7vnApGvtj5nWO1rTnRgxdgrhyphenhyphen7kq2nqx-OUqBO-te9D1paPCjk8j2aFfu7Z0sEUopUWxPP9iOtzFOJ0CdamVSqV4IisKhvWBjgu9CTEN64tExHojklwV/s1600/41.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbELp3QcJNimiVRRM_RBuO1DG7vnApGvtj5nWO1rTnRgxdgrhyphenhyphen7kq2nqx-OUqBO-te9D1paPCjk8j2aFfu7Z0sEUopUWxPP9iOtzFOJ0CdamVSqV4IisKhvWBjgu9CTEN64tExHojklwV/s320/41.JPG" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because I dyed so much yarn it needed a lot of drying time. I had to set it in front of the air conditioner and turn it and hang it, turn it and hang it.<br />
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When it finally dried, as expected, the color turned a luscious pumpkin orange.</td></tr>
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<div>Keep in mind, Super Crafters, that this is just one dying technique; there are lots of others out there. In my yarn dying research I found a great how-to on using Kool-Aid to dye yarn on <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.html">Knitty.com</a>. The Rit website also has some great how-to's on different <a href="http://www.ritdye.com/dyeing-techniques">dying techniques</a> like tie-dying, spot dying, and (<i>the</i> hot color technique of the season) ombre.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Go forth! Color your world in every way!</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-72231411522782006442011-09-09T05:11:00.000-07:002011-09-29T18:17:39.179-07:00At Long Last...Hello, Super Crafters.<br />
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A funny thing happened the morning after the Big Clean—I woke up with strep throat!<br />
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My throat was swollen, my neck was stiff. I was feeling feverish, but not running a fever. Twas not fun.<br />
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A few things helped, though. One was that I went to see my doctor on day 2 of feeling sick. Another was 'Cheers' on streaming Netflix. And the last was definitely having a CLEAN and ORGANIZED room!!<br />
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Don't believe me? Check it out:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxY7szZx92Bp8xaKx6mw3HokXb3GkTpf3fKZm7nRep2Lcd3pljbepPa_GCckNWVXHXlj6iVlE8KQ27bEXCfH2bRUMh4uz4uxA58Fqza-AECJTa5h5bYvfrLBeBTu5OAYGlDiTympy3kd6/s1600/PICT2231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxY7szZx92Bp8xaKx6mw3HokXb3GkTpf3fKZm7nRep2Lcd3pljbepPa_GCckNWVXHXlj6iVlE8KQ27bEXCfH2bRUMh4uz4uxA58Fqza-AECJTa5h5bYvfrLBeBTu5OAYGlDiTympy3kd6/s320/PICT2231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Here's the after shot.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1a9j8AMAhrZibsOAV3kMhfkOvvtTvAaCjuBvlDtRyWU5KdRRpm5pqOJgt2Nzng2B6cjTLor9RxjhMOn3Kx41peScJPd4qq0BfnevRWeNKi6AUP4MPWdlxrNy_ydP-_vIY3zWwswmWhXf/s1600/PICT2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1a9j8AMAhrZibsOAV3kMhfkOvvtTvAaCjuBvlDtRyWU5KdRRpm5pqOJgt2Nzng2B6cjTLor9RxjhMOn3Kx41peScJPd4qq0BfnevRWeNKi6AUP4MPWdlxrNy_ydP-_vIY3zWwswmWhXf/s320/PICT2232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">These are my crafting books and magazines.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8RcssUH7CTp0yFHwN0FAJ5oMyhxsDw6Xq8mCQPfUmSE1-mE1owCr4d_P59pDD-DXH7ff-4vxBTaKaQC2GECJ3d-5rbYR5gSr6UWLVOn5OD0vrQGjm867STrWjwSe57FDipIdBCtJ18eD/s1600/PICT2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8RcssUH7CTp0yFHwN0FAJ5oMyhxsDw6Xq8mCQPfUmSE1-mE1owCr4d_P59pDD-DXH7ff-4vxBTaKaQC2GECJ3d-5rbYR5gSr6UWLVOn5OD0vrQGjm867STrWjwSe57FDipIdBCtJ18eD/s320/PICT2233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is the material wall.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NTE7ZgGV79iU2LJCdiRq77S5N3-Do83vRJxzTwZeTXFPqTAhrGdYV25xU1nAyHepUhjZJYLBmCHhrWRr5bF_q5bRlzyY29St8bRnO7OicvJ2DYYCLJ8WGpdpN928bK82WAZ-nCt3knks/s1600/PICT2234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NTE7ZgGV79iU2LJCdiRq77S5N3-Do83vRJxzTwZeTXFPqTAhrGdYV25xU1nAyHepUhjZJYLBmCHhrWRr5bF_q5bRlzyY29St8bRnO7OicvJ2DYYCLJ8WGpdpN928bK82WAZ-nCt3knks/s320/PICT2234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And this is where the magic happens! Here is my long-desired desk/work space.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now that I have this wonderful space I'm kind of afraid to use it. I'm going to get over that fear, though. Get ready because I'm going to be doing (and posting) more projects this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Until then, Super Crafters, have a good Friday!!!</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-87333670567516519812011-09-04T12:27:00.000-07:002011-09-29T18:18:35.227-07:00What I'm about to show you might be shocking...But this is the sad state of affairs my room is in. WARNING: Do not view if you faint easily at the sight of messiness and disorganization!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSZQyCmuX_dz5MxLwmtyQfGhIUERABE3_aaOWIeKcWJPUYlwxnne1IN7gkSLKZ3JP5U6LzsJOJO6a-wgqdyv438pTgj8As1Ig9anryM7_UrmvrvJE6z9JY8bC-qT6NRywruF8tdVuMwbH/s1600/PICT2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSZQyCmuX_dz5MxLwmtyQfGhIUERABE3_aaOWIeKcWJPUYlwxnne1IN7gkSLKZ3JP5U6LzsJOJO6a-wgqdyv438pTgj8As1Ig9anryM7_UrmvrvJE6z9JY8bC-qT6NRywruF8tdVuMwbH/s320/PICT2208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yes. This is what my bedroom currently looks like. I say currently because I haven't started organizing it yet. By tonight I plan on posting an updated picture showing what it will look like.<br />
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Why am I posting embarrassing pictures of my bedroom that look like audition photos for A&E's 'Hoarders'? Because step 1 of Operation Etsy Shop is creating an organized work space for my crafts and business. Sitting on the living room couch and knitting while I watch my DVDs of 'Glimore Girls' is great and all; but when it comes time to mass produce my items, it just won't do.<br />
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My goal for today is to make my room less "homey" and more utilitarian. That means the awards and Smiths album covers will be moved to the living wall of frames and photos; the DVDs will move to the living room, too, while the books that are not related to crafting or small business will hidden away in my closet until a better place can be made; my desk will no longer double as my vanity in the morning; and all space will be used as efficiently as possible.<br />
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It'll be an ongoing process — I've got my eye on some wire frame shelves at either Lowe's or Target — and there will be more progress made to the work space over the next few months. The overall goal is to manage the clutter better; not necessarily eliminating it, but making sure that it is better contained.<br />
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If that doesn't work, there's got to be some HGTV or DIY Network show about clutter that I can get on.Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-67905083641931569572011-08-25T09:06:00.000-07:002011-08-25T09:06:11.477-07:00LADIES + GENTLEMEN, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...<span id="internal-source-marker_0.5759826579654289" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hello, Super Crafters!!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As I hinted at yesterday, I have some very exciting news to share: on Wednesday, February 22nd, Handwerk BKLYN will go live as an Etsy shop.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why February 22nd? Why not today? Well, there’s a lot of things to do to start your own business.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You wouldn’t believe how much there is to do: getting the right city, state, and federal licenses; obtaining trademarks and copyrights; opening a small business bank account; and then, finally, building an inventory of items so I can actually sell something.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t worry, though, I will not be forgetting all of you. I’ll still be updating the blog and posting projects and tutorials. I’ll also be posting updates on the Etsy shop progress, so you’ll get to watch it grow.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Keep on craftin’.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Kerissa</span>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-28053581001756487302011-08-24T18:45:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:39:00.406-07:00Big News On Its WayHello, Super Crafters!<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Tomorrow is the one month anniversary of <b>Handwerk BKLYN</b> and the projects have been resounding successes. For those of you who check regularly, thank you so much!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Tomorrow will also bring an exciting piece of news, so make sure to check back in at 12 pm EST to find out!!!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Till then, keep on crafting ;D</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-29511685936565392352011-08-22T20:37:00.000-07:002011-09-29T18:26:26.358-07:00Crafting & Me: The Early Years, Pt. 2<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s kind of muddled up in my memory which craft I did first. Crochet? Cross-stitch? I have early memories of both. Each gave me so much: mountains of pleasure, peace, stability, creativity, a sense of accomplishment, pride, and a connection with the most influential person in my life — my Grandma.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My grandmother is still an excellent crafter, even though she doesn’t make as much as she used to. She possesses a great sense of color, has an excellent eye for detail, and the skill that only decades of experience can bring. She didn’t teach me everything I know about design and crafting, but she was my first mentor in these areas.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first memory I have of her happens to also include an item she made for me. Dad, Mom, Brother, and I were living in Denver. Dad and Mom were separated, but not yet divorced, and Dad lived in the house next to where Mom, Brother, and I were living. One dreary day I walked from the backyard of our house to Dad’s house, went into the kitchen, and met my grandparents. Grandma took turns holding Brother and I on her lap and then she pulled out her present for me—a handmade, crocheted shawl poncho (which was quite stylish back then.)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643891158147488770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7H1k3eJrFn71l1oHNKAf_NMSNRzvKbHovUdqOwHDce0LBTHKAtdAXySjIOMHwEYGq4UwJi9m9vj2JcpW5oqjTu4KqJiuspalnM0zBWflJVsJlXJcJ4s3GoxRfjfsKxsjy4SsCDINx1F-/s400/IMAGE14%252B.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A couple of years later, Brother and I moved to Peoria to live with Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa. I would watch her crochet blanket after blanket, always enthralled with the movement of her right hand as she worked the crochet hook. The aluminum would flash from time to time as it caught the light of the lamp Grandma always sat beside. I enjoyed watching the skeins of yarn shrink and flatten, while wondering why Grandma didn’t make them into balls like in the cartoons.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was usually only one of three reasons why Grandma would make an afghan—baby showers, relatives/friends, or decorating the house. If she made the afghan for decorating the house, we were not allowed to use it as a blanket. They were meant to lay on the back of a chair or a couch and be an accent piece in the room. Using them as blankets would imply we were allowed to lay on the furniture and we were never allowed to lay on her nice furniture.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This rule was never understandable to me as a kid, but time and maturity have helped clarify her reasoning. For starters, Grandma had a really rough childhood. She had loving parents and siblings, but she was born a few months before the Crash of 1929. When she was a girl her father lost his job as a coal miner, then the bank foreclosed on their home (a month before Congress passed a bill creating a moratorium on home foreclosures.) By the time she married Grandpa her family had gotten back on their legs; but as young newlyweds with a baby on the way, they had to keep going with the austerity measures. I asked her once how they were able to afford some of the things they got over the years and she explained that it was simply saving until they could afford it. So when Grandma got a new couch, a new chair, or new carpeting, her rules were way of making every penny count.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also think Grandma had this rule because she didn’t want her work to get destroyed. My brother, cousins, and I were a destructive group. Each afghan took dozens of hours to complete. We could have easily stretched them, spilled something, or used them so often that they would begin shedding. Literally sitting at her feet as she worked on each section, it was plain to see that she had too much pride in her final product to see them fall to that fate.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her nights weren’t always filled with crochet, though. Some nights Grandma would pull out her wood hoop, embroidery floss, and pattern to cross-stitch. Sometimes it would be a scenic woodland tableau; other times it would be a cutesy animal. Once completed, the pieces would either get framed or become part of a throw pillow.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I would watch intently as Grandma made her counted cross-stitch pieces. She would use her needle to count how many stitches she was supposed to make, cut a near perfect length of embroidery floss, divide the strands, and then stitch the crosshatches into a taught piece of canvas. I wanted to do that, too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It took a couple years of begging and impatience, but eventually Grandma teaching me her crafts. Crochet was probably the first craft she showed me. I would have been either six or seven; she would have been too afraid of what would happen if she gave me something tiny and sharp like an embroidery needle. She found one of her average-sized crochet hooks, an assortment of her yarn odds and ends, and sat me down next to her on the couch.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">She first showed me how to hold my hook in my right hand, then how to hold the yarn—weaving the thick string between the fingers of my left hand. The first stitch she showed me was the chain stitch. Once I got the hang of that, she showed me how to single crochet. When I mastered that stitch she showed me the half-double crochet. After that was down, I learned to double crochet.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now every time I pick up a crochet hook I like to imagine myself sitting at her feet, slowly and carefully forming each of those beginning stitches in one night. My brow is furrowed, my tongue is sticking out, nothing is breaking my concentration. The truth is more like me looking up at the television after every stitch, constantly, asking Grandma to show me the stitch again, and taking days—if not weeks—learning how to make each stitch.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I finished my first doll blanket, though, I was incredibly proud. I had been mostly doing practice stitches, I wanted a real project, and Grandma challenged me with it. It was just row after row of half-double stitches, but there was a different color every two rows. It was tough at first, yet by the end of the blanket I had gotten it down. Grandma showed me how to edge the blanket and I began using it to wrap up my premie Cabbage Patch Kid papoose-style.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I stopped crocheting soon after I finished that blanket. Partly it was because I had moved onto cross-stitch; and partly it was because Grandma had moved on, too. She would pull out the crochet hook every once and a while, but as she expanded her hobby resume so did I. Then at a certain age I became a brat and, while our hobbies still intersected at times, I didn’t want to share them with her. It was my loss.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">BUT DON’T WORRY! This particular story has a happy ending. Here’s what happened:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went to college and wanted to fit in so I started smoking. By the time I moved back home from college I was having a hard time quitting when I thought that I should take up a hobby that uses my hands. Luckily, one of my jobs was just a few doors down from a Joann Fabrics and one day I walked down there and bought a couple of skeins of yarn, a pair of needles, and a very unhelpful knitting “how to” guide. For the next few nights I started following the instructions on how to do the knit stitch, then the purl. The booklet I had gotten was confusing, though, and I had made the rookie mistake of pairing acrylic yarn for US8 needles with US6 aluminum needles. I put the yarn and needles in their plastic bag and tucked them away in a plastic storage container.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A couple years later I was living in Brooklyn and visiting home. I was helping Grandma clear out some of my stuff in the garage when she came across my knitting. She said that it had been a long time since she had knitted, but she looked at the stitches closely. How did I learn to do that, she wondered. I told her that I tried following a book. Then she said, kind of non-chalantly, that I had done a good job.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I took the yarn back to Brooklyn, carefully started trying the stitches, and now I’m here writing and blogging.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The end, for now....</span></div></div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-13382898132680235942011-08-20T06:39:00.000-07:002011-09-29T18:36:56.048-07:00My First Terrarium (La-La-La-Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa)<div style="text-align: left;">I've been very interested in gardening and plants all my life, but started getting serious about it for the last couple of years. Living in a third floor apartment in Brooklyn, though, can be difficult when you actually want to get your hands to get dirty. To begin with, plants are expensive. You'd think they wouldn't be because they're plants, but at a shop near my apartment a philodendron costs $25.00! Then I have to make sure that any plants I get are pet safe because of my cat Bart. And, of course, there's the tendency my plants have of dying (no matter what I do to keep them alive.)<br />
<a name='more'></a>I was on <a href="http://craftzine.com/">Craftzine</a> a few weeks ago, however, when I saw a neat project for a <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/03/craft_project_mason_jar_terrar.html">mason jar terrarium</a>. One look at that little ecosystem and I was hooked. I started scouring the internet for further information on making terrariums and picked the brain of my pub quiz teammate who is also an avid terrarium maker. He gave me some great tips and suggested I go to a plant store close to where I live called <a href="http://www.gardendig.com/">Dig</a>.<br />
I made it there last Sunday and I am sooooooooo glad I went there. Not only was the owner very friendly, but as soon as you walk in there you see that it is terrarium central. The owner was super helpful, too. I would have bought a plant way too big for the vessel I was going to get, but he reminded me that it would end up being smaller than I would expect, so the smaller the plant the better.<br />
He hooked me up with a fern, gravel, charcoal, the fabric filter, and some great moss. I got the penny candy jar and dinosaurs at Target.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Hrobzm3c6FJoioCUrEzMsf0F3r62T94BN3NC6zrHpLXDX1DREbyifB7h1PMbk_CSQeFoaif-BqjVg012UZt7fieMQzLQCb_f1C7NDyEZ3H-lTK5hZsg-4RVnjcX4KrlqRAok0kciJJWa/s1600/1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642933145123727154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Hrobzm3c6FJoioCUrEzMsf0F3r62T94BN3NC6zrHpLXDX1DREbyifB7h1PMbk_CSQeFoaif-BqjVg012UZt7fieMQzLQCb_f1C7NDyEZ3H-lTK5hZsg-4RVnjcX4KrlqRAok0kciJJWa/s400/1.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All of the supplies on my kitchen counter.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dCdQDDkbp2laCrhtfzH_thu8upQB2jUR0X_PkU4PHAlSIakPu6IlXHO_NkQZcLIow7LAbUx3DL2iFbY0SNgTULnRcwqeeBI83Pn_BWhOSTtL0D54fTDRGHxPrV4EsxR5RQNJKiw9TMY4/s1600/2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642933074987440898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dCdQDDkbp2laCrhtfzH_thu8upQB2jUR0X_PkU4PHAlSIakPu6IlXHO_NkQZcLIow7LAbUx3DL2iFbY0SNgTULnRcwqeeBI83Pn_BWhOSTtL0D54fTDRGHxPrV4EsxR5RQNJKiw9TMY4/s400/2.JPG" style="display: block; height: 319px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 212px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The fern.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQASJZ3rJQlzErsrP7cPKQuQeviX2WKZQlfO6P_ufKtf_DgQ_anwUndS5OoC_VAmM6Xj9vq48AQDF5VQS_jbvkwdZsnpuvh-D5uLoou29zG287KlPje7yIy6LdeuPrD24yghuO9M1QV-q8/s1600/3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642933067506721250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQASJZ3rJQlzErsrP7cPKQuQeviX2WKZQlfO6P_ufKtf_DgQ_anwUndS5OoC_VAmM6Xj9vq48AQDF5VQS_jbvkwdZsnpuvh-D5uLoou29zG287KlPje7yIy6LdeuPrD24yghuO9M1QV-q8/s400/3.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the helpful tips my friend M gave me was to rinse the gravel and then bake them in the over at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. I did this on Monday morning so by the time I got home the rocks would be completely cool.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8VLAZlVF_QQcm5fZctc6z6zUeaXHLjZS-Dwyhdp9zt1N2vqNkMoJ6XKchso1ESQTpKwOHcTdQKyg2qgSk1nLsEZINvYkPv3ewOdvjmr4ehEKdjxvpBgRFYzG4cCS3hvmFArsA_E5E44p/s1600/4.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642933067461263458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8VLAZlVF_QQcm5fZctc6z6zUeaXHLjZS-Dwyhdp9zt1N2vqNkMoJ6XKchso1ESQTpKwOHcTdQKyg2qgSk1nLsEZINvYkPv3ewOdvjmr4ehEKdjxvpBgRFYzG4cCS3hvmFArsA_E5E44p/s400/4.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The moss.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL48RbkDBFqhPNUX2Kg_CqSuEkoYdWwV9XZxGrVoGp8JhcNwtJL5c8e3if7k5pR2X9HSlC6YfHeG14IOxRlB_H8lQoq1gyrUkRR2COplwe8PeuyluTAPO5hNh0t7S2H50zH1JZ_IUaSw5Q/s1600/5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642933070221694082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL48RbkDBFqhPNUX2Kg_CqSuEkoYdWwV9XZxGrVoGp8JhcNwtJL5c8e3if7k5pR2X9HSlC6YfHeG14IOxRlB_H8lQoq1gyrUkRR2COplwe8PeuyluTAPO5hNh0t7S2H50zH1JZ_IUaSw5Q/s400/5.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The charcoal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUhNA_XGGzh7cGW2hirvLK1G53wZNAiiquKSuyxBjgtRl-DsKWZySe17hVBAmnztGYs72ZXrZzYRC9HK4srwKh4GIbnAEcGd0PQqBXsyq3oHuKxmGPDn32hx-J_e5avx10aTQeizYEjCJ/s1600/6.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642933065892230354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUhNA_XGGzh7cGW2hirvLK1G53wZNAiiquKSuyxBjgtRl-DsKWZySe17hVBAmnztGYs72ZXrZzYRC9HK4srwKh4GIbnAEcGd0PQqBXsyq3oHuKxmGPDn32hx-J_e5avx10aTQeizYEjCJ/s400/6.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The fabric filter.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43jL862fi5l0CjwylTedGJ3F0KwJY-mO-9hq9FmoIL2RIGcj6zH78DFG7rFKnSPL7bt9rg15KUU-q5nDbEvAaW_w8SdA4Vpk77V58g4UXOoTAtXKMFWdgRVI-SdddIT7qB2t9I_mR5MOJ/s1600/7.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932823766082258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43jL862fi5l0CjwylTedGJ3F0KwJY-mO-9hq9FmoIL2RIGcj6zH78DFG7rFKnSPL7bt9rg15KUU-q5nDbEvAaW_w8SdA4Vpk77V58g4UXOoTAtXKMFWdgRVI-SdddIT7qB2t9I_mR5MOJ/s400/7.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The dinosaurs.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdfOYid101go3imcT_uR7heIOxPygjaEo7F8-AX16do_QEXJfJbekw6N80yKJxeyAPTEw5k7zjdINHwOPBQDExww-MugJlLWRri7MJgZ5JFslWcuBeX1VEo92Sr0FhEuPgQchDBk_7gtW/s1600/8.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932822749688946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdfOYid101go3imcT_uR7heIOxPygjaEo7F8-AX16do_QEXJfJbekw6N80yKJxeyAPTEw5k7zjdINHwOPBQDExww-MugJlLWRri7MJgZ5JFslWcuBeX1VEo92Sr0FhEuPgQchDBk_7gtW/s400/8.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The penny candy jar where everything is going to live.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5r_mlK5U1hl1JYWoXru4Bw5p2t63PyIIfnuSb5Q_B6QJd7os4xwk5nrMEJeW8RUs2-xcMtlpq-buSCoitRIj0eBCTDG_TAOrY5I1w2xOnpwjdwyxwLsBKX7KORrFn6k5J63sCzKpv7np/s1600/9.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932821625181650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5r_mlK5U1hl1JYWoXru4Bw5p2t63PyIIfnuSb5Q_B6QJd7os4xwk5nrMEJeW8RUs2-xcMtlpq-buSCoitRIj0eBCTDG_TAOrY5I1w2xOnpwjdwyxwLsBKX7KORrFn6k5J63sCzKpv7np/s400/9.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First I put the gravel in the bottom of the jar.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSvX04LQyaCey8oHq8cjIOqPHP1XDaUPcZ5HftnUY2IyVMnzZbv5EwXJ0LY-sveL6nw08lisMsNCp7ctyVmiWkI8-nLQrxH7gkzVukZ_9eiJEFfOJiy5T5m5_sTdAmO972uUPlC79MZhg/s1600/10.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932817100068882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSvX04LQyaCey8oHq8cjIOqPHP1XDaUPcZ5HftnUY2IyVMnzZbv5EwXJ0LY-sveL6nw08lisMsNCp7ctyVmiWkI8-nLQrxH7gkzVukZ_9eiJEFfOJiy5T5m5_sTdAmO972uUPlC79MZhg/s400/10.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I placed the fabric filter in the jar to see where I needed to trim it to fit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJDfjusI5Uii0UjaHEvuTeoAs0jbvANdMD44Qwk2EfiWkUahWBxU4kNjo0F2SoTwX-CBPp0WKBRia72li9HcDX1ZN0Mwpm5L2OSaHHFapsuFz_du0VwOy74_6b86kxJJmGsPLFh7KoUia/s1600/11.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932814300518834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJDfjusI5Uii0UjaHEvuTeoAs0jbvANdMD44Qwk2EfiWkUahWBxU4kNjo0F2SoTwX-CBPp0WKBRia72li9HcDX1ZN0Mwpm5L2OSaHHFapsuFz_du0VwOy74_6b86kxJJmGsPLFh7KoUia/s400/11.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Trimmed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dcXiCeCzIj82KCSqr7zfMHr-DryFlQpiOOv06h8jsr0Vrrj6zIzuo5eM-jHT_4p_pYmk2fcLf_7JhtCHNp3Jqm841rdIxakQd1krNL5ZhCRuOcMNvYU9CFxyzPA0suHAWN4mzwgnnM_c/s1600/12.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932544760804098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dcXiCeCzIj82KCSqr7zfMHr-DryFlQpiOOv06h8jsr0Vrrj6zIzuo5eM-jHT_4p_pYmk2fcLf_7JhtCHNp3Jqm841rdIxakQd1krNL5ZhCRuOcMNvYU9CFxyzPA0suHAWN4mzwgnnM_c/s400/12.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next, I distributed the coal over the fabric.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircfLSs5RTCq3eiRMeHjaVFBVzo-_ooqg27hHaEB9inOOTfiZ_Uq03pWs21UV7I6UF2bMW3wGzX8JFaltnboCb2MsVo0bCXTh_IcmA8YkmRV5z5c_tyQ8DGKMkvleWbH6pvu9pECZEMCt3/s1600/13.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932544088520450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircfLSs5RTCq3eiRMeHjaVFBVzo-_ooqg27hHaEB9inOOTfiZ_Uq03pWs21UV7I6UF2bMW3wGzX8JFaltnboCb2MsVo0bCXTh_IcmA8YkmRV5z5c_tyQ8DGKMkvleWbH6pvu9pECZEMCt3/s400/13.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The owner at Dig recommended I break up the moss into sections and create a bowl for the plant to fit into.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gNRS9f1bdwjldrnbadwyxtcrHXLu_l2YuKJubQ1Mxcmx5iCO0D8-rtVOCq5oywAmscxvOp1EhawHWRFpBfFytOVC5_Ln_Acxwq3vc1sRc19xy5An8okNbqLeCTM7HblIX8_KLIN-CinL/s1600/14.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932540984675538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gNRS9f1bdwjldrnbadwyxtcrHXLu_l2YuKJubQ1Mxcmx5iCO0D8-rtVOCq5oywAmscxvOp1EhawHWRFpBfFytOVC5_Ln_Acxwq3vc1sRc19xy5An8okNbqLeCTM7HblIX8_KLIN-CinL/s400/14.JPG" style="display: block; height: 194px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 275px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Once I figured out how I wanted the moss broken up, I used a spoon to gently bring the fern out of the pot.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiWgo1GQYFzqMFTzQyG_bJf5MEdYjZMoUyJoC9BB-LCf8fe8AUh9TYombSkEy5iixNwSaa6TZ2HYMPoxCGUEvey9_ba9mauL05IFqDYQ9uQoICxX1ascajpGQ6HVa4oVRhgqY-Z2Bula-/s1600/15.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932536429029090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiWgo1GQYFzqMFTzQyG_bJf5MEdYjZMoUyJoC9BB-LCf8fe8AUh9TYombSkEy5iixNwSaa6TZ2HYMPoxCGUEvey9_ba9mauL05IFqDYQ9uQoICxX1ascajpGQ6HVa4oVRhgqY-Z2Bula-/s400/15.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I placed the fern into the jar (harder than it looks) and arranged the moss around the fern's base (even harder!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z0qc1jjTheCD7zWovD6GZDSuPp_OZKcSS56CiXb0PZjCNxt_bUu0uFs5R9pF0MeYOPPExJ5a6XhVvMvlFW-qZn9XRs5Pnh4vZNMjiYVwLbIqN2B8IrCax7k3zmv1s5AwG8Brzti2S4f8/s1600/16.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642932531392636274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3z0qc1jjTheCD7zWovD6GZDSuPp_OZKcSS56CiXb0PZjCNxt_bUu0uFs5R9pF0MeYOPPExJ5a6XhVvMvlFW-qZn9XRs5Pnh4vZNMjiYVwLbIqN2B8IrCax7k3zmv1s5AwG8Brzti2S4f8/s400/16.JPG" style="display: block; height: 207px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 276px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I placed the dinosaurs(!) and then used a squirt bottle set to a fine mist to water the fern and the moss.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643042227206984194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKwr5Uv7tIuEUXEPs43T9-83fUTXDkEyaKlg3otooOoVyilyQUGPy00nZSHyhsCAOf9uNDgwIlBAyEfJnwrrqWoLESrIPicloy9WmcPwlvWy4kQL3iJQYD-hXqK74Py02zgVRkPLPn0mv/s400/17.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here it is a few days later in the window =)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I water the fern pretty regularly, making sure that it's light moisture and not a lake of water in the bottom. It was more difficult to place the plant than I though it would be, but I really enjoy the results. One of the "happy accidents" I enjoy most is is the unevenness of the moss. I was hoping to achieve a nice sod-like effect, but instead got a bumpy, hilly look, which I think looks more Jurassic Park. I had so much fun making this, in fact, that I'm already planning my next terrarium!</div></div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-65971020473235821652011-08-18T18:07:00.000-07:002011-09-29T19:18:45.975-07:00Boo-boo Kitty 2.0<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello again from dark and stormy Brooklyn!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know that it’s been a couple of weeks since my last project post and I feel really, really bad about it. I hope I can make it up to you, though, with my first foray into the world of softies.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are softies? Well, according to </span><a href="http://softiemaking.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">softiemaking.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, softies are stuffed animals; but what makes them different from all the other stuffed animals out there is that they are made by had with lots of love. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So as I mentioned in </span><a href="http://handwerk-bklyn.blogspot.com/2011/08/whole-new-appreciation-for-vermont.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">my previous post</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, this project started off by accident for me. The first incarnation I was trying to attempt did not turn out so well for me. What follows is what I came up with instead. ENJOY!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Materials</span></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sewing machine</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scissors</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Straight pins</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ruler (I like to use quilting rulers because they’re clear and easy to create parallel lines and right edges with)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pencil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 ¼-yds of acrylic felt (I used safety orange for the main color and cream white and pale pink for the accent colors)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sewing thread to match felt</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fiberfill stuffing</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pattern (of your own design)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642376206034871778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpGNWobQI2k1W5PPmErVv5Y4xBIE6sOrK5PTbULSBf2VD8KCGsNvb8WrTwSXd8ynQtSDb74RZHMeafQ9RyIpnJJw1eg-fiVhCdAVcVRFTIIOVEtInxGWQmjZw-C9gk3qOBDAA5PGRXBwT/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step-by-Step:</span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373736791243490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj3jrEmyyxkcpzAmXeiTyYHTXJYW5fZA_HXdRLzeTEMpyN6FsehC1bsK2OCy-zYNXEBvjmz_f_sm08g-TyDMqRNIcW0P43BdcYzsoZwFDIN6nPCVfFpG2Bo4mnESJ3b6BwIhUNDGZMZQu/s320/2.JPG" style="display: block; height: 276px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 207px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lay out the pattern pieces on the felt and trace with a pencil. Once traced, cut out each piece.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cut 2 pieces of the cat outline in the main color. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"></span><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="478" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373730702884546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_VJXR8IE03GyUQOAEmYhqBV7IieaFk_6658UnI4Opc8YQ002aAHQOGzvvGIK2mYWhEdGbCjEGsfJE-UWLkQN_nR5lus7rlCul5XyU4-2XyXVxgdjQg1AEW7fGo4QA1yJbTB-EUAilv6V/s640/3.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Measure out a 2”x50” strip of the main color fabric for the joining gusset. Also measure out a 2”x5” strip in the cream color.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><br />
<div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373726893232674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIUzBoI1DwgqPRAhCjVlzJdK0RPiJXShSkNPgySpmsvQCj7ntYV3xVSevCDFwO12P5Burz1NirGYVKTNtqACT-bDQABiz-KWJOEGPq_bhCnww8V4u7FLM10UD5mgEBcSFpCvWA8D5zVIJ/s320/4.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free sketch the tail piece in the dominant accent color.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6M_wZ-v7ShvX66llJeI3tXAazha_OlsDOkE2iEqt1fSOmwifS44KhlI_afkGwAHO6KmgJj1MLY852cqQdSEvW-5E_RrzxB5bc8yjtUWds8tqh4_Hk9Hrh93hPQp1NfNvwgC6DMOOlvrwg/s1600/5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373725930604466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6M_wZ-v7ShvX66llJeI3tXAazha_OlsDOkE2iEqt1fSOmwifS44KhlI_afkGwAHO6KmgJj1MLY852cqQdSEvW-5E_RrzxB5bc8yjtUWds8tqh4_Hk9Hrh93hPQp1NfNvwgC6DMOOlvrwg/s320/5.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pin the inner ear pieces to the front silhouette piece. Then top stitch ⅛” from the inside edge of the ear accent.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="background-color: transparent;"><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="414" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373722556543042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzg1-aMJAVkW6n3unEcxGTqbL3JyE2kj_WBfY8FTbcPE2J6P2uZPG-1IG6mwWiKKDcjHU7G6AgnPvPnjGGjOtQrWCFacArqbLYK8H_sfRgOBHvV_NXz-rHw5rwVUxgT-Q75wzvxH3ACjo/s640/5a.jpg" style="display: block; height: 71px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 108px;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pin the front “V” accent between the ears of the front silhouette and top stitch ⅛” from the inside edge. Repeat with the back “V”.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373528467517154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNw1pmrmDoDl2OK6P4pprBe7MbGaygtMdsarzvTquJ15zbxI3wv6g9dXb4abTXsVPdXpoKnKG6JKlnEtBFBOZP52p-dU9pgLNM90tL0I8vQ8gEVOb2J5KS3IYOb9VeHHYWZWgstL5GCiJt/s320/6.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pin the tummy accent to the front silhouette piece and top stitch ⅛” from the inside edge of the tummy accent. Once the tummy accent is attached embroider or quilt the piece in any design you choose.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajHEuMDAZ1Kr35irEBFoz7MP9-4d085H4scOY0Bo-hi3Pa-Wdm3KfJmyw0mQJ4MhocLd1SbxB0-ikRx5BoWpMVs-fW-duZ2EBD8XXZ4HZlah47OIDct82VcO1N_h_4hjwWUjTYMgXvXXt/s1600/7.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373525301283554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajHEuMDAZ1Kr35irEBFoz7MP9-4d085H4scOY0Bo-hi3Pa-Wdm3KfJmyw0mQJ4MhocLd1SbxB0-ikRx5BoWpMVs-fW-duZ2EBD8XXZ4HZlah47OIDct82VcO1N_h_4hjwWUjTYMgXvXXt/s320/7.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pin the tail to the back silhouette. Top stitch ⅛” from the inside edge of the tail.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv0jp97AVlY92svb4FoQHn05mrjejIc_Z1dLHt2pRaemSeXFwTzLLvEMexmE5qZFtIOYaF9vCVsO4oFMvvu5sCBxZHAi6UgK7rbOq7M4tFDd1ztDxWmcYDenNDFsu3Uf3PMxO4GFjlqiB/s1600/8.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373522446281154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipv0jp97AVlY92svb4FoQHn05mrjejIc_Z1dLHt2pRaemSeXFwTzLLvEMexmE5qZFtIOYaF9vCVsO4oFMvvu5sCBxZHAi6UgK7rbOq7M4tFDd1ztDxWmcYDenNDFsu3Uf3PMxO4GFjlqiB/s320/8.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stitch the white gusset piece to the orange gusset piece. This will be the bridge between the front and back “V” sections.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373519269630386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznWcmYOn4EU1_zaOcV2-Elda6R7togxOHz_PAE-C_06xMlk3Y-wpItE5WfYb6Nb2Ba4d4O2NrAlxiGsjl0zSRiJwRF-dWbEIrgFpSFf6lJ-ipQVgG1byQ3wWDXmuc4ApdzDDWXs-G8Xt7/s320/9.JPG" style="display: block; height: 276px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 207px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With right sides facing, pin the gusset to the front silhouette from the tip of one ear, around the head and body, and to the tip of the other ear. NOTE: the neck curve will require a fair amount of ease so make sure to leave some room for yourself with the gusset. Stitch ¼” around the piece.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373515918138610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius1KumVE2EJ0dqpt9leImpgYdxqjirVRmcrg2bOh-cAMDGpCxIXdrq820h4Fy2h_StB7938fE01z9vQduBq6N5XDD-SGB1b8jb6IWywxPqh6Tx4A_VjTCQp-ESHMt3EqVWx0Rwbg-2wEp/s320/10.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repeat this step with the back silhouette.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373278577273170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6aoALZGYdQhXU8XBHhyDAHuWdN0OGrvI9tmvF8_b-6LxbOacXPtUelG9e5jYOnsyEOUNg6IrnxZsuUVzM4Lcm08rYWzmumpd_jyupscdiZXPjQSqFiS9eegzumcIV_WMBS3CtyLdHD3Z/s320/11.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373274638629666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY4Vl-JcF-uexN4cA-oKXG_lsRF0XcRdJAfqE7ZY_rv_CT1F4Kb6DpjMpvAX_WlDwY3crIPrZZr5h7UIn4PvHhgZfFHgUTAHxV3WfvkHi6HLB63-l-bq8DDTh8Aez0Cfwhzr9C71yTQ0i/s320/12.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pin the gusset section to one ear and the bridge. Stitch ¼” from the edge.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373273838951298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiraRPuFKaD4xlv82d_vCfLFrApnsN7smqUAF0EBW6J2kAeTckXOjXs719jFzBahwbQqtrp7A_BuVhlk2NOa5bNtflVpeDdoXlI3sAs9P9RLac7Gj_q_Y0CFG6rCa9M40B5x2F5_3l0Dyp0/s320/13.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Snip the seam allowance on all curved sections for both the front and the back.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373270074567106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRGWsApGfskkL2fezYjbfYDnHzFK9Nly8Zaa0UtbpooGVAS9kYrDWNKSLuWWn7ccr9ZRb-OY1fIVu1mPIGSbGiZtPRQgF6VN-Uvn1aYHaAEOlSsSMn6I3vKmmmGSXMqy77xWNaprXcX5M/s320/14.JPG" style="display: block; height: 276px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 207px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn inside out. (Yes, that is Elliot Spitzer. I was watching </span><a href="http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Client_9_The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Eliot_Spitzer/70137776?trkid=2361637" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Elliot Spitzer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> when I was making this =)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4S9U3IbbJzWZobW3S-4D0FkJDs9EnMDOrhAvNdhTY9zml0ePKZjWxU7nXTSkXBIDXDtrvnWxZHx7kGStnrcVaRsaGPnfodQ1f6iqdf91jHRP3_VIhKF0hyphenhyphenuT9drgrpJaN-FnNJ1GdD0v/s1600/15.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642373268074934690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4S9U3IbbJzWZobW3S-4D0FkJDs9EnMDOrhAvNdhTY9zml0ePKZjWxU7nXTSkXBIDXDtrvnWxZHx7kGStnrcVaRsaGPnfodQ1f6iqdf91jHRP3_VIhKF0hyphenhyphenuT9drgrpJaN-FnNJ1GdD0v/s320/15.JPG" style="display: block; height: 161px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 215px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stuff it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642372981292418482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEKJp1twgixFzJ15qL7hL9ZiAZRJW1bLD8EhdMtHZ9PM2iA941HD0hsAGen9330r7NR-Hs5X5zazPxBnT4aWc3S5p6_M4DA-8wuZiWXU9OPhGP1ozgBg-kUIpDiK6uAjU6uTQwz8C_L_K/s320/16.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stuffed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642372973482468658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmMNwXj4jkXc4ZhbgztDgPafmkK_gcRA_lQLtQ1Vy5-_OZXnVsaNLylrsJNP7AF9ns0z5yaVGSTPxfBuVYcd3uQNMqkG90qG4VxaKssnawGGlOwVBz2toH8P-egzkn7xMXl-Nrh0A02DM/s320/17.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pin the remaining open gusset sections to the bridge and ear. NOTE: You’ll need to make sure and fold under the edges ¼”.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-rW5Ep2UM0Mz1dvHxLP1zvrJOsLljVkQUqfZFQlCwHbLbFf8axnMzVYquvooxcJ0EK2t5AHunNCLa2p4Yw8Ixo0_4Zfj_pa9DMTxVY1Bjq97niW0LlJ91IXzrdegtRuTVHGbp22hmUq5/s1600/18.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642372969955508546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-rW5Ep2UM0Mz1dvHxLP1zvrJOsLljVkQUqfZFQlCwHbLbFf8axnMzVYquvooxcJ0EK2t5AHunNCLa2p4Yw8Ixo0_4Zfj_pa9DMTxVY1Bjq97niW0LlJ91IXzrdegtRuTVHGbp22hmUq5/s320/18.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Slip stitch the gusset closed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZslfdbsNPwO0jYKGG3jtXsbT2uaO2ZGx61NE6jquUSk6K7pfz7TSPbbShD5DCcuI2IwLkV-TESeZg6TWsXqlwBwiik3-9cKuMrf0ee84MLgiJoMr6gEG87jRU67qnAI3up5X7SbRE13p/s1600/19.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642372959887445250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZslfdbsNPwO0jYKGG3jtXsbT2uaO2ZGx61NE6jquUSk6K7pfz7TSPbbShD5DCcuI2IwLkV-TESeZg6TWsXqlwBwiik3-9cKuMrf0ee84MLgiJoMr6gEG87jRU67qnAI3up5X7SbRE13p/s320/19.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sketch out the face you want the kitty to have (make sure to use pencil.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642372953261755346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrra4JJFGJSD0FxuUJyKE6NXUS_FvpZllATdLU6c-ciFKE6lkldCWZ5uir5PJODaDVGkO1ymj_zjIKZr6R5O_3qKveDgiWI7Kfai9AhwSCT9KKQF3_AZhm9tGEZv5dYTp4SAqYxVQSXz6/s320/20.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Embroider the features. I used three strands of embroidery floss. Applique fabric, buttons, etc. would be cute too!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYurpOzwm0SrYrSyKY_oRb-ljJk2gsWOnFRaAEKeHgHSrEoUZUzX5684kvDbkVB2_8Qm-chS2jcpcYsdpQS24XI8UOg-zfcDRsdA0cJ93_PSzFHAxvDgqe048e0df8OlXBe_zyu1H05665/s1600/21.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642371700928718690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYurpOzwm0SrYrSyKY_oRb-ljJk2gsWOnFRaAEKeHgHSrEoUZUzX5684kvDbkVB2_8Qm-chS2jcpcYsdpQS24XI8UOg-zfcDRsdA0cJ93_PSzFHAxvDgqe048e0df8OlXBe_zyu1H05665/s320/21.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Attach the whiskers. I used white embroidery floss that had all six strands. I made one small stitch, made a knot, and then trimmed it to the length I wanted.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642371338386040562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3VmLSmp9UKNxJ-66TtHoSOTJtOgy_DyfJBjov9BykjYL-p50-YUkLvoBIZpDCYZYD4PFz0KFjPAPjCfkxnoW9qGnC0K__ALWl9PYWr7FrahEG5jauw67NWHKx_Y9VGKj04SO0aVJUG_f/s320/22.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finished front.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642370958571009970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvXRWm8EwdwXwUupQH3fHqbdnYYZy8ZifYACYFmXC4UzngESpSnblczO5Usv8rpg_3CkW48bkPxrV_oGcEqJjjyAWNEkH5hJ0OWADKg-g8YX4J5d-FWYm1twvWgQipogwMM4zzgxyOyzF/s320/23.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 214px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finished back.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642370069014216146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg15JmrQO8gaS9m7QJmcBHQQY20Hu1219x5X0QRAP3c4Vdx6jl7oPIhFGH_az-dJIcHTyPP1skgqXpDITmMrYTlBj_mruONAZ-47aDGjbDDPOyrXxD6Y7ndUTLY4yzYNHQUTRbbgTgVvFG1/s320/25.JPG" style="display: block; height: 253px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The happy birthday girl!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642368190854658514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCNH5mAMGSKKKUi93ORolyFmJYLwwHRfJ26LWr390a9ED4KBryDigMZ6CanuDaPbVMYtz01QYc6MrjNAEOfOJVWOQ1t95nqY7TfoqQy2C7GZpbB2e0yz6Lces4J-vihKUDM6_jAoygE-_/s320/24.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 219px;" /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the softie was opened, one of the other party goers mentioned that it looked a lot like Boo-boo Kitty from ‘Laverne & Shirley’. It was no surprise to me that I unconsciously designed a Boo-boo Kitty considering how much I loved that show when I was a kid.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was definitely a difficult first go at softie making, but a satisfying one too. It wasn’t as simple as I thought it was going to be, so if you’re thinking of trying out softie making I would definitely suggest finding a book or a website with simple and easy designs. A couple that I like are this </span><a href="http://wewilsons.blogspot.com/2010/05/squirrel.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">squirrel from We Wilsons</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and this </span><a href="http://createstudio.blogspot.com/2011/04/sock-dog-tutorial.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sock dog from Create Studio</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. There’s also a really cool biannual magazine called </span><a href="http://www.stuffed-magazine.com/" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stuffed</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I saw it the other day in Barnes & Noble and immediately started drooling with lust and envy.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-10466977596477040122011-08-08T08:48:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.409-07:00Sewing for YourselfMany thanks to Jezebel.com for not only providing a healthy dose of snark everyday, but for also calling the <em>Times</em> on their bogus trends reporting.<br /><br /><br /><br />For those of you who don't read the New York <em>Times</em> or the coverage of the <em>Times</em>, there is usually a regular local living feature about trends sweeping the city and, thus, soon to be sweeping the nation. One article I remember was about glamorous young women riding bicycles. They tool around the city in their fashionable frocks and pseudo-windswept hair with big sunglasses and a droll attitude that says, "I'd rather be in Paris." FYI, it's not really a trend.<br /><br /><br /><br />Today's <em>NYTimes</em> has an article about the latest craze sweeping Brooklyn — sewing. Now I'm not against sewing. I love sewing. I've sewed for a very long time. HOWEVER, I am with Jezebel on this one in that this is a non-trend. (BTW, here are the links to the <a href="http://jezebel.com/5828476/living-like-a-pioneer-now-cutting-edge#">Jezebel</a> article and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/nyregion/sewing-in-brooklyn-as-a-way-of-life.html?_r=1"><em>NYTimes</em></a> article.)<br /><br /><br /><br />Why do I think it's a non-trend? Well, I think it was a non-trend before this article. It'll probably become a trend now, but that doesn't really answer the question. <br /><br /><br /><br />The thing is that crafts like knitting, sewing, woodworking, baking, etc. have been around for a long time (obviously), but they don't get taught anymore in school. People are interested in taking classes and reading books on these crafts because they weren't able to learn these crafts when they were younger. An excellent example of this comes from my own life.<br /><br /><br /><br />It seemed like every time I'd want to take one of those classes in high school the school board would cut them from the curriculum. I really wanted to learn how to sew when I was 15. My grandmother wasn't able to show me at the time, so I was really looking to taking sewing in school. I postponed it by a year, though, so I could get my second year of French out of the way. I wish now that I hadn't because that was the year they ended Home Ec in all schools. I didn't think I'd ever be able to learn how to sew. Luckily, I had a college major that required craftsmanship. I got to learn more than just sewing. I learned woodworking, painting, molding and casting.<br /><br /><br /><br />And maybe another reason why I don't like the article is because it makes me feel like I'm just another hipster Brooklynite. "Oh, you sew? Of course you live in Brooklyn!"<br /><br /><br /><br />I live in Brooklyn because I like Brooklyn and I happen to sew.<br /><br />Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-21914088545222770092011-08-02T20:30:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.409-07:00Macrayou? No, Macrame!<div style="text-align: left;">Last Friday I was running errands — killing time before my emergency dental appointment — and I popped into Dick Blick to see if they had any good crafting magazines. I didn't find any magazines I liked, but I did find <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Craft-Workshop-Twenty-Four-Projects/dp/0811875326/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302662546&sr=8-1">this awesome book</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you've read my second post of this blog, you'll know how fond I am of the late 70s/early 80s and this book had my holy grail — my white whale if you will — a macrame plant holder!</div><div><br /></div><div>I wasted no time finding the supplies I needed (100 feet of cotton rope and a 1-1/2" metal ring). I even bought a plant and a really cool looking metal flower pot at IKEA. When I got home on Saturday it was time to braid and knot some rope.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, because of copyright, I can't share with you guys the complete step-by-step for making the plant holder. Instead I took a series of photos and have listed them in sequence down below. After the pictures I have a brief review of the project.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvmhdi9l2dgOfjxJMR5q08q-daYSOsJhUR1pqBZW62OL20paowo0KbfsE7rNipIk98Ux94pXA7i6to6zSHtgdGomfDLg-7fQkycWWZ4_F0vva4STPj_KiFHX_U_VHtmlHOoWAlgp3i532/s1600/1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvmhdi9l2dgOfjxJMR5q08q-daYSOsJhUR1pqBZW62OL20paowo0KbfsE7rNipIk98Ux94pXA7i6to6zSHtgdGomfDLg-7fQkycWWZ4_F0vva4STPj_KiFHX_U_VHtmlHOoWAlgp3i532/s320/1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168846933873138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jAHplU4PFGan4NJW89QAxKzljlKKZuIrlWeznVp0ydhdbHsgifVhaAPqZSy9HoVkrgnvyQ25AXYMgoWRr0Jy1nO2OUuIqcaDMP_oUIX0x8XWDvQvUG-ySHVJfAFdzgJM-uE8cG1zC22Y/s1600/2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jAHplU4PFGan4NJW89QAxKzljlKKZuIrlWeznVp0ydhdbHsgifVhaAPqZSy9HoVkrgnvyQ25AXYMgoWRr0Jy1nO2OUuIqcaDMP_oUIX0x8XWDvQvUG-ySHVJfAFdzgJM-uE8cG1zC22Y/s320/2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168846988408946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKPMnFEOwELe5PI6Kskph8JEoCY-d5Lg9ceOhXqVKIN6scPnZAAz6ofoNmj2FUE3Ark9rPjjTR0QgKjDOzLxaERtw96bTLTP6QlZzgOWxsMvSrhkd38F8tmfPMZSH7mVaLxdxB1NS5dBQ/s1600/3.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKPMnFEOwELe5PI6Kskph8JEoCY-d5Lg9ceOhXqVKIN6scPnZAAz6ofoNmj2FUE3Ark9rPjjTR0QgKjDOzLxaERtw96bTLTP6QlZzgOWxsMvSrhkd38F8tmfPMZSH7mVaLxdxB1NS5dBQ/s320/3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168703669232034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTMAdt38AeQpN3zCrNd6rW2Gid__Myx1A1nTYc9RGQZGo5Eh0qBPrI8RrUWuAR2FVcyQ6zRXWkWaV5XkxTLrk7Ig_UNyGIYVgpuehzRZgsGTwmyfldyvicuhtQl52QhIDlILLnH3s8Hzw/s1600/4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTMAdt38AeQpN3zCrNd6rW2Gid__Myx1A1nTYc9RGQZGo5Eh0qBPrI8RrUWuAR2FVcyQ6zRXWkWaV5XkxTLrk7Ig_UNyGIYVgpuehzRZgsGTwmyfldyvicuhtQl52QhIDlILLnH3s8Hzw/s320/4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168697202239506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 276px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyPVqQC76slUV0HWrw8Ei6t7kLHpQJ4Z_FTzVLHDiJS6G5hpqjkbSJEQFDMt_6CcXDdJOMD_6q4FhTej1FdGFPjWFElvDcUTVLLWoazbikbsqeeby_MDEE9AAuqYIiFcSDivMW9DIB05g/s1600/5.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyPVqQC76slUV0HWrw8Ei6t7kLHpQJ4Z_FTzVLHDiJS6G5hpqjkbSJEQFDMt_6CcXDdJOMD_6q4FhTej1FdGFPjWFElvDcUTVLLWoazbikbsqeeby_MDEE9AAuqYIiFcSDivMW9DIB05g/s320/5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168699551731378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 207px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fChrHB11DMtq1bsNpfZldc2FTWtw2nxZfjYlIGvZODVsoIAsI_7ZR7HnosK9Z8zGwHdsnWDUUKQyLri-DEBh-Mwm-bXmbgutcd0ZtMDrD055aeAXiiWstZ_QEsdwp-9QZ_d6mKxJPQya/s1600/6.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fChrHB11DMtq1bsNpfZldc2FTWtw2nxZfjYlIGvZODVsoIAsI_7ZR7HnosK9Z8zGwHdsnWDUUKQyLri-DEBh-Mwm-bXmbgutcd0ZtMDrD055aeAXiiWstZ_QEsdwp-9QZ_d6mKxJPQya/s320/6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168697336067298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 276px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD_5i59Dk9rJgnRv_BNgYQcKEeqOK0ejqlyuqXzUV9IN7D-Zav2ZXuk7lCuRbxEOjgpK1HrtLtJB84Rj5CgWaRU-qo7qoiwexBsCEEGOzHr-I81OOLgx5qnt0wK0sqJaduxgKPGo-guGe/s1600/7.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJD_5i59Dk9rJgnRv_BNgYQcKEeqOK0ejqlyuqXzUV9IN7D-Zav2ZXuk7lCuRbxEOjgpK1HrtLtJB84Rj5CgWaRU-qo7qoiwexBsCEEGOzHr-I81OOLgx5qnt0wK0sqJaduxgKPGo-guGe/s320/7.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5637168693558785938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 276px; " /></a></div><div>This project has actually pretty easy. It took about an hour to make from beginning to end. There were just two things I wish they had mentioned in the "how to":</div><div><ol><li>That you should use spare pieces of of rope to wrap and secure the pieces. I used one of the main pieces and it ended up shortening one my rope groups.</li><li>Have someone hold the plant holder while you figure out where the end knot will be because at first I didn't and when I finally got the plant in there (have someone help you that, too) I started futzing with the ropes and making them hold the plant evenly and the plant pot <i>fell</i> out of the plant holder.</li></ol><div>That said, I will definitely be making more of these. The materials — rope and a metal ring — only cost me about $15 which makes this a pretty good project for house warming presents. Plus, once you get the hang of making the plant holder, the pattern is simple enough to make it with all types of heavy-duty string and rope.</div></div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-35363649987205178242011-08-02T19:28:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.409-07:00A Whole New Appreciation for VermontSo.... My friends T&T have two adorable children and the younger one (a BEAUTIFUL little girl) turned one yesterday; the party is this weekend and I thought, instead of buying a present, I'd make her one. I was hiking to Mood last Friday anyway and I decided to get some felt and whatnot.<div><br /></div><div>The only problem: I had no idea, though, what I was going to make!</div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily, I had my sketch book with me, so I whipped out my sketch book and started sketching. That's right. I was sketching out my idea in the middle of Mood!!!!! Plus, Swatch the dog was running and playing all over the store. The only way the day could have been better was if Tim Gunn stepped out and called 5 minutes left.</div><div><br /></div><div>I used the weekend to finish a couple of other projects and started patterning last night. Did I mention that I've never made a stuffed animal before?</div><div><br /></div><div>The hardest part, I knew, would be the head. It's the curviest part of the design and the most geometric. I came up with a pattern last night, but I wasn't happy with it, so I patterned more tonight. Well, neither pattern was really working. At all.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I've set aside that idea and I'm going back to the original plan of an Ugly Doll-style stuffed toy. Yep, I did what I always do. I think "Hey! I've never done that before. I think I'd like to try it." and then choose to do the <b><i>hardest</i></b> version possible. I don't have the time it'll take to tweak the patterns, nor a limitless amount of muslin.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's literally back to the drawing board for me.</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-1189695571389459732011-08-01T05:06:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.409-07:00As Promised....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-AgSxYVYlLpRCOL9RhTDSrQq2LhjwAZuuA053oV3kOzFtF8GSZ7kn7gcdiwaXXs9uo3X-YkI6f8xS1kijWYSAlEVvrR5-EgpBh9qY6rxJPPZyMXTOVG2i456-ndlcOpHLoRRKtv66rr3/s1600/PICT1950.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-AgSxYVYlLpRCOL9RhTDSrQq2LhjwAZuuA053oV3kOzFtF8GSZ7kn7gcdiwaXXs9uo3X-YkI6f8xS1kijWYSAlEVvrR5-EgpBh9qY6rxJPPZyMXTOVG2i456-ndlcOpHLoRRKtv66rr3/s400/PICT1950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635858110560887954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the collages hanging up in my apartment's hallway!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-39285218690173243322011-07-31T13:51:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.410-07:00IKEA is for Lovers<div style="text-align: left;">Hello, all!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've finally decided to stop procrastinating on the IKEA purse post. The bag's been done for a couple of days, but I was so tuckered out from yesterday's IKEA trip and making another project, that my mind just wanted to zone out on TCM movies and The Lost Kingdom Prophecy. But not today!</div><div><br /></div><div>Without further ado, here is the step-by-step how-to for the Frakta purse:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Materials</u></b></div><div>2 large <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/17228340">IKEA Frakta bags</a></div><div>1 spool of yellow thread</div><div>4 magnetic snap closures</div><div>1 sheet of plastic canvas</div><div>1 11" x 9" muslin piece</div><div>Multiple card stock pieces (I used the cut up box of a Target-brand ibuprofen bottle)</div><div>Sewing machine</div><div>Seam ripper</div><div>Scissors</div><div>Pliers</div><div>Ruler</div><div>Measuring tape</div><div>Straight pins</div><div>Pencil</div><div>Sharpie marker</div><div>X-Acto knife</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Purse Dimensions:</u></b></div><div>Side A = 11" x 13"</div><div>Side B = 9" x 13"</div><div>Bottom = 11" x 9"</div><div>Plastic Canvas Insert = 9" x 7"</div><div><br /></div><div>Cut 4 pieces of Sides A and B; you will making an outside and a lining. Cut 2 pieces for the bottom. Note: All purse pieces (except for the plastic canvas insert) include a 1/2" seam allowance.</div><div><br /></div><div>The final dimensions of the bag will be 10" length x 8" width x 10" height.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Step-by-Step:</u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOnNtH-0z_1j1P5xxFGphybumbWnoh-F5Ut5Lvm6csoxR-ZJB5PBt8LQq3Y-pVSn6BBM1_e26zcPmwhtnrcrf3HCqf7hruQwE9NU0K5QIC1KLE-3oIrkw3QHfISiOKTc5IXCx-0SrkFs_/s320/1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635626293038919266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 174px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Use the seam ripper to detach all four straps.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3MVC6Npu0UFVsCnDQQDCai3BHV4F2uReHZSDrH1VLNJbZazauv4Ex8rGJ3e-XIoai9qkgxhIhx9sBZ9iPiyXI5H48N8VR1Fcc01eDRJHQvC95JBjgciwAWcbIstl4DZizOtHzHBsh-9w/s320/2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635626295167606690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 168px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Use the scissors to cut up the bags at the seams. Throw away the seam pieces.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsnlz6Ib4fmPfYtBXXUknFwYWRYlxcdgeCBk0rluLyft4LSgs2YCRHnkDxgCd-ZzbqXP4ZETefG0zSbuTKUMDZInET1UFl5_LEDW0EphzWccKzXt6HRiwyz5BvOf_FrrG80MXIavyzvZD/s320/4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635626299498467714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G6CZ0AnCSunnN1YK0aUHVszwHR4tyZJXaeyOcXTobQfbXrBidkx3DNUiergk8Ev9cgmvCF7ibn55KvdjwHceP8fTG60PYW5LT8zBLR5Jl9f1OU7eNwMFbXcmqc_2bwg88OESN3QQWkHY/s320/5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635626298426504322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></span>Measure and cut out the bag pieces.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cOkiaIOJTwjR2v-x7hOIVk3VhJYXV6khO7Tchn1bDktSviwesAknyYRRl3g4uJuZCHJoBiuSJ7J4WGEQQ7F03-tX7oUvAUTOyo5Ttb-_RvDitlcrjKWF1faRVFVGf3sos4q_wA_in1CL/s320/6.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635739506878472674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cut the long bag straps to an equal length. Put the right sides together and sew across 1/2" from each end.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpYkkCvje2g2k3VZCSuwehCbj2TKusRJ2YmsayXoPNEIg2rlKEt7k6g5HqQmcjZiDX6C5BCIYX1MaDeyQVp3TwFtSPU-FH_EYFs2av_JhbHAB2qmbk3bNT1dZjRWGGpJYN_i4mHCNyfau/s320/7.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635739502678141042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">When both ends are sewn together, turn the straps inside out so the right side is out. Pin the straps together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB26OFHYHfG_jVF14F22hH0iHyt3xxympxejccHDpxDo0x-Hmzko_dLxebJiogbCWRGpAhCuWJimQommNd-h_zkBRQ_s6P56Rcwl5MKnxSkJv-sVzZdJym9-U_cKGljyRxjsHmV7GR5pn/s320/8.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635739500035609218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Top stitch the straps together with a 1/4" seam allowance.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Super Crafter Tip:</b> I used the borders to the IKEA letters as a guide while sewing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsp3wmvX694SrRzhVyFcwgy5XZJ8p1DAZDDtbz8bFGKyeFGhJqdgr4WL1l7H7oPBruGoewxKdZ8ZFBbuHqD4HtbqEezM7iDN5QhiyD_nH6_rvE7cUDx-0dwF62_KRESEuGuhgtuVMod2V/s320/9.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635739495850334834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaybfknlJSyRWR24ieA79evdeHjTb4s_-TiftAjehyQrM6wBrU-fL5w4n-KmFmr3_eynJob7kkA43bpGQ6G1uLerw-WcNhMKhBnOxy5I5PpNmtcoyr4aTk2nyaUJTKoUKbH0Rtf-j0WAkC/s320/10.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635739496151184066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Repeat these steps with the other two long straps.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Outside Layer</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxyKPuX6WIYUuUeEnQe1YkgJQ18KpOBOY-cwgxxAl4BryfRwObqaQV9OrpHJm5i9m2Lbxt6DjCOX3D1_0u-eEc56luXN9VgAyzf8x9SIKhcIfjRkSV6uafh58giZqcMIPex9D5h9Iajnj/s320/12.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635740285949746898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sew together the sides of the purse until all four pieces are connected. Attach bottom of bag, beginning with the longer ends, then sew shorter ends. I took it edge by edge, but the manner of attachment is totally the crafter's preference.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCErKpPZ73doLRZZqWdxwjvQnESaBDZCg7sdSKGJGFo9s6lXkJXp0Z4e0VFFFGzUXldRAuH2UsxpGKS0J96MGGv-rzF3KKs1WJxsqr6UPi9cpNoVvXbAIIePRO1KThjHyGUQcbQrldVtFV/s1600/13.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCErKpPZ73doLRZZqWdxwjvQnESaBDZCg7sdSKGJGFo9s6lXkJXp0Z4e0VFFFGzUXldRAuH2UsxpGKS0J96MGGv-rzF3KKs1WJxsqr6UPi9cpNoVvXbAIIePRO1KThjHyGUQcbQrldVtFV/s320/13.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635740284267087410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKE9uw9fRhgiTkoe08KxmXcDOFZAt7eajlrCjy5aqwPRVpv93nlvO4X5C1bs_x_VmWEG1ngKUq-g63C4GUV-jmUzwDkwaxzEbhgjEgFVkZKAAkAfbbiDyADyFBt-BiY_6ZM_RzdUMawDI/s1600/14.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKE9uw9fRhgiTkoe08KxmXcDOFZAt7eajlrCjy5aqwPRVpv93nlvO4X5C1bs_x_VmWEG1ngKUq-g63C4GUV-jmUzwDkwaxzEbhgjEgFVkZKAAkAfbbiDyADyFBt-BiY_6ZM_RzdUMawDI/s320/14.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635740284270203602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once the bottom is attached. Turn the bag inside out and use the closed scissors to shape the bottom's corners.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYInHpznZwxHr5D-hyvCmch-oVXxn5IySajlE6hJ4Xs10Y8HKxxeW3MESrxfjB_-HotXowbXAuhxz4InDZqsren9pckybG5xFh69Hv2xv2tO34eAdR7IjTmYzkOo0vdoxIwcXncluAQlu/s320/15.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635740277437313794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now it's time for the opening's hem. Fold over the top and use the measuring tape to adjust the hem to 2.5". Pin in place and sew 1/2" from the folded edge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside Layer</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The inside layer is built the same way as the outside layer, but if you decide that you want pockets and what not, you will need to attach them to the Side B pieces before they are sewn together with the Side A pieces. I wanted pockets for pens, my cell phone a general pocket.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr6AYqxYqx73X_6ng61OJ0EpyUJoTjS56CgS3PRx80SzINBL8VqiuQGDTVNRnnpEHCGqmVZC6qRwYpqJ13hop5OKsm0swjI69Ofk3XNjECxTovzef7rOHGpOIFn2XV6i-hPrMD9o4AZx_5/s320/16.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741107992876466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">First, figure out how big you want your pockets to be. Take some of the material leftover from cutting out the purse sections and cut it to double the size you want. Fold it in half and sew 1/4" from the folded edge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ2q4stLoZzzDmO3Un-rttvPoj1cId72m7CIXCde7eli5hkZlKhV6-Ff8atXJG3VuExdip9pH4ir2nu6-sAVtRFBNvbCQMymy-iTEByW-cDJkcKisOINSQzN134Lg2rLrRGAHXH-xTi6_/s320/17.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741109359161938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a pencil, mark where your pocket dividers are going to be and where the pocket should be sewn to the lining.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7CLCDYGv9Pe3BVs5UQv4b5_ufskoLYcuVgJrkh176_Z56U4PH1we9_jwCW_BPNAMBK7lREPmYBQhGF3kLPM78RYOjEL3ejmcCv4vS4Emqrh46RYZ4SrZ4lg-KjKAZOionerUNxvCc5ll/s320/18.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741102512824226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldPIoJXFwbGLMF-L_6LscsYrHhZr4Livs44Qktc0L5kUJHhtssv0JBTHPbr474YTtfX8f2hka_wjDZRUR5GDVSNDrM_8O4KdKUcc3MJEI2Q7iN3r2URJ2bdGq6a6QnC6GRtUvyVq_kRca/s1600/19.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldPIoJXFwbGLMF-L_6LscsYrHhZr4Livs44Qktc0L5kUJHhtssv0JBTHPbr474YTtfX8f2hka_wjDZRUR5GDVSNDrM_8O4KdKUcc3MJEI2Q7iN3r2URJ2bdGq6a6QnC6GRtUvyVq_kRca/s320/19.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741102257675938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Using the pencil lines, top stitch the pockets to one or both of the Side B lining pieces. Make sure to keep the folded half of the pocket piece to the top. If you want, you can also add some reinforcement/decoration by going around the stitching with a zig-zag stitch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yLuOP9vrn0XhrFKD7d9D5m5v34_eZ07F1uyd9FEsjV6SRVSYdqrj7htIGLveMMngev9a23Yd9_2zo5rZDPaFzNLZPhH5EtoDxN0S7i_U8bbCu07ASYcQKqEd-wniRELeBKZJkVxYCm5A/s320/20.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741100383143026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now attach Sides A and B together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1Kb4JYZbzyf1FAl-WPIUuhiQaEyxguIUAA11N4o1w2Ao6S44AtRUn_cez7nI_APiJXyczkMyETzhVUyzsiUV65uoDblAYjckR0_r-FIoLy3f081fGVVjWeqxvZl5WAqIbBVgG54fSeNi/s320/11.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635740286448126498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">For the lining bottom: using a zig-zag stitch, attach the muslin piece to the lining bottom on three sides. Place the plastic muslin in between the muslin and the lining bottom, then sew the forth side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga910aDaNsMpB4Ll4_65Ehkr70Zcj1Ek0jDTOdqePHQn6lUcpUSvYJCA_JO4x5PXS6nwniP1EPt6AkS6M5MXJvsoNDkCc0n_C8tM3vGBb5S1qEJJZhbG8E8wmA4tkneq9HfgdWk8llTnof/s320/21.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741889977924978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">With the muslin side down, attach the lining bottom to the rest of the lining.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla_uOSwjXRDFKmzwWWJA3bAOD-UV394m_9D53g0gIERIUKVFOZ7IYRGDHqFQ9RQ2-cuF2rak7a44JynbTGeJDbaiPk5VQi8vQzMDBriRogoSnrTO4OEbgKm6g42pEh9b9TxuTX1gL431P/s1600/22.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhla_uOSwjXRDFKmzwWWJA3bAOD-UV394m_9D53g0gIERIUKVFOZ7IYRGDHqFQ9RQ2-cuF2rak7a44JynbTGeJDbaiPk5VQi8vQzMDBriRogoSnrTO4OEbgKm6g42pEh9b9TxuTX1gL431P/s320/22.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741890718465298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYx3Ng4WbIfY5eFoK54I-2B8Ss-Lg7Z70v8i1m-9Bv9989lTAkDp8RdlNZdSIqxU5azLqXbgF3TKn6D9Cmdk-EaSDTmUTcNe0Klpxrp99jgCRqb2YoE8aDPmWvCs_02KRodOQOhmeVg3xa/s1600/23.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYx3Ng4WbIfY5eFoK54I-2B8Ss-Lg7Z70v8i1m-9Bv9989lTAkDp8RdlNZdSIqxU5azLqXbgF3TKn6D9Cmdk-EaSDTmUTcNe0Klpxrp99jgCRqb2YoE8aDPmWvCs_02KRodOQOhmeVg3xa/s320/23.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741885713619298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Trim the lining edges.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfhyORrWdsJUM16bs5OHKakQlRVxSIGwCblQQ5k-B1DLaatlHenlJSz-mLJZanqhEXOPVT1M_VOGQyOQIsL5c2FvYMbnvKUAzn9W-v919RgB5IqcFbtTQ1pueVHRMe-83_UMc6VqhgPgp/s320/24.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741885745245394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1Keb3surHu7ezu08oAsW-DwNwW8Qin0IFaKCfY1Bz2gIaCjAQkbTZUBale3_9Yq43Js6QlkItmESTX7oq-b4bK-Pe6OVECvZjMnmIb5_pWuZu9joksrBQ1-KHvhhEdYVp0LeRYp2tsw-/s320/25.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635741880555212834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Place the lining inside the outside and fold outside, measure and pin for the hem. Then sew 1/2" from the folded edge.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD2AfTGX6AqzNPwgnILCYHBp6pLhQOFIWwboPic2j3l2f8aOpNbpTaGbPg5nnDS0UsyhkNA_fyPr6swhceiO7G9od9eJ8rWbRLuzNNhn5A__GyKeE2Q0D57PNzNCUn0NuH0cHEN6QC_Qr/s320/26.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635742949328610674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">There may tugging. If there is, relieve the tautness of the lining hem by cutting to about 1/4" of the hem seam.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Attaching the Straps</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUOoUFWtg6bgy_UL-70oiCDvoHx0EDa4QLd5jwDiAP_-wBhtV2jtH2j3PI4N68zzSp78tWwOTWM_jdlsokv-d5lPT3I3MwtRXpX3QfHVqLarQIOaKTrbrKxYEJasuX0mMPAywngPgRIc7/s320/27.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635742948856479042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Using the measuring tape, pin each end of the strap 2-1/2" down onto the outside portion of the bag. I centered the strap over the seams, but after using the bag for a couple of days, I must admit that this makes closing the bag a little awkward.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBoF-uywSISanhNGQ6X5EsCA4-LYkwwnocUfiDxToPefpbTG8W543NpCLiJ71Aitfr41_PiXVQqH4OjxKTy0N55RP6I7wer8VhFCajY7jmWV4EWYRGoQ_ZTZUs9-SUtYT8ArnSpJ4NsPv/s320/28.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635742945832735234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Top stitch a rectangle around the strap, staying 1/4" away from the hem stitch (this will give your foot room to pass by when you attach the lining.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gxknh09K07FXQBlVZF0BZPcFPl2EkFHcNumqx2BUcDCiZhMmB03zPnWTFqSOZBkgJYW-8i6VJSou87pHEZzz2vpxUSrbOjcbfMvy4qFa7Ce3G8IZg60EUmxJ8duY-thELyuYBDMEPuL3/s1600/29.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Gxknh09K07FXQBlVZF0BZPcFPl2EkFHcNumqx2BUcDCiZhMmB03zPnWTFqSOZBkgJYW-8i6VJSou87pHEZzz2vpxUSrbOjcbfMvy4qFa7Ce3G8IZg60EUmxJ8duY-thELyuYBDMEPuL3/s320/29.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635742944469851714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Then top stitch an 'X' from the corners of the box.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Super Crafter Tip:</b> Back stitch the entire length of each side before turning the needle. This will help reinforce the strap!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp0GuxtfG2hIPAT_zutIwjvpXUKnsxMHOESof2YAY9it5O1ebftwQr9HJV8p_n32fL3FCuVS8TRUG7inELOCdub1gElRMhvh9jPl6q8PoT392CLFva7ugvxSkNjvhCMGaEJkQagskLguQ/s320/30.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635742947608805234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Attaching the Closures</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWNkxm2NMzgaI_rjKrgx4CxB5AzFcBpTQ2gXnM3Jg7DZu99kin_r4g5iAjGL3VSEn86GvY0NCT531GeaAddnS7IbllMK_paT9uPa5rR3oSDrsG3Mxvz11hRNZWt80yiereDTKQPDdNOmL/s320/31.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635743893595290386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Take a magnetic closure piece and determine where you want it to go. I put one on each of the four corners so the sides will fold inward when closed. You'll also want to make sure the closures are not too close to the hem line as they make interfere with the attaching the lining and outside together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRTyu8UVfDz_3y-yVfzLIoaSdgWCyQhmQ4JOOWvbfiTo3_g7Dv5-j6GUDx_SqfiodEqS7m43AlMe7S12t4keL8Kwav8Mv8ZZJxfKiCGsjiddbK99NLuz695WOjDwpkIwWWQrBBNtFrIR8/s320/32.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635743894260711378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">With the Sharpie, mark where the prongs will be going.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5o2xjIZ7IxYfIy2X-QkcOHHDH9Bj8gg0R0-4c9kcwJBkcGXlxbKXkWnysskiV1nNqpSYx8JmIp9mgxgobcU0-1PMC9xfxGkkjeRU-WBnpGwPNpxC1rag72YfbGQpnCg8vZErO-IxZsvI/s320/33.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635743890549376146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Use the X-Acto knife to make the prong openings, making sure to cut through the lining and the hem overlap.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUvOI4Iu6ScHd4UD1e7DX1W9MzbMNWbVjsoQxh9aXE5lcJhS5Bxe65yeindHyTxAqIiNMnzORSqM6Q4ureeCcyWiMeNArHdgqEffPxNr7yTfFF9MSFifO7jtlmyDtEyQsJZEUGjk-qC7X/s1600/34.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUvOI4Iu6ScHd4UD1e7DX1W9MzbMNWbVjsoQxh9aXE5lcJhS5Bxe65yeindHyTxAqIiNMnzORSqM6Q4ureeCcyWiMeNArHdgqEffPxNr7yTfFF9MSFifO7jtlmyDtEyQsJZEUGjk-qC7X/s320/34.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635743889452880994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEZ2JnTM5ctBrw5t0SZNhORiwim2Gffgbt2_A8oWYFiDw5APgZoZh0tD5AQUnJGbXjtwkEutQFSUH1PYEgIEsNMRzfveGgu6-LRiSoSekh-DHhUFqXl_yqSYjOgczkpHMS8uRWVgdqLvd/s1600/35.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEZ2JnTM5ctBrw5t0SZNhORiwim2Gffgbt2_A8oWYFiDw5APgZoZh0tD5AQUnJGbXjtwkEutQFSUH1PYEgIEsNMRzfveGgu6-LRiSoSekh-DHhUFqXl_yqSYjOgczkpHMS8uRWVgdqLvd/s320/35.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635743890712571922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mark on one of the card stock pieces where the prongs are.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKmhaoheeGCE9jKsBabWrkvFc3xh1rsn5fsHsUr0Ys0KRse1DXinhNV2zPkb1KLcm2W4fNHMR4vpYRdLlj_VnuEmn_pWVT1YhOfPobQNFhxgNsZVjnkYvLILMQ6fFw-eWCSuIXZal70Ny/s320/36.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635744536076186610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cut the prong slits into the card stock piece.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYycavIsjD7yd_D7aUN1rKJPwBcsAfZOEw29vSmeMqSDi4Q9V22iGhFMJt6UCKpxGxQ4HK-2Vh18TZNdzzSEXaWw_rCJ7wkE1rugdK44sAgAVgcLsL-tyGjb_3cDJ7cRC3QJRi41IOPojE/s320/37.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635744532156950786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Slip the closure piece through the bag material and the card stock piece. Place the washer piece over the prongs. Use the pliers to fold the prongs over.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGqDYBL6WUTpJT4C0891Cpiotlx9oHR5WiEAvzla5OFvfEK-tArhuQWMPc4uSWr2HCFiZezVxGMhAwscUrtyZH5TTiygFzwINMLT1cXhespDUuhEo9UhMRrmmj6UphXyXtf28tEITxDYU/s320/38.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635744532089008050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Repeat this process with the closure's mate and then with the remaining three closures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Finishing the Purse</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWDcSeyUz3Pcb_NVRxgLu79g6TQJy_YPVtpmlZozfk1GLmCJZ6aG0B0Q-_37ret9Ea14JyfY8c-rAGPNNGhu8gkNRj9yO7JX_kJs4utyTeBPhuh5liIW5txYLvZNl3CcIHPlQe56Kz_m9/s320/39.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635744526352568322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once all of the closures are attached, place the lining back into the outside structure and pin them together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BLMQfpL_cQoSo_Br4n40S7jGeEwdE9tRku-1C1YZh9CATp9qVhogcE3TX5j_OQHwQM9atEny0_EV6mcQ0JANlFoysJe23-Vk_Ik-2GwJT5s-LZcgAm3RbXjilBz0lbhyphenhyphenDC0nIDL-c2DL/s320/40.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635744527488548114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sew the lining and outside together, using the hem line as a guide.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Super Crafter Tip: </b>By keeping the pins on the inside of the bag can be sewn in the same way as attaching a sleeve to a shirt. It's easier to handle the bag while sewing and any ease can be hid better on the lining side.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjrd7LQ2faUjVa8LCnXaxTtTOnBUZnRti4JcDFzR9U_uAUXJ1eEAgOXc8ArUZYERWkfi6Oh3pk7401XBZ9ib6J3gNsYgZ9YcsK3IeiHsq4IJZA71ytRNIDVVi_NjbasM_khK-5Z3W1igt/s320/42.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635745180381959202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 204px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once the two parts are attached you have yourself a purse!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now go take it out into the world and get ready for lots and lots of people to ask you where you got your purse.</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-33730927983663880562011-07-29T22:00:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.410-07:00Stay-cation Project #2Good news, everybody! I completed my second stay-cation project tonight. I'll have the how-to and pictures up tomorrow. Plus I have pictures of my first project hanging up on the wall! Those will be posted tomorrow, too.<div><br /></div><div>I am also happy to announce that I have my next few projects lined up. A couple will be matching accessories to tomorrow's project, one is going to be a birthday present for a friend's daughter, and the last will be a two-fer — a project that I've been wanting to do for a long, long time, while at the same time being the first project from a book or magazine for me to try and review.</div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to the plethora of projects I have ahead and I also have lots of other great topics for posts bouncing around my noggin. So please keep checking in.</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-49606980694144479472011-07-27T17:02:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.410-07:00Put A Freakin' BIRD On It!<div style="text-align: left;">The first project I made this week on is a variation of this <a href="http://www.favecrafts.com/MixedMedia/Bird-and-Text-Collage-Wall-Art#">wall art</a> project that my roommate</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Nina found online. She sent it to me because we both love the <a href="http://youtu.be/0XM3vWJmpfo">'Put a Bird on It' sketch from <i>Portlandia</i></a>. We now laugh when we see anything with a bird on it — usually in a very judgmental way. "Ha Ha! Look at those hipsters and their birds!" we always say.* (*we don't really say this) This time, though, I took a look at the project and said, "I want to make that!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>I'm not making the same exact project, however. While I'm using a similar background for my project, the images will be completely different. Instead of birds on branches, I decided to make stylized silhouettes of a squirrel and an owl.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Here's what you need to make this projec</u></b><b><u>t:</u></b></div><div><ol><li>Two blank canvases (I get mine from <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-traditional-34-profile-canvas/">Dick Blick</a>.) — The two I used are both 20' x 20'.</li><li>Paper — I used the pages of an old thesaurus, but you can use anything you want as long as you can collage it.</li><li>White glue — The best glues I've used for projects like this are <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/plaid-mod-podge/">Plaid Mod Podge</a> and good, ol' <a href="http://www.dickblick.com/products/elmers-glue-all/">Elmer's Glue-All</a>. For this project I used Mod Podge.</li><li>Various collage supplies — a 1-1/2" chip brush, a popsicle stick for crafting, a container to hold the adhesive mixture.</li><li>Drawing supplies — pencils, black markers, erasers, sketchbook, etc.</li><li>Cutting supplies — scissors, X-Acto knife, cutting mat</li><li>Other supplies — tracing paper, cardboard, latex/non-latex gloves, </li></ol></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Here's what I did:</u></b></div><div><b><u><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzrdeEpsrpZZKzTp3Dw_x0mGHmViSuEVuP2BIGQ2iSz7-PZQhJUpoDKsTIJcZsQj-k4ge3KL9Oz-59lFLir4ufEJST8AJB-tIPZO1r2UpknG6ma0704WaEL2huCMTMH73B1jNLZobBt3b/s320/Thesaurus+Pages.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634212966982955218" /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">First, I ripped all of the pages out of an old thesaurus I found at the NYC Strand Bookstore for a whopping $.48.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next, I laid my two canvasses on the kitchen counter, using an extra-large, clear recycling bag to protect the surface. Note: the adhesive mixture will cause the canvasses to stick to the work surface, but the plastic of the recycling bag will peel easily away from the canvasses and will not damage the collage work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVgsBPo2eVzCTTSxBnn_vj66HPekvs6Chac7-v4haO7ANvkBkrzMzjxKm5h2CDdORYErGSX2YMmqIqs_2Q63ZN6Kyd6VDQOG9ovr1nIGfiTaKsVXL9nRf4B_4PlAsaEsTrh3EU_kqGZB4/s320/Adhesive+Supplies.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 193px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634218143027651042" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I mixed one part Mod Podge with one part water to create the collage adhesive mixture. I know the original craft article suggests a mixture of two parts water and one part glue, but I quickly found out that, with that mixture ratio, the paper didn't wrap around the edges of the canvas very well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">SUPER CRAFTER TIP:</span></b> Use warm water for your adhesive mixture. It mixes better and faster with the glue, and it makes the paper more pliable. =)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5hzoxbf9H6tqHqztRQ1M11L6a5Oa5YIBYd1hnzxZpzYc3yLSS2CC_UBYfWa1cdd0rLrLi-hfNbVTCW6rtanf1o5TE79dyhgXamAKMsjvHOQwIMF98cQh82kUrgixmiksLq_gyVzZLa4a/s320/Collage+Border.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 198px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634219495431304002" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next, I took the chip brush and dipped it in the adhesive mixture and spread it over a section of the canvas edge. Then I spread some over the back of one of thesaurus pages. I placed the thesaurus page on the edge of the canvas with half of the page hanging off of the side. I then dipped the brush in the adhesive mixture again and spread it over the top of the page and continued to spread until the page wrapped around to the back of the canvas. I repeated this until the entire canvas edge is covered.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSzp1bt7pmcMhkxq6B-q6x23mZ6mKaDS0AxaJU4C0YKCoqOIk6LRXzlDmYQxI1pUi7WTmMGzCclRkOGqRxIM5hi7rGEBdkl6ld3xr3QQSdVCXDauBUTvzGsBztygFmvYGpBzXjE8Ahv1w/s320/Collage+Complete.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634224028265289874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 198px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once the edge of the canvas was covered, I continued the process with the rest of the canvas until it was completely covered. You can arrange the pages anyway you want, but I went with an all askew look for mine.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">SUPER CRAFTER TIP:</span></b> Once you're done with attaching all of the collage pages, add additional coats of the adhesive mixture to help firmly secure the pages and to give the collages a nice, glossy glow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I let the canvases dry overnight.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAUQYfJbbiC81FpYMdb3k-txgUCJ96b2oOMnF7u_9lRZSgZxwrEz57bQ5YPNfbP2ZBZTyGE5m5KsaALVQT4yeZCjwRui-Ih09QEip3lI-vXtXgk-QVH6991xdByWxs4OBTED9hm4E9Aam/s1600/Owl+Sketch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAUQYfJbbiC81FpYMdb3k-txgUCJ96b2oOMnF7u_9lRZSgZxwrEz57bQ5YPNfbP2ZBZTyGE5m5KsaALVQT4yeZCjwRui-Ih09QEip3lI-vXtXgk-QVH6991xdByWxs4OBTED9hm4E9Aam/s320/Owl+Sketch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634228438904131826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 246px; " /></a> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbg56DUu4DLfeQt9zyJjXKD0d9qEcsf1HRkXHQ9d5Zq9o-3PzWG2jITTHxh5kZRkJc8Z4rl_WBufWxPJ3f5QYcjq1-V7lED37xbGeB6_IqaJo3GIP1-UEwAyA_8fcgsy0pmYgOnauvt1s/s1600/Squirrel+Sketch.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbg56DUu4DLfeQt9zyJjXKD0d9qEcsf1HRkXHQ9d5Zq9o-3PzWG2jITTHxh5kZRkJc8Z4rl_WBufWxPJ3f5QYcjq1-V7lED37xbGeB6_IqaJo3GIP1-UEwAyA_8fcgsy0pmYgOnauvt1s/s320/Squirrel+Sketch.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634228696354010946" style="cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 166px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While I was waiting for the canvases to dry I worked on the silhouettes. I decided to go with an owl and a squirrel, but because the size of my canvases are so large I knew that I wouldn't be able to print out a photo large enough to create a silhouette. Also, I wanted to have a more stylized look to my silhouettes, so I decided to find photos for reference online and then sketch out what I wanted.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43AXKspAarJxijxnSuSzjY684VwyEHQEW_NlJI3TZNtb2nspl4uoIgchdoKTZjwxhe0Deegi40d5BbQmIupWT0OTw58isZPOPzHeXQWv4Zd9_taMjkmsoTsL-PeKG41Slh7IozIpt6gkr/s1600/Owl+Stencil+Cutout.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43AXKspAarJxijxnSuSzjY684VwyEHQEW_NlJI3TZNtb2nspl4uoIgchdoKTZjwxhe0Deegi40d5BbQmIupWT0OTw58isZPOPzHeXQWv4Zd9_taMjkmsoTsL-PeKG41Slh7IozIpt6gkr/s320/Owl+Stencil+Cutout.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634235825294876994" style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 245px; " /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxyi0ZAbV332l66wcoENVAIjLaBNDw-m904TSj9gV8ztFDwNGhrHiJyUmZivO_kZTaPF8r2F9avHasR0doN4zMXzJqDlDuLIGlMDvzfBXvg5-5Be5Oul94Yoal5vhZITgAO3t7nv9klHy/s320/Squirrel+Stencil.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634235953561990514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 198px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I then use tracing paper to transfer the sketch from the sketch pad to some cardboard. Once the sketch was transferred I cut the silhouette out of the cardboard to create a stencil.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nkAL97QHxKHxoXpWigmFszxzMhbyM-ZXwk34nOrB2g8qSrUAwr2GRiIn93Cfb4Lap0W6suUsiFO53MlXLBcrgRh6je6vgfjwmceVqNLj_zob9uOpCqs1TsIBG0NfgluXzfleqMNGSCFf/s1600/Leaf+Stencil+-+Placement.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nkAL97QHxKHxoXpWigmFszxzMhbyM-ZXwk34nOrB2g8qSrUAwr2GRiIn93Cfb4Lap0W6suUsiFO53MlXLBcrgRh6je6vgfjwmceVqNLj_zob9uOpCqs1TsIBG0NfgluXzfleqMNGSCFf/s320/Leaf+Stencil+-+Placement.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634236652198625234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 198px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I also made a stencil of some leaves in three different sizes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvZ8k49Ef-2p4WQ-06m7WSlby4-fmv5jZgmP7adU3Fx5KV4Ta4vsqY8k3RL_xNSdFAlcVUeS5hmSJTABG1lEBZ5LFes7RZrRTB6WsTNTLD_wwO_CIBYFO4LUhlzRv6UbI6wdblcSp2SzW/s320/Bowl+of+Cereal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634237962069794066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 177px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Next, I went to bed, slept for about six to eight hours, got up, and had a bowl of granola cereal with some almonds and raisins.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">By the time I finished my cereal the canvases were dry and ready to be drawn on.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkxYa0eiFv_0qUxgQgXGi_GTP1oq9vATi1bPVuZr7-pku3QvV-LKNoa7kwrNEukVCrWiZ-GdNtSjYPvvxRZO-oSMVFIk3ZEJqzXNdTfufQETE69MEVNMe6gpq6hF_Dv187_ljCg2I63kE/s320/Owl+Stencil.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634238691579762674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 198px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">I determined the center of the canvas and placed the center of the stencil on the canvas center (this was done by eyeballing, no complicated marks or arithmetic.) Then I traced the stencil with a pencil.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieullMU0kFCi5MTH7bG18Fnnnj7nLrkAcHysVHdNupRbP39c4BNJMR5HQJdf531LdfPkxFhA92laRoq08YGo1DA3odWq_p8ZsrPj_esDVgdJ7NyhsQSCC8v9fgvJkPP6KJahMsBJXggkYc/s1600/Owl+Silhouette.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieullMU0kFCi5MTH7bG18Fnnnj7nLrkAcHysVHdNupRbP39c4BNJMR5HQJdf531LdfPkxFhA92laRoq08YGo1DA3odWq_p8ZsrPj_esDVgdJ7NyhsQSCC8v9fgvJkPP6KJahMsBJXggkYc/s320/Owl+Silhouette.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634238695141148226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 171px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I then used a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Permanent-Marker-Markers-15001/dp/B00006IFGP">Sanford King Size maker</a> to fill in the penciled stencil. Once the first layer was dry, I filled in again with the marker to make sure that the color was solid and even.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgi2NK7jhHltiFa94FoytQmtjQvpVC7-wXOkX1X1yTlMIYGYJMccEYIZR7Po_sVMp1H3b6K_ryrHysGBposBVG3VpcX8-oawthInbNCil7J8GW43AxQqJ7rvTHqQoAGEcSYn_VGCgckq0/s320/Animal+Silhouettes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634240801628667362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 144px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Once both stencils were done, I laid out the borders for the leaves.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_bqIFbdaMH98wbB4CnINJyJV5dMkAe3ABIlObBR-cWcKJt_QaJUvPHVWHaqjksGaADSrEV_lIeeylfYZ9ndUT4cp6wb8c-DeyTgSP9D8Q8cxn6kEpneTWJWxsf3QtuEHI3NmyjoPfvOU/s320/Border+Outline.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634240808304825170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 152px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can barely see it, but that is a pencil line beneath the owl's tail.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5_cIvbL2uP505Chyphenhyphenk8AhUN3Wzb7fIFmNNJnn3wyNgD9oEgIdWQ9NtLP7HoWpWCNwNytyFktokDiCAL8OeG5vIxfp_j9b3C1x8jPWhsV-FK8i0BDwh-V7l8r2wPMOyNXjpsFEP9B265II/s320/Leaf+Stencil+-+Placement.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634240804777002098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 198px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Next I placed the leaf stencil in random directions along the border.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlbcc5kPA5fFpegvUmWfm4nOoX6HyOwts2IVOiFtwAdXEXGG6_OhExI6TZB53AgQg85-MRNGot_850vvTfQg4_nOQuiC9UygXcwdeQ1e_Y-U9lMFrNGfZzwKKwXUoBCFT2a6DKDY2Poz-/s320/Leaf+Stencil+-+Outline.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634240809479712146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 198px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I outline the leaves...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55g1Cdgn5ol8hxeCn8mXcX89Y3AEsIw6v7AJFFN8iR5vUdQalgJvOz9qQV4hztQHCE0kwi2jpjOmlOsPvVqRKnT30ZCe96ADpsuWbsLTMQeIaW1Ftm-qagAtOSFjFhh8rWwXC2JS_Gx6B/s1600/Leaf+Stencil+-+Fill+In.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55g1Cdgn5ol8hxeCn8mXcX89Y3AEsIw6v7AJFFN8iR5vUdQalgJvOz9qQV4hztQHCE0kwi2jpjOmlOsPvVqRKnT30ZCe96ADpsuWbsLTMQeIaW1Ftm-qagAtOSFjFhh8rWwXC2JS_Gx6B/s320/Leaf+Stencil+-+Fill+In.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634240812776597970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 209px; " /></a>and then filled them in.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55g1Cdgn5ol8hxeCn8mXcX89Y3AEsIw6v7AJFFN8iR5vUdQalgJvOz9qQV4hztQHCE0kwi2jpjOmlOsPvVqRKnT30ZCe96ADpsuWbsLTMQeIaW1Ftm-qagAtOSFjFhh8rWwXC2JS_Gx6B/s1600/Leaf+Stencil+-+Fill+In.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAnkqA3clmEfPZPzxMshGfW9ZUsVtF4Ef3FKWMdf65XHKQH4kfNnl67gn9Raw1HrqNQCZXDva_o0G7KLyjR_-1Z8J83SRqhUkjwAi6XaO5dqlYALQWUaMXI1Llh7i0_wUvlVkjqmcJXp0/s1600/Squirrel+Completed.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAnkqA3clmEfPZPzxMshGfW9ZUsVtF4Ef3FKWMdf65XHKQH4kfNnl67gn9Raw1HrqNQCZXDva_o0G7KLyjR_-1Z8J83SRqhUkjwAi6XaO5dqlYALQWUaMXI1Llh7i0_wUvlVkjqmcJXp0/s320/Squirrel+Completed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634242642328489394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 209px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">And here is the squirrel canvas with the completed leaf border!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_bqIFbdaMH98wbB4CnINJyJV5dMkAe3ABIlObBR-cWcKJt_QaJUvPHVWHaqjksGaADSrEV_lIeeylfYZ9ndUT4cp6wb8c-DeyTgSP9D8Q8cxn6kEpneTWJWxsf3QtuEHI3NmyjoPfvOU/s1600/Border+Outline.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvz1QvFcqP55KKy9uRfA2O9YTAj6_vhO0T363cpyETsqKNN7-FUk6O8uuB-cvpmVvrzDsuP-hMDwvRj5_H0ce0BoAjnYB5l62ab5_Mz1jhndIdWFrQpV0VJ1QtreHFkD9VScUGq4KJmg74/s320/Leaf+Stencil+-+Wrap+Around.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634242639220227698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 305px; height: 158px; " /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgi2NK7jhHltiFa94FoytQmtjQvpVC7-wXOkX1X1yTlMIYGYJMccEYIZR7Po_sVMp1H3b6K_ryrHysGBposBVG3VpcX8-oawthInbNCil7J8GW43AxQqJ7rvTHqQoAGEcSYn_VGCgckq0/s1600/Animal+Silhouettes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieullMU0kFCi5MTH7bG18Fnnnj7nLrkAcHysVHdNupRbP39c4BNJMR5HQJdf531LdfPkxFhA92laRoq08YGo1DA3odWq_p8ZsrPj_esDVgdJ7NyhsQSCC8v9fgvJkPP6KJahMsBJXggkYc/s1600/Owl+Silhouette.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span">SUPER CRAFTER TIP:</span></b> It looks really cool to wrap the leaves over the edge of the canvas.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">WELL! There's the first stay-cation summer project. I'll post another photo of them when I hang them in the hallway. Don't be afraid to try it yourself and if you have any question, hints, or tips, please do not hesitate to post them in the comments below.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nkAL97QHxKHxoXpWigmFszxzMhbyM-ZXwk34nOrB2g8qSrUAwr2GRiIn93Cfb4Lap0W6suUsiFO53MlXLBcrgRh6je6vgfjwmceVqNLj_zob9uOpCqs1TsIBG0NfgluXzfleqMNGSCFf/s1600/Leaf+Stencil+-+Placement.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-40756730268149139452011-07-26T16:07:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.410-07:00Crafting & Me: The Early Years, Pt. 1So, I started project two today and it's half-way there (YEAH!) But, since there are sections that need to dry overnight, I won't be able to post on it until tomorrow (boo.)<div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, I hoped that I'd entertain all you with my personal history of crafting. I know, it sounds thrilling to me too. Settle in and I'll start my story with the first arts & craft project I remember making...</div><div><br /></div><div>My memory goes pretty far back into my childhood. I can remember things from as far back as three years old. It was 1981 and my Mother, Father, Brother, and me were living in Denver, CO. Denver was still in the 70s at that time, so there was a lot of real-wood paneling and macrame. A lot of places looked like the set of 'Mork & Mindy'.</div><div><br /></div><div>By the time I started pre-school my parents had separated, although it didn't faze Brother and me all that badly. We still saw Father all the time, he just didn't live with us anymore. Because both of my parents worked, Brother and I would go to a babysitter. Then one year Mother dropped me off at pre-school — and I flippin' loved it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the school — and I sooooo wish I could — but as I remember the school itself, it was like an amazeballs clubhouse built by a bunch of 70s hippies for their trippy kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>The building was in an octagon shape both inside and outside. It was only one story and it had a skylight in the middle of its vaulted ceiling. Inside there was a big open space in the middle (the pay area) and the classrooms formed a ring around this play area. There was orange carpet, wood paneling, and ferns everywhere with glass sliding doors opening onto the backyard area of the school. The best part of the pre-school, though, was the giant pit in the middle of the play area! (Even though it was really more like a mini-amphitheater with wide steps on one side also doubling as the seating area to the "deep end" on the other side.) </div><div><br /></div><div>All of the students ended up visiting each of the classrooms, but the one I remember spending the most time in was to the right of the main door and was one of the larger classrooms. Each of the kids had a cubby, got a lunch with a tiny paper cup of milk, took naps on floor mats, and had field trips to movies like 'Bambi'. I do not remember them teaching me to spell or count, but I do remember the first time an ordinary object could be used to create something extraordinary.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was sitting at the big, long table in our classroom with the other kids. The teachers gave each of us a piece of paper, a few crayons, and a pair of safety scissors. Then they stood at one end of the table and showed us how to use the scissors to shave the crayons (thank goodness it was the early 80s and nobody thought twice about a small child using scissors that way.) As instructed, I shaved the crayons onto my piece of paper and brought it up to one of the teachers. That teacher then took the paper, put it onto an ironing board, placed a piece of wax paper on top of it, and ran a dry, hot iron over the paper-crayon sandwich. When the teacher was done I had a piece of notebook paper with a big, colorful splotch on it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Why this simple little activity has stayed with me for so long isn't because I thought I made something amazingly artistic that day — because I didn't — it's stayed with me because that was the moment I experienced the creation process first hand and liked it. I learned how you could take one thing, alter it in some way, and turn it into something completely different. Which is really all crafting is! Yes, some crafting projects start with rawer materials, but whether your projects uses brand new or re-purposed materials, you're still creating something from another something. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't become a crafter right away after that art project. I didn't even become artistic right away. I definitely wanted to make more crayon wax art, but I was too little to use the iron at home and, frankly, I didn't want to mess up my crayons. Instead I kept my imagination active until the day my paternal grandmother put a needle in my hand.</div><div><br /></div><div>To be continued...</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4017248271618556625.post-38689096124904623722011-07-25T16:07:00.000-07:002011-08-24T19:19:09.410-07:00Handwerk?It's a Monday and I have a WHOLE week of vacation (in a heat wave) to look forward to. Of course, since I'm b-r-o-k-e it's really a stay-cation; so I'm staying at home. Luckily I planned ahead and I have lots of projects to work on... <i>Maybe too many?</i><div><br /></div><div>But I love arts and crafts, so I decided to go for it. I started making a nice mental list of all the things I wanted to do — the handbag made from IKEA bags, the collage and marker wall art, the knit and braided area rug. All them were going to get done this week. Case closed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the thing. I'm also a terrible procrastinator. And I have a hard time finishing the projects I start (my awesome portrait of Elvis Presley? Didn't finish for over a year.) <i>Yeah, I have all of these awesome project ideas</i>, I thought to myself not twenty-four hours ago, <i>but do I have the follow through?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This question was still bugging me for most of the day today, too, as I sat on the couch, watching Netflix on our flat-screen tv, enjoying the air conditioning. Yes, I was knitting the I-cord for the braided rug most of the afternoon, but that was only after brunch. Before brunch I was watching Netflix and playing 'The Lost Kingdom Prophecy' on my laptop. Not the most ambitious start for a week of cool, Brooklyn-style crafting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the idea came to me: Start a blog!</div><div><br /></div><div><i>But you're terrible at keeping blogs, too</i>, Brain Me said. <i>Remember your tv blog? Or the political blog? For crying out loud, you even have a knitting blog! And you want to start one on crafting?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes. Yes, I do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Who knows where this blog will go? Maybe it'll go on to be a great creative outlet and lead to an awesome book deal that will inspire women and men across the country to be as crafty as they want to be! Or maybe it won't last beyond next week when I go back to work. But it'll be something fun to do in the meantime.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and the title of this blog. Quite funny really. I originally wanted to call it Kratwerk and maybe get some people to the blog because they were looking for information on the band. No, really I just thought it sounded cool (especially with a German accent) and it seemed like a natural fit since the blog would be about all different kinds of crafts and crafting. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, the blessing that is Google search. I wanted to double check the meaning, so I searched for 'kraftwerk translation in English'. Turns out kraftwerk means power plant in German (which totally makes me understand the band sound on a MUCH higher level, fyi), so that title was not going to work.</div><div><br /></div><div>The website I was on had an English to German function so I start typed in 'craft' and came back with lots of choices. The website said that craft could be translated to 'kunst', but who the heck would want to go to a website called 'Kunst'? You have to admit, it sounds a little dirty. That's why I decided to use the next best word for what I was looking to do: handwerk. </div><div><br /></div><div>Again, according to <a href="http://www.dict.cc/deutsch-englisch/Handwerk.html">the translation website</a>, 'handwerk' is German for crafts, manual crafts, craftsmanship, craft [trade], and handicraft. And because I live in Brooklyn (not Germany) I added the common shortening of Brooklyn — BKLYN.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've got lots of projects this week and I'm not quite sure what the structure of this blog will look like, yet. I might just do updates on project processes, or I might wait until a whole project is done before posting anything about it. I'll just figure it out as I go along.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheers, for now. I'm off to kraft!</div>Kerissa Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12872375225096041827noreply@blogger.com0