Saturday, October 31, 2015

Halloween Meets Christmas...

Did anyone else notice that there were Christmas decorations for sale in the stores before we'd even had Halloween??

This ridiculousness inspired the following series of creepy Christmas characters. Enjoy...

Santa wants to know if you've been naughty...

Rudolph would really like to know if you've left milk and cookies...

And the Alien Gingerbread Cookie Squad is coming to town...

Hope you all have fun tonight!

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Hand-Stitched Ornaments



Here's a fun way to make hand-crafted fabric ornaments.  It is very similar to the way I make hand-quilted eyes for my stuffed animals (you may want to review that post first).  They can be made from leftover scraps, and they make another nice portable project.

First, decide on a base layer of your ornament. I like to use felt as my sturdy back layer.

Then cut out layers of colored fleece, cotton, or felt to stack into an eye design, from largest to smallest or vice versa.  Fleece and cotton fabric will probably fray more, but may give you more color options. The larger/background colors are sewn first, with each smaller layer stacked on top and sewn individually.  


I like to use a matching thread to sew each color into place.  You can still see that each layer is hand-sewn, but the stitches don't disrupt your design too much.  But any complimentary color will work.  Knot each thread on the back of your panel so that the ends won't show through when the two panels are finally sandwiched together.

Lastly, add quilted felt eyes, or beads, or embroidery thread, for extra flair.  Remember to leave a felt edge surrounding eyes, to make stitching the eye into place easier (using a dark felt base for the eyes also creates a nice bold outline that helps your eye design to pop).

Once all of your embellishments are in place, stitch a ribbon loop into the top edge of one of your panels, about a quarter of an inch in.  Be careful to keep these stitches from piercing through the outermost layers of fabric, so that you do not disrupt your design, but use several stitches to securely attach the ribbon.


You now have two finished panels, like so:


You can then stitch the two panels back to back, along their felt borders.  I like to use thick black embroidery thread.



You can pull your thread ends through a bead and knot them with ribbon as an ornamental accent, or hide your thread ends in your stitching.


Keep the back panel plain, or create a double-sided piece:


As you can see, these techniques can be easily adapted to make decorative Christmas tree or door handle ornaments for any season.  Felt quilting can also be easily adapted for craft projects with children--all you would need would be colored felt, embroidery thread, and those blunt plastic embroidery needles, materials that can be found at most craft stores.

Have fun experimenting!

Friday, October 9, 2015

Plushie Construction: Hand-Quilted Eyes


In looking back over my previous construction tutorials, it appears that I have never completely addressed how I make the quilted eyes that I use for my stuffed animals.  I shall remedy that here!

QUILTING

As I have stated in previous posts, many people get confused about what quilting is.  They picture beautiful patchwork blankets (which are of course called "quilts"), and think that patchwork is quilting.  In fact, quilting is the sewing of multiple layers of sandwiched fabric together.  The traditional quilts that you may think of are usually one layer of patchwork, a layer of flat, insulating batting (stuffing), and then a "backing layer" (the underside of your quilt).  Some quilts have all three of these layers, while others are only made with a top and bottom layer.  In the amazing quilting technique of "Trapunto," the stuffing is bunched and molded into pockets that help the sewer create sculptural effect, an entire fabric bas-relief.

EYE CONSTRUCTION

I like to make my eyes out of felt.  Felt is a sturdy fabric that does not tend to fray when you use scraps in detail work, and it comes in a wide variety of colors.


The layers of different colors of felt create a slightly rounded dome--a cross between a two-dimensional and three-dimensional eye.  I use black felt as my base layer, white as the "white of the eye" (surprise), and then I get more creative with the iris and pupil.

I recommend cutting out all of your layers before stitching, so that you can see the overall size and effect while you can still tweak everything.  Make sure to leave a border of your base layer around your eye design, so that you can easily stitch your completed eyes to your plushie.  This border will also create a nice, bold eye border on your finished plushie face.


Try to use a matching thread color for each layer.  The eyes are still clearly hand-stitched, but the stitches won't distract from the overall eye design.


And voila, you have a quilted eye:


When attaching your eyes to your plushie, try to stitch at a bit of a diagonal, stitching from the outside of the eye and sliding the needle between the layers of fabric a bit, to tack a wider section of the felt eye to the plushie head.  These plushies may see some wear and tear, after all, and you don't want to worry about the eyes tearing off.


The larger the eye, the more detail and layers you can include.  But this eye technique looks great either way, and can give your plushie a nice bit of flair.  This is also a nice, compact bit of crafting that you can carry around with you from place to place, and it can turn your scraps into something functional.

Have fun crafting!

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The First Day of Fall


Today is the First Day of Fall, which marks the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Equator.

It is also Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, the last of the 10 days that mark the Jewish New Year.  Yom Kippur is also a day of fasting, so I am of course dazzled (even more than usual) by stray thoughts of FOOD.

In multiple ways, today can represent a marker of transition. 

I am told that yesterday was a Fall-appropriate 48 degrees Fahrenheit in Kentucky.  However, here in Southern California, this past weekend we reached 100 degrees both days (we ran away to the beach for cooler weather and kayaking).  We are fortunate in that the temperature has dropped a bit since then.

It is a time to reflect on the past season and/or year, and to begin to plan out the next.  I always find it a little too easy to dwell on the past, and prefer to exist in “the now.” Planning and choosing futuristic goalposts has never been my forte.  I suppose these traits could be seen as either a strength or a weakness, depending on how extremely they are expressed.

My current blog goal is to post the 2 dozen doodles I've drawn over the last couple of months, while I haven't been blogging (plus a couple that I hope won't be repeats).  And to write up a short post on the 2015 Masquerade of Jareth.

For now, let me just say: Happy New Year.
Jackie

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Blog Adventures: ROW80

 
I did something a little different with ROW80 this block.  I made a smaller, simpler set of goals for the Spring block.  Instead of focusing on numerous, specific goals, many of which felt like chores to be avoided, I chose the 2 categories I'd given the most attention and interest to during the Jan-March block, and I assigned a frequency to them.  Instead of "3 sets of 3 exercises 3 days in a row, and get outside" I settled on "Exercise/get outside 5 times a week."  Blog, sketch, and crafting-related goals merged into "Do something creative 5 times a week." 
 
Then I posted my goals in April, and set them aside.  Also different.  Instead of posting about my goals once or twice a week, I gave myself a creative blog challenge.
 
My big goal for the April-June block was to reach 100 posts by May 3rd, the 2-year anniversary of my blog.  I though it would be a nice round number and time window to celebrate.  I haven't done tutorials lately, or felt much of a writing urge, or crafted as often this spring.  Or finished projects.  so I was feeling kind of creatively stagnant.  And I wanted to do something creative and try using my blog in a different way to meet that goal. 
 
One thing I had been doing with consistency (since my NaNoWriMo/DigiWriMo blogging challenge, somewhat ironically), was sketching and posting my doodles in my blog posts.  I had started playing around with sketching a little hedgehog interacting with various objects based on the letters of the alphabet.  I had about a dozen sketches done, from all over the alphabet, and I decided that what I would do was start posting that series. 
 
I ended up fulfilling two (or three--four?--lets just say, multiple) birds with one stone--I was somewhat regularly creative, I flew past 100 posts 3 days early(!), I published my series online on multiple social media platforms, I had the pressure of publishing the sketches to push me to finish the series, and I succeeded in finishing a creative project.  And I finally tried one of the ABC/April blog challenges, where you try to post something every day of April (I did take weekends off and continue into May, but the spirit was there!). 
 
It was really neat to watch my sketching style morph as time went on.  Early letters were very monochromatic and featured isolated objects on a white background.  Later letters became humorous and whimsical narratives set in multi-colored landscapes, and featured much more variety in scale. 
 
You can find my finished series here!
 
Now, I did experience the (inevitable?) burn out as I neared the end.  I was scheduling a few of the last sketches on the days they were meant to post, and I obviously haven't posted anything here since I finished my series 2 1/2 weeks ago.
 
But I blew past my creative and blog goals for this block :)  In addition to sketching, I have been altering thrift store clothes, reading, and catching up on movies with friends.  Good times.
 
Regarding my other goals: It's been super hot and muggy, and I have been burnt out from work.  Cooking and errands have been things to be avoided (less good).  But I am doing my bare minimum of stretching and getting outside.  I definitely feel the difference when I get fresh air, but I am having to fit more of it into the cooler weekend mornings and weekday evenings.  I really, really do want to up this goal and become more habitually active, but this continues to be a challenge.
 
Progress towards future plans/goals: This continues to be a bit too big and back-burner right now.  But I do feel that I achieved my overarching April-June goals of choosing to focus on goals that brought me enjoyment while still offering myself a new challenge.
 
APRIL - JUNE 2015 ROW80 GOALS
[X] 1) Do something creative: 5x a week.
[X] 2) Stretch, exercise, or get outside: 5x a week.
[   ] 3) Do something towards a futuristic goal: 2x a week.
[X!] 4) Hit 100th blog post for the blog's 2-year marker on May 3rd!
--This post makes 124!

Friday, May 29, 2015

And Home Again!


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Thursday, May 28, 2015

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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

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Monday, May 25, 2015

Memorial Day, 2015



Memorial Day is one of those holidays in the U.S. that means something different to everyone.  To some, it is a chance to get together with friends and family, barbeque, celebrate a four-day work week, and take advantage of annual sales. For others, it marks an important time to honor lost family members and friends.  The holiday is a marker that reminds us that the people who have died in the armed forces were serving this country, and were real people with dreams and loved ones. We do not always take proper care of our veterans, and this day serves as a reminder of how much they contribute (and risk). 

However you spent your Monday, I hope you had a good one.

If you would like some more information on Memorial Day in the U.S., feel free to check out the Wikipedia page, as well as this article.

W


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Friday, May 22, 2015

V


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Thursday, May 21, 2015

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Wednesday, May 20, 2015

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Tuesday, May 19, 2015

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Monday, May 18, 2015

4,000


Apparently, this is where my mind goes after obsessing about hedgehogs and nature scenes for a month...Good ole monsters, how I've missed you!

Thanks for stopping by!

R


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Friday, May 15, 2015

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Thursday, May 14, 2015

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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

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Tuesday, May 12, 2015

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Monday, May 11, 2015

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Sunday, May 10, 2015

For My Mom

Did you know that in the early 1800s, "Mother's Day Work Clubs" helped fundraise for and assist people in their communities?  During and after the U.S. Civil War, Mother's Day events also centered around peace, familial reunification, and better sanitation in army camps.  For more information, feel free to check out Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, whose Work Clubs nursed and cared for soldiers from both armies.  And here is a link to Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day (Anti-War) Proclamation.

 
My Mom has been an activist all my life.  When I was little, I would often join her at her marches. The photo below is from a strike for AGSE.  A few years later, my mom happened to get a fortune cookie fortune that stated, "You are demonstrative with those how love."  A lover of puns and corny jokes, my mom stuck the fortune up on the photo of us at the march.  The two have been framed together ever since (sorry the glare is so bad!).

 
Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  Love you!

Friday, May 8, 2015

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Thursday, May 7, 2015

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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015

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Monday, May 4, 2015

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Thursday, April 30, 2015

100th Post!

I'm excited to announce that as we approach the 2-year anniversary of my blog, I have reached my "2 Years & 100-Posts" ROW80 goal!



I started this blog on May 5th, 2013.  It's been fun experimenting and branching out further and further with the blog, and with social media in general.

Thank you for celebrating this milestone with me!

--Jackie

P.S. My "Little Hedgehog's ABC Adventure Sketch Series" will resume posting on Monday.  See you then!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

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Monday, April 27, 2015

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Friday, April 24, 2015

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