Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Wings

Yes, wings. That was the theme for Le Challenge #2.

Before the theme was announced, I was already working on the Kookaburra quilt for Kid 2. When he originally saw the backing fabric, he actually asked if I could just frame that for his room. Well...no, because 1) then there wouldn't be nearly enough for the back and 2) that would be one BIG frame.

But I thought maybe I would do something with my scraps.

Then my last Whimseybox contained string art supplies—wood base, nails, black wire, orange wire, green/white baker's twine, and blue/white baker's twine.

I am now over halfway done with the quilting (and fighting through a tough part, as much of the quilt has to fit through my machine, it's a struggle). So, clearly, I have my scraps. But not enough of the fabric I was hoping to use.

But I made it work.

Kingfisher on a Wire
Supplies

Step 1--Mod Podged fabric scraps


Sides stamped with silver stamp pad

Wire under the kingfisher


 The quilt I am making is based on the Saffron Craig Banksia Bloom Kookaburra fabrics. I chose some of my scraps and mod podged them onto my wood. After it dried, I trimmed the fabric and then used a silver stamp pad to color the edges.

After looking at a whole lot of belted kingfisher (the kookaburra is a large kingfisher from Australia, the belted kingfisher is the North American kingfisher we see at a local park) pictures online and in books, I found a pose I liked. I then traced two different photos to get the pose I wanted. I scanned my drawing, enlarged it, and printed it.

After putting in the nails—the hardest part of this project—I first put on the wire the kingfisher is perched on, and then strung the kingfisher.

I added nails to the side, and more wire, for hanging. I also added felt circles to the back corners.

Of course, kid 2 decided he doesn't want to actually hang it LOL.

Linked to:
Le Challenge
Fluster's Creative Muster
Sew Darn Crafty



Friday, May 10, 2013

First Silhouette Project

I finally shoved aside the sewing machine and decided to set up my Silhouette Cameo, which has been in its box since...Christmas. I needed a birthday card for my dad, and saw a great idea in the spring/summer issue of Make It Yourself.

Setting up the Cameo was surprisingly easy—though I couldn't register through their automatic system, I had to go on the web to do it. Took a bit to connect my online account (there are no directions provided for this!).

But I got it figured out.

Then I discovered that my cardstock has disappeared. Spent 20 minutes looking for that. It's gone. I am guessing a certain 13-year-old probably turned it into a set of dumpsters. Or something.

So, I found an envelope (since it's heavier paper) and cut that to use in the Cameo. And since it's white, I found my nice scrapbooking markers to use to color the cut piece.

Maybe I should have colored it first.

I used the glue pen and the tack from the cutting mat to stick the words. They were quite hard to get off the mat.

Turns out my wonderful pens do run a bit if wet, in spite of being permanent, acid-free, etc etc etc.

I used the glue pen to glue down the baker's twine. A bit of a mess. Getting them cut to the same length was the hardest—in retrospect, I should have used double-sided tape.

All in all, I learned a bunch about how to work the Cameo.

My poor dad actually might not notice all of the annoying details that I see. Spot, smear, glue blob (it dried clear), poorly cut ends (scissors could not trim through glue!), poorly drawn flames.

Plan for this weekend: buy a variety pack of cardstock.

My first Cameo project!
Linked to:
Sew Darn Crafty 
Take-A-Look Tuesday

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

A win!

I recently won some sewn pouches from Susan of the Le Challenge blog, and they made it here all the way from England! And one of them had a whole bunch of precut hexies—I have never braved making hexies, perhaps I will finally try. Perhaps it will be the perfect project the next time I have a boy home sick.

I've been trying to get some good pictures, but I have given up. We've had bright sun, we've had rain, now we're back to sun.




The big one is currently full of washi tape—which had been living in a heap on my sewing table. I thought it was all going to fit into the smaller one. Ahem.

The amount of time I spent playing with these looking at the construction was kind of funny. Especially since I am still not clear on how they were put together!

Cookie approves!

I have 3 projects going right now—one for the current Le Challenge (which will be revealed on May 15, assuming it continues to go well), Everett's kookaburra quilt, and some mother's day gifts (which will be posted after they are received—my mother-in-law occasionally reads this blog, so NO SPOILERS).