Silhouette Cards

I'm supposed to be working on my Sales Tax Report. (It's due February 1!) But instead I'm making Valentine's Day Cards. And I have to say, it's a whole lot more fun!

A brief post from CHA

I'm off to work at CHA again today, if you are going to be there, I'll be demoing at the C&T Publishing booth from 1:00-2:30pm. I'm teaching a technique to create backgrounds using fast2fuse, paint and cheesecloth. Today's photo shows a finished postcard using the background.

I was also interviewed on Inspired at Home Radio last night. You can hear my comments about the Designer Showcase here.

The CHA tradeshow is over on Wednesday and I'll be back to my regular blog posting then.

Embroidery Patterns

I'm cooking up something good. It won't happen until after CHA, but I've been flipping through my sketch book and turning my favorite sketches into embroidery patterns. I've never done it before and I'm sure I have to figure out some technical stuff, but I'm getting pretty excited. It's really fun to see how the sketches look in thread. Before I get all involved in the project though...is this even something you think the world would be interested in? I have a tendency to think I have a great idea and then watch in frustration as it flops. Do you ever do that? Post something on your blog or in your online shop and think, "This is going to create a feeding frenzy!" But nothing happens? All you hear is the chirp of crickets?

I was a good girl today and posted to the Wardrobe ReFashion blog. Check-out my post here.

I'm off to finish getting ready for CHA. I'll be at The Inspired at Home Pajama Party tonight. I'll be the one wearing lamb slippers. If you can't come in person, be sure to join the party on Facebook.

laptop cozy

It was my sister's birthday on January 15. She asked me for a laptop sleeve. She carries her laptop in a large bag, but wanted something to slip over it so that it wouldn't get banged up. So I made her a laptop cozy. I call it my "mullet" cozy, because, it's business on the outside...

party on the inside...

I thought it was the perfect gift since my sister loves monkeys, but has to be professional at work. I made some mistakes and there were tears involved while making it, but that's the life of a beginner sewer. It would probably help if I would break-down and use patterns for my projects. Or even read technique books. But no, I have to do it by myself.

By the way, if you have a mullet (or know someone who does), don't leave a nasty comment here! I'm not judging any one's hairstyle choices.

life is like a box of chocolates

We are had a pretty good rain storm here Monday. I'm now very behind on my to do list as the power was flickering on and off most of the day, so I didn't want to work on my computer. We're scheduled for rain all week. Lucky for you, I have some photos saved up, so I should be able to show you some new stuff even if I can't take any decent photos this week.

That being said, I thought we would revist ghosts of Valentine's projects past. I am pretty famous for not putting up my festive ideas in time for anyone use them, so I thought I would remind you of my projects just in case you read them last year and thought, "I'm going to try that next year!".

I was big on boxes of chocolate last year. Actually, I'm always a fan of chocolates, but that's another story...
I made some faux candy for the Earth Safe Finishes newsletter last year. A great gift idea for someone who doesn't want the calories. I'm going to set-up my set this year as part of my Valentine's Day decorations. You can read about the project here.

I also made mini-cupcakes and decorated them to look like chocolates. I put them in a heart-shaped box and my family gobbled them up! You can read last year's post (and see more photos)here.
Then I moved from chocolates onto lollipops. I created paper lollipop valentines for my daughter to give to her classmates. They were a definite hit and I'm wondering how I'm going to top that idea this year. Here's the post for the lollys.

Doing this review, I realized I make A LOT of projects that involve candy. One would think I have a sweet tooth or something...

Wardrobe Refashion-Slippers

I love these slippers. They have a nice rubber sole so I can shuffle to the mailbox wearing them. (Maybe, just maybe I may have even worn them to store on occasion.) But they were starting to show how well-loved they were. There was even a little hole in the toe. As much as I love admiring my pedicure, I'm thinking these slippers won't really translate to sandals. So I did a little operation on them.


I just cut out some large flowers from a fabric scrap I had laying around and sewed the flowers on as appliques. Conveniently, I was able to cover the holes. I'm debating if I need to add a little bling. Maybe heat set some rhinestones onto them? Or is that too Vegas?

I posted this project for my Wardrobe Refashion challenge. Hop over to see what my fellow challengers are up to.

Mini Inspiration Boards

I can't begin to tell you how inspired I was by Lobster and Swan's Record the Day blog. You simply must check-out both blogs! They are some of the prettiest I've seen.

After looking at all her entries for her Record the Day blog, I decided to pull out some of my piles of magazine clippings and see what I could put together to create my own mini-inspiration boards. These measure from 4" x 6" to about 9" x 5". I love shuffling through them and looking at them.

Try making some of your own, but be warned! These are very addictive to make!

P.S. Did you get my list of inspirational websites for your creative resolutions? I sent out my ezine (electronic newsletter) yesterday. If you aren't a subscriber you view the January issue here. You can sign-up to receive it every month (for free!) here.

a very good Sunday

"How we spend our days, is, of course, how we spend our lives."
-Annie Dillard

Ever since I read this quote the other day, it's haunted me. I've been going crazy, feeling stressed-out and multi-tasking like a fiend as I prepare for the CHA tradeshow that's coming at the end of the month and this quote stopped me in my tracks. Is this really how I want to spend my days? My life? I've been doing a lot of journaling about it ever since and I'm making some changes. And I did a pretty good job of spending my day on Sunday.

It started with a delicious breakfast of cheese danish, prepared by my sweet husband. Yes, homemade danish! He used this recipe. Now I'm really glad I embroidered the apron shown in the photo as one of his Christmas gifts!

Then we packed up and headed to Laguna Beach. (If you are under 20 feet of snow, you might want to stop reading this post-you aren't going to be very happy with me!)

The Southern California weather has been unseasonably warm and we had a perfect, blue sky day. Even though I've lived in Southern California since I was 12 years old, I still have to pinch myself when I'm walking on the beach, in January!, in a t-shirt! We live about a 10 minute drive from this beach and we don't go there as often as we should.

After a great lunch at one of our favorite cafes, we took a long walk along the cliffs overlooking the water. Both my husband and I snapped photos as our daughter ran ahead and "scouted" shots for us.

When we got home, my husband set to work making Julia Child's recipe for Coq Au Vin (I'm not kidding.) and I crafted the rest of the afternoon. Somebody pinch me. I don't have a perfect life and wonderful days like this don't happen everyday, but when they do, I feel awfully thankful.

By the way, I found the quote I mentioned in the magazine, La Vie Claire. It's probably one of the most beautiful magazines I've ever seen! Pick one up if you get a chance, have a cup of tea and look at the pretty pictures. It's a wonderful way to spend your day.

Material Disclosure for all links mentioned in today's post.

felt food tutorial

I became a bit addicted to making felt food over the holidays. It all started when I threw my daughter a cookie decorating party with a few of her friends. At the last minute, I decided to sew felt cookies for party favors.

Here's my recipe:

Ingredients:

Felt in various colors
Selection of Cookie Cutters
Embroidery floss
Fabric Glue-I used Beacon Adhesives (TM)Fabri-Tac. (Material Disclosure)
Glitter-I used Art Glitter's Faux Snow. (Material Disclosure)
Stuffing

Directions:

1. Place your cookie cutter onto a piece of felt. Using a pencil or pen, trace the shape onto the felt. Cut two pieces for each shape.

2. If you want to make frosting, free-hand draw the shape of the frosting onto a piece of felt and cut-out. If you are going to put sprinkles on your frosting, do the embroidery at this step. I just did a straight stitch for the sprinkles and a french knot (No material connection) for the colored balls. To make glittery frosting, brush a light coat of glue onto the frosting and sprinkle glitter on. Set aside to dry. (Please note, glitter should only be used for cookies that will be decoration or for children who are older and there is no risk of the "cookies" going into someone's mouth. Safety first!)

3. Take one side piece of your cookie shape and sew your frosting onto it. I used a straight stitch for this step. Then sew your both cookie sides together. Because felt is difficult to turn-out, I recommend that you sew your cookies right sides out. Use a decorative stitch, like a blanket stitch. Don't forget to leave a small opening. Stuff the cookie and then finish sewing.

4. To create gifts, save plastic clamshells that you get from the bakery. Glue a small doily into the bottom, load it with cookies and make a personalized bakery label.

Once I finished the cookies, I decided to make breakfast foods. I made a pancake, bacon and eggs. I just drew all the pieces free hand and followed the basic directions above. My daughter's dolls now eat a healthy breakfast every morning.

I love making felt food because it's an easy, hand-sewing project. Perfect for sitting on the couch, watching TV and stitching. The look on my daughter's face when she sees the finished work is pretty nice too. If felt food interests you, I highly recommend the book My Favorite Felt Sweets (Material Disclosure). It's a Japanese craft book that's been translated into English. The photos alone will inspire you!

WINNER! By the way, the winner of the Bakery Memo Pad is Kristine! Email me your address!

Sizzix Scoreboard Blog Hop

Remember back in October? When I showed you some new Sizzix dies by Eileen Hull? The Cupcake Ruffles? Well, I've been playing with another one of her Scoreboard Dies. This time, it's the Memo Holder Die. This die cuts and scores chipboard to create a darling little memo holder. It's just the right size for Post-It-Notes(TM).

I made mine to look like a little bakery.

As usual, I started to brainstorm other functions for the little Memo Holder. I came up with a cute idea to use it as a birthday candle holder.
A perfect little extra something to send with a birthday card. I used a copy of a vintage card for mine and attached seven candles since the card was age focused. But the Memo Holder can easily hold an entire box of 24 party candles. (I would just glue in the whole box.)

Speaking of getting those candles attached. I had it in my mind that the candles would attach with double-sided tape. Unfortunately, the candles were too heavy and, having a very bad cold, I was getting frustrated trying to figure out a solution. My four year old daughter was watching me work on the project and when I (loudly) expressed my frustration (trying to watch my language), she suggested I not only put tape under the candles, but also apply some one-sided tape over them to secure them. An obvious solution, but for some reason I needed a four year old to explain it to me. The lesson here? When you get stuck on a project, ask your little one!

Want to win my Little Bakery Memo Holder? Leave a comment, telling me which of Eileen's Scoreboard Dies are your favorite and, if you aren't already, become a Follower of my blog. I'll draw a winner on January 8.

To see more projects featuring the Memo Holder Die, visit the Sizzix Blog.
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Disclosure of Material Connection
Based Upon a Review Copy
I have a material connection because I received a review copy (book, CD, software, etc.), or an item of nominal value that I can keep for consideration in preparing to write this content.

Creative New Year's Resolutions

I don't know about you, but I still succumb to the lure of new year's resolutions. Of course, making more time to be creative always fall to the top of my list. This year, I decided to really challenge myself and take part in a sewing challenge. I signed-up for the Wardrobe Refashion Challenge. Because I'm a wimp, I only signed on for two months, but I'm hoping to improve my sewing skills and jump start my creativity while I save a bit of cash. Not that I buy that many clothes for myself. I don't really like the way anything looks on me lately. Which leads me to my next resolution-get healthy (read lose weight). I think I've only had one year in my adult life when that wasn't a necessary resolution.

What are your plans for the new year? If you have committed to being more creative, be sure to check-out my upcoming newsletter as I'll be listing some of my favorite creative challenge websites. The newsletter will go out next week and I'll give you a heads-up when it does. In the meantime, what are your resolutions? Or have you decided not to play into resolutions this year?

By the way, here's my Wardrobe Refashion Pledge:

I, Laura Bray, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, and recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!