Christmas Doodles

I miss my sewing machine! But am glad to see my family! My sister just had a new baby and she's a darling. I've been hanging out with my dad, my mom, and my lil sister on an off all week! I've also had a lot of time to draw (and to watch copious amounts of anime). Here are some of my doodles to share!

Hope everyone's new years is going great!

Fairy Watercolor

So, since I'm home with family for christmas and can't sew I decided to do some watercolors. This one is of a fairy and it turned out great! Of  course I used a photo reference but mine really does look completely different.

Time: 2.5 hrs

Happy Christmas Eve!

How to make a cup-cozy

Step 1: Go to Starbucks. No really. This step is non-negotiable! =P While there, pick up your favorite hot beverage, and two of the cardboard hot sleeves. (I grabbed an extra in case I lost mine)  =) Drink your caffeine and feel crafty!

You should have these three things upon returning home:

Open up one of the cardboard sleeves and lay it out. It's a pattern! Think to yourself: couldn't I have just swiped one of the sleeves and saved 4 dollars? But then how would you see your finished product on a real cup?! If you feel warm and caffeinated, move on to step 2, if not, please repeat step 1. =)

Step 2: Find two pieces of fabric to make your cozy with. Lay them on top of each other, and using your cardboard sleeve, cut around them. Leave about an half-inch or more for seams.

You should now have this:

Step 3: This cozy is reversible. Embellish one, or both sides. Remember to stay away from the edges because we will be sewing these soon and they will disappear. I spelled out "hot" on mine =)

Step 4: After you are done embellishing, place your two pieces, right sides together in a sort of sandwich.

Step 5: Sew most of the way around, leaving one end open so you can flip it right-side out.

Step 6: Flip right side out.

Step 7: Fold down remaining edge and pin.

Step 8: Sew all the way around the top of your cozy, on the front. =)

Step 9: Wrap your cozy around the cup (see I told you you'd need it!) and pin one edge over the other. Sew down on top of the stitches from step 8, making a circle.

Step 10: Admire your cozy! Place in purse and use next time you are out! =)

Cup Cozy!

I finally got a working cup cozy =) I plan on making more tomorrow of a more elaborate nature, but here is the first one for a sneak peak.

And I'm working on a tutorial!

Cuff/Cup Cozy and Watercolor

Well, I tried to make a cup cozy. But I made it larger then it should be, and then tried to turn it into a cuff. I wonder what it shall become in the end?

I also made this watercolor for my sister, for christmas. She doesn't have the internet, so I'm not worried about her seeing it. I did use a reference for this, so I can't claim the idea as my own. But the person who drew what I saw charged to much, so I tried to draw/watercolor it myself. And added a train. And other stuff.

I want to make more cuffs and cup cozies...I keep making the pattern to big, or to wide. More experimenting! And yes, I have been neglecting my blog lately...

Confessions of my High-School heart

(fyi, this is meant to be funny) (and yes I thought of this idea while sleeping....tee hee)
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1) Being an adult isn't fun.

Thats right. Remember all that free time in high school you had to chill, hang with friends, and mope about being a lowly serf  stuck the last rung of the social ladder? Well now you have to work 40+ hours a week, feed yourself, pick up after yourself, and maintain that thing called metabolism that has finally caught up to you.

2) The popular girls are not perfect. 


I didn't want to be one of the popular girls, per se, but I definitely envied them. What I didn't realize is that they are really deep down sad. And generally depressed, most of the time. Their snide remarks? Just grabs for attention, uttered to hide their own wounded hearts. Most popular girls I knew now either live plastic cookie cutter lives with a hidden bulimic problem (That everyone knows about but no one, of course, discusses in their presence) or are no longer popular and work at the local Walmart complaining about their babies daddy who never pays child support. So don't let them get to you, study hard and ignore them. They are just girls, in high-school, vining for attention with the rest of the rabble, anyway.

3) People really are as closed minded and shallow in the real world just like they are in highschool. 


Remember that snobby girl named Ashley that made fun of your clothes throughout all four years of highschool? The one who had a brand new car when she was 16, was a cheerleader captain by 17,  always dated a football player AND got asked to prom when she was a freshmen? And you were so looking fowared to growing up, getting a new job, and dealing with "mature" adults! Well, now her name is Whitney-Sarah-Blair-Megan-Lynn...and she works 9-5 with you. She snubs you, talks bad about you, is lazy, and flirts with all the men in the office. She also blames bad work on you. She belittles your viewpoints constantly and generally looks amazing in a miniskirt all the time...her favorite word is "like" and her head is as empty as her complexion. Congratulations, the real world is...just like highschool.

4) Money does not grow on trees

In school, (most) parents give their budding teens at least a little free change. A 20 for that first date. 10 for gas. And lets not mention that new dress, pedicure, manicure, hairstyle, corsage, and makeup for prom. Or, for guys, that amazing new video game where everyone's head explodes for 30 bucks at Gamestop. Now, enter the adult world. You make minimum wage, or if lucky, you make a little more. The government takes 20%. Your rent is due. You have to pay for heat, water, and trash. And yes, even for internet. Oh, and wait, here come mom and dad! What, they want to "borrow" 20? Or 40? @*#4&;*. (note, my parents have yet to do this...but I've heard stories...)

5) You will miss high-school.

What I miss most about high-school is the forced socialization. I miss lunch time. Everyone at the table, discussing politics, the government, inserting our own ideas and building empires only to tear them down later, at our own whim. I miss tping people's cars, (lol Matt and Ben!) rocking out to video game music...staying up all night playing WOW....sure, some of this happens in college, but nothing can replace that first time, that first taste of freedom. I miss killing time, when we thought we had all the time in the world...

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These are just ideas I have realized over the years, personally. Some of them are meant to be satire, some are true.  And really, I do like being an adult. Without having accomplished most of the things listed above, I wouldn't be an adult, now would I?

Does anyone have any other "confessions" to add or share??

Patchwork Wristlet Cuff Experiment

I absolutely adore these patchwork wristcuffs from Etsy. Some of them are 30+ dollars, so of course I want to make one myself!

I love these two from GreavesDesign: Arn't they amazing? I would love to own any of her work. But each of her creations are 85$. My bank account currently does not allow me to...indulge...in this specific form of art.

So I tried to make one myself, of course.

(Warning, below picture is not nearly as dainty or charming as above inspiration)

Alright...maybe I must study this art more? I tried plaid. Plaid is easy, right? Plus I had a lot of it. But something isn't quite "right" with the cuff! However, it was fun to make and I want to get better! Second times the charm?

Watercolor

Some of my work =) Still learning!

I think I need to focus on simplicity. The first two I used a lot of colors--and I think I need to just try to learn one or two shades before moving onto more complex subjects.

I really want to get better.

Bracelets

Finished two bracelets.

I'm trying to find new and creative ways to take pictures of my creations. I think thats a big part of selling your item on etsy. What do you think of this way?

I like the first two, but not the last two. Any ideas on how to make my pictures better?

Cream and Blue

So, I had the audacious goal to make 10 purses this weekend. Yeah...that didn't happen! Between studying for the GRE, cleaning, and other various activities I had only a short time to sew. But I did make two purses! And three wrist cuffs.

Purse 1

Purse 2

And then I made three fabric wristlets. The first wristlet closes with buttons, and the second two use thin magnets. I am still waiting on the magnets to arrive in the mail (I bought them from here) so I couldn't add them yet.

So...7 more purses to go! I need to raise 200-300 dollars for the month I won't be working in December in order to pay bills. (they lay everyone off at the college in food service, of course, because the college isn't open) I have the money in my savings, but of course want to save it, not spend it! =)

So, what do you think?

Asymmetrical Ruffle skirt

Made out of a men's button down shirt! Added a flowing red ruffle.

(ignore the mess <_<)

And here is the back:

As you can see, my dress form came in to day! Yay.

I am also having a frustrating case of "sewing" block. Meh!