Color Combos For Your Crafts, etc.

I found this really useful SITE to use for crafting, sewing, needlework, adult coloring, etc. or as the intended purpose - web site designing.

http://www.colorcombos.com/index.html

I've added it to my list of must see web sites located on the right side of my blog.

Recycled Crafted Merchandise

I recently closed down my two Etsy shops from lack of sales and to put my energy elsewhere. So, I have a nice box of stuff I can shop from.

Hence, my first "purchase" - a t-shirt pin with a ladybug accent pinned to my current handbag/tote.

NOTE: If you remember something that you liked and wished you'd purchased - I still might have it. Contact me at kittyred@gmail.com.



And, "purchase" #2 - I added this t-shirt pin to an old train case I'm now using as a sewing basket.

A Picture Frame Earring/Jewelry Holder

I haven't made anything for gosh... has it been several months now? I guess I've been doing other things, but always thinking about something to make.

I'd seen these around the internet others had made and some also for sale at Etsy (I won't be selling them though). I had a fancy picture frame I'd purchased for something else and thought what a pretty thing to make so....

Click on a pic to see more detail!

I'll do a tutorial of sorts at a later date. It will mostly be about what to do and not do - no picture by picture tutorial. This project is kinda self explanatory I think.

I also made the steampunk brooch using a watch's insides, part of an old brooch, a cheap cameo, and a couple of watch wheels/parts. You can see the real rubies in it!

Fabric Felt Jewelry Box

I found THIS great idea/tutorial and made these two Fabric Felt Jewelry Boxes. Aren't they darling? Actually, you can use them for anything, but a pretty place to put my jewelry when I take it off works for me. I found the floral fabric at Walmart on clearance for $1.50 a yard. I have enough left to make a pillow or two.

Let's visit the pillowcase tote again.

Are you tired of me making and blogging about These yet?

Please indulge me one more time (and maybe yet another time soon)...I found this beautiful, vintage pillowcase in a shop at Etsy and knew I wanted to buy it for a pillowcase tote. When I received it in the mail it is was kinda thin from a lot of use and washing I guess, but I decided to make a tote out of it anyway. I'd been tempted to buy it in the first place because of how it was constructed knowing the edge print would make cool, accent handles. I found the pin-on flower accent for only a dollar at a JoAnn new store opening.

I should write a book or at least a small article on how to fix or what to do with things that you screw-up or things you think you've ruined 'cause I think I've become an expert at it. For me, maybe that's what "my creative talent" is mostly rather than dreaming up things to make. The arrow points to what I finally came up with after I accidentally cut my almost finished tote bag with my SUPER sharp sewing scissors. :o( I tried to make it look kinda like a logo or something.

Pillowcase Totes Revisited

This is the, well I've lost count, newest pillowcase tote that I've made.

Once again, I found the inspiration HERE.

I found this beautiful, vintage KING size pillowcase from an Etsy seller. I added one of my Fabric Roses and also did some decorative stitching around the top of the opening with my machine - A vine decorative stitch.

In this tote I also added a cardboard bottom covered in contrasting fabric.

This is my fav now. It will not be used for grocery shopping. :o)

Vintage Travel Trailer Mug Rug

Awhile back I purchased a bag of fabric scraps from a gal at Etsy, and I was thrilled to find among all the cute fabric pieces this one, small piece printed with a vintage travel trailer!

Hubby and I are dreaming and hoping to buy one in the future and do some traveling. I've held on to this piece wondering what I could possibly make for myself since it was such a small remnant.

Then, it came to me - It would be perfect for a quilted mug mat or coaster! The scrap on the right above I used for the back. I love it! When I showed hubby my creation, he said when we get our trailer I could use it in it. :o)

Pillowcase Grocery Tote Plus

Taking the pillowcase grocery tote a step further...After sewing yesterday and last night, I was suffering from a back muscle spasm (which I get a lot) that wouldn't quit and continued today somewhat so I just sat, relaxed, watched TV tonight, and embellished. My back seems to be better now. This commercial pilloqcase wasn't made like most so I got thinner handles out of this one.

I've had this pillowcase for I know over 15 years, maybe even 20 or more so It's definately vintage. Now I have a "free" vintage tote.

Pillowcase Grocery Tote

After dealing with other reuseable grocery totes that I really didn't like, I decided on one that I would like. I wanted one that was easy to throw in the washer and dryer and would come out looking good, didn't collect lint, cat and dog hair and one that I could make.

I found the free tutorial that I liked HERE. She uses every single inch of the pillowcase and what she cuts off, with no waste.

I have the match to make to this one and another pillowcase waiting in the wing to be stitched up too. When not in use, I will store them in the little fabric bag that the two pillowcases came in when I bought them at Walmart. I knew that little bag would come in handy for something.

Didn't the tote come out cute? I can also see it with a fabric rose pin attached and used for other things.

Another version of a pillowcase tote is HERE.

Featured In A Treasury

I'm not sure how I missed this last month, but one of my pins was featured in a Paris treasury at Etsy. I'm always so honored and appreciative when that happens.

NEW - Fabric Rose Brooches/ Pins

To celebrate the coming of Spring, I've been making and adding these little, fabric rose brooches/pins to my Etsy shop - Sew Art It Is By Kitty Red and I can't stop making them. I've listed 4 and have 4 ready to hand stitch and then list. Two of the new ones that I hope to list in a day or two will be in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

This black and white rose pin was included in a Treasury at Etsy.

Backtracking To Christmas

I started working on this vintage Christmas wreath when I separated out the decorations for it while trimming our Christmas tree last month.

But, I never got back to actually making it until after Christmas as I had to find a wreath first. I completed it tonight. It really looks better in person. Then, you can really see the bright colors, the depth of the wreath and the glitter.

It has decorations that my daughter and I made when she was little, some I bought way back then, a couple (pink gingerbread boy and girl) from Avon back when I was selling it and a few I bought in recent years. The big elf doll I bought on clearance this year at Hobby Lobby and added buttons to his jacket and bells on his toes. And, the one elf dressed all in blue is a really old vintage decoration.

I hope my daughter likes it as I made it with her and my grandsons in mind. She will be getting it eventually.

It's Been A While...

October was filled with both good things and bad things. Both of which have kept me away from blogging.

First the good things...

My daughter invited me to visit her for a few days. We got to go see the new Footloose movie together and then that night watched the original. That was great fun. We also spent a lot of that time playing around with stained glass and glass fusing. Her Etsy shop owned along with her hubby is Wood And Glass.

With her help, I designed and made a few pendants (which a few will be in My Shop soon) and also tried my hand at making a fused wall vase using my original drawing of a bleeding heart fairy and using her perfected technique for making them. I was also gifted one made by her. One small area next to the bed in "my room" was lined with all the wall vases she'd made so far for me to pick one to take home. All were filled with water and fresh flowers and a vase beside the bed was filled too. It was a wonderful, thoughtful surprise.

I also had a wonderful time getting together with my 2 grandsons. And, the first day, I got to enjoy breakfast together with she, her hubby and the 2 kids during their usual morning routine. My daughter and I along with the youngest (who just turned one in Sept.) got to enjoy him playing in the kids' center at a nearby mall. It was fun to watch him interacting with all the other kids. We also got in some shopping and I came home with a microwave kiln I purchased for 40% off at Hobby Lobby and some gifted and rounded up glass fusing items to use with it from my daughter. Three of the pendants in the pic were made with it - The two that are red with a single yellow flower in the middle and the one with a white flower.

And now the bad things...

I had been experiencing back spasms the day I left on my little trip and continued to suffer to a mild degree while I was visiting. Then, I came home to hubby who was limping around on a badly hurting and swelled knee. Then, my back spasms got worse to the degree I could hardly walk along with a sore throat, then a cold and then had to visit a walk-in clinic 'cause I'd developed bacterial bronchitis which I'm still in the process of completely getting over. There was a day there where both hubby and I needed someone to wait on us, but we survived through it. Now, my bad spasms are all gone (thankfully, they were gone before I got really sick). I'm getting over my bronchitis and hubby's knee has been treated and is doing good. So, the month is ending on a good note.

Click on each pic for more detail...

Featured again...

My Kitchen Scrubbies from my Etsy shop - Sew Art It Is By Kitty Red were included in a Treasury back in July. I just noticed that today.

Christmas Is Just Around The Corner...

yes it is.

100 Great Tutorials of things to make as gifts.

Some Pearls, Needle & Thread

I saw this idea of sewing pearls into the center of a silk poinsettia to use as a hair accessory and wanted to give it a try.

I cut the plastic center out piece by piece and just used a thin needle and thread to sew the pearls on. Then, I hot glued the silk leaf circle to the underside of the flower, trimmed a bit of the plastic away that pops it onto the stem and hot glued it to a small, metal hair comb I bought at Hobby Lobby. I thought it turned out rather pretty and not cheap looking at all even though I bought the poinsettia bush at Dollar Tree.

Now, all I need is a Christmas party to go to, a fancy dress to wear and I'm set - Well, a girl can dream...Ya think I can pull it off just wearing it to the mall with hubby to look at all the Christmas decorations instead? If both women and men can wear a Santa's Hat shopping, I think yes...lol

Couple Of Projects Finished

I just finished a crocheted baby blanket for my second grandson and an "I Spy" toy/game for his older brother - A birthday present.




I just winged the "I Spy" toy after researching what others looked like selling at Etsy.com. I made my own pattern, added some new ideas of my own like a carrying strap, etc. I did pretty much copy the saying word for word though I think from someone, but I won't be selling any so I don't see the harm. In fact, this one will probably be my one and only. I think mine came out really well. I was so happy with it.

T-Shirt Totes

I ran across THIS YouTube video yesterday and decided to rid my closet of a couple of t-shirts I never wear, but still like. I did, however, cut out my sleeves and neck carefully and jazzed them both up a bit too. I also used a zig-zag stitch rather than a staight stitch. I doubt I'll use mine to haul groc. in. I plan on using mine to tote my junk from one place to another. That is except my library books. I'm sure they both would hold them as I stitched the bottom twice, but the books would probably stretch the totes all out of shape.

New Grandbaby Due In September

Front

Back

Click both photos to enlarge.....

I just finished this Baby Tag Blankie for my new grandson due in September. It's a small blankie with a variety of colors, patterns, and textures for the eyes, touch and to play with.

I used a pattern from a Quick Cuts leaflet and Quick Cuts 5 piece Fat Quarter Flannel Bundle both purchased at Walmart. The various ribbon pieces came from my ribbon remnant jar.

I changed the pattern a bit - adding zig-zag decorative stitching accenting the patchwork front, 2 rows of top stitching around the whole piece for super baby safety holding all ribbons securely and a hang tag/grab and tote tag.

Oh, and I used bias tape and some craft thread to create a made by tag that I then machine stitched onto the blankie.

Homemade Baby Rattles

Homemade Baby Rattles

Take a plastic Easter egg, a couple of jingle bells, some tape, some scrap yarn and a bit of skill and you can make a baby rattle.  Click on the photo for a close-up view.

I used Kelly Jones'  free pattern copyrighted in 2009 and made several changes to it.  Kelly's website is www.kellyknits.com - Her Patterns.
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BTW - I'm going to be a Grandma for the second time this coming September.  It's another boy!  :o)