My lovely friend Melody recently published a wonderfully creative book, An Altered Existence.  This book consists of 14 portrait photographs from long ago, and each portrait inspired Melody to write fictitious stories about life, love, birth, death, salvation, self-acceptance, and taking chances.  These stories have both a timeless and a modern feel, and I could relate to much of it…I have a feeling you might also.

Melody has very generously offered a copy of her book as a giveaway, which you can enter a chance to win here at my blog by leaving a comment to this post (I’d love to hear about your favorite Spring time memories or simply say hi).

In addition to the book (shown above), I’m including a mini-book necklace that I recently made as part of the giveaway.

Years ago I created this mini “dream” book necklace…

…with tea-dyed recycled dryer sheets for the pages and a hand sewn binding.

I was recently inspired to make some more and created the 2 necklaces below.  For the giveaway you have a choice of which mini-book you’d like to have, either the plain cover…

…or the “love” cover.

Both book charms have pages made of recycled dryer sheets as well as some sparkly bead accents.

And there are also some hand stitched details on the opposite side along with rustic looking hardware.

To recap, this giveaway will consist of 2 items (Melody’s wonderful book and one of my book charm necklaces).  One winner will receive both items.  To enter, please leave a comment to this post by next Friday evening (April 12th) and I’ll include your name in the hat.  Then I’ll be back the next day to announce the random winner.

Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you all a bright and beautiful week ahead.

Spring is definitely in the air over in my neck of the woods.  All around, the landscape is greening, blooming and growing.  I love all of this wonderful April energy!  And there’s more of this happy, Spring feeling inside the new issue of Somerset Life.

Inside this issue you’ll see an article of mine about making mini booklet necklaces using recycled dryer sheets, fabric scraps and such.

Inside this same issue you’ll see another project of mine (“Teeny, Tiny Boxes”).

Here are some close-ups of the altered matchboxes with some surprises tucked inside.

The how-to instructions are included in both articles.  However, if you have any specific questions, just let me know (simply leave your questions in the comments section and I’ll be happy to post the answer(s) on a daily basis).

Happy Spring and happy creating!

I’ve been out of it.  As I’ve been looking back over the past many months, there have been a series of unexpected and sometimes difficult things that have come to pass.  While life is generally good, there have been some very tough times, like I suppose we all occasionally experience.  But I’ve not had the right kind of energy to be here lately as I’ve been processing these things.  Sometimes when these experiences come, I need to be quiet…take time to think and be still.

And now I’m starting to feel better, and I can see some glimmer of hope.  I can see the light again…

…and my heart is ready to take it in.

With a light heart I can move forward.  And I can begin to make joyful, little things again as well…such as this shiny tinfoil heart.  To dull down the tinfoil a bit, try pouncing on Staz On ink pad (Timber Brown) with a stencil brush.

Then add some scraps such as a piece of paper torn from an old greeting card, leftover square of cotton batting, some silver silk ribbon, all held together with a vintage post earring (with a dab of glue).

Then if you like, sew a pocket style gift pouch (shown under the heart) out of sheets of tea-dyed recycled dryer sheets.

May the light of hope burn brightly within you…and inspire you.

Summer’s definitely in the air here…has it started for you yet?  And if so, have you had a chance to hit the beaches? Our family LOVES going to the ocean for fun and relaxation.  And while we’re there, one of my favorite activities is scavenger hunting for all kinds of beachy finds.  In the current issue of Somerset Life, you’ll see some of my stitched Summertime souvenirs. I made these memory sparking pieces using recycled dryer sheets…this material’s airy vibe goes well with this time of year.  BTW, I created the heart pillows that are featured on the cover of this issue.

These pouches are filled with beach finds from Nantucket Island.

And here are some hearts that I made using similar supplies.  I think these hearts would make pretty wedding favors.  The how-to instructions to create both of these projects are included in my article, “Pillows & Pouches.”

Within this issue you’ll also see some altered Peat Pots that I created…of course I had to add a couple of birds (the how-to instructions are included within the article.)

Also within this issue under “Locales of Intrigue” you’ll find an article that I wrote which features one of my favorite stores, Nesting on Main.  There are many lovely photos taken by Johanna Love to drool over.  This store is a definite must see so stop on by if you can, and please say hi to wonderful Wendi for me, if you do go.

Have you seen the new issue of Art Quilting Studio (Summer 2011) yet?  Cynthia Shaffer’s colorful artwork featured on the cover is fabulous!  Her layering of vibrant red, blue and pink elements over a gentle white background is so beautifully balanced.

Inside this magazine you’ll also see some “Quilted Fish” that I created.

Here’s a quick look at how this project started.  I began by typing just a few thoughts that were swirling around my mind.  And then I stacked some fabric pieces together, going by gut, letting things come together organically.  I’m guessing that many of you like to do things this way too.

After most of the materials were selected, I moved on to assembling all these spare parts to create something like this…

It’s interesting to me that popular sayings from long ago still apply to modern day life.

Sometimes, in rare instances I choose not to use words at all…sometimes it’s all about just having fun.   I think most of you must know by now how much I love to make pint-sized pincushions.

In this same issue of Art Quilting Studio you’ll see a couple of quilted houses that I made in the Patchworks section.  These houses are made up of mostly recycled materials (wool sweaters, recycled dryer sheets, vintage trim, etc.) and each one includes a felted wool bird.  BTW, isn’t it interesting how much fish are like birds?  Fish with fins in water and birds with wings through the air…moving gracefully and with ease.  I wish that I could do and see what they can, even for just one day.

If by chance you’re not into sewing and enjoy making cards and such instead, inside the new issue of Take Ten you’ll see many fast (10 minutes or less) and fun ideas.

Here are a few cards that I made using pieces of Peat pots along with some vintage wallpaper bits and other miscellaneous scraps.

Of course I had to use some words that bring to mind good thoughts.

Wishing you all many opportunities to “grow” and “bloom”, inside and out.  And may you swim or soar towards all good things.

To welcome Summer, I have a couple of new articles to share with you.  In the current issue of Somerset Studio Gallery…

…you’ll see some watercolor painted doors in my article, “The Fluid World of Translucent Color & Beeswax.”

And in the new issue of Sew Somerset…

…you’ll see some felted wool pieces in my article, “Cup of Joy.”

Here’s a little something special that I made for Brook.

And here’s a cute way to share your crafting supplies.

I used recycled dryer sheets to make my own tea-bag bookmarks (seen below.)  The dryer sheet that I used was previously dyed in a batch of real tea for some cozy color.

In case you’re interested in making your own versions of either project shown above, I included the specific how-to instructions in both of the articles.  And to answer Julie’s question (a request from a prior Giveaway post ) regarding tips on using beeswax:  be sure your brush (I like to use a 1″ wide bristle brush) is evenly coated with beeswax before applying it on top of the canvas or collage.  Also, work quickly as you brush on the beeswax (it solidifies quickly.)  And if you don’t like the way it looks as is, then use a quilting iron to smooth out and adjust the areas that don’t appeal to you.  Also, I like to use a very light hand when applying the beeswax (to me, too much layering or build-up takes away from the images below.)

In addition to doing a lot of reading this Summer, I’m also wanting to dive deeper into watercolor painting.  What about you…what are you looking forward to doing these next few months?

This time of year I always do a big Spring cleaning throughout my house, including my closet.  Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on how you look at it), there are always a couple of wool or cashmere sweaters that look a bit shabby after a long Winter’s wear.   The good thing about this though is that I’ll have some cozy material to work with.  Sometimes I’ll recycle a sweater by turning it into a tote.  You can see a couple of examples in the new issue of Haute Handbags.

Here’s another look…

…and a couple of close-ups.

One sweater makes up one tote – the material from the body of the sweater went into making the main bag compartment (plus a pocket if you’re lucky) and each arm of the sweater went into making each handle (please keep in mind that the cream-colored wool that you see on the totes above are from a separate sweater from a previous project.)  After making my totes there are always leftover scraps of wool or cashmere.  Sometimes I like to use up these pieces to create palm-sized pincushions.

To make these pincushions all you’ll need besides the sweater scraps is some other fabric scraps plus one single button (if you’re like me you probably already have tons on hand.)  You don’t even need store bought stuffing to fill the pincushion, just use more sweater scraps cut up into small pieces.

Have you cleaned out your closets yet and did you come across any wool sweaters with holes or stains?  To felt any sweaters you find, simply run it through the washer and dryer.  The specific directions for creating the totes are available in Haute Handbags…happy recycling!

The Spring issue of Somerset Life is now available.  You can get a copy at Stampington or try the book stores and craft stores in your area.

Inside you’ll see several of my easy to make altered spool place cards.

These simple spools are a fun way to “celebrate” life’s special occasions, or you could make personalized ones to pass on to your friends…just because.

Many of you have contacted me with questions regarding my wax paper dresses and other clothing items that were mentioned in the previous Winter issue of Somerset Life…thank you very much for asking. Unfortunately, the photos for this particular project were mistakenly left out of the article.  However, the good news is that I’ve posted them below…thank you to Stampington for sending over these fantastic pics!

The pieces shown above were created with either wax paper, a recycled paper grocery bag, a used dryer sheet (tea-dyed) as well as a few other scraps…I love using humble odds n’ ends in my art projects, don’t you?

I think these airy-looking pieces would look great hanging on a mini-clothes line…perhaps a decoration to celebrate Spring?  And when this season passes you can simply crumple them up and toss them, and then get going on making something sweet for Summer…then Fall, and so on.  Never-ending projects are my favorite!

To all that participated in my giveaway, thank you so much for your kind and generous comments.  It was wonderful to hear from both old friends and new.  And it seems that practically everyone from this group is a big button enthusiast…I love knowing this.  I also loved reading your personal button stories – thank you for sharing your memories with me. 

For this giveaway I went old-school again.  I hand wrote each name on plain lined paper, which I then cut into small strips, which were all then hand folded and tossed into a bowl.   There was something about this repetitive activity which was surprisingly soothing and pleasurable.   It was also my pleasure to pick Amy’s name (cottageprims) from the bowl. 

Since you’re already here I thought you might like to see another heart project.  This one is also felted, but not by needle-felting so you might already have the makings on hand.  This mini heart pillow or pincushion is made from a recycled red wool sweater (which can be felted in the washer and dryer.) 

Use scissors to cut wool from a felted sweater into a heart shape (2 per heart.)  If you’d like to make a pincushion like mine, a vintage tart tin can be used as a template when cutting your heart shapes from the felted wool.  Once you have both heart pieces cut out, stack them with the right sides together/touching and then sew (by either machine or hand) around the edges, leaving about an inch opening.  Then use this opening to turn the heart inside out.  Next, stuff poly-fill through the open hole.  Then sew the hole closed with needle and thread.   

I painted the vintage tart tin using a sponge brush and Titan Buff acrylic paint (Golden.)  Usually one layer is enough since I like the original tin to show through in random spots.  To attach the “love” tag to the heart pillow, I used a straight pin and added a vintage bead along with a strip of mesh fabric (the pin keeps all these elements together.)  If you like, you can use craft glue to adhere the bottom of the heart to the inside of the tart tin.  You can also choose to turn the heart into a hanging make-do by punching a hole through the top of the tart tin, and then use this hole to attach ribbon or string.  If you don’t have a tart tin handy, the pillow alone can also be hung simply by attaching a ribbon or string loop. 

If you like this project you can see more examples in my article, Vintage Tart Tin Pin Keeps published in Stampington’s Somerset Life (July/Aug/Sept 2010 issue.)  In contrast to this bright red wool, all of the pincushions in the article are creamy-white and latte colored.  I love playing with different color palettes…how about you, do you enjoy experimenting as well?

I love making things in two’s – there’s something about creating in pairs that feels good and satisfying.   Below you’ll see two similar ideas for creating mini-stockings using organic cotton batting for the base.

While at the craft store recently I picked up this one pretty poinsetta…I love that it’s well-worn looking and pre-glittered.

Although this flower is pretty as is, I mainly bought it with plans to take it apart.   After separating the petals I used them to create an accent for this stocking.

 Here are some of the other supplies that I used.  The front (semi-transparent part) of the stocking is a recycled dryer sheet that I pre-dyed in a tea bath. 

To make the stocking, begin by using scissors to cut a mini-stocking shape from organic cotton batting and a recycled dryer sheet (2 identical pieces – 1 front, 1 back.)  Then use sandpaper and Distress Ink (applied with a stiff stencil brush) to add an aged appearance to a scrapbook paper flower.  Next, type a holiday message such as “Happy wonderful holiday*” onto a scrap piece of paper and machine sew this on top of a piece of canvas fabric. 

To assemble the stocking, place the recycled dryer sheet piece on top of the cotton batting and machine sew around the edges, leaving the top open.  Then use pinking shears to trim around the stocking edges.  To attach the flower, leaves and tag accent to the stocking, use a sparkly brad to pierce through the center of the flower, the left-hand side of each leaf, the top of the tag and through both layers of the stocking at the top right-hand corner (first use a hand awl to punch a small hole through all the layers.)  Next, wrap ribbon around the brad, creating a hanging loop.  Lastly, tuck a handwritten message into the stocking – the semi-transparent quality of the dryer sheet allows a sneak peak inside.

Here’s another version of a stocking minus the recycled dryer sheet. 

To begin making this stocking, use scissors to cut a stocking shape from organic cotton batting (2 identical pieces – 1 front, 1 back.)  To the front side of the stocking, machine stitch stocking details at the toe and heel.  Then stack the layers and machine sew the stocking together around the edges, leaving the top open. 

To create a hanging loop, use a hole punch to create two holes through the stocking layers at the top at opposite ends.  Then use the hole on the left side of the stocking to attach a wire (24 gauge) handle, and leave the right side unattached for adding an embellished earring.  Next, attach a beaded dangle to the back of a vintage earring using the existing earring clip part.  To attach the vintage earring with beaded dangle to the stocking, wrap the end of the wire handle (on the right side) around the back of the earring clip part, then through the holes of the stocking several times, pinching the wire end to keep it secure.  Lastly, to add some body to the stocking, tuck some tulle inside (you can also choose to wrap a small gift inside the tulle.) 

Here’s another look at both stockings…happy, wonderful crafting!