Archive for May, 2011
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My First Craftster Swap

May 23, 2011, Nik

A few months ago I participated in my very first Craftster swap. The swap’s theme was Yarnies vs. Sewists. The idea behind the swap was for people who sew to exchange handmade items with people who love to knit or crochet, and since I’m a sewist, I was partnered with the yarnie Miss Barbara.

I loved making projects for Miss Barbara, who loves the color orange and cherry blossoms. She sent over a wish list of items she would love to have, which included a water bottle holder and tea wallets. I created a water bottle holder in orange, and also made her a reversible tote bag to clamp the bottle holder onto. The bag featured orange cherry blossom fabrics with an accent of green silk ribbon. The gorgeous pale yellow fabric featuring the cherry blossoms and birds is a Joel Dewberry print I had been holding on to for the past couple of years without a project home. The gray side is an Alexander Henry print.

 

Next up were the tea wallets in green fabrics. Each wallet was made to house six tea packets, and closed with a Velcro-ed silk ribbon.

I had such a great time making these items for Barbara that we decided to also do a personal swap after the official one. This time around she asked for items for her kids which included two Halloween trick-or-treat bags, and a Nook cover for her son for Christmas. Unfortunately I was unable to get photos of the trick-or-treat bags for the girls before I mailed them away, but I was able to get two shots of the Nook cover with my cell phone. He wanted something with an Invader Zim theme, which I had never even heard of before. So, after watching several episodes on YouTube for research (and subsequently losing a few brain cells), I settled on creating a cover to look like the Invader Zim DVD box set. One side is Zim and the other is Gir, and the whole thing is made from appliqued felt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve been an awful swap partner and have yet to post photos of all the incredible items Barbara created for me which includes a throw pillow, a lap blanket, a hat, scarves, gloves, and more, all made from yarn. This week I will upload a second post to showcase all of Barbara’s incredible crochet talents.

Have you ever participated in a Craftster swap?

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Moschino Hair Band Project with a Twist

May 20, 2011, Nik

Now that I have long hair, I love finding new hair accessories to not only wear but to pull my mane back out of my face. Now on the Sewing Republic website is my Twist and Shout Headband project made from faux silk. The above headbands are from the spring... Continue Reading
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Marc Jacobs Inspired Embellished Top Project

May 16, 2011, Nik

Last spring I created a top for SewStylish that was inspired by the Marc Jacobs Resort collection that season. For photography reasons, I had to go with bright colors (as you can see below), but I would love to do this again in more muted colors for myself. I’m thinking... Continue Reading
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DKNY-Inspired Wrap Project

May 13, 2011, Nik

When searching for a quick cover up this spring for those chilly evenings, you don’t need to shell out tons of cash for a designer item. All you really need is a couple yards of knit fabric and a little sewing know-how. I created the wrap below inspired by the... Continue Reading
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Embroidered Editorial

May 11, 2011, Nik

Last week I came across the incredible work of artist Inge Jacobsen by way of Trendland. Jacobsen uses embroidery techniques to alter fashion images used in magazines and other periodicals, transforming the once disposable items into works of art. (I wonder what sort of reinforcement she uses on the backs... Continue Reading
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Oscar de la Renta One-Hour Dress Project

May 9, 2011, Nik

Last spring SewStylish’s blog featured a post highlighting a dress I created for their Spring 2010 issue inspired by the Oscar de la Renta dress above. The entire how-to is featured in the post, and can be created in about an hour using jersey knit fabrics. The shape is a... Continue Reading
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Custom Wigs by Sweet Hayseed

May 6, 2011, Nik

Macaroni Dandy wig by Sweet Hayseed Planning is well underway for this year’s Mermaid Parade costume. Last year I ended up sewing incredibly too much incredibly too late. Each year I promise myself that I will not be constructing things at the last minute, and always end up pulling an all-nighter... Continue Reading
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The Moose Thimble

May 3, 2011, Nik

A while back my buddy Vicky went on a cruise to explore the stunning yet frozen countryside of Alaska. Upon her arrival back to the continental states, she bestowed upon me this incredible souvenir–a thimble made from moose hide. It was a funny gift that provoked a lot of inappropriate... Continue Reading
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