Feed Your Soul, Save Your Wallet

Jen at Indie Fixx has started a free art project called "Feed Your Soul". She'll be featuring different artists every month that will each offer one free digital print for you to print for yourself at home. I'm beyond excited about this. I love how so many artists offer prints now, instead of solely originals. It's very rare that I can afford original artwork, sadly enough, especially with our current economic state! I also love that I'll find out about new artists through the "Feed Your Soul" art project. Free prints might lead to more future sales for these extremely talented artists. And they deserve it! Remember to check out their shops after you snag their free prints. :)

Check out the Feed Your Soul art project, here.

Happy Printing!
Kelli

C'est la vie Craft Magazine!

I read over the weekend through the Craftzine mailing list, that Craft Magazine will not be making another issue, ever! This was devastating. They will be keeping all of their online content and anyone who has a subscription to Craft will now have the option to receive MAKE or a refund, which sounds like a fair offer. It's just so sad to see them go... I am more of an online mag reader, so this won't affect me too much, but just the fact that a craft style magazine has to fold, is just depressing.

Everyone, go out and buy the final issue of Craft! Amy Sedaris won't let you down! :)
And here's a direct link to the official Craft announcement: click here.

Sad sad day,
Kelli

Sew in Love!

I created my fourth Etsy Treasury last night! I was supposed to already have been on the road to my friend's engagement party, but when I saw that the list had made it down to 339 (332 being the opening slot to create a Treasury), I just couldn't resist! I was an hour late for her shindig but no one noticed seeing as how she was pretty much the only person I knew there anyway...

Okay, so I titled the Treasury "Sew in Love!". With Valentine's Day coming up, and my passion for sewing forever growing, I couldn't help but make a sewing-love themed Treasury. I hope you like it!




Please click here and leave comments! I'm crossing my fingers that it makes it to the front page!

Happy Sewing and Loving,
Kelli

Eye Spy Etsy!

I just created my second Treasury, "Eye Spy", on Etsy!

I love it and want to buy everything in it! I'm pretty sure that this idea came to mind because I've been squinting and rubbing my sore eyes for weeks now... I'm way overdue for an eye exam. I need to get on that!

Click here to see the Treasury up close and please leave comments!

Maybe it will make it to the first page this time? Wish me luck! And now I'm off to look up eye doctors... eek!

Happy luck-wishing,
Kelli

New Singer Sewing Contest!

I've had a crazy week and am just now getting the time to blog... Ryan and I are working on new artwork and plans for new projects in the works, so I've been preoccupied, to say the least. It's a great feeling to be drawing again, though. I can't wait to see how everything turns out!

On another note, there's a great new contest that I can't wait to tell you about! I found this on the Craftzine.com blog and my mind's already buzzing about new organic design ideas! Read on for more info...



[Taken from Craftzine.com]

"SINGER® Sewing Company and CRAFT Magazine invite all of the crafty stitchers out there to create a project inspired by nature. As we look forward to the spring, with the new growth and beauty that it brings, we ask you to create something that is sewn using a sewing machine and integrates organic elements for our Sewing with Nature Contest. For a four-week period, crafters can submit pictures online of their nature-inspired projects to the Flickr group called 'The Sewing with Nature Contest'. At the end of the four weeks, SINGER will pick one Grand Prize winner and three runners-up.

The Grand Prize winner's project will be featured in the SINGER® ad in the Spring issue of CRAFT Magazine. The Grand Prize winner will also receive one (1) SINGER® Confidence 7467™ sewing machine with a retail value of $350 and a set of SINGER sewing books courtesy of Creative Publishing ($60 value).

Three (3) runners-up will receive a SINGER® dress form ($129) and a subscription to CRAFT Magazine!"

Complete contest info here.

Happy sewing,
Kelli

Marimekko Sale!

Huge Marimekko Semi-Annual Sale!
It's not going on for long, so hurry while supplies last!

Here is what I would buy if money was growing on little bonsai trees in my Oklahoma City neighborhood and I had the day off to scavenge all that could fit in my hoodie pockets:





I hope someone out there can benefit from this sale, but at $20 to $90 a yard on sale, I'll be sticking to the fabric remnant tables at Joann's and Hancock's for a little while longer...

Happy sale'ing,
Kelli

Last Call for Creative Reuse Ideas!

I bet you're wondering when your FIRST call was, right? Well, I'm a little late jumping on this bandwagon but here are the details in case you've got a few tricks up your sleeve and can get a submission in before January 5th:

"Rockport Publishers/Quarry Books is an international publisher of high-quality visual and idea books for design professionals and creative enthusiasts—crafters, artists, and designers. (Check out our distinctive books at: www.quarrybooks.com.)

We are seeking submissions for 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse, an upcoming book by Garth Johnson of ExtremeCraft.com, which will feature 21st Century craft and design, all made with recycled, upcycled, repurposed and reused items. We are looking for the best examples of paper and book arts, jewelry, clothing, home and personal accessories, furniture, art, and miscellanea for possible publication. We invite designers, artists, visionaries and crafters of all stripes to submit their work.

High quality photography is essential. We are looking for photographs of the finished work, not step-by-step shots. All images must be AT LEAST 1400x1750 pixels at 300 dpi. There is no entry form for the book--all we need is the Grant of Rights form and an image list in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Please upload them with your images."

Deadline: January 5, 2009

Click here to download the call to entries and submission requirements.

I would've loved to enter my pillow case recycled aprons, vintage fabric and button recycled brooches, and Ryan's recycled plexi-glass artwork. :( I hope someone reading this still has the chance and will to apply. Good luck!!!

Happy submitting,
Kelli

Little Red Riding Hood

I finally got my first treasury on etsy!!

If you aren't an 'etsian' and have no clue what a 'treasury' is, here are the basics:

It is a gallery of 12 hand-picked product images with links curated by etsy members selected on a particular theme. I love the basic principle of treasuries, a means to promote other etsy members. It is a great way to promote new or maybe unnoticed members and their amazing products.

It's an extensive waiting game at times to even get a treasury as they only accept a certain amount at a time. I have been waiting not-so-patiently to try one out with no luck... but tonight I was about to shut down my computer and checked a last time and there it was, just waiting for me! heh, or so it seemed.

So to make a short story long... here's my first treasury!


Little Red Riding Hood



Please leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Love always,
Kelli

Thank You ThreadBanger!

Last night, I was wide awake at 12am and perusing the interweb when I came across this step by step tutorial on crocheting a beanine-style hat on ThreadBanger. Thankfully, I still had one untouched skein of pale yellow chunky yarn left. I grabbed the skein and my favorite crochet hook and got comfy in the computer chair. I followed the extremely thorough, video guide every step of the way and below are photos of my creation! I don't want to take it off now. It's so adorable, if I do say so myself. :)






If you've tried out this tutorial, too, I'd love to see what you've made!

Love always,
Kelli

From Neck to Toe

Just a little note about kerchiefs.
They're easy to sew, easy to wear, and easy on the eyes.
I made this one out of a vintage dress.
Pair with a tee, vest, or minidress.
They go with just about everything!



Happy sewing,
Kelli

Guest Blogger - Crochet Holiday Gift Guide

I guest blogged on QUiD Essential today!

Check it out, officially, here.

I thought it was worth posting again on my blog, so here you go!

Holiday Gift Guide: Everything crochet

Have a Cozy Crocheted Christmas!

Who knew so many fashionable accessory pieces could be made with just a few skeins of yarn and a crochet hook? It’s such an exciting craft once you get over the assumption that all things crocheted are made by cat loving grannies making doilies and pot warmers. But you don’t have to know HOW to crochet to adorn a trendy oversize cowl or flashy necklace. It’s no secret that Etsy is a great place get started when shopping for the perfect crocheted winter accessory for yourself and the ones you love. Don’t be stingy now, your friends and family deserve to be fashionistas, too! Think that maybe someone on your Christmas list deserves a little spice in their wardrobe? Here are the details to get you started!

Enter, the super, oversize cowl: Etsy seller “SprattersandJayne” has several super, oversize cowls in a variety of colors with oversize buttons from $78 to $115.

Enter, the bubble beret: Etsy seller “softspoken” has a clever array of chic bubble berets for $18 that will add sophistication to any outfit!

Enter, the mini beret: Etsy seller “LiDDesignsBoutique” has delicious mini berets for $35

Enter, the chain necklace: Etsy seller “itsalovelycake” combines vintage jewelry chains with colorful crocheted beads for a look that’s feminine and original, and at $20, a total steal!

Enter, the fingerless mitten: Etsy seller “CoquelicotSalon” offers an assortment of fingerless mittens in different color combinations and vintage button detailing from $28 to $34

If you’re in the area, two new boutiques, Collected Thread and DNA Galleries, both offer great crochet accessories at affordable prices, and they’re conveniently next door to each other!

Collected Thread
1705 A NW 16th Street, OKC

DNA Galleries
1705 B NW 16th Street, OKC

Finally, here is my take on the crochet cowl trend worn two ways:

As you can see, they are so snuggly and warm
that they make me want to take a nap inside them.

Built by Me

I'd been planning to buy the Built by You collection of Simplicity patterns [by Wendy Mullin of Built by Wendy], for awhile now, but the last time I checked, they weren't in this season's Simplicity catalog. I got worried that maybe I missed out, but saw that Joann's was having a sale on sewing patterns this past weekend. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to see if they were still available.

I wanted to make sure that I knew exactly what patterns I needed to get, so I visited BuiltbyWendy.com and wrote down all of the pattern numbers. Since they were priced around $15.95 each, I knew I couldn't afford to buy all of them on her site, so it reassured me that Joann's was my best bet. Sorry for not supporting your online sales, Wendy! :( My next virtual stop was Simplicity.com to see if there were any other patterns I should check out while out shopping, but no luck. Nothing could compare to the collection I already had my heart set on. I checked Joann.com to make sure they carried each style. Yes, I realize that my online 'window shopping' is excessive... but the drive down Northwest Expressway in holiday traffic is just annoying, well worth the research before making the trip! As I searched each style number, I found that several were out of print! I hopped in my car right away and drove straight there. To my surprise, they had yet to pull many of the out of print styles I was searching for! I grabbed all nine of the available Built by You patterns and raced to the cashier. I felt like there would be some sort of catch or that they had been incorrectly priced, but the checkout went smoothly.

I left there with nine patterns at $1.99 each! I saved almost $130!!! With around 2 variations of each style in each envelope, I'll have a new wardrobe in no time! I'm so excited. Just a lengthy reminder that doing your online research really does save you money! :)

Here's a look at what I scored!
[images borrowed from BuiltbyWendy.com]



Style #2863


Style #2865


Style #3692


Style #3694


Style #3835


Style #3850


Style #3964


Style #4111


Style #4112


I missed out on these:


Style #3966 - OUT OF PRINT


Style #4109 - OUT OF PRINT


Style #4110 - OUT OF PRINT (but no worries! 4111 and 4112 included these styles!)

An Extra Tip! If you missed the holiday sales at your local fabric stores and still want to grab these at a discounted price, Simplicity.com is offering most of them at half off!

I'll post pictures of the pieces I make from these patterns. Please let me know if you've ever tried them out!

Love always,
Kelli