I have a lot of random stuff to share today (and I am going to be jumping all over the place so just grab your glue gun and follow me to the party). I promise I'll not keep you more than 3 minutes and 42 seconds (give or take a minute or 2).
The MomChops Approach to Zen Sewing
MomChops focused her chi, did some deep breathing and magically managed to bust out the rest of my wrap skirts this past week (that's 4 wrap skirts in less than 6 days folks). She wore her little baby bunny fingers to the bone - so I decided she needed a BIG thank you wreath. BIG I tell ya!
The criteria for the wreath was as follows: It had to be pink... be made from felt and fabric and contain flowers of some sort (the more the merrier I always say)!
Before we get to the wreath... segue #1
I decided to use my new craft stuff organization system (download and print freebie posted last week HERE) to help me pick out which dies I would use for my wreath project! I am so totally in love with that silly system that I can hardly stand it. I know you guys prolly think I am crazy (you might actually think that every time you drop in round these parts) but I love anything that makes crafting easier!
I only managed to get my Sizzix dies cataloged last week. I have them bound with 3 plain rings for now... (the fun cover and decorative ribbons and stuff is coming later).
I'll keep sharing my progress with this organization book as I get further into it!
Whew... what a MESS!
Clean, Clean, Clean!!!
I spent about 7 hours organizing and cleaning my craft room Saturday. RonChops got me some fabulous bins from a hardware store that was changing out their nut and bolt containers (they are HEAVY duty and were only $5 each... a total steal of a deal). I made labels and sorted and sorted and sorted (and sorted).
Shudder... the craft closet...
...of doom!
RonChops has declared this his favorite label...
Zip Ties & Cork & Mirrors
I am not sure which is weirder... that I have so many zip ties I need a special place for them...
...or that I would think to put these fellas all together.
hmmmm
Here is the craft room all nice and sparkly!
RonChops said that he couldn't tell the difference.
hmmmmmmm
I swears
The Second Skirt
So this is the material from the second skirt MomChops made me!
It's designed by Kaffe Fassett and it's called "Paperweight"
You can see it HERE.
I decided to make embellishments from felt that I could attach to the bottom of the skirt...
(thanks for all of the suggestions last week you guys... I am going to test them all out and share the results soon)
Seeing all of those elements crammed together made it hard to pick and
choose my favorites...
So I decided to cut out the elements from the fabric that I liked best....
...and then I glued them into my sketch book.
Here is what I have done so far...
I am not 100% happy with them...
I dunno... they just don't feel right to me yet!
I have some ideas I am going to play around with this week.
Think beads.... loads and loads of beads!!!
(I'll share my progress next Monday along with the 3rd skirt... and you guys can tell me what you think!!!)
The Thanks for the Skirts MomChops Wreath
The idea for this wreath came from wreaths I have seen on Etsy lately. They are super fabulous and wrapped in yarn... lots and lots and lots of yarn (like this one HERE). I decided to crochet a wrap for my wreath instead of doing all that yarn wrapping!
I started with some groovy lime green yarn that MomChops had in her stash. It's quite possibly older than the hills (not older than me cause I am older than the oldest old).
I mean seriously...check out the label of this yarn!
Clues that it's older than old:
It was only .97 cents when originally purchased in the dark ages.
It's moth proof (the moths in the dark ages evidently swarmed around like rabid dogs)
The fabulous pink, gold, and brown lettering on the package!
and ummmm the font (disco anyone???).
Hello, 1970's... it's MomChops and I am comin' to get ya!
MomChops only had one skein and I decided to chance it and start my crochet wreath wrap...
(it's made by doing double crochet that's 7 wide (think of it as a really really long skinny crochet scarf))
...and I ran out of yarn.
I was totally bummed!
So I switched to a nice white yarn....
...and was able to wrap the whole Styrofoam wreath in a nice crochet cover!
The wreath is really dense Styrofoam so I simply lined up the edges of the crochet wrap and pinned them into the back.
Nextly...
I got out my Sizzix and started cutting flowers from various shares of pink felt!
I cut out a LOT of flowers.
(about 3 times as much as I have here)
(you guys know about and me and the excessive amount of flower usage right???)
(so that means you can forgive me for going over the top yet again right???)
(hugs)
I also made some fabric flowers from Wall Flowers Week
You guys remember these fellas don't cha?
I loves them to pieces.
(You can get the how-to from Juliana of 17 Turtles HERE)
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today....
hehehehe....
Group and stack the flowers as you see fit!
Make sure you cut out some leaves too!
Then start pinning the groupings to the wreath.
...and whatever you do...
Make sure you forget to take pics cause you get overly excited about how it's turning out!
(that's the most essential step of them all)
See... it's craft magic!
If you close your eyes and click your heels 3 times the wreath will magically finish itself!
(fur serious)
I also used a few lucite beads (found HERE)...
...and these amazing little chrysanthemum cabochons (found HERE)...
...and some MomChops crocheted flowers (how-to found HERE)
I simply ADORE these small accents in the center of each flower!
I love seeing the wreath sweater peeping out on the side!
...and I love how the whole thing looks with all of the pinks hanging out together!
YAY!! All done!
I have a little dilemma.... the flowers are simply pinned into the wreath now with white headpins. I think it adds a nice little accent... but I am not sure if I should leave it like that.
What do you guys think....
Exhibit A (white pin flower centers)
Exhibit B (no white pin centers - I am thinking about doing french knots for the centers with beaded accents along the edges of some of the flowers)
I kinda like the white pin centers but I am afraid it almost leaves the wreath feeling half finished. I think the french knots and beads might be a super nice touch... KWIM???
That's all I gots for today! Thanks for hanging with me till the very end!
I'll be back next week with a super fun and EASY beading project!
More hugs than you can stand!
P.S. XOXOXOXOXOXO's
