TGIF and Thrift Store Thursday

It's Friday and time to share my Thursday Thrift Store Finds.

Lately I have been creating some one of a kind dress form mannequin pincushions that can also be used to hang necklaces.  I re-purpose or recycle cast away items for the base of each mannequin.  Sometimes it is a glass or brass candle holder and sometimes I use ice cream dishes or stemmed glass ware that I pickup at local thrift stores.

Dress Form Mannequin Pincushion or Jewelry Holder

It is time to gear up for my yearly holiday season craft shows so yesterday I went to a local thrift store and brought home some great finds to incorporate into some new designs

Stemmed glassware is so fun to use as a base but the key is to look for something that has a good weight for stability.  You also have to make sure that you use the right kind of glue because not all glues work on glass. There are many different glues on the market just look for something that is appropriate for the materials that you use.

Each mannequin fabric will be selected to coordinate with the style of the base and then embellished accordingly.  Every design will be a one of a kind item and I will be blogging about each creation as it becomes a reality, so please come back and see which one of these great finds will be first to become a base for a lovely lady.

If you re-purpose or recycle any items please leave a comment and let me know what kinds of items you try to keep out of the landfills to help our environment.  I love to hear what others are making.

Creativity Day 12 - Presentation

"It is not enough to stay busy.  So, too, are the ants.  The question is what you are busy about."

Henry David Thoreau

As a business woman I participate in numerous Holiday craft shows so how I present my products is always part of the sale experience.  I also like to put my best foot forward when I mail a customer their purchase they have made through my Etsy shop, I think it adds a positive note to the mail order experience.  Sometimes even though we feel that we have explained how something is used or think that it should be obvious to a customer that is not always the case.  The addition to a package of suggestions or instructions is always a helpful and thoughtful thing to do.  So, last night, as part of my creativity project,  I decided to design an insert for my fabric postcards.  I worked on a design that would have product and business info on one end of the sheet that would fold over to the front of the cellophane packaging and instructions and/or suggestions for use of item on the back of the package.

I made a text box at the top with the name of the item and business info that I rotated so that when it was printed out this section looks upside down.  I then added the instructions/suggestions info to read right side up and added a couple of photos to help with visual instructions.

Once edges are trimmed with a ruler and rotary cutter(used for paper only) I fold the top section and staple it in place on the postcard packaging and add a piece of double stick tape to hold the back flap secure.  Using these clear wrappers keeps the postcards clean and makes the end product look much more professional and since I do craft shows it makes it possible for customers to handle the items and still keeps my merchandise clean.

Taking a few extra steps might just close that next sale and customers appreciate a professional presentation especially when they are buying handcrafted items.

Presentation is everything!  Lets put our best foot forward in everything we do.  How do you make your products shine?  Share or comment please.

Creativity Day 11 - Day of the Dead Memorial Wall Hanging

"Life is a great surprise.  I do not see why death should not be an even greater one."

Vladimir Nabokov

I took a mini class at the Houston International Quilt Show a few years ago on how to make a Day of The Dead wall hanging and being of Hispanic background, I have always wanted to make one for my Mother who passed away 16 years ago.  The class was part of the "Make It University" with "Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine" Workshops which is an inexpensive way to take a class that includes all supplies and instruction by the artist.  You don't have to invest lots of time, most projects take 1-2 hours and the cost is only $15 which is great because there is time for questions and even one on one help if you find that the class is a new technique to you. Admittance into the class is done by drawing names out of a fish bowl and you have to be present to get in and payment is cash only so it is exciting and fun from start to finish.  I recommend taking a chance on getting into one of these classes if you attend Quilt Festival, it is a great way to learn new techniques.

Yesterday was Day 11 and this is what I made:

It is not quite finished because I want to add a few more embellishments and a ribbon for hanging on the wall.  I  did use some of Mom's favorite colors and she loved flowers so I made a one using antique Mother of Pearl buttons, one felt free form cut flower and added some pink roses trim.

This morning I copied a picture of her that was perfect for this little memorial hanging and she just happened to be wearing colors that went along with the color scheme I chose.

There is a picture frame pocket to add a photograph and there is also a pocket behind the photo to add any special mementos that you don't want out for all to see.  This has been a special project and one that I will hanging in my sewing room so she can keep me company everyday while I work.

I have special memories about the person that inspired me to be who I am, I hope you will share some memories or at least that my project will bring back memories of someone special you love and is no longer with us.

Creativity Day 7 - Adding the Finishing Touches

Actually yesterday was supposed to be day 7 but sometimes the ideas just take a bit longer to actually turn into realities.

When I was sewing my paper pieced sections together it came to me that this would make a cute tote so as soon as I was done with the circle I took it apart and started working on my idea.

The little tote has a a lining with a double pocket on the inside, one open pocket and one with a zipper to secure valuables.  The tote itself has a magnetic closure so that everything says out of sight inside the purse.

This project has taken five days to complete but now I have some new found knowledge and inspiration for future projects.  I have learned that using my computer to design can be fun and inspiring and making a Mariner's Compass quilt block is no longer as intimidating as it used to be.

Tomorrow starts my second week of my Creativity Project and I hope my readers continue to drop in and comment or share ideas with me.

Daily Creativity

"Creativity is the defeat of habit by originality."

Arthur Koestler

This year has been a real downer for me and in an effort to revive my creative side I have started a daily creative journal.  One creative project per day for as long as I can keep it up, which I hope is a long time.

Creative Day 1

Keeping it simple and using only what I have on hand I made a simple fabric postcard, "Today is the Beginning", a reminder of things to come.

When I finished with the postcard I decided a handmade envelope would be a good way to complete today's creativity project.

The postcard can be hand cancelled at the post office but I rather put mine into an envelope to make sure that it doesn't get dirty and if any embellishments are added they won't get pulled off or damaged.

This is the first of what I hope to be many projects and I hope to focus on my quilting more than anything.  There are many techniques that I am anxious to try out and doing them in smaller projects will help me decided which ones I want to explore more deeply.

Please feel free to leave a comment, or give a suggestion as to any projects or techniques that might be fun and interesting to try out in a small project.

4th of July Weekend Sale

4th of July Weekend Sale -- 10% off on all totes, purses, wristlets and coin purses.


I finished off my Retro Pink Tote/Purse and listed it in my shop yesterday http://www.quiltingfrenzy.etsy.com/. I couldn't decide what to make, tote or purse, so I made a combo out of it.






The linning fabric extends over the top edge of the outside to create a casing for the string tie and spring loaded clasp. Cinch in the string tie and hold it tight with the spring loaded clasp and you have a great purse. Running to the grocery store? Loosen up the string tie and you have a nice little tote for those quick grocery store trips.

This was a fun bag to put together and I hope it finds a home with someone that loves it as much as I do.

Inspiration

I listened to Pikaland's chat last night on "creativity" and enjoyed her thoughts on the subject. I came away from that chat thinking that before we can be creative we must be "inspired". There has to be something that inspires us to be creative, some thought, experience, something. Something that provokes us to express something of ourselves in some way, with each of us having a uniqueness of our own that comes from different experiences and thoughts.

As a quilter I find inspiration in fabrics. I have loved to sew since I was a child watching my mother create beautiful prom dresses and bridesmaid dress for family and friends. The textures of the fabrics were fascinating, smooth, soft, cool to the touch or rough, grainy, stiff and difficult to crumple. The colors, warm, bright, fresh, pale, vibrant, all evoking a connection to memories such as a cold winter's day or a bright fresh spring morning, the purple of a beautiful eggplant or the bright red of an apple and the cool aqua of the ocean. Memories are often the inspiration to create, such as my Fiesta bags, inspired by memories of childhood in my home town.

What inspires you? Where do you find inspiration to create whatever it is that you do? Let me know what inspires you and what it is that you create.