Thursday, March 25, 2010

DIY Fashion Tutorial: Necklace

Packing, sewing, teaching, packing sewing teaching, packingsewingteaching, it all begins to run together. Needing a distraction, I played around with another Anthropologie inspired necklace.

Here's what I came up with.

And here is how to create your own.
Pull out some silk flowers, vintage buttons and dupioni silk.



I covered the flowers with two coats of Liquitex Matte Medium.
This stiffened them up nicely.



After the flowers dried, I removed the plastic centers and pushed through vintage shank buttons.



The remaining flowers I covered with 3 D Crystal Lacquer.

This gave them the high gloss enamel effect I was looking for.

The base for the necklace is a tube of 1" cotton welting, covered in dupioni silk.

It is sheered onto the welt cording.

Hand stitch on two long ties, pleating in the middle on both sides.


Place your flowers onto the welting.

For some reason I hand stitch whenever I can.


I only resort to the glue gun for the flowers that could not be stitched down.
(A normal person might glue all the flowers down.)


In my world, "more is always better" ,
so another texture was introduced with the feathers.


The finished necklace can be tied off to the side, so the bow is in front or worn with the tie in the back.

Funs over.
Now back to packing, sewing, teaching.

Monday, March 22, 2010

A Hatter


Long, long ago....
I designed and made hats.

Yep, I was a "hatter".

Not quite "mad" yet.

That came later, after I raised 5 kids!


Photography by: Robert Buhl Photography

Model: Sami

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Blooming



Spring is just around the corner.


I searched and searched for where I found these photos and no luck. I have had them for some time.
If anyone recognizes the designer and photographer, please let me know so I can give proper credit.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Art Class: Third grade

Flickr photo by: Joachim S. Mueller
How is it that third grade boys can peak into this magazine


and still find photos to covet and display faces like these?
Flickr photo by: Joachim S. Mueller


Flickr photo by: floridapfe

Oh, the things you learn in elementary school art class.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Artist: Las Lopez


Just a few reasons why I love fiber.



Las Lopez at etsy

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Mad Hatter

I'm wearing this.
To go see this.
Don't sit behind me!

Gift tags from me to you.
Something to color while you're waiting in line. You can go here to print.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Artist Shelagh Duffett

I am a huge fan of folk artist Shelagh Duffett.
I've posted about her before. Her colors are fresh, bold and bright. Her style of photography and paintings is simple and graphic with a splash of patterned whimsy.
So how excited was I when I found out I had been the winner of her One World One Heart giveaway?
"Find a paint brush and slap me silly" excited.
You can see more of her art and photography at,
Thank you Shelagh.
I love the calender too!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tutu's in Texas

It was a Tutu week in Texas!
Flew into San Antonio, Texas and met up with a good friend,
the Queen of Tartz.
Met a like minded soul, Ruth.
This is her sewing room.
Began and completed sewing drapes, table coverings, runners, Euro shams and couch pillows and that was just the first day!

Day two began with too many tutu's!
They arrived in three pieces and incomplete.
All of them had to be altered to fit like a glove, then stitched altogether.
Many long hours and three days later.
Finished.
Just in time for my very first pedicure.
And the first time I've ever had red toes tu!
My super hero daughter refers to them as,
"Sexy mama puma toes"!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Shhhh

Yes, this is my secret code:
G2ZPFZBPQ96P
So there ya go!