I'm faced with a problem. I have cross stitch projects that I want to do that require colored aida cloth to really work right, and colored aida cloth is expensive.
Sure, I could dye it. I mean, I love to dye things. Check out these posts I did on the process!
Fiber-reactive dye
Acid dye
Dye Glossary
But it's cold out and aida is cotton, which means that it's a Fiber-reactive process and therefore full of odd chemicals that I don't like in my house. So I'm not doing that. I guess I could use Rit, but I just don't like the results I get from it (probably an error on my part somewhere in the process).
There is, however, another option!
Paint.
Yup. Acrylic paint and fabric medium.
Check it out here: http://craftykitsurou.com/paint-aida-cloth/
Mix the paint and the medium, paint it onto the aida, dry, heat set, and stitch!
I'm going to give it a try on one of Wild Violet's patterns when I get some time. You should check out their work on Gumroad! There are tons of super-cute patterns out there, and they are pay-what-you-want, and the charts are REALLY easy to read! I want to do Snow Much Fun and Bee by the Moon.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Monday, December 9, 2019
A Contest!
This ended up not getting done.
Christmas is coming, and so are the party games at work. My department is having a Santa Hat Decorating Contest this year, but they never specified that it has to be a traditional Santa Hat.
Christmas is coming, and so are the party games at work. My department is having a Santa Hat Decorating Contest this year, but they never specified that it has to be a traditional Santa Hat.
So I'm going to make one.
I seriously love witch hats. I think they're gorgeous. So I'm thinking red velvet for the pointy part, white fur for the brim (with the lining as more red velvet), a white fur pouf with a bell-rattler inside at the end of the pointy part, and a big wreath of poinsettias and pinecones and evergreen "twigs" twined with lights.
The "pointy part" will be stabilized with buckram and then shaped to droop and fold to one side. The brim will also be stabilized with buckram and have a wire around the outside to make sure that the shape holds.
I already have the white fur in my stash, and I found almost a whole yard of burgundy stretch-velvet in the remnant bin at Hobby Lobby.
This is going to be so much fun!
Friday, December 6, 2019
Cross Stitch Pincushion - Complete!
I finished it! You can check out the original post about this project here. Grandma didn't open it while we were there, so I don't know what she thinks, but I love it.
Here, take a look!
In the original post I talked about wanting to stuff it with crushed walnut shells. In the end, I packed it full of polyester stuffing to keep it light.
I'm going to make another one for myself when I get finished with Christmas projects. Mine will be on black Aida cloth with red metallic stitching ("Psst... I know who you are... Hail Sithis!").
And then I might make one for my mom on tan cloth with a variegated pink-green thread.
Seriously, these are super fun!
I found charts for all the hold shields in Skyrim and kinda want to make one with all of those. The problem there is that there are only 9 shields. I suppose I could leave the bottom five squares un-stitched and make up a little hand-print for the 10th square.
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I've got to finish my mother-in-law's gift first.
Here, take a look!
In the original post I talked about wanting to stuff it with crushed walnut shells. In the end, I packed it full of polyester stuffing to keep it light.
I'm going to make another one for myself when I get finished with Christmas projects. Mine will be on black Aida cloth with red metallic stitching ("Psst... I know who you are... Hail Sithis!").
And then I might make one for my mom on tan cloth with a variegated pink-green thread.
Seriously, these are super fun!
I found charts for all the hold shields in Skyrim and kinda want to make one with all of those. The problem there is that there are only 9 shields. I suppose I could leave the bottom five squares un-stitched and make up a little hand-print for the 10th square.
Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. I've got to finish my mother-in-law's gift first.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Cross Stitch Pincushion
A while back, my husband and I went to visit his grandmother. She makes the most beautiful quilt tops, and I love seeing her work. She also has an AWESOME sewing room, of which I am seriously envious.
But then I noticed her pincushion.
And I became sad.
It looks like a lump of upholstery velvet, taupe-grey in color, that has been wadded up and tied at the bottom with some scrap thread. It is shapeless, nearly colorless, and... sad.
She deserves better.
And so I have started on a cross-stitch project to make her one.
Several months ago I began looking into the little cross-stitch things called biscornu. They are adorable and I was fascinated. Essentially, they are two squares stitched together diagonally... That's the best way I can think to describe their construction.
Here. Look. Instructions and examples from The Floss Box.
So then, because my husband has far too much influence on me, I decided not to do a regular 2-square biscornu... No... I'm doing a 15-face biscornu!
Specifically this one.
But then I noticed her pincushion.
And I became sad.
It looks like a lump of upholstery velvet, taupe-grey in color, that has been wadded up and tied at the bottom with some scrap thread. It is shapeless, nearly colorless, and... sad.
She deserves better.
And so I have started on a cross-stitch project to make her one.
Several months ago I began looking into the little cross-stitch things called biscornu. They are adorable and I was fascinated. Essentially, they are two squares stitched together diagonally... That's the best way I can think to describe their construction.
Here. Look. Instructions and examples from The Floss Box.
So then, because my husband has far too much influence on me, I decided not to do a regular 2-square biscornu... No... I'm doing a 15-face biscornu!
Specifically this one.
It is from a Japanese craft book about French-inspired cross stitch. I got my copy from this Etsy shop as an Instant Download.
I'm doing my version in dark blue rather than red, and the official color is DMC 823. I've finished 7 of 15 tiles and have gone through an entire skein so far. Wanna see?
It's been a blast, but I can't wait to be done so that I can stuff it with crushed walnut shells and give it to her.
The best part about this project, though? It travels so well!
Friday, November 8, 2019
Poor Unfortunate Souls!
From Halloween! The Ursula costume turned out wonderfully.
I ended up getting an Einstein wig from one of the Spirit Halloween pop-up stores and leaving off the sleeves, but those were the only major changes I made to the plan.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Garden Notes
In 2019 I attempted to start a garden. It was a massive undertaking and I quickly found that I just didn't have the time for it. Especially this year. Here's what I learned:
1. Start small.
- I definitely didn't. I was going to, but then my husband said "what if we did the short fence AND the long fence since we'll have the tiller for a day anyway? And so I did. We ended up with a 316 square foot mass of weeds.
2. Research what you are growing.
- I did that... To the detriment of all other projects in my life. But I knew what I was growing and I knew what to put it next to and what to keep it away from. I knew the watering requirements and how much sun everything wanted... but...
3. Research the weather.
- I skipped this part because "Oklahoma weather is always the same, right?" WRONG! We got so much rain in NE Oklahoma that everything flooded. My yard was a marsh for quite some time. Half my plants drowned. Or bolted. Or the seeds washed away.
4. Learn how to store your produce.
- Despite all the weeds and the rain, I did end up getting a decent amount of herbs out of the mess. Herbs can be dried, so that's easy, but I don't know what to do with all my peppers. We have a vacuum sealer now. Maybe that will work?
I definitely want to grow my own herbs again. We used a ton of them fresh and it really kicked up our cooking, but I think I'd like them better in a raised bed and in different quantities. More thyme, less mint, more sage, less lemongrass. Much, much less lemongrass.
Quick hint: A 2-person family with no idea how to cook it has no business with 8 lemongrass plants unless they are there as ornamentals or for mosquito repellent.
1. Start small.
- I definitely didn't. I was going to, but then my husband said "what if we did the short fence AND the long fence since we'll have the tiller for a day anyway? And so I did. We ended up with a 316 square foot mass of weeds.
2. Research what you are growing.
- I did that... To the detriment of all other projects in my life. But I knew what I was growing and I knew what to put it next to and what to keep it away from. I knew the watering requirements and how much sun everything wanted... but...
3. Research the weather.
- I skipped this part because "Oklahoma weather is always the same, right?" WRONG! We got so much rain in NE Oklahoma that everything flooded. My yard was a marsh for quite some time. Half my plants drowned. Or bolted. Or the seeds washed away.
4. Learn how to store your produce.
- Despite all the weeds and the rain, I did end up getting a decent amount of herbs out of the mess. Herbs can be dried, so that's easy, but I don't know what to do with all my peppers. We have a vacuum sealer now. Maybe that will work?
I definitely want to grow my own herbs again. We used a ton of them fresh and it really kicked up our cooking, but I think I'd like them better in a raised bed and in different quantities. More thyme, less mint, more sage, less lemongrass. Much, much less lemongrass.
Quick hint: A 2-person family with no idea how to cook it has no business with 8 lemongrass plants unless they are there as ornamentals or for mosquito repellent.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
LAN Party 2020 - Favor Ideas
Every year, my husband and I throw a big LAN party for our friends. They come in from Washington and Colorado and Missouri and our own back yard in Oklahoma, set up their computers and consoles, and we play lots and lots of games and eat lots and lots of local food. I even run a one-shot D&D game for them!
Next year is our 5th LAN, and also the year 2020. The number 20 being significant in the gamer community, and a 5th anniversary being a milestone for anything, I figure we have to go big.
My favorite thing to do for everyone is to come up with a unique favor. Last year it was d20-shaped tokens. This year it was laser-engraved d20-shaped coasters made by my father.
Next year, though... what about next year? What can we do for 16+ people that won't break the bank but will be more memorable that some burned wood? I've already got the plan. This post is part my-thought-process-and-how-we-got-here and part keeping space.
The 5th anniversary colors are blue and pink. I personally don't care for pink, and I'm doing most of this. Blue it is.
How about dice? These look cool.
But 16 people in a pile for 5-6 days, won't they get lost? I can make a bag for them! Chainmaille is the obvious choice, but the cost of materials for 16 bags, not to mention the time... Fabric it is. My mom has an adorable little pattern I can use. And what if Iuse fabric that matches the dice? ice-dye the fabric? IN BLUE AND GREY! Yes!
Dharma Fiber Reactive Dyes
- PR175 - Neutral Grey
- PR180 - Glacier Blue
Speaking of Dharma, I have a bunch of cotton and linen from their scrap-bag deal. I can just prep and dye some of that. And line it with white silk because... silk. No additional purchase necessary.
One step further? SNOW-dye in Colorado! They all love Colorado. Who doesn't, really? That would be fun to do with my mom and mom-in-law when we go out there in a couple months, too. I can take more colors and we can just go crazy with it. Bah. Rabbit hole. That's another post.
There's nothing here that says why they have the dice and the bag. I don't want to pay to have the bags embroidered, and I don't know how to design my own file to borrow my parents' embroidery machine... Parents'... machine...
LAZERS!
What can my dad engrave? Wood, glass, leather, etc.
Leather.
My husband can work with leather. He can help with this! His best friend offered us some leather, too! What's a leather thing we can do?
Research parameters:
1. Gift has to travel well
2. Gift can't be too labor-intensive
3. Gift shouldn't take too much leather
4. Gift should have space for engraving somewhere
With those four things in mind, I found this! https://www.etsy.com/listing/623653205/pattern-collapsible-leather-dice-tray-in?ref=yr_purchases
Dice trays that fold down flat. You can pack them ANYWHERE!
A square of leather, four sets of snaps. Cut it out, burnish the edges, install the snaps, give to my dad for engraving. One of us should be able to design something suitably epic for the design, right?
That should do it. Dice, special dice bag, and custom dice-rolling surface.
I like this plan.
Next year is our 5th LAN, and also the year 2020. The number 20 being significant in the gamer community, and a 5th anniversary being a milestone for anything, I figure we have to go big.
My favorite thing to do for everyone is to come up with a unique favor. Last year it was d20-shaped tokens. This year it was laser-engraved d20-shaped coasters made by my father.
Next year, though... what about next year? What can we do for 16+ people that won't break the bank but will be more memorable that some burned wood? I've already got the plan. This post is part my-thought-process-and-how-we-got-here and part keeping space.
The 5th anniversary colors are blue and pink. I personally don't care for pink, and I'm doing most of this. Blue it is.
How about dice? These look cool.
But 16 people in a pile for 5-6 days, won't they get lost? I can make a bag for them! Chainmaille is the obvious choice, but the cost of materials for 16 bags, not to mention the time... Fabric it is. My mom has an adorable little pattern I can use. And what if I
Dharma Fiber Reactive Dyes- PR175 - Neutral Grey
- PR180 - Glacier Blue
Speaking of Dharma, I have a bunch of cotton and linen from their scrap-bag deal. I can just prep and dye some of that. And line it with white silk because... silk. No additional purchase necessary.
One step further? SNOW-dye in Colorado! They all love Colorado. Who doesn't, really? That would be fun to do with my mom and mom-in-law when we go out there in a couple months, too. I can take more colors and we can just go crazy with it. Bah. Rabbit hole. That's another post.
There's nothing here that says why they have the dice and the bag. I don't want to pay to have the bags embroidered, and I don't know how to design my own file to borrow my parents' embroidery machine... Parents'... machine...
LAZERS!
What can my dad engrave? Wood, glass, leather, etc.
Leather.
My husband can work with leather. He can help with this! His best friend offered us some leather, too! What's a leather thing we can do?
Research parameters:
1. Gift has to travel well
2. Gift can't be too labor-intensive
3. Gift shouldn't take too much leather
4. Gift should have space for engraving somewhere
With those four things in mind, I found this! https://www.etsy.com/listing/623653205/pattern-collapsible-leather-dice-tray-in?ref=yr_purchases
Dice trays that fold down flat. You can pack them ANYWHERE!
A square of leather, four sets of snaps. Cut it out, burnish the edges, install the snaps, give to my dad for engraving. One of us should be able to design something suitably epic for the design, right?
That should do it. Dice, special dice bag, and custom dice-rolling surface.
I like this plan.
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