neonfoxtongue

Friday I'm in Love: Vintage Fabric

Hello! After two days of gloomy clouds and rain, the sun is making a welcome appearance here in Toronto.  This is great because I'm getting out of the house this afternoon for an outing with a good friend of mine.  I'm helping her with a very cool creative project she's undertaking and we're going hunting for supplies today.  We've decided to try to use vintage or thrifted fabric for part of the project so we'll be hitting up a couple of thrift stores to look for second hand sheets, curtains, clothing, etc that will be perfect candidates for a little upcycling.  I know that thrifting can really be hit or miss, so I'm hoping for some good finds.

In preparation for our hunt, I decided to make vintage fabric the theme for this week's Friday I'm in Love feature.  I did some online searching for vintage fabric to see what's out there, and as I expected, there's a LOT! It was a bit like searching through a giant online vintage store and I could have spent hours looking.  Instead, I decided to quickly pick the first half dozen or so that caught my eye in a semi-random search.  Then, on advice from this very timely post on Creature Comforts, I picked my favourite four fabrics and created this very simple collage in absolutely no time using Picnik! 

Clockwise from top-left:
Sweet, retro blue and red flowers from ModishVintage
Funky, brightly coloured daisies from Boutiquemudpiez
Lovely vintage pansies from StoffReich
Pretty birds and branches from PDXfabricdeli

I could see all four of these fabrics being great for my friend's project, and I can think of a couple of great projects for them myself.  I'm hoping to find some just as cool fabrics today on our hunt!

I'd say there are two loves in this FIIL post - great vintage fabric and Picnik. Seriously, making this collage took less than three minutes, including uploading the photos to the site! I found it much simpler to navigate than Photoshop too.  I do want to learn more about Photoshop eventually, but for now, Picnik is going to be my go-to photo editing tool.  Thanks for the tip, Ez!

Wishing a lovely, creative weekend! :)

(Friday Love font is Little Lord Fontleroy by Nick's Fonts)  

Tilt-shift Photography and Video

I'm feeling a bit short on words today, but have a lot of stuff filling my head.  So while I clear it out, here's a really cool tilt-shift video by Keith Loutit, accompanied by a lovely song by Megan Washington.
(Not exactly craft related, but I really like it.)

For some reason, I'm having trouble embedding the video, so I invite you to go see it here.

If you want to try tilt-shifting your own photos, go here. Here's an example with one of my photos:

(View of Ljubljana, Sloveni, 2009)

Thanks to How About Orange for the cool links!  More crafty stuff soon, I promise!

Creative Goals Monday: When to Diversify, When to Focus

Hello! It's another beautiful day in Toronto and I'm feeling really good about my weekend - I did a decent amount of crafting and I went sailing for the first time!  My father-in-law's retirement activity of choice is a 32ft sailboat, which we took onto Lake Ontario yesterday.  Despite some initial nervousness about getting seasick and/or falling into the water, I really enjoyed it!  I'm not ready to sail around the world as per The Leopard's suggestion, but I'll definitely go again.  It was great to be out on the water, enjoying the sunshine.

Last week's creative goals were similar to most of my CG Monday weekly goals in that they are pretty diverse.  I try to set goals for a mix of creative mediums because it keeps me interested and gives me a choice when I sit down to do 'something crafty'.  And I've been finding that I'm generally pretty successful with this method.  For instance, last week I worked on three knitting projects (including the lacy scarf I had been avoiding). I organized all my craft supplies so that things are much neater and easier to find. I also made a card, which while it isn't the ATC I had planned, it is in the realm of paper crafts so I figure it still counts.  And outside of my weekly goals, I did a couple of hours of cross stitching.  Not too shabby.

What I didn't do however is work on my blog banner, which should have been a priority because I really do want my blog design to reflect me and my style.  I will admit to being a bit nervous about making the banner myself so that's probably why I'm avoiding working on it.  So I think for this week, it's time to focus a bit more.  This coming week will be all about designing my blog.  That means that this week I will:

• Design, draw and decorate my blog banner and capture it digitally
• Create an avatar based on my banner design
• Change or improve my feature banners
• Play around with Typepad so that I can incorporate the design I want

Of course, if I really feel like knitting or work on another craft, I'm definitely going to do it.  But my main focus will be creating a blog design I love.  Fingers crossed that it will work out!

To close off this post, here's a project that I recently completed and gifted - a baby card with matching mix CD!

 

As I mentioned last week, I spent time with a really good friend who was visiting from Vancouver, as well as meet her new son.  So I decided to make a CD of fun music for baby Leo (and Mommy and Daddy too).  It's an eclectic mix that starts off happy and up-beat with R.E.M.'s Stand and gradually slows down to end with Seu Jorge's chill Rebel Rebel (perfect for nap time).  And of course, with a name like Leo, I had to go with a lion theme!  I'm pretty pleased with how they both turned out.

Friday I'm in Love: Reusable Make-up Remover Pads

Apologies for a slightly later than usual post today.  A good friend has been visiting from Vancouver this week and I couldn't pass up the chance to meet with her (and her adorable 8 week old!) for lunch one more time.  But now I'm back and I'm ready to tell you all about a great crafty (and green) project for this week's Friday I'm in Love feature.

Lately, I've really been interested in finding crafty ways to reduce waste, even just a little bit.  So I really love this easy idea by The Sproutz Store - reusable make-up remover pads! (discovered via Craft)

I'm trying to generate less garbage with my beauty regimen and this would allow me to remove eye make-up without having to use throw-away cotton pads.  It looks pretty easy to make these and a quick search revealed that the minky fabric (the 'cotton' part of the pad) is pretty easy to find.  I also like it because the project would be good sewing machine practise, which I really want.  So once I have my Mom's old sewing machine (thanks Mom!), making 7 or 8 of these will be at the top of my to-make list!

And that's your short and sweet FIIL for this week! Have a great weekend!

National Stationary Show - Another Fave: Bird Pie Press

What a difference a year makes!  Last year, reading blog posts about the National Stationary Show had me oooh-ing and aaah-ing over virtually every photo.  After a year of seeing A LOT of new card and stationary designs via blogs, Etsy and magazines, however, I'm noticing that I'm not falling in love with *everything* I'm seeing in the blog re-caps of the show this year.  Don't me wrong, I do like a lot (probably most) of what I'm seeing - there is still a ton of really creative stuff out there when it comes to stationary and paper goods.  I think I'm just focussing my design and style preferences more, which I see as a good thing, because it will help me with my own creative projects.

That said, I have found at least one more favourite - Pie Bird Press.  This is the card that first caught my eye:

(photo by Design*Sponge)

I love that you could just stick this card (sans envelope) on top of a gift and there's your bow!

Then I saw this post by Oh, Mishka and was really struck by the vibrant colours, so I went to their site to see more.  Here are some more faves:

{Ginko}

{Yarn}

{Peacock Feather}

Lovely, aren't they?  What I really like is that I could easily find dozens of reasons to send these cards to all sorts of people. 

So that's my latest fave.  If any more catch my eye, I'll post about them tomorrow, along with my regular Friday I'm In Love feature.  See ya then!

National Stationary Show - My Fave (So Far)

I found out about the National Stationary Show last year via the various design and craft blogs I had recently begun reading.  I think it would be *the* design show for me, given that I'm an uber-fan of all things paper.  I've been following the great coverage that Design*Sponge is doing on this year's show and if you have any interest in stationary and/or great design, I suggest you do the same.  So far, this letterpress card by Sycamore Street Press is my favourite.  It was designed by Be A Decent Human Being (Not exactly their site, but it's only relevant link I could find).

 

    I love how how it's sincere and irreverent at the same time.  I'd love to give (or receive) this card.

   If I see any more faves, I'll post them.

Creative Goals Monday: Knitting Unblocked!

Welcome to Knit Town, population: me!  Well, actually population: millions, but that also includes me!  I'm happy to report that I'm excited about knitting again.  One of my creative goals last week was to get over my knit block, which was caused by my trouble with the lacy scarf pattern I've been trying to make.  To get over my block, I decided to completely ignore the scarf and to just knit. I made a small swatch of multi-coloured yarn and practiced some stitches.  I also started on new cuff, using the 3.25mm needles that arrived from London in our shipped boxes, suitcases and music equipment.  (Aside: So happy to have my crafty supplies back!) I'm keeping the stitches simple enough for me to knit while watching movies or TV, so it's a lot easier for me to just pick up the work and go for it. 

I did really well on my other goals too.  I made not one, but two birthday cards, one Artist Trading Card, and I reconciled all my project ideas into my large sketch book.  Even better, I didn't do all of these things in one day, meaning that I had several creative days during the week, which is also a goal of mine.  So I'm pretty proud of my creative accomplishments this past week.  **pats self on back**

For this coming week, my creative goals are:

• Work on the lacy scarf
• Work on other easier knitting projects
• Re-organize my craft supplies so I can find things easily.
• Make another ATC
• Work on my blog banner (I have the tool I need now!)

I've decided that my reward for finishing the lacy scarf will be to buy myself this book.  Hopefully, that will help keep me on track!

Here's some visual stimulus for this post - the graduation card I made for my cousin.  She graduated from college in Washington DC on Friday.  I can remember holding her when she was just a few months old and now she's a college grad - crazy!

The photo (mine) is of the city walls of Dubrovnik, Croatia. It's a beautiful city and was one of the highlights of our travels in March.

Wishing you a creative week!

("Creative Goals" font is Monbijoux by Billy Argel)

Friday I'm in Love: Five and Under Finds

Happy Friday everyone!  And happy long weekend to the Canadians!  I do like a long weekend, but since I'm still looking for a job, I can't say they mean much to me these days.  However, because of said joblessness, one thing that does mean a lot to me is my budget.  Luckily, The Leopard and I don't have many expenses these days, but with little to no income coming in (helloooo tax returns), we have to be very careful with our spending.  But that doesn't mean we don't deserve the (very) occasional treat.  So for this week's Friday I'm in Love feature, I thought I'd write about some of the great, inexpensive handmade finds I've found recenty. 

Now, I'm all for paying a fair price for handmade and craft items, but sometimes a little inexpensive gift for yourself (or others) can do a lot to brighten your day, while still being easy on your budget.  So without further ado, here are my Five* and Under Finds!


I've been eyeing these paper ornamental frames ($5 for six, plus jute for stringing) from ormolu's shop for a while.  I think her paper goods are lovely, plus they're all printed with soy inks on recycled paper using wind power!  Pretty *and* eco-friendly?  Yes, please!


I'm also digging this wood soap dish ($5) by Lepelstat Crafts.  Great design, don't you think?  It's also available in other shades/colours.

And if you get that lovely soap dish, you definitely need some lovely soap for it!


I think a yuzu with poppy seed and turmeric mini-soap ($4) would do the trick, don't you?  Rifferaff's recent foray into soap making can only be described as a fabulous success in my opinion.  She wraps her soap in the awesome papers she designs and screen prints, so they make excellent gifts too.

How about something inexpensive to express how you're really feeling?


For some reason I can't explain, I've always been a big fan of 'fake' swearing.  Frig.  Effin'.  So obviously, I totally want this letterpress postcard ($2.50) by RAR RAR Press.  It appears that Rebecca Ann is having a sale to raise money for her medical bills after a bike accident, so if you see anything you like in her shop, now's the time to add to cart!

Of course, ordering even inexpensive items online usually means there is the (totally justified) added cost of shipping.  But not if you order a digital file that can be e-mailed to you!


Both The Leopard and I are casual fans of steampunk design, so I've been keeping an eye peeled for cool items in that style.  I'm liking this digital collage sheet ($3) by piddix, who has lots (and lots!) of other designs too.  The best part is that you buy it once and get to use it again and again!

So those are my Five and Under Finds.  And when you think about it, even making a small purchase from any craft business, artisan or designer helps them to continue creating.  I quite liked putting this post together - I might just have to make it a semi-regular feature, even when I start working again...which will hopefully be soon!

Have a great weekend! :)


*That would be $5 USD (approx. $5.90 CAD).

Score, part II! Vintage Needlecraft Book and Magazine

I must be on a roll!  Just last week, I discovered (and recovered) some vintage children's books that my mother-in-law was going to donate to a charity book sale.  And when I was back home for Mother's Day, my mom showed me the great craft books and magazines that my Oma (that's Grandma in German) had brought over to the house.  My mom is looking to do some needlework/embroidery on some lovely fabric she picked up in Lebanon so she kept one of the books.  I perused the remaining collection and took with me the two that interested me most.  The rest can stay at my parents until The Leopard and I have a place of our own.

I picked a book and a magazine; both of which have a needlecraft focus.  The Good Housekeeping magazine was particularly neat because it was published a few months before I was born! (Yep, I'm that old.)

 

Of course, not everything in the magazine is my style exactly...

 

Um...no.

But I liked quite a few projects:

It's not a great pic, but I love the hippo and the giraffe - so cute!

 

This is almost like something you'd find at Anthropologie these days.  The magazine also has some decent knitted sweater patterns that I will hopefully be able to figure out one day.

The book is called McCall's Big Book of Country Needlecrafts (published in 1983) and it features 150 projects!

 

Again, I can't say I'm keen on all the projects, but there are some really lovely ones.

 

I admit that I can be a bit picky about quilt patterns, but this one is really stunning.

 

There are lots of great cross stitch and embroidery patterns, like this chair seat cover.

  

 And one great feature is that most of the patterns are on grids so you could use them in a variety of mediums.  This pattern is actually for crochet, but I think it could be easily adapted for cross stitch.

I absolutely love this apple series!  It doesn't seem 'country' to me at all!

And this box makes me want to learn crewel.  Isn't it gorgeous?

In addition to the books, I also took a couple of older cross stitch and embroider projects that my mom had been storing for me, as well as some extra cloth and floss.  I'm looking forward to getting back into cross stitch and learning some real embroidery stitches (I usually make them up as I go along). These new (to me) resources should help with that.

Here's hoping my luck with crafty finds and inspiration doesn't run out! :)

Creative Goals Monday: Card Success, Knit Fail

I must have knitters block.  I just can't seem to make the time to knit, because let's face it, I'm unemployed so I have the time.  I'm avoiding it. I'm just not into figuring out the lacy scarf pattern.  So I have to unblock myself somehow.  Perhaps I need to just play with some stitches and swatches again.  Anyone have any other ideas?

So yeah, as you can probably guess, I didn't meet my knitting goal from last week.  But I met my other three goals so I'm happy about that.  I'm really pleased with how my Mother's Day cards and the graduation card turned out.  And I sketched out how I want my blog banner to look.  I'll need to work on it some more, as well as wait for a key tool that I want to use, which is currently waiting in storage for a certain government agency to decide if our shipment from London can be released to us.  But I'm liking how it's looking so far.

Last week was pretty great for project ideas too.  I came up with a few on my own, and I also got to brainstorm with another friend on a great project she wants to execute.  I realised that I have a whole lot of ideas, doodles and sketches in various notebooks, sketch pads and scraps of paper, so one my new creative goals is to consolidate them in one place as much as possible.  But before we get into this week's goals, here are the Mother's Day cards:



Here's the one for my Mother-in-Law.  It's a combination of papers from various sources, including The Paper Place and a freebie print-out from Martha (I think).

 
Here's the one I made for my Mom, using papers from an Autumn Leaves set that my aunt had bought on special and let me have a few sheets.  Both my Mom and I love poppies so it was a no brainer to use them for her card.

I only have to make one card this week, so it gives me a chance to have more diverse goals for the week:

• one birthday card
• make a couple of ATCs
• reconcile all my creative ideas and sketches into one place
• get over my knitting block...somehow!
• continue working on my blog design

Hopefully next week I'll be able to update that I'm back to knitting.  I don't want to push myself too much because I always want to enjoy knitting (or any crafty endeavour for that matter), but I think I do need to push myself a bit in this case to get over the block.  Wish me luck!

Hope you have a creative week!