Fabric, fabric, and more fabric.

I'm obsessed with this new line of fabrics by Parson Gray (aka David Butler, also known as husband of textile designer extraordinaire, Amy Butler).  It's called Curious Nature and is full of lovely muted, earthy colors.  It could be perfect for my first quilt, don't you think?

Or I could wait until August, when Lotta Jansdotter's newest fabric line, Bella, will be released.  Such happy colors and motifs!  Of course, I love pretty much anything by Lotta.  If you're at all interested in how a line of fabric gets created (as I am), Lotta has a great post on her blog about the process of designing and producing this line.

In the meantime, while I decide which of these beautiful fabrics I need (How about both?!), I picked up these new home dec fabrics from Joann's for making aprons and bags.  I like the scale and colors in their Modern Essentials series... and they were on sale for 50% off.  I'm preparing for fairs in May and June, so I gots to be makin' the goods!!  You may see some of these prints in the shop soon.

Finally, I would really, really like to enter this fabric design contest, sponsored by Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Spoonflower.  But other than thinking about it a lot, I haven't actually put anything on paper... or computer... and entries are due tomorrow.  I'll let you know if I manage to pull something together.  I also have a magazine deadline this week, as well as party favors, decorations, and at least one ambitious cake to make for my baby girl's 5th birthday!

DIY: Upcycled Sweater Tutorials

I love, love, love these two sweater skirts from Anthropologie, especially the one on the left.  The skirts, and the fact that I can't really afford to buy either one, got me thinking about my stash of felted and unfelted sweaters, and what I might be able to make with them.  I thought I'd share here some of my favorites of the tutorials I found for upcycling sweaters into fun skirts, and a dress (Isn't the dress amazing?!).

1.  Anthropologie Inspired Sweater Skirt from Your Homebased Mom
2.  Upcycled Sweater Dress from Simply Step Back

3.  Child's Skirt from Crafting A Green World
4.  Hip Huggie from Betz White

I tend to use tutorials in the same way I use recipes.  That is, I peruse them to get a good idea of the concept, the process, the flavor combinations... then I use what I've learned to create something of my own. So I'm not quite sure what I'll do with these lovely ideas yet.  But when I figure it out, I promise to let you know!  And if you end up trying any of these tutorials, or making something else based on any or all of them, I'd love to hear about it.

Screen printing... and robot love

I've wanted to try screen printing for a long time.  I've been ogling this book for ages.  And I've checked this one out of the library too many times to count.  Both books feature several types of DIY printing (with rubber stamps, linoleum blocks, even with potatoes) for fabric and paper.  For some reason, though, it's the screen printing technique that got me.  I've held myself back from buying supplies on several occasions.  Not until I know how to do it, or have time to learn, I told myself.  I already have too much fabric and crafty stuff and not enough space to store it!!

Then I (finally!) signed up for a Saturday workshop at the Needle Shop.  It was an exhilarating four hours of printing, printing, and more printing!!  Our instructor taught us the photo-emulsion method of screen printing, which involves burning an image onto a screen treated with a light sensitive coating.  While we were waiting around for our screens to dry, and then the emulsion to dry, and then for the image to transfer... we created stencils with plain ol' masking tape.  Below are two t-shirts I made using the robot design I (literally) masked on a screen.  I also have some tote bags with this print for sale in my shop.  This masking tape process is so cool because it's instantly rewarding.  And inexpensive.  The only drawback is that the stencil doesn't last through repeated printing and washing.  And I love my little robot so much that I'm in the process now of making a new, more permanent, screen with this same robot image.

I think what I love about screen printing is the mass production factor, with a caveat.  Yeah, you can spend several hours drawing a design and preparing the screen.  But, then you can print almost forever (unless you've used masking tape to make your stencil).  Yet, because the ink is applied by hand and not machine, each print is ever so slightly different.  So, it's mass production in a cool, crafty, artsy sort of way.

Creating with kids

Just a quick post to let you know about a fabulous new downloadable mini-mag for crafty kids.  Published by Whipup.net, 'Action Pack' is truly "packed" with 20+ pages of science experiments, recipes, craft projects and outdoor activities for kids ages 7 and up.  This first issue is all about origami and beeswax, including a recipe for a very yummy sounding Honey & Cinnamon cake.  It also includes cute printable labels for decorating some of the projects, like the beeswax lip balm.  For $5, and completely advertising-free, I consider this a bargain.  I just bought a copy for myself... um... I mean, for my kids!  You can purchase one for your kiddos (and find out more about it) here.

And if you're looking for even more stuff for you and your kids to do (and at no cost -- well, except maybe for a few supplies), The Crafty Crow, is an excellent resource for all types of art and craft activities.  This is my go to site (literally!) when we're feeling really bored.