jane's apron

5 x 5 {april}

I really did make this collage in April.  I don't love it and it still hasn't grown on me.  I still love the idea though.

The image is from a vintage sewing transfer pattern...the kind of vintage with a cool, modern look.  I layered it on a piece of scrapbook paper and then painted the flowers.  For some reason, the colors kept fading/bleeding (the ink from the transfer maybe?) so the look is very pale.

I was tempted to add a vintage button to one of the flowers but didn't want to repeat anything I've already used in the other 5 x 5 collages.  I stitched on some linen twine instead and love the tiny bit of texture it gives.  

 

5 x 5 {march}

If I ever had the chance to teach an art class, I would share one very important thing...don't be afraid to make mistakes.  Mistakes are your friend.  Mistakes can take the piece in a better direction.  At the very least, even bad mistakes can be covered up or hidden.  

For this 5 x 5, I used a picture of a setee from an Anthropologie catalog and a scrap of old ledger paper as the "floor".  For the background, I used one of these fabric tags.  It was a little too bold so I covered it in tissue paper.  Still a little too bold.  So I painted over it with a wash of vanilla paint.  Then the tissue paper came off. Unintended?  Yes.  Totally cool look of aged plaster?  Even better.  

I finished the setee with a new paper seat and a new paper pillow. The only other thing I'd teach at a class is to lightly sand your finished work...tones the whole thing down a bit.    

5 x 5 {february}

My second 5x5...this one for February.  I don't usually do black or dark gray but got this idea from a magazine.

I fished a sewing pattern out of my to-donate pile, cut out a silhouette and taped it to the back of the pattern envelope (that I had layered on a piece of 5 x 5 watercolor paper).  Then I painted over the whole thing in a black/gray color wash and removed the silhouette to reveal the unpainted background.  

I created a big, pretty flower by layering and distressing a few paper scraps and sewing a tiny button to the center.  

I love to create squares of things...like a patchwork quilt or even the boards on pinterest.  I'm hoping to put all of the squares I make into a big patchwork at the end of the year...a bigger thing accomplished in small steps.  

5 x 5 {january}

The idea is that I would create something on a 5x5 base...every month this year.  Maybe it would lead to new ideas, new techniques, newly-found use for my craft stash.  This one is the one I made in January.

I tore pieces of scrapbook paper and glued them on top of each other (so the torn edge shows), cut the finished piece into a heart shape; painting and distressing as I went along (charcoal pencil, watercolor paint, black marker).  I used a brown silhouette flower decal and teeny-tiny red button to finish it.  

Not that much out of my comfort zone but it's a start.  

handmade marketplace

I love handmade.  I love making, I love giving, I love getting.  I hate selling.  

It has taken me a while to figure this out...all the way back to when I was selling my simple handmade cards.  They were unique at the time but the regular market place caught up.

When you make something by hand, it simply takes thought, time, effort, an eye for balance and color...all the stuff that is hard to put a reasonable price on or attempt to sell.   And it makes me completely and totally uncomfortable.  

My blog started as a place to support my small handmade business.  Of course it has changed over the last six years but I guess I'm saying that it will change even more now that I'm not so much "in the market".   More sewing I hope.  More house projects for sure.  More teaching and less showing.  More room for other crafty thoughts.  

Am I making any sense?  

pinterest made {two}

I know I still need to get to my blog to-do list but, in the mean time, I have another pinterest "made" item to share. I also have a question.

I've got a bunch of vintage "cover your own" buttons and I covered a few of them in cute fabrics.  The big one is really big...about 2 or so inches across.  I love it.

So here's the question.  

How do you put them on a necklace?  The link on pinterest wasn't helpful.  I'm a good googler but still didn't find anything.  Is it because it's obvious how to do it?  Do you just thread the necklace to the thing on the back of the button?  

train case x two

I finally added the finishing touches to my "material girl" train case.

and decided to part with my mint condition navy case.  I am preaching to the choir but I will go ahead and tell you that these cases are soooo cool as sewing/crafting cases.  Every girl needs one...and I've got mine so I hope these find a good crafty home.  

I have one more shop update with a few vintage mix aprons.  And then I swear no more shop posts.   And because you have all been so patient with me, I'll put together a giveaway next week.

handmade journals

I made a pretty group of handmade journals (8.5 x 11 papers folded in half and sewn with baker's twine).  I especially love to use the edges of the scrapbook papers. This one says "Stella and Rose"  

and this one says "Emma Jane's Dress and Curio Shop"

 

 

pinterest made {one}

I can cross one of the items off my pinterest make board. The button card on top is my rendition but the idea to glue fabric onto tags is from here.

I also made a few using the pdf that came with the original pin...I just added a tiny binder clip to mine.

From "make" to "made".  Oh!...that gives me an idea for a new board.

heart clipboards

I love patchwork.  I love hearts.  They belong together.

It's seriously killing me that these photos are so bad.  I'm posting them anyway (and may replace them with better ones if I have better light tomorrow)...and they're in my etsy shop (to be joined by a couple of others tomorrow).  Who wouldn't want one of these in their stocking?