Monday, April 25, 2005

Problemo the Orca-like Softie
Yesterday, I tackled the softie I planned to make for April's Month O' Softies theme on "Recycled Monster Action." My plan was a to make a giant monster, the length of my futon. A 3D reperesentation of the way I represent problems in my graphic facilitation work (see the red guy).

It took 10 hours and I documented it all to soon be on it's own page. Here's finished pics:

Problemo is 68" long


He's got a yella belly.


Detail of the tail.


Smiling face.

He's about 95% recycled materials. He's made of:
• 1 white cotton slip
• 1 short-sleeved cotton shirt
• 1 pair cotton pants
• 1 short-sleeved fake fur shirt (big wavy stripes in middle)
• 2 napkins (arms)
• 1 beaded purse (on tail)
• 2 lace curtains (stuffing)
• 1 embroidered jacket
• 1 yellow velvet dress (I originally made from a bedspread)
• quilting cotton scraps (tail)
• loads of scraps for stuffing.

Basically the only non-recycled parts are the striped ribbons and the white fabric used for the teeth, claws and eyes.

I'm pleased with how well this went from mental picture to actuality. And I got to integrate several favorite things into Problemo so I have them reused into one useful pillow: The yellow dress that became his belly (my absolute favorite yellow), the beloved bead purse that I literally wore out, those favorite striped ribbons, favorite quilt cottons, the striped ribbons.

And so he make a great pillow to lean on when my futon is down, when I'm reading in bed. The only thing, he's really heavy, stuffed with odds and ends. I think I'll need to restuff him with new stuffing to be lighter and more even.

This theme has made me want to make MORE MONSTERS! Since I cleaned out my closet on Saturday, I know all the scraps that have monster potential.

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Happy Dyeing
Hot Damn. I love a project that:
1) Makes something useful.
2) Uses what I have in the Brandysphere.
3) Turns out beautifully!
I had a ho-hum white cotton dress that I only ever wear around the house. The cut of the dress is super, but the crinkly texture of the cotton and the white color didn't wow me. Before I threw it in the pile to go to the thrift store, I gave it some thought.

100% cotton. Good for dying. The thread might not take the dye, because commonly thread is a poly cotton blend and the poly part doesn't dye. So, lighter is better. Gotta use dye I have. I've got marigold, midnight blue, black, jungle red (yuck - too synthetic a color), agean green, more dark blue, red (but rit dye, not to be trusted).

Marigold is one of Dharma Trading Company's stellar Procion dye. Favorite color. BUT I've got lots of marigold items. Hmmmmm....?

Ooh! Acid green. Like that green in the Marrimekko Mojave print I have. That'd be perfect. That's a great distinctive color, but not one I already have in clothing.

So, I start to blend color. Loooooads of marigold. A packet of cold water dye in Agean Green. Start dying.

Not bad, but too ochre. Go to get the Midnight Blue to make it greener. Sprinkle some in.

Closer...

I've looked at it too long, so I can't figure out if it's right. And you can't tell until the dress is rinsed, washed and dried.

Once it's rinsed, I grab the Mojave fabric. Wow, it's clooose. And the all the top stitching thread dyed very well.

Too late to take it to the laundry room.

Zzzz...

Zzzz...

Zzzz...

I wake up, throw the dress in the wash with a couple black articles of clothing.

Wash, dry. Pull it out of the dryer. It is absolutely PERFECT.

(The Mojave fabric is draped over my shoulder for comparison.)

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Raincoat Turned Skirt Turned Monster
My friend Amihan was given a pink vinyl raincoat. She made a skirt from it. When I was in Madison, she gave me the scraps.

I had them sittin' around. Today was the day to make something. I made this:

It falls under the theme of "Recycled Monster Action" for Loobylu's Month of Softies. This isn't even my primary idea. It's a bonus softie I made first. The zipper is the zipper from the raincoat, the ears are the corners of the collar. The construction is super simple because sewing vinyl is a bear. I finally could sew it once I put made a sandwich with interfacing as the "bread" and the vinyl as the "meat."

11" high x 7" wide • Qty 1

Friday, April 15, 2005

How Do You Like Dem Apples?
A new card design, again in 10 card, 10 envelope sets:

The super part of this design, is that the apples are cut from the collected disposable parts of my Netflix envelopes! And most two of the three leaves are also made from recycled materials. The obvious idea on this one is to buy it as a teacher's gift, but I think the apples have a broader appeal. Easy to keep around for a quick note, easy gift coupled with a pen and tied with a ribbon!

	10 cards, 10 white envelopes in vinyl sleeve 4 bar cards • Qty 2 sets • Price $15

Sunday, April 10, 2005

New Mugs!
Today was day 2 of 2 of the WLUW Record Fair, where Cinnamon, Leah and I were representing the Chicago Craft Mafia. Day 1 I rested my hands and chilled at our table. Cinnamon and I were pretty darn stir crazy at the end of the day, both being hardwired workaholics.

Today, I drew some Drink From Art mugs. Three out of these four were drawn at the fair, the last (lower right) during teevee watching.:


These designs and their colorful siblings in the Drink From Art Gallery over here. You can pre-order one of these four, or buy one of the other 5 available on that page. Each are $20 and each contain a one of a kind, original drawing by moi.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Mod Tile Cards Sets for Sale
Remember this card?

Buy 'em now! I made 5 sets ready for sale. 4 Bar sized cards, which are perfect for a quick note or thank you. White envelopes and cards in a vinyl sleeve.

10 cards, 10 white envelopes in vinyl sleeve 4 bar cards • Qty 0• Price $15

Like my earlier post, it uses my own rubber stamps, the mod tile sheet.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Broccoli!
Like I said, Plaid Madge's hair reminded me of broccoli and a good use for some kelly green pom pom trim. Thus, broccoli!

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Like the Star Cat, I got to photograph Aaron and Rebecca with their quilt in Memphis:

See all the quilts in the Quilt Gallery..

Star Cat

In Memphis last weekend, I got to visit Star Cat, a doll I made in 1996 and gave to my good friend Aaron. It's just been added to the Comraderie of Softies with more info there.
posted on 4/3/2005 01:05:00 PM

Plaid Madge
In New Orleans, Larisa gave me access to her drawer fulla upholstery samples, inviting me to take what I thought I could use. Last night, I was just at home, minding my own business, when I thought about the samples. Time to try something. So, here's the first result:

12" tall, 10" wide • Qty: 1 • Price: $20

It started with a plaid sample, and I added three wide stripes (peach for the head, and two sage green for the limbs. She seemed like she needed to faces, so she can be up or down. Her hair is made out of pom poms from pom pom fringe. I've got some green fringe I used on the green bear finger puppets. Seeing this arrangement as hair is making me think I gotta make some lil' broccolis.
posted on 4/3/2005 11:42:00 AM

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Month O' Softies, Part II
Better pics and more text in the Softie Gallery to accompany my March Softie, "Self-portrait of the Artist as a Young Child."


April's theme is "Recylced Monster Action." Instantly got a great idea. Let's see if I get it done before April 30. *wink*