More Fabric Flower Embellishments

I’m a huge fan of the sewing magazine, Threads, and I think flower embellishments are definitely a trend right now. Just a few days ago, I posted about flower/rose  fabric embellishments (necklace or pin) here. Now, you have to check out this circular ribbon flower tutorial by Kenneth King. The tutorial is really easy to follow because of the fabulous pictures. He has an awesome idea to use this technique as a ruffle or a cuff.

P.S. Anyone created any fabric flower embellishments lately? Please do share!

Spring Fling 2010 this Saturday

The Spring Fling is an indie art & craft fair to be held this Saturday, March 13, 2010,  from 9am – 3pm, in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Funky Finds Spring Fling will be held  in the Small Exhibits Building, also known as the Poultry Barn, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The event will begin at 9am and end at 3pm (event may end later if crowd is still going strong at this time). The physical address of the building is 3409 Burnett-Tandy Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76107. Get detailed directions here……

Mark your calenders DFW and check out  the coolest handmade items, including clothing, jewelry, art, plush items, accessories, paper goods, home goods, etc…..

P.S. This would be a perfect opportunity to get a jump on Mother’s Day and heck why not treat yourself too!

Sweet Delight Divalicous Sample Boxes

I am so excited because the Sweet Delight Divalicious Sample Boxes go on sale March 16th.

Here’s a sneak peek of the box of fused glass accessories I sent to be included in March’s sample boxes.

These sampler boxes sell out quick so don’t forget to mark your calendar and have your $25 (and that’s Canadian) ready to scoop up a box!

Shibori Flowers and Rolled Fabric Roses

Last year at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Sharrie of Needles Zing and I stumbled across the most amazing shibori ribbon (like tie-dye technique but the fabric is pole wrapped) by Shibori Girl Silk Studios. That evening, I was so excited to create a shibori flower pin to wear the next day that I stayed up way too late but it was oh so worth it. Yes, I know the picture is minuscule but it is the only one I have!

Unfortunately, while perusing the Indigo exhibition my white boa feathers decided the pin was competition and ditched it!! You got to watch out for those boa feathers I’m tellin’ ya. ;-0

While I did NOT shed tears as I searched frantically for my handmade treasure, I did have to go back and restock my supply of shibori ribbon because I really was that attached to having a flower pin! When I shared my story with Shibori Girl, she was kind enough to throw in extra ribbon (even though it wasn’t her fault).  Thank you, Shibori Girl!! Thanks to her generosity and the power of  Mastercard, I am proud to show off my shibori ribbon stash. Isn’t it pretty!

I really did mean to come back to the big D and make myself another one pronto but… have you ever purchased supplies, stashed them , and oh like 6 months later (or longer) get inspired to get creative? Do I see some raised hands in cyber world? Tell me I’m not alone! This would probably still be a UFO (aka unfinished object) if I were not inspired by blog posts by Trish of Two Peas in a Pod Designs and Bridget Baxter of Everyday Chaos.

Are you having a little fabric necklace envy yet? Want to make your own rolled fabric roses to create a pin, necklace, etc…….

Go ahead and visit Bridget Baxter of Everyday Chaos because she has a fabulous tutorial on making tattered fabric roses here. Look at the color & texture. Yum!

After seeing those rolled fabric roses, I was going through fabric flower envy myself. Then I remembered my stash of cool shibori silk ribbon and I can make my own! I went with red-black & lime green with single flower a shiny czech glass button for the center.

You can purchase a kit from Shibori Girl Silk Studios. You will still need a few extras to complete your project. Shibori Girl recommends using a #10 milliners needle with invisible nylon thread. I used silk thread because I find it easier to work with than the nylon thread. Shibori Girl has a video tutorial for making these silk ribbon flowers.

I wish I had purchased more rhinestone buttons(the pictures below do NOT do these buttons justice) from Tom & Cheryl Orr’s booth, Things Past and Present, for future projects (like oh say, Mother’s Day). They had vintage quilts, fabrics, estate jewelry, buttons and other embellishments that were just fabulous.

They do NOT have a website because of the huge stock of “one of a kind” items! Cheryl was kind enough to share her upcoming shows :

……and gave me permission to share her e-mail address (tcorr7 (at) aol (dot) com ) if you are looking for something in particular!

Thanks to Trish and Bridget who unwittingly inspired me to get creative and dig out my shibori silk stash!  I would love to see what you make if you’ve been inspired (or if you’ve already created something similar). Just leave a comment don’t be shy!

*** Dharma Trading Co. has fabulous information about Ikat and Shibori techniques. Shibori Girl Studios uses the Arashi Shibori technique (aka pole wrapping). If you want to learn the basics and start creating your own vibrant shibori cloth, Shibori Designs & Techniques by Mandy Southan is a great resource.

Quilt Block Number One

Today, I got together with my BFF and neighbor, Sharrie (of Needles Zing) to sew our first  quilt block for the Jelly Roll  Sampler Quilt Along (hosted by Moose on the Porch Quilts), drink delish Dunkin’  Donuts coffee and chit-chat! Life doesn’t get much better than this!

Here is Sharrie’s block. I just love how that red & pink polka dot center square pops!

Whilst rummaging through my fabric cupboard, I found charm packs, layer cakes and honey buns but NO jelly rolls. Oops! I restrained myself from visiting the quilt store and decided to make this a scrap buster! I was drawn to these spring like colors…….

Woot. One block down and 11 more to go! This sampler quilt along runs through August 2nd so stay tuned for more quilting updates! Check out what all the other talented quilters have created….

Sweet-New N.E.E.T.

Grab a cup of coffee (or your favorite sipping beverage …it’s 5 o’clock somewhere right?) because the 18th issue of N.E.E.T. Magazine is available online to peruse now. Go ahead and click on the image below….you know you want to!

Printmaking on Glass….oh, Bullseye

Having gone ga-ga over the medium fused glass, I quite frequently (um I confess, like daily) check out the Bullseye website. Bullseye not only produces the glass that I use in my work but offers education, resources, classes and inspiration at its headquarters in Portland, Oregon. I have a list of techniques that I would love to experiment with because I’ve barely scratched the surface!! One of the techniques that has interested me for a while is “printmaking on glass” and Jim Weiler has 2 workshops scheduled this spring (March 5-7 and April 9-11).The 3 day Printmaking on Glass workshops are small (only 8 students) and Jim is teaching silk-screening with  enamels, photosensitive sandblast resist, and decal transfers.

Hmm, let me check my calendar. Yep, I’m free.…oh, if there are any glass workshop fairies out there granting wishes, please hear mine now because I would love to be 1 of those 8 students! Anyone experimented with printmaking on glass on their own? I would love to hear your comments (and feel free to share links to your projects)!

Check out Avery Anderson’s work that involves silk-screening. Isn’t it amazing!!!

P.S. Bullseye is opening a resource center in Santa Fe, New Mexico which is slightly closer to the Big D (Dallas) than Portland. The Bullseye Resource Center Santa Fe is scheduled to open mid July. Can you say road trip?! ;-0

April is National Art Glass Month

Delphi a glass supplier is hosting it’s 19th Annual Art Glass Festival to celebrate National Art Glass Month.  Delphi’s online festival is a place for glass hobbyists and artists from around the world to come together to display their works and provide inspiration and creativity! Any art glass, mosaic or jewelry piece qualifies for entry, whether it’s a sun-catcher or a 2,000 piece Tiffany-style lamp. All skill levels are welcome. Delphi will award  thousands of dollars in prizes to the winners!

Delphi will start accepting entries on March 1st and end April 1st, 2010. You can get all the details about the 19th Annual Art Glass Festival here.

I will be entering this contest and will keep you posted on what I design. If you are a glass hobbyist or artist, leave a comment and share what you’ll be entering (feel free to leave a link to a photo/blog/website).

Texas Discovery Gardens-Organic in the City Fashion Show

The Texas Discovery Gardens located in Fair Park is one of Dallas’s hidden treasures. When the kids were little, they absolutely loved to roam around the grounds and soak in the plants, water features and butterflies!

The annual Organic in the City Fashion Show is just around the corner and I’m so thrilled to have been asked for a donation. I sent in an original gorgeous royal purple glass and freshwater pearl sterling silver bracelet for the Silent Auction. This year’s theme is “butterflies” to commemorate the opening of the year round tropical butterfly house.

Here are the event details for Organic in the City Fashion Show and Auction:

Wednesday , March  10th

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Tickets: $40 adv., $50 door

See you in the Gardens!

The Column Awards

One of the greatest gifts that we can give our community is support. This is the 3rd year that I’ve donated jewelry to be used in a silent auction to raise funds for the The Column Awards. The Column Awards is committed to supporting live theatre in the DFW area. Now, there’s a novel concept an artist supporting the arts! ;-0

You can get all the details about the upcoming event, The 2010 Column Awards, and buy your tickets here.

P.S. You can see the necklace that  I donated here.

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