Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Some Sewing...
Friday evening, Bree and I were looking around and noticed that some of our home decor was a little sparce. Ding! The idea light came on and we started mini "banners" for the soffits around the kitchen. Projected time to completion: two days. Sewing, painting... Translates as weekend fun to those of crafty inclination. And this time we took pictures through the whole project.
This project is a bit, shall we say invovled so if you want to make a "Banner" for your summer enjoyment and need some help with the process drop me a line (e-mail) and I will see if I can help you out.
It all started with the canvas , we used unprimed mainly for the time/rain factor, then we measured our spaces and marked our canvas for cutting.
We cut out the canvas and then marked the edges for the fold-over. One inch is a good fold-over for this heavy fabric. Then (here comes the sewing!) serge all the edges.
This is really the only sewing in this project. If you were going to make this a "free hanging" banner, like a flag, you would sew a hem on all of the edges.
Next step: The long process of finding the gfx. Choosing, sizing, re-sizing, and transferring the image to the canvas with carbon paper. *( be sure to use copy write free art if you are planning to sell your banner. Most images are fine to use for your own personal enjoyment. But if you are unsure:ask for permission or don't use the image.)
We out-lined our clip art with a paint pen. This was so so so much easier than the brush on the unprimed canvas. Then we used a Textile Medium to mix with our acrylic paint.
Let the painting begin:
We had fun and completed the project on time. They look homey and corny and we love how they light up the room.
Next: more costume touch-ups!
This project is a bit, shall we say invovled so if you want to make a "Banner" for your summer enjoyment and need some help with the process drop me a line (e-mail) and I will see if I can help you out.
It all started with the canvas , we used unprimed mainly for the time/rain factor, then we measured our spaces and marked our canvas for cutting.
We cut out the canvas and then marked the edges for the fold-over. One inch is a good fold-over for this heavy fabric. Then (here comes the sewing!) serge all the edges. 
This is really the only sewing in this project. If you were going to make this a "free hanging" banner, like a flag, you would sew a hem on all of the edges.
Next step: The long process of finding the gfx. Choosing, sizing, re-sizing, and transferring the image to the canvas with carbon paper. *( be sure to use copy write free art if you are planning to sell your banner. Most images are fine to use for your own personal enjoyment. But if you are unsure:ask for permission or don't use the image.)
We out-lined our clip art with a paint pen. This was so so so much easier than the brush on the unprimed canvas. Then we used a Textile Medium to mix with our acrylic paint.
Let the painting begin:
We had fun and completed the project on time. They look homey and corny and we love how they light up the room.
Next: more costume touch-ups!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Side Tracked
You could already tell the ""help paint" guitar for my best friend" project was way more involved than I had anticipated, Ten days work! And the object 'd art is waiting to be spray varnished. One good sunny day and we'll take finished project photos. Hopefully that will be before said best friend arrives early next week.
We did manage to get the sewing room clean for about fifteen minutes.
Some members of my family are under the impression that this room is still a dining room. Haahaahaa. Every now and then I do let them eat meals on my cutting table. So maybe that is the reason for their confusion.
And now back to the sewing!! YEAH
Project: embellish "Miss Rosies" rather plain bar girl costume.
After de-constructing skirt , removing the torn sections and pressing, the skirt was taped to cutting table. I did this with blue painters tape so the fabric would not slide around while being measured and chalk marked for multiple rows of ribbon.
Then I used glue stick to hold the ribbon rows in place until they were sewn along both edges with matching embroidery thread. I like the glue stick better than pins, because pins just don't hold as well as the glue stick does and you can place all of the rows at the same time with the glue stick saving lots of time.
Whenever possible try to plan to add your embellishments when your item is still in its "flat" stage. You can always rip a ready made item back to this stage, if you have an item that you really like but it just needs that lil' something extra, but it is easier when flat.
After sewing the ribbon rows, I added rows of matching straight stitches for fill and then made the casings so the skirts "pull up" could be adjusted. I added pre-gathered black lace to the hem and then added the elastic to the waist casing to finish the skirt.
We got completely carried away on the corset. More is More. Right? We added lace, tulle, ribbon, beading, cording and handmade (by Bree) silk ribbon roses. Did I mention carried away... We forgot to take pictures of the process but here is the finished product minus the lace overlay.
The bustle is made of gathered tulle and more silk ribbon roses. It is tucked into the corsets lacing.
"Miss Rosie" lookin' good.
More later
We did manage to get the sewing room clean for about fifteen minutes.
Some members of my family are under the impression that this room is still a dining room. Haahaahaa. Every now and then I do let them eat meals on my cutting table. So maybe that is the reason for their confusion.
And now back to the sewing!! YEAH
Project: embellish "Miss Rosies" rather plain bar girl costume.
After de-constructing skirt , removing the torn sections and pressing, the skirt was taped to cutting table. I did this with blue painters tape so the fabric would not slide around while being measured and chalk marked for multiple rows of ribbon.
Then I used glue stick to hold the ribbon rows in place until they were sewn along both edges with matching embroidery thread. I like the glue stick better than pins, because pins just don't hold as well as the glue stick does and you can place all of the rows at the same time with the glue stick saving lots of time.
Whenever possible try to plan to add your embellishments when your item is still in its "flat" stage. You can always rip a ready made item back to this stage, if you have an item that you really like but it just needs that lil' something extra, but it is easier when flat.
After sewing the ribbon rows, I added rows of matching straight stitches for fill and then made the casings so the skirts "pull up" could be adjusted. I added pre-gathered black lace to the hem and then added the elastic to the waist casing to finish the skirt.
We got completely carried away on the corset. More is More. Right? We added lace, tulle, ribbon, beading, cording and handmade (by Bree) silk ribbon roses. Did I mention carried away... We forgot to take pictures of the process but here is the finished product minus the lace overlay.
The bustle is made of gathered tulle and more silk ribbon roses. It is tucked into the corsets lacing.
"Miss Rosie" lookin' good.
More later
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
A Break From Sewing...
Yesterday and today I had plans to sew... well, we had plans to sew, but we have been preempted by my youngest daughter's birthday gift to her best friend in the whole wide world. I'm not talking wrapped present here... what started out as an innocent "will you help me paint a little on said best friend's guitar?" has turned into a FULL BLOWN multi-day art project!
(Not Sewing Day One)
All Day: searching, printing, skecthing, sizing and more
All Night: tracing, placing, tracing and tracing and more tracing
(Not Sewing Day Two)
All Day: painting, painting, painting.... Twelve hours later and still painting!
Okay, so realistically we probably will NOT be sewing this week. But that's okay, because I'm still getting to do something I love ... spend time with my children creating a gift for someone I love as one of my children.
So if you've read this far looking for a sewing tip, I don't want to disappoint you.
Beginning sewing tip: Buy yourself a yard of large gingham and practice sewing straight lines and turning corners. This will give you confidence when it comes time to make your summer wardrobe.
A tip for all sewers: Before you throw your dirty, smooshed, worn out "tomato" pin cushion away, lay some papers down and cut that sucker open. Inside you will find all those needles that somehow "disappeared". My current record for lost needles in the old "tomato" is 47 needles! And all because I wanted to know what they filled those pin cushions with. Well worth the mess!
We'll post photos of the finished present later this week.
Till then: Happy Craftiness!
(Not Sewing Day One)
All Day: searching, printing, skecthing, sizing and more
All Night: tracing, placing, tracing and tracing and more tracing
(Not Sewing Day Two)
All Day: painting, painting, painting.... Twelve hours later and still painting!
Okay, so realistically we probably will NOT be sewing this week. But that's okay, because I'm still getting to do something I love ... spend time with my children creating a gift for someone I love as one of my children.
So if you've read this far looking for a sewing tip, I don't want to disappoint you.
Beginning sewing tip: Buy yourself a yard of large gingham and practice sewing straight lines and turning corners. This will give you confidence when it comes time to make your summer wardrobe.
A tip for all sewers: Before you throw your dirty, smooshed, worn out "tomato" pin cushion away, lay some papers down and cut that sucker open. Inside you will find all those needles that somehow "disappeared". My current record for lost needles in the old "tomato" is 47 needles! And all because I wanted to know what they filled those pin cushions with. Well worth the mess!
We'll post photos of the finished present later this week.
Till then: Happy Craftiness!
