365 at Black Door Studio

Blog neglect and little time to craft

2012-01-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is January already!

I was able to squeeze in a bit of crafting over the holidays to keep my swap commitments. Few photos to show for it (I refuse to open a package I've just sealed). Between Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, family, guests and Craft Shows every weekend it was tough.

PLUS,

I took on a Gi-normous (for me) project. Four, yes 4, fleece capes for the kiddos.

I don't sew. I don't know how to sew. I don't even pretend to know how to sew. I finished them though! 2 black fleece superhero capes and 2 pink fleece princess capes. Did I mention there were collars!?! and trim!?! scary, scary project. The kids love them, wear them all the time and in fact, I had to do some fancy negotiating on New Year's Day to get one off the kid and into the washer. I think the Man-boy took photos but I've yet to see them. Those kids just don't hold still. I have a few shots of pink and black blurs :)

Here are a few of my crafts over the holiday and craft show season:

another spoon mirror

a whimsey pocket from a paper towel roll, old wallpaper and trims

an altered mini-composition book

a book thong for the mini comp book

another altered Rolo (they are my new addiction)

another 30 collage bracelets for the Holiday Craft Markets. I only have 6 left! yay!

a butterfly charm. These will be available in my juliajae.etsy.com shop soon

yep, more Rolo's

There were at least this many things that didn't get photographed. Still, not much for almost 2 months.

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season and Happy New Year!

a momentary addiction / obsession

2011-11-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

So, somehow

I ended up making an altered Rolodex card for someone. I pulled the blank card from my sad and abandoned rotary Rolodex holder.

Instead of the few old business cards and contacts from the past (that were never transferred to the PDA, then the Computer and now the Smart Phone),

I imagined it filled with

beautiful little works of art and inspiration !

I knew it would be a process to fill it up

but though it might be a fun way to be constantly inspired by art on my desk.

So, I've started creating and swapping them!

Here are a few of my more recent pieces. As usual, I remember to take pictures of about half of the pieces that get packages and go out the door.

a few for an ongoing alphabet series:

D for Down under

C for cello

E for eaves

I have about a dozen in my file now. It's going to take more than that to make it look even a little filled but it will be a fun, ongoing project. Even the Grandson Dylan made me one when he was over to spend the night!

Oh No!

2011-11-18T22:54:00.000-08:00

"Put the glue stick down,

and step away from the paper"

So, I just can't stop making paper "things". I'm not sure why. I do know that I have enough ephemera and paper bits that I could continue making those "things" every day for the rest of my life.

What I really need to do is keep making new assemblage jewelry and listing it in my etsy shop. In fact, I need to list in ALL of my etsy shops. But the paper. It calls my name from across the room.

Meanwhile, here is a small portion of my current paper obsession.

ATC's

Chunky Book 4x4 pages:

I won't even show you the Art Tags and Altered Rolodex cards...

time at the Studio

2011-10-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

So, this week is the 1st official time that I'll be back at the Studio since moving into the new building. I've spent a lot of time there doing other projects, in meetings and helping with little things here and there but I haven't really had Guests.

I'm hosting a Girls Night Out this week. We will be catching up with each other, eating treats and making Open Top Terrariums. I'm looking forward to it. I've really missed the girls. I'll be sure to take pictures ;-)

Meanwhile, I've been working on little crafts here and there to keep me going. Lots of ATC's, most of which I forget to scan or take photos of, but a few other things as well:

This little white bag with a pleated bottom was sent through the printer as a test. I think it came out great! I was so surprised. I did have problems with one that was black ink. It smeared across the folds. I think a bag that doesn't have a pleated bottom would work better.

My 1st Altered Domino. I decided to keep it simple and just made it a magnet.

I've made quite a few more altered spoons (mirror) I keep getting requests for them. I'm not very good at remembering to take pictures.

I stumbled across a swap for altered Rolodex Cards and I remembered that I have a big rotary flip file stashed in a box. I dug it out and joined a few of the swaps and I love it! I can hardly wait until my card file fills up. What fun to have a rolodex full of art inspiration sitting right on my desk!

A couple of Halloween things:

can't get enough of these little charms:

another Rolodex card:

Halloween ATC

I need to get better at taking photos.
I usually remember just after I've finished packaging to mail :-/

Trying...

2011-09-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

...to get back in the swing of things

since foot surgery, packing, moving, unpacking and physical therapy.

Life is settling a bit and I miss my arting and crafting.

I've made and sent off quite a few things over the past few months but photos have taken a back, back, far back seat. Only a few were sitting out when I stumbled across the camera over the past couple of months.

I'll get back on track with this photo and posting thing. I just need a little re-training :)

Quick post, nothing special

2011-07-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Lots has been going on and I've just been squeezing in a little crafty time here and there to fulfill swap promises and obligations.

a couple of charms:

a pocket booklet:

a whimsey pocket stuffed with goodies:

some altered clothespins:

altered BINGO card:

another altered spoon, Spoon Mirror:

a bunch of ATC's, many with no picture but here a just a few:

A little all over the map but that's part of what makes them fun.
Even us ADD types can finish them ;o)

A visitor

2011-06-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

I've been crafting here and there, pictures coming, but I just had to share this butterfly that hung out at my front door most of the day.

Something about this hanging plant that Donnie got me on my birthday really attracts them. This is the third type of butterfly I've seen at this basket.

R&R and Crafty Time

2011-06-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

Snuggling with my little girly dog is like taking vitamins.

We are both feeling better and are ready to get back to things!

Plus, life goes on and we don't have much of a choice.

I've been on an ATC kick because I want to have a few ATC workshops so we can get the Studio swaps underway. But first:

Plant Marker time!

or "Plant Bling" is how I like to think of it.

There was a swap listed that was for plant markers with the suggestion of making them from paint sticks.

That sounded waaaaay to rustic for me but I remembered the steel markers that I had "the man" laser cut for me but I had never used. A little paint, some sanding, a rubber stamp and brown pigment dye and finally some old and broken vintage jewelry and "poof". Plant (marker) Bling! Fairly fun and easy project. I hope my swap partner likes it.

Then, the ATC's:

Then a tag because I needed to send off a Chunky Tag. This one is muslin sewn to a manilla tag then embellished.

Forgot to take pictures of the upcycled charms.

Will have to add them next time.

too much. brain toasted. nearing mumbling and drooling stage

2011-06-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Without the gory details, we are minus one lovable little fur baby since my last post, almost lost a second fur baby and I'm still in a boot cast and can't wear shoes. We have had a friend stay for a couple of weeks, my brother and his wife were here from San Diego for a weekend, we found out that we will need to move soon and I'm sure I've forgotten something as that doesn't seem like I've listed enough for only 30 days worth of events.
Here is one of my biggest challenges at the moment:

This cute little dog of mine is wearing a children's tank top is to keep her from chewing out the metal staples that run from her neck to her nether regions. The vet's instructions are to "keep her quiet and calm". Do these doggie Dr.'s not have experience with terriers?

On the upside, I have been making and mailing off a few crafty things here and there but the taking of the photos has been hit or miss with more misses. Here are a few of my last month's worth of creations.

altered spoon - now spoon mirror

altered clothespins

muslin drawstring bag

altered slide mounts

charms

ATC's

There have been Altered Tins, Bottles, more ATC's, Chunky book pages, Chunky Tags, Lots of jewelry for a show I did, (Punk Rock Flea Market) handmade charms and other things I can't remember.

Hopefully things will be at least semi-normal very soon!

Last but not least:

R.I.P. little Zoey kitty 6/2009 - 6/2011

We love you and miss you every day :'(

What a week it's been!

2011-05-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

This post could also be titled,
" Excuse me, I've misplaced my week."

Foot surgery last week has not only knocked me on my rear, literally, but it has also made days and nights flow in to one stretch of time that flows in and out of sleep, pain, nausea, apologies, dizziness, etc.

Today, I climbed the stairs on my knees because I just HAD to accomplish something. I can't think of anything better to fulfill that need than a few quick ATC's!

So, I sat down at the table, propped up my foot on a chair and could only work supplies that were within reach. It wasn't much. I left a few treasures scattered on the floor from my "super-magic-crutch-maneuver-extend-a-reach" trick but at least Zoey kitty will have something to play with. I'm sure when I look back at the ATC's without the narcotic haze I'll be embarrassed that I sent them out for swaps.

Being an invalid has brought me to a few very definite conclusions.

1 - My system is not built to handle heavy narcotics - anything I've said, typed, etc over the last 5-6 days should be questioned.

2 - Confined to a couch/bed/chair/etc is awful and anyone who deals with that confinement on a daily basis is someone to be admired.

3 - When the Dr. tells you to "stay off your feet" there are usually multiple reasons. You should listen and heed the advice.

4- Keep a few art supplies on every floor of the house :)

The last day before surgery, I did get a few projects finished up and sent out. The only one I can find pictures of is this Pocket Booklet Plus. The Plus was to add some supplies that your swap partner could use in future altered art projects.

More crafting as the fog in my head lifts. I'm confined to no driving for at least another week.

Lots going on!

2011-05-01T19:17:00.000-07:00

Just a few quick pictures. Some haven't arrived at their destinations yet so don't look to the end of the post if you are expecting something from me :)

I made a bunch of these bed spring candle holders to send off to a friends shop in Boston,

and a quick Spring tag for the May Tag Swap

I've had lots of meetings at the new studio trying to help with events and organization. I had a dear friend come and stay for a week. We've been friends since I was 15. So, about 10-12 years now. hahahaha! Do the math and, NO. Don't do the math. Anyway, her husband (that I introduced her to) just passed away and she needed a retreat to the J&D Bed and Breakfast. We had a great week but did so much running around and catching up that we did very little art work or crafting.

A crystal and vintage brass swan charm for a swap and the receiver loves pink so I attached it to a pink themed tag,

I also had to do this monstrosity that is called a "Bunting banner" ? thingy-ma-job. Have I mentioned I don't sew? Yeah, I probably have. So it was supposed to be made of scraps and have tabs or a fold-over or something on the top so it can be hung. Of course I HAD to use velvet for the front with a muslin back. Velvet is very difficult to sew. Have I mentioned I don't sew? I added a few vintage elements, beads, tatting, hand stamped and tea-dyed muslin and also had to do hand sewing ! Did I mention... oh yeah. So, disappointed but just had to give up. It looked so much better in my head. lol No pictures!

Foot surgery on Wednesday so I may not be back to craft for awhile. Kinda hard when your foot needs to be above your heart. Still trying to figure out how that's going to happen for 6-7 days.

Oh my! A week since my last post!

2011-04-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not because I've just been hanging out. This has been a busy week. The new studio move-in continues, meetings, crazy thrift day with Laurie Z, a friend over to stay and craft all night, raiding the garage for display and inventory for the Gallery Store at 3231, photo painting with 3 of my favorite Art Girls, Art Walk, etc.

I have had a few moments here and there to make a things. No great works of art but some creative time that was welcomed and much needed.

This was kind of fun. Did I ever mention that I DON'T SEW!?! Like, at all. This little thing was machine sewn AND hand sewn. Quite an accomplishment for me. It was a swap for a little fabric house. I always look and think, "Oh, I can do that". Well, sadly, I can't. I gave this one a full effort though. 5" tall, a little tab to hang it by, velvet roof door and window, upholstery swatch base. See, sounds like it wouldn't be that hard... hmpf. You should have seen me sewing those flowers on.

a second little Whimsy Pocket for a swap because I can never, ok, rarely (thinking of a little fabric house) make just one of something,

a little pocket book to send to a partner to hold a series of ATC challenges that are coming up,

an ATC for the Weekend #10 swap,

another Whimsy Pocket to send as a surprise to one of my Art Girls

and a few things I can't show you yet as they have not reached their new home;

charms x 12, different charms x 2, a fabric collage/ pennant, a few more fabric tags so I could send off some altered pins someone ordered.

Coming up: yet another style of charm x 6, a couple of chunky tags, a mosaic garden ball for a sample, and altered tin and things I promised but can't remember at the moment :)

My Wednesday Bring Your Own...

2011-04-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

I started this during the first gathering at the studio last Wednesday night (see post below).

I had seen the secret formula for how to make these little booklets with pockets in a blog while I was blog hopping last Sunday. I couldn't find my way back to the blog but managed to make a tiny one out of a notepad sheet to use as a template. Once made, I realized it was a perfect fit for ATC's!

This one is for a woman in one of my art groups that has severe back problems and is stuck in bed on her back for most of the day, everyday. I thought it would be fun to add atc's with silly little quotes on them to hopefully make her smile for a moment or two when she opens her mail. I'm not the best at lettering so it also gave me some great practice for the lettering on my Zetti projects.

By the way, this little pocket folder is one single sheet of 12 x 12 paper with a single straight cut in it :o)

Quick Studio peek!

2011-04-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night I had my 1st guests at the new studio.

It's so fresh and new that the first few to arrive ended up helping me take chairs off the tables and wipe things down.

Laurie Z, Michele and Mystery woman that shall remain nameless :)

we will call her, "MW" (for mystery woman, duh)

Mami and Jeanne

MW (same MW as above ;) and Kym

Do notice how blank and empty the walls are because you will likely NEVER see them like that again!

It was "Bring Your Own Project, and tools, and food, and drink Night".

I truly had n-o-t-h-i-n-g there yet.

That didn't stop the die-hards though.

Thanks girls for helping me christen the place!

Altered Box

2011-04-05T15:20:00.000-07:00

Last week during my trip to Dollar Tree for 6 packs of bottled water
I found the cutest little 4x4x4 boxes with lids.
Knowing that I had a trinket box, tin or jar I needed to alter, I picked one up to play with. I was happy enough with the results that it just got sent off to it's new home.

Because this little box was all finished on the inside for gift giving, all I had to do was work on the outside. I wanted it to be sort of shabby but still have a crisp edge to it.

A few vintage french book pages, old sheet music. a glass knob, some distress ink, silk seam binding and black gloss paint and it was ready to go. I filled it with shredded book pages from an old book and goodies for it's new owner.

Tonight I plan to work on a 6x6 fabric pennant for a swap. It will be my 1st fabric collage. Wish me luck!

Sunday evening

2011-04-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

So, the new studio space is painted, basics are moved in and I'll be hosting the first crafting group on Wednesday!

I'm tired and my hands are sore (from the death grip on the roller) but the new chapter begins. More on that later :)

I did get a chance to finish up a little shabby chic hand mirror that had to be glued in stages. In my rush to get it mailed, I forgot to add a ribbon.

I keep making things to send off and forgetting to get pictures. Yesterday, 2 little houses of 3 sent came back to me for additional postage. Since I had to repack and take the old postage/shipping label off I decided to take a couple quick shots of them.

back of house below

I think I'm done with the little houses and the mirrors. Of course, there will likely be a quick-craft workshop on each of them but I think a bit of a break is in order.

The Amazing handyman, painter, mover, sign guy is going to swing shift at work starting tomorrow so I suspect I'll have plenty of time in the evenings to craft and watch DVD's of old FRIENDS episodes. I love Phoebe the best. Some days I feel like her o_O

Sunday craft time

2011-03-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of Altered Slide Mounts?

Well, I hadn't. Then a 4 for 4 swap came up in a Yahoo group I belong to and I knew I'd have to give it a try.

I used alcohol inks to color them. One of the things I love about alcohol inks is that if you are using them on something they can't soak in so they pool and look like a cross between tie dye and reptile scales. They dry pretty fast but I usually coat the with a quick shot of spray sealer just to make sure they never bleed or rub off. When you open these little hinged slides up, you can put a picture facing each way so it's double sided. The do need a dab of E6000 or Glossy Accents to keep them closed after adding the pictures. My favorite, of course, is the Marie Antoinette one. The picture on the back is a foofy pink cake.

The intent for these is to send 4 and get 4 back from different artists. I guess then to make them a little booklet like in this turtorial. The Crop-a-dile make the holes easily without cracking the plastic mounts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pxCRaBHVrU

I think they would be really cute for a mom or grandma to hold little pictures of the kids. Especially if it was put together as an accordion type book.

I'm also working on an altered spoon and did 2 more Marilyn ATC's for a tag game.

Marilyn Always Sparkles and Blue Marilyn

an ATC moment

2011-03-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Having so much going on around my place means quicky-projects. So. I'm having an ATC moment.

I needed to make some backgrounds for a swap (above) and made a few extra to do when I had a chance.

I discovered that if I use acrylic on watercolor paper and use it straight from the tube, it takes on a leathery finish. I did this background with a metallic gold, tube acrylic and applied it with a crumbled up piece of paper so it would be blotchy. After it dried, I went back over the unpainted spots with alcohol ink and then dry brushed some pale flesh-tone craft paint that was on a brush from something else. It came out kind of a metallic marble look with a leathery feel to the paper. later on I stamped French text in white and then again in black. It only stuck here and there.

acrylic paint over sheet music

same as 1st but without text stamping

rumpled paper bag background.

I did squeeze in a couple of charms that had to go postal right away, a couple more little houses, 2 or 3 more ATC's and this altered frame.

I just couldn't distress it enough for my taste. I had to work with a bright color for the person I made it for. It was harder than I thought it would be to step away from my comfortable neutrals and monotone.

a quick post

2011-03-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

Key Fob

I made a key chain / key fob for a swap.

The group is Buttons, Beads and Baubles so that's where I started.

First, a key ring and a shape in black acrylic. My partner is goth and I wasn't sure which shape to use so I made it with and Eiffel but included a couple of other shapes for her to switch out if she wants.

I added a medium sized teardrop crystal, an old key, a vintage mother-of-pearl shank button and a rescued, vintage black bead.

Now, off to the mail man!

a new craft

2011-03-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

Whimsey Pockets!

front

back

I had never even heard of one of these.

They remind me of treat cones but a little more fancy. They are made from a flattened, cardboard paper towel tube. When you pinch the end closed, it gives a great oval-ish shape.

This is my first one and of course, is for a swap. The theme was Bordello Chic. I filled it with a few goodies for my swap partner per the swap requirements. It was pretty fun to make so I will likely be making a few more of them. Possibly larger so they can be more detailed.

This one is just 2.5" by 3.75"

I've also been slipping in an ATC here and there.

We have house guests from out of town and lots of things happening around our house so art and crafting has taken a back seat.

2011-03-11T15:18:00.000-08:00

Lucky for Zoey, curiosity didn't kill this cat.

(thurs)Day of crafting

2011-03-11T15:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't get done anywhere near what I had wanted but I had a wonderful day with a friend and also made a new friend!

An ATC for the Weekend ATC Swap that I host.

and I finished one more house for a swap (two more left to go)

The studio move is on for Saturday and the GrandBabies are coming to spend the night so this may not be much of a crafting weekend.

I plan to try and work it in somewhere though :)

Quick-Craft for a swap

2011-03-08T23:23:00.000-08:00

Altered Clothes Pins

I saw this swap and thought, that's something I've never done, I can do it fairly quickly and they might even turn out okay. I had to make 4 for the swap and tried to make them in the taste of my swap partner. I have some ideas for some grungy designs for a later date.

In use

Final packaging

I had a vintage packet of glass, flat back rhinestones that I used for the flower center and as I was putting the paper packaging in the garbage I realized that it's kind of cute and would be a great way to clip them to something to ship them off.

???

2011-03-07T23:40:00.000-08:00

what shall I do with these!?!

Easily, 100+ clear acrylic ovals. 1 5/8" tall by 1 1/8" across 3/16" thick

I could use them like a dog tag but will have to attach a bail to hang them.

I could use them as bases for magnets.

Or maybe even as a "frame" on a chunky tag or page.

hmmmmmmmm

What ideas do you have?

the weekend

2011-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

It was mostly a "home" and "Etsy" weekend but I did sneak in a few crafts.

This necklace was for a Design Challenge in one of my jewelry groups.

The challenge was "Clasp in the front". Not something new to me but I'm attempting to keep up with all of the challenges. I tried to keep it current by making it very long and asymmetrical. As usual, all of the components are recycled (except the toggle on the clasp.)

Also, another little spoon mirror. I may have a new "addiction of the moment".

A girl can only handle so much cleaning, laundry, cooking and computering. (new word) lol

Of course, I DID have help working on my Etsy shops:

March 3

2011-03-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

Altered Spoon Mirror

This was for another Altered Spoon swap on swapbot but I liked it so much I decided to send it as one of my Facebook PIF's.

This time altering a spoon, I wanted to do something a little different by only leaving part of the spoon showing. Plus, it's always nice to be able to use some of the 1000 pounds of jewelry bits and pieces I have.

It was actually pretty easy:

Then just add your sparkly treasures!

I used Glossy accents to glue the pieces on because it dries fast, dries shiny and dries clear but E6000 would also work as long as the glue is hidden and you have a surface it can sit on for a day to dry. Being experimental for this size, it's not as perfect as I would like but it's a good first try.

I'm hoping this will be unexpected for my swap partner and she will love it!

I think I may have to make some more of this size.

They were really fun and can only get better.

the first P.I.F. to arrive

2011-03-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

So, one day on Facebook, my friend Lisa posted a message that said,

~pay it forward 2011~

I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011. ♥

My five signed up within the 1st hour or so and then I had to think about what to make for them. I decided to make each one personal.

The first to arrive was to someone that has grown very special to me. She is one of those truly sweet and caring individuals that are few and far between anymore. It's been an honor to make friends with her and her family. She had commented on a charm bracelet I made so I knew (hoped) she liked them. I knew she has her own mini-zoo (pets) so I decided to make her a chunky charm bracelet with photo charms of her zoo babies under resin. I searched her facebook photos and her blog until I found just the right photos to fit the charms. Much sealing and many coats of resin later they were added to a bracelet along with a bunch or vintage beads to make it "jangly". (I think that may be a new word but you are welcome to use it- lol)

I also added a little tag that is muslin sewn to manila tag and stamped.

Four more to go :)

The last week of February

2011-03-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

Handmade Charm

A vintage, crystal, chandelier chain piece with a recycled pearly teardrop made into a charm for a series of charm swaps on swapbot. My swap partner loves vintage, rusty, grungy just like I do so I made something I would wear. In fact, I almost slipped it on a 16" chain and put it on myself.

March house
I had such a hard time with a March theme for my crafts this year. I've never really celebrated St Pat's Day and even if I did it seemed so cliche. This was March Winds. It took 3 tries and I'm still not happy with it but time is up and it had to go postal.

I have more things done and photos to share but I can't until my PIF's have arrived at their new homes. I'll post them as they arrive :)

BUT.

Guess who fell thru the ice into the brown, murky pond?

It scared the crap out of her and I, both.
I sure didn't want to go in after her but I would have.

She couldn't get up and out of the water, started to panic and I knew her little legs had to be going numb. I went in almost to the top of my Wellies and brought her inside to warm up.

Needless to say, she and her brother got baths on Sunday.

Zetti's

2011-02-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

You would think with all of this:

that I would get more crafting done. For some reason, it has become a task this week.

But,

last night at about 9:30, out of the blue (ok, the white) I got a little motivation and made the Zetti pages that I have been putting off.

front

back

They are for a swap and needed to be chunky pages, 4x4 and Zetti.

Zetti is always interesting to me. I really have to be in the right mood to make them. If I'm not, they don't have the right feel to them when I'm done.

Background: Alcohol inks on heavy watercolor paper. The rest is magazine clippings and sharpies.

It's all in the presentation

2011-02-22T14:45:00.000-08:00

So, I was having a hard time figuring out how to send the pins from the post below. I wanted them to be enticing and not just shoved in a zippy bag. I started a few fabric ATC's to pin them through. I hated them. I made a pin cushion, too hard to ship. I put it aside to sit down and I was just about to post another Sewn Paper Tags swap and thought, hmmmmm. Why not?

What's hard to see in this photo is that these are actually ironed muslin sewn to a manila tag and finished off with a large eyelet. They were kind of plain so I use a pigment ink and a rubber stamp to make them a little more interesting.

After sticking a couple of pins through, I decided this was the perfect way to send them AND keep the postage cost down.

Now, back to laundry :(

Kiwi's Blogger Follower Swap #4

2011-02-20T10:55:00.000-08:00

and another from last week

One other little project that I'm addicted to:

Fancy Stick Pins

I just can't stop making these little fancy pins.

I started doing them to hold the muslin ribbon in place then, out of the blue, one of my Yahoo groups posted a swap for them. They only need 4.

Hahaha! 4 "sets" maybe.

These little things are 2" corsage pins with a pearly teardrop end and 1.5" pins with a pearly round end.

I rolled the ends in my favorite new catch-all gluey stuff, Glossy Accents by Ranger, then I gently rolled it in a little pile of the German Glass Glitter. after it dried, I added a touch of glue to the base, added a bead, a touch more, another bead, etc. The hard part was sticking them in upside down to dry. Fortunately, glossy accents dries pretty fast. By the time the last one was glued, the first one was dry.

I think I'll host a swap on swap-bot so I can use more and end up with a variety.

Help me with a list of uses.

They can hold the ribbon ends on my ribbon pole
I thought a few on my bulletin boards and inspiration board for decoration
They can hold a gift tag if I pin it to the ribbon
Maybe use them in an altered art shrine
Use them on trim tags
Pretty up the pincushion
If I get brave enough to do a fabric collage or fabric ATC I could use one or two for embellishment

What else?

a few of the last weeks crafts

2011-02-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a few crafts for some PIF's "Pay it Forward" from a Facebook challenge. A few of the people check in on my blog so I don't want to spoil their surprise. Most of them should go postal on Monday or Tuesday so next weekend I'll get to share them :) These are some things I slipped in while others were drying, hardening, etc.

"Cake" is an ATC for a weekly, weekend swap I host. She was a fun one to make. Vintage wallpaper posterboard, Marie and of course the cake. It's mounted to cardstock and brought forward with pop dots. The icing needed to be yummy so I used a bit of fine grit, "snow" glitter. Only a tiny iridescent sparkle to it.

I needed two batches of stamped ribbon. I again, tore my own from muslin but made a spare.

This is my first attempt at a junk fairy. I'm not especially thrilled with the outcome but more of them are definitely in my future. With more junk.

Another ATC for a swap. Stamped muslin, handmade paper someone sent me and I added glitter pen.

Curious about that last one, aren't ya?

The ugly hands of Chile Verde (Chile-do) Mittelstaedt. It was his Spa Day while his "Reptile Containment Facility" was being cleaned. He really liked his bath but was happy to get back to his warm rock.

Still catching up

2011-02-11T19:22:00.000-08:00

Black & White

Without realizing it, I have trends in my art and crafting. Sometimes it's colors, sometimes images, sometimes the type of craft. In going through my stack of projects to photograph from the past couple of weeks (that time frame I'm catching up on my postings) I realized that I was a bit obsessed with Black & White/Cream.

This Tag was for swap-bot's "Favorite Vintage Image Tag". Something about this vintage lady is so elegant and current yet she looks so sad to me. It's an image that I keep going back to for different crafts over and over. She's been on tags, ATC's Journal covers, a Dog Tag or three, under resin, on a note card, you name it.

These tags were for a private swap of Shabby Tags that needed to be both paper and fabric.

Here is a Black & White ATC that had a theme of "Button". I started 2 or 3 different ones that are now in the trash and finally settled on this simple vintage styled ATC.

"Awwww, what's that sad little thing?" you ask.
It's supposed to be a mouse.I never claimed to know how to sew, obviously.

Zoey the Kitty finally gets her stuffed, catnip toy.

It's made from a black sweater that had to go because it just kept getting shorter and shorter with every wash and dry. Ever have that happen? Zoey loves it even if it does look like a black lump. In fact, she ran off with it shortly after I took this photo. Now she's counting the bumps in the ceiling texture. hmmmmmm, need to limit the catnip.

Getting closer to being caught up...

ATC's

2011-02-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

A Marilyn Moment

I don't know why but my obsession this week is Marilyn Monroe.

This set of four ATC's are for an ongoing swap called JIAT, (Jump In And Trade) in one of my Yahoo groups .

There is one moderator that handles the swap and you get back as many as you send in. We can send ATC, Inchie, Skinny, Twinchie (2x2), and a handful of other things.

For the Marilyn ATC's, I didn't want to take away from her image by adding too much so I concentrated on background techniques. Hard to tell in this photo but throughout these 4 I used alcohol ink, acrylics, stamp ink, watercolor pencil, pan pastels, Glisten mist, crumpled magazine image and tissue paper, and metallic ink.

I also made a few for my ongoing QTA (quick turn around) swaps:

Themes: Famous & deceased, Vintage image, Zetti inspired Animal (Marvin the Party Chicken)

and another...

2011-02-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

Button Charms

Another swap I'm hosting for a group called Buttons, Baubles and Beads. I thought the button charms would be a quick, inexpensive craft where they could be cute without using up button favorites. These are the charms I made for the swap. They consist of two buttons each, a little wire and a dot of epoxy.

These button charms:

are because I had everything already out and had run out of the little button stack charms that I like to have on hand for jewelry making and package decorating. I found a big stash of colored mother-of-pearl buttons that I had tucked away. Pale lavender and a royal blue. They added a new and different element to the stacks because they aren't flat. I even snuck in a few rhinestone rhondele beads.

More to post. I've been working on a big batch of ATC's so those may be next.

another...

2011-02-07T12:26:00.000-08:00

Altered Spoon

This was for a swap-bot challenge that I hosted. Our group needed something to alter and I had a few spoons on the workbench for another project (that you will see soon). Vwa-la! Monkey see, Monkey do. This monkey, anyway.

These are fun to try and work a theme around but I have mixed feelings about using my silver-plated spoons for hiding behind the altering when there are so many other crafty uses for them. I think I need to watch for some nice looking spoons that are good ol' stainless for these.

* I wanted the spoon to look kind of tree trunk-ish or like a branch so I blotted it with two colors of brown alcohol ink and waited for it to dry. While it was drying, I took apart a larger faux nest to refashion it into something size appropriate. Add a few vintage pearls for eggs, a bird and some green floral wire and leaf bead "vines", save some of the wire for a hanger and... Done! Well, done after some wire wrapping, stringing and gluing.

more catch-up to come

Excellent!

2011-02-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

Wonderful music to work to!

Adele's new LP on NPR!

Listen to the entire thing:

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/06/133496838/first-listen-adele-21

Yes, I'm packaging up sales that need to go into the mail, taking photographs to post more 365 crafts and I might even get to craft some more today! Let's hope. I have lots to do!

catch up

2011-02-03T17:54:00.000-08:00

Altered Composition Book

From this:

To this:

Usually when I make these, I collage the front and inside covers and add prompt pages for the new owner. I didn't get a chance to get this done before I had a swap partner. Once a partner has been assigned, I feel obligated to look to see who they are and try to fit their style. I think I prefer making it first but...

The person this was made for is a college student who is quite artistic. I wanted it to be something she could really use and personalize herself so for the cover, I gave her a good base to build on. She likes Steampunk style so I tried to give it some Steampunk-y additions since I wasn't doing a collage.

I started with the blank composition book and added distressed scrapbooking cardstock front and back, I distressed the edges a bit more to make sure I had a good seal. No glue on the cover, just double sided tape. It's a much better hold for something that is going to be handled.

I cut some soft leather scraps to size and made 2 slits on the binding for the leather tie to slip through. I carefully Gorilla glued the bound end but used the double tape along the edges for extra security.

For the inside covers, I cut some fancy map paper with an old look to size and double taped it down. Because the cover was so plain and I still wanted it to have some character, here and there I added some vintage ephemera. A page from an old french screenplay, a Greek vocabulary card, paper cutouts, a piece of vintage paper lace, a feather, a piece of an old travel brochure, etc.

More additions, altered paper clips, a v-clip with a tiny glass watchmakers vial, and a bookmark from a piece of leather string, an old sewing bobbin, a watch face and tied off with a wood bead so it won't slip out of the book.

The watch gears and watch face are secured with epoxy and I have a button backing with the clip in the middle for stability.

Now, off it goes in the mail. I think (hope) it's just her style.

Lots of posts to catch up - Silk Scarf Dying

2011-02-03T14:23:00.000-08:00

So I have quite a few crafty things made and in process but really haven't had the extra moments to photograph and post. I'm starting with the most recent project and will just work my way through over the weekend so Monday I can start fresh and on track.

Silk Scarf Dying

So, eleven, yes 11 of the WCW Group (Wildly Creative Women) came over to the house last night to try our hand and silk dying. Lots of little nuances to get it ~~just right~~, ~~the way I wanted~~, acceptable.

Mine, finished above, didn't react the way I wanted it to on my first try. What I really wanted was there to be some handwriting or graffiti showing through. I started with a background to see how it reacted and YUK! Hated it! Some parts bled too much and were unrecognizable and other parts hardly bled at all.

When everyone went home I sat down to play and added a 2nd and 3rd layer of color. This morning, it still looked a little bare, faded and "accidental".

I got out a rubber stamp and two colors of blue pigment ink:

I inked the pad but not all over. I didn't want big blocks of text, just "hints" of text.

I also didn't want to be able to read it so I chose a french script rubber stamp:

After stamping, switching colors and places to ink on the stamp, I was as satisfied as possible for my first try. So, tonite I have a few more people coming over to craft-play so it looks like I'll get a second run at these. I may just buy some really long ones to do for next time. The look is starting to grow on me.

I'll post again with the process. You won't believe how easy it is!

last week!

2011-01-30T10:20:00.000-08:00

Been crafting, have not been photographing or posting.

It's the final week of getting moved out of the studio.

I AM NOT looking forward to the rest of my day today but,

Oooooo Sooooooo Clooooose.

January 23rd

2011-01-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

Acrylic Key Chain

About all I had time for while trying to get my new etsy shop pulled together was to quickly pull together a key chain for a swap. I love these and every time I make one it seems to get away from me somehow. This one is also going to be used as a sample photo for the kits I sell online.

* Pale yellow and cream vintage beads mixed with a little bit of silver and clear crystal. Love these thick acrylic pieces!

I officially have 5 unfinished/partially finished projects!

Tuesday is crazy booked so if I'm lucky I'll be able to work a little bit on a couple of them.

In process: a cake box, altered spoon, 2 pair of earrings, a junk fairy and an altered composition book.

January 21 and 22

2011-01-23T10:53:00.000-08:00

Finishing Up Projects

Yes, these are the 8 drawers out of the map chest at the studio that are filled with beads.

It's a small portion of my bead stock so I thought the best bet would be to bring them home intact and work them back into my stock. Bad idea.

You see, laid flat and carefully set inside the back of Tic-tic (the SUV) was a great idea, in theory. The problem came when I had to climb the hills, take the long, swooping downhill turns, drive the mile or so off the "end of County maintained road", 4x4 (almost) over the river and through the woods to safely arrive in my garage. (You laugh. It really is over the river and through the woods.)

Beads shifted and bounced with every bump and pothole and the DRAWER INSERTS shifted so that beads mixed and got underneath the inserts. For the most part it became 8 drawers of a few thousand beads each, to sort.

But. It did get finished about 11pm last night.

It WAS especially quick & easy having two 3yr olds and a 6yr old "helping" Grandma :)

I did have a blast having the whole clan over Friday evening to spend the night and leave just before dinner on Saturday though.

I ended up bagging the beads and plan to put them in the new etsy shop I opened last night,

Black Door Beads.

I realized I still have so many beads in my bead containers that I just don't need to keep them. Not enough years left to use them all.

So, those unfinished craft projects? Hopefully today.

January 19 and 20

2011-01-21T22:15:00.000-08:00

19th = I dunno! I lost a day somehow.

20th = THRIFTING! (yay!)

I know, I know, I need more treasures like I need to catch the plague.

But. Some days a girl just has to get out.

And notice that they are all little things ;-)

Couldn't say no to a day out with a friend who can actually keep up with me at thrift stores.

I really do have plans for most of these treasures and the few that aren't specifically designated for a craft or project I plan to look at until I figure it out! You'll see some of them in the upcoming weeks/days.

It's really all Laurie's fault. I didn't need to go shopping at all. teeheehee

There were a few other things but who needs to see the 2 lunch plates that match my set, 2 mixer blades since I lost mine in the move somehow and the cutest little, brand new, fluffy pink kitty that my granddaughter ran off with the second she saw it.

coming up: a cape for a 3 year old

January 18th

2011-01-19T22:56:00.000-08:00

Three projects!

a Re-do of the December Wooden House

Soy Tea Cup Candle

another February Tag

OK, so Tuesday was a little all over the map. I had some nagging "get 'em done" projects looming over me. The re-do of the December house is because the cute little Christmas house I made never made it to it's destination. I couldn't just leave her hanging but didn't want to continue with the Christmas theme in case the 1st one shows up, too. I kept to the color and that's about it. It's called "Snow Bird"

The soy Tea Cup candle is probably for a friend that has a huge collection of tea cups. This one is a Colclough from England (1937-1948) that is signed and the gold is hand painted. White Tea & Berries seemed like the perfect scent for this.

Last but not least, I had a request for a private swap for a February tag. I 'm happy to do it when I know the other person takes care and time making theirs also.

coming up:* Zoey's toy - it's sewn, I just can't put my hands on the batting.

*Altered Spoon

January 17

2011-01-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

Crafty Prep Work

Remember these?

Now they are available in the Black Door Studio etsy shop.

In fact, etsy is what I really have to concentrate on this week. 5 etsy shops need some attention.

Also, lots of mail from the weekend. I added 2 more packages from overnight sales to this heap.

While I had the gesso out, I prepped this little box to make something for an online friend.

Coming up: the Cat Toy I promised Zoey, work on the Box and another Tag for a trade.

January 14, 15, 16

2011-01-17T16:53:00.000-08:00

OH MY!

I wish I could say this is everything from the studio but it's not. There is still a mountain of furniture off to the right in front of my car and back to the left towards the garage door. This is one whole tandem bay of the garage. And then some.

Some of it will go to the New Studio, some will be Donated, some will go on Craig's List, some will be Organized better for Workshops and some for the Vintage Shows (merchandise and displays).

** I'm considering taking a space in an Antique Mall. Anyone with experience in that? I'm all ears.

Mostly, what I have left to do is the upstairs at the studio. I'm trying to sort and pack at the same time so I only need to touch things once. I think 2 more days, about a dozen boxes and a big fat marker should do it. Then it's only cleaning and nail hole patching. Yay!

OH! By the way, that stack in my stairwell? Yes, it's bigger now.

*** Special Thanks to ***

Gail and Jeanne

for packing and keeping me from jumping off the ledge on Friday and to

Donnie and Justin

for putting up with me and moving all that furniture on Sunday!

Coming up: Sleep!

Hahaha, Never! I need some creative time about now!

January 13

2011-01-14T23:28:00.000-08:00

Soy Candles

Cranberry & Orange

I knew that today was the last day I would be able to craft for a few days. That Studio move is going to kill me. I'm tired of the house not smelling yummy and I've used up all of the odd candles I had.

* These soy are fairly easy to make but in the long run, not really cheaper than buying regular smelly candles. Definitely cheaper than buying SOY candles and definitely better for your lungs. The soy melts away to nothing and the wicks I use are twisted cotton so there is no zinc or other bad chemicals going into the air. Soy burns clean. One of these tea lights burns about 6 hours.

BEWARE: If you use a scent that smells like food, you WILL be hungry :)

I like the flowers for the picture but I'm not a fan of the flower scents. They make my allergies go crazy.

Up next: Studio packing in prep for the big furniture move on Sunday

January 12

2011-01-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Domestic Creator/Artist

Yes, I had to do some things around the house.

Homemade Croutons

Yummy, easy recipe and a great way to use up the end of the bread loaves!

I try to make lunch for the Guy every day which means a few types of bread and rolls open at the same time. The problem is, they all get stale about the same time.

Enter:

a cube of butter

Italian seasoning

Garlic

Sea salt

Shredded Parmesan

an oven set at 385

and Vwa-La!
They are hard to save for salad time. Great finger food!

* I use 1 cube of the cheap margarine I always have on hand for cookie making to 5 slices of bread.

After I melt the butter in the microwave in a glass measuring cup I add a generous helping of Italian seasoning (also good with Johnny's Seasoning instead) a dash or two of garlic powder, a pinch of sea salt and a small hand full of Parmesan. I pour it over the bread cubes in a big bowl and mix it up till everything is coated. ( I've been known to add a little more butter if I use a lot of bread heels.)

I bake it at 385 for about 10 minutes, pull it out and stir/flip them around and put it back in the oven but turn it off to let them get really dried out. Later in the day when I remember, *sad, but funny and effective* I come back set them on the counter until they are completely cool. If I've really had a Senior Moment, they already are cool. They need to be stored in a sealed container. A zippy bag, a jar with a rubber seal, Tupperware, etc.

I dare you to not make a big salad the first night after making these!

Because I was in the kitchen, I also made cookies. Kind of a pain but I get BIG Brownie points for them. This time was White Chocolate with Coconut. They are pretty good.

Also making progress on that big stack of boxes in the hallway. Ugh.

Coming up: Back to crafting!

Jan 11 part 2

2011-01-12T16:23:00.000-08:00

Almost forgot!

Look at the surprise Donnie brought home to me last night!
5 different styles.

I'll be getting out the sandpaper and primer so I can get some of these listed in the etsy shop. Some to make for me, too! I know right were I want to hang a few.

January 11th

2011-01-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

Packing! Still!

I spent all day at the studio and filled my little SUV to the gills.

The sad thing is, I'm just getting the home studio well organized. I can, 4 out of 5 times, go right to what I'm looking for. (Panning right to left from the doorway)

Now, after packing all day yesterday, I have to unpack and work this into the bunch. Thank goodness more went into the garage and onto the shelves than came inside the house.

I'm so over all of this. I just wish it was over, too.

Coming up: Unpacking! And, Zoey needs new toys. I wouldn't let her bring the dirty ones from the studio.

Jan 10th project

2011-01-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

Cake Stands

I just love these things. I especially love it when a cloche that I already have works with the size of the plate!

I have been meaning to get a few of these made to have on hand. I love them for displays at shows, gifts, staging photos (watch for them in upcoming craft posts :) and even for food. Placed on one of these babies and under a cloche, cookies and cupcakes are irresistible!

Won't the Grandson's Birthday Cupcake look great on this?

* Thrift store or close-out plates and candle holders work the best for me. First, I wash all of the pieces in hot soapy water. After washing and making sure all sticker residue is gone I dry each of them with a clean linen dishtowel and let them sit a little while to cool down. So that I know where the center is for placement of the candle holders, I mark the topside of the plate with a washable marker. Even a yellow highlighter will work. I set the plate upside down in a secure, out of the way spot, put the glue on the candle holder at the high point where it is going to make contact, line it up to the marked plate, stick it down and come back in an hour or six.

What's my glue that absolutely rocks for this project, you ask?

Beacon 527, Multi-Use Glue. I buy it at Joann's. Great stuff, it is. Not as good as "The Glue of the New Millennium" (E6000 for those that don't know me well) but better for this project. It's a little more fluid but not too much. More of a gel than it is rubbery and best of all, crystal clear.

next project: not sure, so many choices :)

January 9th

2011-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

Gothic Romance Charm Bracelet

So, I'm not sure if I nailed it or not but I hope I'm close.

This bracelet is for a swap. Here is how the swap reads:

"Your piece must be inspired by the idea of ''gothic romance'' but how you interpret that is entirely up to you. It could be for a gothic valentine using dark hearts (even broken hearts and anatomical hearts) and flowers. May be you are influenced by tales of vampires, unearthly monsters, or an eerie ghost story by M.R.James? Do you love Emily Bronte's ''Wuthering Heights''? Anything goes as long as it screams gothic & romance"

So, I'm not sure it actually screams, but it's doin' some talkin'.

My swap partner says she is a dark side Goth and loves loaded charm bracelets. Even if I didn't nail the swap, I hope she likes it. It got started last night but took a while to do. I didn't get it finished until today. Except for findings and one clock face charm this bracelet is made of recycled and repurposed materials.

For charms, I've used a small chandelier crystal, some watch parts, a key, a single clock hand, lots of gunmetal and black chain, natural crystal and wire, black lace, vintage black beads, assorted vintage rhinestone pieces, deep red ribbon roses and miscellaneous charm-y things rescued from broken jewelry. What is hard to see in this lighting is the black chain draping. It just looked so unfinished and almost Madonna circa 1980-something. The black chain really toned that down.

** The bigger and more important project I did yesterday was PACKAGING. I like my things to be sent out as pretty as possible. I'm just not a "wrap-it-in-a-napkin" kinda girl. I packaged the magnets, matchboxes, houses, tags and soap plus additionally readied it for shipping. That's a job in itself!

On the list: another little house or two, altered spoon, 5 PIF surprises from the Facebook challenge.

January 8th project

2011-01-09T23:46:00.000-08:00

Trim Tags

I always have so much fun pulling these together. When I buy one or get one in a swap, I never want to take it apart. I love how they look all loaded up.

The neutral colored one above is for a Swap-bot swap. The white one will be going in the Black Door Studio online store. I may have to make listing items in the store one of my creativity days. It really needs attention and I have a box of things all ready to list.

So, a Trim Tag is made up of items to use in your art and your crafts. It has to be 100% usable from the tag and trims to the pins or whatever is holding it together. I always make sure each piece of trim is at least 18" long. I think these tags are more fun and interesting if you add a few little embellishments to the trims. I try to always make them completely different, no two exactly the same. These tags are a nice way to have a few remnants for small projects like ATC's, chunky tags, wood houses, fabric collage, altering little boxes, small sewing projects, etc. Buying a whole roll of trim when you only need a foot or less leaves you with a ~~craft supply hoard~~ ahem, well organized, abundance of supplies like mine :) LOL

still on the list: garland, Gothic charm bracelet, altered spoon, etc.

January 7th

2011-01-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

February Tag

I know, I know. I just made a tag a few posts ago. I really needed to get February's finished up so it can hit the mail this week. I'm the host so it has to go out right away when partners are assigned. This is for swap-bot.

I wanted to stay true to the theme of love but I'm not really a cutsey, heart-ish kinda girl. Glitter has been know to sway me but I prefer the sentiment but in a much more flirty and romantic way. I've had this little rosebud trim forever but can never find it when I want it. Yay for Studio reorganizing! A little vintage lace, an old photo (scanned and reprinted, of course), a "true love" rubber stamp with assorted ribbon and fibers.

BTW, my stash of tea-stained tags is nearly gone. You may end up seeing my process when I replenish them sooner than I planned.

on the list: Garland/Banner, Gothic Charm Bracelet, Trim Tag, Altered Spoon...

January 6th project

2011-01-07T21:41:00.000-08:00

Goats Milk Soap

I honestly made this because we are about out of soap. The iron (which equals rust) in our well water, drys my skin out like crazy. So far, the only thing that helps is the goats milk soap.

It makes the house smell so yummy. I do have 5 handmade items to send for the "Pay it Forward 2011" challenge. Maybe a couple of them will be soap in my favorite ~~flavor~~ scent, Chardonnay.

So, great stuff, all natural. The soap base is made by our very own Washington soap maker, Bramble Berry from Bellingham. I just need to get it ready, add my scent, add color if I want it, pour into soap molds, pop (or sometimes pry) them out and then package them up all pretty. Because of our water/mineral/dryness issue, I decided to leave out the coloring. I'm certain it's alcohol based. Once you have all of the supplies, it's not especially difficult. A little measuring, a little calculating, etc.

Black Door Studio studio DOES offer this workshop fairly inexpensively. You would pay nearly the same amount to buy the handmade soap that you make and take home with you PLUS you learned how to make it.

Here is what I really made:

The first picture was just for pretty :)

5 Chardonnay

3 Citrus-Basil

3 Green Tea -Lemongrass

3 Sea Moss

upcoming projects: 52" of fabric garland and/or my February chunky tag

January 4th & 5th project

2011-01-06T22:03:00.000-08:00

Little Wooden Houses

Finally. But only two of them at the moment. I do have everything laid out for the next one but I need to finish up a couple of other projects that are in process.

This project is for an ongoing swap of little wooden houses that is monthly and by color. No theme. Kinda nice to be able to use a color and not try to associate it with a holiday. These are for swap-bot, January and February.

These little houses measure between 4" and 6" tall and are cut from a 1x4.

January's color was white. Since it's winter, I chose a winter white with a little bit of a creamy color to it. Still stuck (in my head) on the New Year thing, I used a little clock and built around it.

February's color was red or pink. Determined not to make it a Valentine-ish house I chose pink. Of course, pink can only mean Marie Antoinette.

I cut the wood, lightly sanded, primed and painted. in the case of the white house, also primed, painted, primed and painted again :) I didn't like how it came out the first two times. AND NOW YOU SEE why this took a little while for me. I stamped a background image on both houses and then sealed with a gloss sealer. The rest was "pick-n-stick". My term for selecting the pieces to actually use from my big pile of "stuff" I took out to use. Marie is actually mounted on cardboard and attached with pop dots so she gives some depth. In her hair is a little piece of vintage jewelry.

Anyway, I think they turned out ok. I might have to make another Marie Antoinette one to keep.

next project: maybe some chunky tags that need to be finished up.

January 3rd project

2011-01-04T23:56:00.000-08:00

Chunky Tag

So this tag was slipped in 'cause man, those little houses require a bit of work. Sanding, primer, paint, backgrounds, embellishments. It's a process, not a "do-it-in-a-day" project. It's important to find just the right additions for them.

Anyway, this tag is for an ongoing Chunky Tag of the Month swap. It started in October so this is my 4th tag. It's been really fun and I have received an assortment of tags to add to my tag ring. I'm trying to make mine themed to the month. This one is obviously New Year!

Coffee stained manila tag, handwritten script stamp with white chalk ink, vintage New Year girl photo mounted on heavy cardboard and attached with pop-dots, a strip of vintage prong-set rhinestone ribbon, a little silver glass glitter in medium shard and a few pieces of fancy yarn.

Off it goes in the mail tomorrow!

next project: the finishing of the houses. hopefully

January 2nd project

2011-01-03T23:49:00.000-08:00

Magnets

I know, I know. It's kind of a "cheater-cheater-quick-craft" type of project but I had to get them done.

They are promised for a swap with one of my online groups and need to go postal. I only needed 3 but they were so simple I felt like I was cheating so I made them in sets of two

(still feel like I'm cheating).

I like the look of them though. All are canceled foreign stamps carefully attached with modpodge so no excess gets onto the acrylic. After it's dry, I also modpodge the back to seal and leave a shiny finish, then the addition of the small yet crazy-strong magnets.

These acrylic pieces were cut by <drum roll> you guessed it, Lazer-Guy! I will have them available in my etsy shop as soon as I pull together my organization project. It's getting close, by the way :)

Kitty Chaos update: Zoey is doing quite well now that she's settled in the home studio. Everything is (smells) familiar and she is very content. The dogs have been in to see her a couple of times but she was hiding like ET among the supplies, watching them. So far, she is calm, dogs are calm and animal Mom is calm :) She will be venturing out on Wednesday or Thursday.

next project: Wooden Houses

** I have to do at least two of them so this will likely be a double-post. They are more involved with time and supplies.

January 1st project

2011-01-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

Button Bracelet

This is a challenge for an online group I'm involved with. I needed to use at least 3 buttons in an unexpected way. Well, if you know me, you know that I like to make re purposed jewelry so it seemed obvious from the second I read the challenge.

I've used a variety of vintage white buttons, vintage mother of pearl buttons and, for the crow in me, a few of the vintage Japanese crystals from my stash. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it now but I kind of like it. It hangs nicely on my wrist ;-)

By the way, Zoey Kitty supervised the entire assembly from my jewelry bench. Not contently but not hiding either.

I just couldn't bring myself to finish up the last 2 matchboxes so, later on those.

Next project: 3 magnets for a swap

Crisis at the home front!

2011-01-01T21:25:00.000-08:00

Crafts are done, photos are not! I expect good lighting in the morning and will photograph and post then.

The crisis, you ask?

I am moving my studio in Everett, WA to a new location by the end of the month. (that in itself is a crisis!) At the studio, I have two kitties that are NOT welcome in the new building. Individually , we are bathing them and bringing them home. Today was the little one, Zoey. She is a petite 1 1/2 year old kitty that is part dog. She comes when you call, fetches and begs for a piece of whatever you're eating. She has only known the studio as a home and has been only slightly curious about our real dog visitors.

First: Bath & Travel

The bath was a trauma for us all that is unparalleled. 'Nuf said.
Follow that up with a 30 minute car ride in a cat carrier, a 20 minute detour, an additional stop at the store for cat food and litter and finish it off with 2 crazy terriers.

Second: Home & Introductions

The terriers, aka: terrorists, want to eat any creature their size or smaller, including human babies. We knew this but thought we'd give it a try. Eventually, they would calm down. So far, no go. As soon as we cautiously introduced them the Wee one tried to bite her head off. Not good. Now it's just a constant whining and barking from the dogs and shaking and hiding for the cat. She's separated, well protected and acclimating room by room but it's not pretty. We'll stick it out for a week and see if there can be some kind of animal truce. Until then *sigh* chaos.

Did I mention the destruction that takes place when two dogs are flipping out?

It seemed like a good idea at the time

My distraction:

2010-12-30T21:14:00.000-08:00

Arranging my new Home Studio

corner 1: paper and misc crafts

corner 2: jewelry

corner 3:

Is A Mess.

and you don't getta see it.

or the 6 foot table in the room.

that may or may not be covered with stuff.

So, 4 boxes at a time, things get packed from the Studio and brought home to work into the initial furniture placement. I only pack the "travel boxes" with things from the Studio that I use on a regular basis.

The other boxes are packed and labeled with the items for a particular workshop. Sometimes, 2 or 3 boxes per workshop! Of course there are the boxes of supplies that don't have an associated workshop. Yet.

Then we have the boxes packed with vintage items to either sell on etsy or to organize and take to a show like 2nd Saturdayz at Sand Point . I could fill a booth 3 or 4 times!

I've set up a temporary "holding area" in the garage with things well separated so I can easily find them to load up for a workshop or move into the new studio. Thing is, the new studio space is just a big workroom so I have to limit my supplies that live there to the basics. Hahahaha! Like that will happen. I think I smell shelving :)

THIS is what is keeping me doing simple crafts. I suspect it will continue till we get the studio completely moved.

Dec 29th project

2010-12-30T11:48:00.000-08:00

Paperweights

These were made to replace the stock in one of my etsy shops as they sold out before Christmas. I think I'll also create a swap for one of them on swap-bot.

They are 2 1/2" round and 5/8" thick. Pretty heavy. They can be used two different ways.

1) They come with a hokey little tray. I've found that the tray can be painted (with the appropriate preparation) or they are the perfect width for the thin grosgrain ribbon.

2) My preference. Just use the glass. I put my collage or photo on the bottom with modpodge and add a round piece of black sticky-back felt.

I just love these heavy glass blobs. I ran into them at a discount store about 2 years ago and used a few. I looked everywhere for more but they were gone! By chance, last winter, I found them again but learned they were only close out so I bought what they had left. I do have some heavier domed pieces I bought online. Looking forward to using those. They can have a mixed media collage in them.

Next project: Two more matchboxes

Dec 28th project

2010-12-29T23:08:00.000-08:00

Handmade Ribbon

So, this is another swap-bot swap. The swap is for a minimum of 2 yards embellished ribbon. I chose to make mine with a 100% cotton natural muslin. It tears great and leaves a fantastic edge to make it kind of rustic.

I tore the ribbon strip just over 1" wide so I would have room to stamp and could fray the edged a bit. I used a tea stain, pigment ink pad and the awesome little crown stamp that came from, well, somewhere. LOL For the center jewel in the crown I put a dot of clear glossy accents and then sprinkled silver German glass glitter. Pretty stuff but don't try to wipe it off the table with your hand. What was I thinking. It's GLASS, people!

FYI: the silver used in the German glass glitter is actual silver so it will patina with age.

Next time I think I'm going to tea stain the muslin and do some machine sewn or embroidered embellishments. By the way, I bought 3 yards of this muslin because I have some ideas for a future project or 3 :)

** Next project: Paperweights

Had to post awesome new ADELE

2010-12-29T10:18:00.000-08:00

Dec 27th project

2010-12-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Altered Matchboxes

I had never made these before but had heard so much about them. When one of my online Art Groups, Altered Start, posted a swap I knew I had to give it a try.

I like themes so I chose Edgar Allen Poe. Mostly because I had this great Poe photograph that I'd been dying to use in something but also because Laser-boy

(AKA: THE Amazing Handyman-Sign Cutter-Demo-Contractor-Floor Sanding-Painter Guy)

cut me these incredible Raven/Crow pieces from black acrylic. They had to be used.

Above is 2 boxes. Top is the front with crow and the back with Poe's signature. Below is the inside with a Poe portrait with my favorite new product you can read about HERE and no-sparkle black glitter. Lower right is a little fake book of The Raven for the inside.

So, I have TWO more of these babies to make before I can send them to the swap coordinator. It's impossible for me to make 4 of the same thing so I'm thinking the next set will be Marie Antoinette. I have a great idea for the inside treasure.

Tangent warning:

I used to collect, and still have, vintage Limoges boxes. One of the cool things about them besides the "Peint a la main" (hand painted) aspect is that many of them come with little related treasures inside. I have a top hat that has a rabbit and a dove, a shoe box with shoes, an easel with a paint brush and paint pot, etc.

I thought it would make it more interesting to have something inside my little matchboxes.

** NEXT PROJECT: hand embellished cloth ribbon

Starting early - Dec 26th Project

2010-12-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

Dog Tags!

These dog tags, or, Cat Tags were made for a "Craft Tag"

that I joined within one of my groups on swap-bot.

The cat on the right is a collage process using a photo or clip art printed from my printer and lightly stripped with water from the back to make it somewhat opaque. I put it on the acrylic first, face down. I then added a page from an old book written in French behind it and sealed it with ModPodge for Paper so that the next glue wouldn't soak into the paper. After it dried, I added the stainless steel dog tag on the back with a thin layer of E6000 giving the pendant the perfect weight.

** The way a "Craft Tag" works is a forum thread is started with the 1st person offering up 5 items that they are willing to part with and send. These items are usually something handmade or craft supplies. The person that responds wanting these items must, in turn, offer up 5 more items for someone else to claim. And so on, and so on. This particular Tag was a "Choose two" of the 5 items being offered. The person that chose mine picked a custom dog tag and 3 lavender dryer bags. (Also made by moi) She wanted something to do with cats or coffee so I combined them both!

Next project: Altered Matchboxes. My 1st time!

365 at Black Door Studio

2010-12-24T21:47:00.000-08:00

Black Door Studio is going to attempt not only 365 days in a row of completed crafts but also the associated 365 photos AND the 365 blog posts.

It's a big undertaking, I know. Some will be simple craftiness, some will be elaborate. Sometimes craftiness is a booth set up for Art Walk or a Craft Show. These things may be samples for workshops, swaps for online art groups, crafty goodness for a gift, myself or to put in one of my online stores.

The Studio is moving by the end of January so getting started will be especially challenging!

Wish me luck and be sure to follow or check back in!