Blog neglect and little time to craft

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!

Trying...

...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 :)

R&R and Crafty Time

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

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 :'(

Lots going on!

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!

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...

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!

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

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

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