Slashing Your Stash: A Giveaway

Last week we were contacted by a new-ish site, now a sponsor, called "Stash Slash". (Update: Site has since closed) The site is simple. You can go there to buy de-stash items, much of it vintage and some even antique, and/or you can use the site to list your own de-stashes. What's really REALLY simple about it is that it's not an auction, and there aren't individual item fees for selling. As a seller, you pay one fee and you're good to go for a year. As an eBay seller a time or two, I like that a seller doesn't have to calculate a whole bunch of individual fees to figure out the bottom line. And as a buyer, I find it a whole lot easier to browse. It's all crafty and it's all clearly priced-- no "auction" versus "buy it now" and issues with watching for when it closes. I've enjoyed watching the market change daily. And I just snagged a 1947 reprint of a 1936 dressmaking book.

Relatedly, the site got me looking around at what I might de-stash. Immediately I thought about this sewing kit that I found last summer. I've taken a few notions from it, but there's plenty of vintage goodness left that I've not put to use, and feel that it's time to pass it on to a good home.

Would you like to win a year of "Stash Slash" selling AND Mrs. Jewell's Sewing Kit? Easy enough. Check out Stash Slash and tell me what you'd like to add to/subtract from your stash. Leave a comment with that info here. Sorry, this one's only open to US mailing addresses-- the crafterhours empire is a small empire. Domestic shipping is all we're prepared to handle. Please be sure that you leave an e-mail address OR that your profile is enabled so that we can contact you. One entry per person, please. We'll choose and post winner on Monday morning, Eastern US time.

My original plan was to post this giveaway on Monday. But when I tried to visit the sponsor's site, the site was unavailable. My first guess was correct-- the server was located in Vermont! The cable connection had been lost. And now it's back again! Phew. Trivial, though, in comparison to what so many have experienced as a result of Irene.

So check out Stash Slash-- whether you've got your own stash to slash or you'd like to pick up a few destash goodies, it's kind of cool to have a new place to find craft supplies. And what if you sign up as a seller and THEN win the giveaway? They'll give you your money back! Pretty cool, eh?

Pencils are Personal

My godson has a pretty awesome school supply list. I'm not saying that as a mom, because as a mom, Prismacolor pencils are kinda pricey for a 6-year-old, but as a kid, I'd have looooved to have these in my pencil box.

I never had a fancy metal box like this. I just had cardboard ones. Kids these days. (But the paper boxes did include a stand so that you could prop your set up-- better for just sitting and staring at them, like a grown-up box of 64 Crayola crayons.) 

I didn't get to use these pencils until high school, and I was in loooove. Really, I'd say these were THE staple in our high school art classes. A lot of other media came and went, but these were in constant use. The color is smooth and vibrant, stable but blendable. And they come in sets of up to 132 colors. Looking at that particular set still makes me feel a little dizzy. For this project, I was assigned a set of 24 that he needs to have at the ready when school starts after Labor Day. And since every kid in the class will have the exact same set, some labels are a good idea. I decided to use the Silhouette. There are a bajillion ways to mark things like this, but I'm using the Silhouette because I caaaaaaan. 

So here's what my file looked like. Really tiny. Kind of an experiment-- I wasn't sure whether the cuts at this size would work. 

Turns out they did. I was lucky with this name-- in all caps there are no negative space bits (like the center triangle in an "A") that I needed to hang on to. So I just used really sharp, pointy tweezers to weed out the letters and then pick up the labels and apply them.

Because I'm a nerd (and you already knew that because a) I'm labeling individual pencils and b) I'm involving tweezers in the process of "a" ) I was careful not to cover the name or number of the color. It's imperative that you know that that particular green is "Apple Green"

 Related to the previous declaration of my nerdiness, here they are, all lined up.

So now I feel content that I've done my part to get this kid ready for school.

Custom Printed Grosgrain Labels

On Monday I posted Liam's Quilt. In a corner I was able included a label that said "just for liam"-- thanks to Twill Tape Guy. Or maybe he's Grosgrain Ribbon Guy? No, let's just stick with the original.

Last year as I was packing up to cross an ocean and reestablish myself in America, Twill Tape Guy (TTG) sent a few samples for us to see, including this, a swatch of grosgrain ribbon, on which he'd printed "this is something else we can print on. Any ideas how this might be put to use?" In a word, YES! But... I had a whole lot of other stuff to get done first. It went in a box for later.

Now it's finally later. When I finally dug this out of said box I cut it in half and pinned the left half to a garment and washed it with the rest of a load of laundry, half expecting all of the ink to disappear. As you can see, you can barely tell the difference. Very little fading, and no shrinking that I can tell. I got to work on a few designs to send to TTG for more experimentation.

I know that there are lots of types of custom labels. There are woven ones you can order by the hundred, for example. But I have a hard time picturing myself using a hundred of anything before I'm bored to tears. (Granted, I'm not mass-producing anything.) Here's what TTG sent me to try out. I think I counted 17 images in one yard. I gave him my specs as far as how much space I needed between the images for seam allowances.

I used a cardboard scrap to help me press nice creases in the ribbon for cutting.

There are two different ribbon widths, 1 1/4", above, and 3/4", below. With this one I created a square image and asked him to print it in alternating directions so that I could stitch it at either top/bottom or side/side. Or just fold it once and stitch it at the top like a t-shirt tag, inside a seam.

I tried out tags for Liam's projects, for a project for myself, and tags for clothes for my girls, because I'm already having trouble remembering which garment is which size as I'm folding the pile that the dryer spits out. And it helps the girls figure out which side is the back.

I like to stare at the whole pile of 'em, ready to be put to work. And they make me think about what else I'd like to put on a label. Since these are digitally printed, you can print a full-color photograph, your blog header, any sort of clip art... or print a design on the ribbon to match the project. You could lay out your design so that there's a date on the flip side, or a project number, or a phone number, or... you get the idea.

If you'd like to check them out, you'll find the printing options here. In the next few days I'll be able to tell you more about the other ribbon color options that are about to be available, and a little friendly competition you might enjoy. In the meantime, what would you print on 'em? And what would you attach 'em to?

Liam's Quilt is Finished!

Liam's quilt is done! And I'm so glad I asked for ideas for the binding. 'Cause I had nothin'. I really took my time trying to picture them all, but in the end it was Janica's suggestion of brown that got my wheels turning. I thought at first about a woodgrain print, and then found a light and mid-tone brown striped shirting at G Street Fabrics. I turned that into what felt like 463 yards of binding for use on the quilt and later on the bumper.

And here's the binding at work! All quilted and bound!

Liam's parents have pretty classic taste, and I think the binding fabric choice worked well with the blue and white pinstripe fabric in the quilt. It's slightly different from the linen, but not so different that your eye is drawn to it first. And not so similar that it's a bore.

Not a bore, but still a great place for a snooze?

I really love straight-line quilting, and especially for a boy quilt.

Here's the back side. Mostly Kona White with three little dog houses and four little dogs.

My favorite little finishing touch-- hand-stitching a printed grosgrain label that says "Just for Liam" and  a little red ball just like the ones in the two doggy prints. I've got more to tell you about these labels on Wednesday. 

I haven't updated you on Liam himself in a while. He's growing and changing like crazy, like newborns do. Tomorrow he'll be three weeks old already. He has gone from a super complicated breathing support machine to a less complicated breathing machine and now to just a little supplemental oxygen under his nose. He has just started drinking from a bottle and is getting lots of "kangaroo" time with mom and dad-- which means that mom and dad are beside themselves with excitement over how far they've come and finally being able to hold and care for him. NICU doctors don't like to give timelines or make promises, so there's no clear plan of when he comes home yet-- but Liam's certainly been doing his part to get stronger and ready to head home. Liam's mom sent this photo for me to share, and thanks you for your thoughtful comments and prayers. (It's his worldwide debut! Check out all that hair!)

There's not much that I can say to follow a photo of Mr. Miracle. So I'll just say I'll see you back here Wednesday. Aaaaaah, I'll never get tired of looking at that face.

Tee to Tank: A Tutorial by Jen from Upcycled Education

This is one of my favorite tee refashions of all time. For a number of reasons.

First, let me tell you that it wasn't my idea. Jen posted this on her facebook page and I jumped at the chance to have a crafty morning with her and watch her make it. Jen blogs at Upcycled Education-- a blog I recommend you peruse, especially if you're an educator-- formally or informally. She's full of good ideas and fun finds and her enthusiasm is catchy. And I'm so excited to share this.

Second, it is soooo quick and easy that it takes less than half an hour.

Third, it uses tees you probably already have a million of and don't enjoy the fit of but have a hard time discarding. For example, I have a pile of camp tees. And tees for walks, races, fundraisers, vacation spots. I like the graphics or the message, but don't find the boxy shape so flattering. This makes a boxy tee sooooo much more flattering. (Without adding much embellishment. A camp tee that's been bedazzled has not necessarily been improved, in my book.)

Fourth, this only requires a tee, scissors and thread. All things you likely already have. Overall cost? Nothing. And now you're wearing shirts that have just been sitting!

So my girls and I spent a lovely morning yesterday with Jen and her daughter. There was play time, craft time, snack time, crafty blog chat time.... everything I could want in a morning. I got to photograph Jen making a tank from start to finish. And when I was packing up I scrolled back through the photos to find that most of the in-process photos were gooone. It appears that my 2yo photographer's assistant had done some editing while I was distracted. I'm totally bummed that I don't get to show you Jen's photos. But the saving grace about this project is... it only took half an hour today to recreate it.

Are you ready to see? Just four steps!

One of Jen's tips for this project is that you can use a tee that already fits well. It doesn't have to be oversized because you're not removing any width. That said, if the tee is quite roomy, you might decide to take in the side seams a bit. Which would add a whole 3 minutes overall.

In step 1 you're making five cuts. Each sleeve just inside the seam, one straight across just underneath the collar, one that trims the bottom hem off and one that creates a drawstring just above where the hem is removed. Like so:

Steps 2, 3 and 4 are pretty straightforward. Here's an illustration of your two lines of stitching in step 3. After stitching you may decide to trim away excess fabric. Or not. 

Here are the finished project photos that did survive my photo assistant. Here's supermodel Jen at work!

And here are four tee-to-tanks, lined up for a shot. I love the way they look together.

So many options for the straps. Tied on one side or two sides? Knots or bows? Or if you're ready to commit to one length, you could easily trim and stitch the two ends together and slide the joined spot into the casing-- probably the safest bet if you're going to wear this BACK to camp with boys who'd untie it. Gotta watch out for those boys...

And to make the straps? Twill tape, ribbon, knit from another shirt in a contrasting color, multiple strips that are braided... so many possibilities.  And comes together so quickly.

Thank, you Jen, for sharing! (And thanks for play, snacks, lunch, chatting!)

My Favorite Hobby Lobby Staple

My plan was to photograph Liam's quilt today. The weather here is not cooperating with that plan. This same plan included taking the kids to the fair early and then throwing them into bed for naps while I completed said photography. Thus, my plan is no more. So I've distracted myself with photos that I took yesterday of one of my mostest favoritest things.

I have a love/hate relationship with Hobby Lobby. Much like the other big craft stores. It's easy to get distracted and overwhelmed as soon as you walk through the door, and I have a hard time focusing on the projects that are already on my table with so many shiny gadgets staring at me. That said, I love the 99 cent pattern sales and knowing that I can find a few basics.

This week I trekked in with two kids in tow to search for some supplies for K's upcoming birthday party. I'm starting early, hoping to avoid having to order much online if I can find it locally. When I got to the ribbon section, I found one of my old favorites:

I'm not sure why it's labeled "ribbon sachet". ("Sachet" sounds to me like it should smell like fake-y flowers and it doesn't smell like anything. Now that I've looked up the definition I guess it makes sense. It's just not the first thing that comes to mind.) It's 15 strips of ribbon in 2 yard lengths. 30 total yards, a mix of satin and grosgrain and sometimes a chiffon or lame is thrown in. Sometimes a stripe or print. Occasionally there's been some lingerie elastic or wired ribbon in the mix. I've been buying these grab bags for years, from various stores, and a lot of my ribbon stash has come from these.


I found these on the bottom shelf. Standing in the aisle with kids climbing on me, literally, I didn't have a lot of time to squish them around and be picky about it. But for less than seven cents a yard, there's not a lot of pressure. And at the rate K's been raiding my stash for her own crafty projects and costume-making, I'll be back for more next month.


Just in case you were looking for a reason to go to Hobby Lobby... and in case it's raining where you are too...

An Update of Critical Importance: My Manicure

Bloggers sometimes get excited and blog about something new that they love. I've done it. Sometimes before it's completed its life cycle. And sometimes we don't blog later about how whatever it was we were excited about only lasted three days before it ripped, ran out, dried up or broke. Or we decide not to follow-up to say that whatever it was that looked so lovely in the photos had fallen apart by the next day, didn't survive the washing machine or only looked good in the four photos that actually made the blog cut, whereas in the other 67 photos in the trash bin, you could see the obvious fit issues.

Over time, we learn. And occasionally, we forget. Like when I posted this about my new nail polish. I was thinking that they looked darn good for day 11. I completely forgot that removal could be hideously destructive. So when comments popped up, I got nervous. And regretted not completing the cycle before extolling the virtues. Here's my honest follow-up.

Yesterday is/was day 23. The ends were still not chipped except in one spot, but the "outgrowth" was getting significant. Time to take the stuff off.

After doing some reading, I chose an acetone polish remover. Sounded like that was what was required. I hadn't used one of these dippy things in a long time, seemed like the thing.

The last time I'd used one of these, it'd been spongey in the middle. I don't recall ever seeing one that looked like an alien sea cucumber that'd eat my fingers. And beside the fact that it looked scary, I could only soak two fingers at a time in there.

That wasn't going to work. So I poured the acetone into a glass bowl and took it outside to enjoy an unseasonably beautiful day and keep my house from reeking of nail salon. I did about 10 minutes of soaking and scraping at it a bit with my fingernails. Here're the results after a little filing of the length:

I can tell that there's still a little of the base coat intact on my nails, but because it's colorless it's hard to see. I've since added a coat of almost clear polish and it my mind, it looks good. Not as amazing as the Gelish finish, especially in the early days, but my nails don't appear to be damaged, which is a relief.

Liam's Quilt Progress

I'm neeeearly done with Liam's quilt. So grateful that I posted the top for some input. Thanks to Stacey the back now has a few tiny doghouses.

And each little dog house has a little dog somewhere nearby.

I followed a reader's suggestion on the binding and made what felt like 47 yards of continuous bias tape, which I'll show you when it's finished. I'm really, really pleased with it. Also, this is the first time I've used curved basting pins, which one might mistake for plain ole bent safety pins, but I did find them easier to work with.

I've done a whole lot of simple straight-line quilting.

And since taking these photos I've attached the bias binding on one side. Now it's time to hand-sew the other. Which means first deciding what I'm going to watch on Netflix...