Last Minute 4th of July Crafting

I can't believe it is the 4th of July and this is my first post in 2011. Was I sleeping or something. I guess so.
The craft parties are going steady. At least 3 people always attend - not too bad. But it is always a surprise how many will be there.
This year we are celebrating 4th of July at home, grilling out. And I had no decorations :(
So I came up with a last minute chain of origami stars. I made them out of Marie Claire and Elle magazine pages. I chose pages by overall color so I would have red, white and blue stars.

Then I stung them onto some wool and attached them to the inside of out front window. The picture is not so good. I am not use it is still easy to distinguish the different colors after I added them alternating to the string as good as when they were in matching color piles. But I still think it looks good.

Get Going

Another two months have passed since my last post. Some things have happened but others still need to get started finally.

The Etsy Craft Party Milwaukee now also has an Etsy Team. The Eagle Team was changed and the 2 existing members are still there.

I am still not liking the logo for the Etsy Team. Maybe someone wants to help, but I will take a stab at it this week. Also need to throw out another poll for a craft meeting in November and December.

I have finished the doll dress resembling the "real" dress I made.

Next step for this evening is to go through my new (well 3 month) subscription of Marie Claire and Elle to find some inspiration, and then to order some fabric for new projects :) And then....

Red hot dress & new photo app

The weekend before labor day, I finished the red dress I had sketched in the last post. I did not do the gathers on the skirt. I just somehow felt that that would be too much. It looks good as is. My friend Fen came over and we made some pictures for the Etsy listing. Unfortunately, the back was a little wide. I fixed that but at the time we were not able to take pictures of the back.
Last week, I got an iPhone 4 from work, and I had to try out the camera, which is very good, as well as some apps like a photo app that lets me put some cool effects on pictures I take. Here some test pictures of the dress and my Obitsu Doll. I was thinking, I should make the same dresses I have made in doll size.

Today, Fen and I went to the Renegade Craft Fair. We had an awesome time, sore feet, and a ton of business cards from the different booths.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Place mats and new dress design

Finally starting some sewing again. Two weeks ago my mom and sister visited and last week was crazy busy at work. I found am awesome fabric scrap that I am making place mats of. Here a pic of two out of four that are done.

But I need to stop digressing :) On Sunday is the Etsy Craft Party Milwaukee for this month, and my friend Fen offered to model my creations. Check out her blog at http://beadflorajewels.blogspot.com/. This means I really need to get going. I know what I want to do, have the fabric and her measurements.

Today I started with a sketch of what I want to do.
So essentially a dress and a tiny jacket. The jacket will be made of a wool fabric with a small plaid pattern. The dress is solid burgundy red with some gathers to make it flirty. I am thinking of possibly attaching a fabric flower made of the dress' fabric to the jacket - have to see. Also wanted to use the dress' fabric for the lining of the jacket.

So time is running short. Tomorrow I want to draft the pattern. Thursday, cut the fabric and possibly start sewing. Then I have Friday and Saturday to finish the ensemble. Ha ha, you think that's too much - maybe, but that's how I operate :) No serious, I am just too lazy lately, need to kick myself a little.

Husqvarna Viking Serger

I found this post on sew, mama, sew: Win a NEW Husqvarna Viking Serger ~ Back to School Giveaway!

To win the Serger, they want you to answer one question: How would your life be better with a Serger?
Well, that is an easy question. I can come up with some answers right away:

1. I don't have an overlock machine right now. So all these seams I have been overcasting with a zig zag, would be a piece of cake.
2. I would be able to sew so much quicker.
3. I could sew with up to four different threads.
4. And obviously many more reasons :)

I really hope I win. Please cross your fingers for me.

Obitsu Doll

I couldn't help myself and buy a doll :) I have always loved Barbies, as you can see from some past posts.
But I found these really cute dolls (Obitsu). They are Japanese and I think they are a lot better then Barbie, especially because you can move most joints. I bought the body and the head with hair. I painted the face myself. It's OK, but I am not 100% happy. I'll probably buy more heads, maybe different hair colors, and try different hair cuts and faces. I also want to try the glass eye balls. That probably looks a lot better. The hair was straight and I made some curls. As you can see in the pictures. Next is a dress :)

Beads, Buttons & Etsy

Last month I visited the Beads & Button Show here in Milwaukee, and it was just amazing. Especially some of those very intricate glass beads with crazy scenes on them - just awesome. I bought some things there: glass seed beads, coconut beads and some shell flower pendants. Also made a picture:

I went with my new friend Fen, which I met because of Etsy's birthday. For that occasion Etsy Craft Parties were forming all over the world, and Fen and I started the one for Milwaukee. We are planning to do this every month and keep in tough and organize this through a face book group.

Now that I am in the Etsy Craft Party club, I finally got around to opening my Etsy shops.
One for paintings and other art: http://livelovemaria.etsy.com
And one for clothing and accessories: http://www.etsy.com/shop/livelovemariafashion

Today I also listed my first item in the fashion shop. Here a picture:
It's a turquoise summer dress made from 100% linen and embroidered daisies (wool and glass seed beads).

The next thing should probably be a painting. I'm thinking of starting a Namibia collection.