Watson Wedding Tea Wallet!

A Tea Wallet can save your life.

But it takes John Watson to save your life.

Hence...

I'm calling this the John Watson/Mary Morstan Wedding Tea Wallet!

As those who know me, 

and those who read this blog have probably 

caught on to, I have an obsession with BBC Sherlock.

(Stick with me here... I'm going to make the naming of my tea wallet reference work)

In the 3rd series/2nd episode our lovely John Watson weds Mary Morstan.

The venue for the wedding is GORGEOUS! 

All in pale yellows.

In Sherlock's Best Man speech,

 (watch this please, it's nothing short of amazing and takes most of the episode :) )

he centers around the theme of 

"Sherlock solves the crime, but John saves the life".

Tea on the go has saved me many times.

As a recent-ish devotee to tea, I'm still super particular 

about which ones I like.

It's great to just reach into my purse and have my favorites

at hand rather than force down a blend I'm not familiar with.

Also, I've cut caffeine out completely (whew!)

so to have a tea I like and be decaf just "available" at a

moments notice is the best!

So, this yellow hued Tea Wallet I dedicate to that most epic of Best Man Speeches.

(I still tear up when I watch it, and I watch it a LOT!)

The details:

I stitched this up originally for SonjaBoo in the Box of Sunshine Swap.

I had enough fabric to make a twin for myself (YAY!).

The tutorial was found at Handmade Therapy: (Here's the link it's GREAT!)

Just for giggles, I'll include another favorite part of mine in his speech:

Basket full of Brighten Your Day!

Last January, 

(I told you I had a huge backlog of posts)

I got partnered up with the Amazing SonjaBoo 

in the Box of Sunshine Swap. 

She needed a fabric basket and I couldn't NOT make her one!

The Box of Sunshine Swap was so much fun.

It was way deep in winter and the rules were simple...

You could fill up a box with anything the color Yellow or Orange.

A box of cheerfulness.

What a great idea, I hope there's another one this year!

The tutorial is from Leslie's Art and Sew.

(Fabric Basket Tutorial)

I have sewn this particular basket several times.

I give a lot of credit for that to Leslie's great tute.

I came to know her as Leslieshappyheart, through her organizing Craftster Swaps.

She and her friend (Susanab) would coorganize the most 

positive, and creative idea cultivating swaps.

For the most part, they would offer an idea (and 

even a pattern or link for a tutorial) and the participants 

would go off their partner's tastes and everyone would

essentially craft the same item but every one was totally unique. 

They were the ones who introduced me to Ninnys.

Please check out the Ninny Tutorial over at Revoluzzza: Revoluzzza Blog 

I certainly attribute my sewing skills beyond pillows to them.

They haven't organized a swap for a long time and I miss them.

On Partner Day Susanab would post a scrolling text about dancing, 

calling it her "partner dance".

So, I want to thank them for their providing a 

super positive place on Craftster and how they attracted

many possible people.

I think it takes someone special to do something like that.

Anna and Elsa Pillowcases!

These Frozen Pillowcases were created for

GrindHouseHussy in the recent Frozen Swap on Craftster!

                              

The Images are taken from the back of a Limited Edition 

Elsa and Anna Doll Set box.

   

I didn't use a stencil, just the old trick of printing out the image

and tracing the outline onto my fabric.

To color in, I used a gel fabric marker to get nice sharp lines.

The back fabric on both is this mint green winter scene I had in my stash!

I had such fun with the Frozen Swap.

So many ideas were whirring around in my head!

Prayer Flags Round 4

Prayer Flag Swap: Round 4!

I love this swap in particular as it's a really quick project with

great impact.

We choose what meaningful phrases

we like and our swap partner choose one to craft up

in the general size of 8x5 inches.

(Initial cutting of fabric is 11x5 to allow for a foldover for hanging)

These flags were destined for Alwaysinmyroom.

                                  

Little did I know how much they might mean to her as

after I mailed them...

her aging mother died.

This being the week of Mother's Day too.

First flag was Trust.

                                     

I went for an "ocean at night" vibe

thinking how much sailors had to trust the stars to 

lead them on.

                             

The blue eyelet lace for water was taken from scraps.

I"d disassembled a thrift store dress (that didn't fit)

for a belly dancing skirt and held on to every little piece

left over because I love the color. 

Then we have Strength.

The tree here is pretty self explanatory...

Just by happenstance purple, orange, and green was my 

partner's favorite color combination.

Sometimes things happen they way they were meant to.

                                        

I did hand applique for everything in both flags.

For some reason, I didn't want to be stuck behind my sewing machine.

I'm glad I wasn't as, I feel, it makes the flags more personal.

For all the Motherless Daughters out there,

myself included in that group,

I think these flags are for you.

Tablecloth Infinity Scarf!

This unbelievably soft Infinity Scarf was sewn together 

for SonjaBoo in the recent I <3 Sunshine Swap.

A long, long time ago in a Thrift Store not so far away

I purchased a Tablecloth that I kept in my fabric stash.

In the stash, the Tablecloth learned the ways of the 

force, knowing that one day it would be called upon to 

become something more.

A Protector.

The Tablecloth had been gifted with softness of linen and 

colors of plaid neutrals.

(Side...could def use in my Hufflepuff cosplay)

I'd sewn one up for myself last year and, being tablecloth size, still had 

a great deal of the fabric in my stash.

The yellow fit the color criteria for the swap in a nice

subtle way...so SonjaBoo got to have one too!

Here's a link to the whole swap gallery (Sunshiny Goodness!)

Army of Darkness Lanyard!

THIS is my Boom-Lanyard!

GrindhouseHussy19 was my partner in the recent Frozen Swap 

on Craftster and this was a little extra I included.

If you're not familiar with Army of Darkness,

it's one of the most quotable movies ever!

A Lanyard is what GrindHouse asked for and 

a killer Lanyard she got. (wink)

                         

Another delving into items I've never attempted. 

I found a great tutorial over at Cold Hand Warm Heart (Lanyard tutorial link)

and made a few alterations to it for my lack of skill level.

So many quotes to choose from, I decided to 

include my favorites.

"Well, Hello Mr. Fancypants" being something I say 

at least on a weekly basis...

This movie is ingrained in me...

Bruce Campbell is a god!

                                       

Shop Smart, Shop S-Mart!

Crafty Cave: February...March!

Golly have I been slacking on my New Years Intention of sprucing up the Crafty Cave!

I did, however, get some Calendar Towel Curtains made to hide away the clutter of my fabric stash cabinet.

Not matching up at the bottom, but I'm gonna let that slide for now.

Here's a little peek at the "during".

I went all fancy and installed a curtain rod...all by myself thank you very much!

For attatching, I snapped some Bistro Curtain Clips and called it a day.

Oh yeah, and I used to have all these little fabric scraps in diaper boxes on the bottom shelf.

I picked up some plastic zippy bins and now I can squish them away and store twice as much.

There was also some major organizing of the closet which is still a work in progress. 

I hope to get Will's birthday behind me, then I can concentrate on the Crafty Cave again.

Basil of Baker Street Kindle Sleeve!

In honor of the US Premiere of BBC Sherlock

(Tomorrow night at 9pm!!!)

I'd like to share for your viewing pleasure...

The Basil of Baker Street Kindle pouch!

This was made for a Sherlock Holmes Swap which occurred in January 2012.

Optimal usage of my brown fabric marker!

Apart from the newer Sherlocks, 

(BBC I love/ Elementary I watch if desperate for a Sherlockian fix)

I always get a smidge of Steampunkery feel.

Here's the lining...

Tomorrow is Sherlock Day.

I may not be able to contain myself!!!

Flourish and Blott's Tote Bag!

These days, every store has their own reusable shopping bag...

From the recent Return to Hogwarts swap I whipped up this fun lined bag.

To get the image on, I used the Freezer Paper Technique and my Fine Point Gel Fabric Marker.

Here's the hard surface I used to work on.

 This pen is great for fine lines. There's no "setting" time and it doesn't smudge after about 2 minutes.
I do like to iron just to be on the safe side.

Here's the lining. She stated Slytherin House, Green was definitely in order!

I love this linen outer fabric.

I picked up a BUNCH from the Thrift, and will be very sad to see it used up.

Perhaps I have enough to finally make pillows for my bed?

Weasley Family Napkins!

I Finally made something with the super-fantastical thrift store fabric I found a while back!

Napkins!!!

I decided to make some "Weasley Family Napkins: 1 for each kid in the Burrows"

to enter in the Summer Nerd Wars.

Here are the "name" pins we use so there's no mixing up between 

people. I just use beads with the favorite color and first initial of the "wipe-ie".

It was great before my kids could read, the colors would help them...

Now that they're older the letters work great! 

I wouldn't put it past that excellent Domestic Hero of mine, aka Molly Weasley,

to have this fabric close at hand.

Or wand...

And because I'm a stickler for even numbers,

I had to make 8 Napkins in all.

There are 7 Weasley Kids.

I just couldn't stop myself. 

If they every come for an afternoon tea, I'll just hide the 8th one.

Rolling Pin Shower Gift!

My good friend Jessie got married last summer and what do you know....

I made her a gift that could also be entered into the Craftster Summer Nerd Games!

The prompt was "Romance v/s Horror"

I chose "Horror"

There was a Rolling Pin on her registry, I couldn't resist making a cozy for it.

But...

You've gotta have a little kitchen towel to match! Every good little housewife knows this!

This is where the HORROR comes in.

Becoming a happy homemaker was not on her list of "things to be". 

As a proud happy homemaker myself, I thought I'd sew up some snarky fun for her very traditional gift she herself had registered for.

Heh. Heh.....

Here's an action shot!

Here's the whole gift package I put together for her. 

Jessie's favorite thing when she was in her 'teens was Purple Rain.

When it purple rains, it purple pours!

I also included a little kitchen towel.

With my gel fabric marker, I drew a little snark onto it.

get it? tee hee!

I love making unexpected things.

I also give myself extra points for making myself laugh in the process.

Have a happy homemaker day!!!

Superman Skirt!

I was at the Thrift Store (surprise) and in the fabric/craft section (another surprise) when out of the corner of my eye I spied that tell tale combination of red, blue, and yellow.

Oh yes, it was superman fabric!!!
Not knowing at the time it was technically a quilt panel I thought "Oooo what a fun skirt this would make!".

I could also sneak it into the summer nerd games under the prompt of the "muscular" system.

---Textbook: Guts & Glory!: Pick a particular system within your body (muscular, digestive, nervous, endocrine, reproductive, circulatory) and craft something inspired by it.

Up, up, and away!

Check out that black trim. 

It's actually lace I got from my friend Lisa...

(the picture here doesn't quite do it justice)

and the amount I got from her was a perfect length to add to the blue plaid underskirt!

Thanks again, Lisa!!!

Also, thanks to my photographer Melissa!

I can't very well take sassy pictures of myself, right?

Chihiro Name Card Needlebook!

I sewed this up for the Miyazaki Swap...

DaphadillyArt was is major need of a place for her needles.

She was leaving them in the arm of her couch and forgetting about them...

In the Miyazaki movie "Spirited Away" our heroine Chihiro held on to a card

her friend had made to remember her name.

Here's the inside. I stuck decorator weight cotton, flannel, and felt for the needle "pages".

It's a really cool movie, Spirited Away. I recommend it...

but maybe not for the faint of heart.

Go forward, brave souls and immerse yourselves in something new and WILD!

Prime Directive Hairkerchief!

JoAnn Fabrics have come out with deliciously nerdy fabrics lately!

This was a hairkerchief I made to wrangle in my hair for the Star Trek: Into Darkness movie.

It was a rainy/humid day back in May, and my hair was especially big.

Some might say, it boldly poofed up as no hair has done before.

I also entered this in the Nerd Games.

45pt. May Textbook

---Textbook: Prime Numbers  A prime number has only two divisors - 1 and itself. The first 25 prime numbers  are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, and 97. Your challenge is to demonstrate prime numbers in a project.  Examples: prime number of yards or shapes (i.e. triangle).  NOTE: One is not a prime number!

The Prime Directive and  the hairkerchief  having 3 sides fit this promt to a T! 

(T is for Tiberius)

Probably my best attempt yet for bias tape! YAY!

The movie was rad, and something surprising happened as we took our seats.

As I don't like to block views behind me with my hair (ha!) even sporting my 

PDHK (prime directive hairkerchief),

I made a blanket apology to the older ladies sitting behind me.

One of them then shocked me when she asked out of the blue:

"Do you watch Doctor Who?"

With a sly smile, I said "Yes. Is it that obvious?) 

She then said my hair reminded her of River Song's if she inherited Amy Pond's red hair.

A bigger compliment couldn't have been paid! 

Thank you random lady!!!

Live Long and Prosper!