tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3948514323365381342024-03-17T18:32:02.148-07:00Found in the RuinsSharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-59174339850509456962023-12-20T14:50:00.000-08:002023-12-20T14:50:04.410-08:00Butterfly on Bone Vest Part 2<p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the more boring part of getting ready to appliqué the bone fabric onto the vest. I need to practice free stitching, which as stated in part one, I have never done. Today was prep day.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The sequence shows the VERY ratty pair of jeans my husband donated to the cause. I cut the legs off then opened them up. Using a 5" x 5" piece of card stock and a small bar of soap, I marked squares and cut them out, then ironed them. The last one I ironed on one of the butterflies. All these will be used to practice free sewing. I used the jeans since the vest is also pretty heavy denim. I wanted to know how that would work under the needle. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Next will be the actual stitching. Might not get to that until after Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0QA1mHa67icJM3aAinAu93Re3eH9l5LaSU-_B1tdCn_NCDDIBErRZaOEMZbFnONc8au_IIH0_vVtYIcaGu5Z-xbK6mUKQiDHpVNWwgN4DGF_P1kqGug0tbPgScr2XegUvX-rDS5fvIJ50V-HffKN0irVAh1Z0DQaJn9ynlru4FvsvguG_BwKmJm6rnR1/s4032/IMG_3469.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0QA1mHa67icJM3aAinAu93Re3eH9l5LaSU-_B1tdCn_NCDDIBErRZaOEMZbFnONc8au_IIH0_vVtYIcaGu5Z-xbK6mUKQiDHpVNWwgN4DGF_P1kqGug0tbPgScr2XegUvX-rDS5fvIJ50V-HffKN0irVAh1Z0DQaJn9ynlru4FvsvguG_BwKmJm6rnR1/w480-h640/IMG_3469.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyPo7UMrIcpHRexNDMtmVxj5kIa0ggPPkxLpop9U4-7OdjOfgiSU6A4rvlebE-8hQiCXB5NGoNV_V6XLdyihykQ2Rnl7yJTRAP32rhsHXuJ81sJzsWHazX6Jgct0wPYnurPsAticx2D1wnuEUHlmkdQvUwJ3vPXoRapcmblAdA7fY_fGotT8D1vbbB9cd/s4032/IMG_3470.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyPo7UMrIcpHRexNDMtmVxj5kIa0ggPPkxLpop9U4-7OdjOfgiSU6A4rvlebE-8hQiCXB5NGoNV_V6XLdyihykQ2Rnl7yJTRAP32rhsHXuJ81sJzsWHazX6Jgct0wPYnurPsAticx2D1wnuEUHlmkdQvUwJ3vPXoRapcmblAdA7fY_fGotT8D1vbbB9cd/w480-h640/IMG_3470.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHk3BLSbxkPYjp67ruitkFre5iOh9g9k1TRuWhhs3bb87ChXoAPa021CnRWJ_5D4D4NiJYB-IG5QJ_c-iT7TA7eqNY262pIUGyPPbYgXyE-xqo-ELzjypp2NuuWDAjpGIbUDk1kSNqcXTmvQQlVK7IlPwK6VhJAUbLOAIcbkPSjNmxZyu9Dm1LlDbEPA0q/s4032/IMG_3471.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHk3BLSbxkPYjp67ruitkFre5iOh9g9k1TRuWhhs3bb87ChXoAPa021CnRWJ_5D4D4NiJYB-IG5QJ_c-iT7TA7eqNY262pIUGyPPbYgXyE-xqo-ELzjypp2NuuWDAjpGIbUDk1kSNqcXTmvQQlVK7IlPwK6VhJAUbLOAIcbkPSjNmxZyu9Dm1LlDbEPA0q/w480-h640/IMG_3471.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgYpj4uCd9B8LnBAA5wUQbveeULyZMpwOCa6A3JUljWEOZxzWEJFuj9BRRkmgHnvUrtxq3Iw1vekqZtJi4_a7X_PlGsX2OfDvmpNPavAoEMV99E4EIahW6rPACxx0CvTRYMBvlgDCesHV5qjuXD8FygXek8w7k7arYfdZ5Cut_ORISC3BFHOiuHnBAZ4M/s4032/IMG_3472.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgYpj4uCd9B8LnBAA5wUQbveeULyZMpwOCa6A3JUljWEOZxzWEJFuj9BRRkmgHnvUrtxq3Iw1vekqZtJi4_a7X_PlGsX2OfDvmpNPavAoEMV99E4EIahW6rPACxx0CvTRYMBvlgDCesHV5qjuXD8FygXek8w7k7arYfdZ5Cut_ORISC3BFHOiuHnBAZ4M/w480-h640/IMG_3472.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMsU4yeCHDSNzh97IwNflrSUH1wTwzPylD2LmGLMJFIXODMl5H2a31JHXeKzmwXInO66_J-BDvt58eTVApf-UrMmnl3ZOO9JrEcTfsgjGj24cP2kgc00XQZHgkC1A_ncM1_wRayWUBKlN4i9EAB8GNMKO5XNadaPSZFXQXTtaJTfG8Xhb9OOzgBDy1vbz/s3024/IMG_3474.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2395" data-original-width="3024" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMsU4yeCHDSNzh97IwNflrSUH1wTwzPylD2LmGLMJFIXODMl5H2a31JHXeKzmwXInO66_J-BDvt58eTVApf-UrMmnl3ZOO9JrEcTfsgjGj24cP2kgc00XQZHgkC1A_ncM1_wRayWUBKlN4i9EAB8GNMKO5XNadaPSZFXQXTtaJTfG8Xhb9OOzgBDy1vbz/w640-h506/IMG_3474.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just a note. On dark fabric soap makes a good temporary mark for quick jobs. You can rub it off with a damp cloth when done. Only caveat, it doesn't hold up over the long haul. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-90668570635761578512023-12-09T14:55:00.000-08:002023-12-09T14:55:22.899-08:00Butterfly On Bone Vest Part 1<p><span style="font-size: large;">After some thought...lots of thought...and a question post on FB about the usefulness of blogs or the lack thereof, I decided to fire this one back up. Mainly as a resource for myself, to keep a record of what I did, how I did it, and maybe why I bothered. Also a report on either success or failure. All this because as I get older my memory isn't all that it used to be! Alas. I wish to spare myself the frustration of not remembering how I did something, or what I used. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, first project is a denim vest I bought at the Goodwill for about $4:50. I found the skeleton and the butterfly printed fabrics at JoAnns. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfAunRrETvpDdc6gLUPy9XaLmQlEO6pXJotfYyDpZ2YxP4yekaioSlSzCTZGLHlUAnLXeHo1vGutUJrwbWektw7-QE9z6pTTRPwNBHyM5ok2OLpSN7utzk56ZFYFQ_D53vfpA0ZK1MYgP3Cggyb4KdIbZxA6GqU5zyTMbUU7OVjpxlYNBvvE5CXnSJNHW/s4032/IMG_3409.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfAunRrETvpDdc6gLUPy9XaLmQlEO6pXJotfYyDpZ2YxP4yekaioSlSzCTZGLHlUAnLXeHo1vGutUJrwbWektw7-QE9z6pTTRPwNBHyM5ok2OLpSN7utzk56ZFYFQ_D53vfpA0ZK1MYgP3Cggyb4KdIbZxA6GqU5zyTMbUU7OVjpxlYNBvvE5CXnSJNHW/w480-h640/IMG_3409.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkgTlT7sM0DO4Rufic39ieu6ZByzaCq3rWI4T6k5iT0DEpz8nYT-WDKPV6_hI54jNyRnxV1dCEIkrRoB-GQuftl1h3e7Qe40boH3qBRv5gJKwGBTKhiaSuvupoN_hxJ7upAk_n0-BRjZ1ymDxYP1_hGYV_aowkgPlCB6zDaZnujecLkpiu9CU6OCK9Tyk/s4032/IMG_3424.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkgTlT7sM0DO4Rufic39ieu6ZByzaCq3rWI4T6k5iT0DEpz8nYT-WDKPV6_hI54jNyRnxV1dCEIkrRoB-GQuftl1h3e7Qe40boH3qBRv5gJKwGBTKhiaSuvupoN_hxJ7upAk_n0-BRjZ1ymDxYP1_hGYV_aowkgPlCB6zDaZnujecLkpiu9CU6OCK9Tyk/w480-h640/IMG_3424.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is the process.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I made a template of the space between the side seams out of clear photo protectors cut open to lay flat (they were the only thing I could find that was clear, and light enough to cut through. I purchased them at Staples). I laid this over the fabric to get the best position of the design. I drew around the template with a red fabric marker pencil, then cut the fabric out leaving a large margin - about three or more inches. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the fabric cut out and pinned to the vest at the top, just to give me a ballpark idea of how it would look.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN04nVeI1fL7LiegWRdabItiKW4vDDcF5kkpJbIUG9xwIjNBBP-hGtzKk5MeTzCnWUZUxulyHhHc1_EVHXciGkYOYQRW4sk8x9gr0gaKluZJwJdz4rNSJpR63xp8AzG2IW_AmvfvAx1AzqGgUbejA70OPtrtg-NULMelEdmJOZzaCqf9mTetMZt-DvJySq/s4032/IMG_3417.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN04nVeI1fL7LiegWRdabItiKW4vDDcF5kkpJbIUG9xwIjNBBP-hGtzKk5MeTzCnWUZUxulyHhHc1_EVHXciGkYOYQRW4sk8x9gr0gaKluZJwJdz4rNSJpR63xp8AzG2IW_AmvfvAx1AzqGgUbejA70OPtrtg-NULMelEdmJOZzaCqf9mTetMZt-DvJySq/w480-h640/IMG_3417.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At this point I got out the butterfly fabric, fused it to Heat and Bond, and cut out the butterflies, leaving the paper backing on. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqt3XLzrSETBtFVcMyeACsOEFB1esPeBJvLpFWvLxjvaJ1H9Ai0V1ElbsKrqDeYi2RRlGfr4UpzSL5889xbsTPbpz5INBtiwF33eYIKtUxMQQ6jUgdj69yOSTO3FpTjSHtsu6vyLGuLFYUeGuqOn7vdez5twPKbmBjyjeYFXtTDl9V-iOeY8iI0MZe5sd/s4032/IMG_3418.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqt3XLzrSETBtFVcMyeACsOEFB1esPeBJvLpFWvLxjvaJ1H9Ai0V1ElbsKrqDeYi2RRlGfr4UpzSL5889xbsTPbpz5INBtiwF33eYIKtUxMQQ6jUgdj69yOSTO3FpTjSHtsu6vyLGuLFYUeGuqOn7vdez5twPKbmBjyjeYFXtTDl9V-iOeY8iI0MZe5sd/w480-h640/IMG_3418.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKyGkOXbH74Csg6zKC-VK136WkmwlSjJnZsJnz8cFdPZuCpPN3KUMgSWUnXW9vBGKs4R1j6jzs7ITC3DqTTbnbRc4QUsVdBrMLqxIs0KiMg8r0DpgzNDfmx1FMjOUg8KDKWUamA8gPLrC4SuT8sBarOH1QxheNv9L5gXv5Uqtx_IM6AnqsjTBq7xIEhVy/s4032/IMG_3420.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKyGkOXbH74Csg6zKC-VK136WkmwlSjJnZsJnz8cFdPZuCpPN3KUMgSWUnXW9vBGKs4R1j6jzs7ITC3DqTTbnbRc4QUsVdBrMLqxIs0KiMg8r0DpgzNDfmx1FMjOUg8KDKWUamA8gPLrC4SuT8sBarOH1QxheNv9L5gXv5Uqtx_IM6AnqsjTBq7xIEhVy/w480-h640/IMG_3420.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then I pinned the butterflies onto the skeleton fabric, moving them around until I liked the way they looked. I then carefully unpinned the skeleton fabric from the vest and laid it on my ironing board, unpinned each butterfly one at a time, peeled the backing paper off and ironed it in place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjJF8qTLSYIqJpusnt3-z4uwHu455bHx0-_oLIQTNXjP8KlLiNutvMn17jG_sc2UMTf3HCUTDJC4INrRD-knIF52KVr-yR2h1TrldVa5gC2g7Tu_ElSEmuPwT2EXjRTxq6LAqLmF1gp6_gXDXTAC4_BBKCB4Xvdew1b9VmJYE5RDwdSQ_fHIccG7O8mAV/s4032/IMG_3422.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjJF8qTLSYIqJpusnt3-z4uwHu455bHx0-_oLIQTNXjP8KlLiNutvMn17jG_sc2UMTf3HCUTDJC4INrRD-knIF52KVr-yR2h1TrldVa5gC2g7Tu_ElSEmuPwT2EXjRTxq6LAqLmF1gp6_gXDXTAC4_BBKCB4Xvdew1b9VmJYE5RDwdSQ_fHIccG7O8mAV/w480-h640/IMG_3422.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwIGgc_lqP33n9wuj2-d2zsF88myWmGbPEGGN4RGsLNkDc1zD8ldQvWsNvWSt9A-9VBO2nbw94LoSJSxi3_0bECLhi34iETdEwgIkV9Hs0BQjJhl7F2HxxGs8dW5We1nozBXzsU4aElHHlT4oqmWyCQZc8e9s7MQNf3qFfl8FpSWjmT09DiRIInZJJgZp/s4032/IMG_3421.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwIGgc_lqP33n9wuj2-d2zsF88myWmGbPEGGN4RGsLNkDc1zD8ldQvWsNvWSt9A-9VBO2nbw94LoSJSxi3_0bECLhi34iETdEwgIkV9Hs0BQjJhl7F2HxxGs8dW5We1nozBXzsU4aElHHlT4oqmWyCQZc8e9s7MQNf3qFfl8FpSWjmT09DiRIInZJJgZp/w480-h640/IMG_3421.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is where I stopped today. I want to look at it for a while and decide if I want to iron on more butterflies. When satisfied, I intend to pin the skeleton fabric in place on the vest, then in black thread free-sew around the bones, and also secure the butterflies the same way. Then with a lighter thread I will free-sew the background shapes. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Essentially appliquéing everything to the vest.</span><span> </span><span>However, I have never done any free-sewing, so I am going to practice a bit before I attempt the vest. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Note to self: </span><span style="font-size: large;">Next time put a protective cloth over your ironing board, or make sure you keep the </span><span style="font-size: large;">iron within the fabric piece when heat bonding. You know, so you don't leave a frame of sticky bonding glue fused onto your ironing board cover.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If anyone has any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-47980616286939544012020-12-26T11:08:00.003-08:002020-12-26T11:13:32.851-08:00Beaded Embroidery Butterfly<p><span style="font-size: large;">This is my first attempt at beaded embroidery. It turned out better than I expected, but took longer than I expected. So, here is my review of the process, the mistakes I made, and my final thoughts on the finished piece. A supply list will be given at the end.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First off, I had to organize my supplies. All of the embroidery thread I had was in a jumble in a big cat food tin. To find anything I wanted, and figure out how much of it I had on hand, involved digging through the mess of tangled threads, and half-empty skeins. I also had needles - sewing, beading, embroidery - stashed everywhere. Not the best method of storing things. This is what things looked like after I went through the tin, and a few other places I had socked stuff away. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVeYsn3-itrqrnG50F_D50yvToXdXiK6jJ6Fam104kctntdtOXqT8PbIwrNhjBub18DgF4Ut5TpAj55yfPlfEvH5-1X2OA_tlAXlC_-9cAzeNgOhP5z2jKXvduz2UT9rz1PX2xYb_YmRu/s2048/fullsizeoutput_652.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVeYsn3-itrqrnG50F_D50yvToXdXiK6jJ6Fam104kctntdtOXqT8PbIwrNhjBub18DgF4Ut5TpAj55yfPlfEvH5-1X2OA_tlAXlC_-9cAzeNgOhP5z2jKXvduz2UT9rz1PX2xYb_YmRu/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_652.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8YrEyQQN_ZYavZG0lObkpEGSSoaJActO1npBXr4E_JnMPMcNj0XftpVvKXwvEhtsUZHF3GCWHeCpbJ37HQ2je_30_z8JlpZVBZZMU68K4w68uZG3FKAGVBrSlWewtHf7BilOzLe73ufj/s2048/100_0625.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8YrEyQQN_ZYavZG0lObkpEGSSoaJActO1npBXr4E_JnMPMcNj0XftpVvKXwvEhtsUZHF3GCWHeCpbJ37HQ2je_30_z8JlpZVBZZMU68K4w68uZG3FKAGVBrSlWewtHf7BilOzLe73ufj/w640-h480/100_0625.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So, off to the hardware store I went, and bought one of those big organizers for nuts, bolts, washers, etc. Lots of drawers. So everything got stowed away by color, and then light to dark. Crochet hooks, and needles are in the bottom drawers. I have several of these organizers that I use for jewelry making supplies, and also one in our bathroom that I keep my costume jewelry in. They are just so handy for everything, and I like that I can see the color of the threads without having to open the drawer. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEo3p0I88RPqeoAKyLBUUqclNPvrW7vqUAIcjfAac3KnTBGEwjymLwEvRA5K3MmBbiT8SF0wJOUFdtc2zPqX1WVZh_3ottt5yGDurGDzGLr17o2fGb-e3Ol78hXYbX2aiE0zigBQr9Vzi/s2048/100_0627.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEo3p0I88RPqeoAKyLBUUqclNPvrW7vqUAIcjfAac3KnTBGEwjymLwEvRA5K3MmBbiT8SF0wJOUFdtc2zPqX1WVZh_3ottt5yGDurGDzGLr17o2fGb-e3Ol78hXYbX2aiE0zigBQr9Vzi/w640-h480/100_0627.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Then it was on to my first beaded embroidery project. I picked a photo of a butterfly (I knew I saved that calendar full of butterflies for a reason) mainly because the photos were large and showed the detail. Not that I was going to get that obsessive about it. Mine would be an interpretation of the little thing, not an exact replica. I was pretty sure this embroidery/beading technique was going to try my limited amount of patience anyway, so trying to do an exact copy of the pattern on a wingspan of only five and a half inches would have driven me insane.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the project half finished, along with the source photo. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtt9prJ3sG2ELXSPuY7MAcoGG0yJmuWORqrwdZuTRjFn2r-Rz74dNM8HkUaCw-sfxIVKlz92UNgWVdK8lzcbPk-U3vZIYjfihZr0hC_QErbpG7XehqfVeJO7l_LLGZ5oD8wXfeffMl0nE/s1288/fullsizeoutput_656.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="1288" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtt9prJ3sG2ELXSPuY7MAcoGG0yJmuWORqrwdZuTRjFn2r-Rz74dNM8HkUaCw-sfxIVKlz92UNgWVdK8lzcbPk-U3vZIYjfihZr0hC_QErbpG7XehqfVeJO7l_LLGZ5oD8wXfeffMl0nE/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_656.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN-a1ZiVNpF9VUBQ2y7tYC5F-wenPQw016ySq5rKO6aHnccUiE8tE3QYeSDHxDNY0nbEqem0WHrXNGpyRxdWig8ATyDvTHL_BGoa1FYLBDtVE8B46z14lOiuMDM2YjdSkXFOXOcd6Ao81/s2048/fullsizeoutput_657.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN-a1ZiVNpF9VUBQ2y7tYC5F-wenPQw016ySq5rKO6aHnccUiE8tE3QYeSDHxDNY0nbEqem0WHrXNGpyRxdWig8ATyDvTHL_BGoa1FYLBDtVE8B46z14lOiuMDM2YjdSkXFOXOcd6Ao81/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_657.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The piece was done on a linen blend fabric, and the design done by transfer pencil drawn on paper, then ironed onto the fabric. I will be researching better ways to get designs on the fabric, as this one didn't really work very well. The first time I ironed the design on the fabric, half the lines didn't show up, so I had to do it over. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The stitches used are chain stitch for filling in the negative space (very tedious and time-consuming), back stitch, split stitch, and padded straight stitch. The beads were sewn on with upholstery thread. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I first outlined the wings in beaded back stitch with small iridescent blue/black beads, then divided the wings with small black beads. Then I used straight stitch one way and then another to pad out the body of the butterfly. The head was done in one layer only. On the body, over the black embroidery thread I put in a layer of single strand indigo "silk" thread, but that was not very successful, as they didn't show up very well. Once the body was done, and the wings outlined in beads, I stitched the orange dots with straight stitch, then filled in the wing space with chain stitch. Lastly I sewed on the white beads over the chain stitch, and over the body.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are two dark blue lozenge beads sewn to the thorax of the butterfly that barely show up in the photo. There is a black round bead for the head, and two small red beads for the eyes...which wouldn't lay snug, so the bug looks cockeyed. Two red crystals are at the end of the antenna. The white spots on the butterfly are done with flat white beads, some so small they wouldn't fit over a #10 beading needle - and since that is the smallest beading needle I have the patience to thread, those beads that wouldn't fit, got tossed in the thrash. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the finished butterfly. It was definitely a learning curve, as I hadn't done any embroidery since probably the 80s, other than the feather stitch I use to sew binding on to the clothes I make out of T-shirts. I need more practice. Lots more! And since doing tiny little chain stitches to fill in negative space took forever, I can see why learning to use a hook needle would be a good thing. Would make that whole process go much quicker, but from all I have read about them, it takes a while to get the knack of using one, and can be frustrating at first, so, another lesson in patience in my future. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is the finished piece. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP5ByGADonv3aTwCB66xmLCAqaqDBxYdTO2Bosq31cW1xesaKWb40JlRgmUmbYzVZFZ-6XkUZdWGgJZ8zPIF9cyK3eVgIF_7PURuDvFxIUWu9fxzkn3iP6Hr2ht7SBcAmJe01L2J6m5tj/s2048/fullsizeoutput_65d.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKP5ByGADonv3aTwCB66xmLCAqaqDBxYdTO2Bosq31cW1xesaKWb40JlRgmUmbYzVZFZ-6XkUZdWGgJZ8zPIF9cyK3eVgIF_7PURuDvFxIUWu9fxzkn3iP6Hr2ht7SBcAmJe01L2J6m5tj/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_65d.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Critique </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The design ended up asymetrical to a certain degree, the wings on the right are shaped slightly different that those on the left. This would not have been a huge deal if the piece wasn't beaded, but the white beads are more crowded together on the right than on the left. The body of the bug is cock-eyed - the head and thorax off center from the body. I jokingly remarked to my husband that it looked like it had hit a windshield. As stated above, I was not happy with the method of iron on transfer pencils to get the design on fabric, so that is my next puzzle to solve. Working with "silk" threads is a pain in the butt, but they look lovely. In this piece I should have just left them out, or used a lighter color, since they barely show up over the black. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No, I am not going to show you the back of the piece. LOL I have my pride to consider. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Supplies - I am keeping this pretty general, because everyone has their own favorite sizes of needles and threads to use. Also, as for bead size, these are ones I had on hand and were not in their original package, so I have no idea of their exact size. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A remnant of linen blend cloth - this worked very nicely. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 different embroidery needles from a pkg of needles size 3-10, and a #10 beading needle. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Black upholstery thread</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">DMC embroidery thread in black</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">DMC embroidery thread in orange</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">DMC "Silk" polyester thread in indigo blue</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 black round bead for the head</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 small red beads for the eyes</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 red crystal beads for the antenna. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">2 lozenge beads for the thorax</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Multiple small white beads for the white spots on the wings</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Dozens of small iridescent black/blue beads for the outline</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Dozens of small black beads for the wing divisions</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I enjoyed doing this project, even disregarding the many times I stabbed myself with that danged beading needle. They are SHARP! It was a good learning experience, showed me my weaknesses in both getting the design on cloth, and in working on the stitches. I suspect a hook needle is in my future, but will do a lot of practice with it before I use it on a project. I have read it can be a "tear your hair out" level of frustration until you get the knack. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not sure what I am going to do with this piece, but will appliqué it to something. It is quite sturdy, heavier than I thought it would be, and will stand up to washing just fine. That will be another test of how to use this technique on clothing, which is my main goal. </span></p><p><br /></p>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-34848320764865095262020-11-09T11:29:00.002-08:002020-11-09T11:33:29.162-08:00It's Been A While. <p><span style="font-size: medium;">I admit, it has been quite a long time since I posted here. Mainly because I was working on house projects - painting practically the whole inside of the house - and partly because I was working outside more. I didn't do much crafting or artwork. Fortunately, all those inside projects are finished, and with winter coming, chores in the garden are pretty much over. It was time to get back into the craft/art/writing groove.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a very good reason why this light jacket was my first project. Actually, it was one I started a couple of months ago. This jacket is to replace the first one I made for my friend for her birthday a year ago. She and her partner lost their house, and everything in it, this summer to one of the California fires. Along with helping them replace some books and DVDs, I was eager to make another custom piece for her, to replace the one destroyed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And here it is. Goodwill T-shirt cut up the front, banding sewn on with embroidery thread in the feather stitch, and beaded with small, matte silver beads, and rough, flat, ceramic beads that came from a broken necklace (these beads had also been used on the jacket that was lost) I loved the shirt pattern, as it made me think of storm clouds. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5mD5pLESiPLCBfaCbkTiODm6Osk5VVzVrrj03AUIhOEJxuzJnR0EWoyRrE8Rw7IDmoxcDmFKsi75W6fMcWyMVhLREYlJppI4An71PMgOPfQofxHkmeXc3JeFdA-tlFp6jDRs9Zyw1_MO/s2048/100_0593.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5mD5pLESiPLCBfaCbkTiODm6Osk5VVzVrrj03AUIhOEJxuzJnR0EWoyRrE8Rw7IDmoxcDmFKsi75W6fMcWyMVhLREYlJppI4An71PMgOPfQofxHkmeXc3JeFdA-tlFp6jDRs9Zyw1_MO/w480-h640/100_0593.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW98w5C_WwqPYnRDFgCVpca0Di-IOIRqRuaqsKQIVRzPEgaSAbxuU6hUXGZjRq_wNIixLEADczFyGsEZ_Bn26d30Tvite8UEOE76hyoJc_xiemNJa6hke0b_D3EiUK0_3pJSnhrkjOSW9W/s2048/100_0594.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW98w5C_WwqPYnRDFgCVpca0Di-IOIRqRuaqsKQIVRzPEgaSAbxuU6hUXGZjRq_wNIixLEADczFyGsEZ_Bn26d30Tvite8UEOE76hyoJc_xiemNJa6hke0b_D3EiUK0_3pJSnhrkjOSW9W/w640-h480/100_0594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwJyWjtxZ4biz8oI2L2JPqkkXl5JrtY6MzbL1ZcTIM317jtPxG6Dmshg-EypSoULEuzIHaWrj5mjrm5FlHD9CpcIQmJaVhju2Bu5SKG-Ov9dj_BoS_0qYObo9a4bXes909w2oCzP-qtgL/s2048/100_0596.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwJyWjtxZ4biz8oI2L2JPqkkXl5JrtY6MzbL1ZcTIM317jtPxG6Dmshg-EypSoULEuzIHaWrj5mjrm5FlHD9CpcIQmJaVhju2Bu5SKG-Ov9dj_BoS_0qYObo9a4bXes909w2oCzP-qtgL/w640-h480/100_0596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the beautiful jacket that was lost in the fire. The necklaces she managed to save when they evacuated. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2V56czKfegv6n4J28HrIRxVrdZVHxlymnOfbDFsIezAOspuRFkIOkeK9la0e4Nt7lFpnffWssIqjaEHu2S7mdbdWiQKQpqnPbLhumivJ9Qi0HAVXMDTlpFlOXqPT8nNWXl5ImqjIRwzs/s2048/100_0286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2V56czKfegv6n4J28HrIRxVrdZVHxlymnOfbDFsIezAOspuRFkIOkeK9la0e4Nt7lFpnffWssIqjaEHu2S7mdbdWiQKQpqnPbLhumivJ9Qi0HAVXMDTlpFlOXqPT8nNWXl5ImqjIRwzs/w480-h640/100_0286.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nacJcmpwEneGZJEJOD4l1snT2MeU2ChGzvu23FIFrzsa_4hSDCFz-58EaBqDs2ndvIsog9JZaDq-oqiCM6obkaKqfj-UDe_YXeTd37ywMMRXW4MKnMWYuRUTLwNvlwd_wXWGXapYGMYG/s2048/100_0285.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nacJcmpwEneGZJEJOD4l1snT2MeU2ChGzvu23FIFrzsa_4hSDCFz-58EaBqDs2ndvIsog9JZaDq-oqiCM6obkaKqfj-UDe_YXeTd37ywMMRXW4MKnMWYuRUTLwNvlwd_wXWGXapYGMYG/w640-h480/100_0285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So now it is time for some new projects. With that in mind, I wanted to up the ante in my beadwork skills. Almost exclusively I have been beading over stencils. The only embroidery being sewing binding on to T-shirts or jackets, like the two above. Months ago, while at Barns & Noble Bookstore, I found a wonderful book titled "Bead Embroidery Chinese Style" by Han Yu. It was just the thing I was looking for. Lots of new techniques to learn - along with patience (not my best virtue) - that I could apply to the clothes I love to make from recycled T-Shirts. The idea of adding embroidery in conjunction with the beading and stenciling has me very excited. Many of the projects in the book are three-dimensional, which is a complete departure from how I am used to working. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Having gone years without doing any intricate embroidery, I had to go buy supplies. <i>JoAnn's here I come!</i> Well, there I went, anyway. I bought a hoop, DMC thread in fun colors, and a package of assorted embroidery needles. Luckily, I already had a yard or so of organza, one of the fabrics recommended in the book, in a beautiful antique gold. So, now I am all set to play.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPbQe-JWqp2gq0Sep0e1V_cLFcZeUvOVQ7eg5icB4-9aUgb1LXuovL96Vw1Z_OyuApMVKHZGwOIR-HLud4qlrQR5WjoxUGEsVLhrWNKICPFb6e5o_Rovr9F8BXtxewsUyrHQ4GRTzTgnY/s2048/fullsizeoutput_650.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPbQe-JWqp2gq0Sep0e1V_cLFcZeUvOVQ7eg5icB4-9aUgb1LXuovL96Vw1Z_OyuApMVKHZGwOIR-HLud4qlrQR5WjoxUGEsVLhrWNKICPFb6e5o_Rovr9F8BXtxewsUyrHQ4GRTzTgnY/w640-h480/fullsizeoutput_650.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Needless to say, along with learning this new skill, I will also continue writing (I really need to finish that book!), and have decided to hook up with a trainer so my horse and I can learn dressage. That's pretty exciting as well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Looks like it is going to be a busy, but fun, winter. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-83829075600770493232020-07-07T10:29:00.002-07:002020-07-11T15:23:06.249-07:00Lots Going On<span style="font-size: large;">Much like my last post, the Covid-19 virus is keeping me home most of the time. So I continue to work with supplies that I have on hand...which for me is quite a lot. Between the beads, jewelry findings, Goodwill T-shirts, paints, and stencils, I am pretty much good to go with almost anything. I also managed to do a cute little birdbath from recycled bits. So, here we go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All of the items are available other than those marked with an * after the description, which denotes they have already been spoken for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The top necklace is made of clear crystals (they look pink because they are picking up the color from the dress form), teal blue glass beads, and silver beads. There is a set of simple earrings to match.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The green necklace is made up of green glass beads, gold and green bulge beads, brass spacers, and vintage long glass beads taken from an old necklace that was broken. *</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This necklace is made up of brass plaques set with black stones, and what was a filigree brass earring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going from top left to right = Silver Celtic knot with yellow bead and silver bees *, Silver Scotch thistle hung with green beads and silver feathers *, Gold faux-coin discs (reverse side has a religious figure but I don't know who it is) with black and gold glass beads.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bottom left to right = Clear crystal and dark green beads, Blue squares topped with silver and blue beads, Pale blue squares topped with silver and opaque white mini-crystals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This shirt was one that had been cut out and beaded, then put on a back burner for over a year. I finally finished it. It is made of Goodwill T-shirts, stenciled, and beaded. The binding is sewn on with feather stitch embroidery. I may end up beading the binding as well, but for now at least it is off my "to finish" list. *</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a shirt I did a while back, but I have decided to let it go. I have a lot of beaded shirts and my closet is starting to look a little OCD with beaded stuff. LOL The T-shirt is a size M, with a stenciled, beaded and stitched appliqué. The center piece is a silver Celtic knot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And this was my little recycle project. The wire base was a plant cage filled with succulents. They outgrew the basket that was in the bottom, so I took them out, and took off the top of the cage. The glass bowl was a light fixture we took out when we remodeled the kitchen. The small hole in the bottom was plugged with a bit from a kneaded art erasure (I couldn't find my floral putty). I filled the bowl with glass "stones" leftover from those we put in our propane fire pit. I am going to look for some artificial greenery to fill in the bottom of the cage. The crock was one I bought decades ago at the Rose Bowl swap meet, and the slate was leftover from another project. I added a couple of rocks for the birds to stand on and eh voila! Birdbath. It only took the birds about two days to find it and start to use it. There is also a little tree frog that likes to hang out in it as well. That made me quite happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are interested in anything shown you can leave a comment here and I will get back to you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you are all staying safe in these chaotic times. </span><br />
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Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-37712090924694208722020-05-28T15:36:00.001-07:002020-05-28T15:36:33.293-07:00While in Self-Isolation<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't talked about the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected not only my life, but the lives of others. I keep abreast of the latest scientific news, my husband (who works at an "essential" business) and I know what the risks are, and take precautions accordingly. And since both of us are in the "high risk" age group, we are cautious about talk of things opening up in our area. That being said, and with me being retired and pretty much an introvert, my lifestyle hasn't changed all that much. I try to concentrate on doing positive things, be it working in the garden, riding my horse, or raiding my stash of beads, jewelry findings, Goodwill T-shirts, stencils, art supplies, or writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So between dragging a hose around to water the yard/garden, doing construction and painting of some Working Equitation obstacles for an upcoming WE clinic me and my partner are putting on June 6-7, and with outside temps rising into the 90s during the middle of the day, I have been retreating indoors and listening to <a href="https://drmartinshaw.com/">Dr. Martin Shaw</a> podcasts or his YouTube videos, and playing with jewelry making again. Last month I made a couple of necklaces at birthday gifts (see previous post), but I wanted to do something a little more elaborate, again, using things I already had on hand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first was this necklace, which I think has a very Renaissance flavor to it. I liked this necklace so much I intend to keep it, and that eventually when the artificial pearls start to lose their luster, I may remake it with real pearls. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL9Rf_bcDcHDRm__zUlf9yjIjgegu8dM_5UDyUmM3BJiMCyJ3ilapSqytxSMdY3evBDBMY4SI7Ii6Zwvs3zb2XgkV-3volkHQV6wJNIgozZ8V_81aNCatXbXEjgKjsv9F1AmDQd8XUnyb/s1600/100_0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYL9Rf_bcDcHDRm__zUlf9yjIjgegu8dM_5UDyUmM3BJiMCyJ3ilapSqytxSMdY3evBDBMY4SI7Ii6Zwvs3zb2XgkV-3volkHQV6wJNIgozZ8V_81aNCatXbXEjgKjsv9F1AmDQd8XUnyb/s640/100_0373.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The one I just finished today is in a similar style, but made in a difference color scheme. The blue accent drops are from a vintage necklace picked up somewhere, that was broken, or missing pieces. I have had it for ages, so I don't really remember. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They were not intended to be worn together, but they do make quite the statement when they are!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKfhxmtRvh_FGtMngMTyDYIL3BKM48gd_pnnSpsjW6yeAjXTXEeLf5Xu-ghtCjRgHbD0V3H6KNsP3ueIiF9ufoB4Aqd5Wy7wMkAcvFoodIFoJPwoT1L7nbYaIuMpPY11-CiEGaqlmw7wF/s1600/100_0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKfhxmtRvh_FGtMngMTyDYIL3BKM48gd_pnnSpsjW6yeAjXTXEeLf5Xu-ghtCjRgHbD0V3H6KNsP3ueIiF9ufoB4Aqd5Wy7wMkAcvFoodIFoJPwoT1L7nbYaIuMpPY11-CiEGaqlmw7wF/s640/100_0374.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For both of these necklaces I made simple matching earrings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had a lot of fun getting back into making jewelry, so I am looking forward making more pieces using only what I already have handy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Something else on my radar as a possible future project is a sweater coat made with some of my stash of Goodwill T-shirts. My inspiration for this comes from an amazing lady named <a href="https://katwise.com/index.html">Katwise</a>, who makes stunning, one-of-a-kind sweaters and coats out of the sweaters she collects from all over the country. Most of her things, as much as I love them, are too flamboyant for me. However, I starting wondering if I could do something similar, a bit less flamboyant, more conservative in color, with the material I get from cutting up men's XXL T-shirts. This afternoon I made a quick sketch, thinking about a simple, simple knee-length coat, just to test and play around with to see if it would even work. For starters I found an old McCalls pattern I had (<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/203777520/mccalls-printed-sewing-pattern-mccalls?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=mccalls+4243&ref=sr_gallery-1-3">number 4243</a>) that would give me a boxy bodice easily split up the middle, to which I could add sleeves and a pieced full skirt. I also considered that if it worked, I could stencil and bead parts of it, to tart it up a bit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the rough sketch, with a few notes. Once the Working Equitation clinic is over and I can clear off my big worktable out in the garage (now covered with paints, and misc. building supplies) I can start playing with fabric again. With the summer temperatures rising into the high 80s and 90s, this will be a fun project to do when working outside is not really an option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is how an introvert stays sane in these chaotic times. Hope you all stay safe and find your own ways to keep positive. </span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-40344077292388425202020-05-18T10:50:00.001-07:002020-05-18T10:50:59.941-07:00Recycled Style 5<span style="font-size: large;">It has been quite a while since I posted anything here. Been working on other projects not related to clothing or beading. But now I am caught up, and can post three projects that were all finished up within the last month. Being in Covid-19 self-isolation for almost two months gave me plenty of time to finish these projects - and I admit, it helped that for two of them I was on a deadline. LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All material in these clothing items were T-shirts bought at the Goodwill unless otherwise noted. Beads and embroidery thread from my stash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Crafters/artists/jewelry makers/sewers, etc. sometimes get teased about all the supplies we stash away for "someday." But with all the stores closed due the pandemic, having a supply of things on hand to tide me over worked out really well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First item is a light jacket I made for a very good friend who shares the same birthday date as mine. The necklaces were made to wear as a pair. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The jacket was a woman's size M T-shirt that I cut up the middle, and also took about four inches off the sleeves to make them 3/4 length instead of full. The banding is sewn on with embroidery thread in a feather stitch, then beaded using regular sewing thread. The tank top under the jacket is an old one of mine, and used to show how the jacket could be worn. I like these light jackets for summer, so when I go into a restaurant where the air-conditioning is on full blast and set at arctic temperatures I won't freeze to death. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second project that I finished is this beaded and stitched mandala shirt. The stencil was done on a sleeve cut from another shirt (I have dozens of these sleeves, cut from XXL mens shirts when I use the body of the shirt as flat fabric). The paint color is Coastal Waters by Americana. The beads were ones from my stash. The stenciled sleeve was backed by another cut off sleeve, then pinned to the front of the shirt. Here is the sequence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I like the design of this mandala very much, but in retrospect think it would have been better on the back of a jacket, or on a sweatshirt, as its size seems to overwhelm the T-shirt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly is a necklace I made as a birthday gift. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZvUrI4-Q8H6nDlseHkgI9tUroQOaGxP152cS9ozufb7avfLxfRuAGQcFyhTKOShlGubm-SDzBVB_YJML3oPBu13MmJlF-WTaODsCLdWWmQwYIohhSexpAgAg5NblqVslEvXVh6AI6liE/s1600/fullsizeoutput_60e.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZvUrI4-Q8H6nDlseHkgI9tUroQOaGxP152cS9ozufb7avfLxfRuAGQcFyhTKOShlGubm-SDzBVB_YJML3oPBu13MmJlF-WTaODsCLdWWmQwYIohhSexpAgAg5NblqVslEvXVh6AI6liE/s640/fullsizeoutput_60e.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All this productivity has left me with just one old project to finish that has been sitting sidelined for months. With things still pretty much in lockdown, although some restrictions are lifting, I have plenty of time to catch up on things and then start new projects. That's always exciting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope you are all staying safe and healthy. </span><br />
<br />Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-71925682830424170662020-01-06T15:27:00.000-08:002020-01-06T15:27:46.458-08:00Thinking<div style="caret-color: rgb(28, 30, 33); color: #1c1e21; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking about Dr. Martin Shaw's concept of being "of" a place, as opposed to "from" a place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking about the long history of the land beneath my feet as I do my morning laps through a chill winter mist between the oaks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thinking about the Native American grinding rock we found among the leaves in our back ten acres, and wondering who made it, who used it, and why they left it.</span></div>
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Thinking about the tiny-toed horses that pranced along the I-5 corridor eons before my fat white mare came to graze here.</div>
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Thinking about how deep my roots have grown into the red forest clay of our 20 acres, and realizing that after 29 years, I have only began to understand its wisdom or listen to the songs it sings to itself. </div>
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Yes, a new year and a new decade. A good time to learn about being "of" a place, and with humility understand that my part in its long history is but the blink of an eye. When I am gone, what songs will it sing about me?</div>
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Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-5676275834734091922019-11-07T11:33:00.001-08:002019-11-07T11:33:39.186-08:00Recycled Style 4<span style="font-size: large;">This is another chapter in my ongoing attempt to urge people to recycled things, but especially clothes. As I have stated many times here, and will continue to state, the clothing industry is one of the biggest polluters of the environment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, here we go on a new example of Recycled Style. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My latest find at the Goodwill was this amazing reversible jacket. The material is heavy cotton like a sweatshirt or, to be exact, two sweatshirts sewn together. It washed beautifully. Cost of the jacket was $8. The blue side is the one I prefer, but the lighter green side has side pockets, which the blue side does not. The dragonflies, coins, and bamboo leaves are printed with shimmery paint that reflects the light very prettily. The buttons are made to looks like coins, but are light, not heavy. It is really a unique and lovely jacket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The long-sleeved green T-shirt under the jacket is by the Gap, bought a year or so ago at the Goodwill for $3.99. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The necklace is one I made from an earring that had lost its mate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now for the not-thrift store things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The hat was a birthday gift from my husband about ten years ago. No, it was not from the Goodwill, and it was kinda expensive, but I wear it EVERYWHERE, and it is aging with style. One of the perks of buying recycled clothing, is that every now and then you can splurge on accessories and jewelry. I admit, I do not buy shoes at the Goodwill or from thrift shops. I buy good ones, and have shoes that are over 25-30 years old that I still wear because they were well made. The only inexpensive shoes I buy are flip-flops for summer, and I have three pairs of those that are over four years old! My good leather purse, which is over 15 years old, is just now starting to look a bit shabby, but I love it, so will keep it until it falls apart. I am trying really hard to avoid the whole "buy it then trash it" cycle in our current society's "throwaway" mindset. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was the very outfit I wore out to breakfast with my husband last weekend, along with a pair of dark denim skinny jeans, and my Ariate shoes (made for horse riding, but they are so comfortable, I have a pair to ride in and a pair for street clothes). I have a feeling this is going to be one of my favorite finds. The only regret I have is that whoever owned it before cut all the labels out, so I have no idea who made this beautiful jacket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">You really can be "styling it" with recycled clothes. And the hunt for unique pieces like this jacket is half the fun. Wearing them is the other half of the fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-20888726430450442052019-10-10T15:37:00.001-07:002019-10-10T15:38:19.477-07:00Recycle Style 3<span style="font-size: large;">Here are two easy tips for using things found at the Goodwill or secondhand shops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">These are coffee mug holders. You can find them at the aforementioned Goodwill store, garage sales, and thrift sales. I always intend to paint them, but then never get around to it. They make perfect displays for jewelry, and I use them at home, but also when I take my jewelry to events to sell. The most I have paid for one, which was the wooden one, was $1.99.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next little tip is what to do with all those very inexpensive clip-on earrings you can find at junk/antique shops, thrift stores, etc. They make very decorative sweatshirt, coat, or sweater clips. I have shown a few from my collection on a simple sweatshirt, but I have also clipped them to hat brims, hat bands, and head scarves. Think outside the box on these little guys, which are so pretty, and I bet you could come up with dozens of ideas on your own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is little things like this that can be fun to play around with, is a good way to recycle which is good for the environment, and it saves you money. A win-win for everyone.</span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-27623854430261570372019-07-03T11:43:00.001-07:002019-07-03T11:43:49.555-07:00Recycled Style 2<span style="font-size: large;">Number 2 in my ongoing attempt to get people inspired by using recycled clothes, whether you wear them "as is" or play around with modifying them, as I do. The garment industry is one of the top five sources of pollution in the world, so buying used clothing is just one little way you can help the environment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For this project I used one man's XXL T-shirt and one size large woman's shirt bought from the Goodwill. For the binding around the neck and armholes I cut strips from an old tank top of mine. Then I went through my stash of Goodwill kimonos to see if I had anything that would match. Bingo. Then I topped it off with a necklace I made years ago. All-in-all, it makes for a pretty nice outfit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the details.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Simplicity pattern 1463 (view D modified by me), stencil, Tulip Soft Cover fabric paint in Dusty Rose, pink bugle beads and purple seed beads, J & P Coats embroidery thread in a dusky rose (it was an old skein I'd had for years, with no color numbers on the sleeve) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beads are sewn on with a back stitch using regular sewing thread doubled. These beads all had holes large enough that I could use a regular sewing needle instead of a beading needle. This made me VERY happy, as beading needles are a pain in the rear to thread. Well...for me, anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The binding was hand sewn on with embroidery thread using a fly stitch. I cut strips 1 1/4" wide with a rotary cutter, then fold the strips in half the long way and iron them. This gives me the equivalent of bias tape, and I use the strips in exactly the same way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the places I modify the pattern is to round off the neckline instead of leaving it a V. This makes it easier to sew the binding on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Normally I avoid buying shirts with pockets, as it cuts down the amount of fabric I can use, but I liked the color of this shirt, and it was an XXL, so I had plenty to work with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The back is also where I do a bit of altering from the pattern. When laying out the pieces, I add width to the center back (About two-three inches). I can get more gathers that way, which makes the lower part of the shirt hang a little nicer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next I added the Liz Claiborne kimono I had found last summer in the pajama section at the Goodwill. It is a great example of the kinds of things you can find that don't need any customizing or sewing...just a good wash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The necklace was made from vintage navettes (the diamond shaped dangles) I bought years ago on Ebay, pieces of a vintage chain necklace that had belonged to my husband's grandmother, but was broken, and some beads from my stash. The center "jewel" is an old chandelier crystal.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRmpv6ylVrBvsSteNV7QanRhqSHYNBRYf8ihb1e3ZiT9jP7TSzUfGiXyczJ6xYu7TgQ1BcR5-K0kEazonjTwn-yHqbIBfcEjSynLQoPmXRE-gTf0busVbxmg1lwAJd3QGyX5vTOnYeDVh/s1600/fullsizeoutput_5ae.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1600" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRmpv6ylVrBvsSteNV7QanRhqSHYNBRYf8ihb1e3ZiT9jP7TSzUfGiXyczJ6xYu7TgQ1BcR5-K0kEazonjTwn-yHqbIBfcEjSynLQoPmXRE-gTf0busVbxmg1lwAJd3QGyX5vTOnYeDVh/s640/fullsizeoutput_5ae.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few notes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The yoke on this shirt was made from a woman's large top and was not pure cotton. It was also thinner material than I like. However, despite those two drawbacks, I really liked the colors and the pattern, so I went ahead and bought it. The cotton binding around the neckline and armholes help stabilize it, but in all honesty, it would probably have been better if I had reversed the colors and used the patterned piece on the bottom and the heavier cotton T-shirt material for the yoke. I just didn't have enough of the patterned piece to do that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope these posts about recycling clothing inspires you do give it a try, with the understanding that not everyone wants to bother with beading and stenciling, or may not know how to sew. But trust me, there are tons of garments out there that need nothing more that a really good cleaning (I run my finds through the wash twice). As an example, the patterned shirt I used for the yoke could have been worn "as is" with the kimono and it would have looked fantastic...all for less than $10. And remember, check out the pajama section at any used clothing store or the Goodwill. I have found some really nice kimono-type coverups there for around $4.99 or less. </span><br />
Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-33080014994760097812019-06-27T10:35:00.000-07:002019-06-27T10:36:40.291-07:00Vintage Belt Buckle Necklace & Earrings<span style="font-size: large;">I have had this vintage belt buckle forever...bought it back in the early 80s at an antique roadshow kinda thing. I think I paid $5.00 for it. Originally I planned to make a belt to go with it, but for a variety of reasons the project always got bumped to the back burner while I worked on something else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I came across the dark green beads that were the exact same color as the glass jewel in the belt, I remembered my old neglected friend. After bringing it back to the light of day and really looking it over, I decided a necklace would be a better way to use the buckle. Another reason for this decision was that the actual buckle link on the back of the piece looked like pot metal soldered on to the front. After years of use, and being very slightly bent, I was not sure it could have taken the strain of remaking it into a belt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After playing around with different ideas, in the end I decided to keep it simple and let the vintage buckle be the focal point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Vintage Belt Buckle Necklace and Earring Set</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Vintage, and very possibly an antique, belt buckle, emerald green glass beads, clear glass beads, green aluminum jump rings, gold-tone double jump rings, and gold-tone wire. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9vsMF_UJ2R2OkJlJUmq4iZdwf9wmcCfMSCSseoOmNBYnLH67jM5AmMVWXYAnxaUH0N5y-GocKZgxqpFfWQkOjEwiaHDiKilq5Hz57DDbnxLgoHefRAYhIY1uRQnCDA58RriG4dR90Ey7/s1600/fullsizeoutput_580.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9vsMF_UJ2R2OkJlJUmq4iZdwf9wmcCfMSCSseoOmNBYnLH67jM5AmMVWXYAnxaUH0N5y-GocKZgxqpFfWQkOjEwiaHDiKilq5Hz57DDbnxLgoHefRAYhIY1uRQnCDA58RriG4dR90Ey7/s640/fullsizeoutput_580.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the original thought...I had pieces from one of those bracelets made on stretchy nylon line that had broken. I was going to use the brass pieces along with the faceted clear beads. Pretty early on I eliminated the brass beads and spacers. They just didn't look right. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33AgQPuqxaxotORJYvD1MIwzoetGgeek51sncrIU6F4o4MgQ4WouJmw1tY1VGagIDota-oarHBeB-ZMha5h81GHSceKgaCDFwf5kli39rpL_cfOB3avP6QhqB-xoTAlxjv2m6n8GOZUSH/s1600/fullsizeoutput_59d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1288" data-original-width="966" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33AgQPuqxaxotORJYvD1MIwzoetGgeek51sncrIU6F4o4MgQ4WouJmw1tY1VGagIDota-oarHBeB-ZMha5h81GHSceKgaCDFwf5kli39rpL_cfOB3avP6QhqB-xoTAlxjv2m6n8GOZUSH/s640/fullsizeoutput_59d.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finished necklace and earrings. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuMGCgh2SkvHDNy_2WxK6qpki_gjPwKVT1bwjW2XX1ZVRVskvLSyoUUAdAKv4g3DsAclNBUJxKIIFWky7I7UhEGVyJ44qW0TmSPfP6oY67lq1i7aflk-UYFMKeb0Jswt-JFaxziSNTb8o/s1600/fullsizeoutput_59c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1600" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuMGCgh2SkvHDNy_2WxK6qpki_gjPwKVT1bwjW2XX1ZVRVskvLSyoUUAdAKv4g3DsAclNBUJxKIIFWky7I7UhEGVyJ44qW0TmSPfP6oY67lq1i7aflk-UYFMKeb0Jswt-JFaxziSNTb8o/s640/fullsizeoutput_59c.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Closeup of buckle. The buckle opens behind the glass jewel, which is how the necklace is taken on and off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was a fun piece to make, and it was nice to finally be able to use this lovely buckle after having it sit in a drawer for so many decades, waiting for me to be inspired. I have worn this necklace a few times now, and always received a compliment or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-52323047237123472632019-06-05T10:43:00.001-07:002019-06-05T10:43:40.681-07:00Recycled Style<span style="font-size: large;">In an effort to promote recycling, periodically I am going to post photos of how I put together clothes picked up mainly at the Goodwill, but also at secondhand clothing shops, and antique/junk shops. I hope this will inspire others to try doing the same, since the garment industry is one of the top ten polluters in the world. There are literally millions of garments and accessories out there waiting to be reused. Most take nothing more than a good wash, or minimal mending. Following the photos are some tips on what to look for and what to avoid, and some of the mistakes I have made.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are creative, like me, the possibilities are endless. Here is an example. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The shirt was made from two mens XXXL T-shirts, using Simplicity pattern #1463 that I slightly modified. The neck and armhole bindings are strips of T-shirt sewn on with embroidery thread using a fly stitch. The front of the shirt was stenciled and beaded (beaded backstitch) before the shirt was sewn up. I added the beads to the neckline months later. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The necklace is one I made from a broken vintage bracelet found for about $5 at an antique mall. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hHbJSjX0gmS-I6gBJxCw-DkM0e3ZQlq8PSH1wKc-nwFjf_zdIGPyvDKOvXMDZF_stMVb4oQejlzsjOeZ8Pj5T_EXMrxAbb7V2CZtls9QhBYbTxG6PfYU5HZ7JWc4v5c7dBpBYRTzUJRp/s1600/100_9791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hHbJSjX0gmS-I6gBJxCw-DkM0e3ZQlq8PSH1wKc-nwFjf_zdIGPyvDKOvXMDZF_stMVb4oQejlzsjOeZ8Pj5T_EXMrxAbb7V2CZtls9QhBYbTxG6PfYU5HZ7JWc4v5c7dBpBYRTzUJRp/s640/100_9791.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Months later I was trolling through the pajama and nightgown section of our local Goodwill and found this kimono. It was a perfect match and all I had to do was wash it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is just one example of how I put things together. Recycling is fun, even if all you do is wash the garment and wear it. I have found lovely linen jackets, silk shirts, denim jackets, and I even found a beautiful, butter-soft black leather jacket for only $24.00. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some tips, and some of the mistakes I've made. Keep in mind, some trips to the Goodwill or secondhand shops I have come out with nothing. Other times I score big time...like the leather jacket. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Read the labels, if they are still attached. It will tell you the fabric content, size, and the washing instructions. Some garments have had the labels cut out, which I find frustrating. I stick with natural fabrics, mostly cotton and linen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On size. I wear shirts medium to large, depending on the style (I have wide shoulders). Be careful! Some places, including our local Goodwill store, do not separate junior sizes from adult sizes. I tend to eyeball a shirt by holding it up to me and seeing if the shoulder seams are in the right place. This has tricked me a few times. When I get the shirt home and try it on, the underarms are way too tight, and the shirt fits too snug. Junior medium. Lesson learned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Look for holes in the fabric. Some can be really tiny. Look for stains and pass these garments by, unless you can cut them up and use the fabric on something else (I do this every now and then), as most of the time the stains will not come out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Try to get a feel for natural fabrics, which will help when the labels are missing from the garment. Just this week I came home with what I thought was a thin cotton, but no label. Washed it and the top shrunk up to doll clothes size. With this particular top, I won't even use it for appliqués, as I have no idea how much further it will shrink. The top already had a couple of tiny holes along the bottom front, and the sales lady just gave me the shirt since she couldn't sell it once she realized it had holes in it, so at least I wasn't out any money on that one. Too bad, 'cause the shirt was really pretty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This may sound gross, but sniff the shirt, especially the underarms. Some odors never wash out. If you smell anything, pass it by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you know how to sew, you can use mens XXXL T-shirts as flat fabric (which is what I did with the shirt in the photos). Cut the sleeves off, but save them if you do appliqués. Cut along ONE side seam and both shoulder seams. After you do that, you can lay the fabric out flat and lay on your patterns. Here is a photo taken out in my garage where my big work table is. As you can see, you end up with a pretty good hunk of fabric. I try to buy shirts with no front pockets, no logos or designs, and all pure cotton. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhKO_y-sylaHC2WRzH_1zNI3JeeiFhAlYi4rntdE4hpPs5ctFYowU39fUslrDz2P369WlXdIgSvU1FGkTuoy4_esodYEzCRHnGfruyS_virZ14MNjY3KrYNYITi-1ztmJ4FEtXLVBL0f-/s1600/fullsizeoutput_599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhKO_y-sylaHC2WRzH_1zNI3JeeiFhAlYi4rntdE4hpPs5ctFYowU39fUslrDz2P369WlXdIgSvU1FGkTuoy4_esodYEzCRHnGfruyS_virZ14MNjY3KrYNYITi-1ztmJ4FEtXLVBL0f-/s640/fullsizeoutput_599.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it, for this time. Recycling is fun, a good way to save a lot of money on clothes, and a wonderful way to stem the tide of pollution. For creative types, there is even more fun with stitching, beading, stenciling, appliqués, reverse appliqués, embroidery, and customizing patterns. For more examples of stenciled, beaded, and appliquéd shirts, see my previous post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy! You can save a ton of money and still be styling it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-22552267889871387702019-05-23T13:46:00.002-07:002019-05-23T14:14:32.525-07:00Mandala Stenciled, Beaded, Stitched T-shirt II<span style="font-size: large;">This is the second mandala shirt I have done, and I really like the way they have both turned out. Here is a pictorial essay on the process, and at the end some tips to keep in mind if you would like to try this process on your own. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All these projects are done on Goodwill T-shirts, and the stenciled appliqués are other Goodwill shirts cut up for fabric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Picking the colors. You can see I have already stenciled the first layer. Paint color here is Dioxazine Purple acrylic by Americana. Try to chose harmonious color combinations, as the beading adds a lot of eye-candy to the fabric and you want that to be the focus. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3qrImZqLvWZ5n_m7XZ7pM4KR-67PJan-36oXTJ8_CTVZyJRea3kgexcmeAo_1BVTTcM4RXLM2bBya1fuNmfQywnUdu3k2IJhMaStHFJg0Pe2sn6h-1yjiAj027yg3r7ljlF3Angs24Ry/s1600/fullsizeoutput_550.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3qrImZqLvWZ5n_m7XZ7pM4KR-67PJan-36oXTJ8_CTVZyJRea3kgexcmeAo_1BVTTcM4RXLM2bBya1fuNmfQywnUdu3k2IJhMaStHFJg0Pe2sn6h-1yjiAj027yg3r7ljlF3Angs24Ry/s400/fullsizeoutput_550.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next, set up the layers on the garment T-shirt. I use large safety pins for this. Be sure to center the design, which can be a bit tricky on shirts that have been worn as many times as these. The knit has usually warped or twisted to a certain degree. Get it as close as you can. I tend to eyeball it, step back, and eyeball it again until I think it is good to go. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqzZ_4pCpP1FSV1TclZaESux9oyCB_sNY3tW30aa5X9gPJ65ezhy3m3mcy-epj21d8ZZNzfXEBa8OS2jnRcoeB93IvYZ7jY_m1IyOJr0piJms6s4JQhZ163r_70la729Kw_s5ZwEzDtUX/s1600/fullsizeoutput_57b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1477" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqzZ_4pCpP1FSV1TclZaESux9oyCB_sNY3tW30aa5X9gPJ65ezhy3m3mcy-epj21d8ZZNzfXEBa8OS2jnRcoeB93IvYZ7jY_m1IyOJr0piJms6s4JQhZ163r_70la729Kw_s5ZwEzDtUX/s400/fullsizeoutput_57b.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then the fun begins. The beading. I used regular sewing thread, and whatever needle will fit the beads I am using. Test the beads after the needle is threaded, as some will go over the needle, but not over the extra bulk of the thread. Keep in mind the intricacy of the design, and don't get beads that are too large or too small. I use a standard, easy-peasy back stitch for beading. Once the beading is done, I do a running stitch just to the outside of the stencil. In this case, at each point of the mandala I added a blue bead. Stitching this way keeps the material from rolling back over the beads.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeohkNW4v9RB9X1TEzX9PAys_4GQnn3-2ydTRxwE7SoROwsXkSVRAZT0Sq9ZRIxMifh5wlAFbKj8DJhFP5hzFozEi-KePmgbEH_5n7SpfG7wLfFZCMhBbBZdYJVszAaL3FAffbv_oPKsJK/s1600/fullsizeoutput_570.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1278" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeohkNW4v9RB9X1TEzX9PAys_4GQnn3-2ydTRxwE7SoROwsXkSVRAZT0Sq9ZRIxMifh5wlAFbKj8DJhFP5hzFozEi-KePmgbEH_5n7SpfG7wLfFZCMhBbBZdYJVszAaL3FAffbv_oPKsJK/s400/fullsizeoutput_570.jpeg" width="318" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In this photo you can see how the knit is rolling toward the front. I got this one on backwards so had to deal with it. Also, as in this case, it looked like the knit was going to roll the other way, and then the more I worked with it, the more it changed. Bottom line, don't sweat over it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next is to unpin and trim away the top (in this case rose colored) fabric, leaving about a 1/4" margin. Be careful not to cut into your running stitches, or the fabric underneath. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0md_evEv9fvcqOxm3fhwGq_nj8hFrokcwfrhaCPsZldmv8DKY6HF7NIHt6LB1jcEpzWiSsVmg_tpAqMlYA5zInY_1WV9AW6DSG8w0EcJu-FBgL__eGhWBwA7sCr0QY94dPBAD24Lfid8v/s1600/fullsizeoutput_576.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1595" data-original-width="1600" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0md_evEv9fvcqOxm3fhwGq_nj8hFrokcwfrhaCPsZldmv8DKY6HF7NIHt6LB1jcEpzWiSsVmg_tpAqMlYA5zInY_1WV9AW6DSG8w0EcJu-FBgL__eGhWBwA7sCr0QY94dPBAD24Lfid8v/s400/fullsizeoutput_576.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Re-pin the bottom layer and do another running stitch around the edge, again 1/4" margin. When finished, unpin the fabric and trim away the excess, 1/4" away from the running stitches. Again, being VERY careful not to cut into the running stitches or the shirt. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn4igtVTgGdCsEpi4ZkiudymL4_5Beoe38e6Z9veXCwPUn9xrRX6sppNIXs-0Szums-AsaBgLI_PJ3km7fRijq_gjh3L1g0hZbaOSLzZSXzh-xBq64bC2WqnnkcO0Snb1zcEd8MPeX0bP/s1600/fullsizeoutput_577.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="1600" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn4igtVTgGdCsEpi4ZkiudymL4_5Beoe38e6Z9veXCwPUn9xrRX6sppNIXs-0Szums-AsaBgLI_PJ3km7fRijq_gjh3L1g0hZbaOSLzZSXzh-xBq64bC2WqnnkcO0Snb1zcEd8MPeX0bP/s400/fullsizeoutput_577.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, in this design, I add a charm in the center. This can be anything from a larger bead, a button, or charm. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nFqRB3wOdzoQMdSSi5jogMx_9v6Ace8qol6w7cYFPsfjPk36ssgH8pGzYp0aRConJ0lpUthlsbyhp04gslMRPMxT2MTpK9bSfR4jkggucLwZKVKeuSGLcEfIyiEBx5NmyUuoJCXa0ab5/s1600/fullsizeoutput_57d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1263" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9nFqRB3wOdzoQMdSSi5jogMx_9v6Ace8qol6w7cYFPsfjPk36ssgH8pGzYp0aRConJ0lpUthlsbyhp04gslMRPMxT2MTpK9bSfR4jkggucLwZKVKeuSGLcEfIyiEBx5NmyUuoJCXa0ab5/s400/fullsizeoutput_57d.jpeg" width="353" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At this point, you are done! And just remember, this is meant to look handmade, not like some mass-produced piece from China. Small imperfections are not the end of the world. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOki7Bce96xWupGhF6LlzK5EkaJDZZd742RG1EiIxpksE3BtDjOzja4-AMAnHgroAIKhXCtIF_YvPV0gg6v7cSBPEeKMRb6wcaPq-MjIZF_fO-3wig8EANAHfnDiXYX3lPzXdI42WkxtU/s1600/fullsizeoutput_57a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1354" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOki7Bce96xWupGhF6LlzK5EkaJDZZd742RG1EiIxpksE3BtDjOzja4-AMAnHgroAIKhXCtIF_YvPV0gg6v7cSBPEeKMRb6wcaPq-MjIZF_fO-3wig8EANAHfnDiXYX3lPzXdI42WkxtU/s400/fullsizeoutput_57a.jpeg" width="337" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few tips and suggestions for stenciling and beading on fabric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I use shirts from the Goodwill in an effort to recycle rather than buy new. The garment industry is one of the most heavily polluting in the world. Not only do I buy the base T-shirt, but also I buy XXXL mans shirts to cut up for flat fabric. The purple on this shirt was just the sleeve from one of those large shirts. I double wash everything before using. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stencils can be found everywhere. There are literally hundreds to choose from. To start, pick something simple. Also, I like to leave sections of the stencil un-beaded as part of the whole design. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beads are sold everywhere or can be ordered online. JoAnn's and Craft Warehouse are good sources. Online, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads will overwhelm you with choices. The size of the bead should be in relation to how complicated the stencil design is. Also, if your beads are really small, you will need to use a beading needle. I use a size 13. Anything smaller makes me crazy trying to thread it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When setting out the layers, check to see which way the knit tends to roll, then face that toward the main shirt. With this kind of work, it isn't super important whether you use the right or wrong side of the fabric, so if the knit curls toward the right side, put that side face down. This keeps the knit, after you have washed it a few times, from rolling over the stitching. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As for paint, I have used fabric paint, craft paint, and my regular acrylic paints...all acrylic based, so easy to clean up and fast drying. I dab them on with small makeup sponges available at any cosmetic counter. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I leave the piece to dry overnight and that has worked out just fine. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Note: I tried a thick glitter paint once. Once. It was a nightmare to get in the stencil and didn't cover very well. When the project was finished, I threw the paint away! I have used metallic paint with great success, though. Next I want to experiment with fabric spray paint!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few photos of previous projects I have done. I love beading and stitching over stencils. I was my way of solving the problem of how to get an intricate pattern design on fabric that wouldn't rub off before the beading was done. I get things laid out, cue up Pandora, and zone out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The above piece is also reverse appliqué.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy...it is as fun as it is addicting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you have any questions, please feel free to comment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-69999323882447907822019-05-21T11:25:00.000-07:002019-05-21T11:25:23.236-07:00Studio Corner as Sanctuary<span style="font-size: large;">As I fire up this long neglected blog site, I have faced some serious questions about how I want to proceed with my life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In January I was stuck with SSHL - Sudden Sensorial Hearing Loss. Within four hours I was permanently deaf in my left ear, and have had months of balance issues to deal with, starting with vertigo so bad I couldn't stand up, to now, months later, I am finally able to drive my truck and ride my horse. Lingering problems with balance still plague me, but according to my GP, and the ENT specialist, my brain will eventually completely adjust...with time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In April I turned 70. I was left wondering "How the hell did that happen?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then in May I had to have a chunk taken out of my right upper arm to remove pre-melanoma cells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Warning lights started to blink. Sirens went off. Not so much a panic, but defiantly a wakeup call to reassess what is important in my life, and what is not. I asked myself, "What do I want to concentrate on, and what do I want to eliminate?" Some of those decisions were easy, some very hard, but necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To that end, I am cutting my time on FB way, way back. It has become inundated with anger, politics, false memes, pleas for donations, requests to take surveys, and in some cases really vulgar comments on threads. Who needs it? Not me. Trolling trough all that negativity searching for the positive, fun posts by my friends started to depress me. The world is in enough chaos, and I know that, but I don't want to be assaulted by it all while drinking my first cup of tea in the morning. I felt I needed to pressure-wash all that darkness out of my brain, and bring in some light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The remedy? Say bye-bye to FB, or severely limit my time there. Concentrate on my painting, beading, and jewelry making. Now that the weather is getting better, spend more time in my garden and working with my horse, Regala. Walk more, listen to music, read (I do that a lot already), spend more time with family and friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Does this mean I intend to stick my head in the sand and ignore what is happening in the world? No, of course not. I want a certain amount of peace, but I don't want to be ignorant of what is going on everywhere else. That would be stupid. But wow, it is so easy to get sucked into all that chaos and forget to enjoy life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have reclaimed my studio corner in the garage. It got buried during a kitchen remodel during which we lived out of the garage, and the whole place was a staging area for appliances, hardware, paint, etc. My corner is just that, a small space next to a window, wedged in-between the wall the the chest freezer. My big drafting table takes up most of the space. An inexpensive utility table holds my paints and brushes. There is a small alter made up of animal skulls I have found on our property, a big candle, a very special box made for me by a good friend, and a Halloween decoration skull I bought on sale. There is also a small greenhouse full of birds nests and feathers. This is my small sanctuary where I can create without interruption, open the window so I can hear the water fountain which is just outside, and look over and see the birds taking bathes and flinging water everywhere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My other "studio" is in what I call the Multi-purpose room. It holds the computer, my sewing supplies, and my beading and jewelry making supplies. It is where I do most of my winter work, as the garage corner eventually gets too cold. My sewing work gets transplanted to the dinning room table, and I have a big work table in the garage for laying out material and patterns. With only a two bedroom house, I have to make due where I can, and I am lucky in that my husband takes it all in stride. We have been married for 27 years, so he's used to it by now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, that is the plan. Less darkness, more light. Less negativity, more creativity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is my little corner...it may not look very impressive, but it is mine, and I can play there to my heart's content. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The inspiration board, decorated with a crochet piece done by the same good friend who made the special box. She is very talented and has her own blog site</span>, <a href="https://onthehook.home.blog/?fbclid=IwAR3atfOq0ERmfLIUlGIR372zkgKD2XV5vvAQx0QPWTKLbmujX7Le5Z8M6G8">https://onthehook.home.blog/?fbclid=IwAR3atfOq0ERmfLIUlGIR372zkgKD2XV5vvAQx0QPWTKLbmujX7Le5Z8M6G8</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Drawing on the table is a work still in progress. Watercolor pencil on illustration board. </span>Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-20248104781287369672016-12-12T10:07:00.000-08:002016-12-12T10:07:35.070-08:00Make Mistakes, Make Good Art.<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"Make interesting mistakes,</i></div>
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<i>make amazing mistakes,</i></div>
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<i>make glorious and fantastic mistakes.</i></div>
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<i>And then.....</i></div>
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<i>Husband runs off with a politician?</i></div>
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<i>Make good art.</i></div>
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<i>Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor?</i></div>
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<i>Make good art.</i></div>
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<i>IRS on your trail?</i></div>
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<i>Make good art.</i></div>
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<i>Cat exploded?</i></div>
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<i>Make good art."</i></div>
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<i>Break rules.</i></div>
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<i>Leave the world more interesting for your being here.</i></div>
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<i>Make good art."</i></div>
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Neil Gaiman, from a commencement speech given at the </div>
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University of the Arts in Philadelphia, in May of 2012.</div>
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I found this quote in the book "Neil Gaiman the View from the Cheap Seats", a collection of his non-fiction - essays, speeches, book reviews, interviews, etc. The book came from our local library, so I must give it back, but the book impressed me so much that I intend to find a used copy on line and buy it. This review of the book by the journalist and author Caitlin Moran explains exactly why I want my own copy.</div>
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"If this book came to you during a despairing night, by dawn you would believe in ideas and hope and humans again. This is a beautiful book."</div>
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Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-23478263111861807332016-11-10T15:28:00.000-08:002016-11-10T15:28:53.059-08:00Motivational SlumpI admit, for the last month and especially after Tuesday's election, I have been pretty depressed. For lack of a better term, my "muse" has gone into hiding. I don't blame her.<br />
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There were two projects started.<br />
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Back in September/October it was the cropped jacket experiment, the inspiration for which I found on Pinterest. I got as far customizing and futzing with making the pattern, getting the material, and cutting out the outer layer, which will eventually be stenciled and beaded. Part of the delay with this was the stencil I had intended to use just didn't work, so I will have to drive into the next county, hit the Michael's over there, and try to find one that works. The other setback was the work table I use for cutting out cloth and stenciling got buried under...stuff. So I had to clear that off...again. It seems to attract "stuff" like honey attracts bees. Then the election became utterly terrifying, and my worst nightmares came horrifyingly true. I cried! I actually cried over the results of an election! Unfortunately, I am still depressed. I decided to give myself time to grieve before attempting anything creative. I am afraid it would color in a negative way whatever I tried to do. <br />
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The other project was a painting I started toward the middle of summer. I love the concept, and I am really happy with the drawing. I struggled with the painting, but felt things were moving along okay. Then some outside circumstances put things on hold for a few weeks, then the light fixture over my drafting table wouldn't work, then the weather got cold and rainy (I work in the garage), then the election added to the gloom. For me, it was a no-win situation. Now the garage corner where I paint is cold, and because we get no sun until late in the day, if at all, my corner, even though the light fixture is working again, is still on the dark side. That is something that needs to be addressed. Also, some kind of heater will help with the cold, but it has to be radiant heat, not something with a fan, or the paint will dry too fast.<br />
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This probably sounds like a litany of "woe is me" and to a certain extent, I guess that's true. But when your soul is in such despair, it's really hard to get motivated. I look at my poor painting, which is pleading with me to finish it, and I have good intensions, and then...just can't. Until I can reboot myself, I have brought it into the house so it doesn't get dusty. Since it is in the same room as the computer, it also forces me to look at it guiltily every day. Maybe the guilt will eventually overpower the depression, or something will happen to get me fired up again. Or maybe a week or so to do nothing but read, work my horses, and just breath will solve the problem. At this point, I just don't know.<br />
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This is the progress/progression on Embrace the Night so far. The last photo was taken in the house today, which is why the colors look darker, although parts of the painting were darkened before I left it. At this stage, I consider the painting about halfway finished.<br />
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Hopefully, this artistic funk I am in won't last. Maybe I can entice my muse out of hiding with a nice glass of wine, one of my favorite art books, and a lovely chat about inspiration?Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-60762204488802856392016-08-31T15:12:00.000-07:002016-08-31T15:12:06.552-07:00Firing The Old Girl Back Up...With Photos of Projects Past and Present. Recently I got asked by a Facebook artist friend why I had let this blog site sit silent for so long. I told her it was because I didn't think anyone was really interested, and that most exchanges of info and photos was happening on FB rather than on blog sites. She agreed, but lamented the loss of the way blog sites used to be. I know there was one blog, Notes From the Voodoo Cafe, done by Rice Freeman-Zachary, that I loved to read, and listen to her pod casts, but eventually she dropped it all and went to FB. It made me sad.<br />
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So, I thought about it, and decided that I would fire this old girl back up, and do it just for me as a type of diary. I will post a notice on FB when I add something here, and those who are interested can ck it out, and those who aren't can ignore it. I may only post things once a month or so, but if it keeps me connected with a few other people out there, then that is all for the good.<br />
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This first post will be photos of projects that have been completed, and projects that are in the works. It would take too long to describe each one in detail, but at least it gives an overview of what I have been doing for the last few months, and what is coming.<br />
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Hope you enjoy.<br />
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Wedding circlet - commission</div>
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Stenciled T-Shirt</div>
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Beaded back stitch over stencil</div>
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Eco-print experiment</div>
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Near completion, The Message</div>
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The Message competed</div>
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Preliminary drawing for Embrace the Night </div>
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There you have it. A run down of the things I have finished, and the latest painting in progress. There is also a cropped jacket sewing project going on as well, but I don't have photos of that yet. </div>
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If you are so inclined, please leave a comment. It's nice to know there are actually people out there reading this. Thanks!</div>
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<br />Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-72724157136623935702016-01-14T11:25:00.001-08:002016-01-14T11:25:53.054-08:00Two Projects FinishedIn December I had two projects that were sitting around half done. The T-shirt with beading over a stencil, and the red sweatshirt sitting out on the work table in the garage with soap lines drawn on it, but nothing more.<br />
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The beaded T-shirt I completed right before Christmas, and wore it to the family champagne brunch we always do at our place Christmas morning. This is my first time doing beaded backstitch over a stencil and I ended up really like the results.<br />
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The photos make the shirt look greenish, but it is a lovely turquoise. I enjoyed beading over the stencil so much, that I want to try it again. Also, I volunteered to teach a class in April on the technique of beaded backstitch using a stencil as a template. My first time teaching a class, so that should be interesting!<br />
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The second project was the red sweatshirt. I had originally intended to cut it up the front and make a jacket out of it. After thinking it over, and taking an inventory of jackets, shrugs, and boleros that I already owned, I decided to go a different way, so I rubbed out the soap marks. And because the weather has been dark, gloomy and rainy, I wanted something bright and cheerful. So, I cut the sleeves shorter, cut the banding off from the neckline and the bottom edge, and added T-shirt binding leftover from other projects. The shoulder decoration is also made from leftover bolero projects. All of it hand stitched. I wanted this to be a little funky, a style I don't usually do, so left all the knots and tails of thread showing. When I finished the stitching, I added small brass washers I had purchased a long time ago in the hardware department at Home Depot (a great source if bits and bobs, the hardware section).<br />
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This sweatshirt was very wide, but once I cut off the bottom binding and shortened the sleeves, it worked really well over a long-sleeved T-shirt, which is what I had in mind. I may, at some point, go back and add beads (I have some small, fiery red ones that would look great), but for now I am calling it done.<br />
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The above photo shows how the binding strips go over the shoulder seam, so when I wear it, the decoration will show on both the front and the back of the sweatshirt.<br />
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The bands were sewn length-wise with embroidery thread, then sewn across with a running stitch done with regular sewing thread, as were the brass washers.<br />
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This turned out to be a great way to use up T-shirt bindings, and short lengths of embroidery thread leftover from other projects, and it was fun to do something a little outside my usual box.<br />
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Oh, and both garments came from the Goodwill Store.<br />
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Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-41994155160730544492015-12-28T12:38:00.000-08:002015-12-28T12:38:53.347-08:00Travels of the Amulet SellerEver since I finished the small painting The Amulet Seller I started thinking about a journal based on what her life might be like. Nothing fancy, with short entries describing her journeys with a band of gypsies, selling her handmade talismans and reading tarot cards. She has a love interest named Tadao, but they are not married. I don't know much more about her at this point, but as the journal progresses she will reveal more of herself to me.<br />
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Since I have a love/hate relationship with journals I don't know how fast this one will progress, but the idea has me pretty excited. The pages will be made up of my own drawings, stencils, and collage. I will do the text on the computer, because if I did it by hand, it would be a mess and unreadable. This is meant to be her (I don't even have a name for her yet) travel journal, so will reflect, over time, the wear and tear of being toted around from village to town, and over the long roads in-between.<br />
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We'll see how it goes. Here is the first page.<br />
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I also noticed, after I glued it down, and after I posted it here, that Spellcheck, that lovely, annoying automatic demon, changed varda to varga...or my dyslexia popped up, which is more probable. I corrected it with a pen on the original. At first it ticked me off having to go back and mark it, but then I thought, "Hey, she's a gypsy. Spelling might not be her forte either, same as me. Maybe she goes back and edits herself, like I do?" See, she has revealed something new about herself already!<br />
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<br />Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-88678212354585485512015-11-16T10:12:00.000-08:002015-11-16T10:12:27.623-08:00The Amulet Seller — ProgressionIn this series of photos you can see the progression of the small painting The Amulet Seller, number four in the Gypsies series. In a previous post, I said that I had trouble with the drawing—didn't like it, but couldn't figure out why I didn't like it. I set it aside for about a month, in a place where I could look at it as I walked by. It slowly grew on me. Once I got paint on it, I liked it even better.<br />
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The Amulet Seller — Acrylic and Micron pen on illustration board, 10"x12."<br />
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I ended up really liking her narrow-eyed expression, as if she is thinking, "If you don't think my amulets will work, then piss off." I have several other ideas for paintings in this series, and have been doing a bit more research into the history of gypsies, their beliefs, and superstitions. All very interesting. Most of us have a rather romantic view of gypsies, but throughout history, their lifestyle has not been an easy one. In this series of paintings, I did not want to veer too close to a stereotype—you know, like the typical paintings or tinted photographs of smiling gypsy dancing girls with their tambourines. I want to keep the paintings respectful.<br />
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<br />Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-72308044617021641362015-11-10T13:23:00.000-08:002015-11-10T13:30:46.665-08:00Two Recycle ProjectsWith the weather becoming more and more iffy, inside projects are nice, for the most part relaxing, and give me a few new items of clothing to wear. Here are the latest ones to keep me occupied when I'm in-between painting and cleaning horse stalls, and it's pouring rain outside.<br />
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The first is a turquoise T-shirt. It's a bit shorter than I like them, but it was only $2.99 at the Goodwill, so I bought it because I loved the color. I decided to stencil a design on the front then add either tulle or more T-shirt material to the bottom and sleeves. I have seen tulle added to shirts, and as long as it doesn't look too cutesy, I like it. So, black stencil design to be beaded, and then black tulle added to the hem.<br />
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The photos make the shirt look royal blue, but it isn't. The stencil is a Martha Stewart.<br />
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The little white mark at the center is made with soap, to help me line up the design.<br />
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I think I will add a small piece of T-shirt material on the inside of the shirt, behind the stencil design, to help carry the weight of the beads and stitching.<br />
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The next in line is a very wide sweatshirt, also purchased at the Goodwill. I want to make a jacket out of it, with elbow length sleeves. I am always shoving the sleeves of sweaters, T-shirts and sweatshirts up my arm, so figured why not just cut this one off at that length. The lines on the front are made with soap to show the center, and then how much I am going to trim away from the front. This thing is REALLY wide (the size tag says M, but two medium sized people could fit inside it), so I will also have to figure out a way to take in the back. Maybe make something out of the leftover sleeve material— like the little mini belts on the back of jackets (I am sure they have a proper name, but I don't know what it is).<br />
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The T-shirts above it were laid out to see what trim color would work the best. I finally decided on the dark blue. The buttons and beads will go on last. Originally I had pulled out some very nautical looking brass buttons with anchors embossed on them, but decided it looked way too yacht club, preppy, proper, ladies-who-lunch, so I put those back in the button box and went with these mother of pearl ones, turned back side forward, with some old red buttons I dug out to be sewn on top. This project may or may not work out. I have mixed feelings about it, so when I get it sewn up, if I don't really like it, I won't bother to add any decorations.<br />
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Here are both projects laid out on my big work table in the garage.<br />
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Those should keep me busy for a while. I am especially looking forward to stitching and beading the T-shirt. So, time to grab a book on CD, make a cup of tea, park myself in a comfy chair, and bead away.<br />
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<br />Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-59753875236008885772015-10-15T11:09:00.001-07:002015-10-15T11:18:02.123-07:00Studio Corner - New works In ProgressI must say, I am really enjoying my new little corner of the garage. It is slowly getting organized, and developing a personality. My inspiration board is finally up, with photos of figures and interiors I am using for the two series I am currently working on = Gypsies, and Ghosts in the Ruins. More and more photos and various pieces of flotsam and jetsam will no doubt be added to the board as time goes on. I have another board in the room where I make my jewelry and do my beading on clothing, which has ideas, colors I like, clothing I would like to try and make, etc. I seem to have always had some kind of inspiration board—or mood board, as they call them these days.<br />
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In one of my trips to the library I found a wonderful book on painting with acrylics, titled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0713490276/ref=rdr_ext_sb_pi_hist_2">Capturing Light in Acrylics by John Hammond.</a> He paints in an impressionistic style, which I don't, but he gives great visuals for tone, color, palette, composition, and light. I loved the book so much I ended up buying it through Amazon. One of the techniques he uses that I tried and loved, was mixing gloss medium with the paint rather than water, to make glazes. I also learned, and experienced personally, that if you water acrylics down too much to make a wash, the bonding medium in the paint won't adhere to the paper as well.<br />
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There was another book on acrylic painters that I got from the library that I didn't like as well, but did learn a new trick for drawing on paper/canvass and sealing the drawing with gel medium. I had just bought some Krylon sealant for a previous painting where I had used watercolor pencils. It made me wonder if I could use the Krylon, instead of the gel medium, to seal the pencil drawing onto the illustration board. It worked like a charm. It also sealed the board, so the paint didn't soak into it as much, which had been a problem on Soul Mates. <br />
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So, this is what is in the works right now. Another in the Gypsy series titled The Amulet Seller, and the first one, which is VERY experimental at this point, in the Ghosts in the Ruins series. That painting is titled Lost Dances.<br />
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Here is the pencil drawing for The Amulet Seller. I loved being able to work from a drawing instead of having to ink over the drawing and erase the pencil lines. Original drawings have way more life in them, and I don't even mind if some of the lines remain in the final painting.<br />
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I struggled with this drawing. I did it, didn't like it, but couldn't figure out why I didn't like it. It sat for about two weeks in a place where every time I walked by I could glance at it. The drawing slowly grew on me and I left it alone. Once I started getting paint on it, I liked it a lot better.<br />
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This is the painting in progress. Still need lots of work on her hair, and I need to finish her skin tones. The blue shadows will be toned down a little. The amulets, earrings, nose ring, and hair beads will be the last things painted. The size is 10"x12" on illustration board.<br />
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The other painting is truly an experiment. I don't usually put a tinted wash down before I do the drawing. This new series is all about decayed buildings, lost memories, and bewildered people. There is going to be a lot of texture in the paintings, so I gessoed a 16"x20" masonite panel, then added this acid green wash, letting it drip and run so it would look like mould and mildew. I used a sepia water color pencil to do the drawing, and wiped off mistakes with a cloth dipped in water. This is where I found out that if you water down the acrylics too much, they don't stick. As I rubbed the pencil off (I make a lot of drawing adjustments, so I did a lot of rubbing!), some of the green paint came off as well. I'm kinda okay with that this time, since the painting will have lots of layers and glazes—all done as a total experiment, which may turn into a disaster. But it will be fun!<br />
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The drawing will be sealed with Krylon spray. Right now, I am still working on the drawing, but you can see the wash, and where it has rubbed off where I have done corrections...lots and lots of corrections with, no doubt, more corrections to come. It's not clear in the photo, but she is standing in a building, with an archway behind her, where a plant is growing into the room.<br />
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Here is one of the photos of abandoned building that I have been collecting as references. Again, Pinterest was where I found most of the resource material.<br />
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So, that is what is going on in my little corner studio.With winter coming, I suspect I will have to invest in a small heater. Even though the garage is insulated, it will still get cold out there. I am also going to buy a better supply table, as currently I am using two small folding tables that don't give me much room. They have nice, four-foot plastic portable work tables at Home Depot that aren't very expensive, so that's what I think I will get. Once that is set up, the only thing I still need to do is replace some of my paints. I tossed about five old tubes yesterday, that were so dried up you couldn't get anything out of them. Of course, the fact that they were all about 30 yrs old might have had something to do with it. That means a trip to Central Art Supply in Medford (35 minutes away) is in order before I can do much more painting.<br />
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Oh, and after the first of the year, I am going to join the Josephine Country Art Association. I used to be a member when we first moved to Oregon twenty-six years ago, and I had two collage paintings in the member's show one year, but let the membership drop. We were just too busy, and too broke, with getting our new place squared away (it needed LOTS of work) that I didn't have the time or money for either the membership or paint supplies. Let's just say, for a lot of years, we were REALLY broke. Which makes it all the more wonderful that I have my little corner to play in, and enough cash to actually buy paint and brushes. Right now, it feels good to be me! LOLSharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-63038800213915097212015-09-17T11:13:00.000-07:002015-09-17T11:13:09.390-07:00Soul MatesI finally finished the third painting in the Gypsies series. It got put on the back burner for about a month, as I was dealing with other things, including the filly we adopted/saved from a kill yard in Washington. Got back to it yesterday and finished it. I like that both the horse and the woman look so bold, striding across the landscape with confidence—in themselves and each other.<br />
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As with all paintings, there are also things I wish had come out better with this one, but I must be doing something right, as at least one person on FB asked me if I was going to make prints of the picture! That made my day, I can tell you!<br />
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So, with this one declared done, it is on to the next ones. Another in the Gypsies series, and the first in the Ghosts in the Ruins series. Should be fun!Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-394851432336538134.post-65931321005299819442015-09-07T12:24:00.000-07:002015-09-07T12:24:43.449-07:00UpdateThis is just an update about what's been going on around the place.<br />
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Are blogs dead? Not sure, but there was a short discussion about that on Facebook, and it made me think that maybe they are. I suspect they are being replaced with said FB, and Twitter, Instagram, etc. Instant gratification. Blogs took over from the old My Space, and now blogs, if not linked to some of the instant messaging apps, may not get as much attention. In my own case, this blog has been running for a number of years, and only has 14 followers. My Pinterest site has been up six months, maybe a bit longer, and I already have 92 followers. Yes, Pinterest is all about pictures, but in some respect, they are the same pictures you would probably want to share on a blog if it weren't so time-consuming. For those who use their blogs as a personal diary, like I do, then I guess it doesn't matter if no one else reads it but me. But it does make me pause, and wonder if it is worth my time, when maybe that time could be better spent on projects or painting.<br />
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Speaking of painting...which I haven't done much of lately because the garage got so hot (daytime temps got up to 113) I just couldn't work...I am fired back up to start a new series. It will run concurrently with the series I've already been working on, Gypsies, which has one drawing, a finished painting, a painting still in progress (the one I had to set aside due to the heat), and many ideas for future paintings. The new series will be called Ghosts in the Ruins. Figures in decayed rooms. Lots of mould, peeling wallpaper, chipped paint, and plants reclaiming the space that used to be theirs. People looking lost, wondering what happened to the place that they knew, wondering why they are there again, and wondering if they can get back. Back to what? Back to a life before the decay? I want the painting to express a sense of bewilderment. A sense of "Why did we abandon this place, or let things get so bad?"<br />
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Since the new series will involve lots of texture in the paintings, I started thinking about how I would get that decayed, crumbling look. As I was sitting out on the deck the other day, it got a bit warm, so I peeled off the sweatshirt I was wearing, only to discover that a dryer sheet had been stuck inside. I looked at the dryer sheet, and thought, "Wow, what a great texture. Wonder if I could use these things in my paintings?" So I am going to experiment with them, glueing them down with matt medium then painting over them to see what kinds of surface textures I can get. And you know, it's always good when you can repurpose something rather than throw it away.<br />
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On my reading table is my Big Red Boxed Edition of Lord of the Rings. I hadn't read the book in over ten years, and wanted to go back to the source after having seen the Peter Jackson version so many times. It reinforces just how much the movie veered away from the book, and in some places abandoned it all together.<br />
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I have put up four tubs of tomato, pepper, basil soup base. They are now in my freezer, waiting for those cold winter evenings when hot soup tastes so good. I may have enough tomatoes left on the vine to make one more tub. I know I have enough peppers! The peppers went crazy this summer.<br />
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Lastly, a quick word about the horse we adopted in July from a kill yard in Washington. After a month and a half, she is finally out of quarantine and in her permeant turnout. She has been such a good girl, very level-headed...until the farrier showed up. She took one look at him and every alarm bell in her body went off. We managed to get her front hooves done, but it was pretty traumatic. She was literally shaking with fear and refusing to let him touch her. So, I have no idea what was done to put the fear of the world into her when it comes to farriers (she has never reacted to anyone like that before, not even the vet), but we will have to figure out something, as her back hooves were in worse shape than the fronts. Might have to give her a sedative for the next few sessions, to get her calmed down and over the fear.<br />
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That's about it. The days are getting shorter, nighttime temps are dropping into the 60s, the air is crisper and smells of fall, and we even had a rain/hail system blow through, that washed all the dust and ash from the trees. You could almost hear them sigh with contentment.<br />
<br />Sharon Robb-Chismhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15677973224372459200noreply@blogger.com0