TAST 5, Studio Reshuffle, and an Enjoyable Day

Someone needs to come over to my house and force me to sit down and stitch until I get caught up. That person is NOT my granddaughter London.  London is one of those “Grammy, look at me!” girls who wants to wow me with every new concept she learns (and yes, sucker doting Grammy here is always wow’ed).  Are 2 year olds (2 ½ at the end of this month) supposed to be dexterous enough to write with a pencil, then use the pencil eraser to erase it?  So grown up. And then a few minutes later when we are adding raisins to the cookie dough, she eats the raisins saying “I love raisins!" But then she asks if they are “chokkit chips”, and THEN asks if they are bugs.   Bruce announced last night after London went home that he now knows how grandkids get their energy; they suck it out of their grandparents.  And we plopped ourselves down and watched TV for two blissful, mind-numbing hours.

But I need to stitch. Thank goodness the weekend is here!!

So, let me show you that I have done a few seams.  After all, London does recharge nap. These seams are on my journal cover.  The basic herringbone was accented with a plain stitch in a varigated red, white and green cotton.  I used that same stitch to do a buttonhole stitch (bottom left corner) along one edge of the trim, too.  It adds just the right amount of random white into the intense red, green and black mix.

Below is another herringbone, this time laced with a contrasting thread. 

This weekend I will finish up my chevron seams (week 6) and get those posted on Monday.

But I had such an ENJOYable day today, that I want to share it with you.  Enjoy is my word for the year, so the other day I ordered a wall sign for my office area (from a great Etsy shop). I am at the computer a lot, blogging for me or for CQI, reading and writing emails, playing Jigzone, listing things in my Etsy shoppe, reading blogs, etc., so I thought what better place to put it?

That is all that I will let you see of my mess of an office.  I have piles everywhere, and this time of year (taxes) makes it doubly messy. But I know where everything is!!!!!!!   yeah, right...

And then I also got these in the mail today, also an Etsy purchase.

Aren’t those pink nautilus shell beads the bomb???  I am going to add them to my seascape valance whenever I get back to stitching on it.    And those vintage … thingys… um, navettes (what is a navette?).  Aren’t they cool, too??  Good mail day!!

This morning I went to an estate sale.  The ad said the deceased was a crafter and sew-er.  Yes, she certainly was.  My big score was not crafty stuff, though (although I did get silk ribbon and some linens), it was storage. This woman had a bazillion plastic storage cabinets, and I needed more.  So, I found the perfect one for my cut fabrics (for fabric packs), and moved them into it.  That resulted in me shuffling around all sorts of other things for hours, getting lost in my stash.  You know how that goes.  So, my silk ribbon got new storage.

Pay no attention to that pile of red velvet above - it needs to be cut up and filed away. Below, the new  drawer unit I moved the cut fabrics into fit perfectly right next to my shelves along one wall of the studio.

The painting was done by my son Shane (London’s dad) when he was in high school. He won lots of awards for it.  But I digress.  So, while I was snapping pictures, I thought I would show you this area of my studio that I haven’t shown before.  Mostly everything in my studio is functional, but a few of these shelves display some sweet gifts, sentimental items, or just cool stuff.

This dish on the top shelf holds some vintage shell pins.

Vintage millinery fruit (?) and vintage ribbonwork

Some pincushions made by Gerry K (gold), Lisa B (pink), Jo N (tall blue) and  Laurie B (cup and saucer).  Bracelets by me.

Vintage hat, gloves, purse circa 1940s.  Peacock feather fan circa 1900.

Back: cups for future pin cushions. Front:  decorated tin from Simona.
Right: vintage pincushion chair to redo.

Lace to be sorted. Ballerina hankie holder was a gift from Freda B.

Tan tin used to hold my mom’s sewing miscellany. Other I’ve just collected

Bottom shelf holds home dec trims, belts, purse handles, etc. for purse-making

And continuing right along with this mish-mash post, I had this great idea that my potassium permanganate way of dyeing rayon venice lace would look nice on other colors of lace that are mixed with white. Now, black and white venice lace (or any color and white) are really difficult to find. I didn’t find one store in the Los Angeles fabric district that carried it. But I did find an online source. It’s very expensive, but I bought a yard of 10.5” wide black and white lace to play with.
 



The result?  Glorious!! Black and golden lace that is not metallic!  So classy!  So lovely!  So …. so what am I going to do with it? I don’t know yet.  Make a black and gold purse? (been there, done that. I don’t need another). Sell it online? Maybe - but I would have to figure out how to cut it up. In pieces? Sell it by the quarter yard? For now, I am not going to worry about it; too much else going on. And I have to see if other styles are available. But isn’t it lovely?

The average person would have made this into three or four separate posts, I know.  :-)  Or at the very least warned you at the beginning, LOL.  So, now I am caught up on blogging!  hehehehe   And I will see you back here in a couple days with more stitching samples and who knows what else!

ENJOY!

One Year ETSY Anniversary and Sale!

Hello dear friends!  For the last 10 days or so I have been busy loading up my Etsy shop in preparation for the one year anniversary of Cathy’s Crazy by Design on Etsy.   As regular readers know, I don’t talk a lot about my Etsy Shop, which is probably good for you, the reader, but not so good from a serious marketing standpoint.  But since I’m seriously crazy, please indulge me this once!  And I have a reward for you at the end!  :-)

My favorite lace, now discontinued by wholesalers.  Not to worry - I have plenty!

The more lace I list, the more large orders I get to nearly clean me out, LOL!  No, I’m not complaining, but it forced me to work harder and smarter, and I think I’ve got a system down.  So, I would like to show you some of the goodies you will find in the way of laces....

4x4” picture frames sold individually or in pairs for greater savings

Lowered price on Fleurs de Lis

These sumptuous rayon Venice laces are dyed with potassium permanganate, a method introduced to us by the Australians (think Jenny Haskins, and Judith & Kathryn).  Not many of us use this method; potassium permanganate is a substance used in veterinary practices, water treatment plants, and swimming pools.  It can be pricey to obtain, comes in liquid or crystal form (I much prefer the crystals) and ‘particular' to handle, but WOW what wonderful results! 

I have also experimented with adding color washes to the golden laces. This picture is from a couple years ago. The coloration is a bit more subtle than this stark picture shows (my old camera - sorry!)  I will be adding some of these types of laces to my store in July.

So, here’s what I have for you, my dear blog readers.  From now through July 16, use the coupon code JULY11TENPERCENT (that’s July, then the number 11, then ten percent - all one word and in caps) when you check out and receive 10% off your order.  I wish I could just give you what your heart would desire, but we all know that’s not possible! And working this Etsy shop has become increasingly important to me as we are now transitioning into retirement this summer.

I will monitor the shop closely and restock daily. And next week watch for fancy fabric packs, more vintage laces and trims. After that I will concentrate on adding the vintage linens, patterns and other finds and treasures - all in time for you to use the coupon if you’d like.  :-)

Please remember that you MUST type in that coupon code at checkout to get the discount.  There is a place (highlighted in blue) where you’ll click and type it in.

* * * * * * * *
And a last note...  Bruce and I tended DGD London today.  She is really becoming a bit of a chatterbox. Her new favorite saying is “I DID IT!”  She is so proud of herself whenever she accomplishes something (it’s so cute!), and every syllable is enunciated so clearly!   She is such a good influence on us old folks.... :-)

Hugs,

Mail Treasure and Other Stuff

Back in December I entered a giveaway on my friend Ingeborg’s Blog, Madame des Fleurs.  She was giving away a lovely cross-stich and silk ribbon embroidered Christmas stocking.  Well, I won and Ingeborg mailed it off on December 28.  It did not arrive in January, and by that time we had both figured it was lost in the mail.  Usually the mail from The Netherlands to Utah only takes a week.   However, when I returned home from my Arizona trip, it was waiting for me in the mail.

Look at this gorgeous stocking!

Needless to say, it will receive a place of honor in my Christmas decorating next December.  

In the meantime, I am totally enchanted with the colors and attention to detail that Ingeborg used.

Every stitch was a labor or love, and I know I will enjoy it as much Ingeborg did for many years.  What a lucky girl I am!

Thank you, dear Ingeborg!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Yesterday I began packaging up some of my Golden Laces.  These are the lovely rayon venice lace trims and motifs that I dye with potassium permanganate.  Some of these will be listed in my Etsy shop when I get back from my visit to see Gerry next week.  The rest will come with me to An Adventure in  Crazy Quilting in April to sell.

In the meantime, I am off to piece a few blocks and begin gathering CQ supplies and stitching projects for my visit to Gerry’s.

This CQ is For the Birds!

Actually, this CQ is for Nicki Lee, as it’s her block I stitched on.   The theme of this round robin is For the Birds, and it was absolutely delightful to stitch on this block!   Nicki Lee had already pieced this 6” block with the charming silkie print of a pair of birds on a branch of apple blossoms. I couldn’t resist!

First I framed the print with some of the rayon venice lace that I dye with potassium permanganate.   I added beads to the lace swirls, then echoed the swirls in the upper left floral motif.   In addition, I felt we needed a nest of babies waiting for food, so it next up was recreating another tree branch with flowers, leaves and a fiber nest of three chirping baby birds.

The colors on this block are so happy, and I am sure I was smiling along with every stitch!

BTW, watch for new listings of dyed lace in my Etsy shop over the few days!  Have a great weekend!

My Dyeing Day

I was going to make all sorts of cracks about dyeing (vs dying), but let’s just pretend I did (insert polite laugh here) and move on.  :-)

My dyeing day was actually just an afternoon of dyeing laces with potassium permanganate.  It’s time to restock my Etsy shop with these “Golden Laces" and prepare some to sell at the CQ Adventure vendor evening.  I also hope to overdye some of them with a light color wash as I did here.

The potassium permanganate (PP) turns the rayon laces a lovely golden color.  When dried and then ironed, the sheen is stunning.

Not all rayons are created equal, however, and each one will take the dyes differently.  Another factor in the final color is the length of the soak in the PP.  That collar that turned out darker below was soaked longer.  It is almost bronze-y (is that a word?) when dried and ironed.

I also did some cottons and “mystery” laces (fiber content unknown), with varying degrees of success.  Synthetics don’t take the dye at all.  I had one “rayon” that, no matter how long it was soaked, would not take much of the PP.  It took just enough to see a difference in the before and after, and have a nice luster when ironed.

The cottons take the PP just like a tea dye.  Shades of brown, but not nearly as interesting or elegant as the potassium permanganate laces.

I hope to begin listing these in my Etsy shop next week, so keep an eye out.  If you see something you’d be interested in beforehand, feel free to contact me.

Have a wonderful weekend!  I’m off to stitch!

Art Nouveau Block for HIdeko

I’m planning to get some pictures up on my blog from the CQI Retreat last week in Colorado.  Although I didn’t take any myself, I did get a disk full of pictures from Ingrid, who said I could use them.   Watch for those next week...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I finished my Art Nouveau block for Hideko in the car on the way home from the retreat.  But I had to wait two days for the air soluble marker to dissolve.  Grrrr...  I knew it would, because I had tested it and already used it in other areas on the block.

Anyway, I loved the picture of the woman playing the samisen.  It was part of a series from a Japanese artist that Hideko had found in a book. For some reason, Maya Angelou’s book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" had been on my mind, and I felt as though a bird would be the perfect musical accompaniment.  So, I made a bird in a cage singing to the music.  He’s dreaming of his freedom.


At the Retreat, I had asked Hideko if those were raindrops or falling leaves in the picture, and she told me cherry blossoms.  Of course!  So I bought the button with the cherry blossoms in Niwot, Colorado when we went to this great shop called Berry Patch.  Tons of ribbons, laces, buttons, beads.... OMG.... an embellisher’s Heaven on Earth....  But I digress...  Hideko was actually in the shop with me (there were 8 of us, to be exact), so I had to be discreet, LOL.   

I had fits with the silver thread (blending filament) that I borrowed at the retreat and ended up having to re-stitch most of the cage with Kreinik cord on the way home..  I thought a birdcage would be as easy as a spider web, but for some reason, the lines would NOT stay straight!  I guess we will have to use our imaginations!



These are the four blocks in this round robin for Hideko (Art Nouveau I at Crazy Quilting International).  Aren’t they beautiful??

Now I’m off to update my Etsy shop and begin my fall listing frenzy on Ebay.  So if you’re in the market for some vintage lace, golden dyed (with potassium permanganate) lace, or some vintage fabrics, look me up.  I’ll be adding more over the next week - along with as many other vintage goodies as I can get photographed and written up.  So much to do, so little time!  :-)


Take care,

Woo-Hoo! I’m in an Etsy Treasury

I got notice yesterday that one of my hand-dyed laces made a Treasury (treasuries are seller-curated collections) on Etsy.  The treasury is Golden Leaves and can be viewed here.

The featured item is dyed with potassium permanganate, a chemical that results in a lustrous golden sheen when used on rayons.  That’s why I call them Golden Laces and why these golden leaves were noticed.   I’m so excited!  This is my first treasury feature!

The results you get with potassium permanganate on cotton are not much different than dyeing with browns or tea/coffee.  Aged, but very ordinary.  Potassium permangante is relatively expensive and at times difficult to obtain.  As with all dyeing, there are precautions to take..... but WOW, pictures can’t capture the beauty of the lace!

One of these days, I’ll get a direct link to my store up on the sidebar.  But for now, if you’re looking for a great golden accent for your crazy quilting, fabric collage or other project, check out the laces in my shop on Etsy.....  http://cathyscrazybydesign.etsy.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I’ve been hesitating to publish pictures of any of my Farmgirl Aprons, because they just don’t look good hanging on a hanger on my design board!  I realize I have to either get someone to pose while wearing one, or else put my Victorian dress form to use.  But she’s got an 18” waist and makes everything look funny.  I guess I could wrap her waist..... must experiment.....   And my grape arbor would make a great background.....  hmmmm....

But I digress.  Here are a couple of the smaller adult ones I’ve recently made.

I’ve been experimenting alot with trims (to trim or not to trim?), straps (the bib straps or other?), fabrics (double cotton or heavier home dec cottons or ?), ruffles or not, pockets or not (I believe they should all have pockets, but sometimes they don’t), etc.  But that’s part of the fun; no two alike.

Those vintage white yo-yo’s on the above apron either need some green leaves to dress them up, or they’ve gotta go.   They look better in person, but they look funny in this picture.....

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meantime, I’m working on another Art Nouveau crazy quilting block for Leslie.  It’s in neutrals, and I should have a progress shot in the next couple days.

I’ve had so much on my plate again (why do I do that?) that I just “dropped out” of my life for a week.  I couldn’t focus and didn’t feel like interacting or even...... and this is a big one..... even eating!   And not eating while on a weight loss regimen (or lifestyle change, I should say) is NOT good.  Body goes into “starvation mode” and hoards everything.  Thus, no weight loss.  So, I’m eating as I should this week and hope to move off this d$#%  plateau I’ve been on.  

So I’m off to stitch methinks.  Ah, but lunch first......   :-)

Hugs,

Etsy Shop, Guest Blogging & GIVEAWAY

Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!  There’s so much good news to share!  So grab a cuppa, sit down and relax! I’ve finally taken the plunge and opened an Etsy Shop!!!!  So, now we’re all going to party like CRAZY quilters, or CRAZY stitchers, or whatever your CRAZY thang is!!


NEW ETSY SHOP


Cathy’s CRAZY by Design (http://cathyscrazybydesign.etsy.com) will be open for business on Thursday, July 1.  I’m going to feature my Golden Laces  (venice and other laces dyed with potassium permanganate).  If you’ve ever seen the Australian publications, or the work of  Jenny Haskins or Judith & Kathryn, you are probably familiar with these unusual, lustrous, YUMMY laces.  Whenever I take them to a CQ conference, they sell out.  


I’ll also be offering you some of my great vintage finds:  vintage laces, vintage trims, vintage linens, and other whimseys.   And regular laces and trims.  And to round it out, I’ll have lots of farmgirl-type aprons (with denim bibs) and cute and kicky contemporary aprons for women and girls.  Some will be sedate and tame, others will be fun and wild!   Full aprons, half aprons,  and aprons you can “cook” in (but not necessarily in the kitchen, ahem, if you catch my drift....).  It’ll likely take me a couple weeks to get up to speed and get it all listed, but it’s a-comin’!!


THE GIVEAWAY


So, let’s all celebrate!  I’m going to have a fun giveaway for YOU, with two prize packages.    First, let’s take a look at what I’ve put together.

Weekend in Paris??  Well, not quite!  But how about a lovely framed print of Paris, a little ceramic Eiffel tower bud vase, rose-scented imported Italian (pretend it’s French) soap in tulle, a vintage mother of pearl button, a vintage embroidered hankie, a vintage crocheted fan, a “golden” dyed fleur-de-lis, and some vintage baby blue trim (around the “tower”).    All you need to furnish is the wine and candles!!!


Ah, but maybe you’re more the type to get right to creating.  If so, how about some golden lace?

Over the years I’ve learned that different laces take the potassium permanganate in different ways.  That is true of most dyeing, I’m sure. The golden sheen is most apparent on rayon venice lace.  Some modern venices are part rayon and part OTHER.  And some of the laces I dye are cotton, which don’t have a sheen at all, just a nice light (ranging to dark) color.  The lace prize is all that’s pictured above, plus several items that I’ll add (at least 3 more nice ones, bringing it to a dozen pieces).  


GUEST BLOGGER - ME!?!


My third wonderful announcement is that I’ve been asked by Pam Kellogg of Kitty & Me Designs  to be her first featured guest blogger.  That post is happening today, July 1, 2010.  Woo-hoo, again!  If you don’t know Pam (which I doubt, because EVERYONE knows and loves Pam), hop on over to her blog (as soon as you’re done here!).   Pam is an amazing crazy quilter, designer, and former cross-stitch pattern designer (well-published, I might add).  Her Etsy shop was my inspiration to open my own shop (because I spent so much money there, I had to gain another source of income) because her creations are so gorgeous!   And she is my new BFF!!!


CONTEST RULES


So, all three of these items tie in together (in my “wonderful” category, anyway), and here is how YOU can be one of the giveaway winners.    There are 5 ways to get your name entered into the drawing, with a total of up to 8 chances to win!  Between today (Thursday, July 1) and Friday, July 9, 2010 at midnight (MDT), leave a comment ON THIS POST.  Please, it must be on this post!!  You will be entered one time.  But there are ways to get your name entered again, so let’s run them down:


1.  Leave a comment on this post - one entry
2.  Become a follower of this blog - one entry (current followers are automatically entered)
3.  Post about this giveaway (with a picture) in your blog & link back here - one more entry
4.  Become a follower of Kitty & Me Designs - one entry (current followers are automatically entered).  If you follow both blogs, you’re entered twice right off the bat!
5.  Make a purchase at Cathy’s Crazy by Design between now and July 9, midnight, and you will get three additional entries.


Make sure I have a way to contact you!  If you don’t have a blog, make sure your name and email address show up in your comment.  I don’t want you to lose out because I can’t find you!!


So, let the party commence!  And thank you one and all for your friendship and support!  YOU ARE THE BEST!


Hugs,

NEW Blog Look ... and Camera Experiments

I decided it was time for a change in the look of my blog.  I wanted a somewhat vintage-y feel, but not frou-frou.   What do you think??  The last header/banner was done by my sweet friend Heather of A Cherished Life, and I truly loved it.  But even Heather changed her blog look recently (go check out how cute it is!), and I felt the need for a change also.  Especially in light of the fact that I'm STILL working madly behind the scenes to get my Etsy (or Ebay listings or additional Blog pages) up and running soon.  I have so much vintage lace, potassium-permanganate-dyed ("golden") laces, trim, fabric, and other vintage linens and goodies to sell....    


A couple weeks ago I mentioned that we'd gotten a new camera.  It's a more powerful Fuji (a Finepix S1500 for what it's worth) and has 10 megapixels instead of my old 2 mp Fuji.  But I can't seem to get great pictures out of it. I know, I know.... it's the operator, not the camera, LOL!!!   So, I am experimenting.  Sooner or later I'm going to have to break down and read the manual that DH finally unburied found last weekend (long story....)  


In the meantime, I'm making lace/ribbon spools to sell.  These templates were bought from an Etsy seller named From the Craft Room  that Pat Winter recommended.  

I purchased for download two different styles - the Edwardian Lady that comes in two sizes and the basic floral spool.   As I experiment with which lace looks good on what (am I being too anal?), I'm finding that I may need to try to design even wider ones myself......  So that's what started me on the experimentation yesterday that led to (1) me FINALLY getting into Photoshop to begin learning it, and (2) my blog redesign.    


And some of the lace I'm winding on old clothespins.  The lace is glued on those; they're just to be used as a cute decoration.  I hope to sell them in my Farmer's Market booth.  

But I digress..... (yes, I know.  I'm going around in circles).    Isn't the lace lovely on that spool??  BUT, I need to put some "Crazy by Design" information on it somewhere.  A sticker on the back of the spool? Or on the plastic packaging (aaaack!) that this will inevitably have to go in??  Should I use tissue paper instead??

How do other (environmentally-conscious-wannabe) sellers do this??   

And then there are the lace motifs.  I'll figure out something to package those, but what I'm really concerned about is PHOTOGRAPHING them.  The potassium permanganate yields a beautifully golden, shiny sheen on nice rayon venice (or schiffli) lace.  But my pictures make them look ... tarnished?  green?  I've tried different backgrounds, but need more experimentation.  Different  lighting?  Super-Macro??  How about a Fairy Godmother (who is a photographer on the side?)

So, I'm back to my little world.  Sweating the small stuff, occasionally taking breaks to stitch, drink margaritas coffee, and shop.  Oh, and work (at the Farm, dearie).  Housework??  I hired a housekeeper last week to help me with spring cleaning.  I'm good for a month week or so now....


Tomorrow:  my weekend estate sale finds!!