Having fun with Fabric and My Sewing Machine

Lately, I have been having fun with my sewing machine. Thanks to Krissi and her patience, I have been giving it a whirl and have been having fun with small items. I am getting pretty good with the ATC's, Postcards and mini quilts. I have even made a few handbags and am currently working on two bags that I made the pattern from scratch! Those pics will be coming soon.
For now, I just wanted to share some of my sewing lessons with you, and although I have sooooooo much more to learn, I am having fun. I am even thinking of joining morsbags.com so I can do some drive by bag give aways! If you don't know about that website, check it out, it is really inspiring. I feel so ashamed to take bags from stores now, and find myself stuffing my handbag with items and saying no all together on paper or plastic!

My goal is to start making bags for myself and family, and hopefully in the process, will make bags good enough to pass out to random peeps!

But for now, here are a few pics for your review.

Salute,

Yoli


Springtime ATC Swap

Postcard Swap


A mini quilt I made a few weeks ago.



Clutch I made for Loan


Corozon fabric Postcard I mailed to a swap partner

La Virgen quilted postcard


These Postcards are so easy to make. I should do a tutorial!

Have a great week everyone!

Cruising Crafty Chica Style!

Just in case you haven't heard, my girl Kathy is doing it again! Another Crafty Chica Cruise to Mexico. This year's cruise was a blast with over 40 chicas, artists, crafters, and down right cool peeps were in attendance. Next year is going to be even bigger, with Kathy blowing up the charts and all.

Yours truly will be representing and I will also be teaching a class! (I promise to keep it clean Kathy) ;-)

I have traveled many places and let me tell you, this is a SCREAMING DEAL, mmmkay? Not only do you get to learn and create, but it is ALL you can eat! lol, for real, the only tab I had was my drinking tab. (it Wasn't that big either!)

So get your reservations in now!


Details!


Crafty Chica Cruise 2009!
DATE: March 16-21, 2009
DEPARTS: from San Diego
WHERE: Cabo and Ensenada (one day at each town, two full days at sea)
COST: $647 inside cabin. $699 ocean view cabin (based on double occupancy)

Cost is lower for spouses/people who do not want to craft.

INCLUDES: Everything! Room, food, tips, entertainment, two cocktail parties, craft supplies/kits for five workshops, personal instruction, tote bag with giveaways, and much more! Plus there will be three bonus mini-workshops for $5 each.

The cost is a little higher this year because we had to push the date up two weeks, which hit the spring break season. But still - compared to other craft cruises, this is a really good price!

As far as the classes, I will have those listed soon. I do know we will have a jewelry, fabric/sewing, assemblage, paper arts/scrapbooking, and Day of the Dead. Each workshop will have the theme of "art de la soul" - self empowerment, making visual representations of your life goals, and discovering something new about yourself!

SWAPS: We will be making two swap projects as well.

Students are encouraged (but not required) to bring personal/favorite supplies, scrap fabric, trims etc.

Aside from crafting, there will be shopping in Cabo and Ensenanda, great entertainment, a full casino, a spa on board the 'Elation' ship (cost is separate). We will have a 24-hour craft room. This year our dining room is connected to our craft room. And we will have better lighting!

Register by May 23 and recieve a $25 discount!
Returning cruisers receive a $50 discount ($25 after May 23)

All it takes is $100 to hold your spot now, and the next $100 is due in September and then the rest is due in December.

http://www.seacruises.com/groups/crafty09/

or call 1-800-795-1008.

See pictures:
http://flickr.com/photos/craftychica/sets/72157604086873643/



Any questions? Shoot me an email!

This is Serious! All Artistas are encouraged to get your voice heard!

I am talking about the

Orphan Works Bill Affect Ownership of Your Art and Written Work?

Seriously, I do urge you to check this out. Normally I would cut and past, but Emma Allen of Quilting and Patchwork did such a fine job, I am enclosing a link to her blog. It covers a lot of Q&Q and has direct links for you to notify your congressman.

I already sent mine!

If you care about your artwork becoming "public domain", check out this blog.



Happy day People!

Well It's About Time...Maker Faire Wrap Up

So yeah, I have been wanting to post this blog for over a week! Uploading pics here on blogspot is still a mystery to me, and I all but gave up putting them in order. Be sure to check out my links, where you can learn more about the artists and products! I have been wanting to post this blog forever, so please excuse the out of sync photos.

Lil over a week ago, Sharon and I headed out to the Maker Faire in San Mateo California. This would be my first visit. I always heard it was hecka cool chitters. OMGah, it totally was! First off, it took forever to get off our exit on the freeway, then we were ushered to a faraway parking lot where we were shuttered across America to the fair grounds. We were then greeted by a genormous line of peeps trying to get in. Fortunately I had two tickets that I scored from Craft Con. (Thank you Rachael!_

Once inside the gate, we couldn't help but stand in amazement and with our mouths wide open! We didn't know where to turn or start because there was something happening everywhere! It was like craft show, meets freak show, meets valley of the nerds science fair! There was something for EVERYONE, and then some! I don't even think we checked out every building, it was just too much for us to handle in the 5 hours that we were there.

We started in one building where everyone was offering "Make and Takes" I literally had to yank Sharon out of there because she was having way to much fun at the recycled art booth where we made mixed media badges. From there we peeped out handmade greeting cards from recycled ads and garbage, we made screen prints from carving out styrofoam plates, and also got to make card holders out of cereal boxes. I can't even remember how much swag we picked up on the way, but lemme tell you, it was awesome.

I even got to chop it up with Sonja Nimrey of Fanciful ----. I just happened to have her book in my Amazon wish list, so I took advantage of the situation and bought it straight from her. (She is soooo cute)

After wandering around and dodging moterized cupcakes, we ran into La Reina herself, Crafty Chica. She was busy marketing her wares and giving free Matchbox Shrine demos, featuring her awesome line of products.

Ok, embarrassing moment. I accidentally sidebusted a video interview with Cathy of California. Here I thought I was being polite and asking her before snapping a pic, only to be told, ok, yeah, but we ARE video taping! Whoops!

I also got to see my girls in action. Yes The Sacramento Craft Mafia was there representing to the fullest.

I also got to meet a lot of people I stalked, I mean met online and it just was an awesome event. Did I already say that? lol, for real, even Sharon, who is not a craft enthusiast like me, was extremely impressed and thanked me for taking her.

Yes, yes, It was good day indeed. If you ever have a chance to attend this event, DO IT. I also recommend taking the kiddies. There were tons of stuff for them to do and experiment, and I kick myself for not taking photos of the carnival. lol, trust me, you had to see it to believe it.

Because I cannot get my photo's to align, you will be seeing some of these peeps, but not in the ordred intended. Please click on the links and check them all out. They are so worth the effort
Lauren of Goody Goody and Missy Ballence of Crafty Carnival

Cathy of California. (sorry about butting into you video Chica)

Sonia Nimri, author of Just for the Frill of it, 25, flirty fabulous styles to make from clothes you already own.

The Hawt Tammy of RoxyCraft (and my homegirl!)

Lovely Kathy of Crafty Chica

Tiffany Threadgould
RePlayGround
Tiffany Threadgould is a Design Junkie who gives scrap materials a second life. Her business, RePlayGround, sells recycled goods and features DIY projects.
http://www.replayground.com

Jeepers Creepers!

Yes, I can do more than Frida and Guadalupe! So number 1 son (oldest, not that I adore him anymore than number 2 son) flew the nest. Yes, I am that much closer to being an "empty nester" well, not that much closer, being that I have 200 people that still live with me. Ok, not 200, but sometimes it feels like it!

Number One Son has joined the ranks to being a renter. I told him it is not easy, and to please finish school and hold out as long as he can. It's hard out there! But being the strong headed independent kid that he has always been................ He bounced.

From day one, that kid has always been on a mission to grow up. He walked at 10 months old, talked early, RAN early, tried to grow up as fast as he can. It was like raising a little old man. He had to KNOW everything and had to always be right. I would always say,:"SLOW DOWN! " (at least for my sake)

Now my other son........................ well that is a different blog.

Anyhoo, my son gave me an unfinished wooden key holder and asked me to decorate it. "Mom, NO Frida or Guadalupe please" I was like, "Guat?" lol, Okayyyyyyyy, I can do more then my favorite icons, Helloooo!

I scoured my clip artsy fartsy books and decided to make it creepy and cool. I settled on some monster looking vintage comic images. I still painted it a vibrant green, but I thought it would go great with the images.

Verdict came in, and he was very pleased. "Cool Mom, this is tight!" I'll take that as a, "Oh Mom, this is the best thing ever!" (my kid is pretty skimpy in the compliment department, so I will take what I can get, mmmmkay?""

Second is a Haunted Dotee that I made for a swap. I made the face out of polymer clay and used some of my favorite left over halloween fabric.

I am currently working on some fabric postcards and fabric atcs. (stay tuned)

Next blog will be my visit to the Maker Fair last weekend!

Icicle Frida 5-08

Icicle Frida 5-08
Originally uploaded by Sacred Snatch Designs

Hello everyone in blog landia! I have fallen behind in blogs, and thought if I just upload this pic, it will motivate me to get my blog mojo rolling. I have many stories and creations to share, but, gah, I have been feeling like a slug! I mean except for my studio, I have been a mad woman in there, sewing, painting, varnishing, etc. Oh and it feels so good! lol,

Anyhoo, I joined an Icicle doll swap on swap-bot, and the theme was to make a celebrity doll. I just could not imagine doing a Brittany or Tom Cruise Icicle, so I stuck to the celebrities that I follow. Ok, Frida has been gone for a hot minute, but her spirit lives on and is thriving. Hopefully my partner will know who she is. Sometimes, I will run across a swap partner who tells me that she has no idea who Frida is/was, and google her, and became just as hooked as I am. Viva Frida!

See you again soon!

Join us for Scary Craft Night!

As promised, Scary-Art CRAFT is crankin' up the Craft Night volume with demonstrations of techniques & products. For May's Night of the Crafters, we've got an incredibly hot technique (and an even hotter instructor).

Whether you call it "refashioning," "DIY" or "altered clothing," you've probably seen that there are TONS of books flying off the click-and-mortar shelves detailing how to make the most of your old T-shirts, jeans and other closet cast-offs.

But seriously, wouldn't it be easier to just watch how it's done?

Sure it would!

That's why we are proud to announce that our very first Night of the Crafters demo will feature Miss Samantha Marie Grove. Sam Marie is an artist, DIY fashionista (is that an oxymoron?), and darned nice girlie, who will demonstrate techniques for refashioning a plain ol' men's T-shirt into something that will make the boys go "hubba hubba!"

Sam Marie's altered "Tank Girl" tank started life as a basic graphic T-shirt
and became a pretty AND edgy camisole with some scissors, a little lace and a needle & thread.
The off-the-shoulder Ramones top sure won't be mistaken for a boxy boy shirt now!

Not a punk rocker? Are you a bit on the modest side? Maybe you want to learn how to refashion clothes for your tween, or just bring a too-big shirt in a little? Worry not! Sam has techniques that will work for what you want to do.

If you'd like to work on your own "refashion" project, bring a T-shirt, a pair of scissors, a needle & thread (to match your shirt) and any embellishments you'd like to add to:

NIGHT OF THE CRAFTERS
presented by Scary-Art CRAFT and Side Show Studios
May 27th (and every 4th Tuesday), 6:30 to 9pm
Side Show Studios
5635 Freeport, #6 - Sactown
And please, if you can, BYOC (bring your own chair!)

As always, if you have any feedback on our meetings or if you would like to suggest (or volunteer for) a future demo/tutorial, please e-mail us at scarycraft@gmail.com.

See you on Fourth Tuesday (and don't forget your "monster" craft).