faux feathers necklace

I can't seem to get enough of feathers lately- they are the perfect subject matter for all kinds of creative projects and they happen to be all the rage in fashion. So I decided to put my twist on a feather necklace, creating my own unique feathers.

1. I started with a simple sketch of a feather drawn onto fabric. I filled in the feather with Tulip Soft Fabric Paints- they are very versatile and great to use on a variety of fabric surfaces 2. I continued to fill in the feather with colorful details.

3. When the paint was dry, I used a permanent marker to add additional details. 4. When I was satisfied with the feather I cut it out.

Next, I created two more feathers in different colors and sizes.

I stacked the feathers on top of each other

and I used an awl to poke tiny holes in all three of the feathers and inserted a jump ring.

Just for a little variation I added some beads and a little charm to the feather and the last step was to put everything on a chain.

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Video Action from our booth at the 2012 Craft and Hobby Show

Some super fun videos were created in our tradeshow booth this year!  Check out the fun, zany, and personal videos that were captured. We were super excited to have Corinne Leigh of Threadbanger film the cutest CHA video ever above. You have to check it out!













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embellished shoulders tutorial

I am loving the current fashion of trend of embellished shoulders. I am seeing it everywhere and I think it is a fun way to wear a little bling. And of course I had to come up with an easy way to create my own!

I started with a black jersey tunic

and used my new favorite Tulip product- Beads in a Bottle. A little like puff paint but once the paint dries is hardens up and feels and looks like beads on the surface. It is machine washable and permanent.

Beads in a Bottle is brand new and will hit stores next month!

I used lots of dots and shapes to embellish the surface of the shoulders.

I let it dry over night and just like that I have a new fun embellished tee!

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More video fun from the #CHAShow!

While we are at the 2011 Craft and Hobby Winter Tradeshow, we took lots of videos around our booth showcasing our designer's creativity and our great, great products. Here's a couple to inspire you featuring Pattiewack and Alisa Burke. Those gals are just too creative (never a bad thing)! And there are more on the way! Stay tuned!





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Love Note Pillows

Before I moved from Oregon to San Diego to be near my boyfriend (my now husband) we maintained a long distance relationship. A big part of that relationship was writing letters, email and LOTS of little love notes sent back and forth. We both saved all those letters and notes and once in while we will pull them out, spend time shaking our head and laughing while reading them- so naive and silly we were! These days (insert 10 years) we still write each other notes and letters. There is just something so wonderful about a hand written note.

For a while I've wanted to do something creative with some of those notes and came up with the most simple idea to make little love note pillows.

FYI- I am OBSESSED with pillows and believe that you can never have too many around the house (they are EVERYWHERE) so adding a few more to the collection is always a good thing.

I started by selecting a couple of notes and letters that I scanned.

Or they could be photographed

I pulled the documents over to Photoshop and adjusted the brightness and contrast- this could really be done in any photo editing program.

I added a warming filter for a subtle sepia look.

I enlarged the document so that I obscured entire sentences- for a little mystery :)

I then flipped it horizontal to prepare to print.

I used Tulip's photo transfer paper and loaded it into my ink jet printer.

I printed it out.

I then placed the transfer face down on unbleached muslin.

I covered it with a piece of scrap fabric and following the directions, ironed it down.

I let the transfer cool and I peeled off the top sheet to reveal my love note.

I used my craft iron to melt away any obvious edges that were showing.

Next I cut it out

and sewed it onto the surface of another piece of muslin that I had pre cut for my pillow.

I sewed the all of the sides together (with wrong sides facing).

and left a hole open to so I could stuff the pillow and then sew the hole up.