Work in Progress

The jade bowl is finished!  I don't want to show too much, because it is a surprise for someone.  She (the bowl, not the person) is on her way north with her ruffly sister.  Safe travels :)

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Here is another shot of the fabric I shared last week.  The fabric is called "Cornwall Garden" and my customer is having curtains made (on Etsy, of course) from this.  She shared the photo to inspire me to choose colors that will create a lidded clutter keeper to match.

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Here are the fabrics I chose...

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... and here is the keeper so far.  I'll post more photos of the finished project- hopefully in time for Makeover Monday!

Makeover Monday: 8/8

I've been entrusted with a super important job- turning these sentimental articles of clothing into a ruffled bowl for a very special person.  It's going to take some thought and time, as this is a fabric I have not worked with before... "parachute nylon". 

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I've planned out the overall pattern, and begun the base.  As I suspected, this material scrunches down to almost nothing once crocheted.  What you see here is made from an entire pair of pants!!!  Hoping to have more to show by the end of the week.  Stay tuned!!

Wedding Bowls

These are the two bowls made from the wedding items I showed you on Monday. I used the long silk slip as the base, and topped them off with a round of lace. Between you and me, I was terrified to cut these things up- they were so old and delicate that I truly feared that the result could be disastrous. As you can imagine, I am very pleased that they turned out so well. I added the knot of silk and lace at the side to really showcase the fabrics within. Now to see what I can make from the leftovers for the extra special item...

Makeover Monday: 12/6

Just a "before" teaser today... I received this antique wedding ensemble from a new sosorosey customer. She's hoping her family heirlooms can be repurposed into 2 small bowls as well as a unique item that will serve a very special purpose for her daughter...

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Stay tuned for the "after" later this week!

Happy, happy Monday!

Makeover Monday: 9/6

I am hard at work on a custom bowl and rug set for a new sosorosey customer. These are the fabrics she has chosen to match her shabby chic style, blue and cream colored kitchen.

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I know. I know. This isn't the most stunning makeover you've ever seen. Cutting the fabric is one of the inglorious tasks associated with fabric crochet, and one that is often forgotten- by all but the crocheter. I thought it was appropriate to feature this step for a Labor Day makeover. With a little time and luck, these fabric balls will turn into an oval bowl overnight! I hope to be back tomorrow with part two of the makeover. Hope you're having a happy holiday weekend!

Makeover Monday: 8/2

I started with one of THE funkiest vintage bedsheets I have ever come across...


... and hooked up a super colorful large star!

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I'll be bringing this star and several others- along with lots of large baskets- to The Muse in Frederick, Maryland in a couple of weeks. My goodies have been selling pretty well there, and the owner wants more...yay!

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I plan to offer the large size version of my upcycled stars on Etsy this year, too. These are 6.5" from point to point, yet they weigh just over 2 ounces! This means great things for holiday decorating...they stand out on the tree without dragging the branches down. At just $10 per individually wrapped and sweetly tagged star, they are the perfect gift for anyone on the list who appreciates eco-friendly, unique and handmade.

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Want to pre-order your stars now? Send me a message and I'll be happy to whip up some stars for you in any color your heart desires!

Makeover Monday: 7/12

I've been working with nothing but yarn for weeks! While I do love yarn, I have really been missing my fabric crochet work. I chose this tie-dyed shirt for its interesting mix of colors.

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The ochre really pops in the final product, and I like how the rim ended up with a lilting ripple to it. This is perhaps my favorite thing about crocheting with fabric; no two items are EVER the same!

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Happy Monday to you! How is your week looking? I am finally back to a *normal* routine after the post-trip recovery. I have to go to the dentist tomorrow, so please send good thoughts my way... it's one of my least favorite things to do in the world. And did I tell you that I broke my foot? No? Well, it's true. A stress fracture in two places, and now I get to wear a (black, heavy, hot and oh, so fashionable) boot for a few weeks. Could be worse, right?

Back in Business

Finally! A new item to list in my shop. I had such fun last night rooting through my fabric stash. This tangerine, mustard, and pink stripe combo jumped right out at me. It looks like a spectacular sunrise. Or sunset. Either way, big changes are on the horizon :)

I Heart Polka Dots

You just can't go wrong crocheting with polka dotted fabric! And if it's an aqua-teal dotted fabric, so much the better!

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These are the last two pieces that I made to take on my consigning adventure Thursday. I've made my price sheet/inventory list, and have started a list of questions to ask. Have you sold on consignment before? Any tips you have or info I need would be SO appreciated!

Makeover Monday: 5/31

Remember this fabric from the hand dyed rose brooch awhile back?

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I loved it so much that I decided to make some *everyday* stars from it. As far as I'm concerned, each day should be a celebration of shabby cottage style :)

Late Night Experiment

I've been wanting to make a stark white item for awhile now, and I sat myself down in front of Intervention last night and made one. But alas, when it was finished, it didn't look snow white anymore. Maybe it was the light or the late hour, but to me it looked dingy. Having just made a bowl the night before that I didn't like, I was NOT about to be beaten two nights in a row!

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Now, my mother doesn't crochet, but she can get her creative groove on with some dye or paint. Seriously, she can turn the ugliest colors into the most beautiful ones- just like magic. I don't have this skill, but I did have the dye that mom left in my laundry room. So, around about 11pm last night, I got a little crazy with the RIT. Buh bye, dingy white bowl- hello sweet little bluebell basket!! Not only did I figure out that I can change the colors of my crocheted items quickly and easily, I learned that they are very washer and dryer safe, too. Who knew I could have so much fun in the laundry room?! Thanks, Mom!

Friday Fun Info

Happy Saturday, folks! I'm so sorry that Friday Fun didn't happen on Friday- I had lots going on and just couldn't get to it. I fully intend to post game 2 of "The Price is Right" sometime today, so please do come on back to play!

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In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of the large coaster or small mat that I will be listing in sosorosey soon. I love that the flowers in the fabric are still visible! This item is about 18" wide, and would serve nicely under pet food/water bowls or under the centerpiece/salt/pepper/etc. on a large farm table.
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Hope you are enjoying your weekend, and don't forget to come back and visit later tonight!

Rustic Clutter Keeper

Just when you thought you'd seen the last of the primitive rag ball creations, you remembered that this is ME that you're dealing with!

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The primitive rag balls for this project came from the same Texas ranch heirloom collection as the ones I made so many stars from over the Christmas holiday season.

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These beautiful fabrics are primarily 100% cotton, with a couple of blends as well. The maker of the balls did such an excellent job of painstakingly cutting, folding, ironing and stitching the lengths- it made my job a true and uniquely joyous experience.

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When you don't cut and wind the fabric yourself (and sometimes even when you do!), it is very hard to know exactly how it is going to work up. How the yardage will translate to becoming a multidimensional object is one of the great mysteries of this craft!

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I was more conservative on the width of this one in order to ensure a substantial depth. It ended up being about 10" wide and 6" deep. AND, I still have a bit of one rag ball left! Maybe it will be used for a small bowl- maybe a few stars. Whatever the customer would like works for me...I'm just happy that I have a little bit more left to play with. *sigh*

Makeover Part Two

As luck would have it, I had the exact same fabric my customer initially liked- and enough of it to make her the basket she envisioned!

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I began by cutting the entire twin sheet into a long strip about 2 inches wide.

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Then, I made the base. Here it is at about 10 inches wide, 3 inches tall.

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I was so excited to start the loopy part! This is with one row of tutu fluff...
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...and *eeek!* here she is with the double row of ruffles.

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Finally, I finished her off with a super sturdy handle. I had to break into sheet number two about midway through the second loopy row. No matter how many bowls, baskets, rugs or trivets I make, I am always stunned at how much fabric goes into this work.

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Tah dah!!! Here she is; 100% fabric, 100% ecofriendly, 100% awesome (maybe I'm a little biased). I really do feel like a proud Easter bunny helper, though.

Makeover Monday: 2/8

Five gorgeous cotton fabrics equal ...


... four phenomenal shabby chic chair pads!

Makeover Monday: Big Basket- check!

I tried to get here on Monday, I really did. And to me it is still Monday because I have not yet been to sleep. But enough of my excuses. Remember these rag balls?

Well, they are finally THIS:

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I love this shot of looking through one handle at the other. This is also a great group of some of my favorite fabrics from this project. Is it weird to love a handle? Hmmm...probably doubly weird to love two.

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And guess what? There is one big ball of fabric left...and I get to make stars with it for some very special people! Stay tuned for those, and for two other exciting projects that I have in the works. Happy Monday~Tuesday :)

Super Special Order

When is a robe not a robe?

When it has become a bowl!

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I had the tremendous honor and pleasure of meeting a wonderful person last week. She saw my memory bowl listing, and it resonated with her. Like me with my gramma's jammas, she has kept her late Gram's robe in her closet, unable to part with its sentimental value.

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We sent messages back and forth, and she decided to send me the robe to see if I could work with it. When it arrived, the first thing that struck me was the beautiful pale blue color. It was a size large, so there was a good amount of fabric to work with, too. The material was super silky and thin though (a poly/cotton blend), so I knew I would need to cut fairly large strips to make a sturdy bowl.
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There probably is a scientific or mathematical way to calculate the size that a bowl will be. We'd have to figure in many variables, such as the heft of the fabric, the width of the strips, and the size of the hook.

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I'm sure if I asked my husband, he would gladly put his math major to work and spin formulas into the night. But, I enjoy the approximation. I enjoy never knowing exactly how large something will be, or what shape it may take on. I love just letting the fabric take me on a little journey. Fortunately, my new customer trusted me to just make her something special.
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The bowl ended up being 5" across and almost as high! I listed it late last night thinking my customer would see it this morning. Nope, she snatched it up right away and sent me the nicest message. She said she had tears of joy in her eyes when she saw what had been created from her Gram's robe. She told me she took a carnation off the closed casket before she left Gram's funeral, and had pressed it in her bible. This bowl will be the new home for that carnation.

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This special item is on its way to Florida as I write. I can't wait to hear that it has landed safely in its new owner's hands. May she bring joy and many, many fond memories!

Keeper in Progress

Gosh, I've missed you! Life has been on the very crazy side, and blogging just had to take a back seat for a bit. But, I'm back, and excited to share what I've done on my new custom item.

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The top photo is from my customer; it represents the colors she would like incorporated in her project keeper.

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After lots of messages back and forth, these are the fabrics that were finally chosen. My customer would like an emphasis on greens and golds/yellows, but other than that, I have "artistic license" on color placement and design.

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Here is what I have completed so far! This is 12" wide, and serves as the base of the keeper. I LOVE this color combination- it is so modern and fresh!
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So, what have I missed in my absence? Please leave a comment and let me know how you are doing and what you are up to these days!!

Makeover Monday: 6/8

So. We take a ball of robin's egg blue cotton yarn...

...add a strip from a discarded Old Navy cotton scarf...

...and voila! Some of the prettiest nesting bowls I have made to date.

This is such a special combination, isn't it?

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Rag topping tip: take the time to find just the right material. I have found that what works best for these small stitches is tightly woven yet thin cotton. Look in the scarf section on your next trip to the thrift store! Think bandanna fabric. You have to cut the strips pretty thin (half inch or less), and the wrong material will just ravel or break for this job. Frustrating!!

Do you have a new project to share? I'm all ears!!

Custom Nursery Basket: Check!

Last week, a new customer wrote to me asking if I could make a handled basket for her daughter's nursery. She wanted it to match this rug, and to measure 18" wide by 8" deep.

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I finished this item last night, and I am SOOOOO proud of it! I love it when I feel like I got something just right, don't you?! Mmm, just look at those handles!

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This nursery basket is so soft, sturdy, and versatile- what a great gift it would make for a new parent! It could fit a newborn baby at first, then be used as a diaper/wipes container, then a toy basket, then...who knows?

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Even more exciting? I get to make one for the brother's bedroom next. Stay tuned for that one next week :)