New Moon Swap!

My partner recieved her package and posted the pictures so I can finally share! Here are the goodies I sent my partner:

Here they are all together.

Twilight Apple Christmas ornaments

My version of Bella's hat from Twilight.


The original. I think I did a very good job replicating the hat with my pattern.

Crochet New Moon Rose that can be used as a broach or a hair thingy. Yes thingy is a technically tern.

It's a box! I hand painted the New Moon flower with Acrylics and sealed with a gloss spray that stunk way more than I expected it to. I aired it quite a while and you could still smell it on the inside. I think it'll be fine with a little more time to air out.

A joke, I found it at the dollar store. I wrote Bella Swan with sharpie..... poorly.

Made with real vampires. I also got a Jacob bar for me, but I ate him.

There is also the necklace with a glass flower pedant I found really pretty. The image of a flower of black reminded me of Twilight. But I forgot to take a close up, which was awesome of my memory considering it's the one thing you can barely see in the group photo. Go me! =D

Racoon Suit Mario Chart

I made this chart for a project I did a few years back, but I'd thought I'd share it for others to use too.



For the crocheted mario pillow I made, each pixel is two double crochet. This could also be used for cross stitch if you're into that kinda thing. Be sure to share anything you make with it.



Which do you like better from SMB3: The Raccoon Mario or Fire Mario?

Which do you prefer?

My swap partner received her package, so soon as she post her pictures I'll share mine on here. Until then: I painted the frame of my Grin Fandango painting silver. I think it looks better but I'm not sure.

The New look

The Old Look

What do think? Which frame looks better?

More Hats

I sent off my New Moon swap package on Saturday (a day late... always a day late on that stuff. ugh) and I'm excited to share what I made soon as my swap partner receives it. Until then: HATS! Bon appetit!

Crocheted Hat

Here's what I made on my blogging hiatus. Bon appetit!

I look suspicious. Is someone about to steal my awesome new hat?

My hair isn't messy, it's just windy.
Yes...windy. Really it is. COUGH COUGH HACK COUGH.

Also, this photo makes my apartments look nice. Really it's just a sunny day and an out of focus backdrop.

Meet the Flintstones!

Hey everyone I'm back! After a few months working crazy hours at a terrible job I finally have free time again and that means more crafting! Of course, I have been crafting all along, just no time to share it all!

Saturday was Halloween and I take every chance I get to make a costume. My amazing boyfriend Shipoopi agreed to go with me as the Flintstones! I made the costumes myself using my own pattern. I even made the obnoxiously large rock necklace out of carved floral foam.


I've made a few hats already for the coming fall pictures soon to come! Also I've in a New Moon craft swap, and once that's over I'll show you all what I made for my partner. Also another WIP soon to be finished for my friends birthday. I'll give you a hint of what it is it's a little spooky and there is more there than meets the eye!

Mercury Free Sushi

My friend Monique's baby shower was this weekend. She's a fan of sushi but hasn't had any in months because she's worried about heavy metals in the fish. So I decided for the potluck dish I'd bring mercury free sushi made from candy. Bon appetit!

Didn't get there in time for a picture of all of them.

The first kind is your classic sushi roll. Made with fruit rolls instead of seaweed, rice crispy treets instead of rice and gummy worms instead of tuna. The second is sushi roll with fish eggs. Once again fruit rolls filling in for seawead, twistlers cut up to look like fish eggs and marshmallows instead of rice. The third is nigiri, with swedish fish candy playing the role of real fish. I did make the rice crispies from scratch just because it's easier that way.

The candy sushi was a big hit and I even put a little card that said "Mercury Free Sushi"

Because Ed Hardy is cluttered and expensive

My best friend Alex's 21 birthday was last month and I made her this purse. I painted the heart, and my other close friend Chloe sharpied "Alex" on there in a cute tattoo-esque font. Bon appetit!

Modeled by me, and I am not pregnant... it's just a weird angle.

If you're wondering why the flurry of posts, I wanted to update before I leave on my impromptu Vegas holiday with my sisters. VEGAS BABY!

The Yummiest Thing I've Ever Made

Hey Crafters! I've been on a home cooking kick lately, mostly out of necessity. Home cooked food like all home made things is so much better, and cheaper. I'm not going to make a habit out of sharing pictures of every dinner I make, but I had to share this one.

I love Thai Food. Some would argue too much. But going out for Thai food isn't cheap and I made a huge culinary leap and started cooking some at home. I'm more of mashed potatoes and wholesome savory cooking type girl, so making something like Red Curried Chicken is out of character. I have to say, it is the best thing I've ever made. Bon appetit!

"EAT ME"

Made with a few teaspoons of red curry paste, with coconut milk, chicken, fresh pineapple, zucchini, brocoli and a mix of peppers.

Dungeons and Dragons!

If you read my blog, you may already know that I am a nerd. I submit to you more proof of my nerdiness: fresh baked geekiness. Bon appetit!



I made this with felt and a fabric marker. If you want to make one yourself, reference your d20. It is made of twenty equilateral triangles. I arranged the numbers in the exact positions as my reference dice, which are arranged to avoid cheating with weighted dice.

Update

I've been very busy lately with lots of friends visiting from out of town. I haven't had a chance to update this, but don't abandon all hope. I'll be posting more projects really soon.

Craftster.org featured my Paper Rose Tutorial once again, this time on Tute Tuesday. This tutorial has gotten me pretty famous. ^_^

The June Dress

I started this dress ages ago, botched the top of it and I finally got around to finishing it a few days ago. It's not perfect but its one of best clothing items so far. My pattern. I used some cheap $1.50 a yard fabric from Walmart so no idea what it is, but it stretches just enough to not have a zipper. Bon appetit!

the exciting back!

I started this dress ages ago, botched the top of it and I finally got around to finishing it a few days ago. It's not perfect but its one of best clothing items so far. My pattern. I used some cheap $1.50 a yard fabric from Walmart so no idea what it is, but it stretches just enough to not have a zipper. Bon Apetite!


It's probably not everyone's style but I love it. I wore it tonight to a Johnny Cash tribute concert in the park, in the heart of Folsom which was a lot of fun. ^_^ Gotta love Folsom Prison Blues.

This dress is the essence of summer session in college. Cool, fun, casual but argyle always represents collegiate-ness to me.

Crocheted Mario from the Pantry

I made this Mario pillow for a friend I've since lost contact with. I unfortunately never got a picture of the finished pillow. I definitely want to make another one eventually. Bon appetit!

Two double crochet= one pixel.

I got the pattern from a screenshot of the game that I enlarged, printed and sharpied a grid over.

The Crafteteria is featured on The Best Homemade Gifts Idea's newsletter

Howdy folks! Time for some shameless self promotion.

Just wanted to give everyone plenty of time to subscribe to The Best Homemade Gift Idea's newsletter. My Rose tutorial is to be featured in the July issue as well a number of other great ideas for gifts. Homemade gifts are so much more special that store bought ones. This is a website I can definitely get behind :)

My Rose tutorial might be featured in Craftbits as well. Keep a watch over the internet. There's no telling where I might show up next!

To anyone reading: Feel free to request a tutorial/pattern for any of the things I make. I'm always willing to help another crafter out.

If you like my blog, tell a friend!

My New Best Friend

To all my friends: You've been replaced!

Meet my new best friend, the fat form.

Our cat recently escaped into the outside world were he was replaced by an alien replica who is seriously overacting. Our cat isn't that nice.

All kidding aside, here is the story: Today I went to Lowes to buy duct tape to make a duct tape dress form. After that me and my awesome boyfriend Rick headed to Gottschalks, a department store that you've never heard of, that I also used to work at. It's going out of business so we wanted to pick up some cheap towels. While we were there I saw that 2 cloth covered dress form fixtures that tragically stickers labeled "SOLD". That was when I went on an obsessive manicanhunt to find another. After wondering around we finally found someone who took us to the back were I shouted "Hey!!! THEY HAVE A FAT ONE!" Because I'm classy. The plus sized one was very close to my measurements, (which is great. I'm a size 12. Aparently 12 is plus sized even though plus size sections start at 14-16 usually) I just need to give it a boob job.

Making a duct tape dress form would've been a pain. I'm glad I found this.

So $40 + tax later I'm the proud owner of my very own dress form. HURRAY!

Steampunk Necklace hot off the griddle!

I made a steampunk necklace for a friend's birthday which was in May. I'm running behind schedule! This is my first legitimate piece of jewelry. I have to say, jewelry is fun! I might actually start wearing jewelry now. Bon appetit!

Drop Spindle

I made this high-whorl drop spindle about a year ago after learning how to use one on a college trip to Yosemite. A drop spindle is used for spinning yarn. While it is a bit slower than a spinning wheel, the drop spindle is easy to transport, cheaper to buy (Or make yourself!) and doesn't needs it's own corner in your living room.

Learn how to use a drop spindle!

I used an oak dowel, a cup hook and a closet rod mounting kit that had a pre-drilled wooden disk in it. I sanded it smooth, and rubbed it with wax paper to make it even smoother. It cost less than $5 to make. Bon appetit!

Grim Fandango Art

I'm a Grim Fandango nut and about a year ago I painted this piece based on the art from The Blue Casket entrance in the game. 11x 14, acrylics on a canvas board. Bon appetit!



My hope is to one day have an outdoor patio lounge area for smoking hookah that is Blue Casket themed. Someday...

To those unfamiliar with the game, it's a PC game from 1998. It is a Lucas Arts adventure game based in the land of the dead and have influences from aztec beliefs and architecture and the film noir genre. It's awesome! Even if stupid Vista won't allow me to install it properly. Stupid Vista! But that's why god invented my boyfriends computer! =D

Grim Fandango fans: Say hi on the comments!


P.S More Art to come, and everyone is now able to comment on the blog! Sorry it took so long to work out. =)

FAME!

My rose tutorial topic on Craftster is being featured on the front page. If it's not one of the three that randomly come on display click the ">>". Over 12,000 views on Craftster! And only 11,000 of them are by me! hehe.

Craftster
My Topic


I already told you folks out there in internet land, that one of my closest friends is starring in Children of Light. Well NPR seems to like it as much as I did!

Capital Public Radio News

If you're in the Sacramento area, you have to check this play out!

Paper Rose Tutorial

The Coffee Filter Rose Tutorial

Supplies:
Coffee Filters, preferable cone shaped filters. I couldn't find any so I used regular ones.
Floral Wire, I used 22 gauge.
Floral Tape
Scissors
Awl or Needle
Paintbrushes
Water Color Paint
Water for paint
Dowel or something to curl petals

Step 1:
Cut petal shapes in a range of sizes
Cut wire long enough for the stem of the rose
Cut strips of floral tape 1-2'' long until you are sick of cutting (you'll need quite a few of these)

Step 2:
Bend the tip of wire at approximately 1/2''

Step 3:
Roll one of your smallest petals. This will be the center of the flower

Step 4:
Pierce the rolled petal with your awl or needle

Step 5:
Push the wire through the hole in the first petal.

Bend the wire down so it is flat.

Step 6:
Wrap the petal and stem with a strip of floral tape.

Step 7:
Form into petal shape

Pinch the petal at the base to form a slightly convex shape.

You'll do this for all the petals of the rose.

Step 8:
Add more petals using strips of floral tape in a spiral with petal slightly overlapping.

If you are right-handed add in a clockwise fashion.
If you are left-handed add in a counter clockwise fashion.
Later on while shaping the petals, this will make things easier.

Now you have an unpainted rose.

Step 9:
Begin painting the rose with water colors. The coffee filters tend to soak up the paint making painting the inside areas easy.

Paint the outside petals working inward towards the center of the rose.

As you paint, curl the tips of the petals with your dowel. I used a double pointed knitting needle that I made too short. The other side of your paintbrush can also work.

It is better to over-curl, since they uncurl a bit while drying.

Continue painting until you are done.
Congratulations! You made your very own coffee filter rose! Now make a gazillion more until you drive yourself insane!

If you would like coffee filter roses made for you, email me at sarahjsaturday@gmail.com to discuss rates.