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.

Is Theatre a craft?

My friend is in a play. It's called Children of Light. It's a modern telling of a greek tragedy. I loved it! It's the best play I've seen in a long time. If you're in the Sacramento area you should check it out.
More info: California Stage

Crocheted Necklaces

I've made a few of these crocheted necklaces. I love them. They're quick and cute. Bon apetite!




My friend came up with the idea of this one being worn as a bracelet as well. Here she is wearing it. (I sent it home with her, she wears more of those colors so it'll enjoy it's new home.)

Roses Fresh from the Garden

The Paper Garden that is. All 30 of these roses were made by hand. The petals were cut out, taped with floral tape to floral wire, then hand painted with water colors and shaped by a small wooden dowel.I did a variety of colors that I knew my mom would like. Peaches, Pinks, whites, yellows and some roses that blended from yellow to peach or pink. It was a labor intensive process but I'm so happy with the results.

If I had to do it over again I'd wait to arrange them until after all or most of the roses were done. I may be over critical on myself, but the arrangement of these roses could have been better. I may have rushed myself to complete the project since it is a gift for my mom for mothers day and is several days late.

I did steal two from the bouquet to give to her on Mothers Day and she was so impressed by them. I can't wait to get these to her! I think she should have these at her desk at work to brighten the office, and to show off her extraordinarily talented daughter. LOL.

Without further text, Bon Apetite!

Fresh Baked Link!

Link, a gift for my boyfriend's sister Mandy. Made of out supersculptey and then painted with acrylic. It was a last minute thing, which accounts for the not so precise paint job. (The caffeine and an unsteady hand also account for that too.) Bon apetite!