Inspiration Shot: Okinawa Aquarium

I travel alot, and when I have a chance to visit an aquarium in a foreign country I usually make the effort.  The aquarium in Okinawa, Japan was pretty impressive.  I don't think you can see them but there are a few sharks in the tank below, and a little alcove where you could sit and feel like you were in the water.  Amazing.


  Main Aquarium, Okinawa, Japan

Does this give you some ideas?  Inspire you to create? Let me know~

Show and Tell: Purses

I love it when I can make something that is not only stylish, but functional as well.  Here are a few of the purses/bags that I've made and used:

This was my first try at using round handles.  I loved this purse but lost it in an Asahi Beer accident onboard an overseas flight coming home from Japan....long story~

I was able to save the handles so I made a replacement.  It's only slightly different, with a rounded bottom instead of the square corners of the original.

I loved this fabric because it came already embroidered!

 When something I  make calls for a lining I like to do something special and create a surprise with something contrasting.  I think it personalizes the project more.

Here's yet another in the same style but a mini version:

And for something new, here's a large bag I made.  I had some friends who were expecting babies when I made this and was going to make another version as a stylish diaper bag but they both went for napsacks instead.  I still think I'd rather carry my diapers in this though~

The great thing with making your own purse is that you can put as many pockets and organizers in the lining as you want!

I almost forgot about this one because I don't use it very often.  I made it using a hotpatterns pattern.  It's supposed to look like the bag that Anne Hathway has in The Devil Wears Prada but somehow mine ended up about half the size:

The other thing I love about making purses and bags is that they don't require very much fabric.  All of these bags were made from the scraps of other projects....not that I ever wear the purse with the matching top!  That would be a bit too much.  It's just a great way to save $$$ if you have left overs.  See if you can find the original projects for the grey wool and patent leather here .

Thanks for letting me share all of my purse projects with you.  In the course of pulling all of them out of the closet and going through them I found an extra $2.35 that I didn't know I had!  Off to the fabric store I guess~

Desk Set

Well, today is your lucky day, because today you are getting two tutorials in one!  I did the first part of this project a few weeks ago but then noticed that there were already several other posts in the linky parties for the same project.

Not wanting to waste a good post that was already written I started to think about ways that I could add to it.  So, here it is, the beginings of a very pretty deskset that I think we might be able to add onto in the next little while.

Because I did each part of the project separately, I'll show the steps separately for you, but I think this is something you could do all together at the same time and would probaby end up saving you time and clean up.

Part 1-Pretty Clips

Here are the materials you need:

(paint is optional)

Steps:
1)Apply Modge Podge to one side of clothes pin and place onto wrong side of paper.  If you line up one side of your clothes pin with the outside edge of the paper you don't have to make as many cuts.

2)Using a sharp blade cut your paper as close to the clothes pin as you can.

3)Apply another layer of Modge Podge on right side of paper for a nice sleek finish.

If you're really industrious and want something that looks uber professional you can paint the clothes pin.  I decided that I liked the natural wood look....and painting seemed like it would get pretty messy.


I tried a few different kinds of paper (origami, tissue, scrapbooking) but had the best results with some beautiful paper napkins that I had.

You can adhere magnets on the back to use on magnetic surfaces like your filing cabinet or fridge or just use them to keep all of those important papers together.  Try adding embellishments or using stamps.  The possibilities are endless!

Now for Part 2!-Pretty Pencils

Here are the supplies you need:



After I took this photo I realized you might want to add a pencil or marker.

Steps:
1)Place your pencil onto the wrong side of your paper with the metal end at the bottom flush with the edge of the paper. Or, just measure the length with a ruler.  Cut your paper the desired length.  Don't worry if your off a bit, the pencil will need to get sharpened eventually so any extra won't even show.


2)Roll the paper around your pencil to figure out the width that you need.  I used standard pencils and needed just over 1" but you should double check in case in your pencils are different.  Cut your paper the desired width.

3)Cover the wooden portion of your pencil with Modge Podge

4)Place the pencil onto the wrong side of your paper.  Roll the pencil and press the paper until you get a smooth finish.

5)Apply another layer of Modge Podge to the right side of the paper to seal the seam and to give it a nice shiny finish.  (I tried my new Sparkle Modge Podge for this step on some of the pencils and absolutely love, love, love the effect!)

6)Let Dry.  I propped mine up against some styrofoam.  Make sure whatever you use that your pencils don't stay stuck to it.

I found that the thinner the paper is, the easier it is to use.  The scrapbooking paper was the most difficult to roll and to stay put.

So, here you go!  The beginnings of a very pretty set of accessories for your desk at work or at home:

I did try sharpening the pencils and they still look beautiful...

These will make great stocking stuffers or thank you gifts throughout the year.  What do you think?  What else can you use them for?  Don't be shy...leave a comment.

This weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada, so...Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a great weekend~

(This project will be posted throughout the week at the linky parties from the linky party tab above.  Check out the sites for more great ideas!)

 The Shabby Chic Cottage was my top referrer last week, so go visit Gina and
check out her site for other fab ideas!

As always, don't forget to check out Todays Creative Blog for more fun ideas.

Inspiration Shot-Saskatchewan Fall

Each week I'm going to try to give you a photo to inspire you.  Sometimes, because of the colours or textures that you see, it might stir your creative mind, and sometimes, it might only inspire you to take a deep breath and relax.

All of the images that I'll post are original pictures from far away places I've visited or beauty that I'm fortunate enough to see around me everyday.  I don't mind if you reuse them as long as you credit the source please.

Leave a comment and let me know what kinds of ideas you get from what you see!
 

North Central Saskatchewan in Fall



Show & Tell: Coats

I love quick and easy sewing projects.  If I can start and finish a garment in one sitting (even if it's an 8 hour sitting) I'm pretty satisfied.  However, the projects that I'm going to show you today weren't of the quick and easy variety.  And you know what?  I think I love them even more because of that.

Sometimes I need a project that slows me down and forces me to pay attention to the details.  Today I'll show you all of the coats I've made.  A couple of them are from my Etsy shop but most of them are sitting right here in my closet and I wear them every day, especially now that the weather is getting cooler and cooler.

These two are the same coat both done in wool.  Both were in Etcetorize on Etsy and both of them sold:

 



















I love adding a surprise lining, like this one in the grey coat:

This coat was inspired by something I saw in a Victoria's Secret catalogue a few years ago.  One day, while I was wearing it, someone actually stopped me to ask if I had bought it from Victoria's Secret!  That put a smile on my face for quite awhile.  The trim and the top stitching are what make this one special:

I really love this one but I seem to only pull it out for special evening occasions.  It's a little hard to tell in the picture but it has a little sliver thread that runs through the tweed that sparkles in the light.  And if that weren't enough drama, the large ruffle collar is thrown in just to make sure that it makes a statement.

These last two coats are my everyday coats that I flip between.  The burgundy tweed is an adaptation from a vintage pattern from the 70's.  I had to change the proportions a bit, especially the collar.  It's probably a good thing this isn't a really detailed shot because now and again my big purse catches on the loose weave of the tweed and snags.

When that happens I switch to this one...my all time favourite and the one that I get the most compliments on:






Another surprise lining



I hope you enjoyed my coat obsession.  I was just watching Sex and the City on TV the other night and got inspired to make yet another coat (Carrie's) - this is a sad scene...but such a beautiful coat!  I think I'll have to thin out my current collection first. 

              

Let me know if this inspires you to create something to keep you warm as we head into fall~

Super Pretty, Super Easy Pillowcases

Here's a fun and easy way to add some colour to any bedroom.

Supplies needed:
-.65metres (26") of 45" wide cotton fabric for body of pillowcase
-.3metres (12") of 45" wide cotton fabric for band of pillowcase
-matching thread
-scissors
-measuring tape or ruler
-sewing machine or serger



Steps:
1)Trim each of your fabrics so that they are 105cm(41") wide

2)Fold both pieces of fabric, right sides together.

3)Sew or serge  a regular seam along the long open side of the fabric body.  Now, sew a seam along one short end to create a bag.

4)Sew the short ends of the band fabric together to create a tube.

5)Fold the band fabric in half so that wrong sides are touching and you get a long skinny rectangle.

6)Turn the body fabric out so that the right side of the fabric is on the outside of the bag.

7)Place the band fabric tube over the open edge of the body fabric so that all rough edges are meeting.  Your fabric sandwich should look like this (band, band, body, body, band, band).



8)Sew or serge all around the top of the bag.  You should be sewing 2 layers of band and one layer of the body together.

9)Flip the band out towards the end and press.  Tah dah!  You've just made a pretty pillowcase with a band!

I added some decorative stitching along the edge of mine to give it an extra special something.  You could add more layers of banding and graduate them for extra effect, or try some wide ribbon or other embellishments. 

Each pillow takes less than 20 minutes to create and you can probably look in the remnant bin, either at home or at your local fabric store, for a real deal on the fabric.

These pillows look great in my room and add a little colour to my white bed but, I'm not keeping them for myself.  I'm donating them to one of our three local shelters for the homeless.  In fact, with the help of our local Fabricland and Quilt Guild we're hoping to make enough new pillowcases for each pillow in our three emergencies shelters by the end of October.  Fabricland has been generous enough to give free fabric remnants and prizes and the Quilt Guild ladies are sewing up a storm.  I'll let you know how it all works out in a few weeks!  I can't wait to see all of the pretty designs that everyone is going to come up with.

If you live in the US and would like to do something similar you can get involved in the Million Pillowcase Challenge and add your donations to the tally.  Click here for loads of free patterns!

Of course, these make great last minute Christmas gifts as well!  Let me know how you personalize yours~



(This project will be posted throughout the week at the linky parties from the linky party tab above.  Check out the sites for more great ideas!)

 BetweenNapsonthePorch was my top referrer again  last week, so go visit Susan and
check out Metamorphosis Monday for other fab ideas from her linky party!

(The biggest linky party happens on Tuesdays over at todayscreativeblog.)