Skitzo Leezra Studio

Recycled!

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

Ernest and Eileen had another baby!

So, how surprised was I to receive a photo from Eileen with New Baby Cuteness in her older brother's recycled fleur-de-lis onesie I made 2 years ago!

As we say in Louisiana when we see something cute ~~ shaaaaaa!

Flannel burp cloths

2011-10-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Made a stack of flannel burp cloths for my breeder friend and embellished with owl appliques and stitched initials.
Here baby, puke and spit up on my hand wrought work.

Baby pants!

2011-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Watched "The Baby Show" on Martha Stewart's television show and Heather Ross demonstrated how to sew baby bloomers from her Weekend Sewing book which I just happened to own. Woo Hoo!

Will totally make more but next time, I'll sew French seams instead of the prescribed pinked seams. The elastic thread in the bobbin trick was super easy. And of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone so I added a tattoo inspired bird on the back. It's almost like baby's very first tramp stamp!

She's got all the charm of a Pie Hole

2011-09-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Looka!

My friend Vcards12 made a custom and personalized silver Pie (Hole) charm for my buddy Dawn's bracelet.

Vcards12 sells cool stuff on etsy -- check her out.

Plan to order one for myself but haven't decided if I want:

Leezra Hole
Skitz Hole
Bung Hole
Cake Hole
Shut Your Hole

Any suggestions/thoughts?

Cuff made o' stuff

2011-08-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Being a bit of bead and button hoarder, I had to prove to myself I could either use it or lose it.
Beads
Sequins
Buttons
Silk fabric scrap

It's a cuff, I tell ya!

Who's the hoarder NOW? I gave it to RikkiTikkiTavi.

Linen handtowel

2011-08-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

To tell the truf', it's a linen place mat but it's folded to become a fingertip-type towel. (Marshall's $3!)
Wonder Under iron-on stuff, vintage fabric and appliqued with satin stitch. WooHoo!

What's old is new. Again.

2011-07-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

"What are you doing?"

The question took me by surprise when baby sister Rikki Tikki Tavi called last Saturday afternoon. Sure that she was imagining my slothful self sleeping or napping, "I'm a little ashamed to say" was my response.

"Oh gross! Are you in the bathroom?!"

"No, it's worse. I'm watching a quilting show on television."

"Ugh, you shoulda let me believe the first guess."

Rikki Tikki Tavi doesn't mind having a sister/free tailor but the last thing she wants to hear is sewing talk but I am feeling a bit more special today after reading that Julia Roberts is taking sewing lessons. How about that? I think we've reached the stage of Sewing Is Now Officially Cool.

While perusing sites such as Craftster.com, I am impressed by the young age of fearless sewists with no formal training. Those teenage chicks are seeking old sewing machines, vintage fabric and patterns to make their own mark.

Back in Mom's day, every female took Home Economics courses and knew how to sew. In my high school days, it was an elective but because my elective was already fulfilled by music, I wasn't able to take any Home Ec classes, ever. Even if my casual interest in sewing had been explored, I didn't really want to be a part of what I considered kinda pathetic path. Home Ec in the 80's is what you did when you had no collegiate or career future.

Brought on by television show Project Runway, perpetuated by Anthropologie marketing and augmented by online commerce site etsy.com, personally crafted items are still (or yet again) appreciated even in our current age of cheap factory made everything. Our eye zones in toward the imperfect handmade touch and it's not the first time in our history. The Arts and Crafts movement (1860-1910) was a reaction against industrial consumerism. And what better rebellion from 1970's plastic than macrame and pottery? It ebbs and flows, my friend.

When I sit in my craft room, late at night, mending a favorite clothing items or rummaging through the buttons, I wonder what my great-grandmothers would've thought of my late-bloomed passion for sewing. What would they say about massive craft room? Or online sewing blog?

I hope they're proud.

Water meter cover of the day

2011-07-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Looka what I saw last weekend. Who'd expect a New Orleans water meter cover in a Dallas, Texas flower bed?
Huh, wonder how that happens?

My new black drawers

2011-07-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

You checkin' out my black drawers?
Huh.
My drawers were grey and little rusty.
I bought them second hand
at a flea market.
Ever bought used drawers
at an open air trading post?
You'll need to wipe
or vacuum them out.

How's about some black spray paint?

Um, no.
Paint FAIL!
Look at the bubbling mess.

What's a crafting skitzo to do?
Paint that shit again.
Paint it again.
Layer the paint until the
bubbling texture looks smooth.

Slap some labels on it.
Be proud of your OCD.

Welcome to Skitzo Leezra's New Studio

2011-06-29T07:00:00.003-05:00

Greetings to all you Anonymous Craftaholics out there in the Intranet! Linda checked out my craft room pix on the Skitzo Leezra Studio blog and flickr photos and saw my old craft room but meanwhile, I was expanding and growing to a bigger ~~craft room~~ studio.

It began with a box under my bed and grew to an entire room dedicated to craft, but always with organization as key. With a handful of Lowe's gift cards, a rough graph paper draft and a love of organization, my 10' by 12' craft room evolved to a 21' by 14' studio.

Plan your work, work your plan. It's all about space planning, people!

Using things for other than their intended purpose, that's me! Metal gutters become ribbon storage and an old library card catalog holds embroidery floss and beads.

Creative storage solutions? How's about storing sewing notions in these old (antique?) enamelware refrigerator boxes glommed from my mom's stash?

(Who doesn't love a label maker?)

Thanks for checking out my craft studio and here's hoping you carve out your own happy place. Check out my other postings for more details and some how-tos or "tutorials" as craft folk call them.

Play that funky music, frog boy!
We gotta get our craft on!

((HUGE thanks to Linda
for inviting me to hang out with you!!!))

I got you pegged

2011-06-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

Not gonna lie, my fabric covered peg board is something to behold.
AND, I'm gonna tell ya how to make one for your very ownself.

Materials needed:

pegboard
frame
spray adhesive
fabric, wrinkle and crease free
scissors
iron
pegboard hooks
awl

Find a frame.

Purchase some pegboard at a lumberyard or Lowe's or Home Depot. Or totally luck out like me (because People Give Me Stuff) and snag brother-in-law's leftover pegboard material.

Cut pegboard to fit inside your frame. (Don't install pegboard into frame yet.)

Walk yourself outdoors with a can of spray adhesive. Spray the pegboard with adhesive.

Carefully smooth your fabric over the tacky pegboard. Get it right the first time because there isn't much forgiveness between the fabric and glue. Trim excess fabric.

Install the pegboard into your frame. Stand in awe of your near wonderful creation.

Install two Gorilla hooks to balance and level your framed pegboard.

Now we're getting to the fun part. Drag a finger across the fabric to select a pegboard hole. Grab your handy awl and gently poke through the hole. Aggressive poke-age will result in stretched and unfortunate fabric puckering.

Insert a pegboard hook.

Start filling that mutha'!

Don't forget to add a disco ball, fool!

With remaining pegboard material,
I repeated the procedure for
three smaller framed pegboards.

You like?

Inch by inch

2011-06-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

My good buddy Elizabeth picked up this cool yardstick thing at a yard sale. She knew I would love it and she was, as the French would say, "correct".

Look at it installed on my wall.
Woo Hoo!
Merci beaucoup, E!

Feline helper

2011-06-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

Maybe Sammy thought the frames would blow away.

Or perhaps 3 wooden frames are more comfortable than carpet.

Meet my furry assistant.

Never underestimate the power of whimsy

2011-06-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

Perhaps your craft room doesn't include the following but why the hell not?

anthropomorphic kitties

disco ball

boombox toting frog

lava lamp

a visual reminder
to get the finger outta your ass
and make something!

She's right

2011-06-18T20:55:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Kristie left a comment that included the following:
Congratulations on what must feel like Utopia to you now.

What a generous thought.
Thank you, Kristie!
You're right, it is my own "happy place" and I'm gratified the picture in my head now matches the new studio down the hall.
It's been a fun project and it's nice to have ya'll check it out.
'Preciate your interest!

Watch yo' shelf

2011-06-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

While mapping out the room, I decided match the shelving depth to the 24" work surfaces for a more cohesive look.
Edsal shelves were on sale at Lowe's so two went home with me. Metal posts and shelves were spray painted ivory to coordinate with the purposely neutral walls and floor. The wood shelf inserts were black and not raw wood as shown online or on box. Woozy from spray paint fumes, I opted not to paint the shelves.

Word to the wise: have a buddy assist when assembling. The pieces aren't heavy but must be level.

The posts and supports are metal thus magnet backed glass top boxes are perfect storage for extra needles and such.

WooHoo! It's time to fold some fabric and sort and alphabetize it accordingly.

I am floored

2011-06-17T07:00:00.002-05:00

Check out the tile I used on the floor of the Skitzo Leezra Studio. After ripping out the carpet, the cracks were filled in with a tube of grout. (The grout in a tube is better than the grout in a plastic bottle.)

Oh wait, I forgot to buy tile.
Nevermind, let's paint the floor instead.
You heard me.
Valspar Latex Porch & Floor paint.

This stuff dries super fast. Woo Hoo!

Lines drawn with pencil.
Determine the center of the room.
Draw lines out from there.
Believe or not,
my line placement is near perfect.

Get this, two visitors touched the floor to make sure it wasn't genuine ceramic tile but it was way faster, super easy, way less expensive.

Let's start loading the room.

Starting at the top

2011-06-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, the carpet was gone. Room emptied. If there was a time to scrap the the nasty ass cottage cheese ceiling, it's now.

Man, oh, manoshevitz, how I wish I could meet the guy who invented that textured shit. It would be a serious ass kicking for sure. Maybe not, I've never had a physical fight but I can guar-damn-tee ya, it would at least warrant a windmill swinging and slapping of arms and hands.

Anywho, here's how get rid of the crud.
Get yourself a sprayer. Big but not too big because water is heavy, don't ya know. Lay down some plastic.
Spray the ceiling. Spray it again. Try a scrape. If it releases easily, get to it, be-yotch. If it doesn't, spray it again. When your fabulous sister and wonderful mom come over to help, restrain yourself from weeping from joy.

Scrape it, patch it, prime it and paint it.
Slap up a cool light fixture (Lowe's) on it and toss some shiny stuff on that.

More is more, I say.
Of course it needed a disco ball.

How it started

2011-06-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Late one Sunday night I realize I'd forgotten to put fresh sheets on the now stripped bed. Too lazy to remake my bed late at night, I decided to sleep in the guest room.

"What a cozy room," I thought to myself. It felt better than my much larger bedroom. Build a ginormous house with super high ceilings and note most folks will congregate and linger in a smaller room with a lower ceiling. It's an animal cave-like anthropological type thing. Anywho, I realized I never liked my bedroom because it was simply too large. Furniture had been brought in, rearranged, switched, etc but it never felt right.

All I did in there was sleep anyway . . . why not switch rooms? The guest room could become my bedroom, my craft room, the new guest room and my big bedroom would be the newly expanded Skitzo Leezra Studio!

The room was quickly measured and I began to graph out the new project. Holy guacamole, the current craft room was overflowing and could be consolidated in the larger studio! I could barely sleep that night in anticipation.

The next day I emptied my bedroom and ripped out the carpet . . . .

Skitzo Leezra's New Studio

2011-06-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

WooHoo!

The new and expanded Skitzo Leezra is being unveiled! It's been months in making and I am ready to share photos and how-tos from painted floors to fabric covered peg boards.

Take a look at a few sneak peek photos and check back for detailed tutorials and ideas.

The Master Plan

Ribbon Gutters make an appearance

Gotta be organized!

You label me, I label you

This has been me

2011-06-12T23:19:00.004-05:00

A wooden artist model used to reside on my closet shelf where he held bracelets until stuff was relocated while the closet was painted.
There he sat on the hall bath vanity for months as the project dragged on and on.
And one day, I noticed a change in posture.
Pretty sure my wisenheimer sister Rikki Tikki Tavi adjusted him to be funny but it was a reminder to me to get my finger outta my ass and get goin' on my much-too-long project.

Here's hoping YOU won't need a wooden digit in your backdoor to come back and check my progress.
New stuff tomorrow!

Trippin' on ribbon

2011-05-04T22:01:00.007-05:00

Being a ribbon whore/hoarder, I have plenty of grosgrain stash to make the (say it in a high-pitched tone) fabulous cosmetic bags!

Sew some ribbons together then add a zipper. With right sides together, sew one narrow side and long side. Make sure the zipper is open. Fold other narrow side and sew.

(Wish like heck I could give credit for the concept but I cannot remember the ribbon craft book title.)

Craft supply suggestion: buy in bulk from eBay.

Book cover

2011-04-30T23:36:00.004-05:00

Kristie the commenter asked where I've been.
Down a rabbit hole, I think.
Last year, I had an easy job where I blogged from work and worked on volunteer group obligations to pass the day. Now that I have a "real" job, volunteer work is done in the evenings thus, cutting into my craft and blogging time.
Very little crafting lately and I gotta tell ya, it's been wearing me down. However COMMA I am working on a new and improved craft room. More soon. I promise!
Here's a cute book cover sewed for a volunteer group friend. One handle made longer; the other, shorter. The longer handle pushed through the shorter handle holds the book closed. If you make one, note the ends of the longer handle could be placed closer to center. Fray Check applied to webbing. (It's not yet dry in the photo.)

Upholstery fabric, cotton webbing handles.

Super fast + super easy = just like your ma.

Fabulous floribunda (that's Latin for fabric flowers, I think)

2011-03-22T20:56:00.004-05:00

Looka, I made a whole mess o' fabric flowers for my ~~hen party~~ Girls Night Out friends.

This one is silk necktie fabric.

The wool fabrics are my favorites.

Home dec fabric

Gingham. Me love gingham.

Click fabric flower link for the original Design Sponge tutorial source plus check out my suggestions for quicker, faster, easier flower success.

Trixie gives me stuff

2011-03-08T23:31:00.002-06:00

Trixie sent me a box o' goodies. Yay!

My very own just-add-water prince

Ribbon, fabric and tulle ~ oh my!

Purse handles, neckties and fabric

Beads!

Thanks for thinking of me, Trixie!
A home for craft cast-offs.
That's me.

Baby stuff

2011-01-26T07:00:00.004-06:00

A gal in my Girl's Night Out group had a baby last week and we showered her with gifts at dinner the week before.

While I'm no fan of babies, I actually like making baby gifts. Go figure.

Her first child was to be a male child so off to fabric store in search of masculine fabrics to sew a stack of reversible burp cloths. (No more sewing diapers for me. The diaper fabric slips and slides to make for a jumbled sewn mess.)

Oh Fuh Gawd. Have you shopped for baby fabric? It is the worst. Little cars, little trucks, and girly fabrics galore. Oh, and John Deere shit. Tractor brand for a new born baby? Get this, there's even John Deere motifs in pink. Sure, pink tractors are great for future dykes and farmer chicks but I'm not digging the lame-o bambino themed prints. Wonder if style and good taste disappear with gestation?

ANYwho . . . .so not impressed with the fabric choices.

Found a flannel plaid (you KNOW I loves me some plaid) in the apparel fabric section and combined it with a flannel polka dot print. Boy-like but not hokey.

Used a cloth diaper as a cutting guide, sewed the coordinating flannel prints face to face around 3 sides, turned inside out and then top stitched around all 4 sides plus two lines to emulate (simulate?) a true diaper. It gives a bit of body to the burp cloths plus "quilts" the fabric so it lies flat.

The onesie is a quick reverse applique with T-shirt knit scrap. So dang easy. Click HERE to see my tutorial.

The gift wrap was my favorite part. Most baby gifts from me are in the "special delivery" theme. Brown paper packages tied with string, a vintage diaper pin embellished with a blue scrapbook flower sticker plus a rubber stamped paper package tag. The stack of burp cloths and onesie were folded and placed inside brown paper and SEWN closed with a zigzag stitch. Edges were trimmed with pinking shears.

Fast, simple and (as Elizabeth would say) so stinkin' cute.

Chalk it up, dog

2011-01-23T17:39:00.006-06:00

Look who I hung out with yesterday ~ ~

George Rodrigue of Blue Dog fame!

The New Orleans Museum of Art sponsored traveling Rodrigue exhibition showed up in my lower left-hand corner of the boot-shaped state that is Louisiana.
Yesterday was a beautiful sunny Saturday and crowds showed up to watch George draw on parking lot pavement with sidewalk chalk. Parents and adults wanted first row looks but allowed the magic to viewed by children.
George drew his familiar and much beloved Blue Dog.

Later, I took credit for drawing it and told my friends he signed it for me. :-)

Here are a few creations by budding artists.
My nephew was good enough to allow me to partake in the day by being my excuse to go. You don't often hear me NOT be sarcastic or jaded but it was a special day. A rare opportunity to be upfront and close to an artist. A real sense of community with youngsters and creativity.

Right place and the right time.
That was me.
Yesterday.
Joy.

Check out the free Blue Dog iPad counting app for children or just to let your eyes get stuck on something fun.

Get yourself organized

2011-01-06T22:14:00.003-06:00

Heck, I am so organized, I did my tips LAST YEAR and they can be found by clicking HERE.
~~You're welcome.
At least three of the voices in my head are complete freaking hypocrites because my house presently appears to have several lady hoarders residing there and one might wonder where the other 40 cats are.
A wreck.
Why?
Procrastination.
A leaking water heater and the mess it created when I cleared everything from the nearby closet.
A master bedroom cleared for ceiling "cottage cheese" scraping and removal.
Laziness.
When my sister asked where to move the mattress, my reply was the dining room. Her sarcastic comment? "Yeah, of course, the dining room is where everyone places their mattress, leaning against the wall."
But just you wait, my friends. I am making progress. Water heater replaced, ceiling scraped, ceiling primed, shopping for light fixture now.
Now, go read my (wh)organizing posts and throw away something, ya freak.

Covered in cat hair
and
breathing in possibly horrendous dust,

I am,

Skitzo Leezra

Remake the fake

2010-12-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm not gonna lie, I had a fake Kate Spade bag back in the day and quickly learned it was not only inexpensive but cheap. Once you see your brand of trickeration everywhere, it's no longer a bargain.
Mix the faux with quality shoes and jewelry and the ruse might just work. However, a teenager with bargain store shoes, who has never visited a major city but carries a "$1200" Louis Vuitton handbag . . . yeah, it was probably purchased from a car trunk and not a LV boutique.

A few years ago, Louis Vuitton offered a Stephen Sprouse inspired graffiti print. Not at all a fan of the look, I was still intrigued. How about my own graffiti designer bag, Leezra style?
Well, y'know people give me stuff and last week, my friend Ann offered me her Canal Street fake Louis. While I intended paint text, a cake stencil screamed at me from the paint drawer.

Can you have your cake and eat it too?

As in, can you buy a fake and make everyone else believe it's real?
I think not.
Not when everyone else is in on the secret.

Shut up the shuttin' up, cake hole.

Birthday? Bucket!

2010-12-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

So, my brother Rollo's birthday was last week. He doesn't appreciate nice ribbon or a pretty gift bag so how best to bestow his request for underwear and socks?
Then it hit me. A bucket with a lid! Reusable, unique and very practical. THAT is something Rollo can appreciate.
A camouflage print bucket was stuffed with packs of underwear and socks. ~~Bratcake~~ Nephew Gregory made fun of Rollo for receiving a diaper pail for his birthday. (Gregory is a budding smart ass. Good boy.)
Wait, best part: the bucket cost less than a fancy paper gift bag.
One more idea for ya:
Ann no longer purchases the pretty bags for a nice gift presentation but instead places gifts in the cute reusable grocery bags.
If ya really wanna mess with someone's anticipation level, purchase a brand new paint can (found on the paint supply aisle), place gift inside and hammer the lid down in a snug-like manner. Hide the can opener and watch your very own personal meltdown show.

Bucket?
Bag?
Or diaper pail?
Whatchagonna use?

Made by my great-grandmother

2010-12-12T07:00:00.001-06:00

Found this pillow cover made from a quilt square in my linen closet. It was made by my great-grandmother who was a prolific quilter.

The colors aren't great and God bless her, she used what she had and composition wasn't her strongest forte.

I gave the pillow cover to my quilter friend Dori and hopefully she'll be able to use it for inspiration and perhaps even a pattern for a copy. Imagine it with coordinating print fabrics. It's got potential, I tell ya!

Take a look at the hand stitched piecing.

I feel lucky to be able to see and understand my great grandmother's handiwork and blessed to have a willing recipient as a friend who will appreciate it more than me.

Proving I am NOT a hoarder,

I am,

Skitzo Leezra

Getting it right, no thanks to Wright's

2010-11-26T18:55:00.005-06:00

Yeah, I know, I have it in for Wright's. The notions and trimmings company continues to crank out products but doesn't assist, aid nor educate their customers or potential consumers to differentiate between single fold or double fold bias tape and such.

Sew4Home made and posted a bias tape cheat sheet since Wright's cannot seem to include a simple line drawing or reference for their packaging.

For shame! A blogger is posting a freaking cheat sheet for shopping.

Thanking Sew4Home
but shaking ahead in customer disservice disbelief,
I am,
Skitzo Leezra
of a very torn up and
hopefully soon-to-be-fabulous
Studio

March to your own drumset

2010-11-19T07:00:00.005-06:00

Middle nephew was given choice of image from my new Stitcher's Revolution SR4 Rock'n & Roll'n iron-on transfers for hand embroidery.

The drums.
Excellent choice, Bratcake, rock on with your bad self.

The rest of you, please to enjoy.

Waist not, want not

2010-11-17T07:00:00.001-06:00

Have been on a tear lately, what with altering seams, hems and such to personally tailor ill fitting garb. Chrysanthemum gave me a Burberry plaid skirt and the waist band either made me cry ~or~ I wouldn't button it. Even moving the button over wouldn't cure the problem but the skirt otherwise fit perfectly. Instead of blaming my own body, I deemed it to be a manufacturing misfit as the waistband was simply too small. But you know I loves me some plaid so out comes the seam ripper.

The waist band is gone, I tell ya.

Serged the lining and the skirt together.

Attached grosgrain ribbon from my stash.

Folded the ribbon to the interior of skirt.

Hand sewed the ribbon for hidden stitches.

Top stitched the skirt, following the tartan plaid for less obvious machine sewn lines.

WooHoo!
It's plaid!
It's a skirt with a no-cry waist band!

Crazy cute Crocs

2010-11-15T07:00:00.001-06:00

My mom has opined ugly parents often produce beautiful spawn.
And here's an example and perhaps proof of her hypothesis.

God awful 80's jewelry parts from my jewelry cemetery + plastic Croc shoes. Those giant shiny bits are from Dawn's People Give Me Stuff largesse.

Mix together and imagine the worst but smile at the crazy cute combination.

Yes, as I've said before, almost everything can be helped with a little plaid ribbon.

Enjoy your cute shoes, ~~little girl~~ ~~grown ass lady~~ RikkiTikkiTavi!

Libation presentation

2010-10-08T07:00:00.001-05:00

Made a wine bag from a fabric scrap.
Whatcha think?

Pajama pants

2010-10-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

Check out MADE: pajama shorts tutorial for easy to follow instructions. I traced out pattern pieces for extra roomy loungers but had only enough frog fabric for one leg. Fabric stash provided a coordinating vintage floral from an estate sale fabric grab.

Had the last little bit of frog fabric remaining for a side pocket for the remote or a cell phone. Looka! Pajama pants designed for shut-ins!

Girl, I like your skirt

2010-10-05T07:00:00.002-05:00

While Crysanthemum and I "pirooted" through the goods at the salvage store, I picked up a cute and colorful skirt. Chrysanthemum kinda snorted and said, "I think the size 16 refers to a girl's size, not misses."

And while I've lost a few pounds, I am not so delusional to think myself to have a pre-pubescent waist. No, instead I already had in a revamp in mind.
Take a look.

Measure your non-size 16 waist and match it to a corresponding width of the skirt. Chop off the fabric above the measurement. OR~~~ forget the measuring part and guess like I did. See if you can shimmy the pre-junior skirt over your very womanly hips.
Check out my posts on foldover elastic. It is sewn with a stretch zigzag stitch on Angry Chicken's blog.

You can change it up by zigzagging only on the interior of the skirt waist and top stitching the outside for a neater appearance.

Get yourself to the girl's department and see what you can find.

New sewing helper

2010-10-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

Wash Away Wonder Tape is super useful for fabrics that cannot accept lots of heat or steam steam pressing or if the sewing area cannot be easily pinned. Plus, it's easier to use than fusible tape.
Because it is water soluble, the manufacturer recommends storing in an airtight bag. Instead, I tried this little trick of cutting a slit in the plastic blister pack for easy removal.
You're welcome.

Cabinet knob job #2

2010-10-01T07:00:00.004-05:00

Not at all considering the perils of applying high heat directly to porcelain, did you suppose I would hesitate to aim a heat gun to vintage glass? That's right, it never occurred to me I could be in craft danger.
But looka!
The clear glass knobs your great grandmother probably had on her cabinets? Yeah, Elizabeth gave me a half dozen or so. Look at the clear glass with red embossing powder applied to the knob base. It's magic, I tell ya! It glows from within.
Not editing my images
and
posting all of 'em for your blog enjoyment,
I am,
Skitzo Leezra

Cabinet knob job

2010-09-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Cabinet knobs are like jewelry.
Cheap out and your whole outfit suffers.
Go over the top and it's too much.
Go too literal and you look like a costume.
Now multiply the look by 50 and there is not one cabinet knob in the world I want to see day in and day out. My home had inexpensive white porcelain knobs and I've been in the market for replacements for awhile now but unable to find what I want at the right price X 50.
Eh, I'll just mix what I like. (My buddies Elizabeth and Chrysanthemum are the best pals to pick up onesie knobs in their travels.)
Found a few in my stash and began trading them out. Craft inspiration came to me as I gazed upon my craft supplies left on the kitchen counter from the night before . . . wonder if I can apply embossing powder to a ceramic or porcelain knob?
The short answer: yes.

Stamp or draw image onto knob with embossing pen or pad.
Sprinkle with embossing powder.
Fire up the heat gun.
Be happy the porcelain knob didn't shatter into pieces because you know damn well you aren't wearing safety glasses.

Salvaged shirt

2010-09-29T23:51:00.012-05:00

There's thrift stores and charity shops and outlet centers but you haven't "pirooted" for treasure until you've been to a "salvage" store with an eclectic array of liquidated or closeout merchandise AND every weirdo in the joint wants to chat with ya. (Shut up, freak, you're cutting into my shopping time.) Anywho, while visiting Chrysanthemum in Mississippi, we hit the local salvage store. Fancy schmancy decorative tile, oscillating fans galore, random bedding and a ton of Target clothing. Remember this blouse from Target's spring Liberty of London collection?

(yeah, that's not me)

Slap a $4 tag on it and watch it gain potential. The peacock feather print is cute so what's my hesitation/objection to a $4 blouse? Um, could it be the completely unnecessary and very stoopid gathered ruffle at the hem? Yes, dear one, ruffles at the widest point of the body are not figure flattering bu-uut . . . $4 is a throw-away price, why not try a revamp.

Firstly, the ruffle is cut off.
It's gone, I tell ya!
Hacked a few inches from
the sleeve length too.

Serge the cut edges on hem and sleeves.
Apply Wash Away Wonder Tape.
Remove tape backing.
You got yourself a
self sticking hem fold.
No pins!

Top stitch hem.
Spritz hem with water
to remove tape goo.

Earring rub and buff

2010-09-28T21:09:00.003-05:00

Left earring: after application of rub and buff
Right earring: before

These faux turquoise earrings weren't the correct shade for my ensemble so craft supplies to the rescue. A little rub and buff and earrings are ret' to go.

Park your butt

2010-09-22T21:12:00.004-05:00

My buddy Dawn decoupaged and glittered some kick-ash clear glass ashtrays for her smokin' friends.

Remaking my life

2010-09-10T22:43:00.004-05:00

Haven't crafted a lot lately but instead seem to be mending and recycling not only clothing but my entire life. For the last 11 years, I've had a comfortable but somewhat boring job with excellent perks but not great pay. I felt stuck. The upside was a certain amount of freedom. The down; feeling trapped and wondering if the next 11 years would pass as quickly with no expectation of change or excitement. I had a little talk with myself and focused on what I wanted without worrying about the financial aspect.
Well, be careful of what you pray for because you might just get it. An employment offer from a chance meeting included doing the most enjoyable tasks ever: spending other people's money and trying to be the boss of them. Yep, I'm in sales again. My true calling. And can you guess it? Shiny things! Caw! Caw! The last 5 weeks have been crazy with ups and downs. Even while Mom counseled me about the agony of starting a new job and the middle-of-the-night heart stopping sweaty feeling of Oh-my-God-what-have-I-done, it's taking awhile to find my rhythm. My groove is somewhat elusive these days.
I am waking earlier,
NOT going in later,
NOT blogging at work,
NOT talking on the phone with friends,
NOT listening to satellite radio via broadband internet streaming at my desk,
NO longer enjoying a casual 3 minute commute.
The volunteer work has suddenly felt like an onus.
The dearth of creative outlets has cramped my style.
And this is the first Friday I have come home absolutely happy. Dog ass tired but happy. The house is a wreck. Mail is unopened and in a growing stack. Sewing projects are gathering dust. I can barely keep my eyes open. But I just restrung some beads because my "make something" urges needed an exercise. Wish me well as I struggle to find my mojo, get a good routine and level out the demands on my now very limited time.
And in return, I'll hope your days are filled with promise, fulfillment and shiny things.
Listen in on my talk with self HERE.

I'm a hanger-on

2010-08-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

I've told ya before if we were in prison, you would want to know me. Not only do I know where to find stuff but I also have an uncanny knack for listening to and gleaning folk's preferences, wish lists and wants.
I had a small pile 'o stuff left over from estate sale finds and People Give me Stuff stash that was too cool to toss in the trash but not desirable enough to sell on eBay and not useful enough to donate to Goodwill.

Box o' stuff from Kay:
I kept the faux cameos & keys
and gave the ephemera to Cathe

What's a pack-rat-crafter-afraid-of-becoming-a-hoarder to do? Puh-lease, I knew exactly the most suitable recipient - Cathe Holden of Just Something I Made fame. Cathe is a graphic artist, swell crafter and fantastic blogger who appreciates the often overlooked and is super generous in sharing her talented ideas.

Take a look at what she did with a little bank "gimme" I gave her via Kay's box o' stuff. My recycled junk in an artist's talented hands, it's a good thing.

What can you share today?

You give what you get.
You get what you give.

This week, I get to be a hanger-on because Cathe's growth chart posting was shown on yesterday's One Pretty Thing printable round up.
Woo Hoo!

Jar head

2010-08-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

If silver and somewhat shiny and found at an estate sale, I'm gonna snatch it up in my greedy little hands before anyone else notices.
Found these ~~vintage~~ ~~antique~~ old canning jar lids made of aluminum and glass.

And dang-it-all if I didn't spy NEW jar lids just a day or two later IN BRUSHED SILVER!

AFTER I spray painted gold jar lids in coordinating colors for my button jars.

Way to get in the white metal trend of the last 15 years, Ball.

Please to enjoy, a study in anal retentive organization.
And an excuse to use my new/old label maker.
Good times in the Skitzo Leezra world.
Yeah.

Mending is eco-friendly

2010-08-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

--arthursclipart.org

Mending is probably the least fun type of sewing because you're not sure the end result will match your vision but it's gratifying when it works. Lately, lots of mending tasks have occurred in the Skitzo Leezra Studio. Ripped jeans, bra strap adjustment and slimmer fits in too large knit shirts. I gain a sense of accomplishment mixed with learning and the satisfaction of saving a few dollars.
A Sewing with Nancy television segment stated that the energy equivalent of mending one pair of jeans equals walking 300 miles. Whatev.
I've got a pile of stuff to alter due to recent weight loss. Yay!

Something old for Mallys

2010-08-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

My buddy Mallys got married after 21 years of living in sin with her man. She was relieved to get the bastard stink off their two cat children and was most unromantic about the city hall nuptials but allowed a friend to host a party since there was a promise of wine and cake.
Because I couldn't attend, I sent a corsage and boutonniere substitutes.
Hers is a bridal dress from the scrapbook embellishment aisle. I personalized it with trimmed sleeves and a pinked hem.

His is the "About Time" dead watch, lace bow and Purrfect charm donated by Sammy (my cat).
Mazeltov ya'll!

Buck Face

2010-08-09T07:00:00.002-05:00

Stitched a couple tea towels with images from Aunt Martha's Big Game Animals (3969) pattern.

The outline stitch was quick and easy but when I began to stitch the details on Buck Face, I wished I had trimmed to the pattern to omit the eyes and such. When stitching on looser weave, eyes are tough to get right. One shift of the weave or thread and you got a cross-eyed deer. It's disturbing, I tell ya.
Sooooo, I tried removing out the ironed-on transfer with laundry pre-wash and guess what, it worked! Next time, I'll trim their faces off before ironing.

Would love to take credit for the abstract silhouette look but it was the result of pure laziness on my part. As I stared at the finished towels, I saw a modern striped interpretation of camouflage animals.

Leezra dissolved my bucking face off!

I can't see you, dear

A housekeeping peeve

2010-08-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Trash cans should have liners.

Wastebaskets do not.

No.

Wastebaskets are not receptacles for wet, nasty stuff thus no liner necessary. A cheap plastic wastebasket ruins bathroom decor in a second. Add a plastic bag or worse, a plastic grocery bag knotted on the outside rim and prepare for me fling it down your hallway.

My fancy friend has a large Waterford crystal champagne bucket and for 11 months out of the year, it serves as a wastebasket near her make up vanity. For her big Christmas soiree, the crystal bucket is filled with cranberries and water to anchor fabulous red roses. I know, I know, I hate red roses too but I gotta admit, with the right flower it's beautiful.

Anywho, wastebaskets.

Keep it classy, people.

Painted wastebasket

2010-08-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

No fan of plastic, much less fake plastic wood trickeration, I painted a bathroom wastebasket ecru with a crackle finish. It didn't work with my too subtle tone-on-tone colors.

The failed paint taunted me until I tried again during a late night ADD craft inspiration.
Go for color but muddy it up with brown.

Glop it on and be amazed the crackle finish still activates.

Be appalled at the ugliness but hope your next step works. Water down some brown glaze and glop it on with a sponge brush.

Forget the crackle finish activation and completely jack up the texture when wiping off the excess glaze. Do a bit more "correcting", decide you like it but forget to take a last photo.
Close enough, at least it no longer looks like plastic wood.

Frog skirt

2010-08-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

Had a small scrap of frog fabric and made a tiny hiney skirt for a tiny hiney little girl. It's a curse and a blessing, I tell ya, to not toss fabric scraps because little girl skirts are super fast and super easy so why not make them?

Folded over top for elastic casing and had a stroke of genius.
Instead of also stringing ribbon through the casing, I simply tied it between the button holes. It makes for easy removal for laundering or switching ribbon colors plus a great way to use shorter lengths of scarce or costly ribbon. This ribbon is neither.

This is why I shouldn't sew while drowsy. I sewed the button holes through 2 layers of fabric. The fix: a small patch of fabric and lots of zigzag stitches.

How's about a cute hem? It's harder for me to tell ya how I did it than just doing it.

Turn skirt right side out.
Serge or zigzag raw hem edge.
Turn eyelet trim wrong side up.
Line up eyelet trim straight edge to skirt hem.
Pin.
Machine stitch close to edge.

Fold eyelet down.
Iron to press crease.
Top stitch.

Press again without creasing the eyelet ruffles.

Deliver to little girl and prepare to be delighted when her mom sends you a phone photo of said girl modeling "her new favorite skirt".

Lace and ribbon flower

2010-08-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Gathered a 12" length of grosgrain ribbon with a triangular pattern running stitch in a coordinating thread
Adjusted the gathering for consistent ruffle.

Knotted thread and sewed ends together.
Stacked ribbon atop gathered lace and topped with large vintage button.
An easy and thrifty corsage flower.

Estate sale find

2010-08-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Forget that lame-o label maker I had in grade school, look at this shiny ma'ama jamma!

And looka, I snagged some shiny aluminum tape from Grainger Supply. Yep, labels for button jars!
Holy Mother of Bargains! I just looked at Grainger's website for the tape link and spied a brand new metal label maker with a price of $363!
My shiny metal model? $5, make ya holla!

Solar powered lamp revamp

2010-07-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

Purchased a solar powered lamp typically used for outdoor path illumination and did a revamp. (now on sale, doggone it!)

A too-rusty shelf bracket was lightly covered with flat black spray paint then lightly wiped with dried leaves. Why the wipe? Dunno, I saw the leaves on my work surface in the garage and a voice in my head wondered if they would knock down the too-perfect black. Yep, it worked. Who knew? One of the myriad of craft personalities living in my head, that's who!

With an embellishment of some Rub and Buff stuff,

highlights of gold are added.

The too-perfect and too-black

hanging lamp received the same treatment.

To avoid smearing on the lamp glass,

a cotton swab applied streaky detail.

A sodalite stone pendant

from my people give me stuff jewelry cemetery

with the center dangle removed.

Added a split key ring

for the easy hanging of ~~

a pool gate lamp!

Estate sale find

2010-07-16T15:06:00.002-05:00

Called by many names - pin frog, kenzan, flower spikes, flower arranging frog, needle holder - these bases are particularly used in ikebana.

I bought an assload at a recent estate sale and here's a stack of them set against the background of my green dining room.

Party decorations for nuthin'

2010-07-13T07:00:00.002-05:00

Last spring, my buddy Elizabeth and I were in an Anthropologie store, checking out the merch and like a goofball, I didn't take a photo of their fabulous window display of bright and happy flowers. What the hell?
But I did study the flowers intently and realized they were created from plastic water and soft drink bottles. You heard me. Trashy flowers. Sounds like a grunge band, huh?
The next day, the bottles haunted my brain, especially when I realized Rikki Tikki Tavi's big birthday shindig was approaching. Hello, great decorating idea!
I searched the 'net to find a braver soul's photos and sure as shit, a kickin' chick blogger Calamity Kim had these on flickr. Yay, Kim! (Thanks for allowing me to post your photo.)

(recycled bottles made into flowers
on spoke bicycle wheel
photography by Calamity Kim)

Baby sis RikTikTav saw the photo and approved. We collected plastic bottles while our brother Rollo blamed us for his increased intake of Diet Coke and said he made his son rinse with the soft drink after brushing his teeth because he was under the pressure to accumulate. Shut up and do your part, Rollo.

Bottles rinsed. Let's start cutting.
Sis and I quickly learned that even with the sturdiest scissors, a limited amount of bottles should be cut each day because our hands quickly became sore . . thinking all that tough plastic dulls the scissors and we absolutely do not trust ourselves with knives, box cutters or blade-like terror. Interestingly, the Diet Coke bottles were the toughest to cut. I shared the fact with Rollo and told him Diet Coke must bottle their product in super dense plastic because the ingredients are so corrosive. He didn't care and chugged down another.
The Rikster was in charge of the spray painting.
Fun technique: mist water onto flower then spray with paint. When the water evaporates, a spotty pattern remains. Paint the reverse side of bottle for a super shiny and glossy effect.

We wired the flowers to everything, including a floating life ring in the pool. Plus the white lights around the front door.

Dude, if it is plastic, we painted it.

That's a big ass flower!

Made from a big ass catering tray cover.

Sharing is caring good thing: three big trash bags stuffed with painted plastic flowers and our friends used them for their upcoming events. It's recycled times three!

& Pinwheels for free

2010-07-12T14:28:00.008-05:00

Not content to stop with recycled soft drink bottle flowers, I cut up a dog food bag and made pinwheels.
(I was inspired by a forgotten blogger's scrapbook paper pinwheels but hellfire, I cannot remember/find the post. If you've seen it, please let me know so I can give credit.)

Dog or cat food bag, heavy duty plastic

Scissors

Paper fastener brads

Hole punch

String or wire

Cut a square of any size.

(Too large squares result in floppy pinwheels.)

Fold a corner over to determine center.

Mark it or eyeball it. Punch a hole in it.

From a corner toward the center,

make a cut,

leaving a 1/4" or so between the cut and the hole.

Repeat so you have 4 cuts.

Folding the corners toward the center
results in petal-shaped pieces.

Punch a hole in each corner.
From the bottom of one corner,

push a brad into the hole and

fold over toward the center hole.

Repeat, adding the remaining three sections

before pushing brad through center hole.

Secure brad by folding out the "wings".

Punch a hole in top "petal" and hang from string.

Watch the pinwheels flutter in the breeze.

~ OR ~

Wrap light weight floral wire around
brad wings on back for
continuous garland and add more pinwheels.

Cheap and easy, just like your ma!

Light saber t-shirts

2010-07-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Rikki Tikki Tavi gave me a few new T-shirts to embellish for the brat nephews. Knowing they are way into Star Wars these days,

I found a super easy tutorial for drawing light sabers HERE at DragoArt.
Traced the light beam onto a smaller paper backed piece of WonderUnder
Ironed the WonderUnder to reverse side of green cotton and yellow silk fabric scraps.
Traced light saber hilt separately onto that cool reflective fabric sample from Ernest.
Ironed fusible to fabrics.
Carefully trimmed fabric, using the previously traced lines.
Peeled off paper backing from fused fabric.
Ironed the 2 part light saber to shirts.
Machine stitched the light saber beam in matching thread.
Also on sewing machine, outlined the saber hilt with black thread for a subtle detail.

Heck, at this point,
I'm just hoping
the light sabers aren't
mistaken for dildoes.

Tote bag recycle

2010-07-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Do you know what a chair back pocket is? It is sewn like a slipcover with pockets for school kids to store items at their desk.
Because next year's class doesn't use them, this kid's mom gave me his chair back pocket to disassemble for craft fabric but, instead, I recycled it into a tote bag. His name was already embroidered on it, so why not a sturdy heavy weight tote?

I sewed the open bottom closed and cut the top to form a bag.
Red bias tape applied to top cut edge.
Two plaid neckties were zigzagged and straight stitched for stability and reinforcement then stitched to bag for double straps.

Yay! A bag for transporting library books and such.

Easy way to help with the oil spill clean up

2010-07-04T11:20:00.004-05:00

Yes, I know BP is responsible for the damage but many volunteer groups are participating and you can help.
Craft Hope is distributing cloths to several institutions, including the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport, Mississippi but now need financial help to store, distribute and ship the cloths.
~~OR~~ send directly to the IMMS at 10801 Dolphin Lane, Gulfport, MS 39503. Package up your cloths and label package with cloth specifications and quantity to aid quick dispersal. Want to do more? Throw in a bottle of Dawn dishwashing liquid. (Why Dawn?)
The IMMS website wish list indicates towels (any size) but Craft Hope specifications indicated wash cloth and hand towel size to be helpful. Larger towels are unwieldy for cleaning and handling animals. Get out your scissors and cut 10" X 10" squares or 14" X 27" rectangles. Think absorbent and think throwaway. If it is soft enough to wipe your skin, it's good. Cut up your towels, sheets, wash cloths, whatever. Loose threads could snap on animals so if you can sew, zigzag or serge those raw edges.
T-shirts are perfect because they don't fray nor require edge finishing. Don't include the printed portions of the T-shirts as they aren't absorbent. Cut off the short sleeves and leave as is; a gloved hand fits perfectly into it.
Here is link to more details about cloth specifications.
Get your friends and family involved, combine your contributions, send a big box of cloths and know that you are part of the solution. Plus, you probably de-cluttered your t-shirt stash and linen closet!
Many thanks!!!

Check me out

2010-06-24T23:55:00.005-05:00

Me! On the home page of CRAFTSTER!!
Totally a surprise. Totally not submitted. Totally a fantastic craft blog day* to see my cat food bags on the Reusable Shopping Bags page! It's on the top row, I tell ya!

Thanks to Moesha for cluing me in to the screen shot save.

Y'know you have a craft problem

2010-06-14T15:45:00.006-05:00

when you spy a Welsh Corgi dog image on 2 HUGE dog food bags in a stranger's cart while at the grocery store and wonder if there is any possible scenario where you can ask them for their empty bags because although you don't own dogs, you would love to make a tote with their cast off bags . . . .and the scenario did not include
1. them calling the manager and accusing you off harassment
2. making tote bags for them in exchange
3. being thought of as the crazy lady hoarder

You'll be ~~proud~~ relieved. I didn't approach them.

Have way too much stuff to make as it is,
I am,
Skitzo Leezra

Flower power

2010-05-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

Following so many sewing and craft blogs on Google Reader, it's easy to forget on whose blog I spied a neat pattern. Anywho, someone mentioned a vintage McCall's pattern with millinery fabric flowers (that means hats, I tell ya). . . only to learn that the pattern was re-issued as M6047.

This week I found myself in one of the last existing WalMart stores with a fabric department and remembered the pattern. The number in my head was transposed but quickly found in the McCall's pattern book. Two remaining patterns in the drawer, yay. As I took two steps away from the pattern cabinet, I flipped the pattern over to see the price. "Dang!", I must've said aloud because the fabric clerk looked up and asked if I needed help.

"I didn't realize the pattern was $17.95," and wondering if I really needed it.

"Let me scan it for you. Our pattern prices are usual lower than marked. Yes, it is $6.50."

Score!

Fashion Friday

2010-05-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

First of all, I didn't make this jacket.

(oops, I didn't straighten it on the dress form, it really does hang straight.)

I notice more detail about finishing and construction of clothing now that I've sewn a few things.
Check out the finer points of the summer weight 3/4 sleeve jacket.

Lapel detail

Inside lapel

Welt pocket

REAL working buttonholes!

Back vent

Lining

This jacket kinda intimidates me because if I couldn't sew a jacket at least as well as this, why bother?

From where did I purchase it?
You're gonna be surprised.

Kmart!

You heard me.
Looking for quality linen tea towels once in their Martha Stewart line and nope, no more.

On the way out, the jacket caught my eye.

Paid for it and was pleasantly surprised with a 20% discount = $24!

(Not on sale now, but here's the link.)

Whatchathink?

Cut it out

2010-05-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Last week I showed ya a white knit tank embellished with beads but forgot to show ya the first alteration made to it. Those knit tanks often include a sewn-in shelf bra but they don't work for me, especially if I wear a bra under the shirt. I hate the elastic of a bra so sure as shit don't want any redundant restriction so I cut them out. Whew, I can breathe . . .

Birthday T-shirt

2010-05-24T13:18:00.004-05:00

Embellished a couple T-shirts for Baby Cutie's first birthday. Eileen and Ernest are hosting a crawfish boil/birthday party for him so motif shirts were in order. Please to enjoy.

Crawfish/lobster motif drawn onto back of WonderUnder paperbacked fusible web. Image trimmed. Ironed to shirt. Appliqued with fast and sloppy stitching. After laundering, the orange knit fabric will curl up and look even more distressed (in a good way).

Numeral drawn onto shirt with water erasable pen. Outline stitched and filled in with little seed stitches. Super fast and super easy. Just like your ma.

Estate sale finds

2010-05-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

You know it's a good estate sale when you leave with your finds in a Brooks Brothers bag!

Looka - silver teapot for $7!

Shiny stuff ~ caw, caw!

What else makes me as happy as a crow with shiny things?

Sewing notions!

Spied a couple bags brimming with stuff! Mine! Mine!

Check out other blogger's garage/estate sale and thrift store finds at Southern Hospitality's Thrifty Treasures page.

The closest I'll ever get to having a white beaded gown is this tank top

2010-05-18T12:42:00.008-05:00

My favorite "cute" white tank died on me so picked up this simple lace trimmed tank last week while at WalMart for $5! That's how they get ya: go in for groceries, come out with a shirt.
Anywho, my old favorite had bead embellished lace trim so this one was a good replacement except . .

. . I couldn't help myself and sewed tiny white seed beads at regular intervals using the lace pattern guide. Nice but dang, you can't even see them! Added the larger pearl beads while watching the Survivor finale.

Easy peasy and mo' better.

Because I didn't prepare today,

2010-05-17T09:59:00.004-05:00

here's a pic for ya.
Though not a new decor concept, I do love an exterior light fixture used indoors.
Please to enjoy.

Fashion Friday - What to Wear?

2010-05-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

I'm not gonna profess myself to be the best dressed but after looking at too many "People of WalMart" photos, I've gotta be in the Top 20 of MY local WalMart.

NOT me

Anywho, what the hell do you wear when a dress code is nebulous, say "dressy casual" or "creative holiday"?

Some would say that "one can never overdress" but I disagree. Instead, I opt to strive for the middle. Not the bland middle but neither overdressed nor under dressed.

Example, you're packing your bag to attend a national convention and will need attire for a cocktail party. What you pack is what you'll wear because there will be no time to shop. It's not your city and folks are coming from every state. What others consider cocktail wear may differ from your idea. Ladies who don't get out much will wear ~~a shiny~~ an unfortunate dress that is an "interesting" mix of prom and lounge singer while some arrive in ragged out jeans and flip flop sandals. It's reallllllly easy to opt for a place in between. Nice dress pants with a pretty blouse and jewelry. Cute dress and heels. Whatever. C'mon, I don't need to draw you a picture - just don't be an extreme.

Now, as I remember, the Preppy Handbook stated the best thing to wear to any event is the exactly the entirely inappropriate thing, like your tennis whites to a brunch party or dressy clothing to the PTA meeting because you have other places to go. What a great device to scoot out of a place you don't be!

~~You're welcome~~

Lands' End canvas tote

2010-05-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

Are you a freak for a tote bag like me?

I have a few of the Lands' End and LL Bean canvas tote bags so when I realized I needed a gift for an incoming volunteer board member, I remembered Lands' End had select totes on sale. Their newer versions have nice interior pockets so ordered one for myself too.

WooHoo! Color and monogram selected for the chick of the hyphenated last name. Mind you, if her name is Rikki Tikki Savi: a typical monogram reads RTS but the centered monogram style would read as rSt. I've known monogram protocol forever but this chick has two last names so unsure if I confused the name order or the friendly Lands' End order taker transposed the initials. The bag arrived and looked great. The next week, I read the intended tote bag receiver's name again and HammerOfThor, I realized the order of initials was wrong. Hellfire!

Spoke with a Lands' End operator and she assured me the second bag would arrive in time for the next board meeting and even checked my last order to make sure we didn't make the same mistake twice but here's why I am sharing this story in the first place: when I said I would just keep the first bag, the friendly sales rep gave me the option to return it.

But I am not sure it wasn't my fault, I said.

We guarantee our merchandise so if it is something you didn't want, we will give you credit for it.

AND, you can take it to your local Sears store for a no shipping cost return!

Impressive customer service, don't you think?

Wish I had taken a photo of both bags. The original color was not in stock but the second bag was just as cute. Took both bags to the board meeting and asked New Chick which bag she preferred. Both!

Look more closely.

Oh, that one.

Whew! At least one of them was correct.

Yay, Lands' End!

Pillowcases for days

2010-05-11T13:10:00.011-05:00

Remember this assload of fabric waiting to be sewn into pillowcases? It sat on the dining room chair for months while I felt guilty because I'm the idiot that volunteered for the project but meanwhile doing everything but getting them sewn. Enough guilt already, the fabric needed to go away. I serged at least 70 pillowcases. Why the hell was I procrastinating? This is fast and easy, if not a little noisy.

Next, I turned under the open edge twice to sew border. As you know, ironing is key for crisp edges and consistent borders so the assembly line speed realllllly slowed down at this point.

Thinking a contrasting thread would be interesting; straight stitched.

The gingham fabric is a lower quality blend so it slips and slides, thus, straight stitch shows every inaccuracy. Zigzag is better and kinda cute.

After doing 10 or so, I realized I might need help. A couple chicks in my volunteer group offered to help months ago so I sucked up my pride and asked if their offer still stood. Of course! Yay, new sewing friends!!

Miss Sanford (remember her fabulous refinished bar?) took 25 pillowcases and then taunted me with phone photos of her fun stitches! She was having a blast with her fancy schmancy sewing machine's decorative stitches. Miss Sanford had never taken the time to try all the stitches and enjoyed seeing them stitched out on the pillowcases! It's a win, win. Take a look at just a few of her good time with gingham samples.

Duh! With 25 remaining instead of 70, I took Miss Sanford's lead and tried some decorative stitches myself.

I've said it before, I'll say it again:
Necessity is the mother(fucker) of invention.
One of my stitches totally chewed through the fabric, forcing me to cut it out from the presser foot. I trimmed the hole including the three layers of fabric but there wasn't enough fabric to refold the edge again. Bias tape to the rescue! Dang, wouldn't you know it? It was the very last pillowcase! AND the cutest of my batch!

Unable to stop, I experimented with tone-on-tone accent stitching on a white flannel sheet. Next time I'll try a wing needle. Have fun with your decorative stitches!

Notebook organizers

2010-05-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Made a batch of notebook portfolio organizers for my volunteer committee. Take a look!

Pulled the navy blue preppy turtle motif ribbon from my stash but reverse side isn't so pretty with easily frayed woven threads so I layered it atop slightly wider green ribbon. Thinking myself to be clever, used navy thread on top with green thread in bobbin but look, the tension is so tight that little green bobbin threads are pulled to the top. Not a typically desired effect but it kinda works.

Recycled fashion on Fashion Friday

2010-05-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

Remember this shiny pop top jacket I posted back in 2008? I spied it in a boutique window and dang-it-all if I didn't see a lively lady wearing it at a funtastic party recently.

PLUS she had the bag too! Hope I am as fun and cool as this 85 year old lady.

Except, I'll tell everyone that I made the jacket from my recycled ~~cat food~~ pate' cans.

Water meter cover of the day

2010-05-05T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's one thing to have party gravy on your shoes, it's quite another to get a water meter cover on them.
Your very own custom made-to-order Keds sneakers from Zazzle. Select your preference of colors for binding, laces, stitching, etc. and view your choices.
Check out the other Louisiana inspired graphics there.

Betcha I know where you got dem shoes!

Vintage sewing patterns

2010-05-04T13:28:00.005-05:00

spotted (but not purchased) on eBay.

I don't have two legged children but

aren't these dresses darlin'?

How to make large to huge images

2010-05-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

I clipped this image twice because I love the look of the framed antique map pages and learned how to replicate the look. FOR NO COST!! (Except printer ink.)

Have I completed my very own project yet? Nope but not wanting you to suffer from D-I-Y ignorance in the meantime.

~~You're welcome~~

Rasterbator online will take your uploaded image and convert it to your choice of letter or legal sized paper tiles. Send it to your printer and you have images to stick to your wall or to frame individually. Download their off line file to create images with no size limits.

Block Poster does the same thing with a limit of 10 pages wide. Check out the galleries on both sites for examples of user installations.

Fashion Friday

2010-04-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

--cool hunting.com

Or maybe Flashback Friday ~~~

Back in the day, baby sis and I loved our Tretorn sneakers, which were hard to find in a small Southern town. The only local source was the Racquet Club. The original blue, subtle white and even plaid gullwing insignia pairs were worn and worn out. We even had the allover plaid print. She had the red; I had the green/blue but with the more understated white shoe laces.

Over the years, Tretorns became more and more scarce until we converted to Polo canvas boat sneakers.

A couple years ago, a shelter magazine asked designer folk what they were buying for Christmas gifts. Kate Spade was giving Tretorn sneakers to all on her list. The Tretorn store opened in NY about the same time

Oh good, they're making those again! Requested and received a pink gullwing pair for my next birthday.
Available from Tretorn.com OR Amazon!

Not a sneaker girl? How about rain boots?

Sigh of the day

2010-04-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

I want this in my house. Much.

Collage inspiration

2010-04-28T07:00:00.001-05:00

Took this snap at the Loews New Orleans Hotel check-in desk in order to recall the collage effect for my future craft projects and, because I can sometimes be a nice blogger, I'm sharing it with you.

Trying to burn off some of my sins,

before I commit more,

I am,

Skitzo Leezra

Office supplies to art

2010-04-27T12:43:00.003-05:00

My buddy Ernest knows me to be a hoarder of potential craft supplies so passed on some buttons and fabric samples from his buying office. I peeled off the buttons and fabric and even the backer boards went in the stash.

Look what my mom did with them ~ fleur de lis image on reverse side of the black sample boards. Ernest will be proud.

Hot Pad mash up

2010-04-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

Last November, I participated in a pattern test of a hot pad project for Shelli of Needle in a Haystack, HERE.

The project requires 1/4 yard each of both batting and Insul-Brite which will provide enough material for two hot pads. I cut out two pads but didn't get around to making the second one until last week.

Instead of being under a deadline and following the directions this time, I employed the tips learned from Shelli's instructions and just made up other stuff as I went along. It is easy to forget how fun just playing around can be. I seem to learn more by wondering if things will turn out the way I imagine. Besides, who cares if ya mess up a hot pad?

Paisley and glen plaid prints are upholstery fabric scraps from Chrysanthemum's fall skirt festival. The heavier weight fabrics make sense for protecting your hands when you remove that searing hot cast iron skillet of corn bread from the oven.

Instead of quilting the fabric in the prescribed grids, the paisley pattern provided a road map for an "interpretive" outline.

Here's the reverse side.

Decided bias tape wasn't necessary based on the fact that I didn't have the correct color on hand so made my own. Well, not really. Bias is needed when manipulating around curves. The hot pad is straight so my already small fabric strip was NOT cut at 45 degree bias. It's just a narrow strip of brown gingham fabric ironed in half.

For the leading raw edge, it was folded in at an angle.

And then over at top and pinned.

Checked length of fabric strip to insure it would cover the four sides with mitered corners.

Note: Began stitching about an inch down from beginning of strip so the end of strip could be concealed underneath. That was good thinking on my part, right? But then I messed up by sewing too close to the edge OR making the strip too wide because the border will be wider on one side and narrow on the other. Did I notice? Nope. Did I stop sewing when I realized it? Nah. It's a hot pad mash up. It's how I roll.

Sewed all the way to the corner, backtacked, snipped threads, lifted needle and presser foot. Folded fabric strip away from edge to form miter. (Not sure if this is the correct or best technique but it's the one I tried.) Keep on mashin'.

Mitered fold is underneath the fold.

Turned the pad counterclockwise. Lined up edges and started sewing again. Repeated for each corner. For those of you keeping score at home, we will encounter 4 corners on a square hot pad.

Approaching the origination point. Fabric strip is folded at an angle to reduce bulk.

This is when I realized the gingham border strip could be evened by sewing around the perimeter again with a wider allowance.

Did I correct my too narrow allowance? Nah, gonna see what happens with the wonky border.

Folded it all the way over and ironed it down.
See how narrow it is on the glen plaid side?

As opposed to how wide the gingham border is on the reverse paisley side? It's a blend of kinda groovy and kinda stoopid. Like me.

Topstitched the gingham strip using the left side of the presser foot as a guide.

See that open edge on the mitered corner? Does it bother me enough to hand stitch it closed? Nope.

What I LIKE about this attempt:

mixing fabrics

using paisley print as a guide to freeform quilting

the texture of the quilting

using fabric scraps

just sitting at the sewing machine and "playing" with no deadlines or expectations

What I didn't like:

Nope. Refraining from saying stuff I don't like this week.

Fleur de lis jewelry

2010-04-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Check out my friend's handmade fleur-de-lis jewelry! She crafts from precious metal clay (PMC) which is 99.9% pure sterling silver and other metals.
Every time I see her, she is wearing something new that I wanna rip right off her neck.
That's a compliment, people. If I wanna act on my covetousness and steal, you can rest assured the item in question is worth the sin and crime.
(To put in perspective, I wouldn't drive across the street to nab a truckload of free Thomas Kinkade glow-in-the-dark "art" pukery.)
Anywho, take a look at the shiny bits of handcrafted coolness at V12's etsy site and order yourself a custom piece OR send the link to your honey for a gift idea.

I am not a good example but a horrible warning

2010-04-18T14:32:00.006-05:00

I did a bad thing.

Last week I posted about a few unfortunate decor trends in a typical Skitzo Leezra rant because, hey, it's a spin of the dominant personality wheel here. One day - praise. The next day - shame.
However comma I took it way too far by posting photos that weren't mine but wait, there's more.
And let this be a lesson to you . . .
Ugh, it's baaaaad.
Last night, a bit tipsy* after attending a really fun shindig, I logged on to check out my Google reader and spied yet another not favorite craft project AND ~~~ I posted a negative comment directly to the blog chick! WITH MY NAME!
Horrible, right?
One of the nicer Skitzo Leezra personalities thought about it this morning but didn't immediately attempt to delete the message and, you guessed it, the blog chick victim already read it and was so upset that she blogged about my hateful comment.
AND, to make it even worse, she didn't call me out by name so not only do I feel like an asshole, I know I am an asshole.
While I'd like to think that we can critique ourselves and have an open discussion about things we dig and things we don't dig, my action were over the top.
Shame on me.
The good thing? She is getting lots of positive feedback from her followers about idiots like me and I am experiencing a learning moment.

Working on my apology,
I am,
Skitzo Leezra Studio

*I hate when folks blame their bad behavior on drinking. The original blog entry was bad while sober but the direct comment would not have occurred while sober. Instead, I would've just rolled my eyes and scrolled down.

Check out the whatnot at Project Parsonage

2010-04-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

She calls herself a lazy Martha and this chick creates an "illusion of permanence" since she and her husband move often. She shows her tricks to selecting pieces of furniture for multi-functions and demonstrates the power of paint on her new blog Project Parsonage.
A little shabby, a little refined = after visiting her home, I am always inspired to enhance my own.

Fashion Friday

2010-04-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Check out the

galvanized aluminum metal heels

on these Alexander McQueen shoes.

$ 1,985.00

Makes me
wanna go rootin'
through the recycle bin,
I tell ya!

Special Delivery Package

2010-04-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

Brown paper packages tied up with string

Baby gift wrapped in brown kraft paper,

stapled and tied with waxed twine.

(Next time, I'll sew it closed instead of stapling.)

Rubber stamped my own "postage" stamps.

Added special delivery tag with an old school diaper pin.

Burp cloth baby gift

2010-04-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Needed a quick baby gift so figured I would just back a diaper cloth with one piece of fabric instead of just the edge, as I've done previously. Pulled the fabric out of the stash and nary a one was large enough. Hellfire! Pieced coordinating fabrics and sewed to diaper. Truth is, I like mixing, matching and piecing fabrics. Unable to stop myself, I added decorative top stitching and accent stitches.

However, sewing on diapers is bitch. The fabric is squirrely, moving this way and that. After turning inside out, I tried top stitching on one and resorted to hand stitching on the other.

(Anyone have a recommendation for tightly woven diapers that are less like gauze? These are Gerber pre-fold.)

It started with a hole

2010-04-13T14:07:00.004-05:00

Have a soft and comfy T-shirt with a small mystery hole. DANG!

What's a girl to do?

A girl with a sewing machine AND a long strip of black and white gingham selvage from her latest fringed scarf jag?

Placed shirt on form and had the gingham scrap coiled in my left hand and let it drop. I shit you not, it fell almost as you see it in the top photo. What could be easier? Pinned it and tacked down with a fast and sloppy stretch zigzag stitch. Added a big old vintage button to flower's center.

Still have the hole but not visible to the naked eye. Did that sound nasty to you too? You're welcome.

A decor rant

2010-04-10T17:03:00.006-05:00

Chrysanthemum and I have had mean laughs at a nameless person's expense because we think their house is decorated like the lobby of a Hampton Inn. Perfectly neat, all new furniture, everything matches but devoid of personality and absolutely without soul.
I like interiors that reflect the owner with little clues about their passion or interest. Clues, I tell ya, not over-the-top advertisements.
When Sammy the cat came to live with me, also came feline themed gifts. If there is anything I've learned, it is this: cut off the unintended collections that one or two items might infer. Hey, I have a cat so why hell do I need to decorate my house with cat motifs? The real thing is enough.

Conversely, if you have children/motorcycle/sports interest, it is NOT a clue to a decor theme.

I've seen enough of the blog world's amateur attempts at home decor and the narcissism it illustrates. How many family photos is too many?
Seen far too many "Family Rules" plaques ~~~~(image deleted)
Thinking it is a byproduct of the crazed mommy scrap bookers running out of paper and considering their house an extension of the endless photos of the same kid, in the same pose, in the same outfit. Andy Warhol they are not. He understood repetition. Everyone else should step away. And Ann Geddes created enough havoc on her own, really, no needs to emulate her brand of cutesy puke.

And if I see one more shitty-assed burlap wreath, I'm gonna douse it with kerosene.
(image deleted)

Call it a hate crime because it is established that I hate all manner of cutesy and have kept my mouth shut for far too long.

Hey lady, your wreath is on fire.

Do you use a reader?

2010-04-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Had tons of blogs bookmarked and spent waaayyyy too much time clicking on all those headings only to find no new entries . . . until I found a better, faster and easier way to keep up with my ever expanding faves.

I'm using Google Reader and no matter how many days I skip, all my favorite blogs with their latest entries are the waiting for me.

Kinda like TiVo for blogs, Google Reader makes recommendations based on my selections. Love that.

And just like TiVo, initially you'll save time by looking at only your selections but since it is so effortless, you'll spend more time because you've expanded your selections.

~~You're welcome~~