The best straight pin holder ever

Complained to Chrysanthemum that I wanted a magnetic pin holder but not one of those gosh awful plastic things you see in a fabric store.

YUCK

Nope, instead I wanted something to coordinate with the SkitzoLeezraStudio - lime green, white, black or first preference of shiny silver. (Caw, caw!)

Imagine my surprise when she presented this to me the very next day.





She found it in the automotive section of WalMart. Mechanics use the trays to hold tools and bolts and such.

Surely the utilitarian appeal and magnetic feature was enough to satisfy my wants and needs but check this out, it sticks to my metal bookshelves, vertically!

Guess I won't have to call my brother to come over and rake his bare foot across the floor to pick up stray pins and needles anymore. Those tender feet of his are so good at finding every sharp point.

HE should write Chrysanthemum the thank you note!

Craft room hangover

My friend Chrysanthemum visited me last week and brought her sewing machine with her. She wanted to sew skirts so I was all up for it. I introduced her to the wonderful world of serger finishing and she cut out the skirts. When we finished there were 10 skirts for her, 2 skirts for little girl neighbors and 4 for me. That is not a mistake, 16 skirts in all.

Chrysanthemum complimented me by saying that the SkitzoLeezraStudio is like working in a factory; everything is there at your fingertips.

It was the first time that I had a little buddy sewing with me in the Studio and it was different - and fun. Makes me wish that she were back next week.

About the fabrics:

Chrysanthemum likes upholstery and drapery fabrics for skirts so you might recognize a few prints. My buddy Ernest gave me the most fabulous wool fabric samples several years ago. The wool is usually used for very high end men's sports coats and it drapes incredibly well. The Ernest wools are 3rd from the top and 2nd from the bottom.

About the pattern:

A bastardized version of easy sew a-line skirt. Some finished with drawstrings, some with elastic waists.

Hot Pot coming through!

"Don't scrape my bottom!"

Stitched an apron with this Aunt Martha transfer of a what I call a "Hot Pot" for my friend Maura. I think the pot's eyes are big because its behind has been scalded.
Iron-on applique with hand embroidered details. Pattern is from the "animated kitchenware" series.

Cemetery after hurricane Ike

007, originally uploaded by Skitzo Leezra.

There is a saying that in Louisiana you may see your dead relatives after a hurricane, meaning, the water table will rise and push coffins out of the ground. These are photos I took after hurricane Ike. The storm surge washed in and pushed these large heavy crypts out of the plots.

People give stuff - shiny stuff!

Received neato jewelry

from my grandmother's things.

Shiny stuff! Caw, caw!
Satisfied in a crow and magpie-like way,
I am,
SkitzoLeezra

Easy organizer made from placemat

So easy and so cute!
Found a pack of 4 black and white paisley placemats for $4 - WooHoo! Copied the organizer idea from my friend Elizabeth's seminar gift and presented my new committee with their choice of ribbon - blue, pink, green and violet.

To make one for your very ownself, find some cool reversible placemats. Place the mat with long sides on top and bottom. Fold bottom up to form long pocket. Press fold with hot iron. With a water soluble marker, make lines for paper pad and pen holder. Sew on lines. Stitch left edge with 12" ribbon inserted at top of pocket. Stitch right edge. Stitch right hand of pen channel with 12" ribbon below (on reverse side). The right hand ribbon will be on the right hand fold. Fold right hand side to center. Press fold with hot iron. Fold left hand side to center. Press fold with hot iron. Tie up with that precious ribbon!


Other ideas:
Sew a clear vinyl pocket to insert business card.
Monogram outside cover.
Sew ribbon stripe on outside cover.
Oh! Almost forgot, I covered the top edge of the paper pad with black and white paper to cover the unattractive manufacturer's logo. You could print out the recipient's name on paper and glue it there.

Burp cloths

Y'know, I burp all the time and I don't need nor use a burp cloth. Could it be that burp cloths are misnamed? Would a more accurate label be "puke rag"? Eh, never mind, keep calling it a burp cloth.

Anywho, the breeders are at it again. All of 'em are having babies. Though not a fan of babies, I like making baby stuff. You won't see me laying out cash for an extravagant baby gift. If ya can't afford the stuff, you shouldn't have the kid. 'Nuff said.

Please to enjoy, in all of their glory, are the latest burp cloths, hand embroidered by me. These are nice linen-type tea towels, purchased from KMart's Martha Stewart line.

Here baby, puke it out on my handstitched hard work.

Shiny Stuff of the Week 3

This week's shiny stuff is a lava lamp reflected in my bathroom mirror. It is glittery and shiny, thus I am mesmerized for hours. Caw! Caw!

Cool craft books

Here are a couple books to check out from your local library. I say check them out so you can decide if you like them before purchasing your very own copy.

My local library has a great website with search and reserve options and handy e-mail notification for pick up availability PLUS they offer interlibrary loans. That means little ol' me receives borrowed books, free of charge, from every state in the union! Yay, no more stoopid bad book buys!

Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Celine Dupuy. Pretty fabrics, cute ideas, good project directions.

The Big-Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano. LOTS of ideas in here! Make stuff just like the photos or use for inspiration.

Denim handbag

Made this denim handbag from the 1970's era pattern given to me by generous seamstress lady.

Completely misunderstood how to make the handles but kept on without any major ripping. OR cursing. Upon completion, the bag looked too flat so squared off the bottom edge.*

Not really digging the purse, it is a little too long, narrow and boring so whipstitched around the handles with that heavier embroidery (crewel?) thread stuff.

The cutest thing is the interior pocket with grosgrain ribbon trim and key/pen loop.

*Two techniques to square off the bottom corners of a bag:

1) Turn inside out. Fold bottom and side seams to match, pin and mark a diagonal line, stitch. Trim to reduce bulk or leave as is.

(photo from tiny happy tutorial)

2) Turn inside out. Cut a square from bottom left and right. Fold fabric to match cut ends. Sew.


(photo from creative kismet tutorial)

Kitty loo curtains

Elizabeth purchased one curtain panel from Lowe's ($4, make ya holler) and we cut it up to make a lavatory skirt (photo to appear in upcoming blog entry) AND curtains to hide the kitty's litter box. Welcome to the Pooh Loo Lounge!

Curtains, valances and skirts - oh my!

My friend Elizabeth just moved, wanted new window treatments and totally played me for being the better sewing girl of us two. Anywho, I fell for the bait and made a few simple window treatments and am impressed. While Elizabeth and I have never-to-be-doubted fabulous taste, we cannot seem to measure for shit so every fabric had to be pieced and lined with other fabric because we purchased too little yardage. How much fabric did I have left over? NONE! Please to enjoy, photos of curtains below.

Waverly "Pretty Paisley" and gingham

Burlap and black gingham

Cool tote bags

My estate sale acquaintance gave me a piece of vintage fabric! It is a way cool damask print in great colors but if you touched it, you would realize that the quality was not great. It is a screen printed fabric as opposed to woven. So, considering that it felt like itchy shag carpeting and would not launder well, I ruled out apparel wear. Being that my favorite thing in the world to make is a tote bag, the orange and red fabric made TWO totes. One large enough to take to the beach; the other, roomy for a wallet, cellphone and lipgloss.

Forgot to take a photo of the interior but lined it with red and pink floral flannel, it coordinated perfectly!

Baby bib & gift

My friends decided not to find out the sex of their first baby. Well, that kinda limits my cross stitch endeavors but okay. Here is your bib, unknown baby!

Placed bib in fabric collapsible storage box along with baby stuff.

People give me stuff - lots and lots of patterns

My fabulous alterations lady gave me big box of clothing patterns - Woo Hoo! Perused the offerings and kept these four and donated the remaining to local charity thrift store. I am paying it forward and backward, I tell ya! Take a look at the handbag pattern, you will see a completed version here in a couple days.

Would you like a tip on receiving stuff from folks? Talk about your common interests. More times than not, people want to share their stuff with enthusiastic like-minded crafters because their stuff will go to a good home. I assure my benefactors that I donate the items I don't keep. No way would I throw away a box of vintage patterns - Never, I say!

Shiny Stuff of the Week 2

Spied this ball of spinning shiny stuff and shouted
"Caw! Caw!"
The shoppers at Eric's of Metairie did not understand. Idiots.

People give me stuff! Food stuff

People give me stuff - this time it is fresh strawberry preserves made by my friend! And it is yummy and the presentation is cute.

Who doesn't love a painting of a monkey?

Was in New Orleans on Saturday and sweat my balls off looking at cool art at Palmer Park. Met a neat artist named Linda Berman that paints monkeys! Her whimsical and colorful style is appealing to monkey lovers, art enthusiasts, drunks, imbibers and smokers, does that cover everybody? Well, all my friends, at least.

Utilitarian denim tote bag

Man, I love making tote bags, what with the straight line sewing and all but this is a heavy duty bag made for heavy stuff, thus, denim from cast-off jeans. Cut 2 legs, turned so that bottom hem is the top edge, split the inside seam and joined them. Removed 1 back pocket and restitched to outside. Ripped off the waistband and used that for the tote strap.

WooHoo - new Skitzo Leezra labels inside the pocket!

Robot on your shirt

Nephew Walter drew a robot and I thought it was the cutest thing ever, which inspired me to stitch in on a T-shirt. Taped his drawing onto a light box and traced with fabric transfer pen.

Ironed on and embroidered.

Oh, update: Walter's little brother Gregory asked where his shirt was. Oops. Draw something and I'll stitch it, I promised him. Later that day, Walter told his mom that he drew an image for Gregory's shirt. His mom RikkiTikkiTavi told him that indeed, Gregory should draw something for his own shirt but asked to see the Walter's artwork. Walter proudly displayed a rendering of a unicorn. She said it was nice but unicorns are usually seen on girl's shirts. Walter smiled broadly. A smartass at 6 years old, he makes me proud, I tell ya. Sniff.