Generation T: Beyond Fashion {Review}

For my birthday my husband got me the book I have been wanting for some time. Generation T: Beyond Fashion 120 new ways to fashion a T-shirt by Megan Nicolay. I subscribe to the Threadbanger podcast on iTunes and a few episodes talked about this book, after checking it out online, I knew I wanted it.


The first chapter of the book titled “getting technical” gives you a short and sweet overview of all the techniques used in the book such as different knots, hand sewing stitches and even a little how to on resizing a t shirt to fit, which was my favorite part of this chapter.

If you are visual and need lots of pictures this is a good book for you. All the patterns have an illustration for each step in the process and an actual picture (B&W) of the finished project. Speaking of pictures, in the center of the book there are color photos of all the projects being modeled off. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the book because it totally helps to see the finished product in use.

The projects have a little bit of everything: redesigned clothing, accessories, stuff for your house (and car), baby things, even stuff for the guy in your life. One thing I thought when flipping through this book was that I got it too late; it even had two designs on how to turn a regular oversized t-shirt into a nice looking maternity top.

This is the second book by Megan Nicolay. Her first, Generation T: 108 Ways to Refashion a T-Shirt, is now on my wish list after seeing how fun this book is. [Yes I know I’m backwards, getting the second book first] You can even try before you buy, the Generation T website has some of the projects from the books and a few that are not.



Photo coutresy of Generation T

My Valspar Sample

Thursday was a good day for me, not only did my birthday present from the hubs come in the mail( a book, I will post about that later) my free Valspar paint sample came in. If you missed me post about crafting freebies, see it here. When I got the box in the mail I was so excited, This is all that it came with

The sample, mini paint tray and rollers, a chip of the color, an envelope of coordinating colors and a $5 off coupon for a gallon of paint.

Then I opened the can, it was the wrong color. All my inial excitement went out the window. I ordered a pink, and the sample that I received was yellow, a very pretty yellow though.

 

I called the Valspar customer service number that was on the back of the coordinating colors envelope. The customer service rep was very nice and took all of my info and said she would get the right color to me very soon. That was it. Although I received a color other than the one I ordered, I saw it as a plus. Now I get two free samples and both of the colors coordinate nicely together so I think i might use them together in a project. Maybe something for my little princess, who knows.
The only downside was that I took pix and pix of the tutorial I was workinng on and the SD card I was using stoped working when I put it in the computer and I lost ALL my pictures. That is also why this post was not posted on thursday as planned.

Happy (belated) Birthday to ME!!!!

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday and it was wonderful! I got to spend time with my family which was much needed. I pre-wrote a post to put up yesterday but with everything I totally forgot. Even though I forgot I still wanted to post because the Etsy find that I found was extremely adorable! 



See, I told 'ya. Don't you feel like you have to have it now? I know I do.You can find it at MissRuby's Etsy shop here.

Craft For Free!

Who doesn’t love free? I know I do, it doesn’t matter what it is, free is good. Make it craft related, and its bliss. Looking around on the internet (Google is a girl’s best friend) I found a few freebies you might like to try.



Winsor & Newton Artists’ Acrylic 14ml paint samples. When I signed up on the thank you screen it said that they could not guarantee that you would receive a free tube due to limited availability, but it’s worth a shot.

Get 50 sheets of origami paper here. It says it can take about a month to 6 weeks for your order to come in.

Flower Thread will send you a free skein of their embroidery thread if you send them a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Papertube (dot) com will send you a sample kit filled with a bunch of their paper tube products you could get crafty with. When I get mine ill make something and post it to show you. * A few days after I submitted in the form they sent me an e-mail saying that they have a high volume of requests and asked me to reply telling them what I was planning on doing with the sample.

Valspar is giving away a free paint sample of the color of your choice. Your sample also includes a mini paint tray and a $5 coupon. Quantities are limited to a set number a day so if you get there and it’s closed, try again tomorrow after 9 am. Choose your color wisely though; it’s also limited to one sample per household.

If you send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Buy Glue Dots (dot) com tell them what you will be using them for (I put crafts) they will send you a free sample of glue dots

I have requested all of this myself and ill update to let you know how the offers stand up.

Silhouette Giveway!

I have wanted a Silhouette ever since I have discovered it. I have litterly entered every single online giveway there has been for it since then. Havent won one yet but hopefully this will me by shot. Over  at
{heart} Nap Time the are hosting a week long event of tutorials, link party, and giveaways. Most importantly she is giving us the chance to win a silhouette! What a goddess. So click the cutesie button to head on over there and enter......or you could not do it and give me better chances of winning :)

Baby Mobile Photo Roundup Take II

Last time I did a roundup of handmade baby mobiles so I thought that I would do another one featuring designer styles. I am still in the planning step of my future design with a basic idea but no clue what to hang from it. I’m not even sure what theme I’m going for but I will probably end up doing something with stars like I always do. Anyway, here is some more wonderful inspiration.





1. Large Prize Hen Mobile in Pink

2. Oras Oval Wall Mobile in Upe

3. Ugly Duckling Mobile

4. Sparrow Multi Mobile

5. Liliblue Musical Mobile

6. Birds of a Feather Mobile

7. Pink Bird Mobile

8. Glass Circles

9.Cotton Tales Lizzie Crib Mobile

Book Review: Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet

Many people have asked me where I learned to crochet. My answer? I taught myself. No really, I did, all with this wonderful book that I found called Stitch ’N  Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller.

This book is amazing. When I tell people I learned from a book they always say I can never learn anything like that just by reading. This book makes it easy; the instructions are very detailed and have pictures to help. The pictures are actually helpful, not those pictures where you look at them and wonder what’s going on.

This book is more than just a how-to book. It starts with a little history of the art of crochet explaining where it came from, and then it teaches you about everything you about the tools and different types of yarn. It starts you off teaching the basics and the basic stitches and then some of the more decorative stitches and techniques. Everything is written in a fun to read easy going dialog which keeps you entertained unlike other how to books.

The best part is that it includes 40 patterns of the most amazing clothing and accessories from sweaters to bikinis to handbags. Yes, I did say a crocheted bikini. Never followed a crochet pattern before? That’s ok; it gives an explanation on how to read a pattern before you start. I wish I had a picture of something I made from this book but everything I did were gifts and I never thought to take one. It has this super adorable pattern for fuzzy bunny slippers which I’m dying to try so hopefully I will soon.

In my opinion every crocheter needs this book in their crafting library. Not a crocheter? Buy it anyway and try. Trust me, it’s addictive. Knitter? Debbie Stoller has other books in her Stitch ’N Bitch series: The Knitter’s Handbook, Superstar Knitting, Stitch ’N Bitch Nation, and Son of Stitch ’N Bitch. I have not read any of the other books. Tried knitting many times and it has not worked for me, I'll stick to crocheting for now. Maybe if I read The Knitter's Handbook it will be my breakthrough to knitting success!

Craft Tip: Puzzle Pocket

This is a very simple tip, but after I glue a puzzle together, untill I find a cheap frame put it in, I keep it in what I like to call a "Puzzle Pocket". I take two poster boards and duck tape them together (note my designer zebra stripe duck tape). Easy right? It keeps them nice and clean untill they are ready to be framed.

Mod Podge Puzzle Saver

I have always loved putting together jigsaw puzzles and of course after all that hard work putting it together, taking it apart is like murder to your puzzle. I have tried many different types of glues all having their own faults. One was too watery and seeped through the pieces and stuck to the newspaper (and table) I had under it. Another came in this “easy to use” sponge applicator bottle which was impossible to clean for a second use. One even came in this just add water powder mix which was so horrible I’m not even going to go there.
When I went to Wal-Mart and saw the Mod Podge Puzzle saver I thought, it’s made by Mod Podge it has to be perfect. I was right. It goes on smoothly and gets into all the little cracks but is thick so it does not go all the way through. It dried with no smudges, streaks, or bubbles with a slightly glossy sheen. My favorite part is that when all dry I can confidently handle and hold the puzzle up without the fear of breaking and coming apart. If I wanted I could even put it on the wall just like that without framing it or anything.

Photo Courtsey of Beverly's Craft & Fabric

I Havent Abandoned You

I havent abandoned you guys. It has been really hectic over here, I was sick, the baby was sick, but now that we are better and I can focus on blogging again. Hopefully I will have a new post soon, working on it now.

Baby Mobile Photo Roundup

This morning the hubs was playing with baby girl and mentioned that she needed a mobile to entertain her, so me being the person that I am saw that as an opportunity for a project. Only having an idea for the basic structure and no idea what theme to have hanging I thought I would look online for a little crafty inspiration


1. Big Fairies Felted Mobile
2. Needle Felted Mobile
3. Hanging Tree Limb with Baby Bird
4. Modern Baby Mobile with Birds and Owls
5. Bird Parade
6. Love Chirp Flutter Nursery Mobile
7. Country Bumpkin Baby Mobile
8. Baby Mobile Nursery Decoration Red and White
9. Sweet Pink Shimmer Butterfly Baby Mobile
10. Clouds and Stars Origami Mobile
11. Hanging Flowers Hand Wired Paper Mobile
12. Bird Chandelier Girl and Baby Mobile
13. Five Little Birds Sleeping at Night

Picasa!

I may be a little late but I just discovered Picasa and I absolutely love it. I was searching how to make inspiration boards that other bloggers use on their blogs so I could blog about the stuff I stumble upon online too, after hours of searching how-to’s I discovered this program. Hesitant to download a program on my little netbook I did it anyway and tried out the mosaic feature that was talked about online and using a few pictures of Naomi I took the other day with my webcam I made this:

I know it’s not perfect, but it only took a few minutes to make, which would have taken forever if I would have tried to use paint shop like I thought I had to do. Now I have to play around with the program to learn all the features it has to create better works of art, but so far I love it, I wish I had this program for high school projects.

Go ahead and download it for yourself: Picasa

Happy Birthday to the Hubby!

Yesterday was my wonderful husbands 23rd birthday! I love him to death but he is the worst person to get a gift for simply because he doesn’t like anything (unless its Christmas related). Generally, being the crafty gal that I am, I make all his gifts, like for this past Christmas I made him a crocheted a mini Christmas tree. Figuring I couldn’t top that being limited on supplies (and ideas) I was just going to cook him a wonderful birthday dinner. Going through my miscellaneous craft stuff I found a blank 11 x 14 canvas and had the perfect idea, I painted his photography logo on the canvas and turned it into beautiful wall art. Recently he has been working on starting a photography business and the other week I finally completed his logo. I’m no graphic designer but I did a pretty good job on it and he loved it so I thought what would be a greater gift than that.
I had a few mishaps when starting the project because I was going to decoupage some paper around the edge to give it a “framed” look and couldn’t for the life of me find my paper cutter anywhere in the house, then I realized I didn’t have any small paint brushes. Besides those few problems it turned out great and it also gave me the idea to make a lighted table or box to make tracing a lot easier. I wanted to post a pic but the hubs wouldn’t let me, he said he wanted to wait to “reveal” the logo himself, but ill try to ask again to post it tonight.