Crafty Is The New Black

I know I've been M.I.A. for awhile BUT...

2010-10-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

THIS couldn't be passed up...You've just officially jumped the shark, Snooki.

Happy Halloween my crafties!!!!

We all live in a Yellow Submarine

2010-05-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

I have a few favorite three and four year olds. One of them had a birthday this weekend.

He is obsessed with the Beatles so I made THIS as a gift...

Fabulous Fairy Party...CHECK!

2010-05-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

So, I know I've been gone for awhile...I've been up to my ears in fairy. My three year old had requested a "pink" birthday party and, needless to say, her crazy mother kind of went off the deep end with the proposed theme. Seriously, for the past few weeks it has pretty much looked like a band of rogue fairies threw a rave in my living room. Ahhh, the preparation. Anyway, the fairy party has come and gone and now I return to you, my crafties. I am also getting reaquainted with my faithful sewing machine as I make a Yellow Submarine pillow for another birthday party this weekend (Beatles themed, of course!)

In the meantime, a few photos from the party for your viewing pleasure.

I made these toadstool centerpieces with recycled bowls, paper towel rolls, and felt!

**reholsters glue gun**

A table set for *gasp* 14!

The birthday girl awaits her guests.

Of course, there was a craft.

The PomPoms make an appearance!

The adorable cake topper by FairiesbyNuria

and fondant toadstools, butterflies and caketoppers by CRLcreations

A real live fairy from Happily Ever Laughter. She was AMAZING!

Fairy Food Favors.

The Regretsy Controversy

2010-04-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

So, I simply HAVE to get something off my bedazzled chest. Apparently, there has been quite a bit of backlash in the Etsy community about the Regretsy book up to and alledgedly including a band of crafters entering a NYC bookstore as a group and demanding that the Regretsy book be taken off the shelf. Now, I don't know if any of these crafters were featured in the book (but, I'm going to go with a great big "NO" as everyone in the book agreed to be featured and signed copious release forms to that affect) and I'm pretty sure that they would all vehemently defend their right to express themselves through their art and then, you know, ask people to give them money for it. Soooo, I'm a little aghast at their demand that someone's opinion be censored. In a phrase, it is the equivalent of book banning. Look out, Someone might be startin' a big old crafty bonfire sometime soon! I mean, fertheluvofgawd, I personally feel that Sarah Palin is a raving lunatic who spreads misinformation and hate, but I'm not marching into my local Barnes and Noble demanding they remove her books. April Winchell is just snarky and irritable (not to mention a great writer and funny as hell.) Its called the First Amendment, people. You have a right to describe your handmade toilet paper roll cozy in the shape of a sleeping cat as "whimsicle" and "charming" and ask $29 for it, I have the right to make a weird little doll to celebrate the modern medical miracle that is the vasectomy, and April Winchell has the right to point out the ridiculousness of both of these things. And, guess what? People who don't like Regretsy have a right to say that as well. However, demanding a book be taken off the shelves or ridiculing and bullying Etsy sellers that are HAPPY to be in the book is going a bit far.

The other argument I hear a lot is that Regretsy makes people who have never heard of Etsy think that it is a joke with nothing to offer but shitty handicrafts. The key phrase here is "people who have never heard of Etsy." If 100 people look at the Regretsy book and 75 of them dismiss Etsy as a load of crap but the other 25 check it out from sheer curiousity then that is 25 new viewers and potential shoppers of Etsy who would NEVER have known about it otherwise. That sounds like a win win to me and if this pisses you off, talk to Etsy about promoting the website more beyond the existing circle of crafters/ craft appreciators. Yes, people should know that it is an amazing place to find fantastic, high quality, artistically made goods, and those profiting from the sales of our items are the oncs that should responsible for that, Etsy AND ourselves, the crafters.

Personally, I know my items aren't for everyone and they will probably never make it to the front page of Etsy (though Botox Betty was featured on the stork! Thanks Etsy!!) and that is fine with me. Clearly a doll that celebrates having your scrotum cut or highlights the fact that someone has had one to many "minor cosmetic procedures" is for someone with a slightly twisted sense of humor. I get it. I am not offended if you don't get it or if you DO get it but think it is stupid. If you are whip smart and super witty, I might even laugh at what you have to say about it.

In my opinion, once a person starts asking for money for their "art" they are fair game for criticism. It's not like my grandma is blogging about the shitty ceramic bowl I made for her in the fourth grade! If you are so wrapped up in what other people think about the stuff you make because it is such an "extention of who you are as a person and an artist" you should be giving it away for free. People are not obligated to like the things you are SELLING. In our country people make a living criticizing politicians, performers, and athletes (Mariah Carey in Glitter, anyone?) We tip service people depending on how well WE think they did their job. Are we now living in a world where the artist is above criticism?? People, please.

In Celebration of the Regretsy Book Release - DISCOUNTS FOR FANS AND FOLLOWERS!!

2010-04-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

I just got my copy of the Regretsy book and am so GD excited to be included with the likes of the "Siamese twin fetus Christmas ornament" and the "Uterus earrings" on the pages of this HYSTERICAL book that I am offering a 10% discount on your ENTIRE PURCHASE FROM MY ETSY SHOP for my Facebook fans or Blog followers. So, maybe you'd like to pick yourself up

your very own Hangover Harold shirt...

(mens & ladies sizes available)

Or, one of THESE ...

Maybe a little-o-the 'stache...

Or, maybe something purdy...

So take a break from your (perhaps, tedious??) day and come on over to my Etsy Shop and have a laugh or two. Become a Fan on Facebook or become a follower here and receive a Sah-Weet ass discount on some genuine handmade awesome of your very own.

Come on, all the cool kids are doing it!

It's here!

2010-04-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Well, THIS is my congratulations gift to myself for getting into the Regretsy book. I couldn't resist. It is going to hang right over my sewing machine and "inspire" me as I whip up shit loads of Handmade Awesome!

ADHD Crafter Style

2010-03-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

So, you think I would be knee deep in Boo-Boo Monster making now that the Regretsy Book release is less than a week away... But, NO, I am feeling super butterfy-obsessed right now. Perhaps, it is the gorgeous spring weather or my proliclivity for procrastination. What do you think? Should I start a full fledged felt butterfly line in my Etsy shop?

The very first Boo-Boo Monster Greeting Cards go live on Etsy!

2010-03-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Looking for a "Congratulations on your Vasectomy!" Card??
How about something to communicate the more complicated sentiments in life such as "Good Luck at Rehab!" or "Sorry I puked in your car."??

Well, look no further...

A Crafters Redemption

2010-03-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last night that I was attempting to make tissue paper pom-poms (yes, yes, file this under "fairy party crazyness") and , though I was following directions (something I rarely do) my "pom-poms" were looking a bit more like giant pink blobs of crap. WELL, low and behold, I wasn't quite reading the directions ( I generally like to just look at the pictures and wing it) and I had the dimentions of the tissue paper reversed. So, I have redeemed myself and made these butterfly and "prystal" (plastic crystal) accented pom-poms to hang in the trees at my kids birthday.

Oh yes, I've got MAD pom-pom skills now...

the butterflies are, once again, from the template at Bugs and Fishes by Lupin's fabulous butterfly mobile tutorial.

Proof positive I can't "Craft everything"

2010-03-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

So, the other night I was trying to make THESE

and I ended up with THIS

WTF?? I even followed the directions. This seriously makes me question my crafting abilities (AND my general intelligence)

Butterfly Headband Tutorial

2010-03-22T21:55:00.000-07:00

Wanna make this cute little butterfly headband?? Let's DO IT!

I realize I owe you guys some tutorials. The problem is, everytime I start on one, I just get all carried away with the project and forget to take pictures of the process etc. So, here goes...

Here's what you'll need
• 3 felt squares in (different colors). I used a monochromatic purple color scheme with 3 shades of purple
• A large sparkly bead or other kind of pizazz (vintage button? vintage clip on earring?)
• clear 3/8" elastic, cut to measure and stitched to make a headband
• needle and thread to match the felt

I was totally inspired to make all things butterfly by THIS awesome butterfly mobile tutorial by Bugs and Fishes by Lupin and i used her template to create the butterflies.

Hand draw a butterfly (approx 1.5 inches across) or print out the template from Fishes and Birds by Lupin and reduce it by 50 percent. Trace the template onto felt. Cut out about 12 butterflies (This headband has the butterflies concentrated on one side like a fascinator. If you want to make a full headband, cut out 24 butterflies)

Pinch the felt butterflies in the center and stitch through twice to give them a three dimentional appearance. Sew the butterflies to the clear elastic alternating colors and overlapping the butterflies in the center of the design.

Position the headband on your head so the butterflies are positioned to the side. Add a bead or two to taste for sparkle.

and, VIOLA! Cuteness!

Baby, you're gonna be a STAR!!!!

2010-03-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Good Lawd!!!! Just got the OFFICIAL word that Vasectomy Vern is going to be included in the Regretsy Book (available April 6th) and I just peed a little!
Now, I know some Etsians object to Regretsy but, I am not gonna lie, I think it is funny as hell. Seriously, I could read it and laugh my ass off all day. While I understand that some people take criticism of their work personally, I don't. (Frankly, I take the fact that you are trying to get me to pay you $29.95 for the dream catcher you made with recycled dental floss personally) The fact is, most of the stuff posted on Regretsy sells ( I mean, seriously, would embroidered toilet paper be all the rage without Helen Killer???) Most of the things I make are meant to be laughed at. Also, I really like attention and free publicity so check, check and CHECK!!!! YAY!

Vern will not be allowed to look at the book. I wouldn't want him to bust a stitch laughing...

And the Fairy MADNESS continues...

2010-03-17T21:59:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before, I'm not really in to the whole Fairie thing BUT MY KID IS...
She's having a Fairie themed third birthday and I, in all my OCD party planning madness, have kind of gone off the winged, glittery deep end. You see, planning my kid's birthday parties is like a fully sanctioned reason to shirk my other parenting responsibilities (Go watch some more tv, honey. Mommy's crafting...) and make, make, MAKE. I mean, it's not like I'm drinking in the afternoon, people...it's just a little felt/ glitter/ fabric/ tish-hssssssssssooooou paper/ cake *hiccup* de-c-ra-ting/ invimitatoooon des *hiccup* ign....*Hiccup* ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Birthday Dress and Crown

DONE!

Absolutely gorgeous fairy & toadstool fabric from my field trip to Harts Fabrics.

Added some frou-frou trim with ribbon and tulle from my stash.

And used some scrap to trim out the "Big pink crown with the number three on it" that was requested by said three year old.

I'll be posting throughout my manic death spiral in to fairy party insanity so stay tuned...

A favorite Felt-Me or two...

2010-03-15T23:12:00.000-07:00

I am not gonna lie. I've had some SERIOUS crafters block lately. Wut up with that? There is no shortage of ideas popping in to my head but, for some reason, the fabulous crafts aren't making their way out the tips of my fingers. I'm just "all up in my head.". So, for inspiration, I thought I would spend the next couple of days perusing some of my favorite projects from the past (personal and from my Etsy shop) and share them with the likes of you, my little crafties... Let's start with a few of my felty fabulous Felt-Me custom likeness dolls.

This is "Tiny Travis." He was a custom Felt-Me ordered by Travis' girlfriend from my Etsy shop. Travis loves Octopi (hence the pet Octopus on his shoulder), his computer and sushi and he always wears a shirt that reads "Obey" (see below.)

Even the Nikes where custom replicated in felt from a picture she sent me! She loved "Tiny Trav" so much she ordered a Felt-Me of her dad and his beloved dog for Christmas...

And "Tiny George" was born complete with hand embroidered chest hair and flip-flops.

And, of course, my beloved "mascot" and avatar, Miss Pookie Davenport. She was originally made for my very favorite Drag Queen but, upon further inspection, I realized she actually kind of looked like me...

Minus the "hooker boots"

...and the custom panties.

So, Pookie became the official face of Crafty is the new black; a felt ambassador, if you will.

You can read more about the Felt-Mes and see pictures of many little handmade pieces of felt awesomeness at www.craftyisthenewblack.com.

It's all in the presentation...

2010-03-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

My friend Sharon makes the cutest little fabric "gift envelopes." I like them and I finally had A) a reason to make one and, B) the time to do so. Here's what I ended up with...

The outside layer is light pink fleece and the lining is hot pink felt

(not as red as it looks in these photos)

For a little extra "craft-zazz" I stitched on a cherryblosson branch (felt) and used my BEDAZZLER to attach the blossoms with silver studs (yes, I have a bedazzler and i am in love with it. My hubby bought it for me as a "joke gift" but it has turned out to be one of the best things he's ever given me...don't tell him I said that)

I finally found a use for the cute little handmade button that I made during my "button period"

Filled the envelope with a "smoky eyes eyeshadow pallette"

And, VOILA!

2010-03-04T17:07:00.000-08:00

And, here it is...

Adorable, right??

Nuria at FairiesbyNuria was super awesome to deal with and she made this little lovely in like two days! Now, we'll see how the fondant toadstools and butterflies turn out...

Fairy, Faerie, Fayree...

2010-02-26T12:23:00.000-08:00

So, as a general rule, I'm not in to the whole "Faerie" thing. That being said, my soon to be 3 year old has been pestering me for, well, 1/6 th of her young life to have a pink, pink, PINK!!! birthday party which led me to some internet research (FYI - googling "pink party" will find you some really weird stuff. I'm just sayin') Anyway, I happened upon some really cool looking chicks who do the whole "Faerie" thing at birthday parties and promise to "enthrall" your 3-5 year olds. Well, the thought of someone else being in charge of the cat wrangling, er, "entralling" of the 10-15 three year olds that will be at our house was all I needed to convice me to throw the best damn Fairy party these kids have ever seen. So, now I am knee deep in all things Fairy. I looked and looked for a cute little cake topper for the "Weawy, weawy, big, PINK cake" we are going to have and, let me tell you, I ran across some crazy disturbing "Faerie" stuff which i won't post here because, much as a I love Regretsy, I am more about spreading the crafty love here. Anyway, I was about to give up when I found THIS;

FaeriesbyNuria over on Etsy makes some of the sweetest little Fairies I've ever seen and she's going to custom make this one to look more like the birthday girl and hold a sparkly number 3. Now, I'm no "Faerie" girl but that is just DAMN CUTE, n'est pas??

I've got my EYE on this...ba-dum-bum

2010-02-18T08:52:00.000-08:00

I totally want this but I'm afraid it would freak my kid out.

Another Felt-Me off to a good home...

2010-02-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

This is Jared. He enjoys yoga AND Haagen Dazs. How "fit" of him. According to his sister, his favorite phrase is "You KNOW I'm right" which makes me think that maybe, somewhere down the line, we are related...

Field Trip BOOTY

2010-02-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

So, I think I showed fantastic restraint at Harts Fabrics on Wednesday. This is mostly due to the fact that I am in the middle of about 6 projects right now and, therefor, didn't feel an insatiable desire to add things to the crafty cue. A couple of things I just couldn't resist...

This is for my kiddo's 3rd birthday dress. The party theme is, yup, you guessed it, FAIRIES!

And, this one just made me feel happy. Not sure what I'll do with it!

Happy Valentines Day Hubby

2010-02-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

This is my husband's Valentines Day gift. HE IS GOING TO CRAP HIS PANTS!!!

There are few things he loves more than kicking zombie ass. These things include a) his family, b) french press coffee and, c) Obama.

Check out Tinaseamonster over at Etsy to see the rest of her Handmade Zombie Awesome.

Field Trip!!!!

2010-02-10T07:13:00.000-08:00

I, my darling crafties, am making a field trip to the one and only Harts Fabrics today!!!! I've been ordering from them online for years and now live close enough to drive there. I sense a CRAFTGASM in my future!!! I'll post pics of my finds this afternoon.

I'm Hosting a Free Giveaway over on my Facebook Page!

2010-02-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Refer new fans to my Facebook page for a chance to win your very own set of Wine Glass 'Staches!

Find me here

If you become a new fan, drop me a post to say "hi" so I know to look out for your friends.

If you don't like winning free things...pick up a set at my etsy shop!

My New Web Button!

2010-02-08T23:52:00.000-08:00

Wanna get it?? Copy this code:

<br /> <a href="http://www.craftyisthenewblack.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Feel the love"><br /> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Dhin_FyS07Q/S3EaVeYnuGI/AAAAAAAAAKc/YyCcWE1h-bs/s1600/smallbutton.jpg"  alt="Crafty is the new black" /></a><br />

I'm a winner! I'm a WINNER! (and, gosh darn it, people LIKE me)

2010-02-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

The very talented Tricia Rennea posts some super cute illustrations over at her blog of the same name. She posts tons of free printables (which I LOVE because I love free stuff like I love a Tuesday night alone with my sewing machine and some cheap wine.) She also hosts the occasional giveaway for an extra special item every once in awhile. Well, my crafty friends, today was my lucky day! I won this customized Dahlia notepad. Yea, Me!

Dirty Ass GENIUS!

2010-02-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is soap, people. SOAP! Now, I'm not usually one to go all ape shit over soaps made into quirky little shapes but Dirty Ass Soap is making some brilliantly funny stuff. I know the cliche comment would be "It looks good enought to eat!" so I will say that it looks good enough to lay out on an adorable little platter on the bar at my next party and watch as someone else takes an unsuspecting bite. No, I kid. I'd never do that. Mwwwaaahahhahhaaaaa

Hangover Harold get some Etsy Treasury Lovin'...

2010-01-28T23:18:00.000-08:00

Tawniwold has made a fantastic Etsy treasury for those who would prefer a 40 of PBR to a box of Crappy Whitman's Sampler for Valentines Day. My kinda girl...

iPad with Wings!

2010-01-28T09:54:00.000-08:00

kerri9494 over at Etsy has said what we are all thinking. Actually, she has crafted it...Wings for the iPad! You know, for more nighttime protection or something. I think the iPad looks AWESOME but the name is bad. So B.A.D.

What to do when you've gotten too fat for your favorite Tshirt...

2010-01-26T17:31:00.000-08:00

Why, add some boom boxes, of course! I love this super soft, black t-shirt but it wasn’t doing anything for the post-baby belly roll if ya know what I’m saying…

Easy solution; split it up the middle and insert a panel of cute fabric. Now I’m rockin’ some very eighties boom boxes instead of a muffin top!

Sah-weet

Fabulous Recycled Cereal Box Shipping Container

2010-01-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

This makes me feel way better about the copious amounts of processed carbs I consume on a daily basis and the fact that my kid had cereal for 4 out of 6 meals this weekend. Check out this tutorial by Picnic Basket Crafts. I think my Etsy items just found a sah-weet new ride!

Danger! Danger! I might break out the power tools...

2010-01-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, my husband is going to crap his pants if I head out to the garage ( and the tool box full of neglected power tools) and attempt to make this. Realistically, I really shouldn't. There's a distinct possibility I could lose a finger or something. Power tools are not my forte. Maybe I'll just buy this fabulous tea cup light fixture from the girls over at domestic construction.

My first handmade silkscreen...not half bad.

2010-01-18T12:01:00.000-08:00

Loosely following the tutorial by craftgrrl, (I say "loosely" because I suck at following directions. It's not that I can't, it's that I don't like to. They always seem so, I don't know, direction-y to me) I set out to make my very own handmade silkscreen to use to emblazon some random crap with the Crafty is the new black logo.

This is the way the silkscreen ($3 embroidery hoop and scrap chiffon) looked after I finished painstakingly painting the reverse image with Modge Podge. This was the most labor intensive part of the project but I was still able to watch t.v. with one eye so I didn't mind

Next I did a practice run on an old, stained tshirt (most recently used as a baby changing mat...Ah, isn't recycling grand?) I needed to fill in and refine some edges with a tiny paint brush after using the screen but, all in all, it worked very well.

Finally, I found some tshirts at the Goodwill store for a couple bucks and got my silkscreen on. It definately looks a little less "perfect" than a traditionally made (read: expensive as hell) silkscreen BUT I think I kind of like that. I mean its SUPPOSED to look handmade, n'est pas?

Craft Conan

2010-01-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to lie. I don't watch the Tonight Show. I could never leave my 11pm luvah, Jon Stewart. However, I still think that Jay Leno is a egotistical toad and that Conan O'Brien is getting really screwed in this whole NBC Tonight Show gate thing that is going on. I was impressed to find that, apparently, the craft community is behind CoCo as well. While I'm quite sure that Conan O'Brien amagurumi and collage necklances probably won't persuade NBC to rethink their antics, perhaps Conan can take solace in knowing that, somewhere out there, a hispter crafty chick has his face plastered all over her coffee cozy.

Today I will be happier than a mom with a glass of Pinot Grigio

2010-01-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

I've always loved this print and an considering it for the Etsy-wall-o-love in the kitchen.

Two new additions to the Wall-o-Etsy

2010-01-12T22:25:00.000-08:00

A family of abominable snow people (yetis, sasquatches...call them what you will.) This is the latest addition to my kitchen wall of etsy-love. It seems so accurate a representation of our little family (though my boobs aren’t quite as pendulous, the sad fact IS that I haven’t shaved my legs since sometime around the Obama inauguration)

And this little bugger...

2010-01-12T22:13:00.000-08:00

This is Henri Hopper. I bought him because A) I think he is awesome, B) while mustaches are, perhaps, a little 2009, I am still way into them as an artistic genre (see “And the winner is...”) and C) I like his retro shirt. It has a very Peter Brady quality about it.

And the winner is...

2010-01-12T22:09:00.001-08:00

The husband and I have a joke gift exchange each christmas ($10 limit.) This was born from a desire to save money one christmas and continues on due to a deep drive to compete with one another. It pains me to admit that the hub has won this contest almost every year (with no gift surpassing the craptasticness of the native man with a boner incense holder that i received in dec 07.) well, this year i finally won. While the chevy trucks “rock solid” baseball cap (with genuine Pleather bill) that he picked up for me at the auto supply store while buying new wiper blades was an honorable effort, my handmade wine glass mustache pictured above coupled with the iphone mustache (not pictured) took the cake this year. Finally, I am the winner my mother always dreamed I could be.

Yes, Yes it is...

2010-01-12T22:04:00.001-08:00

goodgosh’s etsy shop has some awesome hand made cards but the creepy doll is by far my fav.
It reminds me of this picture I once took of a pile of old dirty, naked babydolls at a swap meet. That picture was disturbing in a glorious train wreck kinda way.

Tranny-tastic

2010-01-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

Not sure where giddyspinster found such a vast collection of incredibly “Classy” and “understated” shoes but she has clearly put them to good use! This is about the most genius reuse I’ve ever seen. I mean who didn’t make a misguided purchase from the fredricks of hollywood catalog sometime in the 90’s?? I know I made a few...now what can be made from a “water bra?”