At the Machine Again

After months of being unable to sit and create, I was able to start some sewing projects this week! Working on some new bags for an upcoming show I am doing, the Craft-O-Tron All Fools Ball! this Sunday. This will be my first show since before the holidays, and only my second show since early last summer. I feel both nervous and excited!

To maximize time, I've adopted an assembly line approach to make a bunch of totes and pouches made entirely from vintage, antique and thrifted fabrics and trim (many of which I've found at Creative Reuse Pittsburgh). Almost all of my threads and zippers are recycled, too. Most of the fabrics have been hand dyed by moi. :)




Sooo, I start by choosing a fabric, cutting pieces, then laying out bits of embellishments to plan out the design- each one is original and one-of-a-kind. I do this for several bags at once, then iron all pieces and sort. Step two involves pinning and sewing the embellishments on the front panel of each bag. After sewing the front and back panels together, I get to any hand sewing of buttons or various delicate pieces onto the front. Next comes cutting, pinning and sewing straps. I cut and sew the lining, fit it inside the outer panels, then add the straps. Voila!




Hope you're able to come out and see my new goodies this weekend! Happy handmade, and happy spring!

Curtains- My First Machine Project!

My first real sewing project- kitchen curtains made from vintage fabric in a bright pattern of veggies and pansies, which I found at Creative Reuse Pittsburgh.

I thought the vibrant colors of the fabric were much too loud on the white background of the original fabric, so I put my new tea-dye skills to work! After washing and drying the material, I dropped it into a lighter tea using only half of the tea bags as in my previous dye sessions, letting the fabric soak half the time. The results are perfect, dulling the colors a bit and giving the white background a slightly worn look. They work great in my kitchen, which I prefer mostly neutral with little pops of color in towels and cookware/dishware (I love reds).





As a brand newbie sewer, I have to admit that I find the measuring and cutting of the fabric is much more difficult than the sewing part and figuring out the machine! I feel pretty good about my machine work during the project, actually, and ran into only a few challenges: thread coming out of the needle while sewing, keeping a totally straight seam line, and finding my stitches were very loose. My Mom helped me figure out that I was threading the machine slightly wrong and that I needed to increase the machine tension to make my stitches tighter.

So how'd they turn out? You judge for yourself! Some slightly lopsided seams, a few loose stitches, but overall I am quite happy!

DIY: Vintage Fabrics & Trim Tote

Inspired by my ever-growing stash of vintage and antique fabric, trim, and buttons, a love for shabby chic, and a recent Etsy search for a newhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif bag, I took an old tote and made it new (for me) and fun!

I started with a plain cotton tote silk-screened on one side that we used for grocery shopping. I scavenged through my fabric pile and came across a piece of green and cream vintage toile with a lovely country scene (thanks to a purchase from the incredible Red Stripe Vintage on Etsy). I hand-stitched it over the side of the tote with the silk-screened image and added bits of lace and fabric scraps. Some antique buttons and stitched in green thread around some of the images on the toile were nhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifext. Lastly, sewed a pocket on the inside!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Here's the result!





























































I am not a sewer in that I have no machine and I don't have much skill, whether using machine or hand. Using an old tote not only solved having to make an entire bag from scratch, but recycled an old bag and made the project even more eco-friendly. My messy hand sewing skills worked perfectly with the shabby chic style. I have been making a LOT of jokes about my sewing- it's probably getting old. ;)

I used my bag the other day for the first time, and got some interest from people wanting their own. Please get in touch if you want to send me an old tote- I'd be happy to do a custom project for you!

And here are some other DIY fabric projects I've come across that I would love to do with a machine (a friend promised to give me an extra) and practice! They are just too sweet not to share! :)

Vintage House Dress to Summer Smock

Summer Skirt & Market Bags

One-Hour Skirt

Window Lockets- New in My Shop!

New Etsy shop listings- awesome window lockets (I love playing with these) holding tiny art collages! Each little collage has a different theme, and images created from vintage and antique materials like glass jewels from the 1940s; a page from a 1920s calendar; an old botanical journal; discarded encyclopedias, children's and art books; rare little copper stampings, fabrics from vintage sample books; handmade paper; bits of chain, jewelry, and millinery; and natural materials like dried leaves, flowers and twigs! I've been having a ball with the whole process, especially hunting for old materials in thrift stores, at flea markets, and online vintage shops.

I shared pics of a couple of these a while back. Two of those are now available in my shop, plus more- hope you like the new ones, as well! :)


"Autumn Woodland" (This one is in an autumn-themed creative contest on the EtsyVeg blog- please go vote for it!)



"Heart Song"



"Madame X"

Brand New Creations- Collaged Window Lockets

Months ago, I purchased some awesome handmade glass lockets from my friend Lynne who had extras, not exactly sure of what I would do with them. Well, I finally got around to seeing what would happen when I set out to try creating something with them, and here are the results! Introducing the latest line from SilentLotus Creations... Collaged Window Lockets!



On each locket, one at a time, I began gathering bits and pieces and images to create a collage. I used images and words from vintage and antique paper ephemera like books and magazine illustrations, vintage rhinestones, bits of artificial dried flowers and leaves, pieces of nature like twigs, old enamel pieces, fabric from vintage fabric sample books, and tiny jewels and ornaments from vintage millinery. As the subject emerged for each piece, so did a theme, which let me add just the right touches to create the mood of each finished locket.



I am so pleased with the results, and am super excited to unveil them at this weekend's Crafts N'At indie craft market by the Pittsburgh Craft Collective (PCC) on Sunday! I've already ordered new lockets in both this crystal shape and new shapes (diamonds, and house sort-of shapes), so look for more to come soon (like at Music in the Mountains on Labor Day Weekend- see my events list on the sidebar)! :)

Speaking of Crafts N'At, please come and support the PCC's fundraiser for Animal Friends this Friday night at 6pm at Wildcard in Lawrenceville! The Crafts N'AT Pre-Party will be serving free food, beer from East End Brewery, music, raffles of awesome local handmade goods, and a meetup with adoptable Animal Friend's animals! Please come on out!

New Jewels in My Etsy Shop!

I've finally been catching up on listing in my Etsy shop, trying to add all of my inventory that I've been making for shows and haven't gotten online. It feels good! Most of my stuff never makes it to my shop because I sell it at local events before listing.

I haven't really been making the sterling silver jewels I used to spend so much time focusing on, as I have found working with old findings, components, and jewelry so much fun and so rewarding. Not sure when I will return to that, or how much.

You'll see in my new pieces some very unique and colorful vintage (likely antique) enameled pieces- flowers, butterflies, owls, and more. These were an extremely lucky find at the Yart Sale (artisans selling used and/or unwanted supplies) at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts a couple of weekends ago, and are very rare! I have found them incredibly inspiring, which makes me triply excited to be meeting tomorrow with the woman who sold them to me to see what other treasures she has tucked away.

I've also been using a new background for taking my pics- vintage book plates of Art Nouveau images, black on white. Not sure I quite have it down yet, but I'll continue to play until something works. I would love feedback on the new images, whether it be praise or constructive criticism. Please share!

Anyway, here are a few favorites from my new listings (a couple aren't listed quite yet). Feel free to check out the rest in my shop!

Alice in Wonderland-ish, don't ya think? The little butterfly on this vintage locket is one of the enameled pieces I mentioned above. It's so little and sweet!











This is one of the pieces I posted about a couple of weeks ago, made from a mysterious, key-like brass or copper piece I discovered at local used building materials retailer Construction Junction. One of the best things about this necklace is the amazing vintage plaque chain it is hanging on- I love it!














One of my first attempts at upcycled men's accessories! This tie clip also uses a random hardware piece from Construction Junction. I used the silver steel piece as a base for an antique copper bird stamping adorned with an old glass stone. The steel has this cool iridescent coloring that goes really well with the deep-toned copper.



Both the lovely enameled flower and the silver heart came from the local woman from whom I bought at the Yart Sale! The tiny copper butterfly is a vintage stamping that is also very rare, and part of a lot of tiny copper birds, hearts, and leaves from a recent purchase. I adore them!




A very antique brass escutcheon (key hole) forms the centerpiece of this necklace. It's heavy and very beautifully detailed. Over the key hole I added a vintage West German glass cabachon in a fantastic iridescent color called "black iris." The key hole is still visible if you flip the pendant over. This one isn't listed in my shop yet.




This isn't listed yet either, mainly because I am having trouble parting with it! The setting is heavy and solid with a dark patina that has naturally occurred from age. With the vintage glass cab (also West German from the 1960s-early 70s) and unusual vintage copper and brass filigree chain, it is sweet indeed!


I hope you enjoy all of the new stuff! :D

Oh, and before I go I have to mention the awesome new widget I just got for my blog from Craftcult that displays all items in my Etsy shop in a super cool slide show, as well as links directly to my hearts and other shop info. Take a look at the upper right corner of my blog. :)

Crafty Out Loud: Creative Frenzy

Always, leading up to a show, I am in a creative frenzy and busting out pieces left and right, keeping late hours and getting stiffer by the day (thank you yoga for fixing that). Feeling a little slowed down this week, but plowing ahead.

Anyway, wanted to post some pictures of a couple of pieces I have made with my hardware finds from Construction Junction that I posted about last week. The brass and steel pieces that are the base for the two necklaces are things I grabbed on my "treasure" hunt because I loved the shape. I cleaned'em up and polished and filed them as best I could and made them into jewels with vintage and antique glass and silver adornments. I still have no idea what the hardware purpose is of either. lol All parts of these three pieces are vintage except for the sterling chain with the silver pendant.

Lemme know what you think! And see lots more at South Side Works Artists Exposed Market all this weekend. :)







Tie clip! My first venture into upcycled accessories for masculine garb.

Crafty Inspiration- New Finds!

I spent part of yesterday afternoon in the hot, dirty, dusty warehouse of Construction Junction yesterday after dropping off a donation to Creative Reuse upstairs. Don't let those adjectives scare you off, as they do not outweigh the awesomeness that is CJ's ginormous building filled with recycled construction and building materials, tools, architecture, and other mysterious treasures. :) I poked through boxes and boxes and more boxes of random collections of hardware bits and pieces, my hands getting grimier by the minute (it's so fun, though) looking for interesting metal shapes to use in my jewelry. I found lots of new inspiration! I don't know what 95% of what I found actually is or does, but I know it will all make for great new upcycled jewels!





I am so inspired by other artisans of all types who can look at a random piece of something and figure out how to make it into, well, something totally unique and different. And I love metal and the way some artisans reuse raw and rough industrial-looking metal-ly stuff in their work and make it into fabulosity and loveliness. Sooo, I've been working on figuring out a way to do the same thing in my own way. I think I've done it! Think delicate swirls and sparkles and flowery-fluttery things blended with stark, cold utilitarian metal. I'm working today on some new pieces, so keep an eye out! :)

This is the latest little something I've made and really loved. This necklace is made from an antique (old) sterling silver cuckoo clock charm. In the center of the clock I glued a glass rhinestone from the 1940s and a tiny vintage (from the 1960s) copper stamping of a bird in flight.



The necklace sold the very day after it was made (actually, like 4 in the morning the same day- those all-nighters get me every time) at I Made It! Market at WYEP's Summer Music Fest! Yay!

So back to the tiny copper bird stamping... the Etsy seller I purchased them from had not only tiny birdies, but tiny butterflies, hearts, and leaves. So freakin' sweet! So sweet, in fact, that I contacted her after my initial orders and bought her entire supply of them! *evil laugh* I must have all! :P

SO anyway, look for more new jewel designs using those little coppery treats! And some fantastic antique chandelier drops like the one in the necklace I wear at shows (I made it for myself) and get so many compliments on!

New Listings- Reclaimed Vintage & Fine Art Jewelry!

I'm so glad to be finally listing some of the jewelry and magnets I have been working on since fall! Usually I have so many more handmade items here than I have listed in my Etsy shop. I *hope* to be catching up with that soon. But as I have a show almost every weekend through July, I wouldn't count on it. :)

Anyway, so here's what I am excited about:

~Jewelry made with vintage and antique parts I have been collecting over the past 1-2 years! Findings, glass beads, Victorian brass, ephemera and books. It's been so much fun. I got a few pieces listed in my shop the other day.


















~Pendants, magnets, and earrings made from glass tiles and featuring my art work! I have been shrinking scans of my original brush paintings on my computer, printing them, and then cutting them to fit tiles of various shapes and sizes. I'm super happy with the results. :) So far just pendants are listed in my shop.

Handmade Out Loud: Pittsburgh Crafter Vintage Hotcakes

I met Dawn, known via her Etsy shop and at craft shows in the Pittsburgh area as Vintage Hotcakes, a couple of years ago through our local Etsy street team, Etsy Pittsburgh. I immediately adored Dawn and fell in love with her darling bags! She makes more than bags though, crafting quirky, one-of-a-kind handsewn potholders, decorative pillow covers, and baby bibs in addition to uber sweet wallets, wristlets, and purses. What makes Dawn's eco-friendly designs stand out, besides quality workwomanship and hip styles, is that all of them are made from awesome vintage and repurposed fabrics!


Some of my favorite sources of upcycled material that she uses are these nifty vintage linen tea towels with calendars or wild birds printed on them. She has quite an eye for other fabrics, too, many of which she finds at estate sales. The coolest are these fun, loud fabrics from the 1960s and 70s in crazy huge patterns and colors. Dawn also upcycles vintage accessories like handkerchiefs and men's ties, incorporating them into things like wristlet straps and decorative patches (see pics of my bags below).


I have been lucky enough to pair up side-by-side or share a table with Dawn to vend our wares in the local crafty scene, which means I often get to see her freshest new products. As a result, I own three of Dawn's bags, one each of a wallet, wristlet, and shoulder bag (thanks for trading, Dawn)! lol They never fail to stand out in a crowd and garner compliments and curiosity. Check out Vintage Hotcakes on Etsy to get your own- she does custom work, too!


My own Vintage Hotcakes collection: