Saturday, February 23, 2008

Fabric Eggs and Fluffy Chicks

I'm having way too much fun with the Easter theme! I don't have as much time as I'd like to sew right now so I manage to fit smaller projects like these. I love putting them all together for photographs:

Peep Chicks

QUICK Fabric Egg TUTORIAL
The idea of this is similar to making a papier mache pinata, which I did as a kid. We used strips of newspaper and glue over a balloon. The glue hardened and we popped the balloon, painted and decorated the outside and filled it with candy. Laying the strips over the egg is similar to laying the newspaper strips over the balloon. The fabric stiffener will make the fabric very hard. If you could find an egg shaped balloon, you could probably make a hollow egg using this technique!

Supplies:

1. Styrofoam eggs (mine are goose eggs, about 3" but you can try other sizes or use other eggs, wooden eggs would be good but they were expensive when I was looking)

2. "Stiffy" fabric stiffener (available at craft stores like Michaels, Hobby Lobby)

3. Applicator sponge or small paint brush (I had a problem with the bristles coming out of the brush and onto the eggs so I used a sponge applicator)

4. Cotton fabric cut into strips (I used Michael Miller "Dumb Dot" scraps in pink, aqua and blue. My strips were about 3/4" wide by about 4-5" long. This worked well for the egg size. A smaller egg might require shorter and more narrow strips and a larger egg might require longer strips.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Lay something down on the table where you work so you can be messy. I used wax paper. Don't use newspaper or anything that the print can come off of when wet.

Place a strip of fabric down on the table and cover it on both sides with the fabric stiffener using the sponge applicator (btw, this is messy, your hands will get sticky). I used a lot of the stiffener, the more the better to make it stay on the Styrofoam.

Place the fabric strip across the egg and smooth it down. Use more stiffener if needed. It might not stick to the styrofoam right away but once you get a few strips on, it will start to stick.

Continue wetting fabric and placing on the egg in a pattern so you completely cover the styrofoam.

When the egg is completely covered in fabric and you like the way it looks, sponge another layer of stiffener on it and smooth all the fabric down. Let dry on a surface that won't allow it to stick (wax paper worked great).

It will take awhile to dry, overnight is best.

Now you're finished! You can decorate it further if you want, I thought about making it sparkly with clear glitter or put rick rack around it, or other colors of fabric, possibilities are endless!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Chickies

000_0012.JPG

000_0021.JPG

For more pics, see my Flickr: Little Bitsys 2008

And check out the Chenille Chicks group on Flickr.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Vintage Apron Pattern

I've been wanting to buy a vintage pattern for aprons and found this one on eBay, I LOVE it! It is in perfect condition, never used, no tears or anything. It looks a little complex but I can tackle it, I think. I hope.

I love the mother/daughter theme.
000_0002.JPG

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Linen Tote - Kirin & Co Fabric

I LOVE Lara Cameron's fabrics and I have finally made another piece using this Riverside pattern in teal on natural linen:
tote1

I lined the bag using really nice Kona cotton fabric from a local craft store, Fancy Tiger:
tote2

It is listed in my Etsy shop but I am tempted to snatch it back for myself!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Poppytalk Handmade


Poppytalk is a great blog that recently added a handmade market to their repertoire. Little Bitsys is featured this month! Check it out here.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Spring Dresses and Dotted Aprons

I have had very little time to sew. It's taken me weeks to finish a few new Spring dresses in my shop, like this one
000_0008.JPG

and have some aprons ready to sew I just need some time! If only I didn't love to sleep...

A few weeks ago I submitted an apron to Angry Chicken's Tie One On blog's polka dotted apron gallery and now it's up on Flickr, check it out, they are so wonderful! My Celebrity apron is there in the mob.

Then I read the blog further and the next theme for aprons is Havana Nights! My husband is from Cuba, we met there actually, in Havana. I am actually trying to finish up a couple of aprons that he can take to his mother and godmother when he makes his first visit back to visit in four years this month. I will blog about the aprons, hoping to get pictures of his mother wearing hers.

Here is one of the Spring or Easter dresses I just listed in my shop

Monday, January 14, 2008

Thinking Spring with Fantastic Fabrics

I am committing myself to start working through my fabric stash. I started last night with this dress using Kristen Doran's handprinted fabric on the top and Michael Miller's Garden Pindot in black and red on the skirt. When I put it all together, it didn't look right so I added the squares of Kristen's fabric along the seam line where the black and red fabrics connect. I've had this patchwork idea for awhile, just waiting to use it somewhere.

101_3514.JPG

101_3516.JPG