Fashion Art: Seamstress for Hire

So, it has actually been a couple of weeks since the fashion show and due to personal drama and my sloth-like nature I haven't done the Blognanza of Bloggy Good Blogness that I promised! But here come the posts.

First of all I had my own piece of wearable art in the show which I will post on Friday...
But I also worked as the seamstress for another artist and had a fantastic time collaborating in that way.

It was a really fun and challenging process as Angelo Grova and I worked out the designs he envisioned...
in the materials he picked out.

Namely, industrial clear vinyl, landscape fabric, and tent nylon.

Sewing this stuff was a kick, as it made me use my brain every minute,  but also a physical challenge.
It was sticky. or sometimes stiff. It needed weird thread. It hated to fold... and if it did fold, it hated to unfold. You couldn't iron it.
Very unforgiving as far as seam ripping and resewing goes on the vinyl.
So the actual sewing was a metaphor for life.

Be Prepared. Be Sure. Be Bold. Move Forward!

It was my first time working with fitting models and they were funny, delightful, and so sweetly accommodating.

It was really empowering and exciting to help someone facilitate their artistic vision. I hope I get a chance to do it again.

Made It Myself Monday: A Story to Wear

click to enlarge, my dears

About a year ago I finally found a wool blanket at a thrift store. I brought it home and cleaned it. One morning,  not too long after as I was doing my morning meditation, it came to me.

I sketched it out and sewed it up and started to do the needle felt applique all around it. 

Little Red, the Big Bad Wolf, The woodsman, the woods and Grandma in her house.

 I knew I wanted it to be creamy like the paper in old books. But trimmed in red felt ruffles.

I knew Red would have dark curls like my neighbor, Miss Rowyn.

And that I would want to take her picture with her very own Big Bad "Wolf".

 But it took almost a year before we finally took the pictures so I could share it with you.

 Sometime life is as silly as a fairy tale.

The cloak is for sale.

I love it but it's too small for me.

Email me if you are interested.

and detailed pictures of the needle felting will be on my

Flickr...

Work In Progress Wednesday: Original Design Commission

Hey All You Sizzleans!

Well, on top of being quite warm, it's been super busy, as summer tends to be, (The lazy days of summer? where did that crock of baloney come from?) so posting is getting squeezed in when it can.

Here is the work in progress today.



This is the muslin and fabric for an original design by me! It is for a friend who wanted an eyelet swimsuit cover up. The design was altered to make it a little less full in the skirt,a little shorter in the sleeves, but basically was pretty much good from the get-go, which made me very proud.


Self taught clothing designer.
I'm breaking my arm patting myself on the back.

So far, I am still not holding up my "Holiday Gift Plan", averaging about a half a gift a week, but swimsuit cover up, and strawberry jam deadlines still trump anything in far off December.

Saving You A Seat By The Pool,
Betty

Strawberry Lime Jam ( Tutorial Tuesday stand in)

Strawberry Lime Jam
(I totally went 100% organic on this one and used no pectin as well...
it worked astonishingly well!)

4 baskets ripe strawberries-cleaned and cut up
4 cups sugar
1/3 cup lime juice
zest of one lime
1 tbsp butter

Sterilize your jars and keep hot in boiling water in your canning pot or time your dishwasher to end just before the canning part. I have to start mine about 15 minutes earlier than I start my stove. Heat your rings and lids in a pot of water and put 2 small plates in the freezer.

Place the berries in a big pot and mash them up with a potato masher or slotted spoon. Pour in all the sugar and stir. Put on medium high heat, add lime juice and zest and stir until all the sugar is dissolved . Stir often, and watch for any signs of burning. As the mixture begins to really boil put in the butter. This is optional, but it cuts out the foam, which I really like. Let boil (stirring quite often, or constantly if you are a worry wart, like me.) If you have a good thermometer, you want the jam to get to 220 degrees, but you also can check to see if it leaves a thick coating on a metal spoon when dipped in.

When it seems like it might be ready, do the plate test: take a cold plate from your freezer and dribble some juice, letting it sun down the plate. Count to 5 and then draw a line with your finger through the line of juice keeping the plate tipped up. If the lines don't reconnect, you are ready to can.
Fill a clean sterilized jar with jam, leaving a 1/4 inch gap at the top. Be sure to wipe the rim and place a lid and ring on and finger tighten the lid. Fill all your jars and then put in boiling water in the canning pot for 5 minutes. Remove with tongs and check for seal. If they don't seal quickly (1-3 minutes.. ) double check that the ring is tight and the turn upside down. Turn over after 10 minutes. If it still doesn't seal, refrigerate, and eat that one first!

Here are some more beautiful "artichokes in bloom" pics.
( click to enlarge.. it's worth it.)

I really can't imagine why all this deliciousness was allowed to turn into all this beauty, but I sure am glad I got to see it! (almost as glad as if I had gotten to eat it!)

The etsy update is coming, with lace necklaces, utili-obis, and sign language sampler kits but it has been delayed by a combination of a power outage, internets failing, and photography class homework. The Bitter Betty Industries prognosticators are guessing sometime between tomorrow night and Friday... Stay tuned to this blog for further info!

OMG ...The Baskets are Finally In The Shop!!

If you hurry to the shop:

you could get this one

or this one

or this one

with this stuff...

Phew... That was one hectic update. I'm going to go garden now!

xxoo... Buh Bye!

When Spring Cuts Loose At Bitter Betty Industries

Click on the descriptions below and get right to the Shop
on the item page you are looking for..

Handmade spring bag with vintage crewelwork rescued from goodwill..

new UtiliObis!

earrings! and they come inside tiny baskets in paper covered boxes..

Vintage sewing basket with goodies.. Because I have one and 2 is too many for Mr. Bitter.

The Shop Update will now be happening in 3 sessions.. There will indeed be a "build your own basket" option.. ( thanks for your feedback on that one.) It will be baskets that are good for any age (well, over 6, really) but aimed at the crafty set.. and largely, the girly set. But if you crave a Bitter Betty Basket for Boys, email me and I will work with you to make it fantastic.

I will be offering 3 baskets Large Medium and Small: Large will have 5 items, Medium 4, Small 3.

The items to select from will be 1-2 from Pink Pompom sheep, Felted Bird, stuffed or felted bunny ( Yet TBD) , Fancy Earring Box or Deluxe Goose Egg Kit

and 2-3 from:
Vintage Glitter Tag kit, Fancy Paper pack, yummy chocolate candy in a fancy package, the really good soap bubbles with pretty new label, Mix CD,chocolate bunny, fancy fairy crown, or pompom chick.

And if you want a smaller basket, or less, or more, or just some stuffin's I will gladly do some serious customization and get it into the shop with your name on it. Just email or Convo me..
I am Notoriously Easy and Eager to Please. ( Please do not confirm this with Mr. Bitter as he is highly unreliable as a source of info... on this particular point..)

Session Number One is now up and running!
Owl Shop tomorrow ....
and Build a Basket by the end of the week.

The Update Update...

Milo is resting up before the update.

Okay.. It is almost time to go in the Etsy shop...

And there's a sale too!
All the leftover goodies from the November-December update are all marked down. Birds were 28.00 now 19.00, all necklaces are 29.00, off from 42.00.

As always, all the domestic shipping is included, even on the sale stuff... and if you want it: gift wrap is free.

So come by at 11:00 am. Milo will be looking forward to your order.

Here it Comes!!!

The Bitter Betty Industries Shop Is All New!!

All Domestic Shipping is FREE! and extra goody in all packages for the first 24 Hours!




and don't forget to go to Green Kitchen's New Shop too!!

(Tutorial Tuesday will be posted a bit later on today...)

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Due to generalized Holiday Over Ambition we (myself and the lovely Green Kitchen) need to do a one day postponement of the Etsy Shop Launch/Relaunch project to commence on Tuesday at 12:00 noon pst tomorrow..




There will be Birds! Utili-Obis! Jewelry! Handbags! Hurray!
And Michelle will have the most beautiful kanzashi brooches and hair ornaments!


Pre-shoppping opportunities available on Flickr here. (Updating throughout the day today..newer photos at the end of the set.)

And if you order from me: little gift with every package ordered in the first 24 hours.

Thanks a Zillion !!!

I was really thrilled to get an Honorable Mention in the Craft Magazine Apron Contest for the Utility Obi!! Thanks, Guys!!!



I have been working with my favorite partner in craft, Michelle from Green Kitchen, to launch the Utility obis into my Etsy shop... That is right! An actual update! And Michelle will be launching her shop for the first time.
She is responsible for this great photography! And that gorgeous kansashi. Thanks Michelle.

The Update will happen at 12 noon pst on Monday..

Want a partial preview? Check it Out Here.

I want to say thanks so much to Sonya for coming to see me at the show ( which i am still trying to dig out from.. Hence my Absence..) and say Thanks to Danielle for swapping with me there.. I will be featuring my new friend on a soon to be upcoming post on my favorite big kid toys.

So Obviously... I have a lot to be Thankful for...
Thanks.. Happy Thanksgiving...
And I'll see ya'll Monday!

WIP Wednesday: Pre-Show Scramble

Oh. My. God.
What. A. Mess


C is 4 Craft
Downtown, Santa Cruz, CA.
Friday Night.
Cooper Street... across from Annie Glass.

I promise to only bring the good stuff and leave the mess at home.

Made It Myself Monday: Needle Felted Birds

Here are a couple of chirpers from my newest batch of needle felted birds. I am thinking of putting these in my Etsy shop.

I originally put them together because a lovely lady at Candystore in SF mentioned she believed they would sell there. I don't know if I am afraid of success- afraid of failure- or afraid that selling at wholesale prices would make me feel like I was working for nothing... But I haven't emailed her. Of course if I pop them up on Etsy and no one buys them... then that is pretty pathetic in it's own way.

I do enjoy making them.
Oh, Business. It is bothersome to me.
Sure, selling is fun. Knowing something I made is in someone's house... that they like it.
And the money helps take the edge of the cost of the habitual hobby. That is certainly a positive. But it isn't always successful. Sometimes it's stressful.
Sometimes it takes all the funny fun-ness out of making whatever I want. Goodness knows, I can't keep storing all the stuff I make.

It needs to go SomeWhere.
But Where?

I have only ever sold 9 whopping things on Etsy. Not an amazing track record in the year or more I have had the store. I try not to take it personally, but when all my stuff "expired".. I didn't have the heart to list it all again. I don't know if it is the enormous amount of craft available at rock bottom prices on Etsy, or if it is my less than stellar marketing practices or maybe just my stuff isn't what the people want. Maybe I charge too much. Maybe it's too wierd. Too Normal. Too hard to find. Who Knows?
I am of the general opinion that I will probably be happier if I don't over analyze it and I just keep making what I like... and putting some of it here or there, and if it sells.. Well, Jolly!

And if not, some poor relative will get another
handi-crafted thinga-ma-jig for the holiday du jour.

And speaking of Holiday Du Jour....

Happy Halloweek...

We have embarked on the most ambitious Jack-O-Lantern in our family history.
That, my friends, is a whole wad of pumpkin guts.... looking for a place to happen.

What The Heck Happened to Betty?

I spent last Friday having lunch with Futuregirl and Kuky Ideas



I got some Japanese Crafts books (my first) and we ate crepes in a paper cone.



These are lovely ladies and Kuky brought her family which made for some fantastic baby games!
it is so nice to meet blog friends face to face and have them be as charming and delightful as you imagined.



Futuregirl was on vacation all the way from PHILLY, PA. That is FA-AR. So, it was extra great to see her. Plus , I think she was my very first virtual friend. You know, the first to email and not just comment, the first to share more about her life than what project she just finished. She's good like that. Friendly ... generous.. and talented.

Then Home again and was I ever suprised, the Wrap Skirt Tutorials I did for Sew, Mama, Sew was featured on the Craftzine blog... That was a thrill! And i can count on Knit Sonya to make sure I didn't miss it.! Finger on the Pulse of the Blogosphere.

Over the last month and a half I have taken a couple of needle felting classes (one from Knit Sonya and the other one from this lady ) and that led me to make these.



Fluffy stuff. I love that they balance on their pipecleaner feet. Needle felting is my first fibercraft. I have already bought more wool.It has it's own plastic box in the craft cave... a big one.

I have done some thrift-craft too, using the thrifted embroidery transfers to embellish the thrifted linen pillow case with redwork.



I got the vintage laundry basket at the thrift store for 6.50.. definitely my score o' the week. ( But the Krups ice cream maker for 6.00 wasn't a bad deal either.)

I sold a bunch of my goose eggs to a shop called Iron Dog Antiques in historic Niles, CA... and they already sold three of them right back out of there. Flattered, I am sure!



I am making ready for the Big 40th birthday party here and so am cleaning and cooking instead of crafting for the "C is 4 Craft" Fair in Santa Cruz on June 9th. Well, I am trying to clean.. but I keep finding little crafty things to do too.

Come visit me there!

Cis4Craft.com
June 9,2007 11am-5pm
Lifestyle Culinary Arts
101 B Cooper Street
Santa Cruz,CA

Had some super sad news too. An old friend from high school died in a mototrcycle accident. Scooter Meyerhoff didn't just have the greatest name in the universe, he was the kind of person that you thought would go on forever. He was charming and gregarious and larger than life. He was all hugs and smiles, when most teens were moody and distant. He was a great friend.
The world got just a little less sunny last Sunday.

Oh and I know I am tagged for the 7 things but I am not finding the right moves for my interpretive dance for that one.. I will do it soon, I swear!!!!!!! I will not flake!

It's All Fair...

Here is a mosaic of my happy Handmade Parade love.

I got the house needle book from carolyn of laughingduck
And the wee Bear is from missy ballance ( The creature lovin the bear is from Ardent Curse. I got him awhile back. Love him too.
And the pattern lady cards from claire of little lovelies

It was a great day and I am glad I am going to get to see some of my new friends again when I go to the the Maker Faire this weekend.

Click To Play

I really can't recommend this fair enough. My son wants us to get there before it opens so we can be first in line "to do everything", and we aren't to leave until they kick us out.. Last year he said this Faire is better than Disneyland. Check Out Bre Pettis on this video. I met him taping my upcoming Egg Art Episode of CraftLab CraftLab with Austin Craft Mafia's Jennifer Perkins, last fall. (Bre is techno super crafty . Boy craft. Lovin' that.)



I was in the Bazaar Bizarre Crafts show at the Maker Faire last year, but I was sooo busy sewing up New Vintage clothes this year I let that application deadline sneak by me.

I was so sad ( It was my favorite event of the Whole Year last year) until I realized that I will be able to run around the whole Faire unfettered this time.. Ya- Hooooooo!!! There are all these craft and hack workshops and demos and creative wildness everywhere... and last year I was relatively "booth bound". Not This Year. I am going to try everything!


I am also getting ready for next month, when the fair's Just Keeep Coming!!!!

I am going to be participating in C is 4Craft here in Beeeeauuutiful Santa Cruz. Ya'll should come down for the weekend. Craft Faire, Boardwalk. You'd just love it. I am very much looking forward to their list of participants and will share when I get it.


Meanwhile.. Hey, will I see you at the Maker Faire?

New Vintage Wardrobe # 8 and 8.5: The Shameless Commerce Divison

Hey Ya'll! Well, I am so sorry I have been Persona-Non-Blogga lately.. I have been busy sewing like a madwoman to get ready for this weekend and my little march in the HandMade Parade . I can't seem to blog and craft simultaniously when it gets this intense. So bear with me! I will post gobs more soon.

But if you live with in a 4 hour drive of Sacramento... You should totally come visit all the crafty ladies there.
Get the details on their blog!

I did decide I had to make some New Vintage for sale:


I made a couple of "Thoroughly Modern Muu Muus" to wear around when it is too hot for clothing. They are good as jumpers in the fall as well. Just layer them!




I modified the jumper pattern with a sash in the back to help with fitting the masses. I will be taking orders at the show for these and hopefully I will sell the two I made. But just in case, I happened to make them in Medium... Just my size. I also made them sooo short because I like this style over my shorts/ capris/ jeans! ( The one below is my favorite....)





I also made a couple of 'toddler tunix'.. really for the pre-toddling set.. they need bloomers, but alas, I am out of time!




I made a few aprons for the Mother's day shoppers:




I will be selling the Utility Obis ( another New Vintage Creation) as well as my Modern Geisha Obi's from the Etsy stuff.. Hanky Tanks and other goodies.




I am even doing some of my latest craft: Nite Nite Owls. Felted sweater owls with needle felt embellishments (took "Knit Sonya" class and was hooked)and scented with lavander for sweet dreams.
You should go to Knit Sonyas new site.. It is very very cool! ( I am suffering for site envy for certain.)



All right.. this isn't the super juiciest New Vintage post and for that I apologise. I will try Like a Demon to make up for it in the next couple of weeks ... But in the mean time I do recommend the new Blueprint and their article on Mod Dresses. We will ignore the fact that the model is depressingly skinny and looks tres bored.. and focus on the fact that with ready made prices like these... Every Fabric Purchase I make Is Justifiable. (But somebody needs to make that poor thing a cookie.. really.)


(ooh.. sorry for the wierd disappearing photo posts Blogliners.. I am no tech genius and I did something goofy.. sorry.)