Lots of Half Finished Work But Getting Organized

Posted on January 29, 2012

So January isn’t over yet, which means there was still time to get regrouped for 2012. Did a bit of knitting, not much sewing. The sewing area was a disaster area – who was it that threw that bomb in there? So yesterday was moving “the room” day and getting some things organized and either thrown away, ready for eBay, or set aside to finish. You’d be amazed at how much I threw out. Many of you saw on Facebook how my new end of the family room looks so I can watch the TV that has more than basic cable on it.

This photo has four (4) projects that are knitted and ready for finishing into product. I’m really LOVING the really large “swatches” of cabling. But the deep purple piece on the left is going to hopefully be a stable in the store. It will end up being an iPad envelope sleeve when it’s complete.

purple, blue/yellow, turquoise, green fleck

The turquoise and green fleck has fabrics matched up to them already to get sewing on. When you ask? Not sure – but keep watching. Still not sure where to put all the interfacing types – it just seems the bed has always made a great spot for them! LOL

Interfacings........ ugh

One of the nightstands is still piled high with coordinating fabrics – each with a purpose. But where to put them? I sure don’t have a clue!

Plethera of Fabrics

One of our cedar chests has come to rest in the spare bedroom jammed full of the beautiful yarns I’ve collected. Someday, someday….

Cedar Chest FULL of Special Yarns

During all the organization of the ‘new’ area, I came across a lot of patterns for baby, toddler and kids clothing that I had every good intention of using. So those have been divided up and once done here, I’m off to eBay to get them all listed and outta here! The spare bedroom closet is jammed packed with crafting things, half of which need to fly out the door also. But another day for all that.

And then there’s always the ironing pile……… Ha! Happy Sunday everyone – and happy crafting. Keep those ideas rolling.

Improvised iPad Cover

Posted on January 9, 2012

Recycle and reuse – I’ve done this in the past, but this may be a good year to dig in a little deeper with the idea. Saturday I completed the iPad cover that came from the sleeves of a beautiful ladies jacket. The tote bag to go along with this, will be done at some time from the body of the jacket – it’s just waiting to be completed.

So I just wanted to share what the end result looks like with the silicone skin attached to the interior……

iPad cover closed

iPad cover open showing pocket and closure

The corduroy used for the inside lining really picked up all the little red pieces of ‘lint’ from when cutting the tapestry fabric, but hopefully the picture shows it cleaned up a bit.

Happy crafting! It’s Monday, so off to work I go…….

Just For Fun And I Didn’t Break the Bank!

Posted on January 2, 2012

With a new year comes new challenges and projects – is there any other way? Didn’t think so. Of course there’s always going to be the hand knitted handbags happening around here, but the sewing room needed something a little different going on. I have had an idea or three rolling around my head for a long time and yesterday, out of the blue, came an opportunity to stock up on items that can be upcycled in to new, useful and fun things to offer.

Those of you who follow me on Facebook probably saw all my excitement over thrift store finds yesterday. Yes, I purchased 7, yes SEVEN men’s suit coats. Bill was honestly intrigued by the idea mulling around in my head, but had to try on each suit coat, just to make sure HE couldn’t use them! Bill and I are both short people, and finding a coat that doesn’t have arms down to our knees is always a challenge. Hence, none of them fit him, all were too long. But for TygerLily and Journal Junction, it was a relief! Suiting fabrics are beautiful and professional. It is just a perfect fit for the organizational side of our creations.

We challenged ourselves to come up with a professional type combo item, such as a matched set of something. I found a perfect women’s tapestry jacket to upcycle for this project. So Bill could wrap his own mind around how it would work with only a small women’s jacket, I showed him how to get more bang for our buck and started cutting it apart – just to show how much fabric is really IN a jacket! You’d be surprised!!!

So before I go off and start getting some stuff done (like laundry), I wanted to share the photo of all the goodies purchased at two of our local thrift stores yesterday. For the price of a movie for two and a large popcorn, this is what we ended up with…..

Future Handbags, Totes, iPad covers and Journal covers.......

There are hundreds of key chain rings in that little bag and under that is a box of FIVE vintage broaches that I found, which got polished up last night. The stores obviously wanted to clear their racks, and I was more than happy to help them out. I did sneak one summer sweater out of the group and put it aside for myself to actually wear. tee hee

It’s time to write up an application to a crafting throwdown and enjoy one more cup of joe. May you all have a wickedly fantastic day, and please keep checking in now that we’re back up and in the swing.

Blessings, my friends.

The Ultimate Challenge (and a free knitting pattern)

Posted on December 29, 2011

While surfing around the web on Christmas, we came across the greatest and funnest Ultimate Challenge ever! Somewhere along the line, I have been blessed by being called “McGyver” and people ask me first when they are ready to throw something out if I could use it or make something out of it! So here’s the deal………
Now Seeking America’s Most Talented Crafters!!!

Are you ready to show America your unique, creative skills?

Do your friends refer to you as the “MacGyver” of arts & crafts?

Can you create, design, build and implement visually stunning
and out-of-the-box creations on the fly?

A MAJOR CABLE NETWORK & the Executive Producers of “CUPCAKE
WARS” and “HALLOWEEN WARS” are seeking Arts & Crafts Designers
for a new competition show.

Each episode will feature Arts & Crafts competitors who battle
against each other for a $10,000 prize and an opportunity to
publicly showcase their craft masterpiece!

Casting Males & Females, (18 and over) with fun and upbeat
personalities that can think on their feet!!!

If this is you, we want to hear from you ASAP!
Email craftcasting@gmail.com the following information:

-Send us your full name & contact numbers
-Tell us what city you live in
-Tell us in a short paragraph about you and your specialty
-Pictures of you and samples of your work

Here is someone’s YouTube audition. Don’t think I could actually do that. But I could sure use some help writing up an audition email!!! Any takers on that one?

Can’t leave without throwing in a free pattern. Found this lovely thing this morning and will put it into my own library – it would be perfect on the front of a handmade purse. Don’t ya think?

Click the photo and you’ll go directly to Berroco for the free pattern download. ENJOY!

CRS Palm Holder

Posted on November 27, 2011

I was enjoying a little conversation with my sister the other day over on Facebook, and she requested a special little mini portfolio that would accommodate her Palm Tungsten and a pad of paper. Yes, we are sisters obviously. Neither of us can give up the feel of paper and pen. So this is what I came up for her with some of the left over fabric from the large size iPad portfolio I had completed earlier. Excuse the photos, I was in a hurry as there is a lot to do today.

Pink Poppy CRS Portfolio

CRS Mini Port Magnet Closure

CRS Mini Port Open - Showing Velcro ready for her to attach to her Palm

You may ask what the CRS in the name means. As my sister couldn’t remember either while I was teasing her, it only made the name more appropriate. “Can’t Remember Sh**” Palm holder, because we need to write down with pen what we need to put in our electronic organizers! It’s perfect and I totally understand what she means. I’m the same way. So hopefully this will be something a little fun and bright for her to use.

Accomplished some projects yesterday, two of which I forgot to photograph before bagging up. Those two were winter ear warmers for my son-in-law’s aunt to give as gifts. So that was two down. Then there was a request for a baby pixie hat in my FB inbox from a co-worker who had moved on and had a baby. This is what got made from the photo she sent me of what she wanted….

Yellow Baby Pixie Hat

I couldn’t find anything round to display this on without having to scrub an old hamster exercise ball. tee hee So the chair just has to do it. This was a really fun project and trying to figure out how to get a pixie point on top was fun! Even got out the old knitting encyclopedia to make sure I was doing the right thing. Success!! So that’s ready to ship out to her tomorrow.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving with our oldest daughter and her family. Hopefully her kids will give us many ideas for Christmas gifts. Since it’s a ‘handmade’ Christmas this year, it could be tough, but we’re going to sure try.

iPads and Pink Poppies

Posted on November 24, 2011

Success! Old School iPad Portfolio is complete and ready for a new owner. This fabric was perfect for the project and hope the design is accepted over on Etsy. Take a peek:

Portfolio - Closed

Open with black skin upside down - showing HUGE velcro

Another shot of that HUGE velcro!!

Think the olive color with that bright pink pop of color is fantastic. Can’t remember the designer of this fabric off the top of my head, but can we say WOW!!!

Yes, today is Thanksgiving and I am truly grateful for so many MANY blessings.

Organizing and Upcoming Projects

Posted on November 22, 2011

I’ve enjoyed having the extra hour this morning before clocking in. It is still my long day at my real job, but getting a little bit organized this morning was FANTASTIC! Take a look at the peg board room divider that was special built by a friend’s husband. No more scrounging around drawers or dark closets for us!! YEAH!

Supplies TOTALLY Organized

Yes, it looks like a store display, but having everything at my fingertips will save money in the long run by knowing exactly what we already have. FANTASTIC! Thanks, Marci and Vern – you two are terrific!

After organizing, up popped the two unlined original handbags. Hmmm, better put these in the immediate to-do list. Here is “Cherry Blossoms” and “Pretzel Logic”…..

Cherry Blossoms and Pretzel Logic - ready to line with fun fabrics

Want to accomplish one ‘old school’ iPad portfolio this week, so went through the fabrics that had coordinates and decided on the olive green and hot pink/rose cottons. The black silicone skin is still packaged up on the left.

Olive and hot pink cottons ready for some 'old school' styling

And finally, the baby that I haven’t let you peek at yet, is ready to start showing off. This design is very intense with texture – and I LOVE IT! This will hopefully end up very VERY large and have a satchel or old time doctor bag type hinged closure. We just received the incredibly strong 12″ tubular snap hinge purse closures from China yesterday and it should work perfectly. After waiting a month for them to come in, they will be perfect!!! Can we say Mary Poppins with a yarnie leafy kind of flair?

Just a sneek peek for y'all - and it's turning into my fave

Thanks for checking in! With internet working now, hopefully we can keep you updated on some of the things happening in the creative room.

And organization is a good thing – along with the right tools. We’re covered! Happy crafting and we’ll see you soon.

Geometry Lesson & Repurposing

Posted on October 30, 2011

With running the JournalJunction on Etsy, there are days that I need to get my geometry skills honed up and used. So I decided to run with abandon on a project that’s been sitting on the ‘fun’ side of things for months. If you remember back a bit, one of the doctor’s I work for was letting go of some of her little girl’s clothing. And I’ve been hoarding those treasured items for long enough. First item out to repurpose was a darling little knit shirt with incredible embroidery on the front. It is listed over at the Journal Junction if you want more photos.

Base Cutting and Placement of Pocket made from Embroidered Girl's Shirt

Complete and listed - with a very precious photo I keep by my computer.

It was a good morning to be thankful for all God has blessed us with – in so MANY ways. As much as we wish Lily would be here and celebrating her 5th birthday soon, we know she is somewhere far greater…. and that she’s sitting with Jesus or throwing a ball or two around with her uncle. Yeah, have to think of all the good stuff. :)

Blessings to your Sunday! Say “I Love You” – often.

Giveaway on Facebook

Posted on October 29, 2011

Tygerlily has built a Fan Page over on Facebook! If you would like to have your name put into a drawing for a give away when we reach 100 fans, just click the Facebook badge over on the left side of the blog. Then YOU will be entered! Not telling what the prize will be yet, that’s a surprise.

So get on over there and become a FAN! And then get some creating done yourself and show if off over on TygerLily’s fan page. We’d love to see what all you’ve been doing with your crafting.

Personalized School Planner Cover

Posted on October 23, 2011

Skyline of where I live.... Lincoln, NE

Another challenge came down the pike over a week ago from a shopper over on Etsy. I let her pick the main fabric she liked and when the shipment of fabric came in on Friday, it was time to get down and dirty. Geometry skills put in place. Oh, yeah, I didn’t take geometry. Well, let’s put it this way, I had a ruler and my rotary cutter at the ready. Yep, that’s it. Measure, cut. Measure, cut. Measure,cut, sew……….. and here’s the finished entry for her approval.

Special Challenge School Planner Cover

Open Cover with an assortment of pockets tucked away.

Not sure if she will like this or not, but I’m sure keeping my fingers crossed. With me still in the learning phase of using the embroidery module on the new sewing machine, everything personalized takes a lot more time – and THINKING! HA!

So here is this morning’s update. Now it’s time to meet co-workers for the Breast Cancer Making Strides Walk here in Lincoln, NE. It’s a beautiful day and a great cause.

Thanks for stopping by and now GO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE!!! :)