Professional Duo Complete from Repurposed Ladies Jacket

Posted on January 16, 2012

The recycling and redesigning the women’s tapestry jacket was rather difficult, if I were to tell the truth. Even though things look one way in your head, accomplishing that goal can be a whole different chore. But the jacket has now been completely disassembled and reassembled into two useful items. Here is the tapestry jacket’s photo history…….

Sleeves cut away from jacket and splayed for cutting (in previous post)

The completed iPad cover made completely from the sleeves of jacket (in previous post)

Jacket body formed into a tote - items to complete are only laying on body. Handles, magnetic closure, black belting....

Professional tote/iPad cover set - not sure how to set this up to photograph decent.

Complete tote from tapestry jacket showing off its true color outdoors.

I lined it with a gray embroidered satin lining and couldn’t resist to put a final little touch to its closure – a silver leaf. As soon as that went on, it truly had my name on it. Not sure what will happen with this yet as Bill thinks I should be the one to enjoy this one. He’s one of my biggest supporters, but if this could sell and make a couple of bucks, then that’s what we have to do.

Thank you for stopping by and giving this a final look over! One day it may make it into the Etsy store, but until then I’ll enjoy looking at it and thinking of ways to improve on the upcycling and repurposing of the great thrift store finds we have in our possession. Yep, there is a whole tote full of beautiful sweaters, jackets and suit coats to re-fashion.

Happy Monday and happy crafting everyone!

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…….

Revising Thrift Store Tapestry Jacket

Posted on January 3, 2012

After having a weekend of thrift store shopping, cleaning those items up and basically having no actual crafting mojo, this is all that was accomplished. It’s not much and when I was working on the design it was feeling forced. That means it’s time to stop. I usually like to take a project and complete as much as possible when it gets started, but at least this little combo restyle is underway.

This started out as a ladies tapestry jacket with a zippered front. I had cut one of the sleeves off the night before to show Bill just how much fabric there is in clothing that can be used for items. Here it is with both sleeves cut off and splayed out to be re-cut into an iPad cover.

Ladies Tapestry Jacket (with zippered front)

And a close up of the beautiful fabric – it’s very lush and we both have really fallen in love with it.

Lush tapestry fabric

The sleeves are slowly turning into an iPad cover and here is how the closure looks. It’s taken from the caps of the sleeves and shows that same shaping. Velcro has been sewn underneath the flap.

Sleeve Cap Closure Flap

The lining to the iPad cover is really a soft gray corduroy which the picture doesn’t show real well, but trust me on that one. After this pic was taken it was time to get the hammer out and apply the 4 mega snaps to the inside lining and the silicone iPad skin so it can be removed when needed.

After showing Bill what little I accomplished, he kind of took a step back and said, “You’re going to have to keep this one – it’s VERY cool!” Told him the handbag needs to get completed from the body of the jacket, then I’ll decide if it’s my style or needs to be listed in either Etsy or MySupaDupa Shop. It will be a one of a kind combo package either way.

Keep checking in though! There is never any creating on Tuesdays as that is my 12 hour day at work, but the rest of the week may hold some surprises.

Happy creating and thanks for stopping by!

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.

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.

An iPad Cover for Paper Nerds Like ME

Posted on October 16, 2011

Image via Wikipedia

The small trip we took this weekend totally wore me out. Maybe it was just because it caused us to get out of sync, not sure. So no knitting was even looked at today, but I started feeling guilty this afternoon. So off to the sewing room I go and remembered I had just gotten in a gorgeous garden print by Michael Miller. No time like the present, so here is the iPad portfolio for paper nerds – yes, like me!

Old School iPad Portfolio Outside

Open.... with iPad skin attached

It's got a TygerLily on it's tail!

Well, wish there was more to report, but there just isn’t this weekend. There’s a few irons in the fire as usual, but no pictures. But I do appreciate you stopping by and taking a look at what’s happening.

Are any of you paper nerds like me? :)

Fire Bush, Fabric, Small Town America

Posted on October 15, 2011

After having a ‘corporate’ meeting with Team TygerLily last night, the Fire Bush Cable Handbag is going to be left just as it is. Ideas were being thrown all over the place on how to make it better this way and that way, but my artist husband decided that if we continued on, it would be overworked and an artist needs to know when it’s time to stop. Call it complete. Done. So here is the Fire Bush resting and drying on the blender. Hey, it works, we don’t fight it. :)

Upside Down and On The Blender Drying

Up Close Pic of Perfect Felting Process

So this will sit the rest of the weekend and dry, baby, dry. Handles and a deep dark brown lining will top it off at some point.

It appears I need two bags on the needles at all times, so this Reynolds Lopi 100% wool will be next in line. It is an interesting color that is such a dark burgundy that it’s nearly brown. It’s exquisite.

Reynolds Lopi 100% Wool (this isn't purple like picture looks)

This will be going in my one allotted knitting bag today for our mini-trip. One very DEEP cable is going on the front and back of this bag. Still debating on handle treatment.

On the sewing side, the fabric came in for the diaper bag my hub ordered from me for a gift. Baby isn’t here yet, but they know it’s a girl. I fell in love with this on Fabric.com:

Diaper Bag Fabrics for Gift Giving

And a special order came in overnight on Etsy for a planner cover. So while getting that fabric ordered from Fabric.com I came across some wonderful new items in their store and threw them in my cart. Hey, I had a 15% off coupon and there’s no time like the present.

Fashionista Lacey Beige

Moda Architecture Aqua

Kashmir Floral Pumpkin

These have coordinating fabrics coming also, but you get the idea. Think I’m in love with the pumpkin………. iPad folio, here we come! None of these were the special order, but Amy Butler fabrics were her choice. The buyer has good taste!

Thanks for reading my ramblings this morning. Hopefully a lot of knitting will get accomplished this evening along with a little tour of small town, America. Keep an eye out, things are popping around here!

Introducing the iPad Portfolio – For Paper Nerds Like ME!

Posted on October 9, 2011

Yes, it’s finally done and out of my head. The challenge has been met, and I believe this was an honest and perfect start to a new product in the Journal Junction Etsy shop. Here’s the progression once it got out of my head and on to the cutting board……

Fabric that was chosen by a possible buyer..... you just never know - she might buy it!

Silicone iPad glove getting its Velcro on.

Fabric placed in silicone glove to hide that nasty Velcro!

Getting the final measurements done on it....

Sitting Pretty - ALL DONE!

LOGO

iPad fit into Silicone glove

Holding GREAT no matter what position the portfolio is in.......

It’s a done deal! And it’s time for dinner with my personal chef. Thanks for checking in on what’s happening. And one more thing, paper is a NECESSITY! An iPad is great, but paper is still better. :)

iPad Blog Test

Posted on August 27, 2011

In an attempt to keep updating progress closer at hand, this is a test in using an iPad to update ideas and projects. A program was located in the app store made particularly with WordPress in mind. Not sure how the photography will look, but it”s worth a try!

This is an update on the “Moonlit” bag that is on the needles and waiting for more stock to arrive. The skein you see in the photo is more than half gone, plus it is the LAST one I have. But the progress made this week is good.