Professional Duo Complete from Repurposed Ladies Jacket

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!

Jan 9 2012

Improvised iPad Cover

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…….

Jan 3 2012

Revising Thrift Store Tapestry Jacket

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!

Oct 29 2011

Houndstooth Professional (with some bling)

In every effort to get things that have been started, completed, this was the first on my list this morning. Ms. Houndstooth is complete and ready to photo at some point for the shop. These are pics of the handle process, of which you all need to remind me NEVER TO DO AGAIN! I think I have bruising on my ribs from turning those doggone things. :) Anyhow, here ya go…..

The WORST job I ever had to do.....

Securing handles with German glue and casing.

To this gem that sparkled on the deck for us this morning……

Business Glam!

The sequin rosette was the absolute perfect accent after struggling trying to decide if it should be a bow, a knot, or even detachable. The bow looked hideous, but that’s just my opinion. It went in the trash and I salvaged part of it and added the rosette. And yes, these babies are drying with that awesome German glue that never gives up.

Let me know what ya think, and thanks for stopping by! And remember to ‘like’ TygerLily over on Facebook. We are striving for those 100 fans and really want to reward someone with a gift.

Happy Saturday and onward we go to the next project that’s incomplete, and git-r-dun. :)

Oct 28 2011

3-1/2 Hr Vacation And Pretzel Logic

OK, so I am taking 3-1/2 hours of my vacation time this morning to regroup and get back on track.

1. October is about over – forgot to get tags for the car, so THAT line will be uber pleasant this morning. But that’s my own fault.

2. Funny how basic items DON’T make it on the shopping list until they’re gone! Yep, Sam’s Club here I come. Blechhh

3. DID get the fabrics ordered for two commissioned orders for kids art books this morning. Should be super cute. And while I was on Fabric.com I found this FANTASTIC corduroy fabric which is going to line one of the Prairie Bags coming up….

Over-The-Top Orange Corduroy

…….and this beauty – embroidered corduroy! Think I’m in love with this one.

Brown Embroidered Corduroy

And there’s still a color of Brown Sheep Company’s Burly Spun yarn that’s not worked up into a bag yet, but THIS was the perfect find for the lining to the future handbag….

Prairie Handbag #? corduroy lining CAN WE ALL SAY WOW!!!!

Aren’t those fabrics absolutely wonderful? They are all ordered and I even was able to use a little coupon on my cord fabrics – YIPEEEEE!! I’ll take it!

After my mini-vacation this morning (ha) I hope to get the Barbed Wire Cable Handbag completely off the needles, get the fun little adornments attached that I found yesterday in my “Inspiration In A Bag” and get that baby in the machine to be felted – YET TODAY! :) There is a closure treatment that I want to test on this bag, hopefully to include a little bling, a little leather, some surprises. Have to keep testing to find the absolute best way.

And look what I found when I was digging through some things – the Pretzel Logic Handbag that I never lined. It was done back in 2008, but then things started falling apart and we had to move. So this baby needs to get lined and in the shop soon. It’s rather a bizarre looking kind of thing, isn’t it.

Pretzel Logic Handbag

And I realized I didn’t actually save the Cherry Blossom Handbag photo yesterday to the computer. That explains a lot. But here it is in a messy heap. This needs to get completed today also if possible. Well, maybe this weekend. :)

Cherry Blossom Handbag

OK, my mini vaca starts in a half hour. So here we go! Let’s tackle the day and have a little fun while we do it, okay?

Love to see you all stopping by – you make my day. :)

Oct 27 2011

Houndstooth To Japanese

The duldrums (sp) hit this week quite unexpectedly. Not a lot of enthusiasm about coming home after work and doing much if anything creative. So this blog is for ME as much as it is for anyone reading. It’s time to recharge – just like my camera.

The houndstooth suiting fabric purchased last week is meandering its way into a handbag. I’ve started out using a basic pattern, but I wanted to switch up the top/handles a little, so now I’m rather stuck until I can figure how to actually DO what’s in my head. It’s at a stop until that’s figured out…..

Feminine Houndstooth - Waiting for Handle Treatment

Then as I went to take a couple extra photos this morning, I see the Cherry Blossom handbag still waiting to be sewn up into a bag – it’s knitted – just needs seams, lining and pink handles…….. (now I can’t find where I put the photo)

Then on to a great grab bag of vintage fabrics a friend at work brought in! This puppy weighs a ton and the fabrics inside are incredibly fun and will make great hobo bags, linings and whatnot….

Gift Bag of Vintage Fabrics

And here is an update on the two bags on the needles:

Barbed Wire Prairie Bag #6

Reynolds Lopi "Brick Streets" Prairie Bag #7

More on the Reynolds Lopi yarn later – becoming not such a big fan. But felting may change my mind, so I’ll try to keep that (my mind) open. :)

And my Japanese inspiration book came this week with MUCH taunting from my husband! He didn’t understand why I’d buy a book written in a foreign language. I told him that it’s the ‘study’ of the graphing done – not the words! And the pictures speak millions of words to me…..

A TREASURY of INSPIRATION!

I need to fly – meetings and work are calling………..

Drop me a line – let me know your thoughts. We can ALL use inspiration and some days a good kick in the keester. :) Happy crafting!

Oct 15 2011

Fire Bush, Fabric, Small Town America

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!

Oct 5 2011

A Royal Felting

I know today is Wednesday and I’m usually working. But I was scheduled a bit differently this week and get to work Saturday. So today is play time.

Season’s Royal Messenger Bag came off the needles completely, and with only about 3 feet of yarn left out of three hanks of Brown Sheep Burly Spun. This is what it looked like before it hit the showers…….

Pre-felting

And an up close and personal picture of the diamond style cabling on the front flap…..

Diamond Cables

The close up actually shows the real color of this bag much better than some other shots taken. I was VERY happy with the way the flap came together. But then, as we all know, there’s no time like the present. So off to the showers with this guy and here he is sitting out on the deck getting his ‘dry’ on. It was tough finding a box to help form it, but after doing some thinking and realizing I wanted this big enough to hold a laptop, I went in search of computer boxes around the house. So he is sitting and taking in some gorgeous fall weather getting prepped for some serious oriental brocade to be the lining. Along with some batting of course. This has to be a very protective messenger bag.

Back Shot - SUPER handle!!

Front Flap View with Button Loop

He should be good and dry by Sunday so we can get it all finished and hopefully get over to the abandoned farm for some photos.

One more thing…. A little more of Monday’s Sneak Peek……

Lanaloft 100% Wool

This is a whole lot bigger than it looks, and should end up being a medium size bag. This one’s oval handles are waiting by the sewing machine. But I ran out of Lanaloft quicker than anticipated, so there’s another hank coming in from Woobee’s.

So there is technically NO purses that are workable on the needles. So I guess that means I’d better get to it. There’s a whole afternoon left to get something started.

Sep 17 2011

Burly Spun Turquoise – A Blue Beauty And a FREE Scarf Pattern

While shopping for final materials for a commissioned job yesterday at Joann‘s, for some reason I was drawn to a table with a BIG 40% OFF sign on the top. It was one of the most fabulous displays of pinwale corduroy fabrics that has ever been encountered. One of those pieces just had to be mine, but which one……… decisions, decisions. Plus I had a 20% off entire purchase! It really only took about three dances around the display when the final pick came………

Brown Sheep Burly Spun with Pinwale Corduroy for Lining

The lighting in the computer room is less than perfect to show you just how rich the colors are, as this photo does NOT do either of these things justice. But really, corduroy? Paisley? Baby soft? Oh, yeah! Even my Burly Spun looks more green than the fabulous turquoise it really is. Trust me, they match to a total TEE! Can’t wait to get started on another Prairie bag in the series, and now that the perfect lining fabric was found for one of the colors, THIS will be the next in line to make. Can you picture it? Black Handles and all?

Of course, a freebie must be included whenever possible. So the hunt went out for a pattern for a knitted scarf that would use a bulky yarn like this. And what did I find but the most fun scarf ever! Any one of you could work something like this up in less than a weekend. Cute, cute, CUTE!

Single Cable Scarf

You know the ropes, click the photo and you’ll go directly to this free pattern from Action Hero. I think the pompoms on the ends add a huge amount of fun to this design. It could probably be worked up in a double stranded worsted also. Get creative!

Have a blessed Saturday, and let’s get motivated, folks!

Aug 19 2011

“Singer”-ing In The Rain

Last evening we experienced some weird storms. The wind had a howl out here in the semi-country that sent chills down our backs. Yes, it was that eerie. The sky had colors to it that only spelled trouble. There were many homes left without power because of it. But no, not our home. We had power, which led to this story.

I love storms, the sounds, the colors, the whole package. Bill watches for awhile, outside, but can care less after he’s evaluated the situation and can fall immediately to sleep. But not me. I don’t want to miss anything so it was hard for me to fall asleep. While he was gently snoring, I snuck the remote control from his hand and yes, I started flipping the channels. All of the sudden I see the word “sewing” through my 10 year old ‘bed’ glasses and turn the TV channel to see what this sewing show was all about.

Oh oh. It wasn’t a show. It was the Home Shopping Network. I tried changing the channel, I really did. After watching for about 10 minutes, and scolding myself for even entertaining the idea of a new Singer sewing machine, the remote took control and we (the remote and I) located Murder She Wrote on The Hallmark Channel. That’s a safe show, and relaxing for me. But oh, the temptation to check back to HSN. The sewing machine they were promoting at that point was the coup de gras (sp). My dream machine was on TV! Oh, Lord. Help me. Bill is sleeping. It’s a deal that can’t honestly be passed up. What do I do? With my mind now in full blown overload, I started rationalizing. You’ve done it, you know you have. :) Like, if I stop this subscription, do this, manipulate that and that other, push selling my product a little more…… yes. To the computer I go. I’ll explain, beggingly, to Bill in the morning and ask for his forgiveness, and a little support.

Before I show you all what this monumental purchase really was, I believe that I’ve aged enough to show you the progression of the sewing machines that have been a huge instrument to one of my passions. So a little “Singer”ing Down The Road seems quite appropriate!

When I was a little girl, my grandmother would babysit me on occasion. Oh, how I loved those days. She taught me how to boil chicken (ick), make scrambled eggs, crochet potholders, and sew on her little 1939 Singer Featherweight sewing machine.

1939 Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine

This is not an actual photo of her machine, but this is the model. The real deal is neatly stored in the basement with its original case and attachments box. This was not a fancy machine by today’s standards, but the Featherweight did its job and did it well. Straight stitch only, forward and reverse, visible rubber belt on the side, manual tension knob. Down and dirty and get it done style. It was the perfect machine for my grandmother to teach me some great basics.

On the other hand, my mother had a newer model Singer machine at home. I could not find an accurate picture of her machine, but this picture is fairly close. My sister still has this machine TO THIS DAY and it works like a charm.

Likeness of Mom's Singer Sewing Machine from the 1950's

I loved sewing and learning on mom’s machine, too. It could do zig-zag stitches and winding new bobbins was fun! Nothing was computerized and everything was manual. And the Barbie clothes that got made on mom’s machine…. oh, the memories. I think back now on how I ever managed making those teenie tiny clothes as it certainly doesn’t interest me at all anymore. :) Mom was a trooper teaching, and using all the patience the good Lord gave her while instructing and encouraging me to continue on and to KEEP BUSY. Mom’s machine would stare and glare at me every day all the way through high school and sing along with my mom during summer when there was no school, “Well, Karen, what are you going to do to keep busy today? What have you planned?” My mother, nor the machine, would ever just leave me alone to do just nothing. Mom would never allow there to be even one idle moment in my life as a kid. And being the tail end in a family of 5, I’m fairly sure mom was just tired and let the sewing machine do the babysitting! :) But I was very content with my friend made of metal, levers, bobbins and spools.

The first thing Bill allowed us to purchase after we were married in 1976 was a Singer sewing machine of my very own. It was tough making the $18 a month payments, but the original Futura II was a purchase that lasted nearly 30 years.

Futura II (circa 1976)

When it gave up the ghost (while making a beach bag from a beach towel) I rushed it to the sewing machine hospital where they pronounced it DOA. NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Not my baby! I still had stickers and appliques glued to the front of it from when the kids were little. It made a gazillion clothes, toys and gifts. Gosh, that was one heck of a machine. My mom warned me when we bought it, “It sure has a lot of plastic on it. I sure hope it lasts.” Moms, you just GOTTA love them. :)

Bill understood my depression and sour attitude after losing such a vital piece of who I am, and helped scrounge up around $200 to get a bare minimum machine to get us by. It was not a good time in our lives for another expense to happen, but somehow this part worked out. It’s a decent machine, but it just wasn’t my Futura II.

A few months ago, the conversation came up as to how nice it would be to have a machine that would embroider, do some serging, etc. Just some extra little fun things that would bring some of my organizational pieces over at the JournalJunction on Etsy a bit more personality. Bill was pretty receptive and understood how it could kick things up a little bit. And we knew it would be pricey, to say the least.

So back to Home Shopping Network and last night…….. sometime late September some nice gentleman in a truck will be dropping this off for me……..

Futura Quartet All-In-1

This baby will do everything! The extras that were thrown in on this 1/2 hour deal last night made it well worth the next five months of flex-payments and me pushing our product even more. At a retail value of over $1600 (no, I did NOT pay that amount) we’ll be able to actually SEW without incident: vinyl, plastic, leather, jersey, knits, velvet of all kinds, embroider designs and alphabets/words, free-form quilting (looking forward to that one), computer generated designs via USB cable (oh boy) and last but not lease……. ready? A ZIPPER FOOT! I have looked for over 6 years for a zipper foot that would fit what I have now and there is absolutely nothing on the market. Do you see the big gray frame in the fore ground of the photo? That is a hoop that has a 6″ x 10″ area for……. embroidery, initials, monograms, etc. Look at what else it can do…..

Photo input - embroidery output

It’s going to make me look like Elizabeth Taylor! :D No, really, just kidding. HA It will take a photo from your computer and do some digital magic and send it over to the machine to embroider. I will probably never use this feature, but I’ve said never before and been proven wrong.

I double checked this morning to make sure all this wasn’t a dream, and it was for real. They have my order. Today this package has been marked up $200 from last night’s deal. What are the chances?

………..and during lunch, I received notice that another sewn portfolio from the store had sold. God is so good. And so is my husband for not committing me to an insane asylum. :)