Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Fixing up my Sewing Corner

This is what my sewing corner looked like until recently. Not bad, but I thought it would be fun to spruce it up a bit!


The first thing I did was turn my desk toward the wall. This way I can have art up behind it and when I film a tutorial the viewer won't be staring right at the entertainment center! I still get plenty of daylight from the window and patio door.


I got this little shelving unit and some cute wicker drawers from IKEA for my yarn, fabric, and sewing basket. The empty cube will be for patterns and possibly other craft supplies. The plastic drawers are being reused elsewhere in the apartment. (One is still mostly full of craft supplies, and my sweetie has filled the other with computer things).

My familiar, Chester, approves of the new organizations system! He has also finally started using his cat bed, although he prefers to sleep on top of rather than inside it. Luckily, he doesn't sit on my table while I am working now that he has his own space.


 To protect the top of my shelf from cat footprints, I picked up some vinyl fabric from Joann's that looks like lace but is much easier to clean! These pretty silver hanging baskets also came from IKEA. I am keeping spools of thread in one and sewing tools in the other.


I even have an extra hook for my scissors!


I might want more shelves and baskets soon, but I like how things are coming along. Right now the next step is to get my patterns organized so I can actually find them. Right now they are in some old paper folders that are falling apart, but I have a cute new binder to put them in. It's so much fun to have a fresh, bright crafting space!

Where is your favorite place to create?

Assunta







Friday, August 21, 2015

My New Office Plant

Look who is coming with me to work! I wanted a cool office plant that I don't have to water so I crocheted myself a Groot. I've been wanting one since I made my little brother one for Christmas. He even dances (or wobbles back and forth when you pick up his flower pot)! 

Here he is on the couch before work...
...Here he is at the office...
...and here is the inspiration.



He's so cute he puts a smile on my face every time I see him on my desk. I even got lots of compliments on him at work yesterday!

One of my crafting friends also showed me this knit pattern for the mandrake root from Harry Potter, It is so cool I might have to make one of them for my desk too.


So cool, right?

I mean, who wouldn't want one of these?

But seriously, I want one. 

I hope you all have a fantastic week full of all your favorite plants, both ordinary and magical!

-Assunta

PS- Sorry for the late post. I'm still trying to update every Wednesday but some weeks I may just run out of time or not have much to talk about. I'll keep you updated, though!
























Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Rainbow Hello Kitty Doll Dress

What's better than rainbows and Hello Kitty? I can't think of many things. My mom found this incredibly cute instant-dress fabric at Joann's and made me a shirt out of it while I was visiting Portland a few weeks ago. I even had enough left over to make a little dress for someone special!


This is Puku, my favorite doll since I was about two, and I think this is her original outfit:


I had a piece left over from the gathered top of the fabric. I measured it on Puku to see how much I wanted to leave gathered. 


I decided to leave the first three rows of elastic and take the rest out.


Then I ironed out the gathers on the skirt.


Last I sewed up the back, hemmed the bottom, and added some ribbon straps.


Puku feels very festive and summery in her new dress!

Dreaming of cute fashions and summer colors,

-Assunta





Wednesday, August 5, 2015

My DREAMING GIRL DOLL PATTERN is finally ready!

The doll pattern I have been promising for weeks is finally done! It took longer than most because of the multiple video tutorials I decided to include with it, namely the wire armature and latchook menthod doll hair tutorials. The pattern is now available on Ravelry and Etsy! I also have a new doll in the works (adapted from this pattern) that will hopefully appear in a blog post in a couple of weeks. 


This sleeping doll is a beautiful dream all by herself! This pattern includes written and illlustrated instructions for this exquisitely detailed, fully posable doll. Worked in fine crochet thread she stands 6.5'' tall. Links to video tutorials are included for additional help. 

Sweet dreams and pretty dolls,

Assunta