lemonade sandwich

If the world was crazy, you know what I'd eat? My own interpretations and reactions to a crazy world.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Ugly sock creature - Girl Boo


Last Sunday, my sister and I had plans to get together. The original idea was to go to the South End Open Market, but as has been the case all spring and summer, it was raining. Having run low on ideas of places to go on rainy days, we decided it was time for a "stupid sock day." I bought her the Stupid Sock Creatures book for a holiday present, and we have been talking about making one for months.

So I gathered some supplies and headed to her place. We each picked a creature, and then took turns looking at the instructions in the book, using her new thrifted sewing machine, and offering random advice. Mine was a simpler pattern and went together more quickly. I did run into my share of problems, as I missed the instruction to cut a hole for the tail, and then cut it on the wrong side of the body. This created a rather obscene sock creature. I removed the tail, performed some minor surgery to repair the incision, and put it on the correct side. I then selected some vintage buttons for eyes. And when all was said and done... I had a really UGLY sock creature. The proportions were nothing like the book, and the color didn't work well, and really, she's just ugly. Sarah's sock creature also ended up with some proportion issues, and is kind of floppy. We brainstormed about possible accessories (dresses, hair bows, scarves) that might hide some of their worst flaws.

So I returned home with my ugly stupid sock creature and showed it to Michelle. She immediately ask "I have it?" I said that if she named it, it could be hers. She came up with "Girl Boo." She then gave it many hugs, and proceeded to have it fly around the house. My heart sang that such an ugly doll was getting such love. I manages to snap a picture during this brief love-fest. Girl Boo then decided that even more fun than flying was landing on my head. Repeatedly. Once I started getting injured by the lovely vintage buttons, I had to confiscate Girl Boo and put her in my studio. Michelle was not at all upset, and happily relinquished her.

So my poor ugly sock creature had her brief moment of love and affection. I fear that I will not be making her any accessories, as I don't think additional time can be invested in her. But maybe I'll try another sock creature again. Someday.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Polka dot step stool


Polka dot step stool
Originally uploaded by lemonade_sandwich.
Although I feel that I have done nothing crafty other than go into my studio and stare at the big piles of stuff, I have actually completed a small project. We picked up this step stool at the recycling center, where it was blue with Noah's Ark transfers and some strange sponge painting. A few coats of paint (the green actually left over from Michelle's very stylish bookcases.) and some polka dots later, and it is done, with no financial outlay, I may add. I used a cardboard stencil for the dots (with the inevitable touch-ups) so they are rather consistent. There are times when I see it and think it looks more like a case of the measles than attractive dots. It may require a bit of extra embellishment.

Oddly, Michelle hasn't offered her opnion about the design. Usually, she's pretty forthcoming with her comments - "I thought you were going to paint it red?" or "I no like it." but whenever we ask if she likes it we are met with silence. She does like having an additional step to carry around and stand on for no particular purpose in the middle of the room, though.

Looking at the colors, I've realize that while these are some of my favorites, the stool actually does not match any room of the house. Its a pretty good indicator of what I would prefer that my house look like. (All right, not really that electric a color on the walls, but this is definitely closer to what I really prefer.)

Friday, June 16, 2006

Elephant in a tea cup


Elephant in a tea cup
Originally uploaded by lemonade_sandwich.
I realized that while I feel like I have been blogging a lot of my projects, what I have actually been doing is getting them uploaded to Flickr and then forgetting that I didn't actually post them here. Here's me at Flickr, in case you want to see them without my overly elaborate commentary. In an attempt to remedy that, here is one of my more recent projects.

The elephant is from a one of the Japanese books. I have to say that it was a very satisfying project - a tiny bit of applique (without any fusible web, which I have now remedied in my studio stash), a few evenings of embroidery, and then another evening to make it into a little pillow. Also a good excuse to use some of those Heather Ross fabrics that I love!

I have since also used the same design on a t-shirt for Michelle. The shirt has some issues (let's not discuss the masking tape residue that is bonded to the shirt because I mistakenly thought that my transfer paper was iron-on paper, not rub-on.) but the design is great and we always get lots of compliments. I wish there were more animals in teacups patterns in the book!

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Trash picking


Tiki #1
Originally uploaded by lemonade_sandwich.
While I may have a genetic predilection for trash picking, it has actually been a long time since I pulled an object from the side of the road and taken it home with me. I really don't need more random crap, as a general rule.

But when I see something like this guy, and his friends 2, 3 and 4, and I am on foot, so don't have to pull the car to a screeching halt, but the car is close enough that its not a burden to carry them, well, they just had to come home with me.

I even exposed myself to the potential ridicule of many family members who were with me at the time. Yet they were all intrigued as well, and understood why I was drawn to them.

Its just airbrushed or spray painted on foam core. The general consensus is that they were used for party decorations. I did pull them from a pile in front of an apartment in a college student heavy neighborhood. I almost expect to find a picture of them elsewhere on Flickr.

So, while I was not actually creative or crafty in the recent past, at least I have added to the strange collection of items in my studio.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

My kind of swap

There are numerous times when I have an idea for a project, but I feel that I lack the artistic skills to bring it to completion. When this happens, I almost always staart looking through my book and magazine collection to look for similar ideas, or something with the same theme or motif, to see how someone else has done it. Sometimes, I find something that gives me enough of a push that I can go ahead and proceed with my project idea. Unfortunately, I most often can't find anything like what I was thinking about, and instead spend my limited studio time just looking through my magazines. Sometimes, this is reward enough. Given that, a proposed international magazine swap seems like just the thing for me. It would have the double fun of picking out a cool U.S. magazine, and then receiving some unknown foreign one.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Reminder to self

I always look at the craft challenges like Tie One On or Month of Softies, but never actually remember the theme by the time I get into my studio. So this month, I am going to make anote somewhere that I might remember in a week or two. The June theme for Tie One On is too good to forget! Its time to make an apron inspired by your favorite musical.
The question that immediately comes to mind - Moulin Rouge or Strictly Ballroom? Of course, there's also Grease or Fame or Dirty Dancing. There's potential with something more classic too - The Pajama Game or Guys and Dolls? Hmmm... I may need to do more research and watch all of my favorites this weekend. I wish.