NEEDLE Magazine

This is friggin' awesome!  Check out Needle Magazine!  I can't take it!  I'm inspired!  I'm humbled! I need to buy more thread!  It's free online...go there now!  I use a lot of !!!!

PinkThreadyBird

VEGAN thanksgiving RECIPES

Nava Atlas is my hero! Her recipes are usually easy and oh so yummy!  Check them out here

Glittery, Papery, Flowery, Cheapo Wreath

I saw a sample of this on the interwebs and went out and made my own with my flowery twist (of course!) It was pretty inexpensive 'ta boot! I purchased from the dollar store: foam wreath, book with creamy paper (sorry Julie, had to destroy a book, it’s for art hahaha) and a few extra glue sticks (even though I had a ton at home, I was afraid I’d run out!). I had the glitter at home and purchased the “silk” flowers at a craft store for only 20 cents each. Booya!
Here’s the blog I saw the wreath at!   CUTE!

Save the Turkeys at Tavern on the Green

Over the weekend the hottie hubby and I went to a charity event for Farm Sanctuary hosted at Tavern on the Green in NYC.  I made my fancy wrap pinned with burned flowers with crystal and gemstone centers for the occasion. We had a blast hob-knobbing and eating delicious vegan foods from Candle 79.
What an amazing day!

Free Tutorial! T-Shirt Quilts A-Go-Go!

I million years ago I used to be REALLY into quilting.  I made a bunch of projects from old t-shirts and have learned a lot a long the way.  Here are some tips, tricks and words of encouragement.

Supplies:
Clean t-shirts

Single sided, light weight, iron-on interfacing in a dark or light color (depending on t-shirts). Check the manufacturer’s instructions for ironing. Some use steam, some don’t.

Iron

Press cloth (scrap of muslin or other light colored fabric)

Square acrylic rulers (a large one for front and back motifs and a small one for sleeve and pocket areas)

Rotary cutter and mat

Fabric scissors (we like the spring loaded type, easy on the hands!)

Sewing machine and typical sewing room supplies

Suggested Procedures:
Initial Cutting: Cut up the side seams from the bottom to the armpit and then across the sleeves. Next, cut across the shoulder seams. DO NOT cut the front and/or back motifs out yet! You must first back your shirt with interfacing. Why? Because t-shirts are made of knit fabrics that are stretchy. If you were to try to cut, sew and press these pieces without the stabilizing interfacing you are going to end up with a bunch of oddly shaped, potato-chippy fabric pieces. Too much drama! This is why you must first back the shirts with interfacing. Your squares will remain squares, right angles and all! Heaven!

Pressing:
Be sure to use your press cloth! The hot iron will ruin your t-shirt decals and mar your iron. Try to avoid pressing the decals themselves, but if you have to, cover the shirt or your ironing board with a press cloth and turn down your iron.

Squaring-up:
Take a look at your collection of shirt motifs. Try to find an average size. 12-13” seems like a common size we’ve seen. Once you have an idea of how large your squares are going to be, use your large acrylic ruler to square up your interfaced pieces. Use the smaller ruler for shirt and pocket-sized details. Use the pockets themselves! They provide interesting details to your finished quilt. From the smaller motifs make a 4-patch units that square up to your determined large square size. Move the text and images around to create interesting compositions.

Designing the quilt:
Now’s the time to really have fun with your clothes! Use a design wall, floor or bed to position the pieces in a pleasing manner. Add sashing between your blocks that will compliment your design. Let’s face it, you probably have some “odd” combinations of colors and designs (Def Leopard ‘88 next to a Piggly-Wiggly shirt? Grand art indeed!) The sashing will help bring things “back together” visually. ��Quilting: If your quilt is one sided (no shirts on the back) feel free to quilt at will! If you have shirt blocks on the back, you may want to use invisible threads in your top and bobbin, as to not disturb the shirt motifs.

Extra blocks?
Make pillows, purses, curtains and sew on! Show the world that you were at the Weird Al Concert in the Park! Let everyone know you love Disney on Ice!


Just have fun and MAKE SOMETHING!
Please feel free to leave a comment if you need any other help :)
Cheers!
Pink Quilty Bird

Save a Greyhound!

Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing on December 31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized. Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. These dogs make awesome family pets and are extremely well behaved. despite what you would think, they are couch potatoes!
Check out their adoption link here.

happy 3000!

Wowweee!  We've hit 3,000 hits today!  Go us!

Thank you for clicking and keep up the good work!

New (to me) Yarny Shop

Last couple of Wednesday nights I've been hanging out at a new (to me) yarn shop in Westwood called Creative Knitworks.  Such a nice bunch of folks, great snacks, amazing yarns (lots of Vegan yarn!) and most importantly no snooty attitudes! 

I'm planning on trying to make a pair of knitted socks (yikes!) and I know having these ladies on my side will make all the difference!

Check them out, take a class, buy some yarn and support local independent art shops!


Pink Yarny Bird

Pattern for "Feeling Yarny" Bandananana

My basic pattern for a triangle head bandana.


Note: I stitched INTO each of the DCs to have all my stitches line up from row to row. You could stitch into the 1 CH space and have stitches stagger sort of like bricks.

A. Chain (CH) 3
B. 1 Double Crochet (DC) + 1 CH + 1 DC in the first chain (near the knot)
C. CH 3, turn
D. 2 DC + 1 CH into each DC across
E. CH 3, turn
F. 2 DC + 1 CH into the FIRST and LAST DC of the row. 1 DC + 1 CH in all other stitches in the row.

G. Repeat E. and F. until the piece reaches the size you’d like (I think mine was about 11 rows, yarn weight, hook size and the size of your melon are all variables here)

H. When the triangle is as large as you’d like make a line of 30 or so CHs (more for longer ties). These are at the end of the last row you just worked and the yarn does not need to be cut or anything. Just work from where you stopped making DCs.

I. Single Crochet (SC) in each of the CHs you just made, back towards the triangle.

J. Slip Stitch (ST) to the triangle to secure the tie

K. SC all the way across the triangle’s edge (the side that will be closest to your eyebrows)

L. At the end of the row repeat H. and J. for the second tie.

M. You could, but I did not, make SCs all the way around the triangle for a more solid edge. Also, beads would look oh so pretty on this project.

Go forth, tie it on and enjoy!

PVB

Feeling Yarny

made today: wee hair bandana

now for the matching bikini ;)

HOOOs Crafty?

Crocheted this fella after seeing a fabu tutorial here.

Cute cute cute!

Pink Velvet Owl

Sleepy Halloween

I heart halloween and luckily my "desk job" allows for a lot of creativity each year. My friend Michael helped me design the fabu "counting sheep" over my cubicle.  Love them!

New Hat! and Scarflette!

Hubby's out of town so I had time to make this set.  The scarfy part and hat flower are made from gold lame.  Fancy!  Boy, I love the autumn and it makes my yarn stash just call out to me.
Pink Sparkly Bird

Convally-dation!

Don't we look swell :)