world of geekcraft

I'm so excited to let you know that World of Geekcraft, a new book by Susan Beal, is coming out this spring from Chronicle Books. I contributed a project to this book, and oh my gosh, it made the cover! I've been holding in this news for so long! Even if I weren't involved at all and it weren't about awesome geeky crafts, I'd be super excited about this book. Among the other contributors are some of my very favorite bloggers and crafters.

More links to reviews, photos, and information about the book:
Review at 2 Modern
Public School, who are responsible for making the book look so cool!
World of Geekcraft Flickr Pool
World of Geekcraft Blog

I'm a book nerd, and my project was inspired by my collection of sci fi paperbacks. I really do read these books, and my adjustable book cozy project is perfect for keeping their cool covers from getting scuffed up in my bag. And because I love books and crafts, I have a shelf full of Chronicle books. Getting real actual stuff in the mail from them was quite a thrill. Their books are always very modern and well designed. I can't wait to get my hands on my copy of World of Geekcraft!

security envelope package

Do they make security envelopes with the awesome designs on the OUTSIDE? If not, I know what business I need to go into! What a waste that the pretty patterns are hidden out of sight. Lately I've been turning them inside out to create new envelopes. This is a large package with a patchwork of envelope pieces sewn over a larger piece of paper. I folded the ends over twice and stitched it shut.

matchbox dollhouse

I made this ridiculously cute little matchbox dollhouse for a swap! I considered running out and buying a 250 count matchbox until I realized you can do it without one! I made my own using this template with help from measurements from this other template because the first template doesn't have the measurements on it, but DOES have a flap you need that is omitted in the second template. Make sense? You definitely need those extra flaps! I learned this the hard way after accidentally cutting them off of one side! Instead of printing out the template (which is an image file and could print a crazy size), I drew it using the measurements. I used a cake mix box, but any sturdy-but-thin cardboard should work. Use a craft knife and a straightedge. My only other tip is to not make the outside cover until you are done with the inside to make sure it will be loose enough to open but tight enough to stay closed AFTER you have covered the inside drawer with tons of paper that will make it slightly thicker.

The matryoshka doll and knitting bag are made from felt. The embroidery and crochet were done with size 10 cotton thread and a small hook. I made the shelf and sofa out of leftover pieces of cardboard. I painted the shelf with acrylic paint and covered the sofa in fabric. The miniature knitting needles are made from toothpicks and small beads. Why is making super small stuff so fun?

yo-yo potholders

I had lots of fun making these potholders for my partner, Tami, for the 2010 Great (Sewn) Potholder Swap! This is the largest yo-yo project I have actually completed. Exciting! I used scraps of cotton and linen fabrics to make these. There are lots of pictures of pretty potholders over at the flickr group! See what Tami made me here!

On a side note, it seems like every time I decide to commit to posting on my blog more often, real life interferes. Ugh, my car was totaled in a sudden hailstorm last month, and despite being insured in every way possible, I'm still waiting for it all to be settled. Oklahoma, I don't like you very much right now!

geeky video game crafts

Have I told you how much I love swap-bot? Sometimes a public swap catches my eye, but participating in groups has been a way more convenient way of being notified of swaps that match my interests. One of my favorite groups is Geek Swap Central. If you are into video games, comic books, or anything geeky, check it out! Here are a couple of zippered pouches and an ATC I've made for GSC swaps.

Cross-stitched on linen.

side A; made from a Legend of Zelda/Super Mario Bros. bedsheet!

side B

Bubble Bobble ATC; cross-stitched on paper then sewed onto felt.

I've gotten some really cool things in return, but my absolute favorite is the freaking awesome Mario mini-quilt from Yoshi, seen here on her blog, Diffusible Interfacing.

green patchwork pincushion

All of the sudden, I'm making tons of pincushions again. Unfortunately, the Valentine's one I posted earlier was lost in the mail. This one is a make-up for that one! Although either side could be the "top," I made it with the patchwork side in mind to face up. I should have used a more boring button on the bottom! :) I used pearle cotton to crochet the edge.

needlebooks

I've been making needlebooks lately for a few swaps on swap-bot, and they are so easy fun! I made an owl one, too, from a sketch I made, but I had misplaced my camera and had to send it off before I could take a picture! The kitty embroidery pattern was adapted from this vintage transfer posted by yellowzeppelin on Flickr. I'm getting ready to make a bunch more, but I haven't yet decided what kind of closure I like best. I have to test out a few buttoning configurations I have in mind, too. The green on the cat needlebook is actually seam binding, which is a little thin, but it stays tied nicely. For the needlebook below I used a cute Japanese print and 1/8" satin ribbon, which slips a little, but still stays tied okay.

I haven't done any crochet since Valentine's Day. Fifty tiny hearts in one night was a little much!

zipper question

I made this zippered bag (the perfect size for pencils!) for a swap, and I love the result. But...what causes that weird puckering on the zipper? Is it just because I used a metal one? Am I doing something wrong? Is this just something that I have to expect from zippers? I use a zipper foot, and I have had what feels like a ton of practice sewing in zippers. This seems to happen more often than I would like, and I want to say it is only when I use metal zippers. I hate these needle-breaking metal ones, but they do seem to last longer with fewer problems! Oh, could it be that I don't believe in using the correct length of zipper and cut my zipper to fit the item I want to use it in? Any zipper tips you want to share with me? Pretty please!

even more zippered pouches

zip pouches
Originally uploaded by Adaiha

I made these for people in my office for Christmas. In retrospect, I should have probably made them bigger, but everyone liked them!

zippered bag

zippered bag
Originally uploaded by Adaiha

I'm getting ready for Christmas in the most lazy way possible. I haven't decorated at all, but I've been making lots of stuff because I think that's the fun part.

neat projects

katamari-ish pattern at berroco

bitty bug pincushion at goody goody handmade

storage basket pattern at jcaroline creative

dorothy moore's pattern drafting and dressmaking

dorothy moore's pattern drafting and dressmaking, originally uploaded by Adaiha.

This is one of my favorite finds from this year's Friends of the Library book sale. I have yet to use the book to actually draft a pattern, but the illustrations are awesome. The clothes they picture remind me of the old sewing patterns my mom owns and Barbie clothes she used to make for me.

new fabric purchases

I have been coveting this Jay McCarroll Woodland Wonderland fabric for some time now, and through the magic of online shopping, it is now mine. I checked the big local quilt store that carries lots of Free Spirit fabric, but they don't have this. Maybe the deer are too creepy for them. I found it and the Heather Ross Mendocino fabric below at fabricworm's etsy shop. I'm itching to make something with it, but I can't bring myself not to prewash new fabric before using it. The last two sets of pictures are some awesome Japanese fabric from JamsaBon's etsy shop. So cute. I got a free swatch and a couple of sheets of note-paper with my order. :) Both merchants were pleasant to deal with and had fast shipping (ordered on Thursday night, received on Tuesday, and I'm pretty certain that my neighborhood didn't get mail delivery on Monday for some reason).

patchwork scarf tutorial

Winter Linen Scarf Tutorial by Chara Michele

She's giving away two of these. Check out the contest rules here.

I'm totally going to make my own!

cool projects at CraftStylish

How to Sew a Fabric Bowl

Upcycle Ugly Buttons into Pretty Coasters

How to Crochet a Rug out of T-Shirts

How to Crochet a Chunky Last-Minute Scarflet

bookmarks

I made a ton of these and gave them out at work for Christmas. They went over well. Apparently everyone loves a bookmark.

This is a perfect project for small strips of leftover fabric. Just sew two pieces of fabric together with like sides facing, leaving a small opening to turn. I found that leaving the opening on the side made it much easier. Iron flat and sew around the perimeter. Easy!

Tiny Monogrammed Pillow

Entry for the Sublime Stitching Micro Monogram Stitcher's Challenge. I made this with a remnant of an old linen napkin. I don't think I could have turned it right-side-out if it had been any smaller!