Tye Dye: Finishing up the summer right!!

                     "SUMMER TYE DYE"

 

Tye Dyeing for me has always been a favorite summer time activity to do with my daughter, her friends, and my nieces. I am not an expert by any means, but a simple spiral pattern has always been preferable when working with the dyes in bottles. 

So with school starting next week, we wanted to finish the summer off by purchasing the large set of the "Tulip"Tye Dye brand kits from Michaels Craft store and experimenting with all the different colors. We wanted to see how the colors blended to created secondary colors and how we could control the patterns by learning new techniques to guarantee a lovely, colorful spiral pattern on the tee shirts, fabric squares (to be used to sew up some pillowcases and a small blanket) and a super-thin crepe fabric that is meant to become a light, summer shawl.

 

Quick note:*****************************

**warning: I also purchased the soda ash packet and soaked all the tees and fabric in it for 20-30 minutes as required, after- which I wrung out each piece extensively and hung them on the chair to be dyed by the kids.......unfortunately, I did not wear gloves and I ended up with literal burns on the skin inside my thumb where I twisted the fabric....that's what I get for not following the directions :( So WEAR GLOVES throughout the whole process including the dyeing part so as to not have blue fingers and fingernails for days after you've finished this project....yep, I did that to myself too!!**

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Needless to say, we had a great time and came out with some new Tye-dyed tee shirts and a shawl I am already putting to good use!

 Thanks for stopping by!!

Wicked jypsi 

Yarn Carrier Wristlet - a personal favorite!!

I recently was at the bookstore and came across a book titled "Sew-licious Little Things" by Kate Haxell. Upon thumbing thru the adorable different sewing projects within, I came across a project for a yarn carrier (page 86) that conveniently hangs on your wrist as you knit or crochet. 

Now, I don't know about you, but I have four little sweet dogs, and the littlest one, a Yorkie named Lilo, just loves to pounce on the ball of yarn that sits on the floor as I crochet and grab it with her teeth and run all the way down the hall unraveling the yarn until she reaches the back bedroom to hide under the bed. It is so cute to see her so happy to conquor the yarn ball, but it also makes it very difficult to continue with a project after the third or fourth time this happens in an hours' time. So, this carrier was an absolute must. Needless to say, I purchased the book immediatly and came home to get to work......Here's what we have now:

Please forgive the yellow lighting.....

The instructions were very easy to follow and it was all said and done within an hour or two. I did add an adjustable clip to the bottom hole with thin cord instead of the elastic, but that was just a personal preference :)

 I also added a divided pocket on the side in case I want to carry a couple crochet hooks around if I ended up needing multiple sizes for a project. Again, personal preference!

Top view

So there we are! I fell in love with this woven fabric (above) so I am using it as I work, now, on a purse pattern from another book I picked up, so I'll return with a post on that project as well!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Giselle
a.k.a. Wicked jypsi :)

Mandrake Amigurumi - for all the Harry Potter lovers out there!!

I admit to being a bit of a Harry Potter geek and I've been putting together some projects to share with the you....

I have found so many inspiring ideas on Pinterest and it came down to two particular projects this week that I'm sharing now that they are completed:

I found this awesome "Mandrake" pattern from Kristen in her "Miles of Crochet" Etsy shop that I had to try..... here it is:

 The pattern was so easy to follow and every Harry Potter fan out there knows that there's no such thing as a "Happy" Mandrake plant!!

Next comes the "Harry Potter Throw Pillow" that now sits upon my bed :).....
 

Making these projects helps pass the time as I count down the days to my next visit to the Harry Potter Wizarding World at Universal Studios in Florida......I am so looking forward to seeing the new Diagon Alley...Yay!!!!

Thanks for visiting and I'll be back with more............

Wicked jypsi

Star Wars Towels & Magnets Set...and I have been a Bad Blogger...Im so ashamed :(

I have been so terrible about posting my recent projects since November....in my defense, I have recently been hired at my local Michael's store as their Jewelry Instructor and (beginning in February) the Crochet and Knitting teacher as well. I am so thrilled to be able to teach there and I've been busy working on the certifications from the Craft Yarn Council. So hopefully, I can be excused for taking such a long break between posts since I have truly been a busy bee trying to get everything done on time!

That being said, I have made so many projects in the past month and then turned around and gave them away as gifts for Christmas before taking pictures of them all. So here are pics of one of the gift sets I made for my awesome, Star Wars-loving sister-in-law...... 

STAR WARS Hanging Towel Set:

                              

Up close of the top of the Darth Vader towel.....

....and I added the Star Wars Magnet Set pictured at top of post
                                  (and below..again:)........

Thanks for checking this out and I'll be back soon (I mean it this time) to update on more projects completed and in the making!!

Till next time,
     Wicked jypsi

Amigurumi "Brain Slug" and "Grim Reaper

My new fascination with Amigurumi led me to a wonderful pattern I found at "Hooks and Needles" (click it for link)  a very cool site with lots to see by Alicia Ramirez..... the following "Brain Slug" amigurumi character is my new favorite!


Here it is: 
(protect your brain :)

I also grabbed the very cool book by Christen Haden "Creepy Crochet" in which I whipped up a little "Grim Reaper" from one of the many awesome patterns she shares, its a must have for any amigurumi fan out there!!

I also put this "Poison Apple" Display together simply because I am enthralled (for some reason) with the whole: Eden, poison apple, wicked witch thing!! I actually keep this thing up all year round next to my other artsy apple displays! -weird, but true!!

A very short and sweet post, but I wanted to share :).......................

Till next time,

Giselle- Wicked jypsi

Fabric Scraps Project # 2 "Halloween Apron"

I was so glad to come across some Halloween fabric when cleaning out my supplies that I decided to put a few pieces together with a cut up black cardigan I was planning on throwing out.

A few cuts from the main part of the  black sweater, the cameo fabric made into pleats for the skirt portion, and a orange and black striped strip of fabric to make the straps, ties, and a little pocket !!


Thanks for stopping to check out this apron and I'll be back with the 2 quilts and another apron I'm finishing from the remaining scraps I have hanging around :)

Till then,
Wicked jypsi

Mini Beading Loom Tutorial...travel size!!

On my recent trip to Florida I wasn't able to bring all my craft supplies, but I knew I would want to do some beading during some down time between Disney park visits....

So I decided to make a mini travel-sized loom to take and I wanted to share the process with you:


Supplies:

Wood pieces 1" thick cut to desired size (I cut one piece 3" width by 6"length, and two smaller pieces each 3" width by 1.5"-approx.-in length)

2 Eye Screws, 4" bolts, two wing nuts to fit bolts

Wood Stain (if desired)

Wood Glue and 2 clamps to secure while drying

Drill, Sand paper or electric sander


First, cut your wood to dimensions listed in supply section above:

Next, if desired, sand edges and surface of wood till smooth and stain with wood stain in desired shade:

When the stain has dried, use wood glue to connect the 2 smaller pieces to the top side ends of larger wood piece and add clamps to hold in place while drying as shown:

 

After the glue has dried, drill 4 holes into the each end of the two smaller wood pieces- as shown:

Add the eye screws to each of the 4 holes and use the bolts to screw them in tight:

 

Add bolts through the eye screws and secure with wing nuts on both ends:

 

Add two nails to each outer edge (if desired - not shown) to use to secure thread when threading the loom....

 There you have it. A mini bead loom to take along with you!

Let me know if anything is unclear in comment section and I will get right back to you. Also, if you want to make a larger loom, check out my other tutorial Here!

Till next time,

Wicked jypsi