Craftside

How to make a recycled shirt apron inspired by the book Sewing Vintage Aprons

Today I have a fun recycling project to share with you inspired by the wonderful book Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle. I also have the pleasure of being included in the book! (Well, a little story from my childhood about a fun apron experience in my grandmother's kitchen.) If you like aprons, good stories and recipes then I bet you will love Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle. And since it's Wednesday, that means it's today's giveaway book!

Leave a fun apron, cooking, or kitchen comment in today's post by Midnight Wednesday September 7th, 2011 and you are in the running for a copy of Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle.

This is the full apron I made from a shirt and a half apron.

I had scored 2 half aprons hand made by an older lady that were donated to a clothing swap. I don't wear half aprons so I flipped through Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle and it occurred to me that I had a few shirts that I could repurpose into the top half of an apron, one of which had already been cut and altered into a halter style top. Perfect!

All I had to do was stitch the shirt to the waistband of the apron and trim off the excess shirt.

One other alteration I made was I felt that the apron was a tad too long but I didn't want to lose the cool ric rack hem so I hemmed it above the ric rack trim.

Here is a close up of how I used my cutting board grid to fold the hem up. I could see the grid through the fabric so it was so easy to keep the hem the right length!

I'll keep you posted on how the other apron gets a top half when I figure that one out! But in the meantime, check out:

Sewing Vintage Aprons: Classic Aprons for Today's Lifestyle

by

Denise Clason

For decades, smart stylish women have worn different aprons to suit their various needs. They are a must-have in the kitchen and elsewhere. This book brings new life to vintage styled aprons that women of today will find irresistible.

Denise Clason has been an artist/designer for over 35 years. Her designs have been published and licensed in the craft, decorative painting, sewing, and quilting industries. She is the author of 8 books.

Rockport Publishers now has an App for that!

Whoo-hooo!

If you're an iPad user, your access to Rockport Publishers' library of inspirational and educational design books just got easier. They've launched a new App for the iPad so you can efficiently browse and shop for Rockport's bestselling titles in e-book format ... then experience the books in a rich, colorful presentation.
 
This free App lets you read Rockport's books as they were designed, supporting both portrait and landscape presentation with a full suite of features to enhance the reading experience. 
 
Use the interactive App to ask Rockport authors questions about the latest design trends and topics. Check out design tips. Watch video tutorials that show how to browse, read and buy the e-books, which are fully searchable. And stay up to date on Rockport news with a section highlighting review coverage of new books, as well as company and author event information.   
 
More than 150 full-color e-books are currently available and new titles will be added as they are published. You can download free previews and then purchase and download complete e-books instantly directly through the App using your iTunes account. Head over to the App store to download your free App today! 
 
If you aren't an App user, you can always find the awesome print books at Rockpub.com.

Join the Community!
Don't forget to join the conversation at the new design community, RockPaperInk. This site is your go-to spot for inspiration and a place for design fanatics to share ideas and opinions. From graphic art to fashion, architecture, and beyond, every design topic is fair game, and each contribution builds on the sense of community headed by experts from around the world. It's a place to rejuvenate your creative soul. While you're there, sign up for the RockPaperInk newsletter to get sneak peeks into new books, special offers and more.

And it wouldn't be Craftside without an inside peek into one of my favorite Rockport books; today's pick is 1,000 Music Graphics: A compilation of packaging, posters, and other sound solutions.

 

I love the top left album cover of buttons! It makes me want to photograph my buttons.....hmmmm. If I were to arrange my buttons I think I would have to have them spell something out. I wonder what my buttons need to say?

"All buttoned up"? Just "all" and "up" and leave the word "button" out?

Ooooooh I think I like it! If you like 1000 bits of inspiration like I do then I bet you will love:

1,000 Music Graphics:
A compilation of packaging, posters, and other sound solutions

by

Stoltze Design

A catalog of design ideas for music-related material

This book offers designers a vast collection of inspiring and innovative graphic works from the world of music. The main emphasis is on music graphics including album/CD covers and inside spreads, packaging, posters, and other sales materials from the past decade.

Music makes the world go 'round, and great album designs generate sales for the record companies that back the artists. By showing diverse album graphics from the last decade, designers get a glimpse into what makes or breaks album sales and just how risky the content can be before it goes too far. Many designers hope to break into the music business by way of design, and this collection offers insight and inspiration for those venturing in. This book is a compendium of all types of graphically appealing album art, covering all kinds of music and music developers.

Clifford Stoltze (Boston, MA) is principal of Stoltze Design in Boston. Stoltze Design is a multi-disciplinary design studio offering strategic graphic solutions for a diverse group of demanding clients.

"Like" Sew Retro and crafty blogger links

Remember when we used the word "like" like ya know, like, all the time "valley girl" style? Don't worry if you like, don't, it's like, an 80's thing :) But now in 2011 it's all about the "like"-ing over at Facebook and if you like sewing retro things and want to get yourself in the running for a copy of Sew Retro: 25 Vintage-Inspired Projects for the Modern Girl & A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution then pop on over to the Sew Retro Facebook page by the end of August and "Like" it!

More about the book:

Sew Retro:

25 Vintage-Inspired Projects for the Modern Girl & A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution

By

 Judi Ketteler

Sewing never goes out of style, and today it is more popular than ever!  Sew Retro offers 25 stylish, vintage-inspired sewing projects—beautiful bags, essential skirts, unique pillows, and more—that are a pleasure to sew, thanks to easy instructions, helpful diagrams, and a pocket of 10 full-size patterns.

 

This fun, inspirational book also uncovers sewing’s colorful history, from the introduction of the sewing machine to the modern DIY movement, and features interviews with today’s hottest fabric and pattern designers, including Amy Butler, Betz White, Barbara Brackman, Emma Brennan, Judie Rothermel, and Kathy Miller of Michael Miller Fabrics. Filled with gorgeous project photography and quirky vintage illustrations that bring the 1920s, 1940s, 1950s, and beyond to life, Sew Retro celebrates sewing yesterday and today.

Learn more about  Sew Retro  and enjoy bonus projects and tutorials at www.sewretrothebook.com!

Judi Ketteler is never happier than when she’s merging her two passions: sewing and writing. Judi is a regional contributor for Better Homes & Gardens and has written about sewing, decorating, and other inspiring DIY projects for magazines including Creative Home, Decorating, Do It Yourself, and Quilts & More. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband, son Max, two cats, and a basement full of fabric and glue guns.

Learn more about Judi at www.judiketteler.com.

And now, for crafty blogger links:

Cindy Gimbrone Beads
Looking for a unique idea to display your handcrafted jewelry? Cindy's here to lend you a hand!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy looks ahead at the school year that is already filling her calendar with oodles of projects and commitments.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Did you love finger painting as a child? Here’s a – sort of – grown-up version you might enjoy.

Mixed Media Artist
Shrink plastic buttons? Yes!! Consider all the possibilities...

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Spooktacular crochet eyeball pattern!

About Family Crafts
Take a moment to read some crafty money saving tips and then take a few more to publish your own!

Aileen's Musings
This week Aileen offers you a fun Altered Cabinet card tutorial and freebie downloads stop by and get inspired to make some fall art!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a new card featuring a sweet elephant!

How to help a dog when it's overheating, dehydrated and sunburned from the book Dog Lover's Daily Companion

So Cal is in the midst of a heat wave along with so many other places, so I thought I'd share these great tips from the Quarry book Dog Lover's Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog on helping out your dog when it is overheating, suffering from dehydration or gets sunburned.

More about Dog Lover's Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog that's now available in paperback:

Click on this page from Dog Lover's Daily Companion: 365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog to enlarge and read what to do when your dog is overheating, becomes dehydrated and gets a sunburn as well as how to prevent these conditions.

Dog Lover's Daily Companion:

365 Days of Tips, Tricks, and Techniques for Living a Rich Life with Your Dog

By

Wendy Nan Rees

Kristen Hampshire

Photographer:

Kendra Luck

Live a more joyful life with your dog - one day at a time!

Dog Lover's Daily Companion is an inspiring handbook filled with 365 helpful tips, easy-to-build projects, and practical advice on the canine-human relationship. No matter where you live or what breed of dog you have, this book has a year's worth of ideas and insight into an exuberant, healthy life with your dog.

Wendy Nan Rees and Kristen Hampshire use humor, passion, and panache as they guide you through the day-to-day life of owning and living with a dog. From regular vaccinations to dealing with a sick dog; puppy school to obedience training; grooming at home - to those times that you must consult a professional - it's all covered here. Dynamic photographs by pet portraitist and "dogumentarian" Kendra Luck weave a visual narrative that honors the joy of dog companionship.

Inside, you'll find the following day-to-day categories:

Monday - Dogs 101

Tuesday - Table Manners and Training

Wednesday - Playtime and Exercise

Thursday - Grooming and Health Care

Friday - Housekeeping and Cleaning

Saturday and Sunday - Bonding and Relationship Building

Versatile and practical, this book will entertain you, inform you, and might even let you in on industry secrets. Whether you are a first-time or lifelong dog owner, you will be inspired to make your own beds and toys, learn valuable tips about pet safety, and enjoy traveling with your pet.

Wendy Nan Rees is an author and entrepreneur who has been involved in the pet industry for more than 25 years. She is the host of an internet radio show called “Wendy’s Animal Talk” on www.healthylife.net. Wendy also contributes weekly pet tips for www.lovetoknow.com. Wendy lives in Los Angeles with her dogs Senator, Cappy, and Little Man. For more information, visit Wendy at www.petlifestyleadvisor.com.

Kristen Hampshire is an award-winning writer. Her work has been published in a wide range of nationally recognized magazines. She has also served as an editor for two green industry publications, Commercial Dealer and Bayer Environmental Science's Lawn Care Professional. She lives in Lakewood, OH.

Kendra Luck has created a style and body of work from a past career as an award-winning photojournalist and day-to-day life with her canine muse, Gladys (1992-2008). For Luck, watching a dog is akin to watching children play, waves breaking at the beach, or a bonfire blaze - it's hypnotic. Luck documents the dog's rising role in the family household. She lives in Albany, California, and travels throughout the United States for private photo commissions as well as editorial and commercial projects. For more information, visit www.dogumentarian.com.

 

Craftside UK: Oh we do like to be beside the seaside

Over in the UK many of us are gearing up for the August Bank Holiday this weekend. With the weather forecast looking pretty good (fingers crossed) hopefully we’ll be able to squeeze out the last few drops of the sunshine into our summer. And one thing synonymous with a sun filled bank holiday is a trip to the seaside for many of us Brits, complete with 99 flakes and fish and chips of course.

Don’t worry though if you don’t manage a trip to the beach this weekend, or if you simply want a taste of the sea air all year around as here are some crafty coastal ideas to keep you busy.

This cute hermit crab is guaranteed to make you and your friends smile and think of the sea. Click on the image to download a PDF of the instructions for how to create him.

This project was taken from the book Amigurumi Knits. There is also a starfish, jellyfish, octopus, and anglerfish to keep little crabby company.

Or how about trying your hand at one of the gorgeous projects from Jan Constanstine’s Beside the Sea collection in her new book Love Stitching? Choose from a crab cushion, anchor appliqué, a lobster apron and an embroidered ship. So if knitting or stitching are your thing you can enjoy the seaside wherever you are, whatever the weather.

Plus if you’re working on any nautical related projects do let me know as I’d love to hear more about it. 

Natalie x