Craftside

How to Sew a Book Cover from "Sewing From Square One"

So in Tuesday's post I got a jump on Halloween. I realized that I skipped right over the next "event" that's up on the calender-"Back To School"

So in honor of those who will be heading back to those fine institutes of higher learning I bring you a great project from:

Sewing From Square One
Turn Simple Fabric Squares into 20 Projects

By

Darlene Cahill

The Home Shopping Network’s favorite sewing host presents 20 easy projects that start with a square of fabric.

Darlene Cahill has been selling sewing machines and products on the Home Shopping Network for nine years, while demonstrating projects and giving sewing tips. In Sewing from Square One, she shares her popular projects that each begin with a square of fabric, so no pattern is necessary. There are twenty projects for fashion and accessories, home decor, and crafts. Darlene knows what everyone wants to sew; pillows, ponchos, placemats, and a holder for the remote. Each project has step-by-step instructions with how-to photographs. The sewing is always simple, and along the way beginners will pick up basic sewing skills. Sewing from Square One magically turns fabric squares into real projects, and anybody into a sewer.

Darlene Cahill has been the sewing expert at the Home Shopping Network for more than nine years, demonstrating a multitude of products while sharing projects and tips with viewers. Her passion for sewing comes from years as a costume designer, dressmaker, and interior decorator. Darlene is also a singer/dancer/actress and she has performed across a broad spectrum of the entertainment industry, from her own touring magical variety act to the CBS reality show "Wickedly Perfect".

I think these look so spiffy and would be a great way to really dress up notebooks. Also I was thinking you could add a handle and outside pocket and it would look like a briefcase/tote.

(Click on Images to enlarge)

And if you like the idea of sewing projects from simple squares check out One-Piece Wearables from the Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls Series for more fun sewing projects based on one simple shape.

P.S. I do feel the need to share that the running joke by my older brother when I was in college was that I was "Institutionalized" (I went to Pratt Institute) Ha-ha, don't you just love big brothers?

Essential Fashion Illustration is a Project Runway "Must Have"

Check it out! There it is, fourth over, right next to Heidi Klum's pretty jewelry.

How cool! And I say I must agree.

Essential Fashion Illustration

By

Maite Lafuente

This book’s aim is to submerge the reader in the world of illustration. The first section ranges from how to start to draw a human figure to the techniques to stylize and synthesize it. This section provides a large amount of figures in different poses, as well as hands and feet—often the most difficult parts— in diverse postures and angles. However, in the field of fashion it is also essential to know how to draw fabric, and even more important to know how to draw the folds of clothing. The items of clothing are presented as much in technical drawing as in figures in movement, and forming light and shadow is also explained, as this gives quality to the illustration.

The second part of the book revolves around color and the different techniques with which one can work: watercolor, wax, pastel, and so on. All the drawings that appear constitute a brief exhibition of the changes that the fashion world has experienced and with this in mind a path has been laid which starts in 1900, illustrated in watercolors, and finishes in 2000, illustrated in pencil. The goal of this volume is to uncover the reader’s desire to paint and to provide him with some of the secrets that will encourage him to do so. After all, experience is the most effective way to learn, whatever the subject.

Maite LaFuente is an illustrator and professor at the European School of Fashion Design in Barcelona, Spain. She is also the director of her own illustration studio, specialized in fashion drawings and design. As an illustrator, her works have been published in important fashion magazines such as Elle and Marie Claire. She currently lives and works in Barcelona.

Maite LaFuente has done 2 other titles for Rockport Publishers including:

Essential Fashion Illustrations: Poses

By

Maite Lafuente

Learn how to draw posed figures for fashion illustration

This comprehensive reference provides hands-on techniques for created posed figures for fashion illustration. The first section illustrates various examples of nude and semi-nude poses (male and female). Later chapters illustrate the same poses wearing sportswear, sleepwear, dresses, suits, trousers, and casual and evening wear. The poses in each chapter are organized to show a progression including seated model (crossed legs, straight legs, seated on chair, seated on the floor); standing model (frontal view, three-quarter view, side-view from the back with crossed legs and straight legs); and moving model (running, walking, dancing). Each chapter begins with an introduction which is followed by images with detailed explanatory captions. With a focus on shape and form, the content covers marker and pencil techniques for a complete range of illustrated poses.

It all starts the the basics of proportions which I thought I would share with you from the intro:

(Click on image to enlarge)

And I thought I'd share with you a sample page. I just loved the outfits and hair in these illustrations.

So if you're bitten by the fashion bug grab yourself one of these 'must haves" and some paper and pencils and settle in for tonight's episode of Project Runway and design-a-long!

Halloween in August-It really isn't too soon ya know!

Admit it, you know how we all wait 'til the last minute for stuff. Well I am not going to enable you in this endeavor, I am here "get this party started"! If the stores can put out the Halloween decorations in August, I can blog about Halloween! And this book got my taste for Halloween crafting cookin'

Creative Costumes & Halloween Décor
50 Projects to Craft & Sew

By
The Lifestyle Editors of Creative Publishing international

The all-in-one Halloween book!

Creative Costumes & Halloween Décor combines costume and decorating projects into one convenient book. The costumes are designed around three basic styles: tabards, gowns, and full suits (made from pajama patterns). Accessories like wings, capes, skirts and lots of headwear are also included. Details like collars, gloves, spats, and face painting instructions offer lots of ideas for personalizing costumes.

The décor section includes 30 unique projects for decorating your house inside and out, along with special projects for throwing a Halloween party. The projects use common household products plus lots of craft-store items like wood pieces, paints, paper mâché, felt, craft foam, floral materials, and polymer clay. Elaborately propped beauty photos and step-by-step instructions with photos of every step make the projects--both costume and décor--easy to understand.

I just love this Raven bag. The template isn't in the book so I thought I'd whip it up and share it with you here!

No trick-all treat.

Click on image to enlarge and then save as or download as needed.

And the quote that is written on the bag is from Edgar Allen Poe's- The Raven

`Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting -
`Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

But wait there's more!!

I loved this raven template so much I thought I'd make some jewelry next.

I cut the template out and traced it onto a piece of black shrink plastic from Judikins.

I then punched two  1/4 inch holes in the plastic before shrinking.

A few jump rings and chain and I've got myself a new necklace for Halloween!

if you want to see the necklace I made last year, pop over to this post.

And if you're into good crafting books-be sure to leave a comment in yesterday, August 11th's post- to win a copy of The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style and a Crafty Chica Bobble head!

The "Spread The Sparkle Tour" of the Crafty Chica Kicks off Today and Crafty Blogger Links

Our very own author of:

The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style

Kathy Cano Murillo

Over 60 colorful craft projects, decorations, and shrines that celebrate “Latino Style”.

Kathy Cano Murillo, known as the Crafty Chica, launched her publishing career with two lively books: Making Shadow Boxes & Shrines and La Casa Loca, which means “the crazy house.” All of the projects that she designed for those two books are now featured in this classy-meet-campy companion collection of Latino-American pop art. The projects include everything from party gear to home decorations; garden accessories to gifts; and shrines to jewelry. More than 60 fabulous ideas incorporate paint, fabric, collage, embellishments, and a heavy dose of glitter. A book that every hip crafty chick needs in her collection.

Kathy Cano Murillo is a syndicated crafts columnist for The Arizona Republic and Gannett News Service. She is known for her pod-cast and web site, www.CraftyChica.com, which receives 900,000 hits a month. She is the author of five creativity/crafty books and makes regular appearances on local and national TV demonstrating her projects.

Is going on tour!!!!!

Tour dates of our glitter rock star:

Phoenix

Monday, August 11, 6-8 p.m.2766 W. Peoria Ave, Phoenix AZ 85029-5129(602) 588-9590

Tuesday, August 12, 11 a.m.-1p.m.Chandler, 285 N. Federal St., Chandler AZ 85226-3192(480) 782-0333

Tuesday, August 12, 6-8 p.m.2060 E Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85204-6965

Wednesday, August 13, 11am-1pm9470 W. Northern Ave., Glendale AZ 85305-1104(623) 772-9614

Wednesday, August 13, 6-8 p.m.1475 N. Litchfield Road, Goodyear AZ 85338-1262(623) 536-3158

Thursday, August 14, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.55 S. McClintock Dr Ste 125, Tempe AZ 85281-2042(480) 967-0795

CALIFORNIA
Monday, August 18th, 6 – 8 p.m.1652 Camino Del Rio N, San Diego CA 92108-1514(619) 294-2609

Tuesday, August 19, 6 – 8 p.m.219 N Glendale Ave., Glendale CA 91206-4455(818) 291-0944

Wednesday, August 20, 6 – 8 p.m.2055 Theatre Dr. Paso Robles CA 93446-9629(805) 226-0737

Thursday, August 21, 6 – 8 p.m.2040 Tully Rd., San Jose CA 95122-1300(408) 274-6772

Friday, August 22, 6 – 8 p.m.3691 Truxel Rd., Sacramento CA 95834-3604(916) 928-9777

Saturday, August 23, 3 – 5 p.m. 7400 N Blackstone, Fresno CA

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So why you ask is the one in Glendale, CA in pink? Because that's the one I will be at, whooo-hoooo!

If one of the locations is near you be sure to cruise over and meet the Crafty Chica and share in the glitter-love!

See that cool little figure in the Crafty Chica's hand? It's a Crafty Chica bobble head! Would you like one of your very own??? I know you do!!! Well all you need to do it post a comment here about "GLITTER"

Strangest thing you've glittered, think should be glittered, you get my drift???

Leave a comment by August 25th and we will randomly pick a winner to receive a copy of The Crafty Chica Collection
Beautiful Ideas for Crafts, Home Decorations and Shrines from the Queen of Latina Style and a Crafty Chica Bobble head!

Here is my entry:

I simply rubbed on some white glue with my finger and sprinkled glitter onto the rock (over a paper plate) and let dry. I then shook off the excess glitter. I then flipped over the rock and spread some more glue around the bottom edge (not on the direct bottom though) and sprinkled more glitter on. Let dry, tapped off excess and there you have it!

I think doing weird things to rocks is quickly becoming my new "thing"

Click here to see another bazaar rock.

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More crafty-love to share with Crafty Blogger Links:

About Family Crafts
There comes a time every summer when our thoughts must turn to going back to school... You can make it fun!

About.com Cross Stitch
Get your creative juices flowing with these ideas for Cross Stitch Projects.

Aileen's Musings
Come take a peek at MMCA Marketplace's Grand Opening! Peruse the talented artists' shops to see some fresh, new and exciting works of art! You will find jewelry, collage, purses, hand turned bowls, prints, fabric collages, assemblage and more. Also find out more details and enter Aileen's 2fer Blog Giveaway!

Art Bead Scene
Have you got something to say? Enter the Art Bead Scene's monthly creativity challenge to win some awesome prizes!

Crafty Princess Diaries
That little voice inside of you has something important to say. Listen to it no matter if it has to do with crafts or your life in general.

Layers Upon Layers
Would you like to stretch your collage muscles to include more abstracts?

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
Sweater Surgery Flower with a little Help from Sherri Haab's New Book- Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry

The Impatient Blogger
The Impatient Crafter Presents: Summer CHA Fabulous Crafty Rockstars! Join Margot as she schmoozes with some of the craft industries biggest celebs in this fun YouTube video!

Once Upon A Quilt-Their Stories, One of Mine, and New Stories To Look Forward To!

Once Upon a Quilt: A Scrapbook of Quilting Past and Present    

By
Margret Aldrich

"Once Upon a Quilt" is an exciting anthology of stories, essays, and memoirs relating to quilts, quilting, and quilt history. It has something for everyone who makes, collects, and admires quilts.

Selections range from the amusing to the informative to the enlightening: "Why We Love Quilts" by nationally-known quilt authority Merikay Waldvogel traces the steps of quilting history in America, musing on the importance of patchwork in our lives; "Alice's Tulips" by best-selling author Sandra Dallas tells the humorous yet poignant story of a newly married young woman who makes a quilt for her husband, an enlisted Civil War soldier; "Are You a Quilting Fanatic?" by quilter and humorist Ami Simms takes a hilarious look at our quilting obsessions; "Starting from Square One" by Quilter's Newsletter Magazine columnist Helen Kelley is a charming essay about passing on our knowledge of quilts to another generation, as Helen teaches her granddaughter the art of quilting.

The stories work in perfect tandem with an eye-catching collection of artwork. Color photographs, black-and-white historical photographs, artwork, vintage advertising, pattern booklets, and more are from such talented artists as Diane Phalen, Rebecca Barker, and Warren Kimble.

I can personally testify to the joy and amazing experience of making a quilt with a group of friends for a special reason.

This is, from left to right, me, Mary Pat, Tina, and Susan. We made a quilt for our friend, Evelyn, who unfortunately was battling a serious illness and we wanted to do something for her. As a quilter herself we knew making a quilt would really hit the spot.

Here we are showing off our string piecing and blocks.

Evelyn (on right)  truly loved the quilt and in this modern age unlike a lot of vintage quilts we even included a label with our photo on the back. You can see it in the lower right in the photo (click on image to enlarge).

A fun little story about this quilt is it took three of us to do the hand stitched binding. When one of us had done so much as to have our fingers knotted into atrophy we would then drive the quilt to the next person's house. We of course were sewing right up to the day before the scheduled luncheon to give it to Evelyn.

OK, we don't look like these ladies in this vintage photo from Once Upon a Quilt: A Scrapbook of Quilting Past and Present but I think we're just as pleased with our quilt!

And.....I have just been informed of a new book in the works at Voyageur Press, so new there isn't even a cover to share with you but what I do have is a link to the Author, Spike Gillespie's Blog, SloppyQuilter where she has just interviewed and photographed Margot Lovinger and Boo Davis for the new book- Quilting Art. Be sure to pop over there and read the evolution of this wonderful new title come together!

I am really looking forward to reading about all the creatives that are participating in it!