Monday, August 29, 2011

in the making...Nightmare reVamp










Finished this bag recently...it's a custom "The Nightmare Before Christmas" reVamped sleepover bag made with  hot pink duck canvas, black and white zebra print & snippits of a special Jack Skelington knit.  We just love this movie, so getting to sew with it was a lot of fun for me!

I thought I'd share some pictures of this bag in the process...here's what it looked like before the reVamp...

Before...a small, flat, canvas tote



I cut up the bag & added strips of fabric to it...


I usually work without a pattern, just a very free & spontaneous flow of cutting & piecing fabric.
I like to have a lot of contrast & interest in my pieces...HOT PINK is just what I was thinking for this sweet tween girl who has a bit of an edgy side too!  =)




B&W striped piping with zebra webbing handles...oh yeah!  I ended up using the zebra lining as piping instead of this striped one...either one would work just fine.
I added a textured zebra lining to this bag by free motion quilting all the black stripes on the zebra print...it's a LOT of sewing, but sooooo worth it!  Every so often I have to stop and change out a broken needle...another one bites the dust!


Here is the sturdy interfacing that I used for this bag...pellon 1-sided fusible 71F - retails for $7.99/yard.  You adhere it to your fabric using an iron...easy, peasy!

 All my pieces are sewn together & pinned to the interfacing...


Finally, it's all finished up and ready to go home with it's new owner...
I sure will miss this bag...it was really hard to let it go!




Tana, I hope you love your reVamped bag...enjoy!  =)



    Sunday, August 28, 2011

    Victorious For Elizabeth Open House Fundraiser

    Here are the pictures from the Victorious For Elizabeth Open House Fundraiser that I did with my friend Shawnna this past May.

    Here I am, making a long balloon strand to be placed on top of my booth outside so people can find us!  
    Yes, I'm kicking up my leg & being silly because...well, that's what I do best!


    Here is Shawnna's son, helping me to contain the 60+ balloons that were stashed in my car.  Good thing I had plenty...a number of them escaped our best efforts to control them!


    Isn't he the cutest helper!


    After I was done filling them up, I strategically went around the neighborhood and paired them up with 
    "Open House" signs and posters, in hopes of directing passing traffic to us....I wish I had taken some pictures of our signage...it looked really nice!



    When I got back, it was "go" time...I set up my booth & was ready for the day's events!  
    Here is the new peg board that my friend's mom gave me to display my goodies...thanks Vickie!!!


    Here is some of my work for the Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Series that is in progress...
    I take it out every so often and add to it when I can.


    More goodies on display...


    Autographed copies of Elizabeth Chalker's compelling book, 


    Here is Ty, his wife Eileen & their two beautiful girls.  I went to Jr. High school with Ty & invited him to check out the Open House...I was so thrilled to see him after so many years had passed.  Eileen ended up being a big winner of many of the raffle items & some of the auction items as well...
    Thanks so much for your support!!!


    Here is another shot of some of the Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Series pieces on display, 
    as well as the scrappy wrist cuffs & funky headbands for sale.


    Shawnna's mom, Nancy, donated these amazing cupcakes to the fundraiser...yummmmm!!!


    Hair stylist Megan Hernandez from "The Style Lounge" in Fountain Valley donated her time & Featherlocks services to help Elizabeth.  I had a purple & green one put in my hair in honor of Elizabeth & Lyme Awareness month...I LOVED it & it stayed in my hair for 2 months!!
    Thanks so much Megan!  =)


    These beautiful (and edible) butterflies were donated by "Sweet DejaVu"

    and lots of wine donated by One Hope Wine & Jackson Family Enterprises.


    I'm striking a pose!

     

    Here is the poster sized print that I made for Elizabeth's fundraiser...I love how it turned out!


    Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of a number of vendors, we also put together an online auction & raffle...here are the goodies that were offered up:

    All in all, it was a successful event...we raised over $1000 to help Elizabeth!  It is a respectable amount, but well short of the tens of thousands of dollars still needed for her ongoing medical treatment.  If you'd like to
    make a donation to help Elizabeth, please visit her website:  http://www.helpElizabeth.net.
     
    Click on the link below & it will take you to my Picasa Web Albums where you can view the complete collection of pictures from the event.

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