Victorious Vixen...craftivism for + change

Skateboard Deck Gallery Show

2011-11-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I went to the Skateboard Deck Gallery Show at Catalyt in Westminster, CA...it was so awesome! A total FEAST for photographers and I had more than my share that night. =) I took this as an opportunity to practice adjusting the settings on my camera and trying out some creative shots to help prepare me for an upcoming wedding shoot. I am loving photography & hoping to use more of my pics in my quilting and mixed media work...after this show, my mind was exploding with ideas and new inspiration!!

All the artwork was done with skateboards and most were displayed on the wall. I was invited by Brandon, a youth pastor at West Cypress Church who submitted 2 large pieces of artwork for display. Here he is below, checking out some of the other pieces on display.

Click below for the complete web album and a TON more pictures of the artwork...waaaay too many for one blog post!:

2011.11.19 Skateboard Deck Gallery Show

in the making...Nightmare reVamp

2011-08-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

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! =)

Victorious For Elizabeth Open House Fundraiser

2011-08-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

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,

"Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind, Raw Faith"

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:

Auction items: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150189032018118.330076.60779203117

Raffle items: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150189020828118.330072.60779203117

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.

Add caption

2011.05.01 Victorious For Elizabeth Open House Fundraiser

Metamorphosis

2011-04-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Please join us for a very special Open House Fundraiser & Online Auction Kickoff benefiting Elizabeth Chalker. We are raising money to help her get the life-saving medical treatment that she desperately needs!

Elizabeth is extremely ill after years of being misdiagnosed...now barely hanging on by a thread. She recently lost her dog & companion, Symon, whom she considered her son. It has been devastating to her, on top of the constant torment & pain that she is in 24/7. I could go on and on and on about her & how she has impacted me, but here is a website that has been put together for her and shares more of her story:

http://helpelizabeth.net/

Time	Sunday, May 1 · 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Location	8252 Regency St. La Palma, CA 90623 AND Online for 1.) Auction

We are asking vendors of our Open House to donate a percentage of their sales to Elizabeth. We are collecting donations to be auctioned off ...it kicks off at the Open House & continues online!

*wine tasting
*massage
*auction
*shopping
*buy her book
*more in the works!

Tickets are given to those who donate to the Victorious For Elizabeth event and can be used for wine, sweets, entries, massage, & other goodies!

Use this link to donate any amount not listed above.

Hosted by Arbonne consultant, Shawnna Gwinn Gomez. 20% of all retail Arbonne orders will be donated to Elizabeth Chalker! To place an online order, visit: www.Shawnna.MyArbonne.com

Victorious Vixen quilted wallets, bags & other sewn items will be donating 50% of all sales to Elizabeth Chalker & 100% of select items at the Open House. www.VictoriousVixen.Etsy.com

Nicole Presti will be donating 20-50% of her sales to Elizabeth. www.celebratinghome.com/sites/nicolepresti

Kelly A. Godlewski from Stampin' Up! Donating a portion of her sales to Elizabeth. http://kellygodlewski.stampinup.net

Joy Toal of Joy’s Creations. Donating 20% of her sales to Elizabeth.

Megan Self Hernandez – hair stylist. Donating a portion of her sales to Elizabeth.

**********************************************************
Crafters/business owners...would you like to donate something for our auction &/or host a table at the open house? Please contact Nani Lauriano Luculescu for more information: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com

Do you know someone who would like to participate in the open house or have a unique item for the auction? We are looking for others who would like to join us!

Donations can be mailed to:

Victorious Vixen
P.O. Box 2404
Cypress, CA 90630

You can find the Facebook event invite here with all the details:

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206606866024564

She has really inspired me...

I want to see her condition improve & her pain stripped away. As I read her book, I see her in a lonely pit of darkness and deep in my soul I feel such compassion for her...

I keep asking myself...what else can I do to help her???

I'm making several special creations to benefit Elizabeth Chalker's life-saving treatment...stop by the
Open House & come see me & what I've been working on!!! =)

Buy her book and be blessed by it!

Elizabeth's Book!

Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind

(Raw Faith)

Elizabeth has written a powerful, God inspired book that will encourage and help strengthen anyone who reads it. If you are in the midst of suffering, or struggling through intense hardships, then this book will provide solice and hope to pull you out of the darkness and into the light!

Elizabeth is still courageously fighting for her life and to get the resources necessary to receive life-saving medical treatment.

Offer exclusive to this site:

http://www.helpelizabeth.net/Bookpage.html
For those who make a contribution of $35.00 or more to help Elizabeth, you can request a personalized,
signed copy of her book (shipping included within the US, add $5 if international)!
To contribute online now and receive your copy of Elizabeth's God inspired book, click on the link below!

http://www.helpelizabeth.net/Bookpage.html

Scrappy Plush Camera Strap Cover

2011-04-10T16:18:00.000-07:00

In my last post I showed you the cool new Marilyn Monroe wallet that I custom made for a gal named Kristin. Here I show you how I've utilized some of the scraps from that project to make another Funky Fresh camera strap cover.

I love the scrappy look! Yes, it does take more time to piece it together...but I think it is well worth it. =)

The little strips of fabric are mixed together in a random fashion, quilted with this really cool purple/turquoise/pink variegated thread that I picked up from Jo-Ann...I just HAD to try it out on this & am really happy with the way it turned out. I love the subtle color changes & the silkiness of this thread...oh yeah, it's funky fresh!

I managed to include other prints that were not in the Marilyn Monroe wallet...love that green splatter skull fabric & the orange snippet of Heather Baily's print too!

Each creation is handmade with LOVE...because you're worth it!

You can find it here in my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69973300/victorious-vixen-scrappy-plush-quilted

I hope you guys had a great weekend!

Marilyn Monroe Custom Wallet

2011-04-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

My latest creation...

handmade with LOVE...because you're worth it!!

Capture the Moment

2011-03-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

When I got my new DSLR camera for my birthday this past November, I was really excited! I had been taking pictures with a second-hand Point & Shoot (Fuji FinePix) that I bought from my friend Kristin. She is the creative genius behind KristinRogersPhotography.com.

She's amazing, right!

Let me assure you, I definitely got my money's worth out of that camera...by the time I was done with it, it was being held together with rubber bands and duct tape (not joking)! I took a TON of cool pictures with it & really enjoyed a whole new world with the macro lens.

Project 365...one of my favorite shots with my trusty point & shoot using a macro lens.

So when I finally got my hot little hands on the new camera, I knew I wanted to make a cover for the strap...something scrappy & fun! I whipped up this one & was really happy with the way it turned out. I mixed a bunch of my favorite prints & backed it with plush zebra minky...oh yeah!

It's really comfortable to wear & I've received a lot of compliments on it, so I decided to make another one for my Etsy shop - you can find it here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69973300/victorious-vixen-scrappy-plush-quilted

This one measures aprox. 24" long & 1.75" wide & fits most standard straps. It is designed to slip over your original camera strap...strap NOT included. Please measure your strap before purchase and let me know if you need a different size. =)

Photography has been a really fun adventure for me and my neighbors can attest to the fact that I can usually be seen with a camera around my neck! I wear it all the time, stopping to shoot anything that catches my eye. I love looking back at the pictures I've taken & recalling how I felt or what was going on at the time. It is another way for me to express myself...by capturing the moment, the details, the simple & complex.

So for all you photography enthusiasts out there, pick up your camera, seize the moment & get shooting!

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." -Ansel Adams

Magical Crown Tutorial

2011-03-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

Kyra & Ava have a special friend at school who just LOVES The Princess & The Frog (TP&TF) and I thought it would be cool to make her a special birthday crown for her with that in mind. I found a bunch of cool things in the dollar bin at Target, one of them being this TP&TF Play Pack with crayons & stuff inside. I used the image on the front for inspiration! =)

I cut a strip of heavy interfacing for the band & simply sandwiched it between a strip of green fabric & sewed it together. I wanted to have a raw edgy look, so I didn't finish the edges or do anything fancy...just some free motion zig-zag stitching along all four sides.

Then I cut out some leaf shapes with the interfacing...some big, some small. I wanted the stitching on the leaves to really show, so I cut additional interfacing that was thick & would add more loft. I sandwiched the leaves with my dreamy Heather Bailey green print that I love and free motion sewed each leaf individually.

After all the leaves were sewn, I cut them out & pinned them in place on the band.

Starting with the leaves farthest from the middle, I sewed them into place working my way to the last one, front & center.

I attached a wide strip of elastic to each side of the band so it will fit snug & comfortably, but you can use elastic or some other type of closure if you like.

All done with the leaves....

but I wanted to add some hand stitching, beads and a purple feather to top it off!

This is a quick & simple project that you can definitely customize and make your own.

Add fabric flowers, ribbon, beads...whatever you dream up.

Let me know if you have any questions about this tutorial & let me know if you make one of your own!

Get Crafty!

Custom Tree Wallet

2011-03-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

I recently received this email:

Nani, I was checking out your Victorious Vixen page, and I was hoping you could make a wallet for my wife for her birthday. I was hoping to have a tree themed wallet. I attached some pictures of some fall trees to give you some ideas. Her name is Violet and she loves the outdoors and most of the fall colors.

Of course I was up for the challenge! =)

So here are the pictures he sent me, along with some fabric I picked out especially for this project.

I printed the trees out on fabric using my inkjet printer & special paper backed fabric sheets that I picked up at my local JoAnn's. I framed the trees with a log cabin type block, mixing & matching fabric strips as I saw fit. I like to add a lot of contrast & texture into my work, so along with these prints, I added brown corduroy & a dotted minky to the mix.

Here is the pieced top all sewn together & backed with a fleece like interfacing. I like a lot of loft, so the thicker the better!

Next was my favorite part...the free motion stitching. Unlike an embroidery machine, you move the fabric around in a doodle-like fashion, sketching with thread instead of a pen. In order to do this on a regular sewing machine, you must have a darning foot. On my machine, it comes off and on with the screw on the left side. Another thing, you must be able to "drop your feed dogs." Those are the little teeth like things under the needle plate that grab the fabric and "pull" it into the sewing area. Since you'll be the one moving the fabric, you don't want these up and active!

When it comes to free motion, I often follow the flow of the fabric...

and to keep things tidy, I pull the loose threads to the back & tie them up!

Here is some free motion from the front...

and this is the "behind the scenes" look! There is a lot of stitching goin' on here. =)

I mark my signature "V" on the inside with a blue water soluble pencil & stitch my little heart out!

Everything is ready...time to sew them together!

And she's all done, made with attention to detail & lots of love!

Since this was a birthday present, I offered to include a matching hand made card. I used some fun animal print ribbon & a picture of one of the trees...add stitching & wha-lah, it's done!

As usual, I used recycled paper packaging & tied strips of fabric to the front and added a stamped sentiment to the tag.

Happy Birthday Violet!

I hope you are enjoying your custom wallet...I had a lot of fun making it.

Mixing It Up...

2011-02-24T16:24:00.000-08:00

I've got a new order in the works & it's another custom printed fabric wallet. She likes the purple & Asian prints I have and didn't want something "girly." Here's the first thing I pulled out of my stash & mixed up for her.

What do you think?

Looking Upward

2011-02-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

Seeking...

contemplating...

looking upward...

wondering...

hoping...

dreaming...

wishing...

admiring...

reaching...

feeling...

looking...

searching...

finding inspiration...

by looking upward.

All the best,

Amy's Makeup Clutch

2011-02-18T17:00:00.000-08:00

...hand made with LOVE!

I am blessed to have some really amazing people in my life. Amy is one of them. This Makeup Clutch was made just for her, pieced & quilted with attention to detail. She picked out the main print in the middle with the flower & I mixed in the others to go with it. Hope you like it Amy! =)

free motion embroidered with my signature "V"

pieced & quilted

quilted lining

zipper closure

peek inside


back

the ANTS go Marching One by One!

2011-02-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

This little snack was a big hit with my girls and I thought I'd share it with you! <3

celery stick, washed & trimmed
peanut butter
ants...we used the brown sprinkles but feel free to use whatever you have in your pantry or fridge. (nuts, raisins, grapes, cheese bits...etc)

Homeschooling Opportunity...make it FUN!
Let your little ones put the "ants" on the log (fine motor skills)...count them, ask them what color they are...get them talking! Ava suggested that we try jelly on it next time...I think that is a great idea!
Take a picture of your snack and make a sketch of it for your journal. Write the words "celery", "ants on a log" in your journal.

What else can you think of to put on these? Do you have an easy, fun & nutritious snacks to share with me...I can use all the help I can get!


...she likes it!

I Heart Hearts!

2011-02-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share some of the hearts I've come across, several I've made, some my girls have made and a bunch from today's events. The past year I've found myself going back to this same theme...hearts!

Hearts can be a simple expression of love, affection and emotion.

Love is all around us!

Happy hearts of encouragement...

Love one another!

Some pictures from today...

I wish I could say I made these, but I didn't! Don't they look amazing?!

Here are our Valentine's Day cards...with a books of the bible book marker.

My two little Valentine's! I love you my girls...you are my joy! =)

Love is patient,

Love is kind.

It does not envy,

It does not boast,

It is not proud.

It is not rude,

It is not self-seeking,

It is not easily angered,

It keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil,

But rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

Always trusts,

Always hopes,

Always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Yee-Haw!

2011-02-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

All done...Laura's custom quilted wallet is finished up and on it's way to Texas! Yee-haw!

I love how the turquoise pops against the chocolate brown and orange! This color combo is so fun to work with.

I used a yellow/orange variegated thread to free motion embroider my signature "V"...and I love how it turned out!

Well, I hope you guys are having a good creative week...we've been busy working on our Valentine's Day exchange for school. Lots of painting going on over here!!! Look out for pictures of our handmade creations and links to other cool Valentine's Day projects for you to try out at home.

Get crafty!

Sneak Peek!

2011-02-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

This is a sneak peek of what I'm working on now...Laura's custom quilted wallet...

She told me she likes pumpkin, crimson, turquoise & brown...

...almost done Laura...then it'll be on it's way to you, packaged with LOVE! =)

Today my super crafty friend Leslie surprised me with a sneak peek of her own. She is sending this amazing piece my way & I can NOT wait to see it in person! Leslie has inspired me with her amazing color combination's, attention to detail & layer upon layer of texture in her paper crafting, Posh Paper Sweets. I've been encouraging her...well, harassing her, to make the jump into fabric & work some mixed media magic. It appears that my persistence has paid off because she has just begun her journey into mixed media & is LOVING it! I'm so inspired by her creations and the LOVE that she puts into each piece of art...truly a labor of love.

And here is a sneak peek of another one of today's projects...let's see what happens when you add food coloring to the flowers...

Have a beautiful day and get crafty!

Steelers or Packers???

2011-02-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

Since my Bears are no longer in contention...I don't have much invested into the big Superbowl game today. I do have a friend who is a HUGE Steelers fan & I picked up this Steelers fabric with him in mind. I mixed it with some solid Kona fabric & one of my skull prints from my stash...it's coming together pretty nicely!

I had to get over my feeling of disloyalty while sewing this...at least they're not in the same division!

Here is my little Bears fan, giving her fiercest growl! There is a lot of cheering & yelling when the game is on...usually done by me, then followed by my two mini-me's! Gotta get them started early ya know!

Whoever your team is, bust out your jersey, get your game face on & get ready for some football! =)
Have fun & be safe!

The Little Things

2011-02-04T13:05:00.000-08:00

finding a puddle to stomp in...

running to the park...

stopping to pick a dandelion...

making a wish...

balancing on a little wall...

taking time to play...

finding little treasures in nature...

discovering secret places...

enjoying a little snack...

swinging...

pretending...

climbing...

taking a leap of faith...

admiring the beauty around us...

taking a moment to rest...

making up games...

and learning everywhere we go.

Simple pleasures in the little things in life!
May you be blessed by the little things that pop up in your day. =)
Have a great weekend!

LOVE in the air!

2011-02-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and LOVE is in the air! Check out the newest item in my Etsy shop, the Upcycled "Love" Wrist Cuff.

I've secured the canvas heart to a strip of Upcycled jeans with funky free-motion stitching & backed it with premium Kona cotton. "Love" is hand written, then free-motion stitched.

It closes with 2 lime green metal snaps & my signature "V" free motion embroidered on the side.

This wrist cuff is labeled, "Victorious For Lyme" & signed on the inside.
measures aprox. 8" x 3"
fits small sized wrist - 6"-6 1/2"

Off to the Movies!

2011-02-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

This package is officially on it's way to the "Under Our Skin" screening in Washington, hosted by the SW WA Lyme Network. The purpose of the screening is to educate & empower our community of the dangers & reality of Lyme disease. With each new person that sees this documentary lies the hope that this debilitating and misunderstood affliction will be prevented. The information for the special showing is as follows:

FREE Screening of "Under Our Skin"

Battle Ground Cinema

Saturday, February 5th, 2011 @ 9:30 am

(limited to the first 165 people)

You are also invited after the show to learn more, and have your questions answered by local Lyme & Lyme Literate Doctors

at the former Battle Ground City Grill

from 11:15-12:30

For more infomation, contact the SW WA Lyme Network

swwalymenetwork@gmail.com

This event is not intended for children under 13

Inside the package is this...

...made especially for the Under Our Skin screening!

It's a Victorious Vixen wristlet that is pieced, quilted & has a velcro closure. Of course I had to have the lime green in there, the official color of Lyme disease!

There is my signature "V" - free motion embroidered on the front...nothing beats handmade, except handmade with LOVE!

Here's a close up of the velcro closure and turquoise piping...

and some Lyme Awareness rubber bracelets I tucked inside...

a clear plastic pocket...

front...

back...

and hopefully "the end" of Lyme. I do have more of this fabric combination & can make one for you upon request: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com. Please check out "Under Our Skin" and share it with your family & friends!

Until then, watch the extended trailer here:

Halloween Fun

2010-10-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

If you know me, then you know I like to be silly & have fun! Last year we came up with a silly & cheap costume idea for the girls..."Sticker Monsters!" For the record, they really did have costumes but this was just spontaneous & for fun.

So this year, the sticker monsters made another appearance...and I joined in on the fun!

Kyra thought this gift tag would make for a great set of bug eyes...work it girl!

Then I had some leftover streamers & thought my cuties would make some pretty cute mummies...here they are all wrapped up.

Have a FUN & SAFE Halloween everyone - and if you have a fun costume idea to share, I'd love to hear it!

Noah's Ark Watermelon

2010-10-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

My Kyra girl celebrated her 5th birthday in class this past Friday. Instead of the usual cupcakes, I wanted to do something healthy...so the pressure was on for it to be extra special so the cupcakes wouldn't be missed. Her teacher gave me the idea for a fruit salad, so I decided to go with a Noah's Ark watermelon! I looked up a few pics on the internet of what the ark should look like & went to work.

I marked my major cut lines & cut away the top parts of the watermelon very carefully. I cut out a big square in the middle for the entrance to the ark and smaller squares in pairs for windows around the whole thing.

Kyra had the idea to use the animal crackers...that was a great idea! We glued seven popsicle sticks on top of another one that was cut in half to make the bridge which the animals used to board the ark.

I drained out as much of the excess watermelon juice as possible...didn't want it flooded inside the ark, ya know! Then I used some "scrap" watermelon rind to construct a mini rooftop, secured with toothpicks. We put the cut up fruit around the watermelon...just love how this looks all put together!

I carefully placed the animals in the windows, 2 of each kind next to each other & filled another plate with more animal crackers...all set!

Here it is in the classroom before the kiddos had at it...and there is a model Noah's Ark behind it! =)

My Kyra girl was very happy & had a super special day celebrating her birthday at school. She gave me the biggest thank you hug for making the special Noah's Ark watermelon & took this picture for me. =)

Happy Birthday Kyra, you are such a blessing to my life & so many others. You are bright, thoughtful & very affectionate...I love you my Kyra girl!

For more watermelon fun & ideas, check out the pics & links I found below...enjoy!!

http://www.thevirtualvine.com/watermelons.html

http://www.creative-baby-shower-ideas.com/watermelon-baby-carriage.html

I found many of the pics I posted here:

http://shadowshark29.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/25-awesome-watermelon-carvings/

Funky Revamped Skirt

2010-09-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here is another Wardrobe Refashion I crafted using a pair of old jeans. I was going for a funky & comfy skirt...here is the "before" shot...

I turned the jeans inside out, cut up along the inseam & cut to the length I wanted.

Then I picked out some hot pink cheetah fabric to "fill in" the gaps in the front & back. I cut it to size, pinned it in place & did some wild free motion zig zag stitching using pink thread..

You can see the stitching here, along with the black & white zebra ruffle I pinned along the bottom of the skirt. I wanted mine to be on the wild side so I kept the raw edges frayed, but you can finish the edges for a tidy look. I also pinned the ruffle with the skirt on top...again, for a wild & frayed look.

Then it was time to sew on the ruffle...I used a zig zag stitch, pulling the pins as I go.

I attached a funky pocket to the side of the skirt, made from a quilted log cabin block that I had in my stash. Before I stitched it on to the skirt, I did some more wild free motion zig zag stitiching...no plan, just going for it!

Then I added my signature free motion "V" to the back...

...and she's all done! I now have a funky revamped skirt with a cool little pocket, made especially to fit my cell phone. =)

Here is the wild free motion zig zag stitching I did on the front and a couple pics of the front & back.

My next revamp is in the works right now...it features some really fun fabric I scored & another t-shirt. Can you say comfortably cute!!! Thanks for stopping by...if you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear from you. =)

Happy Revamping!

"Let's Get It On"...& Revamp this shirt!

2010-09-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

I recently shared my pledge to re-fashion my wardrobe in an effort to add some funk to my closet, keep money in my pocket & save the planet! It's a fun & practical challenge that I am really excited about participating in. You can read more about the challenge here: Wardrobe Re-Fashion

I had a super soft brown UFC t-shirt I bought way back in August of 2006...UFC 62 - Liddell vs. Sobral. It's an extra large and is a bit frumpy on me now...time to cut it up & refashion it.

My first step was to find a good fitting shirt that I liked which will be used as my pattern. It's comfy & flattering...simple too. =)

I put my UFC shirt on top of my "pattern" shirt, matching up the sleeves & neckline, then using a sliver of rescued bar soap...hey, it's readily available & marks your fabric nicely!

Then I cut the neck off my shirt...once again using the scrap of soap to mark my cut line.

I have to say...it was pretty liberating to grab my scissors & cut up my shirt! =)

To create that simple little gather at the bust, I stretched & pinned 2 1/2" of elastic, stretched over 4" of fabric...then stitched it on.

The tricky part is that you have to hold on tight to the elastic while you stretch & sew it. I found it helpful to crank my presser foot down a few notches.

This was surprisingly simple with great results.

I should have stopped right here...but I didn't! I got the bright idea to cut up the back...wanted to try some lacing. I cut the shirt straight up the middle of the back, then made a "V" shape on top. I tried it on & pinned it to fit comfortably.

I liked it so much at this stage, but really wanted to try that new leather cording I just got my hands on...so I punched some holes in it every inch or so on each side...then laced it up.

I wasn't in love with my bra showing through the back...and I sewed it back up! Much to my dismay, it was now too small...so I'll have to revamp it again. I think I'll make another t-shirt dress with this shirt...but I'll leave that for another post! Can't be afraid to just go for it sometimes...lesson learned! =)

Funky Fresh Custom Wallet

2010-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

My latest creation is for Shannon...she requested a custom quilted wallet with the following...

hot pink
zebra
flower print
lime green
some black
loves skulls

and here is what I came up with...

Shannon, I hope you love your new custom wallet...I had fun mixing these fabrics together for you!

Enjoy!

--Nani =)

The Pledge

2010-09-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

I recently stumbled upon a blog called, "Wardrobe Re-Fashion" where members pledge not to buy any new clothing for a set period of time, but must re-fashion clothing that they already have or picked up secondhand somewhere. I loved the idea of...

upcycling & repurposing my old clothes...
raiding my friends & families closets...
adding some funk to my wardrobe...
learning to sew clothing...
doing something eco-friendly...
scoring good finds at garage sales & thrift shops...
saving (and making) money with my skills!

I'll be posting over there at least once a week to share my ideas & designs. I hope you'll check it out & try to re-fashion something that is lingering in your closet, just waiting for an encore!

The Pledge

I, Nani Luculescu, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that I shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovated, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings! Signed,

Back to School Sale!

2010-09-01T12:22:00.001-07:00

Mermaid Wallet, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Are you a Victorious Vixen Facebook fan yet?

Hop on over & "LIKE" it for your "Happy Back-to-School" coupon. $10 off all READY-TO-SHIP wallets in my Etsy shop, ends Saturday, 9/04...just enter "B2S" in the notes at the checkout & I'll send you a $10 refund.

Share with your friends & family...then drop hints on which wallet would make a great gift for you! =)

Mermaid Wallet #3

2010-08-25T19:34:00.001-07:00

Mermaid Wallet #3, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Something new in the Etsy shop today...it's a funky Mermaid Wallet. Pick it up here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54741256/victorious-vixen-edgy-mermaid-wallet-3

I added some spice to my latest Revamped Turquoise & Black T-shirt Dress...a funky fresh skull cell phone pocket on the side and will be posting pics of it soon, so stay tuned!

I've had a great response from my Revamped T-Shirt Tutorial ...thanks for checking it out & sharing it with your peeps! I'd love to know what sizes & designs you'd like to see in my shop.

I hope you're having a great week!
--Nani

Edgy Asian Eyes Dragon Wallet #2

2010-08-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool new wallet that I made using some of my favorite fabric featuring a dragon. I mixed in some brown corduroy with the unbleached natural cotton, red chinese characters & Asian eyes print...for a funky fresh combo I call, "Edgy Asian Eyes Dragon" wallet #2.

You can pick it up in my Etsy shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/54652416/victorious-vixen-edgy-asian-eyes-dragon

Here is the front of the wallet...

and here is the back, with lots of free motion stitching around the dragon...

here's a peek at the inside...

hello Asian Eyes!

some detail on the dragon...you know I put the LOVE in there!

The Asian Eyes print has been my most popular fabric so far & I get lots of requests for it. It is no longer in print, so I picked up as much of it as I could...I just love working with an Asian flair.

What prints would you like to see me working with? Which of my designs is your favorite? I'd love to hear from you! =)

Wishing you well,

Nani

Revamped T-shirt Tutorial

2010-08-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I sure had a lot of fun with this next project. I was trying to get my sewing mojo back...seemed to have hit a creative block. I have read a few books about upcycling old t-shirts into cool tops, skirts & other things and decided it was time to just GO FOR IT!

What you need:
t-shirt (s)
scissors
needle & thread

Makes life easier to have:
rotary cutter
ruler or straight edge
sewing machine
dress form (I made mine!)

I got this green shirt from CALDA, California Lyme Disease Association, and thought it would be great to revamp it into an attention getting outfit.

I started by cutting off the sleeves with my ruler & rotary cutter (the thing that looks like a pizza slicer). If you don't have one of these, just use a pair of scissors to do the job. Having the rotary cutter will give you a nice even edge to work with, making it easier to match up when you're sewing.

I carefully cut out all the portions of the shirt with writing on it & set it aside.

I cut the sleeves open (just follow along the seams) & trimmed it to make green strips.

Then, I did the same thing to 2 black t-shirts of mine.

Next, I pieced the shirts together in a crazy quilt type fashion...there are NO rules when you are the designer! =) I like that a lot. In fact, I didn't use a pattern or anything, just cut, pin, sew & go. I also wanted my stitching to show, so I sewed them together with wrong sides together, alternating from a straight stitch to a big zig zag stitch on my seams.

I created a long chunk of fabric that was pieced together & fit it to my dress form...I did have to fit it on myself when I got to the bottom of the dress since my dress form doesn't have a booty! Just pin to a comfortable fit and sew this bad boy up!

I used a scrap of pieced fabric for the strap...sew it in half lengthwise & zig zag stitch the ends to the dress. I wanted mine to be a halter but you can criss cross them in the back or do it however you want.

Lastly, I stitched the CALDA logo with the tick onto the front lower part of the dress & added some additional lines of stitiching for a bullseye effect.

That's it! I now have a funky fresh attention getting lyme awareness outfit...and I have to say, I feel pretty darn good in it AND it's super comfy too! Definitely think it's LymeSexy...what do you think?

UPcycled Quilted Wrist Cuffs

2010-08-17T13:11:00.001-07:00

Quilted Wrist Cuffs, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Do these look a little familiar to you?

If you've been following my work, you might just recognize these as the offspring of some of my quilted wallets that I've made. These are leftover strips that I've saved...didn't know why at the time, but have now been able to give them a second life & purpose! =)

They have a velcro closure & my signature "V" free motion embroidered on the side. Sizes vary & can be made to size. I don't have these listed in my Etsy shop, but if you'd like to make a purchase or place a custom order, please send me an email at:

Nani@VictoriousVixen.com

-or -

shoot me a facebook message...you can find the link on the right side of my blog. The wrist cuffs shown here are all at a special introductory price of $15 + shipping.

Have an amazing day!

--Nani

Lyme Inspired Creations

2010-08-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Being a craftivist feels really good...I've known in my heart for a very long time that helping others was a calling for me. I remember watching those "adopt-a-child" TV programs in elementary school....wanting to sponsor a child of my own.

I enjoy sewing and making things with my hands, taking pictures with my trusty point and shoot, seeing the beauty in ordinary things and incorporating them into my work. Adding a spin of Lyme awareness has been a new challenge of mine.

Here are some of my latest creations with Lyme in mind...

This is a Lyme Inspired clutch that was donated to benefit the recent Elizabeth Chalker fundraising event in Florida. She is well short of her goal & is still in need of help to get her life-saving treatment.

Here are some clutches that I recently made, sporting the same wild zig zag free motion stitching.

I sent this one off to New York to help fellow Lymenaide team member & creator of LymeBites.com, Eric Rutulante, raise money for his costly Lyme treatment.

If you are lucky enough to know Eric, they you are probably familiar with his uplifting sense of humor & steadfast dedication to spreading Lyme awareness. He was featured recently in the news for an interview with his local station & was instrumental in the success of the "Paint May Lyme Green" campaign.. Click here to watch his news interview.

(below is a detail shot of the free motion stitching on the back of the clutch pictured above)

I recently received an order from someone who had a friend who has been battling Lyme Disease. They wanted to get her something that was special & personal which carried our message of awareness on it. With some help from my Lyme friends (thanks Abbie!), we simply came up with "Chronic Lyme is Real." Contrary to how the current IDSA guidelines are written, Chronic Lyme disease IS real, does exist & can be a persistant infection that has been known to illude the savviest of medical professionals, especially those who are not Lyme Literate Medical Doctors (LLMD's). Sadly, most Lyme patients are faced with the unique challenge of having to PROVE THEIR ILLNESS to the medical community...usually with strong resistance.

It is my hope that through my craftivism efforts, more people will come to know the truths about Lyme disease to help prevent new infections from happening & create positive change that will help those already suffering from Lyme. They need access to knowledgeable LLMD's, the treatment of their choice, and for their insurance to cover it. They need support from their family, friends, community & government.

I know I am just one person & that I alone won't be able to accomplish all these things...but I do believe in the power of a dream, a vision, a goal, a calling...whatever you want to call it. I'm putting it out there & looking for others who share my dream, who have the same vision & want to come along on this journey with me and the rest of the Lymenaide team.

This Lyme Inspired Clutch is now listed in my Etsy shop at: http://www.VictoriousVixen.Etsy.com

You can check out more pictures of my Lyme Inspired creations here.

Skull Clutch

2010-08-13T21:43:00.001-07:00

Skull Clutch, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Added another Clutch to the Etsy shop...

Edgy Mermaid Wallet

2010-08-12T23:04:00.001-07:00

Edgy Mermaid Wallet, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Just listed in my Etsy shop! This Edgy Mermaid Wallet is sure to make a splash with it's custom quilted free motion embellishment. Check out my flickr gallery for more pictures. =)

Large Mermaid Skull Clutch

2010-08-06T00:15:00.001-07:00

Large Mermaid Skull Clutch, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Just listed this one-of-a-kind clutch in the Etsy shop. =) Please check out my flickr account for more pics.

--Nani

Letting Go...For a Good Cause!

2010-06-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

I just love creating art and sewing my heart out...I really do put the LOVE into my work and hope that when people receive my creations they enjoy them as much as I did when I made them. It's hard for me to let them go sometimes, but I totally believe in the causes & people that I am able to contribute to from the sale of my goodies.

This year, I have really enjoyed a whole new world of crafting...mixed media! I love it because ANYTHING goes...no rules! =) Inspired by Traci Bautista, mixed media guru and author of the best selling book, "Collage Unleashed," I ventured into the world of painting in a free and spontaneous manner. Then comes the layers of texture, collage and free motion sewing...so much fun and totally addicting! One of my favorite things about it is recycling & UPcycling paper & other things that would otherwise end up in a landfill as trash!

These 5 mini books are for a swap that I am participating in for the "Collage Unleashed" yahoo group. Each of the participants are to create 5 mini books & send them off to the host...we get a return package of 5 assorted books from other artists! What fun!

So here are the mini books I created...

hand painted papers...

I UPcycled an old dress that I got from my sewing class to create the red hearts!!!

UPcycled papers, various stencils and free motion sewing...

all tied together with string...have I told you how much I just love this stuff??!!

Here is my table with plenty of things going on! Victorious for Elizabeth & Lymenaide mini books in the works...

...as well as the Victorious for Lyme Wrist Cuffs in the back...

...and some new things to help in the Gulf Rescue & Clean-Up efforts...

I have a show planned for Saturday, July 24th at the Cypress Community Festival & will be featuring several projects I'm working on for one charity or another.

I hope you'll stop by my booth, learn about Lyme disease & pick up some unique handmade creations, all made with love for a good cause. =)

If you are interested in contributing something on behalf of these or other charities, please let me know & I will make them available at my booth. You can email me at: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com, or leave me a comment below.

Happy Creating!
--Nani

Simple Pleasures & Gratitude

2010-06-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful to have so many blessings...things that I have often taken for granted.

Yesterday was filled with simple pleasures, fun and lots of gratitude...

My girls were like "pigs in mud!" It was so great to see them so filled with happiness and joy...the simplest things can be so meaningful. I didn't mind that we were not dressed for the occasion, but allowed them to just be kids and; have a good time playing. =) I managed to splash around a bit too...

my toes in the water...

So for me, yesterday was a bit of therapy and reflection on what the important things in my life are. Enjoying the moment with the ones you love, letting go of the things that hold you back and spreading sunshine wherever you go.

I have had a "mission statement" for myself for over 10 years now...(wow, it's been that long!) and one of the things I had written down was to "spread sunshine wherever I go." I used to say that some people light up the room when they leave, because they are so negative! It's true and you have to "protect" yourself from their bad energy...I usually try to kill them with kindness! Doesn't always work, but you move on and focus your thoughts on the good things you want for your life. Holding a grudge is like a cancer...it eats away at your very core and doesn't allow you to grow.

When I look at my life and start to feel sorry for myself, all I need to do is look at the circumstances of another to find my gratitude. I've been looking a lot at Elizabeth Chalker and the torturous suffering she is facing alone. Her story has moved me..moved me to the core and into action. I contacted her and asked if I could do a special project for her using her clothing...she sent me a box full of things & I cried taking each item out as I read her letter to me.

Here is Elizabeth, before Lyme... and here she is after years of misdiagnosis...

http://helpElizabeth.net

Here is some of my recent work for the Victorious For Elizabeth project.

Please share with those you know and find out how you can help here: http://networkedblogs.com/53wHQ

Winner , Wrist Cuffs & Collaboration!

2010-06-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please...we have a winner! =)

Congrats to Diane Ballou, the 6th entry of the giveaway!! Please email your address to: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com to claim your custom quilted "Optical Delusion" wallet! =)

She shared these comments with us:

I have had Lyme disease since 2001. I was on a camping weekend in Durham, NC when I was infected. I got the bullseye rash. Then my hands began to swell and become extremely painful. I was very lucky, after 5 months of not finding anyone to treat me, I found a wonderful Lyme Doctor. I was in treatment for only 1 year before I went into remission. I was in remission for almost 7 years when I had a major spinal surgery and with my body being under so much stress, the remission was gone and I am now in full blown active chronic Lyme. My first symptoms were the bullseye rash, followed by swollen, painful hands.

Thanks to everyone who participated & shared their story with us. I think it is really important for everyone to know what the early symptoms are so they can get treated right away...after the first 30 days, you're looking at a long term chronic infection, the kind that the IDSA says doesn't exist, but is rather "the aches and pains of daily living." Those in the Lyme community, the actual patients (like those who commented on my blog) & the Lyme Literate Medical Doctors (LLMD) don't agree with the IDSA...and neither do I.

Why would the IDSA say that??? Good question...it's the question I had when I started to dig around the Internet & find out about this strange disease that had taken hold of my dad, years after infection & well into treatment. Why would the IDSA say that there is no such thing as "Chronic Lyme Disease?"

I believe it is because of money, plain & simple. The Lyme documentary, "Under Our Skin" exposes the epidemic of Lyme and the politics that surround it. It is a shameful thing. Because of the way the IDSA wrote up the "guidelines" for treatment, it allows the insurance companies to DENY treatment. After all, you can treat a disease that doesn't exist! But to the Lyme patients out there, the pain & suffering is undeniable, with or without your insurance company's approval...you'll do anything, spend any amount of money in the hopes of regaining your health.

As a craftivist, I want to use my talents & abilities to reach out & help others. I joined forces with the Lymenaide team, who share the same passion for awareness & activism that I do. I am designing & sewing up a series of Lyme inspired wrist cuffs & other sewn items for Lymenaide, The Vampire Diaries & more.

I am seeking out others to help me with a project that has really touched my heart. Elizabeth Chalker is a single woman who lives in Florida. Due to years of misdiagnosis, her condition has deteriorated to the point where she needs extensive specialized treatment, amounting to over $100,000 for just the first year! She lives alone with only her dog, Symon, for companionship and weekly visits from her friend & mom, Corey Cameron.

There are no special programs that she qualifies for & has been abandoned by her friends & family. Despite fundraising efforts, she is $45,000 away from starting her life-saving treatment. It is my hope, that after you visit her website, you too will be touched by her story & moved to help in whatever way you can.

Victorious For Elizabeth...a project where I'm hoping to bring crafters & "Lymies" together to use their resources to help Elizabeth Chalker get the help she needs. Here is a sneak peek at the wrist cuffs I have been designing & sewing for her fundraiser...

I welcome donations for this project. I am specifically looking for lots of purple prints & butterflies for Elizabeth. Here is a little list of the types of things that I can use:

purple fabric
beads of all kinds
fiber...I don't have much right now & could really use it
thread...purple, variegated, metallic
trim...again, think deep purple
butterflies...especially looking for a transparent blue or purple variety
Big buttons or glass closures/beads for the wrist cuffs...re-purpose your buttons from old clothing!

If you'd like to donate money for me to buy supplies, that is always appreciated as well. Fabric & material donations can be mailed to:

Victorious Vixen

P.O. Box 2404

Cypress, CA 90630

If you are crafty, creative & would like to participate in this project somehow, or if you have ideas on other ways to help, please leave a comment below or email me at: Nani@VictoriousVixen.com.

I am really looking forward to collaborating with other artists! =)

Sending my love & positive thoughts out to my Lyme friends & supporters...your stories continue to inspire me to push forward with the intention of creating positive change!

--Nani

one of my creations, inspired by

Traci Bautista's Collage Unleashed book & online workshops...

Press Kits, Vampires, Giveaway, Oh my!

2010-06-11T00:54:00.000-07:00

Giveaway is closed & a winner is being chosen...thank you! =)

***********************************************************************************

Hi guys!

We've made great progress on the Lyme Awareness front...check out the amazing new Lyme PSA's (Public Service Announcements) that Lymenaide produced! My favorite PSA is "poppy seed" because it illustrates just how small those pesky ticks are!

I don't know about you, but I've never seen a PSA on TV for Lyme disease, nor did I know about how to protect myself from getting it! It's growing at an alarming rate across the globe and we think it deserves some air time! Right now, across North America, there are 203 Lymenaide PSA Press Kits that are making their way into mailboxes & news stations. 46 volunteers in the Lyme community have stepped up & agreed to send their testimonial out with the Press Kits, in the hopes that the PSA will make it on the air.

Ashely, her husband & her dog Lucy all came to help me package up the Press Kits...well, Lucy did her part to recycle the boxes! It was a steamy hot day in my cramped place, but we managed to get the bulk of the work done that day. Sorry for the heat guys, I hope the cherries & goodie platter helped some!

The exciting part is that we are just getting started! There are more Lyme awareness & activism projects in the pipeline & I am hope you'll be a part of them. =)

The Vampire Diaries cast members have been tremendous supporters of our efforts & have been featured in many of the PSA's. Check out this video montage one of their fans, @TVD_Chloe, made of our PSAs and posted on her YouTube Channel-

Chloe, along with many others, is offering a donation for each follower they receive on Twitter/Facebook, etc, so please check out LymeBites.com to for details...it's a simple way that you can help without having to spend any money! =)

Okay, I'm feelin' all the love here & I do love a good giveaway. It's high time I did one here on my blog so I'm offering up the last Red, Black & White Optical Delusion wallet of the series. I sent one off to one of the cast members of The Vampire Diaries, so you'll have the companion to hers! Have a look at what you can win...

Handmade...

Custom Quilted...

Funky Fresh...

Gift Wrapped &
Made with Love...

Here is how you can win!!

If you have Lyme, please share when & where you were infected.
For an additional entry, please leave a comment what your first symptoms were.

If you don't have Lyme, please watch this trailer for "Under Our Skin," a new documentary about Lyme disease & the controversy surrounding it...then leave a comment.
For an additional entry, please share this trailer on facebook & or Twitter & leave me a link to your post.

1 comment = 1 entry...here are some extra ways you can enter:

Subscribe to my blog;
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (be sure and @VictoriousVixen with the retweet) & or share this giveaway on Facebook (leave a link);
Blog about this giveaway (leave a link);
Become a Victorious Vixen fan on Facebook;
Donate $5 or more to Lymenaide

So that's all folks! Be sure and leave a comment for each thing that you do for it to count. The giveaway ends on Friday, 6/18 at 11:59 PM...thanks & good luck!

Wishing you all the best,
--Nani =)

Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Project

2010-05-16T00:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, it's time for an update on Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Project and May is Lyme Awareness Month!

I have been taking online workshops & a Quilting Arts class to help me with this project. The Lyme ribbon pictured here was done in class where I learned to applique using "Steam A Seam" fusible paper backing...I added my own crazy stitching to it to make it my own. =)

I am incorporating many of the techniques into the art quilt that I'm now learning. Many people have asked me about the quilt & when it will be done. I plan on doing a series of art quilts, not one that you will snuggle up with. =) This is a work-in-progress & I am learning A LOT right now, that is for sure! I am not exactly sure what the end result will be, as I am working in a very free & intuitive manner...working from sketches of my ideas but not holding myself to them. My 2 favorite artists that inspire me right now are...

Traci Bautista...check out her amazing book, "Collage Unleashed" as well as her online workshops.
Alisa Burke...she has an amazing blog where she shares simple but oh-so-beautiful projects & art.

Here are some of the pictures I have already printed on fabric...faces of Lyme, prescriptions, supplements, PICC lines, treatments...these pictures are so powerful!! It's not too late to submit your Lyme pictures...submit them here on Facebook, or here on Flickr.

I've been busy uploading a ton of pictures for you to check out...please share the Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Project Facebook group & Flickr link with your Lyme friends & family...I'd love to get more HEAD SHOTS of those with Lyme, as well as pictures of your PICC line, medicine counter, medical equipment, treatments, rashes, before & after pictures, hospital or surgery pics...you get the idea!

I have received a few boxes at my P.O. Box, but would love to see it overflowing with packages!! If not a package, then how about sending me a POSTCARD with your hand written message on it to be sewn into the art quilt? Put some paint on your hand & stamp it on an old t-shirt or a piece of paper, sign & send it to me. Write your thoughts on fabric or paper...whatever you have will work! Maybe you have denial letters or other papers that can be collaged...anything goes!!!

Please send your Lyme Art Quilt contribution to:

Victorious Vixen
P.O. Box 2404
Cypress, CA 90630

I'll have more to share with you soon, as I have taken on more projects to help my Lyme friends. Until then, you are all in my prayers & I am so grateful for your help. I've been deeply moved by the many stories shared & hope to convey that in my work.

--Nani

Back to School, Back to Nature

2010-03-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been back to school in our household...I am enjoying my "Quilting Arts" class through the ABC Adult School in Cerritos. My teacher, Rosa, is so fun to be around & is so patient with us. She helped me make a few patterns...something new I've never done before. You know, those patterns can be so intimidating & I've set them aside so many times after hours of staring blankly at them! Now I can make my own & decipher theirs (with the help of my super teacher). Yaaay for school. =)

Kyra has adjusted GREAT at her pre-school and has been improving her phonics & writing skills everyday. They recently had their "100th day of school" and celebrated with a party...complete with 100 m&m's for each student to line up & count. I try to incorporate teaching in everyday activities...we count everything and anything, I ask them questions about what they see & try to get them thinking about the world around them. They are always very curious! =)

Kyra's teacher is awesome too! She writes great little notes on her homework, with plenty of encouragement & what I call "happy hearts." How sweet is that!

I have tried to instill a love of reading in my girls. Thankfully, they LOVE books and often get together to "read." Kyra likes to make up her own stories (which are so fun to listen to) and pretends to be reading these big books! I love my little bookworms. =)

We (as in Southern Californian's) have actually had some crazy rain the past month! I know, we are winter WIMPS and have no real concept of how cold the rest of the world really gets, but when it hits 60 degrees around here...we just don't know WHAT to do! lol. Here is a shot of these newly planted flowers in the courtyard...funny, but these PURPLE flower plants had a couple PINK flowers growing from them!! cool.

More pics I took...loving all the nature shots.

and the texture of this leaf was so cool! I wish it wasn't so blurry...next time I'll get it good.

inside a flower...

peeking in at another bug...

and MORE bugs...I'm lovin' my macro lens people!!! If you don't have one, it's definitely worth getting if you like to take pictures...it's amazing all the things you see up CLOSE!!

and this bird on a wire...he was just chillin' so I had to get a shot of him.

Some fun new things I've done with my packaging...I made these cool Victoriously UPcycled hang tags...hand crafted with LOVE!!

One of my latest creations...

I Heart Faces Entry...

2010-02-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

Here is my first entry for the " I Heart Faces" weekly photo challenge!! This week’s photo challenge theme is: “Hands-On Fun.”

I took this picture of Ava last year & picked it for Project 365. I love little hands & little feet & just wanted to snap a picture of her doing her thing! Ava, I love you so much & have enjoyed each little stage of your life so far & feel so blessed that I get to be your mama! You bring so much joy to my life & those around you. You are spunky, fun, adventerous & engaging. I love you my Ava girl!! xoxo...mama, no matter what!

Belly, Bugs, Bautista!

2010-01-28T23:19:00.000-08:00

Hi Peeps! I'm still taking a bunch of pictures & here are some of my favorites lately...Ava playing in the fountain at night time...check out that belly sticking out!

Kyra started Pre-School last week...she's doing great & fitting right in.
We are so proud of you Kyra girl! =)

I loved these birds just hanging out...reminds me of music sheets...

I love taking pictures of bugs with the macro lens...this is a cool & very tiny, very green bug! I think it's an aphid or something...not easy to get in focus...any slight movement of the camera causes it to blur.

With all the recent rain, I've had a few opportunities to capture some fun shots...I thought these rain drops looked amazing on this fuzzy looking plant!

Ava set up her Matchbox cars on the TV tray...I loved how they looked all lined up!

My new Sakura & Pilot pens arrived from Jetpens.com. I am totally loving how the Sakura Glaze & Souffle pens write & FEEL! They are embossing pens & don't require any special powder or heating tools...sweeeeeet! Can you see how they give a raised appearance in the picture below?

Here's a recent Etsy order that shipped to the east coast...hope you love your new wallet Rachel!

Visited the CHA SuperShow in Anaheim this past weekend with Kyra...parking was a challenge but we managed our way inside. Don't you just love this cool looking building?! I stuck my camera out the car window for this quick shot!

enjoyed some of the make & takes...

got my "Collage Unleashed" book autographed (and doodled) by Mixed Media artist Traci Bautista. I am taking her online workshop, "Creative SOUL" right now and am really enjoying it. We get our lessons once a week & then have a live chat once a week as well. Her style is fun, playful, free & quick...pretty dope if you ask me!

Here is a shot of me, Kyra & Traci...Kyra insisted on being in the middle!

It was so cool meeting you Traci! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us & make us feel so special.

Here are some freshly planted flowers...which is why they are so dirty! I'm lovin these colors though...

Here is another little green bug making his way on the new flowers...

At the park for a little fun while big sister is at school...

then off to the library...but first we have a little snack on the steps. =)

This sculpture in front of the library is pretty amazing...I just had to capture it...

What are you taking pictures of these days??? What inspires you or catches your eye?

Link Love & Texture Hunt!

2010-01-14T22:24:00.000-08:00

I love taking pictures and last year I took on Project 365 & ended up with a TON of amazing pictures at the end of the year. I got more familiar with my camera & tried a lot of new techniques, angles & actions. One of my new favorite photography blogs is MCP Actions. Another great resource for FREE actions is here on Pioneer Woman Photography. My girlfriend Kristin is an amazing photographer & I am her biggest fan...you can soak up all her inspiration pics here on her blog. Add them to your reader & learn how to add the wow factor to your pictures! =)

You can join Project 365 with me right here & share your pictures with the group!

Today's "nature walk" with the girls today was more of a texture & inspiration hunt. Check out the glass patio table...

This is the community BBQ...waaaay up close! I am practicing using my macro lens...love it!

This is me looking up at the gazebo...I really love how it turned out in black & white...all those lines & angles...very spiderweb-ish!

I love to take pictures of bugs too...especially with my macro lens. It's somewhat difficult to zoom in close enough, but not too much as to make everything just blurry. Any slight movement in this mode will cause the picture to come out blurry...this was the best one I got.

A cool looking mossy tree...

Typically, I do some quick & dirty editing in Picasa (free from Google) & then spice them up in Photoshop with some of my favorite actions...it's easy, fun & highly addictive if you're in to it! Now bust out your camera & start shooting!

Project Lyme Art Quilt

2010-01-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Well, my Christmas orders have been sewn up & sent off to their new owners...here is a just a glimpse of some of the goodies I whipped up.

Reversible scrappy headbands, zippered Hula Girl bags & more!

Wrapped with love using Victoriously Recycled bags & strips of fabric...all handmade...because you're worth it!!

One of my New Years Resolutions for 2010 is to make a series of Lyme Art Quilts. I hope to help spread awareness & support the Lyme Disease Bills. My dad was infected with Lyme disease 2 years ago while on a fishing trip to Mammoth, CA. Like most people with Lyme, his Dr. dismissed his concerns (my dad told the Dr. he was bit several times & thought he had West Nile or something), didn't test him for Lyme, and was later misdiagnosed with ALS. My dad had a PICC line put in & was receiving IV Rocephin, until his insurance company pulled his meds, despite seeing marked improvement with the antibiotics.

The more I researched Lyme, the more I found! I started joining the yahoo groups and was blown away at the number of people who had the same sad story as my dad. I watched the IDSA hearings & participated in the twitter "lymewatch." The next day my dad told me that his antibiotics were cut by his insurance! I was burning with passion to get involved and make a positive change. Then I started reaching out to other Lymies on Facebook. I watched "Under Our Skin"...bonus footage and all. I am compelled to DO something!

me & my dad, Easter 2009

The suffering that a Lyme patient goes through is incredibly painful & consuming. I see how my dad struggles to rise from a chair & walk just a few feet. He can no longer work, help around the house or care for his beloved dog, Bo. Lyme disease has totally rocked our world. He now has Life Alert, so he can get the help he needs when he falls & is alone. He had a stair lift installed, so he can make it upstairs to his room safely. He winces in pain with each step he takes. He spends hundreds & thousands of dollars on supplements, medications & treatments intended to improve his health.

This has compelled me to start Project Lyme Art Quilt, a series of collaged pictures that are sewn & quilted together from Lyme patients around the world.

Please include your contact information, in case I have any questions about your photos.

***You can UPLOAD YOUR PICTURES HERE: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1330619@N23/

***Add me on Facebook & post your pics to my wall...pics will be added to the Lyme Art Quilt album.

***Mail me your pictures & small Lyme-related objects which can be sewn onto the quilt as well. (Think the size of a pill bottle—not the size of a wheelchair or walker!)

Items can be sent to:

Nani Luculescu
P.O. Box 2404
Cypress, CA 90630

My intention is to create impact pieces that will bring more attention & awareness to Lyme disease. I've found some common themes among the Lyme stories I hear about & want to bring them out into the open...this is a partial list & work-in-progress. Some of the themes I am planning are:

1. Faces of Lyme - I'll use the faces of real Lyme sufferers & stitch them all together
2. Cost of Lyme - pics of medicine, syringes, supplements, etc.
3. Lyme Dreams - prayers, dreams, hopes for a life after Lyme
4. Awareness & Prevention
5. Misdiagnosis
6. Poor testing
7. IDSA conflict
and so many more!!!!

If you'd like to make a donation to help with the cost of making the Lyme Art Quilt series, you can do so here. Thanks so much...every little bit helps!

Please check out my writeup on the CALDA website blog: "Touched By Lyme".

Water For Christmas

2009-12-06T09:11:00.000-08:00

I'm so thrilled to be a part of this very special project this year...Project 320. Ordinary women (men too, I'm sure) are all pitching in an effort to make a difference, one well at a time.

(photo courtesy of Jody Landers)

We are going to build a well.

You are going to build a well.

Because we can.

Because you can.

How?

Right now sweet, generous, creative and caring women from all over the country are sewing, knitting, painting, shopping, blogging, praying.

Donating.

Over 100 items.

Handmade and heartfelt happiness.

Starting

December 14th

and ending

December 18th

Project 320

will be holding a virtual raffle.

10 prize bundles.

Each $10 donation to the well

earns one virtual ticket.

You get to choose how many "tickets" to buy

and which prize package you want to win.

On December 21st we will "draw" ten winners.

But most of all,

we will celebrate the victory.

The promise of clean water for a village.

Life.

Are you excited?

You should be!!!!

Because it is going to be awesome.

Grab a button.

Spread the word.

Holiday Bazaar

2009-11-24T23:01:00.000-08:00

I had a great showing at the Cypress Holiday Bazaar this past weekend! Thanks to everyone who came out & stopped by my booth! I had 47 entries in my giveaway jar...awesome turnout! =)

Here is a picture of my set-up...a natural cotton for a tablecloth, a couple of bouginvilla plants to hang my handbags, strappy wallets & bags and an orchid & a cactus arrangement. My vision was actually to have a huge tree in the middle with my handbags & goodies hanging from the tree...this was what I came up with instead!

I toally loved this cactus arrangement...so cool & spiky!

The laptop was a last minute addition...my digital frame was supposed to showcase all my Victorious Vixen pictures, but when the time came, the pictures wouldn't load so I opted to put up my webpage with the slideshow looping instead. My big poster was awesome, but kinda got lost with all my things in the back...next time it needs to go UP! =)

My first "friendly" visitor, meaning, someone I invited or knew was Amanda & her family!

Here are some of the featured items displayed in front...

New cool Skulls & Zebra handbag...you know you want one!

Here is one of my items for the giveaway...congrats to Ramona Teran from Long Beach, who was the lucky winner of this Large Strappy Zippered Case, featuring designer prints from Heather Bailey. These make great makeup bags or mini purse...throw your cell phone, keys, sunglasses, ID/money & lipstick inside, zip it up & wear it on your wrist...you're off & ready for your errands! For a limited time, they will be offered at only $35 and are just as cool as all my other creations! Look out for more designs like the Skulls & Zebra, Asian Eyes, Hula Girls in this style Zippered Case...or place your custom order with me NOW, while I still have time to whip it up for you! Like always, items are gift wrapped & delivered with insurance.

More visitors...old friends from Lakewood High School. I haven't seen Isabel since we graduated in 1994! The Mendoza girls are long time softball teammates & we've grown up playing ball together...so fun to reunite & catch up...thanks so much for stoping by to see me - Jenni, time to get your free motion on! =)

The highlight of my day was when my 2 girls arrived with their auntie Adriana & grandma Nina! I was so thrilled to have them see me at my booth...afterall, it's what all the commotion was about the past few weeks! They stopped by, walked around, and shared some tasty goodies before leaving. =) Thank you Nina for watching my girls as I continue to expand my business & pursue my dreams. I appreciate ALL the things you do for me & my girls...YOU ARE AN AMAZING WOMAN!!!

Ava was tired & didn't like my idea of taking her picture, so here she is with auntie, fussy face & all!

Here's my hubby, Arthur, who has been enduring my endless hours & hours of non-stop sewing. Can you believe he even takes me to the fabric store?! lol. Thanks honey, YOU ROCK! =)

As many of you know, one of my goals while out there, is to promote Lyme awareness, namely PREVENTION. I made flyers from the CALDA (California Lyme Disease Association) website, thanks to my newly purchased membership, I have access to various flyers, handouts & other useful activist tools. I tried to keep things simple & hit on just a few talking points. I told them that children are the fastest growing demographic for Lyme disease. I also told them how most people are misdiagnosed with ALS, Fibromyalgia, MS, Parkinsons, Autism, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus...most people know someone with one of these illnesses!

I would like to improve my activist efforts & hope to include a petition available for people to sign, as well as a contact card for those who want to stay connected or participate in Lyme activist efforts. If you have any activism ideas you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you!

Lastly, here is a flyer for my upcoming show with the ever talented Feanna of Kait Emerson Designs. Stop by & enter our drawing to win one of our creations...it could be your lucky day! =)

Play More & Dream Big!

--Nani

Wallets, Fun Tote & Sneak Peeks

2009-05-08T01:16:00.003-07:00

I've been doing a LOT of sewing lately! I finally got a good stack of wallets made - 5 for my sister's friend & co-worker Geneva. Here they are, along with a few others I recently finished.

Yaaay for finished projects!!! =) It feels GREAT to see all these wallets together. Woo-hoo!

Here's one that resembles Susan's wallet...minus the dragon on the front! (This is one of Geneva's.)

I call this one "Bright & Funky Dragon." (Another one of Geneva's.)

Here's a little more detail for you...yes, I freehand the signature "V" myself. This is FUN!

Another Asian Inspired wallet with Asian Eyes inside. (maybe for Mary or Conchi?)

I like to wrap the wallets in a simple brown paper bag & tie it with coordinating scrappy strips of fabric. It's like a sneak peek into the package...who doesn't like to unwrap a package anyhow?! Tuck in my business card & it's ready to roll!

Here's a fun little tote bag I whipped up last week. It was a take on the log cabin blocks I recently made for Project Improv. I love these prints together...it's bright & funky & fun. I'm calling it the little "Zebra Lemonade" tote. It's about 7" square & quilted.

Did some freemotion doodling here, repeating the pattern from the yellow fabric.

Zebra lining...and on the handles too!

Here's the back...quilted with love. I have 4 more log cabins like this, so I could make 4 more similar to this...or something else???? Matchy little pouch?

Kyra trying out the little "Zebra Lemonade" tote bag. She put this on her shoulder & carried it all over the place. When I asked for it back, she didn't want to give it back to me! She decided to carry her chapstick, gum & water bottle in the bag...too cute!

***SNEAK PEEKS!!!***

Here is an Asian Inspired wallet that is in progrss. Working that decorative stitching again...and some more echo type quilting in the red.

Here's another new quilt top...this will be a new SIZE...BIGGER and with a ZIPPER! It will be much like a clutch & the front will be bigger to showcase the Asian faces.

More decorative & freemotion quilting...I used veriegated thread for both. The scallops remind me of dragon scales!

************************************************************************************

We've been keeping busy with other things too...like painting! Here's Kyra's new art...fun, fun, fun! It's always fun to see what my little ones will create.

Kyra...the newest gamer in the family. She just got this Nintendo DS from her auntie. Too bad daddy keeps jacking it from her!!!

I've been putting the girls to work! Everyone gets a sponge & cleans SOMEthing! =) This is helping our "ant" situation...they like to invade our house this time of the year. I've been forced into "Spring Cleaning" against my will thanks to the ants! They find every crumb and attack. It's not easy to keep up with my girls & their messes, so I've enlisted their help! I just love this picture of Ava & Kyra cleaning their little table. Kyra is a champ is does a great job cleaning for me. Ava...I'm lucky if she doesn't make a new mess while we clean! LOL, oh well!

Ready for juicing!!! Peaches, carrots, apples, oranges, ginger, lemon, mango, cilantro, garlic, beets, cantalope, watermelon, red cabbage and the kitchen sink! I've been juicing for my dad, hence the ginger, cilantro, garlic & red cabbage. Today I pulled a bunch of stuff out of the fridge to rinse & prepare for juicing. I have a kick butt Breville juicer that I am so very happy with. I purchased it refurbished on eBay last year. Saved a $100 that way! =)

5th Generation Wallets

2009-05-01T23:25:00.003-07:00

Here are my 5th Generation wallets with heavy interfacing for a super sturdy feel. 1 Asian inspired & 3 Spring Inspired. I will be taking these with me to the Spring Fling carnival this morning as samples for people to order. Wish me luck!

More Wallets...and Chaos

2009-04-29T20:38:00.003-07:00

Here is the wallet I made last week for Vanessa. She requested the Bright & Funky wallet with skulls.

Here are the four (of many) wallets I worked on this past week...sending my girls to the in-laws for some serious sewing time! They have since been finished & look oh-so-sassy! I use binder clips to hold everything in place before I slipstitch the bottom closed.

I tried out some of the decorative stitches on my machine...and I LOVE how it turned out with the verigated thread...I see more of this in my future.

I have 3 more (potential) wallets coming out of the black/red/white geometric pieced top that I posted earlier and a few more Asian Inspired & Funky Fresh (bright w/animal print, etc) wallets too. I started on another black/red/white pieced top...they are so fun to put together! I also picked up some cute Michael Miller fabric with mermaids on it...super cute!

With all this sewing going on, my girls aren't getting as much fun mommy time as they are used to...which sometimes causes sudden outbursts of craziness. They had fun having a naked bead throwing party after their bath yesterday...I was on the phone with my dad & they took advantage of my distraction!!!! I just sighed & scampered off to grab my camera...figured I might as well get a picture! I did manage to get Kyra to sweep most of them into a big pile...now THAT was Victorious! lol!

Giveaway Goodness & Angel Game

2009-04-27T01:12:00.003-07:00

The Fabric Shopper is having a cool giveaway...hope I (or you) win!!!!

http://the-fabric-shopper.blogspot.com/2009/04/introducing-4-weeks-of-modkid-giveaways.html

I've been sewing up a storm and have 4 more wallets to finish up tomorrow, and several more coming! I'll give you some new pics of my goodies real soon. For now, I leave you with this fun picture from the Angel game today! =)

Sneak Peeks

2009-04-23T13:47:00.003-07:00

Here are some things I'm working on...coming soon to a wallet near you!!!

Susan's Quilted Passport Wallets

2009-04-19T23:45:00.003-07:00

Susan's Quilted Passport Wallets, originally uploaded by Nonerz.

Here's a teaser pic of my latest 2 finished projects!

Want to win something? Go here: http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/farmchicks/2009/04/happy-spring-giveaway.html

Now I'm off to bed...

Project Improv

2009-03-29T23:56:00.003-07:00

I joined Project Improv at the last minute...last week! I committed to making at least 1 wonky log cabin block for charity & the deadline is April 1st. I really busted my tail to get these done...and it was my first time to top it off! I ended up making 2 for charity & 1 for me. Here is what I learned while making these fun blocks...

I need to use THICKER strips as I work to the outside...they were getting sooooo small!
It really sucks to over trim...measure twice & cut once...correctly!!!!
Minky is not easy to quilt with!
I prefer to press the seams open vs. to one side...it just lays so much flatter & nicer!
If you sew over pins, you'll hit them eventually (or often if you're me)!
I REALLY liked using Mary Ellen's Best Press (clear startch alternative)...makes the fabric nice & crisp & easy to work with.
If you iron your raised dots brown minky fabric, you will no longer have raised dots!!!!
I get really attached to my work..
I really love sewing.
I can't wait to do more sewing for charity.

Next time, I think I'll use lots more variety in the thickness of the strips. The minky was harder to work with, but I just LOVE texture and it seemed to work well with my blocks. I think I'll use more courdoroy too...it was very cooperative for me & added that texture that I love.

Block #1

The white is minky, the brown strips on the outside are minky w/raised dots, the brown strips inside are corduroy. I had to add the Michael Miller Hawaiian girl print in each one since I am part Hawaiian! =)

Block #2

Block #3 - This is the one I kept...it's also the one I over trimmed!

P.S. I literally kissed the blocks before I sent them off in the mail...it was hard to let them go but I know they will be put to good use! Find out more about Project Improv here: http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/2009/01/project-improv-wont-you-join-me.html

Dog Gone Cute!

2009-03-24T00:16:00.003-07:00

New fabric...washed, pressed & folded! Now I'm ready to go!

Today was a bit of a lazy day...we are not feeling 100%, but as far as colds go, this is a breeze! So I am thankful for the quick turn around time for this bug...silly to say, but true! I was hoping to cut up some of my new fabric & sew today...didn't happen since I took a nap with Kyra in her bed...it's a converted crib! Man, I was tired!

Jordan came over again (and will be back tomorrow) while his mommy is in Canada. He had a hard time being dropped off this morning, which is unusual at my house! He typically is in great spirits & can't wait to play with the girls. He is missing his mama! No worries though...my girls got him playing in no time!

We took another nature walk...without my camera this time. Those darn batteries were dead again! Oh-well...I'm hoping the few shots I did manage to take in the morning turned out good. I am still taking pictures everyday & editing when I get a chance.

Yesterday, my softball game did NOT get cancelled, despite the rain in the early morning. I wanted to get some good shots of the sunset (I'm loving the sky, cloud, sun pics lately) while I was at the park...but it was a little too late for any good quality pictures. I spotted this cute little guy in the crowd & asked to take a couple shots. His name is Brody & his owner tells me he does NOT like his cute little sweater even though he is so dog gone cute with it on! He's my pick for Sunday's P365 pic of the day. What a face!

Pics, Pics...and more Pics!

2009-03-21T21:14:00.003-07:00

We’ve been on a park craze this past week, going almost every day! It sure has been a lot of fun and good exercise since I walk there (and lately I’ve been having Kyra walk too). One of our highlights was playing ball with the girls before my softball game on Sunday. We packed up the waffle balls & bats, loaded up some sandwiches & snacks & headed for the park!

Ava likes to pick up the cones & stack them up, despite my efforts to keep them in place! She’s here in this pic, trying to hit the ball off the tee.

Daddy & Kyra are having a blast in the background!

Kyra is a natural athlete & really enjoys hitting the ball. I just love how this pic turned out with the sun peeking through, her swinging pigtail braids & the twist of her shoes on the grass. Plus as a bonus, Ava made it in the shot! This was my pick for the Project 365 pic of the day last Sunday.

After a while, Ava kinda lost interest in the ball, and wanted to try on my shades. She loves to try on hats of all sorts, eyeglasses, shoes or any other accessories! She’s getting so big and is now putting 2 words together.

I have seen a couple tutorials on how to make your own dress form using duct tape & wanted to try it out. So I picked up some purple duct tape from Jo-Anns the last time I was there & asked my hubby to tape me up!

Believe it or not…there IS a method to this madness! You start with an old t-shirt & cut up the side seams. I sewed another 12” to the bottom (like a skirt) using another old t-shirt. Then you start taping the spine up & down in rows, then the waist. Then you tape from the back to the front in a v-shaped taper. It goes on and on…

Here are a few pics I just had to have my hubby take of me!

I felt like a samurai warrior or something in this deal! HI-YAH!!!!!

And here it is after we cut it off me & re-taped the back…now just to stuff it!

I was so excited when both of the packages I was waiting for arrived on Wednesday! The first was a big box filled with fabric!!!! Thanks so much to materialshoppegirl.etsy.com for awesome customer service & quick shipping. I am in heaven here with all this beautiful fabric! Take a peek at all this goodness!

Heather Bailey, Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, Anna Marie Horner and more!

My business cards came in as well. I got 100 free from my favorite place, OvernightPrints.com . They have awesome quality, quick turnaround & good prices. I use them for all my postcards, business cards, birth announcements & nice invitations. They have a nice (and free) UV coating which adds strength & thickness to them…not to mention a nice glossy look. I added the rounded corners for just $2 more…keeps them from getting bent & messy looking.

I designed these myself!

Wednesday was more exciting than I had hoped. Ava took a header off our little slide on to the concrete driveway! I almost caught her, but she fell forward off the slide, hit her head on the ground & flipped all the way around into my arms. Luckily, she didn’t have much of a bump (we had a hard time finding it until it showed itself) and not even a scratch! You can hardly see her red mark on her forehead by her hairline. This was taken a couple hours after impact!

I was trying to get some pics of the girls on the slide (before the incident) & managed to get this one of Kyra, telling me, “no pictures!” It reminds me of a celebrity with a case of paparazzi paranoia! I chose it for my P365 pic.

It was certainly an exhausting day, and even Kyra was wiped out! Here I snapped this shot of her in her bed with several books strewn about! There are three on her left, at least one under her pillow & the mini Horton book on the floor next to her! My little bookworm…I LOVE YOU!

Thursday brought our little friend, Jordan! We had fun reading stories, dancing, playing ball & exploring the “river” in the backyard. Here they are, all lined up on the couch watching Dora & Diego! Talk about a captive audience!

Out of nowhere, Kyra wasn’t feeling well & had a little fever. I should have known something was wrong when she didn’t eat any graham crackers! She’s feeling better but now Ava has a runny nose…sheesh!

Here she is in my P365 pic of the day for Thursday with Arthur, getting some good face time. She’s talking to him about the cool Barbie fishing pole she carried around at Target the day before. She wants it and she wants to go fishing! This reminded me of my experiences fishing with my dad & sister at El Dorado park. I couldn’t stand to see the fish flopping around & gasping for air! It was so sad! I liked hanging out & being outside in the (somewhat) fresh air. Good times nonetheless.

Today I got a great little shot of Kyra getting her hug on Ava. She told me she just wanted to give her a hug. Ava wasn’t so thrilled, but that’s okay. I appreciate what a loving sister Kyra is & she certainly is affectionate as well! This is my P365 pic for today…“holding on.”

Another walk…more stops to smell the flowers & check out the bugs. We had a nice conversation with a crow…he squawked, we squawked, etcetera, etc.! It was actually really cool but I had no idea what he was saying. The girls got a kick out of it and enjoyed the back and forth bantering.

I have been talking to my girls about everything and anything…counting at every opportunity, pointing out colors & talking about the differences between things. It’s a conscience effort to teach all the time. I am putting an emphasis on reading, arts & crafts, physical fun & sign language. I actually enjoy all of those things! I’m hoping hubby will pick up the slack in the math department. Kyra is coming along with her writing skills & can sound out many words. I haven’t done any aggressive reading programs with her; just instilling a love for books is the main thing. Thankfully, it is paying off with both of my girls. Ava can often be seen curling up with a couple books by herself! She is extremely vocal & is saying new words everyday.

I know that I am very blessed to be able to stay at home with my girls.
It’s worth more than any amount of money that anyone could pay me for the time I have with them now.

Victorious Vixen...craftivism for + change

Skateboard Deck Gallery Show

in the making...Nightmare reVamp

Victorious For Elizabeth Open House Fundraiser

Metamorphosis

Scrappy Plush Camera Strap Cover

Marilyn Monroe Custom Wallet

Capture the Moment

Magical Crown Tutorial

Custom Tree Wallet

loft

Mixing It Up...

Looking Upward

Amy's Makeup Clutch

the ANTS go Marching One by One!

I Heart Hearts!

Yee-Haw!

Sneak Peek!

Steelers or Packers???

The Little Things

LOVE in the air!

Off to the Movies!

Halloween Fun

Noah's Ark Watermelon

Funky Revamped Skirt

"Let's Get It On"...& Revamp this shirt!

Funky Fresh Custom Wallet

The Pledge

I'll be posting over there at least once a week to share my ideas & designs. I hope you'll check it out & try to re-fashion something that is lingering in your closet, just waiting for an encore!

The Pledge

Back to School Sale!

Mermaid Wallet #3

Edgy Asian Eyes Dragon Wallet #2

Revamped T-shirt Tutorial

UPcycled Quilted Wrist Cuffs

Lyme Inspired Creations

Skull Clutch

Edgy Mermaid Wallet

Large Mermaid Skull Clutch

Letting Go...For a Good Cause!

Simple Pleasures & Gratitude

Winner , Wrist Cuffs & Collaboration!

Press Kits, Vampires, Giveaway, Oh my!

Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Project

Hi everyone, it's time for an update on Victorious For Lyme: Art Quilt Project and May is Lyme Awareness Month!

I have been taking online workshops & a Quilting Arts class to help me with this project. The Lyme ribbon pictured here was done in class where I learned to applique using "Steam A Seam" fusible paper backing...I added my own crazy stitching to it to make it my own. =)

Traci Bautista...check out her amazing book, "Collage Unleashed" as well as her online workshops.Alisa Burke...she has an amazing blog where she shares simple but oh-so-beautiful projects & art.

Here are some of the pictures I have already printed on fabric...faces of Lyme, prescriptions, supplements, PICC lines, treatments...these pictures are so powerful!! It's not too late to submit your Lyme pictures...submit them here on Facebook, or here on Flickr.

Please send your Lyme Art Quilt contribution to:

Victorious VixenP.O. Box 2404Cypress, CA 90630

I'll have more to share with you soon, as I have taken on more projects to help my Lyme friends. Until then, you are all in my prayers & I am so grateful for your help. I've been deeply moved by the many stories shared & hope to convey that in my work.--Nani

Back to School, Back to Nature

I Heart Faces Entry...

Belly, Bugs, Bautista!

Link Love & Texture Hunt!

Project Lyme Art Quilt

Nani LuculescuP.O. Box 2404Cypress, CA 90630

Water For Christmas

Holiday Bazaar

Wallets, Fun Tote & Sneak Peeks

5th Generation Wallets

More Wallets...and Chaos

Giveaway Goodness & Angel Game

Sneak Peeks

Susan's Quilted Passport Wallets

Project Improv

Dog Gone Cute!

Pics, Pics...and more Pics!

Traci Bautista...check out her amazing book, "Collage Unleashed" as well as her online workshops.
Alisa Burke...she has an amazing blog where she shares simple but oh-so-beautiful projects & art.

Victorious Vixen
P.O. Box 2404
Cypress, CA 90630

I'll have more to share with you soon, as I have taken on more projects to help my Lyme friends. Until then, you are all in my prayers & I am so grateful for your help. I've been deeply moved by the many stories shared & hope to convey that in my work.

--Nani

Nani Luculescu
P.O. Box 2404
Cypress, CA 90630