in the making...Nightmare reVamp

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

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

Before...a small, flat, canvas tote

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

I usually work without a pattern, just a very free & spontaneous flow of cutting & piecing fabric.

I like to have a lot of contrast & interest in my pieces...HOT PINK is just what I was thinking for this sweet tween girl who has a bit of an edgy side too!  =)

B&W striped piping with zebra webbing handles...oh yeah!  I ended up using the zebra lining as piping instead of this striped one...either one would work just fine.

I added a textured zebra lining to this bag by free motion quilting all the black stripes on the zebra print...it's a LOT of sewing, but sooooo worth it!  Every so often I have to stop and change out a broken needle...another one bites the dust!

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

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

Finally, it's all finished up and ready to go home with it's new owner...

I sure will miss this bag...it was really hard to let it go!

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

Magical Crown Tutorial

 

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!

Funky Revamped Skirt

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!

 

Simple Pleasures & Gratitude

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

 

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.  =)

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