Goliath Beetle Stamp

Last weekend I worked on a second stamp. This time I used a Speedball Linoleum Block. These blocks allow for more control when carving and don't crumble like the rubber blocks did. I was able to create more detail with this block and even though it took about 2 hours to make, the end result is very nice. I think using these blocks, the prints will turn out really nicely for table identifiers. I also have a new business idea! Since these blocks are going to be long lasting, I might as well do something else with them...like make cards. Here is my first attempt. I used Artoz cards from the local craft store and oil based ink. I would eventually buy nicer paper and probably use something other than oil based ink (it takes forever to dry), but I think there is a whole world of bug lovers who would eat these up. Here's my first set of 5 cards. What do you think?!

Homemade Beetle Stamps

Mike and I had the great idea of assigning tables at the wedding by beetle family, so each table will have its own beetle. I was brainstorming ideas for representing the beetles at the tables. I thought we could just find a cool picture of a beetle from each family and put it in a standup photo holder, but that isn't very creative or interesting. So I did a little googling and learned a little about stamp making. I thought it would be really neat to create a stamp for each family and then use that stamp on the table identifier and on the name place cards. I got pretty excited about the idea so I went to the craft store and bought a Speedball Block Printing Kit like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Super-Value-Printing-Starter/dp/B000SKT0US

and a Speedycut Block like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Speedycut-Block-4x5-5/dp/B0017DC0CK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1298437298&sr=8-2

Mike and I jumped in creating our stamps after dinner. I chose to do a weevil because it is relatively simple. Mike decided on a stag beetle, significantly more difficult! So we drew our stamp idea on a piece of paper and then transfered it to the Speedycut Block. I carved around the weevil and Mike carved out his stag beetle so we could get an idea of the difference. I was not exactly patient with this so I jumped in a little aggressively and while the final product was ok, it could have been better if I took a little more time (I just wanted to see the final product!). Mike, the essence of patience, took his sweet time and turned out a lovely stag beetle stamp!

In the end we decided not to use the rubber stamps for the final stamps because it is too weak and easy to cut through. We'll probably move over to the lino blocks as they are much more stiff. It was a learning experience and a fun activity to do together. With a little more patience we could come up with some really neat stamps and cool table identifiers.

Here are the stamps on paper:

Katie's Weevil

Mike's Stag Beetle (where all the single males will sit)

Scraps!

I am beginning to build up quite a collection of scrap fabrics from my many projects. It's kind of fun looking through them and remembering what I made with each one. I thought one way to preserve some of these memories would be to make a quilt out of all of them. The quilt I want to make is inspired by this book cover. I actually bought this book just for this cover quilt.

Mine will end up looking a little different than this, but it was the directions for the dresden plates that I needed. I really like dresden plates, they have an antique feel to them. I got the idea for a dresden plate quilt from my mom who has been working on one using wedges my great grandma cut out. With that, I figured I would go ahead and cut some wedges for the plates from my scrap fabric. Here's a little preview. I will continue to cut these from fabric I use as I go and someday I'll have enough wedges to complete the quilt. It may be many years from now, but this will be a fun project over time!

Three Little Monkeys

Here they are -- the three little Molly Monkeys -- Jordan, Kady and Alex.

Rainy Weekend = More Molly Monkeys

With rain expected all weekend I figured it would be a good time for some sewing. I have LOTS of corduroy left from Olivia's Christmas Molly Monkey and Owl so I decided I would make more Molly Monkeys. I am making them for Michelle and Shawn's girls -- Jordan, Kady and new arrival Alex. I went to Craft Essentials to pick up some fabric, but they were closed being New Year's Day, so instead I dedicated much of Saturday to cutting out all the corduroy pieces and sewing on the faces for all three monkeys. This took a long time, but was a good way to spend the day while Mike was out in the garage installing the engine in his car. At 10 am this morning, I headed back over to Craft Essentials and picked up some fabric for the monkey clothes. I found these really cute stawberries and cherries that I thought would make fun skirts. I picked up matching polka dots for the shirts and white with a little swirly design for the socks.

I was planning on mixing and matching all these fabrics -- a red polka dot shirt with a stawberry skirt, a pink polka dot shirt with a cherry skirt -- but the third one was up in the air. I brought Mike in from the garage to get his opinion and he thought it would be best to make all the monkeys the same and have different skirts instead of having two red or two pink shirts and only one of the other. So I went with it and all the monkeys have a red shirt and will have patchwork skirts of the other fabrics (the girls will be able to tell whose monkey is whose by their embroidered names on the bum). Once this decision was made it was smooth sailing. I made three identical monkeys and found my new sewing tools very handy! The Mini Clover Iron proved to be great for ironing seams down after piecing as you can see here:

And the pinking sheers were awesome for trimming seam allowances:

At the end of the day, there were three Molly Monkeys waiting to be sewn together and stuffed. But that will have to wait for another day. Here's a preview of the three identical monkeys -- this one happens to be Kady's.

Best Friends

Olivia's Christmas gift can finally be revealed! It's a Molly Monkey! I found the pattern for this cute stuffed monkey on www.mmmcrafts.blogspot.com. I thought it would be perfect for little Olivia and I am very happy with the way it turned out. I think Olivia and Molly Monkey will be best friends growing up :)

O is for Olivia's Owl

Tasha really liked the first owl I made last weekend, but I didn't like it enough to give to Olivia, so I gave it another go using left over fabric from Olivia's Christmas present. This attempt is much cuter and less spooky. Tasha especially liked the bizarre look of the first one, but I think this version is less likely to scare O. The tail is better placed in this version also, but you can't see it in either of these photos. I even embroidered Olivia's initials on the bum. I'm sure O will grow up loving this stuffed owl!