Knee-High Boot WIP

 

Here is where I am at in the knee-high boot making process. Currently they still look like dark brown garbage bags in a boot-ish shape. I still have to add the toe puff and counter for structure and then I can finish lasting (attaching the upper part) and attach the sole. Hopefully they won't look so garbage baggy when I am done.  Oh, and I still have to make a strap and attach the spur! Yikes! I think these boots will be ready in 2013 at this pace.

Next month I hope to finish up with the website projects I've been working on and get back to making new items for my shop, get my painting muscles back in shape and start doing Illustration Friday again. 

feeling minty

I'm loving mint for the Spring season. I really like how it looks paired up with neutrals. I think some gray, peach, dusty pink, tan...t-shirts or tank tops are in order.

A boot and a couple of new tools

This past week I've been working on a pair of nubuck boots. Well, really one boot. I wanted to make one first to test out the pattern/design and to see if actually fits. I've been walking around my place with one boot on all morning and I find it pretty comfortable except for where the big toe proximal phalange meets the metatarsals. I need to thin down or cut off the leather of the boot tongue at that point. 


My friend Mu Pan has a show up now at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn. While I was there I noticed they were selling a small selection of beeee-utiful tools, stationery, work wear, etc... I purchased this shiny red utility knife, not because I needed a knife, but because everyone knows that shiny red objects in your life make everything better. Also I bought it because it was embossed Made in America and didn't hurt the wallet at $5. I also purchased this metal scribe which I plan on using to mark seam allowances on my leather projects. Yaaaay tools!

Fair Isle Leggings

I would like to make a pair that look something like this. This is a photo of my legs squeezed into the arms of a slightly too snug hooded sweatshirt.  Since I haven't been wearing this sweatshirt anyway, I am going to take it apart and see if I have enough material to make a full pair of leggings for myself.  I think with some brown boots and a tunic it might look cute and less pajama-y.

New pattern in the fabric shop!

This fabric is now available.  I designed this Aztec-inspired pattern in blue and also a gray version in hopes of making a pair of leggings from it.  I am also working on a chevron style pattern that I will be adding to the shop soon. I found a great tutorial for leggings here.

vintage haberdashery

I found an awesome yarn shop on a short road trip to Pennsylvania yesterday.  It was called Tucker's Yarns in Allentown. It was a giant shop frozen in time, it was so amazing. I felt like I took a time machine back to the 70's. All the popular crafts from that time period were still hanging on the walls seemingly untouched for decades! Sadly, I didn't take any pictures because I forgot my camera home (and don't have a smart phone yet). The gorgeous packaging of the products kept my mouth agape for most of the time I was shopping.  They had these balls of angora yarn from France (from 1960-70?) packaged in boxes with an adorable illustration of a bunny on it. I was about to buy it just because of the awesome box but then realized it was 14.99/ ball, not per box. I'm definitely a sucker for packaging but $90 for the box was too rich for my blood. Anywhoooooo....if you are in the area you must go check it out...it is amazing. They were well stocked with new yarns as well.  I am already itching to go back. Also what was so cool is that almost all the vintage items were made in the USA or imported from Europe.

I picked up a spool of strawberry ribbon made in N.J., Candy colored safety pins made in Connecticut, and buttons from Garden City, NY.!

I want to go back already and keep treasure hunting! 

New headphones

Sal bought me some mint colored headphones so I can enjoy my new favorite pastime ~ obsessively watching how-to videos on YouTube ~ in silence.  Modeled by Mr. Bank Bear who moonlights as a free card peddler at craft shows.

Linen Project Folder

Here is a jumbo size (14 x 24 x 3") linen envelope I created for holding patterns and materials.  Right now it is housing the uppers for a pair of boots that I am working on.  This envelope has 2 compartments, one holds the fabric/leather and the zippered part holds pens, patterns and small supplies. Although it is starting to get a little wrinkly, I still think it is a classy and more eco-friendly alternative to a plastic folder and it doubles as a blankie on the subway on the way to class :)

D.I.Y. wood veneer table (first attempt)

The D.I.Y. in this scenario stands for Don't Irritate Yourself.  Have you ever thought that cheapy weirdly-hard-to-clean-surfaced Ikea laptop table would look awesome covered in cheapy cedar shelf liner...maybe not a good idea.  Self adhesive veneer sheets or tape would have been a better bet, but they are pricey.  If I try this again, I would first flatten out the lining with heavy objects for a day or so and then glue it on. I already had the glue,varnish, and pressure roller thingy in my studio, so for a $6 investment in the liner I thought it was worth a try.

Shear Crazy

Finally I have my grizzly paws on these brass handled tailor shears from India! I've been eyeing these for 2-3 years and waiting for a good deal to come along. The first time I laid eyes on this style of shears was a jumbo version at Fishs Eddy.  I thought that it would look awesome hanging on the wall as functional art but wasn't ready to fork over the $40+ at the time.  These are a smaller 8.5" version that I purchased with a free shipping deal from The Sundance Catalog.