Craft: Jewelry Board

My latest craft project: Homemade Cork Jewelry Boards: 

A few posts ago, I paired up with Chelsea to create some fun bracelets we found on Pinterest (if you haven't read that, it's here).  Crafting some jewelry reminded me that I want to start wearing more of the jewelry I have.  If you're like me, you have hodge-podge piles of handmade craft jewelry and costume jewelry from Goodwill and Target lying around all over the place. It collects in the bathroom, in my clothes drawers, and my vanity.  I also have a small collection of "real" jewelry, all of which is meaningful - the necklace and earrings I wore at my wedding, trinkets brought home by my father from his international deployments, gifts over the years from Chris.  But somehow I always end up wearing the same small pieces of jewelry that collect in a little cup in my bathroom.  I know it's because I can't be bothered to go through this mess:

This is the top of Chris's dresser - otherwise known as my jewelry hoarding pile.  No, it's not even my own dresser.  Yes, that is an authentic aluminum Caboodle, straight from 7th grade, chock full of shiny trinkets that I've hidden away like a raccoon.  If I want to wear a particular piece of jewelry, I have to sort through all of this, and then I often don't put it away properly  Added peril comes from cats jumping onto this pile in the middle of the night, because they, like raccoons, like shiny things (and waking us up at 4am).  Something had to be done.

So I decided to make a jewelry board, inspired by some projects I pinned.  I traveled to Michael's to see what I could find, and wound up purchasing a set of 4 cork tiles, and rolls of burlap in 2 patterns, plus some sparkly push pins, and a box of jewelry display pins.  The glue gun I already had.

I went with the burlap because a) that's what they had at Michael's, b) the lace-covered burlap reminded me of my wedding, and c) the text-printed burlap goes perfectly with the upholstery on the chair to my vanity <theme joy>

I think purchasing fat quarters, using scrap fabric, or buying a yard or 2 of fabric to cover your cork tiles may be a little easier, but just go with what you like!

I knew that the burlap roll wasn't wide enough to cover the tile, so I just cut 3 strips per tile:

I started at the top, and laid out the fabric how I wanted it (this didn't matter so much with the lace burlap, since it was a consistent pattern, but it did matter with the text-print burlap)

Then I hot-glued the strip to the front, and then hot-glued the excess to the back, making sure it was snug (don't mind my goldfish snack).

I knew I would need 3 strips to cover the tile, so I elected to do the top and bottom strips first...

And end with the middle strip.  Make sure you're gluing the middle strip to the cork, and not just the other fabric, so everything remains snug.

I made 4 tiles, 2 in each pattern.  This whole project took about 15 minutes!

I decided to hang the boards on a wall that needed a little sprucing!  I love these 2 paintings by P. Buckley Moss - one of my mother's favorite artists - but they get swallowed by this giant empty wall, and I knew they'd be better somewhere else.  And obviously, my old Ikea full-length mirror covered in plastic beads, a non-functional lamp, and wedding mementos, had to go (just the mirror, not the mementos!).

It took a few tries to figure out how to hang these puppies!  I used some of those picture-hanging stickers, but quickly realized the cork tiles weren't sturdy enough to not warp with the weight of the jewelry unless each tile was secured at all 4 corners.  I had to go back later and do this since I'd initially only put one sticker on the top-middle.  You craft and you learn!

And then I used jewelry display pins to hang up all of the jewelry I want to wear more often.  

And the best part is that, even when I'm not wearing it, my jewelry is now art on my wall!

The dresser still has some stuff on it... I'm hoping to line a little wooden tray with some soft fabric so I can have a place to put heavy bangles and boxes.  Next craft project!

Crafting is all about making beautiful things useful, and useful things beautiful.  What are your favorite ideas for storing and displaying your jewelry?

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Craft Day with Chelsea

Chelsea and I finally had our long-awaited craft circle yesterday!  Crafting is normally a solitary activity - usually it's just you and your cats at home, thinking to yourself, "I wonder if my friends will think this potted plant cozy is the coolest?" and "Does Ryan Gosling really like girls who craft, or are all those 'Hey Girl' memes totally made up?"  Etc.

But I do have a few crafty friends, and sometimes it's fun to get together and make something beautiful with each other.

The most epic craft event of my life was going to my BFF, Aimee's, beach house to create all of the decorations for my wedding.  This weekend became known as "Crafty Sweatshop/Sweaty Craftshop," because it was around 100 degrees in that beach house, but we managed to make EVERYTHING for my wedding in 2 days.  All of the table settings, flower vases, candle holders, and decor were crafted by hand by just the two of us.

We cut pages out of love stories and made them into lace-edged table runners.  We covered mason jars in burlap and hand-painted buttons.  We frosted and spray-painted jam jars for candle holders.  We cut endless pennants out of scrapbook paper.  We filled tiny chiffon bags with Hershey kisses.

We stenciled and cut till our fingers were sore.

But seriously, we cut out THOUSANDS of pennants, and then strung those triangles onto twine to hang up all over the venue.  It took an unbelievably long amount of time.

Aimee never faltered, never said "maybe we should just buy a pennant banner," or "I never want to see you again."  Because Aimee knows, as a fellow crafter, that the point of making something yourself is that you remember the love each time you see it.  And when I walked into my decorated wedding venue, I knew that each item inside was created and filled with love, by hand, by me and a wonderful bridesmaid.  What could be more magical?

The same can be said for making jewelry.  Yes, you could buy a professionally made item, which will look quite perfect and be worn forever.  But you could also make some jewelry with a dear friend, and then think of each other each time you wear it.  Isn't that nice?

This was also a little Pinterest experiment!  Both of us had pinned several handmade jewelry items, and wanted to actually make something off our endless craft boards.  We selected these two to start:

(for the first one, I was unable to find the original source!  It linked to a simple wordpress photo, so if any of you know where this came from that would be great.  The second is from yesmissy.com.  A link to my Pinterest is on the right side of this blog!) 

I found a place called  Fusion Beads in Wallingford where I will now proceed to spend $1,000,000.  Long tables covered in glittering beads and baubles of all shapes and sizes, walls covered in strings of pearls and spools of silky ribbon, and the nicest, most helpful staff you could ever hope to meet.  I spent too much money.

But with the right supplies, we started our craft day!

Wait, that doesn't look right...

Oh there we go, that's better.

It may have been the extra large mimosas, but it took me a few tries to get the chain bracelet right.  Chelsea was a craft superstar, and helped me figure it out.  She also showed me how to macrame-knot for the other bracelet - apparently I missed a huge part of adolescence by not learning how to make hemp necklaces!  

About 4 hours and 3 mimosas later, we had this:

But even better:

How cute is that??  I would consider this a Pinterest success!

Round 2 next week?

Sewing Tutorial: Zippered Bag

I absolutely love sewing.

Two years ago, Nicolai the Husband got me a beautiful, special, brand new, computerized sewing machine for Christmas, and since then I've slowly morphed into a zany crafter.  Seriously, I'm one stitch away from making clothing for my cats...not there yet...but close.

My favorite thing to make is people clothing, though I have to say I felt most accomplished after completing my first quilt.  Making a quilt was one of the most difficult, but rewarding, sewing experiences I've ever had, and I plan to create a whole quilting tutorial series for beginning quilters.

But today I wanted to share an easy beginning sewing project - a zippered bag.  Even if you're an expert sewer (seamstress? sewstress? sewmaster?), sometimes it's fun to just have a project that takes an hour.  Feel a sense of accomplishment in your life!  Impress your man/lady with your domestic prowess!  Wow your Pinterest followers with your DIY skilzzz!

Seriously, this bag is easy and fun to make. I've made about a half-dozen of these things in all shapes and sizes - they have a million uses!  I made make-up and jewelry bags for my best friends for Christmas, I made a case for my Kindle, and a case for my laptop.  Today, I made a laptop case for Little B.

Let's jump in!  First, supplies... Because the laptop I was making measured 9" x 13" I purchased 1/3 yard of each outer and liner fabric.  (1/3 yard measured approximately 12 inches).  You can adjust for your needs.  If you want to start with a little make up bag, you could buy fat quarters.   I prefer 100% cotton fabric for this project.
I also purchased 1 zipper.  You can buy a zipper to fit your project, but you can also trim a zipper to suit your needs.  If you've never sewn in a zipper before, there are good instructions on the Coats & Clark zippers packaging, and in your sewing machine manual ;)
You will also need 1/3 yard interfacing.  Choose an interfacing weight that you like.  I think it's helpful to use lightweight-medium fusible interfacing with this beginner project.  Keep in mind, this laptop case is more decorative than protective - it's not going to save your laptop from being dropped in the street.
But, a laptop case (or make up bag, or any other use for this bag) is a good opportunity to use a print you normally wouldn't get to work with - a rainbow floral too busy for clothing or a quilt.  Get something fun (or on sale)!  With my Joann's coupons, the total cost of these supplies was $6.50.

Prep your fabric with a good press.  If this was a garment or an object that we intended to wash (or if you think you will need to wash your laptop bag at some point), I'd recommend pre-washing.

Next, cut your fabric to size.  I cut mine 11" x 15" for a 9" x 13" laptop.  Why such large seam allowances, you ask?  In this case, I'm accounting for a little bit of height in the laptop, and in a project like this, there's no harm in large seam allowances.  You can practice your perfect 1/4 inch seam when you start your quilt! 

You will end up with 2 squares of outer fabric, 2 squares of liner, and 2 squares of interfacing.  If you're using fusible interfacing, you can press it to the liner squares now.

Now, lay your zipper face up on the right side of your liner (you can see my interfacing with the wrong side of the liner).

Then lay your outer fabric right side down on top of the zipper and pin in place

Use your zipper foot to sew a straight stitch along the zipper.  Don't sew too close to the teeth or you'll have a hard time opening and closing the zipper.

Fold back your fabric so right sides are facing out, and press in place.

I like to top stitch... I think it looks more finished and stands up better to daily use.  But this is optional!

Here's the tricky part... Figuring out this next step took some trial and error!  Spatial reasoning is not my strong suit... But I noodled it out!  Lay your liner fabric right side up (with interfacing underneath), then place your zipper and attached fabric right side up on top.  Lay your last piece of outer fabric face down on top, and pin in place.  

Or just re-create this picture, cause those were a lot of directions...

After you sew, press, and top stitch, this is what you should have, spread out...

Take a break, you're working hard...

Then, arrange your piece so right sides are facing each other, zipper in the middle, and pin

Important detail, make sure your zipper teeth are facing each other toward the liner, and pin like above.  Why?  I don't know how the magical physics of this works, but somehow this makes your zipper lay flat and aligned.  Zippers are weird.  Just trust me.

The next step is to sew all the way around the entire rectangle, leaving an opening a few inches wide along what will be the bottom of the liner.  I put a mark there indicating when to stop, because graduate school has slowly deteriorated my short term memory...

Your rectangle will look like this...

Be especially careful when sewing over the zipper teeth.  It's possible to jam or break your needle if it gets caught in the teeth.  I sew slowly up to the edge of the teeth, raise the needle, and walk the foot over that tiny section.  Continuous stitching gives a nice finished zipper.  Feel it out for yourself, you can do it!

Next, pull the fabric through that opening you remembered to leave at the bottom of the liner.

You end up with this... 2 bags facing each other. 

I sew a quick straight stitch across the opening at the bottom of the liner... If you want, you can do an invisible slip stitch by hand so everything is uniform....but who's peeking inside the tiny bottom corner of your laptop bag??  I ain't got time for that!

Clip the corners of the fabric to reduce bulk, then stuff your liner inside the outer bag.  A bag in a bag!  Aren't you smart?

Look what you made!  And it only took an hour!  If you don't count the 45 minutes you spent foraging in the sale racks of Joann's...

And now, when someone says "OMG your laptop bag is, like, totes adorbes, where did you get it?!"  you can say, "I made it myself!  The 'Not a Day Less Will Do' Blog by this chick, Katey, walked me through it, it was SEW easy!"  Maybe you can skip the blog-plug and the pun, but, hey, you just made your own zippered bag, your cool factor can afford it!