Weaved Purses

I got a used copy of Craft Magazine at my local used book store. It was the weaving issue. I decided it was high time to add weaving to my "jack of all trades" list.

In this issue, they highlight Travis Meinolf, weaver extraordinaire.



And for anyone interested, he has a blog Action Weaver.

Now for my project.
A month before my sister's birthday, I decided to try it out. I gave myself a month to figure it out.
I got some precut plywood and a box of nails and built my own loom.



It's a good thing I gave myself a month to learn because my first try wasn't quite right. I really liked the pattern, but I didn't do the tension right. It turned out a little loose and way skinnier at one end than at the other.



The next one I did turned at a little better. The weave was a little tighter. It still tapered a little but it was usable. I ended up making a clutch for my mom for Mother's Day.





Next, I started on my sister's present. It was initially going to be another clutch, but I decided I didn't think I'd ever seen my sister with a clutch. So, I made a bag instead.

My Patio: Before and After

So it all started with a chair that was a hand me down of my boyfriends. A friend of a friend of a friend painted it, so we didn't want to just trash it. But it was definitely unusable.



So I put my crafty brain to work. The legs were still good.



And the slats of wood in the seat were still good.



So, my brother and I went to work and fit the stool top to the legs and reupholstered it.







We used the slats from the seat and made a frame.



Then, I figured while I'm at it, I may as well keep going on the patio furniture. I decided to give another chair and a bench an update.

Before.





After.





The last thing to do was use the last of the vinyl from the stool to make a throw pillow and update the table.

The end result:



It really is amazing what a little paint will do.

Christmas 2008

My family is pretty creative. So, for christmas, we draw names. One person you buy for and the other you make for.
This year my brother in law, kenny, got my name for his make. He made me a sewing center to hold all my little nicnaks that clutter my sewing desk. He even etched and painted the back of it.
I love it.



I drew my sister in law, stefani, for my make. She hardly ever sits down on her couch without a blanket around her. So, I made her a quilt that will hopefully match the chairs in her living room.