Thrifty fun, alterations and kitty wings!

Hello, and since it's today ~ Happy Spring Equinox! 

I have been going through my wardrobe the past several weeks. Weeding out clothing I no longer wore, had out grown style-wise or just found to be too worn out. I always donate my gently worn clothes to several local places. And of course, I end up at the thrift store seeking new clothes! It's my number one place for gently worn, pre-shrunk clothing finds. 

In doing that I often find pieces I love but want to improve upon. It could be a simple change in buttons or altering it to fit my figure better. If something is too small you can add width in several places. The first can be at the zippers, which I will touch upon next month (currently doing just this to a skirt!). The second is to add width under too-tight arms. Some are very easy alterations for any beginner while others can be more involved.

Here is a pretty blouse I picked from the thrift store recently. It's vintage, I suspect from the 60's and the white buttons it came with just had to go.

I took the original white buttons with me shopping at a craft store. I picked the same size to fit the current button holes. I simply cut the old ones off and added the new black buttons. It's all done by hand and is an easy change for any beginner seamstress.

here is the thrifted blouse with new buttons

My other fun project was new kitty wings for my fluffy cat who wears a harness (because he is a puppy cat!). In the past I have made him fairy wings, which I have shared in a post with adorable photos. But since I made the dog a dragon wing cape last year, my cat needed some too. 

dragon wings for my cat

These are very light weight and made from pipe cleaners and tulle. I hand stitched around the wire to make sure the tulle didn't come of. If you follow me on Instagram (click my side link to find it) you can see videos of my pets and my cat in this adorable winged costume!

dragon cat

I hope spring is arriving for you soon enough! Our flowers are trying to poke up from under a blanket of frost and a dusting of snow. Do visit my many links to keep up with me on a weekly basis. 

Decor, a Sleep mask and my Pets

Hello and welcome to 2018! I know, several weeks late and almost a month so (ha haha!). Winter has been a mixture of storms, warm spells and my pets having little colds. I know, the poor fur babies!

So if you have not paid my etsy shop or Instagram a visit ~ you should! I update with photos, new listings and projects I am working on. I also enjoy posting short videos of projects, techniques or things I have found in craft stores. You can also keep up with me on those places since I enjoy posting often.

my DIY fawn sleep mask

An ongoing project is my Fawn sleep mask. This is a project I've had going since last month. I used a homemade pattern based off a current sleep mask I have. From there I sketched ideas of what I wanted to make, coming to the idea of a fawn or deer. I used cotton printed fabric, flannel for the back (against your eyes) and felt for the ears and antlers. You can use any elastic for the piece that goes around your head, I used soft elastic used for clothing.

I also made a new front door decoration for the coming of spring. I based it on Saint Brigid's cross. She is often associated with Ireland and Gaelic stories and lore. Her cross is unique in it's shape and is weaved from many types of materials. I used faux grass reed, flower and ribbon for my decor. And on the back I did add some glued spots to keep it together in the outside weather. 

my St.Brigid's cross

So far no birds have decided to use my decor for their nests. It was an afternoon project that I greatly enjoyed making. You can also find many tutorials online about how to weave the middle cross part. Once you get the hang of it it's not too difficult for children to learn as well. Mine is hung on my front door but can also be made smaller and hung on the hearth of ones home.

And now for my pets - goodness me! Our calico got sick and needed medicine. And if you have a large cat (she is 13 pounds) you know what a challenge it is to trick them into taking it. The dog got quite sick after a vet visit, we think he caught something while there. The poor boy, you could tell how uncomfortable he was. Off to the vet (again) to give him medication and a shot, he has since recovered. And the boy cat, my fluffy mutt. He surprised us all! He is newly diagnosed as diabetic. The veterinary first suggested we try a special RX food for him. We return for a follow up next month to see if insulin daily will be the next step.

my boy, Howl cat

So next month I hope to share more projects, new listings in my shop and pet updates! Be well friends. Please be sure to visit my Etsy shop and Instagram, links on the side bar.

DIY from barrette to headband (crystals)

Hello, happy Beltane to those who observe it! Spring has arrived and the birds sing, the trees are in bloom and the flowers are beautiful.

So this DIY I'm sharing is something I tried and it worked. I simply had a big, bulky barrette with crystals on it and wanted a headband instead! You will need a piece of hair decoration that you want to transform into something else. I had the barrette and I also had a spare plain headband. You will need pliers and some jewelry wire for this as well. I used some ribbon at the end but that's optional. 

First step is to remove the crystals (or maybe you found one with beads) using the pliers. Place the removed paces aside - be careful to not poke yourself with exposed wire!

supplies all ready

remove pieces and set aside

Now with your crystals all removed, you can decide how you want them arranged on your headband. I simply laid my headband on the table and started to place the crystals how I liked them. They could be in order of size or shape, whatever you prefer.

place your pieces how you like

Now the jewelry wire comes into play. You will need to twist a end of the wire around the headband, then proceed to add a crystal. You add a crystal, twist wire around headband once, then add a crystal. You do this until all the pieces are attached to the headband.

crystals wired onto headband

The optional part is you can leave this with the wire exposed or you can cover it. I covered my wire with some ribbon that matched the headband (in this case, brown). I started at one end and I decided to glue the ribbon on with a dot of glue. I let it dry, then wrapped the ribbon over the exposed wire - all the way across the headband. I simply glued it again at the other end. An alternate is to stitch the ribbon on, wrap, then stitch again. 

I used E6000 glue

the ribbon is wrapped!

I am so pleased with how this came out! It's not bulky and uncomfortable as it was when the crystals where on the barrette. You can do this to many things, perhaps an old necklace with beads you'd like on a headband. 

my calico kitty approves

the finished piece

I hope you've enjoyed this DIY and want to try making some new things. It's fairly easy to make and doesn't require much in supplies. It stayed on well and I might try this again sometime. I hope you have a good start to May! Be sure to check out my photography, my Pinterest & Etsy shop!

Thankful day, Buy handmade!

A very warm & Thankful day to you and yours! My shop is on vacation mode to allow me time to get ready for the holidays. I may offer up a sale or coupons (so stay tuned!). So while I work on that, I hope you have a relaxing holiday and time at home. We have already had our first snowfall of the season.

my cat will be sleeping the cold days away

If you must make purchases this week, please consider buying from artisans & small businesses. When you support the arts you help them maintain a business and income. You also support hand made, sweatshop-free, entrepreneurs.

Cat rescue group, bandannas

The cat group I took a hiatus from in early summer? Well, I've returned! Can't stay away from those homeless kitties for too long. I'm helping with adoption events and some sewing. They have additional sewing & crafty volunteers, so I am not overwhelmed by the requests.

So here are a few photos of them in the stylish bandanna I am making. They are on lingerie elastic, so they are never tight and fit like a collar.

This white kitty is my own cat, Howl. He pretty much models anything I make ~ he loves the attention and not having to get up.

The holidays have begun

Well the weather outside... can't make up it's mind! We have had hail in October, early snow storm in November - now it goes between late spring-like weather to winter again. And when it gets cold I just want to stay snuggled in a warm blanket and hot tea.
I have been working on a few things. I finally listed my necklaces in my Etsy shop ~ two have sold within the first week! So do stop over and grab one before they are gone. All hand crafted by me and from a smoke-free home.

my cat eye glasses necklaces

my round glasses necklaces

only two mustache necklaces are left! 

My newest crafting pursuit has become felting with needle. I had tried this at one time many years back (more then a decade ago) and wanted to try it again. I found an adorable hedge hog kit with all the tools I needed: felting needle, colored wool and a foam square pad for working on. I found my kit at Michael's craft stores and was able to use a 50% off coupon for it. The supplies are very affordable and the kit is a wonderful way to start learning.

felting hedge hog

I decided my hedge hog needed a texture for 'fur' so I am using wavy, textured yarn. I made my ears from flat felt (sold in a 8x11" square) then used the needle to attach them. I have started watching video tutorials to learn new techniques and projects to make. I like videos by Flying Mio and also ones by Maqaroon. They are really easy to do once you have a little practice, you can make almost anything with needle felting! 

Malea the cat, adopted! 

And a happy announcement! After more then a year in foster homes with my feline rescue group, Malea the cat has been adopted by a friend of mine. She is considered a senior cat since she is older then 5 years in age. She had grown a tad chubby and had to be put on a special cat food and diet. But have no doubt, she is the sweetest girl with the most friendly demeanor. I'm so happy she has taken to her new family without a hitch. If you are able to this winter season, please donate or volunteer with local charities and groups that have meaning to you. The only way these groups succeed is by help from volunteers and donations. Have a safe, healthy and thankful holiday weekend!