DIY Christmas Crochet/Knitting Tote Bag

I loved making this tote bag for the crochet or knitting enthusiast.  When I was sketching the design I wanted to make a spot to keep scissors handy and not so easy to lose in the bag with all your yarn and felt, and book and pattern. 
The instructions and details are at iLoveToCreate.com and there are tons more DIY gift ideas that you can still make in time for Christmas!

Pompom Christmas Tree

Pompoms and Christmas seems like the perfect match to me, 

and I've been dreaming of covering a tree with pompoms ever since Scott and I 

invented the PattieWack Pompom Tool 7 years ago.

We did it!  

We finally made the pompoms for our Christmas Pompom Tree.     

The pompoms are soft and pretty and colorful against our white Christmas tree.

 

I'm loving the retro look with our mod turquoise chairs and how sweet it turned out.

It was super easy to make about 60 pompoms in all different colors of yarns.  

There are 7 different bright jewel toned colors of yarn.  

I made sure to use turquoise and red since those are the two major colors in our mid-century modern living room.  Then I added yummy colors like kiwi, tangerine, lemon yellow, deep purple, hibiscus and pistachio green pompoms.

 

 We love it! 

Embroidery Hoop Christmas Craft

 

Embroidery hoops are the perfect frames for my Christmas "JOY"message.  I can see these done in many different colors and styles.  They would be adorable in bright red and green for the traditional Christmas.  Or you could choose fabric in modern colors like tangerine, kiwi and lemon yellow.  

Hang them in front of a light and get a completely different look!

If you want the details, go to iLoveToCreate.com for the supplies and complete instructions to personalize your very own embroidery hoop art.

Felt Christmas Stocking

A Berry Merry Christmas

You’ll have yourself a very merry Christmas with this holly berry stocking hanging from the mantle! All you need is colorful felt and Aleene’s® Fabric Fusion™ … let Santa do the rest!

I loved making this stocking, because I love felt and how crisp and clean it looks.  This one is super fast to whip up and it would be easy to personalize by embroidering a monogram on the cuff.  I hope you like it....

Pompom Jacket

 

It's time to think about Holiday Gifts and Events, 

and here's an idea that any girlie girl will love to give or receive.  

I made tons of pompoms, tassels and rosettes with the PattieWack Pompom Tool and the PattieWack Tassel Tool, then I sewed them to this adorable crochet jacket.  

The leaves are cut from felt and I added wooden beads to add more texture and interest for an adorable addition to your fave jeans or a little chocolate skirt for any special occasion.

Supplies:

Tools needed: 

Large upholstery needle

Small size Pattiewack™ Pompom Tool

Small size Pattiewack™ Tassel Tool

Supplies needed:

Aunt Lydia’s Fashion Crochet Thread, Size 3, 0775 Warm Rose

Red Heart Easy Tweed, 6674 Raspberry

Red Heart Super Saver 0966 Cherry Chip

7 – 3/4” Wooden Beads

12 – 2” Brown Felt Leaves, embroidered with Warm Rose

Warm Rose Rosette Steps:

1. Wind both warm rose thread around the tassel tool on the 1-1/4”” step, 30 times.
2. Bind the top of the rosette with 6” of yarn.
3. Cut to loops and pull the rosette off the tool.
4. Spread the cut loops around to create a flat rosette. 
5. Tie a bead to the center of the rosette with additional yarn.
6. Repeat steps to create 3 rosettes.  Lay aside.

1-1/2” Raspberry Tweed Pompoms:

Make 5 Lancelot pompoms, on the 1-1/2” step of the pompom tool, winding 30 times and tying with 6” of yarn.  Lay aside.

1” Raspberry Tweed Pompoms:

Make 10 Raspberry pompoms, on the 1” step of the pompom tool, winding 20 times and tying with 6” of yarn.  Lay aside.

1-1/2” Cherry Chip Pompoms:

Make 10 Cherry Chip pompoms, on the 1-1/2” step of the pompom tool, winding 40 times and tying with 6” of yarn.  Lay aside.

1-3/4” Raspberry Tweed Tassels:

Make 2 tassels, on the 1-3/4” step of the tassel tool, winding 15 times and tying the tops with 10” of yarn. Tie the tassel to the ends of the ties on the jacket.

Final Steps:

1. Arrange all of the pompoms, leaves, and rosettes in the desired place on the front of jacket.  (Use photo for suggested placement.)  Pin into place.

Sew all of the pieces to the garment with an upholstery needle to complete.

Pompom Turkey Favor

 When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of Scott and I waking up and

having a lazy breakfast before the dinner prep begins.  

So, I thought a cute little pompom turkey sitting on top of upside

down coffee cups at our table would be just the 

perfect favor to start the day!

Here's my crafty supplies: 

yarn, Aleene's Tacky Glue, polka dot papers, and a PattieWack Pompom Tool.

 First Step:

Make a pompom

 Second Step:

Cut out 3 tail feathers and 1 circle.

Third Step:

Fan-fold the tail feathers and glue the papers into place to make your cute pompom turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pattiewack

Consignment Store Finds

 

Most of my life, I've worn hand-me-downs, so I guess it's only natural that I love consignment shops.  Daddy was a preacher in dirt-poor places around Oklahoma, and I remember mom and I going to the thrift stores on a regular basis to see what was new.  We sewed most everything I wore,  but you never knew what was waiting there at the thrift store, like this fabulous suede cape.  And the little fur pompom thingie just made me squeeeel with delight when I saw it. 

 And I couldn't resist this trendy leather bag covered in huge studs.  It zips along the bottom to make it roomier if you need it.  And I need it.

The hooded sweater duster was perfect, too.  I'm pretty excited about finding this new-to-me consignment boutique down in the Tower District in Fresno.

It's called Repeat Performance at 1429 N Van Ness Avenue.

One of my favorite things about it was that it's an old pharmacy and they kept lots of the old store fixtures and signs.  The outside is very kitschy cool. 

Now all I need is some cute boots!

 

Belle Armoire Magazine

I am so excited to say I was published twice in the November/December issue of Belle Armoire!

 This design was inspired by the late Alexander McQueen's amazing use of mirror image prints.  I developed a technique where you paint one-half of the garment and then fold the unpainted side over to the painted side, unfold it and voila!  This is so much fun, it's easy, and has a huge wow factor.

This couture ensemble was designed by me for a CHA trade show, using glue, and limited sewing.  All the beads and ruffles and sequins and feathers a glued to the lace blouse and skirt.  I actually too 2 skirts and altered them to form one tulip skirt.  You have to pick it up on the newstand and check it out!

From Belle Armoire's website today:

"Be delighted by the November/December 2010 issue of Belle Armoire. Heidi Selig’s genius works of clothing for kids is featured in the Designer Collection profile. Megan Morris saved up scraps from making purses to create the stunning scrap dress featured on this issue’s cover. Learn about fusing metals with Ruth Rae’s tutorial, which showcases beautiful pieces using the technique. See the results of the Little Black Dress challenge, where we challenged artists to make a little black dress that fit their personalities. See the beautiful embroidery work of Debbie Bone-Harris, in a jacket and ensemble that’s sure to inspire. Regardless of the type of art to wear you love, you’re bound to find it within the pages of the November/December 2010 issue of Belle Armoire."

What an honor to be included in the fascinating line-up of designer's in this incredible magazine!

Haute Handbags Magazine

I'm published in the latest Haute Handbags Magazine!

 I got a fabulous surprise last night when we went to Barnes & Noble 

after dinner to peruse the latest magazines.  

There I was in HAUTE HANDBAGS, baybeeeee!

The purse I designed was with a painted clutch with 4 rings glued to the closure for 

the snazziest evening bag ever, if I do say so.

woot woot!

Of course, this one of my fave magazines on the newstand, and it's 

published by Stampington & Company, 

which is responsible for several amazing magazines.

Fun, fun, fun!

Felted Pompom Purse

.

Pompoms on this felted purse made me think of fall 

when I sewed this collage of felt hearts and designs on the sides of the bag. 

You could do this on any bag with a soft side. 

Here's the yarn and supplies you'll need and the steps:

MODA DEA™ Dream: 1 Ball No. 3796 Aspen

MODA DEA™ Gleam: 1 Ball No. 3012 Black Pearl

MODA DEA™ Zing: 1 Ball No. 3689 Midnight

Tools:

Large size Pattiewack™ Pompom Tool

Large size Pattiewack™ Tassel Tool

Large Upholstery Needle

6 Coordinating Beads

Steps:

1. Wind the yarn 50 times on the 3” step of the pompom tool.
2. Tie the center of the pompom tightly with 18” length of yarn.
3. Cut the pompom away from the tool.
4. Repeat the pompom steps to create 3 pompoms of each color of yarn.
5. Sew the pompoms to the top of the bag with a large upholstery needle.
6. Wind all 3 yarns 5 times each on the 3” step of the tassel tool.
7. Tie the top of the tassel with a 24” length of yarn.  (Do not trim the tassel ties, so you can use them to sew the tassel to the purse later.)
8. Bind the neck of the tassel with a 10” length of yarn.
9. Cut the bottom of the tassel and slide it off of the tool. 
10. Thread the beads onto the tassel ties at the top of the tassel.
11. Tie the beaded tassel to the handle of the purse, using the tassel ties.

High-Heeled Pilgrim Party Shoe Favors

High-heeled Shoes and Thanksgiving?

Of course!

Who wouldn't want a darling Pilgrim Shoe Favor sitting at their place setting at your Thanksgiving dinner?

I have this Pattiewack Pattern Pak that has a great pattern for a paper shoe that I have been dying to make into a Pilgrim Shoe for a long time, and finally got around to it this year.

 I simply traced the pattern from the original and cut it out.

 I found an black file folder that was white on the inside, and I thought it was perfect for this, so I traced around the pattern onto the paper, and cut it out.

 The lines on the inside of the shoe are the fold lines, so I grabbed my scoring tool and scored all of the lines.

 Next, I folded all of the score lines inward, and the shoe magically started taking shape.

 My little Tacky Glue was perfect for adhering all of the tabs on my Pilgrim Shoe.

 The pattern has a cute little flower on the toe, but I cut it into a square so I could make it into a buckle.

 And it wouldn't be a Pilgrim Shoe without a big gold buckle!

I cut one out of gold paper and glued it on to finish it.

I love how it turned out. 

For the pattern, go to PattieWack.com and make one for everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pattiewack

Craft on! Click here for today's daily giveaway!

I Heart SHOES!

I love shoes so much, that I'm always checking out ways to wack them out with something, and these strappy heels caught my attention at Forever21 on one of my many dashes to the mall.

But they didn't start out like this. Oh no. At the iLoveToCreate Studios the Designers start with an idea like everyone else in the creative world, BUT then we must create a SKETCH to show the approval committee what we plan to DO with our idea before we can make it.

So, here's my sketch of the shoes I had in my head. As you can see, the technique for gluing is written there, along with my initials, and what the embellishments will be. At the time I was thinking zippers, crystals, and using GLUE to hold them all together. If you look real close, you see that "yes" it was approved.

And here's the shoes BEFORE the zippers, glue, and rosettes started being added.

In the process, I used clothespins and masking tape to hold them together while the glue set.

Oh, and did you know that zippers fray when you cut them? That's why you see the candle lit on my work table. I held the cut zipper over the flame to stop them from fraying. Works like a charm. I use Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue, and I also used Fabric Fusion to hold the rosettes together. They are 3 sizes of wavy circles cut from an old pleather jacket, with a brad in the center of the small circle. I stacked and glued them together and then glued them to the shoes. The next morning I took off the tape and clothespins and woot-woot!

Check it out..... Our copy writer Chloe just HAD to try them on. They are size 9, and she is a size 6....so they are pretty big, but still pretty stellar.

Cute toes, Chloe!

LUCKY CHARM

St. Patrick's Day is March 17th, and it'll be the perfect day to show off your crafty side with this snazzy little shamrock captured in a charm with Aleene's® Paper Glaze. It dries to a hard, nontacky glass-like finish to accentuate design details for dimensional designs and laminating effects on paper.



Believe it or not, the shamrock isn't real. I found it by "googling" shamrock and it was easy to find actual photos of the real thing. So, I simply printed it out, and I was ready to craft!

First, I cut two 1” wide circles from white cardstock. Then I printed the shamrock image from the web to fit inside 1” circle.

I glued an earring hook between the two circles of cardstock with Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue®, exposing only the ring of the earring for joining to the chain when completed. (That's why I never throw any old jewelry away when it breaks... you can always use strays for crafting later.)

Next, I carefully cut out the shamrock and glued it to one side of the charm and let it dry.

I wanted both sides to look nice, so I turned the charm over to the backside and glued green Tulip® Glam-It-Up!™ Iron-On Crystals™ over the entire circle. Yes, I know the crystals are iron-ons, but they are positively wonderful to glue to paper!

After the crystals dried on the back of the charm I turned it over to the front and glued crystals around the outside edge, circling the shamrock.

Next comes the amazing part. I squeezed a thin layer of Aleene's® Paper Glaze over the shamrock, carefully covering to the edge of crystals. That's what makes it look like resin, and all shiny. It's important to let it dry overnight before you touch it, so you don't get your fingerprints on it and make it dull.

Last of all, I used needle-nose pliers to attach my lucky charm to a chain with a jump ring.

There ya go....A cute little lucky charm to wear or give away on St. Paddy's Day!

For more wacky & crafty ideas,

Come see me at: iLoveToCreate.com and at PattieWack.com

Mancrafting - Tie Dye Scarves

Tie Dye Guys....


Mancrafting at the iLoveToCreate booth recently at the CHA 2010 Trade Show was in full swing, as you'll see in this video.

The silk scarves at the Make-It-Take-It table were a huge hit. I mean, who doesn't LOVE tie dye? Who doesn't love silk? And who wouldn't want their guy to make a beautiful gift with their two bare hands ? (Okay, so they WERE covered in plastic gloves.)

Eddie was making a surprise for his girlfriend when she walked up, so there is a bit of dye drama going on....



The process is simple.... Take your 100% silk scarf that you can pick up at the craft store, and tie it in knots, or twist it, or rubber band it, fold it, or whatever you can think of to make a design. As you'll see in the video, we now have a new dyeing term call "zshooozing" by one of the dudes, as well as "massaging" the dye into the scarf! (love it :-)

So, check out your dye color options at iLoveToCreate and make a scarf that would be perfect for Valentines Day, or any day!

Have a Crafty Christmas!

Have you run out of Crafty Christmas ideas? Well, I've got videos for you to see how fast and easy you can still create crafty goodness for your friends and family.




Check it out!




















There are tons more videos at iLoveToCreate.com and you'll also be able to shop for all your crafty needs.

Happy Holidays!
Pattiewack