Sometimes I use my blog to stalk myself. There is something sort of enjoyable but simultaneously humiliating about being able to discover exactly what I was doing/saying/eating/creating in the past- sort of like when I read poems that I wrote when I was in high school (the best friend knows what I'm talking about- it was bad ya'll). So, I thought it would be fun to take a little peek into the past, and here's what I found:
In 2013, I was in full Valentines day swing, posting about Valentines day:
http://lovebisforbrown.blogspot.com/2013/02/heartsy-things.html
In 2012, I was between a weekend in which the smartest and I shopped for running shoes (who's not sorry that the weekend wrap-ups ceased shortly there after): http://www.thesmartestandhisartist.blogspot.com/2012/02/weekend-wrap-up_12.html
and my favorite blog post of all time- the pink jeans post (located here)
In 2011, I was making printable coffee sleeves. And making (what I still think are very funny but are actually probably lame) Star Wars references: http://www.thesmartestandhisartist.blogspot.com/2011/02/feature-friday-bean-me-up-scotty.html
So there you have it. A complete history of the last 3 years of my blog-hood. I feel both informed, and a smidge violated. What were you up to today last year?
Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tutorial. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Adventures in Painting
If you are familiar with me... you know that I'm not really a traditional artist. I specialize in digital medium, more so than painting, drawing, sculpting, or really any sort of art that doesn't have an "undo" button.
Here's a fun fact for you- I absolutely HATE that about myself. For a long time, I felt like a bit of a hack for only being talented at design, rather than the creation of something from nothing in a more traditional manner. I have come to terms with my own unique artistic style over the last couple of years, but there is still a tiny part of my that yearns to sit at a canvas rather than a computer screen, and make something other than glitter letters. I decided it might be fun to try to learn some of the skills that art school tried so very hard (and failed so ver spectacularly) to instill within me- so I busted out my old acrylic paints this weekend.
In the absence of prying eyes, judging classmates and a grade looming over my head, I actually found painting rather enjoyable. I took a photo at each stage of painting, so I could recognize where things went horridly wrong, in the event that they chose to do so.
As it turns out, the painting didn't veer in an unfixable direction...
and now I have fun photos to share with you.
Here's a fun fact for you- I absolutely HATE that about myself. For a long time, I felt like a bit of a hack for only being talented at design, rather than the creation of something from nothing in a more traditional manner. I have come to terms with my own unique artistic style over the last couple of years, but there is still a tiny part of my that yearns to sit at a canvas rather than a computer screen, and make something other than glitter letters. I decided it might be fun to try to learn some of the skills that art school tried so very hard (and failed so ver spectacularly) to instill within me- so I busted out my old acrylic paints this weekend.
In the absence of prying eyes, judging classmates and a grade looming over my head, I actually found painting rather enjoyable. I took a photo at each stage of painting, so I could recognize where things went horridly wrong, in the event that they chose to do so.
As it turns out, the painting didn't veer in an unfixable direction...
and now I have fun photos to share with you.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
DIY 2 Seam Infinity Scarf
Over the weekend, I busted out Ol' Bessie, which is what I have decided to call my very old but delightfully functional inherited sewing machine. I had a specific project that I was tasked with that made facing my old enemy necessary, but its very hush hush, so I won't be sharing about it just yet.
As I'm sure you remember from my last few forays into the sewing world... I'm not very good. And I have to call mama artist at least once, if not fifty times, to ask simple questions like "how do you thread this thing" and "oops. is that supposed to come off". This go round even featured papa artist as a camera man while mama artist and I face timed... and discovered my underlying sewing issue.
You have to put the foot down.
I could just die of embarrassment- I mean, who DOESN'T know that? Of course you need to put the foot down. Otherwise you get really shoddy work, like everything I've made in the last 2 years.
Anyway- now that I've bored you with my stories of being a sewing moron, the promised tutorial for making this bad boy:
2 Seam Infinity Scarf
What you need:
1.5 yards of fabric (I actually used 1 and 3/8, because it was the end of a bolt. It was knit. And striped)
Pins
Thread
Sewing Machine
Scissors
What you do:
1). Firstly we need to cut your fabric. Fold your fabric in half (it probably is already from the store, but just in case), then fold it in half again. Your resulting piece will be a few inches wider than a foot. Using the fold as a guide, cut your fabric down the length, so that you end up with 3 pieces (one of which is still folded. You could cut it into 4 pieces and sew them together, but it very clearly states in the apathy handbook that you will be flogged for such practices.
1.5). Make sure to face that the inside of your folded fabric is the two pretty sides- so that when you turn it right side out later you get the pretty vibrant side of your fabric rather than the muted side.
2). Pin the non-folded sides together, pinning the top and bottom layers together.
3). Sew your pieces together, using the 5/8 marking on your sewing machine. Make sure to start, then back stitch, then go forward again, to keep things secure.
4). After you sew the length of your fabric, trim your threads. You will be left with a loooooong fabric tube.
5). Turn your tub right side out- and center your seam on the "back"
6). Tuck one end of your tube into the other, pinning them together on the same side as the seam you just finished. Something I wish I had done- make sure that your edges are relatively straight. If not, take a minute to trim them until they are pretty straight.
7). Sew your ends together.
8). Trim the fabric as close to your seam as possible. This actually worked quite a bit better than I expected, so that was an exciting moment.
Tadah! A 2 seam infinity scarf. Brought to you by not-a-seamstress. You can wear it 3 ways- which makes it thrice as awesome, no?
And in case you were wondering what the puppy gets up to when I'm feeling crafty... she's never far away.
As I'm sure you remember from my last few forays into the sewing world... I'm not very good. And I have to call mama artist at least once, if not fifty times, to ask simple questions like "how do you thread this thing" and "oops. is that supposed to come off". This go round even featured papa artist as a camera man while mama artist and I face timed... and discovered my underlying sewing issue.
You have to put the foot down.
I could just die of embarrassment- I mean, who DOESN'T know that? Of course you need to put the foot down. Otherwise you get really shoddy work, like everything I've made in the last 2 years.
Anyway- now that I've bored you with my stories of being a sewing moron, the promised tutorial for making this bad boy:
2 Seam Infinity Scarf
What you need:
1.5 yards of fabric (I actually used 1 and 3/8, because it was the end of a bolt. It was knit. And striped)
Pins
Thread
Sewing Machine
Scissors
What you do:
1). Firstly we need to cut your fabric. Fold your fabric in half (it probably is already from the store, but just in case), then fold it in half again. Your resulting piece will be a few inches wider than a foot. Using the fold as a guide, cut your fabric down the length, so that you end up with 3 pieces (one of which is still folded. You could cut it into 4 pieces and sew them together, but it very clearly states in the apathy handbook that you will be flogged for such practices.
1.5). Make sure to face that the inside of your folded fabric is the two pretty sides- so that when you turn it right side out later you get the pretty vibrant side of your fabric rather than the muted side.
2). Pin the non-folded sides together, pinning the top and bottom layers together.
3). Sew your pieces together, using the 5/8 marking on your sewing machine. Make sure to start, then back stitch, then go forward again, to keep things secure.
4). After you sew the length of your fabric, trim your threads. You will be left with a loooooong fabric tube.
5). Turn your tub right side out- and center your seam on the "back"
6). Tuck one end of your tube into the other, pinning them together on the same side as the seam you just finished. Something I wish I had done- make sure that your edges are relatively straight. If not, take a minute to trim them until they are pretty straight.
7). Sew your ends together.
8). Trim the fabric as close to your seam as possible. This actually worked quite a bit better than I expected, so that was an exciting moment.
Tadah! A 2 seam infinity scarf. Brought to you by not-a-seamstress. You can wear it 3 ways- which makes it thrice as awesome, no?
And in case you were wondering what the puppy gets up to when I'm feeling crafty... she's never far away.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Almost Dyed Shorts Tutorial
Today was supposed to be the day that I shared how to turn black skinny jeans into teal shorts. I was going to share all of my secrets and gift myself an adorable set of shorts that are actually long enough to cover more than 4 inches of my grotesquely long legs. I was going to sit back and revel in the knowledge that I had actually provided you with a blog post worth reading. I was going to be a star.
I was moderately to completely wrong.
Apparently... I'm a little heavy handed with the ol' bleach when it comes to dying clothes. Who knew, right? So, instead of sharing a tutorial about dying shorts, I have this tutorial for you instead:
How to Remove the Butt from your Pants in 5 minutes or less:
1). Cut pants to long short length
2). Put on gloves, locate bleach hiding in cabinet
3). Put shorts into large clothing-dying-bowl in sink
4). Pour half a jug of bleach over said pants
4..5). Choke on the sudden and very strong smell of chemicals
5). Fill remainder of bowl with water
6). Leave pants soaking and take dog for walk
7). Come back and rinse bleach (wearing gloves)
8). Put pants in washer
9). Take pants out of washer 15 minutes later
10). Ta-da! Butt-less pants.
Aren't you glad you have me around?
I was moderately to completely wrong.
Apparently... I'm a little heavy handed with the ol' bleach when it comes to dying clothes. Who knew, right? So, instead of sharing a tutorial about dying shorts, I have this tutorial for you instead:
How to Remove the Butt from your Pants in 5 minutes or less:
1). Cut pants to long short length
2). Put on gloves, locate bleach hiding in cabinet
3). Put shorts into large clothing-dying-bowl in sink
4). Pour half a jug of bleach over said pants
4..5). Choke on the sudden and very strong smell of chemicals
5). Fill remainder of bowl with water
6). Leave pants soaking and take dog for walk
7). Come back and rinse bleach (wearing gloves)
8). Put pants in washer
9). Take pants out of washer 15 minutes later
10). Ta-da! Butt-less pants.
Aren't you glad you have me around?
Friday, April 12, 2013
DIY: From Shirt to Scarf
That's right folks. The "this to that" series is back! Feel free to applaud. Or if you are an in setting that applause wouldn't be considered appropriate, feel free to do an internal happy dance. Go ahead. I'll wait.
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about saving money and about how to get the most clothing bang for my buck (as you might recall from this post). I had a big bag I was about to drop off at Goodwill full of clothing that I purged from the smartest and I's closet (don't tell the smartest, but roughly 1/3 of them were actually his), but before I shoved it in my trunk, I did a quick once-over to make sure there wasn't anything that I thought I could salvage and use for something else.
Peering at me from the very top of the bag were a couple of the smartest's plaid flannel shirts. That I bought him. Because I love plaid. Know who doesn't so much love plaid? The smartest. I rescued the shirts, and started pondering what I thought my (ahem, limited) capabilities would allow me to make out of them.
After much ado, I decided to attempt to make an infinity scarf. I decided this for two reasons. 1). I love infinity scarves, probably because I have a neck complex. 2). It would only require that I sew one side of one thing. It just doesn't get much easier than that folks.
Ok- down to brass tacks:
What you need:
- Old shirt you wish to wrap around your neck
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Pins
- Seamripper (well, you might not, but I almost always do)
What you do:
1). Lay out the shirt and decide how thick you want your scarf to be. Keep in mind that we will be folding over an inch or two for making the edges pretty. I used the bottom of the shirt as one side, even though it was slope-y, because I only wanted to do one side of sewing. Feel free to be far more adventurous than I.
1.5). Button your shirt. Or at least, I did. Because I am hopelessly lazy and didn't want to cut the sides separately. In case you were wondering, this DID bite me in the butt a little bit.
2). Cut shirt in straight line from side to side. Our dining room table actually has grooves like the super legit fabric table at Hobby Lobby does. Which is great for cutting things... but not so much for keep food from being perpetually lodged in the cracks.
3). Unbutton shirt and lay flat
4). Fold over fabric so that we can sew the ragged edge and make it pretty. At this point, I discovered that when I say "cut straight", I actually mean "cut unevenly and end up with 2" worth of variation between the highest and lowest point". So I had to fold over a bunch more than you will. I used the pattern of the plaid as my folding guide, rather than measuring. It seemed to work pretty well- but your shirt might not be plaid. In that event, measure as you pin.
5). Sew. Straight. Ish. I used white thread, because the last time I attempted to thread my bobbin it took roughly 4 hours, which culminated in my face timing mama artist begging for help. The white thread will probably be staying exactly where it is for awhile. You'll note that my seam isn't straight. I would like to blame that on the fact that the puppy got really interested in what I was doing about 1/2 of the way in, and came over and started pushing on my pedal foot as I tried to regulate my speed.
6). Do whatever you do to finish off your seam. I sewed, then reversed and sewed backwards, then sewed forwards, then tied off my thread. Is this the appropriate finishing method? Most definitely not. But I'm sort of rebellious, so I didn't take the time to google what the appropriate action was.
7). Voila! A lovely new scarf for you to wear. The perk of this scarf is that you can unbutton it and wear it straight, like a normal scarf, or you can wear it as an infinity scarf. Mine wraps around my neck twice, but it is a wee bit tight, so I might suggest using a larger shirt than I did. Or having a thinner neck that I do. Either one.
To keep things perfectly honest... I am pretty sure I literally took at least 70 photos to get those three sort of ok ones. 70. It was ridiculous. About halfway through, the puppy came over to see what I was doing, and I felt appropriately judged.
What have you been stealing from your husband's side of the closet and mutilating lately?
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about saving money and about how to get the most clothing bang for my buck (as you might recall from this post). I had a big bag I was about to drop off at Goodwill full of clothing that I purged from the smartest and I's closet (don't tell the smartest, but roughly 1/3 of them were actually his), but before I shoved it in my trunk, I did a quick once-over to make sure there wasn't anything that I thought I could salvage and use for something else.
Peering at me from the very top of the bag were a couple of the smartest's plaid flannel shirts. That I bought him. Because I love plaid. Know who doesn't so much love plaid? The smartest. I rescued the shirts, and started pondering what I thought my (ahem, limited) capabilities would allow me to make out of them.
After much ado, I decided to attempt to make an infinity scarf. I decided this for two reasons. 1). I love infinity scarves, probably because I have a neck complex. 2). It would only require that I sew one side of one thing. It just doesn't get much easier than that folks.
Ok- down to brass tacks:
What you need:
- Old shirt you wish to wrap around your neck
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Pins
- Seamripper (well, you might not, but I almost always do)
What you do:
1). Lay out the shirt and decide how thick you want your scarf to be. Keep in mind that we will be folding over an inch or two for making the edges pretty. I used the bottom of the shirt as one side, even though it was slope-y, because I only wanted to do one side of sewing. Feel free to be far more adventurous than I.
1.5). Button your shirt. Or at least, I did. Because I am hopelessly lazy and didn't want to cut the sides separately. In case you were wondering, this DID bite me in the butt a little bit.
2). Cut shirt in straight line from side to side. Our dining room table actually has grooves like the super legit fabric table at Hobby Lobby does. Which is great for cutting things... but not so much for keep food from being perpetually lodged in the cracks.
3). Unbutton shirt and lay flat
4). Fold over fabric so that we can sew the ragged edge and make it pretty. At this point, I discovered that when I say "cut straight", I actually mean "cut unevenly and end up with 2" worth of variation between the highest and lowest point". So I had to fold over a bunch more than you will. I used the pattern of the plaid as my folding guide, rather than measuring. It seemed to work pretty well- but your shirt might not be plaid. In that event, measure as you pin.
5). Sew. Straight. Ish. I used white thread, because the last time I attempted to thread my bobbin it took roughly 4 hours, which culminated in my face timing mama artist begging for help. The white thread will probably be staying exactly where it is for awhile. You'll note that my seam isn't straight. I would like to blame that on the fact that the puppy got really interested in what I was doing about 1/2 of the way in, and came over and started pushing on my pedal foot as I tried to regulate my speed.
6). Do whatever you do to finish off your seam. I sewed, then reversed and sewed backwards, then sewed forwards, then tied off my thread. Is this the appropriate finishing method? Most definitely not. But I'm sort of rebellious, so I didn't take the time to google what the appropriate action was.
7). Voila! A lovely new scarf for you to wear. The perk of this scarf is that you can unbutton it and wear it straight, like a normal scarf, or you can wear it as an infinity scarf. Mine wraps around my neck twice, but it is a wee bit tight, so I might suggest using a larger shirt than I did. Or having a thinner neck that I do. Either one.
To keep things perfectly honest... I am pretty sure I literally took at least 70 photos to get those three sort of ok ones. 70. It was ridiculous. About halfway through, the puppy came over to see what I was doing, and I felt appropriately judged.
What have you been stealing from your husband's side of the closet and mutilating lately?
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