Alteration experiment

I found this shirt and a few others like it while thrifting. They were all constructed similarly huge and billowing, in different polyesters, and I'm certain were handmade. The prints were wonderful though the shirts were far too giant. So that's where the alteration project started.

Picture a blouse this ample and billowy...

Altered down to make a little fitted crop top vest thing with cap sleeves, darts, tucks, and pins.

Pair it with silver leggings from LABEL

I like the concept, but still need to work on the execution.

Sisal Wrapped Balls

I've seen these trendy-looking balls used as lampshades countless times, and found several tutorials on how to make them. Here is my result. When I find lamp parts, this will metamorphose into a lamp.

Two pieces of wall candy

I worked on these projects during the winter, accompanied by some red wine. Outdoors was ugly, slushy, and grey, contrasting these colourful fun pieces. The stencilled damask one, done with acrylic and gloss medium, was an experimental foray into stencil work and the craquelure effect. I need to find a way to prevent the stencil from sticking to the painting as I'm workign on it. Perhaps make it out of something other than paper? The craquelure effect should have been done with a matte medium on top rather than gloss. Definitely will be doing this again. The other piece was a mixed-media collage incorporated surreal sort of space invaders thing, and I am quite happy with it.

Bloorcourt Fair

Yesterday after playing beach volleyball, I biked to the Bloorcourt arts and crafts fair to check it out. I was impressed by the level of skill and design put into the products at all the tables. I met Ting of Acidzip who makes fantastic porcupine quill jewelry and has a great sense of vintage style, and I bought this necklace she made. I love the necklace, and it has been over a year since I have bought any jewelry so I am super excited about it and will probably wear it every waking hour.

I Have the Best Ideas at Night

It was 11:30 PM and I should have been sleeping, but instead I had the bright idea to take the trip down to the recycling room of my building and see if there were any good finds. I have been wanting to make some cool coasters for a while, and until last night that meant one of two things. First, polished stone coasters of smooth irregular shapes, not really something I can accomplish with the tools I have on hand. Second, slices of varnished tree trunk. I never thought of how hard it is to get my hands on a tree trunk until then, especially in the heart of downtown Toronto. So my bright idea was to harvest a tree product of another kind from the "forest of the city," in other words, cardboard from the recycling room. A few drawings of Canadiana icons and wildlife later, and some kindergarten-reminiscent cutouts later, and voila: a set of Canadiana coasters.

Making My First Basket

Over the past few weeks I've had some dates with Meka who is teaching me how to make baskets! I met her through Swapsity, a site where you can swap items and skills based on a rating system of different users. So far I have finished the base and worked around the corner to start making the sides. It's going to be a fruit bowl because right now my fruit bowl is a giant rectangular Pyrex ugly thing! Its hard surface isn't exactly kind on the tender flesh of the fruit. 

View of the interior

View of the exterior

Amimono knit blue tank

This knit top was my first foray into a real knitting project that transcended making scarves! It is made of 100% mercerised cotton, and I followed a pattern for the first time!

No More Dryer Sheets

Instead, use these tightly woven and felted woolen balls to fluff and remove static from garments! They last for a long time, and will prevent you from spending $6 on dryer sheets every couple months. I don't think I will make many of these because Etsy already has a lot of sellers doing exactly this! So I made a set for myself to test it out. I love the results.