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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Goldie Blox Costume Overalls

I got a really cool opportunity to make the Goldie Blox overalls that were part of the character's  costume for the Goldie Blox float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2014.

Photo by Christine Zalocha @zalocha
It was an interesting project, turning an action figure's painted on outfit into a real costume that an actress would be wearing on a float. It took me awhile to try to find a right purple color to match Goldie's overalls. I didn't have an overalls pattern, but I started with existing pants pattern then added the bib and straps. The stitch lines are embroidered by hand with the side stitches using 4 thick strands of embroidery floss to stand out.




On the side opening I ended up adding a pants hook because I didn't want the snaps to pop open since Goldie would be riding a bicycle that powered her awesome spinning machine float. I ended up finding a corduroy fabric with a little bit of stretch in it, hopefully the thicker corduroy kept the actress somewhat warm since it's cold on that parade route.

Photo by Christine Zalocha @zalocha

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

San Francisco Bazaar 2014

I'll be at the San Francisco Bazaar this weekend, December 13-14 with my Fluff Engine toys and patterns. Support local craftspeople and get your holiday shopping done.


Click to enlarge

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

IDEO Wunderfaire 2014

I'll be at the IDEO Wunderfaire this Thursday, December 4th. It's open to the public and it's a great opportunity to check out a bunch of awesome vendor and see IDEO's neat design space.

Come say hi to all these monsters:

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium 2014


It's the season of craft fairs and I'll be at the Etsy Indie Holiday Emporium in San Francisco this weekend, November 29-30th. I've never been to Pier 35 before, but the space looks huge and there will be a ton of awesome vendors there. If you're out shopping this weekend come support your local craftspeople.

I'll be at booth 5-13, it's a little confusing but come check out the show.

Click Map to Enlarge

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Patchwork Craft Show

I'll be at the Patchwork Show this Sunday, November 16, 2014 in Oakland, CA.  I've been working hard making lots of different stuffed toys and I'll have my new squirrel pattern too. Come check it out if you live in the bay area.



Sunday, November 9, 2014

Purple Print Dress


Several years ago I picked up this great purple twill fabric at the White Elephant Sale in Oakland. I made a skirt with it, but I didn't pay attention that the twill weave does have a specific direction, so my skirt didn't look quite right. I still liked the fabric and had a lot of it left over to make another project. I found an easy wrap dress pattern in my collection, Simplicity 8975 from 1979.

 I followed the directions except I didn't want the crazy ruffle straps, so I just didn't add them. It did leave a very strange neckline, so I had to figure out a way to make it more flattering.  I cut out individual flowers, hearts and bugs from the fabric print and arranged them around the neckline. I backed them all to remove any loose edges and sewed them on by hand. 
Neckline detail

I've already worn this dress several times and I'm always so happy that it has side seam pockets.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Alameda Holiday Fest 2014


This Sunday November 2, 2014; I'll be at the Alameda Holiday Fest selling my Fluff Engine Toys and patterns. There will be 45 vendors including myself offering all sorts of awesome items, come check it out if you're in the area.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Squirrel Puppet Pattern

I just finished a new pattern, it's my first puppet pattern, called Twirly Squirrel. It's available for sale as a PDF download in my store and on etsy. I should be getting the physical versions from the printer any day now. It was really different making a puppet because I had to think about the inside shape as well as the exterior. I'm pretty happy with how cute this one came out. I'm hoping to revise this post with a video showing the puppet in action, so stay tuned.



Wednesday, October 15, 2014

East Bay Mini Maker Faire 2014

This Sunday is the East Bay Mini Maker Faire in Oakland. I'll be there selling my Fluff Engine plush toys and patterns. Come check it out, it should be a ton of fun.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Plush You! in Seattle

Tonight is the opening party for Plush You! an awesome plush show, which I'm happy to say I'm a part of this year. It's curated and hosted by Schmancy, an neat designer toy shop in Seattle, WA.

Opening: October 10th, 2014
                5pm to 9pm

Schmancy
1972 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

APE 2014

This weekend, October 4-5 is the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco. I'll be there with my Fluff Engine toys sharing a table with Liz Prince, Alec Longstreth and Tugboat Press.


I'll have some new toy designs, like these squirrels and fish, plus the third issue of my Terrible Movie Nights zine.


Monday, September 29, 2014

Summer Wedding Party Dress

Along with the invitations, I designed and made a new dress for my wedding celebration. It was during Fiestas de Santa Fe so I looked to traditional fiesta dresses for inspiration. I found the cream colored lace fabric first and let that dictate a color that would pop out well. I've worked with gold lamé in the past and it frays so easily I wanted to find a gold with a little more body. The fabric I found is still very metallic but it has a shantung feel, so there are some more fibers running through it to give it more weight and it doesn't just fall apart when you cut it.


I did my best to incorporate special things in the day of the celebration. The buttons are from a Lilly Pulitzer mens jacket that belonged to Alec's grandfather, which I remade to fit me. The thicker bracelet belonged to my grandmother and my mom gave me the thinner bracelet. The locket was a high school graduation gift from my dad and brother. My wedding ring is from Alec's grandmother so I think I got a lot of family covered.

 I know we don't look super excited in this photo, but it shows the dress the best and we were very happy but we had a lot of photos to take.

Monday, September 8, 2014

CMYK Wedding invitation

This past weekend was my wedding celebration, and I designed the invitations. My initial color inspiration was the pinball machine Party Zone from 1991 which incorporates bright fluorescent colors. I quickly came to the realization that this party was not just my rave but a party for our families so I should keep it tasteful. To me fluorescent colors don't stand out well by white, it fades the brightness and I wasn't ready to use black as the background, so I dropped that idea. Instead I went with pure CMYK, to make it as bright as possible without using custom inks.


Monday, September 1, 2014

Making a Snail video

Martha Stewart - American Made 2014 - Nominee Badge I nominated myself for the Martha Stewart American Made awards because I'm an American maker. While there is a panel of judges choosing the majority of the winners, there is also a spot for an audience favorite, so anyone can vote for their favorite maker from September 15 to October 13, 2014. For the application I made a little video about making a Snail Mail toy.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Cat Portrait: Dolly and Blue

My friends Angela is having an art show for her birthday and she asked me contribute something, so I painted her two adorable kitties, Dolly and Blue. When I get more info about the show I'll update this, but I'm assuming it will be in Oakland somewhere.
UPDATE: The art show is at MOCO 372 17th St, Oakland, CA 94612 and it should be up for the month of September.


Saturday, July 19, 2014

San Diego Comic Con 2014

Next week, I'm heading down to San Diego for my first Comic Con!

I'll be there with these awesome cartoonists: Alec Longstreth, Liz Prince and Greg Means.

 I'll be at their table all week, helping out and selling my movie zine: Terrible Movie Nights.  If you're gonna be there, come stop by our table in the Small Press Pavilion: aisle K, table 6.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Making a Gold Tie

In preparation for my September wedding celebration party I am making a new dress, which is currently under construction. Since I'm making a new dress, Alec will get a new, matching tie and here's the process of making that tie.

I do have a commercial pattern for making a tie, but I found that it's pretty easy to just buy a thrift store tie and rip it apart. Plus I can use the interlining material instead of buying a yard of it when it's rare that I need this type of interlining.

First I ripped the seams open on my thrift store tie.

I then cut out the correct shape on the bias of my gold fabric. There is a seam halfway through the tie. I don't know the history of ties but I'm assuming this is just so that you don't have to waste too much fabric since cutting on the bias takes a lot of fabric.

The ends of the tie need a separate lining fabric, I just used some teal satin that I had leftover from another project.

To make sure the the lining is hidden at the tip, sew the corner before you attach the lining. Since I wasn't following a pattern I didn't completely understand this step so I had to sew the lining twice, but I got it in the end.

Turn the lining towards the inside and press out the points of the tie. Then place the interlining in the center of the tie, fold over the edges, with the top have a double fold to create a clean connection.

Pin then sew the tie closed by hand.

The finished tie!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

I Love Bad Movies contribution

I'm a contributor to the latest issue of a super rad zine I Love Bad Movies. Issue 6 is their food issue and I got to do a write up and illustration for Deathbed: The Bed that Eats. I had previously said that I would never watch Deathbed again, but I recanted and actually enjoyed it the second time around. Buy your own copy here: Ilovebadmovies.com


I don't mention it much on this blog but I have a separate blog where I make watercolor paintings based on the bad movies that I watch with my friends: Terrible Movie Nights.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Snake Tote Bag

I picked up an awesome screen printed tote bag by Mimi Chrzanowski at TCAF this past May. I loved the print so much I got it even though it was not my favorite size of tote bag, which meant I would eventually get around to altering it to be just the right size for me.


The original size of the bag is about 12x12", which is a fine size and will fit an LP or two, but a little small for me to use on a regular basis.


 Luckily, since I collect fabric I had a forest green cotton canvas that complemented the colors in the print and the minty green fabric of the bag.


I ripped the seams apart on the original bag with the plan to add the dark green cotton fabric to the sides, ending up with a new bag size of 17 inches wide by 14 inches deep with a flat bottom.


Since I was already ripping this whole thing apart I decided to add a little interior pocket with a zipper for my wallet.


When I make things for myself I freely add all sorts of found things that have been sitting around for a long time. I added this ant ranch patch and some ric rac to the interior pocket.


I didn't have enough of the minty green straps to just attach them back so I made longer straps from the forest green canvas adding a gold lamé stripe and more purple ric rac.


I folded the bottom in to make a flat base, giving the bag some depth.


If you fold the bottom before you sew the side seam you can catch the base. Sew up the sides. I wanted to keep as much height from the original bag as possible so I create a facing to finish off the top edge instead of folding over the top to make a hem. I also added an interior loop that I can clip my keys onto.


The finished bag now holds about 20 records, not something I carry around often but it helps explain the size change.