Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• Transparent glass paint (blue and green)
• Dry air enamel paint (white)
• Stencils (inspirational words)
• Sponges
• A paper plate
• A couple of old jars with lids or small glass cups
• ½ inch brush
• scissors
• A craft knife (xacto knife)

Remove any labels from the jars and wash in hot soapy water. Let the jars dry thoroughly. Decide which colors to paint which jar, it is always wise to plan ahead. Place the lid of the jar on a paper plate. The lid will be smaller than the jar and that will allow the paint to run off onto the paper plate.

Open, or cut the tip off of the paint bottle nozzle. Just make a small snip in the nozzle so that the paint does not run too freely. Start at the top of the jar, let the pain drip down, moving around the perimeter of the jar. The paint should now be dripping down the entire jar from top to bottom. You can pick up any access paint with your sponge and fill in any area with the excess paint. Do this to all of the jars that you intend to paint.

Let the jars sit for at least 8 hours. When the jar is dry to the touch use your craft knife to remove any drips. Let the jars sit overnight to make sure they are completely dry.

Position the stencil on the jar where you want your words to be and dip the end of a sponge into the white paint. Dab the sponge on the paper plate to remove any excess paint. When stenciling you need very little paint. Any excess paint will drip down behind the stenciled letters. Less is always better when using paint with stencils. Let the jar dry for another day to make sure that the paint cures on the glass.  Enjoy!

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Inspiration Jars

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• ½ yard of outerwear fleece
• 1 pair of 7 ½ inch round, oval or “D” shaped purse handles
• rotary cutter or scissors
• A ruler
• A cutting mat

First, cut 2 16 x 18 inch pieces of fleece. The 16 inch measurement is lengthwise grain (least amount of stretch) of fleece.

Lay the fleece pieces wrong sides together on the cutting mat. Remove a 3 inch square from each corner and discard. Using scissors or a slotted ruler, cut ½ inch wide x3 inch deep fringe as shown. Take note that you must have an even number of fringe on the top edge.

Using an overhand know or a square knot, tie the pairs of fringe together on all sides except the top. Separate the layers at the top. Again, using a square knot, tie the fringe in pairs, with one strand in front of and one strand behind, around each handle.

This is the pattern for a regular sized, everyday purse. You can always increase the amount of material and make a larger purse, a carry-all or even a bag to store your craft supplies.

If you choose a solid color of fleece you can always put an embellishment, an initial or your personal monogram on you bag to give it a personal touch.

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No Sew Fringe Purse

I have a large family four sons and one daughter and it seems like I have spent most of my time, when they were growing up, at football games, baseball games or other sporting events. They were all engrossed in all types of sports when they were younger and they are the same now as grown ups. I was so happy to find something to make for the boys, grandsons included. This project started out as a plain, ordinary pillow until I changed the cover into a sports themed head rest.

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• Fleece – 2 yard of a coordinating sports print or 1 yard of print and 1 yard of a solid
• A 14 inch pillow form
• Scissors or a rotary cutter with mat
• A ruler

If you are careful with cutting you may be able to make two pillows from this amount of material.

To begin, take the two pieces of fleece and cut both into a 36 inch square. Cut a 5 inch square out of each corner of both pieces of fleece. Make fringe around the entire pillow, all four sides, by cutting 5 inches into the fleece at 1 inch intervals.

Place the fleece squares wrong side together with the pillow between the squares. Knot the fringe pieces together using one strand from the top fleece and one strand from the bottom fleece. Knot all of the fringe on all four sides and you have your pillow completed.

You can make this pillow with a variety of different prints for many different outcomes. If you are new at crafting you may want to buy the most inexpensive prints or solids. No matter which pattern you choose, I am sure you will be delighted with the finished product.

Kathy Zengolewicz is an author, ghostwriter, editor and proofreader. To learn more about Kathy and her services, visit her website at kathyzengolewicz.com.

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No Sew Fleece Sports Pillow

Instead, I said, “I’ll submit this” and sat right down at the computer. Within 30 minutes, it was finished, and I hit “Send.”

Will they accept me? I don’t know. I’d love to teach at this conference. I never have before although I’ve attended and submitted proposals. However, I don’t have a chance if I don’t submit.

Also, this gave me the enthusiasm to look around and see if anyone else would be interested in such a workshop – “Children’s Stories Influenced By One’s Heritage.” This also ties in with the “Writing Your Family Stories” workshops I teach.

Take the plunge. Take the chance…and teach!

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Take a Chance & Teach Your Craft

Every year, they choose a new theme (you can see last year’s theme of brooches here).  This year’s theme is “Heart Ornaments”.

They want you to submit the best heart ornament you can for the 2010 Excellence in Needle Arts Awards.  The official call hasn’t been published yet, but all the details will be available on October 16th.

The ornaments must be no larger than 4″ in size and must be submitted before the final entry date of April 1st, 2010.  The grand prize winner will receive $500 and each category winner will get a gift pack worth $200 from the contest sponsors.

Winning entries will be exhibited at the The National Needle Arts Association trade show next June, as well as appearing in the July/August issue of Pieceworks.

image: Pieceworks Magazine

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Call for Submissions – Needle Arts Awards

Today I have a Twice as Warm Blanket for you to try and make. It’s very easy to make and it is beautiful enough to drape across your sofa when it’s not being used. It is made from two pieces of fleece, cut and tied. There is no sewing involved, so that makes it even easier. I told you it was easy to make and when you see the instructions, you’ll want to make one now! And it doesn’t take much time, either. I made theses blankets for each of my children for Christmas one year and they loved them.

Image: Kathy Zengolewicz

For your Twice as Warm Blanket you’ll need the following materials:

• 1- 2/3 yards of outerwear fleece – print or solid
• 1-2/3 yards of outerwear fleece – solid (if using two solid colors, you might want to using two different colors)
• Scissors
• A smooth cutting surface

Start by cutting each piece of fleece, after removing the selvage, into 56 or 58 inches square. Place the fleece pieces wrong sides together and pin to hold. Place the pinned pieces on a smooth surface, i.e. a table, and remove a five inch square from each corner. Work with one side at a time. Use a ruler to measure, cut the fringe five inches deep and one inch wide. If you can cut without measuring, that’s fine, but my hand isn’t so steady. I used chalk to mark my measurements and then cut. Once you have all of the sides marked five inches from the edge, it’s time to make your cut lines. Once you have all the cutting done, it’s time to tie it together. Using a double knot, tie the front and back fringe together. Complete this step around the entire blanket and you’re done.

The picture that I have here shows my blanket. That’s right, I actually made one for myself. I love my blanket, but I do think that they look prettier when you use a solid piece of fleece and a printed piece. But one thing is for sure, they’re both Twice as Warm.

Kathy Zengolewicz is an author, ghostwriter, editor and proofreader. To learn more about Kathy and her services, visit her website at kathyzengolewicz.com.

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How to Make a “Twice as Warm” Blanket

Why not have fun with your sewing tools after all?

This teensy little sewing kit from Polly Danger Notions is tucked into a little tin – and comes complete with almost anything you need to do a repair on the fly.

How about adding some vintage needle cards to your collection?  These ones are from Lakeway Candles and come from several different countries:

Let’s face it – “frogging” is inevitable.  We all need to rip out stitches and rework projects.  So why not use a cute tool for it?  Studio Twenty’s frogging tool may not make it less frustrating, but it’s sure fun to look at

images: Etsy

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Little Goodies for Crafters

• StudioWERX has a great series of video tutorials on creating image transfers using acrylic gel medium (easy and non-toxic!)
• Moda has a ton of lovely free quilt & craft patterns on their website – I’m so tempted to make their “Funky Monkey” quilt

• Do you need a new skirt for summer?  Sew Mama Sew has dozens of pretty patterns, all in one post.
• Are you a musician, or do you have friends & family who are musicians?  Make this great bag to safely stash sheet music and more from Purl Bee.

Happy Crafting!

image: C Findlay-Harder

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Crafting Around the Web

This little charmer is modeled after the traditional Russian stacking or nesting dolls, Matroyshka.

It comes complete with scissors, six spools of sewing thread (I might consider switching these out for different thread…), needles, a measuring tape, safety pins and even a couple of buttons.

Sewing kits are indispensible to have tucked into a purse, totebag or even into the glove box in your car.  This one is so charming that I’d use it for all of my traveling sewing & craft projects!

image: Bust Boobtique

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Matroyshka Sewing Kit

How does your crafting change through the year?  Or does it?  Are you a hard-core Christmas freak in November and December or do you work on holiday projects through the year?  Does your color palette change with the weather?

I’ve noticed that once the leaves start to turn, I definitely get thinking about making more gifts.  During the summer I tend to work outside and do more large-scale painting and dyeing projects.

When the weather starts to cool off, I like to bring things inside (the downside of living in a northerly climate!) and get my studio prepped for fall and winter crafting.  I don’t think my color choices really change that much, but I’m certainly more likely to create fall or winter themed projects.

So tell me about your autumn crafting habits…

image: Stock.xchg

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Crafting Through The Seasons