Weekend fun

Sebastian is such an easy little model to work with. He didn't even demand skipping naptime in his contract. All of this was shot while the boy was sick. We thought he was teething. Oops. He's feeling better but I think I've contracted the evil bug.
I love looking at the pics of Sebastian and Brett because we never get pics of the two of them and they are so sweet. Can you tell he loves to play with Dad?
Brett brought home a few boxes of Starbucks Valentine chocolate that had been marked out due to V-Day packaging. If you aren't scared of dark chocolate with a little caramel tucked inside, leave me a comment about your favorite new obsession and I'll do a random drawing Tuesday night and send three winners a box of yummies!
Thanks for looking!

From Scratch

These are a few pics of some pieces I made for a music festival a few years back. For two of these, I picked out some crazy big oversized t-shirts from the thrift store and just started nipping and tucking with the help of my model, whom my husband named, Willow. The white dress was made with a lot of patience and many try-ons. Its the one I'm wearing in our About photo on the RVA blog.
I've seen some beautiful tops at Urban Outfitters and on a few blogs that I'm tempted to replicate but Willow's base was lost in our latest move. I got so used to using Willow's measurements that I stopped trying patterns. Its similar to not wanting to learn to read music. It feels too technical. Someday, technical could take me places. For now, I'm going to stick with doing things the hard way.
Has anyone seen this movie lately? Its just starting at my house.

Getting ready for Big Hat Days Festival

I'm trying to set some goals for this festival over Easter weekend. It is a strange weekend to have a festival but I've decided to go ahead anyways. Its supposed to attract over 125,000 people. I've been tracking down old doors on Craigslist.org so I can hinge them together, add hooks and hang quilts. I've been trying out new products to see how time efficient they are. Its so hard to know what the market is sometimes. I'm selling some things there that I probably wouldn't at a music festival or anywhere in Seattle just because its a more conservative group.
If you have been to an indie show/craft fair/ bizarre lately and have any advice on what not to do, etc. please shoot me a comment.
I just got my business cards in this week and I love how they look. They are personalized for events like these as opposed to something Red Velvet would send out to those online. I found a designer on Etsy.com and she worked with me to get the colors just right. I love them. I think I might just keep them all.

Simple Pillowcase Tutorial

For a cute accent of color in your studio, bedroom or friend's apartment, follow the directions below.
For best results, and trust me I've learned the hard way, wash and iron your fabric before sewing.
Cut out 2 pieces of fabric that measure 12"x15'' for the back and one piece that measures 15"x15" for the front.
My pillowform measures 14"x14". ( If you use a 12"x12" pillow, cut out 2 pieces that measure 9"x13" and one that measures 13"x13".)
On one long side of your back piece, fold over 1/4" and again 1 1/2". Iron. Sew your hem. I used contrasting thread for interest. Repeat for your other back piece.
Lay your front fabric piece down with the right side up. Lay one of your back pieces down with the right side facing down. Put your other back piece down on top of it with the right side facing down so that the hemmed edges are overlapping.
Pin and sew all the way around. Trim your edges to about 1/4".
Turn inside out and iron.
Now you've got the option of adding buttons, yo-yo's or felt flowers.
If you're adventurous, you can add ribbon, make a patchwork, or embroider on the front piece before you sew it to the back pieces.
This one is for sale here.
I'd love to see what you make!

Make friends with our new blog site

Red Velvet Art's blog has relocated for some fabulous reasons. Read about the excitement here. Happy Monday!

Kiss him even if he's not Irish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Little Boys Make Me Tired

I was inspired by this girl to write about my morning with my son. He woke up an hour early @ 6:20 a.m. and was cranky through breakfast and getting dressed. So, I did what any tired mom wants to do. I packed him up and we drove to Starbucks for a Grande, CAFFEINATED, Non-Fat Cinnamon Dolce Latte with no whip. Then we drove to the bagel shop and got a bagelwich. I was fresh out of bed, teeth brushed, hair pulled back in a messy do, bags under my eyes, wearing chapstick, mascara, long sleeves and jeans. Sebastian had only his t-shirt, shorts and a knit hat. He looked like he had dressed himself. This is what happens when you get me out of bed this early.
While we were standing in line, the man in front of us asked if Sebastian's hat was from Little Dreamers, the children's store that I had taken my quilts and pillows into the week before. I told him it was and he introduced himself as one of the owners. I declined to announce myself as the one whose goods he wasn't interested in. Later that day I went in to the store to pick my items up and saw him in the back. I don't think he recognized me without the bags under my eyes.

New Innocence Mission

Having trouble uploading images this afternoon. Check back later.
Brett just ordered this album on EMusic. They are one of the few bands that I'm always in the mood to listen to. Kind of mellow, whimsical, sweet, and childlike without idle lyrics. I haven't finished the whole album yet but I'm never disappointed with them.
I have to get back to working on important RVA business:) Thanks to all of those who had the time to reply to our questions from yesterday.

Seattle. Miss you.

Here are some of our pics from Seattle that I found today. It was the worst and best year of my life. Whenever I eat Mountain High, non-fat, vanilla yogurt with chocolate chips, watch Grey's Anatomy, go to Trader Joe's, listen to Sufjan Stevens, walk somewhere instead of drive, put on my old Converse all-stars, see the trees starting to bloom, or get an e-mail from our friends at COTA, I miss it.
If ever you get to visit this beautiful city, you must eat at the 5 Spot in Queen Anne and then visit Ballard and have a pretty cupcake from Cupcake Royale . You'll never want to leave, either.

Date night pics

These are from my super fun date night with my male model husband, Brett. (We used to tease him in college that he had the jaw structure of a model. He didn't mind.) We got out of the community house and left Sebastian with Grandma Mary and headed for the bookstore to rummage through mags and cd's and drink sweet things and talk about where we're going in life.
I took my camera along because its something I see Elsie do all of the time. How else are you going to capture the beautiful moments if you're not ready, right? Elsie, you rock!
I didn't get the deal with the local children's store. I am surprisingly unaffected. Its hard to put yourself out there sometimes. Thankfully, I have been able to work with some great businesswomen who have really supported my products in the past. Thanks Kim from Bouncing Wall in Seattle! Thanks Etsy buyers! Thanks again Elsie! Thanks new blog friends!

Etsy Eye Candy

I usually spend about twenty minutes of my rationed free time milling through the Favorites categories of designers to see what other people would buy if they had the money to offer up. Here are a few of my favorites. It is almost overwhelming to think of the manpower that goes into producing beautiful things every day.
One of the reasons I support designers like those featured on this website is to bring back the value of hand made. I think its special. I know I can't live without most things that are factory produced in other countries and I'm coming to terms with that. I just can't get away from the idea that supporting artists is a win/win situation.
I took my wares into a local children's shop today to see if they were interested. They kept a few things ransom and I'll hear from them tomorrow about a deal. Here's hoping...

Self-Portrait Monday

Some fun pics from a Monday afternoon's amusement while the baby slept upstairs.

I'd like you to meet Sebastian.

This sweet boy is 8 months old, today, March 4th. He showed up on the 4th of July with quite a fireworks show of his own. He's been charming his way into hearts ever since. He's our first so we have more pictures of him than we will for the rest of our children, so they tell me. I wanted to share a few of my favorites. Happy March.

Patchwork Coin Purse Tutorial

This cute little coin purse is a great project for beginning sewers. Needed: 5 coordinating fabrics, one zipper, thread and buttons as decided.
First, cut two of each of the following fabrics. Fabric A-3 1/2" long x 3" wide, Fabric B-3 1/2"x3 1/2", Fabric C-2"x6 1/2", Fabric D-5 1/2"x6 1/2" as well as two more pieces of 5 1/2"x6 1/2" for stability. Fabric A & B are the two blocks on the bottom of the patch. Fabric C is on the top.
Next, with right sides facing each other, sew Fabrics A & B together along one 3 1/2" edge. Iron flat. With right sides facing each other, sew this piece and Fabric C together along the long edge on one side. Iron flat. Repeat for other side of purse but reverse Fabrics A & B.
Then, sandwich the stability fabric between the patchwork side and Fabric D so that right sides are facing out. Sew along all edges. Repeat for other side of purse.
Sew one side of the zipper to the upper edge of one side of the purse. (next step not shown) Fold zipper toward the wrong side of patch and iron. Then sew to create a lip. Repeat on other side. (Make sure your zipper lines up on both sides in order to close correctly).
Pin patchwork sides together, right sides facing each other and sew along three free sides. (Make sure your zipper is halfway unzipped in order to turn right side out). Turn right side out and iron.
Add buttons as desired using a small needle and thread.
Feel free to e-mail with any questions. Good luck with your fun projects!
This one goes to Kendra McCracken who was so helpful with getting this blog banner posted! Thanks, Kendra, Elsie and Amber for all of your help and encouragement with getting started.

Pretty Things

Just now, as I sat down to type, I had the urge to push my right foot down on the lever that gives the sewing machine its power. Its not that I spend too much time sewing, its that I spend too much time being awake. I've adapted to my decrease in mental awareness. I no longer clip the wall with my elbow when I turn corners or put the cereal box back in the refrigerator but sometimes as I'm making lists of things I need to do, I forget what I needed to remember. My defense for stretching out the hours in one day is that being deprived of the chance to make pretty things is worse than being deprived of sleep. My husband doesn't agree but he's standing here next to me, also not sleeping. Does anybody else have this problem? (The one about making things instead of sleeping, not about husbands.)