craftgrrl | My latest creations...

Last week I posted, asking about stuffing options for the dog that I was sewing for my husband's Valentine's Day gift... I finally decided on using small gravel since, when I went to the store, I couldn't find any alternative.

Care to see the finished product?
Let me introduce you to

He's not the best, and in all actuality, I'm a little disappointed in him but I knew I was biting off more than I could chew when I decided to make him. After all, I JUST got the sewing machine for Christmas and hadn't really worked on anything too detailed and didn't have a pattern aside from the actual stuffed animal I was mimicking... so all things considered, I guess he's alright. I know my husband will love him no matter what because he's a mushball who loves goopy loveydovey stuff as long as it's heartfelt.

Before deciding on the dog, I'd also made an eyemask since he leaves the light on for me when he goes to bed early (and I do the same)... so we have matching ones, only his has a little fluff for softness and mine has pink loops holding the tie on. These were only the second things I'd made on the machine and so I think they're decent enough... at least they're good enough for the intended purpose.

(mine)

(his)

I also made him a duct tape rose. I was intrigued by the idea, so I gave it a whirl after working on a duct tape wallet with him while watching a movie (that'll be my next post because I have to wait to take a picture of it until after he gets home since he's actually using it).

Again, not a great accomplishment. I bent the petals back as I stuck them on and it was still pulling inward, so I got frustrated and quit. The only duct tape we had available was black and I decided to see how well spraypaint worked with it...

I really kinda like how it looks, taking in the pattern of the tape. It's very glossy and smooth to the touch and it almost feels sticky but that may be because I had previously been handling a roll of silver tape that had gone bad (it was sticky on both sides--ew).

FINALLY, about two weeks ago, I'd gone into an antique dealer in my small town and she had a huge box of fabric for $3.00. I couldn't resist it, so I bought it and took it home. In it, there were over 20 different fabric patterns (probably more like 30) in multiple yards. [Scrappy the Dog was actually made entirely from some of the fabrics from the box as well] There were also some scraps that were pretty small, so I decided to make some

(close-up picture of paper beads)

I really love them. I don't know what my obsession is with pastels and floral print lately, but I took advantage of it. These bracelets look awesome with a colored outfit or my usual of all black (which is where they really stick out!)

When I sewed them together, I still had the blue thread in the machine (from making scrappy) and I decided to just go with it... so the yellow bracelet looks a little silly with blue thread, but the "Heart on my Sleeve" bracelet works it. Even though I couldn't get my tension to adjust properly and it mangled the thread. I'm just going to roll with it and say I did it on purpose for that "home made" feel.

Anyway, thanks for looking. Any comments are welcome, especially anything telling me how to fix that thread-mangling issue.

(x-posted to my art journal)