Category : Blog

1716 posts

201604/02

A second look: Upcycling Projects

Since it’s April and this month is Earth Month I thought I’d share a second look at a bit of upcycling from a few years ago.

Oct 6, 2013

Upcycling Projects

We all know how to recycle and I’m sure most do it daily. Newspapers, cardboard, glass and plastic are all readily recyclable in most cities, at least across the USA.

This is wonderful! But I’ve been really focused on upcycling lately. Finding a new use for something that would ordinarily be tossed out. Wine corks, bottle caps, worn out clothing, stained linens, broken plates…you get the idea.I showed a sneak peek of these a while ago. I made a wine cork tree last year but this time I decided to change things a bit. I used a Champagne cork cut in half for the trunk. I think they turned out really cute.

I’ve also been using some scraps from previous projects such as the denim remaining after completing a quilt or two. As well as the remainder of the dress shirts that I made wine bottle gift bags from.

In addition I’ve been making a bunch more cards. I’ll show more of these last two projects at a later date. The cards have much less upcycling in it’s truest sense but I am still attempting to include elements that might otherwise be considered unusable such as tiny scraps of fabric and yarn. As well as photo trimmings. I have a cigar box full of photo trimmings…they have such vibrant colors that it’s a shame to toss them out.

It doesn’t have to be Earth Day to be a little “green”. Do a little more every day to be kind to our planet. Last time I checked…it’s the only one we have. :)

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If you’d like to see more recycling and upcycling projects please use the tag cloud on my sidebar.

Art | Blog | Crafts

Christmas, fabric, greeting card, scraps, Second on the 2nd, sewing, upcycling, wine corks

6 Comments

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201604/01

Fear of Flying

For lack of a better idea for the name of this journal I opted to use the name of the book.

Especially since the title shows through the stamped tissue paper I used to cover it.

This journal was the first one that I started with the intention of it being an art journal. My original thoughts were that I would create some pages then journal on them at a later time. Of course how I actually used this changed over time.

There is everything from challenges to me just trying to work through something to experiments with new products and techniques as well as just playing around being creative.

Art | Blog

art journal, fear of flying

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201603/29

T Tuesday: natural dye edition

Welcome to T stands for Tuesday. Hope you had a lovely Easter.

Last week I decided to try a new technique with my natural onion skin dye. I’ve done natural dying in the past and always amazed how different the results can be.

The only leaf or flower I had on hand was cilantro, so I made do with that.

I didn’t have a ton of onion skins so I decided on 4 eggs. I tucked the eggs into the onion skins and filled the pan with water. I also gave a generous splash of white vinegar to the mix. I cooked the eggs like I would for hard boiled eggs. Bring to a boil uncovered, boil 1 minute, cover and turn off burner. Let sit for at least 20 mins. Perfect eggs every time. These eggs I let sit much longer…until they were lukewarm since I wanted the dye to have as much time to work it’s magic as possible.

Oh yeah magic. Look at how dark that color came out.

They are so interesting to look at. I want to try this again but with other leaves and flowers.

I was so mad at myself after I dumped the dye water down the sink. What was I thinking!!! I could have thrown some bits and pieces of fabric and lace in there. My mind was preoccupied. Good old Murphy of Murphy’s law had paid us a visit. While boiling the eggs I notice the digital display for the oven wasn’t on. Obviously the cook top worked since I was using it. Yep the control board was shot. On the bright side, I hated my old stove. And this lovely news came the day after finding out I have to get a root canal. Nothing like waking up with a swollen cheek and painful mouth.

There are a few more things that Murphy contributed to over the past week as well but I’m done complaining.

Time for a decadent cup of coffee before moving on with my day.

What are you doing today?

Blog | Kitchen

frugal living, kitchen, natural dye, T Tuesday

14 Comments

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201603/22

T Tuesday: making do edition

So whats a girl to do when she’s hosting some friends for brunch and suddenly the love seat decides it needs a bit of ventilation.

Frantically, search through her totes of fabric to find a slipcover of course.

Not too shabby if I say so myself. I’m so happy I grabbed this piece of rich upholstery fabric from a garage sale a couple years back. The girls are nearly here so this will be short and sweet.

I do have to show you my new pint glass though.

I just couldn’t pass it up. I knew it would be perfect for the Japanese beer I drink with sushi.

It had been a while since I made sushi. It was so yummy!!!!!!

What are you doing today?

Around home | Blog | Kitchen

frugal living, kitchen, T Tuesday

11 Comments

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201603/18

Art Journal vs Altered Book

Over the years there seems to have been a shift in the verbiage used to describe the process of taking a book of little or no use and making it into a piece of art. Or perhaps it could even be a book with great meaning to you and you want to express yourself within it. Either way…you are altering it from it’s original purpose. Hence the name altered book, right?! But the line has been blurred as mixed media and collage entered the scrapbook and paper arts world. I’m not saying this is a bad thing…more products, techniques, blogs and tutorials out there. Mixed media entered the main stream. Along with that is where the shift happened from altered books to art journals.

I’ve always felt (and still do) that explaining to outsiders what an altered book was bordered on exhausting at times. I’d, all too often, get a blank stare from the person I was talking to about my new passion. Somehow changing the way I described what I was doing as art journaling made more sense to my audience. Oh, it’s just art in journal form. Sure, if that makes it easier for you to understand…I’m cool with that.

For me, I feel as if the difference between an altered book and an art journal has a couple different facets. An altered book must first of all have been a written and published book. Secondly, for it to be an altered book, it has a theme. Such as this Vintage Fashion altered book….which happens to be the first round robin altered book swap I ever participated in. Too bad postage costs have skyrocketed since then.

After completing a few themed altered books, I began creating pages randomly with no theme. Just a place to play and be creative. Somewhere along the line I started calling my “no theme” altered books, art journals. It seemed easier or perhaps more logical way to describe them once I heard more about art journals.

For me, I feel an art journal can be comprised of any substrate. Plain or scrapbook paper, card stock, bound journal, moleskin, cardboard. You name it…it’s likely been tried…as well as, you guessed it….published books. This causes the dreaded crossover…well, is it an art journal or an altered book? I feel as if I’m talking in circles.

I think what it comes down to is personal preference. It is art after all. You can call it whatever you want. We all define what we think is art in very different ways. You aren’t going to please everyone and you shouldn’t try. Art is an expression of yourself. There are no hard and fast rules…which is why I got interested in altered art 11 years ago.

So there you have it…my opinion on the difference between an altered book and an art journal. What is your take on this subject? Do you agree or have another ideas? I’d love to hear your opinions.

Art | Blog | Creativity

Altered book, art journal, article

3 Comments

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201603/15

T Tuesday: sparkle edition

Welcome to T stands for Tuesday brought to you by Elizabeth aka alteredbooklover. Pull up a chair, grab a cup and stay a while. T Tuesday sparkle edition | Halle's Hobbies I missed last Tuesday due to the flu…but since then I’ve been getting back to being creative. Now that I’ve got a few journal pages under my belt, I feel as if the creativity is flowing again.

I’m on a a mission to finish this journal. I think perhaps there is space for one more spread. I hadn’t realized until I was over half way through this book turned journal, how filthy the language was in it. I had grabbed the book off a the free shelf at the library with the sole intention of making a journal. I never read any of it. T Tuesday sparkle edition | Halle's Hobbies

After discovering the salty language including numerous F-bombs, I have been very careful to thoroughly cover the written words. I’d hate to have my kids pick up the journal and read something totally inappropriate.

T Tuesday sparkle edition | Halle's Hobbies

The black tissue paper did a fantastic job with this. It also added wonderful texture. I also use a palette knife to spread some heavy gesso through a circle stencil. I think I was channeling the ’80s. Actually that’s not too far from the truth. I’d been talking about the Sadie Hawkins dance with J just before this. It had a neon theme. Very 80s meets rave party from the photos that I saw. Made me think of my first high school dance (and the photo that showed up on FB a while back…WOW!)…very typical 80s…of course, it was the 80s!!

Boy that was quite a tangent…back to the journal. T Tuesday sparkle edition | Halle's Hobbies

I wish I could have captured the sparkle of this page better but it’s very grey and rainy outside and the artificial light just doesn’t show it true to life.

T Tuesday sparkle edition | Halle's Hobbies

I’m off to meet with friends this morning…it’s been so long!!

What are you doing today?

Art | Blog

Live your dream with passion

I broke out the gelatos again for my latest journal page. I love how smoothly they blend. They are just a joy to work with. Such vibrant colors.

gelato journal page | Halle's Hobbies

I also love how the page text shows through adding to the texture of the spread.

I definitely stepped outside my comfort zone with these colors. I’m always surprised when I try something new and it turns out better than I ever hoped.

gelato journal page | Halle's Hobbies

When it came time for words on the page a conversation I’d had earlier with a neighbor came to mind. We were catching up on life….we don’t see each other much over winter. I mentioned I’d been sick and hadn’t been working much. We talked about the past and the future.

gelato journal page | Halle's Hobbies

These words jumped out at me. I am living my dream. I am blessed.

Art | Blog

art journal, gelatos, Gypsy journal

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