My son has one duvet cover for his down blanket. He told me recently he didn’t think it was quite warm enough and that he likes to sleep with a flannel sheet underneath to stay warm enough.  I decided to make a new cover for him using that flannel sheet.    I went to his closet and picked out a skull tapestry and grabbed that flannel top sheet I mentioned.

I laid out the blanket, the sheet and the tapestry.  As you can see they were different sizes.  I decided to make the entire duvet cover the size of the tapestry because it has a repeating pattern and if I cut it any other way it would cut off part of the skull pattern on the tapestry.

I cut the flannel sheet to fit the size of the tapestry, but one end of the tapestry was longer than the flannel sheet.  I ended up using the extra flannel sheet that I cut from the side for the end of the duvet cover and sewed it on the bottom so that the tapestry side and the flannel sheet side would be the same length.  Then I stitched up three sides of the cover leaving the bottom mostly open.  I stitched half a foot in on each side of the bottom section (the open bottom where you stuff the blanket in the duvet cover).  You could very easily add snaps or Velcro at the bottom but I just left it open.

Day 18: New Duvet Cover -

Here is the finished duvet cover in my son’s room.  I think he will be warm, stylish and cozy in this.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

Yesterday I had a few friends over and we created vision boards.  What is a vision board you may be asking?  It’s a creative method for setting goals in a visual and fun way.  It’s also a great strategy for defining your intention for the year.

You can see here that these are the tools we used, wine optional (ha).  Here’s what we did, I invited a few friends and asked them to bring a board of their choosing (poster board or foam core, even heavy card stock) and I asked them to bring magazines.  I supplied the Mod Podge and brushes, scissors, ruler and box cutter (for cutting the board down if necessary).

Here is a detailed explanation of the steps involved with making your own vision board.  If you know me, then you know that I rarely stick to one source or pattern.  I like to pull from many different sources and use my intuition to guide me in the direction I feel that I should move with a given project.  A friend of mine sent me this post, from the Art of Non-Conformity, which is less of a vision board and more of a strategy for conducting an annual review of your year.  What is funny about my friend sending this blog post to me is that a week later I was in a meeting with the wife of the guy who runs this blog, named Jolie Guillebeau.   They are organizing an event called, The World Domination Summit.  I am going to help them on the back end of this event.  We are still sussing out the details, but I will be helping in an event planning capacity.  Life is funny how it points you in the direction of people and things while you are just minding your own business.

Anyway, I decided to take a small piece of Chris Guillebeau’s process for his year in review and incorporate that into my vision board process.  I broke last year into 2 parts: 1. what worked, 2. what didn’t work.  I made a third category too for goals for 2011.  Some of my goals were resolutions that I have already defined on paper, but now I wanted to represent them in my board.  Some of the items on my board were things that didn’t work last year that I am trying a new strategy for.  An example is, last year I had some health issues so part of my goal for this year is to eat healthier and exercise more.  I wrote these out on a piece of paper to use as a framework for what I wanted my board to cover.  What was nice is, I had very specific things that I was looking for when I started pouring over the magazines.  Pretty pictures are good too, but having meaning and purpose connected to the pretty is very helpful.  I knew I needed to put health on my board.

Day 17: Vision Boards – with friends:

Here is my friend Angie.
At this stage we are cutting out images and laying them out on our boards.
This is a great way to work with vision boards because you can move the pieces as you find more relevant ephemera and group or separate items as needed.

My friend Richard made this board below.
He wants to travel abroad and feels that he should be living in New York City
so his board reflects this.

This is my friend Lauren.
She used very small boards to create her vision board(s),
which is a great idea if you don’t have a lot of extra room in your house
or if you want to start small with your vision for your future.

My good friend Julz, who is a graphic designer made this board.
She didn’t have time to finish it,
but collected the clippings and finished it at home and then sent this picture to me.

Here is mine from the top down.
I like to use a long skinny board because it doesn’t take up much room,
but it has a great deal of real estate for my vision.

Here’s my board from the bottom up.
I like to keep my board in my bedroom on top of my dresser so that I can look at it often.
This can be very grounding
and can help you redirect yourself when you feel you are losing focus.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

Today I am going to go teach a craft Birthday party at collage, which is something DIY Lounge has been doing for years.   At this party we will be making treasure boxes. I needed to make up a sample for the party and I thought it would be wise if I made a gift for my friend Astrid, who has a Birthday coming up.

I buy cigar boxes from time to time so that I can host this type of party.  It’s great because you can get cigar boxes from various tobacco shops for next to nothing and some of them, as with this one are completely beautiful!  I think I paid either $.50 or a $1.00 for this one.  I can’t remember, I’ve had them a while.

The first thing I did was remove the stickers.  Usually I leave them on or collage over them with Mod Podge and interesting paper ephemera, but I wanted this one to be really clean with buttons as the detailing. You can see here that I made an “A” out of the buttons on the top and the front.  I adhered the buttons to a piece of felt cut in an oval shape to hide the lettering on the box.   I used hot glue on the high temperature to attach the buttons to the felt and then to attach the felt to the box.

Day 16: Treasure Box

Here you can see that I removed the lid so that you can see the detailing of the buttons better.

My thought was that I would find out when I will be seeing my friend next and then fill the box with cookies or biscotti or something.  What is nice about this size box is that if Astrid wants to she could use this as a recipe box , a jewelry box or a box for randomness.

Happy Birthday, Astrid!  I wonder if you will find this post before I give this box to you?  Let’s find out.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

Some times you make something and think, yup, that’s it.  That’s exactly what I wanted.  That’s exactly how it looked in my mind and it’s so profoundly satisfying.

I have been making reconstructed sweaters for years now and selling them through my label, Knot Ugly.  I haven’t added them to my etsy store, but I have sold them in stores in Portland Oregon and at art/craft sales.

For years, when I would make a sweater I would think, nope, that’s not quite it.  I’ll have to try again.  Always looking to improve.  Always wanting it to be better.  Well, better has been found in this sweater!

Don’t get me wrong, there are a few things I would like to do differently in future designs of this sweater, but generally it’s just how I imagined it.  I LOVE it when this happens.

This sweater is made from an over-sized men’s cashmere sweater and fashioned down to a flattering woman’s sweater.  I really like the back of the sweater at the neck where it makes sort of a “V” shape.

Little details like that make me happy
and get me excited.

I use a serger to do all of my reconstructed pieces.  Occasionally I will use a sewing machine to finish a piece, but most of my work is done exclusively with my serger.

This sweater is for me to keep and enjoy.  Making something that you’ve been working on and not quite happy with for years and then finally getting the results you wanted is a beautiful thing.  It reminds me how important it is to keep at something.

Don’t give up or give in.
Keep on keeping on.

Now if you’ll excuse me I  am going to go bask in this sweater’s glory.

Day 15: The
reconstructed Sweater
of Sweaters

It’s day 15!  16 more posts to do to complete the project, so this is the half way marker more or less.  I started this project for purely personal purposes, but am getting even more out of it than I expected.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I made this scarf using chunky burgundy yarn with a carrier yarn that was thin and fluffy, then I stripped it with a chunky variegated  brown yarn.  The stitches I used were knit one purl one on opposite rows which is referred to as the moss stitch.  This scarf is so thick that it stands up at attention in a way that none of the other scarves have.  I have to admit.  I’m really attached to this one.  I am planning to make one for myself very soon and maybe some to sell some because I LOVE this.

Here I am modeling the scarf, morning hair and all.  I wanted to show how it sits on an actual person, because it can be hard to see this on the mannequin.  I got a picture of myself in it, but then I felt you couldn’t see the stitches.  Below are better pictures of the actual scarf.

Here you can see the sexy that is the this scarf.  I don’t care if I sound crazy talking about my love for this scarf, because it’s real. It fits so well and it so cozy.

This project is the last of the projects that I will be giving away.  Now it’s back to the wide world of projects for me {Rubbing hands together in a schemey kind of way}.

Day 14: Thick Circular Scarf -

This final scarf goes to Oona.  I know Oona and she is such a good person with great Karma so she gets the scarf I like the best.  Congratulations Oona on your winnings and for paying to forward with me in 2011!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I didn’t know what I was making when I started this one.  I let my hands do the work.  My brain was on auto-pilot.  I realized as I got into making this scarf choker that knitting and crochet does something to me.  It takes me deep inside of myself to a place of calm and egolessness.  Is that a word?  Eh, who cares.  I was talking with a friend about this and I decided that it’s something like a religious or a spiritual experience.  I can get into such a deep state of flow that hours can go by and I have no awareness of it.  I think knitting is my religion.  I’ll have to update my facebook status to say this (ha).  In all seriousness though, I think I need to keep a certain amount of knitting and crocheting in my life from now on because I think I live a lower quality of life without it.  I’m less calm without it.  Some people take medication or go on silent yoga retreats or other time and money intensive routes.  For me, a skein of yarn and a couple of needles or a hook can totally zen me out.

My Friend Jocelyn gave me these buttons.  I’m sorta in love with them.  They are kinda too much and I love that about them.  I think the contrast between the organic yarn and the uber bling buttons are in a cool juxtaposed balance with each other.

Day 13: Bling Scarf Choker -

For this scarf I used chunky yarn with size 15 needles.  I cast on 16 stitches, with the pattern was knit 2 purl 2.  When it as was long enough to fit around my neck I stopped and crocheted some button loops and then sewed buttons on the opposite side.  I added 3 buttons because 3 is the magic number and a great design number too.

Congratulations Andrea for winning this scarf and for paying it forward with me in 2011!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

When I realized I was planning on giving away a series of projects, part of my paying it forward in 2011 that I posted from the Facebook fan page, I decided that I needed to do projects that would fit anyone as I don’t know the sizes of each of the people who are winning something that I’ve created.  Also, people seemed so excited about scarves that I thought it would be good to stick with scarves for the give-aways.  What I decided to to was to start pulling yarn out a basket of yarn that I have.  With each project I was trying to create something unique and distinctive.  All of the projects I’m giving away are knitted on size 15 needles (that’s what was in the basket) except for one which was crocheted.

This piece, the skinny circular neck scarf is made from chunky wool yarn and I also used a carrier yarn, but the name escapes me right now. It is an uber soft, fluffy yarn to make this scarf unbelievably soft.  I knitted a row and purled a row throughout this scarf to make it smooth on the outside and warm on the inside.  When I was done I stitched it together and added a row of crochet to the top and bottom using the extra soft yarn.  This adds some stability to the piece and helps it stand up properly.

Day 12: Skinny Neck Scarf -

When I finished this scarf I realized that it could have doubled as a hand muffler/warmer too.  You know those old school hand muff things.  All it needs to complete this look is a long enough piece of yarn that is chain stitched and attached to the piece on both sides.

This skinny Scarf is for Stephanie.  Thank you for paying it forward with me in 2011!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I got out some yarn and felt compelled to crochet a series chain stitch loops.  I knew I wanted to do something that could be worn on the head, so I started making the chains and then I tried it on.  I made it just big enough to fight fairly tightly on my head.  Once I had it on I realized I needed LOTS more loops of the chain stitches.  I ended up creating 15 loops.

When I tried it on again I noticed how good it looked as a little neck warmer/scarf.  I have something like this that I wear all the time except it’s made out of t-shirts.  I love a wearable item that is a two for one, wearable.

This is a very, very simple hair/neck scarf.  It really doesn’t get any easier than this.  If you can do a chain stitch and a half double stitch (the stitch I used to secure each of the chain stitched loops with), then you can make this scarf.

Day 11: Mobius hair scarf + neck scarf

I posted this on facebook yesterday from the DIY Lounge fan page:

PAY IT FORWARD 2011! I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must in turn post this and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.

I said that I would give away the next 5 projects that I posted on my blog, starting with the scarf I posted yesterday.  This scarf today is for Erin.  Congrats and thanks for paying it forward with me!

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I haven’t knitted in a while, which is ironic since I have a knit and crochet business.  I used to do lots of knitting and crocheting, but over the years I’ve done less and less.  I have a woman who helps me with the crochet work for my business.  I call her Crochet Kim.  Her skill level and speed are pretty unbelievable.  Years ago I developed over use syndrome, from too much knitting and crocheting.  Ever since then I try to be careful.  I do still love to knit and crochet though.  I remember when I was 7 years old my mom had a friend who was trying to teach her to knit.  It was sort of frustrating to me because it seemed really obvious to me what she needed to do, but my mom just couldn’t get it.  I didn’t have knitting needles of my own or yarn, but I thought I could probably knit anyway, so I went into my bedroom and found some pencils and thread.  I came out of my room about 30 minutes later with the dirtiest, most pitiful looking garter stitched blob you ever saw.  Some how from watching my mom try to learn for about 5 minutes or so I was able to understand the process of basic knitting.  I also remember as the piece was forming feeling really excited because I could see exactly how to correct my mistakes.  The structure of the piece was so clear.   My mom saw what I had done and handed me the needles and the yarn and said, “It’s clear who the knitter in the house is.”  She never tried knitting again and I never stopped.   

Sometimes I still think about how strange it is that I more or less taught myself to knit at such a young age and just how intuitive it was for me.  I was a horrible student in school so it wasn’t like I was some over achiever or something, it was more like I had always spoken the language of knots.  I still get really excited about untangling knots.  I guess I like to do it because it’s sort of like a puzzle.  It forces my brain into this mode that is both challenging and stimulating.  Some people do cross word puzzles or sudoku for me it’s all about the knots.

Day 10: Snuggly Circular Scarf

I was at a party and a woman was wearing a circular scarf that looked amazing on her.  I thought it would be a good project for this challenge so I stitched this baby up.

This scarf, the snuggly circular scarf was a very relaxing and meditative project.  It took me about 3 hours to make and I made it while watching a movie with my husband.  I used size 15 knitting needles and Woolspun yarn, which I had bought years ago, but had no plan for.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen

I have been thinking about a cool head wrap for a while now.  It’s been ruminating and seasoning itself in my mind.  I love it when this happens because it’s as if my hands become the vehicle of creativity.  They know what to do even though I haven’t created the piece before.  This project flowed like that.  The head wrap fell out of my brain, into my hands and was born as this head wrap.

I made this wrap out of a cashmere sweater sleeve and part of an old tank top that still had some useful knit material in it (used for the underside of the wrap).   I stitched it up and when I was done I added some embellishments.

I actually made this for a friend of mine for her Birthday.  Sometimes you meet people and think, where have you been all my life?  Julz Nally is one of those people for me.  We work together on Bargain Hunting, which is a bi-annual indie clearance sale and GIVE handmade Sale, which is a handmade art sale that happens near the holidays and is also a fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank. Julz is a very talented graphic designer and uses her mad skills in her business, Handmade Julz, but in truth she is good at damned near everything.  She is funny, kind and has a very strong work ethic.  She is a skinny little thing who gets cold a lot and dyes her hair like me.  She’s also a new(ish) mom.  I thought this head wrap would be good for her and for many of us (me included) for a few reasons:

keeping warm and maintaining style
Quick solution to a bad hair day
Hiding gray roots between hair appointments

OK, so I had to test out the head wrap and I didn’t want to give it up, but I did.  Here I am in it.

Day 9: Retro-modern head wrap

I think a huge part of what we like in another person is the image of ourselves reflected in their eyes.  Let’s just say that Julz and I both see the brilliance in one another.  It’s a mutual admiration club, for sure.

Julz is trying on the head wrap for the first time.

Happy Birthday, Julz!

Julz at her Birthday party with her good friend, Jena Coray of Modish.

In case you didn’t read my first blog post about this project . . . this post is part of a 31 day challenge I am doing to bring more creativity, stories and solutions to my life.  I have been using my creativity almost exclusively for work in the recent past and for the month of January I will creating things for my personal life, talking about them and taking pictures.  I would love input from readers as to which project you enjoy the most and if I get enough comments on one particular project I’ll turn it into a tutorial after the 31 day challenge of crafting, stories and solutions is over.  So please let me know what you like!

by:jen