Zine Obsessed!!

I've been making zines! I've never made any before, but I was inspired by Katie Gebely and her colorful, abstract zines over at Collage, Zines & Art Journals. 

Visit her channel for tutorials, inspiration and an explanation on "What is a Zine & How to Make One."

If you're interested in more info, check out Zines on Wikipedia here.

I made the majority of mine using 8.5 x 11 inch Neenah Bright White Premium cardstock paper as the base. Folded, creates an 8 page booklet & measures 3"W x 4.5"H.

I created them using text, images and a variety of art pens by POSCA, Artify and Artistro. I used bold jumbo acrylic markers, metallics, watercolor brush tip pens and dual tip alcohol markers. Even made a few minis!

It's a fun creative project! I absolutely loved making them and couldn't stop!! Try it!

Here's a short video with some flip thoughs below...

Mini Zip Pouches

I used a linen blend fabric by Anna Graham (Around The Bend Collection) for the exterior and a cotton fabric for the lining on these front zip coin pouches. The finished size is 4.5 inch square. 

Handy for your bills, coins, keys or even a mini notepad!

"Make a Stitch" has an easy to follow tutorial for this small zip pouch here. 

Simple to make, I'm sure to be sewing more!

Mini Heart Notes

These are just a handful of the little hearts I sewed using Tilda Fabrics. Sweet Mini Note Hearts. Little pockets to enclose a personal note with a gift or 'just because' for that someone special. They measure 3.5 x 3.5 inches.

Tilda is a fabric brand founded by Norwegian designer Tone Finnange. Explore Tilda's World for more of her charming fabric design, whimsical naive characters, patterns, books and more!

I have more hearts to stuff!

Check out Tilda's Blog for more inspiration.

Visit her site here for some wonderful free patterns!

 

Origami Envelope ~ 4 Point Star

I folded these 4-Point Star Origami Envelopes using 81/4 inch Japanese Shibori Origami Papers. Quick and easy fold, very relaxing...so relaxing I made 20!

I needed something to store them in so I made an origami box using double sided scrapbook paper. I followed the tutorial on Easy Paper Origami but adjusted my paper size to 12 x 10 inches and followed the same folding technique. My finished box measures 3"W x 4"L  x 3"H.

The finished size of the folded envelope is a 3.5 inch square.

A fun little envelope to include with a note, with a gift or to send through the snail mail!

If you'd like to make the 4-Point Star Origami Envelopes there is an easy to follow tutorial on Create with I. Sasaki

 

Handmade Journals ~ Bougainvillea Petals

Made several of these sweet Mini Handmade Paper Journals and wrapped them with Chiffon Silk Ribbons.

Covers are Handmade Lokta Card Stock with pressed Bougainvillea Petals and Titepati leaves with a deckle edge. Pages are printable/writable natural Lokta Papers. Journal is bound using waxed linen thread with a 3-hole pamphlet stitch.

Measure 3.5 x 5 inches and each has 40 pages.

Makes a lovely gift!

Origami Butterfly Bookmarks

These were fun little bookmarks to create. An origami fold creates the butterfly with a tuck pocket in the back that goes right over your book page. 

For these I used 4 x 8 inch Japanese Shibori double sided origami paper. Finished size is 4"W x 3"H.

If interested in making these pretty little bookmarks check out Easy Origami and Crafts for an easy to follow tutorial.

Knit Pouches

These pouches were simple little knitting projects all done in a garter stitch. Followed a change purse pattern from a book called "Knitting Pretty" by Kris Percival. Easy to increase the number of stitches you cast on and number of knit rows for a variety of pouch sizes.

I learned to knit by supporting the right knitting needle against my waist which kept it stationary. Only recently, I learned that there are actually such things as 'knitting belts' (aka knitting sheaths) that are used to support the right needle. A method which allows knitting without fatigue. Here is a video  demonstration using a knitting belt at WoolyWoodlanders.

If you're interested in a bit of 'History of the Supported Needle Method" check out the Studio PK Home of the Principles of Knitting.

"Believe It Or Not"!

Interesting sculpture. A visit to Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in St Augustine, Fl over 30 years ago! (still have the glasses, hold on to anything long enough and it comes back in style!)

We spent several nights in an old Victorian Bed & Breakfast and one night in an old Castle. Thank goodness it was only one night. The room was several flights up this narrow winding staircase.

 It's a lovely, quaint, historical town on the coast of Florida. Wonderful little town to tour on foot and fun to hop onto one of their trolleys. We enjoyed a horse and buggy ride complete with a  narrated history of the town. Ended an evening with an amazing dinner at the popular Columbia Restaurant.

 

I Knit A Bunny!

I thought this came out really cute! My first attempt at a 3-D knitting pattern. I was pleased with the result 😊!

I discovered how to knit this bunny from a square with a simple garter stitch.  Just a little poly-fill for stuffing, embroider eyes and nose and create a pom-pom tail. 

If you'd like to knit your own little bunny, check out Studio Knit over on YouTube.

 

Mini Abstracts With Sumi Ink & Marbles

A few more mini abstracts created with Black Sumi Ink and marbles.

Used 4 inch square, 140 lb watercolor paper for each.

Fun technique!
 

 

Painting With Sumi Ink & Marbles

This was an interesting and fun technique inspired by 'Yasutomo Art & Origami' (YT) demonstrated by Karen Elaine.

To create these little abstract treasures, the supplies I used included 140lb watercolor paper, black Sumi Ink, marbles, small dish, 11" x 14" plastic tray, low tack artist tape, and tweezers. Watercolor markers and Winsor Newton Watercolor pan set.

Just google 'Marble Art' to discover the technique and create your own mini abstract art!

 

Cold Winter Morning

"Let the chill in the air remind you of the warmth in your heart."
 

Appropriate quote...

 sorry, don't know who said it.

The Promise

"Across the years I will walk with you-

in deep green forests; on shores of sand:

and when our time on earth is through,

in heaven, too, you will have my hand."

  ~ Robert Sexton

 

Hearts ~ Layered, Tattered & Stitched

 

Made these hearts using a variety of supplies I had and included one as part of the wrapping for the book; Layered, Tattered & Stitched which I gifted to a friend.

Sashiko Patchwork Heart

 Afternoon Projects. Stitched a patchwork heart, stuffed with a bit of fiberfill and added some sashiko stitching. (finished size 6" x 6")

The butterfly was a quick and easy little project! Sewn using 4 pieces of 6 inch sq. fabric. Two square pieces for top wings and two round pieces for bottom wings. Used Jute cord to create antenna. (finished size: 6" W x 4" H.)

 "Hobby Crafting" on YouTube has an easy to follow tutorial for the butterfly.

Shibori Origami Hearts

I used 8.25 inch square Japanese Shibori Origami Paper to make these hearts. The paper is high quality origami paper and double sided with a variety of solid colors on the back.

Very simple to follow folding tutorial over at "Easy Origami" if you're interested in crafting some Origami Hearts for yourself!
 

Love and Kindness

 

Knit A Heart

There are lots of free tutorials online demonstrating how to knit a heart.

I followed 'Nimble Needles' on YouTube. His video is easy to follow and he also provides a free printable pattern.

Knit to your hearts content! 

Mini Komebukuro Bags

I loved sewing these mini Komebukuro Bags! So easy using ten 5 inch Charm Pack Squares by Moda ('Basic Grey' & 'LaVie Boheme') for each bag plus fabric to sew the tabs and additional cording and beads for the ties.

Christine's Home Affairs (YT) has an easy to follow tutorial which includes how to make "Y" seams.

Especially liked sewing these because I didn't have to measure and cut my fabric. Just use the pre-cut 5 inch squares from any Charm Pack which are already color coordinated!

An earlier, larger and slightly different technique of Komebukuro bag that I made using kzstevens pattern (modern Japanese Rice Bag) I posted here

A Little Birdie Told Me

I embroidered this sweet little bird onto a piece of cotton canvas and stretched it over a mini 4 inch canvas frame.

I purchased the embroidery pattern from 'IvanaStudio' (Etsy) and used my Brother PE535 machine to embroider the design. If you're interested, I explained my embroidery process in a past post here.

Hand Knit Scarves

I went through a period when I did quite a lot of knitting...perhaps more unraveling than knitting 😉

Not being a very proficient knitter, I chose scarves which were simpler. My first project, (eons ago at thirteen) after mastering the knit and purl stitch was a 'basket-weave' scarf. It was red and verrrry loong! I hadn't yet learned how to 'bind off' so I just kept knitting! I got lucky, it was the 60's and long scarves were in! 

If you're curious and up for a bit of reading here's an interesting site about the history of hand knitting at The Met as well as a brief article that appeared in The Post. Or, if you don't know how and want to begin your knitting journey, check out Sheep and Stitch, full of tutorials, tips, patterns and inspiration!

Hand Knit Beanie

I don't knit that often and it's been a while since I pulled out my knitting needles. A friend's favorite color was orange, so I gave it a go!

I learned to knit when I was thirteen years old from my friend who was left-handed. I'm right-handed. From her instruction I became a left-handed knitter! Guess I'm a bit ambidextrous !

Just an FYI ... that's a Vintage Tailor's Pressing Ham that the beanie is propped up on 😉

Fabric & Paper Mâché Vessels/Pots

I handmade several little paper mâché pots/vessels. Two in the lower right hand corner I used handmade papers that had been digitally printed on from my discard pile, others I used fabric strips and Modge Podge as my glue.

Measure 3"- 4" in diameter and 2"- 4" in height. Handy little storage containers for a variety of items.

Many DIY's online, or you already know how because you happily created paper mâché items as a kid 😉

Fabric Mâché Boxes

Supplies left over after my making my fabric/paper mâché pots/vessels. Grabbed boxes I had laying around (shipping box & empty notepaper box) and used up the rest of my fabric scraps to transform them with more 'fabric mâché' !

And voila! Handy for containing sewing supplies and deck of inspirational quote cards!

Enjoying a little bit of the white stuff 😎
 

Icy Ferns

 

Jan 1, 2025

Calcite is a protecting and grounding stone. It can help   bring inner peace and promotes creativity and imagination.