365/13 + a super easy vintage craft.

I hated the book "Zone One".

So much so, that I made a thing out of it.

I don't have anywhere to hang it, yet.

Inspired by a project in Cathy Callahan's book "Vintage Craft Workshop".


Basically, all that I did was choose a clever way to fold the pages.

It took a few hours, but I did it while watching the movie "Daisies" on the suggestion of Pollyanna Cowgirl, so I was thoroughly entertained.

After all the pages were folded it was as simple as gluing the spine closed around a piece of super bulky yarn.

I really have to pick up a ceiling hook. Right now it's hanging from a thumbtack in my hallway.



Honestly, I didn't want anyone to have to read this book after me.

Did you read it? Did you like it?
 

painting and stuff.

Yesterday I helped my friend, Kellyn, paint a toy box for her dog. Considering how incredibly bad I am at painting, things went pretty smoothly. It took 4 hours AND we didn't finish, but it does look good so far. We had tons of fun, too!

On side note, I'm kind of obsessed with making animated GIFs. There's something magical, sort of Harry-Poter-ish about them; no?

Intended to write a long post, but I really want to get the longest bubble bath ever before I start my day. It's impossible to get spray paint off of your fingers!

What are you up to? Do you know any tricks to help get spray paint off of your skin?

Time-Machine Tuesday: More Knitting Pamphlets!

Another gem from my vintage knitting pamphlet collection! I really wish they would have printed the years somewhere inside these things. I'd love to know when they are from.

The styling is always so great! Who doesn't love a good disco collar? And that granny square vest? Priceless.

The dapper gent on the back cover is kind of adorable in his gigantic bow tie. No?

I really need to find the time to start knitting all of these amazing vintage patterns!

Have you knitted/made anything from vintage patterns? Send me pictures! I'd love to see/share!

Time-Machine Tuesday: Aunt Lydia's Rug Yarn.

Oh my god! Can you get over that picture? This pamphlet is probably one of the single most inspiring things in my vintage pattern collection. The colors! The patterns! The boys! All perfect. Seriously. I love it.

I can't believe that once uopn a time, these pattern booklets only cost 35 cents! I paid quite a bit more than that. Ten times more to be exact. Still worth every cent.

I always search eBay and Etsy for STAR books. They're full of the best kitschy vintage patterns and the styling is TO DIE FOR. I just can't can't get enough.

I want to knit every single one of these things, just maybe in something a little more comfortable than rug yarn. Yikes! Can we talk about how itchy that mock neck poncho ordeal would be?

Do you have any favorite vintage patterns or books? Tell me about them!

Doing stuff via Instagram!

I been working very hard on an amazing creative project that's eating up all of my spare time! I'm not complaining, it will be absolutely worth it and it's an incredible opportunity, possibly one of the most exciting things that's ever happened to me.

Unfortunately, between that and working a full time day job, that doesn't leave me with a ton of time to play. However, I did take a few spare moments to make a fancy dinner here and there, brew some sun tea and even try out a few new crafting techniques. For someone that rarely wakes up before 11am, that's quite a list of accomplishments, right?

Instead of just posting links to other blogs about stuff that looks cool, I decided that I would use today to share some things from other blogs that I've tested out personally.

Sound good? Here we go...



We all know I'm awful at taking food pictures; add instagram filters to the mix and it's even worse. As gross as my picture makes it look, Veggie Mama's "Cheaty, Easy, Quick Sun Dried Tomato Ravioli" was incredible! It was my first time using wonton wrappers and the process was totally painless. DO NOT skip out on the heavy cream sauce either, I thought we might to save a few calories, but it was so tasty! Definitely worth the minimal effort!



Yesterday, we spent a ton of time working on our little postage stamp sized garden. We planted a bunch of marigolds and other super sweet flowers, and while we were digging holes and planting plants Miss Indie's Autumn Orange Sun Tea sat on the ledge next to us brewing.. I bought decaf tea bags, because I'm still steering clear of that stuff (very few migraines lately!) and I used a few extra cloves because I love them. After getting all sweaty and grimey outside, this was such a refreshing treat!



Kellyn and I haven't had a crafternoon in ages! While wandering the aisles of Michaels the yesterday trying to pick pick our project du jour, I remembered My Paper Crane's Pour-paint pots and we quickly snatched up all of the things that we would need to make these lovelies. Kellyn started out with a very sophisticated stencil but quickly gave up because the poured paint looked so cool! It's so simple and the results seem pretty great. I don't have any FO shots yet because the pots are still drying; so much paint! We bought the cheapest stuff (50 cent acrylic) and used all four bottles plus a little Martha Stewart glitter paint on four pots, so it was pretty budget conscious, especially for us. I can't wait to see them all dried out and ready to go!

Even in my super busy schedule, I'm still finding time to enjoy the process because that's what this crafting thing is all about, right?

To keep up with what I'm doing day-today, follow me on Instagram -- Username: KnitXcorE

What are you working on?

Time-Machine Tuesday: The Illustrated Hassle-free Make Your Own Clothes Book.

One morning, I woke up with an incredible feeling of emptiness. Something was missing from my life; something was missing from my wardrobe.  I have the fits of insanity if I wake up before 10AM. My thoughts are kinda muddy or slushy or something.

If I actually find a way to function, it usually involves sleep walking to the computer and writing down a bunch of those in-between sleep and awake ideas, just so I don't lose them.



This particular morning, I had been fixated on caftans/dashikis. Maybe I watched the musical Hair before I fell asleep. Maybe I really liked the ones that were dismissed by Michael Kors on Project Runway as "the Brady's go to an Autumn Harvest festival". Either way the thought permeated my existence. I searched for patterns and books that seemed authentic (read: vintage) because I obviously couldn't exist without a super bohemian ethnic print top.


(pictures from RogueRetro on Etsy)

Remember that I'm still half-asleep.

I eventually came across this book, The Illustrated Hassle-free Make your Own Clothes Book, and that became my new obsession. I thought it would be a really useful and fun read (and it is). It makes sewing simple garments really accessible and smart. I adore it.



Even if I never actually make my dream dashiki, I'm still super glad I found this book!

Todd Oldham and Kid Made Modern.

I've had a design crush (maybe a not-so-designy one, too) on Todd Oldham for my entire life. Yep. ALWAYS.

In the late 90's (when I was just barely old enough to ride the bus alone), I went to his shop in Soho and basically cried and drooled all over the place. Soho was a dream world; Cynthia Rowley, Anna Sui, and Todd Oldham all in the same place!!! Perfect!

It may have been a little strange for a adolescent boy to be reading Paper Magazine or Flaunt, but even at an early age I had an insatiable appetite for good design. I tended (as I still do) to favor bold colors and mid-century inspired visuals, so it was only natural that I was drawn to Todd's aesthetic He continues to be a major inspiration in all of my work.

I remember special ordering one of his first books at the bookstore and then selling handmade magnets to my neighbors to get together the $45 cover price. It was worth every single penny.



Today, we stopped by Target because I wanted to see if anything was left from his KID MADE MODERN line of craft supplies that was released on the 20th. I was prepared for nothing to be left (in true Target fashion), so I was elated to find a FULL END CAP. OMG, right?

I had the same reaction to tangible Todd-ness that I had had ages ago, as an awkward tween in his brightly colored Soho shop. He just gets it? Y'know? My eyes teared up as I started scooping everything off the shelves into a basket.

After picking up one of everything, the voice of reason (Dave) calmed me down and I only bought a few things. I may be secretly planning to go back without him so I can clear off the shelves. Don't tell!!!!

I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to once again support all that is great.

Thank you Target, and thank you Todd!

Who are your FAVORITE designers?

i made a turkey!

I should probably be doing U.S. History homework right now, but I could not resist the siren song of this screen printed turkey! I haven't even taken down the Halloween decorations!

I'm in love with vintage VIP prints. This turkey just so happens to be the SAME BRAND as the fabric pumpkins from last month. I guess I know what I like?

This was actually grueling to make. I haven't sewn in quite a while, and this had a tiny little quarter inch seam allowance. I should have read the directions first and cut the pattern larger. I could have just clipped of the excess when I was finished. Oh well! Lesson learned.

Tom (the turkey) is going to go onto the little vignette where the ghosts are hanging out, once I decide what else I'm going to put there. We really don't have any Thanksgiving specific decorations. Don't worry. we will. I have a handful of DIYs planned for the next two weeks! I hope I can get to them all!

Isn't Tom a babe?

<3

Robbie.

Coming Up...

-A Finished Pair of Socks!

-Vintage Thanksgiving Inspiration.

-Retro Readers Review: James and the Giant Peach.

-Work in Progress: Rewrites Bulletin Board.

-maybe a Friday Vocab Lesson?

finished: fabric pumpkins.

When I first shared the pictures of these little guys' they were still in progress but I thought that they deserved a proper FO photo shoot. The fabric was perfect! I saw it on Etsy and bookmarked it long before making the pumpkins, but I had always sort of had them in mind. I knew that if I had made them out of anything else I would have been disappointed, so I bought the fabric and I couldn't be happier! It's all vintage and I got quite a lot of yardage; this is going to see me through quite a few holiday projects.

▲▼▲▼▲Project Particulars▲▼▲▼▲
Inspiration:
♥Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial by Danielle Thompson
Materials:
♥Vintage Fabric from Etsy seller D'lish's Designs♥Polyfill

♥Yarn

♥Doll or Tapestry Needle

Time:

♥Twenty minutes to a half-an hour (each)

Final Thoughts:

I loved this project! It was super simple and I could make them while watching TV. HOWEVER, the doll needle is very sharp. I was making some white ones to sell at a event and I stuck the needle through my finger, drenching all but one of them in blood. Totes gory, right?! I hate scary things, so I threw them out.

What are you working on?

<3

Robbie.

Coming up...

-the finished Bird Mask.

..

-MORE Vintage Halloween Inspiration

-A Haircut

-and maybe a finished sock?

...Stay Tuned!!!

WIP: punching another rug.

I've been hunched over this rug for 3 hours now. It's due next Wednesday, so I have to get moving. My back hurts and I'm starving so this is all you get today.

haha.

<3

Robbie.

Coming up...

-the finished Bird Mask.

..

-Vintage Halloween Inspiration

-a pile of Finished Fabric Pumpkins

-A Haircut

-and maybe a finished sock?

...Stay Tuned!!!

WIP: an autumnal garland.

I know, I'm certifiable, right?

I should just finish something.

Here's the thing: I love to have something small and easy to work on while I watch t.v. at night.

I'm bored with pumpkins. I needed a break and I have a really good garland spot picked out.

So, yeah.

I'm making another thing.

<3

Robbie.

Coming up...

-the finished Bird Mask.

-Vintage Halloween Inspiration

-a pile of Finished Fabric Pumpkins

-WIP: Punching (ANOTHER) Rug.
-A Haircut

-and maybe a finished sock?

...Stay Tuned!!!!