Kanzashi = Sleek Satin Flowers

I am loving these!  They are based on an ancient Japanese fabric folding craft called Kanzashi.  The flowers were traditionally worn in the hair and were believed to ward off bad spirits. 

Here's my twist on Kanzashi. 

These are all made from satin, except the pink one.  The light pink is satin, but the darker pink in another silky type of material (sorry, i found it on the remnant pile, so don't know it's exact content).

The backs I put on are french clips, but these could be applied to a brooch pin, a headband, etc. to adorn your lapel, spice up your purse, add flair to your scarf...

Could you find a use for one of these?  Comment and tell me what you'd use it for!

Patchwork Fabric Basket - Super Sized!

I finally got around to making a larger version of the Pink Penguin fabric basket I blogged about here.  I simply multiplied all the measurements by 1.5 to get a basket that is 150% times bigger than the original.

Instead of adding the handles to the top, I sewed them to the sides. 

I love this fabric by Michael Miller - maybe because I'm in L.O.V.E. with the color gray?  Yes, please!



patchwork tote/basket







inside view



My first crafting 911

It was bound to happen.  And last night, it did.  My first craft-related injury:  burn from hot glue.  I will admit, I shed a tear or two from the pain.   I was finishing up a gift for a work friend who is moving away (well, really a gift for her super-cute almost-one-year-old daughter).  I don't even remember how it happened b/c it all went down so quickly.  Somehow the glue ended up on the top of my index finger (on my right hand, no less).  In my reaction to get this burning subtance off my skin ASAP, 2 things happened:

1. another (far less severe) burn on the pad of my left naughty finger 
2. wiping off not only the glue, but the skin under it (the bright side?  now i don't have to wait for the blister to pop!) 

I'd post a pic, but don't want to gross anyone out.