Screenprinted Appliqué Totes, AKA “Let’s try these again”

Spread out with my materials on a bunch of newspapers like a bird waiting to take a turd in its cage, a few years ago I experimented with screenprinting in my apartment kitchen. With a crappy light exposure setup and not as much equipment as I should have had, it just didn’t turn out the way I would have liked, the main issues being some detail getting lost and the ink laying either too thick or too thin, but not Goldilocks “just right”. I wish I had spent more money and research on creating a more proper setup, but there just wasn’t the room in the apartment. When the basement is straightened up (ha), I’d like to get a more professional arrangement going. Ah, pipe dreams and overachieving.

I’ve had the product, specifically these tote bags, stashed away for years, not sure what to do with them but certainly not wanting to abandon them either. I ran across the box-o-goods the other day and, since I have been sewing alot lately, had the idea to add some appliquéd fabric to the designs. It was just the extra spice they needed! The additional material and more involved prints brought the totes from flat to funky, perfect for a small shopping trip, quick beach jaunt, or anywhere you want to carry something in style.

Making appliqué fabric is completely simple; all you need is Heat’n Bold Ultrahold Iron-on Adhesive and a small patch of fabric. Cotton/quilting weight fabric works best, so luckily that’s the kind of fabric that has all the best prints. Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than you will need to fit your design just to give a buffer, and iron it onto the adhesive. Tape/pin a printout of your chosen design right-side up on the fabric side of the sandwich – or freehand draw it on if you’re that good – and cut out the design. Peel off the waxy paper backing, and iron the appliqué onto whatever you want that will hold it (flatter material is better; I have a feeling corduroy wouldn’t do so well). Pillowcases, baby onesies, t-shirts, tote bags – go nuts! You can even sew a decorative stitch around the edge of the appliqué if you want to add an extra decorative touch.

The bags are now up in my Etsy shop, click here to browse and order.

Out!

Hello everyone!

So hello everyone! Here we are. Where do I begin? With how I got here, I guess.

In July 2011, after 10 years of the in-house graphic design world and deciding that the corporate life wasn’t for me, I started working full-time on personal pursuits that I’ve always wanted to explore. A few big events later –  a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia and New Zealand, four months of post-flood house reconstruction, and learning that I’m going to be a mom in September 2012 – I’m finally working in earnest on opening up my Etsy craft shop. That is, as soon as I finish developing a cache of items so it doesn’t look like I am just selling one thing. A one-item Etsy shop just seems so sad somehow, like the lone dude at the bar sitting there with a lukewarm Bud Light and some Marlboros in a wrinkled softpack poking out of the shirt pocket of his 1990’s red and black flannel. I’ll be showcasing the items on this site – because what else is the internet for but to sell someone awesome something just as awesome?

So, tell you a little bit more about me, you ask? Why, of course. Happy to oblige ma’am – or sir –  *tips hat*.

• I store bins of miscellaneous unused craft materials in my office closet just in case I have an idea.
• I was overly excited about going to Ikea as a kid because I loved the simple, bold signage and the “exotic items” the Swedish goods shop. Lingonberry soda? How worldly!
• If I could, I would travel endlessly, with my husband to keep me company and my camera glued to my face.
• I have a shelf full of books and about 23 more waiting on the Kindle that I still need to read because they looked too good to pass up before I finished those I already had.
• I have trouble following the authoritative direction of a recipe. I know what a half-teaspoon looks like. I think. I do, however, write some very good ones myself. Go figure.
• I’m probably the only person you will ever know that loves airports.

I’m planning for this site to have a little bit of everything, with the main focus being crafts, cooking, photography and design – basically, anything about making something with your own two hands. Or, really, with mine, since I will be doing the posting. I hope that you find it all interesting, funny, creative, helpful, and entertaining. Comments, discussions viewpoints and questions will always be welcome. Unless of course you’re one of those people who trolls for arguments out of boredom. Because that’s just uncool, man.

Cheers!