meggiecat

Stencils for the Kitchen

2009-10-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

Download the stencils for these towels from ariadne at Home.

Paper Lanterns

2009-10-28T11:40:00.000-07:00

From School Arts Magazine 1922 by Pedro J. Lemos. These pictures are links.

Printable Halloween Masks

2009-10-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

15 Print-and-Color Halloween Masks from Woman's Day.

Cement Craft

2009-10-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this great book at the Internet Archive. It's aim is to provide craft skills in school and solve the problem of pottery and tile making without a kiln. Portland Cement is the medium but the skills are the same as potters. The tile making is very interesting and easy to do at home. Also of interest are slip techniques in cement. Published in 1922. Pedro Joseph Lemos, Professor of Decorative Design, San Francisco Institute of Art.

Christmas House Ornaments

2009-10-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

Printable house ornament patterns from Better Homes & Gardens. Cottage, Cape Cod and Mid-Century styles. 4" tall. Free membership required but the site is well worth it.

Paper Head Wear

2009-10-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

This patent drawing is for a headpiece worn by workers at White Castle in the 50's. the top outline could be any shape but the interesting part is the center part that gets cut on each side and folded back in the middle. The slits hold the hairband and cause the piece to curve.

Tempory Body Art

2009-10-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

While following a search for paste resist techniques I landed on The Henna Page which is an educational resource devoted to the history, traditions, techniques, science and art of Henna, and is part of a site group devoted to Henna and related arts.

I adore the idea of temporary body art bet wouldn't want henna because it fades. The Henna Page offers a fabulous selection of free PDF books and that's where I found this little gem.

Since I'm always on the lookout for fun activities for and with kids the techniques offered in Gilding, Glitter and Gems look like a blast. There are a variety of recipes for making your own gilding pastes using spikey hair gel, gel and Elmer's washable glue, hair glue, cosmetic glue and a variety of powders from Lumiere to body glitter. The following photos from The Henna Page will give you a small glimpse at the concept.

These designs are removable and inexpensive to make. I think it would make a fun girl's party activity, alternate face painting at festivals, better than temporary tattoo for a girl's softball or swim team. As you read you'll find that some recipes like the hair gel are for short time uses and the hair glue will last longer.
Pastes can be made up ahead of time and stored in cones made from Mylar wrapping paper. Keep it in the refrigerator. Directions and tips for making the cones are here.

There are also techniques for painting using body paint , regular cosmetics (liquid eyeliner), glitter and gems. Many of the supplies are at the beauty supplies store.
The gilding page is here. Halloween is coming! Sparkle up!

Skin safe glue, glitter and face painting supplies available at Silly Farm.

Online Poloroid Maker

2009-10-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

Rollip - Create Poloroids from your photos.
Just load your picture and choose from a variety of focus and decoration options.
A gift from the Poloroid Corporation

10.14.09 This morning I saw an announcement that Poloroid is bring back their instant film and cameras. Yay! I still have my camera and hope that there will be film for it.

Mexican Peasant Dress Instructions

2009-09-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

Kathleen Fasanella pays Homage to the humble house dress over on Fashion-Incubator. Since moving to California I have become a convert to the comfort of dresses. I've been wanting a version of the Mexican peasant dress and blouse.
Cynthia aka redpajamamama has posted some nice instructions for this simple dress style.

Photocopy Printmaking

2009-09-08T13:23:00.001-07:00

Tutorial by Claudine Hellmuth on the HGTV Website.

Statue of Libery Patent Drawing

2009-07-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Wish I had found this in time for the Fourth. Isn't she beautiful?

Vintage Embroidered Badges

2009-05-21T15:21:00.001-07:00

More from my make it yourself books. The badges caught my eye.
Click for larger images.

These Fonts by Rodrigo German at dafont would work for hoodies and badges. There are also some other skateboard and cartoon fonts by him that are suitable for stitching.

Vintage Hoodie Embroidery Patterns

2009-05-20T17:10:00.001-07:00

I'm going to be sharing some of the ideas from my 20 volume set of make it yourself first published in 1973 and then published in English by Columbia House.
click to read publisher info.

Hoodie Embroidery. Click to enlarge.

Then there is this inspiration from a Danceteria flyer

Organza Flowers

2009-05-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

Excellent tutorial by capusitalinda. I have this type of organza ribbon. I think some already burned circles should be in the kit I'm making for Sophia. She went nuts for the beads in my craftroom and feels confident that she will like beadwork because she knows crossstitch.

My Charmed Life

2009-05-19T12:23:00.001-07:00

Inspiration board in my office

Whew! It's been an amazing journey; living a real life. I've taken care of business things, doctors and dentist and had lots of company.

The space beside the fridge bothered me and I knew I wanted a little bookcase there to hold some of my cookbooks and the vintage handyman books that even have instructions for building a bomb shelter. I found the 4 student slates at a rummage sale and am using them for lists. Some of my guests write on them, too! Click the pics for enlarged views.

Theresa and her daughter Sophia were visiting from Oregon and stayed a night on the way to a few days at Disneyland. Sophia went shopping in my craft room. I adore the way this darling 8 year old speaks the language of crafts. Sue is here today painting some plates and bowls for a birthday gift.

Recovered my ironing boards and the bedroom stool was treated to beautiful brocade that was a gift from Jen-Chi.

New tool! A Pazzles cutter fits with so many of the things I want to do like make stencils in order to paint that wall behind the stool. It's only just arrived, been unpacked and parked on the kitchen table.

That's all the news for now. Hugs.

Make Your Own Buttons

2009-03-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hoo-Boy, I really love these buttons! I was browsing CraftStylish and fell for the project only to find that it's designed by my favorite CraftyPoder, Diane. No wonder I like it. Bag makers take note. It's the details that count and this one has some of my favorite attributes. It's interesting, cost effective, green, materials are easily available and the step by step photos and text are great.

See what I miss when I walk away from the computer for a period of time? Sometimes I just have to do it so I can hear my own internal voice.

Printable Butterfly Paper Craft

2009-03-17T07:54:00.000-07:00

My favorite Queen of Paper, Patricia of Agence Eureka, has shared two pages vintage butterflies on her flickr page. She even cleaned the images and offers them without the backgrounds. In her blog comments she says that they are meant to have motion but she may have used a paper that is too heavy.

Newspaper Seed 6 Packs

2009-03-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

When I was with the Friends of the Scappoose Library seedlings were our best sellers at our spring booksale. This tip would have helped to save us from a shortage of recycled pots. Brought to you by Little House in the Suburbs. Check out her printable Garden Planners.

Entrepreneurship

2009-03-12T14:57:00.001-07:00

Been studying at Stanford University's Entrepreneurship Corner. Great lecture videos and podcasts. May as well learn from the best.

Lampshade Ideas

2009-03-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been very interested in lighting of all kinds.
Love this faux capiz shell idea by Monica Ewing of Craftynest.

There are 4 lamp ideas at G-Whang's Digi-Fab Documentation. Instructions and EPS drawings are shared. This is a student project page.
This lampshade is called Rain.

Currently

2009-03-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

I've been worried about what it is exactly that I will do with my future. While I was stressing and not coming up with any good ideas I just stopped any effort at creativity. I had forgotten that I live a charmed life and that something will happen if I only move forward with my life.

I'm working with this silk which was a gift from my father's partner, Jen-Chi. It's a lovely pink satin that was embroidered in silk by her mother, Su Chen, sometime in the 20's. On first sight I thought that it couldn't be hand embroidered because the stitches are so fine. I've gotten so much joy from studying the back seeing her long stitches often couched and the remains of her pencil marks on the front. I'm hemming the edges and adding rod pockets so that it can hang behind my headboard.

Here I am with my friend, Judy (wearing the hat), and her grandaughter, Mackenzie, who is a terrific softball player.

Grow Tomatoes Upside Down

2009-03-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

So Sorry

2009-03-04T13:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who left comments and sent messages of concern regarding my absence. I'm fine and getting better every day. Moving, starting a new life and suffering winter pain even in California has been overwhelming and I had writer's block in a big way.

I feel as if I've been simmering. Dreaming of what my future life will be, fighting my own ageism. Asking myself "What do you mean, you're going to start a whole new career?" That's really being a late bloomer.

I have been collecting some interesting blog fodder on my travels and will start posting some of that.

I hope you will forgive me my very rude and selfish behaviour. I am among the luckiest of women to have friends such as you.

Hugs and much love,
Kathy aka meggiecat

Free Templates and Great Project Ideas

2008-12-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

The Cheeky Magpie has some really great projects and free templates. Love her blog.

Star Shaped Gift Box

2008-12-10T06:37:00.000-08:00

Patent dated 1896. Nice star shaped gift box.