Tao Of Craft

Back To School...

My children started another year at the beautiful

  Waldorf School On The Roaring Fork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

Recycled T Shirt Scarf and Hat

I have a bit of a problem when it comes to clothes that my children have out grown. I can not seem to get rid of them.. I love to come up with new ways to refashion these old clothes. 

 Fall comes early in the Mountains, so I recycled some of our favorite t-shirts to make this Ruffle Scarf and Hat.

It is a stylish way to stay cozy in the cool mountain air!

 

Most of us don’t fully understand the environmental impact of our clothes. From their production, to the materials that make them, all the way to transportation and washing, clothes can make quite a dent on the environment. 

* Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year. 

* Polyester is made from petroleum in an energy intensive process that emits VOC's and acid gas into the air.

* Cotton is the most pesticide - dependant crop in the world. It takes 1/3 lb of pesticides to make ONE t-shirt.

Why not reduce your environmental impact by buying recycled clothes and recycling your own?

Its good for the earth and of course, ... so fashionable!

 

 

Dollar Store Crafts

 

 

Have you seen the blog Dollar Store Crafts? You can find a TON of cool crafts all inspired from things found at the Dollar Store. They have featured my Toadstool Tutorial on their site!... www.dollarstorecraft.com.

I found this awesome Raffia Bowl on their site..It is definitely on my list of things to do!

 

 

GASLAND

You MUST watch the documentary Gasland! 

If you live in the Aspen, Colorado area it is playing at the Wheeler tonight, August 25th It is also on HBO for the next month.

  

 

For a while now the Oil and Gas Industry has been moving closer and closer into our pristine valley. They have taken over much of Western Colorado and Northern New Mexico. The destruction that they bring is unbelievable. Our little valley is considered the Saudi Arabia of the United States! They, in fact, refer to our area as the 'National Sacrifice Zone"

This UNREGULATED industry is EXEMPT from federal protections like the Clean Water Act. The Oil and Gas industry leaves the landscape and their communities with polluted air and contaminated water. The contaminates thay they are exposing the people of these communitites to are not even disclosed to them. it is considered PROPRIATERY and therefore are allowed to be kept secret.

The second documentary that you MUST see is SPLIT ESTATE. It deals directly with the devistation that is currently underway in Western Colorado.

Farmers and land owners do not own the mineral rights of their land so the Oil and Gas industry can move onto their land and set up a well!

"Imagine discovering that you don't own the mineral rights under your land, and that an energy company plans to drill for natural gas two hundred feet from your front door. Imagine having little recourse, other than accepting an unregulated industry in your backyard. Split Estate maps a tragedy in the making, as citizens in the path of a new drilling boom in the Rocky Mountain West struggle against the erosion of their civil liberties, their communities and their health." Split Estate

Can you get invloved with clean air, clean water, and public health?

Check out: Thompson Divide Coalition

 

 

Felt Sushi Tutorial and Pattern

Konichiwa! Welcome to our Asian Inspired Tea Party!

 Our guest of honor is wearing her kimono wrap dress for the occasion!

 

We are serving a handmade Felt "Sushi Platter". We have Nori Rolls with Avocado and Carrots some are even topped with Roe! We are also serving Nigiri, Toro, Seaweed, Edamame, and Ginger. To make this platter I used wool felt, beads, and embroidery floss.

  

  

This tutorial will teach you how to make Sushi Rolls, Edamame, Nigiri, and Toro. 

Materials:

Wool Felt ~ White, Black, Yellow, Orange, Green, Burgundy
Embroidery Floss ~ Black, White, Orange, Green
Stuffing
Seed Beads ~ Black and Red
Glue

Download the Sushi Pattern HERE

How to make SUSHI ROLLS:

 

STEP 1 ~

Cut out pattern for the Sushi Roll Rice from white felt.

Cut out Seaweed pattern from black felt. 

Cut out the Carrot from orange felt and the Avocado from green felt.

STEP 2 ~

Trim the edges of the "rice" with pinking sheers as to make a bumpy edge.

Roll the carrot piece, Roll the avocado piece... hold them together and roll the rice around both. Make sure to keep the roll tight. Finally roll the SEAWEED strip around the rice. 

STEP 3 ~

Secure the seaweed with a pin to ensure a tight roll while you stitch the side of the seaweed with black embroidery floss.

Optional:

If you want to embellish your Sushi Roll with ROE...

STEP 4~

Apply your clear drying glue to the top of your roll and place the seed beads on top!

How to make Edamame:

 

STEP 1 ~
 

Cut out the edamame pattern using the green felt.

STEP 2~

Sew along the edges of the edamame using the blanket stitch.

How to make the NIGIRI:

 

STEP 1 ~

Cut out the white felt from the nigiri pattern.

STEP 2~

Hand stitch the short ends of the Nigiri Side together, RIGHT sides together with 1'4" seam allowance.

turn right side out.

STEP 3~

Attach to the top of the ring. Blanket stitch all of the way around. Repeat on the top, leaving an opening to fill with stuffing..

STEP 4 ~

Fill with stuffing and sew close.

STEP 5~

Cut out the shrimp in orange felt  and sew onto the Nigiri base.
 

How to make TORO:

 

STEP 1~

Cut the TORO pattern from the yellow felt

Cut the Seaweed for the Toro out of black felt

STEP 2~

using the blanket stitch sew the edges leaving an opening for the stuffing.

STEP 3~

Fill with stuffing and close the seam.

STEP 4~

Wrap the seaweed piece around and secure it onto the toro with black embroidery floss.

Do you want to take some SUSHI home for your friends? 

Please use our hand sewn wool felt TAKEOUT BOX. 

Go HERE for the tutorial.

Felt Chinese Takeout Box Tutorial

 
Do you want to take some SUSHI home for your friends? 

Please use our hand sewn wool felt TAKEOUT BOX.

 

MATERIALS:

White Felt

Card Stock

Embroidery Floss 

Download the Pattern Here:

Takeout Pattern Page 1

Takeout Pattern Page 2

STEP 1~

Cut out your felt and card stock according to each pattern piece.

STEP 2~

Glue the bottom card stock piece inside of the bottom 2 felt pieces. 

Trim the Card stock so that it lays inside of the felt pieces by about 1/4" then glue the card stock to the felt.

 

STEP 3 ~ 

Layout the pieces.

This image shows 2 layers of felt for each side piece and 2 layers of felt with a card stock insert for the bottom.

 

STEP 4 ~

Sew the pieces together.

Using a blanket stitch, sew the side pieces to the bottom.

Remember to put the WRONG sides together and then sew.

STEP 5 ~

Sew the sides together. Insert the card stock pieces. You will have to trip the card stock pieces so they they slip in nicely.

STEP 6~

Blanket stitch the edges of the top flaps together.

 

STEP 7 ~

Attach the top flaps to the box. Sewing the pieces with the WRONG sides together using a blanket stitch.

 

STEP 8 ~ 

Add your leftover sushi and ENJOY!

 
 

 

Ten On Ten

I participated in the Ten On Ten photography project... I did not post in time to link up with the others. However, I thought that I would still share it.

TEN ON TEN

Take a photo every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of each month. Document a day of your life and find beauty among the ordinary moments. Then share your beauty with us!

Here is my day for August 10 2010

Our day began by heading out to the garden...

 Then good morning hugs from daddy....

 

Next, tried out a favorite chair...
 
 

Made bird feeders with rice cakes and birdseed....

 

Stopped by Target for some pool towels...

 

Jumped in the pool.... 

 

Went to visit a friend and admired her Hoop House FULL of vegetables (puts my garden to shame) 

Learned how to maintain a BEE hive...

 

And then we took in the view...

 

 

 

 

Dinosaur Play Mat Tutorial

WOW! My Dinosaur Play Mat won the last round of SYTYC... THANKS to everyone who voted for me! I am psyched to have made it into the final 4!... The tutorial for this is SOON to follow. I am hoping to play catch up this week. Congratulations to the other crafters! SO many awesome crafts again this week!

Felt Dinosaur Play Mat

We love all things Dinosaurs around here! So, for the animal theme I made a Dinosaur Habitat.

 

This habitat is full of hand sewn prehistoric creatures... Including a lava spewing Volcano, Brontosaurus, T-Rex, Stegosaurus, and some Prehistoric Trees.

 

Each piece is movable which allows for endless combinations of prehistoric play.The felt mat can even be folded up and taken along with you to      grandma's house! 

 

 

   
 

  

 

No Time To Post Only Time To Make....

HELP! I am lost in the world of SYTYC... it has over taken me! No time to post, no time to clean my house, and no time to feed or bathe my kids:)

I look exactly like this weeks SYTYC Craft Theme button: Yes, that is me... 

The one with the shaggy hair!

 

So head over and VOTE for your favorite Animal themes craft! Only one day left to vote for this round!

  

Western Cowboy Birthday Cake

Round 4 of SYTYC has come and gone.... Here is my submission for the theme Edible. It is a fondant covered chocolate cake. The hat is made out of sculpted rice cereal covered in fondant.

I came in 2nd place this week... Boy, the competition is tough!

Many creative entries again this week! Congratulations to this weeks winner, Cheri who made the Little Man Tea Party! I love the photo of the "3 little men"!