Kandra's Corner » fabric

Office Redux Part 1

Kandra — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:27:27 +0000

At the office, they have been painting, moving people into different cubes, etc. Granted it does look so much better, but color was needed.

So I grabbed two cork boards and some material from my stash, some ribbon from the drawer… and VOILA I created these awesome fabric-covered-brighten-up-my-office cork boards.

I love them!

I even made some fabric covered buttons, took off the shank and glued them to thumb tacks. While I was at it, I glued some buttons to thumb tacks too. TOO CUTE!

So here’s the office before:

And After:

What a difference! I call this part 1, because I’d love to get a new chair, and make a skirt for the computer desk – not to mention a couple of inspirational quotes/whimsical embroidered pieces on the other wall (that’s not pictured, but only has a lonely white board on it). Of course this part 2 that I’m wanting to do could take a couple of years… and then a couple more to actually POST about it! LOL

Linky Parties:

Keep Kraftin’,
Kandra

One Year Blogversary & Giveaway!

Kandra — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:53:10 +0000

Today is the anniversary of this little blog. To celebrate, we are holding a giveaway – woohooo!! The swag up for snatchin’ includes some of my very favorite things…

A huge collection of fabric scraps… lots of sizes included! I’m a huge hoarder of fabric!

Some DMC embroidery floss… I have tons and tons and tons of floss here!

Two stitchable tea towels. I tend to stitch tea towels often.. and I don’t drink much tea…

And a wonderful book Embroidered Effects by Jenny Hart. Jenny was kind enough to send me a copy, so I went out and bought a copy to give away! If you don’t win this giveaway, I encourage you to pick a copy of this book! It’s awesome!

So – the rules of the giveaway — You can get up to TEN… yes 10… chances to win!!!

1 entry for commenting. (Quite simple to do, just remember to put in a good email address so we can get a hold of you if you win!)
1 entry for telling others about the giveaway on your blog. (Leave a comment linking.)
1 entry for telling others about the giveaway via twitter. (Leave a comment linking.)
1 entry for being a fan on facebook. (Leave a comment letting me know.)
1 entry for following on twitter. (Leave a comment letting me know.)
And finally 5 entries for sharing a project on our flickr account of something you’ve made with one of our free patterns or tutorials! (Again, leave a comment linking so I know who is who. )

I know it looks like a lot, but I wanted to give everyone multiple ways to enter. This giveaway will stay open for one week. I’ll draw names next Sunday, 11/15/2009 at 1:00 CST. Giveaway is open to international guys and gals too!

So what cha’ waiting for? Comment and spread the word!

Keep Kraftin’

Kandra

Wait, Oh Yes Wait a Minute Mister Postman…

Kandra — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:10:23 +0000

Way -aiit, way aiiit Mister Postman

Mister postman look and see
If there’s some fabric in your bag for me…

Why yes, yes there is!!! Look what I got!!!

On Tuesday I was the proud recipient of some amazing fabric from Crafter’s Vision. They were having a sale on some designer fabric and my Mikey was nice enough to let me order some more fabric Now you’ve gotta understand – my fabric usually comes from Hobby Lobby, Wal – Mart, and Hancock’s – on sale, bargin bin fabric. Why? Cause I just can’t afford $8-16 per yard fabric, though I longingly look at it! This fabric was on sale for $4.50 a YARD! Can I get a woohoo?

I’ve also never ordered fabric online – I like to touch it and see it and fall in love with it at the store. However reading all the different craft blogs that talk about the different designers really prepared me well. The colors are true to the pictures shown and the quality of the fabric is superb! And….

It’s just a phenomenal feeling to open a package from the mail and have a ton of fabric just staring at you… It was amazing! As I opened the box I let out a SQUEE! I could do this everyday… if I were rich. My daughter totally got it too – the son, he just realized what he can buy mom to make her really excited.

Then on Wednesday I was notified that I won a remnant stash from Sew, Mama, Sew… guess what came in Friday!

Gee- I’m still on a fabric high! Tuesday and then Friday – FABRIC! How can one have a bad week when sitting among all of these wonderous designs and soft texture of cotton just begging to be used in a creative way!?

mmm.. Now what to make….

Keep Kraftin’

Kandra

A Tisket, A Tasket, Let’s Give Away A Basket!

Kandra — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:20:53 +0000

It’s our first ever give away here at Sibling Craftery and I’m SOOOOO Excited! There are so many reasons to love and appreciate the craft blog community – from sharing tips and ideas to free patterns and give aways! So let’s get started shall we…

The basket full of goodies:

I decided to build upon a basket – who doesn’t love baskets? I know I can never have enough! Then I added items from different crafting areas that I’ve come to love over the last year – sewing and embroidery. I wanted to share that love with all of you!

First up – a cute little bottle cap pin cushion. I don’t have a good picture of it up close, but it’s in the basket on the far right. It’s little and it’s cute!

Next is the fabric. I have a love affair with fabric (Shhh, don’t tell the hubby!) I have to touch it and feel it and then think of a million ways to use it – it’s really not that hard – and then… well I buy it. Walking into any store with fabric endangers my pocketbook. I’m glad I can’t feel the fabric in the online stores or I’d have alot more in my fabric horde stash! These fabrics are 100% cotton, 1/2 yard of 3 Spring – colored fabrics for a total of 1 1/2 yards. I’m thinking this would make a really cute purse or tote, but of course the lucky winner can do as she/he would like

On to the embroidery supplies! We have an Aunt Martha’s Tea Towel, some embroidery needles and of course a hoop. I love embroidery – and tea towels are so quick and fun to do! They make great gifts to give away too!

I can’t give away a tea towel, with hoop and needles without giving away some floss! So here ya go – 10 skeins of DMC floss in Springtime colors. Now I’m sure with all the embroidery supplies you can surely find some free embroidery patterns … somewhere.. hehehe

There ya go – a basket full of fun! Now for the rules – which I hope I kept pretty simple…

Leave a comment telling me about your favorite craft or activity to do during Spring!(Remember when leaving a comment to either leave your blog/website URL or email address so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner!)
Tell your friends and family so they can try to win too!

That’s it! I’ll draw a winner Sunday (3/29/09) @ 6:00 PM CST using a random number generator. So – what are you waiting for? Comment and then go tell your friends/fam!

EDIT: This give away is open internationally – just in case you were wondering.

EDIT 3/29/09: Winner has been chosen.

Keep Kraftin’,

Kandra

Tutorial – Fabric Organizers!

Kandra — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:45:08 +0000

I’ve started collecting a stash of fabric – my sister even added to it for part of my Christmas present. It’s becoming an obsession of mine – yet it is causing some problems in my craft area. After washing and folding the fabric, it just hangs there – and doesn’t look to appealing. They say chaos breeds creativity, so out of the chaos of my fabric stash – I give you fabric organizers! I was inspired by looking around at the different fabric organizers available via the web. They run about 2 bucks a piece, and while I’m sure that’s a bargain for fancy plastic ones, I didn’t want to spend so much money on them. So instead I spent NADA – ZILCH – ZERO, and rescued some cardboard from the trashcan!

EDIT (5/25/09) : I’ve been told that using just plain cardboard could cause some ruin to your fabrics as they are not acid free. I haven’t had this happen yet, but I also don’t have fabric laying around for years If you are concerned about this, then please follow “ThreeUnderTwo”‘s advice below in the comments section of using the acid-free comic book boards in lieu of the rescued cardboard.

EDIT (6/1/11): I have switched to comic book boards and love it!

My good friend Tim donated some C size tagboard (from a pad of paper that’s 24 x 35 in). Any cardboard that is thicker and sturdy would work. You’ll need a straight edge, rotary cutter & cutting mat, scissors, pen, and of course your fabric.

Using the straight edge and rotary cutter, cut rectangles – I cut them to be 8″ x 12″ and 4″ x 12″ (smaller ones for fat quarters). The ones online I think were 10″ x 14″.

Next, take your cut cardboard rectangles and measure 1″ in from the edge. Granted, you don’t HAVE to do this part, I just like having notches for my rubberbands.

Then cut out triangle notches for the rubberband to hook into.

Now, take your fabric and wrap it around the cardboard – think fabric bolts at the fabric store

Place the rubberband onto one notch and stretch it over the fabric and cardboard to the other notch.

TaDa! Just place on a shelf with other fabrics. As you can see I still have more organizers to make – I ran out of cardboard/tag board, though I’m sure I’ll find more. When I’m done I’ll arrange all of these by color and it’ll be really easy to see what I do/don’t have I’ll post a pic later when I’m done.

I hope this tutorial will be helpful to you Or if you have anything to improve on, comment – I’d love to hear your take on it!

Kandra