Author: Caryn

Large deviation

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

I changed almost everything on the last felt cat for my Bucilla kit. I took felt from my stash, cut new parts, cut different pieces from the pattern, altered the angle of the head and feet slightly, and mixed up the sequins so that I could have a black, orange, and white calico cat.

Photo description: felt calico cat with one orange leg and one black leg, and one orange ear and one black ear and a white belly and paws
Photo description: in progress Bucilla House Cats Wreath made from felt and sequins with five cats, that deviate from the pattern

I have had two calico cats with one orange leg and one black leg, Shadows and Izzy. Izzy was born after Shadows passed and we joke about reincarnation.

Photo description: Shadows the calico cat with a black right front leg and an orange left front leg
Photo description: Izzy the calico cat with a black left front leg and an orange right front leg

I have a few more things to finish on the wreath: a large bow and some bells. I don’t think there will be much more deviation in the sewing.

Leather labels

On By CarynIn Craft

I wanted to add labels to my handmade items, so used the laser cutter to make some from thin leather. I added pairs of holes to the edges so they could be sewn on, my signature mark, and the primary material used for the item.

Photo description: labels cut from leather with a blue laser cutter, pencil for scale

I’m really pleased with how these came out. I’m getting better at estimating laser cutter and engraving settings; I had only one test cut before dialing in to settings that gave me my desired result. For the cut I had a speed and power of 100, and the fill engrave was power 30, speed 100, line density 100. The labels are 1cm by 5cm, which is just about as small as I can go and still sew them into a circle.

Paper serendipity

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Sometimes, not very often, when I’m wrapping presents the paper pattern and the box size coincide and the fold at the back is a perfect continuation of the pattern. Ah.

Photo description: “let it snow” wrapping paper that has been wrapped around a box with the two ends meeting up to complete the snowman pattern

Throwback Thursday: silhouettes

On By CarynIn art, Craft

In April of 2016 I took pictures of my kids against the strong light of a window to get an image of their silhouettes. I then digitized the outlines and used my Cricut cutter to cut colored cardstock. My favorite result was where I layered the two cut outs on some beautiful hand marbled paper my sister gave me.

Photo description: silhouettes in dark green and light green on a marbled green background in a brass picture frame

I really admire the people with the skills to cut out silhouettes free hand. I leaned heavily on technology for this setup.

Wrinkled leather

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

In my stash I have some nice thin goat skin leather. Unfortunately, it was wrinkled and was starting to feel a little dry.

Photo description: wrinkled goat skin leather

I used a generous application of Weiman’s leather conditioner to ease the wrinkles and return the suppleness.

Photo description: restored leather and a bottle of Weiman’s leather conditioner

Other leather conditioners, such as mink oil, would have also worked to add oils back into the leather.