Podcast Episode 78

Not Quite A Knitting Podcast


This episode I take you on a tour of the sculpting tools and supplies organization in my Victorian Studio here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Not the usual podcast episode, but as usual, I do have a plethora of knitting, crafting and cat photos at the end ;)   Hope you enjoy.




LINKS:

My Etsy Shop:  https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/VictorianStudioShop

MOTHER'S DAY SALE! Mother's Day is coming - is she a crafter? Does she love sweet treats? HERE'S A SWEET DEAL - TAKE 20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER UNTIL APRIL 30TH!

http://www.victorianstudio.com

https://www.instagram.com/victorian_studio/

Podcast Episode 77

From 6 to 600 Grams


A different POV but still knitting and polymer clay sculpting for my Etsy shop - enjoy.





LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Pen Hook and Needles Podcast
24 Carat Crochet Podcast
90% Knitting Podcast
Little Bobbins Knits Podcast
Bees Knees Ravelry Group
Forbidden Woolery

Podcast Episode 74

Multi-Craftual

I have knitting, spinning, yarn dyeing and even some sculpting to share this week. Hope you enjoy.

Podcast Episode 71

Waffling

I have knitting, spinning, sewing and sculpting to share with you as well as some prizes to award for the Harry Potter KAL. Hope you enjoy!

Podcast Episode 70

Partial Eclipse Fail

Mother Nature was not cooperating for today's special event, so I decided to share what I've been up to with my knitting and polymer clay sculpting instead. Hope you can join me in my Studio to see what's new.

Podcast Episode 69

This week I share some smaller knitting projects, some sculpting and a few prizes are awarded for the Harry Potter KAL! Hope you can join me in the Studio:

Podcast Episode 67

More Prizes!

I hope you can join me as I share both knitting and knitting-adjacent projects this episode. I also talk about my new shop where I am selling my hand made stitch markers and progress keepers to help support the podcast. Lastly, I draw for six prizes for the Harry Potter KAL!

Apologies for the mic noise at times - I've made a note to position it better in the future. Thanks.






Links mentioned in this episode

Pen, Hook and Needles Podcast


My Storenvy Shop

Podcast Episode 66

Micro Skeins

There's knitting, yarn dyeing, sculpting painting and a short video of a special visitor at the end. Hope you enjoy.



Links mentioned in this episode:

Oh! Loops website
Oh! Loops podcast group on Ravelry
Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup on Ravelry
Gnome Acres
Daviksta Knits Podcast
One More Row Podcast

 

Podcast Episode 65

Duck !

I have quite a few projects to share knitting-wise as well as some new polymer clay sculpting heavily influenced by one knitting finished object.  Hope you enjoy.



Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen Hook and Needles Podcast

Nicolai Heidlas music

Sweet Leaps Podcast

London House Yarns (they are moving from Etsy to a new shop)

Dreams in Fiber Yarns

The Knit Girllls Podcast

 

Podcast Episode 64

Celebrations

A week late, but  I have both knitting and miniature polymer clay sculpting to share. Hope you enjoy your visit.


Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen, Hook and Needles podcast
 
Miniature Sweet 

Podcast Episode 63

Spring Term

This week I share a fair amount of knitting as well as some more polymer clay sculpting. Hope you enjoy.


Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen, Hook and Needles podcast
DPN holder sewing video (not in English, but easy enough to follow)
Little Bobbins Knits podcast
Knitting Ex-Pat podcast
Sunshine Yarns
Dreams in Fiber (Eric Lueder)
Wolseley Wool

 

Podcast Episode 60

Knitting Squared 


This week I share two large knitting projects as well as more polymer clay miniatures. I also draw for three more winners in the Harry Potter KAL!




Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen, Hook and Needles Podcast

Ravelry Harry Potter Knitting / Crochet House Cup group


 

Podcast Episode 59

What's It For?

This week I have a few knitting projects to share, a bit of spinning and some miniature sculpting projects I've been learning how to create. My apologies for the microphone issues near the end - I place it low to avoid my long hair brushing up against it, and I didn't realize until editing that my shirt shifted to the side so my arm was interfering with it during the end. I hope it's not too distracting.


Links mentioned in this episode:

Sunshine Yarns

Pen, Hook and Needles Podcast

Sugar Charm Shop YouTube channel

Podcast Episode 58

I hope you can join me in my Studio as I share quite a few knitting projects as well as some more Harry Potter themed stitch markers I have sculpted from polymer clay.



Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen, Hook and Needles podcast
Thank God Its Finished Podcast
Fibernymph Dyeworks
90% Knitting podcast 
Knitting ExPat podcast
Little Bobbins Knits podcast 
Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts
6060 Eyes on Etsy
Sunshine Yarns
Goth Heart Creations podcast 
Nomadic Yarns

Podcast Episode 57

Butterbeer Day!

Today I'm sharing a bit of knitting and also some extra special creations I've crafted as prizes for the Harry Potter Year Long KAL!



Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen, Hook and Needles Podcast
Knitting By The Sea Podcast
Thank God It's Finished Podcast
Oh!Loops Podcast
Once Upon A Corgi Podcast
Simpleworth Custom Stamps on Etsy
Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup Group
Fibernymph Dyeworks
Dreams in Fiber (Erica Lueder)
Knitting Expat

Podcast Episode 56

Negative Knitting

Even though I had to rip back two projects, I still have some knitting to share, along with a new-to-me craft I wanted to try so I could create more prizes for the Harry Potter Year Long Knit A Long.



Links mentioned in this episode:

Pen, Hook and Needles Podcast
Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup Group
Fibernymph Dyeworks
Dreams in Fiber (Erica Lueder)
Knitting Expat
Gnome Acres
Neeley's Knits
Homespun House
Sunshine Yarns
Forbidden Woolery
Nerd Girl Yarns
Wolseley Wool

Podcast Episode 55

A Whole Lotta New

A New Year, New KAL, New Prizes, New Skills and a New Family Member! Awesome!



Links mentioned in this episode:

Fibernymph Dyeworks
Pen Hook and Needles podcast
Me My Dog and Some Yarn podcast
Oh!Loops Yarn
Knitters Pride
Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts
Kraemer Yarns
Little Bobbins Knits podcast
Spoonflower
London House Yarns
Very Pink Knits Double Knitting Tutorial
Gnome Acres Yarn
Honey Girl Farms Yarn
Tale and Tendril Yarn

Graphic 45 Design Team 2014 Audition

Because I have become so enamored with Graphic 45 papers, staples and embellishments, I have decided to audition for Graphic 45's 2014 Design Team. I love sharing how I create my projects using their beautiful products, so what could be better than doing so on a larger scale? It would be a fantastic opportunity to say the least.

So without further ado, here is my Official Audition Post. I wanted to begin by revealing my latest project using Graphic 45's newly-released line "By The Sea". Even though I live smack dab in the center of Canada, Manitoba is known as "The Land of 100,000 Lakes" so this paper recalls a time long ago when city dwellers boarded the train for a relaxing day at the beach.

By The Sea Curio-Cabinet

After discovering a huge piece of coral at the thrift store last year, I decorated my en-suite bathroom in an aquatic theme. I added seashells and beach glass in various mason jars around the small room... but they were cluttering up the limited counter surface. This project is a great way to safely display some of those delicate treasures and frees up precious space as well.

I gathered my supplies together, including a wooden baking set I found at Goodwill awhile back. My brand new pad of Graphic 45 By The Sea paper would be perfect for this project!

I selected a few trinkets including a brass ship's wheel that used to be a key chain (another thrift store find), a brass double pulley and a metal and glass porthole charm. Cheesecloth worked great as a fishing net and sand and aquarium gravel were added to the shelves with shells, coral, driftwood and beach glass.

I also wanted to add my own sculpture; a seagull perched upon the Pier 45 sign:

In the name of brevity for this special audition post, the process of creating this project is described in the video below:



Here are the other projects I have posted about previously for review by the Graphic 45 Design Team Selection Committee. I hope these demonstrate a variety of creations and techniques, my skills and attention to detail.

Couture Collection Memo/Shopping set

Starting with a thrift-store mystery item, I created a stand, memo pad, envelopes and a peacock feather pen for a desk set fit for the serious fashionista shopper. Click for full project details and video.

Sweet Sentiments Magic Iris Lens card

A birthday card with a sweet surprise for my mom, using the lovely Sweet Sentiments paper. Click here for all the details and video.

Bohemian Bazaar Book and Altered Matchbook Box

My first project for The Scrapbook Cottage using Graphic 45's 8 x 8 Kraftboard Altered Art Matchbook box, metal door pull and groovy Bohemian Bazaar paper. Click here for the full project details and video.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas Countdown book

An altered children's book to remind me of all those important deadlines before the big day. Click here for the details:  Part One and Part Two with video.

Steampunk Spells Journal

My first foray into the awesome world of handmade journals... using the incredible Steampunk Spells paper, natch! Click for the full project details and my first-ever video.

Steampunk Spells Happy Halloween Tent Card

A spooky side-step tent card / table decoration using fussy cut images from the Steampunk Spells papers. Click for details here.

Steampunk Spells Apothecary

In this six-part series, I showcase my highly-detailed Halloween / Harry Potter inspired apothecary, using Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells paper. You can begin at Part One here.

The Black Cat Carnival

A Steampunk Halloween creation (in three parts). Although I didn't use Graphic 45 product on it, I wanted to include this popular project as well. If you want to see how I made each piece, you can start at Part 1 here.

A Steampunk Airship made from a regular household light bulb

The Babbage Mechanical Ticket Engine

A Swing Carousel that used to be a photo holder

Whew! That was a long post - thank you for hanging in there for the whole thing.

To the Graphic 45 Selection Committee, thank you for your consideration of my audition. I do hope you enjoyed seeing just how much I love creating and using your wonderful products!

Growing My Blog

It's that time again! Dear Vicki over at 2 Bags Full is hosting yet another wonderful "Grow Your Blog" party! Because of her, my readership grew by leaps and bounds last year, so how could I NOT participate again? With nearly 600 blogs signed up, it's going to be incredible!

Last year I marked the occasion with a tour of my Studio, but it really hasn't changed much since then (if you haven't visited before, Welcome! and click on the "Peruse The Studio" link at the top of the page if you do want to look around). What HAS changed recently is that I have learned how to add crafting videos to my very own YouTube Channel. They make it so much easier to demonstrate my work with the supplies I used and I hope is more entertaining for you too.

This week's project began after the tragic and sudden loss of a family member; all I could think about was how fleeting and precious Time is. So an idea began to simmer and I dove into a Steampunk-like sculpture featuring some vintage clock and watch parts I had on hand.

I began with a shadowbox I had picked up at Value Village a few weeks ago. It has a glass front, removable back and is made of unfinished wood. I decided I wanted my sculpture to be tactile, so I flipped the box around, chucked the back panel and made the glass the back. This way, my sculpture could break free of the box itself.

Gathering supplies; some were used, some were not

The inside was decorated using Ranger's Foil Tape Sheets after running them through my Cuttlebug with Tim Holtz' Alterations Gears embossing folder. The tape is backed with adhesive, so after laying it around the interior walls, I painted it to match the brass pieces I was going to use - first with Triangle Crafts Blackened Bronze paint and then Tim Holtz' Tarnished Brass Distress Stain. I popped off the stain's foam pad applicator and used a brush and my fingers to apply it, highlighting the pattern even more.

I needed a framework for the gears, so I first painted and then bent a long piece of aluminum wire in half, curved it into an interesting shape and secured it by running it through two holes in the box. Next I began the long process of attaching the clock and watch pieces with E6000 glue; just one at a time so they would set correctly. After they were in place, I snipped some areas of the armature away giving the piece the illusion of floating.

I'm sure Tim Holtz would cringe seeing me use his Tonic snips this way... but they worked like a charm!

I added Tim's Weathered Clock on the right side; I cut two out of chipboard, painted them the same as the rest of the piece and sandwiched clear acetate in between so I could add a gear center and clock hands. I cut it in half, adhering one side inside the box and the other outside the box.

I finished off the outside with Ranger's Crackle Paint, then washed it with watered-down Blackened Bronze paint. I also used Tim's "Mirrored" sheet, cut to size over the glass back, adhered with ScorTape and backed with black cardstock. I like the way the mirror allows you to see the parts from behind as well.

In place over my desk

Done. I've named it "Unwound". I can stick my hand inside and rotate some of the gears or play with the clock and watch springs...

Now if only I could turn back Time for real...



Thank you so much Vicki, for all your incredibly hard work putting together another extremely successful Grow Your Blog Party! Be sure to visit at least some of the nearly 600 blogs participating this year... I'll just bet you find some amazing ideas and new bloggy friends along the way!

Black Cat Carnival - Part III

On to the last item I created for my Black Cat Carnival. If you missed reading the first two posts, here are direct links:

Black Cat Carnival - Part I

Black Cat Carnival - Part II

This is the largest piece in my Carnival - a Swing Carousel. I really didn't know I was going to create it until I spotted this at Goodwill one day:

I took the pic after removing the glass and cardboard from each photo frame

I thought that if I could only get those frames off without damaging it too much, this spinning photo frame display would be the perfect start to my carousel. So I slapped down a whole $3 and took a chance. Much to my delight, the frames actually snapped right off when I bent them back and forth a few times - awesome!

Without the frames to hold them apart, both sets of five spokes slid down on top of each other. I asked hubby to do his magic, and he was able to saw the top knob off perfectly (I had hoped it was just screwed on, but no such luck). I slid the spokes off, glued a stopper near the top of the central post, glued both sets of spokes together and viola, they spun in unison - 10 spokes ready for swings!

Goodwill came through again when I picked up this M&M's candy tin for a whole 50 cents. The perfect shape, I simply used my silver tape to cover the top.

Silver brads were cut down and glued to represent rivets. Some glittered swirl brads were also added to decorate the top.

The decorative black edge was created from cardstock using a Martha Stewart punch. Silver brads and chain finished it off. I glued a clock gear under the knob and attached it to the top with E6000 glue. On the underside of this part, I glued a large nut so when it was placed over the center pole, it rotates independent of the spokes.

Making the swings was purely a hit-and-miss adventure... I thought I could fit 10 swings in, one on each spoke. So what did I do? Yep. I made ten seats. I punched out twenty "arms" (again, a Martha Stewart punch, folded in half to double it up). I counted out 80 rivets - 8 per seat to secure the chains. I designed the seats and cut out 10 of each, scoring and punching the backs for a decorative touch. I counted out 60 jump rings to attach the chains to the chairs and the spokes.

A production line was created at every step...  brads were painted and inked. Thirty gears were chosen to decorate the back of each swing and some needed to be painted and inked in black and silver. Pieces were lined up for assembly. I even made ten padded seats for each one... a piece of cardboard covered with fiberfill and cloth, glued together and two brads poked through for an upholstered look.

And then as I hung the first two swings it finally occurred to me...

It was way too cramped and I could only use half of them! Aw Crap!

Oh well, I placed the swings on every other spoke and added some lanterns onto the others.

Filigreed bead caps were glued to the spoke ends to finish them off.

Then I had to decide what the heck to do with the base. I had visions of either covering the three "legs" with cloth, or cardboard... but then I simply cut two pieces of chipboard in half circles, covered them with the silver foil tape, used my piercing tool to create pilot holes and inserted black brads for rivets. I used my Cuttlebug and Spellbinders die to create the center design around the pole. I also used the bottom half of the black cardstock decor I placed on the top for a fence of sorts around the base. I also finished off the edge of the base with more silver chain, just like the top.

Three black cats (okay they weren't black before I painted them and added Gold Stickles for eyes that glow when photographed) stand guard on the base. Oh and I added a pair of wings to the center pole too... matching it up with the Steampunk Airship.

That was a fun transformation!

So I guess that's it for now... until I figure out what to add next.

Well, at least I have five seats ready and waiting. :P