Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Iron Craft #38- Black and White

This week for Iron Craft we were challenged to make something in Black and White. Great I thought. Right up my alley. I knew right away what I wanted to make. It needed to be something quick as I have a super busy week and I had the perfect project. I had seen this little zipper pouch for scissors a few months ago and thought what a great idea.

I have a bunch of little scissors and usually carry one in my knitting stuff. A lot of the time I have a project in a plastic bag and those scissor points can do a number on the bag. This is what I came up with.

Black and White

I added a dash of color but love the end results.

Black and White

 I already have tweaks I want to do on a second one for a bigger pair of scissors.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Challenge #37 Shrink to Fit

This week on Iron Craft we were challenged to make something in miniature. Thing 2 and I both did not come up with anything. For me, a busy week and no idea got in the way. That and a new puppy. But, Thing 1 was up for the challenge. Actually, on almost any given day I can go in his room and find something made in mini form. As I have said before, he loves clay. He amazes me with what he makes.

Shrink to Fit

This week he came up with a mini- apache helicopter. I love the detail that he has in this.

 Shrink to Fit

And he did it with out looking at anything. Way to go Max!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Project Project Runway #6- The Art of the Matter

The challenge this week was to pair with a young artist to use a work of art that they created as your inspiration. My work of art is a piece that we have hanging in my son's bedroom that he made with oil pastels 6 years ago when he was 6 years old. In his art class they were studying Andy Warhol.  I took inspiration in the colors and the idea of flight.

 PPR #6- The Art of the Matter

 I had a really hard time with this challenge this week. I think partly because I am so the opposite of avant garde that even the thought of it makes me stress out. I decided that I really wanted to make a dress using the colors of the picture as my basis. I started thinking about vintage flight attendants and what they wore. How things have changed. I knew I wanted to try and make a hat to go with the look.

 PPR #6- The Art of the Matter

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I came out of the work room scissors flying. That is what happens when you have a sick child home on studio day. I may be missing a few darts here and stitches there but I did something. My only hope is that the judges give me a pass this week as making a hat was my something new and out there (for me at least). Here's hoping I am still on the runway next week.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Iron Craft # 36- Creative Activities

This week for Iron Craft we were challenged to make something that could be enter in the fair. The Minnesota State Fair is a big deal- it is know as the "Great Minnesota Get Together." Each summer it is held the last 10 days of summer- ending on Labor Day. School districts hold off starting school because of the fair- all the out state kids would miss because they are showing animals at the fair. We typically go to the fair each summer- my mom and dad come to visit just to go to the fair. From the fried cheese curds, pronto pups, bacon on a stick to the Giant Slide it is an event not to miss.

I have to admit though that I don't typically spend a lot of time in the Creative Activities building- it could be that the Things would rather ride the rides and eat than look at quilts. I did not realize until this challenge that there were so many more things you could enter into the fair than quilts, knitting and honey. There are 1309 to be exact. With those odds I knew we could find something for each of us to do.

I choose the tie dye and dye dipping category. Actually I decided on this after seeing the ad for Micheal's this week. They had a sale on t-shirts and they had a shirt in it that was done to look like a pumpkin. I knew I could do that myself. It was a pretty easy project.

Creative Activities- Tie dyeCreative Activities- Tie dyeIMG_4914

I took some old t-shirts I had at home, bought black and orange dye and fabric paint. The dye even comes in bottles, with rubber bands and gloves. All you do is add water. Next I decided I need to do the starburst design. To do this you basically pull the fabric up where you want to start and put a rubber band there. You continue the rest of the way down the shirt. After your shirt is tied off you squirt on the dye. Once you have the dye on you let the shirt sit for 6- 8 hours ( according to the directions)- I should have left it over night. The black could have been darker. Rinse out the shirt, wash separately and let dry. When it is dry you can decorate the face of the pumpkin.

Creative Activities- Tie dye Creative Activities- Tie dye Creative Activities- Tie dye

Thing 1 waited until the last minute to get his entry into the group this week. He chose his favorite- polymer clay. He kept telling me he was going to make something and then would find something else to do. At the last minute while talking to his dad he produced his creation- it took him less than 5 minutes to do.

Vader VS. Winged Pork
Vader VS. Winged Pork
Thing 2 had been wanting to make a clock project that he had. So when looking through the list of things at the fair I noticed clocks as a category. He also wanted to do all of his photography this week. So other than the photo of him working this project is all him.

 Creative Activities- Clock making Creative Activities- Clock making Creative Activities- Clock making Thing 2's clock

 He has a few finishing touches to do but for the most part the clock is ready to sit on his dresser.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Challenge #5- Off Track

This week on Project Runway the designers were challenged to create a look to go with Heidi's line of New Balance shoes. This look is more my thing as I am either in sneakers or sandals depending on the time of year. So off to the studio I went.

 I found this great denim fabric with some black floral print on it and had some suede in the workroom. I started out thinking long skirt but when Heidi showed up in the workroom she shook her head at me so I decided a short skirt was the way to go.

    Challenge #5- Off Track

I finished off the look with a sleeveless knit top.

  Challenge #5 Off Track

I could totally see running errands in the skirt and a pair of tennis shoes. The outfit for the mom on the go.  Hopefully the judges don't think it is too ordinary and that I make it through to the next challenge.

 The show it self was a little too much drama for me. And the run at the beginning was a little strange.