Monday, March 03, 2008

crafty time

Thanks to all of you who have signed up for the Obama T-shirt making rally! There's still plenty of time to sign up if you want to get in on the crafty action and win some prizes!

rally participants thus far:
PeaceNic
Kate Digs
UrbanHippieMama
Bugheart
Bizillie
Amisha

You can also join the Crafters4Obama Flickr group without doing the T-shirt rally, and share whatever you're making. There are already some amazing campaign-inspired crafts in the photo pool. I'm in love with this and this. And check out this beautiful "Key to Change" bag from Stitch Poet. *swoon!* Kate's right -- I think all these things will be historical folk art one day in the not-too-distant future.

On Saturday we had a crafty day at our house. Kate and Ileana came over. Ileana was making subversive cross-stitch, and Kate was making her rad Obama T-shirt. She also started an embroidery project which is going to be incredible. I won't spoil any surprises, though. All in all, it was a lovely afternoon of fun with two very creative ladies, capped off later with greasy Mexican food. yum.

I made another recycled plastic bag. This one's a prize for someone who not only needs a Pay it Forward gift, but is also a rabid Obama fan:

O HOPE 08 recycled bag 1
carry your groceries with HOPE in 08

Here's what I learned about using the iron to fuse plastic bags: Thicker, department store-type bags lay nice and flat and keep their shape fairly well when you fuse them together. Flimsy grocery bags fuse well too, and make a nice strong finished product, but they shrink unpredictably and you wind up with a weird, warped funky shape when you're done fusing. So I'm not going to use them again (if I ever get the urge to fuse plastic bags again, which honestly may not happen, at least not for a long time). Although I really like the finished product, I dislike plastic too inherently to really enjoy these projects all that much.

On Saturday I also started a T-shirt, but bedazzling and sequins are rather time-consuming, so I think it will be a little while before it's done and I can share a picture. I'm very excited about it, though. It's going to be the blingiest thing I own for sure, except for the name-necklace my parents gave me for 8th grade graduation, which I have never worn and for which my mom still chides me occasionally ("I don't understand why you won't wear that beautiful necklace," etc). I just can't bring myself to wear it, even ironically.

And one last thing: I must say about the Bedazzler, it's a pain in the a$$, but I LOVE IT. There are many more sparkly crafts in my near future. Can you imagine blingy sock monsters???? I sure can. Maybe I should start making sparkly name-necklaces for the sock monsters? Hm... something to ponder.

8 comments:

  1. Okay- Love the link to the knit key to change bag! I also adore your target/hope bag- I think you should make some to sell for those of us too lazy to get out the iron and sewing machine! Hint Hint!!

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  2. Just finished my screenprint template for the Obama T!!! I'm pretty damn excited!

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  3. Count me in! I'm taking a break from making calls to Ohio tonight! Gobama!

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  4. ooh, a crafty night with the ladies sounds like so much fun...

    and i LOVE your bedazzled sock monster idea!

    i can't wait to start on my shirts. i am making a list of slogans i want to use... just have to get some time to myself!

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  5. uhoh... step away from the bedazzler! kidding! man, if this lil ol town I live in wasn't so rabidly republican, and I wasn't the editor of the paper, I too would sing my love for obama from the top of the mountian, if it wasn't compeletly flat in the midwest... saving a AWESOME photo for the day he wins president...

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  6. yes yes yes! sparkly name necklaces for the sock monsters would be awesome :) xox

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  7. I love my Obama Hope bag! It's beeeutiful.

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  8. oh my goodness! you will be my personal goddess if you bedazzle a socken monster!!!

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