Swingin Martinis Designs

Nampa Farmer's Market

2011-07-16T14:55:00.001-06:00

Today we did some on site book binding. It got people asking questions.

And it meant I finally got the last nine prepped VHS covers ready to sell!

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

A Flea in her Ear

2011-07-15T17:42:00.001-06:00

Lately I've been preoccupied with making earrings.
Simple. Beaded. Dangley little earrings.
Here are some pictures:

They are available at the Nampa farmer's market and the half dozen other places I'll be this summer.
$5
Yeah.

Adorable.

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

Check mate!!

2011-06-11T22:18:00.001-06:00

Or checkermate.

I decided to make checker pieces out of the billion Sierra nevada bottlecaps I have stashed away.

Filled with resin.

Stay tuned for more info!!!

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

Notebooks galore!!

2011-05-29T15:08:00.001-06:00

So you may or may not know that I've been making notebooks from recycled VHS covers. Pretty ba.

I took the VHS cover, mounted it on chipboard for extra stability, bound it with assorted paper, and bam! Awesome.

I made quiet a few.

I also made some out of album covers for a friend's fundraiser.

And even made one using scrapbook paper and a festive geek-tastic sticker.

So today I am watching pretty movies and making more!

Glittery sparrows and flocked ravens.

I can't wait to get people's reactions on them!

What a fun way to take notes/make lists/draw/or write the next great American novel.

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

Crafting with kids...

2011-03-07T13:45:00.001-07:00

...is a bad idea if you don't like kids. Good thing the hubs and I Iike our nephew.
Here is out attempt and model airplanes with a six year old. Pics of the finished plane will be up soon.

Good thing he's cute.

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

The BEST Scrapbook EVER!!!!

2011-02-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

Oh man.

This Album changed my life.

I initially bought it at some Thrift Store in Boise. It had a funny cover, haha, it would make a fun Scrapbook.

No. (Well, yes...but wait, there is more!)

It came with a booklet! A booklet full of AWESOMENESS!!!!

So I included the Booklet within the scrapbook pages...

Oh man...I kind of wanna keep this...

Here are the Super BA pictures:

COME ON!!!! This Lady is AWESOME!

Front Cover

Inside Front Cover

Front Cover Close Up

Front Page of Booklet, within the scrapbook pages

Back Cover

Back Inside Cover and Last Page of Booklet

One of my Favorites!

Yes!

So there it is. I am putting it in my Etsy Shop through the tears of me and my husband. I am TOTALLY going to scour eBay to find another one!

Knives. Knives Chau. She's Chinese

2011-02-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

And I'm a geek!

Scott Pilgrim vs the World changed my life :)

It gave me proper motivation in a play I was in, and all sorts of fun.

So I thought I was going to go to ComicCon this year in San Diego, so I started thinking about costumes, and Knives was a choice!

So I had to make her EPIC Scarf!

You can't tell from the picture, but the scarf goes all the way to her feet...

So I decided to crochet one for myself:

I'm not nearly as cool as Scott pilgrim's fake high school girlfriend, but now I'm a little bit closer!

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

Flower Power 2

2011-02-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

The last post was getting kind of image heavy...so let's keep going.

I told you I've been busy.

Flower Power

2011-02-05T20:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I called it that.

Get your jokes over now...

Here are some pictures I've edited using my new editing skillz of flower I have been making. Some of them I am deconstructing and making awesomer. Some of them I just enhanced. I can't decide if I want to list them on etsy, or save them for the Nampa Farmer's Market...

Any suggestions?

The Great Resin Adventure

2011-02-05T15:50:00.001-07:00

So the hubs is a geek. He wanted to buy a chess set.

So I am a geek. And I decided I was going to sculpt him some chess pieces with the really nice sculpting tool kit I got for Christmas.

So I am a geek and decided that I was going to sculpt him the pieces from Harry Potter. You know, the HUGE chess pieces?!

Well, after doing some research, cuz I'm a geek, I got discouraged. I'm not that good.

So long story longer, I decided to use moulds, and instead of sculpey, I decided it was a good idea to learn to to pour resin.

Apparently with a cork screw and a little will power, you too can play with toxic chemicals.

I think we got a little high from the fumes.

So we poured.

David brought home these pipettes that proved incredibly helpful!

That lower hand is me giving the mould the reach-around to inhibit bubbles.

So here they are resting.

And here they are underneath.

Here are the results!

So I tried again!! I got more colors, moulds, and creativity!

Here is another pictures of the chess pieces.

So what have we learned from this experiment?

1. You can't pour enough resin for the the chess pieces. It hardens too quickly.

2. The pawn pieces and the king piece get different resin concoctions. See, resin "dries" inside out, bc the catalyst creates a chemical reaction that emits heat. The heat hardens the resin. So the bigger the piece, the less catalyst you need bc the more resin makes more heat. The smaller the piece, the more catalyst you need bc the less resin so the less chance to get hot. Did I explain that right?!?

I am still having a tackiness issue. Anyone have any suggestions? Someone mentioned rinsing them in lacquer thinner, but so far, that is just making them stickier. We'll see I'd they dry.

Today I found a mould shaped like a bracelet. I'll add pictures tomorrow!

- Posted like a ninja somewhere across the frozen tundra.

The New Generation of Swingin Martinis blogging

2011-02-04T11:53:00.001-07:00

I am coming to terms with the fact that I have an iPhone. And now that I've discovered apps beyond the twilight game and chop, chop ninja, apps that actually help you in life and with your business, I hitting it full steam! Now hopefully I can blog more often, and about better stuff, and with my new photo editing apps, with awesome pictures!
Wish me luck!!!

- Posted like a ninja, somewhere across the tundra.

Location:W Jefferson St,Boise,United States

Another Pimp New Messenger Bag!

2011-01-31T13:05:00.009-07:00

You may remember my last post about a pimp new messenger bag....

no?

ok....

Check Here then come back to us...

See...pretty cool....

But I use it a lot at work and it was starting to die....not die so much as need a make over...and it doesn't help that it got in a fight with a bottle of cocoa butter lotion and it has stains all over it...it's still a hard worker...but I was in the mood for something new!

So I made a new messenger bag!

It's huge! It has some awesome pockets! Great lining! Super sturdy! and le piece de resistance: A SEAT BELT FOR THE STRAP.

Pimp. I know.

So here are some pictures of my new work....

Yes the front isn't very flashy....I might add a few pins, but I liked it simple.

The inside pockets are lined with a grey flannel

One large pocket and two small ones in the inside.

Who added a special Water Bottle pocket!? This guy!

More of the inside.

On the front it has two large pockets.

Awesome side pocket.

Awesome other side pocket with snap!

Snap Closed. It's blurry :(

Back pocket...it blew my friend and I's mind how to do this...then we said "we built an effing Octopus! You think we'd be able to insert a pocket!?" And we did!

Back pocket all zipped up.

The Best part! The seat Belt I found on ebay! I hope to be able to get to junk yards/etc to find more of these!

Little Hook Closure for the front flap.

And that's it! I hope to be able to make more and get better at it! Next step is trying to find the pieces to make the strap adjustable!

Thanks for looking!

BAD ASS HALLOWEEN COSTUME!

2010-10-11T22:10:00.003-06:00

That is right folks! I'm giving you a sneak peak at my Halloween costume!

Mostly because I just put the three layers together and it is BAD ASS!!!

Inspired by one bad ass Disney villain! I decided after months and himming and ha-ing over what to be, I came across this picture and my mind was made up!

Now personally, the chick who plays Ursula on Broadway is WAY annoying...so much so that despite her FANTASTIC costume, I will NOT be seeing this show if I happen upon New York soonly. Yeah.

Now, I don't dick around when it comes to Halloween...have you seen my previous posts?! You should go look...

Yeah.

So I had to out do myself this year as well. And in doing that means making my own costume...not purchasing this piece of shiit that Disney pawns off as a legitimate portrayal of Ursula the m.f. sea witch!

yeah.

So I decided to enlist the help of my super talented friend Megan.

That's her being a bad ass in our production of Bye, Bye, Birdie. Yeah, I say "Megan, wanna be passed along like a hoggie!?" She says "sure!" I say "Megan, wanna let me use your mad design skillz for a pair of tentacles!?" She says "of course!" I did pay her in Salmon Fettuccine, so everybody wins.

Step one: the hoop skirt.

Don't judge. It's my first time making something like this with form, etc. I used 1/2 in plastic pipping from Home Depot.

Yep, David got in on the Action too!

So here is my sad attempt at a hoop skirt:

I know...I know...I had a pattern too...eek...good thing it goes underneath! I had to make some stuff up as I wasn't using boning...that shiv is not strong enough to hold up my tentacles...

Don't judge me.

Step two: The over skirt (which will go under my tentacles).

It is made from this super awesome sheer material that when you look at it one way, it's blue, and when you look at it another way, it's green! Way bad ass. Don't tell David, by my initial plan was to have the skirt made from blue cotton...easily a $10 skirt...this cost a little bit more...but bad ass Halloween fabric at 60% off was calling my name...I couldn't let it down!

Step three: The Tentacles!

The tops are made from black on black somethin-or-another...some kind of Halloween fabric, also 60% off. Black fabric with glittery black flocked swirls.

The underside is a purple suede like polyester. The plan is to have wires in them so they curl up and around. Suction cups too...what kind of octopus doesn't have suckers?!

Still missing is the bad ass webbing between each tentacle...it's this sheer material that when you look at it one way, it's green, and when you look at it another way, it's purple! Yeah...Megan picked it out...and is also why blue cotton wasn't going to fly as the underskirt...it just wasn't awesome enough to match the webbing!

The whole tentacle skirt has a zipper up the back and is stuffed with three huge bags of polyfiberfil. Eventually there will be a waistband, but I have to get the wires in first...which David said he'd help on....but he's asleep on the couch right now. I might need to make more Fettuccine for Megan!

On top I will not be wearing my teal hoodie, but rather the bad ass corset that NancieNan made me for my Halloween costume last year. I also took some sculpey and made a sea shell necklace like the one Ursula keeps Ariel's voice in....bad ass!

I still don't know how to do my hair. I have closing night of my show, so I don't get a whole lot of time...not too worried...no one is going to be looking at my hair...

So there you have it folks! You don't have to be a drag queen to be Ursula for Halloween. despite what google images tells you!

PS: Can someone please tell me why when you search "Disney Ursula" I got a bunch of Mermaid porn depicting Ursula with legs and one tentacle? Use your imagination...or search for it yourself...weirdo.

So keep yourself tuned in to see this bad ass costume come to life!!

I am so stoked right now!

I got inspired by someone else's blog!

2010-09-05T13:13:00.008-06:00

http://newdressaday.wordpress.com/

This chick rules my world!

Read her blog!

She buys ghettotastic gear from thrift stores around Hollywood (rough life shopping in Hollywood) and turns them in to totally wearable goods!

I got inspired!

I went to the Church Thrift Store by my work the other day during my lunch break trying to find a Scrabble Game, a rotary phone, and a sheet to use as the back of my pirate quilt...I found none of those things but did find this:

A night shirt.

PS, it had longer sleeves...I forgot to take a picture before I got scissor happy.

I don't know if you know this about Swingin Martinis Designs, but we love vintage night things...I want bed jackets to make a come back a light summer jackets...I'm the only one who thinks this apparently...

Look at the cool embroidery around the top! This screams "show me to the world" and not "wear this kick ass top under your covers at night and sleep." So I am making the appropriate changes!

Anyway, I shortened the sleeves and took that extra material and added it to the bottom so I'd have a couple more inches of length...it was just "that much" too short to wear without feeling like I was in a 90s midriff flashback.

I added elastic to the sleeves which was supposed to make them a bit puffier, but I guess I don't know what I'm doing because they are not puffier...I maybe shouldn't have added the elastic right to the edge...I also maybe should have made the elastic bigger to fit over my "buff" (some say fat) arms...and maybe, just maybe, there isn't enough fabric on the sleeves to accomplish that. Weird.

Speaking of Weird, I think someone wore this when they wanted to start a business....maybe a business woman of the night? Or someone's initials....because I'm constantly worried about someone stealing my pjs...or when I leave them on someone's floor, I want them to be promptly returned....maybe she should have added her phone number or email address...so there goes me wearing the top button unbuttoned like a hoe ever....damn. I guess I'll have to save that for the next night shirt that I craft in to wearable clothing!

So that's it for my first "reconstruction" of a $1 Thrift Store find! I hope that there are more in the future, although the Hubs does not....he said I have too many clothes to begin with....he just doesn't know...

An Update

2010-05-11T14:23:00.002-06:00

I haven't written on here in a while...I guess that's good?

I have been pretty busy. I have been active in the alchemy world of etsy (which, if you aren't aware of the alchemy page, it's pretty sweet - people post what they would like made and people place bids on making that item...I get most of my business this way...)

I even got a job making a chick a skirt...I haven't really made clothes for other people with any success, so we'll see what she thinks!

I also got a sale from Twitter finally...I joined Twitter thanks to my friend Aimee (beachchicken.etsy.com) and really only used it to communicate with my friend Carly...but one day some chick needed a skirt, I said that I could help her and awesome-o, I got a sale!

I haven't done First Thursday in a while, but not because of a lack of interest, but more a lack of time! After I finished the production Nunsense, I started working back stage on Move Over, Mrs. Markham. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment...the show is hilarious, go see it, but apparently I don't like hanging out with my hubby or my dogs.

I have tried some new crafting techniques - like shirring...wow, what an adventure that turned out to be (stay tuned for pictures and more info).

I also made a pretty awesome dress for my cousin's wedding that I'll write about soon.

So I've been busy, but also have been wishing I had more time to make some stuff for upcoming events (my shop, First Thursday, and Hyde Park in September).

So even though my calendar is booked, hopefully I can bust out one new item a week (my new goal for June, which might just be a pipe dream.)

Wish me luck, bring me treats, or come by and help!

Craftster challange!

2010-04-05T13:13:00.001-06:00

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=343481.0

I can't wait to do this challange!

I have been waiting for one that I could actually come up with something creative for!

I'll post pictures as soon as I create something!

More pics when I'm finished!

2010-03-28T18:57:00.004-06:00

My New Skill!

2010-03-23T09:21:00.003-06:00

Yes Folks, you already maybe knew that I dabbled in the crocheting arts, but my super cool sister in law bought my a super cool book, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet - The Happy Hooker, and this is the first thing I've learned from it!

Effe Yeah!

Pst - it's a potholder...made from 100% Cotton Yarn. I make two of these squares per pot holder so super protect your hands from the Hot Shit you're pulling from your oven...

I'll post more pics when I'm finished!

2010-03-22T13:51:00.002-06:00

http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/2010/03/freaky-friday-tea-rose-home.html

This is just way too cute! I just started figuring out how to make wrist cuffs, including fun shirt sleeve wrist cuffs (pictures soonly).

2010-03-22T13:48:00.001-06:00

http://kari-youcanmakeit.blogspot.com/2010/03/drum-light-tutorial-with-flowers.html

I need these...bad!

Effe Yeah!

2010-03-22T13:44:00.002-06:00

http://treyandlucy.blogspot.com/2010/03/button-earings-oh-baby.html

I need these on my walls...

2010-03-22T13:01:00.003-06:00

But not of eggs...maybe cross stitched skulls or something :)

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2010/03/tutorial-appliqueing-with-used-dryer.html

Fun Activity

2010-03-22T12:24:00.005-06:00

http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2009/11/tutorial-spraypainted-wheat-pillows.html

So I am a part of about a million different Crafty groups from Facebook and Twitter and they always post tutorials and other fun ideas. I decided to share them with you all. I usually keep the page open, forgetting to bookmark it, then the hubby closes the 10 tabs I have open, forever losing the awesome projects I'd like to try...So if I post them here...then maybe I'll actually get around to doing it!

So the link above is for Spray Painted Pillows...pretty cool if you ask me...I think my house needs more fun stuff in it...like throw pillows...

I'll post pictures as soon as I make some...but send me links to pictures of spray painted pillows YOU'VE made!!

Here is another one from the same blog!
http://www.vanessachristenson.com/2010/03/guest-tutorial-blogger-dana-of-made.html

Way too cute!

I have a new skill!

2010-02-21T13:51:00.004-07:00

I decided in my recent flower purchasing adventures that I LOVE Ranunculus'!

I love them in my hair, I love them in the ground, I love them all over.

Anyway, I found a really cool site (which of course I can't find again) that gave a tutorial on how to make organza flowers and suggested plain circle petals to make the flower more reminiscent of Ranunculus'.

Here is what I cam up with!

I put one on a hair clip, and one on a pin back...

Thank you District Nine for being unengaging because this is what I decided to do instead of pay attention to you and your South African Aliens...

Surrounded

2010-02-19T18:06:00.003-07:00

I never noticed how much I am surrounded by the stuff I have made until this afternoon. After I finished my super awesome new bag (http://swinginmartinisdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/02/pimp-ass-new-messenger-bag.html)

and then started putting my things into it...

my wallet

my camera bag

my make up bag

and

my pencil holder

I made all of those things!

I was also wearing a skirt I made and a headband I made...wow!

Now if I could only get my ass in gear to make things people want to buy and get them on etsy!

Aria Gets Cool Gifts for her Birthday!

2010-02-19T17:10:00.004-07:00

Our oldest Niece, Aria, turned three this last week and I LOVE making girl clothes...I need to get better at boy clothes or the twins and Roegon will feel left out...

I made her a coat and a dress:

I used Simplicity Pattern #2745 for this super cute twirly coat!

I seriously want one of these for me! I love this fleece! I need to find more of it!

This might be the cutest dress ever! I used Simplicity Pattern #3588 (thank you 5 for $5 sale!)

I added piping to the front piece...you can't tell, but the neck/collar piece continues down the front and is sewn down all the way around...

I put tiny little bows on the sleeves...fyi - it's totally hard to tie a tiny bow...

She doesn't quite fit into it yet...one of these days I'm going to learn how to make things actually fit people!

Christmas Presents - Better Late Than Never

2010-02-19T16:40:00.005-07:00

So once again, I decided to make a bunch of stuff for Christmas...here is some of the bounty I made!

A Super Hero Cape for our Nephew Roegon...we wrote and illustrated him a book in which he is Super Roegon, so of course he needed a cape to go with it!

Using Simplicity Pattern #9784 I made our new Niece Isabel this Pink Dress with a super cool Cinderella pinafore! This fabric I got from a woman in Australia as a sample...I got it in hot pink and blue...it's from Japan and super soft cotton...I don't really see what playing cards have to do with Cinderella, but it's cute so I keep my mouth shut...kind of...

Oh yeah, she got some bloomers too!
One day she might even be able to wear it...Aunt Shannonegans makes things too big...

The new twins, Reuben and Denny, get matching fleece sweaters...you can't really tell, but the hates are vintage inspired football hats...I used Simplicity Pattern #2523.

I used brown ribbon for the detailing and letterman jacket letters for the "H" (for "Herzbrun", their last name).

They look way adorable in them!

They aren't very good models...and they kind of look like Jedis...but still super cute! It's nice to know they wear them!

Pimp Ass New Messenger Bag!

2010-02-19T16:06:00.003-07:00

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=182863.0

Thank you!

I have been trying to make a messenger bag for a while...my first attempt ended up being HUGE and went to the sister in law as a diaper bag...

Well, I actually red the tutorial this time and behold!!! :

So I used an old black sheet I had... and a lot of heavy heavy interfacing.

The image I LOVE and printed it on this really awesome "Photo Fabric" that I got from the fabric store...it's kind of pricey, but it's well worth it (especially with a 40% off coupon!)

I just put my image in a word document and printed...you wait for it to "dry", then rise it out, then iron it and Viola!!!

I have a whole slew of funny pictures I want to make into messenger bags! I am sure I can convince the hubby that I need 18 messenger bags...

I MADE A COSTUME!!

2009-11-06T13:05:00.002-07:00

Yay Haley for trusting me to make her Halloween costume! I did more work on hers than I did my own...

Skirt

Petticoat

Bloomers

Vest

Puffy Shirt

Rock on!

It looks legit!

I made another one, but this time I need your help!

2009-10-22T14:32:00.002-06:00

So I made another chalk board roll up...but I don't really know what to call it officially nor do I know what to charge for one of these super awesome little goodies.

I need your help people...

Input!

Do you like it?

Do you not like it?

Pour Quoi?

Merci!

I'm pretty sure I needed ANOTHER new skirt.

2009-10-20T16:19:00.001-06:00

I got excited that I have a new pattern to over use!

My grandma was in town and she bought me this super awesome lace, so I thought I better get crackin'!

It's red satin with black lace over.

Rock on.

Shorty needs a new skirt!

2009-10-13T17:29:00.003-06:00

Once Upon a Time...

I found a super pimp zebra print skirt at a store in So. Cal.

Yeah, well I don't buy anything that's $50...so I decided to make myself one.

The hard part - Finding the right fabric. Not cotton, not faux fur...hmmmm...

So "thank you" Halloween because I found the fabric at the fabric store in the costume fabric section!

It's some sort of stretchy suede!

Problem number two - the pattern.

In order to fit properly around my booty, I needed a bigger size than appropriate for my height.

Apparently I have the a** of someone 8 inches taller than me.

Behold!

Now, Presto, Chango!

(Ruth wanted to get in on the picture taking fun.)

more ways to stay warm

2009-10-13T14:00:00.003-06:00

I made two more sets of wrist warmers!

The heart and skull one on the left is made from a knit material and fits a little more loosely.

The grey and pink one on the right is made from sweatshirt material and is fuzzy and warm on the inside!

I can't wait to rock these out of the house!

It's 46 degrees today

2009-10-01T10:12:00.002-06:00

They are awesome, they are fleece, and they are available at Boise's First Thursday downtown, 6th and Main.

I'll get a pair on etsy soon!

Santa Baby

2009-09-23T16:47:00.003-06:00

My awesome new apron! Soon to be seen on etsy and if etsy knows what's good for it, it won't be seen at my next craft show.

100% cotton, two layers, rick rack on the bottom layer, pocket, extra long straps!

The most pirate-y, rockin-est, Christmas apron you will ever see, don't try to deny it.

The Mad Hatter

2009-09-23T10:01:00.003-06:00

It's just a tiny little top hat, from the doll section of the craft store, but it's part of my super awesome Halloween Costume! Thank you Nancie Nan for giving me those plastic gems a million years ago when you first moved.

I am so excited!

The Great Shrinky Dink Adventure!

2009-09-22T15:24:00.005-06:00

Yes, I bought some Shrinky Dinks. I learned from several pretty cool chicks this weekend just how awesome they are and what cool stuff you can do with them!

Aimee from Beach Chicken puts them on the ends of her necklaces. I decided to see for myself!

Now I have cool Jewelry Tags!

The never ending hardcore quest...

2009-09-22T15:02:00.002-06:00

I made a necklace.

Maybe it's just my mood, or my more radical turn to the dark side lately...but this necklace reminds me of the Secret of Nihm and all sorts of Goth goodness.

Enjoy.

Grabbed her by the wrist and...

2009-09-21T16:06:00.003-06:00

Yes, I like to think on some days that I am super hardcore. Super.

So I made these black terry cloth wrist cuffs. They close with black pearl snaps and have a star sewn on...white, silver, blue and red stars are available...hey, if anyone can find black stars, send me the link!

You too can be as awesome as Shannon by ordering a pair! Email me for more info!

My AWESOME new ring!

2009-09-21T10:12:00.003-06:00

Daisy K Designs

She totally rocks! Not only is she way nice...but she made this really awesome ring that I couldn't live without. I don't know if you know this about Miss Shannonegans, but she doesn't wear jewelry...not often anyway...so buying this huge ring is a step toward fashion accessory-ability.

She said the image is a picture of turquoise close up, but it really reminds me of the wizard of oz and the Wicked Witch! It matches perfectly with the color theme I am going for for my Halloween Costume, which is going to be a secret :)

(PS, I'm not a hand model)

So go check out her shop and buy stuff!

Hyde Park Street Fair

2009-09-21T09:55:00.004-06:00

I didn't know anything about this crazy hippie adventure, but a spot opened up in my Etsy teams booth and I got to sell at the Hyde Park Street Fair.

It was NUTS! Tons of vendors and food and I really got to know some of my team members! Hattie Jane is going to help me with my Halloween costume...Amy helped me with some really great ideas! And I can't mention everyone, but they are all really great!

Swingin Martinis Designs did pretty well for it being her first real event!

Rock on! More events to come in the future! Christmas time is coming, Christmas time is coming!

A New Design!

2009-09-16T16:05:00.004-06:00

But I don't know what to call it!

It's a really awesome toy for kids! It's a roll up chalk board!

I found some chalk board fabric, which is essentially black matte vinyl. Add some chalk and a piece of fleece and your kids imagination can go anywhere!

So help a lady out...what should I call it?

And we have a winner!

2009-09-16T15:00:00.004-06:00

Recently I made a purse for the Chico Cabaret and their Unconventional Convention Fundraiser. Since back in the day I played Columbia, and the two chicks who have proceeded me are awesome...I decided to make us all purses, plus one for the fundraiser...whoever won gets to be a part of the columbia club...now I haven't made our purses yet because I'm a bad person, but the one for the fundraiser went to a good home!

Apparently her name is Shannon :)

The Hardest Thing I've Ever Made. Ever.

2009-09-10T15:47:00.003-06:00

Please ignore the unbrushed hair and the messy room.

Kimmy's Sequined Tail Coat for Rocky this year at the Chico Cabaret.

Of course we were making a lined jacket and of course I didn't have a pattern for a lined jacket.

Of course I waited until the last minute.

Of course it took me Three whole days.

Of course it is just a costume, but I hope she loves it and I hope to Goodness Gracious that it fits!

Heads are gonna roll!

2009-09-08T09:52:00.005-06:00

Here are some of my new necklaces that I've listed!

I even tried a new picture taking technique...do you like it?

All Available right now on Etsy!

Tristan and his Tricked out Apron!

2009-08-27T09:40:00.006-06:00

This is Tristan! He's 8 and wants to be a pastry chef when he grows up.

His super cool mom ordered this apron for him! Yeah yeah yeah, it's a little big, but he'll grow!

Hopefully when he's famous on the food network he'll remember the little folks that got him there :) Swingin Martinis Designs was there in the beginning to protect his clothes from the ravages of frosting!

Bella and her Britches

2009-08-27T08:54:00.003-06:00

Here is my friend Chelsi's super cute daughter named Bella. She needed some bloomers to go with her pretty brown dress...a very magical dress indeed...ask me about it sometime.

Bella also needed cute flowers for her hair:

Rock on Bella! Thanks for struttin' your Swingin Martinis Designs goods!

New stuff to add to etsy!

2009-08-20T10:49:00.005-06:00

Just some fun stuff to look at! I plan on putting it all on etsy next week when I'm not busy thinking about baby showers and aprons and choreography! Oh my!

More new projects!

2009-08-20T10:34:00.004-06:00

A custom camera case to Australia!

She found this image and wanted it incorporated...so I did some make shift embroidery and it turned out pretty cool!

This is a fun make up brush roll from another custom request on etsy!

She was really nice and let me try my make shift embroidery on a name patch she wanted on there...

It turned out pretty cool!

This is an awful picture of some cherry potholders I made! I have three more sets of potholders on the back burner waiting to be made...no pun intended :)

And a really awesome chickadee ordered this stylish make up bag! I'm kind of jealous and what one myself!

A heap of aprons!

2009-08-20T10:18:00.003-06:00

We have two matching kid aprons for some cousins...yeah, I think they're cousins...

I bought this fun fabric MONTHS ago for kitchen curtains, but it didn't match our kitchen...I hear that the kids love them...so that's nice! They are just 100% cotton, bias tape and D rings for an adjustable neck strap!

We have another kid apron...I think I'm making them too big though...that was a custom request on Etsy. Thankfully the mom is a little punk and she appreciates black for this basic, sturdy, 100% cotton apron. I got the mixer fabric online a while ago (see other post) and got to use it for a fun pocket!

This apron is another Etsy custom request, but all the way from Australia! It's waterproof too! I found this really awesome iron on vinyl! I made some coasters out of it once and have not had a problem, and outdoor place mats for my Grandma...
I just took a cotton fabric that she picked out online, ironed on the vinyl, added some bias tape and Voila!
This is for a woman who just got into Lapidary. I hope this works for her!

Go and say nice things about me!

2009-08-20T09:31:00.004-06:00

http://contributors.marthastewartweddings.com/portal/contestGallery/wedding-crafts

I entered a contest where they pick the dyi wedding craft they like the most and it will be featured on Martha Stewart's wedding website as well as an etsy blog and maybe, just maybe, Martha herself will be so enthralled by my amateur sculpting skills to feature it on a segment in her show!

So go to the link above and say nice things and view it a million times and help your Swingin' Chickadee out!

Puppies

2009-08-14T11:57:00.005-06:00

This is what the Puppies do when mom is sewing and dad is at Beer Fest:

It's really rough for them.

I won't mention the french fries they got into right before this.

My First Crafty Event!

2009-08-13T08:38:00.010-06:00

My first crafty selling event!

I joined an Etsy group, Idaho Indie Works, and they have a venue for Downtown Boise's First Thursday market and wine tasting! And after being a member for only a week or two, the let me join in on the festivites!

Look at all the goodies I had to sell!

It was so much fun! I got visited by a bunch of my friends and family and it was really nice to have so much support for something I've only been doing for about a year!

The prep was out of control though!

I took the day off of work!

I even got the hubby in on the action!

He also did the pin striping on my necklace board!

Here is the necklace board with necklaces on it :)

I got an old fram at the Thrift Store, painted it black, of course, then where the matting and glass usually goes I took a piece of foam board, covered it in some awesome fabric, and VOILA! Add some push pins and the hubby's sweet art skills...

He even cleverly rigged it to stand up by itself!

And look at the awesome new make up brush roll I made!

I was so proud of this until I melted it trying to get my label on :(

Long Story.

But it was such an adventure! Now I have all of the materials I need for more selling events! I am scheduled to do September and October's First Thursday events, the Bike race thing October 2nd-4th in Sun Valley in cooperation with Krazy Dog Catering, plus several Holiday Bazaars around the valley!

I hope to see you all out and about and come say hi!

The Display

2009-08-01T09:22:00.002-06:00

The sign! Glorious! I took some old Vinyl that my father in law has been pushing on us for months :) and added some sparkly vinyl letters - thank you Kesley from the A.S. Bookstore on teaching me how to print out cool fonts from my computer then cut the letters out form those "stencils".

Good thing my dyslexia only goes so far - last night, before the glue dried thankfully, I was "Swingin Martinis Desings." I don't plan on doing any Singing at these craft events.

And the hubs really pulled through this week! Thanks to Miss Courageous, I was given the idea to use a coat rack to display my purses (how to display them was actually starting to worry me). So I mentioned that to David, who mentioned it to his dad, the finder of all weird crap people may need, and TA DA!! Within an hour they found me a gem! It was brass and rusted with price tag sticker goo forever glued to it...but three cans of matte black spray paint and look at my new awesome purse rack!

Thanks hubby!

Still a productive night!

2009-07-26T19:32:00.004-06:00

My Photo Memory Board!

Black Satin, red star ribbon, red plastic buttons, lots of hot glue and a burned finger...

What a night!

What a productive afternoon!

2009-07-26T17:34:00.005-06:00

So I bought an old hard make up case from a garage sale a while back. I never really used it for anything and it really wasn't in that great of shape - so I spruced it up with a coat of black spray paint...

And a hip new lining!

White browsing the Internet one day, I found an article on how to make a vinyl record bowl...So the hubby was sorting through our record collection and found one that was never going to play because of all the scratches...I got to try something new today and it worked out great!

Oo Baby Baby...Oo Baby Baby

2009-07-25T00:13:00.005-06:00

Name that tune...GO!

Ok, I don't know if you know this about Shannons - but they aren't really "into" babies...so the fact that three babies are going to burst into my auntie life is kind of extreme...

So I have my first baby shower ever tomorrow - what do you do at a baby shower? I hope it's not crumpets and talk of placentas...but I digress.

Here is my feeble attempt at making something appropriate for Isabell (Isabel, Isabelle...who knows), my second niece to be born to the hubby's brother and his wife...

Yes, I understand that a pillow is a sorry excuse for a baby model...but it's past midnight, and I don't think any of you out there are really going to lend me your child for two little pictures...exactly.

So if any of you have babies due in your life and would like to bestow them with this festive hooded bath towel, send me a line! There is also a ducky possibility and a couple of secret posibilities for the other sister-in-law...muahhahahaha!!!

PS - if you are lucky enough to know me in person, please note that I still have three years until I have to think about children...but note even further that I want skulls, booze, and black at my baby shower...

Etsy Treasury

2009-07-23T08:08:00.002-06:00

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=72360

So Etsy has this thing where you can make a collection of items - you can just pick items, you can pick related items, things that are all the same color, etc...well a nice person on etsy decided to make a Coca-cola treasury and added my Coca-cola bottle cap hair clips!
Thank you SchneiderGallery, Thank you!

The Tote Bag

2009-07-22T22:40:00.005-06:00

This is the new tote bag I made for my awesome friend Jennifer. She actually designed her own large purse, and it was SO cool that I put it on Etsy and a nice woman traded me cool buttons for one (see post)

I learned to fix the pockets on the outside...but it has bright orange lining and is super cool!

So If you would like one of these super awesome large totes, they are $30 and are great for luggin' around your goods, farmer's market finds, the beach, sneaking candy into movies, and as Tiffany figured out - it's good for Kitties too :)

Another happy customer!

2009-07-21T08:13:00.001-06:00

YAY!!!

http://moon-doggie.blogspot.com/2009/07/swingin-martinis.html

Rock on!

Aprons!

2009-07-20T09:48:00.005-06:00

So until I can get pictures from people I have made aprons for - here are some of the cool ones I have made!

This is one of the first ones I made form a pattern I found online. The pieces were kind of wonky...and I ended up finding the real pattern at the fabric store...but cool nonetheless!

This is the same pattern that I made for Vanessa, I just added some pockets...this is one I used from the pattern online - see how the pieces don't all match!?

This is fun fabric I found in the clearance section at the fabric store and I have no idea why! It's so cute!!! I made this from that same online pattern, but I only made a half apron from it...I ended up giving it to my sister in law - she likes aprons - but I'm jealous that I don't have it any more...

I also made this for my sister in law - jealous again that I didn't keep it :)

This is ANOTHER apron from that online pattern, but I actually used the real pattern instead...I found this beater fabric and it is just too awesome! I piped each petal - which was a pain in my arse, but it looks great! No one bought it on etsy, so I might just keep this one...

Coming soon are pictures of the Dia de las Muertas apron I made plus a few other retro awesome ones!

Another nod from a happy customer!

2009-07-20T08:57:00.003-06:00

http://thephoenixfalls.wordpress.com/2009/07/02/swingin-martinis-designs/

Thanks Vanessa!

Here are the fun things I made her:

ELEVEN NEW ITEMS!!! Can you believe it!?

2009-07-19T16:08:00.005-06:00

I was a busy panda this weekend! I finally got my alligator clips in the mail from "someone in China" and busted out my new flower hair clips!

Plus, I was able to list all of my foam hair flowers, which I just love, and even during my dance class this week, the kids kept asking about them!

I also finally posted the purse from my awesome new fabric from Japan by way of Australia!

And I made myself a new messenger bag - pictures to come soon!

A Purse for Shannons

2009-07-14T18:57:00.005-06:00

So you all remember my post about Ruthie's new Collar? Well, I had some of the belt left over and decided, "Waste not, want not."

I used some black crepe back satin for the outside and the lining, and a black plastic snap for the closure.

My Machine sewed through the leather belt much more easily than I anticipated. I might make more of these!

The Strap is pretty kick ass if you ask me!

Email me for more info on purchasing one of these bad boys! I don't know if I'm putting it on etsy yet...

Beautiful New Fabric!

2009-07-14T17:03:00.005-06:00

Once Upon a Time, I found the site Repro Depot, thanks Mary Daguerre for the suggestion. I found super pimp Alice in Wonderland fabric, that, of course, just happened to be $15/yd. Let me Put this in prospective - I usually buy fabric that is $9/yard...and that's spendy.

So I show my dear friends this fabric, and we all go in on it...

We each paid our five bucks plus shipping, and I made us these matching purses...it was a complete coincidence that we were carrying them on the same night, a year later.

So I am browsing around etsy and find the COOLEST dress made out of that fabric - but she's charging $100 bucks for it! Well crap on that! Until I realized it probably cost her almost a hundred to make it!

Why is this fabric so expensive you ask? It's imported for Japan...it's luxurious! It's the nicest cotton I've ever hung out with.

So this chick lives in Australia and said she would sell me the rest of hers, plus some other stuff she got...how much is "at cost" in Australia!? $5/yard! OUT OF CONTROL!!! She sold me these three prints and I can't wait to do something super awesome with them! A dress? A purse? te he!

I will admit that I don't quite understand why the Cinderella fabric has card suits on them...but it's pretty so I don't care!

USPS and you!

2009-07-14T16:59:00.003-06:00

I would like to share with you the glory of the United States Postal Service.

I would like you all to notice what our postal carrier wrote in the upper right hand corner of this delivery notice.

I'm sorry my scanner is being a tool right now and cutting off the "a" from "China", but yes, I ordered something from China, and instead of putting a name there, as usual for domestic packages, they wrote "someone in China."

Brilliant.

Being Crafty with our New Addition!

2009-07-09T21:43:00.003-06:00

Meet Ruthie the Dog. She is a two year old Great Dane. We got her from a very nice family in Nampa. Yes, even she was subjected to my craftiness!

Are you from one of these states?

2009-07-08T21:23:00.004-06:00

Are you from one of the Pink States? Then Congratulations! You live in a state awesome enough to have people carrying/wearing my creations!

Are you from one of the empty states? Then you get 10% off so that I can color your state in!

Let's fill this map!

Oh yeah, Belgium and the UK rocks and have people rockin' my goods...other countries are encouraged to participate too :)

Another Weekend of a thousand purses!

2009-07-08T20:22:00.005-06:00

I had a glorious weekend, heck it's WEDNESDAY and I'm just now writing this, so it must have been GREAT!!! I made four aprons for my father in laws hot dog cart, pictures coming soon, and I also decided to make SEVEN new purses!

Enjoy!

All available on etsy!

Patterns - A bit of Inspiration

2009-07-06T19:55:00.003-06:00

So as I sit here reading my local fabric store flyer, I see the glorious Ten Patterns for Ten Dollars Sale! So of course I go down to said local fabric store and I pick out a few, or seven.

So then I start thinking, "when on EARTH am I going to have the time to make all of these things!" Let alone the dozens of patterns I have purchased in the past...and let's not forget the wealth of patterns/tutorials/etc they have on the Internet! What is a girl to do?!

So in a moment for brilliance at work today, I came up with the idea of scanning all of my pattern envelopes and making a slide show out of all of them for my viewing public!

For example, I have four to five different apron patterns. If someone wanted an apron, they could look at my slide show and see what I have at my immediate disposal. Nice, right!? Well, what if I offered to make someone a birthday gift, but they didn't want something necessarily from my etsy store? Then they have to ask, "What all can you make?" Well I can't really tell them EVERYTHING I've made...it would be hasslesome :) and tedious. What a great way to get some inspiration if they had something to look at!

So I spent most of my night scanning pattern envelopes instead of taking pictures of my new awesome purses...nerd, right?

So On this blog, near the slide show of my fabric, you can see the slide show of my patterns! And tell me what you think of it - we tried getting a little creative...tell me if it's lame or not...thanks!

Being Crafty with Johnny the Dog

2009-07-01T18:15:00.009-06:00

Yes, even Johnny, the 131 pound half black lab, half Chesapeake beast that is our now only child, is not safe from Swingin Martinis Crafty-ness! July 2nd is Mr. Johnny Cash's 3rd birthday, and he has cheap parents who would never spring for the expensive studded dog collars. But this year, Miss Shannonegans decided to one up the expensive studded dog collar circuit!

I MADE MY OWN!I bought a belt from our local wall-mart (someone gets bonus points if they can correctly tell me why I spelled walmart like that!) for a whopping $8.00 and away we went with the drill and some scissors!

Above is the belt, still in it's belt form.

This is the belt in all of it's dog collar glory!

So now you too, can have a pimp ass, punk dog who, at 131lbs, will scare the shiv out of intruders and other Ne'er-Do-Wells.

Being Crafty with Patches

2009-06-28T19:21:00.006-06:00

So before I became the crafter I am today, I used to rely on patches to show off my creative side...

remember in high school when back packs would be COVERED in patches...buttons, drawings, etc.

I found these cool sparrow patches at repro depot. Now a few years ago, Repro Depot was THE place for me to buy my fun fabric...I don't know WHAT has happened since, because now they are ridiculously overpriced (on average, $7 a HALF YARD!!). Well, back in their hey day, I got these cool patches. I decided to liven up a regular dickies style black shirt. Now it is super cool.

I love China Flats. I love my China Flats SO much that I have completely worn them out and my awesome friend Nancie, went to Chico and bought me new ones. I decided to spice them up a bit. I got these cool star patches from the local fabric store and went to town!

I got a pair of sword patches from a shop in San Clemente (actually, it is that shop with the over priced Virgin Mary Dress...the patches were completely reasonably priced...weird)...maybe I'll convince her to get me another pair and I'll dress them up with swords!

A little bit of blasphemy, a little bit of AWESOME!

2009-06-24T22:18:00.012-06:00

So remember my past post, the one that showed my virgin mary dress and the dress that inspired that dress...well let me tell you what! My Lady of Guadalupe is an inspiration to me almost everyday!

I decided that since I already made some Virgin Mary Potholders (with her in the kitchen, it won't be your last supper)...I should try something new, like a purse!

I used the same pleated purse pattern, but made it about 1/3 the size (the way the fabric is set up, the blue clouded panel I was planning on highlighting was only that big). It's approximately 7inches x 8inches.

Want to know the kicker? Somehow, in a moment of brilliance, I decided to make a rosary to go around the outside! Now I did my research with the big beads being Our Fathers and the small beads being Hail Marys and 5 sets of ten and yada yada yada...I, being Taoist, if anything, felt that I should leave the Rosary making to the professionals...besides, I didn't need mine that long. I still did hand assemble the beads with eye pins and everything!

So I don't know if I'm going to list it on etsy yet...a lot of Cherry Pepsi and a lot of Family Guy got me through the beading process...not to mention the fabric is kind of spendy...am I really going to find someone who appreciates religious kitsch enough to spend maybe $30 on such a tiny purse? Any thoughts? Any takers?

Oh yeah, I added a tiny little cross to add a special touch.

Did I mention that each of the Virgin Mary panels are super pimp! This one has flowers and clouds and gold threads. I particularly love the black panel and the red panel. Perhaps I'll make purses out of those too...matching rosaries...pretty awesome if you ask me!

Oh yeah! The Virgin is Green! Kind of. I upcycled (if you appreciate pop crafty slang). The cloudy fabric on the inside was an old pajama top that I haven't worn in YEARS!!! I don't even know why I still have them...but I'm sure glad I do because they look great as the lining! Not to mention that sexy lady in a martini glass...I bet the Virgin just loves her inside of her.

Hot.

A productive night for Swingin Martinis Designs

2009-06-22T21:13:00.010-06:00

So as I waited to pick my darling (I use the term loosely sometimes) husband up from work, I decided to visit a local bead shop nearby. Need to Bead is the shop I found and I must say the people were pretty nice and very helpful (not to mention there was a doggy sleeping in the corner, did I mention I like dogs?).

In my recent attempt to make kick ass necklaces, I have found an absence of chains available for some of the super cool charms I have found. So that was my main purpose in visiting Need to Bead. They indeed had the chains I was looking for. Their prices seemed fair enough, although I haven't done my research, so who knows what I'm smoking. I bought 17 inches of sterling silver plated brass for just over two bucks. It is the perfect host for the super pimp sparrow pendant I found.

See, pretty pimp, right!? Yeah. It'll be up on etsy in a day or so...sad for Shannonegans', but great for Swingin Martinis Designs patrons.

Now, when I saw the pewter martini glass, I just had to buy one! (or two!). Perhaps I'll even try to carry these regularly, you know, as like a namesake staple... Finding beads to match the pewter was a little tricky, but the nice sales associate was able to find these African Trade beads and they worked out great!

The same woman was even able to solve my split ring problem (that I was tearing my nails apart trying to split them to get charms through - long story short, I'm an ar-tard who had never heard of soldering them closed).

So if you are near Orchard and Emerald/Fairview in Beautiful Boise, stop by Need to Bead for all your beading needs.

And if you cared to know, this is a necklace I finished (after

giving up last night from my hour long fight with before mentioned soldered split ring). A ship steering wheel and an ancient inspired coin on a silver seed beaded necklace.

A pirate walks into a bar and he has a steering wheel in his pants. The bartender says "hey, pirate, you know yous gots a steering wheel in your pants?" And the pirate says "ARRR! And it's driving me nuts!"

Take off your pants and jacket

2009-06-21T15:29:00.011-06:00

Ok, so I am NOT a fan of Blink-182, but still think it's a funny play on words to introduce you all to the wonderful world of pants!

Some of you may or may not have know that until the gaucho pant became popular, Miss Swingin Martinis Designs wore skirts and only skirts for three years straight. Until about a month ago, Miss Swingin Martinis Designs didn't even own a pair of jeans. Tragic, I think not.

Miss Nancie Nan had me wear a pair of her brown gaucho

pants for an episode of The Crippling Thoughts of Victor Bonesteel, and I fell in love...they were like skirts, but better because I wouldn't flash people during certain sitting activities and playing around. Well, as soon as I discovered I liked them, they were out of style and impossible to find in store. Sad times.

Then I learned how to sew, and I started making my own!

Here's what I came up with:

These pants were made using New Look's pattern #6596. The have an elastic waistband and are pretty roomy and

comfy. I made them out of some red striped suiting material I found in Idaho.

These pants are made using New Look's pattern #6733. They have a side zipper closure and a box pleat on each leg. I made them out of a heathered-ish grey suiting material I got in Oregon.

These pants are made using Butterick Fast and Easy Pattern #B4807. They are a pull on pant with a fold over waist. I made these out of white sweatshirt material I bought at Walmart in Chico for $2/yard. I'd like to find some light weight

stretchy knit and try a pair out of that...it's proving hard to find.

I made these super awesome wrap pants from a pattern I found online. Since I am wider around than I am tall, I got the measurements wrong and ended up making mine a little wonky, but they still wrap and cover what they need to cover. I want to try again and make a shorter pair. I used a teal suiting material that I bought months ago to make a skirt out of, and never got around to it. I found this chick's blog and was SO excited to make them, I used the only fabric I had enough of!

They look like they pull weird in the back, but really, they are comfortable and roomy. I highly suggest NOT wearing them on a windy day, nor around people skiddish of the exposed upper leg. I may or may not have kneeled down to get something at work and showed off a lot more of my leg than the new guy wanted to see...hell, people in Chico PAID to see it, he should consider himself lucky :)

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

2009-06-20T16:51:00.006-06:00

Yes, I think I am HILARIOUS! My kick ass friend, Elizabeth, is a SUPER amazing photographer and I just got some shots back from her of my work. She ROCKS! Here are some of the pictures she took for the Hair Accessories I have for sale!

So if you are interested in my super awesome Hair Accessories, email me, or check out my almost completely updated Etsy site (www.swinginmartinis.etsy.com)!!!

Sad times at Swingin Martinis Designs

2009-06-17T22:00:00.004-06:00

Well, after a really great trip to Yellowstone and a really awful drive back and a couple days detox, Swingin Martinis Designs is ready to be creative again. One of my really awesome friends took some pimp pictures of some stuff I've made. I should get those in the mail and have them up for review in the next couple of days! The items will be posted on Etsy soon after that!

Thanks for everyone's patience!

I love you, June.

Fun Project from this weekend

2009-06-10T08:13:00.003-06:00

A friend from work placed an order this weekend. After I made the wrong item with the wrong fabric, and after I realized that I didn't thread my bobbin properly - I finally turned them out! They turned out really cool!

I like to trade!

2009-06-10T08:01:00.003-06:00

So I tried out the Etsy Custom page and was so thrilled when I got my first order! Analog Buttons ordered the large "Jennifer Purse" (it's called the Jennifer Purse because my friend Jennifer is the one who came up with it). She communicated what she wanted well and instead of paying me cash, we traded! She makes really awesome buttons/pins with your logo or any other custom design on there. My original design wasn't that great in button format, so she drew something up for me...it was amazing! I didn't chose her image, but the fact that she took the time to make me one was amazing! Once I did finally make my decision, she had my buttons made and in the mail in one day! And I got them two days later! Quick! I love my new buttons! And her prices are super reasonable! Even if we hadn't made the trade, I probably would have ordered from her! For 100 1inch buttons, it's only $20! Think of all the times you've paid a buck or even 50cents for a button with you favorite band logo!

So if you're ever in the market for buttons, go to her! She'll even share videos of her cat with you! She's also on MySpace!

Rock on Analog Buttons, rock on!

The Weekend of a thousand purses!

2009-06-07T22:14:00.011-06:00

One of my super awesome friends Melissa (read her blog too) sent the link to my blog and store to some of her friends. (um, can I take a moment and say that she, and the girls at work, have been instrumental in me getting off of my a** and getting my sewing going! Thank you!)Ok, Melissa sent those links to some of her friends and one of them, within 12 freakin' hours, placed an order! Rock on! I was all sorts of motivated! Another gal from work also placed an order, which just fueled the fire! So I went to the fabric store, bought some really cool fabric and was on my way!This weekend I made five purses, two make up bags, and cut of the pieces for three brush rolls! I love being productive! Here are some pictures of what I got accomplished!

This purse is made from an upholstery weight cotton and has a beautiful gold crepe back satin lining. All of these purses have a small snap closure and an 18-20 inch strap. The color of this red is really deep and pretty.

This is my "Keilana" purse! I was walking around the clearance rack at the fabric store, seeing if I could find any good deals (fyi, I found TONS). I found this purple spotted leather. I thought "who on EARTH like purple leather?!" Then I thought "I know some glam rock awesome punk chick's who would ROCK this purse, even if I don't have the balls to..."

See, even the lining screams "Glam Rock!"

This purse is much more classic with a black damask print and adorable pink button deatil.

I LOVE the lining. I have a zebra print purse planned with either this color on the inside, or pale green or teal blue. I can't make up my mind!

This is one of the purses that I made for Melissa's friend. The hubby said that it is one of the best ones that I've ever made. I don't know if you can tell, but I'm really into the two button detail this weekend. Good thing I bought all those buttons online!

Same lining color - I didn't realize that all the outter fabrics I chose had similar tones...must be a good one!

This is the second purse I made for Melissa's friend. I bought this fabric for an apron and really thought the print was too big for a purse this size, but it turned out great! I love both of them!

And did you notice how super awesome these pictures turned out? "Where did you take them at, Miss Shannonegans?" "Oh, just on my bed!" Super sweet.

Where the "selling" idea began

2009-06-05T12:07:00.005-06:00

The Bottle Cap Hair clips!

I went to Camp Hollywood one year in L.A. and there was a vendor there who took old soda bottle caps and made them into hair clips. I bought two pair for a ridiculous amount of money.

I started looking at bottle caps in a crafty way after that. Now, I, being a cheap date and a girly drinker, saw all sorts of fun bottle caps! These Jack Daniels caps, Sierra Nevada, Smirnoff (which are fun because they come in a handful of colors), and Anchor Steam Brewing had the best bottle caps with little anchors on them!

Thank you Phil and the Chico Cabaret for having a bar! I have hundreds of bottle caps and I didn't have to drink basically anything to get all my awesome bottle caps! I think if Phil knew I made money off of his garbage, he might want a cut :) (Love ya phil!)

I have the bartenders save bottle caps for me for about a year (thank you Brother Jeff, Nancie, Allison). I glue them to hair clips that I got at the craft store and Bam! You have the coolest accessory EVER!

I made them for all sorts of friends for all sorts of reasons, and I tried selling them to a super cool store in Chico (that ended up being over rated now) but they wouldn't take them. If they only knew how awesome Swingin Martinis Designs is NOW! Their loss.

I have to send a couple pair to my photographer to get better picture, but these are still available for purchase, just email me for more details.

Expanding my craft part Eins

2009-06-05T11:02:00.004-06:00

So I decided that a long time ago that I wanted to be proficient in many areas. I took woods shop and ceramics classes, and even within my theatrical night job I have worn the hats of Sound Board Operator, Light Board Operator, Spot light, singer, dancer, actor, choreographer, costumer, stage manager, assistant director, props, dramaturg, set designer, isher, box office attendant, and patron. Each job had it's pros and cons.

Well, I want the same kind of "exposure" in the craft world. I was pretty good at the "makeshift crafting." Nancie will attest that I never made or fixed anything in the "right" way - even thought I knew how to mend items, all of my clothes were held together by safety pins.

Hot glue has also been my weapon of choice for years. I still resort to it and the hubby has to veto it's use for the appropriate solution 9 times out of 10.

I have by no means mastered sewing yet - so I'm sure glad that my "make shift" crafting skills are there for the more "hassle-some" projects.

But there is a whole craft world out there that I don't even know about!

So in this series of posts, I'd like to explore the other crafts I have worked on, and others that I would like to try.

My Mother-on-law taught me to crochet on Super Bowl Sunday 2009. I'm still only able to make scarves and blankets and other square/rectangular goods.

Next in crocheting, I would like to leaen to make flowers. I found some patterns, but I have no idea how to read them - anyone want to lend their knowledge?!

And what about knitting? What's the difference besides the stick you use? Is one better/easier than the other!?

This is the scarf I started making - see - the long way it looks awesome, but when you look at it normally, you can tell that I need to be counting my loops...oops! Perhaps it gives it character!

Random Project

2009-06-05T10:44:00.005-06:00

These are super awesome and super easy! It's just a matter of putting in the dang ol' snaps - which can be a pain, but I've progessed in my snap installation recently, so maybe they aren't so bad anymore!

I just got some sparkly vinyl at the fabric store and cut them to the desired length, added snaps and called it done. I think the fabric store by our house has red, black, silver, and blue.

Email me for more details about how you can get yourself a pair of these super pimp cuffs!

I love my husband

2009-06-05T10:25:00.002-06:00

http://thetroublewithrobots.blogspot.com/2009/06/say-how-much-did-you-pay-for-that-sweet.html

Dresses and Such to Cover my booty Part Dos

2009-06-05T08:45:00.013-06:00

This blog is all about the other dresses I have made from New Look Pattern 6457.

Ok, first off, don't make fun of me and my attempt to be 1. a pin up girl and 2. America's Next Top Model. Some people's dreams and body shapes don't match (like how I'm too short to be a Rockette).

For this dress I used view A (the white one, second from the bottom) and Alexander Henry's "tattoo" fabric. I ended up having to lengthen the bodice pieces to make me not look so squatty, and I pinched the front to create a gathered "sweetheart" affect.

I also used view A for this dress and Robert Kaufman's "Our Lady of Guadalupe" panel cotton fabric. I made this pattern as instructed and added cute little satin bows where the straps meet the bodice front.

Oh yeah, I also cut the pieces vertically instead of horizontally like the dress below, because I really didn't want to cut through the Virgin Mary's head, nor have her head right on my chest!

I found this same dress in a ship in San Clemente, Calif last April when visiting a friend (hey, it was actually Stephanie's wedding, which is why I made the first dress I ever made...funny how we've come full circle). Anyway, the exact same dress style, little bow detail, fabric, etc, was EIGHTY DOLLARS!!! Forget that! How much did I pay for the pattern? A dollar! How much did I pay for the two yards of fabric to make this dress? $16. I don't know where they got freakin' $80 ass dollars for this dress. Which is why I made it myself!
(Um, does anyone else find it amusing that I am wearing the first dress I made, because we were shopping before we headed out to Stephanie's wedding!)

First, please excuse the horrible picture. A fatty thunderstorm last night prevented me from taking a super awesome picture of my super awesome dress.

Ok. I ALSO used view A for this dress with a black cotton/polyester blend. The top leopard accent is velboa. I even added a bit of lace, gathered, at the bottom. Like the Tattoo dress, I lengthened the bodice pieces. Note to self when lengthening the bodice pieces on this pattern - widen at the bottom too - I made this dress SO SMALL around the waist the first time b/c I'm not as skinny as the pattern would like to think I am. Weird.

Lastly, I made this dress using view C - but like I did with the first dress I made, I changed it from a Halter to two straps.

I first made the dress and lined it in black - it looked AWFUL! But I had enough seersucker and enough patience to re do it and line it in that.

The black around the neck is just black satin ribbon. I made a belt out of the same ribbon (which I was a moron and forgot to put on when we were taking these pictures) but it really does make all the difference in the world...

I was inspired by this dress (please excuse the photo, it was taken from my camera phone is that same store in San Clemente, which obviously has way cool stuff, but I don't need to pay $60 for this dress).

Remember, like I could let you forget, that this is the pattern I used to make my first dress ever. Isn't it amazing how I can get 5 completely different dresses from ONE pattern! Best $1 I spent ever!

The Wonderful World of Costumes! Part Deux.

2009-06-04T08:36:00.016-06:00

The Holiday Show! What a production! I'm so thankful that despite the long hours, shin splints, arguments, diva attitudes, the physical assault I endured and the creepy lighting guy, that I got to be a part of the most creative and fun show ever! People got to show off their writing/comedy skills as well as we branched out and got all sorts of new people involved!

I never would have thought I would be good at instructing people how to take their clothes off.

But what on earth does this have to do with sewing? I got to try my hand at making some costumes!

The first year I made stuff by hand. I hand dyed the pointe shoes and hand glued each crystal. The tops were seriously held together by a garbage twist tie in the front - I had no idea what I was doing!

I had sewed on dozens of little beads and sequins - I did that on the car ride to Idaho that the hubby and I took before opening. I was proud of the detail despite not being able to see it from the audience. I still owe major thanks to those girls for letting me dye their pointe shoes!

I even made those super cool fans! Do you know how hard it is to find peacock feathers? I think the bulk of the feathers were poorly dyed (not by me, thank you) b/c each time the girls used them, their hands ended up all black...oops.

PS - ask David or Brother Jeff about that Glorious bird cage in the background...

Billy-a-dick - the song didn't make any sense - but the costumes were pimp!

Everything for this costume was bought at the Dollar Store!

The skirts were Christmas tree skirts, shortened of course!

The tops were cloth napkins. FYI - cloth napkins are ribbon make great bikini tops if your boobs aren't DDs.

The tops had battery powered Christmas lights sewn in. I got beaded garland for necklaces and holly twigs to stick in our hair. This had to have been the most fun costume I've even had!

So Stephanie (the blond) had this really cute pink skirt from Fredericks or Victoria's Secret that Paula and I wanted for our Mr. Sandman number - well Paula and I are a little more Bootylicious than Miss Stephanie and the skirts didn't come in our sizes. Sad times - but never fear! Crafty Shannonegans is here!

So I took Stephanie's skirt to the fabric store and matched colors and got these cute little skirts made!

They have elastic waistbands, are full circle skirts and have a netted lining. Even Adorable bow details! I wish I had a reason to wear it again.

These aren't your average tap dancing penguins!

So yes, Linkin Park is uber lame, but "Cure for the Itch" is uber awesome and I had been waiting to choreograph something to it for YEARS! So how do you get weird techno tap into a holiday burlesque show? Penguins! And sine it's burlesque, who wants to be in a full tuxedo!?

So I made us costumed cummerbunds and bow ties (ie they Velcro in the back) and attached them to some white fabric, sewed some buttons on it and called it good. Pretty snazzy for such a cool number!

I'll let you use your imagination as to what I made for this number.

I wish more than anything that I was able to move back to Chico for two months every winter to be a part of this show - but alas! I will just remember the good times instead and leave the headaches to everyone else (and Phil's new "Shannon").

My First Purse

2009-06-03T09:26:00.008-06:00

The Jordy Bag - it has been instrumental in my purse making education.

When I began sewing again after getting my second sewing machine (long story), the fabric store across the street from my house was going out of business. Oh happy day! All fabric and notions were 75% off - I was in heaven - the minnimum two yard purchase was bogus - but I digress.

Google and I became closely acquainted as I searched for everything related to purse making - pictures, patterns, tutorials, proceedures - anything I could get my hands on. Google introduced me to http://www.craftster.org/. Whoa nelly! If you haven't been there - stop reading - click the link - go explore and be amazed...GO!

Ok, now that you're back - all those helpful tutorials inspired me! The Jordy Bag and her Brilliant instructions gave me the know-how and confidence to make these:

So thank you Jordy, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, because you gave me the confidence to try new things!

Like this:

Dresses and Such to Cover my booty Part Uno

2009-06-03T08:28:00.007-06:00

This is officially the first dress I made!

My Super Awesome Friend Stephanie was getting married and I needed something super great to wear to the festivities! I had just learned the glory of the fabric store, Alexander Henry and pattern sales!

When I first started sewing, every fabric I picked off the shelf was designed by Alexander Henry. He is pretty much the bomb. If you are ever wondering "What should I get Miss Shannonegans" the answer is a couple of yards of almost anything of his!
This is what I picked that day:

Pretty much awesome, right!?

Anyway, during one of the super amazing pattern sales at the local fabric store ($10 for 10 is pretty much the most amazing deal ever!)

I picked out this one:

And really, I have used this pattern so many times, it was way worth the $1!

(PS - I used the red dress with the white tie pattern, minus the tie, and I made the straps not tie in the back, but I made them regular straps - I don't do halters).

So I started pluggin away at my first attempt to make a dress.

I think I was high for part of it because I remember having all of the pieces cut out and was planning on putting it together in an hour before I was to leave for a party. Needless to say I was late for the party and wore something else.

But I finished it the next afternoon and was so proud of it that I wore it everywhere! And thank goodness it was an easy patter or I might have never attempted anything like that again!

I still rock this dress as often as I can because 1. It's awesome, 2. It's the first one I ever made, and 3. It reminds me that even when I get frustrated with stuff - at one time I was able to accomplish something.

What was the first pattern you ever used?

The Wonderful World of Costumes! Part Un.

2009-06-02T08:33:00.008-06:00

So I wasn't always a sew-er...I was more of a "I'm too broke to BUY what I want, so I'll just use my Crafty Magic and see what happens". Halloween was the culmination of said Crafty Magic.

I usually start thinking about my costume in November. Did I mention that I LOVE Halloween? Yeah.

So we'll start the journey into costume-y goodness with some oldies, but goodies.

First, we have the Brilliant "Princess Toadstool" costume. I may or may not be an old school Nintendo Nerd. So when I decided to be the Princess, it was on!

I had an old, white-ish dress that I had gotten from God knows where! I dyed it pink. Glorious!

So I will admit it, a lot of the costume was purchased - my tiara, white opera gloves, 5in white mary janes heels from Fredericks of Hollywood (I wanted to be tall!) but I did make my purse - which ended up being super pimp! After some issues with international sellers on ebay, I couldn't find a plush Bowser doll to carry with me, so I thought back to my childhood - playing Super Mario Brothers 2 - and me and my brother bickering because it's only a one player game - well remember how you'd have to fight the shy guys - with the various vegetables that you pull from the ground - the radishes, onions, pumpkins? Yeah, I made myself an onion purse! It was amazing! Complete with two puffy painted lines for eyes!

But wait, there's more!

I know the Princess didn't have a belt, but I needed something to signify Video Game Nerd-dom. I found a picture of a chick online who had this belt, and I liked it. Ribbon, felt, and more puffy paint eyes. It definitely tied the whole costume together!

But wait, there's even MORE!!

I got some iron on transfer paper and found the poisoned mushroom that said "game over" and slapped that on a pair of undies! Right on the bum! Only a very special few got to see those...

I also took little pictures of Goombas and Koopa Troopers and stuck them to my super awesome 5in mary jane heels. Those shoes are so much fun!

The Hubby and I were talking one day about Halloween costumes and babies. I said in three years when I have to have a kid, I'll lose some weight, squeeze back into the Princess Toadstool dress, he'll dress up as Mario, and Little Truman or Reagan will be King Koopa of Course!

You've got to Ac-cent-uate the Positive!

2009-06-01T13:36:00.003-06:00

http://www.girlsandboise.com/2009/05/swingin-martini-designs.html

http://midnighteskye.blogspot.com/

I am so thrilled and excited to have such thougthful, loyal, and awesome customers!

Thank you for helping spread the word about how awesome Swingin Martinis Designs is! Here are some recent testimonials!

YOU ARE SOOO TALENTED DEAR!! OMG I love it! Let me know if you need any pics of it. I only have a cell camera now but I will take the best ones I can. I litterally am speechless. Mittens loves it cause she fits in it with lots of room. OMG I will be getting more purses from you in the future!
You rock!!

I got the makeup roll today and it is beautiful! It is exactly as I described it and I loved the notecard, too. Thank you so much for making it for me. I left you feedback so everyone knows about your awesomeness. My sister will be ordering one, soon. Thanks again!

Great item! Great Seller, easy to work with and change things. Fully customizes items!

WONDERFUL! This item is perfect - she found the perfect fabric for me and stitched it up - will definitely buy from in the future.