This morning my episode aired on DIY Jewelry Making with host Jackie Guerra. I taped i t in Burbank, CA two years ago and it finally aired - yay!
Safety Note: Keep the beads small and their quality high to prevent chipping or breaking. Pay close attention to the directions, making sure you tightly crimp off the wire and use a sturdy lobster claw clasp so it will not come apart. Test this by pulling it to make sure its secure. Make sure to measure your baby's wrist for correct sizing, and don't make it too tight or too loose. Also, don't attach any charms. Never leave a baby unattended while wearing the bracelet.


Here are the recipes for the projects.

Double Strand Baby Bracelet

Materials:

1 roll of soft flex .014 gauge wire
2 small 1mm crimp tubes
140 small 1mm pink glass seed beads
6 medium 2mm pearl beads
2 4mm split rings
1 lobster clasp
needle nose pliers
scissors

1. Cut two 8 inch strands of soft flex .014 gauge beading wire.

2. Take one strand, and then slide on a crimp tube one inch down.


Figure A

3. With the needle nose pliers, grasp the one inch end of the wire, and then fold it over to create a small loop. Feed the end through the crimp tube so there is a short tail sticking out the other side (figure A).

4. Crimp using needle nose pliers. Repeat for the second strand.

5. Open a split ring, and then slide on the two strands through the loops just created.

6. Slide on 10 small pink glass beads onto one strand, and then do the same for the other strands. Make sure the beads slide over the wire tail.

7. Slide on one medium pearl bead through both strands. Pull it so the beads are packed tight. Repeat this process six more times.

8. Close off each end by adding the crimp tubes, snipping the excess wire to one inch, and then feeding the ends through the tubes and through the holes of the beads on the strand. Crimp into place.

9. Attach the other split ring, followed by the lobster clasp.

Classy Crystal Chain Bracelet

Materials:

high quality chain without breaks in the links
10-12 small 1mm glass light pink seed beads
4-5 2mm Swarovski hot pink crystal beads
2 high quality 4 mm split rings
1 lobster claw clasp
wire nippers
needle nose pliers

1. Start at the end of the chain, and then count out four links. On the fourth link, use wire nippers to snip it off so the chain will be in two pieces.

2. Using needle nose pliers, carefully bend open the eyehole on the eye pin, and then hook it on the chain that has three links. Close it shut tightly with the pliers so the chain can't come off.

3. Now you will have the wire from the eye pin sticking out. Slide on one of the light pink glass beads, followed by a hot pink crystal bead, and then one more light pink bead.

4. Snip the wire down so there is a 3/4 inch tail.

5. Pick up the longer piece of chain, and then attach the wire through the end link with the needle nose pliers. Bend it tight so the chain will not come loose. Repeat this process five more times, or until you have reached the desired length.

6. Use needle nose pliers to attach a split ring to each end of the bracelet, and then add a lobster claw clasp to one end.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: jewelry

OK, I cheated. I've been wanting to learn how to make handmade paper since, like, forever, but instead I came across this paint that dries to look like paper. It was almost like the real thing! Kinda...

Read more about it here.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: collage/paper

Fall is almost here, which means new craft books abound at the stores. Check out the following titles for ideas and inspiration that will carry you through the season. The list is long, the content is clever, and overall, these page-turners are oh-so-worthy. Visit Amazon.com to buy them!

Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe, by Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman and Beci Orpin (Bulfinch, Bk&Acces edition, 212 pages, $25.99 hardcover): Self-taught seamstress, Mullin, leads a new generation of sewing enthusiasts sewers down the path of handmade clothing, using three simple patterns and dozens of variations.

The Impatient Beader Gets Inspired: A Crafty Chick's Guide to Instant Inspiration, by Margot Potter (Northlight Books, 127 pages, $19.99 paperback): Whimsical, colorful ideas for creating wild, dangly and kitschy necklaces, rings and bracelets. Perfect for pop-culture crafters.

Knitting Under the Influence, by Claire LaZebnik (5Spot, 416pages, $12.99 paperback): Fictional, funny and heart-tugging story about three 20-something Los Angeles women who drink, cry and, of course, knit together whenever they can.

Simply Green Parties: Simple and Resourceful Ideas for Throwing the Perfect Celebration, Event, or Get-Together, by Danny Seo (HarperCollins, 160pages, $19.95 hardcover): Chic, environmentally friendly offerings for party favors, centerpieces, gifts and decorations.

Get Your Sparkle On: Create and Wear the Gems That Make You Shine, by Lindsay Cain, Sarah B. Weir, Rachel Stone and Ellen McDermott (Chronicle Books, 120pages, $19.95 paperback): Cain, an owner of a popular design-your-own jewelry boutique in New York City, shares high- end beaded jewelry designs for every kind of personality.

Knit Fix: Problem Solving for Knitters, by Lisa Kartus (Interweave Press, 112pages, $19.95 hardcover): Cooler temperatures mean the knitting needles are going to go into overdrive. This book is there to help with the glitches.

Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal, by Janice Taylor (Penguin, 272pages, $19.95 paperback): Taylor lost 50pounds by turning to art, instead of food. She shares how she did it with craft projects, musings and tips.

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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

This has to be my favorite project I've made this year. It looks like just a handbag, but I actually dyed the fabrics and then pieced them together and the sewed on glittery embellishments. I won't lie, it's a hefty project - took me about 10 hours total. But it was worth it.
Today's project just about killed me, but I finished it. I call it Kamikaze Purse Making 101, and here's how it went down.

A couple of weeks ago, at Art Unraveled, a national altered-art conference, I joined hundreds of serious crafters whose creations went beyond the norm. The crafters dyed their own fabrics, spun their yarn and worked all kinds of extreme magic on basic techniques. Once the event was over, I felt empowered to take on a challenging project and came up with this crazy fabric collage purse. The dang thing took me 10 hours over a span of three days to dye, draw and paint images, copy them onto fabric sheets and then unite them using multistrand metallic thread. It wasn't a pretty process, but it did help that I watched Project Runway for motivation.

However, when I was almost done with the topstitching, my sewing machine broke (or rather, it revolted). I refused to give in. I marched into a Target store 20 minutes before it closed, bought a new sewing machine and stayed up until 2 a.m., until the last stitch was sewn.





I'm so happy I did. Sure, it would have been easier to use a pattern, but I wanted (needed) to freestyle my way through the concept. Now that I look back, that's what I loved the most. This purse combines contrasting fabric swatches in various sizes to create a patchwork look. To keep with the theme of the fabric, I used painted embroidery hoops for the handles. If it seems overwhelming, there are many shortcuts, such as using a blank canvas purse or starting with pre-printed fabric, instead of dying your own. There are no set rules, and in the end, you will have a funky, textured bag that will be worthy of any art conference.
Fabric Collage Handbag
Supplies
Assorted fabric
Scissors, sewing needle
Solid fabric to use as lining for the bag
Assorted images printed on fabric sheets (sheets you insert in your printer, available at the craft store)
Letter or decorative foam stamps, acrylic paint
Assorted trims, yarns, ribbons, metallic threads, embroidery floss, etc.
Straight pins
Sewing machine
2 medium embroidery hoops
Beads, buttons, charms

If you want to dye your own fabric you'll need: 1 yard of cotton muslin, assorted high-quality fabric dyes (found at the craft store), plastic gloves.

Cut fabric into four squares, and following the directions on the package, dye each one a different color scheme (red/orange, blue/green, purple/pink, etc).

Directions: Cut your fabric into various squares, rectangles and smaller squares. Stick with shapes that will work well together. For example, I used 6 by 6 inches, 3 inches by 6 inches and 3 by 3 inches. Using contrasting colors of fabric, lay out the pieces to make up one panel of the handbag.

Embellish each piece by sewing on fabric images, stamping words, adding trims, etc. When finished, pin half of it together and sew the pieces together. Repeat for remaining pieces until the panel is complete. Repeat the entire process for the other panel of the handbag. If necessary, use the zigzag function on your sewing machine to seam the edges of the fabric so they won't fray.

To assemble: Face pieces right side in and sew around edges. Flip right side out and insert lining. Use the zigzag function to seam the top border. Paint the embroidery hoops and let dry. Stitch them to the inside of each side. If desired, continue embellishing the bag.

Variations: If you are experienced with sewing, add a 2-inch piece of fabric in between the two panels to give the purse more interior room.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: wearable art

Just say no to boring hanging light fixtures.

Use this weekend to enliven your ceiling with a dash of funky, handmade style. This project will add a new level of functionality to the standard photo frame. Print your favorite pictures on vellum paper and insert them in the frames for a translucent effect.
Photo Art Hanging Lantern
Supplies
• 4 wood frames
• Craft paint
• Brushes
• Photos color copied onto vellum paper sized to fit in the frame
• 8 small hinges
• E6000 Industrial Strength Adhesive
• Drill
• 4 eye screws
• Chain or cording
• Large jump ring
• Gallery Glass squeeze paint

Directions: Disassemble the frames. Set the glass aside and then base-coat and embellish frames with paint. Let dry.

Insert the vellum paper. Reassemble the frames and lay them face down. Use the glue to affix two hinges to each frame back and connect them until it forms a box. Let dry.

You also can use hot glue to hold the hinges until the E6000 cures. Let dry.

Drill a small hole at the top of each frame border. Add a dab of E6000 and attach an eye screw. Let dry and attach chain. Repeat the process. Connect the four chains at the top with a large ring for hanging. Use it with a hanging light (sold in home-décor stores with the Chinese lanterns) or skip the eye screws and use as a table lantern.

Variations: Add fringe or beaded trim along the bottom. Instead of photos, create a collage and color copy it on vellum for use inside the frame, or use glass paint to create a colorful design.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: inside, lights