Embroidery is one craft most crafters want to try. It's drawing with threads, and offers so many options. The easiest route is to start with a dish towel, pillowcase or hankie, but that's boring. That's why I was intrigued to discover African Folklore Embroidery from Arizona Republic reader Alexis Kjellstrom, 52. The Phoenix resident and AFLE-certified instructor wrote to me about the art form and the classes she teaches.

"I became interested in this embroidery (technique) because of the brightness of the colors and the total artistic freedom and expression it offers," she says. "The designs are influenced by the Ndebele people, animals and flora of South Africa. Since the final outcome of the design is totally up to the embroidery artist, the sky is the limit. Applique and beading can be added to achieve the look you want as well as the use of a variety of threads and even ribbon embroidery."

The traditional South African craft is different from regular embroidery in that bright hand-dyed threads and beads are used on black fabric. The extreme contrast makes the end result pop. Artist Leona Raikin, a native of South Africa, used African Folklore Embroidery as a way to pass the time as a child. After moving to Southern California, she launched a line of do-it-yourself kits featuring designs inspired by the Ndebele people.

I used an AFLE kit to make this embroidered end table. For information on classes, visit the AFLE Web site, www.aflembroidery .com, or e-mail Kjellstrom at africafolk@cox.net.

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS
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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: fabric, inside, multi-culti, sewing

This project doesn't come out in the newspaper until Saturday, but since Mother's Day is Sunday, I thought I'd post it early. I'll have complete directions later, but basically I took some wood blocks in different sizes, drilled a hole in the tops with a Dremel, inserted a bamboo skewer (glued it in place) and painted it all. I then embellished the blocks with pictures and cositas (little things) and then added an alligator clip at the top of each one. And there you have it! Memo holders perfect for Mom!

As far as the images to put on there, you can put pictures, quotes, headlines, trims, buttons - anything you want!!


*Image of "mama" from www.ArtChixStudio.com.

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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, mother's day

Remember last year when I got hooked on making No-Sew Napkin Pillows? Well, I'm still diggin' on it. Except now I'm adding pictures. I whipped up this fetching set over the weekend for Patrick's Auntie Angie. It was her birthday and she loves Cine Mexicano. So I took the postcards, printed them on InkJet fabric sheets and sewed them onto a bigger piece of background fabric and then stitched the whole dang thing to a napkin, did it again, stuffed the pillow and glued the seams shut.

If you aren't into sewing, pick up a bottle of Aleene's Fabric Fusion and just brush it on the back of your fabric and press it into place. There you go! Dos fabuloso cushinas!

Eee, that reminds me - I have to go practice for my Spanish class tomorrow!


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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, sewing

It's time to color your own fabric! I was inspired to share this idea after meeting with my friend Linda Young (organizer of Art Unraveled!) for coffee last week. She was so thrilled with some fabric she painted that she brought samples to share.

My suggestion is to color a large batch at one time so you will have it on hand for other projects. Aside from scrapping, use your custom fabric to make jewelry, embellish clothing, purses and anything else you can think of.

Sure, there are oodles of fabrics ready to go at the store, but think of how cool it will be to hold up something you made and say, "I even dyed the fabric for this project."

Visit your local scrapbook store today to partake in all kinds of paper-friendly activities.

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE DIRECTIONS

Now for part two of this project...I didn't have room in my newspaper column to add this, so I'll post it here. I am now hooked on coloring my own fabric because of Tulip's One Step Fashion Dyes.



OK - before I go any further, I have to let you know that now that I'm part of the Duncan familia, I have full-access to any and all of their products. It's like crafty heaven because I can try out all the goods. and just like I've always done on this blog, whatever I make and play with, I'll post it here! So consider me your inside source!!

Back in the day, I used to tie dye Patrick's band shirts. I used watered down acrylics in spray bottles, as well as pickle buckets of dye for dipping. I used to have to make them in the back yard and I hated that our pretty green grass got tie dyed as much as the shirts. After a couple years of doing that, I gave up and swore off tie dye.

When I started working with Duncan, they gave me some of these One Step Fashion Dyes to try out. At first, I flinched. I didn't want to revisit the pickle bucket era! I tried it anyway, and dang - all those crazy steps are removed! It's all about shaking and squirting now!

The Fashion Dyes come in individual plastic bottles with gloves and rubber bands. At he bottom of the bottle is powered dye. All you do is fill the bottle with water and shake, shake, shake - and you are good to go!

I took white cotton fabric, wet it, cut it and rubber banded it. I lined my kitchen counter with a large plastic trash bag, set out the fabric and squirted the dye.



Custom Painted Fabric

Supplies
1 yard of white (patterned or plain) cotton fabric (make sure it has stain guard on it)
Fabric paints (any combination of): watered-down acrylics, squirt, squeeze or spray on fashion dyes, fabric markers
Medium resealable bags or plastic wrap
Water-based acrylic paints
Paintbrush
Sink
Plastic gloves
Rubber bands or string
Washing machine

Directions: Pre-wash the fabric (no fabric softener), but don't dry it, allowing the color to take. Cut into four pieces so you can dye each piece a different shade. Put on the gloves.

To create a tie-dye look: Put rubber bands or string around different sections of the fabric. Using the squeeze, spray on or squirt on dye, apply color to various areas of the fabric. I like to keep my colors in the same hue: for example, purple, fuchsia and pink for one piece of fabric, or blue, green and teal, or yellow, orange and red, etc. Once fabric is covered with dye, put each piece in a separate bag or plastic wrap. For intense colors, let set for several hours, less for lighter tones. Cut off rubber bands or string, rinse in sink, and then run through washing machine, followed by the dryer. Iron and use.

Hand-painted fabric: Work on a covered surface. Wet piece of fabric and lay it flat. Dip brush in fabric paint and apply to the material as desired. You can make stripes, circles, paint pictures, use rubber stamps, etc. Use gold paint with a thin liner brush to add accents. For shimmer, spray on permanent glitter. Let dry for several hours and then wash in machine. Dry and iron.

Variations: Use white fabric with black patterns, and your end result will have even more dimension. Buy a package of Inkjet fabric sheets and use them to copy your pictures, scrapbook papers, small trinkets, newsprint or wrapping paper. Peel off the backing and sew the sheets together. You can also make your own paper by color-copying your custom fabric onto paper.

If you want more of a painted effect, you can use the Tulip Soft Fabric Paint, which is very cool because it dries soft and light and doesn't crack. I combined my colors and watered them down just a bit to get that striped look in the top photo. I also used the gold paint and aliner brush to add some starbursts and squiggles.

Last time I was at Duncan's headquarters, they gave me fabric markers to try out!!! I have yet to use them, but when I do, I'll post the details here!

One more thing about custom-colored fabric. This is how I make the fabric for my purses! At first I didn't want to share how I did it, because it looks very labor intensive, when really it is pretty easy. But I'm here to share ideas and turn people on to new things, right? It's all about inspiring others! So maybe there is something new and wild you can do with your custom-colored fabric. Did you know you can also color copy it to make your own paper?

Stretch it, baby, stretch it!



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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: Cinco DeMayo, fabric, wearable art

by Kathy Cano Murillo - May. 5, 2007 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
Soldering irons. Electric sanders. Drills, heat guns and hot knives.

What were once manly gadgets in our dad's garage are now must-have supplies in our craft caddies. No matter what your hobby, there is a clever gizmo on the market to streamline your production - if you can get past the fear factor.

Many crafters like Kristin Shears can't.

"I'm afraid of glue guns or anything with a cord," the 39-year-old Phoenix painter says. "When I was 7, I tried to use my grandma's industrial glue gun and ended up burning the skin off my finger. It scarred me for life. Ever since then, I can't even use a drill to hang my curtains. I have tape-on drapes."

Shears embraces paintbrushes, scissors and adhesives - but shivers at anything beyond a schoolroom paper trimmer. With the craft industry ringing up more than $30 billion a year, industry professionals realize there are many artistic shoppers like Shears who are hesitant to plug in.

Walnut Hollow is just one of the companies to step up. Its recently debuted Designed for Her Tools is a female-friendly collection that includes an electric drill, screwdriver, soldering iron, sander and wood burner. The line won the Award of Excellence for innovation at the Craft and Hobby Winter Convention and Trade Show earlier this year.

"(Some women) might not understand that electric tools can be easy and safe to use," says Chris Wallace, marketing communications director for the company. "We provide the instructions and information; they will fit well in their hands and are safer to use with the non-slip grip. The Designed for Her Tools are not made to build a house, but to help crafters with their projects."

Michele Beschen, 37, creator and host of DIY Network's B. Original, uses everything from a benchtop drill press to a handheld rotary tool, and she uses her TV show to encourage others to do so as well. She not only feels empowered every time she flips the switch, but feels a rush of excitement with the finished project. Although she embraces many tools, she suggests newbies start with a variable-speed Dremel tool because of its versatility (the rotary tool has attachments for cutting, sanding, drilling and buffing).

"The more tools and new things I can introduce to people, the better," she says. "People just need to take the time to learn, ask questions of someone they know who is familiar with that tool, and have a go at it. Investing in tools can open so many creative doors for people. The key is to take your time, be safe and don't be afraid."

Chris Wass, 33, of Scottsdale has been wielding torches, soldering irons and Dremels for years to make her jewelry and lamp-work beads. But even she admits to waving the white flag now and then.

"I once took glassblowing to make goblets and larger items, and I was frustrated because I couldn't conquer it," she says. "I had a hard time keeping the heat even. When I'm ready, I'll try again. People should know that's OK if (a tool) doesn't work out, just move on to something you feel comfortable with."

Shears understands that. She acknowledges that her fear limits her creativity. She has always had a curiosity for soldering and welding, and she is considering taking a workshop someday.

"I'd never just buy an electric tool off the shelf for fear of ending up in the emergency room," she says with a laugh. "But I think if I took a class with a skilled instructor, and everything was perfectly laid out for me, maybe if the tools were cordless so I wouldn't knock anything over . . . I think maybe it would be doable."

More on this topic

Thinking about expanding your crafty universe? Check out these tools that will make your life easier and add a new dimension to your creative options. These products are for beginners, but higher-grade models are available as well. It's best to read a book or take a class on the topic, and to exercise safety precautions at all times.



Dremel cordless rotary tool (starts at $40): A must-have for all general crafters. This is a multipurpose tool that has a spinning jaw at the top. Attachments are available for drilling, engraving, sanding, buffing and more. Comes with a rechargeable battery. Tip: Visit www.dremel.com to see video of how it works. Available at home improvement stores.


Beginners sewing machine (about $100): You have to start somewhere, so why not right here? Basic machines such as the Bernina Bernette 55 or the Brother XL2600i will get you on your way. Simple functions make it easy to use for fabric collage, mending and clothing construction. Also, pick up a copy of Teach Yourself Visually Sewing, by Debbie Colgrove (Visual, 2006, $24.99 spiral bound).


Walnut Hollow Designed for Her Creative HotKnife ($19.90): Slices easily through foam core, cardboard, plastic foam and thick paper objects. Comes with two knives, a stand and a non-slip grip. Visit www.walnuthollow.com for other Designed for Her tools, such as a rotary tool, electric screwdriver, drill, sander and mini vac.


Walnut Hollow Creative Craft & Home Tool Kit ($39.99): Perfect for the all-around crafter because this toolbox is loaded with helpful items such as staple gun, screwdrivers, cutter, pliers, hammer, scissors, level, measuring tape, hangers, nails, screws, brads and wire. www.walnuthollow.com.


Creative Woodburner pen ($13): Works just like a pencil except it is heated and indents into soft wood. Great for creating embellished clocks, boxes, even wood purses. Available at local craft stores.


The Simply Solder Art Kit ($49.99): Soldering is the process of melting metal to join metallic surfaces. In the craft world, soldering is used to create picture jewelry and other art pieces. Lisa Bluhm and Melissa Wood are pros on the topic, and they have a new kit that has everything you need to get started: a solder iron, glass, flux, copper tape, lead-free solder wire, clamps, two tips and more. They even have a book to go with it, Simple Soldered Jewelry & Accessories: A Crafter's Guide to Fashioning Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & More (Lark/Chapelle, 2007, $24.95 paperback). www.simplyswank.net.


Electric Bead Reamer ($44.95): Comes with a diamond tip and is used to smooth and enlarge the holes in beads. Available at www.thebeadfactory.com or local bead shops.


Not ready to plug it in? Here are electric-free options:


Cutterfly Utility Tool ($19.99): This pocket-size gem contains several tools that fit neatly within a hot pink plastic casing. Perfect for on-the-go crafters. Features spring-action scissors, rotary blade, distress tool (can be used as a rub-on tool and screwdriver), paper piercer, needle-nose pliers, retracting 13-inch ruler, tweezers, embossing stylus and key chain. www.eksuccess.com.


1-2-3D Paper Crafting System ($39.99): This DVD and paper tool set allow you to whip up boxes, envelopes and pop-up cards in a variety of shapes and sizes. www.eksuccess.com.


Craft hand drill ($19.25): No power needed! Works for small projects such as paper crafting or light woodworking. www.fiskars.com.


Dremel Multi-Vise ($34.99): If and when you decide to go electric, this vice tool serves as a holder and clamp for your projects. Use it to secure your piece, enabling your hands to concentrate on the craftwork. www.dremel.com.

Bind-It-All ($59.99): Bind your own hardback books, journals, scrapbooks and photo albums with this nifty contraption. www.binditall.com.

Precision Paper Trimmer ($49.99): A professional 12- by 12-inch paper trimmer that folds up for on-the-go crafting. www.makingmemories.com.

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* All content/photos copyright, © Kathy Cano-Murillo, 2007. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com * for awesome crafty resources check out DuncanCrafts.com

Labels: crafty advice