How not to silkscreen

My newest creative endeavor is silkscreening. I received a gift certificate to an art store a few years ago and bought myself a silkscreening kit with "very informative instruction book enclosed". Too bad it didn't tell me what NOT to do. I had to learn that on my own! I read the book, I set everything up, I bought more supplies than I probably needed. I took a deep breath and dove in.
I think I'm finally almost almost there- after 4 tries and 4+ stupid mistakes I'm starting to get it. My ultimate goal is to make my own labels (on recycled fabric of course!). Stay tuned- by tomorrow if I haven't wrecked the screen I think I'll be cranking out mass brandings!

How to- my first guide

This is my first how-to guide, so it might need some improvement. And I'm forced to insert it as a jpg, but if anyone would like the pdf emailed to them let me know (I think then you can download it and print it out). I would love to see what is created as a result! And please let me know if you have questions. reloveprojects@yahoo.com

On another note, Earth Day is coming up. I think of ALL days we should be especially conscious of our habits and actions and how they impact the environment. On Sunday, April 22nd, I vow to ride my bike, keep the lights off, clean up trash in my neignborhood park. My boyfriend is committing to ride his bike to a trailhead that we love and pick up all the bags of dog poop (yes, people take the time to bag their dog's poop, and then leave the full bags scattered around. How lame!) Earth Day is a good opportunity to check in with ourselves and try to make the changes we all need to make to improve this world. Let's do it!

Funky dress=Cool bag

I bought a really wild dress from Salvation Army a while ago. Over a year has passed and it was just taking up space in my closet, so what's the logical thing to do? Make a bag. The dress is confined to the closet no more! I figured this one would probably be for myself so I gave it some special custom features like: several inside pockets, a cell phone pocket, and a snap closure. The snaps look a little hokey (usually recycled from plaid cowboy type shirts), but they are easier for me to get into than zippers.

SKULL BUNNY

This is me trying to look like a bad ass wearing my skull bunny sweatshirt. I made it from a recycled sweatshirt and a few different recycled t-shirts. Everything was hand stitched on-- which took forever. I like mixing the crafty with the edgy and taking something punky and making it funny and bizarre. I also converted my boyfriend's work shirt (schwag wear for Adobe) into-- SKULLDOBE! It worked out perfectly for the company photo. From the front he was "Good worker Paul" until he turned around and--SKULLDOBE!

Attack of the killer squirrels

I found this posse of baby squirrels in the yard today. I know they'll be little rascals soon, but for now I'll take really close photos.

I do still make purses!

This groovy bag was a commission. Someone ordered it to give as a wedding gift- what better way to start off a lifelong union than with a new bag!? I is made from a vintage dress found at a thrift store.

ReLoved Potholder

This thing has been driving me crazy for awhile. It is so ratty and burnt, but also our only one! And it sure beats using towels. The other night I'd just had it. Instead of going out and buying a new one (which is probably what I would have done had I not recently joined Warobe Refashion and began quiestioning ALL of my consumer habits) I gave this one a new face. Much better! It took me awhile to do, but mostly because I stitched it all by hand. Now I'm so proud of my ReLoved potholder I'm happy to use towels! Hmmm. Oh well, at least my kitchen is a little cuter and I'm not going mad looking at the ugly burnt thing anymore.

.post due. April

If anybody missed it last month, I joined a group called .post due. in which the members create postcards and send them. This is April's edition, made from recycled materials of course! I pulled the images and text from a Japanese fitness book, and my backing was an old folder. I also stiched on it both by hand and machine, but it's hard to see. The pink added was all me!

Ice ice everywhere

These pictures were found outside my bank yesterday. Even all of the branches were covered in ice, like everything was dipped in it. The drain pipe got all sparkley and icecicley (I made that word up!). Brrrr.

Friday night

The weather outside is drizzly and cold. It rained and that rain turned into ice. Instead of a wild Friday out I choose instead to cozy up at home with my warm computer. There is so much inspiration and information out there, it always astounds me! I don't know if the www makes the world smaller by bringing everyone into this reachable place, or much bigger by throwing this deep ocean of everything imaginible into one tiny screen. Anyway, here are my wonderful results:

Wardrobe Refashion: This is a perfect blog devoted to the fashion aspect of what I love- thrifting, reusing, and recreating (ummmm, does anyone even wonder anymore where I came up with my name?) This takes it one step further and every participant signs a pledge agreeing not to buy ANY new item of clothing for a certain amount of time. It can be known here, now, that this sort of challenge is what I live for, thrive on, and was exactly what I was hoping for in my wildest fantasies of internet dreams come true.

This is the pledge, straight from the site:

I, Anne of ReLove Projects, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of "new" manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 6 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed (I don't have a scanner here, but believe me, I would sign in blood drawn from a sewing needle if I could!)

I am so exited to begin, so stay tuned.... Summer dresses, tank tops, bathing suits- oh the fun I'll have!

Love Forever: Kayte Terry is a self-described crafty dynamo and I think that sums it up nicely. It is thanks to her and her artsy insights that I discovered so many great links (including Wardrobe Refashion). She always has beautiful photos, inspiration, and projects posted. I discovered her from:

Free People Blog: Not only do they have beautiful clothing and catalogs, but they also have a beautiful blog. Geese, some just have it all! I want to make a necklace like in this picture:

I looked for it in the catalog, but couldn't find it. Did I miss it somewhere?
I think it would be beautiful made out of fabric...

Sometimes creation comes out of desire for something that is unattainable.

Also inspiring on this blog are the nailpolish bottles painted with little flowers. I once painted some ceramic pieces with nailpolish in an unventilated area- don't try this at home (unless you like getting really dizzy and stinking up your place!).


Who needs to go out on a Friday night? Not me, I now have some work to do!

It's clean! Quick, take a picture!

This is my NEW work space set up. I'm really looking forward to creating the many projects I have brewing in this head...
In the top picture you can see some of my inspiration a little closer- All the animals are marching. I went on a shopping spree one night on Etsy (while you're there be sure to check out ReLove Projects' Store!). I bought the purple elephant from Oh the cuteness, the multi-colored elephant (On the bottom right.) from LookWhatICanDo, and the cute guy looking sideways from Yuk Yuk. Etsy is a great place to buy anything because you buy directly from the artist. That means no astronomical mark-ups (50% or more!), the artist gets a bigger cut, and because of that YOU get a lower price. What a deal! Etsy is making the world an easier place for us crafty folks.

Art-ness

New art! I made this for our bedroom out of wire. Pretty simple- I just bent it a hundred times. If anybody wants more details on how to make one for themselves email me- I'll give you better instructions. Mostly it just takes some time, some patience, and the willingness to get your hands smelling like metal.


This is one of the boxes I came across while un-moving. I liked it- if you put it all together is says "Please Recycle ART".