Monday, April 21, 2014
Three Sheets to the Wind: Upcycling Old Linens
I am a BIG fan of vintage, needless to say this includes vintage sheets. I especially adore the plethora of old floral print sheets that continually beckon to me from the thrift shop's linens section, and I'm always on the look-out for quality items to reclaim and upcycle. On a recent scavenging trip, I found the remnants of someone else's attempts to upcycle these lovely, nostalgic textiles of yore. They had cut sheets (and some other fabrics) into long strips and sewn the strips together at the end to create a sort of yarn or cordage. I was instantly drawn to the tattered, shabby look.
Once the sheet strips are cut and sewn into lengths, they can be used for all sorts of creative applications. One thing I did was use some long strips to tie around the tissue wrapped packages I ship from my Furious Designs shop. You use it as you would a normal ribbon, and it adds a cute, shabby, decorative yet eco touch to packages and gifts.
I also knew that I wanted crochet some of the ribbon-like cordage. It crochets up quickly and easily into braid-like chains. If you leave enough length on each end so you can tie it, these work great as headbands. The crochet work has a bit of stretch, which makes if super comfy and the tie closure makes it really adjustable. So cute! This can also be worn as a chunky fabric necklace, which I think looks pretty adorable too!
Thinking about wearing the crochet chain as a necklace made my mind wander and it went to some beautiful places. I wondered how it would work to incorporate one of the crochet chains into a dress or shirt, and I'm really pleased with the results of my prototypes.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Suddenly Spring: Fresh Designs From Furious
The time has been whizzing by and....suddenly, spring is unfurling itself all over the place. As soon as the weather starts getting nice, I start thinking about 1) summer and 2) beaches, cookouts, festivals and fairs....and all the delightful clothing that comes out with the warmer months. We have been having a gorgeous, although disturbingly dry (again) spring here in the valley, and all the sun has motivated me to start working full force on my Spring/Summer 2014 designs. Take a look at what I've been working on:
These open back halter tie shirts are so flattering and fun! Funky and fresh! A super comfortable, carefree way to celebrate the sun, whether you're at the beach, frolicking about town, or in full on festival mode.
The hi lo look has always been a favorite of mine. These high lo crop tops are sewn from sheer, reclaimed, vintage poly stretch knits. The cut and design of this top makes it flattering on all sorts of body types. So cute and casual!
I love the bold look of color block fashion. And I also love the look of combining contrasting patterns and textures. Flowers and polka dots is a classic combination. Adding a handwoven panel to the bodice of a shirt turns it into an artsy, one of a kind garment!
Everything from Furious Designs is designed and sewn by me using the most quality reclaimed and upcycled materials. Stop by my shop to check out what else is new!
These open back halter tie shirts are so flattering and fun! Funky and fresh! A super comfortable, carefree way to celebrate the sun, whether you're at the beach, frolicking about town, or in full on festival mode.
The hi lo look has always been a favorite of mine. These high lo crop tops are sewn from sheer, reclaimed, vintage poly stretch knits. The cut and design of this top makes it flattering on all sorts of body types. So cute and casual!
I love the bold look of color block fashion. And I also love the look of combining contrasting patterns and textures. Flowers and polka dots is a classic combination. Adding a handwoven panel to the bodice of a shirt turns it into an artsy, one of a kind garment!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Creative Advertising
I've been messing around a bit lately with a bit of super simple, creative advertising for my Furious Designs. Below are some of the results:
It is fun (and time-consuming) to work on the graphic designing and promotional aspects of product marketing...it can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when you are also the sole person designing and manufacturing the goods. Fotor is a free and super convenient photo-editing website, and I used it to make the above Furious Design's promos.
I've also started messing about a bit with the free photo-editing program, GIMP. It is a lot more complicated to use than Fotor, and so not as user-friendly. But unlike Fotor, you can continually edit and change your picture, using layers. A few examples I made using GIMP are below:
GIMP is free but very close to Adobe in its photo-editing capabilities. However, this makes GIMP a little more complicated to master. I'm sure I'll get better as I continue to explore the possibilities and learn GIMP better.
It is fun (and time-consuming) to work on the graphic designing and promotional aspects of product marketing...it can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when you are also the sole person designing and manufacturing the goods. Fotor is a free and super convenient photo-editing website, and I used it to make the above Furious Design's promos.
I've also started messing about a bit with the free photo-editing program, GIMP. It is a lot more complicated to use than Fotor, and so not as user-friendly. But unlike Fotor, you can continually edit and change your picture, using layers. A few examples I made using GIMP are below:
GIMP is free but very close to Adobe in its photo-editing capabilities. However, this makes GIMP a little more complicated to master. I'm sure I'll get better as I continue to explore the possibilities and learn GIMP better.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Myxomycete Mania
Maybe its just me, but I love myxomycetes, more fondly known as slime molds.
Perhaps its because I grew up in the era of Dungeons and Dragons, perhaps its their strange somewhat freakish mobility, or maybe its just their super funky life cycle, but I find the slime molds to be such alluring and charismatic organisms, so...imagine my delight when I encountered this intricately gorgeous Physarum species in my yard moving through some leaf litter.
When I checked on it again the next day, not even 24 hours later, the beautiful, veined, brilliantly colored yellow network of the streaming plasmodial form was gone, and the stalk-like sporangial phase had begun. These stalks of sporangia contain the spores of the Physarum, remind me of whimsical miniature balloons.
Not only does this rather ubiquitous species of slime mold exhibit a keen ability to navigate its environment, it seems able to find the shortest route between itself and a perceived food source. Scientists have observed this species of slime mold solve mazes, anticipate events, regulate nutritional intake, and simulate highly efficient road-like networks.
It turns out we have learned a lot from these single celled model organisms. <3
It turns out we have learned a lot from these single celled model organisms. <3
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
NaPoWriMo 4/10/2013
Today's NaPoWriMo prompt is to write an un-love poem...and I'm thinking...hah...too easy.
To the Person Who Ate My Plums
This is just to say
That I am feeling really bummed
Having come home
From a long tiring day
To find
You raided
My ice-box
And the sweet cold plums
I'd been saving
In all their delicious ripeness
Were gone
The only trace
To reveal they once existed
The half cleaned pits you left
Still glistening
With pulpy plummy flesh
Slimy on the cheap Formica counter.
This is a response to the popular poem This is Just to Say, by William Carlos Williams, as you might have figured.
To the Person Who Ate My Plums
This is just to say
That I am feeling really bummed
Having come home
From a long tiring day
To find
You raided
My ice-box
And the sweet cold plums
I'd been saving
In all their delicious ripeness
Were gone
The only trace
To reveal they once existed
The half cleaned pits you left
Still glistening
With pulpy plummy flesh
Slimy on the cheap Formica counter.
This is a response to the popular poem This is Just to Say, by William Carlos Williams, as you might have figured.
NaPoWriMo 4/9/2013
I am giving a wholehearted attempt at picking up after missing days five, six, seven and eight for no real good reasons...I was tired, uninspired, distracted, didn't plan well, my intentions to jot something down quick like...maybe a simple haiku, never gained enough momentum for me to actually pick up a pen or paper, and so on.
The Secret Life of My Shadow
I see you, following me as I pace about, pausing when I pause, activating into movement with my slightest shifts and adjustments, and I think how boring I am and how boring it must be to be my shadow, always there weirdly mirroring out my existence, revolving around me at the will of the sun. And sometimes you are not with me, and even though I know it is just because its dark out, I secretly find myself hoping to god you are out there traveling the world, eating strange exotic foods and having sex with kind strangers, living the exciting carefree life that I do not.
The Secret Life of My Shadow
I see you, following me as I pace about, pausing when I pause, activating into movement with my slightest shifts and adjustments, and I think how boring I am and how boring it must be to be my shadow, always there weirdly mirroring out my existence, revolving around me at the will of the sun. And sometimes you are not with me, and even though I know it is just because its dark out, I secretly find myself hoping to god you are out there traveling the world, eating strange exotic foods and having sex with kind strangers, living the exciting carefree life that I do not.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
NaPoWrimo 4/4/2013
Today's NaPoWriMo prompt is to use the name of a spaceship from Scottish sci-fi author, Iain M. Banks as the title to start your poem. Many of the spaceship names suggested (apparently they are quite common in this author's writings) are quite creative and silly. We'll see how this goes.
Irregular Apocalypse
It had been so long
It was difficult to remember,
Even for a person such as Apocalypse.
And its true his diet could be better
He's been so obsessed waiting for Revelation,
Dabbling around with plagues and famine,
Engineering natural disasters
Up for weeks on end, eating nothing but death and conquest,
It simply isn't good for the bowels.
The awkward fact: Apocalypse is constipated,
And he's annoyed, because, to be honest
When he was crafting his devious plans
He had no idea that finicky bitch, Global Warming
Would make such a popular name for herself
Which wouldn't be such a problem except for the fact
That people keep confusing their works.
(It truly is difficult to tell the difference)
It gets tiring trying to distinguish oneself from a similar other,
And although Apocalypse will sometimes try to convince himself that
Although he and Global Warming may have some overlapping traits,
In a Vin diagram-ish sort of way,
He has enough of his own unique trademarks and talents
People should be able to distinguish the two,
But truth be told, most don't pick up on those differences.
He used to try to correct people, if they wrongly tried to credit him
With something that was actually Global Warming's handiwork, or vice-versa
However, that eventually became too tiring and
Apocalypse chose to keep his mouth shut,
The confusion created by people's inability to discern the difference
Between the works of Apocalypse and the works of Global Warming
Became an awkward fact for which he developed a fine disregard,
But sadly his heart is no longer in it.
So, I guess if we let ourselves be generous for a moment,
It might become easier to see why Apocalypse is such an ass.
Irregular Apocalypse
It had been so long
It was difficult to remember,
Even for a person such as Apocalypse.
And its true his diet could be better
He's been so obsessed waiting for Revelation,
Dabbling around with plagues and famine,
Engineering natural disasters
Up for weeks on end, eating nothing but death and conquest,
It simply isn't good for the bowels.
The awkward fact: Apocalypse is constipated,
And he's annoyed, because, to be honest
When he was crafting his devious plans
He had no idea that finicky bitch, Global Warming
Would make such a popular name for herself
Which wouldn't be such a problem except for the fact
That people keep confusing their works.
(It truly is difficult to tell the difference)
It gets tiring trying to distinguish oneself from a similar other,
And although Apocalypse will sometimes try to convince himself that
Although he and Global Warming may have some overlapping traits,
In a Vin diagram-ish sort of way,
He has enough of his own unique trademarks and talents
People should be able to distinguish the two,
But truth be told, most don't pick up on those differences.
He used to try to correct people, if they wrongly tried to credit him
With something that was actually Global Warming's handiwork, or vice-versa
However, that eventually became too tiring and
Apocalypse chose to keep his mouth shut,
The confusion created by people's inability to discern the difference
Between the works of Apocalypse and the works of Global Warming
Became an awkward fact for which he developed a fine disregard,
But sadly his heart is no longer in it.
So, I guess if we let ourselves be generous for a moment,
It might become easier to see why Apocalypse is such an ass.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
NaPoWriMo 4/3/13
I'm wasn't sure what to write about today; I like the NaPoWriMo prompt for the day, which is to write a sea shanty, but I am not feeling it. However, I did score a box of word magnets at St Vinnie's today, so I decided to randomly pull a few words out and use them as prompts.
The words: always, carry, between, sage, fish, responsible, underwear
The poem:
Always
Fish never have to wear underwear
Or carry a purse full of credit cards and ID's
And responsibilities
And for that I envy them.
A fish never ponders being a fish
And between you and me
That makes a fish infinitely
More sage than we'll ever be.
The words: always, carry, between, sage, fish, responsible, underwear
The poem:
Always
Fish never have to wear underwear
Or carry a purse full of credit cards and ID's
And responsibilities
And for that I envy them.
A fish never ponders being a fish
And between you and me
That makes a fish infinitely
More sage than we'll ever be.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
NaPoWriMo 4/2/2013
Ignoring the NaPoWriMo prompt for today, I feel compelled to free-write on twelve. My youngest daughter turns twelve today, and I can't help but be a bit introspective.
Twelve
Twelve was a good year, decent enough for
Having been completely uprooted from my idyllic,
Slow, southern drawl, country girl existence
And set down abruptly in the middle of upper crust
Old Republican money horse country Northern Virginia.
Sixth grade was a mishmash of discomfort and discoveries
Oh, shopping for clothes in thrift stores is not cool
Oh, brand names are cool (but I never figure why),
Oh, we're like some of the poorest people on our block,
Oh, I have little breasts growing in,
Oh, the porno mag that some classmate stole from his dad's closet
Shocking my brain at recess one late spring afternoon.
And there were horses and stables,
Friends with in-ground pools and three-story stone mansions,
Homes For Sale In the Low $500,000s.
Everyone's father worked for the military, or the government, or large private corporations.
I barely had a clue
I spent hours choreographing dance and gymnastics routines
Running through the woods, discovering, pretending, hiding,
Collecting old glass milk bottles and other abandoned relics with
Stories to tell of some time long since gone,
I listened to these stories while rooting up salamanders and turtles by the creek
Twelve and not yet cynical,
Still believing,
Forever dreaming of some sort of being free.
Twelve
Twelve was a good year, decent enough for
Having been completely uprooted from my idyllic,
Slow, southern drawl, country girl existence
And set down abruptly in the middle of upper crust
Old Republican money horse country Northern Virginia.
Sixth grade was a mishmash of discomfort and discoveries
Oh, shopping for clothes in thrift stores is not cool
Oh, brand names are cool (but I never figure why),
Oh, we're like some of the poorest people on our block,
Oh, I have little breasts growing in,
Oh, the porno mag that some classmate stole from his dad's closet
Shocking my brain at recess one late spring afternoon.
And there were horses and stables,
Friends with in-ground pools and three-story stone mansions,
Homes For Sale In the Low $500,000s.
Everyone's father worked for the military, or the government, or large private corporations.
I barely had a clue
I spent hours choreographing dance and gymnastics routines
Running through the woods, discovering, pretending, hiding,
Collecting old glass milk bottles and other abandoned relics with
Stories to tell of some time long since gone,
I listened to these stories while rooting up salamanders and turtles by the creek
Twelve and not yet cynical,
Still believing,
Forever dreaming of some sort of being free.
Monday, April 1, 2013
NaPoWriMo 4/1/13
The prompt for the 1st day of NaPoWriMo 2013 is to use the 1st line of another poem to start a new poem. I took the easy way out.
Global Warming in Eugene, OR
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Even though it is not yet June, or May,
or even April,....but merely March?
And the weather is dry, warm and sunny
But I can't help but feel strange and funny
Because it seems like there should be rain a-drumming
But there isn't...it just keeps never coming.
Global Warming in Eugene, OR
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Even though it is not yet June, or May,
or even April,....but merely March?
And the weather is dry, warm and sunny
But I can't help but feel strange and funny
Because it seems like there should be rain a-drumming
But there isn't...it just keeps never coming.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
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