Peek-a-Boo: Spring is on its Way!

Posted in Peek-A-Boo, Studio Sparks by beccasgreencraftstudio

Spring has Sprung 2015 Ellijay, Georgia USA

Spring is popping up all over the sunny sides of the hills around North Georgia, USA. It makes me smile to see those daffodils (March flowers) in February. Its one of our first signs of Spring’s arrival in my neighborhood. How about yours?

With Spring comes a new season of crafting in my studio. I love to shop early for summer supplies and there are an abundance of pretties to pick over. Here’s a picture of my latest treasures found in the holler of Morganton, GA known as Miller Cloth Shop. I can’t wait to get my backlog of custom orders finished, so I’ll have time to play with these pretties.

Pastel Pallette

I also placed an order for basic supplies to keep my ruffled tote bags standing tall. I love the Peltex (Pellon) 71 Ultra Firm fusible stabilizer. It’s getting harder and harder to find it online, but thank goodness I can find it locally. There are substitutes out there, but I love using the best I can find for all my fans. I want to keep you HAPPY.

Speaking of being HAPPY? What makes you happy? Sassy? or otherwise Smiling all day long? Craft-wise, what are you up to this time of year? Are you itchin’ to be stitchin’ like me? Or are you drooling over digging in the dirt first day of sunny warm weather? Thankfully, here in my neck-o-the-woods, we get sunny and fairly warm days in between all the cold snaps. So we can actually dig in the dirt earlier than most Americans.

But, my TRUE LOVE is sitting in the Studio Green Craft and letting my mind spin out new creations. I’ve made notes and doodles to work on new projects.

They’ll be on debut during a Spring Craft Show coming up in May, Georgia’s Apple Blossom Festival.

It’s a new craft festival to our town, and the weather will be glorious in May. I’m excited to be showing all my Boho, Chic, & Shabby handmade purses, totes, aprons, & gifts to the locals and those who visit our area the first weekend in May, 2015.

Sh-h-h-h-h-h………Here’s the PEEK-A-BOO part of this post!

Coming to My Etsy Shop soon, a new section for you planners and gifters: Weddings . That’s right! A new section for you gals who love to shop! or party! or decorate! I will be working on getting that section filled little by little with all sorts of goodies. Here’s a list I’ve been building for YOU: wedding favors, bridesmaid gifts, burlap decorations, lacy table toppers, & diy kits, too! (Pics coming soon. Check the post updates in a week or two.)

If you go to that Weddings section NOW (see link above), you’ll see the beginnings of my bridesmaid gifts: sari silk purses. Later, I will add more styles: frame clutches in lace/satin, snap bags w fabric rosettes in pastel colors, there will be an entire collection of handmade bags in ivory, cottons, linens, lace, burlap added to this section. The only thing holding me back is TIME; time to cut-out, sew-up, photograph, & list the products.

Be patient. GOOD THINGS come to those who wait.

19Aug2014

Painting on Fabric: Is it durable? Washable? Permanent?

Posted in Show Off, Tutorial by beccasgreencraftstudio

My studio has changed its focus lately, or at least a corner of the studio that is. I have been wanting to paint sunflowers for a while now and went to work on this apron prototype last week. The results are fabulous! I hope to answer as many of your questions as I can in this week’s craft blog. However, do not hesitate to comment with a question at the bottom if I happen to leave your’s out. 🙂

Sunflowers are popping up all over the landscape here in North Georgia this month. Seeing them in all their glory moved me create my own canvas (apron fabrics) covered in sunny flowers. My artist friend, Sue King, does this all the time. She paints pillows and aprons using items from nature like leaves for stamping on neutral cloth. She heat sets the paint after it dries. I hesitated to do this technique in the past because i didn’t think it would be very durable. Turns out it is very durable. Sue showed me how durable it is when I realized how often she uses and then washes her painted tablecloth–its white cotton with leaf stamping in burgundy, browns, rusts, & greens.

I searched magazines and books and images on the web for ideas for sunflower designs and color. I had some green burlap to use for a ruffle trim on the apron and used that color green in the center of my design. I also painted the ‘seeds’ so that the fibonacci pattern was evident.

I wanted it to be somewhat realistic, but not perfect. I found a simple outline drawing in a color book to be the most useful when I began the process on the fabric. I sketched the design onto craft drawing paper to use as a visual aid as I worked on the fabric with the paints. I colored it with oil pastels. It seemed so easy to do, I was ready to begin on the fabric.

Sketch the design and color it.

I cut out several aprons from a lightweight ivory fabric in the studio stash pile. I taped it to a board to keep it smooth as I worked with it. That tip came from watching Sue in her studio. I sketched the design to the cloth, enlarging it from my drawing. And then I gathered the tools for the painting process and mixed my color palette. Before long I was fully absorbed in the process of creating my first sunflower apron. After I finished the first, I couldn’t stop. I was having too much fun to call this work! Which is why I love working in my Green Craft Studio. I get to make things that I love for others to appreciate and then love.

As I work on my second sunflower apron, a memory floods my mind and won’t let go. Its a memory of a photograph of my first home grown sunflower plant. (Here I am at the end of Summer 2014, creating a sunflower on fabric, and this memory pops up like the sunflowers I see in my current landscape.) The memory is vivid, and it moves me to add another dimension to this apron. A dimension that was not in my design drawing. It’s a ladybug! I didn’t see the ladybug until after we got the film developed.

It’s a LADY BUG!

The added apron detail of the ladybug called for a red pocket accent to which I added a fabric flower applique to set the whole apron off. The green burlap ruffle trim finishes it perfectly.

As far as the painting process goes, I started off using tiny brushes and then moved on to a tiny sponge roller for the big sections and the background coloring. The tiny flat sponge applicators worked well for the wide outline around the seed center. Paper plates and plastic spoons worked great for mixing the palette. I used acrylic craft paints in a matte finish. After the painted fabrics dried I heat set each painting from the back of the fabric using a low heat iron. I then washed them in cold water in the washing machine to test the paints. Durable! I dried them in the dryer and pressed them out before finishing the details of the pocket, trims and ties. One of these is going in my Etsy shop and another is going off to be reviewed for a blog feature in November. Elizabeth of Building Bridges Marketing was nice enough to reach out and I am excited to see what she says about my prototype painted aprons. November 16 is my feature date for her blog, so look for my Etsy shop feature article and read the review. It’ll be my first professional review and, quite frankly, I am on pins and needles!

24Apr2014

Crafting Green at Camp Green Craft

Posted in Camp Green Craft by beccasgreencraftstudio

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Crafting Green at Camp Green Craft

Hunting….Gathering….Exploring

(The green craft of weaving a rug on a hula hoop loom.)

The hunt is on….

Hunting materials for the camp led me down a path of exploration. Routinely, I visit our local thrift stores in Ellijay, Georgia, but for this camp project, I ventured into the unknown.

My first trip took me to the north, a town in North Carolina called Murphy. There is a thrift shop there packed full of clothing, linens and other household items to explore. I took advantage of the sale on winter clothes and scooped up all the long sleeve t-shirts I could hold. Blues, reds, whites and browns were among the few colors found.

Next, my venture led me to the town just north of Ellijay in north Georgia, Blue Ridge. I found a thrift store I didn’t know existed: Habitat for Humanity thrift. It did not have clothing, but I found linens and jewelry that will help in my crafting of purses and key rings. Off to the next shop.

Back in Ellijay, Georgia, I visited the local thrifts and consignments (our town has more than you can count on one hand) scouring the racks for t-shirts in XXLg. I hunted every week of March and found a few each week until I filled a plastic bin with nearly every color there was.

Let the gathering begin…

Gathering tools for the camp was necessary, but not near as exciting as the hunt for materials. After confirming the number of students who would participate this time, I decided to hold the camp at my home outside on the carport. I have plenty of tables and lots of room and the weather was nice, so it was good plan.

Camp day arrived and the carport was set. Four tables were in place as work surfaces and the conrete carport was covered with throw rugs so the kids could get down and get comfortable if they wanted to work on a lower surface. Campers arrived with bags of T-shirts, so my stash was only used for filler.

The best pair of shears were brought by one of the parents who cuts left handed. They were a spring type shear designed to reduce stress on the hand while cutting, a practical ergonomic design. I provided extra pairs of fabric shears for the craft because I anticipated that the scissors brought by kids would most likely not work for cutting the t-shirts to create the jersey loops for weaving. Parents jumped in to assist with this step, and was I ever glad. It turned out to be a challenge for all.

Exploring the art of weaving through a Hula Hoop loom turned out to be a fun way to craft with kids. Everyone brought a hula hoop of some sort. There were lighted ones, weighted ones, basic Dollar Store ones and lovely large glittery ones. Although the large hoops were a bit cumbersome to work with on the tabletops, the resulting projects were AWESOME!

Expression through art is a beautiful thing to watch.

Camp Green Craft showed me how this is true.

Every student approached their weaving project from their very own perspective. Each experience was their very own and each rug was so unique. One very shy and usually reserved student gave a wonderful commentary on her rug when it was finished. She enthusiastically described each area of her weaving process with such emotion that I was enthralled by it. She ended by saying: “I love this! I really love doing this! I want to do this again real soon!” I believe every student there thoroughly enjoyed the HUNTING, the GATHERING, and the EXPLORING experienced during this camp, and I cannot wait to do it again, too.

Thank you to all who joined us for the Camp Green Craft on April 20^th, 2014.

A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY PHOTOGRAPHER: THANKS ABBYJO! GREAT JOB!

If you would like to hire Camp Green Craft to come to you for a Craft Party, complete the contact form to get started. Cost is minimal.

My Thrift Store links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Faith-Hope-and-Charity-Recycle-Store/114637649105

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Thrift-Store/158930490807245

https://www.facebook.com/reach.thrift?fref=ts

Check out our Etsy team blog at http://northgeorgiamade.com/

Becca’s Green Craft Studio is selling crafts / vintage on Etsy….https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenCraftStudio

Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association (BRMAA) in Blue Ridge, Georgia 706-632-2144

Summer Youth Art Camp Schedule for classes taught by Becca of Becca’s Green Craft Studio

June 24-27, 10am-12pm Rugs & More (ages 10+)…Crochet Rugs using Jersey Loop yarn made by up-cycling t-shirts.

June 24-27, 1pm-3pm Fabric Flowers Round 1 (ages 9+)…Use discarded t-shirts to create fabric flowers and turn them into accessories for the girls.

July 1-4, 10am-12pm Weaving in the Round (ages 7+)…Weave a coaster, placemat and rug using up-cycled t-shirts and a round loom—embroidery hoops and hula hoops.

July 1-4, 1pm-3pm Fabric Flowers Round 2 (9+)…Learn to sew with a needle and thread and build fabric flower accessories as you go. Melted fabric flowers as time permits.

21Apr2014

Bazaar Stars

Posted in BoHo Bags by beccasgreencraftstudio

Riverfest Arts & Crafts Show in Canton, GA U.S.A. September 2013

To be or not to be ….a Bazaar Star?

In my life I have only participated in two craft festivals from behind the counter—once as an assistant to a friend who makes jewelry and once as owner of Green Craft Studio. There is a big difference between assisting and doing the show. The preparatory work alone makes me shudder to consider. There are so many thoughts to process….what NEW items to produce…and how much stock to prepare…and the pricing and tagging….and the signage…. the TO DO LIST grows and grows …and suddenly, it’s SHOWTIME! Which translates: SMILE, SMILE, SMILE until your face hurts.

That’s my plan for success during my next show anyways.

Appealing to the masses can be a looming task for any artist, but especially one who designs and creates products one at a time like I do. I take cues on what to produce from my custom requests filtering into the studio through my online etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/greencraftstudio. As I attempt to fill the booth with complimentary items, I envision a Shabby Country Cottage Chic arrangement in shades of the season. You will see vintage inspired handmade bags and aprons among other vintage or vintage inspired accessories for the lady(s) in your life.

Everything in the booth is handmade. And whether its my line of Ruffled Flapper Totes in 3 sizes or Retro Kitcheyware Aprons for guys and gals, the booth is sure to be filled with a feast for your eyes. Don’t be surprised if you feel nostalgic as you stroll through, browsing until your hearts content, after all everything from the studio is taken from the past. They all lived as something else prior to becoming a product of the Green Craft Studio because the materials are re-purposed clothing or linens. The prices are very affordable, but the quality is superb. I know you will go home with something you just love!

I also know that as long as I can SMILE, I can get through the craft show with success. Greeting everyone who walks by the booth might be a bit over the top, but I hope to meet as many new folks as possible. If you get to come to the mountains of North Georgia this autumn, be sure to plan time for the Mountain Moonshine Festival in Dawsonville, Georgia and look for us. Stop by and register for a chance to win a holiday shopping coupon card, so you can shop LOCAL online w/ me and my fellow Etsyians.

This blog will be updated as the dates for the Mountain Moonshine Festival draw near. Mark your 2014 calendar: Sat/Sun, Oct. 25, 26 in Dawsonville, Georgia.

https://www.facebook.com/GreenCraftStudio

http://www.exploregeorgia.org/listing/11443-47th-annual-moonshine-festival

Thanks for reading my bazaar star blog. Return for more …new blogs weekly.

17Apr2014

and away we GO!

Posted in BoHo Bags, Introduction by beccasgreencraftstudio

I registered with WordPress.com, so I could comment on an existing post on the NORGA Etsy Team website (https://www.northgeorgiamade.com), and suddenly I am creating my own blog website and writing my first blog ever.

So here we go!

I run an Etsy shop called Green Craft Studio. I work from home, sewing products that I design and sell on Etsy. When I was just a teeny bopper growing up in the 70’s, my mom sewed from home. She designed and fabricated costumes for a rock band. How cool is that, right? I thought it was real cool, but I had no idea how much work went into those costumes–most of Mom’s sewing happened after all the family went to sleep. I’d like to think that my products are real cool, just as cool as what mom did in the 70’s, but I’ll let my readers be the judge of that. I guess that’s why you see the 70’s influence on my favorite item, the Hip2Bsquare BoHo Bag. It is the most popular item I make. It is a beautiful purse that holds everything but the kitchen sink. I get custom requests for it all the time. It happens to be my favorite thing to make, too.

So, I thought it should be featured in my first Studio Blog… see more at my website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/greencraftstudio and see more products made in North Georgia U.S.A. at https://www.northgeorgiamade.com (NORGA/North Georgia Etsy team members featured there.)

Hip2Bsquare Boho bags like this one at www.etsy.com/shop/greencraftstudio

Hip2Bsquare Boho bags like this one at http://www.etsy.com/shop/greencraftstudio

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