Old Calendars repurposed into Postcards

You’ve already read my complaints about too much inventory. In addition to pack-ratting beading items, I also save fabric and old calendars. In order to get things moving out of storage I have set myself up a little rotation. It goes: jewelry, sewing, postcards. I really should work my novels into the rotation…

During the jewelry arc, I try to make at least seven items. Getting out the lights and other photography aids would seem like a production otherwise (I’d leave them up all the time, but they take up a lot of space and I do share the office). Then I typically have a sewing project. You saw my last one, the awesome robe that makes you want to stand on a stone veranda with a pipe in hand looking debonair. And now the postcards. I get a beautiful 52-week calendar from Mom every year. I can’t bear to throw it away. I have a cubby full of them. It’s National Geographic and the pictures are too beautiful. I buy a pack of 4×6 index cards, a bottle of rubber cement ,and cut the photos to fit. Viola! Instant postcards. I use them as Gift Certificates cards as well as the usual note to a friend.

Stay tuned for Bohemian-style jewelry…

Duvet Transformed into Sumptuous Victorian-Style Robe

Behold, our old duvet cover. Beautiful red brocade and the adorable five-month-old Krau (short for Baron Krausen von Dopplebock). In January, I made the old duvet into a sumptuous Victorian-style robe, very Sherlock Holmes. I washed as much cat hair off as I could. I think Krau has a nostalgic feeling about these covers. I made him a bed out of the pillow slips so he would leave the rest of the robe alone…

I hoped it would fit me, but sometimes the pattern says one thing about final measurements and doesn’t stick to it. I used a regular bathrobe pattern, but made the skirt a little fuller and longer. I used some corduroy Mom gave me ages ago for the collar and cuffs contrast, and I added a gold piping to the wide collar. The result is a very kingly, heavy, warm robe. My tall friend Chris modeled for me as the waist is too low for me. I’m currently trying to find this beautiful robe a new home. If I can’t find a friend to take it, maybe you’ll see it on eBay.

Neda’s Earrings

I know! Shame on me for being lazy and not blogging. I blame the recent cold; it paralyzes me and makes me want to curl up in bed. I also blame my cat, the Baron Krausen von Dopplebock, for being such a bad example. Oh, and I went back to work full time last week…

So check out these babies! My cousin Neda made these for me this Christmas. A sort of DNA double helix style. (I must also mention her sister Tara here, who made me a ladder style bracelet the year before.) I’ve got many complements on them. Thank you, girls.