Template Tips

I have come to learn that I am a very visual and tactile person.  I need to see a material or object in order to completely understand its size  and proportions.

This became a problem for me last year when I started receiving orders for custom cases.  I  knew technically how big to make my cases so that an item would fit but I really couldn't be sure that it was going to be perfect.  I of course couldn't afford to purchase every gadget out there, although in a moment of desperation I seriously pondered it.  I even went as far as purchasing a broken iPod nano just so I could be sure it would fit my cases!  Once I came to my senses, I came up with a great idea that incorporated a way for me to recycle my magazine stash and  have perfect reproductions of the latest and greatest gadget!

I cut the magazines into the dimensions of each device and then completely cover them with packing tape.  This allows me to insert the templates into the cases and iron them so that the cases are perfectly formed in the shape of their intended device.

One year later, my collection has grown!  Now I know that my custom orders will be perfect!  These templates have saved me so much time and trouble!

They reside on the shelf next to my ironing board in a pretty box.

Ack!  I see from the picture that the water level for my iron is low and needs to be re-filled!  Also, as you can see, I am not good at hanging anything straight. :)

All of the pictures on the wall are ones I have purchased from various talented Etsy sellers.  I love looking at them and being inspired by them while I am working!

I hope that my crazy magazine templates idea will be useful to someone else sometime! :)

Dyeing in the Kitchen

Hi everyone!
It has been a while since I last posted on my blog because I have been very (thankfully) busy!
2010 has started with a big bang for me and I am so excited to be working on new projects which I will unveil soon and lots of custom orders!

One custom order this week required me to dye a piece of fabric for an iPod case.  I decided to take advantage of the situation and dye a whole bunch of fabric at the same time and then take pictures so I could share the process with all of you!

I love to dye fabric and I love to cook and I have figured out that I dye fabric like I cook food.  This just means that I don't generally follow any rules or recipes.  I love the excitement and mystery of mixing a little of this and a little of that to end up with something delightfully unexpected and wonderful!  This method of working, whether it is for cooking or dyeing, only works as long as you know and understand the basic principles of what you are doing. This process also doesn't guarantee repeatable results but it is so much fun to be inventive and it definitely keeps me from getting bored with what I do!

I started out with fabric that I thought was pretty boring in black and white.

Then I covered all of my kitchen counter space with old towels so I wouldn't ruin anything and get in trouble.  Then I prepared all of my utensils and dyes etc.

After that, I had to decide which fabric I wanted to dye in a particular color.

Next I mixed the colors and immersed the fabric.  Each dye bath needed to be stirred constantly to ensure even dyeing and no splotching.

I use fiber reactive dyes which are permanent and color fast.  You can find them here and directions for their use here.  These dyes are specifically made for cotton, rayon and silk.  I dyed both cotton and silk in this group of fabrics.

After this step is the washing...it takes a loooooong time to wash the dyes out of the fabric. (So, no pictures!)

Besides finding out how my crazy color experimentation turned out...my absolute favorite part is discovering how each fabric takes the dye. (I know, I am such a dork for getting so excited about dyeing fabric!)

All fibers take dye differently.  I won't get technical but you'll see from the pictures below that I have grouped the fabrics by the color I dyed them in and some of the results are drastically different!

This is the dark green dye bath.  As you can see, the fabric on the left is silk and it didn't feel like taking any of the blue in the dye at all!  The train fabric is pretty neat because certain parts dyed darker than others and that makes the print really interesting...what a lucky discovery!

This is the blue dye bath.  You can see that some of the stripes in the plaid fabric dyed lighter than the other ones...also a very neat discovery!

Didn't they turn out great! :)

Another reason that I will over-dye a fabric is if the original color is just awful. (according to me)

For example, the red on this fabric was way too bright and light and I hadn't been able to use it because it just looked garish to me.  So I placed it in the same red dye bath as the fabric in the previous picture and I think the new shade of red makes all the difference in the world.  It doesn't hurt my eyes to look at it anymore! :)

So, there it is!  This week I dyed in the kitchen!  Till next time!

New Holiday Tradition!

Last Christmas I fell in love with a gorgeous green mug by Jenny Blasen of jennyblasenpottery on Etsy and just had to have it!  I've used it every single day since I received it in the mail.  A few weeks ago, I  included a beautiful orange porcelain mug by kimwestad in one of my treasuries and couldn't stop thinking about it!  I felt a little silly... like I was cheating on my green mug!  Still, I couldn't stop coveting the orange mug and finally gave in to the temptation!  Today, it arrived in the mail!

It is so beautiful and HUGE and it matches my lovely new iPod nano perfectly!  I can already feel the caffeine overload! :)

I have come to realize and accept that my mug relationship is no longer monogamous.  Therefore, I shall begin a new holiday tradition (so my mugs will not feel too betrayed) and every Christmas I will indulge my mug affair.  Till then, I will enjoy my beautiful new orange mug and my beautiful green mug will sit next to my computer holding all of my pencils and pens so I can still enjoy it and see it everyday! :)

Etsy Front Page!

When I logged in to Etsy just now, I was so excited to see I was on the front page!  This gorgeous treasury was made by dollcloset ! 

New Netbook Case!

After lots of hard work and many prototypes, I finally finished the design of my new netbook case!
I took pictures and they are now available in my Etsy store!

My sister named the case Riley, which happens to also be the name of my friend's really cool and adorable daughter!

This case fits netbooks/laptops measuring up to 10 ½" x 7 ½" x 1 ½".  The netbook in the photographs is my sister's Dell Inspiron Mini 10.

I used neoprene to pad the case and then lined it with flannel to keep the netbook cozy and scratch free!
I also used canvas to reinforce all of the pocket openings.

The Riley case features:
▪ A spacious main compartment for your netbook 12 ¼" x 9".
▪ A front zipper pocket for your power cord, phone or mouse etc. 12 ¼" x 5 ¼"
▪ Two additional interior pockets within the front zipper pocket to hold your credit cards, USB flash drives, etc.
▪ A large pocket on the back of the case with a snap closure for your papers or a small mouse pad. 10" x 7 ½".
▪ Two pen slots: one on either side of the back pocket.

I can make one of these cases to fit any laptop, netbook or kindle.  I can also add handles or a shoulder strap and make it in any of my fabrics, many which can be found in my flickr account http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryjmaalouf/sets/72157610657250780/.   I would be very happy to work with you on a custom order.  Please contact me for more information if you are interested! :)

Holiday Wrapping!

I am so excited about the pretty holiday packaging I found for my Etsy items!  I just love opening and receiving beautifully wrapped presents!  Here is a sample of what one of my Alice cases looks like wrapped in pretty holiday tissue paper with my label.  

These are the beautiful wrapping papers!

This is the Holiday card!  The outside says, "(heaven & nature sing)" and the inside says, "Wishing You A Wonderful Holiday Season."

I can wrap your purchase in any of these beautiful tissue papers and/or wrapping papers and include the card, free of charge! 

Happy Holidays!
Mary :)

Smoke and Moss Treasury

There is nothing like a beautiful treasury to lift my spirits!  Aren't those metal sheep too cool?!

It seems like lately everything has been taking a little longer than usual to get accomplished.  My computer was also out of commission (possessed) last week and my wonderful dad fixed (excorsized) it!  I am almost back on schedule and I have so many new things to share, so keep posted! :)
Mary