Charlotte Sometimes

Category: Making

Fast Food Junk Journal WIP (Flick Through)

Recently I’ve been taking the time to explore recycled materials in my crafts, especially in paper crafts. This has led me to putting together a diy junk journal that uses lots of recycled fast food packaging! You don’t need expensive pads of paper, ephemera, and junk journal digital kits to make a fabulous junk journal, you just need some imagination!

Here’s a quick flick through I filmed of my recycled fast food junk journal after I’d sewn the signatures in. There’s still a long way to go with adding more decoration, but I really love how it’s come out so far!

The four junk journal signatures contain pages from magazines, fast food delivery bags from Starbucks and Subway, food boxes, and some tags made from recycled Amazon packaging and cereal boxes. I tea-dyed lots of the pages and also used artists gesso on the tags. The pockets are a combination of sewing and double-sided tape to stick them down.

The cover is actually a cake box which was the exact right size, covered in a KFC delivery bag and using a Pizza Hut box on the spine for reinforcement. On the inside of the cover there are pages from magazines, but I plan to add some pockets as extra tuck spots. There is lots I want to do in this journal but I was really, really keen to upload a video to show my progress so far.

For the next stage of this journal I’m going to look at designing my own junk journal elements using SVG files from various websites. I like the fact that SVG files can be used for so many different things, from just printing and cutting out, to cricut stickers, or even embroidery. It makes them the kind of resource that once you buy them, they can be used time and time again.

I’m really excited to grow my junk journaling hobby and see where it leads. I think that there are lots of different ways to take this kind of relaxed and creative bookbinding. I’m really enjoying the freedom to be creative without worrying that everything is all neat and tidy like traditional bookbinding. And I’ve already noticed that this new hobby has started to creep over into other parts of my life too – I’ve been stashing papers already for a photography junk journal!

During the various lockdowns I’ve started using this fast food junk journal to document all the different and new takeaways and foods that we’ve tried. I’ve been cooking lots more than usual, and we’ve also been making a point to try out different takeaways and restaurants in our local area that we’ve never tried before. I’m hoping that this junk journal will be a positive memento from this global pandemic, one that I can think about all the good experiences I’ve had rather than just the negatives.

I’m hoping that my photography junk journal will be the same. Once I’ve made it and decorated the pages I’ll use it to stash ideas, plans, and even finished photographs that I’ve taken. Hopefully it will become a real focal point for my creative photography work.

October 30, 2020
Retail Therapy for Sewists during Lockdown

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have already been giving your credit card a workout while we’re locked down and told to stay indoors. But just in case you’ve not cracked yet, here are some of my favourite finds on Etsy for those of us who love to sew.

Felt Brontosaurus Pattern

Look, I just love dinosaurs. I have dinosaurs hidden all over the house at strategic points and I keep promising to make my own. This pattern by typingwithtea is top of my list.

I know I won’t be able to stop at one though – I’ll need the stegosaurus too!

Dinosaurs in Space Cross Stitch Pattern

To continue the dinosaur theme – last night I was browsing Etsy and I found this set of dinosaurs in space cross stitch patterns.

I could think of a hundred places these would look good around my house, I’m only hoping I get the pattern for my birthday Thursday!

Travel Needle Minders

And then I thought, if I’m doing some cross stitch for the first time in two decades, then I probably need the right kit.

Aren’t these travel themed needle minders adorable? I figure that if we can’t travel at the moment, we might as well have things that remind us of what we’ll do when all this is over.

Project Bag Pattern

I find project bags really useful in my house. I used to use cardboard boxes. But bags like this mean I can pack everything into one neat bag and leave it by the sofa to work on in the evenings.

Just like mine, this pattern has pockets all the way around for things like scissors and rulers – more useful than you could ever imagine.

Macrame Plant Hanger Kit

Thinking about my living room and the sofa, I can’t be the only one who has a house full of plants. In fact, my living room is turning into a bit of a jungle and we’ve had to resort to hanging them from the ceiling.

So I keep meaning to learn macrame to keep my little plant buddies happy, and this kit looks like the ideal way to start.

Tropical Plant Stitch Markers

If you’re more of a knitter than a macramer (is that even a word?) then these plant themed stitch markers really are delightful.

I taught myself to knit once. A beautiful chunky cabled scarf with expensive wool that I bought from Liberties when I worked around the corner in London. Alas, my project bag full of half-finished scarf and lovely wool got lost when I moved out of my ex’s house. I still mourn that scarf.

Sewing Theme Art Print

You know what? Sometimes making all feels like it’s a bit too much, and what we really want to do is sit around and binge Netflix. That’s ok too, especially in this time of crisis.

Leigh of PaperandInksUK has designed an amazing set of sewing themed art in the style of traditional tattoos. This one might have to live above my sewing machine to remind me to think before I cut expensive fabric.

Sign your Makes

Lastly, a shout out to the company who supply my labels for my business. Naked Labels have been making my branding labels for the last few years and the quality is excellent. Whenever I need to order a new set (like this weekend) they always have the design to hand and they just make it easy.

A++ will use them forever.

If you want to see what the Etsy editors picked as their favourite items during this lockdown, head over to their #StandWithSmall page. Now more than ever it’s important to support small local businesses and artists.

Most of us won’t be getting much government support, and those that do will have to wait until at least June. So if you’re still on the lookout for presents for others or treats for yourself, consider the artists and makers rather than the chains. <3 Thank you!

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April 6, 2020
Free Online Sewing Classes during the Pandemic

First off, I hope you’re all feeling alright out there and that you and your loved ones are safe. It’s extraordinary times at the moment and certainly here in the UK we’re facing the prospect of being stuck indoors for the next two and a half weeks!

But it’s not all doom and gloom – people all over the world are finding the time to reconnect with their families, take up hobbies that they’ve always wanted to have a go at (I’m mastering the handstand pushup), and perfect the skills they already have.

Bluprint have put together a “creative care package” for the pandemic which includes free access to all of their classes for two weeks! All you have to do is head over to their site and sign up – you don’t need a credit card but you do need to register.

Bluprint classes cover so many different crafts and hobbies and they’ve made over 1300 of them free for this event. I’ve taken a few drawing classes on the site in the past, and I do love the modern quilting classes that are available. But there’s also photography, knitting, cake making… your only problem might be ordering the supplies that you need!

The Jacquie Gering classes on modern quilting are my favourite classes on Bluprint. The creative quilting class really opened my eyes to seeing what could be done with just walking foot quilting. Well worth taking if free motion quilting has never really appealed!

Homeschooling resources

For the parents of kids who are now staying at school, there are also plenty of classes that they can take on their own with just basic materials. Bluprint has even organised a special family section of their site, so you can easily find suitable classes to take with them.

Let me know if you watch a class and enjoy it – I’d love to see what you get up to! So head over to Bluprint, sign up, and get started!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
I may earn commissions for any links that appear in blog posts on this site. There is no change in pricing if you click through an affiliate link.

March 26, 2020
New Product Design for my Etsy Business
When I design a new product for my Etsy business I usually start with an idea that a potential customer has given me. Then we’ll brainstorm out their ideas and see what kind of images would be suitable for creating their piece of costume embroidery.

I’ll let you into a secret – I can’t draw. No matter how much I’d love to be able to draw I have never managed to master even the basics. So when I am looking to create a design for a client (or for my Etsy store) I go to svg file download sites in order to find images that I can work with.

The biggest benefit of purchasing svg files to use in my commercial designs is that I know they’re licensed and I can use them to make money without restriction. So many people aren’t aware of copyright laws and just take images from the internet without checking they’re allowed to use them.

The other major benefit is that you get a fantastic vector image that you can scale to any size and output at any level of quality. It makes them a versatile and worthwhile investment for the future because I have no idea what direction my business will grow in!
It’s certainly a steep learning curve to understand how to make embroidery design files from vector files that you’ve purchased, but if you do embroidery as a business it’s a skill that is well worth knowing. Getting your designs turned into embroidery files by someone else isn’t hugely expensive, but it does mean that you have to send everything out to another person and wait for them to come back before you can start work on the finished items.

I have very basic software, the Janome Digitizer JR that came with my machine. But it’s enough to work with raster files that I’ve extracted from my svg file purchases. To turn the SVG file into the kind of image files I can work with in my embroidery software I use Adobe Illustrator, but many of the embroidery design software bundles available now can actually work directly with the SVG files which cuts out that middle step!

Learning to work with SVG files to create embroidery designs either for business or pleasure can be super enjoyable. You don’t have to be able to draw, you just have to learn how to use the software and then sew the designs up in creative ways!

And the benefit of digitizing your own designs from SVG files is that, even if you can’t draw, nobody else will have the same embroidery design as you, and everything you make will be unique because of that. Suddenly a standard garment or accessory made from a commercial pattern can become something truly unique that nobody else in the world has!

But lets face it – even if you can draw, sometimes you don’t want to reinvent the wheel. A quick check online could mean that you save lots of time drawing up designs where someone else has already created something similar and made it available to purchase.

Happy crafting!
February 4, 2019
Relocating the Sewing Room!

So over the past few months sewing has become more than a hobby, it’s become a business. And I outgrew my corner in the old hobby room that I shared with Adam so something had to happen. It just wasn’t possible to really have a profit making business that turned out orders on time in that small space where I had to squeeze past a table to sit down.

It’s a long way from the Pinterest-perfect workspaces you can find if you have a quick search, but it is so much better for working in.

And you see that tripod? I’m filming my work now to put on YouTube. Because I love teaching people new skills.

July 6, 2018
Recent Empire Costume

I’ve not updated the blog for a while, but I *have* been making things…

For the Pledge Ball.

Sideless Surcote for the Pledge Ball.

Relaxed tunic with V neck. The trim is actually chains in blue and white. High status but not overly fussy.

Priest stole to denote the responsibility of having a congregation.

Drowned Man chapter banner completed by hand using reverse appliqué technique.

Photo by Beth Dooner. Also note priest stole on left hand side.

New robes, designed to reflect functional crusader style armour but entirely made from fabric. The ‘pauldrons’ allow the chapter crest to be word on the shoulder (as in the Highguard brief), the tabs on the front reflect a priest stole, and the arms have seven stripes for seven virtues (that is piping pieced into the design, not painted on or applied). I wanted to feel ‘big’ and for the robes to look heavy.

Kids tunics. Plain blue (with room to grow), and the chapter logo worn on the shield arm like armour.

August 7, 2017
#51-52: Early Middle Ages Tunics

I made two of these, because I had 10m of lovely green wool. One for me for Dumnonni, and one for Simon for Heathen.

His was machine finished, except for the neck that was hand finished. Mine was hand finished throughout. Just because.

November 25, 2016
#50: S’Forza Belt Favour

No comment.

November 25, 2016
#46-49: House S’Forza Outfit

So I got invited to go and play a Curious Pastimes faction event (and take some photos of course). And so obviously, I needed kit. Spanish renaissance inspired noble house who were all about passion and pleasure. Black and purple.

So… of course lots of black leather kit was the way forward! I based the whole thing loosely on a combination of some videogames characters and Paso Doble dancers outfits.

It’s the first time I’ve really worked with leather. I got some last year but I couldn’t make it work. This time I got some slightly thinner and came up with a design that heavily utilised thonging so that I could be a bit inaccurate around the edges. I’m pretty pleased with how the whole thing came out.

#46: The Shirt.

Based on the same pattern as basically all the robes that I ever make, just with much larger sleeves that I gathered on my overlocker and elasticated wrists. £2 Ikea calico and a pack of Dylon washing machine dye. I added a drawstring with black bias tape too.

#47: The Belt / Corset Thing.

Based on a design by Epic Armouries (I would have bought theirs but it was too big, not cut for women, and not really what I wanted). This used far more thonging than I thought it would…

#48: Shirt Gaiters.

Flouncy long sleeves deserve gaiters… that match the belt / corset.

#49: Bracers.

And matching bracers. Of course. In ‘tiny’ size.

November 20, 2016
Spanish Influenced LARP Belt

Pictures – description might follow.

November 16, 2016