DIY - Felt Brooch

So I don't know about you, but I'm on a total Thanksgiving feast overload.  A food coma if you will.  This means I'm going to step away from the table, find some comfy PJ's, and nestle up with some craft making bliss in an attempt to ignore the "Just one more slice of pie!" voice in my head.

My most recent addiction is with felt.  I love the versatility of this material and am enamored with how easy it is to work with.  It's a great go-to for bib necklaces, brooches, hair accessories, and appliqué pieces for your wardrobe.

I figure I'll start with making brooches - that's easy enough right?

Here's what I used:

-felt (I chose grey for this project to create a lovely monochromatic look)
-titanium scissors (love of my life scissors that will cut through anything)
-hot glue & glue gun
-brooch pin (available at most craft stores in their jewelry making section)
-pencil (for marking and pressing down hot glue areas)

Optional additions to your brooch making session include, but aren't limited to: holiday music because it's never too early, a nice cup of coffee or tea, and a little something sweet to nibble on while you are working. :)

Here's what I did:

1. Cut your felt into 3 one inch wide strips, then cut them into 1 x 1 inch squares (as pictured in bottom right hand corner of photo).  The squares don't need to be cut into exact measurements - you just want them roughly the same size.  Slight differences will only add to the flower's organic appeal.

Once you have cut out all of the squares, cut one side into a "soft heart" (as pictured in bottom left corner of photo).  These will become your flower petals.

2. Cut out 2 matching circles or ovals of the same color felt measuring about 2 inches in diameter.

3. Cut a 1/2 x 6 inch strip of felt and fringe one side of the strip as pictured below.

4. With your hot glue gun, begin gluing the first layer of flower petals to the edge of one oval.  I like to slightly overlap my petals to give it a nice full look. (Some people ask why not sew the petals on?  -You certainly can sew on each petal if you are not a hot-glue fan, but I find that the hot glue helps make the backing of the brooch more sturdy in terms of keeping it's shape and form and easier to handle.)

5. Once your first layer of petals are glued on, you're ready to glue your second layer of petals around the center of your oval.  Again, I like to slightly layer the petals for a fuller look.

6. Time for the fringed center of your flower!  Grab the fringed strip of felt you made earlier and begin rolling the uncut side of the strip all the way to the other end of the strip.

7. Place a generous amount of hot-glue (about a nickel sized amount) to the center of your flower brooch right on top of the petals and press the uncut side of your fringed roll to the hot glue.  Press the roll down into the glue to secure it to the brooch.  I use a pencil to help push it down to avoid getting burned.

8. While the glue is cooling down on your flower, grab that second oval and using pencil, mark the spot where you need to create two slits to push the brooch pin through.  Once you have cut the slits and put the pin in place, add a little hot glue to keep the pin stationary.

9.  Hot glue the second oval with attached pin to the back of the flower and smooth out the felt so that it sits flat and flush.

10. Once the hot glue has cooled, fluff up the center fringe of the flower and you are ready to go!

Yay! You've made your own sweet little brooch!

Today's Inspiration? The Moon!

Sometimes, when it's a nice clear night, I stop to admire the simplistic beauty of the Moon.  I think and wonder about the millions of people that have seen the moon over the centuries and I am in awe of it.

Here are some Moon inspirations that I've collected to guide my next project for the New Year:

A Trip to the Moon, by Georges Melies, 1902
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JDaOOw0MEE

I'll be sure to post photos of my completed project as soon as it's complete.  Thanks for letting me share today's inspirations with you!  - Nichole

Instagram

Totally, utterly, addictively on Instagram...

Did I mention I'm addicted to Instagram?  I love the app on my phone and play around with all of the "special effects" on pictures I've taken.  Some of those photos end up here on the blog, but there are plenty more to share.  Please feel free to stop by my Instagram page.  
If you have one too - send it to me via the comment section! I'd love to check out your work!

http://instagram.com/wildhearthistories

Create Your Own Stamps!

Time for a Stamping Session.  Yep - a good old DIY, make-it-yourself, carve your own stamp session.

I love the retro snowmen on some of the holiday cards I picked up from the Antique Fair last weekend, so I think they'll be the perfect touch to some colorful stationary I have.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Sketch out image, then trace it using tracing paper and a soft lead pencil.

2. Press tracing paper (lead side down) onto a linoleum block (available on Amazon) for carving.  This will transfer the image so that you can easily carve it out.

3. Use limo-print carving tools (I use the Speedball brand - available on Amazon) to carve an outline around the edges of your image.  This will make cutting away the outer parts of the linoleum much easier.

4. Carve out details inside image.

5. Do a test run by inking and then stamping your image. This will help you identify any areas that needs to be cleaned up.  Based on my test run, I can see that the lower left part of the stamp needs to be cut away to avoid that ugly white mark on the lower left corner.  I also thought it might be nice to add some detail to the hat, so I went back to create a plaid design.

6. When you're done making your finishing touches, wash stamp with warm soap and water to get any extra bits of linoleum shavings off for a nice clear finish.  Now you're ready to stamp away with your very own, home-made stamp.

 Yay for stamping!

If you like this stamped stationary, it is available as part of a dozen colorful, retro-inspired snowman card set in my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/WildHeartHistories

Thanks for stopping by. - Nichole :)

Holiday Haul - Vintage Style

I am a sucker for all things vintage.  I love the history each object holds and the secrets that they have "seen" will keep a curious, silent mystery.  The late 1800's through the 1960's seem to have the biggest draw on me in terms of items I shop.  So much happened during those times - the two World Wars, the Industrial Revolution, the Roaring 20's, Great Depression, the Atomic Age... the list goes on.

I marvel at how much things have changed over the course of just a few generations and sometimes I deeply wish I could live during some of those times.  Not to experience or make light of the obvious hardships, but to experience the arts and music of the time, the changing tone and culture.  Values seemed to be so much different then they are today - or so I hear.  Quality and service also seem to be a thing of the past too.  It's a wonder for sure.

Today I ventured out to the DC Big Flea Antique Show and had a grand time.  

The day started with an early morning rise, a cup of coffee, and lovely bacon and poached egg sandwich at my favorite little breakfast stop Northside Social.  The place has a bit of a hipster feel to it and I love the sounds of coffee being made, soft chatter, and the sun rising in the background.  It feels so nice to witness the day wake up and unfold.  

The drive to Chantilly, Virginia where the show was being held was lovely too- November "Fall Change of Color" around here is AMAZING!  And yes, I've written about it many times before. (Sorry! Can't help it!)

The wait to get in was equally amusing.  I was toward the front of the line that was starting to form at 8:30am even though doors didn't open until 9:00am.  But that's ok- there was an exciting buzz in the air of fellow antique lovers that added to the rush.  When the doors did open, I felt like I was in a cartoon because the people at the front of the line began jogging in and it looked like a miniature stampede.  Where everyone was running to, I'll never know-  there was plenty to go around. 

I found some items I'd been on the lookout for as well as some new treasures I was pleasantly surprised to find.  Here are some of my "New, Old Treasures".

1. One can never have enough ephemera - here are some vintage cards and an old Golden Book - illustrations from the 1930's to 1950's that are just fabulous and darling.

2. Jadeite - a collection I began 10 years ago and am still building.  I think I have about 200 pieces and am still on the hunt for more!  Today I found the Fire King Jadeite "D" mugs - ovenware made for restaurants and known for their lovely mint green color. I found four in perfect condition and got them for a steal!  (I'm still smiling about this find!)

3. A sweet set of wooden buildings, houses, cards, trucks, and trees along with a canvas mat painted with a street grid to place them on.  (Steve and I don't have kids yet, but I sometimes find cute things like this and set them aside for our "someday family".)

4. A vintage Christmas Tree skirt with a rocking' print of Santa and his reindeer.  The colors on this felt piece are very rich and I'm surprised at how well it's kept over the years. 

5. Vintage stockings hand sewn and made from felt.  These are so cool- they have little appliqué patches on them with pretty beadwork.  Whoever made these had some serious time on their hands.  -I'm just glad I get to enjoy their labors of love. Admittedly, the blue angel is a bit creepy and alien-esque, but my husband likes it and argues it's got a Star Trek flair so that will be his stocking for sure.

6. Elf on the (dusty if it's my furniture) Shelf!  Yes! I always see the new ones for sale and think- "Hey! I want a vintage one of those thing-a-ma-bobbers!".  Today I found a box-load of them at one of the stalls.  Some of the little elves, I'm sorry to say had pretty ugly faces, but I found this little guy and we were immediately smitten.