Fabric Tags

My New Fabric Tags! Yay!

I ordered these custom fabric tags from BellaMental on etsy and they came in last week - they look so awesome! I did the design, but the printing just turned out really well, and for such a reasonable price!

These are 1.5" x 1" tags (they fold in the middle, so the name & URL are on both sides). Very soon now, there will be lots of stuffed animals with these! Probably lumpy and weird looking ones!

This is what I was doing previously for tags:

Yes, hand-stitching the tags did look cool, but unfortunately I am no longer updating Willrad.com for an extended period of time, and "Futuregirl Leah Riley" or "futuregirl.etsy.com" was just a little too long for this type of tag.

I love that I can order small runs of custom tags! Yay for the internet and etsy!

Skirt: Finished!

Finished Steampunk Lolita Skirt!

Just so you know, I finished the skirt! Just in time for the steampunk Clockwork Ball last night -if you want to see more pictures from the Clockwork Ball, just check out my photostream by clicking on the picture. I think I did the whole thing in about 24 hours, which bodes well, since this is just a prototype.

So, ya know, Woo! And stuff.

Suddenly Skirting

Skirt Pieces: Pinned & Laid Out

I've been tossing around the idea of making a skirt for the Clockwork Ball this Friday (tonight) night. Initially, I wanted to make something long and drapey. Then I sudden decided yesterday I should veer far far away from my original plan and make a lolita skirt.

This is the first skirt I've ever sewn from scratch, but I'm not just making it up as I go (though I'm doing that a little) - I'm basing it partially on this awesome victorian skirt tutorial and a skirt I have from In the Starlight. The rule is I'm only using materials I have on hand (including a black zipper that I'd ripped out of a skirt I was getting rid of). So far, it's coming out ok, though I had to rip out the zipper once, and it still looks funky the way I have it.

For reference, the decorative fabric is leftover from a table runner project, and the red is ... I don't know, maybe leftovers from Will's Zukko costume?

If you want more images, click on the one above - I'll update as it progresses. Right now, I'm sewing the panels together in a RACE AGAINST TIME! (I have a backup outfit planned, just in case.)

Stuffed Animals & Weekend

SpaceCat Sketch: Where All Stuffed Animals Begin

After some intensive painting last week for a commissioned project (pictures soon), and then a painting party over the weekend (I forgot my camera - but Michelle had hers!), I'm ready to settle in and do some sewing! (Besides the commissioned piece, I'm working on a few other side projects. Secret projects! Not as exciting as these exclamation marks indicate!!!)

First off, I will be attempting to make a sweet skirt for this Friday's upcoming Clockwork Ball in Chapel Hill. The skirt will be my first attempt at making a proper piece of clothing, instead of an accessory (or altering) so it also falls into the "prototype" category as well. It's scary cutting into fabric you really like, already shaking off the feeling that you're just going to screw it up and waste... ok, just cut it.

Secondly, once my new fabric tags come in from BellaMental I'm going to be sewing together some new prototype stuffed animals. Including Ol' Spacecat that you see there.


Speaking of stuffed animals:
Jason and Ryn of Random Signal (I designed their sweet cephalopodic logo) just finished up the Great Random Signal Name Our RoombaTM Contest. The winner is Paul Fischer, of the Balticon Podcast, with his winning submission 3-Sweepio!

Paul's prize? A plush robot handmade by me! My robot is a prize for a robot namer!
P.S. Robots!

Ear Placement, Destroying Scissors

Possum to Unintentional Bunny/Mouse!

I've been working on plush animal designs, to help clear out the evidence of my ludicrous fabric-buying addiction. (This possum/bunny is made of corduroy pants that no longer fit, so super-soft). Sometimes, there are mistakes.

Take this possum prototype - I was working from a drawing, not entirely knowing how the pieces would fit together. Subsequently, I made the ears too big, and then placed them too far up on the head and... suddenly Bunny! (Or mouse?)

Whatever it is, it isn't a possum. It does make a cute bun/possum/mouse animal, so yay for that.


AND! I managed to break my favorite pair of scissors this week! I had to go to JoAnns and buy a new pair of Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Scissors (according to that link, they're excellent for "scrapboking"). Fortunately, they were 50% off.

I almost got the Titanium Nitride version, but decided that my habit of trying to cut through sewing machine needles (how I ruined the previous pair) wouldn't necessarily be helped by fancy alloys.

The Failbear Indicates This Post is Full of Failures

Wedding Design: Program & Invitations

Leah-designed wedding program and invitations - names changed to protect the innocent

Freelance design gigs are pretty fun, especially because you can pick and choose your projects. The downside is the decision-making process - which projects to take, money vs. time, id vs. ego, etc.

This design project was all smooth sailing, even with the "Careful... careful!" feeling I get when I make things for people's weddings. One does not want to mess things up. Fortunately, we all kept each other updated, and I made sure I had backup plans (if this paper won't print, then I'll try this paper!)

Also, I love it when a project for something else turns into something that you can both be proud of. They love the product, and you want to put it in your portfolio!

Here's my tips for freelance design jobs:
- Be upfront about your pricing.
- Ask a million questions about what they want - and get them to send you links to images they like!
- Keep track of your hours and receipts.

Any other freelancers got some killer tips?

Etsy Shop Refill: Collages and Supplies

Three Hearts Beat As One

I've been working on some collages and mixed media pieces. While cleaning my studio, I realized I have a lot of paper I've collected over the years, and I should really get on with making stuff out of it.


Wildflower in Wonderland

I've also been doing a lot of research on book illustration, from illuminated manuscript to The Wizard of Oz - I find it all so fascinating. This piece was inspired by Through the Looking Glass.

So far, I've finished these two new pieces and put them in my Etsy.com shop. Can't hoard forever, right?


Speaking of hoarding, I'm also getting rid of some supplies that have ended up in the shop. There's old ribbon, push molds and Ole Miss / Colonel Reb fabric.

Papier Mache Wings

My favorite are these paper mache wings, which I've used in my previous art-craft week challenges. I just have so many of them, that I think I should get them out there for other people. Especially because they sell papier mache squirrels and dinosaurs, which I think would only be improved by the addition of angellic wings.

Also, I hate spelling papier mache, because it always seems wrong.


Two more things!
Thanks to SMUtopia for adding my Kraken print to her Octopi-themed Friday finds.

If you're interested in getting updates, images, specials, and warnings about what's coming soon, you can become a fan of Futuregirl Leah Riley's etsy shop on Facebook. Because facebook.