Testing, Testing, This is only a test...

The message you are about to read is only a test. Testing. Testing. This test is to confirm to everyone and myself that I am still here, and this still works...Testing, Testing...

I Am Orange, (and so is this felt sleeve)

I decided it was appropriate to make an Oregon State Beaver inspired coffee sleeve. You see, as just about all Oregonians know, this week marks the 113th Civil War game between Oregon State University (GO BEAVS!!!) and University of Oregon. Hmmm, is it hard to tell which side I am on?


This is THE game of ALL games for these two teams this season. It's the Civil War for the Roses, baby! The winner of this game will go to the Rose Bowl. It has never before in the history of these civil war games that "both teams have entered the game with the "winner take all" scenario", as detailed by OSU Beaver Athletics.

So with much enthusiasm, spunk, and team spirit, I made a stunning orange and black coffee sleeve. With hand cut letters of felt on two layers of (wait for it...) more felt that spell "GO BEAVS", any OSU fan would be proud to hold this cup of coffee!

I know I am!!!!

O-S-U! FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT!

Eco-Friendly Coffee Sleeve

Not long ago, I received a big bag of felt from my Grandpa's belongings. To say he was an avid quilter would be putting it lightly, but that's another story. He had an enormous amount of fabric that he had collected over the years. I aquired only a small amount of what he had and still my closet is overflowing. So every now and then I would take out this bag of felt, look over the contents and ponder what sort of things to create with it. Then I would get distracted with some other project and pack it all back in again. Needless to say it has been sitting in my closet for months and finally I decided on what to make with it: A Reusable Coffee Sleeve.

You see, I work in a coffee shop (ahem, starbucks), and on a daily basis we probably go through hundreds of the cardboard coffee sleeves. While those are recyclable and made from recycled material, when you add up all the other stores around the world, that's probably more like millions (maybe even billions) of those cardboard sleeves eventually getting tossed into the trash. That's a lot of waste! So why not have your own reusable coffee sleeve that keeps those things out of the landfills and also adds a personal touch to your daily brew?

They are simple and easy to make. In fact, I used the cardboard sleeve as a template for the basic pattern. It ensures a snug fit that will accomodate almost all sizes of cups. Once you have that, you can embellish as you please. You can hand stitch it together, as I did the one pictured here, or you can machine stitch (examples to be posted soon).

Unless you have really thick felt, I recommend using two layers. That will give extra insulation from the heat of the coffee, and an added bonus is you can mix and match the colors to create a really cool design. You can embroider designs or add other layers of felt to make it your own. Even beads or buttons or other appliques would be cute. For this one I embroidered my coworkers' name onto a small piece of felt and then stitched it onto the outer layer. Then I used a blanket stitch to attach the two layers. If you plan to stitch on your personalized art, do so before attaching the two layers together. That way the stitches won't show through to the inside fabric. Have fun and happy sipping!

Vintage Inspired Apron made at a Vintage Price

What is it about the onset of Autumn that urges me to stitch and sew? Is is the vibrant fall colors? Or perhaps the crisp morning air and how the sunlight creates such a contrast against the gray far off clouds? Maybe the reality of it is in fact that I haven't done a darn creative thing all summer long! And now, I am itchin' to get stitchin'!!!

So about two months ago I made this apron. I found the white floral fabric at Goodwill (it was formerly an embroidered tablecloth). The blue fabric is what was leftover after I shortened a bridesmaids dress that I wore this summer (yeah, I am not tall, so I had a good 4-5 inches to work with. that's one of the bonus of being petite!). And the yellow is an inexpensive cotton purchased with a coupon at JoAnn's. The pattern I used was one I downloaded for free at www.bhg.com. All total this probably cost $3.50 in materials.


If you'd like to make one yourself you can find the pattern here:
http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/accessories/easy-retro-apron/

If you're not into sewing or don't have the time, I can make one for you. Just email me. Or look for some to be for sale very shortly at my etsy shop.

From Drab to Fab! ...

We found this drab-looking old light fixture at the Rebuilding Center in North Portland (a great place to "treasure-hunt" for house parts) for only $10 bucks! Check out how it turned out after I gave it a little love...

Before

Before

During

After cleaning it up and adding a couple coats of paint I think it looks like a brand new light that you would find at Rejuvenation.

After

I think I put it back correctly, but I am not too sure. It took me several tries to finally get the parts to stay together.

I hope you like it Dad.

I Think I Sense a Theme Here...

It's Spring!!! Finally, winter is over, if only the cold and the rain would go away...but while I've been dreaming of warmer days to come, I guess my paintings have followed that theme too. These are just a few of what I've been working on for the last three months. And coming up next month (I'm so excited!) I get to display them in public!!! Dare I say an Art Show? I will keep you updated with more info on a First Thursday event, so all my friends and family can join me to celebrate! Cheers for now! (Enjoy this mini show).

Exciting New Addition to My Family

Well, sort of, a new "addition". While doing some after-Christmas shopping, I bought a mannequin! I am very excited about the possibilities and uses of her (sewing helper, photo shoot model, dog sitter, and HOV lane passenger, etc.) But now I think she needs a name and I'd like your help....Please see my poll and vote on your favorite (or if you have a better suggestion, just add a comment and I'll consider adding it to the list).

Another Snow Day Project

BEFORE

A plain, boring dresser.

AFTER

Sleek and pretty.

Contact paper and decals can do wonders!

Looks like it took all day, but I finished it in under three hours.

Snow Day Project

I am "snowed" in today and so I made this stocking for a friend in about three hours today.

Go Beavers!!

New Projects

The First of More to Come....

A pretty pink apron lets you feel and look fabulous while doing chores or entertaining.

Brand New Ribbon Belt Designs

Warm brown background compliments gold and white mosaic wave pattern.

Fabulous double-sided ribbon with dark brown and white ginkgo leaf designs.

Concentric circles of pink, orange, and brown on an olive green background, backed with a coordinating burgundy ribbon.

Pretty pink paisly designs dress up a dark brown ribbon.

Bright and mod, this olive green belt with cirlces of dots makes a statement.

A Sampling of New Clutch Bag Designs:

Black and white toile designs give a classic yet country feel to this clutch style bag. Large and small sizes give you options (a medium size is in the works).

Backside has a strap the doubles as a handle (large size shown).

Look for these items and more to soon be for sale in my Etsy shop.

Coming Soon to My Etsy Shop!

As I mentioned before, I like to jump from project to project. These are a few items I've made that you can look foward to seeing in my Etsy shop. They are one of a kind handbags and ribbon belts. Very cute, don't you think? Stay tuned for more info and new projects. I'll be posting some of my sisters fabulous graphic design work soon too! (it's amazing!) And as always, let me know what you think.....

They're On Display!

Yes, it's true. Some of my paintings are now on display at a local Starbucks.....I can't believe it!

Since putting them up in the last week of April, I have not painted all that much to be honest. I am still waiting for one of them to dry (might be waiting a long time actually), and then I can display that one as well (see work in progress post).

I have received many positive comments from the team who work there, and another great comment from a local artist/customer who had her art up before mine. It amazes me to hear what people have to say. I certainly am a tough critic on my own work to be sure, I just want it to be the best it can be. And I am sure like many of you artists out there, it can be very difficult to take the images you have in your mind and recreate it on canvas, paper, etc. It never seems to be quite right, but that's part of what keeps the process going, that constant striving for something with just a little more "wow".

A Work In Progress

Untitled
By C. Miner

This painting is one I am currently working on. I used oil paints on canvas board. I had started this painting a long time ago.....probably like 2002 or '03. I don't have a picture of what it looked like before this post here, but trust me it was much more harsh, more dark, more rough and a little angry. I guess I was in a darker place in my life then......so it didn't seem fitting to leave it like that (besides, I always intended to rework it into something better). And now is the time for that.

For me, painting can be a kind of "therapy", or a release. Something that can get me out of my head. Something that I can do to escape the busy-ness of this crazy world. Something that is just fun.

I think this painting has taken on a new feeling now that I've re-worked it. Still working on it so we'll see where it ends up soon I hope.

Viburnum

Viburnum

By C. Miner, 2008

Viburnum is a type of flowering shrub. I had one at my first home, and took some pictures of the blooms. They are such a pretty flower, very delicate and soft. This painting was inspired by those photos.

I decided I liked the contrast with black and white, and again trying out that "paint-by-number" style. Maybe later I'll try variations on this same photo.

Autumn Sky

Autumn Sky
By C. Miner, 2008


This is another painting that was inspired by my visit to the Japanese Gardens last Fall. It is done in acrylics on canvas board. Here's the original photo I took while there (and thanks Lura for tagging me along with you).



As a child I always loved paint-by-number sets (and still do). But as I got older, these same kits that I would see in craft stores or wherever, seemed more and more "cheesy" to me. Not that that is bad, but I longed for something other than kittens with balls of yarn, still lifes with fruit, or cheap copies of Van Gogh, Monet, and other Masters.

So, I guess this painting, in a way, is my take on that "paint-by-number" feel. I like the way that each color in this is indiviual, but together, they make something more than they could by themselves.

October Haze

October Haze

By C. Miner, 2008

This is an original painting done in acrylics on stretched canvas. I had visited the Japanese Gardens in Portland, Oregon back on Halloween in 2007. I took many photos and this one stood out to me.

After some cropping and playing with it it in Photoshop, I decided I needed to paint it. So I did.