Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Life For Me

My newest creation
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25858130

Just Listed Tonight

Slowly but surly getting my little darlings listed in my shop after the very successful Beltane Craft Faire in Chicago. Many more items to come including my first tricorn being listed on etsy.

My classic Mad Hatter made from vintage forest green velvet. This time around I decided to change the style of my 10/6 tag.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25693186

Crafters, Artists and patrons of such. The Nineteen Hundred & One Presents: The Gothic Beltane Craft Faire Sunday, May 17, 2009 1901 W. Belmont Ave. (entrance on Wolcott), Chicago 1pm-6pm All Ages $1 suggested donation Over 15 of Chicago's Gothic Crafters & Artists including: Lady Helene's Flames, DollFaced Horrors, GiGi Deluxe, Natasha Blue, Gothic Art Chicago, Pink Sprout 13, Erin, Lucy Van Horn, Land Under Wave Jewelry, Cassandra Kimmel, The Little Toy Shop of Horrors, ~E~ & Many More. Coffee, Baked goods & Surprises. www.myspace.com/1901gothiccraftfair www.myspace.com/thenineteenhundredandone




I will be bringing several of my mini hats and lots of jewelry pieces...come check it out

"How To" Creat your own wallpaper motifs

This is my bathroom. The lovely pin up girl border around the room is simple and easy to do.
The stenciling is a different story lol.

Whats the secret to this? Laser photo copies. Yep It's as simple as that. You can go to any office supply store and create your own motifs on the $.50 color laser copiers.

Items you will need:

Photo copies of your choice

scissors or xacto knife

damp sponge

wallpaper paste...it is best to spend the extra $ for kitchen/bathroom wallpaper paste if your doing a bathroom or kitchen. You do not want all your hard work peeling off the wall from the humidity.

Liquitex matte varnish

1"-2" paint brush ..this really depends on the size of the designs

I painted borders on the wall around where I was going to apply my cut outs. I thought It would be a nice touch. I do not recommend applying them over dark paints, it can show through the paper.

1. Plan your designs and cut out your motifs

2. Wash your walls with a degreaser like TSP, to achieve good adhesion. You wouldn't want all your hard work to start peeling on you.

3. With your paintbrush, apply wallpaper paste to the back of the motif and to the wall where you plan to apply it. Apply your motif to the wall and using the damp sponge smooth it into place and work out any air bubbles. You can fiddle with them a bit, but don't rub too hard they may tear. Wipe off any excess paste as you go. The paste dries clear, but you don't want any large blobs. Continue around the room till you have them all applied.

4. Let them dry for a few hours. The time needed depends on your area and humidity level.

5. Apply the Liquitex matte varnish over just the motif. Its a great protective coat, and I find a necessary step. Some have used the varnish to apply their motifs. Which will work. But if you ever plan to redecorate you will have a heck of a time removing them.

6. Enjoy all your hard work.

Anatomy Of A Hat pt.1

Took a couple snap shots of one of my hays in it's very early stages.

I've cut my pattern out of buckram and sewn millinery wire around the edges for stability and support.

The pieces have been partially assembled and mulling has been applied.

I usually make several of these bases at a time so I will have them handy when my inspiration strikes. I already have a fabric picked out for this mad hatter mini hat. I've dismantled a jacket to recycle, upcycle, reinvent...you get the picture. The jacket was this textural faux suede. Love the way it feels. And I swear this was on the back side of the washing instructions tag "Warning Buddy! Wearing this garment will increase your chances of scoring. So wear it at all times!!"

I think I'm going to include that tag on the inside of this hat lol.

It's been a while

Life got away from me latley and I haven't been able to list items in my shop like I had wanted to...
Until this week

New for the week of March 30th

My newest Mini Top Hat made from black velver ...I call her Hannah



A couple of new pieces I've been working on..

I give you Mad Hatter



And Angelic Faces

Just got home from the Field Museum in Chicago ... They have a new exibit Real Pirates...awesome exibit..had a blast today...just wish i had worn better shoes my feet are killing me... only downside ...they wouldn't let us take pictures ...check it out if your in Chicago

Then i get home to find mew crafty supplies in my mailbox... yaaaaayy...gonna be playin with clay at 11pm lol

New for 3/8/09

I was having ALOT of fun this week playing with clay

I alos listed a few more of my charms

These 2 are double sided

Click on any of the pics to view their listings

Carpenoctem.etsy.com

New for the week of 3/1-3/7 2009

I give you "Ode to Captain Spaulding"

And Some Vintage Nude Double Sided Photo Charms

Click any of the photos to view their listing.

New for 2/8/09-2/14/09

A few listings from last week had to be pulled because they became damaged. And a few of my listing that were planned for this week have disapeared, I'm assuming feline involvement on both incidents.


That being said....New for this week





I'm going on vacation from Feb 16th-23rd. My shop will be on vacation mode durring that time and will reopen Feb 24th.

CarpeNoctem.etsy.com

On The Drawing Board

1.House of 1000 Corpses/Captain Spaulding Mini Top Hat.
2.Yet another Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter.
3. Full size top hats.
4.Head wraps in fun funky fabrics for men and women. Not the cheap ugly crap you find at walmart.
5.Lunch totes that aren't ugly lime green calico, brown corduroy, or blue and puke green stripes.(the women I work with actualy carry these)and will be big enough to carry a lean cuisine, a Dean Koontz hard cover, childrens silverware, a tootsie pop and video taped episodes of True Blood. What?? Doesn't everyone carry this much crap to work? lol

New Items For The Week Of 02/01/09-02/07/09

Two New Hats




SOLD

Four New Necklaces

Click on any of the pictures to see their listings at http://carpenoctem.etsy.com/