Tutorial Tuesday: Paper Medallions

It's officially the holiday season! I hope everyone has been very busy filling orders and taking part in successful craft shows! For this week's tutorial, I wanted a quick project with some seasonal style. I had noticed these paper medallions in a few places, and really wanted to learn how to make them to hang in my front window. I think they will look great, along with some paper snowflakes.

Time required: 10 minutes for each medallion

Supplies: paper, cut into rectangular strips

coordinating paper, cut into circles

glue gun

paper cutter and circle cutter (makes things easier, but not strictly necessary)

glitter (if desired)

The process is very simple. Cut a strip of paper. A paper cutter is great here, because unless the edges of the strip are straight, folding will be more difficult and your medallion won't line up properly.

The width of your strip determines the circumference of the finished medallion. The wider you make the strip, the longer it needs to be. And seriously, the longer the better; make your strip at least 11 or 12 inches (28 - 30.5cm) long. I made mine 4 cm wide, and about 35cm long.

Fold your paper strip in accordion pleats, like you would if you were making a paper fan. The size of the pleats determines how many "scallops" the finished medallion will have. I made small folds, about 0.5cm each.

Now it's time to glue the strip together to make a loop. Make sure that the folds remain continuous (up, down, up down), trimming off a bit if necessary. Re-crease the edges and let the glue dry. Push the medallion flat, by gradually coaxing it into a lampshade shape, and then forcing the middle flat. This can be tricky and takes a little practice. Have your glue gun ready, and immediately glue the coordinating paper circle over the middle of the medallion. Be generous with the glue and make sure all the folds get attached to the circle. If you want to stack medallions in contrasting paper and graduating sizes, start with the smallest. As you continue on with the larger medallions, use those already completed smaller ones like the paper circle to hold the flattened strip in place.

Decorate as desired. These look very cute when hung as a garland. You can use them to spell out short words, with one letter on each of the center circles. If you want to hang these, use a small hole punch on the folds hidden by the circle in the middle.

Feature Friday: The Soap Gallery

Japanese Cherry Blossom Handmade Soap

Hello, I'm Louise Vargas and I'm a skincare artisan. I love creating goodies for skin and it is even more fun for me if I can put an artsy, creative twist to it. Our household uses everything I make, from spa products, to household cleaning.

Our Etsy Shop is http://TheSoapGallery.etsy.com.

My joy is in telling people that all our products are made from scratch, that I know exactly what is in everything.

I have moderate chemical sensitivities from a past job and can no longer tolerate harsh detergents or cleaners which leave fumes. This led me, 12 years ago, into researching a gentler way to keep my skin hydrated and smooth.

Vintage Lovefest Soap - Patchouli with Calendula Petals

What is your most significant goal for the coming year?

We have a couple of goals for 2011. 2010 was dedicated to testing the market. People like us! We're going to expand our line to include handmade cosmetics and candles.

Our other goal is to organize things better. Time management, funding, etc. We're still "just starting" :)

Rosemary Citrus Soap

What are your thoughts on the crafting community in Winnipeg?

As a recent returnee to Winnipeg and first year doing craft shows, I've found the crafting community very warm and inviting for the most part, with few exceptions. The talent here is amazing!!

Chocolate SoGa Liquid Soap

What has been the most difficult thing about running an online business?

I'm not sure about everyone else, but the most difficult thing I've found about running an online business is that my stock is changing so constantly that it's hard to update my Etsy shop quick enough. I've found recently that using a small database to insert items (by cut and paste) seems to help.

Another issue is traffic. My items are sold olfactorially - people are attracted by our fresh scent choices initially, and then we invite them in to smell our sample sizes. Of course this cannot be done online easily. Our online sales come from our existing customer base.

Marrakesh SoGa Liquid Soap

What are your keys to success at craft shows?

We are consistently doing between 5-7x our booth fees at the shows this year and I believe what sets our items apart from others is our presentation. We dress up our tables to make our clients feel they are in a French Provincial bath and body boutique.

Our items are packaged using eco-friendly materials - and we make sure customers have plenty of choice - we always carry extra stock to replenish items as they sell.

Engaging people without seeming pushy makes for a very relaxed shopping experience as well.

__________

You can find out more about The Soap Gallery by clicking the links below:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSoapGallery
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TheSoapGallery
Artfire: http://TheSoapGallery.artfire.com/
Etsy: http://TheSoapGallery.etsy.com/

Last but not least ^^:
Website: http://www.soap-gallery.com/
Blog: http://www.soap-gallery.com/blog

US Holiday Sale! Link Party

Link party for WEST'rs having an Etsy sale for Black Friday, Cyber Monday or just because!

Crystal Gayle Photography
Elliven studios
PeriwinkleDzyns

These are the ones I found this morning in blog land - any other team members with sales going on please link in comments - happy shopping!

Happy Birthday to our Ning Admin!

Tux the Linux Penguin

Working quietly behind the scenes this WEST team member keeps our team forum on Ning humming along smoothly.
She's also been doing the weekly team member features and I just knew she would never do one on herself!



Pink Owls Baby Set

A hard working creative stay at home mom, Tawny of TawnyBee manages to help WEST, keep her upcycled shop running and look after her two rambunctious cutie pie kidlets!

I had the joy of meeting her a few weeks back at a craft sale and was very excited to walk away from her table with more than a few holiday gifts. I really admire how she uses the materials she has available to her and fashions creative and earth friendly items.



Candy Apple Boy Cut Panties

When I read on her blog - which is one of my fav's by the way! - that today is her birthday I just knew what I had to do!

Happy Birthday Tawny! May the next year bring you peace, joy and many Etsy sales!!!

Old-School Winter Activity Sheets

Winter has certainly arrived across the prairies! The air is crisp, and there is lots of snow on the ground. It's a season of simple pleasures for me, when I am reminded how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family and live in such comfort. I always find the first few snows make me feel lost in time. Under a thick blanket of snow, our ability to travel is limited and we're able to focus on the world immediately around us.

My love of winter isolation has inspired me to share some activity pages from a wonderful 1941 children's book, Creative "Make and Do" Activities - Series One." Think of a time before television, when the fireplace and wood stove were likely the main sources of heat in the house, and urbanization was just beginning across the Canadian heartland. The Great Depression had just ended and World War II was being fought across the pond.

Books like these were the activity kits of their time.

Aren't the fonts wonderful!

I love the fine detail in this activity. Imagine trying to cut out all those little shapes as a child - I think this would be a tough one for me now!

I have included large copies on my flickr page, if you're interested in printing these out to try with the little ones in your life.

Happy winter!

WEST at the Creative Collection Craft Show

The Creative Collection Craft Show was on at the Crescentwood Community Centre this past Sunday. A pile of WEST'ers were there!

I was able to sneak away from my table for a short while to take a few photos. I know I've missed some people (Sorry Becca!) but I here are the ones I managed to snap:

The Creative Collection Organizer (Manic Mittens booth)

Elliven

Jake and Cleo

Kiddlebug

Mrs. Glockenheimen

Just the Goods

Tawny Bee

I know I missed photo ops with:

JLP Designs
Zenbecca
Mozy Rue

I'm sure I missed a bunch of others. I'm sorry! If you have photos you would like to share and have write access to this blog, feel free to edit. Or email me (tawnykw (at) gmail (dot) com) with all the info and I'll add it.

If you were unable to attend the show on Sunday and want to check out the West participants - please visit the links to their Etsy shops that I've pasted in with their names.

Feature Friday: Crystal Gayle Photography

I Wonder Fine Art Photography ACEO

Hi, my name is Crystal Zacharias, photographer of Crystal Gayle Photography. I'm a stay at home mom to two lovely children and a wife to a wonderful husband. I enjoy photographing many different subjects including flowers, landscapes, food and beverages, animals, and much more! I love to look through the viewfinder and capture things that aren’t always noticed by the human eye or in a unique and interesting view point.

What is your favourite item in your shop and why?
Right now my favourite item in my shop has to be the metal prints.  I ordered them in each of the four finishes to see what they would be like, and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.  It’s so hard to show them on a photograph of what they really are.  The photos are put on a metal base rather than paper.  On two of the finishes, the metal shows where the photo would have had white in it as this process of printing does not print white.  I currently have one of these available for custom order in my shop and hoping this is going to be something that will do well.

Standing Tall Fine Art Photography Metal Print

Where do you find inspiration?
Most of my inspiration comes from God’s beautiful creations in nature itself.  I love to capture the beautiful things He’s placed on the earth for us to enjoy.  I also get inspiration from looking through other photographers’ work and seeing the unique ideas they have come up with, thus forming ideas of my own.

Blooming Beauty Fine Art Print

What is your best selling item?
My best selling item is my bookmarks.  It’s a small, affordable item that almost everyone can use and they can get nearly any print from my portfolio done as a bookmark.  Bookmarks are a simple way for me to have my photography out there and seen.  Each bookmark also has my contact information on the back, therefore the person using it can always come back and maybe one day even purchase a larger print.

Downy Woodpecker Fine Art Photography Bookmark

Why do you enjoy your craft?
I enjoy photography because it is something I can do anytime, anywhere.  I love learning all the ins and outs of my camera and experimenting with different settings, props, and more.  It’s an art that allows me express who I am and easily share it with others.

Winter Wonderland Greeting Cards with Envelopes

Places (other than Etsy) to find Crystal Gayle Photography online: 
Facebook page
Blog
Twitter

Places to find Crystal Gayle Photography locally:

I have some prints on consignment at Domo in Altona   I also have a table set up in the Altona mall across from Friesens Bookstore for the holiday season.  

Spice Up Your November

Spice Up Your November with a little holiday craft.
November 26 & 27, 2010
at the West End Cultural Centre
Corner of Sherbrook and Ellice
Friday, Nov 26, 5-10 pm
Saturday, Nov 27, 10am-4pm

Never seen before in the same ring, Handmade Holiday and This Ain't Your Grandma's Craft Sale pair up on Friday night to bring you the Best of Manitoba Craft under one Big Top.

Thirty-seven craft artists and counting + live music + dancing + food = the best locally made holiday fun and shopping for you and your friends!

Tutorial Tuesday: For the Boys!

Okay, let’s face it: Winnipeg is not one of those places where you can get away with fingerless gloves during the winter. But these gloves are a trendy option for gifts (one day spring will come!), and they’re very useful during time spent on public transit, or quick breaks outside. This is a great pattern for men’s fingerless gloves, from a Beehive “Woolcraft” pattern booklet published in 1915. I have changed some of the wording in the original pattern to make it easier to follow. Sadly no gauge was included, but this project doesn’t really demand an exact size. The mittens that I made were done with a much heavier gauge yarn than I should have used (Noro Kureyon), but they turned out fine and fit the recipient well.

Men's Mittens

Original description: Knitted plain (except for the ribbing, to give elasticity in the wrist) these mittens are simple to make and very comfortable in wear, especially where the fingers require to be free.

Materials: 2.5 oz (around 70g) 3-ply yarn

Four 3.0mm double pointed needles

Instructions:

Cast on 52 stitches, placing 16 stitches on the first needle and 18 on each of the other two needles. Work in 2x2 rib for 36 rounds, or to desired length. After a few rows, place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.

Work 10 rounds in plain knitting.

Begin the thumb: P1, increase in the next stitch (by knitting through the loop in the row just underneath the stitch, then knitting the stitch regularly), K2, increase again in the same manner, P1, K to end of round. The two purl stitches mark the outside of the thumb.

Knit two rounds plain, but continue to purl the two marker stitches.

* Increase row: P1, increase, K to the stitch before the next P stitch, increase again, P1, K to end of round.

K two rounds plain, continuing to P the two marker stitches as established*

Repeat * until there are 18 stitches between the two P stitches. Knit two more rounds plain without increasing. In the next round, K1 (the first purl marker stitch), place 18 stitches on a holder and leave them for the thumb, cast on 4 stitches, K the other purl marker stitch, continue on in plain knitting to finish the round.

Work 10 rounds in plain knitting.

Work 10 rounds in 2x2 ribbing. Bind off loosely.

Thumb: Take up the 18 stitches that were left on the holder and divide them evenly on two needles. With the third needle, pick up 6 stitches along the space between the other two needles.

Knit six rounds plain knitting

Work six rounds 2x2 rib.

Bind off loosely.

Weave in all ends. Block or steam as desired.

This tutorial originally appeared in my personal blog, Lovely Stray.

'Shades of Grey' by thesilveragenda

It's a grey day outside so I searched through all the talented W.E.S.T shops for grey items that brightened my day!

Pixie Greige Wire-W... ToxieDesigns $20.00	The Beatles light s... dandee $9.00	Labradorite and Sil... tbeads $15.00	Man Geek Foxy Oscil... PeriwinkleDzyn... $7.50
Psychedelic Purple ... TawnyBee $12.00	Midnight Ice Knitte... ImpossiblyAlic... $55.00	Light's Romance... CarlaDyck $20.00	Green like grass fi... jakecleo $110.00
Notepad/Passport Ho... elliven $14.00	Grey Floweret Pin -... alittlethistle $25.00	Industrial Necklace... emmsgems $26.00	Vintage Childrens I... JonathonWayneD... $18.55
Vintage SHEER Black... BriFoster $25.00	Vegan Unscented Fiz... justthegoods $4.50	Sophie Grey Wool Ca... ohsoretro $5.00

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