Geekly Chic Around the World

I recently had an hour of free time and spent it trolling through Instagram hashtags looking for projects made with my Riley Blake Designs Geekly Chic prints. Here are some fun things I found!

Records Pillow and All-Stars Pillow made by Olivia of Hermit Crab Stitchery in Toronto.

Brookfield Bag made by Crystal using a pattern by Sara of Sew Sweetness.

Camera Quilt made by Connie from Sew Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

Ellie Travel Case made by Nancy using a pattern by Heidi Staples.

Make It Snappy dress made by Ashley.

Mix Tapes dress made by Annika of Three Little Peas.

Records Corset Top made by Tamara.

Records Diaper Cover made by Emily of June Buggs Hatchlings.

Records & Tapes Dress made by Jane of Janey Babe Handmade.

It's Calendar Time!

Yes, my friends, if you haven't started already, it is time to start thinking about holiday gifts and the new year! And that means tea towel calendars are all the rage on Spoonflower. The tea towel calendar design contest is my favorite of the year, mostly because I get to return to my graphic design roots. Here is my entry this year, inspired by board games. Start at January, advance through each month, and the first one to make it through December wins! You can vote for all your favorite designs here.

Plan, Print, Procrastinate

It took me six months of planning and procrastinating, but I finally finished my Instagram cheater quilt SpoonChallenge project! The challenge, created by Becka Rahn, was to design a cheater quilt using photos from my Instagram feed that could be printed onto a yard of fabric.

I decided to use photos from our family trips to Hawaii, and arrange them into an ombre-colored, pixelated banana leaf design. For the backing, I used my Umi Numbers Hawaiian Cheater Quilt fabric. Both were printed on Kona Cotton from Spoonflower, and then for the binding, I found a matching green solid Kona at the fabric store.

This was my first attempt at quilting! While stitching around the edges of each photo was a bit tedious (lots of stopping and starting and turning and backstitching), I loved doing the concentric stitches around the photos to the edge (about every 3/4"). I am really happy with the way the straight lines contrast with the organic lines of the quilt backing. I sort of cheated on the binding, top-stitching with the machine instead of slip stitching by hand (I have no patience), but I think it turned out great!

Soda Nation - 59 Bottlecaps of the U.S. National Parks

This week's Spoonflower contest theme is 'National Parks'. I have always wanted to do a print using bottlecaps, so I took this opportunity to make up a whole bunch of 'fantasy' soda pop brands and flavors--59 to be exact! One for each of the national parks in the U.S. Here is how the design looks on a fat quarter of cotton fabric (21" x 18").

And here are closeups of the caps. I had a great time researching each park to come up with appropriate soda names and flavors, and enjoyed going back to my graphic design roots! If you like the design, your vote would make me 'bubbly'!

2nd Annual Bizarre Bazaar: Holiday Craft Ideas That Are(n't) So Retro

It's Christmas Craft Roundup time again! All year long I gather old Christmas editions of magazines in order to showcase them around the holidays. It never ceases to amaze me how everything old is new again. This year, instead of featuring the ridiculous crafts that usually come to mind when one thinks of 1970s church bazaars (of which there were plenty in the pages of these annuals), the focus is on those ideas that actually look current. And there are many! What's your favorite?

Good Housekeeping Needlecraft (Fall-Winter 1972-73)

While I'm not a fan of the crocheted sweater, the pattern and color combos of appliquéd flowers on these "Nosegay Sweaters" is nice.

The Hamburger Hassock uses 'suede-look' vinyl for the buns, corduroy for the meat patty, and shiny vinyl for the lettuce, tomato, and ketchup.

Fun patchwork totebag. Love the criss-cross quilting.

Alphabet Comforter and Alphabet Pillows. Nuff said.

Family Circle Christmas Helps (1975)

Cheery felt Fruit & Doves Wreath designed by Jane Slovachek.

Stuffed calico letters to hang on your door for a festive greeting, designed by Joyce Denebrink.

Bold, graphic gift wrap made with sticky vinyl shelf paper! Designed by Sarina Mascheroni and Pat Weissman.

Pins and needles put the finishing touch on this cactus pincushion (left); and some fun stationery designed using pencil erasers as rubber stamps.

McCall's Christmas Crafts in Felt Book V (1977)

Mouse House--love the trim detail and the chimney bricks. Designed by Dorothy Brush.

Larger-than-life boot for decorating, or fill to overflowing with small gifts.

Small amounts of felt, fabric, and trims combine for a colorful, happy scene.

Patchwork designs are made with felt to adorn greeting cards. Designed by Constance Spates.

These charming felt cards are pretty enough to frame! All designed by Crystal Collins.

Felt and embroidery cover simple cardboard boxes.

Beautiful felt ornaments to use on the tree, or in a mobile.

Family Circle Christmas Helps (1977)

The shapes in these salt dough angel and mushroom wreaths make interesting patterns. Designed by Nancy Steiner.

An assortment of vibrant ribbons lends texture and color to this woven stocking. Designed by Constance Spates.

Colorful felt designs transform plain cardboard boxes (top); and sunny orange felt trivets protect tables and countertops.

Lady's Circle 1,001 Christmas Ideas (1977)

Not sure if there are really 1001 ideas in here, but they're definitely "down-home", as advertised.

This DIY (that's "DOUGH-it-yourself") salt dough Santa might be a bit on the creepy side, but is also rustic.

McCall's Needlework & Crafts (Winter 1977)

Nativity figures sculpted from fabric and embellished with paint and stitching.

Yes, this gorgeous table runner and matching placemats were cross-stitched. (!) Designed by Marilla Arguelles and embroidered by Michelle Cohen.

McCall's Needlework & Crafts (Winter 1979)

42 ornaments made with five different techniques. My favorite are the geometric felt shapes and the Mexican yarn craft fish, bird, Santa, bell, star, and tree.

Crocheted novelty stockings--look at those cleats and hi-tops!

Beautifully shiny ornaments are designed with embroidery floss and metallic thread.