Finally a Fowl Friday! We thought we had been totally forgotten, it has been a busy month around here and Debra was away. However that does not excuse her neglecting us! Freda has been in a slump literally, she has spent so much time in the nest that it has slumped totally out of shape. (Freda has too but don't let her know I said anything.)

We are slightly concerned as Debra seems to be very interested in canines which are almost as bad as felines in our estimation. She is making this kind of odd looking dog which looks like it has pompoms growing all over and then some parts are almost bald. We almost feel sorry for the poor creature.

We are also assuming it is female as it is now sewn onto a very pink apron, an adaptation of a "poodle skirt" Debra informed us. Anyway we are now resigned to there always being a parade of creatures passing through and feel lucky that no day of the week starts with P! Follow the Fowl, Fran & forlorn Freda!

While at summer CHA (Craft & Hobby Conference & Tradeshow) I met the an amazing textile artist Lynne Bruning, she calls herself a "textile enchantress" and indeed she is! The garments she creates are pure magic and fantasy, a mix of intricate patterns, rich materials and glorious vibrant colors!

Lynne is passionate about creativity, art and education, exploring the fusion of art mediums and technology. She travels educating and can be found at the Maker Faire. I feel extremely grateful to have been invited to sit down at a table by a young woman wearing very cool cowboy boots. The conversation was interesting and inspiring.

Her entry in the Crafty Couture Designer Challenge was one of six chosen to be featured in the winter issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. "Spellbound" was a striking gown lit with LED's through conductive thread sewn into the sumptuous midnight blue gown. Here is just a peak at the gown. Thank you Lynne for sharing your amazing creative vision! Follow the JOY of Creativity always! Debra

It is the first of the month and that means it is time for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! Of course there are wonderful projects from forty plus talented designers and a great give away with details found on Julie McGuffee's blog.

This month's challenge was to post a project related to our favorite craft technique. Mine is not a big surprise by now, I love to needle felt! I just taught a group of kids this week to needle felt and they loved it. It is very easy to do and using STYROFOAM brand foam as a base makes all kinds of characters possible.

The sharp barbed needle repeatedly punched into the raw wool felts it into the foam shapes. On my How to page there are step by steps and a video in the home page which shows you how easy it is! I use Wool Wisps from National Nonwovens. This little bunny below is made from a ball and egg. Since it is a hop, a bunny seemed appropriate! Just hop along on the button to the right! Follow the JOY of Creativity! Debra!

Today is the last day of Craft Camp. It has been a full week and so much fun crafting with kids and grandparents. Yesterday was Silly Sock Creature Day! So with four ankle socks, a leg warmer, buttons and trims the kids were let loose!

While buying some socks at the Dollar Store the cashier overheard my remark, I have eight so I need this many socks. When I got up to her, she exclaimed "you have eight kids!!!" I replied just this week and smiled.

What I love about teaching kids is you show them some techniques and then they are full of ideas as to how they want to create their own character. We ended up with a fun menagerie of a giraffe, dawgs, Cheshire Cat, bunny and some just critters!

The kids have been a great group, the grandmothers who came, very sweet and everyone has enjoyed their week of art and crafting. In the fall I wil offer some crafty Saturdays! Keep creating & following the JOY! Debra, CEO!

I came back from CHA Trade Show and diving right into a week of Creativity Camp. In the mornings the kids do art with Carole Forbes and in the afternoon crafting with me! We did clay creations Monday where I discovered I had some serious Harry Potter fans so yesterday was needle felting Harry Potter style. Justin Biemer got in on the act too!

Today we are making paper bead and buttone necklaces. Tomorrow sewing and Friday a paper journal to finish off this fun week. In between I am trying to follow up from the show and get totally unpacked! Creative chaos but oh so fun! Keep creating! Debra

Back from the CHA Conference & Trade Show! It was busy, full of creativity and connecting with amazing wonderful friends!

I arrived before good friend and talented designer Marie Browning who was bringing the flowers for our Crafty Couture dress. Good friend Michelle Zimmerman sent the clay leaves and swirls in from California so we spent Sunday evening adding leaves and flowers to the gown. Monday the dresses were all put on display for the show opening Tuesday! Eighteen spectacular entries which I will feature in upcoming posts. Six will be in the January issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

First up our dramatic Zen Tango Twirl entry and me!

Sunday I leave for the CHA Craft and Hobby Conference and Trade Show in Chicago. As always there are many last minute preparations. I had to miss the last show so I am very excited to be going to the summer show. I have had the flu and no voice for a week but am hoping to be able to talk by Monday! I am trusting that it will be okay whatever happens.

Show Schedule, What I am up to at the show which is a little slower paced than winter show! Monday is Education Day and a very full day! Hope to be posting from the show and tweeting! Inspiring the Joy of Creativity always! Debra

1.     Monday 18 8-7pm, Crafty Couture Dress to be delivered to show floor and set up.
-9-11 am Designer Roundtable, 10 am Moderating Tradeshow Essentials
-noon-1pm Wow Factor Online Classes
-Deliver Westcott Charity Wings Project
-2pm-arrive to demo at 3-5pm Canadian Be Inspired Event
-Taste of Rosemount 4:30-6pm Conference Lobby
-6pm Designer Crafts Connection  Meeting
-6:30-8pm Designer Section Meeting

2.     Tuesday 19 Trade Show opens
11am-12 noon Designer Showcase setup
3-4 Volunteer at Designer Showcase
5-7 pm Meet and Greet with EPM's Editors, Publishers, Manufacturers at Showcase
7pm-8pm Teardown of Showcase

3.     Wednesday 20 9-10 am Canadian Section Meeting Rm 50-51
12-2pm Gypsy Journal Rm 13

       Walk Show Floor, visit sponsor companies, appointments
Divas-A Tribute to Women in Pop 6:30-10:30 Ballroom

4.     Thursday 21 appointments
Tear down Crafty Couture Display at end of Show 
 

The last few days are going by quickly getting ready for the CHA Craft & Hobby Conference & Tradeshow in Chicago!

My wardrobe for the show is what I like to refer to as a "creatively economical style". One of my bags for the show is a dollar store tote, embellished with bamboo coasters, fabric, felt remnants, trims and accented with beautiful artwork from a friend and local artist who also makes wonderful jewelry, Cynthia Ryder.

I also took a $4 thrift store find of a very plain little black knit dress and embellished it with Cynthia's artwork transferred to fabric sheets, beads, topstitching and another $3 sale belt to make another comfy stylish outfit for the show. Added my little hot pink cardigan and pearls for the finishing touches! So one more outfit ready to go and one that goes with my very comfy black sandals, a necessity on the show floor! The after and below the original dress! Keep creating the JOY! Debra

With only a week to the CHA show we are all busy finishing up new design work, commitments and preparation for the show. Part of this is four days of morning to night on and around the show floor and events and what to wear.

I love dresses and also like to be comfortable. I find feeling good in what you wear is directly related to looking good. If you look good and are comfortable it is great for the confidence. Since sewing is an area that most of my design work is in, I always have a piece on or an accessory that I have made.

For this show I am sewing more than usual. Working with a very small budget for anything new for the show it inspired me to be very creative. I found some great fabrics on sale and hit a sale on belts of four for ten dollars. I also have come to realize even though I spend much of my work time designing items, writing instructions and creating patterns I do not like to follow anyone elses pattern.

I designed this very vibrant black and white dress for myself, super easy, a patternless dress. The fabrics for the dress were $6 and the belt $3 so for less than $10 I have a cute little dress for the show.

I measured around my body added 6" and cut two rectangles. From there using a dress I had as a guide I cut a v-neck and arm holes. Gathered up the shoulders, added a ruffle and trim to both neckline and bottom. Made a couple rose pins from leftover fabric. Added the belt for the finishing touch! The dress to design and make took only three hours. I love how the flirty ruffle on the bottom moves when I walk and at the show there will be a lot of walking! Follow the JOY of Creativity! Debra, CEO!

Westcott Brand has generously sponsored CHA Designers in an exciting and fun opportunity to showcase their designs in the Westcott booth at the upcoming summer 2011 CHA Show in Rosemont, July 18-21st.

Keeping with Westcott Brand's charitable theme, this opportunity is also a fundraiser whereby the featured projects will be auctioned in an effort to raise contributions for CharityWings.org a non-profit foundation and "place for creative minds who want to give TM."

Along with Westcott, the Duck Tape Brand and Velcro Brand are also sponsors. The challenge is to use these products along with at least three more when creating a home decor or fashion item n larger than 12" square.

I decided to make an outdoor decor pillow as Duck Tape is weatherproof. I made it two sided using Velcro products to have a removeable flower on one side and a button tic tac toe game on the other. It was a fun project and really my first time designing something with Duck Tape. The sheets were easy to use with the grid lines on back and the Westcott cutting tools .

I embellished the pillow using a hole punch and hotfix pearl marble studs.