Friday, February 12, 2010

"Find The Seed At The Bottom Of Your Heart and Bring Forth A Flower" ~ Shigenori Kameoka

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  May you ALL find a seed from our own heart that will sow something wonderful for you....

Rebecca Sower has been having a wonderful time making hearts, and at the same time, showing other artist's creations on her blog.  I thought I might play along and show you my own creation.  So, for Heart Session {no. 06}, this is my creation.





I would be delighted to tell you how I created this sweet pink and creme heart. 

I began going to the thrift store.  Yes, that is a spot to find all kinds of "affordable" supplies.  I bought 3 pure wool sweaters (one being pink).  Of course the pink is what I used for this project.  I bought all 3 for $9.  Bring the sweater home, put it in the washer with a little detergent and wash on HOT water!  The water must be HOT.  I did not use fabric softener.  Run it through a normal wash cycle.  Next, put it in the dryer and dry it on a normal temperature untl dried.  It will shrink up.  A lady's sweater will now look like it will fit on a 6 year old! LOL! LOL!  I'm not sure, but I believe they call this "wool felting".  Maybe someone out there in blogland can confirm the name of this process, and any extra tips would be very much appreciated.

Next, take a heart template (I used a heart paper doily) and fold it in half.  Cut enough fabric from the sweater for an entire heart.  Fold the fabric in half and place the heart template on top, pin down, and cut out the heart.  Un-pin,and un-fold the fabric heart ~ Wa-la, a nicely, perfectly shaped heart.

Find some lace that you would like to use. I used some vintage eyelet cut from an old curtain and some very fine, thin lace that has some discoloration (which I love).  The different shades in the lace bring the piece a bit of definition, I think.  Cut it to length across the heart.  Get your fabric glue and glue down the eyelet first and then finish the top and bottom with the fine lace.  After drying a bit, I carefully strung 5 seed beads together in a row on a knotted thread and sewed in the middle of each eyelet flower.  They dangle a bit.  I then sewed 4 silver beads, scattering across the top, on the fine lace and 4 more along the bottom.

I had purchased the seam binding and crepe paper ruffle from Karen at Second Hand Rose.  I'm sure she would love to sell you some, and besides, she has various colors, if that is your preference.  But, someone who sews could make their own ruffled length ~ enough to go around the heart.  I hot glued this onto the circumfrence of the heart. 

Once that was completed, I used clear tacky glue to glue on additional silver beads to the crepe paper, here and there.

I hot-glued a length of pink seam binding (for hanging) onto the back of the heart and covered with one bone button and one shell button.

After allowing it to completely dry (probably over night), I added a 4 loop bow, and a vintage rhinestone pin.

Now you have your own pink and creme heart.  

Thanks for stopping by.  I love seeing all of you and will be around to pop in soon....

Blessings,
Kitty

xox

UPDATE:  I have listed a few new things on Etsy.  Please pop over and check them out... 

21 comments:

  1. This heart is so very pretty, Kitty! Just perfect for a romantic St. Valentine's Day!
    Have a terrific weekend,
    Monicax.

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  2. Hello Kitty, that is sooo beautiful! It looks so soft and romantic, I love it! I have accidentally washed sweaters and done that, I should have kept them! xoxo Julie Marie

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  3. Thank you so much for your visit and your lovely comment. I have followed your daughter's beautiful blog for some time. I see the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree. Your heart is charming. How kind of you to share instructions.

    Best Wishes,
    Kay

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  4. Gorgeous! Happy V-Day to you also!

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  5. This heart is gorgeous! And even better we can make our own one, thanks for the tutorial and have a great Valentine's day!

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  6. Beautiful and I love that you shared your process! "Felting" a sweater sounds interesting, I will have to try it myself. I'm always game for some up-cycling.
    Kathy
    http://katherineuhrig.blogspot.com/

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  7. Kitty, your heart is gorgeous!!! happy valentines day!!!

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  8. Dearest Kitty,

    Your heart is so beautiful!!!! The one you made and yours!!! Thank you for sharing how you went about it. I just love it! Your Beautiful Life Art Journal is gorgeous too! I hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you for your kind anniversary wishes!

    Love and blessings,
    Paula

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  9. Happy Valentine's day Kitty. You turned my ruffles into a beautiful work of art. The wool felt feels wonder doesn't it. I have tried a few projects myself.

    karen

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  10. ...and it turned out so pretty Kitty!

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  11. That is simply stunning!

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  12. This is a lovely way to meet and see others works of love..very sweet.

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  13. Just Gorgeous! You an Heather are sooo talented :D Thank you so much for the instructions. I will certainly give it a try next Valentine's Day.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for all your lovely comments!

    Karen

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  14. Love that sweet little heart Mom!!! So pretty.

    ♥ Heather

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  15. Hi Kitty!

    Thanks for stopping by my blog for a visit - I appreciate your comment.

    I am loving your hearts and "she" smiled when she read about your source for the hearts...."she" loves finding neat fabrics at the thrift store for some of her designs too!

    Hope you are having a great weekend!

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  16. That turned out soo, so pretty!
    Rene'

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  17. I think some Easter Eggs would be lovely done with this technique too!

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  18. I HEART it!!! The lovely lace detail make my heart all warm and fuzzy :) and so sweet and soft... great job!!
    Thank you for sharing the tutorial, you are a sweetie!!
    hugs for you sweetie ~~~ Madai

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I love reading each and every one.... Blessings to you...