DIY Screen Printing

So today I made this tote using a "screen printing" technique I saw on a fun blog called Homemade By Jill. I've adapted it for my own purposes which is, of course, self promotion :)

If you want to see how it's done, check out the tutorial on my blog and you too can add a little flair to your own projects.

PS, if you're willing to tote my advertisement around town or anywhere else you go, just comment and I'll make you one in time for the next MFC meeting. Yay for free stuff :)

interlocking chair, anyone? (AKA I am a slacker)

I'm officially the worst guest blogger in the world. I should have known better than to volunteer to post just as my projects start piling up at school!

Well, hey, at least I have something to show for it. I know this isn't related to Made for Cache directly, or to my handmade bag business, but I thought I'd show it just for fun. After all, it is related to being creative :)

I designed this chair for one of my interior design classes using 3D modeling software. Then I had the kind folks from Country Lazer (out in Beaver Dam, Utah) cut the 29 interlocking pieces for me out of wood. The result is a completely interlocking chair that has no fasteners, hardware, or glue. After I made it in wood, I wish I had done it in clear acrylic. Oh well! (PS, the chair is model sized, just about right for a Barbie to sit in). I'll post more photos shortly on my blog in case you're interested.

Anyone have a suggestion for a name for the chair?

Hope you all are hard at work on the next team challenge -- creating something related to Cache Valley. My brain is still stuck on cheese, but I think something geared towards the mountains will be emerging soon as an applique or a stitched design on one of my bags. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

Bags by Sparrow Originals

At our last meeting, I was thinking about how cool it would be to post little studio tours on our blog. Well, that was before I actually thought about how uninteresting my studio tour would be. Anyone have an aching desire to see a folding table and plastic bins in my basement? Didn't think so!

In lieu of my failed studio tour idea, today I'll post a variety of my bag designs. Sort of a shameless plug, show and tell type post. Of course, they can also be found on my Etsy shop, Sparrow Originals.

[Shirt Bag made with vintage men's dress shirt and vintage leather belts for handles.]

[Pleated Bag in apple green suede.]

[Pleated Clutch in red linen w/ removable strap.]

[Tucked Tote in mustard linen.]

[Clutch in pods print and antique brass frame.]

I'd love to know which are your favorites! I promise, I'll have a more exciting post for next time :) Meanwhile, I have all sorts of lovely posts happening on my personal blog.

-Jen

Lowdown on the April Meeting

As you can see, we had a great time at our April meeting. Everyone did a great job on thier Spring Challenge items and it was wonderful to get to appreciate everyone's work up close and personal.

The new challenge is to be inspired by Cache Valley. You can use the mountains, trees, landmarks or even our cheese - whatever gets your creative juices flowing. Once you've completed your challenge item, email me a pic and description and we'll post a show and tell for May's meeting.

We also want to welcome a new member, Liz of LizzyLous. She makes items from wool and her lambs are super cute!

Another thing to look forward to this month will be our featured blog writers. This week it's Jen from Sparrow Originals and we'll get to learn all sorts of new things about her and things she makes and sells. Next week(20-24th) we'll get to hear from Charlene of Char's Impressions and I'll round out the end of the month. Check back to see what our members are all about!

We also discussed some details about our upcoming show. There's another home show going on this weekend - April 17 5-8 pm & April 18 9am -4 pm for a group called Cache Valley Artisans which will feature our own Suzie Stones! It will be held at 1819 N 1700 East in Logan, so drop by and see how it's done. We can learn a lot from this show that will help our own show be a success. I think we want to shoot for one of the last weekends in May like the 22-23 or 29-30 or maybe even June 22 wich would be the Saturday after our June Meeting so we could finalize details. I don't know, comment and tell me what you think would be a good idea.

As a heads up, the Salt Lake City Art Market will be starting in June and we want to organize a field trip to check it out and see what's required to set up a booth on the "fee free" outskirts of the market so that interested people can see if they want to come back and set up a booth. We'll see who wants to go at the may meeting and we can arrange a car pool when the time gets closer

Finally, we set up our May meeting for May 13th at 7:00 at Jan's house. The agenda will include planning for our home show, the show and tell of the challenge items and any marketing or promotional items you want to discuss or are from the packets Jan handed out. If you have any ideas you'd like to discuss with the group, please let me know or bring it up at the meeting.

Also, thanks to Hilary for making the cool buttons that are in the sidebar. Paste one into your site or blog using the gadget function and spread the word for Made For Cache.

Show and Tell

Finally, here are the items from our spring themed challenge. It was great to see everyone at the meeting, but more on that in a minute. Check out the cool things we do!

Jen - Sparrow Originals

I made this bag with a flowery applique to celebrate the new buds pushing up through the soil in my backyard... I'm ready for spring!

Check out this item on etsy!

Bonnie - Days Gone By Inc

Last spring my husband and I went on a mediterranean cruise and spent a few days in Venice afterward. While there, I bought some beautiful Italian papers with the idea of learning how to make handbound journals.

It's a lovely handbound journal covered in Italian paper and Italian bookcloth. This journal measures 6 3/4" tall by 5 1/4" wide. It contains 144 lined pages in a creamy ivory color. The paper covering the book was bought in Venice and has lovely colors of lavender, purple, green and ivory. The spine is covered in Italian book cloth in a deep purple color.

Charlene - Char's Impressions

Springtime means green and flowers. That is the focus of this cute charm bracelet. So many charms---- Hearts, butterflies, flowers & ladybugs. Beautiful Wire wrapped lampwork beads in spring green, pink, blue, and a touch of lavender. A very fun bracelet to welcome the new season.

Suzie - Cave Creations

For May I am promoting my Hospice Healing Bracelet. It is a 100% for charity project for our Intermountain Hospice of Cache Valley.

Blaire - Elliette Baby

This hand dyed lime green onesie with matching skirt is just the thing for spring. The onesie is embellished with coordinating striped ruffles down the front and is size 6-9 months. The matching skirt has a pink pin-tucked satin ribbon trim along the hem and pink bow at the waist. The bow is safety pinned on for easy removal so it doesn't get smushed in the laundry.

Hilary - Hilfriz

A fun business card with personality.These are printed double-sided on 15-point coated thick card stock. You have options of matte or glossy coating.Rounded corners set you apart from competition.Colors and wording are completely customizable.

Jan - Hartstrings

This isn't the item she brought, but we didn't have a camera at the meeting, but this one is just as great.

This sterling silver necklace is one of a series called "Branching Out". This one is called "Hanging Out". Inspired by the Winter trees and birds outside my window, I have been wanting to make a branch necklace for a couple of years.The pendant is 7" long and almost 3" wide. The entire necklace is 20" long. It is solid sterling silver and is soldered with silver. It is designed and made by me.

Face-lift and buttons

You may have noticed the blog looks a little different. I've been messin' with it. New header. New 3 column layout. And new buttons! If you'd like to have a Made For Cache official button to decorate your blog, website, or whatever, all you have to do is copy and the code in the box underneath your favorite button, and paste it on your site (I prefer posting little things like that in one of Blogger's "gadgets" in the layout tab). When one of your visitors clicks on it, it will take them straight to our blog! Oh, technology...

If you ever have any advice, tips, complaints, or comments about how the blog looks or functions, please let me know. 'Cuz we're a team.

We had a great meeting yesterday! Loved the show-and-tell of our April challenge items. Just a reminder, everyone send in your photos of those items to MadeForCache@gmail.com and we'll present them to the WORLD. Yes that reminder goes for me too :)

The Deets on April's Meeting

It's that time again. I don't know about you, but the month has really flown by! The meeting is tomorrow, April 8th at 7 pm at Jen's house. If you need the address, send an email to madeforcache@gmail.com and I'll send it to you. Thanks for hosting Jen!

First up on the agenda for is the show and tell of the springtime challenge items. Please bring your item and we'll all ooh and ahh over your wonderful work. Also if you could email a photo and description of your item, I'll make a post of everyone's together for the blog. Send your pix to madeforcache@gmail.com.

Also, we'll be discussing plans for a show: we already have the who (us, not the band), the what (our stuff), the where (Bonnie's house), we just need to decide the when and the how, as in how are we going to advertise and get loads of people to buy tons of our stuff?

The third item that was brought up last meeting was membership. Do we want to limit our group to only etsy shop owners, or do we want to reach out to other craftspeople of Cache Valley. What are the pros and cons of both sides? Bring your thoughts and we'll figure it out together.

The last couple of quick things we need to decide are a new challenge topic, who wants to be the featured blog writer each week until our next meeting, and what topics we might want to cover in May.

Ok, I think that's it. Hope to see you there!