It's comical how bad I am at blogging here (Spooky Season 2022 Review)

If you’re at all interested in my work in general, please follow me on Instagram for frequent posts. I’m a picture poster and love the idea of Instagram and my all time favorite Flickr.

All I’m about to share was posted on those platforms.

With my preference for more time spent on creating things, I tend to forget to complete this step (blogging). My brain thinks “Post it on social and then throw your phone at the couch a leave it there until bedtime.” Which is what I do 99% of the time.

But here’s what i’ve been up to this month: (Just the hits here.) Links included in the captions

Pouring John a glass of poison. Link

Said poison. Link

My favorite make this month. Link

I love how out of context this is.

Spooky Dollhouse Decor (YouTube Link)

Here’s a full view of the dollhouse along with my final 2022 Spooky Season make. 1940’s style pajamas.

Link

I will definitely do a dedicated post on the dollhouse renovation. I know there were a few questions about it outside of what I shared on YouTube.

I know there are a few of you who subscribe to this blog and I super appreciate you!

Happy Halloween (Blessed Samhain)

Galentine's Day

I fudged up on sending out Christmas cards this year. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get them out in time in December, so I planned to do something for Galentine’s Day.

Be Mine - 6 by 6 Arts / Thea Starr Galentine’s Gift 2022

I had to have had your address as I wanted them/snail mail to be a real surprise. I know my design choice isn’t suited for everyone but I know at least my friends will think of me when they see it.

I have never been a Valentine’s Day person. Nor am I a pink/pastels person which seems to be the standard for Valentine’s Day. So, when one of my favorite vintage reproduction companies released something along my preferred taste of “Valentine’s Day” wear, I snatched it up. I snatched it up because I thought it would go perfectly with my brooch that I designed as the Galentine Gift.

Thea Starr in Pin Up Couture’s Clara Bishop Sleeve Wiggle Dress. (Not sponsored)

I wasn’t wrong.

I wore this dress out and about and while I cooked dinner yesterday. I’m a “I’m gonna wear the dress no matter what” kind of gal. I wanted to make a small to-do about Galentine’s this year because I know a few of my friends are having life “moments” that are on the harder side right now. And I’ve never been afraid to tell my friends that I love them. Although it might come in the form of weird little handmade trinkets like this but it’s love!

I hope you all had a great day yesterday. xo-Thea

Designs in limbo - Laser cut creepy Valentine.

Typically, I would share this sort of thing over at 6 by 6 Arts, but I felt this was a bit more of a personal design. Also, these days I have my hand in many projects, why not use this blog a hub for everything.

I recently shared this on my personal IG account. It is a design in limbo. It was meant to be a valentine for my girlfriends. This is actually just the first iteration of it. The final ended up being a bit better.

However, at the last moment I worried that some of my friend’s really wouldn’t appreciate the creepy spiderwebs, So I withheld the gifts.

It was meant to be a brooch.

I should add that I don’t do Valentine’s as a holiday. I just got overwhelmed with work during the holiday season with John working outside of 6 by 6. My plate was just too full until after New Years. I thought it was a good idea to send friends a “random day” gift instead of a holiday gift.

With my fear of the creepy spiderwebs not being for suited for all of my friends, it was back to the drawing board as they say. It took awhile but I think I’ve come up with a good replacement. I know I am a tease for saying that and not sharing anything, but I promise I will once the new thing has been sent.

It’s off season - (I rarely design within the coinciding seasons), I am a tease with information and yes, I do plan to produce these. The better version of it that is.

I know this is so random, but welcome to my life! Being a creative maker for me is being completely random often in large amounts then I go into a dry spell.

Let me know what you think about my spider web valentine. Too creepy for you or just right?

xo-Thea

Catching up.

Since I started vlogging weekly, I have put the actual blog on the back burner.

But I have been better about posting to Instagram these days. I’ve been sharing some recent sewing and painting projects.

January 11, 2021 - Completed sewing project - Swing Coat. This is my first attempt at a coat. I learned a lot, including how to do a bound buttonhole. Also, the lining turned out really well. It is too big for me, which is my fault for having no idea what size i currently am.

January 14, 2021 - First time in a long while machine sewing knit fabric.

January 15, 2021 - The pattern was so easy, I had to make another one right away.

My youngest daughter Nieves - turned 19 on January 16th. She jokingly asked for a “Max & Ruby” cake. I think I got pretty close

January 17, 2021 - I started this painting back in the spring of 2020. I added to it today with the intention to fill an empty spot I have on my gallery wall.

It feels good to be making and creating again. I guess in a way I’m just burying my head into creativity during this wild volatile time in my country. I made that sound very dramatic but I still dread turning on the news or going into town and seeing grown men act like toddlers at the stores after being told to wear a mask properly. Making and creating seems to be my way of coping and feeling okay. I do have times where I binge YouTube videos under a blanket cuddling my doogos. But I get fidgety after too long.

I stop here for now as I’m sure I’ll have more to share in the next few days.

I hope you are all well friends.

-xo Thea

Easy Projects - Fabric Napkins (Video)

I have been sewing a lot more recently. Which I love. I’m not the best at it, but I know enough to get by. Aside from sewing face coverings/masks, I wanted to come up with easy one day sewing projects. I discovered a big box of commercial fabrics I had in storage (which I thought I offloaded it all onto a friend). Fabric hoarding is real. So here’s my first project to share, super simple, affordable reusable fabric napkins.

Easy Projects - Fabric Napkins Napkin in use post making of the video of course.

I have a thousands self critiques, but it has been a few years since I’ve made a craft video. There are more in store and I hope you’ll follow along and try some out.

xo-Thea

Fabric Mask Making

If you’re looking for a fabric mask listing here, you won’t find one. Like many other makers, I too have been sewing fabric masks. I’m currently not offering them for sale. I have been focused on supplying my family and friends with them. There are many makers offering them for sale online, a quick search or Etsy will lead you to some. I’ve linked the pattern that I have been using in the photo above if you’d like to make your own. I made the decision to make masks for those close to me because of my limited amount of 100% cotton fabric stash.

In the video above, you can see my fabrics are from the early 2000’s. I haven’t really purchased new commercial fabrics since the days of my tote bags and baby blanket making. My commercial fabric stash has been stored away in my garage in big rubbermaid bins for years. Some call it hoarding, I call it being prepared, at least in this case. I would’ve never imagined that I’d be sewing fabric masks for an 100 year pandemic. I’m sure no one did.

Mask making is a three type of scissors job.

I have stream lined my process. I pre cut the masks in mass quantity. Then I sew them in mass as well.

It is surreal still. Even with being in the initial epicenter for the COVID-19 outbreak. I know some are struggling with the mental weight that comes with life events like this. It’s hard to see friends struggling to cope. For me, I am filling my time with projects that can help others as well as tackling a few personal projects that have been on hold for a time “when I have the time.” I’m just one of those people that struggles with being in idle. Finding ways to help relieves my mental weight.

I’ve even tapped my vintage thread stash.

Not many orders are coming through these days for either of my businesses as to be expected. We are completely grateful those that are coming through though (Thank you!). It’s just another reality check of what a delicate life circle we have. While our laser isn’t running as often as it would normally be this time of year, we are firing up our 3D printer to contribute to the medical professionals in need. We are aiming to create components for face shields and mask extenders for long wear.

Please be safe at home. We are all in this together.

-Thea

A Jaunt To CA + A Granny Chic Singer Sewing Machine

John & I were in California for a few days to visit some friends and to attend a wedding.

The ceiling in the Rita House - Los Angeles, CA. January 2020

The wedding was intimate and beautiful. It was held at a little hidden gem in Los Angeles, Rita House. Such a beautiful intimate place. Taken from the Rita House website about who Rita was; “Costume Designer Rita Riggs purchased the building and made it her studio for her work with everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Norman Lear and many, many more in between.” There were lots of interesting things to look at even among the wedding decor.

Aside from the quick jaunt to California, we came home to snow, were snowed in for a few days and celebrated two kids’ birthdays.

Homemade birthday cake - January 2020

I’m finally settled in/down from all the happenings mentioned above. I’m now ready to tackle some projects. A few days before we left I was gifted a vintage Singer sewing machine from a neighbor. I’ve never actually owned a Singer machine before. Many other brands though. So I am very excited to add this vintage beauty to my collection. She needs some restoring, but that’s right up my alley.

According to the serial number, it’s from 1931. I’ve discovered many online resources to help me restore it. I’m so excited! Plus the “granny chic” with a touch of industrial vibe aesthetic, is my thing. I just like looking at it. I can’t believe the generosity of my neighbor.

I’ll be sure to post updates of the restoration process as I accomplish it. I have a couple of kimono to tidy up and reheome (sell) on my plate first. I’ll post more about them on my Instagram.

xo - Thea