DIY Doily Lampshades

PART 1-

 I've been buying and collecting doily's for a long time; sure I could crochet them myself, but when I go to the thrift store or to a yard sale and they're .25 It's hard NOT to buy them rather than make them...besides, it's upcycling! So go out in yonder world and return with a whole bunch of beautifully intricate doily's. Most of mine we're round, but some were 'runner' style, long rectangles, and some were obviously practice crochet because they were a bit wonky. Regardless- Your going to be stitching them around a lamp shade which is no perfect circle or square so no worries! I will eventually remove the fabric that's on the metal frame of the shade, but I wanted to make sure the dye worked out and that I had enough doily's before I had a naked lamp chillin' in my living room- I'm doing this on the sly anyway, so I want to destroy the original at the last moment.

 I just sort of eyeballed the amount that I would need- I'll probably overlap them in some areas...

 I then laid down some plastic and sprayed the fabric. I used Tumble Dye by sei in pink and blue. And I also used Color Shine by Heidi Swapp in teal, mustard, chartreuse, and primrose. Color Shine is typically a scrapbook/mixed media type spray- but I figured, ink is ink-right?!?

I also decided while I was at it, that the doily would make an awesome stencil for one of my canvases- so I laid it across the canvas in progress and sprayed away- I think it'll be a cute background element!

My next steps will be to let them dry completely and iron over them to heat set the ink. I'll post about that and how I finished the project on Thursday! Stay tuned!!

Hand in Hand

I teach a Sip and Paint Class every other week at Gaston School of the Arts. Taking a blank canvas and a person who's never painted, and teaching them to trust their creativity is my magic. It's what I live for. For a long time, I only created things I felt were "popular". I would only teach something if I thought it would generate interest. But then I remembered...I quit making art for others a long time ago, why start back up? If someone feels drawn to my work, then they'll join the class, if not then- that's okay too!

 If you'd are in the area and feel 'drawn', then stop by! Or just check me out online...
MadHatters Paint Parties

Pretty on the Cheap-

 I love making concoctions out of 'everyday' items. So I've been making my own beauty supplies for a while, especially my spa night goodies! Most of the specialty ingredients I get I order online from Down To Earth, it's an amazing little shop located in Wilmington NC- They have everything you could think of, they're inexpensive, and you can order wholesale if you'd like! So the first recipe I'm going to tell y'all about,  is awesome, easy and totally works...

-Banish The Cigarette Kinks-

(You know those little crinkly lines you get around your mouth from smoking or drinking out of a a straw? They make you look a lot older than you really are, this will help while you quit your shitty habits...)

Ingredients

1/4 very ripe papaya

To Make:

Mash the papaya into a mush.

To Use:

Apply the mush to your lips and the surrounding area. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes then rinse with cool water. Follow up with an exfoliation and mid weight moisturizer( I use pure Argan oil- Josie Maran, it's awesome!)

I know first hand about these stinking old wrinkles- I started smoking when I was 13 years old, and didn't start trying to quit until this year...I think I'm completely finished with them now, but you never know after two glasses of wine whats going to happen. I know they are disgusting and gross, a habit-a bad one- but a habit none the less. So lets quit being gross together! I want to live to be 120!! And it's really hard to do a lot of yoga or deep breaths if I smoke...I really do feel great on the inside, and i'm starting to look better on the outside!