Leavin on a Jet Plane & a Few Project Pictures

I managed to get the last of my gifts, art projects, and art challenges done. LW bought boxes, and bubble wrap. Then patiently sorted through to my convoluted instructions to wrap and address the parcels. :) We picked our Mule..er.. good friend Mike up at the inn he was staying at. Loaded his one (unbelievable for 2 weeks) one small suitcase and laptop satchel in the Yellow Submarine. The Yellow Sub is the name our yellow Xterra was christened when we first moved here. Then headed to the air port. In the parking lot we, well more like Mike shoved things like his unmentionables around until he got the parcels situated to fit in the suitcase and still zip it shut :) LW didn't tape the boxes shut. Huh????? Well because if Mike gets the evil red light when he goes through customs EVERYTHING will be opened and searched. We don't even wrap presents because they all have to be unwrapped and searched :(

As we kissed goodbye and bid him a safe journey I finally let loose with a huge... sigh of relief!! I managed to get everything done and that is always a very good feeling :) Two of my projects were pieces I made for a couple of challenges I had entered. Remember that was one of my goals for this year?? Entering a few different challenges so that I could stretch my abilities.

The first challenge was to use muslin in a creative way to add beauty to everyday living. Muslin is a Anglo-European material which I can't buy here. What I can buy is the Mexican answer to muslin. It's called manta. It's a hard finished, long wearing, strong, unbleached cotton fabric just like muslin. And like muslin it is used for any and everything, and the more it's washed the softer it becomes.

I decided I would make a little shoulder tote for that challenge. I printed on one side of the tote a vintage postcard from Paris of the Eiffel Tower. I sewed three sides leaving the raw edges showing and hemmed the top side. I made the shoulder strap with brown satin ribbon which I attached to the tote by wire wrapping them. Of course I did have to add just a touch of bling with a few beads in the wire. :)

I'm sorry these pictures don't give a decent view of the post cards. Needs improvement on photography skills!!

On the other side of the tote I printed the back of an old French post card. On the bottom edge I pulled threads to create a bit of fringe.

To finish it off with a bit of style I sewed a vintage rhinestone snap on.

The other challenge was to use something from a coffee shop. I was in luck with this challenge cuz we are way uptown here in Mazatlan. We have a number of coffee shops In fact we even have a shhhh.. Starbucks. I started with a cardboard hot cup cosy. The inside of the cosy I lined with wool felt for a bit of insulation. On the outside of one I created a collage showing the difference between before that first cup of coffee and after a good 4 shot espresso!

With this one I made a copy of a vintage button card I have and glued it to the front of the cosy. Then I stitched on some vintage celluloid buttons.

I glued little hook and loop tape pieces on the cosy so it will stay shut around the cup.

Well I have to say I'm rather pleased with the way both challenge projects turned out. Whether they will cut the muster remains to be seen. As for me, I was able to accomplish my goals. I answered the challenge calls, I made art using the materials I had and stayed within the guidelines of the challenges As I would tell my students "Be proud you did a good job"

And you dear Bloglandians, have a most audacious today or tomorrow depending on where in the world you are ;)