Posted on Leave a comment

Cricut BrightPad Go Unboxing and Review

The Cricut BrightPad Go is a must-have for anyone who needs concentrated light that helps with design for sewing and craft projects, but is perfect for anyone interested in diamond painting or transferring an image to another surface, like copying a design on graphite paper.

What is in the box?

I have an old Fiskars Light Boss that has been a sturdy and helpful companion over the years, but it is limited to a 120v Fluorescent bulb and isn’t very bright. I still use it and love that it was built well and has lasted this long. My vision has not held up as well, and I require a brighter light and need the convenience of being cordless, as I don’t always have access to a plug near my work areas.

The Cricut BrightPad Go isn’t an inexpensive tool, but it is a tool and not a supply for your craft room. It has many uses and will hopefully work for many years. As I show in the unboxing video, I love that I can use the pad to align fabric edges and patterns. This will be especially helpful with dark fabrics. As you can see below, I enjoy to use it when I am working on my diamond paintings. I’ve used a lamp, but the pad is superior, as the light source comes up through the canvas and makes the design legend symbols easier to see. It helps reduce eye strain and doesn’t light up the entire room instead of my work area.

One thing I’d like to point out is that the manual, for lack of a better word, states that once charged, you won’t need to recharge for a few months. This is misleading. I was so excited, believing that I would get a long use out of the pad before it needed charging again. A fully charged pad will work for two hours on the brightest setting. The quoted multiple months are what one can expect when the pad is charged and just on idle waiting to be used. Meaning, the battery doesn’t have a quick drain if you don’t use the pad.

So far I’m really enjoying the Cricut Brightpad Go and look forward to sharing how it holds up!

Posted on Leave a comment

See You at The One Stop Holiday Shop in Charlotte, NC

One stop shop info sheet

Are you ready to begin your holiday shopping season? Come out to The One Stop Holiday Shop and support local small businesses and handmade artists as you cross off the gifts on your shopping list. Come by my Bushnell Unscripted Handmade booth and check out my new drink wraps, jewlery, and zipper bags! You can pick up a signed paperback of Manual Exposure, too.

Check out the list of vendors who will be present for your shopping experience:

pin Show Map Sardis Swim & Racquet Club

Posted on Leave a comment

See You at the Mother’s Day Finders Keepers Market at NoDa Brewing Company

Where:

NoDa Brewing Company

2921 N Tryon St, Charlotte, North Carolina 28206

Finders Keepers Market Information

When:

May 14, 2017

1:00 – 6:00 pm

Come out and pick up a signed paperback of Manual Exposure and my handmade items: embroidered hoops, original coffee mug designs, Cozy to Go! cup wraps, earrings, necklaces, greeting cards, key fobs, and more!

Bring Mom along and let her choose her favorite things!

Posted on Leave a comment

See You at the Finders Keepers Market at NoDa Brewing Company

finders keepers market

Finders Keepers Market Jeannie M. Bushnell

 

Where:

NoDa Brewing Company

2921 N Tryon St, Charlotte, North Carolina 28206

Finders Keepers Market Information

When:

April 9, 2017

1:00 – 6:00 pm

Come out and pick up a signed paperback of Manual Exposure and my handmade items: embroidered hoops, original coffee mug designs, Cozy to Go! cup wraps, earrings, necklaces, greeting cards, key fobs, and more!

Mother’s Day (May 14, 2017) is just around the corner, and Bushnell Unscripted Handmade items make wonderful gifts.

finders keepers market

Posted on Leave a comment

Book Review: Crafty Critters by Vickie Clontz, Leisure Arts

felt leaf mug rugs






Crafty Critters Book Cover




Crafty Critters





Vickie Clontz





Nonfiction: Craft: Sew




Leisure Arts, Inc.




printed, digital




32



The craft patterns include shoulder bags with fox and raccoon faces, a big-eyed owl case for eyeglasses or cell phones, cute pincushions and storage cases, leaf coasters, wall pockets, and magnets. The instructions are easy to read and decipher, whether you are a beginner or expert crafter.

The completed projects from this book will become treasured gifts, too!

 

crafty criter book

I was ecstatic to receive a review copy of this book from Leisure Arts. Over the years, I’ve learned many skills from the wonderful publications Leisure Arts produces. I wanted to start with an easy project, and one that will definitely be of use to me, and I hope it will inspire you, too! I thought the leaf mug rugs looked adorable, and I couldn’t wait to create them.

 

felt leaf mug rugs

 

The following method that I use differs slightly from the instructions provided in the book. The directions in the book are fine; this is simply the procedure I used to create the end result.

A Note About Materials Used:

The directions use wool felt, but as a vegan, I don’t use wool. I substituted the wool for my favorite Kunin Eco-fi felt. It is made of polyester from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The felt is made in the US and comes in a number of great colors. I’ve used it for many years and always have a large stash on hand. I am using olive and goldenrod colors. This felt is actually stiffer than a wool felt, so keep that in mind.

Time to craft!

I printed a copy of the leaf I wanted to use and transferred the outline onto the felt. I used a marker, as I knew my lines wouldn’t show once cut.

leaf selection

 

I cut out two leaves from the felt–one for the front and one for the back. The instructions also call for a thin batting to be sandwiched between the layers of felt. I used Insul-Bright, as this is the batting I happen to have on hand, and I know it will help keep my cup warm and toasty.

Insul-bright

 

After all the cutting, you should have the following pieces:

a front and back of the leaf, a liner for the leaf, and a piece of jute

The photo below shows the order the layers should be in. You will be inserting the twine between the leaf layers, sewing around the leaf, and turning the leaf right side out so that the finished product will have the two felt pieces on the outside and the batting on the inside.

cut leaves

 

For the loop:  The instructions call for 10 inches of jute twine, but I used 8 inches of hemp twine.  Sandwich the twine between the leaf layers, placing the hoop on the inside and the loose ends hanging out 1/2″ beyond the raw edges. The key is to place the hemp where the stem of the leaf would be.

 

leaf stem

 

I like to use clips to secure my layers together before heading to the sewing machine. Yes, feel free to use pins, and use as many as you need. There are no judgments here. Also, don’t worry about one heart being a tad larger than the other, and don’t fuss over trying to perfectly align them. As you can see, I have a little wonkiness going on, and that will take care of itself when you sew around the edge with a 1/4″ seam allowance (give or take a little more as needed).

clipped felt leaf

 

With a sewing machine, sew around the perimeter of the leaves, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance and a hole for turning the leaves right side out. You may want to use clips or pins to mark where you want to start and stop for your opening. It is easy to sew past the spot you wanted to leave open for turning.

Tip: Remember when I said this felt was stiffer than wool felt? Well, that becomes important with turning. I needed two inches to turn this fabric right side out.

 

turn and stitch

Once you’ve turned the fabric right side out, you need to use a blunt object, such as a chopstick, blunt crochet hook, or turning tool to round out the leaf and smooth out the curves. Once complete, it is time to sew your leaf closed. Take your time, and you’ll be pleased with your results.

Next, I recommend freehanding the leaf lines with chalk. You don’t need anything fancy. I have a box of sidewalk chalk that works just fine. Again, don’t worry about duplicating the exact lines from the book. It is okay if your lines vary from the project instructions. I used to worry about making everything an exact duplicate of what I saw in a book, and that really took the creativity and fun out of crafting.

leaf marks

Take the leaf to your sewing machine, and stitch along your drawn lines. Before your very eyes, you’ve whipped up a beautiful little mug rug that is sure to make your coffee breaks more enjoyable. These make great gifts, and with four different leaf patterns, you can make an assortment! As you can see, there is plenty of room next to my mug for a cookie or two.

leaf mug rug with coffee

Stay tuned for more crafts created from this adorable book. For more information, or to order the book (as a digital download or print edition), please see the following link:
DIY Crafty Critters

Items I used to create the mug rugs (affiliate links to Amazon products):

Felt:

Kunin Eco-Fi Felt Goldenrod

Kunin Eco-Fi Felt Olive

Hemp
Hemptique Cord Spool 20-Pound Earthy

Liner: Insul-Bright Needlepunched Insulated Lining -45 inches x 1 yard

Clips:
50pcs Sewing Craft Quilt Binding Clips Clamps Clear and Red