kro designs

At the Mart!

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:55:00 +0000

I've decided to jump into the wholesale pool...splash!

It's out!

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:06:00 +0000

No... not the Lego got stuck up my youngest son's nose...well, it's out now too. But even more exciting than that, the video I did for Learning ZoneXpress!

Here is the You tube clip...

I guessed they liked it so much, that they have asked me to do ANOTHER ONE! Personally I think they are crazy for asking me again...but they sure are fun to make!

Just in case you want one...

Wet Felted Necklaces

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:07:00 +0000

Here is some student work using our wet felted spheres to construct a necklace. We also added some "sushi" rolls done in another session. I think they add a lot of dimension.

Beautiful use of color!

Organized?!?

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:52:00 +0000

In order to feel more in control of my work and life balance, I'm trying a new system. In the past I've used just an old notebook that the kids used for school, post it notes, you get the idea. Problem is that IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME! I'm always forgetting that one thing when I go to the grocery store or not actually achieving some daily work goals I've set for myself. Other things like answering e-mails, class proposals etc. all find their way into my day instead of actually making anything. Which for an artist is kinda important.
So....I put together a little spread sheet to help me . Now everything is in one place.

Home Book

Wet Felted Spheres

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:39:00 +0000

This week I start teaching a weekly class at The Minnetonka Center for the Arts about Wet and Dry Felting and wanted to let you in on a little bit of it too.
This step by step tutorial teaches you how to make felted balls that will be a component in a necklace which I will show later on.

Start with 1/2 oz. corriedale wool. I get mine at one of two places, The Textile Center shop and The Fibers Studio. You can also pick it up on Etsy. This time I am using this variegated dyed one purchased at The Textile Center. The corriedale at The Fiber Studio is a better quality wool but it only comes in solid colors. Trade off, I suppose. The soap is from Kiss My Face, a pure olive oil soap.

Fill a bowl with water and place the soap in it and mush it around. I like to do it this way until the soapy water opaque and slightly yellow then I take the bar of soap out. When wet felting if you fill your bowl with warm or hot water it speeds up the process. I want beginners to use room temp water (so your hands don't get cold) then you'll have more time to make the balls the way you want. You will also need a bowl of clean water.

Here I'm finger carding the wool. Holding taught in one hand the other fingers pull the wool.

And you get fine fibers. If you get a larger chunk then needed, finger card again. Wispy wool is what you want.

Gather the wisps into a ball shape taking care that it is not lopsided or holey.

Dipping your fingers in the soapy water, dribble the water onto the ball. If you heavily drop water on the ball it will "dent" it.

Start working with it like your making meatballs. It will "stick" to your hands to begin with but keep working with it evenly.

keep working it...

...until it is solid but not rock hard. Making a perfect ball is hard at first. You might have fissures or a crazy lumpy one but the keys are kneading it nice and smooth, keeping the ball slightly soapy and patience.

Dunk the finished ball in the clean water and squeeze out the excess.

Let dry overnight! Stay tuned for a tutorial on what to do with the finished balls.

I will also be doing a tutorial on felted coasters soon.

Age old question

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:59:00 +0000

"What did you do on Winter Break?"

We read.

We snuggled.

We unwrapped.

We wrote Thank yous.

What did you do?

"I'm Hungry!"

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:09:00 +0000

My boys are always asking me "What's for Dinner?"

And the last thing they say to me while tucked in bed at night is "What's for Breakfast?"

I cannot keep them fed enough. I had heard that this happens with boys, constant eating, standing at the fridge eating, whining when there is nothing to eat in sight but it didn't hit home until recently. They are "Mad Hungry"! And when I saw this book, "Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys" and read "you should never be without bacon" I knew the author was my kind of cook!

To combat so many meal related questions, I've turned the side of my fridge into food central. My youngest calls it, "Mom's Diner" (which it really seems to be) always thinking of the next meal to prepare. It describes every meal, every sauce, every side dish (but sadly, from their point of view, not dessert) for the entire week. Unannounced to them, tucked away I have a monthly calendar which has meals on it for the next month. Our Elk, yes we are related now, which my husband killed, oh...i mean harvested, this fall just came to live in our freezer wrapped in beautiful white and labels paper. All of this means my freezer, affectionately call it the coffin, is FULL!

These are from my mothers recipe box, baby bella stuffed mushrooms I served on New Years Eve! We had these at every big occasion when I was growing up! Sausage and butter laden, they are good!

Prayerful (aka tired) and ready to tuck in!

My Healthy Beginning

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:47:00 +0000

My favorite go to magazine for all things healthy, eco and naturaly wise is at the "Do it Green: Minnesota" Fair at Midtown Global market this Saturday November 21st from 10am -5pm.

Nichole Hirsch Kuechle Founder and Publisher of My Healthy Beginning contacted me regarding the use of Lunch-Alongs, my handmade alternative use for plastic baggies, with her no waste lunches as a demo! I've sent along a set for her to use and some coupons with 20% off at my Etsy store.

It's no fair that everyone who can't attend (including myself) would be excluded from this opportunity so I'm passing the savings on to you! Just write MHB in the comment section at checkout and I'll refund the amount via Pay Pal!

Thanks to all who have supported this great endeavor! I can't wait to save a million baggies with your help!!

Reprinted from

Do It Green! Minnesota http://www.doitgreen.org/
and

My Healthy Beginnging http://www.myhealthybeginning.com/

Holiday Shows

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:28:00 +0000

It's that time of year again for massive gift giving!! Instead of heading to your area "Big Box", think about local or handmade products. I've seen some amazing things so for from other artists where I have my items this year. Here are some good ideas on where to start!

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Church Grant

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:09:00 +0000

Rosemount United Methodist Church applied for and received a grant on how to be more "green". So they contacted The Textile Center to learn some recycled textile projects.

Yesterday I taught how to fuse plastic bags together and make your own lunch bag. Today I taught how to make a water bottle holder out of an old wool sweater and then we needle felted on designs with wool roving. Both classes were filled with crafty and quilty ladies and and a very enthusiastic young man who sewed with a machine for the first time. He was a natural.

They enjoyed it so much they are going to make a bunch for their Holiday Bazaar in November!

They are going to have me back in the spring to do some more. Can't wait - what a great bunch!

MCFA Faculty show

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:15:00 +0000

The last days to see art work from some incredibly talented teachers. Goes through the 30th!

Click image for location!

Eden Prairie Art Crawl

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:56:00 +0000

This Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th, my home and studio will be open to the public from 10-5. Along with demonstrating art quilting, fusing plastic and fabric modification techniques, I will have a few items for sale.

I hope you can make it!

(I'm lucky number 6, by the way!)

You can download the brochure here!

Sew Green: Reuse, Repurpose, Restyle!

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:39:00 +0000

I was contacted by Learning ZoneXpress , who makes educational products for Jr and Sr high students, to do a video about ecological sewing. Their last sewing video was dated and quite in need of updating and they wanted to join the green movement.

The shoot itself was 8 hrs. and the production company 7rendered Design was phenomenal. They were so professional and really knew how to work me through my first on camera experience. Totally my first and only choice when I web or video needs.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of the situation yesterday.

Me sewing (snooze- a-rama) with Ben (video guy a.k.a. Rock Star) with Linnea from Learning Zone directing me.

I'm in the hostas fighting the marbled sunlight!

At my workstation!

Head shot replacement?!?!?

Thanks for the tea Mandy (Ben's gorgeous wife and creative video genius)

Light things (I don't know what they are called) gave and blocked light all day. Tough job!

This was staring at me all day!

One of my projects in the video is a fused plastic messenger bag and below are pictures of the sample bag and other idea of things you can make from it.

Lunch Bag

See through clutch.

Hair pin

Messenger bag.

Bracelets

Very exciting experience I hope to repeat soon!

Green video shoot

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Scene of the recycling video today!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Tomato Day

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:30:00 +0000

I went to South Dakota this weekend to visit my parents on the farm!

"These guys just won't move when I got close to them....oh, they are decoys"

(my hubby is a great white hunter...literally)

I love the lake view!

My breakfast... tomato and egg tart with chocolate zuccinni bread...my mother spoils me!!!

We spent all morning making my mother's spaghetti sauce!

Perfect end to a great summer!

Baggies Be Gone

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:06:00 +0000

This week I sold 98 reusable sandwich and snack bags. To put it in more global terms, If each one of those bags were used for 1/3 of the year, 10,780 plastic baggies would be kept from the landfill.

We really could do our part one small step at a time!

Giveaway winners

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:37:00 +0000

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:4 5

Heather said...
I have two boys in school this year and their favorties are tuna, which can make a HUGE mess and PB&J. I saw your site off of Jane4Girls $800 Annual. I have never heard of these before and am keeping my fingers crossed that I can win to try these out!!!Heather

Mrs. M said...
Our favorite lunch is pita pockets with hummus and fresh veggies (we are vegetarians). Cut up veggies instead of chips, and fruit. I would love to test and see how these work with fresh foods. I am sooo tired of plastic. We don't want too many plastic containers, because dd has to haul lunch around with her in her backpack all day. UGH!

Congratulations!

Art of Food

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:35:00 +0000

I taught at Articulture last week where I taught the students to make food related art objects in preparation of an end of the week party with the food they learned to cook in the afternoon portions of the class.

There first try at wet felting. Most were impatient with the process but were intrigued on how the different colors stayed together.

What kid doesn't like pizza?!?! I taught them how to sew using just commercial felt in a pie shape.

They needed to have boxes for their recipes.

Vases for the centerpiece with paper flowers.

We also made were sun painted napkins, napkin rings, fabric mache^ bowls and favor boxes for our place settings.

The centerpiece was made of all recycled items.

A very festive party!

3 C's

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:27:00 +0000

I just wrapped up a 9 hr workshop for the class that I teach that for art quilting called Color Creativity and Composition. We focus on the Elements of art and make quilts using that knowledge as a base. I always post pictures about my student work but sometimes I get wrapped in teaching I forget to take out the camera. Such was the case here.

I did manage to take a picture of Elizabeth's. She pushed herself from doing flowers in a vase to this abstract scene. I knew she could do things other than what she was used to! I was one proud mama!

Chicago

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:57:00 +0000

I don't normally post a multitude of vacation pictures but I loved looking at all the lines created in these pictures during last weekends trip. I know I will be working on one of these in an art quilt in the near future!

Testing, Testing...

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:59:00 +0000

Friends of Friends are great, aren't they? Last year I said yes (of course) when they were purging and wanted to get rid of a huge box of Hot Air Balloon Fabric-aka. Ripstop Nylon!

Thrilled yet confused about how to use this awesome stuff it sat in the studio for over a year until I got my light bulb moment.

I wanted to make a reusable shopping bag that I could fit in a small purse and would hold a ton! I placed 6 jars of spaghetti sauce in this bag hung it on the door for 24 hrs. Seams stayed intact and when I put it through the washing machine, it came out the same as it went in.

Test one...Check!

Here is how small it gets when put in its own attached pocket.

Product number 2: Reusable baggies!

My kids aren't in school yet so we haven't tried the true test but I did my best to simulate the ultimate messy sandwich.

I made a really icky peanut butter and jelly sandwich and placed it in my new reusable sandwich baggie. Built in the same style as a fold over sandwich bag it was put to the test.

I didn't think it goobered enough so I smeared it with extra

PB and J.

Washing in the dishwasher went well. Just turned it inside out.

I got so addicted to making these I made a trifecta: Sandwich bag (6 x 6 x 1), a chips bag (5 x 6 x 3) that folds over onto Velcro and a smaller version (3 x 6 x 2) that would be awesome for pretzels or Goldfish.

BTW (h x l x w)

Can you believe the color choices?!?! Not only is there black but also black with silver on the other side and a gold one too!

Besides my sister who is getting a set to do her own product testing, I want to giveaway two more sets in honor of my 100th blog posting (which won't happen until next week but who's counting!). All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your kids (or your own) favorite portable lunch. I will close the comments on Tuesday at 11:59pm and I will ship internationally because I know you eat lunch too! Plus you get to pick the colors of your bags!

Good luck and happy lunching!

Jewelry Jam part dux

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:38:00 +0000

More projects made from that class. In total we made 4 bracelets, 3 necklaces, 3 hair clips, 2 rings and 1 anklet. Next time I'm going to tackle embellished belts, shoes and pocket books. Make it more of an accessories class 'cause every girls gotta have a purse to go with her bling-bling!

Sketchy

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:17:00 +0000

I got an e-mail from an Etsy client wanting to buy this Artist Sketch Bag that was in my Flickr uploads. I showed the one that I already had finished...

But a green one was requested so I made this...

It is now on it's way to Taipei (Taiwan). Interesting enough the first green one I made was sent to Ireland...My only 2 international sales being almost identical green artist bags.

Memory Quilt part 5

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:05:00 +0000

I finished the wall hanging for Mrs. B, who lives in Atlanta which will be a gift to her mother and father. The quilt that I made for her and her daughter turned out wonderful but of course I forgot to take a picture of it before sending it off. But I did manage to take pictures of the wall hanging.

It's 40 inches square with the same snowball block as the big quilt. I also did on-point blocks in the middle with corner sets. Loved the brown fabric because it set off the plale fabric it is paired with. And then bound it with the light fabric again to bring it out too! What do you think???

Extreme Couponing!

kim@quilted-heirlooms.com (kro designs) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Who doesn't love to save money?!?! I've been following a couple blogs that don't deal with fiber arts ( yes, shock and awe) that deal with how to get the most for your money with groceries and beauty products. This one blogger has a budget of $800 a YEAR for groceries and toiletries for her family of 5. Are you kidding? I spend that much a month and I use coupons too! She tells you about internet coupons, special promotions, reward points card coupons and how to use them on a frequent basis to lower your bills. This is the other blogger.

Now as I have professed before here there are a few difference between the regions north and south of the Maison-Dixon Line. I don't have unlimited double coupons, I don't have cellfire (coupons sent to your phone ), a rewards card with coupons linked to it. As extreme as couponing can get up here in the North I can get double coupons if I spend $25 and I can only have 5. Humph....

Last week I played the check out game...4 different orders each spending $25 before coupons. I ended up with all these groceries for $90 which includes Office Max ($10 inkjet refill) and Target run. I was pretty proud of myself!