For the past couple months, Mansy and I have been working hard on a new project. We’ve turned our love for documenting memories into a fun new endeavor called Kimidori Project! Our notebooks are available exclusively (for now) at the Hey Kessy shop, Urban Turf, UP Town Center in QC. If you’re a fan of Midori Traveler’s Notebooks, then this quick DIY is perfect for you.
The title of this post is a little misleading. It’s not really Mikko Tries Weaving, it’s more like Mikko tried again and got totally obsessed with it this time around. I’ve always said that painting and calligraphy weren’t kind to me. Thread, on the other hand, I’m definitely more friendly with. Here are a few of my favorite pieces. I’d love to share my love for weaving with you guys. Head on over to my WORKSHOPS page to check what’s scheduled so far. I also do private workshops for groups of at least 4 people. I can’t wait to weave with all of you soon!
This past weekend wasn’t quite the one I had planned. I had to sit out a couple crafts fairs because a stomach bug kept me in bed for 72 hours. I was getting a bit of that cabin fever on the third day, so I forced myself out of bed to work on some pressed flowers pieces.
My mom sent a few more phonebooks filled with pressed flowers and leaves from Alaska. The phonebooks have been sitting in a corner of the room, and I didn’t get a chance to really go through the contents.
I’ve said this many times on my instagram account, autumn is my favorite season of the year. Imagine my surprise when I saw these beautifully pressed and preserved maple leaves! It smelled so sweet too, imagine that!
For a change, I wanted to make something other than the basic wreath and and landscape type pieces. I quickly doodled a sailboat on a scrap piece of paper.
I placed my doodle over heavy-duty cardstock paper. With a bone folder (I Try DIY Shop), I drew over the doodle to leave score marks on the cardstock.
Then, I picked leaves, buds and blooms to fill the space. I tried my best not to snip or cut petals. I have a thing about keeping them as is, however they end up being pressed. Once I was satisfied with how everything was, I started gluing each piece in place.
I’m totally in love with this piece. I love how it really looks like a boat from afar. It’s only when you take a closer look that you realize it’s made of small beautiful flowers. ♥
Want to learn all about the Art of Pressed Flowers?
Get the digital download mini zine from I Try DIY Shop or Etsy.
You can also sign up for the next scheduled workshop!
Sometime last year, I got so addicted with wire crafts and jewelry. Making these rose-shaped wire rings were a definite favorite. I started selling them bazaars, even making custom ones on the spot. We included this at last year’s Craft Camp Amazing Craft Race activity.
Like I’ve said many times before, I can’t draw to save my life. So, at the last Craft Pop-Up, I tried to flex a new craft muscle.
I think I was in highschool when my Mom started making pieces with Pressed Flowers. Her pieces were hung in every house we ever lived in. It was one of those special things she gifted at weddings and birthdays. I was never the flower loving type of girl, and yet I’d always marvel at Mom’s work.
This piece right here is one of my favorites. It has an assortment of flowers native to Alaska–picked and pressed at different seasons. It’s hung somewhere in our home in Anchorage.
When this little one asked if she could come over to my condo, I couldn’t say no. She’s quite the crafty one, so I knew we were in for an afternoon of activities. So after an hour of Dance Central, I thought it would be best to attack some paint.
I wanted to teach her something new, so I was hoping to try out some blow painting. Instead of bringing out just the brushes, I took out some paper straws, too.
I started dipping the straws in various colors.
Then blew some streaks in whichever direction.
I made a few sheets using different methods I had accidentally discovered: dripping, bubble bursting, splattering and streaking.
So quick. So fun. So easy!
Realizing that maybe abstract art wasn’t her thing, this is what she ended up making!
Hey, Tita Mikko isn’t complaining!
One of my recent craft supply purchases were spools of wire that came in such adorable colors–think old rose, turquoise and burnt sienna.
