Crafts Gone Bad
April 19, 2007
Do you ever make something and it just doesn't turn out how you had hoped? I am certainly guilty of that. Remember those tiny yo-yo's I made back in the fall? Those were a bad idea - just too small. They sat forgotten under a mound of fabric until this week. Then I shifted the pile to my table and looked at them each time I went in there to clean. So this is what I did:
I strung them on a piece of embroidery floss. Why? I don't know, really. I didn't want to throw them away, but I don't have a use for them at the moment. I kind of like them strung up like that. And where did the lone red one come from? I can't even remember why I have that.
I think I am going to hang them on my inspiration board, once I make it, that is. Maybe they will inspire a project. A doll quilt, perhaps?
The good news...some pattern filing and some memo boards to make for the sewing room and I will be 98% finished. The other 2% - well, it requires a sewing machine. That's the bad news...I am still waiting.
Sorry, your machine is still in the hospital. I saw your photo on flickr and had to run over to see what you were up to with those sweet yoyos. They make a great caterpillar. Or have you seen the yo-yo dolls? Love those too. And I love the random red one...it makes me smile.
Posted by: Eren | April 19, 2007 at 06:12 PM
they make a great picture if nothing else!
Posted by: meg | April 19, 2007 at 07:58 PM
I just bought a new sewing machine and I am soooo in love with it - so far I have made; 2 hand bags, a tote, 2 pairs of jarmies, a toy rabbit, a baby wrap...I haven't cleaned or spoken to my family in two days. They are sewing machine orphans. So you are probably just as well not to have one around. Your poor children aren't orphans to your craft like mine are.
Posted by: Jude | April 19, 2007 at 08:09 PM
You just need to make a few more yo-yos and you'll have a very cool fabric lei.
Posted by: Dana | April 19, 2007 at 08:21 PM
I took a longer blog break than expected a few weeks back because of Crafts Gone Bad Syndrome. One or two things, heck I can roll with the punches, but nothing seemed to be working and then things cleared up. Craft Malaise - maybe it's the equivalent of writer's block.
Posted by: Sonya | April 19, 2007 at 08:39 PM
So cute! My andrew would want me to put some eyes on it so that he could slither it around the house! :)
Posted by: leslie | April 19, 2007 at 08:48 PM
oh that's happened to me too, but they always turn into something good in the end... I'm sure you'll think of something creative... maybe you just need your machine back :) then it will hit you!
Posted by: kat | April 19, 2007 at 08:48 PM
I saw the cutest little needlbook today made out of linen and they had a tiny yoyo as the flower. The stem were embroidered and so were the petals. If not, they're cheery on the string just like that. :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heylucyloo/463622983/in/pool-vintagebuttonswap/
Posted by: Norma | April 19, 2007 at 09:53 PM
I bet your kiddos would enjoy using it for a caterpillar. I know mine would.
Posted by: amandajean | April 19, 2007 at 11:10 PM
I could really see those working as tree decorations during the holidays or even stringing them across the top of a curtain. If you could string some elastic with the embroidery floss, you might be able to make a neat hair scrunchy. But I'm with you, too cool to throw away. Sorry about the machine. I keep telling my husband I need to send mine in, but then I start another project and it just gets pushed back.
Posted by: Robyn | April 19, 2007 at 11:19 PM
My grandma had a yoyo caterpillar with a face on one end, and we really liked that thing. It looked just like this.
I hope the machine comes back soon!
Posted by: amy h | April 19, 2007 at 11:23 PM
You could stick some eyes on the front and have a cool snake! Or add some more and have a great garland.
Posted by: Anina | April 20, 2007 at 12:12 AM
oh, poor you! i'm so sorry you are still w/o machine! but i'm glad you have such a lot done on your sewing room! that's pretty cool.
Posted by: kirsten | April 20, 2007 at 08:42 AM
98% finished? I'm jealous! Right now I'd be happy with about 70% finished.
Posted by: beki | April 20, 2007 at 09:56 AM
I know that I have seen a doll somewhere, a rag doll type, and the legs and arms were made of yo-yo's strung together. It was so sweet. Maybe you could find a pattern and you'd be part of the way there!
I enjoy your blog so much. It is very inspiring and creative.
Wylie
Posted by: Wylie Hunt | April 20, 2007 at 10:32 AM
A tiny yo-yo quilt for a dollhouse would be very sweet--great idea! I seem to recall I had a similar doll that Wylie Hunt, above, is talking about, where its arms & legs were strings of yo-yo's...Still without the machine, though. Hope it returns to its mommy soon--LOL! Happy Days! :o)
Posted by: Tracy | April 20, 2007 at 11:25 AM
sometimes you just need a bolt of lightning to come down and give you an idea! i think you will make something absolutely fabulous with those tiny yoyos and i can't wait to see what that will be!
Posted by: heidi | April 20, 2007 at 12:26 PM
Could you feed elastic through those yo-yos and make a hairband? Or could you use them for legs to make a doll? I don't know just something that popped into my head when I saw them
Posted by: SilverLining Designs | April 21, 2007 at 09:27 AM
I like what you did with the yo-yos. I often make earrings that just don't look right to me, so I toss them in a box and return to them, sometimes months later, often to find that with a little tweaking - a new bead added or something taken away, they look just fine. The yo-yos on a string like that make me see them in a whole new light. Nice how that works out...
Posted by: sulu-design | April 21, 2007 at 05:40 PM
I like the idea of a doll quilt. Although I am sure they are lovely just strung up on your inspiration board. And I also like the oddball red one! :)
Posted by: julie | April 21, 2007 at 06:53 PM
Key fob!
Posted by: Lynn in Tucson | April 26, 2007 at 03:37 PM
ohhhhhhhhh ... for the yo-yos.. how about making them into a dangle off of a pull chain ceiling fan???.. divide them in 1/2 and string them up!
Maddie
Posted by: Maddie | April 30, 2007 at 06:43 PM