Letter: Thrift Shops from Bravos Top Design

I received this letter from a Mona, a Creative Juice fan wanting to know 2 things...

#1 Cathie are you watching this season of Top Design?

#2 Since you live in LA and do lots of T2T, I thought you might know what thrift shops they were shopping at. If you know - please tell!

Hi Mona! #1: Yes - I am watching Top Design. So far I really like it! I am a big fan of Adler and have a few of his pottery pieces. I can't wait to see how this show unfolds and I am enjoying the strength of the contestants as well as the judges and hosts!

#2: Steve and I have shopped at both of the shops for years! I was first introduced to the thrift shop (St Vincent De Paul's) by my friend Sean. Some of the set pieces/props from Creative Juice were even purchased from them.

The other "thrift shop" (they called it the junkyard) is actually Freeway Building Materials and they are loaded with so much fun stuff....it is really mind blowing! Check out this Google search for more thrift shops in and around Los Angeles.

Have a super crafty day! Cathie

Letter: Kids Summer Crafts

Saucy Monster

Hi Cathie,

o.k. so I’m coming to The Source when it comes to crafting. John is doing a summer “camp” at BounceU for 3-12 year olds boy and girls and they are going to do a 45 minute craft each day. Needless to say I pulled all the idea I could out of your recent book and we are going to use some of them but I was hoping you could give me a couple ideas that would interest boys as well as girls. Boys aren’t usually very craft orientated (no offense Steve) and we need to do it on the cheap, so anything you can come up with I would really appreciate it.

Thanks for your help.

Melanie

Hi Melanie,

I have a great new project - they are kind of like Japanese characters meets cousin it. I am calling them mini monsters. Boys and girls really love this project. They also double as banks, secret spots etc. - because you can lift the hair out and place coins (etc) into the bottle.

Plus if you have any "eyelash" yarn it is great way to use it up. I really love the glow in the dark Mod Podge and kids really love it!

They are made with a plastic salad dressing bottle or a Gatorade style bottle.

Here are the instructions:

1 plastic bottle (large opening at the top)
1 yard cheese cloth (Jo-Ann Fabrics)
Mod Podge - Glow in the dark (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore)
Crazy yarn
Googley eyes
Craft glue
Foam paint brush

1. Clean the bottle and peal the label off as best you can.
(you could spray paint them black if you want to)

2. Unfold the cheese cloth and begin attaching it to the bottle with the Mod Podge. Wrap like a mummy and keep adding the Mod Podge. Use your fingers to press down. Set aside to dry.

3. Make the hair by wrapping crazy yarn around a 10" piece of cardboard (or you could use a yellow note pad) until you have a full amount if hair. Cut a small piece of yarn and place it towards the top, bring it through all the loops and tie a secure knot. At the other end, use scissors to cut the hair loose.

4. Glue googley eyes to the front.

5. Add the hair by placing the knot side into the opening on the bottle. You might need to trim the hair of your monster.

For more kids ideas visit:
http://www.cathieandsteve.com/projectskids.html

Here is a link to the kids crafts on my blog: http://cathiefilian.blogspot.com/search/label/make%20it%3A%20kids%20crafts

(not all the things are for kids) Scroll to the bottom for the chip can rocket ship, coffee filter flowers are always popular with kids.

Crafty kisses,

Cathie

Milk Mummy
another variation using milk cartons

Letter: Where did you get the colorful bowls?

I get asked about our nesting bowls all the time.

They are so bright, cheery and practical.

Hi Cathie,

We met at the Knoxville,TN Womens Expo. I asked you about the bowls used on the show. Crate and Barrel does not have them. They are the bowls Steve used to make the ice cream cake. They are Yellow, Orange and Pink. They are made of hard plastic/melmac.

Please email me with any info on where I can find them.

Thanks for your kindness,
L

******************************************

Hi L,

It was so nice to meet you in Knoxville. I know we got the bowls at Crate and Barrel and I checked the website and the outlet and they both don't have them anymore. The are made by a company called ZAK! Designs out of Spokane, WA.

I found one company that still sells them:
La Prima Shops Nesting Bowls

I did find similar designs at Amazon. Check out the links below...

Nesting Bowls Search at amazon
Rainbow Set at amazon
Pink Set at amazon

I hope you have a great day!

Cathie

PS - Here is a link to the recipe for the Ice Cream Cake. This is from the Kids Birthday Episode.

Letters: Chinese Take Out Box Template

Here is a letter I received about templates.

Hi Cathie,

Do you have a template for a Chinese take out box? I am exhausted from searching.

Thank you,
BC

Hi BC,

I should and I don't. I have always made my own by unfolding a box and tracing around it. Michaels sells mini and larger boxes for around a buck or so.




You can attach fabric to the boxes with fusible webbing. Here is a link to the project on Creative Juice. Take Out Boxes

Craft On,

Cathie

Letter - Cool Paper & Fabric Prints

I received this letter on etsy.

Hi Cathie,
My 3 year old and I watch Creative Juice all the time together. She even pretends she has her own show called Creative Juice. Anyhow, could you tell me where you find all of your cute pinup clip art and fabrics from the show. These hair ties are so cute! I hope you don't mind me asking you this through the site! Have a great day!

Fara

________________________


Hello Fara,

What a cute story! I love it!

We shop all over the place for printed goodies. For clip art I use Dover books. They are copyright free. If you are just making things for yourself or to give as gifts - I color copy books with good images. I have files of magazine tear outs, post cards, old greeting cards and catalog pages that have images that I like. I just copy them when I need them and still have the image in my flies. I also color copy printed fabrics to make my own paper.

Of course if you are selling the goods make sure you get permission or use copyright free art.

For fabrics, I hunt and peck all over the place. I studied textile science in collage so I am kind o a fabric junkie.

A few designers I like and/or obsess over are:
Alexander Henry
Michael Miller Fabrics
Amy Butler

Have a great day and kisses for your daughter! Keep playing and crafting,

Cathie

Letter - Craftnanza Necklace

I have received a few letters regarding my necklace in the craftnanza commercial. People are wanting to know did you make it? or where can I buy it!

the neckalce

So here is the skinny.... I bought the necklace last year from a store called New York & Co. I just fell in love with it when I saw it. I was not even thinking of it for the commercial but it was the perfect choice with the green t-shirt. I love the glitzy boho style of this piece.

The Necklace is chain and charms. The chain is base metal with a copper finish. It is 3 tiered with the top chain measuring 16 inches. The charms are everything from large sequins to rhinestone butterflies and silk flowers to chandelier style crystals.

detail

I checked with New York and Co. and they don't have this style anymore. But with a little craftiness I know it could be made! This style would be a great way to use up old odd bits or this and that. You could even chop up some old necklaces and string them together to create something new.

Here are a few links to jewelry projects from Creative Juice:

"Citrine & Gold" Necklace and Earrings
New Mom "Breakaway" Necklaces
"Vegas Baby" Bracelet
Resin "Guitar Pick" Necklaces

Letter - Clara Bow's House

I got this email and thought I would share.

Hi Cathie,

The wife and I watch your show all the time! I just read on the internet, that you live in Clara Bow's old house! Is that the house we see on your show? I ask because I'm a silent film nut, and Clara is one of my Fave Stars. If only that house could talk, eh?

Johnny



Hi Johnny,

That house was amazing! I say "was" because we have since moved due to the building being sold to a new developer. SO Sad!

In the late 40's the house was chopped up into large luxury apartments. They even had butlers quarters and separate entrances for cooks and maids. Steve and I both shared a floor, (kind of like a duplex) our apartments were originally the ballroom and if you look close you can see the large arches.

We filmed season 1 and 2 in the house. The rest of the seasons are filmed on a set that looks like a house. The Clara/Ivar house has the smaller kitchen with white and orange striped walls. And the set has the kitchen with the zebra wood cabinets. We also filmed the Holiday Special in the Clara Bow house. In the film noir episode you can see the front of the building when we are at the mail box.

The walls did "talk" - I never paid much attention to ghosts stories until I lived on Ivar. Lets just say the house had a personality that was full of life. During filming the spirits were a flutter! I think they were happy to have something filming in the house. We never got spooked it was just funny stuff that would happen. One time, I was so hot from the lights that I thought I was going to pass out. I jokingly said "Clara! please open the door and let some air in." Sure enough the balcony doors opened and the whole crew flipped out.

I am glad you and your wife are enjoying Creative Juice! We have so much fun making the show. It truly is a labor of love.

Happy Holidays,

Cathie Filian

Here are the doors the mysteriously opened.