Monday, April 27, 2009

New beanlet set!


 New beanlet set!
 New beanlet set!
 New beanlet set!
 New beanlet set!
This set is made from coordinating (but not matching!) fabric samples, and lined with a lightweight polyester hot pink lining that is silky soft.  Grab this set now, before it hits our Etsy shop and goes out to the masses!
Leave a comment here, or email us at meanbean AT mymeanbean DOT com to claim it!


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Meanbean Bag Winner!


Congratulations to Tonya, winner of the Earth Day give away on Craft Critique’s blog - she won a fabulous Meanbean Little Bean!


Check out Craft Critique’s Earth Day posts to get some great, eco-friendly craft ideas, often using items you already have around the house!


Monday, April 20, 2009

Win a FREE Bag!


CraftCritique.com is having an Earth Day Carinival, and YOU, dear reader, can win this Meanbean bag!
dsc 1148 Win a FREE Bag!
Check out their article on earth friendly crafting, and submit your own ideas to be entered in the drawing!
Don’t forget to celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday - plant something, go off grid for a day, or start a new, “green” habit to continue being friendly to Earth after Earth day



Wednesday, April 15, 2009

DIY Burp Cloth Tutorial


DIY Burp Cloths

Easy, and a great way to recycle!

bct1
PLEASE NOTE: This tutorial assumes a basic level of sewing ability. You need to know how to sew a straight seam, backstitch to lock your stitches, and use an iron.
Before you begin, assemble your tools:
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You will need a pillow case (check thrift stores if you don’t have one you want to cut up, these were found for $0.75 each), scissors, a ruler, a sewing machine, a rotary cutter (optional), and pins (optional).

Jumbo Burp Cloth (yields two per pillowcase)

1) Fold the pillowcase. With the pillowcase lying on the table with a long edge facing you, fold it once horizontally. Your pillowcase should now look like this:
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2) Take your scissors, and cut at the fold you just made, like this:
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3) You now have two pieces:
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4) Select the piece with only one open side, and turn it wrong side out. Sew along the open seam, backstitching at the beginning, and stopping about 2-3 inches before the corner, leaving a hole.
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As in the picture below, I stopped approximately 2 inches before the corner. Backstitch again, and cut your threads.
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5) Reach in the hole, and pull the right side of the pillowcase through it. I find it easiest to pull the opposite corner from the one I’m reaching through. Iron if you’d like.
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As pictured, I ironed this one, but these are a gift, and no sane person will repeatedly iron a burp cloth.
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6) Fold in the raw edges of the hole, and sew closed. Clip ends, and you’re done!
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Above, the hole with raw edges exposed. Below, edges are folded in and ready to sew closed.
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Now clip your ends and enjoy!
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You’re done!!!

For your second piece, simply sew one side all the way closed, and the other as shown in step 4. Continue with tutorial as written.
I’m so proud, a little tear welled up in my eye….
bctend
Now, go on out there and recycle ratty old pillowcases into fabulous “green” burp cloths!


Saturday, April 11, 2009

Behind the Scenes


During the 40 day season of Lent, leading up to Easter, I decided to abstain from knitting. Little did I realize this decision would lead to most crafting being laid aside as well. I’m not certain what the driving factor was in this, but crafting of any sort eventually fell to the wayside as Lent progressed. Eventually, my sewing center, which is normally clean and neat, ended up looking like this:

dsc 03571 1024x680 Behind the Scenes
dsc 0358 1024x680 Behind the Scenes
This just won’t do. Piles of things that don’t belong, nothing put away…oy vey.
Yesterday I cleaned this all up, and we’re back to normal, neat and tidy sewing tables for Meanbean operations! Due to this weekend being the weekend we will be celebrating Easter, little will be created. However, never fear! The following will be occurring in the very near future:
  • More Beanlet Sets
  • Key fobs from scraps
  • Beautiful leather and silk handbags
  • Possibly expanding to include clothing items as well!
Stay tuned, this blog will be your first place to find out the latest Meanbean news!




Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Featured Seller: Numi Pajumba


 Featured Seller: Numi Pajumba

What is your name?
Numi Pajumba, the South African Tour Guide 

The name of your shop, and link?
Numi’s Shrunken Heads

What do you make?
Heads littler.

What drives your passion/inspires you?
Big heads.
head Featured Seller: Numi Pajumba

Do you have a favorite material to work with? Why?
Blonde. It’s more fun.

What is your favorite color?
Fleshtone

Do you have a gallery of works, such as a photo set on Flickr or Photobucket?
Come to the jungle and I will show to you it.

Anywhere else we can find your products?
Come to the jungle and I will show to you it.

What makes your items so great?
They are small and lightweight and looking very realistic.

Cake or death?
I let them eat cake cake Featured Seller: Numi Pajumba then I get their head. They look the happy this way.

What is your mission?
Get teh heads to for shrink.
untitled Featured Seller: Numi Pajumba

Please describe the space where you create (ie, sewing room, the forest, etc):
Come to the jungle and I will show to you it.

Do you have any pets or family involved in your business?
Here can you see pet and family heads.

What is your favorite of your current products?
Blonde! WHY YOU ASK THIS QUESTION THREE MANY TIMES?

Anything else you’d like us to know?
Come to the jungle and I will show to you it.





Happy April Fool's Day! :)