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Welcome to 28-Sides-Designs

We can take care of any of your sewing and embroidery needs.  We’re convenient to Winchester, Virginia, and we will ship any product worldwide.

Check out our storeor feel free to contact us if you need something custom made!

Or if you prefer check out our Etsy store or our Artfire store to buy products directly.

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If I were Poem

This seemed like a fun exercise so I stole it from my friends Meri and Ruthie

If I were a month I’d be March
If I were a day I’d be Wednesday
If I were a time of day I’d be twilight
If I were a planet I’d be Pluto (I know not a planet anymore, that’s my point)

If I were a sea animal I’d be a selkie
If I were a direction I’d be a rollercoaster
If I were a piece of furniture I’d be a divan
If I were a liquid I’d be Bailey’s

If I were a gem stone I’d be clear quartz
If I were a tree I’d be a birch (or a witch hazel)

If I were a tool I’d be as awl
If I were a flower I’d be crabapple blossom

If I were an element of weather I’d be a sun shower
If I were a musical instrument I’d be an fiddle
If I were a color I’d be dark

If I were an emotion I’d be passionate

If I were a fruit I’d be a persimmon (or pomegranate)
If I were a sound I’d be the wind
If I were an element I’d be Earth & Fire

If I were a car I’d be an old sportscar that you need to treat just right and I’ll do anything or if treated wrong won’t even start

If I were a food I’d be cheese
If I were a place I’d be tundra
If I were a material I’d be gauze

If I were a taste I’d be complex

If I were a scent I’d be the smell of snow or rain on a cold day

If I were a body part I’d be belly button
If I were a facial expression I’d be that expression
If I were a song I’d be something Celtic and folky

If I were a bird I’d be a black cap chickadee
If I were a gift I’d be unexpected
If I were a street I’d be cobblestone

If I were a city I’d be filled with antique stores and flea markets
If I were a door I’d always be an open vault door

If I were a pair of shoes I’d be a pair of mocs

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Choker to Headband Converter

Same choker used with the converter and with out

Same choker used with the converter and without

I’ve been loving my chainmaille lately. It’s fun, and something that I can do in the living room. I also love my chokers but wanted to wear them has headpieces as well. So I developed the converter piece. Now you can make any of my chokers into headbands. It is made from metal rings (can be made from copper, aluminum, bronze or stainless steel), metal clasps coordinated to match the rings and a soft cotton elastic.

Copper Converter

Available at both my Artfire Shop and my Etsy Shop

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Wire Wrapping and Chainmaille

I’ve been planning out new jewelry pieces (once my new rings come in, I will be making a handflower/slave bracelet) but until then I have mostly finished a new choker (ran out of rings). It’s made of Aluminum rings, black anodized and bright, in the Euro 6-1 weave. With a short chain swag of bright aluminum rings in the byzantine weave. Hanging from the swag is a hand wrapped faceted briolett of black onyx, which I cannot remember the exact size I want to say 10mm x 13mm or something to that effect.

Black Onyx Chainmaille Choker

Black Onyx Chainmaille Choker

Wire Wrapped Black Onyx Briolette

Wire Wrapped Black Onyx Briolette

It is difficult to see the black on black. I do plan on getting a white bust now for these occasions. I hope to have it listed very soon (if I can get to the bead shop I may just get more rings to finish this and get it up for purchase before the end of the month)

Black onyx is used to balance the root chakra and is good for protection against negative influences.

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Chainmaille Jewelry

Chainmaille supplies

Chainmaille supplies

For a long time (since I went to my first Ren Faire at the age of 14), I have lusted after chainmaille jewelry. Of course I wanted the more expensive chokers and chaplets. Being the crafter and creative person, I would rather learn how to make it instead of purchasing it. So I put it on the back burner since clothing came first as fabric and a mentor were readily available to me.

Flash forward 11 years and a few months, I breakdown and find a ring supplier and a place with wonderful tutorials on weaves. I ordered two different sized rings, a bag bright aluminum and a bag of mixed anodized (colored) in each size. With much help from my friend Diana of Nightmaiden Designs and supplies from The Ring Lord, I started my first project:

My first Row

My first Row

Chainmaille European 4-1 Bracelet

Chainmaille European 4-1 Bracelet

Chainmaille European 4-1 Bracelet (clasp)

Chainmaille European 4-1 Bracelet (clasp)

The first row (above) came out pretty well so I start in on the second and the results can be see to the left, right and below. The pattern is called European 4-1 as it is built with 4 rings all connected with 1 in the middle. It is a fairly simple weave (from my reading this and the byzantine are the two best to start with). This was made with 18ga 1/4″ rings aluminum rings.

Chainmaille European 4-1 Bracelet

Chainmaille European 4-1 Bracelet

My initial response to this is “Oh my god, new obsession!!”. I, for one, am happy with this reaction since it means when I cannot bear to look at another piece of fabric I have a good craft to go to and one that is a bit more portable. Although, I believe my husband may be less than thrilled. I have many other projects in mind for this new obsession.

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Ok…haven’t updated in a loooong time…

Well looks like I haven’t posted since early October about creations I’ve done. I’ve been doing mostly embroidery and embroidered items and good portion are holiday themed. First tho,
Patches

Custom D20 Patch

Custom D20 Patch

Carl Sagan Quote Patch

Carl Sagan Quote Patch

(right)I made this for my gaming group and actually features my first digitized design, the d20. There is distinct lack of d20 embroideries available and so I made my own. The digital embroidery file is also for sale here

Measurements: 4.307″ x 4.307″

(left)This was inspired by Symphony of Science “A Glorious Dawn” video, which I highly suggest checking out that and all the videos. It’s really perfect for the geek who is also domestic (like me!). It will soon appear on an apron. More science quotes and geekery patches will be coming out.

Measurements: 4.85″ x 3.69″

Domestic Goddess Patch

Domestic Goddess Patch

Enchanted Forest Chronicles Patch

Enchanted Forest Chronicles Patch

(left)Urban Threads came out with this fantastic triple moon embroidery that I needed to put on something and then I call myself a domestic goddess (albeit “in training”) that I put them together on a patch. It’s on felt which works better for patches I’ve found.
Measures: 6.89″ x 6.89″

(right)Inspired by one of my favorite series, Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. This phrase hangs above the witch Morwen’s door. It is a wonderful, down to earth phrase.

Measurements: 4.307″ x 4.307″



Gingerbread Man "Oh NOES!" Ornament

Gingerbread Man "Oh NOES!" Ornament


Gingerbread Man "Oh NOES!" Ornament Back

Gingerbread Man "Oh NOES!" Ornament Back

Love this ornament (and it’s full legged version), also from the wonderful people at Urban Threads. This can personalized with a name or year on the back in almost any color. It reminds me of Gingy from the first Shrek movie. I am using these as the gift tags on my nieces and nephews gifts.











Chanukah Gift Card Holder

Chanukah Gift Card Holder

Christmas Reindeer Gift Card Holder

Christmas Reindeer Gift Card Holder

Gift cards are one of my favorite gifts to receive (free shopping!). To the left is a gift card holder for Chanukah (or Hanukkah). To the right, is one for the Christmas celebrant. This is also available with just a name or short phrase on it.

Zodiac Embroidered Pillow

Zodiac Embroidered Pillow

(above center)And finally the custom embroidered Zodiac pillow. It is Made from solid cotton flannel or cotton broadcloth, stuffed firmly with polyester fiberfill and embroidered with your choice of Zodiac sign and a birthdate or name. This one has Aries the Ram embroidered on blue textured flannel (stash fabric)

Measures approximately 18″ wide by 12″ tall

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Dark Rich Hot Mocha Recipe

I love mocha and so I have been playing around with different ways to make it. But this is by far the best recipe I’ve come up with.

Ingredients: makes about 3-4 cups
1 cup Rich dark coffee (brewed)
1 packet of hot chocolate mix
1/4 – 3/4 cup sugar
2 oz unsweetened baking chocolate
2 cups milk
cream to taste

Heat the 2 cups of milk on the stove (heats it more evenly) then dissolve the sugar in the hot milk and melt the 2 oz of chocolate (cut it up for faster melting) with a whisk.
Once it is completely smooth and dark, it will be very dark chocolate.

When you pour the cup of hot coffee, mix the packet of hot chocolate into the cup, mix well.

Pour the hot chocolate milk into a large (at least 4 cup) glass measuring cup and pour the cup of hot chocolate coffee mix in there too. Whisk vigorously.

Then pour and serve hot add cream if you wish

I wouldn’t serve this on ice.

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Unrelated to crafting but very much related to domestic Goddesshood

Made fudge this morning and realized almost all the fudge recipes out there call for corn syrup and/or marshmallow, which in my opinion, make the fudge too sweet. So I make my grandmother’s fudge which is easy and contains only 5 ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • Melt the butter and mix the cocoa in with it then add the sugar and milk. Heat to a boil, stirring occassionally to avoid burning the chocolate. Let it heat to the soft ball stage (about 235F or when a small amount dropped into ice water forms a soft ball). Then take it off the heat, add the vanilla and beat it until your arm feels like it’s going to fall off and you can comfortably touch the bottom of the pan (do not let it fudge in the pan), then pour it into a well buttered 8″ dish and stick it in the fridge for an hour. Cut it into squares and allow to chill for a bit longer or enjoy it right then.
    It’s not quite as soft and squishy as the fudge you buy in the store but it is very chocolatey and good. Like most candy, it is best to make on a day without a lot of humidity.

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Renaissance Fairy Top

Fairy Top with Corset

Fairy Top with Corset

Fairy Top and Cincher Skirt

Fairty Top and Cincher Skirt

The Fairy Top is by far the most popular item I make and for good reason; it is beautiful, comfortable and versatile. Made from 100% cotton in any color, it has dramatic belled sleeves that flutter in the wind like fairy wings. It has an elastic neckline that can be pulled off the should for a flirtier look and gathers at the upper arm to accentuate the drape of the sleeve (also with an encased elastic for comfort).

To the left is is paired with the custom corset and the Essential Renaissance Skirt (fitted waistband). To the right it is paired with the Cincher Skirt and is made in a cream cotton.
Purchase the fairy top here and Check out my Artfire Shop for all my items

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Corset Making III

Corset Front

Corset Front

Corset Back (pardon the brown lacing, the black wasn't done)

Corset Back (pardon the brown lacing, the black wasn't done)

The corset started in this post is finished. I am not entirely pleased with the way it came out, but first the specs.

It is made from black polyester satin brocade with silver chrysanthemums all over it, and lined with black cotton duck cloth. It has 14 pieces of 1/2 inch wide spiral steel boning with 30 hand set grommets in the back. Black satin bias tape binds the top and bottom. The busk is of the split front and made of spring steel. Cotton corset lacing (brown in the pictures as the black lacing hadn’t finish drying from being dyed).

Now why I’m not happy with it. Most of it is fairly nit-picky, it fits ok, but the bust is just a little too big for me. It would definitely look great on someone who is at least these measurements:
Bust: 36″
Waist: 28″
Hips: 36ish”
I am a 34″ bust and it just doesn’t do anything for them, next time I need to have someone lace me in properly for my fitting. Also the grommets aren’t perfectly evenly spaced and the the fabric ripples a touch at the waist. It is definitely wearable and would look fantastic for a New Years outfit (especially paired with the skirt in my head that has yet to even make it to paper).

Some things I will change for the next corset.

  1. make it 3 layered, have the fashion fabric and duck/coutil layer be one, and line with cotton broadcloth
  2. use at least one piece of spring steel along the grommets in the back (instead of spiral)
  3. have someone take the time and lace me into the fitting corset properly

After this weekend I will have the corset for sale (with the improvements) in my shop for $300, made to measure, those will be made with corset coutil instead of cheap duck. This corset is for sale, as is (well with the black cotton lacing instead of the brown of course), no refunds or exchanges for $160 (that includes shipping).

I hope to have a corset for myself by New Years Eve. I better sell a lot of stuff at the Fall Fest!

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Homemade Socks

Socks!

Socks!

Sock!

Sock!

So this morning was really cold and so I was looking for some socks, which didn’t want to be found. I remembered I had a couple of pieces of white fleece that I had no plans for. So I decided to make some fleece socks!
I just measured around my ankle (9.25″) added a 3/4 of an inch (1/4″ seam allowance) and then measured my foot from toe to heel up to where I wanted on my calf (18″) and cut 2 rectangles (10″ x 18″) out of the fleece. I sewed the long side up so I had a tube, then I sewed the toe, trimmed the corner and turned it inside out. I did the same to the other rectangle and slipped them on my feet and they’ve been warm ever since. They did feel a bit strange when I first put them on but they feel great now. It took maybe 15 minutes from beginning to end. I wouldn’t try this with anything but a stretchy material.

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