{Not So} Mobile

So, this went from one of those projects that starts off great-- "wow, these are so cute and easy, maybe I should start making them and selling them" and quickly moved into-- "man, it sure does take a lot of annoying tiny steps to make a mobile, doesn't it?" and finally into the-- "boy, that looks like crap" category.  You know what I'm talking about.  I like to call it the "Aren't I Clever" Syndrome.  The quickest way to ruin a project is to get too smug.

While I loved my little Mary-Janes (which were more than a little inspired by Lorena Siminovich), their two-dimensionality did not work for me in the form of a mobile.  Luckily Ikea came the rescue with these small shadowbox frames.  I scanned vintage children's book text for the background.  I mostly like them, but the purist in me wishes I would have chosen text that related to the Mary-Janes (yes, it is difficult being inside this head of mine:)  This text is Nest Eggs from A Child's Garden of Verse by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I haven't given up on the mobile thing entirely, I just think I will try to make the dangly part 3D.  I love these paper butterflies, but would like to make them out of fabric.  Any suggestions on adding enough body to fabric to be able to make multi-layered butterflies like that?  Liquid starch?  Interfacing?

On a completely unrelated note-- have you seen these adorable video games (via Tumbling Blocks)?  Turns out I don't hate video games after all, just ugly ones.

Comments

[kat]

I absolutely love them. So adorable. Are you selling these? I would so buy'em :) {i had that book as a kid too!}

[Sarah]

I think they turned out lovely! Far better than a mobile. But I have an aversion to most mobiles. So maybe I'm biased.

[Alicia A.]

Courtney- you have a great, clean sense of style. These are simple and lovely.

[Molly Irwin]

Courtney, I am so glad to see that you have a new project posted. So cool. I've been stalking your blog for days. When I do this, it usually means I am not DOing enough myself and only living vicariously through others projects. Just purchased 3 black shadow frames from IKEA myself to mount some ceramic tile collage. Did you paint yours? Since I'm so busy now with boring paperwork, I really appreciate your sharing! Thanks much. Molly

[Liesl]

I love them. And I was just thinking that you could probably make them 3D without too much difficulty. Then they would be a great mobile! For the butterflies, what about using silk organza? It would be shear but has lots of body. Oh, and those games are fantastic. Now I'll never get anything done.

[erin]

I love the shadow boxes! They really are cute. Did you see the May MSLiving - it has an article on fabric crafts where you stiffen the fabric. From a quick glance, that might work for your butterfly idea.

[moki]

oh still, very very cute!

[dorie]

ha-ha. happy to be able to introduce you to a cute new time-suck.

The shoes are completely cute, and I think "the brown nest" and "sailor" are every bit as good as any MJ themed words would be.

[sharnel dollar]

so cute, i love them too. and i think they would sell really well.

[Kristy]

These are great.I'm really getting into shadow boxes.Gotta love IKEA!

[June]

I think the shadowbox idea is brilliant. Sometimes the things that challenge us lead us into new creativity. Your solution is one of the wonderful and special results.

I love your Mary Janes! And I love those beautiful video games. I haven't played it in years. He's added so many new ones since I last played.

[amy h]

Mobiles aren't easy. My husband made one for my daughter, and he struggled with what direction should be the focus. If we did things so they looked right from her point of view, they looked funny from above, etc. We ended up with a combo of things hanging horizontally and vertically.

The Mary Janes look really cute in the frames though!

[Evelyn Lum]

Your Mary-Janes look adorable in those shadow boes. Good job. I am attempting a mobile using origami booties ... using fabric + light interfacing instead of paper.

[kira]

This is sooooo darling! But how in the world did you make the mary janes in the first place? is there a pattern somewhere? They are so sweet and would look awesome in my daughter's room! :)

[Concha]

I absolutely love the idea of scanning vintage children's books for the backkground! It works really well.

[Anamama]

So, so lovely!

[Zoe]

I love how your MJ's turned out! Sooo cute! I love IKEA! Of course, it is your stuff that makes them so cute!

I have never worked with liquid starch but my first thought was to modge podge precut butterfly shapes and let them dry on a cookie sheet so they will harded. Does liquid starch do that same thing? Good luck.

[Jude]

I love the way you have used those shadow boxes. I bought two of them back in Januay and they have sat in the cupboard waiting for inspiration to hit me. I love how you have used them. Have you thought about making the butterflies with tuille? I am a cotton fanatic myself so I don't know if it would be to thready etc - ut it would give it that translucency.

[Roseanne]

There is a stiff fabric butterfly project in the book Simple Sewing with a French Twist. It might be something that could work for your mobile.

[Lei]

i think they turned out great... good save! and i think you could still make them work on a mobile... i have a flensted i love, which is one dimensional.

[LindaSonia]

Would also like to know if you are selling these?? LindaSonia
baddabinda@yahoo.com

[betz]

Oh yes, I have been a part of the "aren't I clever" club more often then I care to admit! I recently discovered Lorena as well...so inspiring! I love her clean design approach.

[mrspilkington]

well, i think they're beautiful. you put everything together so well, and i love that the text is a little different....
for the fabric butterflies, at first i was thinking interfacing, but maybe just that fabric stiffener spray stuff would be fine. i was supposed to try some fabric butterflies for CP, but...ahem. soon. hope you are well!

[*Terramia*]

Wow, absolutely beautiful. Simple, but so lovely.

[laura]

This is my first visit to your site, and you will now be a daily visit! These shoes are fantastic. Thanks for the inspiration! Laura