The Craft in the Hat

stress + work = craft ideas.

I need some input on material procurement, whether its going to be ugly/stupid, and which I should do first. Questions, comments, concerns welcome.

1. Hipster hoodie - I want to buy felt, and cut out letters and shapes and sew the letters onto the hoodie such that there will be a different color stitching around the inside of the felt pieces which is what's attaching them to the jacket. My two designs are as follows
a) A parody on the north face logo. On the back there will be a red square and in white the North Face "swoop" design with "The Nerd Face" in helvetica font. On the front there will be a Erlenmeyer flask filled with fluid and bubbles coming out
b) The lettering on this will make a circle around the image, this is on the back. On the top it says "I Make Potions" and on the bottom half "I'm a Scientist" and in the middle a Erlenmeyer flask. On the front over the heart either a test tube or argyle

I'm having second thoughts about these designs, please don't lie to me and tell me you like it if you don't.

2. The tiePod - get a tie from a thrift store, sew it up vertically into a pouch with the wide end to hold my iPod, and then the skinny end will turn into a device to attach it to my belt.

3. "Nerd keeps my pants up" - I want to cut out either: this old Japanese chemistry booklet I have with colorful pictures, or some kind of Star Wars trading card/movie scene cards into strips. From these I want to take some clear vinyl or heavy clear plastic, put a layer on top and bottom and sew along the edges to make a belt. The belt can either be with a buckle, or with button snaps.

practicality: finding the vinyl/plastic. Can I use a sewing machine to sew through it, or do I need some special tools? Where do I get belt buckles, South street shops?

4. amorphous idea that needs an application - I want to cut up a tennis ball and use the yellow rubber with fuzz strips for some project. Ideas?