artsy-crafty babe

always working on something

You know me, I always have multiple projects going on at once.  Before we left for our trip, I thought I should gather a few to bring with me to occupy my time on that 11-12 hour drive down to Orlando.

A few weeks ago I rediscovered embroidery.  When I started the project I thought that I would hang it in an embroidery hoop, but now I think it needs a patchwork border, then maybe I'll frame it.  Cute, no?  I started with gusto, but it sort of fell by the wayside. That's also a usual pattern of mine..

To change things up a bit I brought along some knitting.  Yes, another baby sweater. Gosh, baby sweaters are so sweet!!! I really like this pattern (details when I find them - I could have sworn I had it all in Ravelry, but apparently not!).

I guess I can't go a summer without a new skirt - I've started another cotton jersey reverse applique skirt, Alabama Stitch style.  I plan to wear this under belly style by adding a wide jersey band instead of fold over elastic.  After baby I can take that off and add the elastic, or not.  Either way, these are super comfy skirts!  I sure hope I get this done before summer is over :)

Oh, one last thing - I'm super excited to be posting over at Habit this month.  After being in a photography funk for a while (sorry abandoned 365 - I totally blame the pregnancy), I'm up for the challenge.  Hop on over and check it out, if you'd like.

P.S.  I didn't touch any one of these projects during the 22+ hours we spent on the road. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing is a just what I need.

dang it!

There I go again, I jumped right back in. 

Another reverse applique skirt á la Alabama Stitch is in progress.  Same skirt pattern, new stencil.

 

I couldn't decide on the stitching - blue, gray, or white?  Every skirt I've made in this fashion has a little section of different colored threads to aid in the decision process.  I tell myself that I'll go back and pull out the non-chosen threads to restitch in the chosen color, but I never do.  On this skirt, gray won. 

Finish one project, start another, abandon said project for yet another beginning or an in progress project - that's how I roll.  I don't think it is possible for me to work on one thing at a time.  I need various knitting, hand stitching, quilting, crochet, bag making, painting, whatever-craft-of-the-moment projects to choose from.  I can't help it.

 

Variety is the spice of life, no?

from summer to fall

Remember way back in early summer I started the slow summer stitching challenge?  It was so slow, that I pretty much forgot about it.  Well, I was hot & heavy in the beginning, but as summer went on, I pretty much dropped the ball.  Determined to finish something, I pulled out my skirt panels and have been working away on them.

This weekend (tonight, actually) I finally finished it!  I love it!!  Even though I started this with summer in mind, I think it works just fine with this fall ensemble (and my new boots!). 

I can't tell you how much I love these skirts.  This is my third one (first and second).  The two layers of jersey is so, so comfortable.  The skirt pattern is from Alabama Stitch.  The stencil on this one is my own design, you may recognize it from my first slow summer stitching project.  I have a PDF of this design for you somewhere - when I find it, I'll post it here (gosh, I just remembered about that!).

It only took me 5 months to finish it, and now I'm ready to start another one.  On second thought, I should probably let my sore fingers rest a bit :)

hexed

Dang it!  I do NOT need another craft project…but after playing with my scraps last week, I succumbed to the hexagon.  They’re easy, fun, and totally addictive.  Arggggg!!!

Lately, portable crafts that I can work on in small bursts (and tuck in my bag) are just about all I can manage.  Having a couple of hours to sit at my sewing machine seems like such an unattainable luxury!  I often look back and wonder how in the world I used to be able to do that.  I suppose this falls under slow summer stitching, though it is definitely reflective of the upcoming season.

When I started making these hexies, I thought they would turn into a pillow.  But now I’m thinking they just might be the perfect accent on a new fall bag.  Hmmm…the wheels continue to turn!

***these are long hexagons (2 sides longer than the other 4), inspired by this

***Craft Hope book winner coming soon!!

slow summer stitching...august

August?  Have we really been slow stitching for 2 months now?  How's it going?  I must admit, slow stitching has been my 'thing' this summer.  I just returned from a little get away where I had no problem slow stitching in the car, on the beach, and by the pool.  It was too miserable hot to even think about knitting, my usual go to hand work.

While away I was able to finish up my second freezer paper stenciled pillow cover.  I really like it, but I have no plans for it (but now i'm thinking a whole assortment in different colors would look cool on my patio furniture).  I tried washing the fabric with the  fabric paint a few times, hoping that it would soften, but it never did.  I think I need to give up stenciling on black.

I also finished stitching 2 of the 4 panels for my next skirt.  On my last two panels I used a textile medium mixed with acrylic paint for the stenciling...the jury is still out on that one.  Because I'm doing reverse applique, it doesn't *really* matter.  I will get around to trying jacquard paint one day, when I can justify the shipping, but until then, I'll keep on experimenting and stitching!

snip, snip

In my usual get-obsessed-with-a-new-craft tendency, I can't stop thinking about freezer paper reverse applique pillows.  You know, my only slow summer stitching goal was to make myself two pillows in this manner, but now that I've made one, not for me, that's all I feel like making.  Well, maybe it's the freezer paper stencils I'm obsessed with.

I think opening the paper to see what design I've created is somewhat thrilling.  When I'm sketching shapes, I feel like I'm making Dr. Seuss forms, but they come out so beautiful.  Seriously, it would take me a month of sewing to make all these into pillows.  But I can't stop.  I think freezer paper is my new BFF.

I did a little more investigating and was able to find some real fabric paint...I had to drive across town to find it.  It's Tulip Soft fabric paint, which is supposed to dry soft on the fabric.  I prefer more of a inked/dyed look, but on black that isn't going to happen.

Much to my surprise, it worked.  This is the look I was going for.  I did have to do two coats and it isn't very soft (hate the icky feel), but it's better than craft paint.  I'm going to break down and order jacquard textile paint to give them a shot, I'll keep you updated...

freezer paper stenciled reverse applique hand stitched pillow

Now there's a title for ya!  Totally inspired by Alabama Chanin, here's my spin on it.  What you'll need is:

• 2 (two) 1/2 yard pieces of jersey knit + 1” strip  of the under-layer piece long enough to go around the perimeter of the finished pillow cover
• freezer paper
• craft paint
• sponge
• iron
• safety pins
• needle & buttonhole thread
• scissors

For a 16” pillow cover, I start with an 18” square.  This gives you some wiggle room with pattern placement, especially if you’re like me and end up cutting the square wonky and don’t quite manage to get the stencil in the middle of the square.  It is best to go bigger, then trim afterward.

Cut two pieces of freezer paper 18” square (pretty convenient that freezer paper is 18” wide), then cut two pieces of jersey 18” x 18”.

Using one piece of freezer paper, fold it in half, then quarters, then diagonally if you choose – cut out shapes as you would if you were making a paper snowflake.  I’m always amazed at how my designs turn out.  Make sure that you don’t get too close to the edge because you will be trimming down your pillow – I like to leave 1.5 – 2”.

With your design unfolded, place it plastic side down on the front of the jersey square that you plan to use as the outer layer.  Line up all the edges, then gently iron in place.  Because we’ll be using watered down craft paint, I like to fuse a second piece of freezer paper to the back side of the fabric, so that the fabric is sandwiched between the two.  This will give you nice, crisp edges and protect your surface from bleeding paint.

Thin your craft paint by about half with water.  It should be fairly runny.  Using a sponge (I like to use a makeup sponge), dab the paint onto the open areas of your design.  Once your design is fully covered, you can remove both pieces of freezer paper.  Let the paint dry before moving on. ***i learned a lesson on executing this tutorial - for dark colored fabric, it may not be necessary to thin your paint.  The only thing I was able to get to show up on black fabric was light/bright colors at full strength.  This is definitely something to think about when choosing your fabrics and colors!  I was going for a deep red, but that wasn't showing up at all!!

Lay your stenciled jersey square on top of the second jersey square.  Use safety pins to keep the two pieces together.  Now comes the slow stitching part. 

Stitch and stitch around all your stenciled parts, add appliqué, beads, whatever you’d like. 

For reverse appliqué, once a shape has been sewn, gently pick up the top layer making sure not to grab the bottom layer, then cut out the top.

Once your pillow front has been sewn and appliquéd it is time to add the envelope back.  Using the remainder of your half yard of the two jersey pieces, cut two rectangles of each piece 13” x 18”.    You want the two rectangles to overlap a few inches in the middle.  Get everything all lined up, then trim your pillow down to about 17” square.

I'll now use my finished pillow for the remainder of the tutorial.  On the two opening edges of the envelope back, fold the fabric over and sew in place or bind with an additional piece of jersey (you can fold over once or twice).  With all the pillow pieces lined up, sew them all together about 1/4" from the edge. 

Lastly, bind the edge of the pillow with the 1” piece strip of jersey by simply folding the strip in half lengthwise over the edge. You can use a decorative stitch, like this chain stitch, if you’d like.

That's it!  Use a 16" pillow form to fill your pillow cover.

**I think I'm ditching the black stencil cover I started here and trying again with the reverse - black as the under layer with the green stenciled in deep red.  The thick layer of paint on the black is just plain gross.  I love my original color combo, so I don't want to give it up!  Live and learn!!

***there are fabric paints/markers on the market that would probably work very well for this project, BUT I did not have any readily available to me (i've been less than thrilled with the colors of fabric paint offered at my local craft stores).  I used what I had on hand, which happens to be acrylic craft paint.  In the past I have had good luck using sharpies to outline my stencils, but that's not a great option on black.

 

show & tell

That sure was a lofty list I put out there last Friday, huh?  I knew going into it that I would only get to a small portion, if I was lucky.  Nothing house related got accomplished, due mostly to a misplaced circular saw and sander, neither of which have turned up (hopefully soon?).  I am happy to report that I got some crafting/sewing time in, so I do have some things to share.

A couple of necklaces & earrings got made.  Very simple, exactly what I was going for.  The yellow set is my favorite, I've already worn it once.

I managed to make one bag for the shop (and list this one).  I revisited an old pattern I called "big bag" (yes, I know, so original) using my new love of burlap handles.  This fabric isn't actual burlap, but a burlap-esque home decor fabric I picked up a few years ago.  I ordered it by mistake thinking that it was something different.  I'm happy now that I held on to it because it makes  for a perfect summer bag accent.  That bottom fabric was a gift from Sandra, all the way from Switzerland.  Earlier this spring I won a give-away on her blog.  She sent me some yummy vintage fabrics from her stash, a book, fabric flower and some Swiss chocolates, which were eaten long ago.  Thank you, Sandra!

And last but not least, I finished my slow summer stitching project #2.  If you're undecided on a project, I highly recommend a pillow cover.  It's the perfect amount of project without being too overwhelming.  Oh, and definitely do a running stitch - I whizzed through that in no time!  I'm thinking about giving it a post of its own, so I won't talk about it too much right now.

Honesty, all I feel like doing right now is planting my butt on the sofa and slow stitching.  I've already got my next project under way.

Oh, but over these last 4 days I did so much more than just what I've shown you.  We celebrated a family birthday, popped fireworks, grilled ribs, pulled up and re-planted my garden, watched my kids splash in the kiddie pool, tried out a pretty good pomegranate margarita recipe, stayed up way too late, slept in most every morning (we're not early risers), had a play date with friends, and just plain enjoyed summer.  Oh summer, I have a love/hate relationship with you, but this past extended weekend was pretty darned good.  And lucky for us, the weekend is only 3 days away - yay!

sss :: my first competed project

Did you guess what it was?  It is a bag, of course.  A very special bag, that I only plan to use on special occasions, like when I'm not out with my children and don't need to carry a bazillion things with me.

The green fabric is jersey and the white is a very lightweight twill.  I liked sewing the jersey to a woven.  That was necessary with this being a bag.  It would be terrible to have broken threads due stress from stretching.  The twill gives it strength and body.  When I started the project I hadn't planned to line it, but after I started sewing and realized that all those threads would be on the inside my purse, I knew it must be lined.  I machine assembled the lining from kona cotton, then hand sewed it in place.

I used my favorite technique on this - reverse applique, though only on the large flower petals.  The blue paint is regular acrylic craft paint.  I'm not too fond of how this paint changes the hand of the fabric, making it stiff, but for a bag it wasn't so important.  All the outline stitching is the back-stitch (also my favorite).

The bag pattern and stencil design are my own.  PDF's of both will be available in the next few days, or as soon as my new scanner arrives (it's time to update our home technology, ugh).  I would have liked to have them available to you now, but I didn't want to wait another week to show you what I've been working on.

Once that was finished (well, actually before I finished) I started my second project, a pillow cover.  I had the bright idea to cut a design like a snowflake - you know, like the ones we all learned to make in elementary school by folding paper.  I wanted to try out the smooch spritz, which was a good idea in theory.  Ugh, what a mess!  I was ready to trash this product after my first use.  This is not a good technique for a regular paper stencil.  After a little more thinking, and deciding that my "snowflake" needed more, I decided to use some freezer paper to add to my design.  I LOVE how this worked out!  I wish I had thought to cut out my "snowflake" from freezer paper in the first place.  Because the stencil was adhered to the fabric, I was able to get more even coverage and crisp lines.  I don't know if this ink washes out or not, so it may not be good for clothing, but for something that is for decoration only, it works great.

I have to be honest with you, as soon as I made that first spritz, I didn't like the color.  I tried to carry on, but I'm not feeling this color combo (seems way too early 90's to me), so for right now I'm putting it aside...

But I'm sure you know that I quickly went on to something else.  I used freezer paper to come up with a new design, more curvy this time. Love.  I'm a color lover, so color it is.  I don't totally love this combo, but I like it a whole lot more than my first try.  I feel like I'll enjoy working on this one, instead of gagging every time I look at it (okay, gagging is a little strong).  

What can I say, I'm working with what I have - I don't have the most gorgeous knits and buttonhole thread is very limiting!  This time around I watered my craft paint down by 50%.  The stitching will commence tonight - there's nothing like a new sewing project to unwind from the day :)

How are things going with y'all?  I'm off to the flickr pool now to see what's new...

slowly, slowly...

So, how's that slow summer stitching coming along?  Have you decided on a project yet?  Started?  Me, well, I'm glad that this is SLOW summer stitching, because that's been exactly my pace at stitching, but not so much with goings on.  This week was soccer camp for the kids and Alex's last few t-ball games.  I did manage to combine my kids' activities & my stitching in the form of stitching at the t-ball games :-)  And man, has it ever been HOT down here.  It's too early in the year to be this miserable, really....I can't even imagine what July & August will bring.

Have you checked out the flickr pool lately?  There are quite a few things in there from Sneezerville and some new stuff from mamieknits.  Cathy has given us a little tease, but I'm sure she has more.  I was hoping to have my tease revealed by now, but you know, it's slow going....but that's the point, isn't it?  Happy stitching, friends, and thanks for stitching along with me.