artsy-crafty babe

dots!

 
I've already admitted to being a vintage fabric hoarder, let me now add impulsive fabric buyer to the list.  I told you I couldn't stop thinking about the floral + dot combination....and when I get something like that in my mind, I have to act on it right.that.very.second.

Sure, I have dots in my stash, but I need dots to go with vintage fabric.  They aren't the same, you know, they have to be just right.  With fabric scraps in hand, a little jaunt to the fabric store was in order.

Am I the only one who doesn't want to share information while fabric shopping?  When asked what I'm making, I usually respond "oh, lots of things" or "I'm just stash building".  Kind of weird, huh?  I think I'm afraid that if I go into detail they'll poo-poo my idea or something.  Yes, I know that is a bit irrational (wanna add that to the list, too?), but that's how my mind works.  I find it easier to keep my plans to myself, then broadcast them to the world on the internet.

So yes, today I brought home dots.  Lovely dots to pair with my lovely linens.  I guess now I need to get busy coming up with a plan...

making time

I should know this by now, if you want to do something, you MUST make the time for it.  And that's exactly what I did.

After the kids went to bed Monday night, I made my way to my sewing room.  I don't remember why I went up there (I didn't plan to stay), but once I got there, I couldn't leave.  I started picking up a bit, which lead to FINALLY put the Christmas decorations in the attic, which then lead to putting away the fabrics pulled out from my last project.  Once the room was clear and I could see what I had, I started pulling out again.

With thoughts of spring on my mind, I zeroed in on my vintage thrift store sheets.  I admit to being a hoarder in this department - but really, what good is it to have these if I'm not going to use them?  I've decided to challenge myself to do a shop update with bags made entirely from these linens.  Sounds like fun, huh?  I'm pretty excited about it!  I don't have all the details worked out, but I'm ready to get busy.  It will be my spring line (ha! how fancy is that?)

When I first stepped foot into that room Monday night, I was exhausted, but once I got going I couldn't stop.  Before I knew it, it was almost midnight.  I was so energized - I LOVE that feeling.  THIS is how I used to do it - I made time.  Each night this week, tonight included, I made some time for myself.  I planned on going to bed early tonight, but then decided that I'd rather finish what I started.

I LOVE it - so worth my lack of sleep!  I think this may be my most favorite vintage sheet pattern yet, just perfect for a little clutch.  Though I planned to line it with another sheet, the pink polka dots spoke to me.  Now all I can think about is making clutches out of sheets with polka dot linings.  I'm pretty sure my next big bag will be made of this same combination.
Mmmm, it's a good thing I have 2 of these sheets :)  Okay, I'm off to bed now...I think I've hit my time making limit for the week.

short on time...and itchy

Why can't I have a few more hours in the day?  A few more hours just for me to create...or blog (i've missed this space)?  My goodness, I feel so full of ideas these days, but have no time to execute them.  So frustrating!  There isn't one thing in particular keeping me busy, just life in general.  A life full of basketball games, dance practices, homework and LOTS of laundry (where do all these clothes come from anyway??).

For weeks now I've been picking up beads here and there.  More than once I've made my way up to my sewing studio, sat down with the beads in front of me, but then - interruption...that's the jewelry making itch.  I'm not sure what I want to make - bracelets? necklaces? earrings?

I've been wanting to try something new, something with fabric.  Friday night I made my first linocut.  It is very, very, VERY simple and crude, but I'm eager to stamp it on some fabric.  I also ordered Malka's book, so I'm sure once that arrives I'll be ready to dive into that as well - I'll call this the fabric making itch.

Of course, there's ALWAYS the bag making itch, I don't think that one ever goes away.  I've still got clutches and zippered thingies on the brain.  It's been a few months since I've had a new bag, so I feel like it's about time for that, too, but it won't be a clutch.

My knitting itch has finally quieted down now that I finished my Tea Leaves (waiting on buttons).  The moment I finished I wasn't quite ready to be done knitting, so I cast something else on, something I'm working out on the fly, but I'm not sure I'll carry that through.  (This project was an absolute necessity during last night's football game - it kept my fingers busy during all that stress!)  The knitting itch is quickly being replaced by all the others.

Have I mentioned that I'm also working on my dining/kitchen?  These have arrived and this is still in the box waiting to be hung.  Perhaps I'll finally finish the remodel we started, oh,  2 years ago.  Should I call this a decorating itch?

So there you have it, I'm ITCHY!!  Anybody have a cure?  I'm pretty sure I'm hopeless!! 

black & gold

The other day the kids came home with a note stating that Friday was "Saints all the way" Day or something like that.  To show their spirit, they were allowed to wear a Saints t-shirt.  Well, my kids don't have any Saints clothing, and with the current 'who dat' frenzy, I don't think finding something would be too easy. 

On my way home from work, I made a quick stop.  As I suspected, all the Saints stuff was wiped out.  It's a good thing my kids have a crafty mama - I picked them each up a black t-shirt with an idea in mind.  I made a stroll down the craft aisle and happened upon some bling - perfect!

When I told the kids what I had in mind, they were all for it.  Lucky for me, I had the perfect fabric in my stash.  I found an image of a fleur-de-lis online, printed it out, then traced it onto a sheet of fusible adhesive.  I ironed the adhesive to the back of my fabric which gave me a fleur de-lis iron-on.

I didn't want Alex's to be too girly (Matt was a little worried), so I used a charcoal & black fabric behind the gold.  It wasn't necessary, but I sewed around the gold fleur-de-lis in a straight stitch using gray thread to give it a little contrast.  It kind of reminds me of batman.

For Lily, I only used the gold fabric.  I wasn't planning on sewing hers either, but after ironing on the bling, I felt like it needed a little something.  I zig-zagged around the edge of her fleur-de-lis with metallic gold thread.  My sewing machine didn't care much for that metallic thread, which resulted in the tension being off - the black bobbin thread pulled to the front, but I kind of like how that turned out.  I wish I had thought to sew around the edge before I added the bling.  I'll have to remember that when I make mine.  Yep, I like hers so much I think I'll make one for myself!

I'm so happy that my kids are still young enough to think that mama-made stuff is cool.  Go Saints!!

**Of course this is all optional, but we like to play along.

craft hope for haiti

If you haven't already heard about this amazing project, please, click on the image to hop on over to Craft Hope to read all about it!  Craft Hope has set up an etsy storefull of all sorts of handmade items, donated by all sorts of wonderful people, and best of all, the proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders for their work in Haiti.

As soon as I heard about this project, I knew that I wanted to donate.  I spent some time this weekend at my sewing machine coming up with some things.  It took me a while to figure it out (there's a post coming), but I ended up making 3 zippered clutches made out of vintage linens.  Yes, I used of some of my special stash!  Really, what better cause? 

 

 
You can find these listed in the Craft Hope etsy shop, along with many other wonderful items.  I've had the privilege of working behind the scenes on this project, and I can honestly say that I am blown away by your generosity, in both donations and purchases.  Some of these things are selling the moment they are listed!  Keep your eye on this shop, the items for sale are constantly changing.  We're working round the clock getting the donations listed.  If you'd like to donate an item for the shop, you can send an email to Sarah.   Thank you all for your efforts in this project!

inspired

right now I'm inspired by:

• thoughts of spring
• my recently thrifted napkins
• valentine's day
• glitter (in my mind, valentine's day and glitter go together)
• ticking stripes and linen

• the surface of my antique butcher block
• beads & buttons working together
• hearing my two littlest sing together in the backseat

• inlaid wooden boxes, I think I'll start collecting them
• stacking rings
• clutches
• my latest fabric purchase from cicada studio
• blank canvases
• giving - if I have your mailing address, don't be surprised if you find a little something in your mailbox...
• trying to find the beauty in every day

Have a great weekend, friends!

thrifty thursday

Earlier this week I got the chance to stop by a few local thrift stores.  Thrifting is something I used to do with regularity, but after noticing that with the downturn of the economy the stores got more crowded and my finds weren't as great, so I stopped visiting.  Things still aren't like they used to be, but I was able to find a few things.

 

At my first stop I found these two fitted sheets.  I don't think I have any of this pattern, so I had to have them.  Lucky for me, they were 50% off, so I spent a grand total of $2.11 for them.  Lily requested a night gown recently, so I think I'll make the girls matching night gowns out of these.

Next, I went to the store I frequent most, but there wasn't much to be found.  I did stock up on old sewing patterns.  I like to use the tissue paper in these patterns for packing material.  Most of the patterns I bought are from the 80's, but I couldn't pass this one up - love the image on the envelope.  I've been collecting these vintage envelopes for a while.  I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but I sure do love to look at them.  Each pattern was $0.25.

 
 
I almost didn't stop at the last store, but I'm glad I did.  I found 2 pillowcases, which will be dresses for Ava, and this set of 6 linen napkins.  I love these napkins!  They may be making their way onto a purse in some fashion.

I went on this excursion expecting to find nothing, but ended up pleasantly surprised (and spent less than $10). You can't beat that! 

the girls' room, part 5?

Geesh, I really know how to draw things out, don't I? To refresh your memory, I started working on my girls' bedroom back in August with a painted aqua blue bed.  I actually bought the bed back in the early spring, but it took me that long to decide on a color and paint it.  At the time I purchased the bed frame, I also purchased a buffet to use as their dresser.  My original plan was to paint them both the same color, but after painting the bed, I didn't want to use anymore aqua.  I ended up falling in love with some fabric then painted the buffet to match.  With the new fabric and the neutral buffet, the pepto pink walls had to go, so the walls got painted.  I finally gave you a semi-reveal when I made the curtains and pillow shams, but that's where I left it.  It's still not completely done, but I have a little more to show.

 
This installment will cover the artwork and the lamp.  After painting the walls I hung two  swallowfield prints (previously purchased for my kitchen) next to their bed.  I liked the look so much that I decided to hang a collection of prints from etsy artists.  If you're looking for some original art, I highly recommend perusing etsy, but I'm sure you knew that already.  It took me a little while to collect enough to group, but I couldn't be more thrilled with the result.  Along with the two swallowfield prints, there are also prints from LillyBimble  CathyNichols and BeautyThatMoves.

I wish I could find a before picture of this lamp, but that's what I get for waiting so long to finish a project.  I took a photo, but I have no idea where on my hard drive it is!  This lamp was my mother's, circa early 1980's.  Originally, it was a dark brown with a raised flowering vine design in ivory.  As a kid I remember scratching the points off those leaves (I'm sure my mom loved that!).  Anyway, fast forward to the early 90's when I went off to college - the lamp came with me.  At some point I sponge painted brown/black/copper it to hide the flowers.  What can I say, it was the 90's, sponge painting was in.  That ugly lamp went with me to every house.

I finally let go of it this fall when I redecorated my living room.  The lamp was tossed aside for the garage sale pile...until I got the idea to put it in the girls' room.  I spray painted it lavender, then painted all the flowers and foliage using the throw pillows as my inspiration. Painting that raised design ended up being more tedious than I thought - while I was at it I gave some of those scratched off leaves points again.  I then gave it a new ivory shade and trimmed it out with some lavender grosgrain ribbon.  Voila, a new lamp!  The girls love it.

There's still a slipcover and a quilt to make, and I need to do something with their book case, but we're almost there.  By the way, does anybody know where I can find some lavender &white lattice/trellis type wallpaper or fabric that I can use to cover the back of a bookcase?  Just wondering.  Who knows when the next update will be...don't hold your breath!

more leaves...and some buttons

 
This idea has been in my head since November when a dear friend came by to visit.  She had with her a wristlet that I made some time back.  She said that she uses it all the time - I could tell.  That thing was USED!  Right then and there I wanted to make her another one.  I think the next day I had a pattern drafted and the body cut out, but then I stopped.  I don't remember why, probably something came up (or I got lost in knitting), you know how it goes.  I finally got my chance to make it after the kids went to bed on Sunday night. 

After seeing how much wear my friend's wristlet got, I wanted her new one to be sturdy, and not show dirt.  T is very eco-friendly and a pretty cool gal, so all those things went into my decision making.  The fabric on the outside is heavy canvas, which was acquired on one of my thrift store outings.  As much as I love brown, it can be a bit drab, so I added some applique leaves in simple flower shapes (getting sick of those yet?).  Because I always like a bright surprise, I lined it with a happy stripe.

Once it was all sewn up, it was still missing something.  How about buttons?  I sewed a button to each flower base, then a little cluster off to the side on the top band, just because.  I was a little worried about that, but I figured if it didn't work I would always take them off.  I think it works.  Lily approved.

Some things I realized while working on this is that after not sewing for a little while, I get rusty.  Seriously, I was having trouble!  Or, maybe my fingers were frozen.  Also, proper sewing machine feet help tremendously.  My zipper isn't pretty, due in most part to a lost zipper foot.  I'm so bummed about my missing zipper foot!  Now that I've made this wristlet, I want to make more, but no zipper foot makes that kind of difficult - boo!

So, there you have it, a little appliqued, buttoned up wristlet for a friend.  T, if you like it, it's yours - I'll pop it in the mail soon!!

one week in

In the past, I used to make big New Years resolutions, but these days that doesn't so much appeal to me. Honestly, the idea of it makes me a little antsy.  So much pressure!  Just making it through every day in one piece is pressure enough.  Over the last few days, all I've wanted to do was sit around and knit, but I think that is about to change.  The ideas are coming.  I bought myself a new sketchbook today to keep them all in one place. 

I'm starting to feel the itch to make something...with fabric.  I haven't sewn in over a week, and I miss it.  I never did tell you about the art challenge I gave myself, which I think is a good thing because I still haven't start it.  It's more of a weekly challenge...maybe I'll do two in this next week to catch up.  I promise I'll tell you all about it if I get it off the ground.

Sorry for being so blase, I'm not exactly feeling that rush of 'new beginnings'  and enthusiasm that so many seem to be experiencing.  I haven't found my 2010 groove yet, but it's coming, I can feel it...