artsy-crafty babe

stuck

I'm stuck on applique and I'm afraid I might be here a while!  It's crazy, sewing on these petals is all I want to do.  I find the monotony of it quite soothing...definitely the calm in the eye of the storm.

You'll probably get sick of seeing this stuff after a while (if you're not already there).  I'm obsessed with coming up with new stencil patterns and new color combinations.

Today I started on this one - yellow/orange florals on white with blue rosebuds (which doesn't look at all white in these dark photos - I need to stop taking photos so late at night).  I can't stop, I tell ya!  Well, at least it's cheaper than therapy ;-)

for a friend...

There are a couple of things I get excited about - bags I make (duh), vintage sheets, and hand stitched applique.  You can imagine my excitement over this, my latest bag, which combines all three.  Oh my lordy!  I LOVE it!!

It all started with coming up with something to do with my hands during the 'little lamberts sports fest' last weekend.  There's no way I was going to all of that without some sort of hand work in my bag.  With my basket of vintage sheet scraps still on the dining room floor from making the springy patchwork stripey bag, I decided to delve into the basket again.  Using the stencil I made from this pillow, I traced the design on some muslin, then pinned that onto a pale printed pillowcase.  As I sat on the sidelines and in the bleachers, I stitched and snipped, stitched and snipped.

By evening I had a most stunning applique flower (if I do say so myself!).  When I started this project, I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to make with the flower, so then I started another one.  What can I say, I get addicted to hand stitching.

It didn't take long before I decided to turn my flower into a bag.  I wanted to make tote bag, but something a little nicer than just a plain tote.  I used my Nanette tote pattern, but changed up the bottom making it more rounded.  I did it on the fly - I had no idea if it would look right or not.  Thankfully, it was exactly what I was going for.

The top, straps, and lining were smooth sailing - I used the colors in the flower as my guide.  The entire bag is made from my vintage sheets with a layer of muslin backing both the exterior and lining.  I LOVE how this bag feels - soft, smushy, yet sturdy.

I made this bag for a friend who recently helped me out.  I can't wait to give it to her - my fingers are crossed that she likes it as much as I do!!  Don't be surprised if you see another one (or two) of these in the shop in the near future.  When I find something I enjoy making as much as this, I can't stop myself!

 

in due time

My goodness, I'm not as spry as I used to be!  I'm STILL trying to recover from my weekend.   I need my downtime and rest, neither of which happened.   Yes, it's Wednesday and I've gone to bed at a decent time for the past 3 nights, but I'm still lagging.

Tired or not, tonight I WILL make time to be with my sewing machine.  I have a little something in the works that I'm eager to tend to.  I can't wait to show you.

One thing I was able to do during my busy weekend was to do a little update to my shop.  All those Nanette totes I made weeks ago need a proper home.  I'm ready for some more making, which means clearing out the old (not that those are old or anything).

***look at that! my paperwhites, planted before Thanksgiving, finally decided to make an appearance!  imagine my surprise when I found these on my patio :)

i'm a winner!

I've probably mentioned that I read quite a few design blogs, I guess you could say it's sort of like a secret addiction.  I read and read, but rarely ever comment - I'm way too out of my league!!  

Anyway, a week or so ago a Elizabeth was having a give-away on her blog for two anthropologie fireworks pillows.  What the heck, I commented.  And guess what, I won!!  (go check out her 'not too sweet nursery' design - awesome!)

They arrived today, so I quickly moved all the laundry off the back of the sofa (yes, I did) and introduced them to their new home.  I love them!  They work great with my red sofa, and will still work when I get around to slip-covering this sofa in linen (one day - it's only been on my to-do list for 2+ years).  

Thank-you, Elizabeth!!  They're perfect!

 

saturday

Oh boy, Saturday.  What a day.  It started off with this:

then this:

but only half a game because we had to go to this  (that's lily, #50 in the middle):

the second half of her soccer game, which is where Matt was because he's the coach (he also coaches Alex's soccer team).  While these two games were going on, Alex had a basketball game which neither Matt nor I were able to attend.  He was there with a friend, who happens to be on his soccer and basketball team.  His big sister is on Lily's soccer team.  Yes, that was on purpose.  After this soccer game our families came together for a late lunch, swapped kids, then we split up again.

It was time for more of this:

At the same exact time Lily had her second soccer game of the day (no photos, I wasn't there!).  Whew - that was exhausting!  Thank goodness this one doesn't play sports...yet.

And while I was watching my kids play, I was working on this:

You know I'm always working on something!! 

Thank goodness this isn't the norm.  If it were, I'm pretty sure I would go insane!!  Oh, we and our friends did yet another kid swap - their boy for a sleepover at our house, our girl at theirs.  Needless to say, I'm ready to tumble into bed (as soon as all those kids get to sleep!).

***********************************************

Thank you all for your sweet words on my last post.  Really, thank you.  When that little voice pipes up again (i know it will), I'm going to go back and re-read all your comments.  I don't know what I'd do without y'all!!

self declaration

You know what?  I'm so over it!  

Okay, let me back up....I should probably explain what "it" is.  IT is all my self-doubt, lack of confidence, and general dislike of myself. Yes, I am a sufferer.

When I started this blog way back when, I did so passively.  I was just another random maker of things.  I didn't share my name or tell anyone in my real life that I had a blog.  It was quite freeing.  I was able to say what I wanted, do what I wanted, and no one knew who I was!  Woo-hoo!!

And then I got an invitation to contribute to a book.  Huh?  Me?  I was over the moon!  But then I had to share my name and people in my real life learned about my little secret.  Hmmm, what a conundrum.  I continued on as usual, pretending that it didn't really matter.

More book contributions came and I started making & selling my patterns.  Wow, I really liked it!  I actually entertained the idea that I may be able to make a living doing what I loved, living a more fulfilling meaningful life.  How awesome would that be?  

Over time as more and more people started reading what I put out there, I became more self aware.  I began editing my happy place and listening to the little voice inside which was saying things like "what makes you think you're so special?", "anybody could do what you're doing", "your bags aren't good enough", "your patterns aren't good enough", "you don't know what the hell you're doing", "you're a big faker!".  As much as I tried to ignore it, that voice got louder and louder.  Despite my success and praise, that little voice was the only thing I heard.  Worst of all, I started to believe it.  So much so that I contemplated ending the blog all together.  I was actually embarrassed about my blog instead of proud of my accomplishments.

Yes, it's true.  This has been a struggle of mine for some time now.  Well friends, I'm here to say that I'm ready to conquer IT.  Damn IT!!  I don't know what's changed inside of me other than being sick and tired of not embracing who I am and what I love to do.  I know that I've come to this conclusion before, but this time I'm vowing to remember it, to remind myself every single day, to write it on my forehead if I have to! 

No more self-editing (within reason, of course).  No more fears of failure, rejection, or whatever - the truth is that I will fail, and I will be rejected, but that's okay!  It's not usually obvious at the time, but those experiences are quite valuable, aren't they?  And when I have to pick myself up and dust myself off, what's the worst thing that can happen?  My family will still love me.  My friends will still love me.  What else is important?

I'm not perfect and never will be...not even close!!  I am who I am, and me is all I can be. So there you have it - I'm declaring to be ME.
**none of these photos have anything to do with this post, I was just playing with my camera in the yard this afternoon, enjoying the glorious sunshine!

craft therapy

I'm not gonna lie, life has been busy.  No, nothing earth shattering, just everyday busy-ness.  With all my recent energies focused on house stuff, I haven't had much time to create purely for the heck of it.

My studio clean up opened my eyes to all the scraps I have.  I have way too many scraps!  My hoarder tendencies make it hard for me to let them go when I just might need them one day.  Well my friends, that day came.  I made it happen.

I grabbed my basket of vintage sheet scraps (my smallest of scrap baskets) and started sewing.  I used the pattern I made for my spring bags last year and started foundation piecing strips of scraps to some muslin.  It was quite therapeutic.  The mindless sewing and random grabbing of strips was just what I needed.  Oh, and the ripping of sheets beforehand was kind of fun too :)

After several hours I had a stripey-floral-patchworky very spring-like bag exterior.  Lily flipped out when she saw it (I think that's a good thing?). 

I decided to line it with a pretty light colored floral, along with a stripey pocket - it's reversible!  Of course, I like the colorful floral stripes best, but if a subdued mood hits, no problem.

The straps are made from a light colored burlap.

I *love* this bag.  I love everything about it.  I especially love how it feels. After all the strips were sewed onto the foundation piece, the exterior had a nice heft, no need for any interfacing.  I decided to do the same with the lining, using a layer of muslin in place of interfacing.  This bag is soft, yet sturdy.  I think I just found my new favorite way to make bags!

As tempted as I was to hang on to this one, I'm letting her go.  You can find her in the shop if you're interested. 

come on in!

I've only mentioned sprucing up my studio a few times over the last few weeks (ha!), well, I'm ready to give you the tour.

This is where it all happens, when I get the chance to escape up here.  I mentioned that I put up cubes along the back wall of this space, here are some.

And here is the rest.  This contains all the stuff I use regularly - quilting cottons, solids, jersey knits, jars of buttons, favorite craft books.  In the black bins are paints, beads, trims, etc.  The baskets along the top are scraps.  I tried to organize things in a logical fashion.

Here is shelf that used to hold my fabrics.  I wasn't planning on using it, but after getting all the cubes up I realized that I could use it.  Finished bags and works in progress reside here.

Here's a wide angle view of the same spot.  There is still fabric behind that curtain that I need to go through, but that is mostly apparel  and home dec fabrics.  Eventually I want to do away with the curtain & shelves, adding a seat with storage underneath in this space.  I think that would make a nice cozy spot for reading, especially with lots of soft cushions and some added wall sconces in there.

You can see in this shot that I have throw rugs over the plywood subfloor - dealing with these floors is something I still need to deal with.  My plan is to simply paint the subfloor white.   I still need to show y'all the kids' rooms with painted floors.  I love the look! (and it's cheap!!)

I love this little chair.  Last week I FINALLY made a new cover for it.  I purchased the fabric 2 years ago and it took me less than 2 hours to complete it.  I don't know why I never did it.  Once it was done I felt silly.  I think the love pillow will live here for now.

I also sewed some zebra throw pillows for the futon and the yellow floral one for fun.  Oreo seems to like it.  There's a skylight directly above the futon, so he's in heaven in this spot.

It's not completely finished yet, but rooms in my house rarely are.  Honestly, if I had a completed room I don't know what I'd do with myself!  This little space works for me now and I couldn't be more happy with that.  The kids are pretty pleased with it, too.  This is where they hang out when they want to watch those annoying kids shows I can't stand or play the wii - we have a tv in the closet.  Yes, I purposely faced my sewing machine towards the TV -- gotta get my Real Housewives fix while I'm working away (my kids aren't the only ones who come up here to watch annoying tv!!) :)

hooray for friday!

Friday, Friday, oh how I love thee!!  The sun is shining and the weekend is upon us.  All so good.

You know what?  I'm choosing to be happy.  The more I ponder this decision, the more sense it makes.  I plan to put this into practice all weekend as I face my usual tasks of laundry and household chores.  Thank goodness I have a house to clean, clothes to wash, and an able body to do it all!!  It's all about perspective, right?

We're supposed to have some great weather this weekend.  Warm weather.  So warm that I feel the need to paint my toenails.  I might even pull out the open-toed shoes for my date Saturday night :) 

But before I get all gussied up for an evening out I'll need to get presentable for a little photo shoot of myself and my kids getting crafty.  Oh Lordy!  I'm so happy it's only pictures and not video!!  I think I'll *need* a night out after that!

Oh, one more thing - I have to share with you a surprise I received on my doorstep the other day.  When I drove up and saw a package I was perplexed, I didn't remember ordering anything.  I must have said this thought out loud because Lily piped up "Mom, you're the ordering queen!".  As quickly as I could, I tore into the package.  How sweet is that?  Jamie of Curly Girl Press sent me some vintage sheets & fabric!  It was a total surprise!  Thank-you Jamie, I love it!!!  I'm already dreaming about a skirt made from that yellow floral...and now you've got my wheels turning on sending out some little surprise packages of my own.  Happy weekend, friends!!

 

Ten on Ten :: February 2011

Yay, I remembered ten on ten this month!!  It's only taken me 6 months to remember to do it again.  I usually think about it as I'm on my way to work or something, and using my phone to capture these images never crosses my mind (duh!).  As usual, my 10 took a little longer than 10 hours - what can I say?  I'm busy!!

If you click any photo it will bring you to my flickr account, which has commentary on the photo, if you're interested.  It was a fun challenge, I hope I remember to participate again next month!  You can check out more ten on ten here.