artsy-crafty babe

eight

Shame on me!  Two weeks ago we celebrated another special day in our family and I have yet to write about it.  My goodness, what is this blog coming to??

On June 14th Alex turned 8.  EIGHT!  Can somebody put on the brakes please?

My boy.  My only boy.  My goofy, sensitive boy who is usually a mystery to me.  I don't really know boy stuff, but he's no typical boy, so it all works out. I guess. 

What stands out most to me about Alex is what a big heart he has.  This year I have watched him be so very generous with his sisters.  How many 8 year boys do you know that will spend their own money to buy gifts for his sisters?  This one does.  It floors me every time.  He also says that Ceci is the best thing that ever happened to him (even though he wanted a little brother more than anything).

Before you think he's all sensitive and sappy all the time, don't be fooled.  He also knows how to get those sisters of his all worked up and annoyed.  That's what brothers do, right?

And the jokes.  I think I've mentioned his prankster side on every birthday post I've ever written.  Now that he's getting a little older, his jokes are getting a bit more witty.  Love that.

Oh Alex, you just keep being exactly as you are!

sewing and whatnot

Thursday night I had a treat.  I went over to Cathy’s house for some girl time and some sewing.  Verena was there, she’s just learning how to sew and doing an awesome job. So fun!  When I got the invite I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to work on, but then I remembered that I had some patterns that needed samples.

It truly is ridiculous.  I don’t remember when I cut the parts out, at least a year ago, and I couldn’t remember exactly what I was going to do with the pieces I cut.  What went with what?  Was I putting ric rac on that?  Where was this covered button supposed to go?  It took some head scratching, but I figured something out.  That sewing time was not only fun, but productive.  My patterns have been edited, thanks to the feedback from my wonderful pattern testers, all that I have left to do is making these samples.

Working on these sample has been enjoyable because I love the fabric so much.  They’re all Jennifer Paganelli’s Sis Boom fabrics.  I’m making all 3 versions of the Ruby bag from her fabrics.  Her stuff is so fun!  Have you seen her new book, Happy Home?  I recently received a copy and it did not disappoint.  Just like her Girls World book, it is a feast for the eyes.  It’s so pretty and well done.  As soon as I get the time, I'll be trying out a project or two.
 

I’ll get my samples done eventually (there's that darned time problem!).  I think we’re making ‘Thursday night sewing’ a regular thing. And when the samples done, there will be new patterns.  It’s all good

for the wee one

While cleaning up my studio recently (packing it up, but that’s another story) I came across a pack of onesies that I bought who knows when.  They were size 6-9 months, which happens to be Ceci’s size right now.  Hello, appliqué opportunity!

Being all about hand stitching knits right now, the first thing that popped into my mind was stitching some fun appliqué onto the front of these using my knit scraps. I know appliquéd onesies are nothing new, but I am so in love with these.  Using knit on knit makes all the difference.

What makes these even more special is that some of the knit fabrics are from outgrown clothes.  The little birdie was made using bits from 2 pairs of leggings and hat.  I’ve been putting Ceci’s outgrown clothes aside with the intention of turning them into something. Once the onesies are outgrown, I plan to use the appliqué for something else, giving it a whole new life once again.

I didn’t do anything special to prepare the appliqué other than pin it onto the onesie.  I used Lizbeth cotton thread and a backstitch to attach.  Making these was such a sweet, satisfying project.  You can be sure that more of these will be made in the future.

As you can see, I think Ceci approves!

stitching

For a few weeks now I've been mulling the idea over in my head about starting a new Alabama Chanin project.  Oh, you know how I love some hand stitching!

After much searching and thinking, I decided to make myself a top.  After having made 4 skirts, it was time for something different.  A muslin was made to check the fit and the pattern pieces were cut out of good fabric, but I was stalling.  And then I got a glimps of something Erin was working on through instagram, and my wheels started turning.

I completely switched gears, putting that top on the back burner.  Knowing myself, I'd probably never wear the top anyway.  I decided to revisit the bag I made 2 years ago during my "slow summer stitching" phase.  It was then that I first sewed knit to woven in reverse applique (my favorite). 

It wasn't hard to decide on fabrics and a stencil design, a sure sign that the project was right.  It took me no time to get everything cut out, traced, and ready to go.

I've been a woman obsessed!  I already have half of the bag stitched and cut.  I so love the process of hand sewing that it makes me a little sad to be half way over!  I guess that means that I need to try out another stencil *wink wink*.

While I'm in the zone, I might as well finish this skirt I started last summer.  All 4 panels are stitched, all that is left is to cut out one panel and sew them all together.  I think this is skirt #4, or is it #5? No matter, I'm in love with hand sewing, I'll be stitching away!

doily bag

For the first time in months, we had a weekend with no commitments. Absolutely nothing planned.  It had been so long since we had that luxury, I hardly knew what to do with myself.    

After a leisurely Saturday morning, I pulled out a sewing project, one that has been waiting in the wings almost as long as we’ve had full weekends.  Some vintage sheets + colorful doilies = time for a new bag.

A friend of mine has been carrying around a tote that seemed like the perfect size.  After eyeing it for a while, I asked if I could measure it.  Anyone who didn’t know me well would probably find that an odd request, but she thought nothing of it.

I wish I had taken better notes when I took those measurements because when I pulled out my notebook I was lacking detail. Ah well, it was good enough to make something work.

I haven’t sewn a bag like this in a while.  Assembling a separate square bottom with separate side pieces required me to stretch my brain a bit.  I usually take the easy way out with a boxed corner, but this time I wanted more structure.

I’m pleased with how this turned out.  I love the fabric and color combination.  And I used doilies!  I like it so much that I started another one.  It's more than half-way done, but time ran out on me.   I can't handle late night sewing like I used to, so I had to put it away and go to bed.  It may only be Tuesday, but I'm already looking forward to the next uncommitted weekend.  It feels good to get back into the groove!