As I rearrange my sewing room I am stunned by the number of possibilities of new projects at hand. Some are promises to myself from years ago and some are new inspirations.
I have had an interest in Smocking for years. I even have the machine for it. Who has time to smock baby outfits when there is diapering to do? I have found some wonderful patterns for blouses and nightgowns to smock as well as some Christmas ornament ideas.
Does anyone smock any more?
Quilling was something I did years ago and had lots of fun doing it. I know that there are ways to incorporate it into Scrapbooking. Yes another project.
Embossing velvet, I would love to have Christmas stockings made from hand embossed fabrics, maybe even a mantle cover.
There are no fewer than a 100 quilts I want to make. Yes, I even have the fabric for a lot of them.
Jewelry made from hand painted wooden beads. So many possibilities there.
Then there purses and tote bags to make, and sweaters, scarves, hats and mittens. The fabric calls for clothing, quilts, rugs...and there is embellished frames and boxes.....
I see I need to get going, there are a lot of new projects from my stash of supplies to create!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
A New Beginning
There is nothing more heartbreaking than being told that the very floor under your studio needs to be jack-hammered up. All right, it is the floor of the basement in our home and it was for a good reason. The Sewer Line was failing.
The 72 hours following that finding had my life turned upside-down. The first 10 hours were spent boxing up my life in the studio. It was not full of thoughtful sorting but desperation packing of too much stuff. I also had to figure out where to put all of it. Angels were watching out for me as the laundry room seemed to grow with my need to store more boxes. At sometime in the recent past I had the forethought to purchase cardboard file boxes at the local office supply store. I filled most of them thinking only of sorting by fabric, yarn, notions and other. My wonderful husband worked shoulder to shoulder with me moving the boxes to safe storage. My son worked furiously until bedtime making the boxes up for me to pack. Safely, I stowed my sewing machines in the living room upstairs along with the next on my list projects. It was a very late and exhausting evening.
The next morning, we were greeted by the project manager, who thought it might be a good idea to check the additional line coming from the kitchen. You guessed it, the remaining rooms in the basement were destined to be jack-hammered up as well. The playroom is just another word for my extended storage area with a smattering of games thrown in for good measure. It was a long morning clearing that room as well.
The sewer and plumbing company is but a memory now. I have yet to re-establish the rooms. They both have remnants of their former selves present, but there are large spaces of carpet that I have not seen in a very long time. I was almost giddy with the excitement of vacuuming them.
Now comes the problem. I know that I do not want the disaster area that the rooms were before. I do need to relieve the laundry room of some of its burden. How do I put the studio back together? How do I figure out what it is that I want it to be?
I will start this week by going through the areas that only this cleanup could bring to light and see about moving some to the Garage Sale Pile. Maybe inspiration will follow.
The 72 hours following that finding had my life turned upside-down. The first 10 hours were spent boxing up my life in the studio. It was not full of thoughtful sorting but desperation packing of too much stuff. I also had to figure out where to put all of it. Angels were watching out for me as the laundry room seemed to grow with my need to store more boxes. At sometime in the recent past I had the forethought to purchase cardboard file boxes at the local office supply store. I filled most of them thinking only of sorting by fabric, yarn, notions and other. My wonderful husband worked shoulder to shoulder with me moving the boxes to safe storage. My son worked furiously until bedtime making the boxes up for me to pack. Safely, I stowed my sewing machines in the living room upstairs along with the next on my list projects. It was a very late and exhausting evening.
The next morning, we were greeted by the project manager, who thought it might be a good idea to check the additional line coming from the kitchen. You guessed it, the remaining rooms in the basement were destined to be jack-hammered up as well. The playroom is just another word for my extended storage area with a smattering of games thrown in for good measure. It was a long morning clearing that room as well.
The sewer and plumbing company is but a memory now. I have yet to re-establish the rooms. They both have remnants of their former selves present, but there are large spaces of carpet that I have not seen in a very long time. I was almost giddy with the excitement of vacuuming them.
Now comes the problem. I know that I do not want the disaster area that the rooms were before. I do need to relieve the laundry room of some of its burden. How do I put the studio back together? How do I figure out what it is that I want it to be?
I will start this week by going through the areas that only this cleanup could bring to light and see about moving some to the Garage Sale Pile. Maybe inspiration will follow.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Bits of Thread and Fabric
I had the privilege today of working on costumes for the performance of Sweeney Todd at Pomona High School, March 25-28, 2009. It gave me pause for thought about this part in the production.
Being a high school play it has limited funds. The imagination of the costume designer fascinates me. Bits and pieces of former shows appeared in the sewing room ready to become the magic of the new production. It was inspiring to see lovely yellow fabric become the breath of springtime that will be in the character of Lucy. Stately lapels of Sweeney's attire were hemmed and pressed to the taste of the title character.
The chorus of town folk have remade acquired pieces that will add to the scenery that was London. Rustic browns, grays and and black will play into the talent of the cast. The young ladies are to be attired in lovely calicoes to brighten their skirts and blouses touched with lace. And all well portrayed with the soot and grime that is London, 1846.
It all comes down to bits of fabric and stitches of thread. A styling of hounds tooth plaids, tweeds and lovely linens and lace. A marvelous accomplishment lead by Heather Croke, Marla Hasler and under the careful guidance of Laurie Klapperich.
Take the opportunity to see these bits of thread. See how so much can be use so wisely to be such an important part of this show. Treat yourself to the wonderful performances of Sweeney Todd at Pomona High School. http://pomonacatwalktheatre.com/index.html
Being a high school play it has limited funds. The imagination of the costume designer fascinates me. Bits and pieces of former shows appeared in the sewing room ready to become the magic of the new production. It was inspiring to see lovely yellow fabric become the breath of springtime that will be in the character of Lucy. Stately lapels of Sweeney's attire were hemmed and pressed to the taste of the title character.
The chorus of town folk have remade acquired pieces that will add to the scenery that was London. Rustic browns, grays and and black will play into the talent of the cast. The young ladies are to be attired in lovely calicoes to brighten their skirts and blouses touched with lace. And all well portrayed with the soot and grime that is London, 1846.
It all comes down to bits of fabric and stitches of thread. A styling of hounds tooth plaids, tweeds and lovely linens and lace. A marvelous accomplishment lead by Heather Croke, Marla Hasler and under the careful guidance of Laurie Klapperich.
Take the opportunity to see these bits of thread. See how so much can be use so wisely to be such an important part of this show. Treat yourself to the wonderful performances of Sweeney Todd at Pomona High School. http://pomonacatwalktheatre.com/index.html
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Indulging in the Haves
I spent a fair amount of time today pouring through my yarn and threads stash. It represents many years of acquisitions. When I married 27+ years ago EVERYTHING related to my crafts fit into one small footlocker. It now seems to burst the seams of the lower level of our home. How did the collection get so grand in scale?
In the first year, it still fit in the original footlocker. I had a sewing machine borrowed from my mother-in-law. I made skirts for work, a few pillows for the living room, a Christmas wreath and a few Cross-Stitched pieces. I did not really have a lot of extra funds to spend on supplies. So by the time we moved from New Hampshire to Texas The crafting supplies were well contained.
After moving to Texas, I bought my first Sewing Machine, a White brand mechanical one. It was a beast. I never got the tension controlled well. More home decor, maternity and then baby clothes were constructed on it. Prior to baby I had a bedroom as a sewing room and all of my fabric stored on a half dozen hangers in the closet.
Then I started to take quilting classes. My sister and I signed up for one when my eldest was 6 months old. My hubby said that I needed to get out and give him guy time with our son. She quit the class half way through, as her work schedule changed, she gave me all of her supplies for the class. I made several tops from quilt shop fabrics. Then I spotted an ad in the paper for a warehouse sale one weekend a month. I was in heaven. I think I bought a year's worth of fabric each month not just enough to get me till the next sale. I was sewing furiously both quilts and clothing. The piles of fabric were getting bigger. Then there was the vendor at our favorite flea market who had wonderful bright cottons for quilting and home decor....and the fringes and laces, oh my. And I bought.
OH MY! is also what I said when I had to pack all of it up and move it to west Texas. I was starting to store it in Rubbermaid 18 gallon tubs. I think there were 5 or 6 of them for fabric, threads, patterns, books and other sewing related stuff. I had also started to make afghans as well so that footlocker now had both cross-stitch and yarn in it. I bought a new machine, a computerized Janome. I NEEDED MORE FABRIC.
In west Texas, I discovered quilt guild meetings. Lots more sewing, I had lots of friends to do it with! The provisions in west Texas for sewing were modest (although I did a good job on helping a shop with there going out of business sale.) I joined the Smockers too. I had another new baby, a girl. You have to sew for her. We drove to Dallas to visit and shop for fabric (and other stuff) periodically, Yes there was even more fabric than I could ever hope to use. I realized that it was like family and I had a hard time parting with it.
Then we moved to a rental house in the Denver area. Professional movers got it all there. It filled the small living room in the tri-level home. I became involved with the state guild, The Colorado Quilting Council. What fun, meetings were in different cities all over the state each month. So many shops! so much fabric! and I bought it all. A year and a half later we bought a house. (Did we use fabric for collateral?) Hubby's new friends in his office offered to help us move. An almost continous comment was, 'What another box of FABRIC!' I started to realize that is a fabric problem but did not realize that retail therepy in fabric stores was not the answer. I also was purchasing more yarn having found that garage sales were a great source of yarn, needlepoint and other fun fiber stuff. Colorado has great yarn shops.
About 5 years ago I decided that I needed to stop buying fabric...for the most part. I do not think I have purchased 20 yards of quilt fabric in the past 5 years. But now that we live in Colorado, it is colder than Texas, I started crocheting afghans. Everybody I know has at least one in their home. My kids each have at least 3 and there are several that just keep the sofa warm. For each afghan I made I bought yarn for at least one I have not made. So I started donating baby afghans and that is helping with the stash.
In the past few years, I have managed to give many 30 gallon trash bags of fabric and yarn away to charitable organizations and to the art teachers in my kids schools. There is still a lot left. know that I would not miss a lot of it if I got rid of it, because it is sort of a treasure hunt every time I go through a box. However, I still find it hard to part with it.
It is an ongoing problem. I recognize it now and have no plans to do any serious shopping except from my own stash.
In the first year, it still fit in the original footlocker. I had a sewing machine borrowed from my mother-in-law. I made skirts for work, a few pillows for the living room, a Christmas wreath and a few Cross-Stitched pieces. I did not really have a lot of extra funds to spend on supplies. So by the time we moved from New Hampshire to Texas The crafting supplies were well contained.
After moving to Texas, I bought my first Sewing Machine, a White brand mechanical one. It was a beast. I never got the tension controlled well. More home decor, maternity and then baby clothes were constructed on it. Prior to baby I had a bedroom as a sewing room and all of my fabric stored on a half dozen hangers in the closet.
Then I started to take quilting classes. My sister and I signed up for one when my eldest was 6 months old. My hubby said that I needed to get out and give him guy time with our son. She quit the class half way through, as her work schedule changed, she gave me all of her supplies for the class. I made several tops from quilt shop fabrics. Then I spotted an ad in the paper for a warehouse sale one weekend a month. I was in heaven. I think I bought a year's worth of fabric each month not just enough to get me till the next sale. I was sewing furiously both quilts and clothing. The piles of fabric were getting bigger. Then there was the vendor at our favorite flea market who had wonderful bright cottons for quilting and home decor....and the fringes and laces, oh my. And I bought.
OH MY! is also what I said when I had to pack all of it up and move it to west Texas. I was starting to store it in Rubbermaid 18 gallon tubs. I think there were 5 or 6 of them for fabric, threads, patterns, books and other sewing related stuff. I had also started to make afghans as well so that footlocker now had both cross-stitch and yarn in it. I bought a new machine, a computerized Janome. I NEEDED MORE FABRIC.
In west Texas, I discovered quilt guild meetings. Lots more sewing, I had lots of friends to do it with! The provisions in west Texas for sewing were modest (although I did a good job on helping a shop with there going out of business sale.) I joined the Smockers too. I had another new baby, a girl. You have to sew for her. We drove to Dallas to visit and shop for fabric (and other stuff) periodically, Yes there was even more fabric than I could ever hope to use. I realized that it was like family and I had a hard time parting with it.
Then we moved to a rental house in the Denver area. Professional movers got it all there. It filled the small living room in the tri-level home. I became involved with the state guild, The Colorado Quilting Council. What fun, meetings were in different cities all over the state each month. So many shops! so much fabric! and I bought it all. A year and a half later we bought a house. (Did we use fabric for collateral?) Hubby's new friends in his office offered to help us move. An almost continous comment was, 'What another box of FABRIC!' I started to realize that is a fabric problem but did not realize that retail therepy in fabric stores was not the answer. I also was purchasing more yarn having found that garage sales were a great source of yarn, needlepoint and other fun fiber stuff. Colorado has great yarn shops.
About 5 years ago I decided that I needed to stop buying fabric...for the most part. I do not think I have purchased 20 yards of quilt fabric in the past 5 years. But now that we live in Colorado, it is colder than Texas, I started crocheting afghans. Everybody I know has at least one in their home. My kids each have at least 3 and there are several that just keep the sofa warm. For each afghan I made I bought yarn for at least one I have not made. So I started donating baby afghans and that is helping with the stash.
In the past few years, I have managed to give many 30 gallon trash bags of fabric and yarn away to charitable organizations and to the art teachers in my kids schools. There is still a lot left. know that I would not miss a lot of it if I got rid of it, because it is sort of a treasure hunt every time I go through a box. However, I still find it hard to part with it.
It is an ongoing problem. I recognize it now and have no plans to do any serious shopping except from my own stash.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Are You Learning a Skill?
I know that many of you who will read this blog already are a handy bunch when it comes to crafting. I am even willing to bet that you used your skills to create some great gifts for giving last December. But Are you expanding your Arts?
What is it that you have promised yourself that you will learn to do but have yet to take the time? Are there knitting needles and crochet hooks sitting idle? What about that loom you bought, but there has been no time for? When making dinner do you look at the potatoes you cut and dream of the stamps they could become? Did you buy a kit to make a quilt top but have yet to think about it?
Now is the time. There are many tutorials online to choose from. Did you know that there are a large group of U Tube clips that teach individual knitting and crochet stitches? Learn about silk screening or making varnished floor coverings. You know that the your local library has books on step by step methods for cake decorating.
Many specialty shops will welcome you to learn a new skill. Knitting lessons are abundant. A smaller shop will be more apt to lend additional assistance after the classes are over too. I learned everything from braising meats to cake decorating in a kitchen supply store. Many recreational centers offer classes in stained glass art and quilting. County extension offices offer all sorts of classes from photography to gardening. Even the colleges have courses to improve your skills. Many are non-credit, but you just wanted to learn how to throw a pot right?
I need to get going. My neighbor wanted to teach me how to Tat Lace.
What is it that you have promised yourself that you will learn to do but have yet to take the time? Are there knitting needles and crochet hooks sitting idle? What about that loom you bought, but there has been no time for? When making dinner do you look at the potatoes you cut and dream of the stamps they could become? Did you buy a kit to make a quilt top but have yet to think about it?
Now is the time. There are many tutorials online to choose from. Did you know that there are a large group of U Tube clips that teach individual knitting and crochet stitches? Learn about silk screening or making varnished floor coverings. You know that the your local library has books on step by step methods for cake decorating.
Many specialty shops will welcome you to learn a new skill. Knitting lessons are abundant. A smaller shop will be more apt to lend additional assistance after the classes are over too. I learned everything from braising meats to cake decorating in a kitchen supply store. Many recreational centers offer classes in stained glass art and quilting. County extension offices offer all sorts of classes from photography to gardening. Even the colleges have courses to improve your skills. Many are non-credit, but you just wanted to learn how to throw a pot right?
I need to get going. My neighbor wanted to teach me how to Tat Lace.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Dreary Winter Days
The Winter browns and grays leave a lot to the imagination for the beautiful Colorado that I have come to know. However, the dreary days can make it easier to stay inside and intently work on a project.
Right now some beautiful blue mittens have just been completed in crochet. They are soft, warm and fuzzy in a beautiful shade of dark blue. They are in acrylic yarn so that they will dry fast and hold their shape well. These have been adjusted since most mitten patterns are just too short for me!
A few rows added to the mitten box after the increase rows makes them much more comfortable. The thumb needed a few more rows too. I added them till it was a comfortable length. Only then, did I start the decreases since the pattern tapers faster than my thumb.
These mittens have a great cuff created by making a strip to go around my wrist. Only crochet in the back row each time. It creates a great rib. When the proper length is created slip stitch the the ends together. Then, off the edge of the ring, you start working the body of the mitten. I decided I liked the cuff as it was and did not need to change it. Lengthening it would have been easy by adding more stitches to each row.
There is more fiber around. I am not sure what I am going to create next....maybe not even something from the hook.
Right now some beautiful blue mittens have just been completed in crochet. They are soft, warm and fuzzy in a beautiful shade of dark blue. They are in acrylic yarn so that they will dry fast and hold their shape well. These have been adjusted since most mitten patterns are just too short for me!
A few rows added to the mitten box after the increase rows makes them much more comfortable. The thumb needed a few more rows too. I added them till it was a comfortable length. Only then, did I start the decreases since the pattern tapers faster than my thumb.
These mittens have a great cuff created by making a strip to go around my wrist. Only crochet in the back row each time. It creates a great rib. When the proper length is created slip stitch the the ends together. Then, off the edge of the ring, you start working the body of the mitten. I decided I liked the cuff as it was and did not need to change it. Lengthening it would have been easy by adding more stitches to each row.
There is more fiber around. I am not sure what I am going to create next....maybe not even something from the hook.
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