making messes

Some people complain that art blogs give a false impression that everything is beautiful and rosy.  Since it is never hard to find the ugly side of life (our airwaves and newspapers are full of it) I like to think of beautiful blogs as a little balancing act.  I will admit that well-crafted blogs can give the impression that the blogette has her act together (perhaps more than is warranted) which could intimidate others from even trying to join in the fun.  Well, I’m here to tell you that, in my world anyway, I have messes.  Sometimes big messes. 

I recently had to have an intervention with my sewing room.  It had reached the point where I just couldn’t function anymore.  During my journal cover project I attempted to access my storage box of blue quilting cottons and caused a fabric landslide.  I couldn’t get into my closet.  So, for the past two weeks I have been regaining control.   I sorted through boxes, cabinets, drawers and shelves.  I attempted to organize like items into some recognizable storage system.  While “filing” my huge supply of ribbon I thought, “how did I end up with 5 spools of white ¼” satin ribbon?” and I realized the answer was that it was often easier to drive to Michael’s and buy a new spool than to locate the ones I already owned. 

You know how things get worse before they get better in projects like this?  Well, my room sat for about 3 days in that “worse” stage; I was overwhelmed with the task before me.  But then slowly I started concentrating on one area at a time.  All of the things that had ended up in the room that didn’t belong there were carried off and eventually I started to see the end.  I also took the time to hang my bulletin and magnet board which I use for notes and inspiration – they had not been put up since I moved into my house in 2006.  Now when I look around my nice clean space I am filled with enthusiasm for new projects and can’t wait to make another mess – a creative mess.

bag of the week 4

With New Years Eve just behind us I want to share a tiny little bag that would be perfect for wearing with an evening gown or fancy dress.  It is just large enough to hold a credit card, ID, key and some cash, and can be worn more like jewelry than a purse.

The components of this purse are made entirely with thread on an embroidery machine.  The design was digitized by Stitch Delight.  This free-standing lace is stitched on water soluble stabilizer which is rinsed away leaving behind the stitched design.  Each purse consists of a front, back and flap.  Each piece is stitched individually and sewn together by machine to finish.  I also chose to create a lining for my purses which I hand sewed into the completed lace purse.  The strap was made by twisting multiple strands of the embroidery thread into a cord using a Spinster.

These designs are no longer available from Stitch Delight though they do have some beautiful purse designs that are a bit larger.



love in bloom

I have a new obsession.  I recently bought a book Kanzashi in Bloom by Diane Gilleland.  This lovely, lovely book is full of instructions for turning little squares of fabric into beautiful blooms called Kanzashi, based on an ancient Japanese art form.  This picture shows the first one I made.  As Diane says in her book, this is an addictive craft.  I have already made five.  The results belie the ease with which these flowers come together.  Diane has put together a great video to show you how to make one style of flower.  Wendy Martin from bagsandbuds has written a tutorial for making another style.  Try one of these and send me a picture of your fabulous bloom.

from my sewing room

I’ve been working on a scarf to donate to a silent auction for an event I’m attending next month.  I’ve done this for a number of years now and I can’t always predict what will be a hit.  One year I spent a ton of time making a small wardrobe for an American Girl doll thinking this would be very popular but it wasn’t.  Another year I cut up a printed velvet scarf that I had purchased at a thrift store for $1 and made it into a simple evening bag.  It went for big bucks.  I have also learned that the way I feel about a piece is also no indication of how well it will sell and am no longer disappointed when something I love is not loved as much by others.  The scarf I’ve made this year is not something I would personally wear, but I am hoping it will appeal to some of the artistic-of-nature in the crowd.

I based the design on a scarf by Diane Ericson which can be found in Linda Lee’s book Scarves to Make.  The body of the scarf is made from silk velvet.  The ends are embellished with three knots.  The largest and smallest are made from dupioni silk.  The middle size is made from stretch velvet.  The tassel is formed by tying a piece of silk organza over the smallest knot and securing with silk ribbon.  Silk velvet is a very trying fabric to work with.  I have found that basting the seams with Wonder Tape before stitching prevents the fabric from shifting, a real sanity saver.

Here’s hoping I’ve come up with a winner this time.

Bag of the Week 3

It’s been exactly a month since Old Man Winter dumped record-breaking amounts of snow on the Washington, DC area.  And here comes Mr. Snow Guy, just in time for our wintery January weather.  This little winter white wool pouch was adorned with a design by Kathleen Parman.  Kathleen developed a technique she dubbed “Herky Jerky” to describe the free-motion quilting around the edges of the appliquéd pieces.  Kathleen also developed a very clever machine embroidery technique for stitching up this and other designs.  This purse was done with one of her machine embroidery designs.  I appliquéd the design onto black fabric and sewed it to the front of the purse.  The purse is lined.  The Fun Fur I-cord around the top was made in the same manner as for The Safari Bag.  The strap is twisted cording made from winter white yarn and the Spinster tool.  I think this Snow Guy lives with my friend Michele now.

An internet search failed to turn up Kathleen's website.  Some of her patterns, including two of her machine embroidery CDs are available from Soft Expressions.  Sulky has a great tutorial complete with pattern and instructions for a Herky Jerky sweatshirt.  This technique is really fun and easy to do.  I will be featuring several other designs by Kathleen in the future.  Check back each week.  And that's what it's all about!