Finishing

I really need to embrace this word, finishing. 

Several years ago I saw a cute little saying "finishing is over rated", which seemed to give me ample permission to start as many projects as I could, but now I am feeling stress ever time I walk into the sewing room and losing control of the started projects as well as the ones that I would like to start. 

This is something that I need to get under control this coming year, and there is no time to start like the present.  I'm really excited about the number of almost finished items in my bead box, and knowing how portable it can be, I can learn to take it with me when I travel if I like.  If I learn to pick just one project at a time and get each one completed without breaks, I think that I will do much better at knocking things off the list. 

I don't mind having a project in each area, because my body allows me only so much time at each task before it starts to rebel, and to this end I can allow my need to have several projects going at one time, still sticking to my resolution to finish one project all of the way through.  Using up fabric and yarn that I have in ways that generate income, I need to be mindful of the projects that I take on through the coming year, making sure that each one will fit well into my projection. 

Not only stepping outside my comfort zone of the faster the better, but raising the bar on fine sewing, completion of each project, detail work and more difficult patterns.  I can't wait now to start the new year right, and I know that I'm going to enjoy looking back on this post a year from now, marking my progress into the world that I entered so many many years ago

The Dragon Sweater

It was Thanksgiving morning that I woke up feeling sort of icky, and by Thanksgiving afternoon I was wishing for my bed.  As the day wore on, our very warm Thanksgiving (60 degrees) turned into a very windy Thanksgiving and the temperature dropped.  The more the wind blew, the worse my sinuses were, and by night, I was Sick.  Sneezing and fever and coughing and feeling lousy all over.

I made the commitment to stay off the computer and do only what I  had to do on Friday and Saturday, moving from the bed to the couch, napping and feeding my soul.  I had tv and movies to entertain me, knitting to make me feel like I was doing something, and copius amounts of tea and snacks.

Instead of working on my current knitting project, I decided to revisit my dragon sweater.  I had bought this wonderful yarn on a close out, and of course it got added to the stash for a long time, until I found this sweater that had a diagonal stripe... and so I mixed the Dragon yarn with a few others and started out.  I really did not like the pattern, so that got switched to a short row technique that I had learned last year, and created the back and started on the fronts.  It took a bit of trial and error, ripping and reknitting. The first try at the front turned out way too large.  Ripping some more, and more reknitting and now as the week end come to a close, the body of the sweater is done and I've started the sleeves.  The knitting is going quickly on large needles and because I decided to work the stripes on the sleeves straight across instead of on the diaganol, there is very little thinking that I have to do. 

I won't have this done this week end, and during the week I work only on commitments, but maybe by next week end I could have this one marked off and something else ready to go in my knitting basket.

My hands don't like knitting for hours as much as my mind does, and my cold is far from over, but the worst of it seems to be gone and I think I might be ready to face Monday and back to work.  I do hope so, because my to-do list is getting longer and the weeks before Christmas are short. 

CREATE BECAUSE IT HEALS THE SOUL!

Finishing is NOT over rated

I had been feeling like I haven't gotten very much done with my sewing since I got home, but I have to think about what I have gotten done..... My Wee Witches is finished and on my Etsy site....

My fall colors runner is also finished and listed.  Yea me!

And I've been working on a baby set for a customer.  She brought me all the fabric, ordered from a site called BabyBedding.com (I think, I might have to look that up).  The striped fabric was rather heavy and I don't think that I would have picked it, but it did make up well.  The bumper pads are navy and white; strips on one side and dots on the other, with the green ties on the ends.

The quilt tested my skills as well as my stash.  I made the piping from the striped fabric, finding some old piping that I had in my stash.  I was able to pull the pink of questionable taste from the old piping, using the cording for the quilt.  Nice job!  The quilt is double stuffed, so it is really heavy.  My customer said "It is more for show..."  Can you imagine?

The sheet for the crib is the solid green, so I used that same color for the top of the bed skirt, and added it to the bottom of the skirt.  I interfaced the green so that the navy stripe didn't show through.  I really like this set. 
But for me.... I think I would need something brighter and more fun. 



CREATIVE MINDS ARE RARELY TIDY

One Finished and One Started

Falling Leaves on a black background, I really am liking how this one is coming along.  The oak leaves were paper pieced and they really were the worst leaves to do because for some reason, the two completed halves didn't want to fit together.
Over all, the fit of the peices was also off, but because of the layout, it really mattered very little.  I adjusting the size on some of the coping blocks and just moved on.

I'm not real sure I like my green blocks, but I really did want a scrappy look, so I think I need to just get used to them.  The red maple leaves are so fun, but again, I wish I had taken a little more time with my colors.  I'm sure that someone will like this

I do love the setting and this is on my must make again list.  I'll sash and sandwich it at home, I can't wait to try the quilting that they suggest, which brings more depth to the leaves.  That will make them look so much better.

So I moved on to my next project as quickly as I could.  I really wanted my stash of scraps to disappear while I was still here in NY, and there is so much left right now.... This is turtle for a pattern called Over the Pond.  It is made to go in a wall hanging, but I am thinking I'd like to do a set of blocks into table runner sizes instead.  Turtle is going to be my favorite

A couple blocks of blades of grass.  This guy was actually harder to keep accurate than the oak leaves, but it sure came out nice.

On to the frog blocks.  This one took a lot of ripping (rippit), but he finally straightened out and just needs eyes to be in the "done" pile.


I have dragonflies, bees and flies to play with, and they will be on my list right after I do a black cape for a customer.  Yea for paid orders!





“A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man’s brow.” — Charles Brower

Just a few doodles

It's been a while since I have done anything but sewing.  I didn't bring any other art supplies or ideas with me while visiting with  my sister, but I have been playing with doodling and markers. 
This one on the left I did on the train on the way out here, and it is  one of my favorites. 
The one on the right is a funny attempt at copying the design off a painting that hangs in my sister's living room.  The flowers are way too small.  I need to let go a little bit more and not try for such tight control of my life.

Next I tried for a sketch of the flower design on the pillow sham that matches the quilt in "my" room here.  This one was a little more fun and what I was looking for, and even going back to it, I still like some of the flowers. 
On the way to buy bricks for a project at my sister's house, I started playing with simple (way simple) rectangles and shading them in.  It ended up looking more like a walk way idea than something to close in what used to be a door.

 Shopping in Hornel, I scored this great print in a heavier fabric that is just begging to be made into a bag for my lap top.  I think if I am careful, I'll have enough to do a couple of things.

And then I found this funky felt hat.  It was only a dollar, so home it goes.  I didn't as much want the hat, as the idea to copy.  I really love it tho, and I can see doing a couple different things... Cat in the Hat hats and Steampunk top hats perhaps. 
This morning I happened to look on the inside... "Made In Tiawan".  Okay then!




“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.” — Martha Graham

Leaves and Witches

Last year I did an applique pattern called Demure witches.  It sold out and I was wishing that I had more of them.  I started another set this year, but they are taking me too long and I'm not going to get them online in time to sell.  Of course, I do have them ready to finish if anyone decides to special order one.  Mouths and eyes, and quilt it out.  Three of them are just That Close!

So then I started working on fall leaves.  I am really driven to use up scraps and buy as little fabric as possible, so I picked some nice fall colors and set to work on small and large leaves.  To tell the truth, I'm not as happy with the results as I'd like to be, but then it is often the work that I don't like as well that sells the fastest, so this one goes into the "ready to be finished" pile and I'm on to the next project. 

As you can see, I still have plenty of "scraps" to use up for several more projects, so SEW!!  I can't wait to get more of the blocks done for the next one, I'm setting the fall color leaves on a black background for a couch throw.  That will be fun.  At least the row of greens and rusts are disappearing.  I need to find an ocean something to do to use up some of those blues.  Turtles and frogs are in the future, I can tell!

 

 

 

 

 

CREATIVITY IS ALLOWING YOURSELF TO MAKE MISTAKES.  ART IS KNOWING WHICH ONES TO KEEP.

Scott Adams

Wee Witches

 The next project was a set of nine witches, but I quickly decided that three was a good size and I'm glad that I did.  I didn't have any fabrics that matched to make the witch dresses, so I thought how cute they would be in three different colors.  Picking colors from my rows was easy.  Picking something for the back ground and the brooms was just a little bit harder.

  The small parts made this one more difficult than I thought it would be, and I spent a lot of time ripping and re cutting parts. You'd think by now I'd learn to measure twice, but several of my cuts were off and soon my Wee Witches were looking more like Wonky Witches.  I finally backed up enough to straighten some cuts, ripping a few seams over and over until the triangles fit they way they should.  I'm pleased with the colors, but I think that if I do this one again I'll draw it out and paper peice it.  For being titled "Wee Witches" it really is bigger than I thought it would be as well, and I am so happy that the three look so good together. 

All sashed out and ready to be layered, quilted and finished off, this one is almost ready for a new home.  Time to put it aside and move on to the next project!

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS DOES NOT ALWAYS GET THE DESIRED RESULT.  THINK FOR YOURSELF.

Fall Runner

 The first step in the process of sewing at my sister's house was to take over her whole table with the bits and scraps, and bigger pieces of fabric that I brought with me.  The goal is to take home only finished pieces, so it ALL needs to be used up.  Monday was cut day, and so I cut fabrics for the first three projects.  Some how, it didn't seem to make a dent in my stash.

As you can see, I have enough for many projects.  I decided to start with the most simple first.  Sure success.  I love the way the colors worked together and I can see that I'll be repeating this table runner several times in various colors.  I'm anxious to get it layered and add some quilting to it. 

TAKE CREATIVITY WITH YOU.  IT BECOMES A PART OF YOU!  THING OUTSIDE THE BOX!

Halloween fabric, round one

So I have this huge pile of Halloween knit that I collected.  This first year I made several costume parts out of it, and the store ran out before I was finished with what I wanted to do.   The next year, I bought all that I could afford, but my inspiration died and I've been storing this ever since..... there are yards and yards of a couple of the prints

 The first thing I did was sort my "junk satin" into pieces that were not full width.  I will use them, and the smaller pieces of knit, to make little skirts for the younger set.  Ruby just loves hers.  I thing cutting the hem into points or putting tulle under neath would be so cute, but I want them to be comfortable and wearable....

 For the adults, I've cut out satin-y pants with this draping skirt over lay.  It'll be great for Halloween or Fairy dress, or for that matter, just for fun.  I can't wait to get started on these.  I've got a few pair cut to see how they go together.  I want to put them on elastic to make them fit more easily

Of course, I have to work around Ozzie guarding my patterns.  She seems to have given this one the "sleep approval". 

MY AUNT TOLD ME TO USE IT UP, MAKE DO, OR DO WITHOUT, AND THAT IS JUST WHAT I INTENDED TO DO, IN THE MOST CREATIVE WAY I CAN MANAGE.  I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THESE LOOK WHEN THEY ARE DONE.  THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.  UNLEASH THAT CREATIVE SPIRIT.  DO IT NOW!

I've Been Framed

 I've never been very good at finishing.  I always seem to leave something that still needs to be done on a project, whether it is a hook and eye, sewn elastic.... or a frame.  I got out a few of the embroidery projects that I made years and years ago, and mated them with the frames that I have been collecting.  I think this one is just perfect.  It made it while Jeremy was a newborn. 

 This piece was part of a set of flowers, I made the others for my bride's maids as gifts and mine was left unframed, until today.  The date reflect the date of my wedding, 11 June 1977.  Seriously old projects.

 I'm not quite sure what year I made these.  There was one or two more in the set that I never finished, and I guess I was waiting until the whole set was stitched, but I have lost track of the final pieces and frankly, they may never be done, so framed out these are.  It looks like I still have a bit of straightening to do.

 I found a silver frame for Jonathan Livingston Seagull.  He looks great.  I am proud of the work on him, and he looks even better now, where he belongs.

 I do have a frame for this one, but I decided to paint it a nice bright green.  It's going to need a few more coats and a sealer before I can find a mat board for the back of it and get it framed out.  I can't wait.  I made all of these people before 1980.  Just amazed that they survived all my moves and decluttering and still look great.

 I think I had planned to stitch this into a wall hanging instead of framing it, and because of the awkward size, I think that might be the best idea.  Maybe tomorrow i can look for batting and a nice fabric for the back.  I'm sure I have a dowel to make a hanging rod.  I can't wait to see it where it belongs!

Most of these have homes planned for them.  A couple of them I'll put up for sale.  I really need to be selling much more of the stuff that is hanging around my house collecting dust and taking up space.

 

 

FINISHING IS NOT OVER RATED.  ENJOY ALL PARTS OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS.  MAKE SOMETHING NEW TODAY!

 

Slow Week

I don't feel like I got very much done this week.  The creative energy is at a low, and I'm just not feel it.  There has been so much going on emotionally that I think I wore out any creative thoughts that lingered.

The wedding dress that I am altering is taking so much more time than I thought it would, but I finally figured out how to make the alteration work and not show too much.  The next fitting will be the turning point on this one.  If everything I've done so far works out right, I'll only have the layers of hem and that part is not as intimidating at working around beading that can't be moved. 

I am working on using up the wools that I had been storing for who knows what reason.  I must have intended jackets and pants or jacket and skirts, but I am not all that interested in the jacket part any  more, so I am cutting pants and skirt out of one peice, and two different skirts out of the other. 

I'll have a classic plaid skirt done soon.  I have it hanging on my dressmakers dummy now, letting the hem even out.  I'll be able to check this tomorrow and get it hemmed.  I think I'll hem the lining on the machine, but the skirt just has to be done by hand.  I've already got the hem tape in place and I'm getting anxious for the finishing.

I've got a pair of wool pants ready for the waist band.  I couldn't find a pattern that was lined, so I am not sure I know what I am doing to line these, but the first fitting felt good.  I was able to tighten up the seams a little bit.  Simplicity has a line of "perfect fit" pants patterns that use the old men's standard of the two peice back waist band, which makes alterations so easy, getting the perfect fit. 



While I was baby sitting Ruby this week, she wanted to knit, so I found a pattern and started a crochet hat to fit her.  I was using some yarn that I had bought for another project that wasn't working, so it got repurposed quickly and we have a hat waiting for decoration.  I'm not sure what I am going to do to it quite yet.  It started out to be a bear, from the S/O issue of crochet today, but because the yarn is gray, it might become an elephant or the base for a dinosaur.  They are all so cute, it is hard to decide.  I had to do some enlarging and Ruby had a great time trying on the hat every couple of rows to see if it fit yet. 

We finally got to finish Chrissy's art day with Grandma.  I had started my skull, a blank that I bought at the craft store.  I wanted to cover it with flowers.  Something you wouldn't expect as much.....

It was hard to pick a color to go under the stickers, and I ended up not really liking the orange.  The flowers matched the under color too  much, but in the end the results were fine.  Here I am putting on the first coat of sealer, trying to keep the stickers in place.

Finally finished, he looks pretty good.  I'll be keeping this one for myself.

Chrissy got to do another skull.  Her first one was ruined by one of the dogs.  It was sad, but she is very happy, picking out new colors and glitters for the next one.

Way glittered and looking great, Chrissy was so happy with the results and I think it will be months before all the glitter off the floor of my studio.  What a wonderful, fun project!








THROW A GLITTER PARTY AND CREATE!