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!