Home and Back to Work

I had come home from vacation with an order waiting for me.  One of my favorite customers in Madison sends me work to do, mostly based on helping her ready her house to do in home over night care for infants.  It has been so much fun making sheets, blankets, diaper stackers and pocketed organizers.

She realized that some people would be picking up their children early in the morning and she needed something nice to wear to bed and therefore answer the door in... so she picked out some nursery themed searsucker and I made gowns and robes to match,

 but then she wanted a really nice robe for the winter.  She had some vintage fabric and picked a Vogue vintage coat pattern, Vogue 1083.... a basic swing coat with just one button at the top.

This pattern was quite the challenge.  I had the pockets in three times because I couldn't get the fold right on the front edge.  The bound button hole was not as bad as I had thought it would be, i think because of the perfect weight of the fabric.  I didn't do as much hand stitching as the pattern called for, I did put the lining in by machine instead of sewing the whole thing by hand.

I think that if i make this pattern again, I'd like to make the complete coat our of muslin so that i can see how everything fits this time.  Sometimes I think the darker fabric makes it harder to see.

Dart in the facings too!

The shaping darts in the neck area were actually new to me

Seam tape all the neck edges to prevent stretching

The robe before i added the facings.  Looking good!

Pocket looks great on the ironing board....

The upper back on my dummy.  The collar is laying so nice

The four piece back looks great.  Sleeves are hanging nice.  I'm really liking this pattern

Craft Fairs

My first craft fair season is behind me, and although I didn't make booth fee at any of them, I did get a lot of contacts out and had many requests for mending and alterations.  I am really excited to see what the new years brings to me.

The first fair was at the Seneca Nation day care center.  The room was full of vendors, and really nice things.  I wanted to do a lot of shopping, but I had to behave myself and not spend what I wasn't making.  About lunch time, my sister came to give us a break and we noticed it was snowing.  A wet, heavy, half freezing rain type snow.  I am pretty sure that is what chased away the rest of our customers, because by shortly after lunch, all of the vendors began walking around shopping each other's booths or packing up early.  It was a very slow day.

The next fair was a two day, Saturday and Sunday of Black Friday week end.  Enough said.  I learned my lesson on that one.  Do not sit a fair  when people are shopping their favorite Wal_mart for marked down treasures.  They do not shop a craft fair.  It's too bad, because the fair was great, we represented, full, fun.  Just no customers.  We had the chance to do a Lot of networking and made some great connections.

The last fair was here in town and I was already recognizing people that I had met the week before.  I made many new contacts and cemented the "old" ones nicely.  Many of the people gave me hints about what fairs to not miss and we had a slow but good day.  I was able to display my sign this time, which really drew in the alteration requests.

An exciting season, short though it was, I am back to my Christmas sewing, with one large and a couple of small orders to finish.  I feel really good about all the notes in my book about upcoming fairs and contacts to make in the next couple of months.

Lets Get Back To Work

I have been having so much trouble with my computer that it seems I stopped writing all together.  I have not stopped working though, and I have so many new ideas.  I can't wait to finish the work that I have going right now, so that I can start on some new ideas.

While I was in Madison, I was able to go see the Steampunk version of Dracula Ballet.  The costuming was amazing and the ideas are just bubbling up in my mind.

First, of course, I have to finish the orders I have, a couple of quilts and several clothing items, so that by the first of the year I am ready for a new venture in sewing.

I am anxious to put my own mark on some designs, my own tailoring, attention to detail and create complete ensembles that can be bought as each piece, or as a complete set.

I have so much fabric, it will be fun to start working through the piles, turning each piece of yardage into an item ready to sell.

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
Erich Fromm 

And work slows down

Things have been going along quite well as long as I don't push too much right hand work, but all the sudden my right hand, elbow and arm are in so much pain that I can't even type with my right hand.

The "injury" started about two months ago, with what I thought was stress from tensing my shoulder while I knit.  I worked really hard with that and it got better, and worse, and better... and oh so much worse.

Now the pain is from shoulder down into thumb and there are many tender spots.  I'll be calling the doctor on Tuesday to see if we can figure anything out.  My sewing on Friday had to stop and I've been able to do nothing at all, even eat, with my right hand most of the week end.

I hope there is a simple fix, and "resting it" is not a simple fix when I have orders on the board and fairs coming up, but that is why I've been so quiet.  I have so very much to tell, but it will all have to wait for a bit of a better day

Inspire yourself.  Get busy and make something!!

Shopping Trip!!

We try to make it to Buffalo to do major shopping once a month.  We are going to squeeze in two trips this month because we missed July, but only by two days....
This trip was all about crafts and some needed supplies.  The next trip will be all about being a tourist.  My first trip to the Falls!   I can't wait

Our first stop on this trip was Pier One, where I got some new scented candles, a candle holder and a pink daisy tea mug.  It will be so cute with my spring sets, and a large mug for those nights when a pot of tea is too much for me to drink alone.

Then my big trip:  I'd been planning and plotting a trip to Michaels for Weeks, I even had a list.  I'm not sure I needed a list, but it helped a little bit. Check out this haul!   We had a great time laying it all out on the table, sorting a  bit and admiring the variety. 

 Three new books.  Steampunk Jewelry, 75 Knots and 1500 recipes for blending paint colors.  I've got some ideas, and now maybe making the new products will work out better. 
I found some new to me products for jewelry making and so I picked up just a couple of parts.  It seems that it is going to be too expensive to make and sell, but things that might work for gift items.  I can't wait to see how they work... or don't work.

 A few basic stamp pads.  Mine are so old that I really need to replace all of them.  Right now I don't do a lot of stamping, so I bought the cheap ones, but if that changes I'll be adding to my supplies soon.  I love the 12 pack of tiny pads.  Great colors to play with.

I also bought a new white board. My grand daughter laughed at me.  I have so many now, what do I need a new one for, but I keep running into great inspirational quotes and I want to keep them in front of me once in a while. 

Beads, beads and more beads.  I even have ideas for these beads.  And some "metal stickers" that I want to use on some frames I am trying to dress up some.  I'm sure I'll find a way to use those suns and moons on frames that I keep. 

 I want to do a few more paper mache hats for Halloween so I found some fun maple leaves and butterflies, plus some paper made just for paper mache Halloween projects.  Quick and fun.  That always helps fill in when I have no idea what I want to work on next.

I have sweater patterns picked out for just about all of the kids and a couple of the adults, so I'm starting to collect the yarn.  I hope what I imagine works as well as I think it will.

 These colors I know are perfect, and I know who they are going to.  I have several projects in the works, so this one has to wait a little bit, and with my arm bothering me, I've had to slow my hand work down, but if not this Christmas, than next, right?

 The silicone mold is something I am familiar with, but this one used a clay for jewelry that I've never used before, and I found a bit pricey.  I bought some cheap air dry clay and I'll see how that works out.  Love the butterflies!  If this works, I may be moving more in that direction

One of the unplanned purchases are the coin pendant, but they were on sale and while I don't have a project in mind, I've also not gone through my new book very much just yet.  Sale items mean a better profit!

My guilty buy, because I don't paint very much, but I've read so much about this book that I felt like I'd use it for a long time.  It highlights oils, acrylics and watercolors, so I can see it being useful in my dying fabric as well.  I'll take my inspirations any where I can get it.  My art room is getting used more and more.  That has to be good news! 




And my last guilt buy.... I have been obsessed with this painting for years and I wanted to figure out how to convey the feeling in a tee shirt, or other background.  This flat print will allow me to create a series of stencils, for us art challenges artists.  I just want the feeling of movement in the sky, sort of like in the galaxy dyed projects that are all over the place right now.

Two other stops.... Target and Office Depot.  Dinner at TGIFridays and a stop at Lowes on the way home.  It was a long, satisfying day.  Now I have to put everything away and tend to the week end chores.  Oh, the mundane world after a shopping trip!

 

Summer Flowers

I haven't gotten very much "creative" things done in the last few days.  Some mending items done.  Some ornaments in the works.  Pants for the play that is happening at the end of the month.  I was so proud of myself for getting Three Straight days on schedule last week, and I am hoping that this week is even better.  Day one went great.  I finally stopped arguing with the zippers on the pants and got five pair done. (thank you YouTube!)

So I thought I would just share a couple of flowers from my deck.  It's so nice to have a relaxing place to let my mind shift gears....

The first of morning glories that I have growing up the fence.  I am anxious for the rest of them to come along (if they ever do!) because I planted two types of morning glories and one set of moon flowers. 

 This sweet little snap dragon is a volunteer from last year.  My sister didn't think that any would survive, so I planted my basil in this box.  There are only two of them, in the prettiest soft yellow.  I think I wish there were more, but I love having my herbs around the deck.  Ahhhh, trade offs.....

This guy is actually growing out the bottom/side of the box.  It's so cute, just hanging out there.

Silk Scarves

We finally had enough sun that we could work outside, so after a little work on our masks, my granddaughter and I headed outside to try using color releasing tissue paper to dye silk scarves.  It was great, we really had a good time and learned a lot about how the papers work.

You lay the silk on a paper plate, add tissue paper and spray with water, folding the scarf back and forth, adding tissue in each layer.  It's hard to predict how far the tissue will dye, which is a big part of the fun.

 Selena pulled the papers off of her scarves right away and got some great colors and blending.  I love all the yellow that she used.  These are truly light as air and floating colors together was so easy using this method.








I left my papers on over night and got a saturated color.  I'm not sure that I like how you can tell where I folded the scarf over on itself, so I think I might re-dye the first one a little bit and try to get the lines out of it.  Otherwise I am really happy with the results. 

The Summer Retreat

Oh finishing is so close.  I got so much done on the basement this week end, including finishing the summer retreat for my granddaughter.  I am thrilled with the results. 

First we put down the largest of my area rugs and got it all cleaned up.  Then we put up my queen bed frame and hung my white curtains from three of the canopy rails.  Inside I have a roll away bed, smothered in pillows in pansy and night sky prints.  Next to the bed is the nightstand that I restored, painted and applied this great sticky - back fabric to the sides and drawers.  I even had enough to do some on the inside of the drawers. So fun.  The last rail is my hand dyed silk scarf curtains.  It turned out so nice,  think she is going to be very comfortable there!

CREATIVITY REQUIRES THE COURAGE TO LET GO OF CERTAINTIES.
ERICH FROMM

Craft a Thon

Sunday was the day for our facebook Craft a Thon.  Everybody posted pictures and descriptions of the projects they had picked for the day, and updated during the day.  I wasn't able to take part in the computer part of it, but the craft part I have down!

First I finished the night stand for my granddaughter's room.  It turned out this very fun shabby chic style that I think we both can live with. 
Then I finished the decorating in the "retreat" room.... hanging curtains and plugging in lights and clock, adding a journal and some fun pens to her drawer...

Next I headed outside to bleach out a black tank.  I want to learn the dye technique, so I took some purple and black fabric as well.  I even took out one of my black masks that I had bought to paint this summer.  The tank did just what I wanted it to, but the fabric didn't at all work the same way, and the mask didn't bleach out at all.  You couldn't even tell that I had sprayed it.  Now to add to my research...

The end of the day was spent working on an afghan that I am anxious to get finished and put away for Christmas.  No pictures of it yet, because I want it to be a surprise.  Just in case you know.

Great crafting day and I am looking forward to the rest of the summer being just like that.



Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things.
Ray Bradbury

Craft table 101

With all of the heavy lifting projects I have still to do in the basement before Monday, I can't imagine why I thought putting together my craft table was going to be a good idea, but I thought an hour here and there today and I would be fine.  I have a Craft A Thon coming up on Sunday and I really want my table to work at.  It will be so much fun, and how hard can this truly be?
You do know that is really funny.  It was amazing at how tiring it was for me to even begin, but once I had the parts out of the box, I knew it was something I was going to have to finish or risk losing pieces. 
The instruction sheet said the average time was 50 minutes, so I knew I had to at least double that.  Well, lets go with four times that average and it's not quite done yet.  Of course part of the problem right now is that it is too heavy for me to lift by itself and the crap workmanship on the parts means that not everything fits as it should. 
So I have an upside down craft table waiting for a bit of help from my lawn guy tomorrow, and it will be done and something else marked off the list.  I am sure he will have no problem getting the last two bolts in and righting the table so that I can figure out how to make it tilt, or not. 
My achy muscles and I are going to pour a nice glass of wine before dinner and enjoy a bit of the sun tonight.  It feels really good outside.

Are they serious?

I get to update this post, it is so exciting to have something else finished.  My sister had some free time today so she can over and together we figured out the table.  She had the last two bolts in place rather quickly, and then as we were figuring out how to turn the table right side up, we found I had made a mistake in one of the parts.  After we fixed that, everything was much more stable and we were able to turn the table up right.  It is going to be so nice to work at, and it tilts so that I can use it as a drawing table if I want to.  Now how fun is that?

 I guess they were!  Isn't it pretty?

At Least the Flowers Like the Rain

It had been raining so much that I had not had the chance to plant the few plants that I bought at the nursery during the last trip and so I took a sunshine day to plant my hanging baskets and planter boxes.  With all the rain, they are doing very well.  I think a little sunshine would be nice now, but I have to be thankful for the rain, because I never seem to remember to water outside plants. 

The weeds, of course, are stronger than ever.  I'm getting some of the beds weeded out nicely, but I'm not familiar with the plants that are in the beds so it is hard to know what to pull and what to leave.  The beds are terribly over grown and I think I'd like to take the beds totally out and start over, but it isn't really my yard and so I am just doing my best.

I found my old garden journal, from my house in Madison.  It was pretty bittersweet, I was glad to find the plans for the Monet gardens that I wanted to start, but losing that house was very hard. 

Anyway, I have planted Verbena, Impatiens, Petunia, Ivy; as well as basil, thyme, and oregano from plantings, and Forget Me Nots, Alyssum, two types of Morning Glories and Moonflowers from seed.  I still have a wild flower mix and Cosmos to go.  I can't wait to see how summer colors progress.

Enjoy the pictures!