Halloween Fever

For those unaware- I love this time of year.  In the previous post I outlined the comfort to be found in jeans and sweatshirts and the simple pleasure of crunching a good leaf.  But underlying all these idyllic comforts are the magnificent trio of holidays that round out the end of the year: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  I love them all!  Cooking, decorating, and shopping for the elements of these holidays cheer me during these shorter and shorter days.

And yet, I have very few decorations for Halloween.  These two have been my only addition for the last four years!  Meet Ghosteo and Ghoulia- so named by TY, not me.  I do adore them...

Given my recent interest in wall hangings, I decided to indulge in a bit of Halloween fun via fabric.

I started by hunting the internet for Halloween clip art that I thought would be cute together.  After sketching out a rough plan on a piece of paper, I set about transferring these doodles onto fusible web and from there, onto scrap fabric from the stash.  I sewed everything down with decorative stitches from the machine and in a week of evenings, it was finished!

My first homemade Halloween decoration!  And you want to know my favorite part?

The little creepy mansion and it's neighborhood bats.  :)

Autumn Love

Another cold day in eastern Nebraska- it's so lovely! There's nothing like jeans, sweatshirts, boots, hot chocolate, and crunchy leaves- I love Fall!  Perhaps this is why I undertook my first somewhat "artsy" wall hanging...watch it as it grows!

 

There are things I would have done differently- a better background development, for instance.  But overall, I like it.  :)  Stay tuned for the Halloween and Christmas ones!  (Yes, I'm on a kick...)

It's all pink!

Well, the black bag with crystal zippers fared fairly well during my endurance test with it...  Pros:  the size was nice and the front pocket arrangement was handy.  Cons: the strap was flimsy- mounting an adjustable strap at each end was not a good idea.  So back to the drawing board! Using the same measurements, I've created the 2.0 version.

A return to the double strap that goes over one shoulder works much better to balance the weight load a bag this size can sometimes carry.   I do think that such a large expanse of fabric on the front is rather boring, so I added the little decorative belting for some visual interest. I'm not entirely sure of the name of the fabric I used to make this- it was the left over fuzzy bits from this blanket project:

I am happy to report that both projects used no new material- I've had the fuzzy stuff for well over five years- I figured it was time to finally get it out of my stash!  The blanket is killer!  It drapes perfectly and between the fuzzy stuff, the batting, and minky, it is sooo warm and comfy! Pull this over you and it's instant nap time.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking- minky?!  Isn't that only for children's blankets?  I say no- adults like fuzzy and soft as well.  The only real difficulty of this project was the scale.  The blanket measures 60 x 72!  Working with minky on a machine is not easy; I ended up tacking the layers together every five inches or so with multiple zigzags.  It is nearly impossible to  actually quilt any kind of design into a material like minky.  To finish it all off, I simply bought silk blanket binding.  Viola!

I've kind of burnt myself out on handbags for the moment...big shock, I know.  I'm not sure what prompted me to start this next project, in all honesty.  I've never done any wall hangings before that were not simply miniature quilts.

Step by Step

My god, it's August.

How did that happen?!  We are now officially closer to Christmas and if that's not a depressing thought- think of all those presents to get- this is the first week that it has been mostly under 100+ degrees all summer. It's absolutely crazy to me that I am now excited when the high temperature is only supposed to be 88; I now think that is "cool." Help me, the Midwest is messing with my internal thermometer.

As a direct result of not being able to be outside for any period of time this summer, I've been a busy little sewing bee. I've grown the Etsy store and sold a few more bags. I'm writing patterns for at least two bags and developing a third.  I've been approached about teaching classes on the bags, which I'm totally jazzed about. This summer is highlighting to me the need to formalize some of this "hobby." That's right, I may have to legalize it all with a business license and expense tracking...dun dunnn dunnnnn. Slightly terrified, slightly excited about this development.  Because really, do I have time for that?  I work roughly 60 hours a week between my two jobs now. Bah...that's enough of me and my wallowing.  Onto the new stuff!

The bag above was made for my mother. (I have a first edition made over from scraps from the Valori Wells bags earlier- very rough looking!) She had asked me to make a wallet from a pattern she saw in a store.  Horrible pattern.  I've never made a wallet before that and even I could recognize the errors in the pattern while I was working through it.  Regardless, it is not pictured because it was awful- by my standards.  Someday, I will work up to a wallet better than that one but not now...  So I made her a matching bag to make up for the awfulness of the wallet. She likes it so much, she wants me to sell it.  Go figure.  She thinks it is "too pretty to keep." I give up.

Because I liked the size and shape of the bag for my mom, I tweaked it a bit and started writing it into a pattern.  It has thus been christened the Mezzo Messenger and is available on my Etsy store as well.

And this is the result of this weekend...it's a work in progress. I've been thinking that as much as I love the Primavera bag, it just won't do when the wintery weather comes back around.  And so, I've been working out my own approach to a fully zippered bag. I've done a few through other people's patterns and not been 100% happy with the results.  But a few days of head scratching later...I think this works!

My big frustration with this bag?  The crystal zippers!  Very pretty, I know.  I bought them over four years ago and have been saving them until I knew how to use them correctly. Here's the problem: they work in your hands but the minute you sew them into anything, they freeze.  Literally. They will unzip but not re-zip. I have to nurse the teeth into the zip one by one!  Apparently, they cannot have any resistance or they stop working. Horrible product! Don't buy! Needless to say, this bag won't be for sale on Etsy. I'll haul it around for a month, see what else needs to be improved and get back to you vis a vis it's continued existence.

Take that New Year's Resolution!

I've finally done it!  I've lived up to one of my New Year's Resolutions- I have stock in my Etsy store! Probably should not have taken me nearly seven months to accomplish this goal, but I blame teaching for sucking up any and all free time for at least four of those months!

Anyway, the totes I put up are of the same style as those that I showed you last, though now they have an official name: The Primavera Tote.  I liked the fabric (Valori Wells) so much that I made two totes and just alternated the accent color.  Can't decide which accent color I like better... what do you think?

Pink?

 Well, I feel inspired.  Perhaps I will start on another bag tomorrow?  Lord knows I've got enough fabric to keep me in bags for a few years! To be honest, I doubt the bags will sell.  Though I've already sold one to a woman at work, I cannot help but feel that there are so many out there on the internet that mine will just get lost in the shuffle. But that's not really the point, is it?  I did it- actually followed through on a resolution.  Now to live up to the rest of them! I'll start the weight loss one right after a celebratory bowl of ice cream, I think. ;)

Coral?

Sherbert Fun

And the "final" result of the new bag design:


Took this bright thing into work today as a test.  It worked marvelously! Just large enough to haul around full size books and notepads with water-bottle loaded on either side.  As always, the second attempt of a bag seems to result in more problems than the first!  I made the lining so perfect for the interior of the bag that when I assembled it (which requires one to put the lining on the outside of the bag), the lining was just ever too small.  Small pintucks on the exterior had to be added to make everything work. Sigh.  Someday, I'll master the balance between this and an interior that is not too roomy.

This bag experiment has eased the need to sew that has been increasing over the last weeks. So, now the questions is- make more for Etsy to sell or move on to another design?  I bought some lining and accent fabric for another fabric that I bought almost a year ago- enough to make several bags.  So, again- this pattern or another?  Hmmm...

Diving Back In

The end of the term approaches and as I have the last two weeks of lectures already prepared, I actually had time to get some sewing in this last week! I've been working on a new bag over the last week- sketching out ideas and measurements in small moments of free time. The following is only a taste- a test bag I made from some old batiks. Mom wanted a bag from it years ago, before I really had any abilities.  I think I'll put her Mother's Day gift in it.  The whole family is coming to visit this next weekend- so excited!  I told Mom I'd have her Mother's Day presents when she got here.

I know what to get Mom and Dad for the most part but my younger brother always proves a challenge.  What does an older sister get her 24 year old brother for his birthday?  His usual request involves some car part that I can neither afford nor name. The day when I could buy him a video game or box of candy has long since passed. Sigh. I hope he finds something here in Nebraska next weekend I can get him or I'm out of luck!

Little Projects Here and There

How is it May already?!  Seriously, where did March and April go?

I started teaching in March, which signaled the end of anything resembling "free" time.  After work, I make dinner, then settle down in front of the computer with notes and books to draft the next week's lectures. Though time consuming, I love it!

I've only been able to sneak in small moments of sewing.  I made the three bags for my aunt, then started on the following bag for Ms. Anna, the Woolie Mammoth blogess.  I promised her this bag months ago- sometime around last October, if I recall correctly.  She's been very patient with me!

The pattern is the "Professional Tote" by The Creative Thimble, with a few modifications by me. The pattern is about 20 pages long and is quite specific.  Unfortunately, there are several parts of the pattern that are very difficult to illustrate.  Having made about 5 of these bags and taught the class several times, I've gotten better at it.  Though I have to admit, I still get frustrated by the top zipper.  Those of you who have tackled this bag will likely agree that there has to be a better way.  Anna's post about the bag can be found here.

I cannot tell you what prompted me to start the following project- not once in my life have I had the urge to pick up needle and thread for decorative stitching. But then, I once said that I'd never quilt and look how that turned out! The pink and green blocks are made from scraps- they were left over from a BJ's sample.  Points if you can locate it in the store...

Anyway, my wonderful sister-in-law taught me how to do some basic embroidery stitches last Christmas and I found myself designing these.  The patterns are from the internet- just doodles I found and liked. Stitch 'em in, buy a couple of shadow frames from Target and voila! Bathroom embroidery art.



And yes, those are the colors of my bathroom.  You should have known- I don't do anything that isn't colorful.  ;)

Bags and Bags of Fun

So much for New Year's Resolutions...my goal to make regular updates to the blog has already taken a hit.  The new job keeps me busy, busy, busy!  On the weekends, I find that between shopping, oil changes, laundry, exercising, and sleeping in, I have just enough time to squeeze in maybe one bag.
So the first weekend resulted in this...

And then the second weekend...  I was working on developing a new pattern that weekend, so I used some old fabric I had in the scrap bin.  I thought about selling it on Etsy but thought that I'd give my cousin Aubrey a chance at it- which she took!  Already have orders for three of these...from my aunt!  :)

Would have more to report on but I fell down some icy stairs last Sunday and landed on my wrist.  Cutting out pieces of anything is still a little bit too much.  More to come, I promise!

The odd joy of the tedious

I've never much enjoyed machine quilting- mostly because my machine really isn't capable of free motion quilting.  There's something impossibly frustrating about knowing the exact pattern you want on the quilt but being incapable of executing said pattern!  For most of my quilts, I send them off to Sandy back in Oregon. She and her longarm work magic!!  I'll be packing up the Diamond Drop quilt up tomorrow to send her way.

In the meantime, I will quilt little projects with my sewing machine. Though the free motion foot is kind of useless, the walking foot is perfect. I'm not sure what possessed me to make this table runner such a labor of lines and angles but I have to say I am pleased with the results!

The diamonds are left over from my pink/purple/orange adventure that I never named....it's the bright one at the beginning of this blog.  That's not helpful though, is it? All my quilts tend to be bright.  It's the one with half squares surrounded by log cabin strips set on point.

Last Week of...Vacation

I start the new job next week and while I am majorly excited about it, I am somewhat sad that my lazy, free time is coming to an end.  Of course, worrying about paying the rent does tend to make lazy, free time a little less enjoyable. I'll take the job any day over not being able to pay the rent.  :)

Most of this week has been dedicated to finishing the Diamond Drop quilt top.  I have several bed size quilts but no throws.  This quilt is throw size and should be the perfect accent for the back of my futon!  And as I suspected, I do have a some fabric left over.  I think I will try to work them into a bag or pillow case.  At the moment, I am too tired of 3" little squares to think about making another throw.

Joyous News!

Well, it's joyous news for me at least!  ;)  I just found out yesterday that I got an awesome job I applied and interviewed for last month!  Though I moved in order to take a teaching job, it is only part time and doesn't pay enough for me to live.  This new job not only allows me to keep the teaching job but also pays normal money and has benefits!  For a recent graduate, this is fabulous!  And better yet- the job is unique and challenging. It will really give me a chance to expand my horizons.  However, I suspect my quilting time will dwindle quite a bit once I start.... Well, I'll just have to find time!

 

It's a small update today- a new batik throw.  You won't find the pattern in any book or magazine as I made it up. I call it Diamond Drop. I've been collecting black background batiks for a while now and have been experimenting.  Though simple, this pattern allows me to indulge in my love of smaller blocks while still being able to whip them up pretty quick.  The block is 6" square.

Even after making a throw size quilt out of these black batiks, I believe I'll still have enough to make another project.  I told you I'd been collecting them a while!  Any ideas what I should do next?

It's a new year!

2012 has arrived!

How are you celebrating?  I started with a nice round of apartment cleaning  :)  Feels productive to sit here typing while the dryer tumbles and the dishwasher roars.  Being the oh-so-exciting person that I am, I didn't watch the ball drop last night.  Instead, I answered emails, read for research, and tried to figure out some resolutions for the New Year.  Not going to lie, I've never actually had New Year's Resolutions before.  I've always been leery of committing myself to an impossible goal for the sake of tradition but this year it seems like the right thing to do! 

So here goes:
1. Weight- like most people, I have room for improvement on this front.  Am I hoping to be a size 6 by the end of the year?  No- remember, these must be possible!  ;)  Aiming instead for 20 lbs; lost 30 lbs this year and I think this should be achievable, assuming I stay away from Spritz cookies and visit my treadmill more often!

2.  Etsy. I technically have an Etsy store, though it is rather useless at the moment as it has no merchandise!  This must be remedied this year.  No more excuses!  With that in mind, Anna, if you're reading this- your bag is under way, even if the storefront isn't up and running quite yet.  :)

3.  Blog. That's right- this blog is on my official to-do list!  I've been woefully neglect of it over the last year.  In 2012, I promise to be better. 

And to that end, I do have a small update on current project!  I've gotten a bit further in the Starburst quilt designed by Dereck Lockwood that I've shown you pieces of earlier.

Putting the diamond and square block together involves everyone's favorite- Y seams!  I have a tendency to see a pattern or project I want to complete and just jump right in and in this case, this means I get to learn how to do Y seams.  It's been a rough road thus far!  Robin has been majorly helpful (as always) in guiding me along but this project is going to take forever!  I don't want to mess up such a wonderful quilt, so I find myself putting two or three blocks together and then putting the project aside for a while so as to not get super frustrated with it.  When it's finished, the center should look something like this:

Hopefully it will be done by 2013 but I make no promises!