Technology Sleeves

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas! I really love the holidays- Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years...it's such a festive and happy time to enjoy cooking, family, and gift-giving.  Gifts were a bit simple this year due to the reduced budget- turns out moving across the country and going down to one salary is hard on the finances! But regardless, we had a lovely holiday.  Made great food and enjoyed several video chats with family across the country.

Christmas Day was a relaxed affair at our house.  Dan set up some of his presents while I devised a technology sleeve to protect my Surface Pro 3 during our travel back to Omaha next week. (As a side note, the Surface Pro 3 is an amazingly wonderful machine for graduate school!  Not sure if I've ever loved a piece of technology this much.  The iPad, though a great entertainment device, is a royal pain for any serious work.) I used left over scraps from a pleather bag I made last year,1/2 yd. of batik, 1/2 yd. satin suit lining, fusible fleece, and a button.  The result was visually pleasing...but practically, something of a failure. You'll notice in the picture that's a iPad sliding into the sleeve.  Yup- made it too small by about 1/2".  Such is my life some days!  In talking about the project with a friend, she insisted that I need to feature this first iteration to prove that I make mistakes in my creations.  To which I say, of course I make mistakes!  Who says I don't?  A perusal of previous entries demonstrates that amply, I think.  Crystal zippers come to mind immediately...

Helpful?

But this has gotten me thinking about the audience for this blog.  I've never really planned who would read this and merely enjoyed having a site to direct interested parties to view in order to see what I make.  But if you're not an experienced sewer to start with, there is little value in viewing my projects that aren't for sale. I can include my "plans" for the works, but again, they will not make much sense to many viewers, I'm guessing.  To be honest, they sometimes don't make sense to me later!  Instead of offering specific plans for each and every object I make, I would instead like to teach a reader how to make their own creations. (Shocking, right?  A teacher wants to teach...)  To that end, look for future posts about specific quilting/ sewing topics that are more of a DIY approach.  I would love to have comments about what you'd like to see though!  Zippers a nightmare for you?  How about those hidden magnets I like so much?  How to use your zipper foot?  What's the difference between the feet on a sewing machine?  How do you complete a handbag with no unfinished seams?  What are the ways of closing a handbag? These are all questions I've set out over time to answer for myself in order to make bags and projects I would actually use.  Perhaps I can help!

Sadly, Dan has to work today, so I've taken up residence in my office/sewing room.  Besides laundry, the day has been dedicated to improving the technology sleeve I messed up yesterday.  With the remainder of the pieces left over from yesterday, I managed to produce a sleeve that actually fit the Surface- thank goodness!  Of course, only at the very end did I realize I don't have an appropriate button to finish it with.  Sigh.  This is what happens when I get in whirlwind.  I guess this gives me an excuse to go out to the craft stores in Philly for the first time!  (See- there's a question in an of itself!  How can you finish a bag and still add a button later?  Who knows if you actually want that answered though- you could be saying, "duh!" to me right now.)  I would love to hear from you!

Diagonal Clutch

The Duo

For months I've been tossing around a mental image of a clutch that had a flap in a strong diagonal.  As I continue to work out the most successful presentation of this, you'll likely see a few clutches.  These two works are largely works of experimentation and they still need some work for perfectionist me! 

That stupid eyelet...

Interior has one simple, long pocket for separating the cellphone

In both versions, I envisioned holding onto the clutch with a wrist strap fed through an eyelet set into a corner.  Turns out the eyelet you can buy at places like JoAnn's are ridiculous.  This level of product fail hasn't been seen since the terrible crystal zipper fail of 2011. Though that eyelet looks secure, trust me, it's not.  Also tackled in that first version were the traditional magnets available in craft and quilting stores.  As I've written before, I am not a fan of these magnets.  Without substantial reinforcing, they tear out of bags very easily- ruining something you've spent a lot of time and love building.  Once I discovered the beauty of the hidden magnets housed within plastic, I've never bothered to fuss with these old-school models.  But I have a pile of them in my supply box and because I knew the support material in these clutches could support the magnets, I used them.  While I am happy with the look they provide, I am still frustrated by their very fussy placing.  Even 1 cm off and you have a gap in the front flap- which you can see. 

I'm a bit happier with the second version, in which I did away with magnets altogether. Instead, I used some strapping material and hardware also lurking around the project box.  I'm not going to punch a hole in this model until I can procure some quality eyelets. While this closure allows for more items to be stuffed inside the clutch, the bottom corner tends to flip up...sigh.  

Back to the drawing board!

Second version- with wallet, phone, keys inside

Life Balance

In a continuing theme..  It's the end of the year I have no posts to show for it.  Sigh. This blog began in response to changes in my life- moving from home to Nebraska for a set of jobs that would allow me to use my Masters and begin life as a pseudo-adult.   I found that I really enjoy the creation of new projects and that I can really accomplish whatever I imagine (with dedication and creativity)- an amazing revelation, really!  And that life became fuller and deeper, with new friends being made and finding my fiance.  Oh yes- update! Engaged as of late June  :)

I left you all with thoughts about grad school impacting sewing time and I was right to suspect the next year would be impacted.   As I write to you right now, I am officially a PhD candidate!!  Since the first class I taught at a TA in my Master's program, I've known teaching feeds my soul.  While teaching as an adjunct for the last couple of years has answered that desire in an abstract way, the frustrations of that life are beyond bearing.  (I will limit myself to saying that there are several really excellent articles on the condition adjuncts endure- Google it!  It's a deplorable place to leave education in.)  So thrilled to have been accepted into a great program that will enable me to reach for those dreams of college teaching!


Of course, this necessitated another move.  Sigh.  So tired of moving.  Nebraska was at least a familiar location for me and family was nearby if I needed them but this move to the East Coast has been another level of work. I am infinitely blessed to have my fiance with me this time around-- he makes everything bearable.  Really, I don't think I could do any of this without his love and never-ending support.  Everyday we're faced with how much being an adult sucks- seriously, why did we want this so much as kids?!- yet we're having a blast exploring this side of the country we've never been to before. Sooo different from the West or Midwest, let me tell you.

This all means that I spend most of my time in classes, behind a book, or in front of a classroom again.  However, I notice a void in my life that sewing fills and I'm determined to find the balance between being an awesome student and a creative individual!  This is, of course, in addition to planning a wedding from a distance.  And being a first-time aunt!    Life is full and wonderful- I intend to keep enjoying it at every moment!

2013? What happened there?!

As always happens at the end of the year, it's time to take stock of life, accomplishments, goals, and hope for the future.  A few years ago, as we headed into 2012, I made a New Year's resolution to be better about posting in the blog.  And I was....for 2012.  I haven't made a single post in 2013.  Why?  To make a long story short, life happened. I met the love of my life, expanded my jobs, got in a car accident, got a new car, reapplied for grad school (need that PhD!), traveled the country, and moved in with said love. I cannot regret anything that happened in 2013, because it was one of the best years of my life.  There's an expression in my family that seems appropriate at the moment- I am as happy as a clam!  (How do we know that clams are happy, by the way?)

Anyway, free time this last year was a premium.  I finished several bags and one quilt, but barely remembered to take pictures of them at all. Every weekend saw a family event, a concert, a football game, a party, or commitment, which makes crafting time very difficult to come by.  But for the first time in months and months, I have no commitments on the horizon!  Yahooooo! You have no idea how weird and wonderful that feels-I haven't had free weekends in recent memory.  I sense some quilting time coming soon...  Maybe.

In the meantime, let's consider what I did actually get done in 2013!

Zip wallets for my wonderful neighbor/Italian tour guide

Judy Niemeyer quilt with my mother

It gets more complicated yet!

Japanese Garden in Portland, OR

Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha- I LOVE GIRAFFES!

That's one bag.  Not kidding.

Tokyo Subway Quilt- 1.5" squares = Nightmare!

A wool pillow to remind myself...

Lunch bag for my brother

One of the most frustrating bags that exists...someday I'll admit to the horror of this bag.

Ok, so I guess I've done more than I thought.  Depending on how this grad school plan works out, I don't know what else I'll be sewing soon.  Thanks for bearing with me!

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.