jumper finally finished

Yeah, I know, I don't look all that excited. Still, this FINALLY got the button holes and buttons this past week, and I even put it on so Roxanne could photograph me in it. For any of my SCA friends who sneak a peak... yes, this fabric does look suspiciously like one of my tunics. I bought a lot of it. It must have been cheap. Counts as repurposed though, because this dress is definitely not SCA garb. It has also been sitting around in my stash for years.

Roxanne and I took today to cut out a bunch of new projects. The project basket was down to two things. We'll finish those, have no fear, and one of them should eventually be posted here. Several of the new projects as well. Hopefully, I'll be posting here more often!

Artisan Advocacy

I've been thinking a lot lately, about my place in the world, and work, and work that would feel more like... living. I know I love crafting and sewing and making things, and I want to share that love, so the making things - and the loving of it - isn't lost. I have been feeding my own needs, lately, by sewing with my cousin Roxanne, and we have both enjoyed both the creating, and the therapeutic companionship. I just keep thinking, there should be more. More sharing, more people, and more crafts.

Then I went to the fair. You know, the fair. All those categories for competition, and not many competitors even enter. Well, there was a pretty good showing of quilts and photographs, and some elementary school displays. It disappointed me. I thought, gee, why didn't the talented kids from Gadsden High School enter into the floral design category? We have a culinary arts program, why don't they have some entries? Heck, where is anything made by, well, me? Why are they not here? What would it take to get them here? My answer: some artisan advocacy.

I'm not sure what it should ultimately look like. I'm not sure where I go for answers, or even for research so I can make up my own answers. I know that there are artisans out there. I know there are other people who like to make things, whether or not they can, will or even want to make a living from it. I also know that creating and/or fostering a community of such artisans will make all of us stronger as people, and as artists, and help get "the word out" to people who are interested in learning to create as well. I'm poking my nose and my fingers into some various places, hoping to get hints, clues and pointers. Dona Ana Arts Council is one. Southern New Mexico State Fair is another. If anyone reading this has any ideas for me, I would sure appreciate them.

Spider Shirts

Last spring, when Roxanne and I were contemplating our summer list of projects, she said she would like to sew a few things for her 2 year old grandson, who she is helping to raise. She and I got to thinking about that, and realized that her two nieces also had little boys who needed some summer clothes. In all there were 5 boys, age 5 and under needing play clothes to run around in for the summer, and 3 "Moms" who didn't need to spend a lot of money on those clothes.

Out came the ideas, and the scraps and odds-n-ends of fabric. All told, we made about 20 pair of shorts, and around 15 shirts. One idea we had was to take the ends of pant legs, cut off of Carl's bought pants before they were hemmed, and use those to make shorts. It worked really well, but they were kind of short, so we sewed a band of another fabric to the bottom, to lengthen them. We made a couple of pair in brown twill, with bands of a heavy, off-white calcutta cloth. We did another couple out of denim. Those shorts turned out to be really cute.

Another find was about a yard of this spidery fabric. One of Raine's first favorite things was spiders. She moved on when she was about 5, but the fabric was still sitting in my stash. It made two, cute and simple sleeveless button up shirts. I edged the armholes and neck with different colors of bias tape, to make the shirts different from each other. What? You noticed that one of the shirts has the bias tape on the outside? Yeah, well sometimes things get backwards and/or upside down. In this case, I thought it looked cute, and I left it. Found buttons from my stash, and went to town.

Found gown and tunic

Well, Roxanne and I finished a couple of found-fabric pieces today. It is satin-y fabric, slick and slippery. The colors we found were jewel tones of burgundy and royal blue. There was quite a bit of the burgundy and not much of the blue. At the beginning of the summer, we cut out many items, most of which have been sewn up, now, but there are still a few things in the basket.

The first item from the burgundy fabric was a nightgown for Roxanne. I had a piece of flat lace that we could use for an embellishment of the neckband, and we made a very simple, long gown with raglan sleeves, gathered into a neckband. The second was a tunic top. The bodice of the top is made of the blue, and the neckband and body of the tunic are out of the burgundy fabric. The tunic is sleeveless.

Both of these garments have neckbands, and the one for the tunic had a curving kind of key-hole shape. It was a challenge, but we got it put together. On the gown, instead of sewing the outer layer of the band on first, we sewed the inside layer on first, and then folded the outer layer down for the finishing seam. It worked well, to be able to finish that seam in that order, instead of the other way round, where if you sew on top, there are places that you miss underneath, and if you sew it inside, the thread isn't where you want it on the outside of the garment.

I got pictures of the gown, but when Roxanne tried on her tunic, we found it was too small around (so I didn't take her picture in it). Does that mean it isn't useful? NO WAY! We will probably work on some embroidered embellishment of the neckband, and then donate it to the women's shelter. I did get photos of the gown, front and back, modeled by Roxanne (Hi Roxanne!), who is very happy to have a new nightgown.

My Challenge

So, I finally figured out my personal, creative challenge. I've been looking for it. I've been hunting for it. I've been gazing longingly at the challenges of others. Of course my challenge was here all along, like they are. I just couldn't see it for the trees. Or maybe the sewing...

So, what is my challenge? To make something useful from found fabric. Yeah, you already know this if you read my other blog. Still... challenge, meet blog readers, blog readers, meet challenge. Now, play nice.

For this entry, I'm going to talk about something I've already made that fits into the found fabric challenge. See, I told you it is something that I was doing anyway, but not keeping a record of. Now, I'm gonna.

My first found fabrics were some knits that I inherited from my mom. She had gotten the piece I used to make sheets, or maybe curtains for our travel trailer, which isn't around any more, either. I looked and looked for a lightweight cotton knit sleep shirt this summer, and finally made one. Roxanne (in case you don't know, Roxanne is my cousin, and we sew together about once a week, and we both love it!) and I also used the various knits from this stash to make her a gown, to make her grandson some pajamas, and to make t-shirts for her grandson and her 4 nephews.

I'll see about adding photos of some of those other things as I can. My sleep shirt - with matching shorts for lounging - is a light, minty green with dots and flowers. Just perfect for sleeping through. And, yes, my lovely model is better known as an office chair.

Resources

One of my last posts here was how reading Threads Magazine was giving me inspiration, from learning techniques, to being inspired by the creativity of others. Tonight I'm going to make note of a third avenue of inspiration... additional resources.

The editions of the Magazine that I've been reading are not incredibly recent, many more than 10 years old. Did I mention they were free to me? Yeah. So, styles have changed, but techniques have not, so I'm still getting some good information. Including from the advertisements. I've been looking up some of them online, and getting more places to look, be inspired, and shop. Some of the businesses and links are old, or no longer there, but some are fabulous.

Threads Magazine - I shouldn't be so surprised - is also online these days. Check it out if you haven't. It's more than sewing, and they have many techniques online. Enjoy!

Learning something from Gordon Ramsey

Ok, I'll admit it, every once in a while I watch Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, a show in which English chef Gordon Ramsey visits a floundering restaurant and tries to put things right. Because he is who he is, and uses bad language, and calls things like he sees them, he rocks the boat, and drama ensues... and then its television.

On the other hand, when it comes to restaurants, and cooking, the man knows his business. The messages he gives to the restaurant owners and employees are sound. A couple of weeks ago, I watched an episode where Gordon went around the countryside near where the restaurant he was working on that week was located. He looked for the fresh, locally grown produce that he knew would make a difference in what was being served. Fresh ingredients = flavor. When he brought the staff apples, they were like, "yeah, apples, big deal." His response? If you don't love your ingredients, how can you love your cooking?

So my brain cogitated over this idea for a couple of weeks, combining it with the reading I'd been doing (see previous post) until today, when it flashed to me. This is true for sewing/crafting too. If you don't love your materials, and know what to do with them, you're just making things. The creative joy, the spark, can continue as you learn more about your materials, practice more, learn and try more techniques. You may find your niche, or you may branch out, either way, the more you love what you are doing, the more inspired you will be. Hmmmm I think I feel a trip to the fabric store coming on... and the bead store, and....

reading and learning

I know that reading professionally can help keep one up on the latest techniques and theories. I do it when I can, and when in search of something that I feel my students use.

This summer, my friend Cindy cleared out some of her sewing magazines, and gave them to me to take to GHS to give to the sewing teacher there. While they are awaiting transportation, I've been looking through back copies of Threads Magazine. This is a magazine about sewing techniques, fashion techniques, quilting techniques, and evening knitting and beading techniques. Yeah, I bet you get the idea.

Most of the time - and one of the reasons I had never bothered to subscribe to Threads - I really could skim through it without reading many of the articles. Mostly they didn't apply to what I needed, or were beyond my useful skill knowledge. Now, however, with a year of sewing with Roxanne behind me - a year of sewing on an almost weekly basis - I have found some meaningful and useful information in several issues. For instance, last year, I did applique on a couple of garments, a denim jumper for Roxanne, and Raine's bionicle Halloween costume. In the first issue I looked at, there was an article by someone who designed appliqued garments, and appliqued the professional designer garments. The techniques that were written about meant something to me because of the experience I had. Where once I really had not been a fan of doing applique (but an admirer of the work of others), I feel the possibilities are opening up, and the creative juices are flowing.

There are also articles that I look at and realize I'm not quite ready for yet... a lot of the pattern modification, for instance. I'm getting there... I recognize what they are trying to do, but my brain and creativity aren't ready to get wrapped around it yet. On the other hand, I have asked Vic to include me in on some of her next projects to be created by draping. When I have done that, a little more, I'll feel more ready to cut up a pattern more drastically. When I get there, I bet I'll have a blast with it.

In the meantime, I think I will create a reference library of articles for myself, so that I can look back as I try out some of these new-to-me techniques, and advancements on my knowledge.

Knitted Socks... With Heels

I finished the pair of heeled socks this evening. I made them for Raine, because the smaller size would serve better when what I was really trying to do was make the heeled socks. I used a smaller yarn and smaller needles than I had with the first pair. I think they turned out pretty well.

I'm looking forward to starting another pair, something not in wool, or at least not completely, so they will be cooler. I also think they need to be washable. I mean, socks. Really. I also want them to be not in acrylic yarn. I would like to step up on my materials.

Being creative can happen in any price point, and I'm pretty happy about that, but the quality of materials can make a big difference in the finished product. In fabrics, a higher thread count can make all the difference in the feel of the fabric, something that is an important part of choosing a fabric for me. Now, of course, I am all for getting something on sale, and I do have a budget. Higher prices mean fewer projects. Still, I've become more particular about what fabrics I choose. Now, I'm learning about yarns.

Accepting the Challenge

After quite a while of poo-pooing the show, even though a good friend of mine repeatedly told me I would like it, I finally got hooked on Project Runway. I have enjoyed seeing how each of the designers meets the weekly challenges, and have thoughtfully considered what I would have come up with. Like Wheel of Fortune, I'm sure thinking without time limits or the pressure that comes from being in a competition, AND on television gives me a certain advantage. Of course, as I've mentioned before, I'm sure that all involved with that program would consider me highly style-impaired.

Still, I was offered a challenge, and I've taken up the gauntlet. Last week, when Raine and I were shopping we looked around to see if they had a dressy top that she liked. Now, understand that Raine does not wear dresses, or pink, or anything too "girly." My tomboy has definite ideas of style and fashion. I'm fine with that, but she does need something to wear on those "dress-up" occasions. She said, "Why don't YOU make it, Mom?" I said, "yeah, yeah," like one does and we went on from there. Then, yesterday, it came back to me. Why DON'T I make it? I accepted the challenge.

Today, Ron and I went shopping, including to Jo-Ann's and the Asian influenced brocades were on sale. Yay! I picked out two. One that was a black background that has a red flower, and some black textural designs, and one that is a red background, with black flowers in it. I've already passed the first test. I showed Raine the fabrics, and she liked them. Tomorrow, Dev and I are going to look through the patterns that she has, and that I have to see what combination we will use for her new dressy top. The next time she sees it, it will be clothes. Then, the true test.

More "Random" Art

Flowers aren't the only things that can thrive in a random creation. This morning we dyed our Easter eggs. Oh, heck no, I'm not hiding these things and letting them go to waste... we'll make deviled eggs out of them to enjoy. Still, the decorating process for these eggs is kind of... well, you get what you get. You can try for an effect, but, you don't always get what you thought you would. Still, more than likely, whatever you get can be attractive, or at least as artistic as that kind of thing gets.

Another crafty endeavor that can handle that random factor well is quilt-making. My grandmother got lots of random fabric cut into little triangles which she sewed together, and then were made into quilt tops by alternating them with stripes of solid fabric. The color of the stripes didn't really matter, but they kind of pulled the thing together, and it worked.

So, randomness can work well. I think it helps lend that organic kind of feel to a work, which I do appreciate.

The Art of Subtlety

It's spring, and I love flowers, so I bought some today. They are a frivolous purchase, and I don't get them often, but they weren't overly expensive at Sam's, and we were shopping for Easter and I just did it. When we got home I put them in a vase to enjoy.

Now, I'm no flower arranger, but to a certain extent, the flowers are pretty, and stuffed into a vase they are... well... still pretty. Pretty hard to completely mess it up, you know? Which is a good thing, because there is an art to arranging them, making depth and breadth, and placing color and all. I get that those things can happen, and be amazing. Even when they are simple. But, yeah, probably not when I'm doing it. So, its a really good thing that flowers can just be pretty when stuffed into a vase.

So, what is my point here? I think the art of flower arranging is basically a subtle art. The artist makes subtle changes in the placement of flowers and greenery to make a more beautiful arrangement. There is shape, and balance. They know where to cut the stems, etc. I'm not that subtle person. I'm happy to cut the stems long enough to reach the water, yet short enough that I don't make the whole thing way too top-heavy. Then it goes from pretty to a mess. One that _I_ have to clean up.

I think that all style is probably part of that subtle art. It takes someone with a practiced eye to realize it is there. It takes an even more educated eye to totally understand what is going on - what the artist is trying to say, perhaps. Then, there is that further step of being able to create style. On purpose, with intent. (I think some people have an intuitive feel for it, and others of us sometimes get lucky). I think that I am somewhere in that middle step, working on recognizing and understanding style. I don't think I have an intuitive feel for it, although I think I can learn something about making it, or at least creating my own.

That being said, I do think there is a place in the world for the appreciation for the simplicity of the enjoyment of a thing, without worrying whether it is high art or not. It is good to be able to say, I sure do like those flowers, even if I did just stuff them in a vase...

Something about trees

Driving through west Texas today I was reminded again that I think trees look cool. There were quite a few that didn't have this year's leaves yet, and the branches with their twists and turns and interesting shapes just catch my interest. Sometimes is the light of the sun on the tops of the branches and sometimes its the dark wood. Sometimes its the way several trees close together can create one canopy, and sometimes - eventually - even one tree. And of course none of them are the same. I think that is a part of the interest. None of them are the same, and there is no such thing as a "mistake." It always seems that it is the leafless trees that are the most interesting as well. As soon as the leaves are on the tree, they make that big green blob. It is the intricacy of the branches that fascinates me.

I always think that there would be a market for pictures of these trees. I would definately make a collection of them. I think that it would be something you could do a decent job of with freestyle embroidery as well, once you got good at the embroidery.

taste impaired

I make stuff, and I enjoy doing it. I've learned (the hard way, sigh) to match thread to the background color of the fabric when sewing, or to lay thread across the fabric and pick the one that disappears. I've made afghans, and when I got near the end, had looked at them so long that I couldn't tell any more whether they would look good or not. I've put together a pattern and fabric and trim and later wondered how in the world I could have thought that they went together. Not every time (thank goodness) but it happens.

None of those things have to do with technical prowess, or how the item was structurally made. It has to do with taste, or at least I think that has a lot to do with it. Sometimes I think all my taste is in my mouth. Now, I would like to take a moment here to differentiate fashion from style for this discussion. Fashion changes, and changes fast. I don't really care about fashion (could you tell that just by looking?). Style, however, lasts. It is style that I would like to get a handle on. It is style that I would like to include in my creations.

So, here's my first thought on learning more about taste and style. Color wheel. I mean, I understand what a color wheel is and how to use it, at least basically. But I think if I can read up on them some, and find a good one, that I could use it to make sure colors did together what I intended them to do. That would be a big crafting learning step.

Creatlivity

This is my first post for this new blog, dedicated to crafting, learning more about and practicing various crafts, and sharing my experiences with other crafters. I hope to share their experiences as well, and generate - or become a part of - a crafting community.

I love crafting, whether it is knit, crochet, sewing, cross stitch, or beading. There are other crafts that I have not had as much experience with, yet, but it will come in time. I hope to share my process, my learning and my love of making things and in turn be shared with, as well. I don't pretend to be a grand master crafter, but I know I am on the curve of learning more all the time.

Recently, I've been working on my knitting skills, by making socks. The first pair I made was a tube sock, and they turned out well, for a learning activity. I can actually wear them, and everything, although - since they are wool - I don't wear them very often, here in New Mexico, even in the winter.

Currently, I began a pair of heeled socks. They are ostensibly, a size that my daughter can wear, although they, too, are a learning project. I've been using this book to help me with the pattern, and the thread is an acrylic. I'm working the toes, now, and soon will cast on the second of the pair.

The next pair, however, I would like to make with some really nice yarn, maybe a silk and bamboo blend. Something soft, and durable yet not too hot. I also don't want a yarn that has to have special care. I mean, they are socks, after all, they WILL need to be washed.