Snowflakes go to the Fair

I made some snowflakes. I should say, MORE snowflakes, as I have made quite a few over the years. I like them. They are a lacy reminder of the snow we don't often get here in southern NM. I love having them to hang from the Christmas tree branches. I have enjoyed sharing them with friends and family.

Adapted from one set of snowflakes I've made several times.

But this blog isn't just about making stuff (although a large part of it is about making stuff), it is about creative process. Creative Learning Process. Being an educator I know stuff about about Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning, and learning processes. In short, we learn through a progression of steps that start with getting the fundamental processes in place, like learning various crochet stitches, and how to make them fairly consistently. Then we use learn to follow directions, and create something. After practicing that a while - sometimes a long while - we become increasingly independent with those processes. An experienced crocheter can find a mistake in a pattern, and figure out what to do to get that pattern to the intended end result. Then, with a little more experience, figure out how to make desired changes in a familiar pattern. They might even combine familiar patterns in new ways. Finally, there is creation (Did it already seem like creating? More to it!). By creation, I mean that the crocheter begins to make their own patterns.

Another adapted snowflake.

So, back to snowflakes. I wanted to make some, but I also wanted to do something a little different, so I made a few using a button in the middle. I had made some little flowers with buttons in the center, and had liked how they turned out, and they provided a little strong point on the flower to connect a barrette or something. I made these two by adapting the button center to patterns that I had made several times before, and I liked the result. I took them to Cruces Creatives to work on for a visit or two, and several people seemed interested in learning how to make them, too. Yeah, you guessed it, I agreed to teach a class in making snowflakes.

This is one of my patterns. The most complex one.

Well, I didn't like the idea of using someone else's patterns for the class. I didn't want to buy a pattern book for each person, or make them go to the expense, and I wanted to start off with some relatively simple patterns for people who might not be too advanced in their crochet skills. So I came up with four new patterns, and wrote up the instructions. This was a new part of the process for me, and I think the simple patterns were a good place to start, honestly. The classes were small (one person for each class) which was better than if there had been a mob. I got to do some one-on-one teaching, and encouraging.

Another of my patterns.. simple and quick to make.

About the time the classes were done, it was time to enter arts & crafts into the Southern NM State Fair. This is something I really try to support. It makes me sad that this element of county/state fairs seems to be dying out, at least where I live. So I looked around and what had I been working on lately? Snowflakes. Well these are too simple to win a prize, I thought, but they're pretty, and they're finished, so, off they go! And they did, and no, they didn't win a prize. I'm not disappointed, but it did make me think. I wondered if I had explained my creative learning process, and the patterns that I had created to make the snowflakes that I entered, would have made a difference in the judging. Maybe it would have, and maybe not (and no hard feelings to the fair judges either way).

Still another of my pattern creations.
Did you catch my mistake here? I don't usually point them out.

It did inspire me to write it down in my blog though, and here it is. Snowflakes that I made, and made up. Snowflakes that made me think about how to make snowflakes, how to use the negative space and repetitions, and points, and how many points. What is it about a picot at the point of a snowflake anyway? I learned about making, and I am proud of myself for doing it. And I feel like I innovated as well...

Yup, this is one of mine, too.

I like the buttons in the middle, they give a little weight to the snowflake, to help it hang a little better. And now, after almost a year of ignoring my blog, I actually have something to add. Some simple snowflakes. Enjoy!

Gettin' My Sew On

The fourth Saturday meeting of Charitable Crafting was rather quiet. It was me. Don't get me wrong, I think people should have been spending time with their families on that Saturday after Thanksgiving. Or travelling, Or napping, for that matter. I - on the other hand - haven't been able to spend a lot of time sewing this semester, so that was perfect for me.

The Christmas Bags Project has been rolling along, and when I got there this morning the bag count was 32, and they are hanging up on the wall, so beautiful! Thanks to Misha, for providing some pictures that I didn't think of taking myself!

Here are some of the finished bags...

...hanging on a clothesline...

...in the textile room at Cruces Creatives!

Because it has been a while since I did an update, here are some of the things that have developed in past meetings:

Sarah and I cut out bag kits. Many of these are hanging on the wall now, but there are still kits available if you want one!

Did you know there was a bike shop at Cruces Creatives? Well there is, and several of the regulars there got together to make and donate 50 bike chain stars. Ornaments for the bags!

Toys - like these hand-made beauties - have been donated!

From this beginning, there are now 3 boxes of books! 

I am grateful to the point of almost overwhelmed by the generosity and giving spirits of the people who are supporting this project with their handwork and donations. I've also felt a little like I've been falling down on the job when there wasn't much finished that I could point to and say, "I made that!" So, along comes the fourth Saturday of November, and our project is only a couple of weeks to completion and donation to Jardin de los Ninos.

While I was happily sewing away, to some calming, happy music, someone came in and dropped off the bags she had sewn up. Five beautiful bags!

So colorful! And I recognized a couple of the kits from above, Yay!

I added them to the wall of bags, along with the two I managed to finish.

See, I liked that stripy fabric too!

Most of the children we are making the bags for, are pretty young, including several who are under the age of two, so I thought flannel blankets would be pretty useful for that group. Here are the ones I finished hemming yesterday...

So soft, and cuddly.

Along with some others that still need hems in (my to-do pile).

Who wouldn't love elephants or dinosaurs?

Pretty happy with the progress I personally made yesterday. Very happy with the progress that the Project has made - bag count now at 39! Very hopeful that the 50 bags goal is in reach. The additional socks and underwear donation is in the works, I believe. I've also been working on some cloth books for the youngest set of recipients. No pictures of those yet, either... The local SCA group has committed to making and donating toys for the project. Again, thanks to Misha, there are pictures of AWESOME wooden dragon puzzles!

Shire of Nahrun Kabirun makers of toys

 I know what you're thinking now... that sounds like a lot of stuff. What if you get more than you need for the 50 bags? (you've looked at the book donations, haven't you?) The plan is to donate any extra anything to Jardin to use, or donate to patrons, as they see fit. More books for their classroom libraries? Yes, please.

From full to empty: a journey of making.

One final thought. Progress is often measured in the product created. It can also - and as importantly be measured by the trail that creation has left. Something that I think of when I empty a spool of thread is all the work that empty spool represents, and that, too, is an accomplishment.

Charitable Crafting, Project 2

Fall is officially in the air, with the Autumnal Equinox. Time to get crafting for Christmas!

not the last things in the cut-out pile, but definitely falling out of season...

The first crafting project of making kids clothes for school is winding down. Yes I finished a couple more pairs of shorts, and there are a few other garments to collect, and donate, but it is time to look forward to the next project.

So, let me tell you about our next project! We are making tote bags, and then filling them for Jardin de los Ninos to give away to the families they serve. Jardin de los Ninos is an early childhood education center that serves homeless, and nearly homeless children and their families, here in Las Cruces. Every year they give some gifts to the children in their programs, and their siblings. This year they predict they will need gifts for about 50 children. Charitable Crafting is teaming up with Cruces Creatives Makerspace to provide those 50 children with gifts.

First step, tote bags. A cloth tote bag is a useful item for nearly anyone, and easy and fun to make.

pretty tote bags, already in progress

Like last time, the project has inspired someone to take flight. Sarah Jones has been working on a pattern, that she will post on the Cruces Creatives web site, for anyone interested in making (and hopefully donating) a tote bag to our efforts. Of course we won't require all totes to be the same size, but we are looking at 13" wide x 15" tall x 4" deep, or there about. We are also - if you can tell - not concentrating on Christmas-y totes, as we want our recipients to be able to use them year round. If you aren't sure how to make a tote, Sarah is also working on a beginner sewing class and the project will be, you guessed it, a tote bag. It's a great beginner project, really!

Sarah's latest tote, Love the floral!

Once the bags are made, we hope to fill them with a toy (preferably made by someone at Cruces Creatives, or the Charitable Crafting group), a book, and some socks, underwear and pajamas. For that Christmas touch, a Christmas Ornament will also be included. The bike shop got busy on ornaments for us, and on October 10th, this is happening...

Bike Chain Holiday Ornaments with VeloCruces

October 10th is also our next meeting. So I hope you can join us cutting out tote bags, or sewing one up! Did I say our goal was 50? It is! Do you need more inspiration? How about this bag made of linen and cute Winnie the Pooh fabric!

The cuteness!

Charitable Creating and Cruces Creatives

The first part of July saw a new makerspace in Las Cruces, called Cruces Creatives. Of course I was intrigued and excited to check it out. The space is large and full of possibilities, with areas for computer creation and 3D printing, audio and video production, a woodworking space, and a bicycle shop space. Most important - at least for me - is that there is also a textile space. If you've read my blog at all (and I won't feel bad if you haven't...) you know that I enjoy social crafting. You know, getting together with friends, or people who are becoming friends, to craft. What's not to like about a makerspace?!?! I joined up, of course.

Well, part of the thing about a makerspace is that they are looking for projects to occur in the space. So, when I passed the Gospel Rescue Mission Thrift Store, blackened and closed with boards over the windows, and read about the fire in the newspaper, and how the fire had damaged the clothing and school supplies that they had been collecting to distribute for the upcoming school year, I found inspiration. I went and pitched my project to the makerspace and they got excited. I wrote up a proposal for Charitable Crafting and set some dates in July for sewing kid's clothes, and asked for donations. Cruces Creatives put it on their calendar, and on Facebook. We even got a mention in the newspaper. Donations of fabrics and supplies started coming in. I was and continue to be pleasantly surprised (floored) by the generous response.

There were two crafting days in July, a Saturday morning, and a Wednesday evening, and we had 6 people at the first one, and about that many (although not all the same people) at the second meeting. We got busy sewing up what I had cut out in preparation, and then cutting out some other items as fabric inspired. I was able to donate at least 10 outfits before Gospel Rescue Mission had their before school starts distribution day.

Cutting and sewing at Cruces Creatives

  

Ironing as well
(I think that may be my good side...)

It was a small start, but it was definitely a start. Cruces Creatives were excited. Did I want to make the project a continuing event? Well, I could tell, that although the sewing turn-out was light, that people were interested. And we had successfully donated some kid's clothes to a good cause. If we had regular times and dates, who knows how our efforts could grow? So, we set some regular times. 2nd Wednesday, from 5-9 PM and 4th Saturday, from 9AM-1PM, in case you are interested, and want to come help out.

Some of our first group of finished garments donated.
Cat not included...

My friend, Cynthia Smith got inspired to create several outfits that made the first donation, and then she REALLY got busy, putting together kits of a t-shirt with some embellishment, and either shorts, capris, or a skirt. She approached the Las Colcheras Quilt Guild to see if they were interested in helping put together the kits. She handed out 30 kits! Some of the Las Colcheras Quilt Guild members stopped by on our most recent (today's) crafting day, and dropped of finished outfits and/or stayed to help sew!

That's a super cute jumper!

At this point we have 28 more outfits ready to donate, and even more that are in the works, still. I've had the pleasure and privilege to work with fine crafters, new and experienced. I've helped inspire, and in turn, I've been inspired. The community has given so that we could give to the community. Do I call this a win? YOU BET I DO!!

Ready for donation!

Honey Pot Bee March blocks - paper piecing

Not gonna lie. Paper piecing was a challenge for me. I downloaded that pattern for the As You Wish letter block, and watched a video, and tried my luck. With very frustrating results. The most frustrating of which was putting the project aside for a while. (this version was headed for the trash) I didn't want to give up on the quilt block bee, but the last two March blocks were paper piecing, and I just wasn't ready.

Then the April blocks were posted. Another paper piecing block. But this one was a star block, and I could see the logic in the construction, and could have built it without the paper. AH HA! So, once more into the fray. This time, I looked at the pattern and cut pieces that I was going to need. I cut them larger that they would strictly need to be, because I know that placement is one of my weaknesses. You know, that "how do I position this fabric so that after I sew the seam it lies where it is supposed to?" Yeah, that. So larger pieces helped. Not humongous, but half to a full inch bigger all the way around than they would actually need to be to fill the space on the paper. It really helped to have the pieces cut out. One my first attempt, I was trying to cut the pieces as I went. It didn't help much, which contributed to the frustration.

Yesterday, I sewed. The putting the back of the fabric to the back of the paper still felt weird, but I managed to be consistent with that. (Yes, sometimes I still have to check if I got the front to front of the fabric - even after many YEARS of sewing.) I still made some placement errors and had to pick out a line of stitching. I even made a cutting error and had to cut that piece again and resew (boy did that feel dumb!) But nothing that I couldn't recover from. Nothing that made me lay the piece down and walk away.

As You Wish, a letter block

This is the March block, that caused me such problems on the first attempt. It isn't perfect, but this bee isn't about perfect, for me. It is about stretching my sewing boundaries. and this block certainly did do that.

I learned several things in this process. The first was about precutting the pieces. Which, if I was thinking, is what I do for other blocks, so why would I think I shouldn't for these? Having to cut them bigger seems kind of wasteful to the Granny in me. (My Granny lived and made do through the Depression, and wasn't big on wasting ANYTHING.) But then, I've saved these scraps of fabric in big tubs so that I have them to do this with. I have to tell myself the learning means it isn't wasted!

The second thing I learned is that even though I can do paper piecing now, and I will not shy away from any of the paper pieced blocks on the bee, I wouldn't want to make a whole quilt that way. Some people love a process like paper piecing provides. Some people are all about that process. To me it seems fiddley. Like I'm going over the same material too many times. Printing the pattern, sewing the pattern, picking out the paper afterwards. It DOES help get the points in the right places, and that is an attraction, so I may have to revise this opinion some day in the future, when I have more time on my hands. At that point, I think I would also experiment with different (lighter weight) paper as well.

One thing that was helpful about the paper pattern, was that I could mark the various pieces with which fabric I should cut them from. Of course, it helps to look at some finished example of the block so that you get the finished look that you are going for. My star block turned into a variation on the theme as I mistook which parts of the "rays" should be in the background fabric. Basically which parts were actually the rays.

April star block

I don't think it looks bad, just different from they others. The same piecing was there. The same learning. I am actually pretty happy about my points on the triangles, and that I got the various sections to meet up where they should, so my corners are pretty good too! And, even after my admission that I don't love paper piecing, I will probably print out another pattern of this and have another go at it. Maybe not this weekend, but...

I'm not sure I would have taken on the challenge of learning to paper piece on my own, so I'm glad that the Honey Pot Bee pushed me to try something new. I'm also happy that I went into the Bee with the attitude that I was willing - and wanting - to learn along the way, so I was open for the challenge. I also like to acknowledge that there was reinforcement of some things I already knew, and now, I actually know that I know them!

By the way, there is still one paper pieced block that I have yet to tackle. it is a numerical block for 2017, that I think will be perfect for the quilt that I am putting together from these blocks. What a way to mark a memory.

The February Crown - Honeypot Bee

This month, in the Honeypot Bee, there was an extra, surprise block. A crown. A very fun block, with many variations possible, and so many of the quilters on the Bee showed off some awesome blocks.

I liked that the block used a technique that was previously used, the half square triangle, and then took it a step further, creating a block with three triangles, two smaller than one. I don't know where I got off in my measurements and/or construction, but while the crown called for a total of 4 of these blocks, I managed to create 8, and then need 5 of them to fill the space of the "body" of the crown. I went with it, and didn't fret too much, although I suspect I will try this block again, to see if I can improve on it.

I dub thee...

I thought the celestial fabric was fun for this block, but the big pieces get too cut up. I like the blues, and the movement in the checker fabric, although if I do try this block again, I will probably make different choices. The learning for this project is not just about doing the sewing, but also choosing the fabrics.  I really like seeing what choices others make as well, so I can see what might and might not work for me.

I also worked on some more pantry jars, but had no luck finding more of the fabric I wanted to use for the background... I'll look some more in different stores, but I do have a backup plan. I also finished up my tiny pinwheel blocks. Why does it take a photo to help you find all the flaws?

pinwheels

I also found another block. Don't even remember what I made it for, but I figured it could go into the pot for this bee quilt, anyway.... and it has pinwheels too!

...and around they go...

Soon we are on to March, and new blocks. Looking forward to it!

Star Kisses Block - Honey Pot Bee

This week's challenge was the Star Kisses block. This block features flying geese, which are made similarly to half square triangles. Instead of matching up two squares, the flying geese are made with a rectangle, which one sews two squares to, diagonally, one at each of the long ends. It ends up being a rectangle with a big triangle in the middles, and two smaller right angle triangles, one on each side of the larger one. It is - and isn't - harder than the half square triangles. Making the geese wan't bad, but getting the points to show as points, but not float too far off the seam is a challenge, but a different challenge than getting all the half square triangle points where they should be.

I picked three fabrics that I liked together, and went to cutting, cutting, cutting. I chose where I would like my paisleys to end up. Not exactly a fussy cut, but definitely not random. As I made the flying geese, I sewed a second, smaller half square triangle from what would have been discarded. Some of the quilters in the bee had done so, and they were very cute.

Mini pinwheels

I knew that the small scale would not make me happy, but I tried them anyway. After all, the bee is a learning challenge, and you can't learn if you don't try. Some of these meet up better than others. My plan is to alternate these pinwheels with a solid color and make to narrow "filler" blocks for the quilt. I feel like these small half square triangles fall into the "waste not, want not" category, but they are definitely not my thing.

Once the geese were made, the construction of the block went along pretty well, and while my block is not perfect, it is certainly recognizable as a star kisses block. I have now made flying geese. Yay, me!

check out those paisleys

On the one hand, I have a fondness for a trellis type design, and I think these blocks would make a very nice over-all design. On the other, I can't say I'm fond of making the flying geese, and I'm not sure I would want to make a whole quilt from them. I suppose they would have gone more quickly and easily if I had not been making the secondary smaller half square triangles, though.