Is Gardening Creative?

 

For purposes of this blog, I'm calling it creative. It is definitely a learning experience, and I have strong feels about being a life-long learner. So here we go!

I come from families that included many farmers, and garden people. My mom had a big garden in our backyard, and grew roses, and all sorts of things around our house. Even when she could no longer go out and garden, my dad would work on having a crop of tomatoes every summer. Before them, gardens were a thing that you did so you got enough food on your table. I, however, am a pretty poor excuse for a garden person. 

While I would love to have a crop of summer tomatoes, my efforts were sadly troubled. One year, I planted  several tomato plants, got _one_ tomato to take, and then the birds ate it before I could. ARGH! Another year, Carl and I experimented with a raised garden and planted a variety of tomato plants. I don't think they had enough root space, and didn't thrive. I do think we had a good idea by getting a table that allowed drainage, though.

During the pandemic, my front yard thrived. I was up early, and would water before the heat set it. I would pull some weeds before I went for a walk, and after I got home. I would sit under my tree in the shade and look in wonder at one of the best yards in my section of the street. (when I first moved into my neighborhood, two of the families across the street from me must have been in competition for the best lawn, but sadly they are no longer in the neighborhood)

Now, in my retirement, I'm thinking about trying some gardening again, encouraged by the efforts of a friend, who is also interested in fresh, healthy foods. She found a couple of containers for us to try out. One was a tower that had room for about one plant in each spot. Another find were some awesome container grow bags, and she gave me a couple to try out.

Tower Garden

Here is my tower. I planted the tower twice. The first time I planted mint, basil, some marigolds on the bottom, and rosemary, I think. I put it on an end table, and just as some things (not all the things) were sprouting, we had some strong winds, and it blew off the table. I set in upright, and rescued the sprouts I could, and several days later, added some already established marigolds in the bottom tier, Some other things (not sure I remember, and they didn't sprout anyway) in the next two tiers up, some onions in the second tier from the top and radishes in the top. I had tried the trick of sprouting new celery from  the bottom of the bunch by putting it in water for a while, and that is what is in the container in the top center. The basil has taken off, and grown really well. It smells so good! my radishes had their leaves eaten off, so I harvested the tiny radishes and we ate them. But they were tiny. I have some onions growing, and they seem to be doing OK, but the poor marigolds were done in. I think spiders got them. 

Salsa garden container

I started the salsa garden with plants already established. A bell pepper, a tomato and a basil (wasn't sure at the time my other basil would take hold). I also planted some onion seeds in here, but they never took hold, which maybe just fine because the other three really started to grow! 

my blurry tomatoes

I have three tomatoes growing on this plant. I've got some yellow leaves happening and I don't know why. (see, gardening has a learning curve) but I'm encouraged because it has already done better than my previous tomato endeavor! I also have a pepper growing. The basil has absolutely grown like crazy, and I've staked them so they share their space.

Blue Lake green beans

A couple weeks ago, I planted this other grow bags with some green beans. I was gone for a couple days, and found three had already sprouted when I got home. I think there are seven total plants in here at this point, and they sure are taking off. Wow!

Now, the learning process. I would like to get them up off the ground for some pest control. Not sure how that will work with the tower. But still a possibility. May need to treat the area for spider control before I plant. I would like to add more sand into my planting mix, I think some of the plants will do better. ALSO, by next year, my fried will have some compost for me. I'm contributing to her efforts, and she will share with me. I'm also thinking I will move them to the back yard, and up against the side of the house instead of the front. More morning sun, a bit of a wind break. I also have a place I can set up tables there. I will be shopping for "new" seeds next year as well. I think that was a problem with some of what I planted. 

Finally, I'm looking forward to these irises blooming next year. I got them at a seed share, and they seem to like this pot! The leaves have gotten much taller since I took this picture.

Seed share irises

General Update

 It has been almost 3 weeks since I've posted here. I don't know that I have an entire cohesive post to talk about, but I don't want to loose the habit all together. That's too easy to do. So here are some updates:

I've made additions to the Christmas is in the Eye of the Beholder Collection. Here are a couple of group photos of my progress:

Group shot of 1 - 7

Then we have numbers 8 and 9

I got some gold yarn that I like in the mix. You can see it on the far right in the top photo and in the eye in the lower one. I also got a silvery one that you can't see very well in the left one on the lower photo. I like that silver pretty well and I wish you could see it better. 

It is becoming the eyeball army, and I'm looking forward to picking out some to enter into the fair this fall. I'm still interested in feedback on them.

Next are some sewing projects. I finished this little dress for my annual kids' clothes project. I make kids' clothes because I like to. I donate them for kids who need help getting school clothes. In some ways, I wish I could hear how the new owner likes what I make. On the other hand, maybe I don't want to know... Sigh. Kids are allowed to have opinions, and to decide what THEY like. I'll just pretend in my head that there's some kid out there that's going to have their new favorite outfit. At least they will get to have something new.

A cheerful dress

Finally, I'm going to update the progress that Charitable Crafting has been makin on the second quilt we are making as a group. We are in need of only a few more blocks. Several rows have been sewn together, and I have another one it my bag to sew together. Ok, I also have a couple of the last blocks we need, too. This project has really taught me some about the process of quilt building. Block building, too, actually. While there is no "wrong way" to finish these blocks, some accuracy makes a difference. I'm learning to pay attention to it. It's kind of cool to me, even.

Some blocks

Maybe I'll even take more pictures of the work I've done on this quilt. Or maybe the next one. Of course we're already talking about the next one!!

Christmas is in the Eye of the Beholder

 

Not too long ago, when I was making eye monsters, I noticed something about the eyeballs. They fit perfectly into the palm of my hand, like a Christmas ornament. A Christmas ornament??? Yeah. pretty much. I know you might think it is weird to think about a Christmas ornament eyeball, but that is exactly what I did. 

Crafting isn't just about following a pattern, or making what someone else has made. It is about exploring, and creativity, and taking something, and running with it. So I did.

Festive, right?

I can't tell you how much these amuse me. I picture them hanging in a decorated tree, and watching all the festivities (or the pets, sniffing around the tree). Are they judging? Are they gathering info for their alien masters? I dunno. Maybe. I know, though, that they aren't everyone's cup of tea. Nothing is everyone's cup of tea. Not even cups of tea.

They go pretty fast, and are really pretty easy, once you're familiar with the pattern, which is perfect for making a set of them. How many is in a set? I dunno, probably somewhere between 6 and 12. Depends on whether I get bored or tired of making them. Or how much Christmassy/festive yarn I find and want to buy.

Here's looking at YOU, kid!

Things that I have done similar to other eye creatures I have made: I used different yarns for the irises. I like how that gives a little depth to the eye. I've done a black with a little hint of color in it for the pupils, and not added a plastic safety eye in there (which I did use in the others). I will experiment some with the eye colors of these, because the results will interest me. For example, I made this one with a red eye.

Sauron is looking a little festive this year

I like it, but it could get too much, I think. I hope the outside kinda tones it down a little. What do you think?

Yeah, festive.

Talking about yarn, the yarn for the eyelid of this one was a brand I don't usually buy, but it was a color I hadn't seen, and had that strand of silver in it for that festive touch. But the hook went through the yarn easily, as it isn't wound very tight, and that made it difficult to crochet with, since I'm using kind of a small hook. Sigh.

Any way, I don't expect everyone to want these. I couldn't make that many anyway. But I would like to get a little feedback. I know, you think I'm weird. But is that a bad thing? I don't think so.

So this set of creatures are called, "Christmas is in the Eye of the Beholder." For those of you who have never been into Fantasy books, or Role Playing Games, Beholders are monsters that look like an eye. See what I did there? Of course you did!

Emily's Slouch Bag

 

I tried out a new purse pattern today. I'm pretty picky about my purses, and I have made a couple. The one I'm using right now is embarrassingly worn, if truth be told. It's time to make another.

A friend of mine found this slouch bag pattern online, and wanted to try it out. I liked the look of it, and thought I would give it a try too.

Emily's Slouch Bag

So here's the bag I finished today. It is a light denim on the outside, and a cotton blue and tan floral on the inside. For a trial run, it went pretty well, but there are definitely things I will do differently when I make it again. And I will. Soon.

The pattern for Emily's Slouch bag

First of all, this bag is bigger than I want to carry. I added seam allowance to the pattern (plus a little, to be honest) and I think the next version will just be the pattern, and then it won't be as wide as this one. If a paperback fits, it's wide enough!

Second, I lined this one, and I'll line the next version, too. PLUS I think a little light interfacing will help it feel sturdier. 

Third, the straps definitely need to be longer. I cut them longer than the pattern, I thought, but when I looked again at the pattern pieces, I noticed that there is a section missing. Dang it!  This version will be fine as a shoulder bag, but I like a hands-free cross body bag. I've never had the strap on a shoulder bag stay on my narrow shoulders and it always makes the bag more of a hassle.

Finally, when I sewed this one together, I didn't do it in the right order. This is a lined bag, and some how, I didn't remember ALL THOSE BAGS I'VE SEWN, sewing the outer layer and the inner lining layer, and then sewing them together. 

Some of the features that I WILL keep? Pocketses, (Hobbitses need their pocketses...) of course. 

Pockets along the side panel

And

A pocket for bigger stuff, too

I love pockets in a purse! Along with those, I currently have some rings that I can clip my keys to, and a handy dandy take along shopping bag that comes is awesome.

So is this bag a fail? Sorta. I mean, I won't be using it. On the other hand, it is a perfectly serviceable bag, so I'll be donating it to the almost always ongoing bag collection at Cruces Creatives from Charitable Crafting. Am I disappointed? Sorta. I mean I need a new purse, but I'm still going to make one. I learned a lot making this one, and I think the next one will be a keeper.

Bunny Wardrobe, Part 2

 

I finished up the bunny wardrobe pieces that I have been working on , and posted about earlier. I keep thinking I will do a bunny mix and match outfit photo shoot, to include in this post, but I keep NOT doing it. So, I'm writing this anyway, and sharing some of the finishes and we'll all pretend that the photo shoot was fabulous. Maybe bunny recipient will have fun playing bunny model photo shoot, and I can share that (or at least they will, right?)

I finished up the rust colored set of garments, which included my first ever pleated bunny skirt.

Pleated skirt with blouse

While I like the pleats for a change of pace, it just doesn't  show the same aesthetic fullness of the gathered skirts. Still, I'm glad I tried it, and I'm not ruling out the possibility of making another. 

The rust set included this skirt and top, and two pairs of bloomers, one of which was sorta poofy and the other pair was very poofy. Because bunnies need options, that's why. There is also a reversable vest, with the yellow fabric on one side. The vest got embellished with a bee on the rust side, and a gathering of flowers on the yellow side.

A little bunch of daisies

I had some trim that i just stitched on to cover the stitches the attached a little bee applique on the other side. The little bee looks like this one, that I added to the tie on yellow collar (also because bunnies need options).

Happy little bee

I think the collar will be a cute addition to the yellow top under the dotted dress. Speaking of which, I was offered this perfect flower applique along with the cute little bees.

A cute little flower to tempt the bees

I placed the bee on the collar so it would look like it was headed for the flower when they are worn together. I know, right? I don't always embellish stuff, but when I do, it's often because someone said, "wouldn't it be cute if...?" 

The next step for these outfits is to be entered into the fair this year. After that, they will get packed up and mailed to the person who thought they probably needed a bunny with some cute outfits. 

WHAT?? A Dinosaur Unicorn? Of Course I'll Make That!

 

What if I start off with a picture of the finished piece this time! You know you want to see it!

The cuteness, right?

So I made this for someone who loves dinosaurs. As one does. I got the pattern from this book of cuteness:

The same book that I got the turquoise dragon from

I'm sensing a turquoise theme here, and it doesn't hurt, does it.

Bobby the Dinocorn

I think you probably want to look at the pictures, and see kind of how this dinosaur came together.

First up, the head

Body, belly, and legs. Love the head tilt

And the arms

The ears!

The tail, then the horn, and the flowers

I like the flowers so much that I had to make some extras to add to the hat of the Ring Toy Sheep! 

Here's the before

And, the after!

Enjoy making stuff!

Bunny Wardrobe in the Works

 

I've been working on bunnies recently, and my current bunny related project is a mix and match wardrobe for my aunt's bunny. I started with a stack of fabrics, and much like what happens when I'm sewing clothes for people, I did my least favorite part (cutting out) all at one time.

An array of garments in various fabrics

The fabrics look to me like they will play well together to make a wide variety of outfits. It was kinda hard to decide where I would start... but I went with the rusty dots, since it was only one garment, an overdress.

Here she is, modelling

 The next set I did was the bees. When I picked up that fabric, I thought it was very cute, with chubby little bees on it... but I know how people are with insects, and especially bees, so I wondered it a whole dress would be too much. So, I made a skirt, and a top (with really puffy sleeves, and I think it turned out pretty well!

They are bee-having!

Then it was the yellow fabric's turn. Another skirt and top (not as puffy and a pair of bloomers. Also, I made a tie on collar. It's nice to have options, right? Also I thought the collar would be cute with the overdress.

So cheerful!

It is almost impossible to see in these pictures, but there is a little viney print on this yellow fabric, and I have some very cute white flower buttons I'd like to add here and there. Or a little but of daisy trim. Maybe on the waistband and the armbands on the sleeves?  I'll have to see... Opinions anyone?

Finally, I'm working on the rusty colored solid pieces. A shirt, a skirt (pleated this time, experimentally) and two pairs of pantaloons, one slightly poofy, and one pair more poofy. There is also a reversable vest, rust on one side, yellow on the other.

 I hope you can picture some of the variations and possibilities with these pieces working together in different combinations. I haven't had them made long enough to do a possibilities fashion show even for myself! And, of course the rusty solid pieces aren't even all finished yet! The made good progress towards that today, though.

I've had this little bunny jumper done for a while. It makes a change for the whole wardrobe, though.

In the front, it's a cute sailor type collar, in the back, ladybug wings

My aunt is patiently waiting for her bunny. I hope she can wait until after the fair! I would really like to enter this bunny and her wardrobe. I did warn her that might happen...