Thoughts of Spring

The weather today was beautiful. Sunny, warm and glorious. Of course I was inside, sewing. With Roxanne. It was time to work on some new projects, and I was able - with not much effort, actually - to convince her it was time to work on my happy shirts.

Last spring-ish, I found two pieces of fabric that just made me happy. They each are covered with flowers, but beyond that, fairly different prints. The fabric is rich and soft and I really, really want to wear them. The kicker is that I found a pattern that makes me happy, too! Pull over, collared sort-of trapezey tops. I've had tops very like these in the past that I've really enjoyed, so it is happiness on top of happiness.

The view the model is wearing.

Maybe one day, I'll be making my own designs, and writing tutorials for them, but for now, I'll take the pattern, thank you. So far, this one is easy as advertised. We got the bodies of the shirts constructed, and the collars and sleeves ready to attach. We even made ties, although I probably won't make mine so low-cut as to functionally need them.

The blue print.

The red (and green) print

A simple top, in two variations, both of which seem to call for spring and summer. And smiles.

Both Roxanne and Tenna Kay mentioned how the red flower print reminded them of my mom. It reminds me of her, too, and some of the clothes that she made me, way back when. I think that is part of why it makes me so happy.

Roxanne and I talked about what we wanted to work on after these tops were done, and several thinks in denim came to mind. The perfect thing to pair either of these tops with, I think. Of course I won't limit myself to that, when it comes to partnering either of these fabrics in my wardrobe, there are several choices for each. Hope I can show off the finished tops by next week!

Yep, Mom would have loved these flowers, too!

Projects Ongoing

two-piece footie jams rock!

I went to sew at Roxanne's today, but she was overwhelmed by work, so I sewed while she worked, and we still got to visit. I wish I had taken my camera, though, because - dang it! - I really wanted a picture of those footie pajamas. The turned out so darn cute!

I feel like I could totally make myself a pair now, and, is it wrong that I want some, even though I know - I. know. - they would be too hot to wear to sleep in? Lounge wear though. Yeah, that! Don't be surprised if sometime this year, Roxanne and I are totally making slippers. Just saying.

Since the pace was kind of slow sewing, I got out a set of quilt blocks and sewed them up, too. They were beautiful, oranges and greens mostly. I really wanted pictures of those, too. Sigh. One of these days, I'll remember to take that darn camera with me!

I did manage to take a progress picture of the cowl/hood scarf I'm making, though. The bamboo blend yarn is really soft and feels so good! It has kind of a lacy effect, but I think it should be nice and warm arranged as a cowl.

about halfway through the project

Fabric as Inspiration

I did something for the first time last week. I bought fabric online.

Usually, when I'm shopping for fabric, it is as much a tactile experience and a visual one. I have bought fabric - and passed fabric by - because of how it felt. The fabric shopping here locally is limited, but until now, I've been able to limit my online fabric excursions to browsing and wanting.

their card

I went to an Etsy shop, though, called the Intrepid Thread (linked here for your convenience), and the price was right, and the prints were right, and the moon must have been in the right phase, and I bought some fabric. I had it in my hot little hands in a matter of a few days, and I am so pleased! It is such beautiful fabric, and feels silky and soft. WOW! It was even all wrapped up in pretty white tissue paper. It really felt like getting a present.

The first fabric I picked was a fat quarter bundle in yellows and greens. I want to put a rich brown, and maybe a crisp white with these to make something (not sure what yet).

fat quarters

I also got a half yard bundle AND a half yard of hedgehog fabric that is incredibly cute. Not sure what I'm going to make out of that either, but I am going to start a curves class at the first of February, so I won't be surprised if either one bundle or the other gets used for a curvy project.

half yard pieces

I am really enjoying those blues and greys together. Well, and the hedgehogs, of course. What lovely inspiration!

snowflake mug rugs

I'm making progress on the snowflakes. Pretty soon, all I will need to do is bind them and mail them. Soon. I have one box filled, but I still need to wrap and address it.

The first batch of snowflakes I made, I started with the calico fabrics that I had on hand. I made a 4 inch square for the basis of the blocks. The last quartet I made had red snowflakes, and white background.

red snowflakes?!?

The second batch started off with a bigger square, 5 inches. I found some Christmas fabrics left over from making stuffed rocking horses last year. Then I went with white tone on tone for some, and some mostly white but a little bit of print on others. I like the little bit bigger size a lot, although I think you could use the smaller size for ornaments, with a ribbon at one corner. I think they would be cute, and that MAY just go on my crafting list this year, to be ready by Christmas.

Aren't those dots fun?

I went with a simpler quilting stitch on these as well. I think I like it. I rather like the blanket stitch on the binding as well. I hope it will hold it well.

mug rugs

I went a little mug rug crazy for Christmas this year. I've been seeing them on creative blogs and I just needed to make some... and then give them to people.

disappearing nine patch mug rugs

One of the nice things about making mug rugs, is that since they are small, you can FINISH them! Yay. I got to practice quilting techniques in a manageable, and fun way. Pattern picking, cutting, piecing, sewing, cutting and piecing some more, machine quilting and binding.

snowflake mug rugs

Plus, I even practiced making bias tape to go with some of them, and I know I'll be making and using my own bias tape in the future as well. My cousin got some as a gift, as well, and we will use it one of these sewing Sundays, I know we will!

crazy mug rugs

 Now, if I can just get the hang of adding photos again... (took some major experimentation to get these in...)

A Different Creativity

I'm working on a web page. Createlivity posts will be made there, and I've got the first one up. If you would like to take a look, here it is. There is not much there, yet. I've been rather timid about making it, if I must admit to that. Still, every step is a learning process, and I'm still learning about it. Be glad there is not a camera watching me, as the faces - and the language - not good.

It is a learning process, though, and I've learned that it takes a little time, and I have to give myself permission to experiment with it, let it rest, and learn from my mistakes as well as my successes. Feedback would be oh-so-much appreciated, though (she says bravely, figuring she doesn't have enough readers to worry about trolling ).

putting it all together

I looked at the blocks today, and spread them out to see which should go where. It was pretty simple, actually, I just tried not to get the same fabric facing itself on any neighboring block. Then I put out more of the coppery blocks as corners. Then I got one row sashed. I should remember that there are times that I'm a very linear thinker, and so, since I grabbed the bottom row first, it is now, by virtue of the sashing I did, the top row. Oh well.

Here's how it looks now. I was rather log cabin building in adding the sashing, but I think it worked all right. I don't know if you can tell with the photos, but there are ink issues, left over from measuring and marking.