Sewing

Tonight’s the big un-boxing: up with the shrubbery, up with the lights, up with Christmas! Here’s my most recent addition to the fanfare – the yo-yo garland.

And, what a quick and relaxing occupation it’s been; one movie rental (You, Me, and Dupree) and I was halfway done. 

I’m planning to make a red & white one as well, as I have a red & white Christmas fantasy for my kitchen table. I just need to hunt down some red & white striped fabric and see what it does in yo-yo form. I’m hoping for a peppermint effect.

I do have a ceramic peppermint garland, but it’s seen better days.

I’m riding a small wave of winter-cleaning this week. It’s about time I box up my maternity clothes, as Charlotte’s almost two!  However, I can’t quite pack up these three sweaters.  I know I’ll never wear them. Never have. They’re just too boxy and big, even for maternity-wear. And who needs three of the same thing anyhow, even if they were a bargain?

Aah, but they’re wool…

So, I’ve decided it’s time for a re-fashion, my first in a long time. And, I’ve given myself two rules:

1.  I’m not allowed to make a pattern first. I’ve just got to cut into it and work it out as I go (even if I don’t end up liking the result).

2.  It must be slightly weird (again, even if I don’t end up liking the result).

I’m excited to get to work on it, as I’m in need of a project of no monumental importance, a palate cleanser. Ha! I like that. A palate cleanser. Perfect.

…to Houston.

All right, it’s crazy-late. But, I couldn’t leave town without posting a project (especially after my sick-leave last week). Here’s a froofy bolster with happy pink bows. All freshcut and perched on a glorious tuffet. I’m “lovin’ on” gold these days. Mmm-Mmm…Yes sir! Makes me happy. And that monstrous vintage button…

I’ll keep my ears pricked and my camera handy at Quilt Market (though convention-center lighting may not cut the mustard – heehee). If nothing else, I should at least be able to capture Anna Maria up to something. I’ve convinced her to attend and be my roomie. Fun fun.

I’ll see what I can do about an Internet connection as well, to keep them presses running, so to speak.

Oh, and one more thing… Thanks for the feel-good input. I’ve put together some rockin’ flyers for my class. Four pages. Isaac thinks I should post a PDF so we can all hand them out to our friends when they say, “Blog-what?”

Two quilt tops done, all bundled up and on their way to The Threaded Pear to be quilted – Gina (Quilter’s Buzz) saves the day! I’m lacking the necessary concentration to write though, so I’ll keep it simple… a photo here, a photo there, a reminder of where I was a couple of days ago, then back to work. 

Oh, and thanks for the support! Really. When my mailbox dings, I go Pavlovian for a happy sewing break – so much kindness! 

The next few weeks are insane! Isaac has eight weddings in the next seven weeks, Elijah is on school break, Charlotte’s occasional babysitter has gone back to school fulltime, and I’m wading through a steady stream of deadlines (many are self-imposed, I admit). 

But, great things are happening. I’ve just gotta keep this pace for three more weeks, then I’ll have myself a lovely, lazy week of pajama days, A.M. Smith, homemade bread, and… dentist appointments. Yep, I scheduled two just yesterday, and I’m actually looking forward to going. Perhaps it’s the idea of sitting still for a bit.

I’m happy to announce that the personal ad worked! The striped tights have found a soulmate and much gambolling has ensued. 

You’ll recognize the bodice fabric from here, although the dress came first. Or, at least, the plan for the dress came first. I’m digging the shoulder flanges and the versatility of a jumper. As the weather cools down, I’ll be on the lookout for a long-sleeved white tee to keep these new togs in rotation.

As for me, I’m still in mad-sewing mode. I’m about done with my second quilt-top in two days. I’ve also made one of these, one of these, several of these and I’m about done with two sets of these (still secret) — all from my own fabric – fun, fun, fun! 

I’m finding it tricky to ration out my precious sample yardage though. Project planning feels like a game of Sudoku… If I make an apron out of this fabric, then I won’t have enough to make that quilt. But, if I make this other quilt instead, then I’ll certainly not be able to make that pillow… and so on. (Hmmm. I’m reminded of a certain dialogue from this movie — Vizzini and the poisoned wine, remember?)

Anyhow, I’ve decided that my plotting is counter-productive. Enough of that. I have about two weeks to sew samples before I need to switch gears again and there’s certainly plenty of fabric to keep me busy for two weeks! So, back to the cutting table I go, “Sew, Heather, sew!”

Can you believe I made this on a home sewing machine!?! I guess stubborness can be the mother of ingenuity. What a brain-bender! I figured it out though and the resulting design is completely repeatable – hence, another forth-coming pattern. I can’t wait to get this one to print and show you how it goes together – I couldn’t be more pleased with the result. It’s still going to be a couple of months before I print any patterns, though — one woman show, you know. But, I’m too excited to keep the cat in the bag, so enjoy the early screening. Hmmm? – to carry or to hang on the wall? (Oh, and this purse has special powers… but, more on that later)

The fabrics are vintage feedsacks. I had meant to make Christmas decorations with them; check out these. But, when I pulled them for a baby dress (forthcoming) to go with these tights, I got caught up in their fabulousness and got to work on a purse pattern.

Let the deluge begin… For that “Come hither, while I bake us some cookies” look, how about a sexy halter apron? Here’s a pattern I have in the works. And, remarkably, it looks fantastic on a variety of body types, so I won’t have to grade the pattern — yay!

I’m amassing a number of designs before hunting out a printer. However, I’m not up to waiting until they’re printed before sharing. All I do these days is eat, sleep, sew and change diapers. Throw in a number of trips around the world to Elijah’s school and a bit of blogging and you’ve got a pretty accurate view of my life, at least for the next few weeks (prepping for Quilt Market). 

You see, my fabric is in. My fabric is in! I’ll post the whole stack this week. Meanwhile, cheer me on, “Sew, Heather, sew!”

Well, the van’s all packed and we’re heading out the door on our long drive to Utah for a Tuesday wedding.  I’ll leave you with this detail shot of a pear pincushion.  I meant to include this in an earlier post and get your take on it. You see, the first time I made one, it only had one leaf.  This time I added a second leaf.  Together, the two leaves make a sort-of needlebook — poke the needles through the underleaf and hide them with the upper leaf. I’m still trying to decide which is better — any thoughts?

Yes, there have been a lot of pear pincushions around here lately, but I wanted your take on the leaves and I figured it was better to say ‘goodbye’ with a photo in the post — so, there you go.  I’ll be back in a couple of days with handiwork from the long drive ahead.  Also, if you’re waiting for me to respond to an email, please give me a few more days — it’s been a crazy week.  (Rockport, Gina, Kathy, etc. this includes you!) Thanks for your patience — oh, and Matt comes home from the hospital today — Yay!