Sewing

  • The Sugar Shop

    ByHeather Bailey
    Jarsverticalhb

    I keep a lot of my sewing supplies in old-fashioned glass jars. Not only can I see where everything is, but my supplies look delicious this way. They call to me, “Heather, Heather, come play with us!” Several of these fun jars line the high shelves of my studio – with pink walls and distressed white furniture, my studio is a virtual candy store, hence the nickname above!

    3ringshb_2

    There are many systems for organizing embroidery floss, involving cases, binders, hinged rings, zippered baggies, plastic cards or any combination of these. I prefer the hinged rings. I can clearly see my colors, without a lot of extra ‘packaging.’

    I record the color #s on the end of the plastic cards with a permanent marker. In the off-chance I need to replenish a specific color mid-project, I’ll know what to get. When I’m traveling with a project, I detach all of the necessary cards and group them onto a new ring. The best part? The rings easily stack in their jar, where I can drool over the colors at will.

    For me, creatively, it’s important to see my supplies. A random arrangement of spools in a jar might inspire a new approach to color or a unique patchwork design.  The same goes with buttons or stacks of fabric. When your supplies are in a snarl and tucked away in a shoebox (as were my threads a few years back), you’re limiting your creative resources. Attack one category at a time: fabric, thread, trims, buttons, etc. Rent a good movie and enjoy the monotony of it all.

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    Personally, I still need to sort out my trims. I’d like to wrap them around these chipboard cards and line them all up on a shelf, keeping extra cards on hand for future trim binges. But, I haven’t discover a resource for these gems. If anyone knows where to get ahold of a stack of these, PLEASE let me know! I have a back-up plan involving corrugated plastic, but I’m holding out for Plan A.

    Yes, I have far more supplies than my space allows for and not everything is neat and tidy. But, every effort I’ve made at organization has proven well worth my while. In fact, I’m sure there are some fantastic forehead-smacking ideas out there in blogland. Tell me your favorite tricks — I’d love to hear how you keep your supplies
    in check!

  • Play Time!

    ByHeather Bailey

    Thank you everyone for your cheerful comments — I came home to a mailbox plump with kindness! I’m glad to see that the Bitty Booties™ pattern is such a hit and that successes are being flaunted. If you haven’t taken a peek at the Bitty Booties™ Gallery yet, you should. Frogs on toes, hearts on soles, leather flowers – lots of fun ideas!  Loving them! And be sure to add your goodies into the mix.

    I have a number of ‘business’ projects in the works. In the next little while, I need to design my website, master my new Bernina Artista 640, write an article for Sew News and design some irresistable patterns. (I just love how the line between work and play can be so blurry these days.) I’m waiting for some return phonecalls on most of these to-dos, which has left me tapping my toes most of the day. 

    Enough of that now, I’m going to sew something fun! I pulled these funkies from my stash and I’ve resolved to make a summery shirt for Charlotte. I take it if I announce a project on my blog, then I must get it done. That’s how it works, right? The middle fabric is a vintage piece from who-knows-when and the top piece is from Japan, I believe. I threw in the avocado jacquard for good measure (my favorite color), though I don’t know if it’ll get used. I’m going for a sleeveless, tanky-type top. I’ll have the bodice gather into a yoke, and add some straps at the shoulders. I might even gather up the waist with elastic thread in the bobbin. Hmmm…I’ll work out the details as I go. 

    Off to play!

  • Bitty Booties™

    ByHeather Bailey

    Bitty Bootmakers, it’s your day! The free baby shoe pattern is yours…all yours. You won’t believe how easily these go together too. Never one to stick to the directions myself, I’ve included lots of ideas for how to customize the design. So, be sure to read through the entire pattern before gathering your materials. I’m expecting big little things! Download your copy by clicking the “Bitty Booties” link here. (Or navigate to “Freebies” at HeatherBailey.com).

    Join the “Bitty Booties” photo group and show your stuff — I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

    Redbootieshb

    Turquoisebootieshb

  • Headband Haven

    ByHeather Bailey

    Patternsnapshot_1
    Inspired by the fabulous headbands being created by the likes of Sally (Shim and Sons blog, 2006) and Sarah (Hearts and Needles), I’ve started a Flickr photo group.  Now we can all share our fabulous Hooray for Headbands creations! (free pattern in my sidebar) If you have been busy making headbands or are planning to soon, snap some photos and add them to the group. In flickr, search for the group by its name, “Hooray for Headbands.” Or, follow the link below:

    Hooray for Headbands Photo Pool

    See you there!

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    Boy Bands & Campfire Girls

    ByHeather Bailey

    What a hoot! You guys left the funniest comments on Turkey for a Straw. Thanks for the laughs! We’re going camping tonight. This is the third effort to go this month and we’re not letting anything stand in our way. It’s not the best timing for me though — I have a lot on my plate this week.  But, I’m not up for being the wrench this go round. So, off I go with a smile. (First time taking baby Charlotte too – yikes!)

    On a different note, Sally (Shim and Sons blog, 2006) made the most fabulous headbands this week! And they’re for her adorable little boys. Finally, a “boy band” worthy of accolades! (Has anyone ever seen Conan O’Brien’s spoof on boy bands? – I swear, it’s the most hilarious bit ever!) Anyway, you should go take a peek at her beautiful photographs and use of color. She always does such a classy job!

    Lastly, the baby shoe pattern is done. I still have to make a couple of sample pair to photograph. After that, I’ve got to learn more about bandwidth and how to avoid going way over my allotment, so my site’s ready for a flood of downloads. Once that’s all sorted out, I’ll get the pattern uploaded. Any suggestions?

    OK, time to pack, the s’mores are calling. ☺

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    Recipe for Good Times

    ByHeather Bailey

    Good Times – serves 2

    Ingredients:
    1 heaping bag of vintage micro-scraps
    1 good friend or loved one
    A pinch of beads
    A dash of ribbon
    A sprinkle of buttons
    1-2 hours of silliness

    The result?  Two funky portraits of me 🙂

    My mother in law, Elinor, envisioned me with pink hair and a purple plaid baby in my belly.  The fabulous coat shows my vavoom, don’t you think?  In my version I have pigtails, a duck knee and a tricky puff-sleeve.  Good times.

    Flatdoll1Flatdoll3Flatdoll2c_2

    Insider information for all of you Portland Oregonians, Elinor’s teaching a class on flat dolls with 5 other wacky ladies (all bigtime professional doll designers) over at Fabric Depot in August. Full day, SIX patterns and only $40.

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    Flouncy Bouncer

    ByHeather Bailey

    Wow – thank you for all of the feedback! (I’m working on the baby shoe pattern and I’m hoping to have it up for you by the end of next week)

    Ok, so I was thinking of making a tomato-esque pincushion pattern for myself.  I picked out this rich mustard wool/rayon felt and the plaid/floral cotton, then started sketching out a pattern.  As I was working out the dimensions, my mind wandered… I could make a ball… I could make a ball for Charlotte… Why are there no girly balls?…(indignant)Girls like to play with balls too… This fabric over here would make a fabulous ball… What if I made Charlotte a girly ball instead?  So, I moved to a new sheet of paper and designed this:

    I stuffed each ball lightly, then added in a little beanbag filled with poly-pellets. Then I added more Polyfil until the ball was rather firm (so the beanbag ends up in the center of the ball, with padding all around it). The beanbag gives them the perfect weight for tossing and somehow, magically, they actually bounce a bit!

    Elijah wanted some too and these ones go with his room so well — It’s important for children’s toys to enhance the décor of their room, right?  Ha!  Just a bonus ☺

    Isaac even got in on the action this time and snapped this beautiful still-life. Now, back to that pincushion.

     

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    Big Plans, Small Pins

    ByHeather Bailey

    Elijah’s summer started a week ago. I still can’t believe school gets out in May — that’s nutty. At the beginning of the summer I always conjure these fantasies of a regular craft day with my son – like –  every Thursday we’ll make a Christmas present for someone, or every Tuesday we’ll make a paper project. One year we even got so far as to list out a dozen ideas. I’ve got to find that list.

    So, once again, the cogs are turning (I love when he’s home, it just feels right). What would Elijah like to learn? How do you find that interface between all the girly crafts out there and the interests of a nine-year-old boy? He wants to learn to sew and to knit and to quilt. I’ve explained to him the potential social ramifications and he’s cool with it. He likes the things I do. When I started an art journal, he started one too.  When I made pincushions, he made one too. When I tried out Hillary’s shrinky-dink pins (Wee Wonderfuls blog, 2006), he made some too! I think it’s fantastic – and great fun for me. Moreover, I want him to have every opportunity to find what he likes best.

    Now, I’ve given it some thought and here’s the plan: sign him up for a couple of sports, invite his friends over like crazy, do the macho boy stuff: computer games, sword fights, remote control cars, etc. Then, in a quiet moment, sit him on my lap and teach him about the things I love to do. Make things, make memories. He’s growing up so quickly and I’ve just got to go with it now, this summer, before he’s off to college… What? Next year?

    Here’s my adorable family of pins: Heather (me), Isaac, Elijah and Charlotte.

    Note:  Try doing shrinky-dinks with a heat gun (like what you use for embossing), instead of the oven — INSTANT gratification and no bent pins.