Moments

It was a great day today from start to finish....but there were a few special moments I want to celebrate. Sometimes joy just falls in your lap!  

I've been on a mission to get a great photograph of a snowflake or ice crystal....inspired by Alyson.  I do OK....but my iPhone is limited so it's hard for me to really capture things up close.  And snow is tough subject.

But I'm pretty proud of this photo from this morning.  Do you see the little flake balanced there on the lower left?  AND...do you see the little heart indentation on the right?

Alyson pointed out that snowflakes are easier to photograph on hard non-natural surfaces...so that's what I've been focusing on.  This was taken on a dark blue shovel with the backdrop of a bright blue sky.  Just the right combo!

And this moment tickled me.....you know I always celebrate it.

This wooden puzzle is tiny....and I didn't expect I would get this moment....when I would make a path from on end to the other.  Once I got the path going this morning....I had to make it to the other side.  

This has been just a delight so far...won't be long now.

It's always a good moment when an unexpected package arrives in the mail!  I got a fabulous gift from Ramona......she is a quilter, blog reader...and one of the recipients of An Ounce of Joy!  

Ramona gifted me this little pouch made from scraps left over from a quilt.  It's colorful and fun...and it was all tied up with a fabulous green ribbon. Which, by the way, was made from scraps from the fabric she put on the inside.

And here's her quilt where the scraps came from!

Isn't it amazing! 

Dabble Day

I know life is good when dozens of creative projects were calling me today. It was hard to choose what to do....so I dabbled in a lot of things as I settled back into my daily routine.

We had 6-8 inches of fresh snow so I started the day with a little walk in the neighborhood....looking closely at interesting places where the snow settled.

I've been trying to keep up with the #fabricrecipies challenge on Instagram....and today's prompt was "vintage."  I love my collection of vintage thread spools. I found this box...which actually has a see through cover, at a yard sale years ago.  It came with some threads already in it...but I've filled it up with some of own. 

I signed up for a free class by Izzy Morre  called Confidence Kickstart.  I've taken a couple classes from Izzy...she's a great teacher. What drew me in was the opportunity to get to know my sewing machine better. I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never actually read the manual, and there is a lot I didn't know.  This class was the nudge I needed.

Izzy encouraged us to choose a protege to teach....as we learn.  I've always learned as I teach...so this idea was both silly and brilliant.  I've propped up a little finger puppet I'm calling Oscar....and he's learning along with me.

I can't believe I actually found my manual!

Actually reading the manual is really helpful!  

I've already learned that I have a thread lock button on my machine (game changer)....and with the push of a button I can do mirror images of the decorative stitches. I played with the tension dial for the first time ever and learned how easy it is to interchange the presser feet and what all those weird ones are for.  I use the regular zig zag and free motion foot...but have never experimented with the others.  

I wonder what other manuals I should read!

And I couldn't help myself....I sewed one polka dotted panel on my little lampshade.  I'll write a little more about this project in the next few days....it's a bit out of my wheelhouse...and I'm actually feeling like I might be able to pull it off.

Seamstress

It waw 54 degrees today....and I'm channeling spring as I think about the patio.

I'm having new covers made for our patio cushions....as well as a few favorite clothing items altered. So this morning I met with Susan, my seamstress.  It's fun to say that....she's only done one slipcover for me...but I think after these projects I can officially call her my seamstress.   

Suan and I talked about how labels have changed to things like "makers" and "sewists"...but she prefers the good old fashioned label of "seamstress."

I enjoyed being in her studio....I've always loved seeing where women create.  She's tucked in the basement of her modest home....but there's a bright window and she's created the perfect setup with a big work table in the middle.

She gave me permission to take photos because I can never resist a rainbow of color. I only took a few...but most of the studio looked just like mine gets at times....overrun with fabrics and a piles of things in progress.  She had photos, notes, art, and inspiration everywhere.  She even had a thread puzzle on the wall.....I felt right at home.  

Paul and I have had beige patio cushions for about 14 years....and this time we're going bold.  I think this navy stripe is a bit understated and classic.

Our umbrella is apple green...so I think they will look good together.  I'm pretty excited for a patio makeover this spring!

I used to make a lot of my clothes when I was in high school...so I guess I was a bit of a seamstress. But not anymore. These days I stick with art quilts, funky faces, and stitching on paper.

But I tapped into my inner seamstress and made a couple of capes for my sister LaVonn's grandchildren.  I had one done shortly after Christmas....and then I got sidetracked.    

Just recently I finished the second one....and got the velcro attached on them both..and they arrived in Wisconsin today.

And as a little bonus...I made two ribbon twirlers so the kids can spread some joy...or a little magic around the room.

Quick Study

Another very full day....full of this and that. But the main event was a sewing lesson.

Me....Alyson....and Liz

We did get a sister photo....we were pretty tickled that we cooridanted so well with the Machu Picchu tapestry.  The three of us enjoy being together.....and make a good team. 

It's been nice having Alyson's son Langston working with us this weekend.  

He's an amazing young man.....his mom should be very proud.

I got a tour of Langston's apartment yesterday....and believe it or not he has a craft station in his bedroom which includes a sewing machine he's never used.  

So today was the day that Langston got his first sewing lesson.  And of all the many accomplishments during this trip....teaching Langston to sew will be at the top of my list.  

Using a teal polka dotted sheet that Liz no longer was using....I helped Langston make two pillow covers for Liz's bed.  

We also cut up an old quilt and made a bench cushion cover and a lumbar pillow for her bedroom reading chair with the quilt fabric on one side...and the teal on the other.  

Langston was a quick study....and he's ready to forge off on his own.

We've been slowly working in Liz's bedroom over the past several days in between other projects. We've done most of the hanging...and I hope to share a few photos soon.  But her bench cushion is ready....thanks to Langston....and his Aunt MaryAnn.

We also framed one of the leaf and grass print collages I brought with me for her bathroom.

  I had given Liz a world map this summer....and she cut it up and rearranged it in this window frame and the two are nice pops of color.  Somehow...the mixed up world seems just about right these days. I wish more people in the world were quick studies like Langston.

Continusous line

A friend who is transitioning from one place to another said "It's good to be content wherever you land."  I love that line....and it has always been true for us as we've moved from one house to another.  Paul reminded me one time when were were deciding which house to buy that "we've been happy everywhere we've lived"....and he was right.

This was the view of our condo in the early morning light at the end of our walk this morning.  We're pretty content where we've landed this time!

And these days....Linda's line is also true for my art and craft projects.  Right now I'm content where I've landed stitching faces and images....so I'm just going with it.  And anything you can draw with a continuous line....you can translate into a continuous stitch.

I had done this drawing of Angie's bottle of marbles for the Sketching and Watercolor Journal Style class last April.....and thought I would try in stitch.  Another one of Gina's lessons is to cut our our funky face....or motif...and mount it on fabric...or another background.  So I thought I would give it a try with this sketch.

I drew just the simple bottle shape on the fabric (which I fused onto medium weight stabilizer)....then machine free handed the marbles referencing my drawing as I stitched along.

The writing on the bottle was a little lopsided....but not bad for never lifting the needle  even one time.  I colored some of the marbles in with posca pens....and shaded the bottle with colored pencil.

Here's how it looked after I cut it out. It's like a little patch.

I wanted to stitch a plaid for the background using black and colored thread. In the end I wish I would have stitched even more lines....and maybe just in colors....and maybe even added a little paint.  That's the advantage of putting a cut-out motif on top....the background can be anything you want it to be.

I wished I would have used the whole crayon box in the lines....and something more interesting for the foreground.  Next time.  I'm just experimenting for now.

This image above is framed digitally.....but I ended up doing a quick little fabric binding today giving it a colorful border.  I'm not exactly sure it was the right choice....but it was worth trying. And this little project is proof that if you can draw a continuous line....you can stitch one too. I'm content where I've landed.

We had dinner with Dana and Anne this evening....

with a beautiful view of Casco Bay.  

It's always a delight!   

 

I took all my recent funky faces and projects because that's one of the things we do....we show and tell. Anne always has fun projects to share with me too....and we learn from each other.

Anne really loved my continuous stitched marble bottle....so I seized the moment and gave it to her.  I couldn't be more tickled.

At some point I may try to sell some things again.  But in the meantime I just need to make things as I'm learning new skills and techniques.  So if you see something you love.....say something. Maybe it can be yours!  

I Finished Something!

 

My first harvest!

There's a funny line I've seen that says...."I never finish anythi."  That's mostly true about me. I love starting things....all kinds of things....and every once in a while I actually finish something!

Today I finished Liz's fabric piece.....so tomorrow I'll figure out how to package it up for Paul to take with him on the plane. I'll share the whole thing in a few days....but today I'm going to briefly share my wrapped binding technique again.  

I chose a gray textured fabric for the binding...it looks a bit like bark and seemed to be a nice compliment to the piece.  My original intent was to use more of the same hand dyed fabric....but I thought the gray fabric and gave it a nice crisp frame. And in the end made the whole piece feel a little softer....and better for Liz's bedroom.

I cut the binding 3 inches wide (it should have been a little narrorowner) and ironed a strip of fusible webbing along one edge.  I had to piece it together as I didn't have a long enough run to go all the way around....and I planned it so the seams would be at the top and bottom, not along the sides where they would be most visible. 

I used 1/4 inch seam allowance and made a little corner turn with the thread like this when I got 1/4 inch away from the next edge. This angle will guide the mitred corner technique I learned here here:  http://mysweetprairie.blogspot.com/2011/01/tips-on-tuesdays-binding.html

Next I folded the binding straight up....then folded it back down....and sewed the next seam.

  

It makes a perfect mitred corner...and creates a bit of a box that pulls perfectly around the frame to the back.  It's crisp and clean, and a nice finish to a quilt piece. 

I had to do a little trouble shooting...because the canvas was loose and floppy and I was worried the piece would sag with it.  The canvas was just a few dollars from the Goodwill Store.....so what do I expect?

I inserted folded pieces of thick batting into all the crevices between the canvas at the frame...and it tightened it up nicely.  Between this....and the fact that the piece is on heavy weight interfacing type fabric...I think it will be just fine.

Because my binding was a little wide....I had to pull it around and fuse it the the inside edge of the frame....but that actually makes it look a little more tidy on the back.  Because I used commercial fabric I did secure it with a few staples after I took these photos.

It's not beautiful....there are bumps and bulging staples from the canvas underneath...but it hangs flat and nobody will see the back.  

I'll share the whole front view in a few days.

Look what else I finished....well....almost finished.

I'm still missing those two edge pieces....so I'm embracing the beauty of imperfection! Philippa would be proud!

Time to start another one! This table will ALWAYS have a puzzle on it.