Baby its cold outside!

Being from the south I know my idea of freezing cold is what most people would consider a cool day which is exactly why I prefer to layer up with a cardigan than wear a coat but this year things are feeling much colder than before.   As I posted in my previous blog I've recently taken up crocheting as a hobby and I'm really enjoying it.  Something about working with yarn just feels season appropriate and it helps that you can quickly whip out a blanket or scarf to help combat the shivers.  This weekend was no exception as I found myself shivering in the wind and a Joann's just a few minutes away ... it also didn't hurt that I had a coupon and they had yarn that screamed my name louder than anything I've ever seen before.  After watching a few tutorials on YouTube I set out to make my very own scoodie.   For those unaware scoodie are scarves with hoods and sometimes pockets/mittens. Why yes an all in one cold weather accessory that won't mess up your hair like a hat!

It took almost 3 skeins of yarn and about 5 hours to complete the whole thing and I am absolutely in love with the outcome!

Tis the season

Since Hanukkah happened super early this year I can go ahead and post the presents that have already been given, opened, and loved. I've previously posted the quilts I made for my nieces and the apron for my brother-in-law so here is the rest of it ...

A pot holder for my ma

if you look closely you can see the Celtic knot quilted into it

another pot holder for ma

a scarf crocheted for my grandma

another pot holder (i had binding issues with this one but hey all stripes are going in the same direction!)

a floor cushion, green lantern crocheted yarmulke, knitted scarf, and embroidered "teacher" bag for Josh and Bethany ...plus a tummy stuffer monkey cause it was cute

Hope everyone that celebrates Hanukkah has a great one! I'll be posting Christmas crafting over the next few weeks. Happy Holidays!!!

Almost time!

The holidays are coming way faster than I would like but isn't that the norm?!  My list of to-do has grown smaller and smaller which I am ever thankful for but until December comes I am not able to really post any of the projects I've been working on.  That being said I do know how long it has been since I've posted any thing at all so a small bit of spoiling is in order.

My brother-in-law requested an apron for the holidays and since he even drew up exactly what he wanted I see absolutely no harm in posting a picture of that ... though I did add some personal touches and flair to the apron that were not requested (I've got a problem with wanting little details in the things I make ... it is a good problem to have though.)

This was quite the learning experience for me because I've never really sewn on a machine with denim.  Sure I've made purses and water bottle holders from old jeans but that was when I was all about sewing by hand; connecting with what I was making and blooding my thumbs to the point of frustration simply because the sewing machine scared me.  At least I now know that denim and french seams do NOT splice!  But this did end up being the biggest apron I've made and I won't lie when I tried it on I totally felt like I was 3 again trying on my dad's coveralls.

Not only did I get some sewing done but I also taught myself a new craft.  For quite some time now I've wanted to learn how to crochet and since I was all sickly and snuggled up on the couch why not at least be productive?!  So I set out with the one crochet hook I some how ended up with and a thing of yarn I bought when I was all "I can knit with a loom" and went to town.  Armed with a book my grandmother gave that was published in 1978 a chain stitch was simple to learn but as you can imagine everything after that just didn't make a lick of sense to me.  Of course I was way too lazy to get on the YouTube to see if I could find a great tutorial for the super visual learner so I just wung it ... one day I'm going to realize that 9 times out of 10 that doesn't yield the best results.

 

But hey at least Gus enjoyed my sitting still for long periods of time though the yarn seemed to grab her interest more than my wishing she'd just sit down and keep me warm.  Now on the to-do list: learn to make a hat!  I have to say this crochet thing is probably the best craft learning experience because if you mess up or don't like what you make just a tug on the yarn makes the whole thing disappear and you've not wasted a single thing.

Playing dress up

I love costumes!  I'm one of those people that wears "costumes" on random Tuesdays just for fun ... blue gingham tank top check, red lip gloss check, white cardigan check, today I'm Dorothy! Because I've never lost my childish enthusiasm to play dress up Halloween has always been a favorite holiday of mine.

This year I decided to use my new found passion of machine sewing by making my very own costume.   Years before I would buy these poor fitting cheaply made things for way more than they were worth and let's just say that began to aggravate me.  As a kid all I would ever wear were costumes my ma would make: black kitty, princess, hillbilly, sock hop-er, and you get my drift.  So making the leap as an adult really wasn't that far for me.

The final result wasn't exact to the pattern,  some errors were discovered at the end of the night, and I rushed the overdress but I'm still rather proud of what I accomplished. Snow White has never looked so voluptuous!

Snow White with her bff Joan Holloway

Princess selfie

The first step is the hardest

Or at least that is what I am hoping for.  I've never been good with following patterns.   For the most part I see the general idea of the project and just wing it and for the most part I've failed miserably.   "Who needs interfacing, I mean really?  I bet I don't." Yeah there is a reason why patterns call for it, why there are different varieties of it, and if a pattern calls for it use it. 

Why I decided making a costume would be easier and cheaper than buying one I'll never know because in the long run it has been more expensive and time consuming than going to a store and grabbing something would have been.  That being said I know that this costume will last and if I happen to lose more weight (fingers crossed) I could alter this one to fit since I've made it and know how it was constructed.   Now here is to hoping I can finish the second part of it this week so I can wear it on Saturday!

Thankfully with my lack of experience with patterns and making clothing I was able to find a great tutorial online for the exact pattern I had bought. https://www.professorpincushion.com/professorpincushion/simplicity-1773-medieval-dress-series/ Seriously if it weren't for that YouTube video I don't know how I would have been able to finish the dress and it actually end up looking halfway decent. The dress alone came out decent enough I would wear it for more things than Snow White in the enchanted forest ... like Ice Skating Princess, expensive harlet from a beer tavern, lady kidnapped by pirates, Maria Antoinette post beheading, and I'm sure I could come up with more concepts. 

The dress

I decided to add some embroidery

Another one bites the dust

I've been busy, I promise.  Ok so maybe not 100% true but I've been doing stuff.  This past weekend I finished the quilt for Kara. It isn't perfect,  but really in a way that makes it perfectly handmade.  As the old wives tale about the humility block goes and what not. Some how there are pictures attached, I don't know where since I'm a phone blogger and I don't have all those lovely editing dohinkys but still I hope you enjoy! 

Handmade with love as always!

Quilt front: Saddle Up Bandana panel by Riley Blake

Quilt back: Saddle Up Medallion by Riley Blake

The back is my favorite print

Hand quilting detail

The quilt front

Work, work, work!

I've been buzzing all over the place like a  little worker bee recently.   The pile of projects continues to grow, unlike the hours in a day but c'est la vie!  For the past week I've done some sewing in the form of a denim apron for my brother-in-law which is 90% completed (I'm too scared to cut a split in it), a block of stacked coins made from all the orange fabric in my stash, and a small amount of embroidery.  

Other than that I've been working on a bit of the electronic side of the wonderful world of crafting.  I finally bought myself an inkjet printer which means I'll be able to print designs directly on fabric, which also means I need to begin learning design programs in hopes to create my own embroidery designs or be super lazy and just print then sew. 

Also thanks to the new printer I was able to download some new sewing patterns and actually spent last night putting one together in hopes to make my own Halloween costume.  I've tried following patterns before (purse) and didn't do so great as I basically said "I got this" and sewed things together without following directions ... lesson learned as it still sits unfinished in my craft room.  But I'm planning on doing better this time around as the idea of looking like someone from Once Upon a Time that just stepped out of the enchanted forest  sounds delightful! Hopefully I'll get the first part finished soon so I can check the fit before finishing the costume up ... I should diy a dress form one of these days but with an ever changing body size I'd hate to make one then gain or lose weight.  Oy the life of a crafter and the desire to make everything with your own hands!

The nerd in me

A dear friend of mine is one of those people who is very passionate about history,  we are talking does reenactments usually a few times a year.  He collects historical artifacts, studies for fun, makes historical facial hair look cool, and can talk so enthusiastically about history it gets other people excited about it.  His vast knowledge is astounding and it is always a great pleasure for me when we get into discussions about Europe in the 1500's (I adore the Tudor dynasty.)

It may seem a little odd for me to talk of such things in a craft blog but there is a very good reason ... he has asked me to make a historically accurate quilt for him!  The amount of work it is going to take does seem a little daunting but in the face of difficulty I tend to develop an almost inhuman amount of determination. This is just a very exciting opportunity for me!  Not only do I get to share my passion for quilting with a friend but I also get to let my inner nerd out to play.  The research has begun for both of us, as we both want to make something accurate to time, trying to find patterns and fabrics that do not jeopardize the integrity of a reproduction. 

I'll be meeting up with him tomorrow in hopes to brainstorm further about what he wants and maybe I can talk him into doing one of those pretty Turkish red and white quilts I keep coming across in my research.  Like quilting has been since I started almost 2 years ago this shall be a giant learning experience for me and I'm completely thrilled about it.

Birthday!

As mentioned earlier I haven't had much time nor real ability to make anything more to sell on etsy but I have been working on gifts for people.   Yesterday was a dear friend's birthday and so I made her a little something for her special day.  Like me she has a fondness for blue (ice blue being her favorite) and a first name that begins with S so making her present was one of the easiet things for me to do.  The entire process was a breeze and took very little thought because instinctually I knew what to do because it was pleasing to my eye  instead of being caught up in what others might think looked good ... it pays to have friends with similar taste (especially when they clean out their closets ;)).  So though I was all "I wanna keep it" I was able to part with the little pillow and seeing her smile when she opened it was well worth the time it took to sew it. 

Happy Birthday Shana! You have one of the brightest and sweetest hearts and are a great friend. Many blessings and wishes to you, my dear friend!

Set backs

I knew trying to find balance was going to take some effort but I never expected it would be this difficult!  Work, home, family, friends, holidays, crafts, and trying to have some what of a dating life is a juggling act to say the least.  The things I've managed to work on in the past week have been in preparation for the holiday season and due my bursa being inflamed it hasn't been much. Because of that I don't have a single craft to post about here and that is disheartening.  On top of all of that I now have to find time outside of work to post blogs with pictures due to blogger's recent update and the very old version of IE on my work computer not recognizing it.  If it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger so in the words of Annie you can "bet your bottom dollar" I'll find a way to make all of this work and hopefully soon.