HELLOmynameisHeather

The Peppermint Experiment

Here's the result of my late-night rush on the fabric store for red & white striped fabric. My church is donating a decorated tree to a family in need (love this idea), so I had some friends and the teenage girls over last night to make this zany garland for contribution.  We sipped hot cocoa with homemade marshmallows (Katie-made) and sat in a circle, sewing.  Now, why can't that happen more often.  My kind of evening.

(The top garland is the ceramic one I mentioned two posts ago.)

The gingerbread house was a whole-family activity.  Thank you Costco.  Have you seen these kits?  All of the hard stuff is already done for you;  the cookies are cooked and the frosting is mixed.  Just assemble and decorate (and snack).  Elijah did most of the work, but tuckered-out before the house was gaudy enough, so Charlotte and I helped him out.  I could glue candy on things all day.  It's a lot like making yo-yos - repetitive and hynotic.

This N That

So far, so good.  Here's the state of my re-fashion at present.  The collar is made from the entire bottom band of one of the sweaters.  It can be flipped up or flipped down.  I'll see what works best once I try the thing on.  I'm thinking of stitching the yoke back to the yoke front with big red stitches and raw edges exposed, but I'm making it up as I go along, so I reserve the right to change my mind. ;-)  On a related note, check out this recent article from TIME magazine on re-fashionistas.

On the garland front, I stopped by the store last night and picked up some striped fabric.  I'll let you know how the peppermint experiment goes & take some pics.  It looks like Amanda has been in yo-yo mode as well.  She's put together a festive garland for her window frame and was sportive enough to use her treasured vintage buttons. (I can be too protective of mine.)  And Anna has made a funky felt one.

So, I'm officially proclaiming it The Year of the Garland (by no authority at all) and I'm starting a Flickr photo group for handmade/homemade garlands (not just Christmas garlands either), called Ga-ga for Garlands.  So, if you've got the garland bug, then, by edict, you must join in and show off your efforts. 

Also, Freshcut is finally up on the Free Spirit site. (Remember, you guys got the early early preview.)  The collection starts shipping out to stores just this week (not till January or February for Australia), so hopefully you'll be able to get your hands on the line soon!  I'm looking forward to seeing what Freshcut projects you come up with. 

The fabrics are also for sale at various online fabric stores, but, be warned, on some of these sites the colors are all muddy and funny - much yummier in person.  Here are some of the sites that have the line available for pre-ordering:

Flapper Girl Fabrics

The Bernina Connection

Cabbage Rose Quilting

FatQuarter Shop

Hancock's of Paducah

Quilt Fabric Delights (Australia)

Finally, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for your kind condolences these past two weeks.  I'm not finding the time to respond to each of your well-wishes individually, so please know that Isaac and I are grateful for your love and support.

Love,
Heather

Yo-Yo Garland

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 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.

Re-Fashion in the Works

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.

On my way...

...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?"

Progress

Two quilt tops done, all bundled up and on their way to The Threaded Pear to be quilted – Gina 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.

Tights Meet Dress

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!"

Out of the Bag

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 and these.  But, when I pulled them for a baby dress (forthcoming) to go with these, I got caught up in their fabulousness and got to work on a purse pattern.

Sew, Heather, Sew!

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!”

Out the Door...

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!

A Clown is Crowned!

Now, that’s how you whip up a happy birthday!  Thanks for the tidal wave of goofy jokes - my dumb chicken joke seems extra dumb now.  Not only did I laugh, but I also giggled, gasped and guffawed.  And, your outpouring of jokes had me in such a fabulous mood all day!  What love - thank you!

As far as the laughs go, I don’t think I’ll look at the numbers 0 and 8 in the same way again. And, I wish that I had a Grandmother Pizza.  Picking a winner was harder than ever expected. In fact, I brought the jokes with me to my birthday dinner for input (you can see the manuscript beneath my right arm, below).  Pink Fluff, Magic Beer, and The Decoy won rave reviews, as well as Darth Vader Party Pooper and 9, 8, 7, 6…  And, that was only the first half of what came in! 

So, coming from a gal who has her husband order food for her (indecisive - too many choices!), I’d like to present the first place ribbon to Caroline for:

    Q:    Why did the skeleton burp in church?
    A:    Because he didn’t have the guts to fart.

My mother is still trying to decide if she could get away with telling this one at church. Caroline will have her pick of the pincushions and this fabulous ribbon to flaunt around town – wear it with pride!

As for the birthday list, mission accomplished! (Except for the fact that wish #1 was so well-met that it prevented postponed wish #2)  As a bonus, Isaac made me breakfast lunch. Then, not long after, I had a fantastic dinner with my loved ones (and your menagerie of jokes), glutting myself on Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake, with White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake as my palette cleanser – whoa!   Then Isaac and I snuck off to the bookstore, followed by The Devil Wears Prada, while my mother watched the kids.  An ideal day.

(Yes, wish #4 was squeezed in as well – but it will require its own future post)

Finally, you have to see the birthday card from my sister, Julia.  She bought it for me almost a decade ago, finding it irresistibly perfect.  She then stashed it away for my next birthday and forgot about it every year since.  I can’t have changed too much over the years, because this card is still as Heathery as they come. In fact, lock me in a room with nothing to do, for long enough, and I’ll knit myself a scarf from my own hair – or perhaps a hammer and a chisel to escape with.   

Birthday Giveaway!

Tomorrow’s my birthday – the best day of the year.  And this year, for my birthday, my list is rather simple:

    •  Sleep in
    •  Visit my favorite antique store
    •  Get pedicure  Thanks Merris!
    •  Buy some strange hoo-ha on eBay
    •  Eat something sinfully chocolate
    •  and… Laugh!

I’m off to a good start today with that pedicure, thanks to my SIL, Merris.  Seeing as I’m generally a short-nails, no-polish kind of gal, this was my first pedicure ever!  So, in honor of my first pedicure ever, I went all-out and authorized a celebratory sprig of flowers to bedeck my toes - white flowers, with red crystal centers.  Hours later, I’m still in debate over whether toe-flowers are ‘me’ or not - they sure are cute – toe wiggle – perhaps too cute? – toe wiggle.  And the lotion they used!  I’m not a lotion kind of gal either, but I'd sure like to get my hands (or feet) on some of that stuff!

As for the other items on the list, they’re all in the works.  In fact, I have big plans for that last one – the laugh - and, I’m counting on you.  OK, cut the prologue – JOKE CONTEST – right here, right now! Get me with your favorite joke or shaggy-dog story, and win your pick of these pears!

    Rule #1:    Nothing dirty or vulgar
    Rule #2:    No swearing (“¿!#*?!#” is fine)
    Rule #3:    No offense if I edit your joke for not following the rules

Tip:  I like dumb jokes too.  One of my all-time favorites is:
    Q:   “Why DIDN’T the chicken cross the road?”
    A:    “Because he was a chicken!”

Come on, humor me – literally.  Oh please?  It’s my birthday!

I’ll announce the winner sometime on Sunday Monday. (This is way too much fun!)

Going Yo-Yo

I threw a birthday party for my 2-yr-old nephew, Nathan, yesterday.  We had the whole family over and everyone chipped in.  Mom brought balloons, sister did the cake, lil' bro brought soda and Nathan's ma & pa provided the food. All that was left were the decorations and favors -- a far easier load than anticipated.  However, I'm afraid I may have gotten all of the credit.  So, this being my one public forum, I'd like to thank everyone for the help!  Happy Birthday Nato! -- and all of my love to your mom & dad!

On a different note, Laura has posted some new photos of her home, including the bedspread curtains I was telling you about.  She'll be stuck in bed for the next number of days, so send her well-wishes and some links to fun stuff (she has the company of a laptop with wi-fi).  Have I mentioned that Laura is great?  Laura, Laura, Laura.

And, lastly, after a number of requests, I've added a Yo-Yo Tutorial to my sidebar.  Yo-yos are among the simplest things to sew, so the tutorial is quick and easy.  There are, however, some helpful tips about stitch length, and the beginnings of a project gallery at the end -- I'll add more yo-yo projects in as I complete them. 

But...the...best...part...is...
that I was able to use one of my own fabrics in the tutorial.  And, not in a sneaky, you-can't-really-see-what-I'm-talking-about kind of way, like the last teaser.  Instead, there's a nice, crystal-clear peek at one of my polkadotty paisleys (in brown), so go check out the tutorial!

Oh, and no, the green polkadot is not mine. <!-- ckey="5CC96513" -->

Vedge-Crafting

Sitting still can be frustrating.  I'm not any good at it.  So, when we rent a movie or go to my parents' house for dinner, I'm always hunting around my studio at the last minute for some grab-n-go project I can fiddle with -- ironically, I like to stay busy to relax.  But worse, when it's time to relax, I'm usually too tired to think up a project, make the preliminary design decisions, and pack up the necessary supplies I'Il need at the park, at the library, or on the couch. (Usually, I end up with my trusty sketchbook and a mechanical pencil -- or skip relaxing all together.)

Enter the Yo-Yo-Flower.  Aren't these fun?  And, so simple to make!  On Saturday, I bought some coasters at an antique store in St. Louis, where the owners were busy making these frillies to mark time through the hot summer. (I should have checked the name of the store -- I thought it would be on the receipt, but no.)  My thoughts: "Nifty flowers -- I love yo-yos --I was just thinking about yo-yo flowers -- cool -- I could make these in front of the t.v. -- heck, my son could make these -- yes -- when I get home, I'll pack a little tin of fabric scraps and vintage buttons, with a needle and a spool fo thread, to keep on hand as my emergency pacifier -- oh, and wire!" 

Well, to sum things up rather abruptly, I found myself some simple relief for a small aggravation -- a perfect thing to share.  So, I pass this happy hoo-ha along to the other manic makers out there.  I'm predicting that Yo-Yo Flowers will be the next wave of vedge-crafting -- at the Bailey's, at least.

All the Pinnings...

...of a great day!  Today is Laura's birthday and I'm out visiting her in St. Louis, MO.  We had an indulgent day of shopping, with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, followed by more shopping.  We found a bedspread at Urban Outfitters that will make perfect curtains for Laura's living room and I picked up a fabulous apron, and a mouse for my laptop (so I can stand working on it while I'm here).  We also stopped by Sycamore Moon, a fun little boutique where Laura has her paintings for sale.  And, what fun, she let me choose one for my birthday!  At the end of it all, we got too sugared up on pina colada popsicles and decided to skip the cake -- maybe tomorrow night.

Here's the pincushion I made for her birthday.  I love creating things for/with Laura (it's that like-mindedness thing) -- so I stayed up late the night before my flight, with Isaac, Lorelai and Rory.  I was having such a nice time with my stitcheries, that I kept going and made this too:

The pincushion is stuffed with wood shavings, to keep the pins sharp.  And the leaf makes a nifty spot for needles.  The measuring tape, though guilty-cute, has that fun spark of red to forgive all.  My evening of stitching-fun just about saw us to the end of Season Five (video clips included).  I say "us" because Isaac is even more addicted that I am.  How cruel to go out of town and make him wait a whole week to finish the last two episodes!  Ah well, he'll forgive me.  Now, if I can just get Charlotte to go to bed before 2:00am...and I thought I was a night owl!

"nigh-nigh" for Charlotte Rose

Here’s the top of a baby quilt I started YEARS ago.  And, wonder of wonders, I still like it.  In the last two weeks, Charlotte has become infatuated with blankets, which she adorably calls “nigh-nigh.”  So, my heartstrings are twanging to make her a drag-about "nigh-nigh."  And thanks to this running start, I just might get it done before she can say “blanket.”

It’s a simple quilt-top made of squares, two of which are much larger.  Pieced blocks, with assorted background fabrics, are randomly sprinkled throughout.  I like how this gives the effect of a more involved quilt, without the time investment.  The plan is to appliqué some baby chicks in the two larger squares, but I haven’t sketched the little chickies yet, so they just might evolve into ducks or pigs -- we’ll see.  There, I’m officially a Work-in-Progress-Friday groupie!

Little Drawers, Little Breads

My parents just moved to a new home this month. And, lucky me, my mom brought me this little chest of drawers she didn't want to take with her. I have a thing for small chests of drawers. When I get my studio sorted out and photographed, you'll see what I mean. This little number is the best one yet.  It's a perfect notionkeeper. Each drawer is divided into four sections and the drawers don't fall out when you pull on them. All it needed was a happy color -- a great excuse to use the green spray paint I bought a while back. I'm just tickled to have it all done.  No fretting or planning, just one impulsive, "I think I'll go paint this thing!" -- and voila! 

Now I’m going to go fill it with needles and thimbles, fray check and seam rippers, and all manner of happy things -- a much-needed respite from dancing with desks.

On a different note, this is what I made for dinner last night, Little Breads. Yes, Little Breads – a ridiculous name, I know. I make this for dinner when I want something yummy, decently healthy, AND super easy. I never thought of my creation as a recipe until I learned that my sister, Julia, had adopted it for a regular meal and her husband had given it the official name, "Little Breads.” Brent has an odd, yet unaffected sense of humor, which I much appreciate and must endorse, so the name is indeed official. 'Recipe' here.

Note to self: Track down Brent’s poem about flies & see if he’ll let me share it.

The Shuffle Kerfuffle

I’m eager to sew more -- really ready. I’ve spent a lot of time on the computer this year -- a fact that’s reflected in the arrangement of my studio.  My computer table has been in a prime position and easily accessed. Extra papers, packages and put-aways have accumulated on the neglected sewing table, further securing the table’s second billing. I have a brand new Bernina Artista 640 that I’ve only used twice so far (to make this and these) and a complete set of Isacord thread that I have yet to unbox and find a place for. They’ve been nagging at me like bored and hungry children, “Play with me. Feed me.” Well, enough already! It’s time to rearrange my studio.

Okay, so I dropped what I was working on and spent a good chunk of the week shuffling furniture. I was hoping to find a configuration that would allow more workspace for sewing and better storage, yet make space for my computer to stay in the room. Sounds possible, right?  But, days later, I’ve moved armoires and tables and a chest of drawers and I still haven’t figured it out! *so frustrating* We’ve been to several stores in pursuit of a tempting solution as well. In my mind now, the furniture options are waltzing around the room as I try to sort out the arrangement. Not the worst problem to have, true, but I have other things to do than spin in circles. That being said, I’ve decided to roost on it, at least for a couple of days -- let it be.

Also, let me add that the fabulous collection of thread comes from the ever-generous elinor (lowercase “e”). I swear I’ve won the mother-in-law lottery. She spoils me and then she spoils me again -- and so supportive! elinor is teaching her first online class over at Cloth Doll Connection -- now anyone in the world can see what the fuss is all about. Check out the class description here – flat fairies, indeed. Love you mom, thanks!

My Favorite Knot

Every few years a sewing tip or trick comes my way that greatly improves my creative experience. I used to knot my thread by wrapping it around my finger, rolling it with my thumb, then tugging the length to form an unpredictable mass at the end of my thread.  The result was often waddish and loopy --a small, but frequent frustration.  Then, a few years back, I learned a knot that has never failed me.  I love this knot, all perfect and tidy. In the spirit of sharing, I've put together a tutorial of My Favorite Knot to spread the joy.

Don't bother with a magnifying glass, the photo collage is just a fun preview. To read step-by-step instructions, with larger photos, click the My Favorite Knot link in my sidebar.  Practice until you've got it down, it's worth it.  Have fun!

A Steady Drip

Hey everyone -- thanks for all of the excitement over the Sweet Summertime shirt for my daughter.  Yes, I made the pattern, so I don't have a pattern number for you -- so sorry :-(  However, I am planning to publish some patterns this fall.  I have lots of ideas in the works, but I'm totally open to suggestions. If you're just dying to have a pattern for any of my personal projects (like the shirt), certainly give a holler.  A little positive pressure just might do the trick! 

Getting there -- today I drafted the pieces for what will likely be my first published pattern -- a ruffly apron for girly-girls. I'm planning to draft a second design to go with it and grade the two designs into 2-3 sizes to cover all ages.  It'll likely be a couple of months before I take any patterns to the printer -- I'm hoping to have a number of designs ready to go at once -- but when I do, you'll be the first to know.

Again, thank you for your encouragement, a steady drip of affirmation -- LOVE this blog thing!

The Sugar Shop

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!

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.

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! 

Sweet Summertime

Success!  Now my baby has a happy little shirt for summertime.  And, lucky baby, the need for photos provided a jaunt at the park with her favorite ball. Happy baby, happy mama!

Play Time!

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™

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 in my sidebar, under "Free Patterns."

Join the "Bitty Booties" photo group and show your stuff -- I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Headband Haven

Inspired by the fabulous headbands being created by the likes of Sally and Sarah, 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

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 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. ☺

Recipe for Good Times

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 :-)

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.

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.

Flouncy Bouncer

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 (my “in-house” photographer) even got in on the action this time and snapped this beautiful still-life. Now, back to that pincushion.

Big Plans, Small Pins

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, 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.

Headband Helper

Headband groupies -- I added a couple more detail shots to the Hooray for Headbands post from a few days ago.  Now you can clearly see how the hidden elastic works.