MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2009
My first quilts
They turned out pretty well considering it was my first time quilting anything.
I love working with pretty vintage sheets.
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010
Thank You Leigh-Ann
A very special thank you to Leigh-Ann Keffer for all the work she did designing this blog. I am thrilled with how it turned out. She is the nicest person in the world to do business with and I am so happy that we have become friends. This girl really has a lot going on. You can visit her at the frecklednest.
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I'm using fusible interlining so after the pieces are cut I trim the interlining and then iron it to the wrong side of the main fabric, or to whatever the pattern suggests.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010
The First Stage of a New Project
When I begin a new sewing project, there are a lot of small steps that need to be taken before you get to the actual sewing and putting together. For instance, once I've decided on a pattern, I read through it a couple of times so I know how everything will come together and what I will need. After that I choose the fabric and interfacing I'm going to use. I also choose co-ordinating thread and notions. The first thing I do when I buy fabric is to wash, dry and iron it, so it's ready to make something. Next, I lay out the fabric and pin the pattern pieces. Once pinned I cut all the pieces out. For this particular bag I've chosen Micheal Miller's Large Whimsy Doozie in Blue with navy blue Kona cotton for the lining.
Once all of this is done I'm ready to start sewing. What's your new project? What types of materials are you using? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you! .
1 COMMENTS:
- Wolf and Willow said...
- Love the pink scissors! And that rotary cutter looks handy... I've always wanted one of those! N x
- FEBRUARY 28, 2010 2:38 PM
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Week three's assignment if you are familiar with 52 Weeks of Blogging You Passion, is to write about an obstacle I overcame. Well, I think that there are many but for
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2010
This is assignment five for 52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion This week I'm asking you to answer some questions, if you please. What kind of a purse or bag do you carry? Do you carry a bag or clutch at all ? If you do, what do your prefer? Do you carry a large bag some of the time and maybe a smaller bag at other times depending on where you are going or what you are doing?
Do you like a lot of inside pockets with snaps or zippers or velcro?
Do you carry a smaller clutch or zip purse in a larger bag? What are your favorite types of bags? Do you like leather or cloth?
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010
How I Fell in Love With Creating
Assignment 6 for 52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion is to tell you how I fell in love with creating Creating has always been in my blood. I'm really not sure when or how though. It was just always there. My mother was creative, but I think that is was squashed early in her life for some reason. She and her brother could draw quite well, but for some reason she never pursued it. As for myself I was always allowed to pursue and explore any avenue of creativity. Both my parents encouraged and admired everything that I created from my childhood coloring pages to my adventures of sewing for the family. At age nine I was given an old White treadle sewing machine and would spend hours sewing clothes for my sister and myself.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2010
A Work in Progress
I'm still working on my Ripple blanket. It's about half done and I"m pleased with how it is tuning out.
What are some projects that you are working on ?
1 COMMENTS:
- Marija said...
- I think this is turning out beautifully! I love the color combination and the overlapping effect of the ripple is so unique! Very pretty work. Marija
- MARCH 2, 2010 5:24 AM
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Leave a commentMONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010
Overcoming an Obstacle
Week three's assignment if you are familiar with 52 Weeks of Blogging You Passion, is to write about an obstacle I overcame. Well, I think that there are many but for
the sake of this post I will only write about one. The biggest challenge I face is going from one task to another.I think this would fall into the category of organization. I'm sure you have all faced this at one time or another. You know you're in your studio or work space and you're sewing, painting, creating etc... and all of a sudden it's time for dinner or you have to drive somebody somewhere and you have to switch tasks! Some people do really well at this but, I do not. I find it totally frustrating. I just don't switch modes easily, never have and probably never will, at least with out some organizational strategies up my sleeve. If you have some please let me know.
Although this is one of my greatest frustrations at times, I have found that some planning does help. Simple as it is, I still struggle a lot of the time. I have learned that life can throw you a lot of curves, that I can't control so the things I can control like planning meals or being prepared for all of a sudden things takes away some of the stress and frustration. Making sure all my materials and tools are close at hand and that I have everything I will need for a project before I start, is actually calming and makes the creating so much more enjoyable, which is the reason I have chosen to do this in the first place. How do you handle similar frustrations!
4 COMMENTS:
- Libby said...
- I have just recently worked out that those interruptions have helped me more creatively! Sounds crazy I know but sometimes when I come back to my work I see it with fresh eyes. Like you, they used to frustrate. Not so much anymore.
- MARCH 1, 2010 1:45 PM
- Wolf and Willow said...
- Oh Donna! You will never believe how I have overcome this very same obstacle... with my oven timer!! I actually set the oven timer before I go into the W&W workshop. When it goes off, I know it's time to pack up and go to work, or start cooking dinner, or wash the dog... whatever I need to do back in the "real world". I know it sounds funny, but it works!
- MARCH 1, 2010 5:22 PM
- Wolf and Willow said...
- But, for a brief second, I think someone has just baked a delicious cake, and I'm ever so disappointed when I realise it's just time to go to work! x
- MARCH 1, 2010 5:24 PM
- Brandi said...
- Donna, you are so not alone. I can relate - constant distractions frustrate me, too. It definitely interrupts the creative flow. The only thing that I can suggest is to set a block of time for yourself, and let the loved ones in your life know that this is your creative (alone) time. By setting gentle guidelines for yourself and getting others to acknowledge them, you might feel more in control and more productive. P.S. That oven timer sounds like an awesome way to keep track of time!
- MARCH 2, 2010 5:16 PM
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Leave a commentSUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2010
Bag or Clutch?
Do you like a lot of inside pockets with snaps or zippers or velcro?
Do you carry a smaller clutch or zip purse in a larger bag? What are your favorite types of bags? Do you like leather or cloth?
Thank you for taking the time to answer one or all of these questions, your comments are like gold and I always look forward to reading them.
4 COMMENTS:
- Brandi said...
- Hey Donna! A few months ago, I'd have said that I prefer carrying a purse, but lately I've been getting into clutches. When I do carry one, I tend to favor bigger purses over smaller ones, and it's great if there's at least two pockets in it - one for the smaller things (like chapstick, a pen, etc.) and one for my cell phone. It's great if at least one pocket is zippered, but it doesn't have to be. I like zippers over snaps and buttons. Lately though, if I'm going out to run a few quick errands, I'll just take a clutch or wristlet with a handle. I don't have a traditional wallet, so the smaller wristlet holds all my cards and my cell. The larger one holds a little more, and is great for lunches with friends, or if I'm wearing something a little dressier.
- MARCH 7, 2010 12:00 PM
- Ivy9 said...
- Sad to say, I always carry the same purse--a black, long-strap for diagonal-over-the-shoulder wearing, with lots of compartments for different things. I think your designs are very cute though!
- MARCH 7, 2010 4:34 PM
- Donna said...
- Thank you Brandi and Susan, purses and bags are such a versatile accessory. For some reason in the summer I tend to use a bag probably because I pack water to drink and summer essentials, but during the cooler months I like to travel lighter so I use a clutch.
- MARCH 7, 2010 9:45 PM
- Libby said...
- For work, it's a very formal black Oroton handbag. On my days at home with the boys I carry this one to the store http://www.bsirius.com/printed-range/8-bird-cage-light/ because I can carry it over the shoulder. I'm also a huge fan of Louenhide bags and have a red Poppet. I'm completely in love with your pink one at the bottom... I would use that in a heartbeat.
- MARCH 13, 2010 11:46 PM
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Leave a commentTUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010
How I Fell in Love With Creating
I think you either like to create or you don't. I also think young children should be allowed to explore anything that they show an interest in and I don't think one is ever to old to begin creating. To me creating is a private place in the heart where you are free to just be you, explore new things I enjoy the creativity of others. I love the colors and the patterns and the techniques. Places like etsy have opened such vistas to those who love to create and share what they make. I love looking at all of your blogs and shops full of things that you have made and the things that you love.
1 COMMENTS:
- Ivy9 said...
- I think that is an important point that creativity is a total freedom to explore and not hold back, edit, or critique your efforts. That is something I try to pass on to my students, who are already in doubt of their creative powers. They always ask "How am I doing?" and I don't want to answer that question. It's not about how others think you are doing, but how fulfilled you yourself are by the process and act of creating.
- MARCH 13, 2010 8:04 AM
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