Last night was the first party for Etsy sellers who work out of Houston. Esty is this great marketplace where small makers can sell their products on-line without a huge investment in a stand alone store front. In addition, sellers can find you by searching for products without your wares getting buried by big stores in standard google searches.
The party was a chance for Etsy sellers here to meet each other, try new crafty techniques and for poeple like me, to bask in their creativity.
One of the makers I met was Sharon who makes small art quilts for sale on Etsy. Her blog is here and I love her little creations. They are delightful, slices-of-life that would brighten any empty corner of my home.
Check out Sharon and her store and while you are in Etsy, check out some of the other makers I enjoy visiting like b*bags, Craft Leftovers and heather fish.
I don't think you will be disappointed.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Run Little Animals, Run!
KILLER ALERT!!
Do not be taken in by the sweet look on this Dachshund’s face. Kimora is not a quiet, gentle puppy but a stone hearted killer.
Her kills this year include a dove, a squirrel, a rat and a turtle….and these are only the ones I know about.
Today she took on a turtle that was approximately ten inches wide. The only reason that the turtle has lived to tell the tale is that Kimora could not get it completely under the fence and into our yard.
She is now on antibiotics and pain killers for the next week or so.
So beware all you birds, squirrels, rats and turtles. Kimora is in the yard and it is hers.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Twisted Sisters Swap
Twisted Sisters is a quilting grop sponsored by the Kingwood Area Quilt Guild. We are 'twisted' because we are always looking at differnt techniques to change our fabric creations.
We recently held a swap where each member brought in a yard of fabric that they liked in a brown paper bag.
We then chose a bag and went off to create something. We did not reveal which fabric we had so this was a blind swap.
Last week we revealed our creations and found out who we created for and who created for us.
Although this is a crappy photo I think it reveals the variety of projects created:
From the center bottom and going clockwise we created a precision wall quilt, a little bag, a christmas table runner, a signature quilt, a Twisted Sisters Valentines Days quilt, a calendar hanger, a large batiked bag and ad appliqued quilt.
I made the signature quilt and, as I had to collect everyone's signature, it was not a surprise that this is what I created.
I received the little tourquise and brown bag. This bag has a metal snap closure which will make it great as a knitting bag/yarn barn.
This was a fun project even if there was a monetary incentive to complete some project from the fabric. If you didn't finish your project you had to pay $50.00 to the person whose fabric you had.
No-one paid the money and I think everyone was pleased with the results.
If you are part of any kind of crafty group I think this is a great way to get those creative juices flowing. Have everyone trade a bag of fabrics, papers, yarns, Legos, fruit or what have you and see what comes out of working with items someone else has chosen for you.
We recently held a swap where each member brought in a yard of fabric that they liked in a brown paper bag.
We then chose a bag and went off to create something. We did not reveal which fabric we had so this was a blind swap.
Last week we revealed our creations and found out who we created for and who created for us.
Although this is a crappy photo I think it reveals the variety of projects created:
I made the signature quilt and, as I had to collect everyone's signature, it was not a surprise that this is what I created.
I received the little tourquise and brown bag. This bag has a metal snap closure which will make it great as a knitting bag/yarn barn.
This was a fun project even if there was a monetary incentive to complete some project from the fabric. If you didn't finish your project you had to pay $50.00 to the person whose fabric you had.
No-one paid the money and I think everyone was pleased with the results.
If you are part of any kind of crafty group I think this is a great way to get those creative juices flowing. Have everyone trade a bag of fabrics, papers, yarns, Legos, fruit or what have you and see what comes out of working with items someone else has chosen for you.
Fashion Design I - Some Photos
Behind this door chaos reigns and creativity abounds. Enter at your own risk!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Fashion Design I
I know nothing about fashion design but I do know a little bit about sewing weird stuff.
When someone from the Kingwood branch of the Lonestar Community College System called and asked me to teach a class on Fashion Design, I said that I couldn't do it as I knew nothing about Fashion Design.
They then sent me the syllabus and class outline, I still said no. The class description had things in it like fashion sketching and reviewing jobs in the fashion industry. Again, I said No.
They finally said that I could teach anything I wanted as long as it had some sewing in it. I finally said yes.
Then I found out that a dear friend, who I worked with at the middle school knitting club last year, had recommended me for the job so I knew someone knew how unfashionable I am.
BTW, all of this took place the Wednesday and Thursday the week before the class started.
Friday, before class, a dear friend and her grandson helped me shop for fabric and supplies, Saturday and Sunday I packed 25 reusable shopping bags with supplies for the week and on Monday I got up at 5:30 AM to get ready for class.
The class was offered twice a day, four hours each session for four days in a row.
Despite my extreme wariness of this whole experience, I had a blast last week and, I think, the kids did as well.
The morning session had 8 12 - 14 year-old grials and the afternoon session had 15 9 - 11 year-old girls.
My approach was to introduce them to the materials used in fashion and how to change them and sew them into something useful.
Our frst day project was to make a tag for their goody bags. We started with each of them choosing a picture from Vogue magazine as an inspiration piece. They then made a sketch of a tag inspired by the picture. They used the sketch as the basis for making a tag using muslin, fusible fabrics, colord pencils, and hand embroidery to make a tag.
From there we went on to making phone/iPod cases, purses, tote bags and tried to get started on bog coats. The girls had such creativity that they baically ran with any ideas I had and took them to a new level. Some even ended up making fabric collages as quilt tops on the last day from fusible fabric scraps...amazing!
By the end of the four days they had used up about 60 yards of fabric, 50 skiens of floss, 22 sewing machine needles, 10 yards of quilt batting, many yards of tulle and organza ( a whole story in and of itself), yarn, upholstery samples, vintage linens, Sharpies, fabric paint pens, glitter, beads, thread and many hand sewing needles. They also brought in a lot of their own fabric, an old Jasmine costume and a pair of pink silk oriental style pajamas that all made their way into some wonderful creations.
My stash is now smaller, which is a good thing and the only casualties of the week were my old iron (looks like there is chewing gum on it) and my big ironing board (which is covered with glue and glitter). These are a small price to pay for all the creativity that happened in a portable clasroom on the Kingwood College Campus last week.
I hope I get a chance to do this again.
If you are on Facebook you can see photos at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=4199103&id=191541494548.
When someone from the Kingwood branch of the Lonestar Community College System called and asked me to teach a class on Fashion Design, I said that I couldn't do it as I knew nothing about Fashion Design.
They then sent me the syllabus and class outline, I still said no. The class description had things in it like fashion sketching and reviewing jobs in the fashion industry. Again, I said No.
They finally said that I could teach anything I wanted as long as it had some sewing in it. I finally said yes.
Then I found out that a dear friend, who I worked with at the middle school knitting club last year, had recommended me for the job so I knew someone knew how unfashionable I am.
BTW, all of this took place the Wednesday and Thursday the week before the class started.
Friday, before class, a dear friend and her grandson helped me shop for fabric and supplies, Saturday and Sunday I packed 25 reusable shopping bags with supplies for the week and on Monday I got up at 5:30 AM to get ready for class.
The class was offered twice a day, four hours each session for four days in a row.
Despite my extreme wariness of this whole experience, I had a blast last week and, I think, the kids did as well.
The morning session had 8 12 - 14 year-old grials and the afternoon session had 15 9 - 11 year-old girls.
My approach was to introduce them to the materials used in fashion and how to change them and sew them into something useful.
Our frst day project was to make a tag for their goody bags. We started with each of them choosing a picture from Vogue magazine as an inspiration piece. They then made a sketch of a tag inspired by the picture. They used the sketch as the basis for making a tag using muslin, fusible fabrics, colord pencils, and hand embroidery to make a tag.
From there we went on to making phone/iPod cases, purses, tote bags and tried to get started on bog coats. The girls had such creativity that they baically ran with any ideas I had and took them to a new level. Some even ended up making fabric collages as quilt tops on the last day from fusible fabric scraps...amazing!
By the end of the four days they had used up about 60 yards of fabric, 50 skiens of floss, 22 sewing machine needles, 10 yards of quilt batting, many yards of tulle and organza ( a whole story in and of itself), yarn, upholstery samples, vintage linens, Sharpies, fabric paint pens, glitter, beads, thread and many hand sewing needles. They also brought in a lot of their own fabric, an old Jasmine costume and a pair of pink silk oriental style pajamas that all made their way into some wonderful creations.
My stash is now smaller, which is a good thing and the only casualties of the week were my old iron (looks like there is chewing gum on it) and my big ironing board (which is covered with glue and glitter). These are a small price to pay for all the creativity that happened in a portable clasroom on the Kingwood College Campus last week.
I hope I get a chance to do this again.
If you are on Facebook you can see photos at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/photo.php?pid=4199103&id=191541494548.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Teeny Tiny Hats
A couple of the local yarn stores sponsor a charity project where knitters (and crocheters too!) are asked to use up their scrap yarn to make little hats for premie babies. Left over sock yarn is ideal for this project and I spent movie watching time over the past couple of days getting three more done.
Cute or what?
I used a super wash wool sock yarn that washes up into a very, very soft fuzzy hand.
I decided to try out three different ways of finishing the tops.
The middle one is my favorite...an I-cord, created off the final stitches at the top, and would be great for plucking the hat off of a little one's head.
The one on the left has a pom-pom that seems about to eat the hat. If I do this again I will make a smaller pom pom. I used a pom pom maker offered by Clover and it was a breeze to use. I got mine from JoAnn's and used a 40% off coupon so it was a great bargain.
The one of the right has a traditional way to close up the top of the hat...just string a piece of yarn through the last stitches, pull tight and secure. It works but I don't think it is as cute as the I-cord solution.
I hope the mothers and their babies like them. I am not sure which store will get my latest efforts. I have about a dozen waiting to be given away the next time I am at a participating yarn store. On the other hand, I may just drop them off to a group that provides a lot stuff to a specific local charity hospital that doesn't get much community support.
The thing they are sitting on in the backyard? That was my other weekend project and you will just have to wait to see the great unveiling.
Cute or what?
I used a super wash wool sock yarn that washes up into a very, very soft fuzzy hand.
I decided to try out three different ways of finishing the tops.
The middle one is my favorite...an I-cord, created off the final stitches at the top, and would be great for plucking the hat off of a little one's head.
The one on the left has a pom-pom that seems about to eat the hat. If I do this again I will make a smaller pom pom. I used a pom pom maker offered by Clover and it was a breeze to use. I got mine from JoAnn's and used a 40% off coupon so it was a great bargain.
The one of the right has a traditional way to close up the top of the hat...just string a piece of yarn through the last stitches, pull tight and secure. It works but I don't think it is as cute as the I-cord solution.
I hope the mothers and their babies like them. I am not sure which store will get my latest efforts. I have about a dozen waiting to be given away the next time I am at a participating yarn store. On the other hand, I may just drop them off to a group that provides a lot stuff to a specific local charity hospital that doesn't get much community support.
The thing they are sitting on in the backyard? That was my other weekend project and you will just have to wait to see the great unveiling.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Summer Bog Coat
If you are new to these musings you may not realize it but I am addicted to the Bog Coat. For a 4,000 year old design, I am continually finding new fabrics for this ultra-simple pattern. My adventures began two years ago and that revelation and the pattern can be found here.
Most recently I found a lovely Madras type print that is shot thorugh with random metallic threads. I found it on the sale shelf at Time Treasured Quilts locally a couple of months ago and recently figured out what to do with it.....that ever versatile bog coat pattern came immeadiately to mind.
My goal was to make a light weight cover-up for when I am wearing plain sleeveless t-shirts and I need something that I can wear in the air conditioning. I also feel that I need something to cover up some of the itchiness I have been experiencing lately and this rendition of the bog coat really fits the bill.
A little wrinkled, but I think you get the idea of what a nice fabric I used.
The construction was ultra simple... I serged it all together and serged the edges as well and cleaned it all up with top stitching. This construction was great because it added very little bulk to this light weight fabric however I did have a bit of a problem with keeping the arm pits smooth.. but if you can see that problem you are probably too close!
The other day I wore it to an ASG neghborhood group meeting and got way more compliments than the difficulty of this pattern deserves. All the credit really goes to the fabric. One thing I did do is to make it about mid thigh length...sort of a short duster.... so I can practice my Katherine Hepburn pose.
I really encourage you to try making a bog coat for when you have a special piece of fabric. This pattern really lets the fabric shine and the sewing skills you need are minimal to have a great result.
BTW Time Treasured Quilts is a fabulous shop with a terrific range of fabric. From wacky cartoon prints to sophisticated oriental styles they really have fabrics I enjoy using. Their web site does not do them justice so, if you are in town, please take the opportunity to visit them and be prepared to be bown away.
Most recently I found a lovely Madras type print that is shot thorugh with random metallic threads. I found it on the sale shelf at Time Treasured Quilts locally a couple of months ago and recently figured out what to do with it.....that ever versatile bog coat pattern came immeadiately to mind.
My goal was to make a light weight cover-up for when I am wearing plain sleeveless t-shirts and I need something that I can wear in the air conditioning. I also feel that I need something to cover up some of the itchiness I have been experiencing lately and this rendition of the bog coat really fits the bill.
The construction was ultra simple... I serged it all together and serged the edges as well and cleaned it all up with top stitching. This construction was great because it added very little bulk to this light weight fabric however I did have a bit of a problem with keeping the arm pits smooth.. but if you can see that problem you are probably too close!
The other day I wore it to an ASG neghborhood group meeting and got way more compliments than the difficulty of this pattern deserves. All the credit really goes to the fabric. One thing I did do is to make it about mid thigh length...sort of a short duster.... so I can practice my Katherine Hepburn pose.
I really encourage you to try making a bog coat for when you have a special piece of fabric. This pattern really lets the fabric shine and the sewing skills you need are minimal to have a great result.
BTW Time Treasured Quilts is a fabulous shop with a terrific range of fabric. From wacky cartoon prints to sophisticated oriental styles they really have fabrics I enjoy using. Their web site does not do them justice so, if you are in town, please take the opportunity to visit them and be prepared to be bown away.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Quilts for Kids
Downy, the fabric softener people,have started a wonderful program called Touch of Comfort. This program was created to sponsor the making of 10,000 quilts for the Quilts for Kids charity. Downy will donate $0.10 for every specially marked bottle sold and Quilts for Kids uses the funds to defray the cost of their work.
One of the neatest things is that you can request one or more quilt kits from Quilts for Kids' national heaquarters and all you would need to provide is the batting.
Locally, a long arm quilter had her weekly quilt group make up a bunch of the tops which she then quilted, bound and sent back to the national headquarters. With all the fabric well corrdinated with the patterns provided all the hard work was done so the quilters just needed to sew.
Many cities have Quilts for Kids groups and there is even one run through a local quilt shop in Houston - Quiltworks.
I love this whole concept.
I have worked with groups that are sponsored by my local quilt guild to make quilts for kids and I can't think of a simpler way to put a smile on some sick child's face.
Heck, when I had pneumonia a couple of years ago one of the first things I asked to be brought to the hospital was one of my quilts and it certainly made me feel better.
Check out the Quilts for Kids organization and see if you can help out with this great cause.
While you are doing that I will be finishing up about ten quilts from the Kingwood Quilt Guild's Kwilts for Kids program so we can continue to spread a little love.
One of the neatest things is that you can request one or more quilt kits from Quilts for Kids' national heaquarters and all you would need to provide is the batting.
Locally, a long arm quilter had her weekly quilt group make up a bunch of the tops which she then quilted, bound and sent back to the national headquarters. With all the fabric well corrdinated with the patterns provided all the hard work was done so the quilters just needed to sew.
Many cities have Quilts for Kids groups and there is even one run through a local quilt shop in Houston - Quiltworks.
I love this whole concept.
I have worked with groups that are sponsored by my local quilt guild to make quilts for kids and I can't think of a simpler way to put a smile on some sick child's face.
Heck, when I had pneumonia a couple of years ago one of the first things I asked to be brought to the hospital was one of my quilts and it certainly made me feel better.
Check out the Quilts for Kids organization and see if you can help out with this great cause.
While you are doing that I will be finishing up about ten quilts from the Kingwood Quilt Guild's Kwilts for Kids program so we can continue to spread a little love.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Runing Away From Home Tote
One of the compensations for having my dining room full of other peoples quilting discards for the Quilt Show next year, is that I get to see all the magazines and books that will be sold. The April 2009 issue of McCall's Quilting really caught my eye with a pattern for a huge tote bag.
The added bonus was that this tote is made out of five inch squares of fabrics and I needed a project for just those ingredients for a group project in November.
Here's how mine turned out:
It is about 20" wide, 10" deep and 15" tall. The fabric I used is called 9 by Sanae and I used two Moda Charm packs, and a few strips from a Jelly roll to make this bag. I did change the pattern slightly.
The pattern called for three layers of fusible fleece, I used two layers. The closure was supposed to be velcro but I used a tab weighted with a drapery weight. I also added little feet to the bottom of the bag to protect it from the floor.
This thing is huge and would probably hold everything needed for a couple of days on the road. My vision is that Alex and I will pack up and hit the road for a few days with all I need in this bag, and everything he needs filling up my trunk.
Have a great week!
The added bonus was that this tote is made out of five inch squares of fabrics and I needed a project for just those ingredients for a group project in November.
Here's how mine turned out:
It is about 20" wide, 10" deep and 15" tall. The fabric I used is called 9 by Sanae and I used two Moda Charm packs, and a few strips from a Jelly roll to make this bag. I did change the pattern slightly.
The pattern called for three layers of fusible fleece, I used two layers. The closure was supposed to be velcro but I used a tab weighted with a drapery weight. I also added little feet to the bottom of the bag to protect it from the floor.
This thing is huge and would probably hold everything needed for a couple of days on the road. My vision is that Alex and I will pack up and hit the road for a few days with all I need in this bag, and everything he needs filling up my trunk.
Have a great week!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
New Library
Kingwood is a bedroom community just north of Houston. It is considered a PUD..Planned Urban Development and thus did not grow orgnically but was planned as a communter community.
There are about 70,000 people living in Kingwoodwith a great mix of nationalities and earning levels...although some people don't believe that and see it as a white, upper middle class, Southern Baptist sort of place.
Harris County runs the Library even though Kingwood was incorporated into Houston (with much rancour) in the 1990's. Recently Houston built Kingwood a new branch library and turned it over to Harris County for day to day operations. You can see a picture of the new building here.
Our new library is a fabulous building but I am angry about a couple of things.
First off, our library has been closed on Sunday for a very long time... maybe since it opened in the 1980's BUT now the new facility is closed Wednesdays as well. I don't get it. Other branches around us are open seven days a week with fewer visitors. Why does Kingwood get hammered in the budget wars? I wonder if a petition would do any good.
Secondly, in a community as large as this one I would think that there would be large support for the new facilty. Before it was built, the local Library volunteer group (FOLK - Friends of the Library Kingwood) solicited donations from the public. From $150.00 for a brick up to $25,000.00 to furnish a conference room, individuals and businesses could get memorialized in the new building. I looked at the brick path way the other day and only about 10% of the bricks were taken. Where's the support for such a vital part of our community?
Here's my contribution:
Yup, I bought a brick for Alex and the Girls. A few times, when the weather was much cooler, we would walk to and from the Library. Also, they loved stopping there early in the morning, to drop off books before they were marked late, just to see if they could escape from the car and roam the lovely grounds.. Lady Jane also adored the Library because, on hot days when we were out and about in the car, I would carry her into the library under my arm while I made my selections.
Sorry for the rant but I think a Library is vital to a community and that fact that mine seems short-changed, when it comes to operationg hours and visible community support, really irritates me.
I promise not to cotinue this rant in future posts.
HOWEVER if I can get a petition together, I will let you know how it goes.
There are about 70,000 people living in Kingwoodwith a great mix of nationalities and earning levels...although some people don't believe that and see it as a white, upper middle class, Southern Baptist sort of place.
Harris County runs the Library even though Kingwood was incorporated into Houston (with much rancour) in the 1990's. Recently Houston built Kingwood a new branch library and turned it over to Harris County for day to day operations. You can see a picture of the new building here.
Our new library is a fabulous building but I am angry about a couple of things.
First off, our library has been closed on Sunday for a very long time... maybe since it opened in the 1980's BUT now the new facility is closed Wednesdays as well. I don't get it. Other branches around us are open seven days a week with fewer visitors. Why does Kingwood get hammered in the budget wars? I wonder if a petition would do any good.
Secondly, in a community as large as this one I would think that there would be large support for the new facilty. Before it was built, the local Library volunteer group (FOLK - Friends of the Library Kingwood) solicited donations from the public. From $150.00 for a brick up to $25,000.00 to furnish a conference room, individuals and businesses could get memorialized in the new building. I looked at the brick path way the other day and only about 10% of the bricks were taken. Where's the support for such a vital part of our community?
Here's my contribution:
Yup, I bought a brick for Alex and the Girls. A few times, when the weather was much cooler, we would walk to and from the Library. Also, they loved stopping there early in the morning, to drop off books before they were marked late, just to see if they could escape from the car and roam the lovely grounds.. Lady Jane also adored the Library because, on hot days when we were out and about in the car, I would carry her into the library under my arm while I made my selections.
Sorry for the rant but I think a Library is vital to a community and that fact that mine seems short-changed, when it comes to operationg hours and visible community support, really irritates me.
I promise not to cotinue this rant in future posts.
HOWEVER if I can get a petition together, I will let you know how it goes.
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