Title Graphic

Every now and again, I play graphic designer. Thought about going to school a time or two... have never made the decision though. Spent a couple of days last week trolling for a new layout/template/SOMETHING to perk up my blog. After not finding anything to suit my needs, I decided to take a simpler blog template and dress it up with a snazzy new graphic. I made two, and the one you see at the top is the one that made the cut. I may alternate between the two, and potentially create a few more for when I get bored the next time. Until then, here's the second place design:

The Continuing Story of the Girly Houndstooth...

Top squares are finished, strips sewn together, now they have to be joined. It still needs a border, back and, binding, not sure what color I should use for all of it yet, thinking about orange border and pink corduroy binding but it all needs to be laid out first. I might use polar fleece for the lining/backing, there's a hot pink sitting in the stash just crying to be used...


And speaking of the stash, it has grown in leaps and bounds, thanks to the occasional thrift store find and Wal-Mart odds and ends. I had to put it all away this week so friends could stay for a few days while they apartment search. The underbed storage bin is BLOCKED full, the steamer trunk has a bit stuffed away, there's a full cardboard box of heavy purse-making cottons, and the top shelf of the closet, well... you can see for yourself...
















This beauty is the latest acquisition, an old drapery panel I found while diggin through the Goodwill's linens section, beautiful condition the whole way though, and an absolute TON of fabric. No idea what to do with it yet, the scale is massive! But for $5, who could pass it up? Love it love it....

The Start of Something Beautiful

While I was looking for ideas for a quilt a friend of mine has asked me to make for her nephew, I stumbled onto a block that jumped out at me, listed as the traditional Houndstooth pattern on The Quilter's Cache. I spent the rest of the evening learning how to make pattern fills in Photoshop (quite easy really - check out the result!) and planning out the quilt I could see in my head. I love the simplicity of it, so many different takes on the same easy little split square! The version she shows is a more traditional looking quilt than the one I wanted to start. So with a plan on paper, I started cutting the next morning. Cutting takes the most time in this project so far, the blocks go together so quickly, my instant gratification receptors are buzzing! I have another row and a half (9 more blocks) to have the top ready to border and quilt! I'm doing a kiddie quilt size, perfect with the colors, hoping it turns out well enough to put in the "sell on Etsy" pile. Loving it so far, so wish me luck!

Assembling the 4 pieces that make the block (those squares are 3"x3")

Completed blocks! The pink corduroy and floral are vintage fabrics, other two are leftovers from the first baby quilt, and the backing is unbleached cotton and then an old sheet when I ran out of the good stuff!

Two Sewing Machine Needles Broken in as Many Days

I've been sewing away this week, probably doing as much cursing as I have sewing. Turned out two new designs, but I don't think I'll be reproducing either anytime soon. I have to figure out the magic balance between lining things to be sturdy and being able to sew through the layers to put the bloody thing together. One purse remains unfinished, I think I may have to hand stitch the handle to the body of the bag. Joy. As thrilled as I am about that prospect, it is sitting dejectedly on my cutting table for the moment. I love the design but it doesn't work in practice. I have the start of the redesign floating in my head but it needs some pen and paper work. I moved on to a new wristlet with a snap and flap closure rather than a zip and I like it! So much in fact, it is coming out errand running with me this afternoon. It still turned out rather thick... I am going to try the same design in lighter fabrics, lined, and see if I can manage to complete a project this week without breaking another needle. Speaking of which, I need to pick up some needles this afternoon, as I have completely run through the few Mom gave me. And now, the pretty part:

Pattern-Making is a Huge Pain in the BUTT

I am liking what comes out of it, however. I'm figuring it out slowly. I made one bitty purse this morning that will never be anything useful, (the red one, love the fabric, definitely going to have to try that one over again) I don't think it could even carry change sensibly... But then I revised my dimensions somewhat and the second go was much better. I have to go pick up some large lobster claw clips to finish this one but I'm loving it already! Having so much fun with my new venture, set myself up an Etsy account yesterday. Spent the entire day searching and brainstorming, have some new ideas to run with as well. There isn't enough time in the day!














GREAT BIG PICTURE UPDATE!!!

Been a busy gal lately! Not so busy that I have a valid excuse for putting off this post for over a week, but busy enough that I don't feel TOO bad about procrastinating...

Sunshine 2009
Donation of three bags to annual cancer fundraiser organized by one of my good friends, Laura Power. Yay Laura, you're so awesome. Go check out her blog if you wanna.

Large Tote













Handbag Tote













Wristlet Clutch

New Sewing Room and Pretties!

Great shopping day last week, only getting to picture posting now. Very fruitful visit to the second hand stores... picked up some plum corduroy and a nice grey and blue suiting from Value Village, as well as a big bag of shinies!! Happened into the Goodwill on 50% off day and got a solid wood table from Sears for $15. Yay! No more sore back from bending over at my makeshift ironing board and cutting table! Its starting to look mighty good in there!




My other fab find of the day ... my very own vintage button collection! I can remember Mom's buttons in the old Player's tobacco tin. The top had a bit of resistance to it and didn't always move right away when you turned. And the smell is something I can't really describe but will never forget. A kind of sweet, old things smell. And what was inside might as well have been jewels; the way I pored over that pile of plastic. The translucent "cut" looking ones were always my favorite, as well as anything in a bright color or an odd shape. I still have the couple I kept in my beading case that I took because I might find a use for them.
Anyway, not quite as nice as all the ones Mom has still, but a few treasures to be had.










My pick of the lot is the old wooden button at the top right of the picture to the left. It looks homemade. I imagined it on an old man's coat. The sides were rough once upon a time, but are now worn smooth from handling over the years. Definitely has a story to tell. Maybe I should write that one down...

Wristlet!

Cute bitty wrist purse. Fought with this for days. Design now has almost all of the bugs ironed out! Made a couple little mistakes on this one, but know what not to do next time. Exterior cotton, cotton twill lining, taffeta bits on the front, heart embroidered with metallic thread, shoe has beading on toe. Cell phone pocket, wrist strap and snazzy zip with ends capped!

Spent the morning sketching out design ideas for a suggestion Mom made... you'll see the finished one of those next time!

Shoe Totes!

Did some more sewing this past week, two tote bags honoring a subject very near and dear to my heart...

























The first belongs to cousin Katie, a fellow shoe aficionada, and the second is all mine! Totally reversible liner as well. Very proud of the work on it. I made it as an example for a gift shop who may be interested in selling them. Wish me luck!

Christmas Fun!

OK! I finally get to show you what everyone got for Christmas! It would have been done earlier but I've had a busy, busy week with cousin Katie over for a visit. We did tons of shopping (this chick is the first person who has ever been able to keep up with my shopping pace!) and we went to the CN Tower and the Bata Shoe Museum (which was incredible). So here we are: