more about those strips

by ⋅ 2 Comments


DSC_0652

If I thought the few weeks of creative block was bad this past month, I had no idea what was to come. I was down for the count for a whole week of a stomach virus, complete with an itchy rash that kept me in bed for too, too long.

But finally today I’m feeling lots better, and I am READY to get back to sewing.

I’ve got a lot on my mind right now…I need to finish projects for people, craft shows must be applied to in the next several days….there’s loose ends to tie up everywhere. But after work today, I came home and worked again with those little fabric strips I was telling you about last time.

I don’t know how it’s possible, but those strips have pulled me out of my slump and I’m ready to make so much again. Tonight, I worked on a few pouches and journal covers and everything came together without stress. It’s the kind of feeling where you’re excited about the project of the moment, but you can’t help but think about the details of the next three projects as well.

I wish I had more photos to show you, but I promise there will be much more in the days to come. I’m so ready to get back to work.

blocked, blocked, and still blocked

by ⋅ 3 Comments

I am insanely fed up with being at a creative block.


2.13.11 rectangles

Today, out of sheer frustration for not making progress on anything, I forced myself to start cutting pieces for….something. I don’t even know what I’m making. I just felt that if I didn’t do anything, that I’d feel even more behind and blocked. I’m not sure it really helped. I’m doubting choices in colors and sizes and I don’t even know what I’d like for it to become.


green, brown and white

Yesterday I spent the majority of my time in the sewing room looking at what I have, and not being able to make any decisions. Finally, I cut up some green, brown and white 3 inch, half square triangles and sewed them together to work on a bag idea I had some time ago. I wasn’t happy with the colors together, and so now they’re just sitting and waiting for me to decide what I should do with them. I don’t know though.


lunch sacks

I should be spending my time working on my half-finished lunch sacks, but after a series of pretty major mistakes in the process of making them, I’m frustrated with them. I’d like to finish them and get them off to their respective new homes, but I’m overwhelmed with finishing them.

I’m genuinely frustrated with my mindset these days. I want to work on projects and make strides in finishing things, but I’m having a lot of issues with self-doubt and second guessing. I’m having a lot of trouble shaking that feeling and just getting on with the making process.

(Finally, to wrap up my last post about my oops fabric–it has gone to a good home. A friend mentioned to me very quickly after the post went up that she’d have a perfect use for it, so I told her it was hers! A loving home was indeed found!)

the horror!

by ⋅ 19 Comments


2.9.11

I ordered a few fabric basics this past weekend from fabric.com, as I often do. I’ve never been unhappy with an order from them and I always seem to be able to make it to the $35 that qualifies for free shipping. And based on this stack of fabrics, I’d be a pretty happy camper.

But then this was in the package as well:


the horror in my fabric package

Barf in my mouth! There’s GLITTER all over it. (The photo does not do it justice. Actually, nothing does it justice.)

Here’s the crazy thing though:


not.even.close.

I personally have bought YARDS of that Amy Butler Lotus print. This, however, is not that print. I know this as a fact.

Before I slander fabric.com though, they were very accommodating when I called to tell them about the problem. They’re sending out my new fabric to me and told me I didn’t have to worry about sending back the extra cut.

Now, what the heck do I do with glittery, fairy fabric?!

try, try again

by ⋅ 6 Comments


on the board


trees

I’m not sure what the problem was, but I was in a funk on Sunday. The previous day I had some trouble with the lunch sacks that I’ve been working on, and it landed me in a grumpy, un-creative mood all day. I tried so hard to pull myself out of it, but things were just not meant to be. I needed a little break.


fold over clutch

I finally managed to pull it together late in the day and I put this little fold over clutch together–not perfect, but a decent first try. I bought the pattern from Keyka Lou and although I think it’s a well written pattern, I’m just not sold on the usefulness of it. Do people really carry clutches? I’m not sure if I could classify myself as a clutch-carrier. I thought they’d look really cute all patchworked-out, but I’m not sure if it’s worth my time to make more. I’m just feeling lukewarm about it.


2.8.11

So although I’m not feeling so grumpy, I feel like my inspiration is still dwindling. I know the deadlines for spring shows are just around the corner and I’m trying to get a jump on having things made.

Is it the cold weather that’s making me feel so sluggish? I’m wishing for spring warmth to sneak in and melt my frozen bones.

happiness is…

by ⋅ 2 Comments


2.4.11

…home from work, Friday afternoon. A sunny sewing room. No other plans for the weekend other than to spend my time here.

Happiness is making things. Sometimes it makes me so happy that I can’t even believe it.

Happy Friday, Friends.

snow day, part 2

by ⋅ 7 Comments


snow day patchwork #3


snow day patchwork #2


snow day patchwork #1

Snow day, part 2 was all about the sewing. It. Was. Wonderful.

These are all the starts of new lunchboxes. I had started out just planning on working on one–the top picture–which is going to be for a friend’s sister. I love the fabric (It’s a Hoot by Moda) and was excited to get started on it. I got into a real rhythm, and by the end of the night, I had all of this work done. Nothing’s finished, of course, but everything seems to be ready for the next step now.

Back to see the kids for one more day this week. As strange as it might seem, these last two days of being home made me pine for the summer. Having all day to sew makes me so very happy.

snow day, part 1

by ⋅ 1 Comment


hi!

Hurray for a snow day!


2.2.11 Chocolate with sprinkles

We got a lot of snow and even more wind last night up through mid-day today. It’s hard to tell how much we really got since it blew around so much, but I think it’s a safe guess at around a foot. Not quite as much as the weather people were calling for, but it’s certainly more than we’ve had all winter.


up to my calves

As much as I had wanted to do today on my day off, I ended up doing a lot of snoozing and movie watching to try to knock out my cold instead. Hudson and I did make it out to play in the snow together this afternoon and I was glad for that. I’ll have another shot to make a day off worth it in the sewing room tomorrow–I’ve already received my phone call letting me know that school is called off for tomorrow too!