Monthly Archives: March 2006

Spring atc swap

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This has been one of those freak-out weeks. I am leaving today to teach my workshop on Cape Cod. I will be gone for a little more then 2 days, but getting ready for these things makes me stressed for weeks beforehand. The good thing is that I’ve done it once before and so have notes and a little bit of experience. The other good thing is that it motivates me to finish up all kinds of other stuff that has nothing to do with the workshop- my crazy deadline reaction. I had to get these atcs done and in the mail today for Amy’s Spring swap.

spring atcs

I made little envelopes out of my mom’s old Vogue magazines. Fun!

atc envelopes

I am contemplating putting the 5 that I don’t swap up for sale on ebay, but that seems like a sin somehow…. I’m thinking about it…

Mom’s hat pins

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I finished my hat pin cushion-

hat pin cushion

I asked the other day if anyone had suggestions for how to attach the wool to the glass. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. It helped me think about the problem more clearly. I ended up using FabricTac. I might try something else next time. It is working well enough, but I think I could peel the entire pin cushion off the glass if I tried- is that good or bad?

I put a thick line of glue along the top of the glass and pressed the pin cushion into it. I stuck some long pins through the wool and looped some elastic bands around to hold everything tightly in place until the glue was dry. I didn’t do anything to weight the base and left the glass part empty.

gluing

I was thinking of a Protea while I made it, but wanted to be working from a vague notion rather then anything specific. After I finished, I went and looked at photographs.

Close-up-

close-up

Mom’s hat pins

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I finished my hat pin cushion-

hat pin cushion

I asked the other day if anyone had suggestions for how to attach the wool to the glass. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. It helped me think about the problem more clearly. I ended up using FabricTac. I might try something else next time. It is working well enough, but I think I could peel the entire pin cushion off the glass if I tried- is that good or bad?

I put a thick line of glue along the top of the glass and pressed the pin cushion into it. I stuck some long pins through the wool and looped some elastic bands around to hold everything tightly in place until the glue was dry. I didn’t do anything to weight the base and left the glass part empty.

gluing

I was thinking of a Protea while I made it, but wanted to be working from a vague notion rather then anything specific. After I finished, I went and looked at photographs.

Close-up-

close-up

Susan at my house

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I knew Susan was coming and we would want to sort through stuff in my studio, so I spent Saturday making sure there were uncovered chairs and paths through all the stuff. I even vacuumed! She showed me her dolls and I just loved this little piece of trim-

susan trim

I think that is tiny crochet on rickrack.

She showed me some other things she had made, and this one just had to stay and live with me-

little guy

I love that little guy! I am already looking forward to her next visit!

weekend fun

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On Sunday, I drove out to Sturbridge to meet up with doll club friends and Susan Fosnot for a fun day of shopping for doll stuff. We did this same expedition last year when Susan was in town. Someday we might make it to some of the other stores in Sturbridge!

We went to Wright’s Factory Outlet where I got brown rickrack (10 packages for $1), crewel needles (3 packages for $1), sheets of plastic that are used by quilters to make templates and you can iron on them- I will use them when I fuse fabrics because I am always messing up my iron and ironing board (3 sheets for $1), some faux silk embroidery ribbon (3 pkgs for $1), and some furry textured trim that looked like it would be fun to play with. Then we went over to the Antique and Vintage Textiles store. There is so much to look at! My pictures are pretty bad but…

drawers and bins and boxes of buttons-

biutton drawer

fabric sorted by era- back to the 1800 and forward to about ’70s-

fabric wall

This shows the fabic that is on open shelving- mostly large panels like drapery panels. There are also bins full of yardage and smaller pieces for each era. There is loads of more stuff there, all very interesting, but I was distracted by shopping and didn’t do a good job with photo documentation.

This is most of what I came home with-

I bought a bag of scraps ($3) because it had some nice old cotton rickrack in it that I wanted- this is the rest of the stuff-

grab bag

the rickrack that was in the bag was a little unfinished project. The blue rickrack was also in the bag. The other white and the lilac I found seperately. It is all nice cotton stuff-

rickrack

tapes- cotton, rayon and silk-

tapes

and I got sucked into examining all the amazing buttons. These are the ones that came home with me-

buttons

see the little 3 hole buttons! The loose ones in the middle were all together in a bag of misc. white shell (mostly) buttons. There are lots of tiny buttons just right for doll clothes, or grandma earrings.

And this was the item that I just needed to have, even though I will probably never use it. I just thought it was so pretty-

lace panel

This is one of 7 pieces, all totally off scale for dolls… but what can you do… I will but it in with my other lace and everytime I sort through, I will find it again and it will make me happy. What more could I ask for?

It was a great day and Susan came home with me. I will post about that next.

make-dos- I have a question

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I’ve been thinking about making more make-do pin cushions since I made this one.

I’ve collected glasses and other things that I think will make suitable bases- I found a number of good candidates at my parents house during the clean up. I’ve saved glasses and vases with chips out of the lips and pressed glass that has interesting patterns. These are a few-

makedos1

That strange footed thing in the picture is something that sat on the shelf for years at home- when I was packing it away, I realised it is obviously missing a lid. I think it would make an excellent pin cushion- very stable. I was thinking I would use the tall glasses to make holders for my Mom’s hat pin collection. I’ve started in on that project-

makedo2

makedo3

So here is my question- how do people attach the fabric to the glass? When I made the last one, the fabric wrapped around the outside and so I gathered in the fabric and tied it tight. This time the stuffed part needs to sit inside the the glass. Also, what should I put in the clear bottom of the glass- I want the glass pattern to show up nicely… hmmm, problems…

tools and toys

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these are probably my most important tools-

my sewing machine- Bernina 930, bought used a few years ago-

machine

I also have a Bernina Nova that I use when I am doing a lot of sewing- I thread it up with black and just use it for that.

My scissors and forceps (hemostats).

tools

I get at least one pair of my scissors sharpened once a year- that way I can usually find at least one sharp pair! The little scissors are so sharp right now that I have to be careful not to cut myself. Sharp scissors make any project easier. I use my forceps all the time- I use them for stuffing, for clamping, for turning fabrics, for pulling out tiny threads that I can’t pinch with my fingers and so much more. They are easy to get on ebay if you want to get a cheap pair.

I’ve been getting the supplies together for my gourd head doll class. That means I’ve been shopping for art materials. That means I’ve been tempted, and have succumbed, to new toys ahh… I mean tools!

stuff

I am always a sucker for buttons. My latest search has been for tools that will cut out a nice circle from felt. When I combine my circles with one of my favorite toys, my scallop edged pinking shears, I can get all kinds of fun shapes.

scallops

And, I couldn’t resist when I saw that floss was on sale…

floss

New Shop

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Inspired by bloggers all around me, I took the plunge and opened an Etsy shop here. Geesh, I hope that link works- this whole setting up shop process has left me feeling like a completely inept idiot- arg. I have been vacilating about doing this since January- silly me!