Category Archives: other projects

New York trip report

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We had a great trip- short but I managed to get everything done that I really wanted to do and ignored what I sort of wanted to do. Long post ahead…

It was pouring rain on Tuesday- we seem to specialize in that weather when we visit NYC. Wednesday was foggy and drizzly and actually very photogenic. I’ll post more ny photos in a separate post.

I went to the Jane Austen show at the Morgan. I had read some reviews of it and was therefore not at all disappointed with how little there actually was. It was amazing to see the neat handwriting, read her words, see her scratched out and messy draft of a manuscripts. Little windows from 200 years ago. I am glad I got a chance to go.

When I finished at 37th St., I walked over to the Fashion District. I stopped into Tinsel Trading for a while, enjoying all the goodies and especially all the containers they put those goodies into- old file drawers, book shelves, thread racks- eye candy, everywhere I looked! Then onto M & J Trimming for some more notions overload. Everything is so delicious. You might find this hard to believe but I bought NOTHING! I went into both of the stores having decided that I would wander around and only consider something that jumped out at me, I was sure I didn’t already have, and I couldn’t get locally. So, nothing.

I continued downtown toward SoHo, on foot and by bus. By the time I got to Purl, I was in desperate need of a sit-down, a cup of coffee and a cookie. Luckily, they have those on Sullivan St.  Sometime a cookie can be a lifesaver or at least it seemed that way at the time!

I knew what I wanted at Purl- more of this Valdani embroidery thread. My new colors (including variegated- swoon!) will soon be put away with the rest of the embroidery threads.

But wait *Look what they just got in*

That is ALL silk embroidery thread!!! I couldn’t let myself go there- maybe next time. *Update- HERE is the link.*

Wednesday morning was spent back in the Fashion district- it is just so much fun to window shop. I spent some time at Mood Fabrics– I just had to see it live after watching all those Project Runways. There was a gaggle (giggle?) of little girls doing a class project while we were there- so entertaining to see a kindergarten class learning about fabric.

And then to Brooklyn and lunch at Etsy. So Amazing! I met up with Tara who did the Handmade Portrait last year. I got to meet everybody including- who knew- the Etsy dog! I think they told me her name is Dot… but I’m very bad at names so I might be wrong…

I got to see the quilt that my friend Kiki of All the Numbers was part of. Gorgeous!

There is so much energy, such a buzz at Etsy. The new office is beautiful. I left feeling very good about the direction things are going. Full steam ahead!

Now, onto the weekend and my next tiny world workshop. I’ve got to pack up some orders and go to the post office, clean the house and make my samples and here I am on the sofa… yes, time to get on that.

next bag

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I am calling the post “next bag” because it turns out that I already have several posts named “new bag”. I seem to be on a 2 year or so cycle.

This bag was totally worn out. “Make a new bag” has been on my list since the New Year. When it suddenly turned out that I am going to New York, that was the push I needed. Trip = new bag it seems. This is the second bag I’ve made from this fabric- the first one is here.

the inside-

and stuffed-

Part of the problem with making bags on a two year interval is that I can’t really learn from my mistakes. I forget everything I learned in all that time. This time I had a problem with my inside fabric stretching- I’d be sewing along and end up with puckers. Arg! The other problem is the difficulty of finding just the right hardware. I was looking for something in particular but couldn’t find it so ended up cutting my old bag apart and reusing the hardware. Not exactly what I wanted but I need the bag finished for Tuesday. I took it out on a test run and it works just fine!

the winner and the pattern…

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it is so exciting… drum roll please.

The winner is, #38, Katie Agnew! Congratulations!

When I hear back from her and she picks her prize, I will put the rest of the available fish into my Etsy shop. I will update this post when that happens.

*Update* She picked this one. The other 8(!) are now in my Etsy shop.

In the mean time, the pattern is ready, available, and in my shop- right here! And, I have started another flickr group for posting finished fish. It is so much fun to see what people create with my patterns- really, I get all choked up when I see the wonderful creations. Check out the other groups– there is some amazing artwork.

And, 2 fresh fish-

weekend puttering

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Actually, weekends don’t really mean much around here since neither of us goes out to work. But, this is what I did yesterday-

I am working on flesh tones for cotton. I had a recipe that I liked, using Rit Dyes, but they discontinued one of the colors (Peach) and so now I am figuring it all out again. This is frustrating- not like when I don’t really care what color I get, as long as it is clear and bright. I will do some of that sort of dyeing soon- it is great fun!

I started a new rabbit. It is made of a felted alpaca sweater- which clearly still has a lot of stretch. I can’t believe the difference between the woven wool and the knitted alpaca! Yes, they are cut from the same pattern.

the quilt

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I’m working on the quilt- see resolutions here.

top2

The quilt has a Japanese motif. I gave Peter several choices for what kind of quilt he’d like- the only 2 I can remember are wool or choosing fabrics from my collection of Japanese cloths. I have a lot of Japanese cloth. Some of it come from my Mom’s collection, some I have collected over the years. There are the fabrics for gift wrapping and loosely woven fabric “towels”. (I know they have official Japanese names, but I don’t know what they are.) There was a roll of cotton fabric that my Mom bought on one of her visits to Japan.

Peter picked out what he liked and I added some other fabrics (with his approval) for color and connecting. We worked on arranging them on the floor of the attic. Then he left and I got to work on other things… all fall. I think the hardest part of making the quilt is me getting started on it!

top3

I am not set up to work on something this scale. I am making a full size quilt- approx 6ft x 7ft.  I was okay with the center panel- I made myself enough studio floor space that I could look at it. But this morning, when I need to expand out from the center, I spread out on my bed. That green in the upper right-hand corner is my blanket and not part of the quilt.

top1

The one fabric that Peter choose that is not Japanese is that circle fish fabric. It is a batik that my Mom bought for me when I was in High School- so probably 1970 or so? I loved it so much that I never made anything out of it. I hung it on the wall for a while in college. I think I might finally be getting over that craziness of not using my favorite things- seems silly now.

The top is now finished. I am very nervous about the next step. I am considering having someone else do the quilting because I am worried about making a big mess of it. And, frankly, I don’t think I’d enjoy doing it. I know I don’t want to hand quilt, so I’m talking about machine quilting. Any thoughts on this?

handmade Christmas

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This years presents from me were almost entirely handmade by me. I confess that I bought one present for someone, but I did buy it on Etsy.

presents

I made 3 sets of napkins, 2 pairs of pot-holders, 8 cloth shopping bags, 3 flannel pillow cases.

Also, 3 hats from recycled sweaters.

hat

Napkins in progress-

napkin

And dish towels. I had a project near-fail here… I mean it wasn’t a complete failure, but I was disappointed in the outcome. These are the towels in progress- the bleach pen doing it’s thing.

dishtowels

I got inspired to try a bleach pen project from this post on Angry Chicken. My first experience was not a complete success. I used a nice soft linen fabric that had dye flaws in it already. That cut down on the stress factor, but I have to admit I was nervous. The fabric reacted very quickly to the bleach- the color was all gone in about 15 minutes- very different from what Amy described.  I need to note that I did a test on another piece of linen that did not react so quickly at all- much more like what was shown in the film clip. Anyway, I rinsed the dishtowels and napkins as I made them. When I was finished, I threw everything into the washing machine. They all came out with blue shadows where the fabric folded onto itself. Clearly the dye on this fabric was way too sensitive to the bleach. Oh well- they are usable. I just don’t like the blue with the green. I might try doing an over-dye experiment sometime, since I gave the napkins to Ben… so sort of to me!

Napkins-

napkins

Everyone else who gets presents will get cookies. I’ll be going down to Connecticut to do the cookie delivery on Tuesday. While I am there, I have plans to see this show about Mrs. Delany at the Yale Center for British Art.

South End Holiday Market

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This is where I will be spending my weekend-

poster

Set up Friday night and then fun all day Saturday and Sunday- 10am to 6pm. I have one more doll I’d like to get finished- a bunny. I think I can do it. I’ve made some ornaments with my Spoonflower fabric and I will have them at the Market.

ornaments

working away

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Things are very busy- so much that I am getting behind with posting the finished dolls- and that is usually the most fun for me! That is what happens when there is a show around the corner.

Everything, everywhere in the house is covered with my projects. Some studio photos-

table1

desk2

ironboard

I don’t know if you can see, but I’ve set up some photo postcards of the swaddled babies on my shelf to keep me inspired. I made several sets of photo postcards to sell at the show this weekend.

My other exciting buy is some fabric from Spoonflower– I am SO excited about this!

spoonflower

Right now I am trying to get some ornaments put together for the weekend. I will post photos when I figure out a way to put them together that I like.

This morning I snipped my finger with my shears- ouch! That was a sign to me- Slow Down! Of course it is also a sign that I have nice sharp scissors- lucky me :)

and a whole lot more!

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I’ve gotten very distracted with these- I think I am up to a whole town now!

town

It was one of those, I just need to do one more, type of situations!

TW1

This one looks very fantasy suburbia to me-

TW2a

Of course I needed a few more snow scenes-

TW3a

TW4a

TW4b

And then this last one- it makes me laugh!

TW5

yes. Of these 5, this is the one I want to live in.

TW5b

That is all the tiny worlds for now. I’ve cleared all the felt off my desk. I will be getting these into my Etsy shop soon, hopefully tonight. So many things to finish, so little time before SOWA Holiday Market!

fantasy islands

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oh yes, I would love to spend a week or so in this tiny world!

island1a

island1b

island1c

The first has a tropical feel. This second one feels more like a cabin on a lake to me.

island2b

island2c

island2a

Hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. We had 2 out of 3 kiddos- missed you Julian! And we got to see cousins Kate and Caleb- when everyone grows up, it is wonderful to get a chance to spend time together. Now the haul to Christmas begins. Ahh!