Showing posts with label projects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label projects. Show all posts

Friday, September 9, 2011

Fabric Squared

I'm so glad today is friday. I'm hoping to start a new project this weekend, quilting. I'm going to start off with simple, like a grocery bag and pillow. I found this awesome Celtic Quilt pattern that I really really wanna do for the hubby. They call it a stained glass effect, piecing. I still plan on working the shirt pattern as well. I plan on finishing that up this evening so I can cut another of the pattern. I plan on working on the quilting when i'm not feeling the love for working on the shirt.

I've always wanted to do a quilt. I've got lots of material that I accumulated over the years for doing a quilt. At one time I even culled the collection and tried to sell the material for someone else to use, no bites. So now once again I have this urge to make a quilt and i've pulled out the culled material I wan to start with, looks like it'll be reds. I have some other fabrics i've already started cutting into 4.5 inch squares.

So right now i'm kinda playing around with bits and pieces of fabrics and some scraps that were big enough to make what i'm calling Crazy Squares. I think somewhere in my fabric blackhole, there is a quilt square that is in serious need of restitching. Nothing lined up like it was supposed to, it was all off, especially right at the center. I think that actually put me off for a bit on quilting and then of course other interests decided to take precedence. So here it is probably close to 10-15yrs later and i'm ready to try again.

Crazy squares consist of bits and pieces of scrap fabric somewhat put together to eventually make a piece large enough to cut into a 5 inch square. I plan on taking these crazy squares(scraps) and stitching them to the center of a few canvas shopping bags I have planned. I'm practicing my stitching and finding out the pressure I need for feeding it through the machine as well as learning to use my iron more often than just sporadically. My iron has become my new best friend. I used to use the iron only for straightening out folded fabric or a much needed shirt to be smooth instead of the surface of a raging ocean. I have an applique iron and it works great for the smaller pieces of fabric and ironing their seams.

I took some of my smaller pieces of fabric and cut as many 4.5 inch squares as possible and with some light mauve colored gingham and a deep burgandy color solid fabric, I had enough squares to make a 9 patch square and still had 6 squares left over, mostly the gingham. I stitched my squares together and was so proud of how close all the seams matched up. One of the ideas I had was to make a piece from the 4.5 inch squares that was 6 squares across and 6-9 squares high, that's just a guesstimate. I had the idea of making a baby changing mat. Why? I have no idea why considering I don't even know anyone who is having a baby or anyone that has a young child that is still in diapers. I figured that would be simple and functional instead of some kind of wall hanging sampler. I could always sell it or donate it, depending on how the idea manifests. Sometimes I get an idea and it never makes it to reality, sometimes it evolves before manifesting to the physical realm.

Guess I better go practice some more and do more research on quilting techniques for that Celtic quilt I really wanna do for my hubby.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Repurposed Sari Skirt-Finished

I am almost finished. The only thing I need to do is go back and clip some straggler threads, press a few seams and I'm done, friggity done!




Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Crochet Shawl

I finished another crochet project, a shawl. I've wanted a triangular shawl for some time now but I always make excuses. I finally found, online, how to's and patterns using different methods but getting the same results, a triangular shawl. I printed a few, saved a few, 99, 100..LOL! I've had the " 1,2 skip a few.. 99, 100" thing stuck in my head for days now. Some of the patterns were not exactly what I was looking for but close. I wanted a more open style of shawl, almost netting like.

I found one pattern that was very very close to what I had in mind for my shawl but for some reason I just couldn't seem to wrap my head around the instructions and to top that off, the pics weren't that clear at all. I know I can read a pattern, I may not always understand some of the abbreviations or terms but I can find them and how to do them, no biggie, but sometimes it doesn't matter my brain just says
PFFT! I refuse to GET IT.
That can be very durn frustratin.

I've been working on this shawl for about a week or so. I didn't have to do to many rip outs (where you rip out the work you've already done), just a few. I thought I had all the math worked out but I ended up having to kinda make a few adjustments that made the shawl a wee bit off but nothing noticeable unless your really really looking for it. Despite the mistakes and the resulting size, I really like it. Atleast now I have a general idea for the next one, just need to get the materials out and adjust the pattern a bit. I didn't use a pattern per say, I read all the patterns I had and decided to use a foundation then the netting like design instead. I also added tassels to each connection point.

It's HUGE! It's almost as wide( roughly 3ft) at the top as my couch is long and if I don't have it stretched out, it's about 4-5ft long, but stretched out it shortens up some. To make it a bit neater I joined it to make it one solid edge instead of loops at every other row and in that process, miscalculated something and now the very end kinda has a hugging effect, which isn't bad, think it gives the piece a bit more character. I could have made the netting chains a few stitches less so the resulting netting effect would have been closer together and smaller. I'm sure this would have shortened the shawl but not eliminated the width any. I'd have to say the most tedious part was making the 30 something tassels to hang from it. I used Red Heart white yarn and a 10mm crochet hook and done in single crochet.






My next project is a LARGE granny square purse and after that or maybe during, fingerless gloves.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Ambitious projects

No pics today but I did finish a custom requested beanie for my youngest brothers' baby's Mama. I've decided to put a project on hold. I wanted to make some hairpin lace fingerless gloves, like these Hairpin Lace wristlets-gloves

I decided I was going to use bulky chenille. Least to say, it's not working out so hot so I think I'll just use the panels I made and turn them into a pillow or something. I still want to use chenille and have some thin chenille to work with. I also got some new yarn over the weekend, suede yarn. If I had more money, I would have bought all they had, which wasn't very many. I was not at a hobby, fabric or yarn store by the way.

At the moment, I am working on a small bag using the pink oval shaped Kniffty Knitter loom. I bought this for my daughter as a christmas present and well, she hasn't touched it or the yarn I bought her. I guess maybe she's not interested in this stuff anymore. She still hasn't finished the scarf she started, she mentioned something about being boring. I don't find the repetitiveness boring, relaxing for the most part. I can work on these looms while listening to music, watching tv or a movie. Maybe if she sees me making things other than scarves, she'll be more interested.

Oh, that reminds me, I still need to finish the pillow. I bought the pillow insert and I think I know exactly what material I'm going to use, just need to measure, cut and sew. That also means, I need to clean off my sewing machine table, it's very clutterd and you can barely see the machine. Oops! :)

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Home for the Holidays

With Christmas and New Years just days away and my vacation starting tomorrow. WOOHOO!

I did start on hat #3 and I just have to finish it off and I'm done. Honestly, I don't like it. I thought the yarn would be pretty but nooooooooo. Don't get me wrong, the yarn is pretty just not for this project and it's to delicate to painstakingly take it apart. I have decided that i'm going to give it to my youngest brothers baby's mama. MUWAHAHAHAHA!

I bought more yarn, something even more fun than the yarn I had picked out for my 5yr old niece. I also pulled out this ohhhh so extremely soft yarn by phentex that I got from the Big Lots store for a buck that I'm going to turn into a skinny scarf. Sometimes I can find good yarn cheap there, like the bulky black chenille I made my 1st hat from. I also bought myself another kniffty knitter loom (flower loom) and a kniffty knitter loom project book. I had a few coupons so I took advantage of them.


I won't be back until after the holidays and I really hope I have more projects to share. It's been so long that I've actually made more than a few things and still desiring to make more. It feels good but I just don't seem to have enough time in a day. I will over the holidays because this year, sadly, won't be driving to see family. My car is not in any condition to make the 3hr drive and I really don't want to risk it and plus, don't have the funds for gas and stuff. So, we are going to have a belated christmas (income tax) gathering. LOL! I will be at MY home for the holidays this year instead of at family.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Sewing

Well, I finally finished one of the cuffs and will probably start working on the other one tonight. I've already gathered the ruffle part of the matching cuff. I like them, except I made them a we bit to big for my wrist, so they are a bit loose. I think I may need to change the method of closure to maybe a button and elastic cause threading the 2 holes and trying to tie it on yourself is a pain and pretty much impossible.





I didn't get to the duct tape form this weekend but I did manage to clean off my kitchen table, which about killed me. Okay, I'm exaggerating but the amount of stress I felt from doing that, was horrible. The S.O wanted to use the table for some of his stuff. First he just wanted to move all the loose stuff off the table that was piled a mile high, into a box and even brought out a box. I felt anger, tears in my eyes, lump in my throat and just anxiety. I was in the middle of cooking breakfast and started the clearing off process and by the time breakfast was done, I couldn't eat it I was so upset.

I tried to figure out why I was getting upset. Everything on that table hasn't been used in months, if not years. I have been in a creative funk for several years now and having to put that stuff away just reminded me even more of how much stuff I have. I have a lot of crafting stuff but at the same time I don't have enough room not only to store it but to create with it. I think that is the core of the issue, not having the room to feel free to create without someone complaining about the stuff laying around. I still feel a little hurt about it but at least the feeling sick to my stomach is much better.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Updating

Hi, it's just me, still alive and kicking. Sometimes I really don't feel all that alive, more like a zombie. LOL!

Well, not much to report. I did try to do some sewing this weekend. I did get one shirt mended. I tried to work on a pair of wrap pants and some gauntlets. I'm not sure what is going on with the damn sewing machine. I'm using a zig-zag stitch to do the hemming on a stretchy knit like material. I have no problems with the first few inches then it starts skipping, not picking up threads, sewing a straight line instead of a zig-zag. UGH! I checked the needle to make sure I was using the right one for the material, checked the bobbin tension and the top thread tension. I made adjustments, test strips and it's still doing the same thing. I'm ready to give up and do the easy hemming with some iron on interfacing strips. The only thing I'd have to sew then is the top with ties. Yeah, I think I will do that.

On the guantlets, I'm going to have to make a few adjustments to the pattern but the idea is cool and will work, that's what matters.

My next project will be to finally finish my grandmother's apron and then I can work on some more belly dance stuff.

I still have lots of sorting and organizing to do but I'm taking a break for the moment. I have enough stuff sorted out to keep me busy for a bit.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Spring Cleaning

PHEW! I think I'm done with my Spring Cleaning. Okay, probably not.. LOL! I did just recently come across some more stuff, AHHHHH! I think I'm just about ready to start taking pictures for posting. I had planned on doing that this past weekend but I never got around to it. Just thinking about all that photo taking, editing, descriptions, listing, my head started hurting. I think it's my allergies and not so much the huge task before me. HeHe!

Right now the only thing I seem to have on my mind creatively is sewing projects. I have a pair of wrap pants to sew and hem. I also have a pair of arm warmers I'm making and I have an apron to make. I should have made that apron like a few years ago. It's supposed to be for my grandmother. I know shame on me, no really SHAME ON ME! I have several projects I need to do for my grandmother.

The urge to create is there, just still not much UMPH! to get the projects done, much less written down. I've been in this funk now for about 5-6yrs, the last 2-3yrs being the worst. Le' Sigh! I'll get back to my creating sooner or later. I just think I really need this purging of materials to get things back into a better perspective. I have so much stuff in such a small place that it literally becomes overwhelming trying to find or create something.

Hopefully by next week, i'll be at a point to either sit down and make something and show pictures or atleast being able to sit down and make something.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Hang around Creativity!

I know I haven't posted in a bit and I haven't been keeping this up to date as well as I should but I haven't been doing much, so I haven't posted. Well, the past few days have been interesting though. I have had a few ideas, started a few new pieces last night and i'm almost done with one of them. I've been seriously procrastinating on taking some pictures for Etsy. It's jewelry I've made but previous pictures just didn't do them justice and I really need to relist them, just with better pictures. I'm really hoping that my creative spark hangs around a little longer this time. Usually about this time of year, even in my dry spells, I get a little bit of a creative boost to make stuff so that I have gifts to give at Christmas.

I have 1 belly dancing necklace that is almost finished.
I have 1 pair of belly dancing earrings to finish, just need a few supplies.
I started a red knitted scarf for my grandmother, which I'm planning on starting over.
I need to finish 1 helm maille bracelet, need to add clasp and beads.
I need to cut rings to make my mom a helm maille jewelry set for christmas.
I need to finish stringing the beads for my grandmothers gambling bracelet.
I need to attach lobster clasp to my grandmothers gambling zipper pull.
Try out the fleece hat pattern I came across.

I have a few ideas swirling around for some polymer clay christmas ornaments. These ornaments will not be covered ornaments though. I guess I'll see how that turns out. I also have a few ideas for some scrap material that I'd like to make into either hippie bags or some grocery bags. This idea will take some doing, because the pieces are just strips of different sizes and designs.

I have a 5 day weekend, WOOHOO! I'm crossing fingers that I get to atleast half of the stuff I want to do. I'm hoping to do a bit of spring cleaning and dispensing with some creative supplies. I really need to pair down my collection and at the same time I need to come up with some extra cash to get some car repairs done before Christmas, hence the pairing down of supplies.

Just the thought of having to get rid of something makes me feel sick to my stomach. It seems like I have a lot of stuff and compaired to the amount of space I have to work with, I do. In reality however, I have a moderate selection of supplies, it's just unorganized. I think the biggest part of my whole collection is fabric, then yarn, then magazine/books and then so on. My hubby just doesn't seem to understand and it is really frustrating. He thinks if I haven't used it in 5yrs then it needs to go, except that the right idea just hasn't come along yet or I just haven't had the time to really spend on it. Sewing, my biggest collection of stuff and the least amount worked on. I have the patterns, the ideas just not the time or space as of yet. I need the space to cut out patterns, which I don't have. I'd do a lot more sewing then.

My carpel tunnel is acting up so I can't really do any crocheting or knitting for long or short periods for that matter. My hands, especially my fingers start going numb. In fact my middle and ring finger on my right hand are tingling as I type this. I just have to work through it I guess. I'm hoping soon that things will start to turn around and I can have it taken care of and ease things up so I can really sit down and work on stuff. I think that is also part of the problem lately with my creative slump. Why start something if my hands are just going to go numb. I use my hands to see what I'm making or working on.

I should have some stuff to post about next week.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Remembering A Beader

Hello!

I just wanted to share a few things today. I used to be a very active member on the delphi forum boards. Bead Art was my first. They are an amazing bunch of beaders and just all around Amazing people. I haven't been around as much or beading as much or anything that much for several years now. They have lifted my spirits on so many occassions. There was a very special beader on this forum that not only was she a wealth of information, but such a generous, caring and kind soul, I miss her. Cindy McCornack was a wonderful woman who is dearly missed. She passed away in 2005 from her battle with cancer. She started a project but unfortunately God had other plans for her and she was not able to finish it. Every member who joined decided that we would finish it in her honor. It's been a few years in the making but it's now finished. I feel honored and privilidged to have been apart of this amazing project. I want to thank Dulcey for sending the email letting everyone know it was finally finished.

For more information regardy Cindy and the Beaded project please take a look at Dulcey's blog and the Etsy store set up in Cindy's honor to raise money for cancer research.


Dulcey's blog


Remebering Cindy Etsy store

I was fortunate enough to be one of the beaders on the .
Mystery Panel #2

Monday, July 28, 2008

Time Flys

Once again another Monday and half the day is just about over. I don't have any new stuff to show right now. I've hit another little slump that I just feel like I have no energy to create even though the ideas are still there. I even bought some more of the silver filled wire to make a few of those ideas and nothing at the moment.

I have found that the silver filled wire tarnishes pretty easy when sitting out and gets that funky smell. It cleans up pretty easy though and so far the pieces I've made from it haven't really tarnished yet.

My current list of projects:

1. Pair of earrings made from the silver filled wire in a leaf/teardrop shape
2. Finish leaf/teardrop pendant
3. continue to work on purple beaded caterpillar like bracelet
4. Finish Sterling silver earrings and post them to my Etsy shop
5. Measure clay pendant to make a cage for it.
6. cut out apron pattern for my grandmother's apron
7. Finish beaded dolls (2 of them) I started a few years ago

I have a list going and I could probably work on a few of those things while sitting up here at work. Work is so slow and so quiet right now that i'm about to go out of my mind. I have been reading some books but I finish them within hours or a few days, no matter how thick they are. It really all depends on how much time I actually have to sit and devote to reading. I will sometimes read until my eyes can no longer focus and my mind can't even retain what I've just read.

I picked up a book on a whim at the half price book store and really enjoyed the book and upon further research into the author, this particular series has a total of 16 books. YEAH ME! I could finish them in like 3 to 4 weeks. I've already read 2 of them. I'm a voracious reader sometimes. Sometimes I get so engrossed into the book that I get agitated when I'm interrupted. Right now, it seems I'm on another reading kick. I'm going to try and work on finishing one of the pendants tonight. I guess I'll see how it goes when I get home. I'm really tired.