• Blog

    Learning a new skill

    December 8, 2010 - By 

    Over the weekend we had guests…my brother-in-law and his girlfriend. I had asked her if she’d show me how to knit some time. She said sure if I’d show her how to crochet.  We both learned something very interesting, I knit like a crocheter and she crochets like a knitter. It was difficult for each of us to break the habits that we used for our previous yarn work.  I’ve been trying again and again but never get any further than this. I’ll keep trying.

    I also made this journal cover  the other day but as I was working on a second one…my sewing machine started acting goofy. I think the timing is off…or maybe the tension. I’m going to have to bring it in for a tune up. It’s about 25 years old and has never been looked at…it’s well over due.

  • Blog

    Art Journal remake

    September 28, 2010 - By 


    A while back my good friend Elizabeth sent me one of her wonderful sewn art journals as a birthday gift.

    You can see the first set of signatures here and the second set here.

    She lamented over and over about how much she hated the cover she made for mine. She even told me that I should try and fix it.

    I love the inside covers as much as she did but the covers were over-sized. We talked about how I might be able to salvage the insides while doing the remake.

    Time passed…I did nothing.

    But now I’m really wanting to start a journal so I figured I’d better listen to Elizabeth and refit the cover.

    I carefully cut the “spine” from the rest of the cover salvaging as much as humanly possible of the gorgeous inside fabric.

    Since I seem to have a thing for denim, it seemed the natural choice for a scrappy cover.

     

     As you can see I used Elizabeth fun hand-dyed fabric with pen pockets on the front inside cover.

    And her even more impressive bird mono-print with pocket on the back cover.

    I made a flower from the lace to cover the sewing of the closure strap and added a vintage button for interest. 

    Now time to get writing…

  • Blog

    Suede pouch

    September 23, 2010 - By 

    I am very behind here in blogland…


    Last Saturday evening I made this suede pouch to hang from my belt at the Renaissance Festival the next day.

    I had already sewn a backpack but with the temperatures sounding on the cool side I figured I’d be wearing a shawl over my costume. If I had a backpack on I’d be sporting a “hunchback of Notre Dame” look.


    So a belt pouch was in order….

    I had a magnetic purse closure in my sewing basket so that worked out very well.  I used a scrap of suede to cover the ugly metal backing.

    We had a good time with the kids at the festival. Such a different experience than going with another couple.

    ***I once again have to apologize for the poorly lit photos. Seems every time I want to photograph something it’s raining!!***