Saturday's Spin Class

On the third Saturday of the month, I meet with a bunch of ladies to learn the art of yarn spinning. Today's class was all about fiber/yarn dyeing.

Dyeing yarn is a multiple-step or oceans. First, you soak your fiber in a vinegar bath. Then, you use acid dye on a paint brush or in a squirt bottle to add color. After cooking your yarn in cling wrap for a few minutes, you rinse and then let your yarn dry. In a nutshell, within the hour, you should have yarn drying. In a few hours, you should be able to spin or knit your yarn.

 

Today's project was challenging. I feel that I have a eye for color, especially with my quilts. In fabric, i combine colors, often without thinking about it. It was challenging to look at a white piece of fiber and know exactly what I wanted it to look like. I learned I gravitate toward jewel tones, but I would like to experiment more warm colors like gold, ecru, etc. Knitty has some great articles on dyeing yarn.

I have another 10 oz of wool left in my stash. That's quite a bit....maybe I can figure out the Pantone fall color for this year, and get started on a cowl...

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Crafty Mondays

In the summer, my friends and I renew our creativity by meeting each week for Crafty Monday. We gather around my dining room table, working on our current project. Each one of us brings something different: we have photography, knitting, crochet, scrap booking, quilting, and sewing.

This year, our group has a bit of focus: zentangles or doodling. What is a zentangle? In short, it is a meditative way to doodle. You divide your paper into sections and add different repetitive patterns to each section. The zentangle website has more information. A purist might use the itty bitty papers the website calls for, but basically we create shapes and/or pictures and add patterns with sharpies, watercolor paint or markers.

This photo was taken by my friend Jean Christian. She is a Tulsa photographer who is quite talented behind the lens. Her portfolio is on her website. She has a great talent for color!

Janine has a Pinterest board devoted to zentangles. I also love her "things to make" board.

Next week, we might use this art as inspiration for our doodles:

It's from Elizabeth Caldwell of ecdesigns. I found the print on etsy. I love her moleskin journals!

There are TONS of places to look for doodle art inspiration. Tammy of DaisyYellow, is a great place to start. She has a whole part of her website devoted to just getting started.

 

Happy doodling!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Crafty Ideas for 2013: Vision Boards

2012 was an interesting year for many of us. My family had many challenges and celebrations that, in many ways, brought us closer together. I feel like 2013 is going to be a great year with exciting adventures ahead. There have been some dreams and aspirations that have been flowing in my head for a few months. I wanted to see how I could keep those goals in mind as I begin another year.

So, I googled "vision board," something I had heard about, but not really understood. And did more research. Basically, there are inspiration boards and vision boards. An example of an inspiration board is kind of like what we make on Pinterest: it's a place to gather images or ideas about a certain goal. A vision board encompasses a little bit more. Many people choose a special word for the year and then create a board around that idea and how it looks in different aspects of their life. I read Joyce Schwarz's book "The Vision Board: the Secret to an Extraordinary Life." Here's a link about vision boards: The subtle tricks to building an effective vision board | Martha Beck.

I started thinking that "abundance" might be my word for the year, but after creating my board, I think my word or phrase is "creating openness." I'm still working on my board, but when, I'm finished, I'm going to hang it in my bedroom so I can see it every day. The idea is, that by creating this board, your brain is thinking of that concept regularly. Current brain research states that your brain only " knows" your thoughts, both negative and positive. So, why not bring positive thoughts and energy into your life?

Even better, make it a party! Gather some girlfriends, wine, snacks, canvas, magazines and catalogs and start creating your vision for the year! I would be happy to help you along.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Sew Crafty Summer

So summer has come and gone in Oklahoma. We start school WAY before Labor Day, so gone are the carefree days of pools and endless sewing. I look forward to Fall - cooler temperatures bring many opportunities to layer and accessorize.

Here are some things I'm making to get ready for Autumn....

Chunky Rings - tutorial coming soon....These are SO easy to make. All you need are buttons, vintage clip earrings, anything that's flat, glue, and a ring blank...

Big, fat, squishy scarves: large knit or crochet scarves are going to be awesome this year....

Knitted cuffs: I found this pattern on Knitty. What a great way to use up extra sock yarn!

T-shirt infinity scarves: This is SO, SO easy. No sewing involved. If you can cut, and tie knots, you can make this!

Baby Blankets: These are also very simple to create. Just cut strips, sew together and add a back. Tutorial coming very soon because everyone needs a quick baby shower gift!

What have you been creating this summer? Please share below -

Join the Hat Brigade!

I've been knitting hats again. Recently, someone shared with me that a dear family member had been recently diagnosed with cancer. I can only imagine what they are going through. I observed from afar my mother's diagnosis and treatment of stage 3 breast cancer. It is a horrible disease and there is so much suffering from it. I firmly believe that we are here on this earth to help ease pain and suffering in all people.

So join me.

Join the hat brigade. If you sew or knit, make someone a hat. If you are lucky and you don't know someone with cancer, make a hat for someone and take it to the hospital. I'm sure that the volunteer league could find a recipient.

Here is the hat I recently made for a special someone:

It's called Felicity. It's a slouchy, stretchy hat made with Berrocco Comfort. The yarn is an acrylic blend that is super soft.

HeadHuggers is an organization that helps provide hats for women recently diagnosed with cancer. There are groups from all over the U.S. and internationally.

If you know someone who has cancer or has been recently diagnosed, please find out how you can help them. I've found out that some people just need someone to listen. Or help with dinner. Or just be there.

Snowpocalypse 2011: What I Sewed

Last week, I taught school for 1 day. Yes, 1 day. Then we had a record-shattering snowfall here Tulsa.

14 inches of snow.

That is enough snow to shut a Tulsa down for a while. So, with the 4 snow days that followed (and there is still question as to IF school will resume Monday) I sewed. And sewed and sewed.

So first, I made 3 baby quilt tops. Using Aimee Ray's pattern, I made 2 blue and 1 pink quilt top.

My plan is to embroider them with the nursery theme. I'm planning presents for 4 babies this spring.

Also, I embroidered the onesies that have been sitting in my craft closet with more art inspired by Aimee Ray.

I have both of her books. I love how she has simple projects and simple motifs that are so pretty when stitched. Also, you can combine several designs to make a picture for a quilt, blanket, etc. Here's the link to her stitch along that just finished up last week.

Next up is a zippered wristlet. Last year, I learned how to sew a simple zippered pouch. The wristlet is just a handle attached - I found several tutorials and then took some of the design elements from them to create my own. Here's the tutorials:

2 little hooligans

Pink Penguin

Skip to My Lou

They have 2 little pockets on the inside for cards, keys or a phone.

I made progress on another baby blanket for one of those spring babies:

The pattern is Open Work Baby Blanket by Trudi Brown. It is an easy, 3 row pattern repeat. Of course, I'll be working on this tonight while watching the Super Bowl.

And guess what? School just called and there's no school tomorrow!

Do you YUDU?

Wow - I have an amazing, 9 year old boy now. Every year, I enjoy planning my kiddos' party. We've done Blues Clues, Shrek, Music/Drumming, Indiana Jones...So, what kind of birthday party does a 9 year old have?

A gaming party, of course!

And, what kind of party favors are appropriate for a bunch of 9 year olds?

Their very own PARTY SHIRT!

For Christmas, I received a YUDU - a home screen-printing machine. I'm thinking that I could use it to screen fabric for embroidery or to print some scroll-y doodles that I make. Auntie Teal created the invitation and the design for the shirt:

Here is the my first try at home screen-printing:

There is a little bit of a learning curve, but once I figured out how the emulsifying sheets worked, this really is a great little machine!

The shirts were a hit with the boys! The party was awesome - five 9 year olds running around, playing video games and then discovering that it was fun to play outside too.

And there was a little surprise bbgun gift from Aunt Jill:

Aunt Jill, you know I had to razz you a little bit. Still hearing "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

Hats for Beth

Beth and I have been friends for about 4 years. When you meet her, you are immediately at ease and know that she is someone who cares deeply about her family and friends. The plans she makes for her kids' birthdays are absolutely amazing. I am so lucky that she lives just around the corner from me. Last summer, we walked with our youngest kiddos in the evening and her sense of humor is contagious.

She also is an amazing photographer and the scrapbook queen! She has all the latest tools and I can sit at her house and scrapbook for hours....

Why am I telling you this?? Well, in January, Beth had a massive brain hemorrhage at age 36 and had several surgeries to repair the damage. She has been in a rehabilitation facility since and is coming home today. I am so proud of her. Throughout this journey, she has been surrounded with thoughts and prayers and I think because of that and her strong will to work through this, she is coming home today.

Since her surgery to put a plate in her head, she is somewhat bald again and is requesting that me and my friend Janine make hats for her in pink. I've always thought that it is important to "think global, act local" and this one service project we can do together. I am opening up the opportunity to you. If you sew, crochet, knit, whatever. Please make a pink hat for our dear friend. Because "Pink is Cool."

Message me if you want to participate. I want to overwhelm my dear friend with lots and lots of pink hats. Because, she is, well, full of awesome-sauce.

Valentine's Day Crafting 2010

I'm now into month 2 of my sock de-stashing. Janine mentioned making a X's and O's cable pattern for February socks? To which I whined, err replied, "I don't know how to cable." So as any enabling and helpful friend would do, she sent me several patterns that explained the mystery of that cable. And of course, I obliged and thought, "Why haven't I ever done this before? Easy!" So 2, yes 2, of these hats were made in a bright Valentine-y red:
One for Miss Ava and one for her cousin Bella, who at this moment, is snowed in New Jersey. They probably have dug out of it by now, being that the east coast is used to that kind of weather.Valentine's Day also brought, if early and FIRST, some wonderful blush roses brought by my partner in crime, Rich. Work has been albeit interesting lately, and he is so thoughtful. We celebrated Valentine's Day with some excellent steak (and butter sauce) Thursday.

Later that weekend, we went shopping for a treadmill and since then have been rearranging the office/game room to make room. I think there will be less steak in our future. I told him that we should both be totally ready for summer if we buy one. No excuses.

Pass the pizza and the Dr. Pepper! (just joking, of course)

Love Your Stash in 2010

Well for the first half of today I have cleaned/straightened the kids' bathroom, my bathroom, the kitchen drawers and cabinets and while I was doing that I thought about my plan for 2010. So here are my crafting goals for 2010:

1. Finish quilts. I have 4 quilts on my shelf in one stage of "almost finished" or another.

2. Knit a pair of socks a month, either for myself or someone. I can't believe I have enough yarn for 12 pairs of socks. I have some great sock patterns too, and a book I haven't even tried on knitting 2 socks at one time.

3. Work on my first embroidery project designed by myself. My great aunt, Mimi, had an embroidered cross-stitch sampler in her kitchen that read, "No matter where I serve my guests, they always like my kitchen best." It was so true of her! Whenever we visited, we would sit for hours in her kitchen just talking about family stories. Sometimes, this happened at 5 o'clock in the morning too, as she and Pop got up for breakfast (an a cigarette, lots of them) at that time. i have so many great memories of her and want to preserve them by hanging the same saying in my own kitchen.

4. Catch up on scrapbooking. I need to make some decisions about whether 2010 will be my last year of traditional scrapbooking or not. Although I love to scrapbook, the digital versions are so much easier and they cost less in time and money. And, that would clear off a large part of the craft closet.

All of these resolutions will help me really start to work on my craft stash. Eventually, I will need to make more decisions about the kind of fiber I want to work with as an artist because Ava will need her closet more and more as she grows up.

What are your crafting resolutions for 2010??

Sewing Mojo up and running

I was seriously concerned about the lack of creative sewing I've done with my sewing machine. Little did I know, but all it took was the simple act of taking it out of Ava's closet. Now, it sits patiently side by side with Rich's Memoir '44 game. But I have plans, ha, ha, ha!

Last night, after a fun-filled day in 103 degree weather with 2 kiddos, I dragged it out and started to work. I made a fun jacket for Kate's little one - can't post it yet, I want it to be a surprise. Then BOOM, with that little project finished, the creative juices started to flow. Now, I have cut out a new bag, and 2 coat jacket bags.

Does that look like the sleeve of a jacket? Why yes, dear reader, it is! The lining of my new bag is made of an old early 90's GAP jacket and I used the sleeves to make little bags. The little bags are not for me though, maybe I can sell them or something. Maybe my knitting friends can use them to hold their notions. The purse is from Anna Maria Horner's book "Seams to Me". The coat sleeve bag is from Last Minute Fabric Gifts. I've had both books for a few years and just now have some time to work from them. There are some CUTE projects in both books!

And I'm OBSESSED with this mystery yarn lady who is trying to sell her friend's stash. Like 2500 POUNDS of it. I can only hope that her stash had it's own room or something. I can't imagine what it even looks like. And I thought a closet shelf full of yarn was a problem.....

Frogged!

I've been taking a break from socks. Granted, they are fun, portable and I'm getting pretty savvy at turning that heel. But the bulk of my stash is a DK weight yarn, Peaches and Creme. The ladies of Mason Dixon Knitting enabled me a year ago to buy 4 bags of "dishcloth cotton." In about a week, I whipped up 3 dish towels for my 3 classroom volunteers. Now, using the leftovers, I made one for my own kitchen.

Then I turned to some other DK weight yarn, Cotton Fleece. Ah, I was supposed to use

this yarn to make something for Ava's room. But, then I didn't like how it was looking, so I frogged it. Since then, it has been a coachella, and various hats, and also gifted to my sisters to further enable their knitting obsession. Now, I bring you the beginning of Blooming Cotton Scarf.

I was going along, with this 400 stitch wide scarf, until I noticed that my stitches were twisted. Twisted stitches are the bane of my existence in knitting in the round. I hate it. I hate doing the work to make sure you don't have to redo it again. But, I did and here it is now. It's about half finished. There are supposed to be 14 stripes of colorwork. But at this rate, I think it will be too wide. Being short, I don't want the scarf to take over my head. The jewel tones are pretty!

I have an idea for a purse that repurposes a seersucker suit from the 90's that I've kept for some reason. I'm thinking a bucket style, with some embroidery from jenny hart. Sublime Stitching is what started the whole crafting thing for me. It will probably end up being another knitting bag of sorts or a smaller diaper bag for the lady Ava.

Crafty Resolutions

This is just one shelf of the "craft closet" located in Ava's room. You could say that it needs a little remodeling, er reorganization. There are other areas to look at, but you get the picture. Even after I reorganized in preparation for Miss Ava, there is still tons of crafting to do in there. I didn't even mention the yarn. So, what am I going to do with this? I'm proposing a sort of craft diet, where everything I make, at least half has to come from my stash. In the yarn department, I'm on a spending freeze.

So let's just say, when I'm not being a wife/mom with all of those responsibilities or a teacher with all of THOSE responibilities, I hope that I will be able to create something wonderful out of nothing. Which is what refuels my energy to do the everyday things. Like dishes. And laundry, which multiplies with each new body.

I will post projects i'm working on and hopefully and completed project a month. Below is something I made during our snow days here in Tulsa. It's Bella's birthday cake hat for my niece in NJ:

I've made at least 3 of these hats. They are fun - quick and so cute. Of course Ava the Great will get one for her birthday, along with her tutu.