Notes on my Stuff

In general I have too many hobbies, and too much stuff. Today I sorted through photos some, and a lot of paper. I have recycled a lot... and been thinking about why I save things. I'm hoping to make valentines out of some random papers I have saved. I think I should alot myself an amount of time (say.... from now until Feb14th) to make some, and then recycle stuff I haven't used at the end of the time. I'm also hoping to scan some things or photograph them. And of course for a while I've meant to mail some friends old drawings, etc... but I have not accomplished much of that.

I know with practice getting rid of stuff gets a little easier. Today i'm trying to make room for my brand new recorder from my awesome musical boyfriend. He's had it for years and is now looking for a better one. It's a yamaha multi-track digital recorder and is sooo cool. I need to make room for it, because I'm hoping to start writing songs again! :) The computer was getting in the way of my creativity. I know it may be a little tricky to learn, but with the multi tracker, I should get better sounding results anyway (i hope to get some lessons on how to use it).


I have this shelf in my room that i've never really liked. It's pressboard and ugly and just collects clutter. I'm hoping to rearrange/get rid of enough stuff to get rid of it. Then I would feel like I had a lot more room for things. I'm also thinking of possibly buying an Ipod to hold more of my songs, so i can store cds or get rid of some or something.

so....i'm sure this is all very exciting! One of these days I will post quilt pictures!

To do lists

I have decided the last few days I should plan my sewing projects a little more, and try to stay on task. Ha. But, like the Colette Patterns Palette Challenges (where sewists chose garments and colors they want to work with and decide how many pieces they're going to make in a certain amount of time), I think it would be good to try to have some focus, and try to make clothes that I might actually wear.

I really have not done much with sewing knits, and I don't have a serger, but I do find the few knit dresses I have to be the most comfortable to wear and I wish I had more of them! Maybe this will also help me to get to some mending projects, and finish up projects I have started (like the vintage-style swimsuit) - and to help me focus on what I want my future wardrobe to look like (more skirts, more kinds of shirts than just T-shirts).

One of the patterns I have on my list already is the Sorbetto top by Colette Patterns. I think it's also time to find patterns to go with some of the fabrics I have - especially when it's a big enough amount to make a dress or garment out of it.

In other news: I hemmed the PJ pants I made for my sister, and they will be finished tomorrow! Also, a post or so ago I had a picture of a pink/red knitted shrug I had started...I think I found a better pattern - easier to not lose track of where I am, and I think it will just look a lot better. I wasn't very happy with how the other one was turning out, so I ripped it out and restarted.

Also: Today I stopped by SCRAP - and I could have bought lots of things, but instead, I bought 3 pieces of fabric, some bias tape and hem binding, and about 6 colors of embroidery thread. Since I have been trying to limit my stash, I think I did pretty well in buying specific things and not getting too carried away.

Embroidery and such

I have finally uploaded some photos! Hurrah!
First in Knitting news: this is the shrug I started, which is i guess going okay, though i have no idea if it will fit me. I have put it aside for a little while. and in the meantime (how my crafting always seems to go) I finished a cowl in a pretty red yarn. I'm wearing it right now! The shrug is 2 strands together, hot pink and red.

In the last few years I've found I really do love embroidery. I got these awesome United States Birds patterns. So far I have made 3 dish towels. The one up above is the ugly duckling (not really a duck, but it is pretty ugly. I used fat quarters, and some fabric from my stash and traced the images on the fabric, using my light table. After these first 3, I feel like i know better what works and what doesn't. On the light table I really need like white or thin fabrics to be able to see the designs enough to trace them. So, since I don't have a ton of light fabric, also since the first 3 ended up being sort of small, I came up with another idea: To make a double sided 4 pane type of dish towel, where at least 1 of the squares can be light enough for me to put the design on. I have soooo much fabric, maybe it will help me get through some of my stash. I'm also embroidering the bird names on the towels so it is more educational (for me and everyone).

My favorite so far! (the fabric is cream/white in real life). I guess I should take more photos of the finished projects with the hems on them, I also added some loops for fun, so I can hang them up. (Assuming I will have hooks to hook them on someday.)

Here's a list of state birds! It's so amazing how many states share the same bird, but the patterns are varied, so that is kind of nice. I think it would be awesome to do a whole quilt, but it would be soo much work.

blah blah. So i guess i should cut up more fabric for the 4 pane dish towels!

The distant future. The year 2000.

I saw this on a Facebook post by the Pendleton Woolen Mills. WOW!

The New Year

Well... I have been meaning to post pictures of projects and keep everyone updated.
But, there will be no pictures just yet. Sorry.
Here's what I have been working on:

- I made a lot for Christmas (ornaments to sell, PJ pants for my sister (halfway done right now), I knitted 3 cowls, made felted pot holders with yarn from my stash, started this super cute Giraffe for my cousin's baby (which is now about halfway done), and I think I made more things, but I can't remember right now.

- In the last week or two, I have worked more on the Giraffe, also started a Shrug . It is pink and red and the yarn is a lot thinner than in the photo. I'm not sure quite yet if it will be the right size, but I hope it will be okay.

- I've also been working on a huge sewing project for many months, it's a gift, so I shouldn't really mention it yet, but tonight I worked on it for many hours and I feel like it is well on its way to being done.

- I mended a wool shirt for Mike, and I have another one that I need to put patches over the elbows which have holes.

- earlier this week I spent a morning dying fabric and some clothes I have, they turned out pretty well.

- My very exciting Christmas present from my family was an adjustable dress form. I'm soo excited!

I have really been having fun knitting this winter, I have a lot of projects yet to do. I'm really hoping for 2012 to not buy much in the way of yarn or fabric. I have fabric for a dress, I have a vintage skirt to alter, I have fabric for pajama pants for myself (with super cute cats on it!), I may have mentioned but I have black and white triangles to make a quilt top (I already have the back of the quilt done), I have a wool quilt top to patch and find a back for, I have enough denim to make a quilt or two, and I have rectangles cut for a shirt of my favorite high school T-shirts, but I will have to interface each piece.

I also have pre-cut pieces for rag rugs, and so much more fabric to use up! I'm also hoping to make another purse. I'm also hoping to find fabric to use with these awesome vintage bird embroidery patterns - I think for pillowcases or perhaps dishtowels. I also really want to knit this dishtowel. I think it's really cool and vintage. I am pretty obsessed with Ravelry.

Anyway, This year I really want to continue learning to make clothing for myself. I also want to work more on music, as I have been ignoring that part of my life for too long.

Ornaments again

 Polar Pup

 Owl

 Polar (my dad bought this one)

 Scraggly tree

 Star bright

Red bird

There is a lot I'm working on...but some are presents, so I can't tell you. anyway... I feel too busy to blog or read other people's blogs. I'm also hoping to work on music more soon. I just sold a CD to Canada, so that is exciting! And I sold 6 ornaments already at Knack in Multnomah Village Portland.

 New ornaments I took to Knack today! They are $8. I also can make custom ones if you are interested.

 This cat is fuzzy.

 Blue koala.

 Pink beaded one....ha.

 Fishies in the sea.

Hearts!

Latest Ideas

Well well... I'm still in the middle of a lot of projects (as always).
I started a cowl, using what I think is called Linen stitch. (That is not my yarn, just an example.) I'm using Noro Kureyon I bought for the lanesplitter skirt that I ripped out a while ago. So far I like it, but I'm a little worried it will be too stripey color-wise. The cool thing is the front and backs are different but in a good way. I'm hoping to take it with me on my little Thanksgiving roadtrip.
also the gray blanket has made progress: Yay! I'm reaching the end of my yarn quickly. It has more red stripes and I'm excited to finish it soon.
and today I *GASP* went to the yarn store and bought a skein of brown (tweedy?) yarn in hopes to make a pair of gloves (and if i like how it knits up, maybe a hat) to go with my vintage coat I love sooo much.
I also bought orange and yellow yarn for a knit stuffed toy that I'm excited to make as a christmas present. But for now it will be a surprise. I love supporting my local yarn shop Northwest Wools. Although they are tiny, they have a lot of great yarns!

I guess I will also randomly mention that everyone is having kids, or getting married, or having birthdays, and it's hard to keep up with the gift giving... so...I'm doing what I can for the people I am closest too. Also I am hoping to someday have time to embroider some things so when I move out I will have dish towels, etc. haha.

Holiday Ornaments!

 The first batch! Available at Knack in Multnomah Village.

 Still in progress.

 Shell side.

 Tummy side.

T'is the season for Upsidedown Cat to make Christmas ornaments. I had a lot of fun making them last year for family, friends, Knack customers, and a few other people.

This year I was invited to make them again for Knack. It is so fun, because each is different, and besides making animal ones, I am making more experimental ones this year. I'm not sure if all the experimental ones are working, but... we'll see if they sell. Yay! Also this year it is different, because I do have a job. The money is of course welcome, but there's less stress about making so many of them, etc. Anyway, Here are pictures, some finished, some still need work! If you're interested in a custom one, let me know! :)

Peach Pineapple Pie

I am in the middle of too many projects, as always. How do I get myself into this stuff?
Haha.

As Fall is here, I begin to think about Christmas gifts to make, and new gloves to knit for myself, etc, etc.
I have been trying to finish projects before I start new ones, but... It's been hard.
I am making headway on the gray blanket, but it is a big blanket. I'm not sure if I will have enough yarn to get it to the size I want. 
I have been ignoring the Green Socks. Slowly working on a secret sewing project. I'm really excited about it, but I can't show pictures for a few months till I give it to someone.

My newest project is making Christmas ornaments to sell. Last year I made several and sold them in a local shop. I cut out some circle shapes a few nights ago, and now comes the hard part, sewing the animals, and making them cute! It's really fun to make them, but I feel like I'm starting late... I'll let you know if they are available soon!

I'm also still hoping to make a quilt or two this winter, finish some clothes sewing projects, and... I haven't figured out everyone's presents yet, but I'm hoping to hand make a lot of them.
So... We'll see what happens, and I will try to post pictures of finished projects, etc.