Fresh Press

I should have been sewing Christmas presents, or a quilt, or a pillow top, or anything. But I spent the day cleaning up the cave. By around 2:30 everything was put away and cleaned up but for a pile of fabric that had been laundered (I prewash all my fabric, but then I have to press it). So I pressed it. Not too much - I used to iron it all super smooth but realized that was a waste of my time and energy. Just enough so it will lay pretty flat and tidy. One+ yards are folded onto those comic boards and kept in the (relatively) big closet. Half yards and fat quarters are folded the same and kept together. The stack of orange is from the November shipment of Stash Builders from Pink Castle Fabrics. I have a lot of orange in my stash already but I think its my favorite color. The Decembers should be here Monday or Tuesday so I at least have to be caught up with ironing if not actually using them! December is browns - really? Brown? Ick. I was going to cancel for the month but I thought I'd go ahead and see what comes in. I don't have a lot of brown (do you?) and maybe it'll inspire something. Or not.

I love to prewash my fabric. It gives me a chance to get to know it. I have to unfold it so its free to agitate in the washer and dryer. When it comes out of the dryer - often way too dry, but that's usually ok because I rarely have time to press it at that moment - I get to fold it the first time, and it all looks different from when I bought or ordered it. (And how about fabric lint? Its the best! All soft and colorful!) Then I take it back to the boat (my laundry is done at the marina facility) and usually take it down to the cave. Where it sits until I have a chunk of time to iron and fold it. That's the special time with my fabric. Laying it out on my big (relatively) cutting/pressing table, spreading it flat and feeling the fibers, and noticing the print and how it was applied and where it repeats. Then the iron itself (which is a total pain in the **! - this latest is an expensiveish supposedly nice iron that the captain bought me for Christmas last year and it has been frustrating from day one what with its not getting hot enough and spitting all the time and turning off when it should still be on, but I do like the little feet that take it up off the surface when I let go, though that is a bit of a danger as other irons I have used in friends' homes and hotels while traveling DON'T do that!) (where was I?) going over the fabric and I get to spend more time looking at it and imagining how it can be used (apparently, primarily to sit prettily on my shelves, but I'm working on it).

Here's where the FQs and Halfs hang out. I like them alot.

This was written 12/18/12 but I couldn't figure out how to get the pictures to post properly until just now. I'm sure it was worth waiting for - haha. Merry Christmas again!

Trimming, non tree version

All those wee little bits sure add up to a big pile here in the dark Sewing Cave . . .

Blogging Is Hard

No photos.  No reason to even look here.  Move along. . .

Some Sewing

A successful day of sewing.  And now a blog post.  These were my goals for this two weeks the Captain is off riding his bicycle with friends: sewing; and trying to better figure out how to blog.  

I made this pincushion/threadcatcher, pocket thing (it is actually called a Weighted Pincushion Organizer) based on Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial at Sew Mama Sew.  In the photo above it is in the salon (boatspeak for living room) because my sewing room is too dark.  I really like the way it looks, but it isn't heavy enough.  Maybe I used the wrong rice.  It falls off my sewing table and I've only put one thread into the threadcatcher.  I think I'll open it back up and maybe put in crushed walnut shells (I have a bag of them) to replace the fiberfill (I'll keep the rice also).  Maybe I'll also put some nonskid on the bottom of it so it holds.  And maybe I'll put the threadcatcher off to the side, because I also kind of run into it when I'm sewing.  I had thought about it when I made it - keep in mind, I have a teensy weensy sewing space - but I always like to (try to) make things they way they are described before trying to insert my own opinions (don't hold me to it, though).

When I was finished with that, I tackled a WIP.  I'll try to post properly by linking up with Lee on WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  For now, here's a little look.

And yesterday I finished two hospice bears.  (They're posing here in my car, a last minute snapshot before sending them off.)  The fabric, typically an article of clothing, is supplied by family members - in this case a San Diego Padres' shirt worn and undoubtedly beloved by the person who used to wear it - and, with the prescribed pattern (and strict instructions to add no embellishments that were not part of the clothing provided), volunteers make up the bears, giving family members a sweet, and cuddly, reminder of someone they love.  

We'll call this a successful post.  Pictures, links, actual work having been done.  Let's see if I can manage tomorrow as well.

. . . one more thing . . . someone told me that I have the "prove you're human" hurdle on my comments, but I can't see it to change it - if you see that I'm not allowing comments, please also let me know where I can turn that off - thanks! (and any other suggestions are welcome also - I have so much to learn!)

All the best, 

Holli

The Weekender - Done!

I finished!  

And I love it!

I blogged about this earlier (and I know there is some way to link that here, but really, I've only written four other posts, two of which relate to my making The Weekender, so it wouldn't be difficult for any readers to find . . . ).

I chose this fabric, a canvas weight from Ikea (and which I still own at least 10 more yards) because it looks nautical to me and I like how crisp it looks.  I have so enjoyed seeing the quilted versions, and think I might try that for my third (I have already decided on the fabric for the second, now that I know I can cheat and use something else behind the outer pockets - thanks to Leanne at She Can Quilt!).

Here are the other pictures I have:

Double inside pocket.

Inside zipper pocket.  My first ever! 

I am so happy with this bag.  In addition to being a fabulous bag that I'm very proud of, it was also my gateway drug to blogging!  

Thank you to all of The Weekender makers - it was a lot of fun, and you were all so helpful!!

Cuzco Hexies at 27,000 Feet

We took a short flight earlier this week, so I loaded up my new wide mouth zip pouch with a stack of 1" hexie papers and the two mini charm packs of Cuzco that had just arrived in the Happy Mail (I didn't mean to get the mini charms; I meant to get the entire stack of fat quarters regular charms) along with my little snips, enough needles so I could drop a few without worrying that it would mean the end of my project, and some random bobbin threads and made my very first hexie things.

I really like this fabric, and spending time with each bit was special because I was able to look at it more closely and appreciate it.  And to then decide I wanted a couple of yards of some of the prints.  

The hexies?  I think they're kind of pretty, primarily the fabric aspect of them.  And it was enjoyable making them (sort of hard with the mini charms to get them wrapped all the way around the paper piece sometimes - probably if i cut them myself I'd use slightly bigger pieces of fabric). But they seem old fashioned to me, not that there's anything wrong with old fashioned.  I'm just not naturally drawn to them.  I don't know what I'll do with these.  I used all but three of the charms from one pack flying up and back.  We landed so I didn't get the last three done.  I guess they'll be a W.I.P. for awhile!

If I could figure out how, i'd link up with Lee at Freshly Pieced! 

Have a great Wednesday!

Holli

Learning, Catching Up

The pressure.  To post frequently.  To not give up before I've even really begun.

I am learning, slowly.  Mostly because I would rather be sewing.  But I did label my previous posts, so there's an improvement!  I've received some great tips and help from my commenters and followers - thanks so much!

We are heading to San Francisco this morning for a business event and I probably won't post while I'm away and just didn't want so much time to go by.  I wish I had some pictures of my work over the weekend.  I need to figure out a way to do that easily, without having to onerously upload pictures, but maybe it's just an onerous process that everyone goes through.

I didn't finish my Weekender, but I've been showing it off.  I am debating taking it with me, but I'm afraid it will get dirty or smooshed under my airplane seat or the overhead.  Kind of ridiculous, I suppose, but I do rather enjoy it sitting on the desk bar in the salon!

I also started and finished a quilt top for a new baby that I get to meet right after Thanksgiving!  I used the Little Sprouts pattern by Vanessa Christenson, and I just love how it turned out.  I will take pics.

And I'm going to make my hurricane Sandy blocks before I leave.

Be well, and don't forget to vote tomorrow (not for a quilt, but for a president!)