I can do that...my matra!

Please ignore the wrinkles, I just got out of the car!
and the photography isn't my best.

So I decided that I was going to make something for myself the other day. Of course I am not a big planner, and didn't have a pattern, or fabric that was especially inspiring, but when I get something in my mind, I can't get it out.

The inspiration for this sudden urge to make something for myself came from our Asheville trip...I had popped into JCrew and I saw this top for $98 and I thought. I can do that! I tend to say that about alot of things. So I just jumped in and sewed one for myself. This is the first rendition of many. It fits fairly well, There are a few things that i will change for the next one. I wore it with white pants and yellow shoes. (don't have a pic of that but hey, can only do so much)

What do you think?

The next one will be out of Dupioni silk with a silk ribbon trim...I think will be perfect for the fall.

In the morning,
G

Typecase to Threadcase.

In the last issue of Sew Hip Magazine, they had an article on one of my favorite Pattern Designers Oliver + S. They showed pics of her studio and she had a wooden case holding some of her thread. Since letterpress is one of my artistic endeavors, I have a few old typecases hanging around. I decided to use one of them to hold some of my thread. This way I can see it out, it is more accessable, and it is also colorful and graphic on an otherwise VERY drab wall. I can also show my husband that I ALWAYS find a way to use things that I buy and stash away. He just has to put up with the stashing part until I find an appropriate home for my finds!

This is a little sneak peak into the studio, but until I find a way to make it look less "basementesque" this might be all you see for a while:)

I have a few ideas up my sleeve to make it cozier, it is just finding the time...imagine that!

And in case you are wondering what is holding my scissors in such a nice way, that is an antique flower frog...usually hold flowers in vases, but in this case the flower are scissors! Scissor Frog!

Enjoy.

In the morning,
G

Fun with Fabric Scraps!

Here is the little block, i embroidered and sewed together for Baby Page. It is a great project to do with scraps....plus I got to play around with my machine and the embroidery. I also, figured out the best way to sew the square together, I have had trouble with that in the past.(will post that at a later time) I wish it was as perfect as these designed by Lesley over at Smidgebox, but I think it is getting there.


Oh and I made my own tags to go on it...Fun! My Logo printed on ink jet fabric paper that you can get Dharma Trading Co.



In the morning, G

Welcome Baby Page!

You might remember that in May I designed a baby shower invitation for a my good friend's brother and his wife...well, Page Julie Mcgregor was born Monday afternoon. My friend C wanted me to make something for her and I knew just the thing. I have been wanting to monogram on this soooooo soft receiving blanket which you can get at my favorite Farmhouse Fabrics. Baby Page's new bedroom is decked out in butterflies, green and purple... , so it was only fitting....

I also have to reitterate that I LOVE, HEART, LOVE my new Babylock Ellure sewing maching. It is so fun to play with...oh the possiblilities!

Congratulations to the new Parents. It is an amazing adventure and I always shed a happy tear when I find out that someone has become a parent...the happiness is surreal.

I hope I am not ruining Aunt C's gift surprise, as I am sure you have more on your minds than seeing this before you get the gift.:):)

I have something up my sleeve that i am making, but I have not finished it yet...here is a sneak peak. Hmmmmmm.

Sneak Peak of my gift....wonder what it will be. Stay tuned.

In the morning, G

oh the things i will do....

Well, I mentioned the many projects and ideas i have swirling in my head...well here goes on the list and maybe this will hold me accountable to getting them done by the end of the summer. I went to my FAVORITE place Farmhouse Fabrics in Beech Island, SC i wrote about it here 2 years ago (and only like 10 posts ago which is REALLY horrible...i promise i will be better)

Anyway, they have grown so much since then and have SOOOOO much stuff. I recommend going with a list:) Since they really are not a store and do most business by the internet they don't have regular store hours...they have started an opening their doors the first Friday of each month from 9-3. So i dropped the kids off at grandmas (THANKS GRANDMA) and went on my merry way.

Well worth the 1 hr. 45 min drive from Columbia.

Here are some of the things i got...and the projects to start. They have started their own line of rickrack bias, bias tape, and piping. Sally(the owner) is so resourceful and thought all of the fabric they carry needs matching notions and she went about having it manufactured. So no more making your own bias, which can be time consuming for the stay at home mom who has trouble fitting in sewing to begin with!!!!

SO here are my finds....i wanted to buy so much more....my husband is happy i didn't:)

In the morning, G

And so the fun begins

4th of July projects ...Can't wait to make a dress and johnjohns. MMMMM!

Baby Blanket Blank (can't wait to embroider something on this oh so soft blanket.

Planning on a flouncy little top for with this beautiful bit of lawn fabric

Back to the land of blogging

Art imitating nature....a mug of my mothers (love the colors) and
it happens to go well with a bowl of oranges and green apples)

Just a juxtoposition of flowers on my butcherblock in the kitchen.
Have so many flowers this year in the garden!

Well Bonjour!

I am back to the world of blogging....almost 1 year. So i am reintroducing myself to the land of the blog.

In the past year my children have grown 1 year older and have taken most all of my time... i took a step back and concentrated on them, they grow up so fast:( blogging was just one thing that had to go. But hopefully i will stay on track this time.

I have kept the creativity flowing and have done quite a few projects, but just didn't have time or the the inclination to post, sometimes when you feel like noone is watching (which they weren't in the case) it is easy to let things slide. I have so many ideas floating around in my head i thought i needed to start writing them down again and chronicling all of my projects....

Anyhoo, i have added a new gadget to my list of implements. A new Babylock Ellure sewing machine...i figured that sewing is in my blood I am self taught since high school and i should get something nice to sew with....sewwww i did. My wonderful husband got it for me for our anniversary/mothers day...I am so lucky. I don't know how happy he is though since i moved my "studio" into the basement, HIS domain. Because lugging this hunk of a machine up and down the stairs was not going to cut it...now i can leave a project instead of cleaning it up every time! OH well. I do more laundry now:):) I will post pics of the little studio space later when it is clean, Ahemm.

I have banged out quite a few things with it so far and am still learning the ins and outs. I will post those at a later date, when i get the photos off of my camera, but for now. I wanted to say "bonjour" again.

In the morning,

G

My Creation!

Sew...
Here is the my creation! I worked on this all yesterday and I think it turned out well, minus a few imperfections( being self-taught, I never really learned the "proper" way to do things and sometimes it shows...will be taking some classes to remedy this situation:):))....But being imperfect leads to "Happy Accidents"...and Thank goodness for happy accidents I thrive on them, I think some of the best design (not that I am saying this a masterpiece by any means!!!) comes from "Happy Accidents!" Things that I love about it are the sash, super long so it can wrap around twice and tie in the front or the back, and the yo yos. I will post pictures later on the model, but she is "oh! so sick" today, so these pic will have to suffice.

A funny story about the yo, yos (how to make them here Heather Baily's YO YO tutorial)...

I was at the kitchen table making them, when Eliza came in to see what I was doing...she said "what are you making?? Yo Yo's???"...How did she know that! I have no idea how she knew what they were, but she did know that is what they looked like! So they are definitely named appropriately, because if a 3 year old knows what they are and doesn't have to ask,
well then, there ya go.


Enjoy the pics, I have the sewing bug again.


See ya in the morning...--G

Ready, Set, Sew!

Sew....
I bought some new fabric today, (Heather Baily and Amy Butler) and some coordinating cottons. I am dusting off the sewing machine and getting ready to sew Eliza a new little outfit!!! Too bad so many of my favorite fabrics are not condusive to little boy clothes or Ben would be getting some too...luckily boys don't care as much as girls (he,he). Anyway, I am going to do something ruffly. Since I haven't sewn anything in such a long time, and Eliza has grown so much since I have (4T i can't believe it.) I bought a few new patterns, which I am notorious for changing around...if I was better at making my own patterns I would, maybe someday. So, we will see...going to cut everything out tonight and sew tomorrow.

I will keep you posted on my progress.

In the morning...
--G