ad libitum

HOW I SPENT YESTERDAY

I have a To Do list that is a mile long. I totally ignored it and made another embroidery piece yesterday (with a short break for mailing in tax extension forms and checks; but we won't dwell on that).

 

MORE STITCH DANCING

I have been playing with threads and fibers (and some beads) and my sewing machine again, using the technique I learned in my Stitch Dancing class with Liz Kettle. I am planning on using these embroidery pieces to embellish purses and wearables. I want to build up a stash, so I can bring them out when needed. I also might make some cuffs.

Below is a photo of the six pieces I have finished. The longest one is almost 20 inches long and the shortest one is about 8 and a half inches long.

Below are scans of the pieces, so you can see them a little better (had to fold over the long one to fit it on the scanner.

STITCH DANCING WITH LIZ KETTLE

While I was at Art & Soul in Virgina Beach, I took a class called Stitch Dancing with Liz Kettle. It was a wonderful class and she's an encouraging and well prepared teacher. We used water soluble stabilizer and made a piece from threads and fibers; it's hard to explain how great it feels to start with nothing and end up with what I think of as a tapestry piece. We added embroidery stitches and whatever other embellishments we wanted to. I will be making more of these; I see all sorts of possibilities.

Here is my piece. It measures about 4x6 inches.

A PAUSE IN CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS

Right after Christmas, my younger daughter and I are leaving for a ten day trip to South Africa. So, yesterday, instead of decking halls or shopping for a Christmas feast, I decided to make myself a trip purse (yes, I seem to make a purse for each big trip I take; it's the only way I can get all the pouches and zippered pockets I want in the sizes I want). I bought the fabric a couple of years ago on a trip to Phoenix and have wanted to do something travel themed with it for a while.

ARRIVEDERCI

Tomorrow afternoon, I head out to Italy for 10 days. I'm going to Venice for three days by myself (I'm really excited about this AND a little nervous) and then I will meet up with people in Tuscany, where a friend of mine is renting a villa. It's all good.

I usually make myself a new purse when I'm going on a trip. This time, I made my travel purse last July before goining to ArtUnraveled in Phoenix. I made it with both trips in mind. It's currently stuffed with things for going to Italy.

I  also have made my self a duster/jacket to take on the trip (there may be some cool evenings in Venice or in the Tuscan countryside). I have long wanted to try my hand at altering clothers, inspired by Lorri Scott and the beautiful work she does. This is my first attempt and I ran into a lot of problems ( I am "sew" NOT a seamstress); but I am inordinately pleased with my results.

I started out with a white cotten dress.

 

I decided to dye it red (not a surprise to those who know me); and, while I was at it, I threw a vintage lace doily into the pot along with the dress. I also threw in some lace, but it was rayon and didn't take the color. The dress and the doily took the color beautifully.

 
I cut the dress down the front to start turning it into a duster/jacket.

 

 Oops, I forgot that the hot dye bath would make the cotton dress shrink. I had to put a panel in the back to get the dress back to being big enough for me.

I sewed the lace doiley on the back to soften the lines of the panel.

Obviously, my duster needs sleeves.

At 10 p.m. this evening I finished my duster.

I jazzed up the pockets and added a polymer button (I have an abundant supply of these) to fasten the top. I also added two panels (one lace and one fabric) to the front).

You can see where I had to add a gusset to the back panel ( this whole project has been a big lesson on garment construction)

Left side sleeve and matching pocket.

Left side - do you recognize the heart on the sleeve? It's from my component parts post. I decided that having the courage (which is what the word on the heart is) to wear my first altered garment is literally wearing my heart on my sleeve.

Now it's time to work on packing and to make a list of all the things I've forgotten to do. I'm going to try to blog on my iPad while I'm in Italy, so you'll be hearing from me (I pre-posted my inchie for Monday, so that should definitely show up).

COMPONENT PARTS

Remember my monoprints? Well, I finally got around to making some of them into component parts to use later. There are certain things I know that I will use in projects - hearts and words are a good bet. By making the component parts ahead of time, I'll be ready to go into production when the Muse hits.

ALTERED IPAD CASE

Last week, my iPad arrived (it's my Christmas present from my husband, but I put off ordering it until the iPad 2s came out). I'm still getting used to it and have a lot to learn (hate the few photos I've taken so far, but love what others have done, so I'll work at that). Anyway, I bought myself an iPad case, a basic black, insulated, sleek zippered pouch. Of course, I couldn't leave it at that, so I appliqued some reverse applique hearts to both the front and back of it (It will come as no surprise to my friends that I made a small stockpile of the reverse appliqued hearts). It personalizes it for me.

MY WELCOME HOUSE BANNER

Kathy McElroy is hosting another Welcome banner swap - this one with the banners in the shape of houses.  I have the "C" this time. I decided to make a "shabby chic" house (free form sewing on a beige background, lace roof, a sari ribbon for the door and windows). I also decided to put a person behind the door (it's a photos of me on my 8th birthday). I'm not sure anyone will think to open the door (it is, after all, a Welcome banner and should have an open door); but I like to think of me there to greet them all.

VALENTINE WELCOME BANNER - AND ANOTHER PURSE

It's time for another welcome banner; this time the theme is valentines and the shape is a heart instead of a triangle. I have "W" again.

 

I found two great heart fabrics at my local quilt shop and decided to try to quilt freeform hearts onto the fabrics.

I cut out the hearts using a pattern to make sure I stayed consistent with shape and size (not susually one of my strengths).

Here's what I decided would be the front of the banner.

And, here's the back.

I mailed off my banners without taking a photo of the completed one;,but I had made an upside down one (oops), so I have one to show you. I was lazy and just placed the heart shaped button on the bottom instead of sewing it on. So, this is almost what my "W" banners look like.

I had some left over fabric; so, of course, I made a purse.

 

NEW YEAR'S PROJECTS

I pick and choose the superstions I decide to believe in. A few years ago, I heard that what you do on New Year's Day is much of what you will be doing for the rest of the year.  I had a good day, so I'm believing this superstition this year. I tidied my studio a little (made some work space). I Bubble-jetted some fabric for future projects. I made some revers applique blocks. I started to make a purse. And, I played on the computer and talked to some good friends on the phone. All these are worth doing throughout 2011.

Here is the reverse applique purse I made.

Here are the buttons I made for the reverse applique purse.

I made a large batch of buttons - some for a friend to put on the sweater she knit, some for the purse I made for this winter, and some "on spec."

I woke up early this morning, so I decided I would make a purse for this winter. I ended the year with some fabric shopping, so I had plenty of fabric. As usual, I makde it up as I went along, so there were some mistakes ("mistakes were made"): such as the side pocket that is not wide enough for my cell phone, so it is now a pocket to hold my keys.

 

Here is the front of my purse. The bottom pocket is a photo that I took in Alexandria, Egypt of a window. The upper pocket is printed on patterned fabric (hence, the Bubble-jetting exercise). You can see (if you look VERY hard) the key pocket on the bottom of the left side of the purse. On the right side of the purse is a long pocket to hold my folded cane or a skinny water bottle. The button on the top actually has a purpose; it's the [very loose] closure (an elastic hair tie wraps around it).

Here is the back of my purse. The pocket has a rhinestone zipper (I bought it monts ago for a project that got shelved).

Below is the inside. There are two fairly large zippered pouches and two small pockets.

Tomorrow is the first Every Inchie Monday  of the year and I will post my inchie that is based on the word "eclectic." You can join the inchie project at any time. You can click on the sidebar and get to the blog to see details.