Sewing Again...Finally

It's been quite some time since I have posted anything other than a Wordless Wednesday on this blog. Why? Well, because I have not done anything. Well, nothing creatively speaking anyway. After a week or so of non-sewing, I took hubby's advice and just "took January off". It was nice, but now it is hard to get back into the swing of things.

One of my goals/ideas for this year is to make things other than bags. And to only make a select number of styles. I narrowed it down to backpacks & clutches. I may play around a bit with them. Like with the clutches, I may only make fun & funky & embellished ones rather than the simple versions. Or just one funky for every 3 simple. Something like that. Anyway....

Here are the ready to be assembled backpacks ... exterior print is the top of the two...

What to do...Toss or Hide

Okay, so I wouldn't really toss out all my WIPs (yes, I am still struggling with them), but I could destash or giveaway the pieces. Or I can just hide them for a later date.

How do you handle the to-dos? I can't be the only crafter who gets a bit of a backlog. I had cut out lots of bags, mostly from leftovers or fabrics I wasn't so sure what to do with at the time. And timeline? Some of this stuff has been at the bottom of the pile for, um...months (some even a year). So what to do...


I have been trying to figure out why it is so hard to just let it go. It may be that whole "Quitter" thing. I don't want to be one. Hubby says not to think of it as quitting since the biggest reason they got to the bottom of the pile in the first place is because I had actual orders. I guess he's right. Yup - got that documented!

I really do need to do this. If you read my post about the things I want to do for 2010, you'll understand. I have a long list of 'want-to-makes' and don't want to delay those.

I'm going to do it...today. Find a box & store them for a rainy day. Or a day where I decide to destash them :P And then start cutting out fabric baskets & backpacks & a table runner. Woo Hoo?

Quilts to Come

I think most crafters suffer from CADD (craft attention deficit disorder)..I know I do. All those WIPs I spoke of...and the things I want to make (not including the usual bags)...well, quilts have begun too. I sketched out 4 quilts. They will be the first I have done from scratch. I have spent so many hours...too many... browsing quilt patterns & finished quilts, just oohing and aahhing. I decided to just go for it & make my own.

It seems strange to call them "your own" since there are standard blocks/patterns used. But it is the way you put it together & the fabrics you use that make them yours. You could probably give 10 people the same pattern, and even the same fabrics, and the result will be 10 completely different quilts. I love that about handmade creations. They are always one-of-a-kind. Okay, so if you give the same person these supplies & have them make 10, they could come out similar, but never exactly the same. Heck, most crafters would change up the fabric patterns at least which makes for a whole new look.

Anyway, enough ramble. I will try to keep updates on the quilts as I go. This past Sunday I chose the fabrics for 2 quilts (one is the 2nd sketch below). Yesterday I cut & began to sew. And with quilts, the cutting is not yet done. My index cards I use to track time is practically just "cut - sew- iron - repeat over and over". Tomorrow I will have some pics of the fabrics being worked on.



Almost forgot, those other projects I want to get to...table runners, placemats, pillow, tree skirts, stocking, fabric baskets & fabric gift bags. Hmmm...this will take a while :P
I hope to take the fabric from the quilts & just keep cutting out these projects. This should "dwindle" my fabric stash which will let me buy fabrics with more of a "purpose" ...I tend to buy what looks fun & not necessarily have a project in mind...which I won't totally stop doing of course :) It should also keep me from getting in a rut by making the same things over & over & over & over. Reminds me...add winter coat to the list. I already have the fabric.

Zip Pouches Galore

My personal goal/project for November was to tame my WIPs (works in progress). I started off only so-so. I finished those 4 purses I showed you last week. I did them in a quick burst & slacked the rest of that first week. But then I had another burst. So I moved up from so-so to pretty good. I just finished a smattering of miscellaneous zip pouches.

A few months ago I told myself I would make a matching zip pouch for all my bags. And I did cut out the makings for most of them. But I never got around to actually constructing them. Until last week. They are all different sizes & slightly different styles. Some have loops, some have tabs, some are flat fronts (where the zipper is in the front, not at the top)...but they are all finished. Woo Hoo!!! I even managed to take pics for listings. And I took this pic for the blog...all of them grouped together at the sewing machine. Too bad some of their matching bags have already sold.
So am I done with my WIPs? Not even close. it may be more of a November/December/January project. Although I really hope to have them completed by the end of the year. But I have so many other ideas buzzing around in my brain that it may soon melt. Let's just cross our fingers that meltage won't happen until after the holidays.

Lots on the To Do

I'll start with the easiest, well, to show anyway. I have another Whedonverse embroidery project all hooped up & started. Anyone know where this one comes from? I think I may do a contest involving guessing where my stuff originates - could be fun.

Reminds me - I have a question for you. Aside from the bags I am putting the embroidery stuff on - what else do you like? Framed, hanging art like pieces, towels, pillows, your uncle Sal, clothes, journal covers, ...anything? I want to do more than just bags with the embroidery, and custom ones too.



My To-Do just got bigger early this week. My inbox had a request for a batch of clutches for a bridal party. And it is a bit of a rush job...like by next weekend. This should be fun...they have been so far.
The bridesmaids are wearing a deep purple and she is looking for coordinating fabrics - each clutch will be a different print. I looked through my stash and realized I have no purple. Zero. Nada. None. I decided that when I run to the store for her fabrics, I'll pick up some for myself too.
These fabrics are a mix of those she picked & some alternate ideas I gave her. I decided to make pretty much all of them into clutches. I'll show you the bridal party bags once they are complete.

Done and To Do

My progress from last week's to do list...eh, not so much.

• Bike ride was a go, twice
• Library - check
• Clean upstairs - check
• Embroider - check
• Playground - check & check
• Sew bags - half checked
• Iron interfacing - nope

Not too bad I guess. I plan to do the ironing tonight while (re)watching Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

So...the bags: The first one had lots of problems & still needs some reworking. Thankfully my "problems" led to a neat idea. Since the bag's image is a zombie - I did the bag purposefully patchy so the ends looked frayed...although it's on the back side, so you can't see it here. But in the process, the sizing got out of whack. So I need to "trim it down". You can see it in the front view picture...the flap is too long. Should be an easy fix.



I went back to the messenger bags I had already cut and fixed the gusset lengths...turned out it was an easy fix. I still don't know how I cut them the wrong length. Oh well, the measurements are now correctly noted. This is the Firefly bag:



Both bags still need to be ironed - they will look less puffy then. I plan to do that when I am ironing the interfacing I did not get to last week.

So... embroidery: It's turning out pretty good. It took a while to find the right quote. The first few were too long. I liked

• "This being Sunnydale and all, I guess we can rule out something good" ...not too long, but not quite right either
• "...you gotta stand up and salute their death rate"...needed something more, although looking at it now, it would have worked. Maybe I'll use it on something else later.
• "…he's some kind of demon looking for an all-powerful thingamabob and I've got to stop him before unholy havoc's unleashed and it's another Tuesday night in Sunnydale." ...much too long

This is what I ended up with:


So, my to do for this week....


I think it's doable.

To Do ...

Where to start? My to-do list is long, but only if I count each piece, so I'll group it.

This past weekend I cut out material for:

• 4 messenger bags - embroidery completed
  
• 5 Ribbon handbags
• 4 Mollie clutches
• 4 Venus handbags
• 4 large pleated totes - handpainting & embroidery not done yet
• 4 Taffy/Rachelle/Theresa purses (they are pretty much all the same except size...and those I cut are a whole new size - so I'll need a new name too) - embroidery not done
• misc totes...I had linings already cut (some sewn) for simple totes so I cut main fabrics for them & use them for tutorials as they are made
  

I got the interfacing cut for everything except the totes...and one Ribbon handbag. I was almost laughing at it because I only needed about 3 more inches. So a trip to the fabric store is on the list too.

That'll be #1...fabric store. But since the car is in the shop, it will have to wait.

1. Sew messenger bags. I'm doing these first since no interface hassle.
2. Fuse all interfacing. This will take some time...unless I go out & buy a new iron. Mine doesn't seem to get the job done quick. I think this is the step I dread the most when it comes to making handbags. If I ever hit it big (or at least make a profit) I may invest in a home press. Then I'd fly through that fusing!
3. This is like a 2b really...embroider between "sets" of fusing.

Wow - only 3 things for the week, but it will probably take that long. My youngest is done with school for the year & finding the time for my creating is not going to be easy. I have the nights after he goes to bed & when/if he naps...but I often need that time to rest up a bit myself.

Wish me luck! Or a babysitter :P