After preparing the last ArtPrize applique for sewing (not the one above), I shifted gears and spent the rest of Wednesday writing to meet some work deadlines.
I’m getting closer to finishing the quilt project, and have been mulling over my plan of attack for the quilting process. It’s going to be challenging to quilt on my machine, but not impossible. I may do the quilting in smaller sections and connect the finished piece at the end. I’m mulling over doodle patterns, trying to decided how I want the stitching to look. Maybe this is why it took me so long to get my writing done.
We went to our daughters’ school for the back-to-school visit. I can’t believe it’s September already! What back-to-school crafts are you making for your kids? I need to demo something on TV Friday. I ran into a snag with my planned project, so let me know if you have some ideas to pass on. I always credit my sources. : )
We’re back from a very short camping trip to Holland State Park. It wasn’t exactly a relaxing vacation because I worked every day we were there, which is completely my fault. I’ve been stuck in workaholic mode for months with no one to blame but myself.
So what did I do? I kicked back in the camper and wrote my newspaper column and then spent 2.5 hours sewing the flower applique down on the third panel of my ArtPrize quilt.
Somebody please stop me from swinging from the chandelier. :)
Thankfully my family is patient and I stopped working long enough to make two trips to the beach and take two excellent hikes through the state park (which gets a resounding thumbs up from the Ackerman-Haywoods).
I realize that there are benefits to going on a real vacation, the sort most people take during which they leave work and obligations behind. The trouble is that I’ve been too busy to plan for one of those this summer. It’s ridiculous, I know. Don’t do this to yourself and remind me not to do it again either. Some serious changes are on tap once I get out from under this latest pile-up.
Note to self: Just say no to overcommitment from this day forth. : )
Good morning, folks. If you’re here looking for the instructions to make a “Jager” loom out of an old book as I promised in my column that appears published in today’s issue of The Grand Rapids Press (Home & Garden section p. 3), scroll further down this page or click here for the instructions and a video to guide you through the process of making your loom. Happy weaving!
This episode of CraftSanity was recorded before a live audience at the Creative Conference of Entrepreneurs in Seattle. My guest was the Megan Reardon, creator of the popular Not Martha blog she launched in 2001 as a place to keep track of her many crafty projects and lifestyle interests.
Nine years later, Megan’s blog has received mentions from high traffic sites including Daily Candy, Fred Flare, Boing Boing, Apartment Therapy, and Metafilter, and has been nominated for several Bloggie awards. Megan’s site was named one of the Coolest Websites of 2006 by Time magazine.
On this episode of CraftSanity, you’ll find out about Megan’s creative life that has included stints sewing opera costumes in Santa Fe, building corporate websites in San Francisco, and running a small knitting supplies business in her current home of Seattle, where she is a founding member of the Grassroots Business Association.
She has published patterns in Knitty.com (The Hallowig ranks among my favorites!) and in several knitting books.
She contributed projects to ReadyMade and FamilyFun magazines, and has also blogged for ReadyMade and Design Sponge. Megan also creates awesome projects for Holidash.com, including this Felt Dahlia Brooch.
Thanks to Megan for being the first guest to record with me before a live audience and for sharing her story with us!
Also thanks to the conference organizers who hosted the conference. It was great to be a part of the event and meet so many talented and creative people in person. I will be posting more little bits about people I met in the coming weeks. I have a little project to finish in the meantime.
Thanks to my episode 119 sponsors! I got to meet the creators of Meylah at the conference and am impressed by the platform they’ve created to provide creative business people with a means to sell products, teach tutorials, and share their stories all in one place.
Meylah combines a simple online store, blogging system, and social media marketing features into an easy to use,all-inclusive platform, just for you. With Meylah, you can build your online presence in 15 minutes or less. So go visit Meylah and thank them for sponsoring this episode of CraftSanity.
A very special thanks to returning sponsor, AnniePurl! AnniePurl is what happens when a girl obsessed with all things knitting knitting combines her love of fabric, sewing, and shiny things.
At anniepurl.etsy.com you will find whimsical stitch markers, project bags of all kinds and tote bags made by a knitter with knitters in mind. So go visit AnniePurl and tell her Jennifer sent you!
This is the ArtPrize quilt I’ve been working on. I’ve been hand stitching every day for the last several days, working late into the night to turn the 127 hexagon flowers made of fabric from donated neckties into something beautiful and agonizing over whether or not this is even possible.
I had some help getting those blooms stitched (Thank you!) and now I’m in the solo phase of the project and trying to stay sane. I’m mumbling to myself a lot and drinking ridiculous amounts of Pepsi. I love the challenge before me but realize every time I look in the mirror that this adventure comes at a very high price. I snapped the photo about a week ago after I heard my 4-year-old daughter poke her 6-year-old sister and whisper in one of those loud kid whispers: “Look at mom.” Read more »
Hi folks. I’m operating in an ArtPrize induced fog, so it’s not surprising that today’s live TV craft segment turned out to be one for the blooper reel. (See the clip below.) The “Take Five” segment features a bit of laughter and a demo on how to make a weaving loom out of an old book. Once I got myself untangled everything went pretty smooth. Read more »
This is what my ArtPrize quilt looked like yesterday morning. It was a box of 127 hand-stitched, paper-pieced hexagon blooms organized by color. (Note that navy blue dominates this box of blooms created using ties donated by prominent men in West Michigan.) I stitched the last 14 blooms at 35,000 feet flying to Seattle and back. I’m not a big fan of air travel, so the project was a great distraction.
I’ve been up late the last two nights stitching and working to create a cohesive designed using a completely random mix of tie fabrics. It’s been a fun challenge. In an effort to avoid going cross-eyed, I boxed up the blooms and headed to a friend’s house yesterday morning for a color consult and brainstorming session.
Together we sorted the blooms into the five most visually pleasing piles we could create and kicked around some possible design options. I headed back home to stitch with renewed energy. I never have all the answers and very thankful to know people who have skills that compliment mine. (Thanks Cyd!)
The design of the quilt is still evolving which is part of the fun. (Above is a photo of the messy back of blooms that have been stitched together. This won’t be visible when the quilt is done, but I always find the reverse side intriguing.) I’m sewing it in smaller sections so I can manage it all without losing my mind. I’m try to working continuously on the project until it’s done because it’s important that I finish it soon to meet my deadline, rediscover the surface of my dining room table and resume my normal life.
I kind of got swept away by this charity quilt project to benefit a local women’s shelter, at times neglecting to immediately attend to my family, business and other concerns. So I’m carrying a bit of guilt about the amount of time I’ve invested which is all the inspiration I need to finally GET IT DONE! Many thanks to my family for putting up with the messes I’ve made throughout this process and hugs to all people who have pitched in to help. Thank you so much!
Okay, time to get back to work. I’ll post another update soon. In the meantime I’m going to focus on making the best quilt I can.
Hi. I’m back from an excellent trip to Seattle and busy catching up on all my projects. I spent the day stitching my ArtPrize entry yesterday and will resume work on the project today after a much needed workout at the Y. I will tell you all about my Seattle adventure soon, but for now I want to let all you local readers know about a class I’m teaching next week. This is the same technique I’m using to create my ArtPrize entry. Read on for the class details and I’ll be back soon!
Introduction to English Paper Piecing
Lakeshore Sewing, 1011 Gezon Parkway SW, Wyoming, MI
Time: 9 a.m.-noon Tuesday Aug. 24
Learn to make hexagon flowers with this very addictive hand-piecing technique popular in 1930s quilts. For a very modern twist, machine sewing techniques can be used to turn hand-sewn hexagon flowers into attractive drink coasters.
Difficulty Level: Beginner
Cost: $15 for class; $6 supply fee (payable to instructor) for kit to make one coaster
In just a couple hours I’m going to do a live recording of episode 119 of the CraftSanity Podcast at the Creative Conference of Entrepreneurs here in lovely Seattle. (Sorry, no live stream of show.)
Come on out and participate in this interactive recording session and get inspired by a talented woman who has been on the creative blog scene since 2001.
P.S. The flowers are for you courtesy of a vendor at Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market.
Sue Hausmann says sewing is a life skill. And after you listen to her story you’ll understand what she means.
As a young mom, she sewed everything for her family from housewares to matching swim suits her family of six. She also sewed to earn extra money doing alterations out of her home. Years of practical sewing experience and a passion for the craft eventually lead Sue into the workforce where she excelled at hooking budding sewists on the craft.
Tune in to CraftSanity episode 118 to hear how this Midwestern seamstress used her sewing skills, Tupperware sales experience and supermom powers to canapult herself into the corporate world where she went on to become the Executive Vice President Consumer Motivation at Husqvarna Viking and the host of “America Sews” a show that aired on PBS in the U.S. until last year.
At age 67, Sue also knows a thing or two to say about reinventing oneself after corporate downsizing. Now she travels around with the country giving independent workshops and continues to inspire people with her passion for sewing.
I appreciate Sue’s vast sewing knowledge and the way she validates the fabric stash.
“Most people call their fabric “stashes” or “stash,” but I call it my collection because collections are supposed to be enjoyed,” she said. “And you don’t have to do anything with your collection. You don’t know stamp collectors who lick stamps and put them on envelopes. You don’t know spoon collectors who stir coffee with their spoons. Rarely do I find a pattern worthy of something in the collection. Usually, if I want to sew, I have to go buy new fabric.”
Aren’t you glad you’re not the only one?
If you’re local, you can meet Sue at her upcoming West Michigan workshop. Here are the details:
Sewing workshop with Sue Hausmann
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 21.Where: Comfort Inn Suites, 350 Dodge St. in Comstock Park
Cost: $40 including lunch
Buy a ticket: Advanced registration is required. Call 616-361-5484 or go to Smith-Owen Sewing & Quilting Center, 4051 Plainfield NE, in Grand Rapids to buy workshop tickets.
Visit our sponsor
AnniePurl is what happens when a girl obsessed with all things knitting knitting combines her love of fabric, sewing, and shiny things. At anniepurl.etsy.com you will find whimsical stitch markers, project bags of all kinds and tote bags made by a knitter with knitters in mind.
I finally clipped some Queen Ann’s Lace to dry between pieces of newspaper in my homemade press. I can’t wait to see how they dry. I’m thinking these lovely flowers may resurface as starched snowflake window decorations this winter.
Check back in a bit for CraftSanity episode 118! And then I’m off to Seattle to record more interviews!
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m heading West for the Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs in a couple days. There’s lots to do before I board the plane, but I took a break from spinning plates for a bit to work on a super important project for my daughters.
I’ve been working on a set of stuffed cats called the “Recycled Sisters” from an Indygo Junction pattern by Amy Barickman. The pattern was an impulse buy when I was out shopping for dress fabric for a dress I still might whip up before the trip. (I had some birthday money that has been burning a hole in my pocket since July and this crafty girl just couldn’t wait any longer to spend it.)
I usually make my girls stuffed pals based on pictures they draw, but this has been a fun change of pace. I used fabric I had around the house and finally found an appropriate use for a totally wild, wool blazer that I rescued from Goodwill a while back. I felted it long ago, and was thrilled to finally cut it up to use as backing fabric for the cats. I turned the large front blazer pockets into cat sleeping bags just in time for tonight’s bedtime festivities. Oh, and we made cat dresses out of thrifted sweeter sleeves, too. So the Recycled Sisters are coming along. Abby and Amelia have requested PJs for their cats next, so I’ll try to whip up some quickly tomorrow… Something tells me that my dress project is going to have to wait.
MEET ME IN SEATTLE: Those who know me well, know I often fly by the seat of my pants. In keeping with that, I have yet to settle on a time and place for a Seattle meetup for CraftSanity listeners.
This could be because I’m half-expecting to be sitting in a booth somewhere by myself knitting during said meetup, which would be kind of a bummer.
Anyway, I’ll be in Seattle by dinner time Thursday and would love to have a little craft gathering for any CraftSanity folks interested in getting together Thursday evening.
Since I don’t have a plan ironed out as of yet, your best bet is to check back here and follow me on twitter for updates. If you have any suggestions or just want to let me know that you’re interested in attending a meetup, please contact me.
I really can’t wait to meet the great people who have made what I do possible. You folks are the reason I got invited to Seattle. Thank you!
This is what I’m writing about tonight. You’ll be able to read all about it in The Grand Rapids Press next Sunday. Doesn’t this luscious roving make you want to drop everything and spin some lovely sock yarn? Me too!
Speaking of socks… I’m looking for an easy thigh-high sock pattern that I can knit on the sidelines at soccer games and at swim lessons. Any suggestions? It’s hot and humid here in Michigan and I had two unexplained hot flashes this afternoon (WTH?!), but that hasn’t stopped me from scoping out fall knitting projects. Oh, and it case you were wondering, the socks are for me. : ) Here’s an easy leg warmer pattern that I plan to try, but I’m still searching for the perfect super tall sock pattern that I can stitch with sock yarn.
Okay, I must get back to work… Just a few days to get everything done before I leave for the Conference for Creative Entrepreneurs in Seattle. Are you going?
P.S. I’m working to kick out the next podcast before my trip and there’s still time to become an episode sponsor. Email sponsors@craftsanity.com if you’re interested.
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