simplesparrow

how to sew a nifty pocket

With the help of Nate (filming), Micah (guest appearance) and my nephew Sam (editing and getting it on you tube) I've managed my first video tutorial. There is a terrible amount of nervous hand fiddling and my nephew thought that the "talking hands" was a bit disconcerting... oh well. My crew and I were only up for so many retakes. Although I do have to agree with Sam, watching a pair of hands fiddle while I give my intro is strange. Since I'm not trying to break into Hollywood, I think this will do just fine for the purpose. Oh, one more thing, if all of you already make your pockets like this (as Micah does!) please, go easy on me. I don't get out much.

P.S. Watch for the slowly disappearing fabric piece off to the left. Nathan was apparently bugged by it sitting there while he was filming. Picky, picky.

raveling + bows = new love

I'm feeling a little obsessed these days with ravel-y fabric bows, I want to stick them on lots of everything! Just for the record, I'm not a bow person. I probably sound like a liar because this new tote I made over the weekend is sporting not one but three!!  Maybe the fraying edges make them seem not so fluffy and sweet I guess. Whatever it is, yay!! for fraying fabric bows! This tote will eventually make it into my shop, possibly by the weekend.

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Karin of Orange Flower has started a 30 day macro photo challenge that I'm taking part in. It's been so very long since I participated in any group thing--feels good to jump in with the others. I know I won't be able to post a photo everyday and sometimes I'll combine my photo with other posts because I like to talk a lot--but I'm going to post a macro shot as often as I can for the month. Here's my first one--a tad trippy but I like it.  And I have never taken a macro shot of my face by the way (not really a good idea when your 42..ahem..speaking for myself of course) but, this is a challenge so I'm trying new things.

ruby's pillow

I made this small pillow for a little girl who *loves* pink--she belongs to this very good friend of mine. And speaking of Emily, she really is an undiscovered gem! She inspires me so much and is full of seamstress-y talent!! Check out this adorable coat she made, all from her own design.   If my girl was still a little one I would snatch that stylish thing up! It's still for sale!

Sorry. I had to do a little friend bragging. Anyway...back to the pillow. I am so loving that aqua ticking stripe cotton! It's seems so fresh for spring--and for summer for that matter. The patch in the middle is a piece of natural cotton that I stamped with a poppy in pink fabric ink--found the rubber stamp at the thrift store for a buck. I went over parts of the poppy with a gray fabric marker because the detail wasn't showing up very well. I wasn't sure that part would turn out, but I'm happy with the look.

I decided to add her name with some free-form embroidery. When I asked Nate (son #3) what he thought he said right away, "Yeah, it looks great." Then his faced kind of squinted up and his next comment was, "That Y looks..sort..of..funky." Oh pooh. That was the one thing I really liked about the wonky embroidery, the Y trailing off into, into..um..into the poppy field! Wonky can be a style, right? Well, I like it--and I'm leaving it in--in all it's wonkified  glory.

just in time

I'm tired, but I did it. I kept my goal of updating my shop today. Never mind that it's after 10 p.m. A goal reached is a goal reached I say. I would love to stick around and chat with you all but I'm headed for my very comfy memory foam mattress and electric blanket...

Peek into the...yawn (i really did yawn just now)...SHOP if you have time. There you will find my new SPRING TOTES and 2 new POSTCARD SETS , all in time to celebrate spring.

He rose, He lives, He is coming again.
Wishing you a very joyous Easter weekend!

xo.
T.

spring fever

Stripes! Working on a shop update that will hopefully be ready by Friday.

I gave an old favorite painting a much needed face lift. It is spring after all.

That's what I've been up to. Short and sweet today--back soon!

trellis lap blanket

This was my work in progress I gave a peek of last week. I've named it my trellis blanket for the design on the front. I wasn't thinking "trellis" as I placed the pieces but the name does suit it I think. It always feels SO good to finish a project--especially one that is on the larger side. The base fabric was one I found at a rummage sale and it was a huge piece--this is only half of it. Several years ago I started a small collection of vintage bark cloth. Unfortunately I never came across any of my pieces at the thrift store or yard sales. They were all purchased from private dealers for a pretty penny. As time went by (a couple of years) I slowly started to loose interest in them and so squirreled them away for who knows what.

This project was the first in a long while that I felt inspired to break out some of the bark cloth. The cross bars were just the leftovers from the long strips that I cut for the length. They were all appliqued onto the top with a tight zig-zag. The backing is a vintage sheet I was saving for PJ's--still enough left for some pants I think. I put a layer of cotton batting in between for weight and cush--love the cush. No binding, just all sandwiched with some top stitching.

I tied it all in place with floss, gave it a fresh wash and dry in the sunshine--and now it's ready to hop on over to my Etsy shop where, I hope, it will find a very good home.

I've got a couple of sick boys here with a tummy bug--the timing is humorous because, after several weeks of just winging my meals and not planning--I just did a big meal planning and shopping today. I really hope it doesn't spread through the house. Somebody has got to eat all those meals I just planned!

a winner and a WIP

I have the cutest, little, freckled, random number picker you could ever want. He made my job quite easy. "Noah" I said, "pick a number between 0 and 51." and he said, "20." Perfect, thanks. He got back to what he was doing and I got back to what I was doing. Number twenty was ellen! You are the winner of my little bookish giveaway! Send me your address, K?  Pictures From Patchwork is yours.

Thank you to all who put their name into the hat! It's so much fun to have you play along. And, if you are feeling a little bummed out because you never win anything---well, I know just how you feel. I NEVER win anything either! :)

The photo above is my work in progress. I'm doing something I rarely do right now, and that is staying up late to make good headway on getting it finished. Time to get off the computer before all this typing puts me to sleep...yawn..no, no yawning! must.keep.sewing.

yawn.

It's not looking hopeful.

bright and spontaneous

When I was in my local fabric shop a few days ago these fabrics totally caught my eye. Turquoise and orange are predominate--whoa. Not my usual choices unless in small amounts, but right now I think these brights are just what the doctor ordered for the middle of winter. I'm loving them. As soon as I saw them I had an instant project in mind. Not the norm for me--shop now, think of what to do with it later--is more how I operate. I am *super* happy with how this spontaneous project is turning out and even more so that it's coming together on the quick side. (Thanks Mark for taking Noah for the day! xo.)

I'm getting closer to updating my Etsy shop (see note in sidebar) and have just a few more things to work out then I can show you what I've been up to over here. One of the "new directions" I've been wanting to pursue is my photography--so I'm very excited (and a lot nervous) to be offering 2 postcard collections with my next update. The images are near and dear to my heart (ones you'll recognize if you've been reading here for long) and it feels a little scary to put something so personal out there because it could get rejected! yikes. But if you never take any risks in life you probably never go anywhere either. I'm also exploring the world of small art quilts and a couple of those will be in shop as well. Also totally scary to put out there--but I want to challenge my comfort zone and see what happens.

For better or for worse, I do.  :)

woolly love

Last night I put the binding on the edges of my sweater blanket and I'm happy to call it finished. I had originally thought that I would make my own bias tape out of some cute fabric but, as the days ticked by and the blanket hung on the back of my bedroom chair collecting dust, I decided it just needs to get finished--I wasn't getting around to making my own binding anytime soon. I went to my drawer filled with bias tape and bindings of all sorts and chose a gray, a taupe and a blue lace.

I think using 3 different bindings is fitting for the blanket and I can say all  the materials used for this were secondhand--I love being able to do that! I was planning to put a backing on this to cover the seams--I should have lapped them--but I decided I would enjoy using this much more if I could feel the cozy wool against my skin as was my original inspiration for this. The blanket fits perfectly across the foot of my bed, a bonus since I didn't plan the size of this at all. At the moment though I'm wearing it wrapped around my shoulders.

After I finished taking the photos of the blanket Noah jumped on the bed and took a tumble in the woolly squares. It's getting lots of love already--perfect.

toasty

I love my hand-warmers! This is the first pair I've made and they are super cinchy. I would however like to refine my technique--these have some tiny flaws--but are still so usable. I think I'll look up on the web how others have done it so I can learn some tips. For instance, I had to cut the top off of the thumb when I finished because it was to long and tight, now I have an unfinished edge there that might ravel ( I could finish the edge by hand but I don't want to, so there.) Is there a way to sew stretchy wool without getting the ruffle effect on the edge? There must be, no? I lessened the foot pressure and lengthened the stitch width, that helped some. Sometimes the little ruffle is great, but in this case I sort of wanted the edge to lay flat. At any rate, this first pair fits well and does their job most excellently!! My hands are always cold in the winter, even in the house, so a couple more pairs are in order. I certainly am not running short on scrap sleeves!

Thanks so much for the  get well wishes--I'm feeling tons better.