'Tis the Season!

I've marked down a few things in the Etsy store, so you might want to drop by and check it out!

Sweet Sixteen

My niece celebrates her sixteenth birthday this week.  I've been struggling with this birthday for a few reasons.  For one thing, it means I've been out of high school for about sixteen years, and I can't quite grasp how fast it's all passed.  What happened to that silly little Monkey?  More importantly, I'm struggling with the idea that she's growing up.  I'm even more nervous about her birthday because I remember what I was up to at her age.  All of those issues aside, what do I get her for her birthday?  Gas card?  iTunes card?  Cold hard cash?  When was the last time she opened a present from me and not just a card?  Unwrapping presents is one of my favorite parts of birthdays!  So here is what I came up with:

What?  There's no peeking!  You're just going to have to wait.  Or keep reading.

I called my brother to find out what she wanted for her birthday, and he told me that my sister-in-law bought The Not-so-Silly Monkey a sewing machine for her birthday.  I had to ask him to repeat his response, I was blown away.  The Monkey wants a sewing machine?  My hoop-shooting, soccer-playing, Volleyball-Wiz wants a sewing machine?  It makes a bit of sense, because she can be quite the fashionista when she wants to be.  It is important to say that both of her grandmothers sew, as well as her cousin's mom and her cousin's Tutu, and of course, I dabble a little in sewing.  Tutu is quite the quilter, really. Had all of the sewing that Tutu and I do given Monkey inspiration?  Has Pinterest's DIY boards made enough of an impression on her to have her request such a cool gift?  Maybe she's just exhausted all other gift options?  She is pretty close to having everything! 

When it sank in that I wasn't on an episode of PRANK, and I realized that they were, in fact, giving her a sewing machine, I started beaming.  My niece wants to sew!!  I missed the boat when my older niece, KLo, asked me to go with her to pick a sewing machine a few years ago.  I went with her, but looking back, I could have done a better job outfitting her, and I feel like I let her down.  Like most crafters, I learn from my mistakes.  The wheels started turning.  What should I have given to KLo when she purchased her first machine?  What would I want gifted to me with a new sewing machine?  What do I feel are necessities for any sewing space?  I called to make sure other gift-givers were on the Notions Route, and hit the local Black Friday Sale at JoAnn Fabrics.  I'm an Olfa girl, myself, but who can resist 60% off Fiskars notions?  Not this gal. 

Here is a list of what I consider "The Basics" for anyone looking into basic craft sewing:

Self-healing cutting mat:
I say the bigger the better, but honestly, I have five of these:  One little rectangular mat, perfect for squaring up blocks and taking to classes or craft-nights with the girls; One long, skinny mat for working with strips, or for a take-along; One 12"x18" June Tailor mat, complete with ironing board on the back (This one is perfect for those of us crafting out of a closet, as most of us do); One 24"x36" mat that currently resides with my mother, who is working on an adorable baby quilt for one of my cousins, who was born three years ago - Love you, Mom);  And the gigantic fifth mat is waiting patiently at the North Pole for a Christmas Day delivery.  I love all of these mats, as they make smaller projects and quilts so much easier to work on. 

Acrylic Rulers:
These come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  My favorite is the  6"x24" ruler that has grids.  It is so easy to cut strips and square up fabric and quilt blocks with this beast.  I have a few template rulers in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they are not necessary.  They can make a job go much faster, and I do use a lot of mine, but I was lucky enough to have inherited half of them.  If you see these and like them, treat yourself to one ever now and then.  I picked up a new diamond rule last night, and it was well worth the four bucks!

Rotary Cutter and Extra Blades:
Let's face it, the ruler and mat are nothing without these tools.  Having extra blades on hand is essential.  I like to keep extra everything on hand for two reasons:  1). I live too far from a craft store to "drop by" for more supplies, and 2). I usually run out of whatever I need in the middle of the night when the store is closed, so even if i did live close to a store, I couldn't get in for what I needed anyway. 

Fabric Scissors:
My favorite pair are Ginghers, but $45 is a bit steep for me.  I'm not a complete scissor snob, and used Fiskars and any other pair of fabric scissors under ten dollars until last year, when Santa put a set of Ginghers in my stocking.  Good job, Big Guy.  I tie a ribbon on every pair of scissors meant for sewing, to avoid confusion when people are looking for scissors to open anything or cut paper. 

Seamstress Tape Measure:
If you need to know why this is a Must-Have, step away from your machine and make an appointment to see me.  Even if you aren't making clothes, this little tool can help any project along.

Seam Ripper:
Every machine I've ever owned has come with a seam ripper, but having two is a good idea.  I keep the factory seam ripper in the cute little compartment on my sewing machine.  As you faithful readers know, I have two velcro'd to my machine for convenience.  I'd estimate I have a half a dozen seam rippers floating around here, and I usually pick up one during the big notion sales just in case.  They do dull out after a while, and have a way of getting lost. 

Thread:
What's a machine without thread? 

Wonder Tape:
While this isn't a necessity, really, I consider it a valuable notion.  There are some fabrics that don't respond well to pinning.  Any of you that have worked with any linings, satin or minkee know what I mean! 

Pins:
I grew up with metal pins, with tiny heads on them.  When I had my first job, I decided to get my own set of pins for my sewing needs, and saw these cute little flower-headed pins.  A friend of mine explained that beyond fashion was function, and these pins were popular with quilters, due to their thickness, length, and flat head.  Having a strong pin to go through multiple layers is essential to quilters.  Having the length keeps a project in place a bit better than a shorter pin.  That being said, the shorter dress maker pins are also an essential tool, as they are for more delicate projects.  Pins aren't all that pricey, so recommend buying a package of flat-heads and dressmaker pins.  You'll decide which you prefer.

Fabric:
Do I really even need to comment on this?  I'm wondering how many of us bought fabric before we even bought our machine!

So what did I wrap up for The Monkey?  Like all of us, I'm on a budget, so I didn't go totally over the top. I did, however, invest in these lovely products:

I think she may have been more excited to open presents than anything else!  There was a sigh of relief when she opened the mat set, as my kids and I told her it was an autographed Justin Beiber poster.  Regardless, I am hopeful she will enjoy sewing as much as I do!  Happy Birthday, Monkey!

New Coupon Code!!

Are you ready for some Holiday Shopping?  Here is a coupon code to get you started:  WINTER2012.  Enter this code during checkout on any purchase in my Etsy store.  Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday: Week #10

Before I get into the tip this week, I want to share with you a picture of a quilt I’ve been lugging around for almost twenty years.  I started this quilt the summer after my sophomore year of high school.  This was back during my days working at House of Fabrics. 

 

 

 

The store I worked at was closing, and there were some great deals on fabric.  It was a great time for me to take up quilting.  If I made a mistake, I wouldn’t be out a lot of cash.  It is important to say that aside from an outfit for school, I didn’t actually make any money during my days cutting fabric and back-folding the calico wall.  My poor mother lost money on the deal, as well.  She drove me to work on rainy days, and picked me up at night so I wouldn’t have to walk home in the dark.  Unfortunately, she would end up shopping.  I remember on more than one occasion, she shopped for my entire evening shift. 

As most of you quilters know, there are stages of quilting.  I don’t mean prewashing, cutting, stitching, ironing, and actually quilting.  I mean the emotional stages:  Excitement, confusion, despair, resolve, perseverance and success.  Some of you know exactly what I mean.  Every “new” quilt starts with that excitement stage, when I can not wait to get my hands on the new fabric.  I cut away, cheerful and singing, stitching and ironing, clipping and sorting.  Eventually, I run into an issue.  It’s important to mention this issue is usually encountered late at night, when my eyes are having trouble staying open, and I’ve misunderstood something.  I should know that it is time to get some rest, and try again in the morning, but sometimes the excitement hasn’t waned completely and I want to push ahead.  Then despair sets in, when I’ve realized I have made a mistake, and should have stopped when the confusion set in.  I call it a night, possibly avoiding the project the next morning, and eventually move to the resolve stage, in which I’ve found a resolution to my issue.  I drudge through whatever seam ripping or re-cutting that needs to occur, and then it happens.  Sweet Success.  There is nothing sweeter than that moment I finish that last stitch.  I run my hands over the designs.  I run my fingers along the binding.  Each new pattern brings a new skill.  I am working on a few new patterns here that I am hoping to try out in all this free time I have with the kids in school.  Those of you that know me KNOW I would have used a sarcastic font for that last line.  I’ve had less free time since they’ve started school than I did when they were home with me all summer. 

 

Where is the tip in all of this?  Have you ever sat down with a Veteran from any war?  I mean really sat down and talked to someone who has served their country or fought for something they love?  I run into Veterans from time to time, and I try to make the time to hear their story.  I see something lost in their eyes when we say our hellos, and somehow they come alive when they start reminiscing about what it was like to be a young soldier.  They talk about their first love, or their first deployment.  They say they don’t want to bore me, as I’m sure their kids and grandkids are tired of hearing the memories.  I listen.  I hear.  I wonder how these men and women survived some of the situations they endured.  I hear the pride in their voices, and see the sparkles in their eyes, and the glow that gleams of their face as they tell their tale.  Good or bad, their experience shaped them, and made them the people they are today.  I’m happy they want to share their story with me, and so happy to listen. 

Talk to a quilter, and they spin a similar yarn.  I’m not trying to be disrespectful, please don’t take it that way.  But imagine a conversation I had with a fellow quilter about putting together a Lone Star quilt.  I had shared a picture of a “Starburst” quilt that I had made in 1994.  She insisted it was not a Lone Star quilt because of the color placement, and I agree, to a certain extent.  She asked me why I chose such a difficult pattern for my first quilt.  I explained that I knew I would be spending a lot of time with the quilt, and wanted something I would like for a long time.  I bought the fabric for twenty-five cents a yard.  That’s right.  Twenty-five cents a yard.  I was new to quilting, and was learning a technique that was new to the industry called “Strip Quilting”.  Armed with a rotary cutter, mat and pattern, I set out to assemble the quilt.  The woman and I talked and talked about color choices.  She spent months gathering her fabric for hers, I spent ten minutes.  She cut diamond after diamond, carefully piecing each one.  I cut strips, sewed strips, cut more strips, sewing more strips, and so on.  She shared her tips of the trade for quilting her masterpiece, and laughed at my batting choice for that first quilt.  It was nice to talk to this quilting veteran.  Where was she when I was working on this quilt?  It would have been nice to have some input.

Every project gives us a new experience.  Every stitch we rip out and re-stitch is a new lesson.  I encourage you to take classes, talk to people you know, join a quilting guild, and enjoy your time creating.  What’s my tip this week?  Jump into the deep end and start the project that you adore but are afraid of.  Buy that fabric you love when you see it, and tuck it away for later.  You know what you like; you’ll find the right pattern for it some day.  Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know what you are doing, and don’t lie about what you can do.

 That concludes my Ten Week Tip Tuesday! 

Tip Tuesday: Week #9

Purge your projects from time to time.  We all have UFO's (unfinished projects) from time to time, and sometimes letting go of them is the best thing we can do.  I come from a long line of pack-rats and clutter-bugs.  I'd like to think that I could be the one to break this cycle, but the fact that I have a fabric stash that could overflow a standard sized closet, I'm guessing I won't.  When is it time to let go and move on?

I had a friend give me her yarn stash a few months ago.  I like to knit and crochet, and found it really tough to turn down the yarn, although I was given the option of donating it.  I know of a few knitting circles that participate in some wonderful charity events, like making hats and blankets for preemies and newborns or for the homeless.  I thought of all of the things I could make with the skeins of yarn.  There were about forty of them, all labeled efficiently with little sticky dots to mark dye lots.  What a great idea, Leslie!!  Anyhow, I looked through pattern books, printed out online patterns, toyed with some of my own ideas, and still, the collection of yarn sits.

If you live in Sonoma County, you may know of a wonderful craft thrift store called The Legacy.   It is out in Sebastopol, CA.  Call ahead to make arrangements to drop off fabric, yarn, notions, books, magazines, patterns, and yes, even UFO's.  The store has a regular staff of volunteers who process the donations and set up the store like, well, a store.  Patterns are priced at fifty cents - except for vintage patterns - that's right, VINTAGE.  There are binders full of vintage patterns, all priced pretty reasonably if you ask me.  The fabric is sold by the pound.  It's something reasonable, like, $2/lb for fabric.  I've met teachers there that pick out scraps for their students.  I've met wonderful volunteers that come in to sit and knit/crochet items to donate to sell.  All of the proceeds from this great shop go to fund the Sebastopol Senior Center.  How cool is that?  I will admit, it's sad when I've witnessed a large delivery, and it hits me that someone has passed, and this is their sewing room, piled into box after box.  Right about the time I tear up, I'll see a young mom with her children in tow come in the front door, and they head to the button bucket to pick out buttons while their mom shops.  I smile, remembering that The Legacy is carried on, whether we pass it to our children, or strangers who find our stuff in the store.

I have dropped off items there from time to time.  I had volunteered a couple times while my son was at preschool.  I sorted patterns for a couple hours, while my daughter looked at buttons, or helped me put patterns in the correct boxes.  The staff is caring and pleasant, and while they prefer an appointment for larger donations, I've never had them turn down a bag or two of my purging.  What a wonderful way to achieve a guilt-free purge of my craft room!  I've acquired patterns and scraps of this and that for making dolls, or piecing holiday decorations.  I've found beloved out of print books that I have loaned out, only to have them never return.  I've scored amazing vintage buttons in excellent shape, and some uplifting conversations from fellow shoppers and volunteers. 

So when is it time to give up that UFO?  Have you lost interest?  Does it keep you from starting something new?  Are you feeling guilty?  Answering yes to any of those questions means it's time to move on.  Don't think of it as abandoning it, or giving up on something.  Think of it as giving the project new life by handing it on.  I assure you, a feeling of relief will pass over you.  I am on the verge of donating two totes of fabric that I've lugged to four different homes, each time intending to make something from the fabric, and each time putting the tote on the very bottom of the to-do list.  I'm not sure what my attachment is to these items, but I am starting to feel like letting go would be very liberating. 

Find a local charity, Senior Center, or classroom that could wrap up that project for you.  You're doing a better service to give it up and let it go than you are to weigh yourself down with it!!

Next week will conclude my Ten Weeks of Tip Tuesday!  What would you like to see on the blog in the upcoming weeks?  Tutorials?  Giveaways?  Contests?  Leave a comment below to let me know what you're looking for!!

Tip Tuesday: Week #8

I'm sure you've read my rant on threads, and if you haven't, *ahem, get to it.  Anyhow, I know I was pretty harsh about brands.  Maybe I had a few bad runs of luck when it came to manufacturers.  Maybe I bought thread that had been on the shelf awhile, or was just faulty.  I don't know.  What I do know, is that it is easier to label my thread with the date when I buy it, so I can avoid it snapping on me later because it is old.  This was an easy task in the beginning, because I always bought my thread at once, when it was on sale.  I realized later this wasn't always the best way to buy thread.  Having worked in retail, I'm skeptical about sales and expiration dates.  Sales are a great way to move product that could be at the end of its lifespan.  I'm not saying this is true for thread, but what if it is?  What if all that thread that gave me a headache was simply just... old?  If there is a way to see the "born on date" like a popular beer brand boasts on their product, I want to see it.  For now, I'm content with buying thread when I need it, rather than buying it because the price is right.  I also buy just what I need for a project, and try to keep no more than one extra black or white thread on hand to avoid thread becoming "expired". 

 

How about the question of, "is that a black bobbin or a navy blue bobbin?"  Well, I love sharpies.  I'm pretty sure the stationary supply store loves me when I come in.  I adore sheet protectors, sharpies, shipping supplies, and I'm a sucker for binder clips (more on that next week).  You've read some of my uses for sheet protectors - like storing machine notes and patterns - but did you know that I have three recipe binders stuffed with sheet protectors?  I loved one of my holiday cookie magazines so much, that when I wore it out preparing for Christmas one year, I bought a second one, and carefully cut the pages, sliding each one into a sheet protector, compiling them all in a binder for future use.  The stationary store loves me, magazine makers label me Public Enemy #1.  Anyhow, back to the sharpies.... What a bird walk!!

I use sharpies to label my bobbins.  I label one side, and always put that side up when I thread the bobbin.  This makes it easier for me to remember the direction of the thread when the bobbin is placed into the machine for sewing.  My Kenmore Machine has "K" written on the bobbins, and I wrote "BL" on my Babylock bobbins.  What does this have to do with Navy and Black?  Well, I don't know about you, but sometimes late at night, I can't see the difference.  So I mark one with sharpie so I can see the difference.  It doesn't matter how you mark it -write NAVY or BLACK on it, who cares?  I personally label my black bobbin with Orange Sharpie.  Why?  I'm a San Francisco Giants Fan, and when I think Black, I think Orange and Black, so orange sharpie it is.  That being said, if I were a Detroit Tigers fan, I'd probably label my navy bobbin with orange.  But I'm not, so I don't.  Where was I?  Go GIANTS!!  And Label your bobbins to avoid confusion. 

Did you know that I post to the blog at other times during the week?  Not just on Tip Tuesday?  You might want to check in for updates on what is coming to the Etsy store, or craft fair dates...  Or maybe there might be a contest you can enter for free stuff?!?!  Who knows?  Check back, and even sign up on the right hand side of the screen to follow this blog by email. 

Tip Tuesday: Week #7

Making or modifying patterns is essential to what I do.  One of the advantages and reasons for sewing is to make a custom item.  Think of all the possibilities that can become reality when you make a pattern.  I started adjusting patterns for my own clothing over a decade ago, and I continue to make my own patterns for accessories like bags and wallets.  My daughter is very tall, and very slender, so I rarely have an opportunity to make her something straight out of the envelope.  A lot of her dresses are "Trim here, add several inches there," which is one of the reasons I sew so much for her.  When I finally modify a pattern, sometimes beyond recognition of its original format, I find myself frustrated at how fast the pattern deteriorates.  I get that patterns probably aren't made for multiple use, but I'm a tight-wad.  I typically don't spend more that $2 on a pattern, and I certainly don't throw it away when I am done.  I have learned over the years that it is easier to trim a pattern down, than it is to fold it over, keeping the sizes intact for future use.  Buying multiple patterns for the same pattern, but for different sizes is a much simpler option. 

But what about that pattern that fits just right?  The pattern that you use over and over again?  The pattern you made from tracing your favorite jeans or shirt?  The design that you worked up on a scrap of paper and trimmed using taped sheets of paper? 

Paper patterns are great, don't get me wrong, but I like to use muslin to make my patterns.   Draping the fabric over the person I am making the item for saves me a bunch of time.  It's an easy way to take something three-dimensional and turn it into two-dimensional.  I can see exactly where something should have seams, where it should be taken in and let out.  Using my Baby Lock Melody, I can embroider information on the muslin including what the pattern is for, the size, if it runs long or short, what the actual measurments are...stuff like that.  My favorite part about my obsessive compulsiveness in this pattern making matter is that I happen to know two little girls that are younger than my daughter that are facing the same fashion challenges she does, so all of my late nights of drafting and altering patterns, then transfering the alterations to muslin was far from a waste of time.  I found one brand of leggings that fit my daughter well everywhere but in the length, so I cut them open, and traced them on muslin to make a pattern adding length, of course. 

When I was in high school, my mother made me a half a dozen dresses from the same pattern.  Each one looked very different because of minor changes like length or material.  I'm sure she still has that pattern tucked away in her sewing room, and I can only imagine how dilapitated it is from all of those dresses. Think of how many times she pinned it down to fabric, and how many times it was folded and unfolded.

My tip?  Buy muslin by the bolt when it is on sale, and use this wonderfully affordable fabric to make and/or alter patterns.  You never know when all of that muslin will come in handy.  It's great for making patterns, making dust covers for just about anything, or even for making re-useable shopping bags.  I know a lot of women who put together a muslin outfit before cutting into expensive fabric.  There is nothing worse than cutting into Liberty of London fabrics only to find something doesn't fit.  Why not have a test run instead of potentially ruining pricey fabric?

Well, I hope you got a few tips from all of that mumbo-jumbo.  Three more tips coming your way!