Tracking my crafting and sewing adventures...
This turned out to be last minute, but was planned a long time ago. The zippers took waaay too long to arrive, a month actually, and when they did show up it was 2 days before Littlest! Luckily I'm in good shape and was able to throw these fun clutches together. I've been wanting to make clutches for a year or more. I've experimented in the past but am finally happy, more or less, with this size. Some are made with very old barkcloth curtains. Hopefully they will survive some gentle use!
I feel like I've knit a million of these hats for my good friend Lara (and I think I have 5 or so of my own in the mitten box). My mom has knit a great stack of them this year too - it's such a nice pattern and the button is always fun to choose. I'll have a few for sale at the Littlest this year, come take a look! Sat. Dec. 8th, 10 to 5pm, new location: 56 Carpiquet, Takhini North!
I've made barely a dent in my scrap fabric pile with these little trees! Note the faux bois trunks?!
I've made some patchwork tea towels again. It's been a few years, I've had the tea towels for ever, just waiting to be made up. Somehow I never took the time. Nice and bright, multicolour, blues, oranges and greens. For the Littlest this Saturday, December 8th, 56 Carpiquet in Takhini North - there will be a ham too! ;o)
I was ironing on the appliques for these Littlest Onesies (for the Littlest, of course) and they looked like they were cheering hooray at me!
I'm waaay behind making these Quilty Pants! They didn't even exist 2 days ago but I'm slowly getting through my pile of 27 pairs...! 20 down, 7 to go! Aren't these zigzags great? Click on the photo to take you to the rest of the pants on my Flickr site. Good thing it's minus 30 out there, makes it easier to stay close to the sewing machine!
Just a sampling of this year's belts! I love making these - so many colours and so fun to wear. Bad news on the new clutch I'd planned - the zippers didn't arrive in the mail yet. Hopefully they'll arrive in time for The Littlest on December 8th... stay tuned, because the clutch is really cute!
I'm wondering if someone has made these before? I've noticed state shapes in everything from neighbourhood posters to cast iron frying pans out there in the craft world. I really like the shape of the Yukon and thought why not? My 6 year old was really impressed and wants one for his room, what a great way to get familiar with your Territory! I've also been thinking they'd make a great gift for family "outside" to remind them of their family "up here". My other idea, for the paddlers, would be to embroider favourite river trips, The Wind, The Snake, The Yukon... or all your river trips, as a reminder of good times in our lovely Yukon Territory.
Once again I'm wishing I started sewing earlier! Here is the latest to come off the ol' Juki sewing machine. A colourful stack of my oldest and dearest design - the Quilty Bag. I'll be at The Chocolate Claim this Sunday for the Lingonberry art and craft fair so come by if you can. 10 til 3pm, same day as Cranberry Fair just down the street.
This Christmas season I've made some bib style aprons from Lotta's book (which would also make a great gift for the sewer on your list!). They are reversible and have a nice modern cut to them. There's something about the neckline that I really like. And I just have to say that that fabric above is my all time favourite. It has the most beautiful flower shapes and the colours are unbelievable. It's Anna Maria Horner's design and if you haven't seen her fabric, needlework, blog, etc. you really should hop over there to be amazed and inspired! I'm getting a slow start to my Christmas making and am trying not to think of the to do list or I'll start to hyperventilate. I'm just trying to "do" the work and worry about the calendar later, like the night before the Lingonberry! November 25th I will be joining some talented arts and crafts folks at the Chocolate Claim for my first Lingonberry craft fair. Please come by and get first picks of aprons, bags, belts and new clutches! Previews coming soon I hope - GULP!
Quilty Pants 2012, a set on Flickr.
The lovely and talented owner of Angellina's Toy and Children's Boutique in downtown Whitehorse asked if I would consider selling Quilty Pants from her shop. Ms. B does such a lovely job of sourcing her products and styling her shop that it was hard to say no to be included with such a fine selection of children's and baby's things. This marks my first foray into the world of wholesale pricing and making and there was a bit of a learning curve, but a happy one. While cranking out 30 pairs (60 legs, oh wait, they're also flannel lined, make that 120 legs!!) seemed a bit off putting, and I really wondered if it would spell the end of my love for these little pants, they are just too cute, soft, warm and durable for me to quit just yet! I've been making these pants for at least 6 years, I think, and they are one of my first made-and-designed-by-me items of which I'm pretty proud. The feedback from Moms over the years has been so important too - one Mom said her little guy won't wear anything but his overalls and quilty pants! I've made 3 sizes for Angellina's, 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 months. I have made them in sizes 2, 3 and 4 in the past but I've decided this year that folks can special order those sizes if they would like them. Angellina's is expanding their locally made products and there are some really sweet handmade hats, play masks and baby accessories down there right now - stop by and take a look!
Finally managed to try this fun pattern by Figgy's Patterns. It's nice to be able to search flickr for patterns to see what fabrics people use and for inspiration. I really like the pockets - hidden at the bottom of the light purple. This pattern lends itself well to the colour blocking craze that's out there lately. This two-tone purple is in cotton broadcloth. My next one I'd like to do in something heavier, maybe a twill, corduroy or velveteen? We'll see!
You may have heard the news, Good Karma Eco Shop has closed it's doors (to be able to spend more QT with their lovely daughter). You can still get in touch with them on facebook and their website and at the Thursday Fireweed Community Market til September. Meanwhile, I've put my Market Bags and Flat Totes in at the Chocolate Claim and they're going fast! I just have a little shelf there so I haven't tried bags before.They do require some fancy folding to fit so hopefully everyone will be kind and keep it neat while browsing! Hint hint!
Taa Daa! This was so fun. The weather couldn't have been better, I had great neighbours (DH of Lareware!), lots of love from the community and lots of orders for skirts! I couldn't be more pleased. I'm also pretty excited about my change tent in the back right corner. It was made from retired bedspreads from the Ontario School for the Deaf (the label reads OSD GIRLS, currently known as Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf). Big thank you to my Aunt Susie, a long time employee, who saved these lovely woven spreads with pine trees. They make a great change tent - it was actually nice and warm in there when the weather cooled off! My neighbour DH and I used it to change into jeans when it cooled off! It will also make a fun play tent in our back yard when hung from the clothes line. Click on the photo to take yourself to a few more photos on my flickr site.
Skirts and Shifts for the Fireweed Community Market, a set on Flickr.
Here is a sneak peak of skirts for the market today. Shifts won't be ready 'til next Thursday!
