Rainbows Be Done

Very close to two years ago I took all my scrap fabric and made crazy blocks in every color of the rainbow. It was a great exercise in creating crazy blocks, but not so much in thinking projects through. Once I had these blocks they weren't what I thought they would be. I envisioned a rainbow quilt, but it just didn't seem right.

Then I thought bags in every color would be great. Then purses.

Then I wanted to burn them all and just be rid of them. So slowly, every so slowly I've finally gone through all of the blocks and this is what came of it all.

1 bag

7 purses

7 color baby books

2 baby blankets

 

I learned a lot. Now who wants to buy something and help me empty my inventory so I can start all over again. =)

Magic Wand

Did I mention how rough Whirlwind can be on her toys? Forget getting her plastic, it'll break within seconds and sometimes even wood doesn't stand a chance. After breaking multiple magic wands handsome husband and I created this handmade magic wand for Whirlwind.

Don't judge me. You try cutting a star free hand!

Of course the burlier we make the toys the more chance they have to become lethal weapons in her hands. I may have to rethink any hard objects!

=)

My First Stamp!

I finally finished my first handmade stamp!

 I love the final outcome (the print), but I hated making it. Can't I just think of a design and voila...it appears? No? Maybe I should work on inventing teleportation first.

I ended up stabbing my fingers at least twice with the carving tool. Not cool. Minimal blood loss, but those suckers hurt for weeks afterwards.

I have so many other doodles I want to transform into stamps, but I've got to tell you, carving the linoblock sucked. That's a pretty harsh word for me, but it did suck. I'm going to try a softer material next time. Perhaps the lines will be less crisp (not that you can tell from my first attempts at carving the lino), but I'm going for a more natural look anyways, not precision.

Custom Order

I received my first custom order awhile ago. This is very exciting and nerve wracking for me. I'm so afraid that what I create will not be exactly what the customer had in mind. But it's a friend of my sister's so they have been very reassuring that they are flexible and also understanding of my schedule (trying to finish up my nesting/sewing list). Anyways....I am tasked with making a large 3 x 4 foot piece of fabric art. I'm new at this, so bear with me, but I'm basically making a quilt top and the customer will mount it on a frame in their home.

Here are the inspirational photos the customer sent me.

Here are the fabrics I bought.

And here is the basic design I have in mind.

What do you think?

Did I mention this custom order is for a man!?! Also intimidating. I've never sewing anything for the masculine point of view. But I am extremely excited to get paid to try new things with my sewing machine. Here we go!

Beautiful Containers

Have I mentioned how much I love some of my containers? Well I do. I love them to bits and pieces and I'm so glad I snagged them when I saw them. The darling peter rabbit tin came from a second hand store nearby and the wodden cigar box came from my mother. I stole it when she wasn't looking. Well actually she was looking and she was shoving it in my hands. She just loves to give things away!

One Down, Two to Go

It must've been all of your positive thoughts because I buckled down and in two nights I finished the binding for Whirlwind's quilt. And look at that! It fits her toddler bed perfectly. I have left over fabric from the binding so I plan on making her some matching (or at least coordinating) pillow cases.

I have a whole post planned on showing you her whole bedroom soon. We've done a lot of work to get it ready for baby # 2. I'm just waiting on the curtains to arrive and to hang the frames on the walls. I'm getting excited about the impending family addition!

And just because I'm obviously throwing valuable nesting energy into sewing instead of cleaning the house I finished the top for another quilt. I've had 3 quilts on my to do list for at least 6 months. They are all getting done now! Whirlwind's quilt (done), a black and white tree quilt and a baby blanket for baby # 2.

The black and white tree quilt top is done! I'm really into this raw edge applique look. Look for it in upcoming Seamingly Sarah products.

Now I'm off to iron, cut, baste, quilt and bind this quilt.

Mommy Monday

The "Monday" part of Mommy Mondays is slightly relative. Let's just say this all took place on a day that's more along the lines of "Sunday."

But this is how Whirlwind and I passed some time before going to church on Sunday morning. Please note the tutu dress and wings. This is standard operating procedure most days. It's that or naked. I'll take what I can get.

But Whirlwind really does enjoy her watercolor paints. She'll even repeat the mantra I've drilled into her head: Water...Paint...then Paper! I'm so OCD.

I tried to take more pictures to capture the concentrated look on her face, but shortly thereafter she said "No Mommy, put that (camera) away." I have no idea where she gets these control issues from.

Later in the afternoon we moved along to a craft more for me. I lugged my box of paper supplies from the basement to the kitchen and made a few Valentine Day cards. I can't let this craft-tastic holiday get away without making something!

Whirlwind occupied her time with using random objects as stand ins for the characters on her favorite movie. I love to listen to her in the background repeating the key and sometimes random phrases she's memorized after watching a movie upteem times. (Don't worry, the cap on the glue bottle is closed.)

But I had all this pretty paper and not enough cards to make, so I couldn't stop there. I cut out quite a few hearts and I'll be turning these into a project soon enough. Right now the pile of paper hearts are sitting on our stairs and I'm just waiting for my handsome husband to get fed up with my multiplying piles!

I also used the last of the paper to cover this hot chocolate can (courtesy of modge podge). I covered the two containers on the left earlier this year, but I don't know what to do with them yet. I wish I had finally hunkered down to try these projects before Christmas, actually made Christmas cookies, and then delivered said cookies to friends and family in these containers. Oh well. There's always next year, when I'll have two kids trying to destroy the Christmas tree.

Abandoning One Project for Another

I've had a grocery bag full of black and white scraps sitting on my bedroom floor for awhile. God bless my handsome husband for not cursing my overflowing fabric bin!

I had an idea to make black evergreen trees on a white background in a repeating pattern.

Then I made this tree quilt for a wedding gift and now I'm hooked. So I cut out some leaves and even found some solid black fabric for the tree trunk. I pulled out a soft gray fabric for the background....and saw faded spots! No!!!!!!!! I washed it in hopes it was just from storage, but alas, the fade spots stayed.

Not happy.

There goes my idea to make a quilt with only materials I have on hand.

 So while I mourned the death of that idea (for now) I moved on to making a quilt for Whirlwind. She's been quickly outgrowing all the baby blankets that were lovingly gifted to us when she was born. I "accidently" bought too much fabric for baby #2's quilt, so I've decided Whirlwind needs one too, but big enough for a toddler bed. I saw an excellent pattern in a quilt magazine that Santa put in my stocking.

Wish me luck that I can actually finish this one!

A Few of My (Current) Favorite Things

I AM IN LOVE!

I found these beautiful, lovely, pieces of heirloom artwork and love on my local craigslist. And there's even more! But I limited myself. I do have an overflowing tub of fabric in my bedroom to deal with. But I'm not going to give any hints on how to get them yourself, I'm greedy like that.

After they soak in some oxi-clean for a few hours they'll be ready for some crafting. Of course some will find their way into products for the Seamingly Sarah shop and others would be just too heart breaking to part with. I really am in love. I can't stop touching and fondling them.

Oh Dear Lord, save me now. These blue napkins and table cloth make me squeal.

And this one, this has to be my favorite. How could I ever part with this?

And just so you know...MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all tomorrow!

Tree Quilt

Isn't it just gorgeous!

I have fallen in love with making this quilt. I had more fun making it than I can remember while making other recent quilts. It's a lap sized quilt (I hate going beyond 44" wide!) and I think the most fun was the quilting part. It's just pinned in this picture, but I ended up outlining the whole tree and then adding branches amongst the leaves to quilt it.

I've practiced free motion quilting a bit since I got my sewing machine back from the maintenance shop, but it still isn't working out. I even used the tips they gave me at the shop, but to no avail. Perhaps my work horse of a sewing machine just isn't meant for free motion quilting. But I was able to get away from "stitching in the ditch" with this quilt. And that felt gratifying.

The binding has been sewed on the front. All that is left now is some handsewing for the back of the binding. I can't wait to gift this to the wonderful couple it's meant for. I know it makes me smile just looking at it. I hope they feel the same way.

Printing with Finger Paints!

Do you remember the dried flowers I found during a family walk this fall?

Well I finally made a date with them to do a little printing!

Does it count that this date was a double date with my daugther and her finger paints? I cut up some brown paper bags for her to paint on and I decided I had waited procrastinated long enough. I jumped up and cut off a few blooms from the stems and stamped away with the flowers and finger paint on my own piece of paper. I loved it. The photo above shows you the detail that came out in some of the stamping. The photos below show you the overall effect.

And then guess what I decided to do for Christmas cards this year?

I guess I just hadn't had enough yet.

And this time my handsome husband even joined in the fun. His prints came out even better than mine. I'm blaming it on the flowers I chose to print with. But we're both going to blame give credit for the blurred prints to our daughter (who was asleep at the time of this activity). Shhhhhh....don't tell anyone.

It Was a "Banner" Weekend?

Is the title too corny? I'm not feeling clever today.

But I was a busy beaver this past weekend. I finished up some new flowers, I started a table runner and I even finished up a new party banner.

You've got to love scrap piles! If you recall this was the interior to the red shoulder bag I made for the Seamingly Sarah shop. I love the curves. I wanted something softer than triangles and rectangles. Next comes multiple curves, like a puffy cloud. I'm really not sounding clever today.

And don't forget to enter for a chance to win a free flower hair clip!!!!

Today is your last day to enter. All entries must be made before midnight (EST) today (11/25/10). I will announce the winner tomorrow.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

Speaking of Creativity...

Here are some new flowers in the works. I've been wanting to try a different technique to make flowers. And I have many more ideas in my head, but here is one technique that is a work in progress. Look for them soon in the Seamingly Sarah shop.

Go Go Go

I am just plowing through this growth chart project! I've wanted to do it for awhile and usually it takes just as many months of thinking about it as it does to actually sew it. But I finished the embroidery in a couple days and sewed the buttons on and put on a the back panel and top stitched it all in ONE night. I think my husband may have been a little annoyed while he tried to watch t.v. I believe the words "are all sewing machines that loud" came out of his mouth towards the end. I explained a newer sewing machine would help. I'll show him the price tag next time.

But back to the growth chart. I love it! It's so cute. Of course I kind of forgot my living room walls are beige when I chose tan/beige linen in my head. So it'll have to hang in a different room. All that's left is to stamp or write the inches/feet along the edge. I'm so excited and proud of myself to be moving along with sewing projects!

Buttons!

I made buttons!

I have had a button kit from JoAnn's for about 6 months now and it just kept sitting and sitting on my bedroom floor. Yes, my bedroom holds my stash of fabric and supplies. Who wants to build me an addition to my house?

And I have to say...I'm in love with making buttons! It's as much fun as I thought it would be. And superbly satisfying. I want a bajazillion more! And I want them with flat backs in case anyone does buy some for me! =)

Look for these on some of the flowers to come in the Seamingly Sarah shop!

Hotel Surprises

Another added benefit of going away for a conference? Finding insipiration in unexpected places!

I wish I had opened up my eyes to this sooner in life, but last week during my conference I couldn't stop noticing all of the patterns and details around me. In the carpet. In the wallpaper. In the napkins. In the glasses. Women's earrings and necklaces. I couldn't stop sketching.

(Don't worry I got some work done too!)

It was inspiration overload and I loved it. 

I'm even seeing new things (or things in a new way) at home.

Fleeting Flowers

I've learned the best time to create is when I'm away at a conference for work. Who knew? Whenever I have to spend a night away from home (in a swanky hotel room with tv channels I never see and take out just for me - do you feel sorry for me yet?) I always bring a bag of scrap fabrics, sissors and a needle and a thread.

While watching 3 back to back episodes of Bones I churned out these lovely little flowers.

(I also later had nightmares about someone breaking into my room and murdering me - Bones is only good in moderation)

I love the metallic fabrics! New Year's Eve anyone?

And this one...

 Let's just say I almost keeled over in delight when I saw how the fabric pleated itself.

I love you, I love you, I love you.

Look for these in the Seamingly Sarah shop soon!

PS - I hope everyone finds time to go out and vote today!

Latest Project(s)

Could you tell from the sneak peek yesterday that I'm making table runners? No?

Well I've been pawing through my stash of fabric and finding all these unfinished projects. Bad Sarah bad. So I felt inspired this weekend to get them out and finish them. Cooler weather is here and I need some Fall and Christmas decorations around here.

I've been measuring cutting and ironing.

Now that I know how to make my own binding there is no stopping me!

I'm So Proud!

Look what my handsome husband finished last night!

Don't get any ideas that it's for me though. I'm just a model of his awesome work.

This little beauty is just for him. He got sick of looking for a thick knit scarf and decided to learn how to knit and make one himself. Yeah! Next on his list: make things for me. I should tell him that soon.

But don't worry...I've been crafty this past weekend as well. Here's a sneak peek...

Live and Learn

I finally got my fray check to work. It smells nasty and requires a light touch. Unfortunately it does not work very well on nylon. Can you see the bubbly impression it left around the edges?

Nylon has also turned out to be less than ideal for block printing with ink. Maybe I'm not implementing the heat setting portion of the program correctly, but nylon is currently out of the running.