A Creative Lull

I haven't been sharing here much lately, because I don't feel there is much to tell. My creative life has been buried under other duties and interests.

Over on Instagram (@teagancarnes) I've shared some of my fabric/creative life over the past couple of months, including participating in #30daysofquiltdesign hosted by @stitchedincolor. It's worth a look for sure. So many interesting and different designs, from modern to traditional. It was a blast to see everything that people posted.

Also, I did a holiday craft show back in November which monopolized much of my sewing time.

My vintage suitcase displaying my logo

 So much time was spent sitting and waiting for people to come to my booth, in a cold and dark hallway of a local high school. I didn't lose money on the show (like some of the people around me) but it was not worth my time.

Reusable Gift Bags

The main item I was trying to sell were reusable holiday gift bags (simple drawstring bags). I did sell out of one of the sizes, mainly by one buyer. So at least someone appreciated the idea.

Reusable holiday gift bows! (Christmas pins)

I also made over 100 of these Christmas pins, marketed to go with the drawstring bags. I sold around 25 total, which is probably because I had them under priced at only 1$. It is fun to get out the hot glue gun from time to time, and play around ribbons and trims. Unfortunately, most the people who would wear a Christmas pin, already have quite a few (since they tended to be older ladies with many years of shopping under their belt) and these did not sell as well as I hoped they would.

So, after this show I made the decision to call it quits. I'm not going to do craft shows. Mass producing one item is not my thing. I may try another holiday show next year, just to unload some of my current inventory, but overall I'm not going to be putting any more energy into this venture. I want my sewing time to be filled by what I like to sew, not what I think other people might like. 

It has been so freeing for me to give up on the idea of craft shows being profitable for me. I'm so glad that I decided to move on. 

Mosaic Contest Entry: Dreaming at Dusk

I love playing along with the Mosaic Contests at Stitched In Color. Here are my entries for the one running now, inspired by dusk. :) What do you think? I was disappointed with the selection of brown available, but overall I'm happy with how they turned out. I love the blue's I found. :)

Number One

I think of the first as a snapshot as the sun is sinking, and then of number two a snapshot taken just a few moments later as the sun is even more gone. 

Number Two

Video Game Mishap

Oh, I've been feeling drained lately.

I've been getting my household in order (something I'm not very good at, or interested in) and it has been taking it out of me. I also have been dealing with a new medication that makes me sleepy (I seemly randomly came down with hives). This means my energy for playing, and creating, has been seriously depleted.

I did however manage to try out another folk flower idea, this time as applique instead of a linocut.

Folk Flower

I up cycled a beat up red sundress for the petals. Once I got it all together and stitched up I realized what the flower looked like. It resembles the flowers that try to eat you when I go down pipes in the Mario Bros video games. Oops. My hope for this project was to enjoy the act of creating and trying something new. That I succeed at. My future hopes for this little art quilt are currently unknown, since I'm feeling a bit deflated about it's unintentional connection to Mario and Luigi. 

I've been doing some thrift shopping this week, and I was excited to find two yards of adorable vintage corduroy. (For 1.50$ !!!)

Frogs, and bugs, and flowers, oh my!

I am hoping to find the perfect project for this delightful fabric soon. It's super soft, and the creatures are beyond delightful. Idea's welcome!

Hopefully I'll get back into a routine of creating regularly soon. I really miss it. 

Linked up at Off the Wall friday. 

Some Simple Patchwork

In Michigan, August is a very hot and very humid month. My sewing has slacked a bit, since my sewing room is not air conditioned, and is in the upper level of our home, making it even warmer.

Once the heat of summer becomes unbearable, we put a large window ac unit in a main level window, put up curtains and close doors, and are able to cool our main living spaces- living room, dining room and kitchen- to an acceptable temperature.

This lead me to set up my Singer Featherweight on the kitchen table, and decide on some simple patchwork that wouldn't require frequent trips to my cutting mat and design board that reside in the sweltering heat of my sewing room.

4" patchwork squares

So I quickly, in the brief coolness of morning, cut up some 4 inch patchwork squares. I had some Kona Lake and Kona Petunia on hand from my previous project (my friend's wedding dress) and a dress that didn't fit me that a friend gave me because it didn't fit her. So I cut it up! The pattern is pretty exciting, so I felt good about pairing it with the pastel colors.

It came together quickly, and it was just the little bit of mindless sewing that I needed to fill in these hot summer days. It's a baby sized quilt top, and I think I know a little girl to gift it to this winter. It was a bit challenging at times, working with the reclaimed dress fabric, because I decided to optimize the amount of fabric while cutting by disregarding the grain of the fabric. So some of the seams are on the bias, however with simple patchwork it's not as big a deal.

Finished quilt top dancing in the morning sun. 

Now, I'm left pondering how to finish it. I might tie it. I'm just not sure!

I've been enjoying playing along with #30daysofquiltdesign at Stitched in Color these past weeks. It's been fun getting out the crayons and graph paper, and just going at it. 

Day 12, my latest

It's been really fun seeing what everyone else is coming up with over on Instagram under the #30daysofquiltdesign hashtag. Modern stuff, traditional stuff, low tech, high tech, it's a blast. 

In other news, I discovered a volunteer moss rose in my backyard. It was just the delight that I needed this morning. 

Bright in the morning light 

I am working on some embroidery today, with hopes of using it to guide my thoughts and prayers. I am hoping to use my hands to ground my heart and mind. That sounds super weird, but really I'm not as crazy as I seem. :)

-Teagan

Linked up at Off the Wall friday, and NTT.

My Scariest Project

I realize that the title of this post may lead some to believe that I have started to prepare for the Halloween season, but alas, that is not the case.

I just finished one of the biggest, most overwhelming, and scariest projects that I have ever taken on. I should also mention that it was delightful, but sometimes the delight is in retrospect with these types of things.

So, what did I make?

A wedding dress, for a beloved friend.

Yeah.

When my friend texted me in May, letting me know she was getting married, and that she was going with the theme Rainbow Steampunk (I will admit I first thought it was a joke), I started to volunteer my creative services all over the place. Wedding dress! Bridesmaid dresses! Wedding cake! Centerpieces! Steampunk Gadgetry!

My friend was wise, and cut me off, allowing me to focus on her dress and the bridesmaid dresses. She has known me a long time, and knows that once my excitement dies down, my nerves flare up.

One of the very first things I did, was pick out her colors for the dress. She wanted a rainbow, but it was still a wedding dress, so I went pastel.

My Kona color swatches being put to good use.

This was my inspiration dress. My friend was going for fairy with a edge of steampunk, so I knew I would be adding in elements of metal. I used good sense when I decided to purchase a corset that fit my friend to embellish, instead of starting entirely from scratch. I realized rightly, that this was not the time to figure out how to make a corset, even though I spent a fair amount of time online researching the process before coming to my wise decision. Someday maybe, not now.

I took my friend's measurements, added scraps of batting to a dress form to make it roughly the size of my friend, and went at it. Slowly. I was very intimidated. Especially since everyone who asked what I was working on gave me a crazy, you are in over your head, look when I told them I was sewing a wedding dress. I began calling it "a costume for my friend who was getting married." It was way less frightening to think of it in this way. 

I decided to keep the colors in rainbow order, but she wanted green and purple to be the most prominent, as she has green eyes. So I played around with color placement...

And then finalized and stitched it all down. 

Front

Back

After getting the color layer in place, I began to play with adding in more texture, and what I began to call 'bits and bobs.' One special feature that I included was a locket, draped pocket watch style, that allowed her to carry a loved one who has passed on with her on her wedding day.

Many elements changed from this state

The pocket made for the locket includes lace from her mother, and sisters' wedding dress. There is a little vial of mustard seeds, in reference to Matthew 17:20.

I was so grateful that (a) she loved it, and (b) it fit! Overall I was very pleased. And very relived that I was done, in time for her nuptials! 

My hope in making this dress, was that my love for her, and my happiness for her, would be with her as she walks into her new life as a wife. That being able to give her something unique and handmade, just for her, would be a reminder of the special life God has planned, just for her. 

It was an honor to make this, and stretching in all the best ways. I am ready to play with some patchwork though, after being preoccupied with dresses for a while! 

-Teagan

Finished with Love

I haven't been sharing much of what I've made in this space lately, but I do have some finishes this past month that I am pretty pleased with.

My cousin had her twin baby boys 3 weeks ago at 34 weeks, which meant that they have been spending some time in the NICU before they can go home. I stitched up some baby stuff for her shower (you can check those out in this post), but nothing that would be overly helpful in the NICU. So I searched online and found this awesome free pattern for babies that are spending time in the hospital.

They are soft, and fun. The pattern is scaled to also fit bigger babies, and I can definitely imagine making these for full term babies in the future as well. 

I also really wanted to make my cousin a bag, something just for her and not just about her babies. I wanted her to be able to carry around the love and prayers that I have for her. I used a pattern from the book Sewing Stylish Handbags and Totes By Choly Knight. I'm very happy with the result, and I was delighted that my Cousin loves it, and has been using it for most of her time in the NICU. 

I grabbed a photo at the hospital yesterday when I visited. 

I picked the "styled shoulder bag" pattern from the book,since I was unsure if she would prefer a shoulder bag or a crossbody bag, and this purse can go back and forth easily. I kept it simple, and didn't customize in any of the ways she displays in the book.

As I talked about in my previous post am I thinking more and more about what my hope is with each project I make. For the smocks and the bag my hope is having tangible objects made with love, that she can carry and wrap up her babes, will help her feel love and prayers I have for her and her family in this challenging time. 

Next up for me is sewing a wedding dress!!! (WHat?!?!??!!!) Yeah. #idontknowwhatimdoing

What am I hoping for?

So, in my previous post, I talked about how the idea of hope has been on my mind.

It has been lingering still.

I sought out Emily Dickinson's well known poem, starting with the line "Hope is the thing with feathers." I decided that I profoundly disagreed with what she was saying about hope. She describes hope as this easy thing that sings and asks nothing of anyone. I feel that hope asks a great deal of me. I do not find hope to be a simple, easy thing. The poem made me feel like there was something wrong with me, since my personal experiences with hope are so different than what she presents. So still the questions remained for me.

What does hope ask of me? What is difficult about hope for me?

This song stopped me in my tracks this morning. I've heard it many time, but today it really struck me as I was cleaning up the messes of family life. I got goosebumps.


In the Night | Andrew Peterson, Buddy Greene, Jeff Taylor, Andy Gullahorn from Laity Lodge on Vimeo.

The violence that fights against hope, that he really gets across in this song, deeply resonate with me. I feel like there is a battle being fought over my ability to hope. That sometimes, hope is lost, but that it can surface in the deepest night.

Lately, as I've been making things, I've been asking myself "what is my hope for this object?" I'm hoping that more and more the answer to that question will draw me closer to the Maker that made me into the maker that I am.

On hope and the creative process

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about hope, and it's part in the creative process. I've been putting together thoughts about how hope drives my making.

My first thought with this idea of making things as an outpouring of hope, was "I'm sure someone else has already made this connection, and has better articulated it." I was right. I discovered Sister Corita Kent.

So, I quickly checked out two books featuring the works and ideas of Corita Kent, and they did not disappoint. Her words contain so many gems, that I have started to think, but that she clearly lays out, and seemed to live out, in such a graceful way. 

Another quote that kept springing to mind, to mix in with this flurry of thoughts, was from one of my favorite Sufjan Stevens songs. In his song Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid), there is a line that has always resonated with me. 

The song is soft, slow, and not so much hopeful. But this line connects something I have always believed, and something that the art and craft community act on daily.

So, what am I trying to say? What am I learning, connecting, and understanding from these ideas? Why post about these? 

I don't know, is the short answer, and one that I use frequently in life. 

But these ideas are drawing me out, and helping me become more of who God has created me to be. 

Hope is my struggle. It does not come easily for me, and I have often approached it wearily and cautiously. 

So, as I more and more understand that hope is in the essence of my making of things...

Well, it's a bit baffling, but it explains so much. It explains why I turn away from creating things, when I feel hopeless and depressed. 

So, I am learning. This is part of the creative process for me. 

This inner dialogue is still percolating and waiting on the God's wisdom for what it all means for me. 

A Fairy Pouch, but really so much more.

So, last week I was struck with inspiration. The fast as lighting, flying by the seat of your pants, type of inspiration.

So, I picked out some fabric and drew up a pattern for a purse.

I then cut out some grey fabric with sparkle polka dots. I started layering other fabrics over it. 

I then glued those fabrics down, stitched them down, stitched the outside of the pouch together and then waxed them. All of this happened quickly and excitedly, acting on the passion that comes with initial inspiration. 

Then, after the waxing, I realized that my hand does not fit in. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to attach the lining though the layers of waxed cotton. I was sure it was a complete failure. I was frustrated, and flustered. I didn't know how to proceed. I was going to put it on the shelf and move on to something else, as I have done many times before with these types of projects.

But, but... 

But then something amazing happening. I didn't stop. I kept going. I decided, oh, well, it's not exactly as I envisioned it, from a function point of view, but I can figure it out. It's okay if it's not perfect. It can still be a lovely finished object. I feel as though the Holy Spirit stepped in, and kept me moving beyond my old nature, into the grace that God has for me. It was certainly beyond my own capabilities. 

I finished it. It's lined, and although it doesn't have a handle of any sort yet, as I had originally imagined it, I feel like it is complete. I decided it looked like something that a fairy might collect important items into, like dew drops and starlight.

 So, it's my fairy pouch, a reminder that God's grace (that inexplicable magic of love and mercy) even enters into my humble acts of creating. 

Linked up at Off the Wall friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Crazy Mom Quilts

A Special Quilt Finish

I have finally finished the first quilt I ever made.

After piecing, and quilting this quilt over a decade ago, last week I sat down and finished hand stitching the binding.

Last week, my Aunt who helped me though almost every step of this quilt, passed away unexpectedly. When I was in high school, she went through her scrap bins with me, helped me cut, stitch, quilt, and start the binding on this pretty crazy quilt. We made it big enough for the twin bed that I was sleeping on at the time, which it never actually adorned. I have so many wonderful memories of working on this project with her, and the week I spent at her home finishing it up (mostly) one summer. 

I loved the narration she gave about the various fabrics. I know the light pink kitten print, close to center, was a scrap from a nightgown she made for my cousin when she was a girl. She always endearingly referred to the fabric with the people in windows as her "people." She directed me towards alternating light and dark fabric, but as the end product shows I didn't follow that advice too carefully. 

We made up a handful of these star blocks (that I don't know the name of), and put them though out. She taught me how to square up the quilt (which I have since completely forgotten how to do), select and add the borders, quilt, FMQ and bind. Another Aunt who is an avid quilter helped me with the final layout of the blocks and stitched the top together. 

She helped me write and put a tag on the quilt.  We naively assumed that I would finish up the hand stitching on the binding within the month (July 2001), instead it took 15 years. So perhaps I should edit the tag to mention that it was actually finished May 2016? I no longer sleep in a twin bed, my last name is no longer Jeffers, but this quilt is still made with love. That is still true. It is made with tears now stitched in the binding, as I visited the fabrics and the time I spent making it with my now passed Aunt. 

I will miss my dear Aunt Sue. Looking over this quilt now, it is clear to me the love and patience she showed me while teaching me all about sewing and quilting during this project. She directed me, encouraged me, and overlooked the flaws of this quilt. She was a wonderful lady and she will be sorely missed. 

I FMQed my name into the border.
Her Bernina definitely did FMQ better than my Brother does. :)

There are so many imperfections that I used to see in this quilt, but now I mainly see love. 

Gingham Tote

So, once I got my modern sewing machine back this week, I started stitching something for mi Madre.

I had debated designing a cross body bag for her, but in the end I decided to build a few new skills and tackle the Gingham Tote from Handmade Style by Anna Graham.

I love the Riley Blake fabric I used for the pocket!

Making this bag added some new techniques to my arsenal. Rivets. Rivets! A game changer for sure. I also installed my first magnetic snap.

Upcycled bedlinen for the slip pocket

It was fun to put together, and I think it will be a great summertime bag for my Mom to haul around all the things she needs to. 

The rivet setting took a bit of practice. My first attempt at a rivet (fortunately on practice fabric) was, eh, a huge disaster.

Yikes!

I almost chickened out on the leather handles with rivets, after trying it out. I'm glad that I went ahead, because I think it adds great function to the bag. 

Upright and sturdy

It has a good amount of heft, and I think it will hold up well. Here's hoping my Mom will love it!

Linking up with NTT, Off the Wall Friday, and Finish it up Friday.

#BraveQuilter @ Pink Doxies

I have been planing for a while now to sew myself a garment. 

This is a little scary for me, since my past experiences sewing clothing for myself have been, well, not very great. This is what happens when you don't know what you are doing, and you don't use a pattern. 

So this month it is my goal to sew myself something to wear. Probably the Sailor Top by Fancy Tiger Crafts, since they have the pattern and a tutorial on Creativebug. 

Picture of Sailor Tops from the Creativebug website

It looks simple enough, and it's something that I think I would get a lot of wear out of. 

I'm participating in Pink Doxies link up #BraveQuilter as part of the link party for May, the goal is to sew myself a garment!

Patchwork Play

I have been inching to play with patchwork this week.

HOWEVER, my modern machine was in the shop, and when I picked it up on Wednesday it would no longer sew for me at all (!!!!), so it is in the shop again. Ugh. Very frustrating.

I love stitching on my featherweight, but I struggle with keeping a quarter inch seam allowance without some of the features of my modern machine. I got used to a patchwork foot and it's hard to go back!

So, I didn't want to work on the blocks that have been building up in my to do pile (mainly Sugar Block Club BOM), since I wasn't sure I would be able to keep my seam allowances in check.

I decided to go through my scrap bins and make up something as I went along.

This is what I finished up.

Some tiny piecing (for me at least)

It is destined to become another mug rug I think. Or a Mini of some sort. Once I get my modern machine back (again) I will quilt her up. I'm thinking matchstick quilting? Or something completely different.

I have been seriously discouraged about my sew machine situation. I'm sewing on a 12 year old Brother CS6000, that no longer makes bobbins (thank goodness for my sidewinder). It drives me nuts. It has a pretty small harp space, so anything bulky is a pain. I'm over it. However there are features that I have gotten accustomed to that I want in my next sewing machine. Like speed control, and automatic needle down.

So investing in the maintenance for this machine that I don't even want anymore is discouraging. Especially since I can buy the current equivalent for 150$ and I paid 90$ for the servicing. URGGG.

I hope to get a new machine by the end of the year, I'm thinking either a Janome or a Juki. What do you sew on, and do you like it?

Linking up at NTT, Finish it up Friday, and Off the Wall Friday.

Crushes

I have a major crush right now.

The Lavish collection by Katarina Roccella really has my heart going pitter patter.

Mother's Garden in Rich

Especially this print! The colors! The flowers! I just want to meander though a meadow looking at it.

I'm trying to play it cool, and I haven't snagged any yardage yet, but maybe Mother's Day will treat me well. :) 

Mosaic Contest 4/29/16

Have you ever played along with a Mosaic Contest over at Stitched in Color?

It is such a great excuse to peruse fabric online! It's also a fun challenge to pick fabrics out according to a theme, usually one I would never think of.

Here is what I put together for the latest contest "Cool Melon."

The first collection....

Cool Melon #1

and here is the second collection...

Cool Melon #2

Creative Stitching and Other Finishes

Despite taking my modern sewing machine into the shop this week, I've been stitching plenty. I got out my little featherweight, and I have been reminded of how delightful it is to stitch on her! She is such a lady, I just love her. She was definitely my first baby.

I love her! 

She's a pretty lady, and her stitches are aces.

She only stitches straight though, so I had some limitations this week.

I did manage to make up some Artist Trading Cards out of some of my hand painted, and hand printed fabric. 

Bloom #1 and Bloom #2

I starched two pieces of 2.5x3.5 muslin to stiffen it up, and improved some foundation piecing to the muslin. I then raw edged appliqued (kinda) two of my block printed little flowers. I don't plan on binding them, since they are so teeny tiny, and I don't want to add anything to the current dimensions. I am thinking of waxing them. We will see what I end up doing. I also want to trade!

Soft and Sweet

I also stitched up some baby items for a cousin who is having TWIN boys this summer(!). I made up some cute little bibs and burp cloths, out of some flannel. I plan on making some more before her shower on Sunday.

Sweet Swaddlers

I also stitched up some blankets for her, using double gauze. I figured since her babies will be born in the heat of summer, that it would be nice to have some lightweight blankets around. I've typically used flannel for baby blankets, but I love how the double gauze turned out. So Soft!

Simple Tote

I also finished a simple hand painted tote this week. You can read more about that over here.

I'm linked up over at Crazy Mom Quilts, and Off the Wall Friday.

Creative Endevors ( 4/22/16 )

So, I learned about Artist Trading Cards this week. Like 5 years after everyone else.

If you haven't heard about them, here's the lowdown.

My First ATC

So I of course started making some. Because I have no other projects that I am working on. (Insert crazy lady eye roll here)

I am wondering a couple things regarding these trading cards. 

#1 Who am I going to trade them with?

#2 Can I figure out how to make them little teeny tiny mini quilts?

#3 If I can figure out how to do that, who am I going to trade them with?

So, if you are in the Saginaw Michigan area, and have some Artist Trading Cards that you would like to trade, please let me know! 

More ATC's in progress

And as always, whenever I find some new process or media, I feel that I should make sure that everyone realizes that #idontknowwhatiamdoing .

Linked up over here.

When things aren't what you want

I'm struggling to make these triangle pouches what I want them to be.

A Trio of Triangles

I didn't love the elastic top stitched on the purple triangle. I then made the ikat triangle, but it was very difficult for me to not top stitch the elastic.  The top stitching really stinks on the pouch, and I made it entirely out of triangles, so there is an additional seam, and it adds too much bulk. On the floral pouch, I skipped any type of closure, used two different shapes to stitch it up, and did minimal top stitching.  I really want them to have a closure though.

I am sick of thinking about them! But I want to figure it out! Erg. 

Thinking that the strategies used with the floral will win out. Closure options I am considering include sew in snaps, kam snaps, and buttons. Eh. I don't love it, but maybe if I give it a go it will work for me.

Linked up at Let's Bee Social.