Show and Tell (2/28/16)

Oh boy, I have been busy this week.

But none of it is overly new or exciting. So, bummer.

I have signed up for a craft show next weekend, my first craft show, so I have been whipping up inventory, and launching my own small business. Yes. Crazy. I know. #idontknowwhatimdoing

This has been a really exciting creative endeavor for me. It's outside of my comfort zone, but in a good, stretching way. Since this space isn't really about my (new) business I will be limiting talk of it here, beside a launch post I have planned later this week. I'm not blogging here to try and sell anybody anything, I just want to share what I make with the world! If you are curious about this business, feel free to go and check it out at www.simplesatchels.com.

Roll away simple tote

Hand painted lined tote

Nesting Bins

So... I don't have a lot to show today that I haven't already reported on in my Friday post. eh.

But... I do have this fun look at what my hand painted fabric looked like in process!

Hand Painted fabric, drying. (in bad lighting)

Fabric dried. 

As you can see the colors changed quite a bit from wet to dry. Overall the colors were very different than what I was shooting for, even when wet, so my heart wasn't broken when they changed so much through out the process. I still really enjoyed the outcome! I hope to get in some more fabric painting this week.

I've really tried to up my photography skills this week as well. (Goes hand in hand with online craft business). I have been taking more pictures in favorable lighting, and adding props. My creating space looks no where as nice as the photo's I've been taking! I know my photo's could be better, but I'm pretty happy with the improvement so far. 

I really want to break into my screen printing kit that I bought back in January, but I'm a bit scared. Mainly of the mess it could make! I've been watching tutorials, and reading up on the process, I just need to jump into it! No fear!

Linked up to Off the Wall Friday! 

Friday Finish (2/26/16)

It's kind of a same ole, same ole week for me. I'm working on building up some inventory for a craft show (eeepp! something new for me) and so I'm making and finishing, but it's some of the same stuff I've been making.

Hand painted Tote

I am pretty jazzed about how this tote (and it's sister) turned out. I hand painted the fabric, focusing on spring for my color choices. I really love the soft, watercolor effect that is happening with this technique. I am also feeling pretty good about how I've upped my photography game. I know it's not that impressive (yes, there is a blur factor happening), but I've come a long way.

Up-cycled Tote

Rollaway feature in action

I also made a pair of up-cycled simple totes, that roll up for convenient storage. I really like working with re-purposed bed sheets. It's nice to see something old become new. Also, being frugal, it's a lot of bang for my buck. 

Spring time nesting bins

Nesting in action

I've also been whipping up nesting bins. I was inspired by a tutorial by the Crafty Gemini, but I've changed it up a bit to have nesting bins. I also plan to make some that are bigger, since I purchased some actual yardage of felt, instead of just small sheets.

Man, just looking at the colors I've picked out, I am SO ready for spring! After a blizzard this past week here in Michigan, it seems like spring may be a ways off. At least my sewing room is looking more like spring!

Linked up at My Quilt Infatuation and Crazy Mom Quilts.  

Show and Tell (2/21/16)

Well, I have been having fun this week in my creative space. :) It helps that I convinced my parents to take my little people for the weekend, so I've just been playing, playing, playing. I feel so refreshed after getting a break from the normal routine of my energetic little boys.

So, on to what I was playing with this week...

I finished carving my latest lino, and even did some fabric printing with it!

My lino and ink ready for action!

The color I mixed was a creamsicle like color wet, but then when it dried it was more peach. Still nice, but not quite my color. I printed on muslin, so there is very little contrast, since I am interested in the whole 'low volume' fabric concept.

The resulting fabric! 

The lighting was not great, and since the contrast was low I had to do some tweaking on the computer to make it more obvious in the pictures. SO, you get the idea. I was trying to do a repeat, and I think I managed pretty well. Below you can see my first attempt at a repeat (a month ago). I have definitely made progress!

First attempt at a repeating pattern. 

It's really encouraging for me to see the progress that I have made. This new medium really sparks in me, and I wonder where it will take me.

I spent the first part of the week working on designing a bag. Not a simple tote, but something with a distinctive shape, more complex. 

Bag in progress.

I talked more about the process here.

Bag finished.

I also talked more about the finish here. So, really, I don't have much more to say about it. Other than, felt buckles, nay or yay? What do you think? 

So another bag this week is this simple tote. Simply sewn, but I painted the fabric myself!

HAND PAINTED ! 

I saw a tutorial on CreativeBug and I gave it a go! I didn't make wall art, like the project in the video, but I took the technique and made a tote. I LOVE this process!

My paint colors, ready to play

I took a faded piece of light blue fabric from my stash, that wouldn't have been very usable as is. I got out my old stash of acrylic craft paints. I made a mess. My toddler made a mess.

My fabric drying in my shower, very back lit. :) 

After some major cleanup, and a bath for my little guy. I had some fabric to play with! I set the paint with my iron, and then after I assembled the bag I also heat set it with a round in the dryer. I have now washed it and dried it in a normal fashion and the colors have held up really well! Yay!

The other side. 

I plan on playing with this technique more this coming week. Should be fun.

I did play with patchwork a bit this week. I sewed up a polka dot house. 

Polka Dot Place

This is for a the Neighborhood Party. Fun, fun, fun. I may applique in some windows and such. We will see.

Fabric Note Cards

I also stitched up some note cards for a friend, with some of my fabric scraps. Pretty pleased with the results.

I have been doodling this week as well, but nothing really to show, only going to tell instead. :) I am so unsure of the whole drawing thing, but I slowly feel like I am getting feet underneath me. 

Looking forward to sharing what the next week holds!

Friday Finish (2/19/16)

I seem to be all about making bags this week! Out of my three finishes, 2 of them are bags.

I tried my hand at really thinking about the design of a bag before making it this week. So the design you see is all my own. I have to admit that it was challenging for me, which you can read more about here. 

Sling Style Bag with Felt Buckle

Back of the bag and strap, also with Felt Buckle

I am proud of this sling purse, but it isn't what I had originally envisioned. At All. I have good plans for giving it to someone I care about, and that gives me better feelings about it as a whole. It was a really great learning process, and it's given me useful information about how to proceed in future bag making.

Another bag I made this week, is a simple tote, that I hand painted the fabric for. Yes, that is right. I plan to talk about this process more in my weekly show and tell post, but here's a sneak peak. I'm pretty happy with the end result. 

Such a fun new process!

I am going to get a better picture soon, since this lighting really has skewed the colors quite a bit. It was an exciting make for me. I am really looking forward to using this bag!

I also put together some note cards with some scraps from previous projects. 

Fabric glued on card stock

I am not really into paper crafts, but these little scrap squares just could not be thrown out! They were left overs from this project. The other fabric was hand painted scraps from my tote bag. They would have looked better on a different color than red, but I wanted to use up the red I had cut.

I need to finish up some of my quilt blocks! I am trying to do the Sugar Block Club and The Splendid Sampler. Oh, and I need to get a house made up quick to send out for the Neighborhood Party. Hopefully I will get the chance soon...

Linked up at Crazy Mom Quilts, Sunlight in Winter, and My Quilt Infatuation.

Disappointment as part of the creative process

I don't deal with disappointment well.  I don't curse, or scream, or hit things, but it definitely sends me into a funk, that I struggle with getting out of. Once I have an expectation, if something doesn't reach it, a grey cloud starts to hover over me. I'm starting to get better at recognizing this, and dealing with the emotions appropriately, but it's a major weakness of mine. 

This journey that I am on, of learning to deal with disappointment,  has been popping up in my creative world as well. It is really stretching me! In the past if something didn't really turn out the way I wanted, it would sit in a pile, collecting dust, or get tossed out all together. I would walk away from all of my crafting, and sit in a funk about it.

Today, I put together a bag. I did a muslin lining, to see what I thought of the shape I was trying to craft, and when it did not look exactly like I was hoping, instead of putting it aside and going to stew, I adapted. I recognized what was good about the project as it was, and moved forward, adjusting my plans to suit the shape I created. This was major progress for me.

Some swirls on my cutting board, with all the clutter

I really kept on, reserving judgement, even being excited about some steps of the process.

A felt buckle for the bag. Kinda unsure if I like how it turned out.

Fast forward to the end of the bag making process- I am disappointed with the bag. It's a good bag: I used new techniques, and am proud of the workmanship. The problem is, that it is not what I expected. I adapted, I changed plans based on what the project was growing into, so as an end product it is very different than what I originally wanted. So, after all the thought and care, I am struggling to see it positively. I am struggling to remember the value in the process.

I feel like the Holy Spirit is really pressing into me in this spot of expectations and disappointment. That God is trying to show me that He has something better for me. 

Show and Tell (2/7/16-2/14/16)

I am discouraged this week, because I didn't do what I wanted to do creatively. I did stuff, but I'm feeling a bit blocked in some areas that I really want to be growing in.

I sat down with Danny Gregory's book The Creative License, and with pen and paper. I tried out a drawing exercise, and I felt like I failed. Not because it didn't look right (even though it totally didn't), but because I really struggled to see the object the way the exercise was trying to teach me to. I tried again (somewhat halfheartedly), but I just kept feeling like I was missing the magic. So, my goal this week is to just keep trying, and focus on enjoying the process of drawing. I really want to grow more in my drawing ability!

I did get in some time lino cutting this week, which felt nice. My designs still are focused on the same flower, but I feel like I am growing in my technique. I know better what blade to use for different things, and I haven't cut myself in a long time.

The design before putting it on lino

Current state of the linocut

I'm learning to take it slower, so my hand doesn't get as fatigued. I keep reminding myself that 'slow and steady' is a good choice. I am curious to find out how this linocut will look in repeat. I thought more about that when I was designing it, than I have previously. Time will tell. 

I also made some tote bags this week. I shared about them in this space on Friday. I am working on writing up a tutorial/pattern, and that process is stretching me creatively as well. 

It was a pink kind of week. 

Thinking Spring!

These were fun to make, and came together quickly. It wasn't as satisfying as some other creative endeavors though. It probably has to do with the fact that I have been making bags for 15 years. They were the first thing I ever figured out how to sew. The process is not very fresh to me, so I am trying to reinvent what I am looking for in a bag.

I made a quirky little goose/chicken/duck for one of my little guys this week. He wasn't feeling very well, and wanted me to make him something, so I obliged. 

Silly Goose!

I really like how the fabric choices for this little guy work together. Pulling out these random scraps, and stitching up something cute and quick, really hit the spot for me this week. Not to mention, the recipient was thrilled.

I tried to make a fabric buckle this afternoon, and failed. I feel annoyed, because I "wasted" so much time on something that just isn't going to work the way I want it to. I have to keep reminding myself, that even if I didn't end up with something finished or even successful, that there is still value in the processing of these creative ideas as they come to me.

I'm trying to reset my creative expectations for this coming week, to simply be grateful for whatever God has in store for me, instead of what I think I should or should not be doing. Just playing with whatever God puts in front of me.

A Friday Finish (2/12/16)

I have been stitching up some tote bags this week! It's been a blast playing with some pink, in honor of Valentine's day this weekend.

I made my lined foldaway tote bag (a pattern/tutorial is in the works) with some pink decor weight fabric from my stash.

So pretty! Loving the pink. 

I made a fun little patchwork pocket out of a lonely charm square from Anna Maria Horner's True Colors fabric line

I love how this simple patchwork turned out :) 

I love how the pocket pops!

the "foldaway" feature in action.

 The lining is an up cycled cream sheet with a subtle pattern.

I was wanted to make something fun in honor of Valentine's day, without venturing too far into the specific heart theme. I really like how it turned out!

I have it listed for sale here, since I don't really have need for another tote bag right now. : )

Despite my lack of need, I made another tote this week. I wanted to see how simple I could make this pattern. 

Spring will be here soon!

This one has no lining, but still folds into the front pocket. I french seamed the seams, so there would be no raw edges to deal with. I'm happy with how it turned out! I really love this IKEA fabric, it has me geared up for spring. :)

Linked up at Crazy Mom Quilts, Devoted Quilter, and My Quilt Infatuation

Some thoughts on Creativity and Faith

I had some encouraging thoughts yesterday, about my current season of embracing my creativity.

Directly from my notes at church yesterday (not at all related to the sermon):

--I get the privilege of living into who God created me to be because of the work Christ did on the cross.--

So, as I was thinking of enjoying my creative side, and venturing into new and vulnerable places within my creativity, I am so grateful for the act of God creating me, and Christ for freeing me. On top of that, I am thankful that the Holy spirit then guides me as I lean into these activities.

It really made me realize, that when I embrace who God created me to be (creatively and otherwise), I am fully engaging in the whole gospel.

The joy and delight that I experience when I play with my creativity is not a selfish act (like I always kind of thought) but it has significance that I never really understood, until now. Now, I can just remind myself when I go to 'play' that God created me for this, Christ freed me for this, and the Holy Spirit continues to lead me to this.

Stretching my creativity has a purpose in the Kingdom of God.

The whole idea gives me chills. I am excited to contribute to God's plan in the world, in this way.


 

Show and Tell (2/6/16)

My creative endeavors have had a very specific focus this week. My younger brother got married in California this past September, and this weekend we had a reception for him and his bride in Michigan, with all of our family. I had the privilege of preparing the decor, and the wedding cake (!) for this event. This took most of my creative time for the week, and stretched me into new adventures. 

I was pleased with how the decor turned out. I made paper garlands, by cutting out diamonds and hearts, and sewing them along with some paper doilies. 

The dessert table 

I also made what I consider 'imitation roses' out of coffee filters and food coloring. I stuck them in mason jars lined with burlap and called it a day. 

Some of my 'imitation roses'

The cake was really the biggest new challenge for me. I wanted to make something with 3 layers, because that is what makes a cake, a wedding cake to me. I decided right from the get go that I was going to go with a textured finish of some sort, without any fondant (since I really don't like the taste very much). My number one priority was taste. The filling was chocolate ganache and raspberry buttercream. It was yummy. The cake itself was a tweaked box cake. 

The bottom layer of the cake cooling.

The crumb coat of the cake was done at my home, but I waited until getting to the venue to assemble and finish the final layer of frosting (buttercream). 

The crumb coat of frosting on the bottom layer. 

The assembly and final layer of frosting went okay, and overall I was happy with the final product. 

A wedding cake for the love birds. 

It was a fun event, and everyone seemed to enjoy the cake! 

I also did a bit of sewing, that I already posted about. 

Nesting felt lined boxes.

If you want to know more, check out my post here. It was a fun little project to break up making paper flowers and garlands. 

It was a good week on the creative front, but next week I look forward to working more on my drawing and linocutting. 

A Friday Finish (2/5/16)

I have not had the most productive creative week so far.

But I did manage to finish something!

I've been working on some nesting trinket bins.

Cute, but need some tweaking

I was inspired by this tutorial by the Crafty Gemini, and I thought to myself "How fun would it be to make a nesting set of these!" It turns out it is fun.

Nested inside each other, nice and cozy.

I'm not 100% satisfied with the dimensions I used, but I have some ideas to make them more of what I wanted. I enjoy making these cute little boxes, and plan to make more. I love having something to store little things in, that my boys can't break!

Used vintage-y polka dots, keeping in mind an intended recipient.

I feel like I am running around in circles these days (and sometimes I am). I really want to get a chance to cut another lino, and hopefully will sit down to it soon. I've been enjoying the book The Creative License by Danny Gregory in my in between moments. It's a good fit for where I am right now.

Linked up to Finish it Up Friday At Crazy Mom Quilts

Some thoughts on my time

Lately I've been re-evaluating what is worth me spending time on. In the past I've been very results driven, looking at finished outcomes or projects as the only valid thing.

An example of how this has been shifting is my flying geese patchwork units from last week. They aren't  in themselves a finish, but the process of learning a new skill and making just those few units for the first time, I now consider an accomplishment. I wouldn't of five years ago, or even 3 years ago.

My first Flying Geese. Aren't they lovely? 

This was so worth my time! I didn't finish anything, but this process was so valuable to my creative self, and my overall self esteem. Even with the tips a bit cut off!

I'm starting to give myself more time for this part of the process, without the pressure of a finish, or dazzling end result. I am trying to give myself more space to learn, and grow, and just play. When I think of how my boys learn new things, it's often through playing with what's around them. I need to let myself do the same thing in my creative life. 

This new freedom has lead me to practice drawing. There is no big finish, my doodles are often very wonky and choppy. The art-form is really stretching me. But I'm playing and learning, growing and enjoying. It is definitely worth my time.

Some folk flowers drawn this morning. 

I have to keep reminding myself when I see these clumsy little drawings that they are of value. They are worth my time. That these types of moments, playing, are part of how God made me, and when I am operating out of how God made me, that is life giving. 

Things that give me life are so worth my time.