putting it together

presents...

2009-12-23T20:12:44Z

gifts for my friends...

{fabric baskets for warren and larua leigh}

{fabric covered button magnets for warren and laura leigh too}

{fabric baskets for robin, a small zippered purse for priscilla}

{scarfette for veronica}

{fingerless gloves for laura jean}

christmas wrapped

2009-12-23T20:01:26Z

because i'm a holiday over-achiever and i like all my packages to be uniform, i decided to create my own stamps from lino blocks and stamp craft paper. that of course isn't enough, going off a tutorial i saw once, i'm sewing the paper into cone shaped packages.

{stamp no. 1}

{stamp no. 2}

{stamping the paper; i used an oil based block printing paint}

{i love the way the paper looks}

{detail of the packages}

holiday traditions

2009-12-23T19:44:50Z

i received my holiday traditions exchange package a few days ago, included were a beautiful ornament a very delicious cookie recipe and my partners family tradition. in exchange i sent a few embroidered goodies, the artichoke dip recipe (which was a hit at my christmas party), and a CD mix of my families favorite christmas songs.
please visit my exchange partners blog and etsy shop, her work is gorgeous!

cut, pin, sew, iron, repeat

2009-12-15T19:00:51Z

for my cousin's kids (2 girls and a boy) i'm making some patchwork blankets. for the girls versions i decided to dip into fabric i've had sitting in my stash for far too long because i've been too worried about cutting into it. i've cut 100 5 1/2" blocks for each blanket, they'll measure at 60"x60" the perfect size for a child's lap blanket. the hardest part of this whole process has been laying out the blocks. after an hour of torturing myself i came up with a pattern that i'm happy with and i hope the girls enjoy too. unfortunately i don't have any more masculine fabrics, so a trip to the store tonight is very necessary.
some pics of the process...

{in process, this is the messy part}

{all the strips sewn}

{quilt top complete!}

{second one ready to be sewn}

i didn't get this one laid out till about midnight, but it should sew up inless than an hour.

weekend review

2009-12-14T18:30:08Z

this weekend was spent celebraitng birthdays, helping out at my old store, christmas tree buying, and of course, sewing. some images from my weekend...

{coffee from my favorite christmas mug}

{my "holiday traditions" project}

{my tree, lit and decorated}

i hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

small amounts...

2009-12-10T18:03:18Z

my blog name is taken from the sondheim song "putting it together", more specifically the babara streisand version from her the broadway album. anyway, as i slowly make my way through present making and christmas crafts, that song has been running through my mind:

bit by bit, putting it together
piece by piece, working on the vision night and day
all it takes is time and perseverance
with a little luck along the way

even though the song is referencing making an album, i feel it can apply to any creative endeavor. that said, here are a few pictures updating my progress. it is such a relief to have fewer people to make/buy for this year and it also allows me to take on more ambitious items for those on my list, i really do enjoy it so much!

{quilt top}

{fabrics piled with project tutorials}

working hard

2009-12-08T19:44:09Z

two more christmas gift projects complete!

{apron front}

{apron back}

{steno notebook cover}

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

2009-12-03T18:26:43Z

last night i whipped up christmas stockings for Kristina and i. the pattern is from amy butler, i had spent tuesday night cutting my felt and lining to make the stockings like amy's but after sleeping on it i changed my mind. i've had a tapestry sheet from urban outfitters for over a year now (yes, i'm finally biting the bullet and dipping into my stashes) and after a night's rest decided it would make much cuter stockings. i love the retro and kind of folksy look. for the lettering i used olive green embroidery thread i already had and the letters were enlarged in windows cut out and traced on the fabric. i used interfacing to help the fabric keep it's shape and lined the stockings with muslin, a little black ribbon completed the look.

{cutting with the pattern piece}

{the original idea}

{getting ready to trace the letters}

{sewn up with the embroidery}

{temporarily hung over the "fireplace"}

i really dont want the felt i already cut to be wasted so they'll probably become stockings for buster and peaches. now i need to whip up a mini one for toulouse...

christmas wrapping

2009-12-01T18:48:47Z

per tradition, now that it's december 1st i dug out my two christmas cd's. one is a mix my sister made years ago it features some of our family's favorites (frank sinatra, the waitresses, bad religion, the roches, etc) the other is my roches christmas album. i love this time of year and try to revel in the holiday magic instead of being stressed.

last night night i finally completed the embroidery piece i've been working on and started a new one. my goal for the next few weeks is to work on a project a night.
wish me luck.

patchwork

2009-11-30T23:03:56Z

sunday, my friend robin and i took the corgi's to the patchwork craft fair at the long beach marine stadium. there were some great booths set up, including two of my friends (lexi lee's little bit and courtney's c salt). i only made one purchase, some gift tags from rock, scissors, paper.

{lexi's booth}

{robin with fraiser and darcy (and my shadow)}

giving thanks

2009-11-30T22:53:00Z

i hope everyone had a lovely thanksgiving. my sister and her boyfriend flew to kansas city to spend thanksgiving with his family, which meant that i stayed the weekend in la pet sitting. my thanksgiving eve was very frustrating, i went to 3 grocery stores to find all the ingredients for the 2 dishes i was making, after a few tears of frustration and a glass of wine i relaxed and went to be early. the next morning i made a last minute run to find some brioche and spent the rest of my morning cooking and sewing.
the two dishes i made were artichoke dip for an appetizer and roasted-parsnip bread pudding for a side dish (i got the recipe from martha stewart's thanksgiving issue).

{preparing}

{fresh from the oven}

while the dishes baked i found time to whip up a birthday present for my best friend laura. i made her a camera cozy (a tutorial from sew mama sew), and a small carrying case for the gorilla pod (a flexible tripod) i bought her.

weekend organizing

2009-11-23T19:49:41Z

i tried to be very productive this weekend and get my "craft closet" neat and organized in preparation for holiday gift making. i decided to make a wall organizer from lotta jansdotter's simple sewing using some canvas ikea fabric i've had for a year. the whole thing only took a few hours, the most tedious part being all the ironing. all in all i'm pleased, the only departure i made from the pattern is using "O" rings to hang the organizer instead of making a rod pocket.

{image from the book}

{making all the pockets}

{hanging in my closet}

{a peek into my closet, the top shelf and bottom are cut off}

i'm almost finished with the embroidery piece i started last week, so far i'm very pleased with how it's turning out, and the clarity of the transfer i'm using.

and in keeping with the bird theme, a picture of two of the eggs toulouse has laid in the last two weeks. it's so strange waking up to uncover her and finding an egg at the bottom of her cage.

corgi time

2009-11-18T22:10:42Z

i've been taking care of my parent's corgis for the last week while they've been in New York. while i do love buster and peaches, they are more of a handful than i realized and i happily return them to my parents today. here are some pictures of the pups at my work.

{the happy boy}

{sleeping beauty}

brass knuckles

2009-11-18T18:47:02Z

i really want this ring!

{notice the 'alexis' in the top right corner?}

check out the other very cool jewelry at heist jewelry's etsy shop.

holiday traditions

2009-11-17T22:21:05Z

i should also mention that i'm participating in sew liberated's holiday tradition exchange. i'm really excited to prepare and send out my package (and to receive mine)! i'm also following sew, mama, sew's handmade holidays but i can't figure out how to add the button to my page, so i'll just post this.

and so it begins...

2009-11-17T18:30:36Z

the mad rush to create and, in a few cases, to buy christmas presents. not to mention the few birthdays that fall between now and then. i'm thinking this christmas will highlight all of my favorite "craft" activities (knitting, sewing, and embroidering). this weekend while watching the puppies at my parent's house i started a few gifts.

{embroidery transfer for future pillows, gift for the grandmas}

the embroidery transfers are by lace tales, i purchased them earlier this year at the quilt show i went to with my aunt jamie. the iron on transfers turned out very clear and are pretty easy to follow so far. i hope to have the one i'm currently working on done before the end of the week and the "home sweet home" ones done by the middle of next week. my fingers are going to hurt!

halloween 2009!!!

2009-11-02T23:08:51Z

this weekend was fantastic, everything went perfectly.
my friends laura and chris came down from san francisco and stayed with me for the weekend, friday night we walked to warren and laura leigh's for a halloween party.

{my watermelon turned out great, a lot of people got that i was baby and were impressed that it also functioned as a purse, my friend laura was a "deviled egg"}

{warren and laura leigh as a dragon and dragon slayer}

{brian and robin}

halloween night we all went to the prospector for the show. my friends in the commotions were the b52's and the valley arena were the misfits.

{the commotions}

{the crowd was really into the valley arena as the misfits}

{twice during their set, warren (the lead singer) said "nobody puts baby in a corner"}

halloween eve?

2009-10-30T16:19:06Z

happy halloween!

sadly, my first pumpkin rotted, so this is take two. i used my lino cutters to etch out the owl and moon. this halloween should be fun, i have a costume i'm excited about and my best friend will be in town.
i'll be back monday with pictures and stories!

trick or treat?

2009-10-29T17:50:09Z

i think this falls into the "treat" category. in a wave of inspiration (perhaps because i now have a designated space to sew and a closet devoted to all the accoutrements that go with it) i decided to make emilee a trick-or-treat bag for halloween. i found the template for the cat on martha stewart's website, cut it out of some black felt, embroidered some fabric i already had, and sewed it up. this project took me 3 nights (maybe 5hrs total) and i'm pretty happy with how it turned out. there are some things i would change or add, but for a last minute project i think this worked out fine.

{complete!}

time to put it in the mail. now i just need to finish my costume, i can't wait to share pictures!

hahaha

2009-10-27T22:50:52Z

this is cracks me up every time i see it...

halloween costume prep

2009-10-26T21:08:10Z

this year my new haircut has inspired my halloween costume, i'm going to be "baby" from dirty dancing. to create the look i decided to create a felt watermelon to carry around, and i made a pocket so i can use it as a purse.

{my inspiration}

{drafting a pattern, this first pattern turned out too boxy}

{sewing together the pieces}

{almost done! i'll need to buy more ric-rac}

i still need a dress and shoes, but i'm really happy with my felt watermelon so far... nobody is going to put me in a corner!

my apartment

2009-10-26T20:32:07Z

things have more or less settled at my new place and i wanted to post some pictures...

{the area under the arch is my new sewing area}

{my little room, it has just enough space for all my things}

{little toulouse is still adjusting}

i'm still working on my giant craft/storage closet, i'll post pictures when it's complete.

pumpkin carving

2009-10-26T20:09:21Z

friday night my friend Laura Leigh invited a small group of us over to carve pumpkins, it was a warm evening and i got to take advantage of my new living situation and walk the few blocks to my friend's house (though it was a bit cumbersome with the pumpkin). Laura's boyfriend Warren made us pumpkin zitti and roasted our pumpkin seeds when we were done carving. it was such a fun evening watching scary movies and eating pumpkin seeds, i loved carving so much i bought another pumpkin over the weekend.

{carving away, Warren was also our photographer}

{i did end up with some pumpkin in my hair}

{Priscilla's pumpkin}

{Laura's pumkin, isn't that mouse adorable?}

{my pumpkin; it's a vampire leaning down to bite a womans neck... yes, i have read twilight too many times}

hand-crafted

2009-10-22T17:15:15Z

it's that time of year again, when i go through my yarn stash and think of projects and start making a list of gifts to make. in addition, this year i want to make some stockings for for my new roomie, myself, toulouse, maybe the corgi puppies, and various decorations. this means that i need to get started yesterday...

these days i find the fun gifts to make or give are for my cousin's kids and little emilee. today i was reading one of my favorite blogs maya*made (her own work is gorgeous and she has an adorable etsy shop) and she posted about a lovely online shop called wild apples. wild apples sells hand-crafted wooden toys and they remind me of some to the toys we had growing up. i'm thinking, in addition to what i'm already planning on making the kids, these would fun to give. there is a part of me that knows the kids would probably prefer barbie's or lego's, but these are really special!

weekend review

2009-10-19T19:03:47Z

mom and dad have been out of town so i've been in charge of the corgans, and they are a handful! they are also super cute and very mischievous. thursday night we stayed in Long Beach and friday we went down to my parents for the weekend.

{puppies at the office}

{creating a cage cover for toulouse]

{almost complete, i didn't have enough muslin to make a lining}

{when they weren't wrestling the puppies were sleeping}

{reading on the couch}

{next project: mermaid dish towel}