Felt Like Knitting

Sew excited

You may have noticed all the adorable handmade bags online lately.  What you most likely have not noticed is that I am carrying my black leather purse this summer.  And I'm getting tired of it.    So on Sunday, I sewed this bag (view in bottom right corner with bamboo handles).  Halfway through assembly, I decided it was going to be my knitting bag for the car because I don't like the way the bamboo handles hinder entry into the bag.  (That's why there's no picture posted - it wasn't finished off as well as I'd usually like.)  So I sewed a zippered pouch, following this tutorial, and filled it with scissors, a tape measure, etc.  Now there will always be knitting handy in the car!   

But the purse dilemma was still not solved.  Yesterday I got back to the sewing and followed Autum's basic purse tutorial.  Problem solved!  I am so excited about sewing this purse and having something more fun and less cumbersome to use this summer.  And I enjoyed getting back into sewing.

                                                

So now I have another dilemma...do I sew more purses or get back to my knitting?

A watched iPod never charges...and other things I've learned

Just like the legendary pot that won't boil, my new iPod seems to take forever to charge.  I want to listen to it before I go to bed tonight and time....is....dragging....by....  Thanks for your input, everyone.  I may need to get a miniature bike like the one Sheepish Annie mentioned in her comment.  Anything that helps melt away 60 pounds sounds pretty good!

Another thing I've learned (again) is that I'm not as creative as I wish I was.  I'm okay at making things, but as far as being original and creating "art," well I'm not so good at that.  Here's a show-and-tell example for you:  my first fabric postcard.  I made it in brown for August's Project Spectrum neutrals and for the hope of fall coming sometime soon.  It's okay for a first try, but I doubt I'll be making many more.  I just don't have the knack for it.  I wonder how much of creating something (whether it's painting, sculpting, fabric art) is talent and how much is practice?

In case you want to make a postcard of your own, I'll share the things I learned today:

1)  Before you start creating, actually measure out your fabric instead of just fusing things wherever you want.  (Postcards measure 4" x 6".)  While the flowers being cut off on the edge don't bother me, they might have been an important part of the design.

2)  If your quilting stitches run over the edge, don't trim them off when you cut your fabric to size.  You'll end up with stitches coming out.

3)  Rubber stamp embossing on fabric sounds like a good idea, but it takes practice.

4)  If an embossed image gets reheated by the iron, it spreads out.

5)  Use a press cloth if reheating an embossed image.  All that junk on your iron would not be pretty.  (I knew about using a press cloth to avoid getting fusible web on my iron and fortunately it was in place when I heated the first flower, so I was spared a mess.)

6)  Plan out all the steps first to avoid having to reheat embossed images.

7)  It takes more than fusible web, fusible craft stabilizer, felt, and fabric to make a stiff postcard.

8)  If you use lightweight muslin on the back, you will be able to see the quilting stitches (wrong side) through it and it's distracting.

9)  Katie is right.  Getting consistent satin stitching around the edge is a little tough.

And one last thing I've learned again.  Even though I keep hoping to rekindle some of my former love of sewing, I still love knitting the best. 

"P" is also for "postcard"

                                           

Look what came in the mail today!  Katie sent me this lovely fabric postcard that she made.  Katie recently got a new sewing / embroidery machine.  I love those decorative stitches!  Thank you so much, Katie!  It was such a nice surprise.  I really want to try making one of these sometime.  If anyone else is interested in making one, Katie has found lots of samples and instructions.

Thanks to my fellow procrastinators for letting me know I am not alone!  I did get my two little jobs done today, but realized later that I should have assigned myself a bit more.   I really don't feel that much closer to being ready.  :) 

Oh, I have a question for the iPod folks out there.  I'm considering buying the 30GB iPod, but that's a lot of money and I'm having trouble justifying it.  I'm also wondering how much I will use it.  I need to exercise and my cardiologist told me today that I need to get moving.  (Okay, so I knew that already.  There's procrastination rearing its ugly head again!)  My question is this:  Do you use your iPod a lot?  Do you ever use it while you exercise?  If you have one with less memory, has yours filled up already?  Any advice would be helpful.  Thanks!

Studio cleanup

Last week I mentioned having to downsize my "studio" because I switched rooms with my daughter.  Everywhere I turn I see things that should probably go out of the room, but I'd rather try to use them than get rid of them.  One such thing is my quilting fabric.  I don't quilt much anymore with this knitting habit I've got.  But, I'm not sure I'm ready to get rid of it.  So I did this with a small portion:

                                             

This is the office chair I use at my sewing table.  It is covered in a scratchy black fabric that doesn't feel good.  So I've covered the seat.  (Please don't look at my workmanship!  There are many things "wrong" with it, but I wanted to get it done quickly.)  I have more of the squares to make a cover for the back, but I have to make myself get some other things done first.  This fabric has had many things planned for it from baby quilts for my nieces to a doll quilt for my daughter.  It feels good to get at least some of it used up!

Look what came in the mail today!  I ordered this from Katie's Etsy shop.  My tissues are always getting wadded up in the bottom of my purse, so I bought them a cozy!  I just love this fabric and the brown ribbon together.  Katie makes beautiful things.  Oh, and she's having a stash sale on her blog right now.

And look what I got in the mail a couple of weeks ago!  This great tape measure is from Knit and Plenty's Purl Needlemeyer (aka Jodi).  Purl has some great organizational products and asks her readers for input.  I replied to a question she had and she sent this treat!  Thanks, Purl!  I've been using and enjoying it quite a bit.