Japanese Fabrics…
Monday, January 11th, 2010…make me happy!
Even the selvages are cute:
Leaves
Skulls
Butterflies
Ladybugs
Jenn : )
Posts Tagged ‘color’
Ah… Oxygen!
Monday, March 31st, 2008This morning I woke up and I could breathe again!
Sweet, sweet oxygen, how I’ve missed you : )
I am right in the middle of one of these highs (which made being sick even more frustrating). I have more ideas than time to create them. I’ve been doing alot of sketching and planning.
Inside, on the first panel are ribbon loops to hold embroidery thread, on the second panel I’ve made a pocket that closes – to hold buttons and little bits and bobs
(I’ve decided that this could be bigger, to hold more.)
and on the third panel there’s a flap of felt that can hold pins (the photo shows it closed – the flap lifts up and there is another layer of felt beneath it.)
Sweet, sweet oxygen, how I’ve missed you : )
Thank you everybody for your well wishes!
I am sure that your positive energy has helped me to start feeling better.
Saturday was rough. I was in bed all day. The cats took turns curling up next to me. Sunday started off the same, but as the day went on I started to perk up a bit, and by the early evening I was back in my studio! Whoo hoo!
I’ve noticed over the years that I definitely have creative highs and lows.I am right in the middle of one of these highs (which made being sick even more frustrating). I have more ideas than time to create them. I’ve been doing alot of sketching and planning.
I’ve had an idea in the back of my mind for another kind of sewing organizer that I’d like to try making. Last night I got out my muslin and made up a prototype.
This is a folding “book” style organizer.
Inside, on the first panel are ribbon loops to hold embroidery thread, on the second panel I’ve made a pocket that closes – to hold buttons and little bits and bobs
(I’ve decided that this could be bigger, to hold more.)
and on the third panel there’s a flap of felt that can hold pins (the photo shows it closed – the flap lifts up and there is another layer of felt beneath it.)
Along the bottom are pockets in various widths to hold pens, floss, cloth – you name it. And I even made a little pincushion that will match the fabric of the organizer. Oh – and one of my favorite features – between the 1st and 2nd panel is a button and cord. You can put the cord through the hole of a spool of thread, then wind the end of the cord around the button and keep the thread safe and snug inside the organizer! So clever! (I wish I could take credit for thinking that up… but I actually saw it in one of my Japanese craft books. It’s such a good idea, I had to include it.)
I would very much like to make more of these and put them in my shop.
What do you think of this design?
Do you like this style of organizing sewing supplies?
As I’m writing this, I’m trying out something new.
I would love any feedback you all could give me on what fabric colors and styles you prefer. I’m creating a very short pop-up survey and I would be grateful to any of you who would take a moment to answer two questions. : ) Thanks in advance!
(This survey should pop-up when you load this page.
If it doesn’t come up, then you may have a pop-up blocker working.)
Now I’m off to the post office.
Then back to my studio to work on bath mitts! Yay!
Have a great day!
Best,
Jenn : )What To-Do List?
Tuesday, May 8th, 2007This week began as one of those weeks where I was going to have a list of things that I would get done each day, without fail. And for the most part I have really gotten alot done so far. I cleaned out part of the basement, started to revive our dying ficus tree, cleaned out the fridge, etc.
But yesterday morning I decided to go online before I walked over to the grocery store and, while reading some of my favorite blogs, I came across this post by Jennifer over at her blog: The Felt Mouse.
On the screen was a recipe for a lovely looking dessert of Cherry Clafoutis.
In my hand was my To-Do list…. which I promptly crumbled up, threw over my shoulder and didn’t look back! Instead, I added the Cherry Clafoutis ingredients to my shopping list and headed to the market.
And here are the results:
* Note: Jennifer’s post mentions that the recipe calls for seeing ribbons during the mixing of the yolks and sugar. I think I saw ribbons. But I’m not positive.
I did have quite an interesting time getting a shot of the batter, as I held the running mixer in one hand and camera in the other!
And – it was delicious, by the way! Custardy and light. Wonderful!
Thanks for sharing that recipe, Jennifer : )
So, that was yesterday’s adventure.
I just added the to-dos that I didn’t cross off to today’s list.
In other news, I posted a bit about color a few days ago and then yesterday found these articles over at The Purl Bee. Aren’t the colors in that first photo just gorgeous?
And I found these pretty sweet fawn patterned fabrics in the new arrivals over at ReproDepot.
(Oh, and if you’re interested in how I made the photo layouts above – I took all the photos myself and then used the Leafletter site to arrange them in the boxes.
It was super easy to do – so don’t hesitate to give it a try : )
Cheers!
(*Update: the clafoutis recipe can also be found in the latest Williams-Sonoma catalog on page #33. I just got mine today : )
Thanks Everyone!
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007Wow! I am blown away by everyone’s great comments on my last post. I read all of your suggestions and tips with great interest – thank you for sharing with us : )
Christina – I think your velvet tray idea could work really well for felt pieces, too. Since felt kind of “sticks” to itself – I bet a tray lined with felt would be very handy, esp. when working with lots of tiny little felt pieces. Thanks for sharing that!
Clinkscalesarts – Thimblepads sound like a good addition to my list. Thanks for sharing the link with us!
iSew – I think we are organization sisters! The magnetic bulletin board sounds like a great find! (Now what do I have to do to get you to buy a label maker? Hee hee!)
And Mrs. Kwitty – Thanks for the wonderful freezer paper technique! I haven’t tried that one – and with all the little felt and wool pieces I work with – it’s about time I give that a try! Thanks for sharing that with us : )
You guys are awesome!
I have been busy working on sketches for the first watercolor painting that I hope to make prints of and add to my shop. It is inspired by one of my four legged little buddies, Poe. And that’s all I’ll say until I can reveal the finished piece.
Illustration board and new paints are on their way – so I’ll be starting soon!
Here are goodies that I’ve been delighted to receive in the past week or so:
I’ll begin with this lovely Friendship collage that was created by Karen. I actually won this pretty collage after I entered a contest she was having on her blog. (Much to my surprise – because I don’t normally ever win when I enter a contest).
But what a wonderful surprise – to me this collage symbolizes all of the great friends I have made through Etsy and my blog.
I have just the place for it, too. There is a spot on my studio wall right above where I do all of my fabric cutting and project planning, so I will see my sweet collage every single day. Thank you for this generous and lovely gift, Karen : )
For a l-o-n-g time I have coveted Betz White’s beautiful and clever cupcake pincushions. I knew that at some point I was going to own one, but I decided that I would wait (impatiently) for just the right one to come along. And a couple weeks ago Betz added new colors to her shop and I spotted the one for me!
This one is called “Mocha” and I am displaying it with pride in my studio.
These pretty, handmade Mother’s Day cards I purchased recently from a relatively new Etsy seller, Whimsicalities. I am very pleased with them – they are lovely, well made and she shipped very quickly. Can’t wait to mail these out soon.
And these are two owl magnets that I bought from Pinkbathtub. They are well made and very cute. I got them for my Grandma – who loves birds.
I am a repeat customer of Pinkbathtub – she has lots of fun things in her shop. I bought recipe cards from her last year and I highly recommend her shop : )
Now, last but not least, I have a couple creative internet sites to share with you:
The first is a site that my husband, Josh, showed me last night called Kuler. This is a site that you can use to create a color palette.
For example, last night I was trying to decide on the colors I want to use for one of my watercolor paintings. I knew that I wanted it to be mostly greens and blues, but I needed a third “accent” color to liven up the painting.
Josh showed me how I can go to Kuler and choose the greens and blues that I know I want and then use their color wheel and tools to find an accent color. The site also has color palettes that other designers have already created – which is great inspiration for choosing colors that you might not have thought to put together. I think this site would be useful for all different artists and craftspeople.
The other site I found through Betz White’s blog. It is a random stripe generator found at Kissyourshadow.com. It was originally created for knitters – but is a fun way for any artist to play with colors and find interesting, unexpected combinations.
Hope you all have a great day!
Tonight is results night on American Idol. And I’d just like to say:
“Thanks alot for filling my head with Bon Jovi songs, American Idol!”
I’ve had “Livin’ On A Prayer” going through my head all morning!!!
(If they ever have an ABBA night… I’m just going to have to skip it!)
