Tea is sticky

This is a known fact if you put sugar into it :) Well, I do and after several hours of having a nice time with the new hand bag I started, decided it was enough and it was time to go sit and relax for a while.
As I turned around at the sewing machine to get up - mug in hand - I seemed to have accidentally hit the top of the sewing machine and down came the mug 3/4 full!
I got soaked, my hand bag front got soaked, tea flew all over the place - BUT it didn't touch my new machine :)
Was I thrilled!!!!  As I stood there dripping, I was just so happy to have missed the machine that I hesitated a bit and then dashed for something to sop up the mess.
Of course this got my DH's attention and I then got more help cleaning up than I really wanted, but appreciated it anyway.
I cleaned me up last. Hand bag front was soaked, but I ran it under water immediately and it sits drying right now.
Just a typical day with me  :)

Purple Clutch Bag

Here's the second bag I just finished. It has a silk flower too!

This one was interesting to make too. It will be at the Merrimack Valley Artisans display in Andover, MA and Chelmsford, MA  libraries from August through September along with a couple of other things I have.

Thread II

So to continue the thread discussion which I went off of.................. I took out all my spools with only a little thread on them and put them in a bag. I then put all my top stitch thread in the top drawer (how appropriate, eh?)

Larger spools in the second and smaller spools in the third. I then ran out of room to put any more, so I had to sneak the skinny spools in the back of the second and third drawer in a double row. BUT.......now I can see all the colors and reach in and get whatever one I want without digging and having a zillion thread ends all tangled. That was definitely a job for a neat freak. (I did not put them in color coordinated order - I will leave that for another day.)  :)

After that I worked on the purple bag again, ate lunch, applied for a job at Apple. That was answered within 10 minutes and now I have a phone interview coming up on Wednesday.

Why did I apply? Well we have been thinking about a lot of upcoming expenses and I occasionally do work to help out. The bulk of my time though, I spend on my art, which is a perfect place to be.

Thread and how it reproduces?

I got a load of thread yesterday in the mail. NICE! I am very happy and just need to use it and test it to see the quality - or not quality that is to be determined. Actually it woulld be more like does it work of me or not?

One is Egyptian Cotton, one is Polyester and then I got a sample spool of Trilobal Polyester. Colors? I got blues and greens and imagined I got purples, but that was just my imagination.

Today I will be staying in again - too humid for me - and trying to finish up my second purple bag. I started this one a couple of weeks ago and kept putting it aside to do something more interesting :)   Like buy thread.

We have two fun things coming up in the next few weeks here. The League of NH Craftsmen's Fair at Sunapee, NH and the Mancuso Quilt Show in Manchester, NH. I plan on going to both.
Actually can't wait, but will have to as that is how time goes.

I have become addicted to two tv shows on BBC America. Top Gear and Chef Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. Top Gear, BBC, is just interesting and funny (Top Gear America is just boring) I like that English humor rather than the old boy stuff.
Chef Ramsey.........well, there is a certain fascination with how some restaurants are run that interests me. Now, I try not to think about it when I eat out. AND, I do like cooking shows, so it sort of clicks. Better than watching Say Yes to the Dress.

I am still limited on what I can do with my hand. I started making some silk flower corsages. Those are fun, but tire my hand muscles out fast, so those are slow.

The call of the dye is in the air though.

New Blue/Batik Bag

Front of finished bag.

I finished the blue bag - neede to go to the store yesterday and get some more thread. The Texture Magic needs to be sewn all over and this took a bit of thread.

I must be slow or something because it felt like it took forever to do this.

So, now it is done and steamed, assembled and finished. Next time I will do just smaller pieces of fabric with Texture Magic as this was a lot of work - too much for a lazy daisy like me.

Back of bag with different stitching pattern.

I like how it came out and will do another in the same shape, but with different things going on.

Next for color will be greens.

Here's the Purple Bag!

In reading all kinds of instructions and things about the Soft & Stable, they recommend using a walking foot!!!!!  I'm still waiting. The store said this upcoming week....hhmmm.

So anyway, here's a pic of the Purple Bag with Many Mistakes. It was a fight to the end! I did enjoy making it, but not taking off and putting on the closure and handle multiple times. I should PAY ATTENTION to what I am doing and not let my enthusiasm get in the way of doing it right.
The button (which is decorative) is a piece of Wampum.

Here's the bag in all it's glory. The next one will be better, I am sure.

Really Purple Bag With Many Mistakes

After many weeks of a lot of inactivity, I have finally returned to the sewing machine (hand sewing is still limited, but I can do that too.)
So I started a handbag of my own design, using purple fabrics I had and a fat quarter or two I picked up at the store.

Sewed the outside all together. Didn't like it - took it apart. Cut the support stuff out and then free motion stitched a story on the bag - very short, but words none the less. Sewed it together again with the support stuff so it doesn't flop around. Added the bottom.

It is sitting there right now waiting for me to finish attaching the bottom support stuff. Then I will cut out the lining, make the handle and add that, turn it all right side out and voila!
I will have: A Really Purple Bag With Many Mistakes! Yes, that is what I stitched on it.

I suppose I could have used a pattern, but I just plowed ahead like usual and I know I will like it when it is done. This is my test bag - to test the stiff stuff that is in the middle to see if I like it or not. So far.............I like it. It makes the bag stand up nicely. It's called Soft & Stable and it is a foam core lined material. It sews nicely and free motions great.

Next to try on another bag is Texture Magic - we'll see how that performs too.

Mi Vida Loca

Yesterday, nice and early,  I was all efficient and got the post ready to go, the banking in my hot little hands and off to PT and errands I went.

Sounds normal, right? Did the bank and post office just fine. Got to PT only to find out I was there on the wrong day - typical me  :) So I went for a walk instead.

When I got home I thought I would play with my new walking foot. I had started a needle keeper before I went out, and thought it would be good to see how well the walking foot did it's job.
This one gave me a bit of a problem. After fiddling around with it for about 40 minutes I came to the conclusion that maybe it was the one-handed woman fault and not the foot - it just wouldn't go onto the machine.
So, off to the sewing store, and while I was in Nashua over to the gallery to deliver some jewelry.
Got to the store and asked for either lessons in what I am doing wrong or this foot just doesn't fit.
I am pleased to say that it wasn't me and the wrong foot had been ordered. Another replacement foot on order (they called Bernina to make sure of the serial number) and  a bobbin keeper later, I was on my way home and happy that it wasn't me.

We'll see what adventures await today because I have PT.........really :)

Getting it all together

It has been a long road these past few weeks. I can do a very small amount of hand sewing, but can do machine sewing and am planning on making a handbag or two. I got some neat-o feet for my machine and am dying to try them.

It's also time to start dyeing scarves and fabric for my palette. I am finishing off my fascinator (hopefully today) and got a beautiful silk flower from Shibori Girl to wear on my dress for the wedding on the 9th.

I also bought some of her ribbon which I have been looking at for over a year. Took the plunge and will make some of my own flowers and add some to my work, as soon as I can do it :)

What a great way to fritter away the time.............writing things on the computer. I could be doing something else in the studio, so ..........off I go!