Things are quiet but.....

I'm not just sitting around :) I have been working on my chenille bag and it is almost finished. But got sidetracked by working on my daughters costume for her belly dancing recital. (sorry about he red eye - forgot to fix that) She made the top part and cut out the belt, but I sewed it together and the gold cording and she added all the hanging danglly things. She looks pretty darn good too. It was a fun show and her improvement every time is evident.

After much contemplation this morning.....

I finished the latest bag Squares and Sticks. I made a magnetic flap to close it in the shape of one of the ....shapes  :)

Now on to the next one. Looks like maybe something bright.

No dyeing yet

I started to wrap, fold, spindle, mutilate silk scarves ala shibori, but my thumb gave out and I have to do this a bit slower than I want to. I got one tied, and one half tied with 7 more to go, but some will be folded as well, so that isn't hard to do.
The problem with dyeing is that there are SO MANY wonderful colors and so little fabric! I am going to do some ice dyeing with this batch too.

Back to finishing up the squares and sticks handbag..............  what a good girl  :P

Sewing adventures - I'm on the "I need express"

My only show is coming up fast, so now I need to do all kinds of stuff for it. I have been making hand bags, but need more than four.............don't you think?
I need to do more scarves before there aren't any leaves and things left for printing. I need to test some coating stuff for my silk bowls. I need to go faster or get more hours in the day. I have also been mentally planning my booth layout - no jewelry this year - it's all at the galleries.

So what do I do amongst all this stuff? I get more fabric for an apron. My old one has pooped out and just isn't "right" anymore due to a large hole worn into it. I got some weird asparagus fabric and some loud binding fabric and will whip that up today in between learning how to make labels for the artist groups postcard mailing.

I also could have had a job at a not so local jewelry store - which is why I don't have one. It's just not close enough for the bother. I'm not big on traveling through snow and ice to get there so - I just don't need it. Why do I put myself through this every once and a while? I have no idea, but will probably continue to do this - maybe to prove to myself that I exist? (sort of like pinch me to see if I am alive)  :)


Next week I have a meeting with the Gallery Committee at the new LNHC headquarters to learn from "Dan the Man" how to assemble the new gallery walls we have to work with.
The new space is so nice - very modern and museum like. It will be a pleasure to be able to set up exhibits there.

So Today.......It Is Almost Finshed

I have to sew on the handles  :)  That's it and this one is done.

I am pretty happy with the whole thing.

24 hours later

Now I did some quilting and highlighting of the printed ferns I did yesterday. Things are getting better.
Can't wait until the show and Pro Chem.........I need to see the fabric paint, maybe get a few.

I took off the freezer paper and I think you get the idea I am trying to convey?

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  :)

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.