sewing

Everything at Once

March 3, 2010March 3, 2010 Melissa's Kre8tionsLeave a comment

Hello readers. I apologize for the inconsistent postings as of late. My schedules has been thrown a bit off track ever since my fiance had his knee surgery. He’s in his ‘recovery’ stage which means he’s home. . . 24/7. . . for another 3-4 weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I love having him around, but because he’s home, I want to spend as much time with him as possible, therefore my blogging schedule, as well as all of my other responsibilities, have fallen to the wayside. I’m trying my hardest to get back on track though, so please bear with me.

My family is currently going through my grandparents’ house and finding lots of really neat things. Some of the latest finds for me included my grandmother’s button stash, and some of her costume jewelry, namely some clip on earrings circa ~1930-1960. I can’t wait to show those off in her jewelry box! I also have a basket full of scarves that I have been meaning to get to as well as some of hers and her family’s vintage clothing that I snagged. All in due time, if I can keep up with everything else that is happening lately.

In sewing news, I have two quilts that I am currently working on. The first is from Tula Pink’s new line “Plume” for Moda. I am using her pattern called “Spiked Punch” and am just starting to cut out the fabric. One thing that I really enjoy about this pattern is that it uses a jelly roll, so there is minimal strip cutting besides the background pieces. Pictures to come soon, I promise! The second quilt I am working on is from Michael Miller’s line “Flora & Fauna”. The colorways I am working with include the hot pink and lime green fabrics. Yum! I adore these colors and can’t wait to see how it turns out.

In clothing news, I’m working on a jacket pattern from Favorite Things. The exterior is being made from a burgundy corduroy and the lining is a teal cotton/silk blend. It’s going rather quickly, but the directions in this pattern are assuming the maker knows a lot about garment construction. It doesn’t say anything about how to finish the front double-breasted closure and it doesn’t tell you to sew on the buttons. . . (I know, that is pretty self-explanatory, but still. . .)

I also completed my Sencha blouse from Colette Patterns. I am so proud of myself! I used up some of my stash fabric to make it and it turned out great! I think I may need to tinker with the pattern a bit to get a better fit, but I am thrilled to have made my first ever, wardrobe worthy, piece of clothing. I’ll have pictures up soon, but to visualize, I made the blouse from a cotton chambray. The fabric used pink threads on the crosswise grain and yellow threads on the lengthwise grain to make an orange-y color. It is quite darling, although I would like to make another Sencha in blue polka dot, green, red, and black and white polka dot. . . maybe in a few other solids too. . . oh boy, the possibilities! ^_^

Any who, my Aunt and I just finished making my wedding invitations, R.S.V.P.’s, and thank you cards. They turned out beautiful! I can’t wait to use them! I’m afraid that I will have to make more, but can’t wait to get started on them again. It was a blast!

So, all in all, everything is kind of happening at once and it feels a bit overwhelming to say the least. Hopefully I will be able to get back on track and back into a routine. I’m hoping to have another VPS up soon, and maybe some other great things!

Blerg. . .

December 28, 2009December 28, 2009 Melissa's Kre8tionsLeave a comment

Today is Monday, December 28 and I have a cold. Cold’s are never any fun. It hit me the day after Christmas and has knocked me down since. Today is the first day I feel well enough to move, but I still can’t talk and am having coughing fits every so often. I’m going to try to take this opportunity to get some sewing done around here. As I said before, I have a few projects that I am working on, so I’ll give you a now.

This lovely stack of fabrics will become a cute lap quilt featuring Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Ever since childhood, this book has meant loads to me. I love Eric Carle’s children’s books. And now I can enjoy them forever with this adorable fabric! The caterpillar scattered print is the backing, seeing as I have around 3 yards. I also have the panel and a few go-withs to make something fabulous with. I think, however, that this gorgeous material will be going to my future mother-in-law. It was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but I didn’t get the quilt made up in time. . .

This next stack is Authentic by Sweet Water for Moda. I really like the colors and textures in this collection. The pattern is Paper Back Writer by Abbey Lane, I adore most of their patterns. I think this quilt will look very chic once finished. This one is a store sample, so I probably won’t be keeping it, although it would look good on my couch. . . ^_^

I better get a move on if I want to finish any projects today. I’ll try to post again with some progress shots and some finished projects once I get there. So much to do, so little time. . . anyone have some spare time for sale?

BTW, just on a side note. . . I watched Julie & Julia this weekend. I have to say that was an adorable movie. I really enjoyed every part of it. I do wonder why Julia didn’t like Julie though. . . I often times feel like Julie in that I don’t know who reads this, and if I even have many people looking at my random thoughts and writings. I do know that I have the occasional looker, but do I have any blalkers? By blalker, I mean “blog stalker”. It’s when you religiously re-visit blogs to read up on the latest content. I can tell you that the one blog that I am always a blalker at is Ysolda Teague’s blog about knitting and other great stuff. She lives in Scotland and has several patterns and a couple books out on knitting. Love her stuff, as my blalker’s would know from all the times I have mentioned her in my posts. ^_^ So anyway, all of you blalkers out there, thanks for listening and talk to you soon.

Cooking/Baking · Knitting · Quilting · sewing · Spinning · Wedding

Mid-December Already!

December 18, 2009 Melissa's Kre8tionsLeave a comment

I can’t believe it is already the 18th of December! This year has flown by and so much has happened! On November 11th, my boyfriend of over 6 1/2 years proposed, finally! ^_^ I said yes, of course, and our date is set for the 10th of October, 2010. 10-10-10-, gee, I wonder how many people are going to get married that day? So of course I am busy planning for the wedding. I went downtown to the local bookstore and picked up a few things to help me out. The first “book” I got was a Bridal Idea Journal. It is really cool. It has tons of pages dedicated to possibilities and ideas of what the wedding will look like. It has a timeline and due dates, a budget section, and lots of space to jot down general notes about venues and vendors. It has been a handy little book.

Another book that I absolutely adore is The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown. This book is incredible. I told myself I wasn’t going to go through the stress of making my own save the dates and invitations, but I can’t help it. The ideas in this book are so good, and so simple, I have to make my own! Why pay double or triple when you don’t have to? And besides, there’s plenty of time. (Flash forward to a few days before the wedding, and they still aren’t done. . .) ^_^ You have to check this book out if you are in the market to get married, or are helping a friend with a wedding. You can catch this book and more fabulous ideas at www.diybride.com. I also recommend checking out The Knot. They have some great tips and other fabulous bride-to-be stuff, including an online checklist, guestlist, and iPhone app! They can be found at www.theknot.com.

Moving along to more recent happenings, yesterday I roasted some vegetables. They are sooooooo incredibly delicious. Down town at the local health food store they offer roasted vegetables in the deli case. These are perhaps the best I have ever had. . .until now. I went to the store and picked up some organic yellow squash, zuchinni, baby red potatoes, red onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, baby carrots, and a head of garlic. I threw everything onto a baking sheet, after preping of course, drizzled with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and threw them in the oven on 250 for about 2 hours. The only reason that I use such a low temperature is because when my oven gets too hot, it warps my pans. . . I know, I have a crappy oven. But I’m renting, so what can I do? When I do it again, I will wait to add the squash, red onion, and zuchinni until about half way through cooking, and I would use way less olive oil. I would also throw in more garlic because that is my favorite part! ^_^ Here’s a tasty picture that I snapped about half way through the cooking process. Caution: Drooling very likely to occur.

I have lots more to share, but it’s just about time to start dinner, so I have to get going. Coming soon: More Project Pyramids, A tour around my Christmas Tree, my Snapdragon Flip-Top Mits by Ysolda, my Urban flip-top gloves for my brother, my hand spun and hand knit hat for my mother, and my future Quilt projects. Stay tuned, I hope to have these posts up soon! ^_^

Knitting · Quilting · sewing · Spinning

Ren Faire Costume and Other Musings.

September 21, 2009September 30, 2009 Melissa's Kre8tions1 Comment

So, I went to a Renaissance Faire this weekend. I’ve been attending for 7 years now. I love it! There are so many great activites and wonderful people. My favorite part is dressing up. I made my own costume this year. (My mother had made my previous two.) I only got half of it finished, however. I made the outer shell, but the underdress came from a second hand store. I’m planning on wearing this costume for Halloween as well, but need to finish the underdress.

This is the pattern that I started with. There was much altering that needed to be done to get it to look the way I had pictured in my mind.

Ren Dress Pattern

I used view A and left off the sleeves because I mostly didn’t want them, but also because I didn’t have enough fabric. I also did not have the trim go all the way down the front of the dress. I didn’t really care about the trim, but before I read through the entire pattern to see how it was constructed, I wasn’t able to easily go back and fix the raw edges that the trim covers. So, here is what the finished dress ended up like.

My Ren Costume

This isn’t the best picture of me. . .but when I took my camera with me, I neglected to make sure there was an SD card in it. 😦 I had a little internal memory, and was able to take a few pictures, however I cannot find my camera cable to extract said photos. Once I find that, I will post a few better pictures of the costume. But all in all, you get the main idea. *UPDATE* I have found my cord and this IS the updated picture. . .well, better than nothing I suppose. ^_^*

I have also recently been knitting on Ysolda’s Snapdragon Tam. It’s GORGEOUS! I love the pattern and the color. I decided to use Malabrigo Worsted in Sunset. I adore this yarn, and the Tam looks great with it!

Snapdragon Tam

The background in this picture is the quilt that I recently put together. It’s a collection of Anna Maria Horner and Tina Givens fabrics. I just did giant 14″ blocks, alternating light and darks. I had four fabrics total and have plenty left over for some accent pillows, (if I ever get around to them . . .). I quilted it on my mother’s longarm with a pantograph and teal-blue thread. It’s so pretty! ^_^

My Quilt

My Quilt 2

And now it is laying happily upon my bed. Though there is not enough drape on the sides, there is plenty of length. It almost touches the floor at the foot of my bed and still has enough for a tuck! I have a Queen size bed and this quilt measures approximately 80×108. I should have added at least one more row on the width, but it’s lovely just the same.

And then, just when I thought I couldn’t cram any more onto my Ashford Joy’s bobbin, I go and cram a little more. Poor wheel. I work this thing to death, but it still shows me love. This was some blue faced leceister that I wanted to get spun up. It’s so soft and scrumptious. I love it.

Joy is full

Full Bobbin

My boyfriend is gone for three months to train for a new position he is taking. If all goes well, we will be moving to the ‘big city’ to be close to his work. While he’s away, I have been trying to find things to keep myself busy. (Like that is hard to do. . . ^_^) So I’ve been finishing up on some of these projects, as well as starting way too many new ones. On the books for the coming few weeks, I will be attending Oregon Flock and Fiber in Canby. This will be year 3. Can’t wait to find some fibery goodness to feed the addiction. I have a few classes to teach at the quilt shop, and some store samples to get through. I have three bags and a long jacket to do. As soon as I can get myself a little better organized, I will be posting some, hopefully, regular updates on my progress.

Knitting · Quilting · Spinning

September Happenings. . .

September 7, 2008September 7, 2008 Melissa's Kre8tionsLeave a comment

So, September is here and it brings with it lots of work! Not only have classes started at the sewing store, but I am in charge of sending out the newsletters, class schedules, scheduling classes, arranging meetings with teachers, and doing every thing that I can to promote the classes. They are doing pretty well so far. I’m also trying to frantically put together one of my class samples. It’s going to turn out spectacular I’m hoping. I’ll post pictures of the finished project soon. For now, I have some home spun eye candy for you to enjoy, as well as an original table runner kre8tion. So kick back and enjoy. 🙂

So for this table runner, it all started when Matt said, “I forgot my friend’s birthday. . .” So I chimed in and said, “Well, I could make her a table runner. Which fabrics do you think she would like?” Pointing to my stash. And Voila, here is what I came up with off the top of my head. From conception to binding, it took me probably a total of four hours to complete. I decided to throw the squares ‘wonky’ because with only three fabrics, I thought it needed some more visual interest. So, what do you think? 😉

So those of you who have been following for a while, you may have read my talking about my Wicked sweater. I am still working on the top! But I’m closer than I was when I started. I haven’t quite reached the armholes yet, but about 25 more rounds or so, and I can try it on to see where it falls. I’m doing the short sleeved version with a pocket, if I have enough yarn in this colorway. . . (Sorry to those who don’t have a Ravelry account to view the Wicked pattern, you should get on the waiting list. It’s worth it.)

And my second project currently in my knitting satchel. This is a basic lace shawl made starting in the center and working my way out. Can’t wait to see how it turns out as it grows, and I had to use my Dream in Color baby weight yarn, so I decided I would jump into some lace work.

I have been busy spinning up my roving every chance I get. This was some Merino that I had laying around. Gorgeous stuff! Mmm! Hopefully I will be able to dye it soon, and you can betcha that I’ll post that!

Some more delicious Superwash Merino Homespun.

So when Matt and I went to the Oregon State Fair this year, I couldn’t help but go into the Artisan’s Village and stumble across the Spinning booth. I of course spotted the fiber first and pounced!

Another braid of Oregon State Fair Roving

They had way too many colors to choose from, so I bought two instead of one. Though the other colors were to dye for, (spelling intentional 😉 ) I could only get two and I was on a budget, so these will satisfy my color needs just fine.

And finally, the Piece de Resistance, my sewing room! I’ve updated it a bit, so here it is! I’m so inspired to be in here and work now, and I even have a place to set up my laptop, so hopefully I can blog more.

I hope you had a fun time catching up with me and the past oh. . .months that I have been in hibernation, but I’m hoping to be back for a while. Anyway, take care!