Sunday Threads

But the Lord told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."

Samuel 16:7

Art Journal Friday--Colored Pencil Doodling

It is really a shame when life and all its busyness takes you away from your art journaling! I had not written or doodled or glued or colored anything for two weeks. And it was making me too sad. Thank the heavens for a three-day weekend, and a chance to get inspired and write things down! I got out my tin of my favorite colored pencils, and doodled away!

My sweet mom, who is 86 years old, will often surprise me with various magazine subscriptions. I was reading through my Better Homes & Gardens, and catching up on a couple of issues I had gotten in the mail, clipping out recipes and ideas when I came upon a one-page article. A lady had turned her formal living room into a full-fledged craft room. Her and her husband had built an island-style table in the center and beautiful shelves with the supplies nicely tucked into pretty, decorated bins, so it didn't look bad at all! She said that even when they had dinner parties, the guests and family would always end up in the craft room, with stools around the crafty island, having fun.

I stuck the article into the opposite side with a bit of washi tape so that I can read it again!

Don't you love that idea?

I couldn't get it out of my brain--so, of course, the thought ended up in my art journal!

I love that idea too! Wild, wonderful thoughts and dreams belong in your art journal.

But seriously, wouldn't it be wonderful if every time friends visited your house, they made something?

So cool.

Eat, Write, Dream of a Living-Craft-Room, Stitch

WOYWW 194--Housework Vs. Artwork

Do you ever have that inner/outer struggle of housework verses artwork? Somehow, works of house can't compare to works of art--especially the works of art laying around on your worktable! (No one wants a picture of the Fiestaware laying around on the kitchen cabinet!)

It's What's-On-Your-Workdesk Wednesday--the fabulous blog party hosted by Mrs. Julia Dunnit! And I don't mind being a hot mess today!

New bone folder for $3.22!

Like many of my friends, I can't even think clearly, unless my house is clean...and sometimes that frame of mind spills into my creative corner. I really do prefer it nice and clean. But if it's that clean--there's no creating going on! I always say that someday I will have a whole studio room, where it can just be a hot mess all the time, and I can shut the door!

Anyhoo, over the three-day weekend, I realized I had not touched my art journal in two weeks. That is a huge shame!! So I got out my favorite tin of colored pencils, and doodled away some thoughts and dreams. I found my Smashbook datestamp, and decided to get back in the mode of at least writing a sentence or two about my day. My Smashbook is almost filled up--and I have plans to go to Michaels this week (after the predicted ice storm) and use a coupon to get another one! They have new stuff too--I'm excited! Not too enthused about the predicted freezing rain for Thursday though. I might be working at home that day! I just hope the power doesn't go out.

A new doodle girl for my art journal

I can't wait to visit some of you today. One of these Wednesdays I'm going to try and visit everyone again. That takes some doing. But I hope to get around to several--crafty hugs to you!

P.S. to my Downton Abbey peeps--the season finale left me devastated!! I only hope that Matthew and Sybil are off somewhere doing some fabulous project...and I hope that Call the Midwife starts soon!
 
EAT, WRITE, DREAM, AND STITCH THE DAY AWAY!

Patches of Happy -- My Bohemian Bag Story--It's Wearable Art!

Sometimes, when you really want something special--you find a way to make it yourself! My patch-happy bohemian bag came to be for several reasons. I do a lot of walking, and I love cross-body style bags. I prefer eclectic, imperfect bags. I love to be green and repurpose things. And, I love just about anything made with patches--especially when the fabric making up the patches holds memories and sentiment.

So there you go.

Oh, and I'm not a fan of using a pattern! I tend to free-stitch and make things up as I go along. This can be good and bad...and I'm showing all the warts here! Mistakes that I made because of the fact I didn't use a pattern. I think the next bag will be even better though!

I started by cutting up fabric scraps.

This denim was a little boring--so I quickly embroidered these patches.

I realized I wanted a lot of embroidery--and I found some my talented mother-in-law stitched, decades ago!

As I started pulling fabrics and scraps, I cut them all into 3X3 squares. This was the perfect size for my bag. Each side ended up with four rows of five squares each. So, a total of 40 patches! I was so happy to find some embroidered motifs my mother-in-law had stitched long ago and gave to me at some point. It was in my stash, and of course, I had forgotten all about it. I love this embroidery now, on my bag! So her work is now part of my wearable art--sweet!

This one is one of my faves--she looks like Snow White!

After arranging my patches, just the way I wanted them--I started stitching the rows together first.

There's a little owl I embroidered a few months ago.

This looks pretty easy right? And it is easy to stitch the patches together. But here's what happened...not all the rows seem to line up perfectly when I started to stitch rows together. I have no idea why, because I did stitch the patches pretty uniformly--and they are all measured fairly perfectly. So who knows--it's a good thing I don't care if it's perfect!

I was pretty excited when I got each side done. I had to lay them out and admire them for a day or two!

Even after ironing my pieces--with a regular iron, not this one--there was a stubborn wrinkle, so I set this extremely old, very heavy iron on it for a couple of days!

After staring at the stitched-together patches, I realized I would need a border on the bottom, so I cut two three-inch strips of ticking (nice and heavy duty) which would be the bag's bottom, and the same fabric for two strips around the top. I decided to use an old lanyard for the bag's strap. I snipped one side of the lanyard, and then embellished it with small strips of fabric, and a few buttons. At that point, I began thinking about adding eyelets.

In the meantime, as I sewed the first strip of ticking to the bottom, I had a mishap--when I turned it over, it had pinched and gathered on two of my patches! Here we go--my lovely imperfections. So...I added decorative buttons. (when stitching gives you lemons--make lemonade)

I love the butterfly patch here--it's from a pair of jeans my daughter used to wear when she was ten!

It didn't completely hide it--but good enough for me.

The other bottom strip stitched up just fine. So then, I used some iron-on paper to add some chintz fabric for the lining, and also to stiffin it up--that's when it started to feel like a real bag! Mistake number two: I was so excited about the eyelets, that I put them into the top strip (to eventually attach to the strap) before I had stitched the sides together. I had put them way too close to the edge! 

The bottom strip seemed a little boring on this side--so I appliqued a heart!

Before stitching the sides together, I had added a pocket to this side of the lining, and pinned in a part of another old lanyard, so that I could use it to clip in keys! I love this feature. Please everyone--send me your old lanyards!

I added the eyelets in the proper place after stitching the bag together.

 I added button holes for the bag's closure too. I love these flower eyelets.

I used the clip that was already part of one side of the lanyard, then added an eyelet and a ring to the other side to attach my strap.

The green satin patch is from my costume I wore in the King and I--and I stitched a crochet flower to another patch.

I love my bag and all its sentiments and imperfections! So what's next? A bag for my teenage daughter, of course. She LOVES owls, so I am embroidering 20 little owl patches to make a very cool owl bag. I might try a zipper top this time, and hopefully no bumpy patches in the stitching!

EAT, WRITE, DREAM, AND STITCH IT YOUR WAY EVERY DAY.

Heart-a-Day 2013--Week 7--Finally finishing up the second row!!

Every time I look at this growing tapestry, it just makes me happy. As I'm finishing the second row, I'm writing and rewriting what the next line of text will be! Can you believe it? Flying without a pattern!

Oh well--when this is all done, it will be a pattern!

Project Summary
Project Name: A Heart a Day 2013
Start Day: January 1, 2013
Materials: White Platinum 14-count Aida Cloth (a beautiful, high-quality, 
crisp white) DMC's Anniversary Embroidery Floss Pack - 36 gorgeous colors 
 celebrating DMC's 100th anniversary, beginning with DMC 3831 and going in order through 3866
Technique: Cross-stitch
 Colors used in order in Row 1: 3831/3833; 3833; 3831/3837; 3837; 3838/3836; 3838; 3842/3841; 3836; 3853/3837; 3854; 3854/3847; 3847
Row 2: 3834, 3834/3865, 3850, 3850/32, 3861, 3831/61, 3864, 3843/64, 3846, 3839/56, 3854/47, 3847
Goal: Fill the 18X20 inch aida tapestry with hearts and text

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Enjoy!

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Cross-stitched Heart