why

Somewhere along the way I realized that, in order for me to be a completely sane person I needed to be creative.  I don't know where this inspiring nugget came from, or even when, I just know that one day I was more miserable than a barrel full of wet cats and it occurred to me, "Hey doofus, you haven't done a single thing creative (re: just for you) in weeks!  Maybe that's why you're cranky?" 

So I painted something. 

Then I was better.  Ok, maybe it wasn't quite that simple but it sure was close.  And to tell you the truth?  When I'm feeling down or sad or uneasy and need to work out something in my head - I either paint or I run.  With 3 kids I don't get to run as often as I might need to somedays so 'making stuff' is what I do. 

I think there is something inside a 'creative' person's brain that keeps the ideas flowing, sort of the way a beaver's teeth just grow and grow and grow.  If it doesn't gnaw down the chompers, it dies.  If I don't create, even if it's something simple with the kids, then I go crazy.  (all work and no play make Homer go something, something)

Although I will admit, I could just be goofy in general.  Not like that thought ever crossed my mind before.

granny square shawl for a pip-squeak I know

 This is a cute little shawl I made for a little curly-haired sweetie pie I know.   I used a basic granny square pattern (like this one on purlbee  http://www.purlbee.com/granny-square-project/2007/4/12/classic-granny-square-pattern.html 

I used Berrocco Comfort in pumpkin, teaberry, buttercup and dried plum from Webs

Crochet in 3 colors with an extra row of single crochet at the end of the third color to solidify the square a bit. 

Once I had 12 squares I put them into 2 V shapes- 6 squares each, and realized it would completely dwarf her!   Easy fix, remove 2 squares.  

Now I had 2 V’s.  Whip stitched them together at the shoulders.   Found a basic scallop edge for the bottom of the entire thing. 

Now here’s the tricky part – I made up the rest….. With the orange yarn I started in the V of the V, right at the top point of the center square and started double crochet from side to side.  At each side I picked up a loop from the square to anchor it to the center section (the orange)   every 3 stitches I added 2 chains to give it some decoration.  Then on the next row you work your doubles in those chain spaces.   Think of it as a builder would stack bricks to stagger the joints. 

When I got to the neckline I tried to get my small helper (who was 2 at the time) to try it on so I could see what it looked like.  Not a chance mommy! he said (maybe he just ran away instead of actually saying that)  Never fear!  Big Bird to the rescue!

I used a few rows of single crochet at the neckline and left it split from the shoulder seams along the entire neckline to make it easy to pull on and added a cute little button so it wouldn’t fall down.

Cute, fits from 6 months to (hopefully) 4 years - I call this one successful.

making my first quilt

I'm keeping a notebook of projects as I work through them.  

 
I found this simple pattern at Joanns and thought it was a great way to practice quilting without cutting up a whole bunch of fabric that I want to use for something else...

 This is the kit.  

Posh Pink from Fabric Palette 

 All the parts of the kit.

 My little helper.    He is pairing up the blocks for me according to the instructions.

 Someone told me when sewing a bunch of things together you can just sort of run them in the machine like flags all sewn together.

... pressing ...

... and this is what happens when you have a little helper.   Somehow, someone cut them 2" too short. 

 Ok, so we add a 2" strip to each side....

 There.  That's not so bad (I call this 'winging it')

 With the top strip.

 The back.   Notice the sewn strip in the center?  Yeah, that because someone cut that wrong too....

....and finished.   Quilted in the ditch around the center and the blocks and in stripes up the center.  It's got a cheetah print backing but no batting in the center.


It's warm,  it's cute,  it's been used for nap time already.   I"m calling this - successful.


............bring on the 9 patch for Miss Olive!

I make stuff

That pretty much sums it up.  I'm an art teacher, artist and mom of 3.   I try to teach myself something new every year, something I've always wanted to learn how to do. 

When my first child was due - I taught myself to scrapbook.(2003)

When my second was due - I taught myself to knit.(2006)

When my third was due - I had 900+ lbs of stained glass supplies dumped into my lap (not literally thank goodness), it's not really a "when I have a 3rd child I want to learn how to make her glass projects" sort of fuzzy thing, but when opportunity presents itself.   So, I taught myself to make foil wrapped glass projects.  (2009)

This year I decided to tackle quilts.   I've always admired them.  Half my Aunts and my Grandma make/made them.  I read all I could read about the subject, I just have to jump in. 


This blog is going to be a record of the stuff I make.  The good, the bad, or the ugly and unsuccessful! 


So.... here goes nothing!



-d