Some thoughts on Sewing

As you know, I like to sew. Most crafts have a skill set, then you mix in personal experience to become more of an artist at the craft. I would like to ponder on a few of my experiences.

1. Finished seams are a mark of good craftsmanship. 
2. I like stitch 21 on my Pfaff 2046 Quilt Expression machine as a seam finishing overlock stitch for cotton fabric. . As I was searching for a picture of this stitch, I noticed that Pfaff calls this a "light knit patching stitch."  I like it as a seam finish for cotton because it doesn't bunch up the seam much at all, and it looks a little like serging.
   

   Stitch 21

   
   
   
3. (Oh, I have to finish this later...)

Applique

"Posies" block

I picked up my Aunt Millie's Garden project recently. I have nearly finished the first block, and now I'm working on the second block. I gave each block a name. First is called "posies." Second I'm calling "Iris." (see below) How do you like the red background? I debated whether to use red as the pattern does, or change to black or even navy blue. Red won in the end; I like red, and it's quite different from my usual style. It adds drama.

I'm seeing my applique evolve with practice, yes I'm getting better at it. The process is even more magical when the curves are even and smooth.

I have chosen a "scrappy" approach to the applique, using a variety of fabrics in each block. However, I'm trying to use similar styles of fabrics, sticking with colorful contemporary prints for the applique. A thirties reproduction would stand out like a sore thumb. I don't have a lot of contemporary prints, though. Darn, I have to buy more fabric....

I found some nice ones at the quilt show last week.

Although I could go buy more fabric, being forced to use my stash encourages creativity.  

Interestingly, taking pictures of my work gives a new view of the blocks. Fabrics that look out of place or too bold when I first consider them actually add visual interest. Lesson learned.

Iris block

Close up of Iris Applique

The Quilt Show

There was an international quilt show in my town this week. I went yesterday to view the quilts and shop, shop, shop.

The quilt show, Machine Quilter's Showcase 2009 "Fire and Ice", had a focus on long arm quilting. I have done some machine quilting on my home machine, but it appears so much easier with the long arm. The quilt is wound around two rolls and the long arm machine is manipulated on the stretched "window" of the quilt. These machines are massive and you need a whole room for them. Think about it. The working area is the entire width of the quilt.

Massive machine, massive price. I think you can get one of the smaller machines for maybe $4000-$5000.

They even have computer guided quilting machines for the home. Program or upload the quilt pattern you want, load the quilt, and let it go. It's beautifully precise. I wonder where the fun is in that, though.

I did not take any classes at the convention, but I went today to see the exhibits and shop vendors mall. I spent 4 hours there and had buckets of fun. I should have invited a friend along...didn't think of calling anyone til last minute. I ran into almost my entire quilt guild there, anyway.

The level of craftmanship on these quilts is way above my skill. Just stunning. It was hard to pick a favorite (for viewers choice) and I wasn't even going to vote; yet, there was one that took my breath away. It was called "Lollapalooza" and it was a whole-cloth art quilt embellished with ink dyed patterns. I simply had to vote for it.

I wonder if it won? Probably not. I have nonconforming tastes.

Then I shopped. The treasure of the day: I actually found a Fasturn system! (Thanks to Gadgets Galore...free plug!!) It's a tool for turning narrow fabric tubes. Extremely well designed and works like a charm. I love sewing notions, anyway, and since I'd borrowed this tool for my work on the scrub caps, I knew I 'needed' one. So excited to find one, snapped it right up! They're not easy to track down.

I also bought many fat quarters, a new project for embellished tea towels (from Vogies Quilts and Treasures, another plug) that was just too cute to resist, a set of tiny boxes for beads, and some Bobbin Buddies to clamp on unused bobbins and keep the stray threads in check.

*Sigh.* I love this hobby.

Smug self importance

Heh. I was scrapbooking before it was the new, trendy thing.

In middle school or early high school, my girlfriend found out she would be moving across the country. Our little group of friends got together and made her a scrapbook of memories from her life in New Jersey. I took pictures of teachers, friends, places. We bought a paper scrapbook and placed the photos inside. We drew pictures to embellish the pages.

I remember one page where I drew a giant ice cream cone along the margin of the page, coloring each scoop of ice cream in a realistic color. Another page had a hand-drawn border of a little vine with leaves and tiny flowers. Pretty creative, eh?

I have lost track of that friend, Valerie Edwards. I wonder if she treasures that book or if it's packed away, forgotten. To me, it seems like a special gift - pictures from a time and age where you didn't really keep track of these seemingly mundane things. It would be fun to see that scrapbook again.

Scrapbooking

I have begun the process to create a scrapbook of the pictures from our trip to Japan last October.

I have a love-hate relationship with scrapbooking. I like the results. I like neatness and organization of a scrapbook, rather than photos and mementos thrown lovingly but carelessly in a box somewhere. It's a creative activity and there are, oh, so many pretty shiny toys, gadgets, and tools you can use!

Or, should I say "buy."

Scrapbook pages are pretty. Colorful! And you get to do all those things we used to do in grade school art class - cut with scissors, glue, glue on mixed media elements, etc.

For the other side of the love-hate seesaw - I dislike how many gadgets you "need" to do a nice scrapbook. It's overwhelming! Since I don't have much experience with scrapbooking, I don't have clear vision for how to build the scrapbook. This means I don't know what tools, papers, glues, tapes, or embellishments I really need. I don't know what all is out there, and I don't know how to incorporate these elements into designs.

Worst of all, scrapbooking seems to stimulate obsessive compulsive in me. I try so hard not to fall into the pit of OCD, but scrapbooking seems to be my Scylla and Charybdis. Last week, I went to Michael's or Joann's every day I was off....at least once.

I went into the local Hobby Lobby earlier this week, and I swear I got light-headed browsing the 7 aisles of supplies.

Oh, and they don't play fair....sales; 40% off coupons; pretty displays; Martha Stewart's there too. In the face of such temptation when I have a legitimate project, I am weak.

In this project I've given in somewhat. I've bought "cardstock." I have about 8 pens. Just last week, I purchased - get this - brads. I found a book on scrapbooking called (Scrapbooking Made Easy). Easy; I like that. And, indeed, the book has provided ideas for focusing the scrapbook effectively, using color wisely, and using embellishments without having the page look like the trim section at Joann's threw up all over the page.

Believe it or not, more is not always better.

Once I went to a presentation on scrapbooking and I was liberated to learn that attractive pages are possible without having fancy cutters, pens, or embellishment. I have tried to follow that principle. I don't really need to get immersed in another hobby - quilting and sewing is plenty!!

The other frustration I have with scrapbooking is how long it takes. I have been working on this scrapbook for 3 weeks now, and I'm building the scrapbook in chronological order. I am up to day 4 of our 14 day trip.

Sigh. It's gonna take a while.

My attitude is this: who cares. I want a scrapbook, I don't care how long it takes to make it, or how huge the books become, or how many pictures will be in it. A trip such as this is a perfect reason to build one. Just so long as the OCD keeps in check. Lord, I can't start calling in "sick" to work so I can scrapbook!!

April 30

I can't believe it has been 17 days since I last posted. A number of things have happened I would like to talk about two of them. An unexpected day off from work frees me to write.

Scrub Caps

I am *still* sewing scrub caps. It is incredible how well they have sold; we have learned that they sold much better as direct orders achieved through personal interaction than in an open sale. Hopefully this is my last batch of five to sew. I am finally getting tired of making them. I still enjoy seeing people wearing my caps, though!

We had two dates where we had a table outside the cafeteria at work to sell the caps. L, another nurse, wanted to have a bake sale in addition to the cap sale. It was less-well-organized than my cap sales, but it did well. People always want to pick up a goodie after grabbing their lunches.  From bake sale items we made about $450 over the 2 days.  I can't believe that.

The caps were poorly displayed at the sale- just in a pile and no one was wearing them. No wonder they didn't sell very well.

I was a bit disappointed with the amateur appearance of the table and the display of our items. I had delegated that task, so I'm not going to criticize. I think if we had a nicer display we could have sold much more hats. I am also concerned about the image of our unit. The table did not look polished and professional.

Visiting the parents

I took a few days off last week and went to Virginia to visit my parents. I took the opportunity to visit with a good friend who lives near my parents. Seeing G was fun. Visiting the parents....not so much. My aunt and uncle live in the area, to, and I got to see them for lunch one day. Nice, because I hadn't seen them in a few years.

My current impression on the aging process is that it happens to everyone else, but not you. By this, I mean that you, yourself, do not think of yourself as old, despite all the evidence to the contrary. For example, my 73 year old aunt commented on how aggressive some of the "old people" are in the grocery store on senior citizen day. Ironically, I remember her laughing at my grandmother for not wanting to associate with the "old people" at her retirement home.

You may shoot me when I am over 65 and say such a thing.

At this visit, I saw decline. Mom has not changed a whole lot, but her immobility is not improving. She can hardly lift her leg into the car. Dad has declined: he walks with a shuffle now. His short term memory is getting worse. His balance is not so good. His driving is getting even scarier. He is getting angry about it, too....he wasn't mean to me, but my mother had intimated that he yells at times.

They have done one thing right. They have planned there estate and they have done it well. Thank God.

Which makes me want to write my feelings on their planned estate. It is all very logical how they have set up things. My older sister is the primary executor. Then me, then my brother. My brother and his wife have been getting extra money from my parents to assist with the raising of their child. This is the only grandchild, so it make sense. And it is their money, they can do what they wish with it.

I am the afterthought. I'm the backup plan. I'm the also-ran.

It has been this way all my life. Despite the fact that I cultivate a relationship with them, maintain it, and actively pursue it, I still feel like I'm the extra one. I'm not the smartest, or the richest, or the most desired, or the one with the most education, or the one who reproduced. I'm the nice-to-have.

This feeling pains me greatly. I struggle with it partially because my parents are both second children themselves - especially my mother complains along similar lines in how she was treated in her family. Yet, they did it themselves.

Yet, here I am, 43 years old - shouldn't I be "over" this already???? I am not, and I doubt I ever will be. I have learned to live with it, and so I will continue. My life is mine, not theirs.

I just wish they wouldn't bring it up. Going over the estate plans and documents thrust the situation in my face. No, I did not like being reminded just where it is I fit in this family. On paper. Formally. Notarized. Oh, for God's sake, stop already.

Oh well, enough complaining. I have more to write, but I'm getting tired of writing for now.

Hats, hats, hats

Me and my bright ideas....

I am working on a fund raiser that I organized to make scrub caps for OR personnel at the hospital. It's our unit's fund raiser for the 2009 Heart Walk on May 30.

I thought it would be nice to make about 50 caps, sell a few to our colleagues in the cath lab and EP lab, have a sales table by the cafeteria to sell the rest.

These crazy things are flying out as fast as I can make them!  

There are only 2 sewers: myself and another nurse. The caps come in 2 styles: skull cap and bouffant type. The girls tend to like the bouffants; the boys like the skull caps. 

We make them in fabric for the University we are affiliated with, fun prints, a few solid colors, and a few special orders (e.g. the LA Lakers - and we're in the midwest!).

We've sold 49 so far. Now we're trying to build some inventory for the sale. I must have made a good 30 caps by now. Guess what I'm doing on my day off tomorrow?

Really, though, it's terrific. We ought to make upwards of $700 for the American Heart Association.  It has been a great idea!

What the project truly needed, however, was a committed, organized leader. I am that person, not just half of the production committee. I am getting some personal satisfaction from seeing my handiwork worn in the labs. Way cool.