Wabi-sabi shabby tote

Stopping in to share something I made last week.  Our Creating Outside the Book club members were each given a tote bag in April and were tasked to decorate them to use to bring home our monthly kits.  I had so many ideas from dying it to adding ruffles and more.  I came across some bits of fabric I had picked up at a previous meeting and went from there with the imperfect layers, embroidery floss and buttons.   Despite having a sewing machine I love, this one seemed to call for some hand sewing.  It's intentionally wabi-sabi  in a shabby chic/primitive way.  What do you think?

Me, learning to sew?

When asked, I used to tell people that I didn't sew.  Sure, I knew how to sew by hand and did it when I had to but I had no clue how to use a sewing machine.  Yeah, I've made several mixed media projects that involved some sewing.  I didn't really think of myself as someone who sewed because I didn't know how to use a machine.  I remember talking to a lady at the CREATE Mixed Media Art retreat in Chicago in 2010 over breakfast one day about sewing and mentioning that not only did I not sew but but I didn't know how to use a sewing machine.  She seemed surprised.  She was one of many who made art quilts and whatnot who were at the retreat.  I'd always considered myself more of a paper gal who also liked to knit, crochet and make jewelry.  For quite a while, I figured that I had enough things that I could do, so why add one more?  You know what I mean.

Anyway, I'm not sure when I decided I want to learn to sew but I did.  I asked others for sewing machine recommendations.  I looked at tons of reviews and articles on what to look for in a machine.  I knew I wanted something that wasn't too cheap or too expensive.  I wanted something that could do basic sewing but also something that would allow me to do art quilting type work, if I wanted to (so something that would allow me to lower the feed dogs or come with a plate to cover the feed dogs).  I even asked my mom  if she had my grandma's machine but she gave it away.  I got overwhelmed with the amount of information and ended up putting my search on the back burner for a while.  Randomly several months later, I ended up asking some mom friends for recommendations and one of them recommended the Brother XL2600i  The price was good, the machine had generally good reviews, it comes with a darning plate to cover the feed dogs and Christmas was coming.  Haha!  It was a wonderful present to open up on Christmas.

view from above...setting things up according to the manual

wound my 1st bobbin!

threading the needle

Do you sew?  If you do, what's your first memory of learning to sew or learning to use a machine?  If you don't, is there something you want to learn to do or make?

Getting things started...again :-)

Hey!  What's up?

I've obviously been a bit absent around these parts for a while now.  I'm back now with plans to get things rolling around here again.  With any luck, I'll have an actual post about something later today or maybe tomorrow.  I'm really looking forward to sharing about: 1) learning how to use my new sewing machine (yay!)...actually learning to sew with a machine, 2) random creations and happenings from bookclub (aka the "Outside the book" club), 3) creative projects I'm working on, 4) something food related, maybe from scratch since that always seems to amuse me and 5) picture of the week (POTW).

Welcome to the next step!  I hope you'll say "hi."

CREATE with Cloth Paper Scissors Mixed Media Art Retreat Costa Mesa

This year I had the opportunity to attend the fabulous CREATE with Cloth Paper Scissors Mixed Media Art Retreat in Costa Mesa in May.  It was an amazing, fabulous experience! So much fun! 

One of the workshops I attended  was called "Creatures and Critters" with instructors Ty and Marcia Shultz.  Though initially, it was anxiety provoking, I really enjoyed this workshop.  We worked with wire, aluminum foil, masking tape, fabric and Paverpol (a fabric hardener).  We started by creating an armature then ended with fabric and funky eyes. I finished my critter with acrylic paint at the end of the day in my hotel room.  The pictures that follow show my creation, Dottie, from armature to critter:

Hello again!

Yes, it's me!  I really am here.  I've been thinking about my little blog often & have come to the realization that it's time to make some changes here.  While I really enjoy all of the things I post about, I've decided it's time to make the focus of this blog my "random creative moments" rather than the cool things going into The Whimsical Muse.  So, I'm starting a new blog for The Whimsical Muse, aptly titled The Whimsical Muse.  I will post my first welcome over there in the morning & have some fun things planed over there.  

I also have all kinds of fun things to share here.  I went to Cloth Paper Scissors CREATE Art Retreat in May in Costa Mesa.  I've been making some "critters" inspired by an article in Cloth Paper Scissors by...Diana Trout, I believe.  I'm continuing to participate in the Outside the Box book club & do related projects.  And more!

Anyway, I will be back soon & look forward to having blogs for both my shop & my mixed media creations.  Please join me here, if you're interested and/or my other blog.

Pam

Packaging kits at The Whimsical Muse!

I've just added a packaging kit & new set of stickers to The Whimsical Muse on Etsy!  The kit is a set of 10 pink glassine lined bags, kraft paper heart stickers, recycled white starburst stickers & 10 yards of black & white baker's twine.  I love the color combination! 

  

You can check them out at  http://www.etsy.com/listing/73953930/pretty-pink-packaging-kit-from-the 

Random update

 After a month long spring break, the kid returned to school today.  I would have enjoyed another day or two or five with her.  She was raring to return to her teacher, her friends and...math.  The nut.  I'd say she fell from her dad's side of the family since grandpa is a math nerd (taught university level math, retired but does math for fun) but my dad was an accountant & his sister taught junior high school math.  I can't blame it on the "other side."  The kid  knows full well homework will start after school today but was chomping at the bit to get out of the house this morning. 

Spring break: made cake pops with the kid, went to the library almost weekly, helped her finish sewing her felt elephant (it's so cute!), had her help me more with dinner prep (she absolutely loved that), spent some time painting with watercolors several times (she wants an art journal, yay!), went to the park several times, enjoyed a birthday party for one of her best friends, drove to L.A. to visit grandma (my mom), had a visit from the Easter bunny, went to a week of art camp (day camp) & more! 

I've got some more new items "coming soon" to this blog & to The Whimsical Muse!  I will be posting new things here as I list the items on Etsy.  

I'm absolutely thrilled to be heading to the CREATE Mixed Media Art retreat in Costa Mesa later this month!  I've not been as obsessive about gathering my supplies as I was for CREATE in Chicago last year.  Time to get moving!  It will be so nice to just throw everything in the back of my car rather than worrying about packing everything for the airplane & drive up there.  At this point, I'm thinking that I will probably keep my shop open & simply mail everything when I get back home.  I do plan on being able to return convos (messages) daily but probably not until the end of each day. 

How's that for a random update?