I love explaining myself

I love explaining myself.  I must.  Why else would I wait so long to post? Why else would I sew a few purses together in a mad rush?  I don't know. Does inspiration hit me all of sudden?  I day dream about what to sew together.  Sometimes Vera Bradley is in my daydreams.  She looks a lot like Jacob Marley.  But she always critiques my stitches.  Which makes me critique hers when I am out and about. Lo and behold, her stitches aren't perfect - nor are mine.  Then I want to reach out and say to the lady with that bag.  " I could've hooked you up much cheaper." Which, see, then I can explain myself again!  Circle of life baby.

Had a brush with infamy this week.  Two people were in line at the local Chipoltle - each had an edition of my purse.  No one told me if they compared stitches, but I am thinking they didn't.  Neither one of them like explaining themselves and they like me - so they extolled my sewing virtures.  I was just glad to hear they were both carrying one of my bags 3 months later!

Have put together a bag you will see that I totally copied from *mixieblue*.  Had to add those star things so I don't have to pay her infringement penalties.  She doesn't make and sell the bags anymore, but I continually hear there is a need for them so today, I created one and it looks decent.  I need a label.  I just can't committ.  Anyway . . .this may be my fortune. Or at least Christmas money.

Take care, let  me know if you need a new fall bag. I am all in on that one!

Presentation

So, I haven't been stagnent since my last post. I have accomplished much and that is part of the reason I haven't been able to post anything. I have pictures of samples of what I have been doing that I am posting after the blogging. But I cannot for the life of me figure out how to take these damn pictures. My stuff doesn't look near as fab as it does in person. Because let me TELL YOU this stuff looks good. Any suggestions on how to photograph things? someone said a white background. I tried that. I don't think it's the wrinkles that make it look . . . well like I pulled it out from under the bed. I don't know what kind of light to use, if I should use the flash etc. When I study other blogs like annamariehorner.blogspot.com Her photos are amazing. Are her kids taking these? There is another blog called angrychicken (not sure if it's wordpress or blogspot without actually going to the site) that has fab pictures. I am thinking I am the only semi creative person I know of that doesn't have an iota of photographic capability.

I have made lots of cupcake skirts recently. At least we know the world of little misses are lookin good out there! I also made a cupcake skirt for my girlfriends sister's bacholarette party out of Cleveland Browns fabric. I am going to try and post some of the photos of her siter IN the skirt b/c it came out way better than anticipated. On my friends behalf what a great idea!

You will also see a tote bag I made for my favorite 17 year old for her birthday. Found this fabric at sewtospeak.blogspot.com in clintonville, oh. My fave 17 yr.old is a life guard, teaches swim lessons and coaches swimming. I used the pattern that I made the bright pink peacock purse (SOLD IT!!:))out of. But didn't pleat it as suggested. See what you can do with one simple pattern?? All the things you can make? The lining fabric is actually "lamenated" so will wick the moisture from her goggles etc. For her teeny tiny bikini I made a seperate bag. I think I could have made it smaller even, as she is 17 and lovely. But, perhaps she will be able to use the tote for a long time!

I was fortunate enough to work with some Japanese Linen that I could/would never have bought for myself. ($$$) I love this purse. I am so thankful that the planned project did not work out for my mom. She didn't even make me pay for it!! AND I have enough to make myself a purse and her too! Not matching, for heaven's sake, but similar with AWESOME fabric.

I did make myself a wraparound skirt two weeks ago. (Really in nonvacation time was a week ago.) I am hesitant to wear it though as wearing homemade and carrying homemade are two different things. And I don't think if I do receive a compliment I will be able to pass it off as Anthropologie. Know what I mean?

Next time, I am going to show you my pergola with the new seat cushions I made from painters drop cloth. Saved me hundreds!!!

In parting, I need to leave this quote I found. I think it speaks volumes and am truly suprised that Erma Bombeck said it only b/c it is more emo than I feel she did regularly.

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

Don't you agree!? LET FREEDOM RING.

Desire to be perfect.

Hello all. It occurred to me this evening as I was putting together an apron, and taking it apart, that we all want everything we do to be perfect. I had a small slope in my hem on this apron, so took out 44 inches of hem and redid it. It was about 2 inches long of slope increased from the baseline MAYBE 1/4 inch. Was this overkill?? HELL YES. So now, there are holes where the old hem was and I spent 40 minutes picking out loose threads. That was when it occurred to me, who in the world would have noticed that slope? Well, I would have. But that is because I look for imperfections in what I do. You know what that leads me to do? Under price what I do and devalue my time. (Devalue MIGHT not be a word, but I like it!)

Anyway, I think most people who "craft" do this. Yesterday I was looking through a BHG mag and an advertisment had a sewn coushin and I could see how the fabric was angled wrong on one corner. WHO CARES?? Did the overall room still look incredible? YES it did. Did the aforementioned apron still look adorable with the slope?? I am going with yes. But I spent 40 minutes fixing a little imperfection.

I think Van Gough started with all mistakes. Certainly upon first seeing his art people did not think "wow, that's incredible". But I beat myself up over tiny mis-stiches.

So the point to all of this? For the people who say " I could never do that". I REALLY think you are wrong. I think the fear of not being perfect in our creations truly holds us all back. Sloppy is one thing, but a small imperfection only you can see or some OCD freak like myself would see is another.

So now, if you see my stuff in person, and it looks sloppy, let me know. But if you see it and you tell me that looks great, FOR NOW ON I am just going to say thank you with a smile and not point out to you where the mistake is!

I am posting a few things I completed this week and hope you enjoy them. Next week look for a couple more cupcake skirts and I picked up a new to me Amy Butler purse pattern and a SUPER KICKA$$ fabric from Sew To Speak this week. It is killing to do the other stuff I have to complete first.

Take Care. And really, why not try something new?

Wow, first blog.

Okay, so I am starting a blog so everyone (who wants to, I know EVERYONE won't want to) can view the things I spend my time in the basement creating, copying and forcing on a vast majority of people I know.

I guess I should start with some information about myself for those that don't know me but are interested in starting.

I am a sorta full time mom (I mean, yeah my boys live with me, yeah I take care of them, yeah I love them to bits, but lets face it, they aren't reading this so what do they care ;) anyway. I do the wife thing too when I can fit it in. Ask him, that's about the truth of it. I also clock in as a critical care nurse 36 hours a week. So, when I am not caught up in the aforementioned, I go to my basement and I sew. And this is what this blog is about. My sewing. I do get easily sidetracked so I won't guarantee anything . . .

I have been able to sew curtains, pillows and a little mending for a few years now. About two years ago I decided to try a purse. You know, something the rest of the world that I DIDN'T KNOW could judge. Come on, if it's in my house, what ARE people going to say?? Anyway, I have gotten much better and much braver. I can do aprons, little girl skirts, large purses, even sectional slipcovers. I can sew leatherish handles onto purses by hand (no easy feat trust me) and last week I "created" my own pattern.

I love sewing. I love people ohhing and ahhing over my things - although most of it is stuff from patterns. I sewed it!! The sense of accomplishment is abundant. The whole 9 yards is rewarding. That is unless I have sat there taking one purse apart 3 times and still can not figure out what those instructions intend for me do. I love seeing and touching what other people have created! I mean, holding something hand crafted and thinking to yourself "where did that idea come from?" can mesmerize me. Doesn't it you? Then, don't you think to yourself, "how would I do that?"

So, even if you don't enjoy the writing, I hope you enjoy the photos!! I am up for sharing ideas, constructive criticism and your funny stories! I am so looking forward to this journey!

Enjoy!
Ivena (long i long v long e - na)