The Stitch Up

Progress with Patches

The end of Spring was officially June 20th but I am still working on most of my crafts for the Spring.  The one thing that I was able to wrap up this week is the patched jeans project.  I started off by repairing the worn out areas of the jeans.

To do the mending I used some tips from the book Mending Matters.  It has great tips for mending denim and also includes some nice essays on slow fashion and using mending as an exercise in mindfulness.  One of the passages from the author Katrina Rodabaugh that I really liked was "...the point is not to have a perfect closet filled with perfect garments, but to cultivate mindfulness-mendfulness-and make deliberate choices, focus on what you can do to make a positive impact, and gain a deeper understanding of your true preferences and style.  Mendfulness is also about growing a deeper understanding of how clothing is constructed, where fiber originates, the exact material content of clothing, and the working conditions of the fashion factories you support."

As part of the repair process I found some denim scraps that matched my jeans, pinned them in place and started stitching.  

The mending style recommended in Mending Matters is similar to Sashiko.  Even though its just patching and mending, the end result is a pretty pattern.

To apply the patches to the jeans, I used two tutorials: one from Sincerely Colleen and one from chezlin.  Both recommended tacking down stray threads on the designs with Mod Podge as a first step to making the patches.

Once the Mod Podge had dried, I used fusible web for the back of the patches.  Then I arranged the patches the way I wanted them and ironed them onto my jeans.

I'm not sure whether I didn't iron correctly or the beading prevented the material from adhering but the patches weren't really secure so I also stitched around each of the patches on my sewing machine.  I like the end result although I'm already thinking that it needs some additional patches and maybe some embroidery along the seam.

My other Spring project are coming along pretty well although I'm only about half done with the needlepoint bag.  It really is such a big project, I'm thinking it's going to take all of summer to finish, so I'll probably be rolling it over into my list of projects for the Summer.  Still, I have one side almost totally complete which feels good.

The art quilt IS close to completion.  I have all of the parts combined and my plan now is to just enhance it with a little embroidery.  I have in mind some crazy quilt stitching for the background.  I'll see how it looks on the hills in the background and then decide how to go forward.

I like how the colors are coming together but it does need some extra detail.

Last but not least, I was really dragging my feet on the knit shawl.  Truth be told, I just didn't really understand the pattern I'd intended to use as I'm still too much of a novice with knitting.  I decided to go with a very simple, triangle wrap pattern by Mama in a Stitch.  I'm not too far on it yet but I feel more confident about my ability to complete the shawl with this pattern.

I'm giving myself until the middle of July to finish everything but the needlepoint bag and then move on to new projects for the Summer.  

Everything is still so weird with the constantly changing COVID rules and requirements.  I'm finding a lot of help for anxiety and generalize worry by concentrating on some simple projects and being in the moment for an hour or two each day, just contemplating stitches or gauge or thread.  I hope everyone is able to find some peace in these crazy moments with a little craft. 

Spring Spiffing Up

I like the tradition of changing up decor around the house each season.  Spring has meant much more to me since moving to DC  then it did in California.  It feels so good to see gladiolas and tulips start to bloom after months of grey skies and cold weather.  

Right before Easter I break out the table runner I embroidered years ago from a kit I bought in Germany.  The lambs and flowers always make me smile.  

I changed up the mantle as well - I used a framed piece of embroidery with birds and flowers that I made years ago to tie all of the Spring colors together.

The change in season is also a good opportunity to change up my salt and pepper shakers.  I picked the shakers that I thought had a "Spring" feel - birds, bunnies, pigs, chickens and a John Deere tractor.

I didn't have a ton of Spring themed salt and pepper shakers so I used the extra space to house some storage jars.  I've decoupaged these with Amy Butler scrapbook paper to make them a little prettier.

Several of these shakers are older and I picked them up at thrift stores, however, I couldn't find much about them other than they are usually referred to on eBay as "vintage".

The other salt and pepper shakers are new but I think so cute!  I love the John Deere tractor and I think the chickens are so pretty.

In addition to spending time decorating inside, I've also been getting outside quite a bit.  We're doing some gardening and the strawberries are already starting to grow!

I've also been bringing my stitching projects outside to enjoy the sun while I make a little progress on the WIPs.

I figure the extra vitamin D can't hurt!

I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and the opportunity to get outside.  I'll be updating on my WIP progress soon!

Bohemian Spring WIPs

Time to move on to a new round of WIPs!  It's Spring and we've been doing some weeding and planting and trying to get outside as much as possible, but after a really nice week of warm weather it's been cold and rainy - so a perfect time to snuggle inside and get crafty!

My theme for the next few months is "Bohemian Spring":

I took this photo at a shop in Phoenix and then did a little graphic work on Picmonkey!  I tried to choose 4 WIPs with a little bit of a 'hippie' vibe.  I've put the inspiration photos on my project board with my "theme" photo.

Without further ado - here's what I'll be working on:

1.    Embellished jeans 

As part of my effort to reuse and recycle I've been saving jeans that wear out.  Some I'm cutting up into squares and they will be part of a quilt project I'm planning for the Summer.  But for jeans that are more "gently" worn, I want to just repair any holes and then fancy them up with some embroidered patches.  I have a sweatshirt with embroidered birds that does not fit great and I wasn't wearing it too often.  SO - I just cut the birds out and I'm going to use them to embellish the jeans.  I also bought some cool notions at Mood on one of our trips to New York a few years ago and I think one or two of those will go with the birds I'm using.  I'm also thinking to add some additional patches that I'm making from designs from a Tattoo coloring book.  So far, I've spent some time transferring the designs and organizing all of the embellishments on my jeans.

I think once I've embroidered the additional designs I'll pin everything on the jeans to make sure that I like the placement.

2.    Needlepoint Bag

The next project I've been working on off and on for awhile.  It's the Bergama Shoulder Bag from Anchor Crafts.  I bought it a couple years ago at Craft South in Nashville.  It's sold out now unfortunately so I'm glad I picked it up when I did but it's a big project to complete and kind of unwieldy to work on so its been slow going.  In order to get it done in the next few months I'm utilizing the husbands saw-horses so I can handle the large frame. It's working pretty well.

I've been working on a small section each night and I'm making some progress!

3.    "Little Selfie on the Prairie" - Embroidered Art Quilt 

I sketched this out last year with the plan to make an appliqué, embroidery art piece.

So far I've picked out the fabrics and I should be able to fuse the background together this weekend.  After that I'll need to make patterns to appliqué the girl and wagon and then start embroidering.  I'm excited to see how it turns out.

4.    Gradient Half Pi Shawl

I bought the Gradient Half Pi shawl pattern at Fibrespace here in Virginia a few years ago.  I also bought some really pretty yarn to make it with!  I'm nervous about this one - my knitting skills are still pretty basic.  If I do have trouble I've found a lot of half pi tutorials on YouTube so I'm hoping I can follow along.

So those are the plans!  Writing it all down here has helped to keep me on task so far so I'm enjoying the process.  I hope it's also enjoyable to read about!
 

Spring is Blossoming

It's Cherry Blossom time again in DC.  The trees are beautiful and it makes the walk to the office feel like a special event.

The metro stalls even get into the act this time of year.

And I've pilfered some blossoms from the neighborhood trees to enjoy at home.

There are a host of other trees around town, blossoming with color but I have no idea what kind of trees they are.

All of this blossoming put me in the mood for Spring planting so I ran out and bought some seeds this weekend.  

I'm going to start my seedlings soon and hopefully be able to put together a whole salad from my backyard by June!

Some stitching is getting done despite all the wandering around outdoors enjoying the trees.  I transferred my Velasquez girl pattern and started some outlining.

I'm going to try some embroidery techniques to mimic the fabrics in the painting.  We'll see how it comes out.  I hope everyone is enjoying the lovely Spring and getting out doors.  More stitching and planting is on it's way!

Spring Inside and Out

Our first Spring in the new house has been full of beautiful surprises.  We had no idea of all the bulb flowers that had been planted until they started blooming.

These gorgeous lavender and deep purple tulips were so pretty I had to bring them in the house to enjoy them.  We also had yellow irises pop up - I'd never seen this color in an iris before.

I knew we had azaleas at the front of our house but didn't realize how vibrant the bright pink flowers would be when they bloomed:

In addition to just wandering around the yard with our mouths open, enjoying what pops up, we've been starting on some upkeep and additions to our garden.  First up, we had an arborist come out and take care of our trees and he was able to identify our little "mystery" tree:

It's a peach tree!  Apparently it needs a few years until it will be old enough to bear fruit, but with a little patience I have peach pie, peach jam and peach cobbler in my future!

We've also got some seedlings started for what will hopefully be a nice veggie garden:

We've got basil, oregano, rosemary, chives and dill as well as cucumbers, peas, tomatoes and peppers.  I also threw in some lavender and peonies.  Fingers crossed we'll have some fresh, delicious salads during the summer!

I'm looking forward to planting a few of my own bulbs this year and making a few more additions to the garden. (A blackberry bush maybe???) It's exciting to think about the changes we're making to our house that we'll be able to watch grow and bloom over the years.  

Despite the nice Spring weather and all the greenery to see outside, I've still been embroidering up a storm.  I have an almost finished tea towel to show off next.  Happy Spring!

Emo Cat

The Hubby piled a stack of my quilt books on a desk by the window so that the gato could peer outside in comfort.  Before this she was standing up on her paws to look outside and it was a little pathetic.  She sits and stares out the window during the 5 or 10 minutes out of the day that she's not sleeping.  The Hubby and I get a kick out of watching the cat at the window - she always seems so moody.  We enjoy imagining the emo haikus that are going through her mind while she stares outside:

lonely cat trapped in the house

I just want freedom

and maybe to kill a bird

She's probably can't create poetry in her tiny little head, but it cracks me up to imagine it anyway.  In fact, the picture of her should probably be in black and white - to reflect her mood.

 

It's possible that I find this entertaining because I've been working too hard and spending most of my time trapped in an office.  Sadly, I have not been out to the Cherry Blossom festival this year which is terrible since I hear it's great this year.  I did go last year though, so feel free to travel back in time if you'd like to see some photos!

I'm off to try and get some embroidery in before I hit the hay!  Hope everyone is having a lovely Spring!