Getting Organized...

Since I have some custom orders to fill, I decided that my sweet little studio needed a bit of cleaning and organizing...not unlike the rest of this old farmhouse!  I'm afraid that my time spent painting and playing in my veggie patch had left the studio more than a little bit messy, so...time for spring cleaning, so to speak!

I have spent much of the last few days fabric shopping (not that I'm complaining, mind you!) for paisley and floral prints...oh, and a new iron since Darby's foray into silk screening destroyed my old one when he accidentally tipped it over onto some jumper cables in the garage.  Although I still can't find my fabric scissors, I'm planning on creating some new Namaste' Pillowcases and other bed linens, but I think I've got enough fabric for a few other projects.  The patterns have inspired me so much,t I find myself doodling paisley designs instead of doing other, more important things like washing dishes or doing the laundry, but I'm sure my doodles will turn up in my artwork before too long, so I still considered it time well spent. 

Speaking of painting, although I haven't finished tweaking the veggie patch artwork, I'm already planning my next set of projects, so I made an early morning trip out to the barn to search for some old wood.  I got a little side-tracked when I uncovered these old plant pots...dirty, of course, but in great shape, so now my mind is winding its way down new creative roads.

I've decided I don't take nearly enough time for planning and organizing.  Like many of you, my days can get pretty overwhelmed with the day-to-day stuff like brushing my teeth and cooking dinner and, since I seem to have a little bit of project ADD, I feel like my creative mind is going in twenty different directions at once!  Still, organizing clears the path for inspiration, I think...and certainly points out that I have five bottles of Caribbean Blue paint, but only one bottle of yellow.  It gives me a road map for accomplishment and a sense of clarity.  Getting organized is sort of like taking a deep, cleansing breath and I kind of like that idea.

Now...if I could just find those scissors...

Earth Day Tote Bag

I grew up in the country among tall grass, old trees, wildflowers, and homegrown vegetables. I still wonder at the various shades of green in my lawn...I still look for 4-leaf clovers...I still smile when I hear the birds rustling in their nest outside my bedroom window.

So much can be written about the importance of recycling, our need to conserve very limited resources, or the need for new fuel sources. Today, I simply want to honor the earth and remind myself to look out, above, and below and all she has to offer.

So, in honor of Earth Day on April the 22nd, I made this simple tote bag. I used special fabric for the body - filled with reminders about conservation and recycling - and did some recycling of my own by using scrap fabric for the "yin/yang" symbol and lining.

This bag is for sale at etsy.com (www.yoganoodles.etsy.com). Now, I'm off to look for that 4-leaf clover!

New Projects!

Just thought I would share a few of the custom designs I have been working on in the past few weeks! With summer weddings just around the corner, I've had several requests for fun and unique brides gifts. One of my clients had previously purchased my Simply Reversible Apron and dish towel, but wanted a some colorful dishtowels to match.

A yoga student of mine has a daughter getting married in May. She asked for pieces that would coordinate with her daughter's French Country theme. After making an apron and dishtowels, I created a clothespin bag and ironing board cover as well. I liked the look so much, I duplicated the bag for sale in my online store, www.yoganoodles.etsy.com (ironing board covers can be custom ordered).

Mother's day is around the corner and I have several pieces on my sewing table including a shorter version of my reversible apron and some non-fabric accessories. Stay tuned!

Only an Easter Tie

I love to make stuff...can't you tell! I admit that I get a bit attached to the stuff I make (a good example would be my children - I made them and I am very attached!) and that can create a bit of a problem when I am asked to design something for someone else. I don't care how simple the project, when it's finished, I feel that I am personally invested and can only hope it is loved by its new owners as much as it was loved by me. And, since I tend to make things that are useful as opposed to simply decorative, I like to imagine that I am also investing in the future of the newly married couple in need of dishtowels; the little girl sleeping on my handmade pillowcases; the young wife learning to cook; or, in this case, the 5-year old boy proudly wearing his new Easter Tie.

I had never made a boy's tie before. Although the process seemed simple enough, I quickly became overwhelmed by its dimension. Little boys' necks are far smaller than I realized and to create a tie that was designed in proportion to a 5-year old torso was far more complicated than I originally thought. As many of you know, I don't work with pre-written patterns (I've always had a problem following directions and coloring inside the lines), so I had to re-work this tie at least 3 times.

To make matters worse, the child's grandmother picked out the fabric - a cotton blend - that didn't really hold up to my...well, manipulations. She had used this fabric to create other items for her grandaughters, so I had a limited amount of usuable yardage. Once, when I thought that I had a permanent rip in a seam, I felt a very real sense of hysteria. And if you didn't know, hysteria isn't useful when you are trying to thread a needle! Such a simple thing, this tie, but I believe I put more thought and effort into about 4 inches of its length than my daughter's complete Halloween costume. Several hours and doses of Motrin later, a tie was born and I, quite predictably, was attached - so to speak.

I sent it to the grandmother with tales of its creation and she promises to send pictures of her grandson proudly wearing his tie on Easter Sunday. In my mind, I like to picture this little boy as very impressed with himself. I like to think that friends and family smile and compliment him on his grand appearance. I like to think that this special tie will, somehow, create Easter memories for this little boy that he will share with his own children many years from now.

This little boy may never hear how his tie came to be, but I can only hope he appreciates its humble beginnings and my investment in his future. If not, I will have to be satisfied to simply know that his mom managed to tie it around his little neck, that he wore it with only minor complaint, and that it didn't unravel or split open. After all, it's only a tie...

I Love Scraps of Fabric!

I have been cutting fabric all day...I prefer to cut all of my fabric first, then spend another day sewing in up into fun stuff! At the end of a cutting day, I am amazed at the pile of scraps - pretty ribbons and blocks that are the remnants of my creative process. I love these fabric ribbons! I can't bear the thought of throwing them away!

I really believe in scraps - fabric, last night's pasta, broken jewelry. These little leftovers require us to be creative; to make something out of almost nothing; to use things in a new way. So, I decide to share with you a few clever ways to use your bits of scrap fabric:

1. 
   
   Wear them in your hair. Use several different patterns and weave them into braids or simply tie up ponytails.


2. 
   
   Wear them accessories. My 10-year old daughter has perfected this technique. If she finds a scrap long enough, she will wear it as a choker, bracelet, or belt. So cute and so creative!


3. 
   
   Knit them into something. This is my personal favorite! When I have a free moment, I tie the ends of scrap fabric to together until I have a big fabric ball. Then, I pull out my knitting needles and go to work. Simple!


4. 
   
   Sew them together. You don't have to be a quilter to love small swatches of fabric! Even thin strips can be sewed together. With enough scraps, you can create your own fabric!


5. 
   
   Use them in your other creative ventures. When my daughter was little, she used my fabric scraps as clothes for her paper dolls. They also look wonderful as mats for pictures or incorporated into the framed artwork itself. The more scraps you have, the more ideas there are!

Using scraps of fabric is humbling. It reminds us that we are blessed with so much and that attention should be paid to making the most of what we have. Now, what I am going to do with all of these fabric scraps?