a sewing cupboard that is...
Friday, 23 October 2015
tracks of my week...
My esteemed bloggy buddy Lynz has been doing some fabulous posts under the heading "tracks of my years". Not wishing to inundate you with hours and hours (months more likely) worth of tunes, I'm sticking with tracks of my week...
Either 1984 or Jan 85, either way I was 6 years old. Its Sunday night. I'm in bed already hiding my cassette recorder under my pillow in order to listen in to the UK Top 40 (quite unbeknown to me I was following in my fathers footsteps!). I can still remember screaming into my pillow and kicking my feet with excitement to hear this...
Phew! What a hunk! It's been in my head all week as I keep hearing a cover by Hot Chip. Now this is a bit geeky maybe, but I've had it in my head that there was a cover version of it in the charts at the same time as Bruce, as I remember being absolutely furious at the cheek of it! I was assuming I'd dreamt this, but some googling has actually verified this! The things you remember eh. Apparently this wasnt my first popstar crush either, as Eddy Grants' "I dont wanna dance" was 1982 and my parents say I was nuts about him....
I finally succumbed to Netflix. Its been so awesome! I'm useless at watching stuff these days, cant stay awake at all if I'm simply sitting watching something, but sitting at the desk in the sewing room I can cut fabric and watch the laptop with reasonable success. Yay! No fingers lost yet either!
I really enjoyed a movie by my beloved Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch, "God help the girl". This lovely wee tune in particular has enchanted me.
I remember in my teens my dad telling me an article he'd read said we stop listening to new music in our twenties. It claimed the average person spent their life listening to whatever they chose between 14-24. Oh how we laughed. Not us. No way.
Well, dad did fantastically well, embracing new tunes well into his 50's and only leaving pop because his hearing went. Me? Hmmm. Honestly lucky to hear a handful of songs in a year that are new and bearable! This however, is a rare thing - a current track that I actually love!
Sunday, 18 October 2015
Its my Prozac....
My buddy the littlest thistle did a fascinating blog post recently and asked "Why?". This is my response.
Why do I create?
"Why?" is a question that had never entered my mind! It's just, well, it's what you do, isnt it? It was in our house. One of my earliest memories is an afternoon with mum - the sewing machine out on the dining table, cups of tea, Cliff Richard's Rock and Roll LP on the record player, Mum at the table making and me fannying about doing the twist standing on the piano stool... What was mum making? Well, it might have been the time she made me a skirt and waistcoat combo. Or the time she made an outfit to match it for my ragdoll Annie. Or it might have been the time of the evening gowns for Sindy dolls. Or the time we made a whole picnic - sandwiches, cakes, cream buns - out of foam offcuts and felt. Or the bedding for my teddies bed.
Mum was always at it. I remember practicing our Macrame with dressing gown ties in my parents bed. I remember my favourite picture from their stack of National Geographic Magazines wasnt animals, it was someone who had built their spherical house out of old aluminium cans, windows out of bottles, the odd dolls face cemented in here and there. I remember being allowed to help scrape the paint off an old dresser with a blowtorch. I remember watching armchair cushions being recovered. I actually struggle to remember furniture in our house that hadn't been recycled and revamped! I remember blowing eggs and watching mum cut doors into them and attach teeeeeny tiny little hinges. I remember the sugar work - making tiny petals to mould into roses. The easter eggs we made with moulds and melted chocolate. The baskets of Marzipan Fruits. I remember going with mum to my school after hours to sit in on the pottery class she took. We made candles. Mum knitted jumpers (until my brother and I broke the machine). I can picture the kitchen table covered in a production line of wee wooden clothes peg dolls. My brother making a Frank Sidebottom Head with chicken wire and paper mache.... One of my favourite places was the box room, full of mums crafty bits and fabric scraps in old tea chests. Our utility room was seldom without something or other drying out by the boiler or fermenting under the sink.
Making stuff was totally normal in our house!
Why do I create in this particular medium?
Thinking about it all, I suppose my quilting is more "nesting" than anything particularly artistic. I've never felt at ease with doing "art". Unique ideas are not my forte! I can see what I like and alter it, adjust it, redo it and make it mine, but I've never been any good at starting from scratch. If I had a normal persons energy and fitness I'd love to be restyling furniture. That would have been my ideal, but I am not up for it physically. Too much exertion required with all that sanding! To be honest actual machine quilting is often a bit of a struggle too.
I started with bag making, and a hope to learn dressmaking, and a sideline in ragdolls. I don't think I'm cut out for bag making though, I don't like the noises even a good machine makes as you attempt to gently squeeze half a dozen layers under the needle... I cant cuddle up under a bag either. The dolls have not been shelved for good, I will make for Moo at some time, but without a prospective owner there just isn't the point in making. And dressmaking. Well. Lets just say that the yardage required these days makes the prospect pretty bloody expensive and patterns hard to come by. My desire has waned...
However, quilting appeals to me in so many ways. Not least the thought of a house full of home made pretty blankets! I want them on the walls, the sofas, the chairs, the beds - there's currently one spread out over the coffee table like a table cloth!
Before Moo came along I was setting up to take it all very seriously. Good stash. Computer Aided Design program. Passion and dozens of ideas. I was hoping to publish some patterns. I was dreaming of getting in magazines and the like. Possibly contribute to a craft fair every now and again. Do the odd Linus quilt.
Where I am now?
Please don't misunderstand me, I am so thrilled to have my Moo, it simply would have been nice to find out if I could have done it. I could not possibly give quilting up now though, however little I can squeeze in. Every single aspect, even the parts I'm not so keen on, has value to me. It gives me something to think about during the night hours I cannot sleep through. It gives me excitement to plan, and yes, to stash... The cutting is hard. It can take days depending on my energy levels. The piecing is a thrill, my biggest fault is probably rushing through the piecing and not necessarily going back and fixing scant seams....I cant help it, I enjoy it so I want to get as much done in one sitting as possible before tiredness and or Moo intervenes! Brushing aside the difficulties in basting and quilting, the binding is a joy. It is simple, relaxing, and a warm (literally!) anticipation of having the finished, squishy, cosy, pretty quilt finished.
I don't feel that saying "it makes me happy" sufficiently covers it! When I go through weeks of no sewing it brings me down. Depression seems to be a bit of a side effect for Narcoleptics. Not too hard to understand I think, I mean, feeling tired all the time sucks. From the time I wake up to the time I say goodnight I've usually had at least two separate hour or so long naps. Some days it feels like I only got up to feed! Squeezing in even a little bit of sewing gives me just enough of a boost to feel human. These days my quilting goals are simple. Keep up with Brit Bee, and sew what I want for me. Selfish sewing. If I'm still awake when Moo is of bigschool age, then things might change. For now, for me, and my beloved Moo, I may not do as much as I like, but I aim to really like doing as much as I am able.
Why do I create?
"Why?" is a question that had never entered my mind! It's just, well, it's what you do, isnt it? It was in our house. One of my earliest memories is an afternoon with mum - the sewing machine out on the dining table, cups of tea, Cliff Richard's Rock and Roll LP on the record player, Mum at the table making and me fannying about doing the twist standing on the piano stool... What was mum making? Well, it might have been the time she made me a skirt and waistcoat combo. Or the time she made an outfit to match it for my ragdoll Annie. Or it might have been the time of the evening gowns for Sindy dolls. Or the time we made a whole picnic - sandwiches, cakes, cream buns - out of foam offcuts and felt. Or the bedding for my teddies bed.
Mum was always at it. I remember practicing our Macrame with dressing gown ties in my parents bed. I remember my favourite picture from their stack of National Geographic Magazines wasnt animals, it was someone who had built their spherical house out of old aluminium cans, windows out of bottles, the odd dolls face cemented in here and there. I remember being allowed to help scrape the paint off an old dresser with a blowtorch. I remember watching armchair cushions being recovered. I actually struggle to remember furniture in our house that hadn't been recycled and revamped! I remember blowing eggs and watching mum cut doors into them and attach teeeeeny tiny little hinges. I remember the sugar work - making tiny petals to mould into roses. The easter eggs we made with moulds and melted chocolate. The baskets of Marzipan Fruits. I remember going with mum to my school after hours to sit in on the pottery class she took. We made candles. Mum knitted jumpers (until my brother and I broke the machine). I can picture the kitchen table covered in a production line of wee wooden clothes peg dolls. My brother making a Frank Sidebottom Head with chicken wire and paper mache.... One of my favourite places was the box room, full of mums crafty bits and fabric scraps in old tea chests. Our utility room was seldom without something or other drying out by the boiler or fermenting under the sink.
Making stuff was totally normal in our house!
Why do I create in this particular medium?
Thinking about it all, I suppose my quilting is more "nesting" than anything particularly artistic. I've never felt at ease with doing "art". Unique ideas are not my forte! I can see what I like and alter it, adjust it, redo it and make it mine, but I've never been any good at starting from scratch. If I had a normal persons energy and fitness I'd love to be restyling furniture. That would have been my ideal, but I am not up for it physically. Too much exertion required with all that sanding! To be honest actual machine quilting is often a bit of a struggle too.
I started with bag making, and a hope to learn dressmaking, and a sideline in ragdolls. I don't think I'm cut out for bag making though, I don't like the noises even a good machine makes as you attempt to gently squeeze half a dozen layers under the needle... I cant cuddle up under a bag either. The dolls have not been shelved for good, I will make for Moo at some time, but without a prospective owner there just isn't the point in making. And dressmaking. Well. Lets just say that the yardage required these days makes the prospect pretty bloody expensive and patterns hard to come by. My desire has waned...
However, quilting appeals to me in so many ways. Not least the thought of a house full of home made pretty blankets! I want them on the walls, the sofas, the chairs, the beds - there's currently one spread out over the coffee table like a table cloth!
Before Moo came along I was setting up to take it all very seriously. Good stash. Computer Aided Design program. Passion and dozens of ideas. I was hoping to publish some patterns. I was dreaming of getting in magazines and the like. Possibly contribute to a craft fair every now and again. Do the odd Linus quilt.
Where I am now?
Please don't misunderstand me, I am so thrilled to have my Moo, it simply would have been nice to find out if I could have done it. I could not possibly give quilting up now though, however little I can squeeze in. Every single aspect, even the parts I'm not so keen on, has value to me. It gives me something to think about during the night hours I cannot sleep through. It gives me excitement to plan, and yes, to stash... The cutting is hard. It can take days depending on my energy levels. The piecing is a thrill, my biggest fault is probably rushing through the piecing and not necessarily going back and fixing scant seams....I cant help it, I enjoy it so I want to get as much done in one sitting as possible before tiredness and or Moo intervenes! Brushing aside the difficulties in basting and quilting, the binding is a joy. It is simple, relaxing, and a warm (literally!) anticipation of having the finished, squishy, cosy, pretty quilt finished.
I don't feel that saying "it makes me happy" sufficiently covers it! When I go through weeks of no sewing it brings me down. Depression seems to be a bit of a side effect for Narcoleptics. Not too hard to understand I think, I mean, feeling tired all the time sucks. From the time I wake up to the time I say goodnight I've usually had at least two separate hour or so long naps. Some days it feels like I only got up to feed! Squeezing in even a little bit of sewing gives me just enough of a boost to feel human. These days my quilting goals are simple. Keep up with Brit Bee, and sew what I want for me. Selfish sewing. If I'm still awake when Moo is of bigschool age, then things might change. For now, for me, and my beloved Moo, I may not do as much as I like, but I aim to really like doing as much as I am able.
Thursday, 1 October 2015
Scraps
Of random crap that is. Sorry!
The last couple of months have seemed so full, and have gone pretty quickly.
Here is the finished top for the retro flowers quilt. I got the bottom row purples back to front but I'm not changing it, I kinda like it!
I had a wonderful visit from Canadian Abroad and her girls - that was priceless. Moo just adored the girls, and it has to be said who wouldnt, they are such a credit to their ma. And I got precious time to sit and blether about non-moo stuff! Yay!
Moo has a wee friend now, and there have been some chaotic but immensely fun play dates, mostly involving swings and cake. And fabric chat! Bonus!
Moo is very interested in the body parts right now. Where is your chin? Yes, clever girl, there it is! That's Moo's belly, where is mummy's belly? Yes, that's it! (could hardly miss it really) And the best yet. I stupidly said "and where's mummys boobies?" Little sod lifted my elbow up and pointed under my armpit....
Posts I will try to write soon will cover Stitch Gathering, probably when you are totally sick of hearing about it... My Low Volume / Scrap Vomit / Charm quilt... What's happening in Brit Bee this year... and Moo. Lots more Moo.
The last couple of months have seemed so full, and have gone pretty quickly.
Here is the finished top for the retro flowers quilt. I got the bottom row purples back to front but I'm not changing it, I kinda like it!
I had a wonderful visit from Canadian Abroad and her girls - that was priceless. Moo just adored the girls, and it has to be said who wouldnt, they are such a credit to their ma. And I got precious time to sit and blether about non-moo stuff! Yay!
Moo has a wee friend now, and there have been some chaotic but immensely fun play dates, mostly involving swings and cake. And fabric chat! Bonus!
Moo is very interested in the body parts right now. Where is your chin? Yes, clever girl, there it is! That's Moo's belly, where is mummy's belly? Yes, that's it! (could hardly miss it really) And the best yet. I stupidly said "and where's mummys boobies?" Little sod lifted my elbow up and pointed under my armpit....
Posts I will try to write soon will cover Stitch Gathering, probably when you are totally sick of hearing about it... My Low Volume / Scrap Vomit / Charm quilt... What's happening in Brit Bee this year... and Moo. Lots more Moo.
Wednesday, 5 August 2015
New pet
I made my choice....
I had a good read of all your helpful comments and looked into the various machines recommended. It was always a question of "do it all" household machine or "one trick wonder" specialist. I was a bit scared of the latter to be honest!
However. I went to visit a machine, had a wee play, and had to take it home with me....
I'm still biting my lip about it, but, I got a Juki!
It had to linger in the box over the weekend as I was just too tired to contemplate sewing - or rather I could have sewn but these days I have to always be thinking "but you need to be rested for Moo" so I slept instead. Totally boring. But there you go. Anyway. Tonight was the night...
HOLY CRAP it's fast. I've lost count of how many times in the last hour I've damn near screamed as I accidentally put the tiniest bit extra pressure on the foot pedal and it just about took my fingers off... But goodness me it sews so good... I mean, like, wow. I still cant believe I've got it!
I havent got the knee lift attached yet, and it will no doubt take me a few weeks to get used to the speed, and god knows when the threading will make sense to me and eugh the bobbin is a pain, but wow. I really do have my dream machine!!!
Its too early to ask me for a review yet, I just dont have the words, I'm too busy freaking out every time I see it sat there... It needs a name though. My first machine was "tank", the last one "beast"... I think this one probably merits those monikers better but I want it to like me so I need to come up with something a bit nicer this time. Suggestions welcome.
Meantime, Moo updates, still no talking yet, although granny managed to teach her how to say "up" and thats a fair bit nicer to hear when she wants her stories than the "ugh, eeeeuuuuugh" noises (accompanied with arms flailing and facial straining) we were getting previously. We had a lovely morning of sunshine the other day so quick as a flash granny got her in her wee shorts & vest onesie thingy and into the garden. Just need another 3 or 4 sunshine days to ensure that her summer wardrobe gets at least one outing each... She also tried to gouge my eyeball out a few nights ago. That was nice. Still amazed that I didnt end up with a black eye, but all I got for my agony (and believe me, it hurt like f@*$) was the teeeeeniest wee cut in the big dark bags below my eye and the distinct impression that I sound like a big ol' baby.
WIP updates, I got my #britbeeforever medallion finished (we were to do our own final border) and I got the back prepped and, yay, its off to Trudi for some quilting. Bit of a travesty there as I've sent it to the most talented quilter I know and asked her just to ditch quilt the rounds so that I can detail the borders at my leisure later! Well, I wanted it done to an extent that I can bind it right away and hand quilt it over the next few months.
Also, I got my retro flowers top done. It certainly does not bear close inspection but I knew when I started it that I wanted to just do it and get back into the habit of sewing rather than painstakingly sit and "rip til you get it right".... I didn't trim the DP's. I didn't even press them - apart from finger pressing. Lets be honest, it's for me, it's my indulgence; it's not being made to be judged it's being made to be snuggled. And we all know that a fair bit can be hid in the quilting and post wash shrinking anyway! Here's hoping anyway.
I'll leave you with this picture, which I've found cheers me right up.
When I cut the bricks for my #britbeeforever medallion I started cutting 5" charms at the same time. Then I hunted out some LV charm swap packs. Then I raided my stash for all my favourite LV and LV colour prints. Now I have 250+ charms, and a further 77 prints, all different, no doubles. I see a massive big super simple light and pretty charm quilt in Juki's future! Cant wait!
 |
| Set and ready to sew! |
I had a good read of all your helpful comments and looked into the various machines recommended. It was always a question of "do it all" household machine or "one trick wonder" specialist. I was a bit scared of the latter to be honest!
However. I went to visit a machine, had a wee play, and had to take it home with me....
I'm still biting my lip about it, but, I got a Juki!
It had to linger in the box over the weekend as I was just too tired to contemplate sewing - or rather I could have sewn but these days I have to always be thinking "but you need to be rested for Moo" so I slept instead. Totally boring. But there you go. Anyway. Tonight was the night...
HOLY CRAP it's fast. I've lost count of how many times in the last hour I've damn near screamed as I accidentally put the tiniest bit extra pressure on the foot pedal and it just about took my fingers off... But goodness me it sews so good... I mean, like, wow. I still cant believe I've got it!
I havent got the knee lift attached yet, and it will no doubt take me a few weeks to get used to the speed, and god knows when the threading will make sense to me and eugh the bobbin is a pain, but wow. I really do have my dream machine!!!
Its too early to ask me for a review yet, I just dont have the words, I'm too busy freaking out every time I see it sat there... It needs a name though. My first machine was "tank", the last one "beast"... I think this one probably merits those monikers better but I want it to like me so I need to come up with something a bit nicer this time. Suggestions welcome.
Meantime, Moo updates, still no talking yet, although granny managed to teach her how to say "up" and thats a fair bit nicer to hear when she wants her stories than the "ugh, eeeeuuuuugh" noises (accompanied with arms flailing and facial straining) we were getting previously. We had a lovely morning of sunshine the other day so quick as a flash granny got her in her wee shorts & vest onesie thingy and into the garden. Just need another 3 or 4 sunshine days to ensure that her summer wardrobe gets at least one outing each... She also tried to gouge my eyeball out a few nights ago. That was nice. Still amazed that I didnt end up with a black eye, but all I got for my agony (and believe me, it hurt like f@*$) was the teeeeeniest wee cut in the big dark bags below my eye and the distinct impression that I sound like a big ol' baby.
WIP updates, I got my #britbeeforever medallion finished (we were to do our own final border) and I got the back prepped and, yay, its off to Trudi for some quilting. Bit of a travesty there as I've sent it to the most talented quilter I know and asked her just to ditch quilt the rounds so that I can detail the borders at my leisure later! Well, I wanted it done to an extent that I can bind it right away and hand quilt it over the next few months.
Also, I got my retro flowers top done. It certainly does not bear close inspection but I knew when I started it that I wanted to just do it and get back into the habit of sewing rather than painstakingly sit and "rip til you get it right".... I didn't trim the DP's. I didn't even press them - apart from finger pressing. Lets be honest, it's for me, it's my indulgence; it's not being made to be judged it's being made to be snuggled. And we all know that a fair bit can be hid in the quilting and post wash shrinking anyway! Here's hoping anyway.
I'll leave you with this picture, which I've found cheers me right up.
When I cut the bricks for my #britbeeforever medallion I started cutting 5" charms at the same time. Then I hunted out some LV charm swap packs. Then I raided my stash for all my favourite LV and LV colour prints. Now I have 250+ charms, and a further 77 prints, all different, no doubles. I see a massive big super simple light and pretty charm quilt in Juki's future! Cant wait!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)