Thursday, July 29, 2010

Somethings New

Recently I was e-loitering around on Etsy (never, ever a good idea, I have a really low threshold for adorableness), thinking about summer canning projects, when I came upon a shop that sold fabric covers for mason jars. They were cute, and I remembered thinking something like that would really make jam seem more like a "for real" gift, but honestly, this was really just fabric cut in circles with twine on the side... "I can do that" I thought. I can just buy fabric, cut it into circles and tie the the whole thing up with twine! Easy!

I somehow dug out the term "fat quarter bundle" from the extensive Heretofore-completely-useless-information compartment of my brain, and was soon cruising along, checking out ridiculously cute fabric... Before I could say Boo, I had bought my first fat quarter bundle.


"Whoa!" I thought. "I've got FABRIC now! Maybe I could actually use it to SEW something!" Never mind that I haven't touched a sewing machine since my secondary 2 (roughly Grade 8) home economics class. Never mind that I never actually finished the one and only sewing project from that class. I was going to SEW! I consulted with my friend Cynthia, whose sewing makes me drool, and before I knew it, I was ordering a few "Quick and Easy" project books on Chapters (in my defense, this was BEFORE the 2010 for 2010 project!)


From left to right: Amy Butler's In Stitches: 25 simple (HAH!) and stylish sewing projects; One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Projects; and Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing: More than 40 projects and ideas for inspired stitching. I've got my eye on a few projects, but I think the first one I'm going to tackle will be the Quilted Lunch Bag, from Weekend Sewing.

Of course, it turns out that I don't actually have a whole YARD of fabric (you'd think the term QUARTERS would have tipped me off...), so I'm going to have to take a trip to the fabric store with My Enabler soon. Darn :)

Speaking of Cynthia, I just HAVE to show you the über-awesome painting she sent me this week, as a thank you for translating a pattern for her from French to English!

Isn't it THE. COOLEST???? I've been in lust with this beauty since she first painted it, and I could NOT believe it when she told me she'd give it to me for translating one dinky pattern... Thank you SOOOOOOOO MUCH, Cynthia! But it's too much!!!! I'm going to have to figure something out...

Happy Knitting Everyone! (and sewing, and painting, and crafting...)

9 comments:

kate-the-enabler said...

I am so looking forward to shopping with you for your project, and to duking it out with Philippe over who gets to teach you what... (I know, he has first dibs...but I'll take what I can ;)) Cynthia's painting is lovely - clearly she feels what you did was worth it...

Sandra said...

If you ever do need help, remember that I do have my college degree in Fashion Design... been there, done that...!! I have the Amy Butler book and can help you out if you want.

Laurie said...

Your sewing experience sounds much like mine. My mother ran a home business doing alterations and making gorgeous dresses for the "society" women in our small town. I just never acquired the "sewing gene", and her attempts to teach me always ended up with tears and trauma. It took me an entire school year to NOT finish a pair of shorts. Oy. However, I'll be interested in reading about your progress...and maybe dipping my toe in the sewing pond at some point...

Cynthia F said...

You also gave me the out-of-production Trekking to help finish my project so hey! It's all good! I would rather my girly art be loved by you than be sitting on the floor in my art room...!
And I know you'll love sewing- just go slow and you can always email with any questions or if you need help!!

Ali P said...

Don't forget meeeeee! I wanna go to that shop with you guys!

Sinéad said...

Sewing! I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out!

Sereknitty said...

Love your 'fat quarter' choices! We knitters are a crafty, multi talented bunch, so I have no doubt that your sewing skills will come back to you in no time.

birana said...

Fabric!?! sewing? New projects... j'ai bien hate de voir :)

Knit and Purl Mama said...

Cynthia rocks, doesn't she!?

I have one of her painting in my house too!

Great sewing stuff! You'll be a pro sewer in no time!