Inspiration

Vintage home and garden fabric from 1979

Inspiration to create something, anything has been coming in spurts.  I realize now that you must take it while you can.  This is my last weekend of work for a month, as my bosses are taking a vacation, so I've been slowly getting my WIPS organized and hoping that some of that inspiration comes when I have time to actually play. 

new sham style covers for the couch. 

 This couch is almost 8 years old and definitely showing it's age.  It has been well worn, loved and jumped on, but  I couldn't stand the stains on the cushions anymore. Unfortunately my budget doesn't allow for a new couch, and I can't stand the ready made slipcovers  that are guaranteed to fit ( yeah right) I whipped these up out of the fabric I had on hand.  The bluebird fabric came from curtains that hung in the window of the house my parents bought.  The selvedge said 1979 and they probably hung in the window that long.  I do plan on redoing the middle cushion as I'm finding not having all three match distracting.

 

This rug is my current obsession Using different mediums , fabric and rope and seeing how they blend together.     Up until now i  have only used the toothbrush technique in making my rugs.  I found a video tutorial on how to crochet  them in half the time it takes me.  I had no idea how to crochet but have wanted to learn for a while now.  My sister recommended the book Simple Crochet by Erica Knight and I have been poring trough it practicing my stitches.  All the fabric is crocheted, and the roping is crocheted and then weaved in toothbrush style.  I'm happy with the results, especially after pulling the rope out and doing it again a few times as the tension was all wrong. This one may be another biggie 5' or 6' feet round. Slow and steady . :)

Take care,
Kendra.

Whew, Still trying to get back.

2 inch  rainbow squares Crib quilt machine stiched and quilted with a crosshatch.

Toothbrush (weave) Basket

Whirlygig Doll blanket in Bright pink.
Machine stitched and hand tied.

Whirlygig Doll Quiilt
Machine stiched and hand tied with Chenille backing

Vintage strawberry shortcake custom curtains for the girl's room.

Custom panel shorts made from old jeans and canvas ticking for the boy.

Custom shorts made from twill pants  for the boy.

Take care,

I've been gone a while...

This is a doll quilt I made for Kaiya.  All of the pieces are fabrics/scraps that were handed down by loved ones or family friends.  Most are vintage fabrics that I have been holding on to, bound and determined to use the smallest piece.  It's about the size of a placemat and fits in her newly revamped antique baby doll crib. ( Thanks Ronna and Grammy). 

    

Here's the view of the back.  Kaiya waited impatiently for me to finish and immediately took it and wrapped up her pony baby yelling "this one's mine and I love it."

 Cool. I have two more little girlies in my life to make these for. I still have a cake pan filled with these 1 3/4 inch half triangle squares ready to sew up.

This is the "Hanna quilt"  I made for a friend's new daughter.  ( If you're reading this, feign surprise :^)).  I started this a while back and described it here.  I put it off  as I couldn't deside on how I wanted to quilt it. 

 I finally sat down and realized I was over thinking the design and just went for it, jumping in with both feet. K(eep) I(t)S(imple)S(tupid) right?   I am very happy with the outcome.  The back is a Beatrix Potter which my friend absolutely loves.

I have been holding onto hoarding fabric, waiting for that " special project".  I have a million "special projects" rolling around in my head and various notebooks around the house and not nearly the time to do them all or hold onto this stuff when the time finally comes.  I'm certainly not enjoying it if it's boxed up in a closet.  I made the declaration last March  that I  was going to use  scraps for my projects and that I was also on a buying freeze.  I finally decided that a new 8 foot round toothbrush rug for my dining room was special enough.  I went through my scrap bags and upcycled sheets from the thrift store I had packed away in my closet and cut it all up into  2 inch width strips and started weaving. 

I generally clean off my kitchen table and hoist it up working on a couple of rows at a time between projects and well...life. It is slow going so when I get sick of it I tuck the tails up under it and toss it on the floor until the next time.  It's been interesting watching it grow.  So far it it contains 2 full flat sheets, 1 full fitted sheet, 1 queen flat sheet and about 9 yards of fabric and is almost 5'.

 

The other two quilts I've been trying to finish up are the scrappy star string quilt and the paintbox quilt. Both are in various stages of completion.  I can smile and say it's a little bit further than a month ago.  I may very well end up using the star quilt  as a wall hanging .  I really find it visually pleasing and it will go beatifully  with my new rug.  :)

I've been really trying to stay focused and do a little bit each day getting the kids more involved in crafts and less t.v especially since we are in the first full week of the new school year.  We've had the cable off for almost two months and rely on monitered Netflix or Hulu and are doing well without most of it.  Not having commercials has definitely made a difference in how the kids act.  I really can't wait to load up the table with all the crafts soon, and letting the kids just dig in with wild abandon.  We're almost there.

Take care. 

Kendra

Finishing up my Etsy inventory.

I am currently building my etsy shop and get things tagged and for sale. The past few Blizzard days have been a great way to catch up on all my UFO's and WIP's . I am furiously writing descriptions that will evoke memories from your childhood saying to yourself  " My nan had one just like that....."  My goal  is  an opening before the end of the month.  Until then, here are some pictures.

100% cotton fabric and upcycled sheets. All washed and cut into 2 inch strips and constructed using the toothbrush technique.   

27 & 1/2 inches by 22& 1/2 inches

100% cotton fabric and upcycled sheets. All washed and cut into 2 inch strips and constructed using the toothbrush technique.

29 & 1/2 inches by 27 inches.

100% cotton fabric and upcycled sheets. All washed and cut into 2 inch strips and constructed using the toothbrush technique.

25 & 1/4 inches by 20 & 1/4 inches.

Take care,

Now that Christmas is over...

I made these.

Sugar Body Scrub

.

Toothbrush rugs

 

Pot holders or hot pads depending on where you are from.

and I spread Peanut love. :)

In the spirit of Craft Fail....

 I started this along time ago  with the intention of it being  a rug ,  it became a basket.  Brian has claimed it as Pit on Sarlacc.  I'm not quite sure if this is good or bad.   i must admit it reminds me of those little striped hens we had on the farm.   I'm going to work on these a bit more and get rid of some scraps.   What has been your recent craft fail?

CRAFT FAIL