Maiden Jane

A New Varied Shape Quilt and its Story

2012-05-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

I am calling this the "Baseball Quilt." I was approached by a local friend to make a blanket for her son. She is one of a few that is making this a surprise gift for his High School graduation. Most parents ask the kids what shirts they want in their blanket. But this young man has been involved in multiple baseball leagues since a young boy and she was able to set aside some shirts for the past year.

Not only did she have a pile of shirts, but she had his favorite blanket as a child. The blanket was so washed and worn that all but hints of the color in the quilt lines were washed away.

She also had a vintage quilt that was at her grandparent's cabin. She figured this quilt must have been there since the 40s. Her son loved the quilt, but it had a huge hole in the center. I couldn't use it as the back of the memory blanket. I also didn't think one square of the old quilt would fit in well either.

I envisioned making a blanket of various shapes so that I could incorporate the vintage quilt into the blanket without it overwhelming the design. I also bought an Ohio State pillowcase to add a little bit of his future college into the blanket.

So I began with some graph paper. Yes, a bit of math and planning was involved and it felt great to use it to create the design!

Then the cutting began. From jackets to jerseys, shirts to sleeves, everything was a possibility.

I really love the end result!

The special "lovey" blanket was also the special blanket for the graduate's younger sister. She was not sure about giving it up. So we took that blanket and incorporated it into two pillows - one for big brother and one for little sister.

Hers is smaller, with the blanket on one side and one of her big brother's baseball shirts on the other side. I salvaged the ruffle to put around hers. For his, I used the blanket and the quilt.

I went to the baseball diamonds down by the lake and you can see Mother Nature was working against me!

But I am thrilled with the end result. As is mom. She can't wait to give it to her son after he graduates tonight!

I am listing this on my website and in my Etsy shop. As always, we start with a conversation.

Wednesday Sewing - Sewing Machine 911

2012-05-23T07:59:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to share a free class from Craftsy with you today! It’s called Sewing Machine 911, taught by Claudia Miller. Claudia teaches you to diagnose your machine’s symptoms, and easily fix the most common issues, including jammed machines, top thread breaks, needle breaks, and more. Claudia also explains the basic parts and functions of every machine. This class is perfect for beginners and advanced sewists alike! I plan to take the class! While you are there check out the great classes and patterns available on Craftsy, including my T Shirt Memory Quilt Blanket!

Design Idea - Crate Plant Holders

2012-05-22T10:33:00.001-04:00

This mess is just a fraction of the mess we had sprawled across our house this weekend! We have pretty much settled the college kids back home, but there was a pile of things that need to be stored until the fall. Our attic, however, has been accumulating stuff for 24 years! This is not a walk up attic. We access it using a pull-down ladder and then have to crawl around on the "super-floor" my husband built. Anyway, some things had been up there quilt a while - like old college notes and work presentations. We did a massive overhaul of everything stored up there. Each kid has one large plastic bin to be used as a "memory bin." Special stuffed animals, blankets, etc., We have a lot of our classic toys stored up there, too, for the grand kids someday! It was fun going through some of the items that we sorted into: recycle, garage sale and garbage. I'll be sharing a few fun finds down the road.

My husband had his college binders in these wonderful wooden cantaloupe crates. We have no idea where we got them! We decided to use them around the house. I hope they aren't too "college-dormish". My house isn't exactly rustic in style, but our family room has touches of nautical elements (a post on that later, too.) I think this fits in a bit with the nautical theme.

They also add a little vertical interest in some fairly large horizontal plains.

It's fun for now! Who knows, maybe my son will take them off to college in the fall. But for now, we'll enjoy them!

Monday Inspiration - Memorial Day Remembrance

2012-05-21T07:00:00.000-04:00

'Memorial Day and Always - We Remember' by MaidenJane

In honor of our soldiers.

Iwo Jima Memorial U. S. Mar... BrendanReals $45.00	Memorial Day American Flag -... foreverphoto $8.00	Korean War Memorial - 8x10 P... apagnot $15.00	World War II Memorial, Washi... KlaireWarren $21.99
I Honor You - 8x12 Art Photo... JourneyBlueCre... $25.00	Civil War Photograph, Cannon... TaraFlyPhotogr... $25.00	War and Peace - Original Sig... liamparkinson $30.00	Documentary Military Photogr... andrealaraynee... $35.00
Thank You SEDImages $20.00	Gettysburg sunset 8 X 10 pho... BellaleeGifts $7.00	Let Me Go - Cemetery Print 5... InexplicableTh... $10.00	Lincoln Memorial - 8 x 10 Ph... PhotoImage $25.00
Helicopter of War - 8x12 Fin... StudioLPrints $49.99	Honor - A Field of Flags In ... robjohnsonphot... $25.00	Our Military Troops and Chop... VinylWallAdorn... $36.00	Lest They Be Forgotten... a ... maegirl1983 $30.00

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New Sea Shell Bags

2012-05-18T12:16:00.001-04:00

New Mesh Sea Shell Bags are in the shop! These are usually made to order, so you can ask about quantities and strap sizes. I also have a striped fabric shown in a photo below.

Thoughts on Life - "Ordinary" Days

2012-05-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love my friend Sarah's "Ordinary Days" posts on her blog. The past few weeks have been all crazy-like. But I think those are my "ordinary days." I was able to take some time out of my hectic schedule to enjoy a lunch and tea and the cutest tea room!

Annie looks adorable in this hat. It was a complete splurge. We went to Aurora Farms Outlets a few weeks ago and she tried this on in the Coach store. Well, how could we not buy it when she looks so cute in it? I was always a hat girl....

Our lunch and tea was delightful! I had a wonderful English Breakfast Tea....yum. Annie was disappointed that her older sister who had just come home from college couldn't join us, but she was earning money playing piano for another Mother's Day Tea....

Speaking of going out, here I am at a "Black Tie Optional" affair. Colors were black, white and green. I ordered a green necklace from Twillypop to jazz up a black dress I had in the closet. I'm sticking my neck out to try to smooth out my turkey neck! The room was art deco and the event was a blast. It took place in the old Higbee Silver Grille - a restaurant in a downtown department store that we would visit at Christmas. We would get our hamburger in a special cardboard box shaped like an oven!

To say that I have been busy quilting is an understatement. This is the first time I actually had more than one quilt to photograph! I've always wanted to show a stack of my quilts. Well, two of these are ready to ship out and the other two are from my dear college kids.

They came home - and as much as I'd love to say it's so special to have them home - it's a lot of adjustment!

First, there's the laundry. Then the stuff! That's my daughter's quilt on top of her pile! And below you'll see it fresh out of the drier. I'm happy to report the kids' blankets have held up well!

So, ordinary days....working, cleaning, going to baseball games, running, making dinner, going out to hear dear son, worrying until dear son comes home from gigs, computers, cell phones and chargers everywhere....

I wouldn't have it any other way!

Wednesday Sewing - the Most Important Tool in my Sewing Studio

2012-05-16T08:31:00.000-04:00

It's not always pretty - real life.... Yes, my floor often looks like that after I'm working with quilt pieces. I lay them out on the floor. But before I layer the pieces together I have to clean up that lint, so I get out my favorite tool: my Vacuflo central vacuum.

My sewing studio is next to my family room, so not only is their a lot of direct lint from taking my large projects out to the family room, but there is a lot of thread and lint carried out from the sewing room and Annie's sewing area! Sometimes I vacuum two times a day to keep up with it!

The Vacuflo came to us in the form of a gift. I never thought I would "need" it, but when we tucked it away during some remodeling, I realized how much I missed it. The hose plugs into the wall and the dust is filtered and exhausted to the outside. It has several attachments for hard wood floors and carpets.

In the sewing room I can not only vacuum up all the threads and lint, but my sewing machines as well. I use smaller attachments to dust baseboards, lampshades, etc.

So perhaps a surprise tool, but one that is really important to me both in my house and sewing room. It removes the dust, preserves my machines, and keeps my products (mostly) lint free!

What's the most important tool in YOUR sewing room?

Be Not Afraid and Sew!

2012-05-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

I had a sweet customer contact me recently to ask if my T Shirt Quilt Kit could be sewn by hand and how long it would take her and if she could use sweatshirts in addition to T Shirts. I answered her questions and, although she was new to her machine, encouraged her to give it a try.

I think she wins the award for fastest turn-around time - and a beginner no less! She dove in and decided that she would be my test "dummy". If she could make it, "anyone could!"

Well, I think Amy did a fantastic job! I do believe that the best way to learn to sew is to jump in with a project. You can try a simple tote or a commercial pattern. But just try something that you love. This special blanket is a gift to Amy's grandmother, made with her grandmother's sweatshirts. I think it is lovely!

Amy gave me some wonderful feedback on my pattern so I will make a few tweaks to it. She completed the kit in two sessions!

Sew! Be Not Afraid! Try a 9-Block T Shirt Quilt Kit or let me build a Custom 12-Block Kit for you. Here is one I just sent out in a lovely teal blue with royal blue fleece backing. I can't wait to see the finished product!

New Oversized Beach Totes, Aprons, Quilts

2012-05-11T07:51:00.000-04:00

I had the chance to get my summer fabrics made into Oversized Totes yesterday! These are priced at $45. They are my basic, unlined bag with a large outside pocket, pleated inside pocket for your sunscreen, a zippered pouch and a key clip! These two fabrics are a special solar fabric - it's a polyester fabric that repels water. The manufacturer recommends dry cleaning but I tested it in the wash and it washed up nicely. If you are interested in a tote without the frills, just ask. Those are $25.

I've also added my basic apron in customizable listing. I will work with you to select a fabric of your choice to create a basic apron.

A customer recently asked me to make a reversible apron for her mother. So I've taken my basic apron and created a reversible product. The two fabrics she selected are quite different, but it really doesn't matter when you are wearing the apron.

Finally, sharing my latest quilt blanket with you. This one is for a high school grad who played a lot of baseball. I used a purple and black fabric for the sashing and black fleece for the back.

Thoughts on Life - My Son's New Desk Chair

2012-05-10T09:06:00.001-04:00

My apologies to anyone expecting some creatively painted chair! I bought my son an inexpensive exercise ball to use at his desk in his room. He is a kinetic kid and one that probably has a hard time sitting still. I have several nieces who are LD teachers and we have discussed all the learning challenges my son - who has never tested as LD - has. We have worked with him intensively throughout his academic career and this past year he has blossomed quite nicely. He is finally able to take on his work more independently. I still work with him quite a bit, but now he goes to his room to work on some homework. He loves the ball! My nieces report that they often use the balls for students and I have also seen reports on the use of these balls in the news. So far so good!

PS (See his bow tie hanging there???)

Wednesday Sewing - Pretty and Practical Pincushion

2012-05-09T07:58:00.001-04:00

Did you get to read my interview about Liz of Made In Lowell last week? She creates many lovely items for her shop.

I couldn't resist one of her pincushion rings. You know I love "practical yet pretty" items and this was the perfect birthday present to myself! If I'm going to spend a lot of time in my sewing studio, I want to be surrounded by pretty things.

Well, my hand or photograph, isn't as lovely as Liz's, but I use my ring all the time!

I especially love the pincushion ring for projects that require a lot of pins - like my quilt blankets! When I'm crawling around on the floor pinning the layers together it is really handy to be so close to my - well, - hand! And then I can sew with it on and throw the pins right back in!

The pincushions Liz makes are adorable! So treat yourself to a perfectly practical sewing aid from Made In Lowell!

Mother's Day Inspiration

2012-05-07T08:17:00.003-04:00

Some things you may want....or for your mom:

To give mom a secret message:

For the run-around-town mom:

To tell mom you love her:

For the sports-loving mom:

For the fashionable home mom:

For the flower-loving mom:

For the mom who loves to cook:

For the cheery mom:

For the summertime mom:

For the mom who might need some relaxation:

For the new mom:

For the sewing mom:

New Blanket Made from Baby Clothes

2012-05-04T07:18:00.000-04:00

I was asked by a customer to create a blanket using her son's old baby clothes. How could I not swoon when I opened the box filled with adorable clothes and memories! (My kids' clothes never looked this clean!)

We worked together to determine the size she wanted and the size squares to use. We decided on a final size of 8" squares and a 48" square blanket. It was actually a challenge to cut the pieces, deciding what motifs to share and stitching all the openings closed. In some cases snaps and buttons had to be removed. Many times they were left as a design feature.

In the case of the hat, I stitched it to another square.

This little undershirt was too small to create an 8" square, so I stitched it to another article of clothing!

Mom wanted a white chenille for the bag, which I pre-washed to shrink. Her son just turned two and I think he will love the blanket! It's very soft and cuddly.

I had so much fun taking pictures that I have a few more on my facebook page!

This blanket is very similar to my 20-block blanket. It is not limited to T shirts. Use any article of clothing! Wait until you see how one customer has challenged me!

I have created a listing for this kind of blanket. With all of my custom items, feel free to start the process by contacting me!

Words With Friends - Analog Style

2012-05-03T07:36:00.003-04:00

Not everyone in the house has a Facebook account, laptop, cell phone, smart phone, I touch, computer.....

Some of us still connect the old-fashioned way....

Sewing Room Stashing

2012-05-02T13:58:00.004-04:00

Sometimes my craft room looks like this! And while I have no right to complain that I don't have space, because I am forever grateful for this room which is also a shared office, craft room and sewing space, I don't have tons of space for projects and fabric.

You might recall my quick craft room cleanup in which I diverted everything into bags under my counter.

That worked until I got tired of looking at the bags. So I bought some bins.

That worked until the number of quilts I am making started to grow. So this....

has become this.....

But thanks to one of my local customers who delivered her items (which are very interesting, by the way!) in a plastic bin I was inspired to store my quilt-blankets-in-progress in covered bins. This will keep them tidy, organized and covered, which is important since threads and lint are flying everywhere!

Are you in a reorganizing mood?

A Few Tote Tutes

2012-05-01T07:45:00.000-04:00

Source: sew4home.com via MaidenJane on Pinterest

Source: weupcycle.com via MaidenJane on Pinterest

Source: to-sew-with-love.com via MaidenJane on Pinterest

Source: sew4home.com via MaidenJane on Pinterest

Monday Inspiration: Meet Liz from Made In Lowell

2012-04-30T08:27:00.000-04:00

I am very excited about sharing today's interview! I met Liz on Twitter. I became a customer of hers when I purchased one of her pincushion rings. (I adore it - not only because it is so pretty - but because it is so practical! I use it when creating my blankets and it deserves a post of its own...)

Liz is talented, which is evidenced by her shop filled with so many lovely things! She is also an inspiration! After all, she was on Martha Stewart!

When you read about her workout regimen, you might think she's a "machine." But she is anything but that! She is warm and kind and engaging. She loves to chat with her twitter friends and rarely promotes herself. So I'm here to do that, because I think she - and her creations - are amazing!

Tell us about Made In Lowell. Did you start with an Etsy shop or a studio? What was your inspiration?

I’ve always been an artist. I started making things to sell when I was a little kid. I would set up a table in the living room and sell the miniatures my older sister had taught me to make. I would sell them to my mom. She was a good customer.

When I was in college, I started selling at craft shows, festivals, and flea markets, primarily handpainted and silk screened t-shirts shirts and polymer clay items. I added beaded jewelry in the mid aughts and became Made in Lowell in 2006 when I joined Etsy. Then I started working with wool and making felt. I always worked a full time job but in 2007 I got a studio in an old mill full of artists called Western Avenue Studios and I leapt into MiL full time.

One of the cards based on a watercolor by Liz's Mom - Marilyn Smith Rosenfeld

I love that you can’t help but create (I can relate!) I bet you were this way since you were young. I read a lovely interview about your Mom. Tell us a little about her and her guidance.

My mom is awesome! She grew up in rural Indiana in the 30s and 40s. Her father was a sign painter, he did gold leaf lettering on windows for businesses, and he painted the sides of tobacco barns. He was a great artist and she became one too. She and my dad met in drawing class in college (dad became an architect) and they moved to the east coast to raise a family. Mom continued to make oil paintings until about when I was born. Then she took classes and learned watercolor. She has a fabulous hand, I think her work is just gorgeous. Art was a constant and regular part of my childhood. Mom used to sell her paintings but nowadays she keeps a watercolor journal where she draws and paints from life (as opposed to from photos). I scan the pages out from her journal and make the images into cards.

Egg Ornament

You were on Martha Stewart! She’s like a rock star in my world! How did that experience come about and what was it like?

I blogged the whole Martha experience here: http://madeinlowell.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-experience-on-martha-stewart-show.html

It was surreal! She’s a big deal to me and getting to go on her show might be the pinnacle of my crafty existence. The short story is her producers found me on Etsy and asked me to submit materials to be considered for a segment and I was lucky to be chosen.

Walk us through a typical MadeInLowell day.

I used to be very sedentary, which is so easy to fall into for someone who sits and makes things half the day then sits on the computer the rest of the day. So for the past 2 years I’ve incorporated exercise into my routine. Every weekday morning I have my coffee then climb on the Nordic Track for 72 minutes. I used to get to my studio by 9 am but with the exercise coming first that doesn’t happen anymore. I get to my studio more around noon these days, which is hard, but worth the sacrifice to be fit, I think. And I’m certainly not going to get up any earlier haha! Then I work on all the aspects of running a one person handmade biz: making inventory for studio, consignment and Etsy orders. Applying to shows, doing bookkeeping, blogging, social networking, etc. In the evening I go home and cook dinner for my sweet husband who is a writer but works a corporate job. (Read about her ongoing fitness journey here.)

You live and work in an amazing place! Tell us about the building, your studio, Lowell.

Lowell is special. It’s the first planned industrial city in America. It’s all mills and canals. Situated at the confluence of the Concord and Merrimack rivers, there are a ton of pretty riverwalks. My husband and I are both from Massachusetts but not from Lowell. We didn’t know anything about the place when we moved here in 2000, except that it was affordable, near the highway, and we could rent a cool apartment on the top floor of an old mill with GIANT windows all around. Our mill sits directly adjacent to a canal, I mean our foundation is literally underwater. Right across the canal is another mill, it was actually still making textiles when we moved here. Now most of the mills are condos and rental units. It’s sad the industry moved away, but I’m glad they didn’t tear the buildings down. They are just beautiful red brick built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Western Avenue Studios is in another old textile mill complex a mile down the same canal. That’s where I rent a space. My studio is 434 square feet, the walls don’t go all the way up to the ceiling to allow the heat to circulate in the wintertime. This makes it a bit noisy but earbuds fix that. There’s a great camaraderie amongst the artists here, we know how rare this kind of community is and we treasure it.

Crochet Flower Ring

How many shows do you do a year? What do you love about them?

Not counting monthly First Saturdays Open Studios, I do about 5 or 6 shows a year nowadays. I find them completely stressful and exhausting! But I love the cash infusion they provide (if they go well) and how I get to interact face to face with my customers. It never gets old seeing someone’s face light up when they see your work. I also love talking with all the other vendors who, over time have become my good friends. And I love meeting new vendors as well. I can’t believe it but I’ve been doing shows for 25 years now. Wow.

What do you love/hate about blogging? Twitter? Facebook? Are you on any other social media sites?

I LOVE TWITTER! And I HATE Facebook. I guess not every social media site is for everyone. I recommend people do the ones they like the best and don’t worry about the ones that feel like work. I also like blogging but not all the time. I try not to overwhelm my blog readers with daily posts, LOL, it’s a favor I do them *wink*. I blog about 2 times a month, if I remember. It’s a great way to share information, to be a teacher and offer value, build community and interact in a different way than the daily chat that is Twitter. Twitter is my watercooler chat and it’s a great way to meet new people. Twitter also turns out to be an amazing way to meet people right in my own city that I never would have otherwise. This has been invaluable to me for networking. I’m also on Flickr and Instagram which are communities based on photo sharing.

Do you enjoy other hobbies?

I love knitting & crocheting for fun, even though I also sell some knit and crochet items. I have done a little sewing in the past but I feel like I’m about to launch head first into a new sewing obsession that will probably be just for me and not to sell. Although I don’t mind when something I started out doing just for fun morphs into a product. I also love reading magazines and playing Words With Friends.

Pincushion Ring

Your twitter friends know about Chestercat. Tell us about him.

Chestercat is my little buddy! He’s a stripy short haired tabby that we got from the pound in 2000 when he was about 8 weeks old and full of beans. It took him years to become a love, but now he’s a lot of fun. Unfortunately he developed an incurable chronic health condition in 2007 that causes him occasional discomfort and costs us a lot of money and stress. I found him a great new vet though and he has been doing really well lately. I take pictures of him and post them online because he is so handsome and funny and cute and it helps relieve some of the stress to share him with my online community. I don’t mind if people know I am obsessed with my cat.

Felted Cupcake Pincushion

How would you describe your fashion sense?

I am very basic, no frills! Cotton, solid colors, jeans, Vans sneakers. But I like clothes that fit right and I do tend to wear colors that are trending on Etsy. For instance right now I have a bunch of coral colored t-shirts that I layer with berry and aqua long sleeve shirts, then I wear matching color earrings and maybe one of my felt brooches. I tend to dress in the colors of the current season.

Are you a small town or big city girl?

Yes! Hahaha! I have always loved small cities. There are certain ones, and Lowell is like this, that have small enough downtowns that you start knowing all your neighbors, but you certainly aren’t in the suburbs. I feel overwhelmed and like a bumpkin in New York, lonely and isolated out in the country, and bored in the suburbs. Small cities are where it’s at for me! I’m also crazy about the seaside like Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard.

Favorite genre of music – or what you are enjoying lately.

I love Samba and Bossa Nova from the 1960s, Gilberto, Jobim, Getz. Neo tango like Gotan Project. Anything by Thievery Corporation. I’ve also been loving the soundtrack from The Descendants which is all Hawaiian music which I was never interested in before. And I like pop music too, Brendan Benson, Ron Sexsmith, Nada Surf. I am picky but I find a lot that pleases me.

Pendant

Favorite vacation spot.

Martha’s Vineyard! My folks bought a summer cottage there in 1970 so I’ve spent some part of every summer there my entire life.

Fondest childhood memory.

Listening to music and making art with my mom, back door open to the warm summer air, my dad tinkering in the basement.

Who would you like to be for a day?

This is stumping me! I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to be, even for a day.

What's your favorite chain type restaurant?

We don’t eat out much and when we do I try to eat at independently owned restaurants but there’s a branch of Boston Beerworks that opened in Lowell a few years ago and I like that place a lot.

Felted Flower Hair Elastic

What things are unique to where you live? As in special customs, favorite restaurants, slang, etc. (I love to find the unique things of an area when I travel. So much of the US is homogenized - Anywhere USA).

New England as a whole is very quirky and nichey. Of course there are plenty of stretches near the highways that look like Anywhere USA, but for the most part, each city is unique and each unique city and town is further divided into small enclaves and subcultures. There are hundreds of variations on the so-called Boston accent (which I do not have, BTW). Watch The Fighter to get an idea of what people native to Lowell sound like.

Favorite candy.

Ha! I haven’t eaten candy since 2002. Yeah, really. I had to quit eating sugar for my health and it’s turned out fantastic. I don’t eat any grains either. But before all that, when I was still a full-on sugar addict, you could not have gotten me to pick a favorite, I remember each and every candy as the perfect piece.

Felted Bead Earrings

Your scariest moment?

Luckily, the scariest thing I’ve ever done is go on live national TV with Martha Stewart.

What helps you when you are in a bad mood?

Music! A warm bath. And a hug from my husband.

Use one word that best describes you.

Interested.

Interested - and interesting! Don't you agree? Check out Liz's blog for all kinds of interesting information and links - including her latest project - hosting a talk show!

Be sure to stop by her Etsy shop, Made In Lowell or hang out with her on Twitter. You'll be glad you did! I know that I am.

Thanks, Liz, for sharing a bit about yourself.

New in the Shop

2012-04-27T06:41:00.000-04:00

This is a 9-square T Shirt quilt made from dad's marathon's shirts. Baby was due within two weeks so I rushed this through! It's a simple T Shirt blanket with a minky/bubble fabric for the back. This makes a slightly thinner blanket than polar fleece. It was hard to find a fabric to pull the diverse colors together, so I used a black fabric with multi-colored dots.

Mom-to-be was kind enough to let me know this when her husband saw the blanket:

"He thinks it is so awesome and wants it there in the

hospital when we bring the baby home (hopefully any day now!) We will

send you pics, but thanks again for a beautiful blanket and for
delivering it so quickly!"

Thoughts on Life - Connected or Disconnected?

2012-04-26T07:49:00.000-04:00

Does your household ever look like this? I might note that they are sitting in front of the TV. And look at the old pro Annie - also texting!

Where's the little guy? I hope he was running around outside somewhere.....

Does our social media make us more connected or disconnected?

I have to admit - I like it!

I have an old cell phone, so it can take 3 clicks to type a letter. Therefore, I don't text much. But since I work from home, I can email texts to the kids and other family members.

I started social networking because of my business. But in the process, I've reconnected with old friends I never would be talking to due to the time and/or distance that separates us. But blogging, Facebook and even Twitter has connected me to others. Facebook is particularly fun because old school friends have found me and it's fun to catch up.

I have a Facebook business page, too, and I love getting to know my customers. In fact, I had a lovely meeting with one of them last night (at Cheesecake factory!) How fun it was to chat and get to know the person behind the lovely comments she leaves. Not to mention the wonderful stories she shared about the "life" of her T shirts and jackets that I will make into a memory quilt.

I have connected with what started as mere strangers on Twitter. But those connections have evolved into friendships. I find inspiration, advice, mentoring, sharing and just plain old-fashioned chattiness there!

I wonder if social media has caused me to lose my old friends, though? The ease of connecting on this level has caused a reluctance to pick up a telephone - something I never liked doing when the kids were young. By the time I would have any "time" to talk on the phone, I was too tired. Social media, for the most part, lets me connect on my time. However, some of my old friends won't go near it. So it takes more of an effort to stay in touch.

So are we more connected - or less? My kids up there - connecting to friends, family, business contacts, etc....but are they connecting with each other?

Sure, they are playing each other in "Words With Friends".....!!!!

Wednesday Sewing - Say Yes to the Dress!

2012-04-25T07:57:00.000-04:00

Everyone in the Greater Cleveland area knows that I sew. (OK, maybe not everyone....) So they bring me their mending challenges. This gorgeous dress was brought to me by an acquaintance. Her daughter attends Chardon High School - where the terrible school shootings occurred. Everyone in the city voted for this school to receive a free prom at the Rock n Roll Museum downtown. And the kids certainly deserve to have fun!

The beautiful layers of chiffon were seamed together in a most challenging way. It was not a simply turn and pin fitting. It took me two hours and I was still not confident I had it right. The good thing about the lalyers is that it is forgiving. There is so much movement that you can't tell if it's slightly uneven. But I had to remove the bottom of all the seams all the way around so that I could do a narrow hem. It took me an entire day to cut and baste.

Boy, do I have a lot to learn. I wish I was one of those old babushka ladies that could mend anything. How did they learn? Did they work at dressmaker shops or bridal shops? I like to take on challenges because I always learn something new. But removing 8" from a dress like this was hard. Would it have been better to remove it at the waist and chop there? I'd love to hear any tips you might have on mending a dress like this. And tips on pinning, too! I basically took the dress and cut it at the floor because it was simply too hard to pin 8" up - especially with all the folds. The dress is stunning on the young lady. It's strapless (and not sitting on the form very well.)

And, oops, I did it again.....this one does not have the pleated layers. It did have a train. Again, the pinning of the hem was a challenge. Mom helped. I first cut, then we turned and pinned and still we don't feel we have it even. There are two layers of lining and one top chiffon-like layer. I haven't started this one yet....

Graduation Gifts - What do you Give?

2012-04-23T10:04:00.001-04:00

Graduation season is upon us! Do you know how you have those years where you cycle through a lot of events? This summer is one of those for us! We have at least six graduation parties and three weddings! It will be very exciting.

If you are like me, even if you give money, you love to give a handmade gift. (If you are like my husband, you "say it with cash.")

It's no surprise that I give T Shirt Quilts. You can make one using my pattern or kit!

But another idea is a sweatshirt tote. This is one of my most popular tutorials. I have evolved the handles to various styles. You can try your luck at the thrift shops to find an old sweatshirt that you can upcycle for a favorite grad. Some that I've made:

I recently completed a custom request for a sweatshirt tote.

She asked for the name to be used on the inside, so I lined the bag with remnant duck cloth and appliqued the name onto it.

What are your favorite grad gifts to give?

New in Annie's Shop -

2012-04-20T06:42:00.000-04:00

Did you catch Annie's Easter dress? She has also been sewing some new items and today I'll share her new Flat Iron Cases.

"This Flat Iron OR Curling Iron case is perfect for all those times you are on the go, and have a hot straightener. With this case, you can throw your flat iron into it, and be on the go ASAP! Now you no longer have to wait for it to cool! This case has a layer of insulation, keeping your iron heat, INSIDE the bag. This hot tool case can be used if the iron is hot OR cold! What 's unique about this bag, is that you can use it when its cold, and put the cord in with the iron, OR when the iron is hot, you simply string the cord out of the bag, close the top of the bag, and then slide the cord into the back pocket. It includes a metal snap for a secure closure.

Thoughts on Life - DisFUNctional Family

2012-04-19T08:04:00.003-04:00

Just a few photos from Easter morn. It was a bit chilly and windy. DH ran inside, college DS (who lives on a musician's schedule) barely made it out of bed because we had to leave for church so early - he's quite wrinkly.... Younger DS looked dapper in his upcycled bow tie and wore it all day!

DD made this collection of what life really is!

Wednesday Sewing - Annie's New Look 6048

2012-04-18T09:45:00.004-04:00

Annie and I wanted to make new dresses for Easter this year. She selected this New Look 6048 pattern, a Project Runway design.

She really wanted a yellow dress and selected a slightly heavier weight quilting cotton from Joann. She picked out a dot contrast fabric for the contrast and the belt. She made version B, with the halter top, but without the bottom ruffle.

It was a bit chilly and windy on Easter, but I think you can see my sewing "intern" did a fantastic job! We carefully measured her and adjusted the multi-sized pattern accordingly. I asked her to baste it in steps so we could make adjustments along the way.

I understand that patterns should be fit and adjusted, but it is a pet peeve of mine that even after measuring and cutting, we had to remove INCHES from the fabric! We removed so much that we had to remove one of the pleats. Even accounting for ease there appeared to be a disconnect between the measurements, but I find that with almost every pattern I use.

I guided her on the zipper application, which I still struggle to make wrinkle-free. I am actually starting to prefer invisible zippers for their look and ease of sewing.

She did a fantastic job and received many compliments. It will be a cute sundress for summer!

She has added some new items to her Etsy shop, including cases for hair straighteners.

Meet Kim from Winter Solstice Dreams

2012-04-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

Maine Balsam Fir Filled Sachet

I met Kim (where else) on Twitter! She's a bundle of energy and chatty in the morning! She's from the incredible state of Maine and has a wonderful Etsy shop called Winter Solstice Dreams. I enjoy getting to know other creative people and hope you will enjoy getting to know Kim a little bit better in this interview.

Tell us about Winter Solstice Dreams? What was your inspiration?

My inspiration for Winter Solstice Dreams began once my daughter was born. I learned to sew the year before and started making little sachets and drawstring bags. I used my own herbs at the time and balsam from my backyard. When she was 6 months old, I decided I would give selling my creations a go and the business was born. I’ve had several careers in my life so far; basically I can’t sit still for too long and decided if I were going to be staying at “home” with Veronica (who is now nearly three!!!) I would need to do something to 1) try to bring in an income that worked around my own schedule 2) that was fun for me to do 3) that could revolve around Veronica 4) that would keep me busy!

Fabric Coaster Set

How long have you had an Etsy shop?

I launched my shop in November of 2009

Do you have a website?

YES! It is being built right now by Beth Blonski of BBDesigns.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/BBDesigns?ref=pr_shop_more My new site will be www.wsdreams.com

Walk us through a typical day.

LOL, there really is no such thing in my world. Oddly enough, I was just thinking about that! I was an English teacher prior to this (I left when I had Veronica) and was always on a bell schedule. I like that. In an odd twist of fate, and even though I am “in charge”, my day changes from day to day. For the most part we do breakfast, get dressed, do chores (chickens and cats get fed and whatnot) run errands/have play dates/, nap time—which is mama work time, then dinner and family time. Sometimes we have a movie night; sometimes not. We don’t have cable so sometimes Veronica will watch Sesame Street on Netflix. But really, that’s like twice a week. Sometimes the day goes in reverse order and we do shop stuff first. I set Veronica up with an activity in my workshop like painting, coloring, some sort of craft, as I work on my own stuff at the same time. There is a LOT of start and stop right now but I do occasionally trade with a friend of mine to get uninterrupted work time. My friend has a toddler too (plus three more kids) and they love to play together. There are times where my undivided attention is needed so Veronica plays with her friends and I pick her up in the afternoon. I then return the favor and watch the kiddos here so my friend can work. ”It takes a village”.

What do you love/hate about blogging?

I love sharing ideas, photos, new crafts, tips, suggestions, and advice.

I hate the time it takes to do all of that. Sometimes I wish I weren’t such a perfectionist and could just throw a blog up and run. I am just not like that.

Do you enjoy other hobbies?

Yes, I like hiking and backpacking. I love LOVE reading. I like doing both at the same time. I really love to travel too. I also enjoy movies and am quite the horror movie buff. I don’t collect things though; I don’t enjoy those type of hobbies. LOL, is twitter a hobby?

Zed the Zombie Heartthrob Pillow

Do you work and/or study outside the home?

No. However, I have plans do pursue more university studies when Veronica is in school full time. Not sure yet. That’s a little ways away. For now though, I do my research from home (and the library) and networking.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

HAA! What fashion sense?! I just bought some new clothes and I would guess I am a little bit preppy with a lot of attitude and a massive dose of rock and roll.

Are you a small town or big city girl?

LOL, BOTH.

Favorite vacation spot.

This is a tough one. On one hand for backpacking I would say without a doubt, Mount Katahdin, ME. For just relaxing and room service I would say Nova Scotia. There is a resort called White Point Beach Resort where Walter (my husband) and I went for our Honeymoon. http://www.resortsandlodges.com/lodging/canada/nova-scotia/white-point-beach-resort.html

Who would you like to be for a day?

Without laughing and YES I am quite serious. I would LIKE To be Doctor Who but as David Tennant’s Doctor Who.

Organic Tranquility Blend Eye Pillow

Tell us about your family life.

I live quite far from my family. I am originally from New York and most of my people are there. My family though is a close knit one for sure. My husband and I are a team and really work together well. We actually MET at work where we both taught and worked on a team together. Some things are just meant to be. My mom always says that in our family no one gets left behind. I like to stick to that motto as well. Basically it means no matter what happens, what someone is going through, they don’t get left to deal with it on their own. Things are talked about and a solution is found. This is what I try daily to teach my Veronica.

What's your favorite chain type restaurant?

Honestly, we rarely go out to eat and there are not many chains here. I am usually disappointed in food “out there” as my husband is the best cook ever. BUT, I would say Longhorn Steakhouse is the only one I will go to. LOL! We eat a LOT of organic food and most places just aren’t doing that…yet….. Walter and I often talk about opening up our own restaurant. But maybe as a retirement gift to ourselves! (told you I can’t sit still!!!)

Maine is an amazing state. I love living here through the good and the bad LOL! We are in a very rural part of the state but luckily we have amenities not too far from us. Winters are harsh in this part of the state but not as harsh as further up north. Maine is known as Vacationland because really, it is idyllic in the summer and fall. There is so much to do if you love being outdoors. It is a safe state to live in and raise kids in. I’ve lived in a few states and moved many times; I love Maine the best. Maine Motifs: Lobsters are FIRST LOL, then blueberries, black bear, moose, balsam fir (things in my shop!), and the word Wicked. People from Maine are INCREDIBLY hard working and self-reliant.

Favorite candy.

Lindt truffles. Oh yeah.

Headache Relief Herbal Blend

What helps you when you are in a bad mood?

LOL, something I struggle with for sure. I dial a friend who I know will be objective, non-judgmental, and will listen. Sometimes I need to just talk things out and not get advice on how to “fix it”. Sometimes, I don’t want advice on what I don’t need to fix; I just need a sounding board. If that doesn’t work I breathe and take a walk. Move a muscle, change a thought.

Use one word that best describes yourself.

Intense.

Thanks Kim! You can connect with Kim:

Etsy Shop: Winter Solstice Dreams (WSDreams)

Twitter: @WSDreams

Facebook: Winter Solstice Dreams

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