Don't try to stop me!

Yes, this yet another adventure....

Look at the right side of this blog. See the first blog under "Blog List"? Notes from the Voodoo Cafe. If you are a sewist (I've been using sewer all these years, and only now realize the problem with that word!), and you haven't been to Rice's (there's a thingy over the 'e' in her name, but I don't know how to make it happen here) blog, you're missing a treat. Rice is an author, designer of Soulwear (for herself only), Happy Person, and a sewist, among other descriptive words. She first introduced me, via her blog, to Alabama Chanin, a line of hand-made clothing. Really. As in stitched-by-hand. And, they use organic fibers and recycled cloth. Rice has gone off the deep end with the concept, and I'm loving it all! Now, if you read her older blog posts, you'll hear her say she can't sew by machine, but she can sew by hand. Not so much my bag as you probably know. I'm committed to machine stitchery. But, I CAN sew by hand when I choose to. I just needed to make that clear. Another blog I've been following recently, but haven't added to the Blog List is A Dress A day...check her out, too. Another sewist who's personal philosophy I admire.

So, with more than a just few minutes of time on my hands one day last week, I was floundering around my studio, looking for the next stitchery project. With an embarrassingly large and varied stash, in spite of efforts to use what I have, the studio soon looked like a fabric bomb had exploded in here. Fabrics, patterns and threads were strewn over every horizontal surface. Nothings clicked...ever have days like that? I assume that means it's just not the right thing for me to do. So, I began looking in my photo/magazine clipping journal, and reading notes from my words journal. I began to get a tingling in my fingers, realizing I've strayed from what really makes my heart sing. I've made a few summer dresses recently, and the ones that I wear over and over are the bright-colored dresses, the ones that required me to work around some problem such as not quite enough cloth, or not quite the right color match, or problem with fit because I didn't plan ahead. Those garments, the ones that have thought and improvisation are always my favorites! Duh. So, I pulled out a piece of white cotton knit, cut a tank top (I've also realized I don't like those cute camisoles, tanks are better for me). I plan to dye it when I finish stitching, so I'm using cotton threads. I began stitching the side seams by hand, with embroidery floss, and was soon onto the neck binding, much like the Alabama Chanin style. OK, so this hand stuff will work well when I don't have access to a machine, but I'm moving back to the machine for now. I like the way this is beginning!

After my lunch break today, I rummaged through the perpetual give-away bag in my closet, with fresh ideas of using some things that were headed out. Mama made for herself a dress and jacket last spring, and didn't like the outfit when it was finished. She gave both pieces to me. It turned into a skirt and tank top, but I made the top a tad small and with too many distractions, added it to the GAB. Well! This afternoon, cut it open in the front, dug out the scraps (which of course I kept), and have created a binding/loop closure, turning it into a vest I'll wear over one of those camisoles. There are surely buttons in the stash that will be perfect, I'll look this afternoon. There will be some more work on the skirt, too.

The bottom line: This is the way I began sewing, almost 50 years ago. Using little bits and making something to wear from those bits. I went in another direction for a while.

Yes, an adventure of a different kind.

2012 4th of July

       Don't adjust your glasses or computer screen...the first image is out of focus, and the people in the photograph were on their way to being out of focus!  It was the 4th of July, and there was no traffic this far upriver.  Worth and Karen, Stuart and I loaded up the newly renovated BigWideBoat with chairs, umbrellas and coolers, launched it at the Pickin' Palace, and headed up the NE Cape Fear River.  We stopped along the way to pick up MaryAnn and Randy, and continued upriver, close to the Duplin County line.  Allen and Jennifer passed us, and found the sandbar first.  Soon, we had the fishing pole holders in the shallow water, holding the umbrellas.  Chairs were next, the seats just barely in the water.  Small tables, from our travel trailers cleared the surface by just a few inches, just enough to keep the adult beverages and snacks dry.  Stephanie and Rick soon joined us.  Everyone once in a while, someone would pick up the floating recliner, wade a little way upriver, and drift back to the party.  We spent the entire day laughing, eating, swimming, telling tales, and pitying the poor folks on the crowded beaches.

The BigWideBoat was hand-made in Hampstead, NC, in the early 1980's for daddy.  My brother now owns the boat, and was happy to have it renovated and ready for this party.  We celebrated our freedom from the King, traffic and work!

jewelry day

      Barbara and Sharon were here for a studio play day recently, which is a good day for lots of reasons!  First, the inspiration and opinions are terrific. Secondly, it makes me clear the clutter in the studio before they arrive! We always talk about our successful projects underway, and then break out the projects that need help.  Quilting, garments, bags and jewelry are always covered.  So, while I had the Big Table mostly cleared, a few days later, it seemed like a good time to get the jewelry boxes on the table.  A few repairs are always waiting, and after finishing those chores, I spent the rest of the day on Orphans.  You know:  those things that have nothing to wear with them.  Sometimes, an Orphan is a blouse with no good skirt/pants option, sometimes an Orphan is a necklace with no good ear rings. 

Barbara's sister had just returned from a trip to China, and I really liked the bracelet she brought for Barbara, so I made two:  one with silver bead fillers, the other with pearls/gold/silver.  Just my size, too!  Next, a pair of ear rings to wear with a glass leaf necklace I made several years ago (inspired by a jewelry store window in  Hood River, OR).  A pair of ear rings to wear with a beautiful Rebecca Yeoman necklace I bought at a Literacy Council Fundraiser, and; a chain for the charm I made in a class with Julie Haymaker-Thompson at Art and Soul Hampton, VA (Julie made the Ritz Cracker charm!).

A few more fun pieces, which I'll post later!