Procrastinating

Posted on November 26, 2006 by Suzanne

Even though my list over there on the right says that I’m working on book number 2, I have to admit that it really ought to say "Avoiding working on book number 2." (Book number 1 is called Meandering Magic and can be found on my website).

I’m not really sure why I’m procrastinating about it. I pretty much know exactly what’s going to be in it. Based on the success of the first one, I’m pretty sure this one will do well, also. I know what I did wrong (and right) with the first one, so I have a good idea of what to do this time.

I’ve also made promises about when it will be ready, so I can’t put it off too long, if I don’t want to break those promises.

I also know exactly how much drawing and editing I have to do get this one ready, and I suspect that that is exactly why I’m putting it off. About 2 weeks ago I made myself work on it every day for an hour. That lasted about 2 days. Starting tomorrow, I think I’d better start that again, or it’ll never get done!

Red postcard

Posted on November 25, 2006 by Suzanne

Most of you probably know about the Fiberart For A Cause fundraiser in which artists from around the world created fiber postcards. These postcards were used as thank yous for a $30 donation to the American Cancer Society. The project has raised over $110,000 in just 18 months.

My friend Lynn got to go to Houston this year to Int’l Quilt Market and Festival, where the postcards were available. I asked her to make a donation and pick out a postcard for me. I received mine today, and I’m very excited about what she picked:

Keep in mind that she picked this out for me almost a month ago. Do you suppose she could see into the future and know that I would be on a red kick right now? (Thank you, Lynn, for picking out such a cool postcard for me…)

A few weeks ago, somebody somewhere (on one of the many lists I belong to) was talking about how to display fiber postcards. One of the ideas was a photo album-y thing they had gotten at IKEA. Well, guess what! I have one just like it, only mine came from Target about a million years ago. I had only ever managed to stick one picture in it (there is a frame on the other side that flips over, but I wouldn’t use it on the postcards, as it "mats" it to a smaller size).

Now all I need to do is fill it up with more postcards! I’ve thought about joining the art2mail project, but I think that involves more postcards than I can commit to making at this time.

How’s this for a deal: if you send me a postcard to fill up my frame, I’ll send you a postcard in return. If you are interested in trading with me, send me an e-mail and I’ll give you my mailing address!

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Posted on November 24, 2006 by Suzanne

My twin boys are usually delightful, but occasionally, my DH and I refer to them as Thing 1 and Thing 2. Thanks to my Dad, we now have t-shirts for them so we can tell them apart when they are in that sort of mood.

I should add that Dr. Seuss has long been a family favorite and even though the boys are now able to easily read to themselves, they often request the we read them a favorite Dr. Seuss book at bedtime.

Who can resist faces like that???

Fear and a pair of jeans

Posted on November 23, 2006 by Suzanne

I did something sort of scary this afternoon. I opened the seam in a pair of my old jeans. Why is this scary you ask? Well, even if you don’t want to know, I’m going to tell you.

First off — it’s scary because who in their right mind takes apart perfectly good clothing? OK, OK, "perfectly good" isn’t quite accurate considering the fact that this particular pair of jeans has a gaping hole in the right knee. But honestly, why on Earth would someone choose to rip a seam? I wondered this as I did it, seeing as how I avoid unsewing as much as possible in my line of work. I didn’t actually realize until I tackled it how well the seam was sewn, either. In addition to the seam itself, the raw edges were serged. Do you know how much thread was involved? Yards and yards and yards — and it’s allover my sewing room now….in leetle teeny bits…

Secondly, it’s scary because it means I need to get going on the next part of the project. Which is trying to embellish the jeans in some fashion. The first goal is to patch the great big honkin’ hole in the knee. The hole didn’t used to be quite so big. Back when it was just a thin spot, I kept thinking that I ought to use my fancy schancy embroidery machine and do some embroidery over the whole leg, and somehow this embroidery would help patch the knee. Eventually the thin patch became an actual hole, and I kept thinking the same thing about embroidery.

Well, the hole kept growing until one day I managed to stick my foot through and rip it even bigger. I’ve worn the jeans a few times since then, but finally quit because the hole is almost seam to seam now.

Over the last few days I’ve started dreaming about an outfit (wearable art…) that I might like to try to make. A vest, a shirt, and an embellished pair of jeans. Now that the jeans are all pulled apart, it’s time to get serious and get it done. Although, a trip to the fabric store might be in order first….I’m thinking about some fun fashion fabrics that I don’t ordinarily use, so, of course, it is necessary to go stock up….what a trial!

The before picture! Hopefully the after picture won’t be years behind — maybe only months! LOL!

Like a hole in my head

Posted on November 23, 2006 by Suzanne

As in … "I need a new project…"

But, but, but….it’s got RED fabric.

I’m trying to challenge myself to work on original projects, and to use up what I’ve got before I go back for more….

But! I just love the way the two blocks work together. Not to mention all that nice open space for pretty quilting….

Maybe I’ll have it done in time for NEXT Christmas.

In case you can’t read it, the pattern is called Peppermint Swirls. It’s designed by Fig Tree Quilts. I got it at the quilt show in Traer last weekend.

(All of the images on my blog are clickable — you can look at a larger view if you click on the picture!)