A new painting... a pretty space

Here is an experiment in styling a small corner of our living room... with some new art I finished a little while ago.

Inspired by Alabama Chanin

For a few years now, I've been totally inspired and awed by the designs of Alabama Chanin. So when this little sewing chair unexpectedly entered my life, I decided to give it an update by doing some stitching:

A castle in progress...

OK, so this castle has been in the works (and in play) for about 2 years now... but this past week, it got an additions since a certain girl received additional residents on Christmas. Thankfully, Christmas also brought with it additional boxes (including klenex boxes it appears) and so an addition was possible... outside of addition, particularly the third floor, still needs finishing but all in all... not bad! :o) A little hard to see with that mess in the back... will post again when I get the addition finished...

That`s it for tonight...

Some handmade Christmas 2011

Note: Thanks to Attick 24 for this lovely pattern... I gifted a number of these this past Christmas and they were very well received... and I really love them as well. They're quite addictive to make and so great for using up little scraps of yarn that I just can't throw away!

Stashbusting... practical and... creative challenge

As many other artists and crafters experience, I too have a stash of materials (fabrics, paints, canvas, yarn...) that threatens to take over my house (I have a cartoon-like image in my head of walls being pushed outwards by these piles of 'inputs'). So, I have given myself the challenge that this fall I will focus on working with what I have - the fabric I have, the paint I have, the yarn I have... and although this is clearly an effort born out of practicality, I'm realizing that it also creates a challenge for me artistically as I look at all I have, and all those ideas I've collected and decide what I will make with them... limits imposed that might just help me focus on creating instead of consuming/purchasing more materials in hopes of inspiration!

I'll post pictures of these completed works as they are finished... wish me luck! :o)

How long can you go without posting and still be blogging?

What a lovely summer it's been - and despite the lack of posting here, I have been busy creating... I did manage to make not two but 6 bags for teachers and various other support staff at the kids' school - also made that kimono top for my girl, started to crochet and knit washcloths for this year's Christmas gifts and been sewing tops (especially my favorite from weekend sewing) - love that summer top...

This fall - in an effort at stash busting and also getting some projects done and also documented, I'm hoping to post one project per week - either here or on flickr... Hope this keeps me making!

Sigrid

The Great Quest to finish some projects

I'm ever so good at starting projects, even better at dreaming of projects, and extremely talented at aimlessly browsing the web in search of new projects.

In an effort to do some stash busting, this as part of the goal of having all of my craft and art supplies fit into existing storage (don't worry, this still means I have enough fabric and paint and... to outfit an army of artists) I am aiming at finishing the following projects, to feel freer to start new ones!

1. 2 more teachers' bags to finish as a year-end thank you

2. Kimono top for Mikayla as a pattern tester... I promised and will deliver!

3. Four skirts for 2 little nieces of a friend

4. New zipper on thrifted leather jacket... just need to figure out the zipper foot on my 'new' vintage sewing machine and it should be done in a half hour or less...

Here goes!

Sigrid