Stages of a project

I love organization- sorting, filing, just the processes of an orderly life. It gives me the greatest joy to redo the closets, or to thoroughly clean and put stuff away. I’m a “a place for everything, everything in its place” kind of girl. So the fact that I didn’t have a routine for my crafting was, to put it mildly, shocking! I tried out a little assembly line idea while cutting the fabric for my current project, and it worked! I’ll have to think of some more ideas and do a few more trials, but I am already more energized  and planning more work than I have been since summer break started, and hope to get the new process streamlined and operational in time for the yearly Christmas Workshop later this Fall…

Buying fabric

One thing I did discover in looking at how I “work” this week was that, weirdly enough, I haven’t been buying enough fabric. Or rather, enough of the right kind of fabric. Using the supplies I already had around the house was the name of the game when I first started out, and for the longest time I thought all the half finished projects and not-quite-right results were simply my lack of skill.

Well, I’ve spent a lot of time crafting over the years- in fact, it’s what I “do”, even if I don’t get paid for it. I’ve come to view it as my work, and I’ve been educating myself, refining my “product”, pinpointing my ideal fabric content and colour range, discovering preferred tools, and so many more aspects of what I like and don’t like that I realized that “making do” just wasn’t working. My husband helped me realize that I am very good at what I do, and that it was my unhappiness at “making do and just making it work” that was hampering the end product, not my lack of skills!

Taking the time to work out the dimension list and process detail on this project has highlighted the fact that for me, using my ideal materials makes a better end product. It’s the little details that matter the most!

Storing fabric

Oddly enough, how I store my raw materials affects my process- a lot. When I first started out I would have to wash and iron a piece of fabric every time  a new project got started! Finally I’ve learned to wash and iron them the week, if not the day I bring them home. And folding them! I would fold the lengths of material any old which way- then get frustrated when I pulled them off the shelves and have to rewash and iron them to get the creases out. Now I fold them selvedge to selvedge, and then in half lengthwise and half again, like folding a letter. They all fit on my shelving neatly stacked without falling down whenever I reach in there for a “package”, and I can see the colours and patterns at a glance. Easy peasy! No more wasting time rewashing and ironing fabric, lots more time for actual sewing!

Clearing the decks

Right- that’s enough time yammering about my new process! Time to get working on this new project so I can show you all the wonderful ideas I have cooked up for this Fall. Ahh Fall- will it ever come again? This time of year I like to clear off all my decks, finish up old projects, dream about new ones, and plan ideas for Christmas. So it’s bye-bye lazy summer days, hello crafting machine!

Prep work

I wanted to make my crafting easier to do, to come up with a more streamlined process. A process? The idea struck me that I had never thought of my crafting as a process before. I let it percolate in my mind as I finished my math calculations and drew up a project sheet on the computer. Then I went over to my work area and fiddled around with the layout a bit, and thought some more about what I was planning on doing. Took a break and made some punch to take out onto the balcony to sit with my husband and kitty, who were enjoying the hot sweltering sun in the late afternoon. (Ugh it’s hot this summer! Droughts and fires and heat and mugginess everywhere!)

Can you see her? Same pose even! Too cute.

Anyway- back to the topic. I realized I was starting to think of my crafting as “my work”. It’s what I do to pass the time, to take my mind off the pain, to make my life make more sense. but can I do my crafts on a more professional capacity? I am afraid it will take the magick out of it if I try to up the volume of my output. Christmas crafting – my busiest time of year, and the craziest!- gets pretty wild, could I do that on a regular basis throughout the year?

So this week I am paying more attention to what I do, and how I do it. Writing down my process, coming up with a basic plan. I have no idea where this latest scheme will take me- or if indeed it will go anywhere realistic. But sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith…

Doing the math

While working out the yardage calculations of my bag pattern I noticed something right away- the bag lining and inside pockets were taking up a lot of fabric- too much for the amount I had just bought to do them! I thought there would be enough to do 6 bags- maybe more, if I counted the fabric already in my stash. But no- I hadn’t counted on the bag lining fabric being such a large piece. It was then that I realized I hadn’t really looked at my pattern before, and I really had no idea the amount of fabric the pattern used. It will work out, because there is enough fabric in my stash to come up with the difference, as long as I don’t mind the pockets not being all matchy-matchy with the lining. But I wanted to figure out a way to make sewing bags more effortless, easier and less time consuming. I wanted to make a more streamlined process for myself.

I set the problem aside for my brain to work on while I went about some other “chores” around the house. Am I the only person who loves to rearrange cabinets? I found myself at 8 o’clock sorting through the medicine cabinet, tossing old shampoo bottles and setting up a first aid box, happy as a clam! Tasha had to come in to see what I was up too. She’s very bossy around bedtime- lights out Mama!

Unless it’s hot. Then this is all you get:

Too bad kitties don’t like cold showers!

Discovering my Process…

I’ve started a new project this week, and it’s making me so happy! I’ve gathered some of my favorite colours and fabrics and started a new round of bags. The prep work has never gone very smoothly with these, so I sat down and did some math calculations.

Jump right in

Normally when I start a new project, I just read the directions and start cutting. Oh sure, I wash and iron my fabrics, true them up and slice off the ragged edges. And yes, I’ve done some research, poured over the internet and books for inspiration, and dug through my notes for ideas. But I don’t really think about what the end product will look like, and sometimes it seems I do more math calculations than I do sewing on some projects. So this time, I sat down at my work table (yes- the dining table! It’s a great big surface I can pile all my yummy fabrics on…) and made a list of all the dimensions. And that got me thinking of how new dimensions would look- but that’s another project, for another day (Tote bags! Shopping bags! Book bags!).

The Crafting Machine at work… lots of new bags up there- just you wait! Oh, and here’s an update on the Faery’s House, I’ve gotten some work done on the paint job this summer:

New window frames, and got the trim on the attic painted out- I’m liking, but not loving, the orange/green colourway at the moment, but I’ve no idea what colour to paint the patio/balcony railings. The Faeries haven't’ been very helpful- they’ve taken to camping out in the garden to escape the heat. I know because they’ve been having loud midnight pool parties in the pond!

Looks so cool and inviting! So glad I made a “pond” for the garden- all the hummers come by for a sip, and Tasha likes to splash around in there, too!

Fall sewing- and a Hobbit or two…

Mama’s little helper:

We (she owns half of everything brought into this house!) bought some new fabric for a few very special Fall projects.

High loft interfacing. A very important part of my crafting!

Lots of yummy Fall colours!

Some of you might remember this little guy. I made hima few years back, but now he’s so apropo! It’s my version of a hobbit- right down to his little vest and pants! Now all he needs are some hairy feet…

Happy Weekending everyone!

Summer, oh my!

Where has the time gone? It’s August already! Lots of doings around these parts:

Movies! The new Batman, Spiderman, Iceage, Brave, Snow White and the Huntsman, Men in Black 3, Dark Shadows, and the Avengers- a lot of really good movies, and some not so great, but all were enjoyed as a break from the madness of life.

Walks! Finally we have settled into the rhythm of  life in this (hotter) new climate of ours, and discovered the perfect time and place for a good walk. Early morning finds us out a Lake Murray with the ducks, bunnies and those cheeky sparrows. Bliss!

Cooking adventures! Homemade tortillas (so easy! so delicious!), lots of curried chicken salads, grilled chicken, sautéed zucchini, and I found the most yummy feta cheese this summer…

New Crafting projects! Stonework houses (from paper grocery bags!), French Knots embroideries, metal mini painting tutorials from friends, birthday presents for friends (no spoilers!), and even some knitting getting done during the early evenings!

Late evening star viewing out in the garden…

Facebooking!

Pin(terest)ing!

Photographing! (new camera= renewed interest in taking pictures again)

Early morning weekly shopping= free time the rest of the day (yaay! Time for crafting again!)

Lots of Game Days- new venues, reconnecting with old friends, leveling old toons, and even some new character builds…

It’s going fast- time speeds by so quickly these days. I’m still working on the book- but I must say the time I’ve been able to allot to it has shrunk as the summer has progressed. So glad it’s almost done, though. Soon, soon!

So enjoy the rest of your summer, friends, and I’ll meet you all back here periodically for updates, news and fun.