the Creative Thursday blog

happy easter

and happy spring by the way! hope you are having a wonderful sunday! xo

bunny by me and egg by maya

the goat, the peep and the sheep

I'm playing around with some ideas for animal pillows...

off to market - schoolhouse + book signing

First! thank you so much for the book congratulations. I'm still taking it all in, especially since last Thursday a copy of the actual book arrived. It's a pretty amazing feeling to see years worth of work compiled so beautifully in one place. I'll be sharing some photos here, with more peeks into the inside of the book, when I return from Quilt Market which is where I'm headed this week.

This weekend I will also be having my first two book events at Quilt Market, with a Schoolhouse Presentation on Friday, October 26 at 11- 11:30  am  in room 372D. On Saturday I will be having a book signing from 3 - 3:30 pm at the F & W Booth. 

Made a new, much larger "Bunnie" with The Red Thread, featured above, and sent him off to spend some time in the Andover Booth. 

So if you are headed to market too, I'll see you there!

a tote bag pattern

I was about to write that this is the first tote bag I've sewn, but actually it's my second. 

The first one I created from a pattern online and this one I took a class. Even though I'm coming along with my sewing, I still really appreciate having someone step me through a pattern. Officially on my sixth class, I'm getting much quicker with my machine and reading and cutting out patterns is becoming way more familiar. Always a little intimidated by sewing, it's nice to feel progress happening!

Each pattern is so different, have you noticed? So much of a pattern feeling easy to follow has to do with someone's ability, to not just sew but to instruct someone how to sew. Especially for students like me who prefer a visual/listening learning experience. I'm not much of an instruction reader, never have been. I prefer to jump in and figure it out as I go. However, this method does not work so well with most sewing especially apparel sewing :) 

I take almost all of my classes at Sew LA, who just opened up an awesome new space in Atwater Village. {if you go, stop by Proof Bakery across the street - except on Monday because sadly they are closed - and you will not be disappointed. Oh and also Kaldi Coffee & Tea right next door has my favorite 'Pirate's Chai' hot or iced}  In fact I took some private lessons from Shaerie way before I ever knew I would be designing my own fabric. Shaerie is the owner of Sew LA as well as one of the teachers. Years of experience in sewing {I think she started as a teenager} she's great at explaining everything clearly, and thoroughly. She's also a stickler for high quality, while working smarter not harder. For this reason, her first pattern is a winner. Clear and easy to follow.

She's working on developing a line of her own patterns and the tote bag is the first to be released. Right now you can only get it here at Sew L.A. So if you're wanting a functional, quality tote bag that's easy and fun to sew, this is your pattern.

Loving my tote bag. As you can imagine it's my new favorite which means I'm taking it everywhere. I used two of the designs from my newest line {shipping any day now} 'The Red Thread'.  All in greys, bloom flowers on the outside and bunnies and mushrooms on the inside. 

a gentle return

As I head into my 7th year of blogging {seriously?! for someone who really didn't want to start a blog...} ~ officially the longest blog and work break I've taken. 

And the reason many of us don't take such long breaks: because when we actually step away for longer than a week or a weekend, breaking the momentum and/or the daily treadmill so many of us are on,  we might not want to come back to life and work as we know it = exactly what happened. 

Don't get me wrong - I am excited to return, to create and make things, to share them with you {and a little less excited to return to the tasks involved with running a business}. I seriously needed this break and am so glad I took it. Could have been even longer, but then again I think we always feel that way. I thought I'd return after Labor Day, but just wasn't quite ready. So am easing back in to things this week.

I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge that this book might also be responsible for some {even more than usual} reflection. Just a little light reading, you know, while on vacation. I am presently in the process of changing my mind and my blog ;)

Also the longest break from my usual routine of creating - but as you know, my fellow creatives - we can't totally break from making something with our hands, right? So I knitted a cowl {woot! it's true I started & finished a cowl in a few days - bless thick yarn and big knitting needles - photo to come when it's not 90 degrees out} and I also finished this cross stitch of Miss Fran for my new Iphone case. If you enjoy hand sewing, stiching, you gotta get your hands on one of these. 

Alrighty then, the book is at the printer! I'm feeling pretty well rested. Got to know San Francisco and my own city of Los Angeles a lot better.  Had a great visit with my family.  Did a little sprucing up of the blog, so as per usual no big promises as to what's ahead, but I'm excited to spend time here again, more often. I miss my blog. 

Hope August was good to you out there xo

 

more embroidery, sewing + a sale

Another embroidery pattern added to the shop! As well as some other new treats, like these crafting bags and an adorable 'miss fran wearing miss fran' who travels in her own pouch.

Also! you should know! I'm having a summer sale, 15% off everything in the shop. It ends tomorrow, Monday @ 12 pm PST. Originally set to end at 9 am, however Etsy was down on Saturday, so I have extended it a few extra hours. Just enter SUMMER for the coupon code at checkout.

speaking of embroidery

Miss Fran embroidered. Inspired by Ric Rac Rabbits, I created a new embroidery pattern for the shop.  Some colorful thread plus some acrylic paints, I had the best time making this yesterday. Definitely a project that can be completed in a couple of hours, for when you want to satisfy those quick bursts of creativity {you get say, maybe over a weekend?} I'm looking forward to some of that time right now.

have a great weekend!

schoolhouse tunic

In the year and a half that I've been designing fabric, I've also been taking a lot of sewing classes. I cannot tell you how much it helps me understand who and what it is I am actually designing for. Learning how the pattern I design might be used, has been incredibly helpful in thinking of the best presentation and layout of the each design. (I for one really like stripes, because they are much easier, a little cheat sheet if you will, for me to cut and sew in a straight line ;))

My most recent class that I took at Sew L.A. {which if you are in L.A. I highly, highly recommend any and all classes there} was to make this Schoolhouse Tunic by Sew Liberated. What is suggested, and what I actually did this time I took a class! was make a second piece simultaneously at home. This definitely helps nail down that initial learning process into more than just instructions that literally float away from my brain the very next day, if not the same day.

The Iphone has also been super helpful with classes too, as I've found that I'm a visual learner so snapping a photo of the teacher demonstrating the next step for us,  helps me way more than just taking notes. A combination of Iphone photos, notes, and last but not least the actual pattern instructions {I'm not really a very good instruction follower kind of girl} and I was able to successfully make a second tunic at home in the span of the same 3 weeks {with minimal mistakes I might add}

The pattern is for intermediate level and definitely pushed my skill level which was perfect for where I'm at with my sewing. It takes just under 3 yds. of fabric, both fabrics shown above are from my first collection, meet the gang, and I recommend choosing the size up from what you usually wear.

Having also sewn my first small quilt last year, I find apparel sewing to be even more challenging. Then again my quilt was made from 4 blocks, all square. Some of the quilts I see - whoa - seriously skilled people working on those. Totally different sewing experiences though, apparel vs. quilting. I have to say I'm loving it all, minus that pattern cutting and the pinning. As per usual, I've got big plans and want to start designing my own line of clothing, and patterns, right after  I finish this book and...

Some accessorizing with a striped cowl and some yellow rain boots - voila. {If you're wondering what I'm looking at in these photos, it was Garbo. I'm telling you she's my muse} I've also worn both of these over jeans. Lets' just say I've been wearing one of these almost every day. 

bunnies!!!!! in the shop

I made 6 and am willing to part with 5, for now ;)

Loving the little 'Meet the Gang' button on this one. So much fun sewing and painting these this past week.  Just makes me happy. Hope you enjoy them too.

sewing sunday

My first holiday collection of fabric arrived last Thursday and this time rather than stare it for weeks on end before cutting it. I just went for it - had to sew something right away. 

So, I made a new bunny today {might be one of my most favorite creations to date}

I created this first holiday group with an intention of using the majority of the designs year round. It was fun to work with it, even now at the beginning of Spring time, and still feel inspired by the colors and the designs.

A few years in the making, I have been wanting to create a signature Creative Thursday softie and this one could be getting close...! A little of everything, my own fabric! {I still can't get over the fact that I'm sewing with my own fabric} machine sewing, hand stitching and painting.

This is also good inspiration for my upcoming class at the Makerie. I like to create, particularly when sewing, through improvisation, which also means working in the 'mistakes'.  When I started out this morning, all I knew is that I wanted to make a bunny that I'd love - that wouldn't be too complicated to recreate, and that could be made with slightly new variations each time.  I tend to get bored repeating the same thing over and over. Several hours, a few mistakes, and a couple of changes later, I had no idea what the final one would like until I sewed on my second attempt at the face. 

I might have to keep playing with this new fellow and make a little batch of Easter bunnies...

hope you're having a good weekend - and you remebered to set your clocks back I mean forward! I'ts 5 pm and light out!! hello springtime! happy sunday