Solving a Problem

My problem? I have a pegboard over my Studio worktable which holds some of my frequently-used sewing and craft tools. I'd hung it on the wall with some Command Wire Toggle Hooks, which worked well for a number of years. But last year, the adhesive failed and I wasn't sure how I wanted to re-hang the pegboard. 

Then I learned about these double-headed picture hangers. Best described as fancy push pins, they're great for hanging light framed pieces on the wall. They leave a very small hole behind. (Rather renter friendly, I'd say). The bottom "head" is flat and lies flush against the wall. The top head is spaced about 1/4 inch above. This way your frame can rest on the post between the two heads.

I highly doubt this is a new invention, but I only learned about it a month ago.

I was able to put a line of five or six of these pins in the wall. It's as easy as pushing in a thumb tack. No tools needed. With Dale's help, I lifted the pegboard onto the hangers. The frame surrounding the pegboard rests easily on the little posts. The weight of the pegboard is evenly distributed across the line of pins, so it feels secure.

Getting this pegboard back on the wall was the exact incentive I needed to clear my work table. That, in turn, helps clear some of the clutter in my head and is a first step toward helping my creative spirit to return. My creativity has taken a nose dive ever since we received Dale's difficult health diagnosis at the end of January.

I still haven't been able to latch onto a craft or sewing project to work on. But I did put my cleared work table to use by constructing a small jigsaw puzzle for the first time in months.

Micro Organizing

One of my favorite ways to spend time when life's been unsteady is to over-organize my belongings. This Threads and Bobbins Project has been on my radar for years. 

I've got around 50 spools of thread, each with their matching bobbin. My previous organizing system involved spool toppers that held the bobbin to the top of its matching spool of thread. The problem with the system is that because the spools are not of even height, the lids to my thread boxes wouldn't close. The stack was quite tipsy.

So I got myself some bobbin cases to hold the threads and bobbins separately. But how to match each thread to its corresponding bobbin? I decided to number them. My first attempt, using paper reinforcers, nearly worked. But not quite. 

So today I used a black ultra-fine tip Sharpie to mark the front and back of each bobbin, and the top of each thread.

Voila!

Completing this organizational task makes my heart go pitter-patter. 

When there's chaos in our world, in our household, and in my brain, having a small corner of order and calm delights me.

Conjuring Momentum

I need a place to rest my head.

I got emotionally overwrought again this week. (Thus, missing days of posting on my blog). You know, medical stuff. Family stuff. Stuff stuff.

When I get like this, my Studio gets turned inside out with all kinds of partially finished projects strewn across my work table. Chaos in my Studio becomes chaos in my head. Or is it that other way around? Who can say?

But I woke up this morning hurting and sad and crying and overwhelmed. So I took my meds. I had a good breakfast. I started making order out of chaos. I returned to my "bed piles" technique. Each project was removed from my work table and put in a neat, compact pile on my bed. Then I can tackle the project piles one at a time.

But how do I decide where to start? Decision-making is a test when my mind's off kilter. This time I decided to make a game of it. I used the "fish bowl" approach of putting categories of projects on slips of paper, then pulling one paper to lead me to which project to start with.

My first pull said, "Easiest thing." So I cut up scrap paper, disposed of recycling, put yarn and crochet tools away, put the things that belong downstairs away.

My other categories include:

• Want to do the most
• Biggest dent
• For someone else
• Want to do the least
• Waiting the longest to get done

My second pull said, "For me."

I decided it was time to finish my Penguin Pillow. I'd put it off for over a month. It's time to treat myself to finish a project I get to keep.

Since I was dealing with a plaid fabric again, I decided to applique the stitching onto the front pillow fabric, rather than piecing the fabric to the edge of the stitching. This time I sewed some red piping to the edge of the stitching, then centered the stitching on the pillow front and sewed the penguins in place.

I hadn't worked with piping in years, so that was a fun technique to revisit.

'Tis done! 'Tis done! We have a new decoration for this coming Christmas.

Very satisfying.

I think I'll stop for a meal (it's 3pm), then pick my next project. There's a chance I could finish something else today.

Decisions, Decisions

I'm like the old woman who lives in a shoe.

I had so many children crafts, I didn't know what to do.

All the surfaces in my Studio were cluttered up with partially done projects. So I decided to create a little order today. Layer by layer, project by project, I cleared my work surfaces. I put each project in a pile on my bed. Now I can tackle them one at a time.

These are thrifting finds I bought last week. Some are gifts for my granddaughters. Some is geocache swag. I've washed the fabrics. Now everything needs to be put away. 

This box is a card-making kit. I want to make a bunch and send them out to "my ladies" to let them know they've been on my mind.

Here are a couple pen-pal letters started for my Idaho grandkids.

I've done some measuring, so will cut these boxes to size, line them, and work on my "fat quarter project" wherein I sort my fabric, fold each identically, and organize them in boxes that will fit their shelf. This way, finding an appropriate fabric will be much easier than the current toppling stacks. This project is one of my 25 Goals in 2025.

And, of course, I still need to finish my cross-stitch pillow. I haven't worked out all the math yet.

So ... tomorrow? I tackle the first project tomorrow? 

One small problem: where do I sleep tonight?

Pumpkin Wreath

For a few years now I've been wanting to add a pumpkin wreath to my autumn collection. 

I bought the forms and gathered lots of ideas. 

This year I found an idea that inspired me due to its simplicity. I'm not sure who the original artist is:

Once again, I wanted to use supplies I had on hand to create this piece. I didn't have the exact velvety leaves used in the original inspiration photo, but I did have lots of fabric leaves on hand. 

First I pieced together some leftover foam core, adhered it with packing tape, traced the shape of the wreath onto it, and cut it out with an Exacto knife.

Using a piece of fuzzy orange fabric I'd bought at a thrift shop, I cut out the shape of the pumpkin, adding a seam allowance.

I made slits in the fabric seam allowance. Then I smoothed the fabric around the foam core as I hot glued the fabric in place.

To make sure the fabric was extra secure, I used painter's tape to cover the edges of the fabric.

The backing is complete. Here's what it looks like from the front. I was very pleased with how the process was going at this point.

Now to move on to the florals. I started by rough-cutting some brown craft felt strips and hot gluing them to the spines. I wanted to have something wider than the wire frame on which to glue the leaves. 

It's ok that it's so messy because it would all be covered.

Then I added a base of green leaves around the edges to use as a visual base. I think the placement is fine. But for me, this is where my wreath started going off the rails. This is the second time - or maybe third - that I attempted to use these leaves. One time was on a Spring wreath where the dull green leaves were the wrong color. I tried them again this time because I hoped they'd make a nice base for the bright Autumn leaves. 

The placement is quite nice.

At the top, I had the green leaves cascade down a bit from the stem. That made for good coverage.

Then I glued on the colorful leaves. This is where it visually fell apart for me. The colors do not work well together.

I do like how the leaves are placed. To cover the bottom of the wreath form a little better I added small sprigs of flowers I had on hand.

At this point only the stem remained to be covered. So I attached the orange backing to the wire frame. I poked hole in the foam core with the tip of some scissors. Then I threaded zip ties through the holes, and around the frame. When all was in place, I pulled the zip ties tight and cut off the trailing ends.

When I stood back and looked at the wreath, I was unsatisfied and disappointed. Those green leaves ...  

:: sigh ::

So I grabbed more of the Autumn florals in my stash, and tried to cover the green leaves up some more. Here are some details:

Bottom sprigs

Berries along the sides

Sunflowers at the top to cover the stem and add a focal point. I tried adding a bow, like in the inspiration photo, but that didn't work at all.

The finished piece is OK. It's fine. It's simply not what I had in my mind. 

I like the orange background a lot. I don't think I've ever used a background on a wreath before and find it to be an interesting variation.

I'm not convinced this looks like a pumpkin anymore. It looks like a weird oblong oval wreath. It's far more complex than I had in mind ... all because of the wrong shade of green. But this is how I learn.

Here's the wreath in place in our entryway. I may move it outside on the porch.

What's fun about the creative process is trying new things. Some work. Some don't. Some, like this, sort of work and help me learn so that I can make something more pleasing next time.

I did enjoy the hours in my Studio spent creating it.

Plus, I used up more stash which is one of my 24 Goals in 2024.

Back At It

Sometimes a little deal is a big deal. I want to remember this feeling.

Last week I finally completed setting up my sewing machines. They have a home in the alcove at the top of the stairs, down the hall from my Studio. The old Singer from high school days, the Burnette surger from the '90s, and my "new" Brother that I received several years ago and still haven't learned to use.

Set up. Cleaned out. Plugged in. Power cords tidied. Small "hoards" cleared off that table, the items having found new permanent homes. A dedicated space to sew again.

I dipped my toe in with a little mending to see if the machine tension was correct. Score! Then I moved on to hemming some jeans that have been waiting for that fix for a year-and-a-half. Just about broke a needle along the way, but got the job done. Denim. Those thick seams. Grrr. Done is better than good.

Then I altered this bright tablecloth so that it can work on our round patio table. It needed to fit around the umbrella hole. Nailed it.

Another addition to the Summer of P.

Any one of these things is just a little deal. But with each step, I felt my mood lift. I entered into the world of needlecraft when my mom taught me to sew. With the new set-up, I'm returning to my roots. 

After two years of wondering what happened to my creativity, it's a big deal to watch it return. For me, anyway.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig.

I Did a Thing!

OK. This may not be the most exciting thing for readers of my blog, but it's pretty exciting for me. I did a handy(wo)man thing. I installed some reflective film on the windows of my Studio.

The thing is ... I did it all myself. Dale didn't even have to help me. 

(Well, he tried, but I didn't get enough sleep last night, so my temper started getting a little short with him. I asked him to go do his own thing so I could figure this out without getting in a fight).

The window in my Studio faces directly west. This room turns into a sauna in the afternoons, even with the blinds down and the air conditioning on. I wanted a way to block some of the heat without blocking too much light.

I had the idea. I did the research. I talked it over with Dale. I did the measuring and ordering. I did the entire installation. And it's not too shabby for a first attempt.

The thing is, it's transparent, so there's no way to actually show the window. But it's 5:45pm on a 90 degree day, and I'm fairly comfortable. The reflective film works!

And did I happen to mention that I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF! ??

Dale is impressed. We're now considering adding some of this reflective window film to a couple other rooms.

But I might have him help with those.

Watercolor Workshop: The Overview

The painting is done! I've completed the designs on all 28 card bases. Hooray!

I'm very pleased.

Here's the overview.

Click for a larger image

This week I'll attach the painted bases to the card fronts, stamp appropriate messages, type up the perky poem I wrote, and get the valentines ready to send.

I'll also photograph the cards individually so I can share them in more detail here on my blog.

Gosh, I'm delighted with the outcome. It's wonderful to feel creative again!

Watercolor Workshop

I used my #PhoneFreeFriday to spend the entire day in my Studio. In today's crafternoon, I stepped out of my comfort zone and into the land of watercolor.

We're heading into The Month of Love, so I'm making some one-of-a-kind heart cards. I'm inspired by my friend Louise who pointed me to a video on YouTube last year.

It's fun to try, since I don't have anyone looking over my shoulder. I'm such a novice. So it's all about exploration.

 I've got enough card blanks for 28 cards. I managed 9 designs today. I think I'll leave all the ingredients on the table overnight and make more cards tomorrow.

Studio Time

I spent the entire day playing in my Studio today. Go me!

Welcome to my one-person quilted-heart workshop. I'm in the midst of prepping 20 more hearts for the Quilted Hearts project. Check out the glorious mess.

The front and back fabric for all 20 hearts are prepped. Now I'm figuring out how to decorate them. No two are the same. I've got loads of ribbons and trims and buttons and sequins at my fingertips. It's a ... process, this playing with different combinations of doo-dads.

As each heart is designed, I put all the components in a zip bag along with a rough sketch and any notes to myself about placement and color of thread, etc. 

I hope to finish this step tomorrow so that I can tidy up my workspace again. Then I can do the stitching and stuffing while watching TV in the other room.

I'm looking forward to sharing each Quilted Heart as I finish them.

Protection

but from what?

#underthemicroscope

Oh, So Very Margaret

Want to get to know me? This project reveals a lot.

Over the last weeks ... (months) ... I've been sorting and categorizing my button collection. My maternal great grandmother and grandmother were professional seamstresses. When Grandma died, everything went to her only child, my mom. When Mom died, I inherited Mom's sewing and craft supplies. She still had some of her mom's and grandmother's collection. Last year when my mother-in-law died, I inherited her sewing supplies, too.

Among the supplies were buttons. Buttons and buttons and buttons and buttons and buttons. 

Plus, I have a stash of my own buttons. I have a habit of going to thrift stores and digging through the craft and sewing section, and bringing home beautiful or unusual buttons. 

Some have threatened to call this an illness.

Over the last ... some time ... (years, really), I've sorted buttons. But when my mother-in-law's stash was added, the collection needed a bigger overhaul. 

I sorted by color, by size, by number of holes, by shank. Then I converted this large metal box that used to hold garage-type hardware into a container for my buttons. This is about 15" tall x 10' wide x 6" deep.

I divided up the drawers. I added labels. I admired my handiwork.

My original thought was that I'd put the loose buttons in the smaller drawers, and the buttons that were still on cards in the bottom two drawers. But, uh, I forgot how many buttons I have on cards.

So the next logical thing was to sew matching buttons onto index cards, right? So more sorting commenced as I gathered matching buttons. I finally had to limit the sewing-onto-cards to four or more matching buttons. There were just too many sets of two and three.

So not only do I have my beautifully sorted and labeled drawers of buttons arranged into rainbow order, I also now have a big box full of buttons sewed or stapled onto index cards beautifully sorted and labeled and arranged into rainbow order in an oversized shoebox.

And no, I didn't count them.

Look at all my pretty blues!

Most of my buttons are modern, plastic, and round. In the coming days I'll share some of the more unusual buttons in the collection.

Among themselves, crafters joke that purchasing supplies is as much of a hobby as the crafting itself.

I'd like to amend that thought. For nutcases like me, petting and organizing craft supplies is just as valid a hobby. It's like shopping your own stash and getting the creative juices flowing again.

I do hope that my creative dry spell dissipates soon. I'd love to utilize some of these buttons and share the resulting creations with the world.