Faces (x5)

Yay! More faces. I'm still behind as well as just behind on posting, but I do hope/plan to get through the 29. It just won't be by the end of Feb....

16 - black China marker on a paper bag. I'm somewhat irritated with this one. I wouldn't have done the line on the cheek the same way and I seem to reliably make eyes too large. The shape of the face was pretty accurate.

17 -  pen doodles on a scrap piece of paper at work....

19 -  Single line sewing face on single piece of muslin. I had been wanting to do this one for a while, but then I dropped super hot water on my foot and couldn't use my sewing machine for a while. Yay!

Pouches, la primera!

I realized I've been on a kick of making pouches and bags of all sorts and yet I haven't really posted any except for the folding grocery bags. These first couple are small ones and my first experiences with zippers. I was scared of zippers because my mom always avoided sewing them growing up. After picking up large bags of zippers for very little money in the LA Fashion District, I decided I needed to figure these things out. I don't have a zipper foot for my sewing machines, but I just try to get as close as possible to the zipper teeth along with taking advantage of the right and left placement of my needle and take my time. The results might not be perfect, but they're pretty good and I'm learning. I lined both bags for more durability.

 The large pouch currently houses my buttons and snap type items. I'm not sure what I was thinking, but the ribbon should have been on the side where the zipper is located once closed, I think.

When I had jury duty this past summer, I needed some entertainment. Along with a book, I decided I needed a way to take along my pigma micron pens so I could doodle while hanging out and waiting. That's where the small pouch came into existence. I wanted something that would let me easily see the caps for the color and size information, while holding them easily while mobile (i.e. no table top.) The top part of the pouch is completely encircled with the zipper, yet still connected in the back so there's no top to take off and lose. I really like how this pouch turned out, although sewing the circles was a bit tricky and I accidently sewed the top ciricle on the outside instead of the inside - I went with it. The pouch holds about 20 of the pigma micron pens.

Oh pouches! Up next I have similar items, yet completely different!

Bird Floor Cushion

A few weeks ago, I came across the tutorial for this floor cushion from livingwithpunks. I had a pile of old couch cushions I kept in the corner as floor cushions, but this seemed like a nicer way to achieve the same thing. Plus, it's a chance to sew something new. It was on my mental list of things to do! Before I could start though, I needed some supplies.

For Black Friday this year, I once again went down to the Los Angeles Fashion District to explore it's wonders during a weekday. Black Friday isn't a big part of shopping there, although a few shops, like Michael Levine, had some discounted fabrics, it's mostly that some shops aren't open on the weekends, so it pays to visit on a weekday and the Friday after Christmas is the only non-holiday type day I have off of work every year. (I realize I should make a post about the Fashion District in general, because it's pretty awesome for crafty/sewing types!...one day!) I picked up some odds and ends there that I needed to finish projects, like elastics of all sorts and cording to finish off the floor cushion. I also managed to go to Joann's yesterday and came across this awesome canvas-type bird fabric in the Red Tag section. I immediately wanted to find some use for it and realized the floor cushion was a great candidate. (I think I might also have enough left over to make a couple bike seat covers as well!)


So last night I dug through my fabric stash and decided I liked the idea of making a floor cushion that was reminiscent of a tree stump with birds on the top and bottom. I managed to find a fuzzy green and brown corduroy scraps from a thrift store grab bag to finish off the tree stump look. I pretty much followed the tutorial, cutting out a 22 inch circle for my more adult bottom, cut ~11 inch sides and I didn't include the handle. I also didn't bother to pin anything together... because that's how I do things some of the time.

Overall, I really like it! I filled it with the insides of the old couch cushions as well as some leftover foam from recovering my kitchen chairs. I think if I had bought specific filling for it, it maybe would have looked a little less lumpy. Also, my circle sewing skills obviously aren't perfected yet. Despite those things though, it looks pretty cute, does what I wanted, allowed me to use an awesome fabric, adds more nature imagery to my urban-y apartment, used up some scraps and cost me less than $10 in materials to make. Sounds like a successful project to me!

Dia de los Muertos Mask

Dia de los Muertos mask. The whole project was inspired by the mesh rose fabric. Sewn by hand and the sewing machine from a variety of fabrics.

unbored hands, october

Been staying busy with various projects in the spare moments that I have. There's something very necessary about being able to work and finish on projects in my free time.

a necklace made from some of the turquoise I picked up in Gallup, NM, chain and hemp cord

 

 wrist cuff

book safes

 book safe in action, holding handmade bracelets I purchased from a Native American woman in Gallup

..... semi-halloween/fall inspired nails, after cleaning

 I guess I actually made these a little white ago, but they are glow jars of various iterations. The one on the left also has glitter and a solar light.

the satisfaction of handmade

This morning I got dressed for work in a normal manner, but it was exciting to me.  This morning I took a handmade (made by my hands) dress out on it's maiden voyage outside of my home. The first time out the door wearing an item is always a difficult day. I'm always afraid I missed something in assembling the item or didn't make a seam strong enough and it's only a matter of one wrong step and I'm standing half naked on the street without a backup clothing plan. As the day goes on and I haven't noticed any holes or other problems, I feel a bit better. It helps to reassure me if I washed the item beforehand in the assembled state to make sure the seams are at least strong enough to handle the washer. A pass through the dryer and I can feel even more secure. But any of that anxiety is worthwhile because there's nothing like wearing a handmade outside of your home for the first time.

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At this point, I've never purchased a pattern of any sort for a piece of clothing I've sewn-  I either use info online, from library books or take guidance from existing clothing that I own and put together my own patterns. This has it's risks, but it's also just more of how I do things in many aspects of life, so I think I have an implied level of confidence in my work, even if I don't express it at the time. It can be a little rough (especially as I've learned the importance of cutting pieces nicely before you sew them together), but I do it because there is nothing for me like the feeling that comes from getting over those challenges and making something with my hands and brain.

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I learn many things in the process of pulling together the materials, planning things out in my head and on paper when needed  & assembling components. Other learning comes from the use of the items later on. I love learning and I love directing my own learning (sorry school - you have your time & place, but now's not the time for me!) I love using the things I learn in one realm in others. I love how making things with my hands makes me look at the world and observe things and how I better understand why things are they way they are and when there is no need to stick to the status quo. I love knowing that I have the ability to make the tweaks and adjustments necessary to get what I intended out of my project or for the next time around. I feel excited, intrigued, mentally stimulated, practical, powerful, resourceful, unique, more accurately myself, healthy and cheap (in a good way!) I love that I'm wearing an item with no labels sewn into the seams, printed, embroidered or beadazzled across the chest, patched over or removed. I get the same feelings making a meal, knitting a hat or blanket and the somewhat less pratical art projects. To me, it's just an awesome feeling to enable yourself and create. That's why I keep on doing it.

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...so sometimes, that's what's behind a new black cotton dress with purple polka dots on a Monday morning.

a reusable bag!

As a fairly eco-conscious person, I am aware of both the possibly of reusing and recycling plastic bags, but I also know I bring way more than I can use into my apartment. To reduce my use of the bags, I've been using reusable bags for a while. One of the big problems with them is actually remembering to bring them along or having them with you for spontaneous trips. Most people mention to put the bags back in your car as soon as you're done. As someone without a car, this doesn't really work. And those giant, 99 cent bags you find or are given for free every place don't fold up well and are rather bulky. Same with canvas bags or even ones made from most cotton-knit material. Reuse tshirts for a bag? So now I'm carrying an equivalent of a few days worth of shirts with me all of the time? I also have to say, I hate all of the advertisements, logos and words that come on the bags. I regularly turn them inside out (including my "Brag about your bag!" from the Coastal Cleanup events...)

Over the years I've found that the bags that seem to make it back into my purse, backpack or pocket are the tiny, nylon ones that fold up into a little ball of some sort. I've also realized there is such a wide variation in design - some force you to carry them on your shoulder, hold them in your hand or give you the option of both. Some also have their "holder" as a separate piece vs. being part of the bag itself. Since I've aquired sewing machine skills in the past year, I decided it was time I tried my hand at making my ideal bag, using some discount nylon remnants from Joann's.

I did a lot of browsing online for shapes and designs and used my own experiences to come up with this pattern. I'd definitely tweak it some for subsequent bags, but it's working out well so far. I made the bag a few weeks ago and have tried to use it as often as possible without any problems. Next up, I get see how it stands up in the wash after a smoothie jar leaked onto it in my backpack yesterday! It is a little larger than some bags when folded up, but that also makes it easier to handle than some that require a particular folding method. It still squishes down in the pouch, it's just fluffier, like a marshmallow instead of a rock! Or something. I ordered 10 yards of nylon to play with and have come across some worn-out items that can be chopped up and used for these bags as well. Joy for custom bags!

bird mask

bird mask - sewn  from various fabrics and scraps

mask #1

 

After visiting the surrealist exhibit at the LACMA, I was inspired to finally make a mask (it's been on my to-do list for a while!) There are things I would tweak for future masks, but overall I really like it! The material for the mask was a random scrap I got in a thrift store fabric bag and the lace was from a random bag of lace I picked up in the LA downtown fashion district. I go back and forth between wanting to do something to the lace on the outer most lace scallops to make them stick up vs. flopping over like it does now. I sometimes think I am more inspired by using pre-cut scrap type stuff than a nice, full piece that I hand selected.

baby sewing part 2.. and other

A couple of soft stuffed balls for child toys (although, they seem to be equally appealing to non-child humans.) I used this pattern from purlbee.com for the larger ball (I didn't print it out though - I just kinda reproduced the shape in a random size) and this pattern from rustsunshine.blogspot.com for the smaller ball. My seams were a little... not so perfect on the small ball and I suddenly realized a great functional reason for those little patches of color on the ends of beach balls. They hide mistakes well.



These balls actually aren't from the last week. This week I've been working on lots of little projects, like these bird heads and some more sewing. I also went to see the "In Wonderland" , exhibit at the LACMA yesterday instead of watching the Super Bowl, which was super awesome and deserving of it's own post. I'm huge fan of surrealist art, and seeing so many pieces from both artists I had heard of like Dorothea Tanning and Frida Kahlo and new to me artists was so energizing and exciting. I can't get it out of my head!

baby sewing part 1

It's crazy for me to realize this, but It's only been a little over 4 months since I sat down and decided to learn to sew with a sewing machine! The first day I managed to continually jam the needle and bobbin, break a few needles and lose a screw inside the sewing machine. Since then, I've been on a pretty constant sewing spree. Most recently I've been focusing on baby items.

I've been making all sorts of baby things for the baby, but I really wanted to make something for mom. After some browsing, I finally came across the idea of a necklace that is friendly for babies, but made for mom to wear - a cloth covered beaded necklace with knots. The idea is that the baby can grab at it and not pull anything off of it and it's soft enough that it doesn't immediately choke mom. Also, since the beads are unfinished wood covered in fabric, they are teething friendly.

I generally used the directions over at a bit of sunshine. It was very straightforward. I was, however, rather paranoid. Of course things were washed before being assembled. I also threaded the beads onto a hemp cord so that even if one of the bead pockets was ripped open, the bead wouldn't simply fall out. The cord is knotted into the knots between the beads, so it's pretty secure. The whole thing is also double stitched. I suppose I could have done double layers of fabric, but I guess you have to call it good at some point. It's still not something that would be suitable as a baby toy that can be left to play with alone... just a baby friendly piece of jewelery for mom that doesn't necessarily scream out "I'm wearing a baby toy on my neck!!!"

covering my self propelled-mobile

So, I've had my bike about 3 and a half years and after thousands of miles, the seat is finally starting to show some wear. While browsing online, I realized I could make a cover! So I dug through my fabric and pulled out canvas and spandex scraps and some elastic, traced my seat and took a few measurements and pulled this seat cover together. My old seat also had a reflective patch on the back, so taking that idea, I sewed a bit of reflective fabric on the back of the cover. I took it out for the first time today and had no problems! Awesome!

I'm also debating making a suede cover and using this one as a top cover. This one is stretchy enough that it can fit on a larger seat. We shall see....