If it isn't already too obvious- I'm a fabric lover...some may call me a hoarder but I prefer collector or connoisseur. I have a closet full of beautiful fabric. Among the many, many, MANY large scale linen prints, I have silks, velvets...even maybe a leather or two. Believe me, I've collected more than my fair share of fabrics. I am seriously concerned that someday my piles and piles will end up in the apartment below us...ok, maybe not...but that gives you an idea of how much fabric I actually have saved up over the last few years.
So what do you do with so much fabric, you ask? Well, besides a handful of hot pads, woven rugs, and bags, I've really enjoyed sewing pillows! As I've mentioned before, I'm a self taught sewer so I jump on anything that helps me improve. I've made monogram pillows for my sisters and my sis 'n law (who also added a few more pillows to her collection a couple Christmas' ago). I've whipped up a set for my Aunt. I've made a ba-zillion (ok...more like 15-20) different pillows for our living room and bedroom over the past few years. They are a simple way to spice up a room. Its always exciting to pull the bins out of the good 'ol craft closet and build a color palette. It helps remind me why I push myself every evening and weekend...it makes me feel creative and alive!
Most recently, my mother in law, Leslye, asked me to sew some pillows for her. She and her husband, Don, visited last November and we spent some time digging through the piles of pattern and color.
She brought a few photos of pottery she has on display in her living room and away we went...pawing through the piles of fabrics and here is how everything came together....
Spicy, bold, summery colors...a mouthwatering salsa and guacamole color palette! (am I making you hungry?!) I love this classic but fresh combo. We mixed prints, velvet, dots, stripes, embroideries...a little bit of everything but it came together beautifully!
The pillows I've made in the past have had an envelope closure in the back so the pillow can easily slip in and out. I made Leslye's pillows two sided so she can mix and match until her heart is content!
Side 1 on the left and Side 2 on the left:
And of course a few a group shots for good measure:
Wow...It has been 20 days since my last post! I thought I was getting waaaaayy better at this. Where did February go? And while your trying to figure that one out...where did the last year go? Or the last FIVE for that matter?! I'm starting to realize that it's true...time does speed up the older we get.
As March begins and yet another birthday approaches, I've started to look inward again. I'm really seeing a pattern...I really do this every year. Where was I last year at this time? What was I doing? What have I done to better myself? my craft? my life? Am I happier? stronger? I know you ask these questions too...maybe it's year round, or January 1st, or (like me) around your birthday...but I sure, or at least I hope I'm not alone. Overall, I can honestly say, I am happier...especially compared to that creative dry spell I wrote about this time last year. We moved into a new place about a year ago, Erik and I have tried new things (like outdoorsy things!), and we have some fun and exciting plans for the future. It is a fun time in our lives and I'm looking forward to the next year...my last year as a twenty-something. It has to be good, right?!
While looking back over this past year, I'm finding there is still one thing that I need to work on. It is the one hurdle that I just can't seem to muster up the courage to jump...I need to focus more energy on making this handmade business happen. It's something that I've dreamed about and chased around for years. I've sold things through Etsy to family, friends, and a few people I don't know but I know it can be more. I know it can be something. I know I need to do this to feel complete. Yep, I mean in a Jerry McGuire "You complete me" sort of way. I need to catch up with this creative, blown up dream and grab onto it before it's out of reach.
But it's soooo intimidating.
I know there's something in your life too...that thing that you have always wanted to do, that thing you have always wanted to learn, that place you've always wanted to visit or move to, that career you've always envisioned or that non-profit you've always wanted to start. It's that thing that you know, deep deep deep in your heart, that would make your life whole, happy, complete. I'm not talking Roomba Vacuums or a healthy chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, people...I'm talking about your passion.
So now that I have you thinking about that passion of yours...are you following it? are you living it? If you are...you are my personal HERO. But I'm sure most of you are like me...you work hard during the day, you're tired at night, you have a laundry list (and laundry for that matter) of things to do in the evenings and on days off. If and when you have time to find and follow that distant dream, it feels so far away. Sometimes, so far away that you can't see it...maybe you forgot what it even looks like! It seems like a lot of effort, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of work to catch up to it and actually make it happen...and what if it doesn't work out? What if you fail?!
I've heard that 'C' students are most likely to become successful entrepreneurs because they are comfortable with taking risks. I always thought I was a risk taker...I take that back- I liked the idea of being a risk taker. I've tried to be that person...but eventually my stereotypical first born personality traits kick in. I need a plan, I need structure, I need to know that I will succeed, and most importantly, I need to know I will be the best...to put it plainly- I was an 'A' student. I'm pretty sure there was a moment(s) in my middle school and high school career when I cried because I got a 'B', let alone a 'C'.
I guess, busy schedules, fear of failing and fear of the unknown aside...we have to just do it. It may take some time, it may take that last little bit of energy we have left in the evenings...but we have to just make it happen even if it's scary and intimidating. It might be easier for some of us than others but as my wonderful friend Betsy told me, "You survived the high dive even though it took you 45 minutes to jump off."
And with this...I leave you with a pep talk from Kid President.
Earlier this year, Erik and I made the big move to a new apartment. When I say big move, I mean really big...a whole two blocks away from our old place. Our old apartment had lots of charm- old wood floors, glass knobs, tiny hexagon tile in the bathroom, to name a few things. It was a typical pre-war apartment building. It was cute, full of character, and the perfect first place for us in the city. Eventually, though, the issues that come with living in an older building (like a leaking ceiling/roof, for one) outweighed the charm.
If you know me well, you know that I love old things. I LOVE vintage clothing (check back soon to see what I found to wear to Erik's work Christmas party this year!!!), old furniture, dishes, buildings...anything that has a story and a past. Even the house I grew up in is closing in on 150 years old. Needless to say, moving from a place that had such history to a place that was still being updated the day we moved in was a little out of character for me. We decided that we loved our neighborhood too much to leave so we took the tiny leap and moved a couple blocks down, into a newly renovated apartment.
It was a fresh start...and a very blank slate.
Choosing the color palette was more difficult than I thought it would be. Since the first time I laid eyes on the red and blue flamestitch (bottom right), I loved it. I was so certain that it would be the perfect inspiration for our new living room. While I dug through my 'collection' of fabrics searching for reds and blues, another palette started to surface. It was softer, lighter, more subtle, more Northwest...what was happening to me?! I love bright colors...I AM bright colors! Why was I being pulled to this neutral palette? I knew Erik would love it...especially because we had pillows with fuchsia, orange, and even flowers in our last place. I couldn't decide so I took the issue to the people who I knew would not hold back their opinions...my facebook friends!
Right or Left?!?! There was no clear winner! I had to make a decision and just for kicks I chose.....
The Neutrals!!
And here is the before...the blank, bland, cream, living room. AND our new, comfortable, gray Kravet sofa!
We organized the books (a perfect backdrop for any space!)...
I slaved away on my little sewing machine...not really...but it took a few week nights and a Saturday afternoon to finish up the pillows. Here are three of my favorites...
And a couple close ups...
One of my favorite movies and a gift from my Papa Garrett...my Casablanca poster is finally on display after so many years.
And after a few months, a little shopping, collecting, sewing, and picture hanging...here is our lovely living room, the space where we hang out, read, eat, and live.
I've learned something very important through this move and this 'make-over' of our living room. No matter where we live, whether its an old house full of stories, an apartment with lots of history, a simple, clean, renovated place or somewhere in between...it's what WE bring to the space that makes it a home (but a few new throw pillows won't hurt).
We have now been in our new place for exactly 6 months and I FINALLY have my new little craft corner up and running. I've been busy for the past few weeks weaving my evenings away to fill up the good 'ol Savannah's Sunshine Shop for the holidays. I know what you're thinking...it's only the beginning of September!!! In the world of handmade goods, I'm learning that September might be a little late to start stock piling my Etsy shop for those Christmas shoppers. I sat down a few weeks ago and mapped out a plan for the next couple months (and years...but that's a long story for another day!!) and I'm determined to be ready this year.
The first thing on to do list...set up shop!
The all important list of goals and some color inspiration...pretty pictures are a must have in this corner!
This is a warping board but when I'm not using it to measure out yarn, it displays
the scarves and rugs that are next in line
My big orange bucket of supplies and books
And here it is....my little corner...where the magic happens.
Number two on the to do list...start weaving!!! Check back soon to see some in progress photos!
My co-worker/"desk mate"/friend is expecting her first child at the end of September and I will be attending her baby shower this Saturday. What better excuse to make something?! I've been feeling much more creative lately but all I've done is made a long list of things I want to do. I guess I just needed a project with a deadline! I know she has a lot of family and friends who will probably buy her the must-haves so I decided to break out the ol' bag pattern that I mastered last Christmas to make her a diaper bag (or maybe travel bag because its so BIG!).
I pulled together a somewhat neutral palette with taupes, grays, black, white, and a pop of yellow-
This bag has quite a few peices...I always like the way they look just piled up, waiting to be sewn together-
And....drum roll please.....the finished product! I always have an idea of how I want it to look but it is always fun to see it come to life-
Front
Back
The bottom matches the handles...so happy with this part!
Detail of the button
Lining and inside pockets
The side pockets are lined with a yellow and cream stripe...hard to see in the photo but the peice above the stripe is a linen with a subtle metalic thread woven through it...a nice little suprise when the sunlight hits it!
Congrats to Erica and husband Matt...I hope baby Ben likes his bag! :)
Hopefully, this kicks starts the long list of projects I want to do! Stay tuned for more. I'm finally starting our living room pillows...thank you for my wonderful facebook friends who shared their opinions with me-check back soon to see which palette I picked!
The goods news is, I can feel the craftiness coming back! I haven't started any new projects yet but I will soon. To make sure I'm ready when the creativity starts flowing, I decided to organize my fabric and supplies. We moved into our new apartment at the end of February and I called 'dibs' on part of the front closet.
I sorted my fabrics into 'printed' and 'woven'. The woven fabrics are in a big bin (just waiting to be made into new pillows!) and the prints are organized by color and stacked on the upper shelves. If you can believe it, I went through my fabric before our move and took four to five bags back to our showroom to be donated. What I still have is the fabric I just couldn't live without...
And here is one more photo. This shows MY side of the closet...poor Erik!
Hopefully, this fresh start will inspire me to get back to weaving, sewing, and crafting. In the meantime, stay tuned! I have some fun photos from my amazing weekend in LA with my wonderful friend/bride-to-be, Tina and her awesome friend/maid of honor Anastasia.
My sis-in-law, Julie, is in town this weekend and then next week Erik and I are finally going to have a weekend get-away to Vancouver, B.C. Many adventures and posts to come! :)
It took a couple years and a snow day to finally finish a project that is near and dear to my heart. A winter storm hit the northwest early yesterday morning and at about 7:30am my boss called to let me know we were not going to be open. The second I hung up the phone, I knew what I needed to accomplish. As soon as Erik left for work (he walked in the snow, poor guy!), I dove into the closet in search of my task for the day.
In a tiny bag, in the bottom of a huge storage tub, there was a special project I had started a few years ago and needed to finally complete. It wasn't just any random sewing project. It was something special, something sentimental...a teddy bear made out of patches of Erik's Dad's work shirts. His dad, Julian, passed away almost five years ago and as Christmas gifts one year, I made my mother-in-law and sister-in-law teddy bears out of his old shirts. I started Erik's but didn't finish in time for Christmas and continued to put it off.
With just a little bit of time and a whole lot of love...Erik finally has his bear.
Another snow day (or ICE day!) so we will see what I work on today...
The presents have been opened and the wrapping paper and bows are long gone. The holidays are finally over. Now that the gifts have been given and I can no longer ruin the surprise, I can finally share what I've been working on this holiday season!
The past few years I've been obsessed with the homemade gift. My love for making things by hand and supporting my fellow Etsy shops are two of many reasons my family and friends have received handmade goodies recently. I spent all of December sewing away at a few fun gifts for a few important people. I tell myself that waiting until December to make my gifts is not procrastination...I wait until last minute because I work best under pressure! I think I know how Santa's elves feel...
My sister-in-law, Julie, mentioned she wanted pillows to match her bright green, black, and white color scheme in her cute little apartment. When I searched through my fabrics, I couldn't decide which patterns I liked best. My solution? Use all of them! I pieced together stripes, dots, velvet, silk (just about everything) and here is what I came up with.
My Mom and sisters received huge (and I mean HUGE!) overnight bags. My favorite task is finding fabrics to fit each personality. My day job has enabled my fabric hoarding so I have a closet full of beautiful fabric to chose from.
I'm a self-taught sewer and always want to improve so I chose a pattern that was a little outside of my comfort zone. The pattern is from an Amy Butler book and I have to say, I am proud of myself! I did a test run a couple months ago and enjoyed making it. By the time I was on the forth bag, I didn't need the instructions!
Here is the test run:
Here is my Mom's (who helped pick the fabric!):
My sister Jill's bag has a 'beachy' theme:
A finally my sister Rachel's bag, with a bright and bold lining:
I still have one more gift to give before I can post a pic. Check back soon to see what I made for my mother-in-law, Leslye!
If you like any of the bags or pillows you see, please let me know. Any of them can be customized for you...like I said before, I'm a borderline fabric hoarder so I have a variety of patterns and colors!
Coming soon....pics from a special New Year's Eve event I attended this year!
