She Brews

Ornament Heaven........sort of.....

I am currently working in a Christmas Shoppe that is open all year-to give you the magnitude of this shop--it is packed with eye candy for the creative mind......it's tough not to want to purchase things, as the offerings seem limitless......

I worked there approximately ten years ago and have a sampling of what I did then. Here are a few:

  

I took a blank frosted ball and drew all of this design on it. I used the glazes and paints from a ceramic shop to make the colors.

 

This one you can even see the dimension I got from some of the paints offered at the ceramic store. I am not showing you the colored balls because I think they would reflect too much....maybe another day.......

 

When I made these specialty ones, we couldn't keep them on the tree. On the other side is the grandaughter name and date. I don't have the freedom of designing these in the store, but I personalize any of the ornaments with the names and dates the customer requests.

I have been thinking that maybe next year I should offer some ready mades to personalize on the spot at the fall shows. Just thinking........

Anyway, I am not creating at this moment because I am working every day and don't get home until after 6 or 7 pm. Too many other things to do when I get here.......

Christmas Orders Fabric Collage

 

This is how I start the collages. I lay a background of scraps. I sew one line through each row to hold them in place, and I like to leave them different sizes and shapes for texture. Later I will embroider x's over them for more texture.

 

At this point I like to put in the cottages and then decide where the trees will be. I started putting details in like the walk bricks and a little fence. I wanted to know where to place the calligraphy. After I stitched this on, and went to the next step, I noticed that a word was missing from the calligraphy. I had to remove the patch and find another fabric transfer that I made.

 

I had an idea of adding more and more little details that help the "enchantment" of the picture. Here I played with different colors of flowers......

 

When I removed the calligraphy that had been missing a word, I ran into the problem of what to do with the space.......I decided to try a clothesline with beach towels. It helped to bring some color to that section of the piece.

 

It seemed the placement of this cottage alone kept the balance of all the other details. I decided to leave it at just yellow flowers.

 

This made me want to make another right away, but, alas, I must get ready to go to work for the Christmas Shoppe.......Perhaps I will show some of the ornaments I have lettered and decorated here at home.........

Anyway, this goes in the mail tomorrow! I am happy to have it done!

Shebrews Back to Work...

 

You probably have noticed my blogging slowing down rather than the normal writing or more frequent writing as I told you I would be doing........

I secured a job in a Christmas Shoppe lettering on ornaments and I started yesterday. I lettered 80 ornaments and did a few other things. Great atmosphere for this time of year. I had applied a while back and had decided that they were not going to hire me, and a few days ago I got the call.

Fortunately, I planned on getting the job and finished up most of my Christmas orders. I have two more to go......so, I probably will be a little less blogging for this month, at least.....although, I might have some interesting stories to come back and tell.......

I am working on a project that I have been taking progress pictures of. These I will post next posting. I am hoping to finish this project tomorrow.

I am very excited about working in this Shoppe. I worked there about ten years ago, and found it very inspirational and magical. I would love to take pictures, but I am not sure they are allowed........I will check it out.

Published Art Quilting Studio December

 

I have been watching and waiting for someone else to break the news, but since its on the newstands tomorrow, I decided I can go ahead and show it now. I am pleased to be in such good company. Danita , who graces the cover with her art, and then has a fine article.  Ruth Rae, who gives amazing instructions for fabric treatment. I just purchased a cuff kit from her etsy that comes with dvd for instructions---could I have figured it out myself? Probably, but the dvd pulled me in because I could listen to Ruth's voice and see her actually work---since I can't visit her classes in person, that interested me very much.

Then there is Jude Hill, one of my favoritists ever, doing "hearts" which she says she never really liked before, but decided to become friends with. She faces her disdain of the "common" heart with a sampler and explainations of the hearts which is a very good read besides the fact that the work is exquisite.

A new artist to me, Evie Zaccardelli, and wonderful pastel work---gives me the impression that her scissors is looking for another home---lots of tearing the cloth.....

There is another artist that I did not know, Mar Gorman, who teaches how to "create" fabric making collages, which of course, interests me very much. 

This is just a sampling of what the new publication brings you. I agree that I think twice about purchasing a $14.95 magazine, but this is a keeper and full of information. I am excited to be among those who have presented such brilliant and astounding work to the quilt arena. It pushes me to keep going and keep exploring.

 

You saw some of this in process, but when I realized I was going to submit it, I stopped showing it. I added a lot of detail in embroidery. _{My scanner ran out of ink this morning, and it won't let me scan when it needs ink. Dumb scanner.}

What's Next?

 

The last few weeks I had to move things back into the house to work. It was cold enough that I needed to heat my studio and since I needed to re-fuel, I decided to cut that cost this year and work in the house. This will take some doing........

For the last two shows, I just dragged stuff in as I needed it, and it is draped all over the dining and living room. This week I will begin to empty an extra bedroom and set up my work space there. It will be great exercise in being that it is upstairs.

Since I won't be in the shop, nor heating it, I worry that mice will move in, and so, I must remove all the fabric. I have cats in the house, so no worry there, except that they might decide the fabric needs "ownership". I solve that by tubs with covers.

 

I made a serious mess this week, but it paid off. I did a show on Saturday and did really well. So much well that I did, I was worried about the show I did yesterday, as I had no re-couping time. But, to my amazement, I did as well yesterday as I did on Saturday......imagine. Our trailor was the emptiest I have ever seen it.  I think we could have fit everything in the back of the Yukon, except the display panels. 

Today, I am going back to Stevens Point to Herrschners Thanksgiving Sale. We went last year and found some really fun things. I am looking forward to getting some Wizard of Oz fabrics. Last year I got Dick and Jane fabric really marked down.

I have so many things I am looking forward to doing now that the shows are done. Of course, this week being Thanksgiving will interrupt some of that........

Also, look for the new things I will be listing in my Etsy shop and my other, ShebrewsAttic etsy shop. (I do not know why the link doesn't work, but if you go to etsy and under user name, type, Shebrewsattic.  Also, I plan on starting a photo album for my people I meet at shows to purchase the things I bring to shows. I will blog about it separately when I am ready to set it up. 

Thanks to all of you lurkers and all you commenters. I appreciate you all!!!

Vintage Feedsack Projects

 

Oh, the patterns of this vintage material! I know they are duplicating them now, but even the feel of the fabric makes you wonder about their story.........

I am making little things from scraps of vintage feedsack I have collected. I have quilt pieces that have been hand stitched but never made it to a quilt.....I thought they were really pretty ornaments for a quilter's tree.......

 

This style I used vintage buttons. I layered batting in between and zigag stitched and pinked the edges. They are really quite showy on the tree..... 

 

 

This style I added the cloth daisy in the center because I didn't have so many colored vintage buttons, and besides, I thought it gave it a different look.

 

You can see how bright and showy they are. I am wondering if I should display them with little twinkle lights on the tree, too. I will be taking them to the show this weekend, and then they will be offered in my etsy shop for $3.00 each. I will give a break on multiples. I only have so many, so I don't know what I will have left after two shows.......

Also, tomorrow I will show you a surprise! Make sure you come back to see!

Japanese Craft Books in my Etsy

Hi Everybody! I just wanted to let you know that I got my eye on some things to purchase, but I can only do that if I let go of some of the things I already have. I will be going through my Japanese Craft books that I have been collecting and offer them at a reduced rate in my Shebrews Attic Etsy.

I have listed three so far, but I will be adding some more as I get the courage to let them go......be sure to check if you are looking for something special. Also, there will be other pattern books, patterns and books I will be adding. Here are the three that are in my etsy.....

  

  

 

These are all written in Japanese, but have wonderful illustrations and patterns that can be easily figured out if you sew at all and have some knowledge of how things are put together. The shoe book has full size patterns in all sizes. I love all three of these books, but I got my eye on Yoko Saito's patchwork books, and I want them more!!!

Help me out, will ya? thanks.

Crochet Today.......one day projects

So, I tell myself that I purchase way too many magazines and books----but, I LOVE THEM. I don't know why, but I stopped to look at magazines at my last grocery trip......

I picked up this lovely, and I HAD TO HAVE IT, I just had to.

 

There are lots of one day projects that can be used for gift giving. I almost purchased a hat at the last craft show--it was $24.00---but, I thought, if I could find a pattern I could make one. This takes one skein of yarn, and the little extra for the other color.

I made one of these hats last night while watching Greys Anatomy, and the other one this morning--don't remember what I watched--I think lots of distractions. They crochet in no time and the directions are so simple---no tricky stitches, just sc and hdc. Imagine that!

Here is a little more eye candy for you. I haven't made these yet, but they were helpful to sell the magazine for me......

 

I have so many instructions in Japanese (amigurumi), from the books I collected, I thought this might help to understand some of them....lol. Actually, years ago I crochet'd Bert and Ernie for my first born. That was in the 70's. They were about ten inch dolls. I was so proud of them, no one else was doing anything like that then.......

 

Again, in the 70's, I crochet'd a pair of these for my husband. I felt so accomplished. I think I still have the pattern torn from a Woman's Day Magazine. These are adorable in the baby size, don't you think? I haven't made these yet, either, but I know I can since I made the adult size ones already.

If you crochet, this is definitely worth the ten dollars it cost. Also, www.redheart.com  had a lot of examples of their free crochet patterns---and they are really practical and nice. I can't wait to spend some time on their site.

I don't know why I picked up my crochet hook again, except that I have been spending time with my cousin and aunt who are big doily crochet'ers......I USED to crochet doilies, back when I picked hickory nuts, too........oh, when did time become so expensive? Now, I feel like I have to get my money's worth in time.....except, of course, when it comes to people----money ain't anything----I will spend my time on people, no questions asked.........

I believe this is the latest issue from Crochet Today (thinking about subscribing, again, money issue). This has an isbn 7098938788 and says display until 01-05-10. Seriously, this is worth every dollar. 

Here is a list of things included: necklace, scarves, mask, wrap, carryall, tote, glass case, motifs, table topper, baskets, baby accessories, pet pad, afgan, and more......

There's no need for this.......

WELL, I HOPE THERE IS.........

  

i got this brain storm when I found these cloth shot bags in a resale shop two days ago. Yeah, I know they are rather long and large, ......but, hey........I'm just saying......maybe there is a need for camouflage Christmas stockings........

I'm taking them to the show tomorrow and I will let you know what the reaction was.....let me know what you think. They are for sale at $18.00 each. 

 

I even got to use the vintage shotgun shells that my hubby was saving for "whatever" reasons.........

Maybe I will see you tomorrow at Brookfield High School Art and Craft Fair.

Just the facts, ma'am

This line is from "Dragnet", an American sitcom from the early 60's, where the police have to ask questions and the women habitually go into too much detail.......heh, heh.( I  have never liked being referred to as "ma'am", but since I gave away that I knew lines from tv shows from the sixties, my guess is that you will know I am old enough to be called, "ma'am" especially by some real cute young men.....pooh. )

When I was trying to think of a title, I thought of all the little things I want to talk about, but the biggest circle, covering it all, is: "'how much detail?" 

Most of my favorite embroiderers are hugely detailists.  Spiritcloth, Mairuru, Gerdiary

, Hens Teeth, RuthRae, just to name a few......

  

The above picture at this point is" "just the facts," .These are two small collages in progress. They measure 3" high by 10" wide. Unfortunately, when I finished them, they did not fit into those frames, I lost too much detail---so, I will have to come up with another idea for them.....

The top picture shows the new trees I am attempting to embroider. The bottom picture shows the step before embroidering the trees.

 

Click on the image to get a bigger picture to see what details I am speaking about. I embroidered the path in front of two cottages. I made a little fencing around the small cottage. I embroidered the one word "peace". To embroider on the houses is always a question---sometimes, I just need to introduce another color on them, and that is a good way to do it. I liked laying the tree branches over the sun, and thinking ahead, if I did a night scene, that would look pretty cool over a full moon.

My question is: How much detail is appreciated on such a small piece? I seem to keep wanting to add detail until it says what I need it to say.....but, then, I couldn't let it speak for itself, I had to add the word "peace".  *sigh*

Well, I have a few more ideas to show you later.