Baskets baskets baskets

We made twenty-odd fabric baskets this weekend.  And now we are making twenty-odd scarves... because we have plans.  But.  I am amazingly proud of all of these baskets.  We took pictures galore... I am only posting the nicest of them all...  It went very swiftly with two of us working on them.

So far we've been asked by 5 people if we are making them to sell.  Initially the answer was, "Well, no, not really...."  But from here on out, the answer is "Why, yes... yes we are.  Interested?" 

Sitting here drinking cherry-pomegranate juice with a little lemon juice mixed in to cut the sweet of the cherry.  It's really quite tasty, and a very pretty color. 

I accidentally tripped the breaker on the den tonight... apparently two space heaters (one is for the plants on the back porch, the other for inside) is too much.  So.... tripped breaker and my roommate saying "Oh, THAT'S not good."  I came close to panic, since the last house I was in the breakers fried themselves and took out the electricity to half the house.  But, all was well, just unplugged the inside space heater and re-set the breaker.  No harm done.  *whew*  And ultimately, when in the den, I can dress warmer.  The plants can't.  So they get the space heater.  I can still have the one in  my bedroom.  (Roomie likes cold.  I don't.  My knee doesn't.  My lungs don't.  She sleeps with her windows open when it's 20 degrees outside.  I have a space heater.  It works).

No snow...

A little disappointing.  But, probably better for all of us.

The outdoor plants are weathering well.  I have a blood orange off of one of my trees, and I am delighted.  Maybe I can convince my roommate that we need to go by the nursery and get another citrus... maybe a tangerine... we don't have one of those yet.  :)

Finished hat #2, but didn't get pics.  Maybe today.  It's still mostly black, but the next one... I have PLANS for the next one.  Ivory and red, with lace trim...

The sky is a pale steel gray, clouds over the dim and pale yellow of dawn.  What I can see of the city outside is sullen and grim under the sky, gray-roofed like reflections of the clouds.

Tonight I am hoping we will make pearsauce - like applesauce, but obviously not.  :)  We have huge numbers of pears left, and if the pear sauce comes out well, we can make pear butter. 

And another wreath

I forgot about this one, too....  I finished this wreath - gold and red.  It has been given to my roommate's mother...it turned out quite nice.

And tonight I make another bonnet with some reverse applique and work on dolls.  I have got to finish them.  When I do, there will be more pictures.

Project update

Finished not two, but three projects last night (at least the test versions of each).  One was a success, but I don't like the way the pattern makes up, so I did not bother taking pictures.  (Additionally, it was all black felt and would not photograph very well). 

Of the two that were photographable (more or less), here's the first - a larger version of the fabric basket I made before.  This one is about 12" long and 4" wide and I forget how deep... maybe 5"-6".  Doesn't sound that big, but it holds a lot.  Like the small one, it is completely reversible.  I made this one with simple cottons that had been hanging around my roommate's mother's house for years, so I have no idea of their provenence.  Two pictures this time, one empty, to show the lining, and one full, to show how much stuff it holds.  (All of the stuff came out of the pantry - two or three boxes of rice, honey, there's a 12 oz. mug tucked in there, a box of pomegranate bars, a bag of rice, Vidalia onion dressing/marinade, and something else that I don't remember.  Not half bad for a little basket).  The weight was substantial, but not enough to do any damage, so I am confident about this basket.  I like it, like the pattern, and like the speed with which it makes up. 

Now if I could only measure right the first time.... Measure twice cut once didn't work - the finished basket was SUPPOSED to be 15" long... I mismeasured the shell fabrics and had to cut the lining down.  By the way, on the empty picture, there is nothing in it, not even cardboard.  It stands up on its own, even though it's just two layers of thin cotton. 

The other project of the evening that turned out well was this: a folk-style bonnet.  I am not sure that 'bonnet' is the right term for it, but it came out well anyway.  It's a little too big for my head, so I will make a slightly smaller version tonight - 90% of the original (or maybe 95%, we'll see which works best).  The original found online used two layers of felt.  This one is one layer of felt and one of fleece.  The next one will be two layers of fleece and an outer layer of felt (because I don't have that much felt in different colors).  I want to try a little reverse applique on the next one.  The forward shot is a little tough to see, so we took a side shot as well.  If the next one turns out well, we'll just take a picture of it on my head instead of the mannequin head.

The bonnet is designed to sit on the upper back of the head; it doesn't cover the entire head.  The next one will not be all black, I promise, so it should photograph much better.

They are forecasting a chance of snow tonight and tomorrow... we'll see what happens.

Oops

And I forgot about my other easy-peasy completed project... Skull and Crossbones Pillow... It took me all of a few hours to complete. His nose looks a little like an old Star Trek emblem to me, but I like him.

So long between postings

And so many projects completed. The topsy-turvy doll is still being completed - the noble half is done, but the peasant half needs her dress still. So, no pics of that yet. And I finished two simple shearling blankets. I'd have pictures, but because it's gotten cold here they are under several layers of bedding.


However... the projects I have completed and have pictures of are here.



This is a fabric basket, made off of a pattern I found online. I am going to try to make a larger version at some point now that I have figured out how to do it. I am also toying with the idea of turning it into a hat - again, slightly larger, but still should be relatively simple. Not that I need another hat, but it would be something else to put on the ever-growing project list. This one was made with silks from Japanese kimonos.




And... wreaths... I need to take better pics and get them posted, but here is the green and gold wreath I made for our door at home. It's a simple project, really - just requires a LOT of ribbon. About 150 yards grand total (could probably get away with 120 yards, but nevertheless, it's a lot of ribbon). The one on the right is the burgundy and gold wreath I made for my Grandmother. She gets a new (or mostly re-made) wreath every year, so I thought I would just make her a new one entirely. I found the inspiration for this online as well, but they used fabric from a ready made roll of matching fabrics (all from one line). I went with wired ribbon instead. Made the cutting go so much faster.





And finally... little Emma. She is a doll of my current faire character. Next season I will have an outfit that more closely matches this one, as I found brown silk at a garage sale for a dollar a yard. Fifteen dollars later, I am happy as I can be!






The TRF day trip was LONG but enjoyable. We are planning all sorts of mayhem for next year, and I am looking forward to it immensely. And Dust is done - the first draft, anyway, and being edited by several people. I am 50k into a novel that should be only 75k - so may have the first draft done by the end of the month, if I am good. Mind you, that means writing over 4k words every day, but we shall see.... It's called Two Corbies. Fantasy, but not my usual.

Bed and Dress

Okay. As promised, here's the pic of the bed. It was a whole $10.00 - ten dollars - for the bed. Very nice bed, very comfy. And cheap! We found it at an estate sale that really didn't care - they just wanted to get rid of stuff! We expected it would be 50-100 dollars, but the owner said ten, and we looked at each other and said "yes, please." It's nice, and in good shape - just a few chips in the veneer. Things like this are why I like estate sales. It's a little creepy sometimes, sure, going through the belongings of a dead person - or worse, some poor soul being moved to a nursing home or assisted living facility who sits and watches you go through their stuff. I don't think I could sit there and watch. It would be too hard.

And... the dress. A friend threw a League of Extroardinary Gentlemen party. So.. I went as Lady Blakeney, (wife of the Scarlet Pimpernel), who was part of one of the Leagues. Here I am. My hair isn't done and I don't have my feathers, but most of the rest of it is right. A modified chemise de la reine. The sleeves are actually attached to the overdress, because I was feeling lazy and it was for a costume party. The entire thing is made of muslin (period correct), and some fabric that I've had for a few years... at least two... just sitting around. It shades from coppery to goldy and back, and looked pretty good. Somewhere there's a pic of the front of the dress, with corset showing. :)

So... that's the update so far. More later.

Another doll

So the party is tomorrow, but today's post is about another doll. This one is for someone I've never met, but I had a picture and descriptions to work with. Apparently it turned out very close to the person in question, so... here's Winifred.

She's a Pettyjohn - a daughter of the Scarborough tax collector. From what I know, she's the 'good girl.' I hope that the woman who played her likes her poppet.

Tonight I will try to update again to show my new bed... story about it later.

More updates

More sewing done.

This time - dolls. Gypsy dolls. The adult has bells in his stuffing, so he jingles when he's moved. I only intended to do him, but the others were just too cute not to do. He's a gypsy storyteller - all I need to do is embroider his vest with various motifs. Most of the clothing is hand-stitched, and the patterns for the little dolls were bodged together based on larger patterns. Seemed to work out reasonably well.

The other completed project - a dress for the wedding of friends. It's a Claire McCardell 1940's pattern, and worked out better than I had expected, in all honesty. It looks pretty darned good on me, as well. Now all I have to do is come up with jewelry and a 1940's hairstyle!

The pic doesn't do it justice, really. It's floor length and drapey... very nice. And flattering, which is a nice change for me and dresses! All it lacks is a hook-and-eye for the back and I am completely done with it. Yay!

Next up, working on the Bento Box quilt and other dolls. Probably. Except working with Donna to finish her dress for the wedding.

Right.. updates

So, between being sick as a dog and faire and all... I've been busy. Mostly being sick. But... it's almost all gone, and faire is over, so I can make time for posting again!

There are a LOT of updates to be had: my project list has changed dramatically - added more, finished some, and so on. And we've decided to add a fence to the garden-to-be, and are using pallets to make the fence. Means staining the pallets as we get them. I would do some today, but it just rained, so no staining today.

This one might just be picture heavy, so be warned. I've done a lot recently.

The octopus for the child of friends. He's made of blue/black tafetta, so his color shifts. He will stand up on his eight legs, too, thanks to a little rice in the tips. I may add eyes to him. He looks like he is blowing a kiss. The pattern is adapted from Runi, who makes absolutely fabulous little stuffies!

The metallic pillow. It was a test for another project, and did not turn out like I wanted, but I like the look, so it became a pillow. It's stuffed with pieces of fabric - heavy, but comfy. Three layers of silk dupioni in copper, silver, and gold. It's like a D&D gamer's favorite pillow - all the monies you could need!

After seeing Johanna, other people decided they wanted a poppet of their characters. So, the ones I have completed so far are: Katherine Boothe, the town crier, in blues, and Ellie Chandler, the candle maker's daughter, in the yellows. Like Johanna, each of them comes with their own set of accessories: a bell for the crier and candles for Ellie. Although the picture doesn't show it, Ellie's hat is singed and burnt, like the original's.

A cat hat for a newborn. There are three others to go with this, all in various shades. Now all I have to do is find a time and way to get them to the kid.

These are not the only things I've done, but they are all I am going to post right now. I have also completed a new skirt for myself at faire (a circle and a half, very swirly), a poppet for my character (who needs the new skirt still), finished cutting out the pieces of the Bento Box quilt I am working on, and started on a dress for the reception of a friend's wedding: it's to be a masquerade ball, which means I need to find my mask. And think about hair styles. And there's more... but right now I can't think.

The test vest

As I mentioned before, I've finished the test vest for the diagonal stitch lines. I don't like it as much, but we shall see. It's hard to see here, since the slashes haven't opened up as much - lighter material and fewer washings. But... on the whole, I like the original better.

So, on to the next projects: the Emma Dare doll and the Character Camp Rug #2.

Johanna doll

Johanna is the character played at faire by my friend Donna. I decided to make a doll of her because a - it looked like fun, and b - the custom dolls by the dollmaker at faire start at $80 and go up from there. So... here's Johanna!

I've also finished a test vest - much like the previous slashed vests, but stitched on the diagonal. I don't think I like it as much, but I will post pics tomorrow.

Hoodie pics

So here is a pic of the hoodie. It's not the best pic, but I don't claim to be a photographer. In life, it's more lime than the pic shows. I may add some felt or fleece detailing in cream to match the zipper - geometric designs of some sort. I haven't quite decided yet. But for now... it's done.

And of course, had an idea last night for another project. Will take me a while to do - if it turns out the way I want it to - but will be worth it. Long vest, done in the same style of the slashed fight vests, but set on the diagonal. Diamond-shaped slashes. Going to make a sample to see how it looks first, in a short vest. Just to see. Pics of that when it's done, as usual.

Oh, and I am starting several other new projects as well. Figures.... Among other things, discovered that I DO have more of the material I used for my Dare skirt, so I could make a poppet of her. Now all I have to do is figure out a goat head for it....

The vest and the rug

So I now have pics of the vest and the rug. The only thing left on the vest is grommeting, which will be done by Donna either tonight or tomorrow (probably tomorrow). The rug just needs binging around the edges, and that can wait until it gets flatter and more the tromped-down shape it's going to be in the future.

Here's the front of the vest. The back is, of course, more of the same kind of slashing. As it ages and gets washed, the slashing will open up more to reveal the underlayers, which are black, green, and black, respectively. Hopefully Morgan will like it - it's only for mud days at faire on the chessboard, but still....

Speaking of Morgan. It's her birthday this Saturday. She will be 18. The vest is part of her gift. The other is music. Because music is always good.

And then, of course, there's the rug. One of two - have the pieces for the other one, but haven't started putting them together yet. I'll work on that one soon... It's amazing what you can do with a bunch of remnants and samples from upholstery places!

The fleece hoodie is done, I just haven't taken any pics of it yet. It's comfortable, a little rough looking, and just the way I want it. I like it, exposed zipper and lack of hemming included. I may take pinking shears to the edges just to add a little something to it, though. The hood leaves a lot to be desired; there's not a whole lot of hood there! But... I rarely use the hood on a hoodie anyway, so it's all good. Pics of that up next time, I guess, along with whatever else I finish.

Right now I am working on the rain hanging. Hard to explain, but should be quite nice when it's done.

Argh! Too long between posts!

In the rush to get ready for Faire season, I've let this lapse... well, between Fight and prep and workshops and job hunting and all the rest. However, I need to be better about updating this thing. Really I do! So, in the interests of what I've been doing, project-wise....

Finished:

Sea-serpent marionette

Various bits of garb for Scarborough Faire (3 bodices, chemise, two vests, skirt and a cloak).

Couple of pouches

Couple of purses

In progress:

Bento box quilt

Fleece hoodie in lime green

Rug for character camp next year (probably two of them)

another chemise for faire

Map wall hanging

Rain wall hanging

More purses (just need handles!)

And a few pics.... First up, the vest for a friend at Faire. I have one like it now, but in green and black that laces up the front.

And the sea serpent marionette:

That's it for now... but when I get my vest washed, I'll post pics of it, too.


And of course, the list of projects is always growing....