Showing posts with label bunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bunting. Show all posts

14 May, 2016

My Sewing Machine Area


 My sewing machine area.
It's gray and drizzly today, so I had to do some fancy schmancy photo editing to get to this photo.
My walls are painted a light turquoise.
Because I'm in a corner with no window, I utilize OTT lights for natural light above me when I sew.

I think we re-did the floors (hardwood) almost four years ago. When I put the sewing table in, I just propped the thread racks on the table.
And sewed around them.

I liked them there, but I was still getting a feel for how my room could work for me.
Then I found the black wire sewing machine thread rack (left hand wall) last summer at a garage sale.

It was also propped on the table behind my sewing machine - where the serger cones got in the way - in fact, all the thread was in  my way.

I've had this week off, but can't go anywhere because of the 14 1/2 year old Lab, Rusty, who keeps on trucking. Well no, he can't go trucking because he can't get into a car. He's still living but has episodes with his pancreatitis that keep us up all night with him pacing it off.

On the bright side, I was able to piddle away at some of those chores that get put off because of the day job and I have felt quite productive this week. Admittedly, the thread racks have been put off for three years - time flies!

After living with the problem so long, it was a relief to get the serger cones off to the left of the serger machine where they are in no one's way. The regular thread is mostly on the two racks that end about 8 inches above the table - so my big projects have ROOM.

Don't worry, I have more thread - mostly duplicates that don't need to be left out to get dusty.


My Bernina serger is on the left and sees weekly use, as does my regular Pfaff on the right.
Way on the left sitting on a stool is my coverstitch (Hems/binds knits). The cover stays on because it's not being used at this time.

Behind my serger is  a small stack of plastic drawers I've had forever. The machine manuals and extra feet, the oil are stored here. As well as elastics and other notions.


Even after nearly four years - maybe it's only three, I'm not fully integrated into ONE ROOM.
I keep trying.


My other job today was hanging the zippers. They were in a drawer all neat until someone had to paw through them - several times. I keep finding zippers at estate/garage/rummage sales, so this became a huge jumbled mess. I found a couple of ideas on pinterest and Instagram and tucked them into the back of my head  - for later.

So - I was at a rummage sale today at the Baptist Church when not one, but three!!! possible solutions for zipper storage were within five feet of each other.

One was a cork board. It didn't have hanging hardware - but an easy fix.

Then I saw a metal pet grate that goes into the back of a car to keep pets corraled in the back. The grid looked rife with possibilities, but it was heavy.

Next to it was a stack of large picture frames and a couple had a metal grate inserted - see photo below.
Lightweight, easy to hang, done deal.

To hang my zippers, I used little curtain hooks - shaped like the number 2 - with one end that's sharp to pierce the back of the curtain and the round part to go over a rod.

Then I used binder clips to hold ten or so zippers and just slid the round end over the curtain hook.


I actually had to go to the store to buy binder clips as I only had five in my house. I used 20.
'Cuz I have a buttload of zippers. I sorted them by metal teeth, nylon teeth, short, long, big teeth (#5), little teeth ( #3).



This organizational frame hangs behind the door.
It's not pretty enough to be wall art but this was a good spot.

 Never fear, these are not all my zippers!
The old zipper drawer holds the zippers still in their covers and my 'small' collection of very short zippers.


I can now see at a glance that I need to be sewing more with zippers, which kinds, and which colors. Much easier and EFFICIENT!


And, there's room to add more if I find more at the next sale.

Sometimes it pays to procrastinate...






I haven't found a place to hang this small wall mirror. It's chalk painted a gray-blue over white over grey. I bought it locally and when I got home, found it to be the perfect place to hang some mini birthday bunting from my friend in Kyoto. I thought it would look good in my sewing room but I'm at a loss as to where it needs to hang.
Sigh... another small job to add to the list...
A glance back at when I first put together my sewing room
I just went and had a look back. Wowza. I've actually managed to stuff more into this room and had to expand into a bedroom dresser for my japanese fabric haul. I need to sew more. Use up more. Seriously.

You might as well read this sewing room post too.

Which all directly translates into requiring more time off the day job.

04 September, 2015

College Bunting




 How does one photograph bunting? 
The items are small handfuls. Across the room, they just look nice. and small. and indistinguishable.



My youngest niece is at her first year at Claremont and I am sending her first care package. Something fun {including some mad money}.

Niece's school colors are Maroon and gold. Which I tried to enhance. The heart paper below was from a marbling class I took when I was still picture framing. It's been in my stash way too long and looks fun cut up here as hearts.



 I was inspired by a photo Alicia Paulson took for her blog: PosieGetsCozy.
I threw the inspiration photo onto my pinterest board: Embellishments.
It's been over a year since I saved that photo but here was a golden opportunity.


from' posy gets cozy'  http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=2389069609&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1238&link=aHR0cDovL3Jvc3lsaXR0bGV0aGluZ3MudHlwZXBhZC5jb20vcG9zaWVfZ2V0c19jb3p5LzIwMTQvMDIvYWZ0ZXJub29uLW1vcm5pbmctcXVpbHQuaHRtbA&frame=1&click=0&user=3231323: from' posy gets cozy'  http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=2389069609&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=1238&link=aHR0cDovL3Jvc3lsaXR0bGV0aGluZ3MudHlwZXBhZC5jb20vcG9zaWVfZ2V0c19jb3p5LzIwMTQvMDIvYWZ0ZXJub29uLW1vcm5pbmctcXVpbHQuaHRtbA&frame=1&click=0&user=3231323


 My  one question for Alicia is how come her circles splay out perfectly with the sections evenly spaced. Mine only behave if you hold them.






No idea how long this ended up being.  I made the little pom poms and spheres yesterday and sewed them onto some bias tape this morning. Then I carefully packed it into a regional rate A box to send off via the post office. Not taking it out now.

 

28 September, 2014

Flock And Fiber Festival Canby 2014




Yesterday, I met for the first time, one of my favorite Oregon bloggers, Teresa Kasner.
She writes over Corbett way with stunning views of Mt. Hood, Crown Point & Multnomah Falls - where she does volunteer work every week.
She is a gorgeous photographer and showcases a lot of iconic Oregon scenery.

She made some crocheted bunting that I just love. She used it on her annual family camping trip and it made the canopy very bright and happy.
She has shown Multnomah Falls in all seasons. This one is from last Fall.
She also likes to photograph flowers which I enjoy seeing.


She treks over to Canbyland for the Flock & Fiber Festival most years and I suggested we meet up.

The Flock & Fiber Festival is all about flocks of sheep, goats, alpacas, etc and their fiber.
How to spin it, dye it, knit it, crochet it, felt it.




Felted purses. I liked the felted 'leaf' flap with the burn outs.


Teresa coveted these baskets.


While I need to pull out my felting supplies and do some needle felting.




For the Bunting Queen, Benta,  over in the UK - apparently this trend has made it's way to Oregon. Quite a few booths featured bunting for decoration.

Vendors were selling wool, roving, felted creations, knitting paraphernalia - stitch markers, hand-turned needles - anything to do with sheeps, goats, rabbits, alpacas and llamas.
 

The Spinners were set up outside where the sun finally broke through the clouds and people in their wool jumpers suddenly got hot.

I rather liked the dude on the right with his hair-do.



Teresa brought her husband and two grand kids along. Her husband used to raise goats and told a few stories about how they get the horns off while still babies. These goats with the horns escaped that.
Her husband also flew helicopters in the Vietnam war and afterwards on the oil rigs and I enjoyed those stories too.

It was fun to watch the boys with the goats and alpacas. I miss having small children around.



These boys reached right in to pet these goats and alpacas.











This is for my bloggy friend Gene Black. The denim strips were woven along with some shiny silver  mylar and yellow ribbon to create this large shawl.





The Flock & Fiber Festival is a free event that comes to Canby each September at the fairgrounds. You can register for classes online or just come and watch the animal judging and vendor booths.
People come from far and wide with their creations to show off and talk to fellow fiber artists.


The spinner below in the video was telling me about the "2:00 pm   Spinner’s Triathlon Competition – Central Lawn" on Sunday.

 I've always gone on Saturday after work but next year, I think I'll make time for the Spinner's Triathlon - a fun way to show off your spinning talents.

If you've ever wanted to spin fiber into yarn....



06 April, 2014

Rainbow Sewing







I finished two items today.
A rainbow heart bunting and a vinyl zippered pouch with a rainbow on the back.


Sewing with vinyl can be curse-worthy.
But interesting.

I used  my clover clips to hold the bias binding in place. I also utilized the paper that came with my vinyl to help sew it easier. Then I tore the paper off the stitches. The trick with vinyl is a fresh needle, and something to help make it move - whether it be a teflon foot, tissue paper or K-Y jelly. Yep, Pencil girl told me that one. She sometimes sews for Michael Curry Design in Scappoose, Oregon.
They sew a lot of weird stuff. Where you need some tricks up your sleeve.