Crafty Season
The weather in Southern Arizona turned the slightest bit cool and my mind began swirling with craft projects. It wasn't intentional, but one day in early October, I looked around and discovered I had about six crafty projects in various stages of incomplete.
It seems no coincidence that in early October I also started reading an enlightening blog by Emily over at Chatting at the Sky. During the course of the month, I've read along as Emily has discussed art. Not just the painting or symphony writing kind of art. Not just a commissioned artist or professional art teacher kind of art. But the art of living as the person you were designed and created and crafted to be. The art of you!
Emily's words have been causing me to think in a new way and causing my heart to ponder.
As one small expression, I decided to go ahead and put some of my many cool-weather-craft-projects together and recognize them as art. These are some of the things that I see as beautiful and artistic and these are a few of the ways that I can express the uniqueness and art of me.
I loved Calvin's birthday banner so much that I had to make some more. Almost immediately I knew I had to make some for a newlywed friend of mine. Following Your Homebased Mom's tutorial I made this bunting/banner/pennant.
I liked it so much I had to make one for myself...and my sister...and my mom. Everyone got their own color combination but they were all variations based on the large colorful floral print.
No one would ever describe me as trendy, but these banners are so trendy! They are everywhere these days!
I'm also making cloth table napkins for my sister using a tutorial from Blissfully Content.
I did the tedious work of pressing the corners and side seams and it was worth it. I used a painting drop cloth instead of linen fabric and used navy blue stitching making a double stitch around the edges. When it's all said and done there will be 15 napkins for less than a dollar each.
I've finished 5 and they turned out super cute but I neglected to get a picture. Maybe later.
I've also been practicing my knitting. I followed a tutorial from Edie on how to make Granny Dishcloths. I remember having some of these around the house as a kid. I didn't have a grandmother who knit, but I think a friend at church was practicing.
And in my limited knitting experience, that is what you must do...practice. It's easy to learn the technical steps, after that you just have have to do it again and again and again.
Back in the sewing room, I have this purse on hold. For my birthday back in the summer I received this adorable pattern for a purse. Here are a couple fabric combination options.
But I'm still not convinced!
I need someone to come stand beside me in the craft store and look at fabric through squinty eyes with me.
Also in the works is a hospital gown for my mother-in-law who has limited arm mobility. I found a pattern over at Lazy Girls Designs and have decided to make one exactly as the pattern indicates and then try to make modifications, if needed. I bought this pretty blue flannel, now I need to carve out a few hours to do some sewing!
Lastly, I want to show you this adorable fabric from IKEA. A friend of mine brought it to me and said it was labeled as a table runner, but really, it is about 3 yards of fabric.
Isn't it cute!
Any ideas what I should do with it? I just have to make it into something I can use or see often because it makes me so happy!
12/2013 UPDATE: I finished the rest of the fabric napkins. This is how they look when they're finished. AND my sister says they wash up beautifully! Hooray
It seems no coincidence that in early October I also started reading an enlightening blog by Emily over at Chatting at the Sky. During the course of the month, I've read along as Emily has discussed art. Not just the painting or symphony writing kind of art. Not just a commissioned artist or professional art teacher kind of art. But the art of living as the person you were designed and created and crafted to be. The art of you!
What if the book, the painting, the
meal,
the presentation were all simply evidence of
a deeper art
happening within the soul of an artist?
Art is what happens when you dare to be who you really are.
Emily's words have been causing me to think in a new way and causing my heart to ponder.
As one small expression, I decided to go ahead and put some of my many cool-weather-craft-projects together and recognize them as art. These are some of the things that I see as beautiful and artistic and these are a few of the ways that I can express the uniqueness and art of me.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I loved Calvin's birthday banner so much that I had to make some more. Almost immediately I knew I had to make some for a newlywed friend of mine. Following Your Homebased Mom's tutorial I made this bunting/banner/pennant.
I liked it so much I had to make one for myself...and my sister...and my mom. Everyone got their own color combination but they were all variations based on the large colorful floral print.
No one would ever describe me as trendy, but these banners are so trendy! They are everywhere these days!
I'm also making cloth table napkins for my sister using a tutorial from Blissfully Content.
I did the tedious work of pressing the corners and side seams and it was worth it. I used a painting drop cloth instead of linen fabric and used navy blue stitching making a double stitch around the edges. When it's all said and done there will be 15 napkins for less than a dollar each.
I've finished 5 and they turned out super cute but I neglected to get a picture. Maybe later.
I've also been practicing my knitting. I followed a tutorial from Edie on how to make Granny Dishcloths. I remember having some of these around the house as a kid. I didn't have a grandmother who knit, but I think a friend at church was practicing.
And in my limited knitting experience, that is what you must do...practice. It's easy to learn the technical steps, after that you just have have to do it again and again and again.
Back in the sewing room, I have this purse on hold. For my birthday back in the summer I received this adorable pattern for a purse. Here are a couple fabric combination options.
But I'm still not convinced!
I need someone to come stand beside me in the craft store and look at fabric through squinty eyes with me.
Also in the works is a hospital gown for my mother-in-law who has limited arm mobility. I found a pattern over at Lazy Girls Designs and have decided to make one exactly as the pattern indicates and then try to make modifications, if needed. I bought this pretty blue flannel, now I need to carve out a few hours to do some sewing!
Lastly, I want to show you this adorable fabric from IKEA. A friend of mine brought it to me and said it was labeled as a table runner, but really, it is about 3 yards of fabric.
Isn't it cute!
Any ideas what I should do with it? I just have to make it into something I can use or see often because it makes me so happy!
This post is linked up at Emily Freeman's "We Will Make Art" post.
12/2013 UPDATE: I finished the rest of the fabric napkins. This is how they look when they're finished. AND my sister says they wash up beautifully! Hooray
Comments
That IS super cute fabric...you should make a super cute apron for yourself- could even use your fave technique of complimentary patterns with the veggies on the skirt bottom and maybe a red plaid on the top?? Or kitchen towels? Or quilted hotpads? Or a garden harvest bag? Can't wait to see what you create! kmc