December 23rd and quilted pencil bags are finished

I started this project as an exercise, oh so long ago, as learning process for quilting seeing how I'd match color/pattern of fabric, read instructions, measure/cut properly (not my skill), and crossed my fingers hoping the children would like the final product. I also made the little bag for the block crayons as Eva chides me that the few that we have are limiting her practice work for school. Last week I asked Eva if there was anything she really wanted for Christmas and she said she had a pencil bag at school but not at home - HOORAY - I was on the right track. I took the children to Discount Fabric and let them choose their own chording, not knowing what it was for, they'll be able to identify their own bag. This will be a whole assortment including big drawing boards from Flax,watercolor pencils to share and the block crayons to share.

now the little elves are asleep more work begins....

• blanket for my dad made from wool samples I found at S.C.R.A.P. (http://www.scrap-sf.org/) with Neema - just sewed on the beautiful felted wool trim I purchased and now need to add the red blanket wool to the back - NEXT WEEK, I need to make a move on the SF presents...
  
• finally got the outside material for the pencil case, I've really dragged my heels on this one. I got a beautiful dark/oatmeal linen from Peapod Frabrics.  Neema and I considered black linen. I left the chording at the studio so I'll pick it up tomorrow.
• making a little bag following a drawstring jewelry bag I own, this will hold the children's block crayons to complete their ART EXTRAVAGANZA from us.

good night...I'm not sewing tomorrow night, will be caroling with the neighbors. we'll see if I get inspired post-eggnog.

drying fabric

Because I do not know how to quilt (and am planning on doing so soon for The Project) I decided to make each of the children a pencil case from Last-minute Patchwork + Quilting. The concept is to take a 24 piece colored pencil set and match a hue of the color in the fabric to the pencil. I went to through all of my fabrics (remnants + two great pieces I got at the dump last week that are basically unfinished dresses) and had fun going to Discount Fabric to choose inexpensive others. There were a few  nice selections but no Heather Baily, Heather Ross, I like working with what I have. After my failed errand to Pea Pod Fabrics which is NEVER opened when the children are in school, I thought discount sounded GOOD. I was surprised when I go the cutting table and they would not cut below a 1/2 a yard. I quickly weeded out 4 fabrics and pretty much doubled my bill  (sorry Art) since I was used to another shop that will cut 1/8 a yard. Anyway, here they are drying, a beautiful site. I love that I now a a prism of color in my stash.

I've started cutting the strips and am not sure how well my selections are going to work together. This entire process is great practice for a quilt. It's more fun doing this on a budget, it'd be so much easier to go out and purchase the BEST fabrics. I was tempted but good sense got hold of me. Kind of funny, I've not even purchased the pencil sets yet, I need to do this before I finalize my design.

quilting connection

a few weeks ago I was searching for a quilting/fabric shop in town. I saw that there appears to be a great little one out in the Sunset District called Peapod Fabrics . While searching their pages, I saw a woman from my church, Heather, photographed wearing an apron she'd just finished. (see heather: http://peapodsf.exblog.jp/i5/) Today I saw her at church and we had the best conversations about quilts. she confirmed the store is an amazing source. the proprietor had helped her figure out what to do with some heirloom quilting pieces that her mother and grandmother had, some dating back to the 1800's. when I told her of my family quilt she got so excited and insisted I MUST finish the quilt and it dawned on me, of course, I'm part of the family and just the one to carry on the process. I even got weepy telling Heather my project idea. She's going to invite me to join her at one of her crafting nights. I love this process. She kept saying, "listen to you, you're a quilter just by the way you're thinking of the project." How much better does this get.

checking in with beloved blogs

After a rough day of sewing on Eli's little letter envelope that included tearing label after sewing, melting the acrylic Chinese material, shaky stitching altogether (see post Tuesday, August 18, 2009, crafting for girls), I checked in with a beloved blog,soulemama to see that she is at the final stages of a quilt. I know quilting is in, I know I'm jumping in to a trend but did I have to see one in it's final stages today? I have much to learn over this year about sewing, the craft of quilting and what's going to keep me on course are comments like this one from Eli as he looked over her very flawed letter envelope, "oh that (pointing to the place where the too hot iron melted the fabric) will remind of this day we made the bag." if he could always be in my fan club. I'm not going to be stopped by this day. Eva's reward for being second to get her bag sewn is that keeps telling Eli, "Mine will be better since mama will know how to sew better next time."

I don't know how to quilt

I realize I need to sign up for a quilting class. I hope a quilt store has a short class. Last year City College offered a class but I'm not ready for a semester commitment.

hours in my space

The second day of school found me fleeing to my space. I'd have three hours to myself. I reviewed notes from my big day at the space and was ready for some preliminary research. My inspiration started with some photos taken over Christmas on the last few moments I was in my parents home which ended up being my last time there while my parents resided at 1344 Chatham Road. I had my F100, a roll of BW film and only 15 minutes before I was due to leave and join Art and the children at his mom's. When I looked through my lens at the rooms, they seemed so empty to me, why would I want a photo of a room, it seemed almost creepy. I started snapping photos of little reminders of home, the door knobs that can evoke the sound of someone entering a room, the screen door from the garage that only was in place in the summer but was banged 40 times a day as I went about my summer play, the contents of my dad's dresser top as I'd look at it during quiet moments while just "being" in my parent's room. The idea sounded great but when I saw the scans of the images I'd hoped they'd inspire a larger project for me but I was underwhelmed with their visual impact. As I spent my indulging day, I ended with the idea of making a quilt. As I've mourned my loss of a home to return to, I realized that it's not just the physical place I'll miss but the security that I felt when I was little and that my parents provided, the sound of them in the house, the place to take my children back to visit. I feel that a quilt will represent the feeling of safety and warmth I have for going home. I am in possession of our "family" quilt, albeit unfinished, that was made sometime in the late 1700's. The flax was grown on my dad's family property and family clothing used for the pattern. It was not until this was in my possession that I realized the weight of passing on a family heirloom.

Back to the specifics of the quilt ideas. That first day I dreamed of somehow incorporating the the photos in to the quilt by maybe a phototransfer method or printing the images on to material. Anyway, last week I left the space to spend some time at Borders looking at books. I looked through every crafting, sewing, quilting book they had to offer. I ended up purchasing two books: Last Minute Patchwook + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson and Printing by Hand by Lena Corwin. The latter of the two really does not have anything to do with this project unless I end up making some of my own fabric. As I looked through all the books I would think if the pattern were appropriate for photos integration. I was specifically inspired by a quilt by Joelle that is a solid fabric with a pattern running along the botton with little squares, maybe I could have the images peaking through, as a foundation. More to think about. I also got an inspiration about the stitching but this will just have to wait.