Crimson Lily Blog

I promised you a link to my new sewing blog, so here it is:

Crimson Lily Designs

Please feel free to "follow" me and tell your friends as well!

New Blog?

As I have recently been pondering the idea of an actual business and new name for it, I have also been pondering the thought of a new blog, just for my sewing and crafts. The Dancing Mom began as a way to showcase what I created while also talking about my everyday life. However, since Crimson Lily is coming to fruition I feel that Dancing Mom would be a better place for my everyday musings. Crimson Lily will then be the business blog. I am also comtemplating Etsy as my springboard for sales of my wares. Since I tend to be somewhat pessimistic, though, I have a fear that no one will be interested in what I have to offer since there are so many other more-talented-than-I-am artisans out there.

Why this is such a hard decision for me is beyond my comprehension. It's what I really want to do, but my insecurities are holding me back. Maybe if I knew that there would be a definite market for what I make, then it wouldn't be so bad. I know my friends and family appreciate it, but would the average handmade-items-buyer buy it? I guess I'll never know if I don't try, right?

So I guess at this point my next blogpost here on The Dancing Mom will be a link to introduce the all new Crimson Lily blog. Give me a few days to work it out, though. And thanks for reading!

Long Time

I guess it's been a while since my last post. I hate when life gets in the way. At least for not-so-great reasons. I recently left my job and now I am half-heartedly looking for something part-time. I feel that it is unnecessary to spend $300+ a week on childcare for the summer when I wasn't bringing home much more than that to begin with. Bobby is also on the lookout for a new job as well.

However, I have done some sewing recently. (Pictures to be posted later because they don't seem to want to post right now.)
I made a lap quilt for a friend's birthday, a wallet and clutch for my mom (for her motorcycle), a yoga mat bag for myself, and a shopping bag (prototype), as well as a cute little sundress for Emma. I've been trying to keep busy while figuring out what I can sew to make me some money at craft fairs this fall.

Happy Easter!!! And A Little Sewing...

I hope everyone out there in Blog World has a fabulous Easter!!! I know we will! It's going to be around 80 degrees where we will be, here in Maine. I know, crazy, right?

But yesterday I did a little sewing. After walking around beautiful downtown Bath, Maine and visiting the Bath Book Shop and Mariner's Compass Quilt Shop, I came home with some lovely purple & green batik fabric for another birthday throw quilt for a coworker. Again, I have decided to use my new favorite white Kona muslin to offset the deep colors. This is only the center panel of the quilt top, but so far I think I'm liking it. One it's complete and quilted I'm sure I will be loving it. It does have a name already, Magic 39 Quilt, but I'll disclose the reason behind the name once it's finished.

Have a great day!

A Sew-lful Weekend

Finally.... another weekend full of sewing. Gramma took the kids overnight on Friday so I was able to
a) Go to JoAnn's for some fabric,
b) Sleep in Saturday morning - or not...
c) SEW!!!!! I had the day to myself until about 3:30.

Brittany had recently asked me to make some bibs for her little cutie pie, Zander. As I was waiting in line at JoAnn's with the fabric for said bibs, I saw a copy of Quilts & More Magazine with a bib pattern. One 40% off coupon later I was out the door with new fabric and a magazine full of new ideas.

On Saturday I made 3 bibs and today I made 2 more, plus a new purse that has been floating around in my head recently. Moda + Muslin = Love.

It's funny how once I started making purses about 2 1/2 years I haven't bought one at a store. Every once in a while I just feel the need for something new, as do most people. But instead of shopping around at the nearest TJ Maxx or Coach outlet (I wish!), I head to the fabric store. This particular Moda fabric was a member of the "discontinued fat quarter bin" at Mariner's Compass before Christmas. Jeanne bought it for me because for some reason it just whispered to me "I want to be a purse..." So today I pulled it out, grabbed a 1/2 yard of muslin that I found on clearance for $.79, found a few scraps of sueded blue fabric and a bit of canvas strapping. Voila! My new bag! I even used the floral Moda to make a matching button. I guess I'm kind of liking triangles lately.

So that's that for today. I really need to get the backing done for my mom's Christmas quilt as well as the borders and backing for my own Moda quilt. Maybe next weekend...

Shannon's Book-Writing Quilt

This weekend I was finally able to sew something from start to finish.

I made a lap quilt for my friend, Shannon, at work for her birthday. She is an aspiring novelist and has been working diligently on her first novel which we are all hoping will get published.

Shannon's favorite color is pink, so I used Moda fabric in the Boutique Line by Chez Moi for the squares. The white fabric is my favorite discovery of all time: Kona White Muslin. This is the softest, most lovely feeling fabric ever. I'm talking Egyptian Cotton Sheets quality. Yumm! The backing is a basic bubble gum pink flannel for warmth and coziness.

Since I don't have a darning foot or a nice quilting machine (ssshhhh, don't tell my Singer) I am forced to improvised when quilting. I actually sew the 3 layers together inside out, flip it right side out, then I sew along the edge about 1/2 inch in. I usually have a little bunching when I connect the end to the beginning, but I'm learning to accept that for now. On this quilt I added a pink wavy border all the way around and a pink wavy line down the middle. Again with the bunching where the stitching meets up with itself, but, ah well.

So this quilt is named Shannon's Book-Writing Quilt because I want her to cuddle up in it while she writes her novel. I'm not quite sure how inspirational a pink floral quilt can be when writing a murder-mystery, but at least she'll be warm while she writes :)

Edited to add: Oops!!! Sorry! It was the Charisma Collection by Chez Moi, not Boutique.

Today I Made...

A patchwork pillow sham for the chair pillow to match the couch quilt and pillows

The 4th and almost final Christmas gift (yes, I know...) to send to NJ

Pictures are not really necessary today. On the bright side, after a morning of freezing and no hot water, it is warm again in my house. I really hate spending money to get things fixed, though. Especially on a Saturday. Those guys make out pretty good....

More Baby Stuff

So last weekend, after I finished the infamous diaper bag, I decided to try a few more projects. I bought a book of baby patterns over a year ago just so that I could make some bibs. (Here's the book) I finally pulled it out, cut some fabric, and low & behold I made a bib! So I made 4 more.

And then today, another idea popped into my head. I vaguely recall seeing somewhere a burp cloth that was contoured to fit over one's shoulder. So I cut some more fabric and the next thing I knew I had 3 contoured, and quilted, burp cloths (and one receiving blanket, not shown).

Yes, they look somewhat like large maxi pads, but I'm sure they will do the job just fine. Unfortunately, the lighting in the hallway at 5pm left a little to be desired, so sorry for the muted colors, but you get the idea, right?

Wonder what I'll create next weekend???

Sssshhhhh.... It's finished....

Here it is! The final product. This is THE. BEST. DIAPER. BAG. EVER. I even made a quilted changing pad to match. I love this. I cannot wait for next Sunday to see her face when she opens this and sees how completely awesome it is.
Haha. I'm not proud of myself or anything, am I????

Sneak Peek

Here's a little sneak peek at how I spent my entire day yesterday.

My cousin is having a baby (yay!) next month and her baby shower is coming up in less than 2 weeks. In November she gave me 4 yards of fabric & asked me to design & make her a diaper bag. Of course I couldn't refuse. Well, yesterday morning I found out about the shower and realized that I hadn't even thought of how to start this thing. I had many ideas running through my head so I just went for it. 8 hours later this is what I came up with. It still needs a strap and a button/button hole to make it complete, as well as a matching changing pad, so I think it will be officially finished on Saturday. I have to say, I am quite proud of this one. This is quite possibly my biggest undertaking yet when it comes to sewing. I can't wait to see her reaction when she sees it.

First Finished WIP of 2010

This year I plan to finish some WIPs that have been hanging around throughout 2009.

This is the first. I finished it last night. I am calling it "Every Way But The Right Way," aka Couch Throw Quilt.

This started out with good intentions of being an easy and quick quilt. I had some leftover fabric from the pillows I made for the couch last spring, so I bought a few coordinating fabrics and 2 yards of flannel for the backing. What I didn't do was plan ahead. I just started cutting squares & rectangles of various sizes. Then I started sewing. It started out great, until I realized that since they weren't all the same width I wasn't going to have an easy go of it. But I kept on trucking. Sometimes I had to sew a piece to another piece and then sew it to yet another piece that was already in the quilt to make it fit in properly (if that makes sense). Once I got to the finished size last night I noticed that it wasn't even squared up right. So I trimmed it down to make it rectangular which then threw off the look of the sides.

At that point I didn't care anymore. I just wanted it done so I could put it on the couch (and mysteriously "lose" the fleece blanket that already existed there). So I sewed it, right sides together, with the pink flowered flannel backing, turned it rightside out, and sewed around the edges.

At some point I might try "quilting" it or tying it, if I feel like it. But for now it looks just perfect, albeit a bit wonky, on the couch keeping my sick little 7 year old girl cozy and warm.

Maybe I'll Win For a Change

http://sugarnspicecreations.blogspot.com/2010/01/giveaway-time.html

One of the blogs I frequesnt is having a giveaway of these cool vintage sheet fat quarters. Let's hope I win!

2 Days Later

December 27th, 2009. 2 days after Christmas. The house is pretty much back to normal, with a few adjustments in the living room with which I am very pleased (much more open and spacey, perfect for Wii playing). And it's raining out, which is a big difference from yesterday's lovely snowflakes that covered the ground.

So I thought it was time to finally post some pics of the projects I was making for my mom. I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog, but better safe than sorry. So here they are:

My Mom has been wanting a Christmas Quilt for quite some time, so last weekend as I was making these 4 pillows for her I decided to get the matching fabric and start her quilt (normally my grandmother makes the family their quilts, but it's time for me to start doing more to pull my weight). So on Sunday I spent about 5-6 hours cutting & sewing to get the quilt top done. It still needs a backing and needs to be quilted and a binding sewn on, but that's a whole other project...

Btw- She Loves It!!!!

Feels Like Winter

'Swinter! Ok, not quite yet. There's still 2 weeks before it's official. But the first official snow of the season is falling right now! Yay!

And here's a pic of the placemats & napkins I made for Jeanne. The fabric is a gorgeous cotton batik with snowflakes. It's wintery, but not Christmasy, so they can be used throughout the season. I also finished one blanket (with much swearing) and started the second. Not sure I like the satin binding so much. I'll get through these blankets and forget about doing satin binding on fleece for a while.

What's next? I need to make more stars for next weekend then I'm not sure after that. Funny thing is, I don't really care what I'm sewing as long as I'm sewing. I just love it!

What Am I Working On?

Tuesday night I went next door to the landlords'/neighbors' house as all of my non-sewing craft supplies are being haphazardly stored in their dining room (until next week when I have to make room for it all here so they can throw their annual Xmas Party). Anyway, I was looking for a pattern for my crocheted cloche-style hat. I didn't find it there (in fact, I didn't find it anywhere), however Jeanne asked if she could tag along back home with me to see all the fun stuff I'm working on. This caught me off guard (messy house, you know) but it was so good for me. I pulled out half-finished purses, blankets, quilts & stars. I also found some fabric that had been stashed away for projects never started. I also showed her the napkins that I started last weekend for her. She requested napkins & placemats for a gift for her work party. Unfortunately, my machine threw a temper tantrum on Sunday. I'm giving it a few days to rest so I'll finish those on Saturday.
After she trudged back across the driveway I desperately searched for my pattern. Like I said, I couldn't find the one I wanted, but I did find another hat pattern that I love, so I started that as gift for someone. Can't post pics til after Xmas for obvious reasons, but I do plan to pull some things out this weekend and inventory all my work. I'll post some pics of my WIPs or UFOs (Works In Progress or UnFinished Objects).
I have so much to do! Better get off this computer.....

Saturday

Today I will sew.
Today I will sew.
Today I will sew.

That's my mantra for the day.
It's beautifully gorgeous outside: mild & sunny, and it's only 8am. I'm sure the kids will spend much of their time out there getting muddy today. I, however, will be upstairs enjoying the hum of the sewing machine and trying not to stab myself with pins. I have an order for 10 more stars, a rice bag with removable cover, and I have some Christmas gifts to work on as well.

Busy.
Busy.
Busy.

I'm Back

Although I never really left.

It's funny, but I would like to blog more often. The problem is, if I feel like I don't have anything inspiring or amazing to write, then I just shouldn't bother. It's not like I have a lot of blog followers anyway, like all those big name blogs I read every day.

How do I get to that point? How do I make myself inspiring to others? How do I make my life sound interesting to thousands of other people? I'm not a designer. I don't have sponsors. I don't have freebies to offer, and if I did, who would win? The 2 people who read this? (Hi Pam & Laura!)

I want to be those people; those amazing women who inspire me and many others around the world with their simple words every single day; those women who are fortunate enough to have been blessed with the ability to stay home and become fabric designers, pattern creators, and overall nice people.

In the meantime, while I am searching for answers and wishing that I could be one of those bloggers, I will leave you with these pictures of some of the fun things I created this weekend. Enjoy!

Sorry, picture upload is giving me a hard time tonight..... I'll try again tomorrow.

My Sewing Machine

I frequently visit the Sew Mama Sew blog as I can find a lot of great ideas, tips & advice. This month they're offering some great prizes just for commenting on blog posts, including a new sewing machine. So they have asked that we fill out the following questionnaire & post the link to their site. Here goes...

What brand and model do you have? Singer, pretty basic model, no bells & whistles
How long have you had it? 3 years or so
How much does that machine cost (approximately)? $100
What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? All of the Above
How much do you sew? Not often enough
How much wear and tear does the machine get? Not as much as it should
Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? Like it well enough - Didn't know I was supposed to name "her"
What features does your machine have that work well for you? It sews
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Skipped Stitches, not as advanced I would like, wish I could machine quilt with it
Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it! Nothing exciting - Bobby brought it home one day after I had been using my mom's machine to make quilts for his nieces & nephews
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? Only to extreme beginners and those who don't sew much
What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? For me, I want it to come with a walking foot so I can do more quilting and heavy duty purse making
Do you have a dream machine? Anything that will help me advance my techniques and sewing skills

The Sewing Bug

Yes! It has finally bitten me again. This weekend I decided, after cleaning the house, that I would pull out the old sewing machine. It's a little awkward, but I managed to sew standing up. Yes, you read that right. I placed the machine on the bar between the kitchen & living room, put the pedal on the floor (perfect height), and I was able to stand & sew. I finally made Cindy's 3rd wallet. I got the size right this time, but I'm a little worried about the metal snaps. There may end up being a wallet #4. I also found 3 adorable floral print fat quarters on sale at JoAnn's last week. So I whipped up a new purse for myself. I call it the "unstructured bag." It resembles a tote bag that you'd use for shopping, but it has an outside pocket as well as 2 inside. I also added a clip for my keys so they don't disappear at the bottom. I call it unstructured since I didn't use any interfacing for stiffness. It's so cute. As soon as I can find a USB adaptor for my camera & new computer I'll start posting pics again. Although I think I only have one reader these days, so Mama Brann, I'll post those pics soon! Thanks for reading!

Wedding Pics

Sheri got married! Friday afternoon/evening we celebrated her marriage to Will, in the usual style of course. It was a lovely ceremony and the reception was fun, full of laughter & tears. Here are some of the pics. Bobby and I coordinated in our outfits (of course) & I think we looked pretty sassy together. He's so cute!



And then there's me and the girls. I love weddings & dance recitals because those are the only times we are all together to pose for pictures. Unfortunately there are no more weddings to be had for the 6 of us. But there will be more recitals.
Oh, and I made this really cute clutch purse on Friday morning to go with my new dress (I bought the dress, by the way). I think I have another new style to work on for the website, if I ever get around to starting it. Thanks so much for looking!