The Quilted Hug

 Over the weekend I finished making my Quilted Hug and I'm happy with it (although haven't had a chance to really test it out to see if it helps keep my shoulders warm when we have a nasty east wind).  Here it is...

This shows it closed as it would be for wearing and below shows it flat...

Modifications I did:  I used three of the crazy quilt blocks I had languishing in my stash and worked around them.  The rest was made using 2 1/2" strips of various fabrics.  I backed it with some leftover flannelette (had to use two colours to get the amount I needed) and I didn't add batting because I felt it would be too warm.  For quilting, I simply did a stitch in the ditch application.  If you're interested in making your own, I used the directions found HERE but there are numerous versions 'round and about the internet, along with many ideas for pattern modifications.  

- I absolutely love listening to THIS!  Hope you enjoy it too.  And I love THESE guys too!  And THIS pretty much says it all.

- If you happen to have leftover sock yarn and don't know what you could make with it, how about THIS

- THIS is a cute wee ornament that wouldn't take long to make.

- There are lots of great gifting ideas HERE.

- AND, just for fun, perhaps a gift for yourself might be THIS?  

Soldiering onward....

Carrying on with the Looking Back series...

This was a block I created for donation to a Breast Cancer fundraiser quilt project.  It had to be washable, so I relied on pre-made lace motifs for much of the decoration.

From 2008 through the latter part of 2011 I was heavily into making my recycled denim jackets.  At first I only used blue denim and then I decided that I wanted a black one for myself.  That, in turn, started a whole new round of requests because now everyone wanted a black one too.

The back of one of the many I have made.

The eagle-eyed among you might have noticed that the sleeves of my jackets all featured a seminole pattern.  A few of you might even think that it was a trademark of mine or that perhaps I was rather clever to come up with doing that.
Nope.  Not clever at all.  The original pattern idea called for a 'gusset' under the arm and the seminole was a case of my having absolutely NO earthly idea of how to make a gusset!! 

The end of 2009 saw the beginning of an art doll round robin collaboration that I was involved in.   My naked doll, which I named Shudayra, set off into the world looking like this.


Tomorrow I will show you how she turned out.  The transformation was absolutely incredible!!






Today is another wonderful quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson.... "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not"



 

Further looking back, and yummy soup

I know summer isn't perhaps a time that one's thoughts (and taste buds) turn to hot soup, but something cold certainly hits the spot.  DH is the chief cook in our household and he's  come up with this recipe for Gazpacho Soup.  Mmmmm - it tastes so fresh and lovely on a hot day!  I thought you might like the recipe (there sounds like a lot of ingredients, but it's oh so worth it!)....

JACK's GAZPACHO SOUP

4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 sweet red (or green) pepper, chopped

1/2 c. chopped onion

1/2 c. chopped cucumber

2 green onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp. fresh chives, chopped

1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped

1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped

4 c. tomato juice

2 tsp. sugar

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

3 T. lemon juice

1/3 c. olive oil

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. worcestershire sauce

6 drops Tabasco sauce (or to taste)

Place all ingredients (in batches) into blender and blend to desired consistency.  Chill overnight.  

Further in my looking back series....some of you (most of you, probably) know that I have a 'thing' for working with recycled denim.   These two jackets were ones that I made in 2006.

  The rag style was a one-off and was done for a commission.  

The jacket below was one over over 30 jackets I made in the crazy quilt style and using recycled denim, along with lace and recycled clothing labels.

 

 
Alas, the arthritis in my hands has meant that I have had to pretty much give up my work with denim.  It was certainly fun while it lasted though.


Today the quote is from Anonymous......"What you permit, you promote"

 

Latest jacket....

I know I don't normally post on the weekend but this jacket is hot off the press (well, sewing machine) so I thought I'd let you see it....

This is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada, which will mean the consumption of lots of turkey and trimmings. We'll be joining friends on Monday to celebrate the day and, in all likelihood, eat FAR too much!

Final jacket - for now

While I was unable to post pictures I managed to complete another jacket, which will be the last one I do until late summer/early fall.  I'm taking the rest of the spring/summer 'off' from jackets to concentrate on my white projects and a few other things that need to be created.

Hopefully you won't miss them TOO much!!

Completed project - and a bed

Here's the latest
jacket I just
completed.

I know, don't they all
look the same?

and, here's Cosmo
reclining as only

a cat can....

Colour switch

Today I thought I`d give you a break from white
and post pictures of the latest

jacket I just finished.

The lady wanted her grandkids names
embroidered somewhere on the
jacket.

The pink roses are actually quite
dimensional and yes,
they came from a pair of
jeans.  

Here`s the front....

and here`s the back. 

Another one!

Another one done!
This one is for a man so has been made
shorter in the body and has less
in the way of 'decoration'.

One thing I've discovered about apartment

living is the 

lack of places to photograph things. 

I'm going to have to do some thinking about that!

Progress, and thanks

First, I want to say thank you for all of your input into my lighting dilemma.  I was happy to know that Ott lights are better than I had been led to believe (obviously anyone who takes time to do a review generally has a problem).  There are a couple of you who have your reponses set to 'no reply' so I am unable to thank you in person.  

Second - I've been working on the latest jacket and have added the decorative elements (pockets, labels and buttons).  Because I have nothing else to show for today, I thought I'd post a couple of photos so you could see where it's at now...

The picture above shows the back....
and the picture below shows the two front pieces...

Now it's on to doing the sleeves!

EDITED TO ADD:

OUR HOUSE IS SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacket done!

The front...

and

the back...

Another recycled denim jacket....done!!

This one is for moi - unless of course somebody really wants to buy it, in which case I can always make myself another one.  I used up some of the scraps from the first black one I made a few weeks ago and used red accents (simply because I happen to like wearing red).  Jack took the photos of me modeling (hah!!!) it.  His photo taking abilities just about equal my modeling abilities so we make a good pair. Here it is...

AND.....

I'm taking part in another Art Doll Coolaberation!!  I'm so excited and can't wait to begin playing with all the dolls.  We all had so much fun last year and I must admit I was probably one of the ones that pleaded (pled? begged?  whined?)  the loudest to have another go!  My doll is pretty much ready and I'll be showing pictures later - once I finish working on the journal start.  

Jacket - done!

Above is the front...

and below is the back...

You can see the seminole stripe down the sleeves,

and you will note that the sleeve length

isn't complete.  I wait to do that until

the recipient can try the jacket on.

These pictures were taken outside, but the black
still looks blue/grey in the photos. Sorry!

and...

some closeups...

Stitching right along...

Today I finished working on the sleeves for the black jacket.  Unfortunately my photo doesn't show the true black colour of this, but you can get the idea.  The lighter strips down either side of the seminole have a subtle shimmer of gold which I thought added a bit of interest.  Perhaps if you enlarge the picture you'll be able to see it better.

The jacket is now ready to put together....

Just hanging around....

Being somewhat housebound for the next while at least I should be able to manage to get something creative done (best laid plans/bound to run amuck notwithstanding).  With dad the way he is I think my days of going too far are pretty numbered for awhile.

SO.......

today I started on another black jacket.  This one will be mine (unless someone comes along and wants to give me $200 for it - in which case I'd be happy to let it go).  I can't go any further on the one I was working on yesterday until I am able to get the lining fabric so I figured I might as well carry on while I have denim 'bits' scattered about and keep sewing.  Here's what I did today.....

 And, just so you don't get too bored with denim, here's another flower from our garden!

Black denim jacket - beginnings

I spent parts of yesterday and today starting work on a recycled  jacket using black denim.  It's the first time I've used black and I have to admit I'm really liking it - enough that I intend to make another one for myself.  For now I'm at a screeching halt though because I need to make a trip to the fabric store to pick up lining and hopefully some off white jean thread.  The person this jacket is for likes black and off white so I'm trying to stick to those tones.

Here's a couple of photos of the pieces thus far...

I know the photos make the denim look blue, but it IS black and tones of grey!!

Denim jacket - finis

I can't exactly say the jacket is totally finished because I still have to finish the sleeve length, but that can't be done until the new owner comes for a fitting.  I hope she likes it!  Don't forget you can click on each of the photos to embiggen them if you'd like to see more detail.

Each seam in the final construction of this jacket is sewn twice, for strength and security.  I want my jackets to last!  I forgot to take a photo, but I also install another denim pocket on the lining in case someone wants to use it.  One of the little extras I like to do to set my jackets apart from the norm.

Comments are welcome!

Recycled Denim jacket

Sharon of www.inaminuteago.com/blog posed the question of what to do with recycled denim, so I thought I would post this again. I have used all sorts of denim pieces in this jacket, in the CQ style, utilizing some pockets and labels too. I've made a number of these jackets and find they're a great way to use up denim! I've also attempted knitting with denim strips too, which isn't something I would highly recommend. I liked the end result, but my hands didn't!

Rag coat

This is a picture of the latest jacket I made, using recycled denim, and in the rag style. It's reversible too. It's another thing out of my UFO pile.

I've spent most of today revamping my bead storage area. I have a wonderful (older) friend who loves to shop at the dollar store and nothing makes her happier than picking up little 'treasures' for me. This time she had at least a dozen different bead vials, which led to me having to re-do my method of storage. It still needs work, but at least now I can maybe (key word is 'maybe'!) find what I'm looking for.

Another Picture!

After much mucking about, I think I've got this putting pictures in the blog thing. Although, maybe I had better not speak too soon! Pride most often goeth before a fall.

Shawn called last night to tell me he had picked up my digital camera, which will be a whole new learning curve. I'm hoping for more 'instant' pictures for my blog, so I suppose it will be worth the money. It's ok if I can scan what I want to post, but things like this jean jacket are just too big for that system. Waiting for a film to be developed from my 35mm can be frustrating because sometimes it takes me months to finish a film. I want instant 'show-off-ability' (I know that's not a word, but it covers what I want to say).

I've had a couple of requests to see one of the jackets I make from recycled denim, so here is a picture. I made this one several months ago. My next project is to attempt to make a below-knee length, more dressy version of the same thing. Stay tuned!