{in the morning}

The sewing machine has collected dust in the last weeks, months. Even I am alsways open for ideas, actually putting my ideas to work , just did not happen. The funk went deep, because I did not even got tempted passing fabric to take a look. Until this morning. These four made it home with a little project in mind.

just today

Doesn't Soren look like he actually can play? He just snug the guitar from Chiara to  be a copycat because all three of the kids had to show of to Oma that we have enough guitars in the house and that they know a little from Daddy.

My mom is packing up already again and we will head to the airport eraly in the tomorrow morning, but we took the time to take pictures two sets of painted fabric folded and ironed nicely.   

There are still some more pots with seedlings between our bushes in the shade, by now also a few more of them planted, however they truly need more time to grow. Meanwhile the two bog tomato plants each have their first tomato reddening, two tiny cucumber plants are blooming, but we have four peaches growing with a few leaves on the peach tree and one pomergranate. And more and more peas growing.

flying in the wind

An old neighbor called it "brightening up the neighborhood".

Possibly.

We thought more of save keeping yesterdays bagged and dyed fabric from our crazy dog who can jump really high. So after rinsing out the dye we dried the fabric on the clothes line and let it fly in the wind. The colors turned lighter with drying. I loved sitting outside just seeing it.

After dinner I went back in my 'Hexenkueche' (sorcerer's workshop) and Bella turned into a sorcerer's apprentice in creating new colors and dying more fabric with pattern and without usinf plain white, pink or blue.

Tomorrow we will see again how they turn out.

Before we started all this sorcerer business we did some real sewing we fabric from the stash. Just the snaps are new to close and yes, there are hundreds of possible uses for snaps if you just start thinking of where you might could add one.

I made the Americana version of this wallet after a tutorial from Noodlehead again. I changed the size a little to fit it more for ITS purpose. It is leaving the country and so I stayed with the American theme and used a cute flag fabric as lining.

The new Quilts & More magazine had this little pattern for a camera bag. My camera seriously won't fit in here. No chance. However it is such a cute bag that we find good use for it nevertheless.

Take a close look at the closure. Another snap. Even engraved. These snaps work so well and are so much easier to install as the metal snaps or even velcro. My girls already can do and Soren loves to sort them buy color and motive. Isn't the flower cute and fitting perfect. Wait until yo get to see a ooga booga snap, we got today after we were not supposed to receive the flower ones.

The first part of my new summer bag is finished. Made with linen and a selection of bright colored strips. Inside I added a keyring to be able to clip my keys on. I search my keys ALL the time, so since a while I have a big carabiner hook on my keys and I literally always hook it on my purse or on my pants. Every bag I make will get one. In addition I added to more rings inside to be able to attach a smaller bag/sidepocket to it as a bag organizer. It is still in the planning stage, but the big bag is ready to be used.

tutti i colori - fabric dyeing

It was my mom's idea. A few years ago. Dyeing in bags with no mess. That was the original idea.

Finally in 2011 she had to come to visit us here in Texas to try it out. All set with Procion MX Fiber Reactive Cold Water Dyes, soda ash, salt, ziplock bags, rubbergloves, flower pots, .... we got actually started today after I cleaned the garage of my mess.

It is really not difficult to mix up the paints when everything is set up and ready, and the bright colors that are developing are just amazing. I love colors.

Even just seeing how the paint is seeping into fabric without kneading it yet is so much fun.

We kept it simple. Plain colors. Just mixed green to all the primary ones and added two fat quarter sized pices of different fabric to each color. Bella snagged my camera to snap pictures even she would have loved to help mixing in the fabric. The first time, however, we kept the mess and splatters on us including our hands even we wore gloves. A mess we made anyway after two ziplock bags malfunctioned on the bottom, but it still worked out.

Now the fabric is soaking in its paint bath till the morning and we will see how it turns out. It is tempting to check earlier, but daylight will be better. The clothing line is already set up tied tp the biggest tree in the yard, waiting for the fabric in all the colors.

TOMORROW.

fabric stash :: clean up

Our garage is a mess. It always gets cleaned up and within weeks it looks like a bomb explosion in there. In the company of my new little supervisor for outdoor activities - Antonio is  coming outside with us since last weekend while being babysitted by Vincenzo - I finally made a way through the garage again. More stuff got stored out of the way in the attic, the trash can filled and I am reorganizing all my fabric. All the fabric actually moved in the house step by step got folded nicely in stacks AGAIN and sorted by color and even by size.
Now I am actually able to find  the specific piece of fabric when I search for it. Yes, I am still using this old blue wardrobe for storing my fabric.There is no space for it in the house, but I am happy that my sewing machine has a spot that is not the kitchen table.

My scrap basket is full and I even started my own FQ sized collection. My toolbox is filled to the brim, but works great for having these little treasures handy. I finally found the perfect use for it and it fits right next the sewing machine.

How do you store your fabric? Do you keep it neat or need to reorganize them periodically, too?

This is how it look at 9 pm. By now the table is cover in red, orange and yellow scraps for tonights project. I used the Mod Mosaic technique from Oh!Fransson in a small scale. I am planning on using these blocks for a pillow cover, but still need to decide on which background fabric I want use with this combination. I would like more colord pieces in my blocks, but the finished blocks are just 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" and the white strips measure 1/2". I did not necessarily want to make the white strips even thinner to work with.

more as one excuse

The kids went back to school this morning, but it seemd they had a much easier time getting up earlier again as me. I had a real hard time staying awake after dropping the kids off at school and it was just too cold in the house, so snuggling back under the covers just happened to be the best option. A little while later the cats and the puppy joined me in the living room and while Leland and I watched the last episodes off Torchwood from BBC, I got started with cutting the fabric for my first project of the year and even sewed the first strips together until I ran out of white fabric. With the football game going on the telly screen there was no way that I spent all evening on the couch with Leland. Soccer you might get me to watch, football is still a lost cause. Nevertheless I started on the second project of the year, cutting the fabric and piecing it as far as possible until it came to the one missing fabric. Obviously with two started projects needing fabric, does this not allow a trip to the fabric store? 

Now I just need to choose the one color and fabric that just makes these fabrics pop.

times two

There is already a long list of I-would-love-to-do-projects for this year. One does include this jellyroll and was all ready to go until I noticed that it is not enough fabric and unfortunately that store is not just around the corner. So today all of us made a trip to stroll through Ikea and I added one of the shortest stops ever to

JoAnn to get a second jellyroll and resisted to look for more. Now I just need to find some energy to get started with this project or one of the many others.

One HOT Saturday in Texas

Do you know something blue, something red, something yellow, something orange, all big and fuzzy?

I can name the Cookie Monster, by now also Elmo and Big Bird and that only after seeing three Sesamestreet shows. I never favorite the show as a kid, so somehow we never really have it running on TV very often here neither. But  somehow we went to see a show in Austin before Soren was part of my threesome and since then Sesamestreet came now the second time to Ft. Hood for a small show and we got to see them for free yesterday. The pricewas leaving the house in the HEAT and leaving the air conditioning. It is hot here. And standing in line is crazy. Some people were smart and just brought umbrellas and you saw them popping up in all colors.

                           

After our outing Soren and Chiara found a "hopper" (Soren) named "Grassi" (Chiara) which was right away adopted as pet. You have to be warned in our yard NOTHING is SAFE. No bug or rollipolli from Soren, no grasshopper from Chiara, no cat from the catbird - oh man that is truly entertaining watching them chasing the cats - no flipflop from the dog - SO BEWARE.

Do you want to see the BIGGEST hopper ever from close up? Come closer.

Soren was not really good sports sporting his new t-shirt extra large, not even with his popsicle. But, well, that's life. At least he likes his new t-shirt which we got finished last minute for our little Saturday outing and finallt he at least tried to say his name. Usually when I aske him who he is, he says ' BOY'. We already uograded from 'BABY' to 'BOY'. Perhaps we until school start he will say Soren. Stubborn stinker.

Now of course I have two more request for shirt with names - the sisters. We made one for Neva for her birthday and also put the same applique of her name on a small jeans purse. It is quite easy and I love how it turned out for Soren. It just took me forever to get started and then to make up my mond what type of font I wanted to use. Next step is to give my machine a overhaul as soon as possible, it seriously needs to be serviced again. 

mini winter quilt in the works

Last month I had the crazy notion signing up for a mini quilt swap. Just because I have not enough to do.

But I did anyway and then was sitting there and trying to get an idea what to do. I did not just want to piece a block in blue and white, but I still wanted to use mainly these two colors.

Looking outside for some inspiration is not helping much in Central Texas, because we don't have the beautiful winter weather neither, barely a snowflake. Nothing compared to the winters we had in Massachusetts just a few years ago.

 I don't know anything about my swap partner, unfortunately she has no blog I could go and peek to see what she likes so I hope she will like the finsihed result. I finally started and decided on a wintery landscape with the skeleton of a tree. I had different picture in mind when I started but as always it is changing when the work is in progress. I try to finish it tonight.

one, two little sewing projects

Yesterday I finally got to make (don't tell - sew) my secret valentine gift for a gift exchange. I got it done. But I can't show it here until it arrives at its recipient without spoiling the surprise just in case she peaks.

But I can show off the second sewing project started yesterday. I went garage shopping. Right around the corner of my kitchen. Just two steps away. And found a pair of jeans. Almost still perfect for Chiara just too short and the best part they were even FREE. Of course. It was my own garage.

After digging in some old BURDA kids sewing magazine a few days ago I sew a few pages about recycling old clothes. So we took the jeans, cut it off, about knee lenght and opened up the seams between the legs to convert it in a skirt. We added some colorful batik fabric in the front and the back plus a little belt and voila. Chiara is all happy with her new scrappy jeans skirt which she insist on wearing to school tomorrow. The skirt is not perfect, but she is happy.

P.S. I am gald I got to sew but it's even better that Chiara is all happy about the skirt and I am still smiling about it now and remmebering that I made a Bella a dress out of this batic fabric when Chiara was just born.



This little sneak came running into the picture all the time and just had a blast in the hallway being goofy and silly. But that is not really anything new.

I am working on it ... seriously ...

... on reducing my fabric stash and actually using it. But since the move in this house last summer the organization of this stash is seriously compromised.

A step back: In the last house we had a tiny kitchen but huge dining area space so I put the girls' old german blue wardrobe in a corner and organized NICELY - sorted after colors and seasons - most of my fabric in it. Easy access. Right there in the middle of the house with enough space around to spread it all out if necessary. The rest of the crafts stuff was all packed up in a closet in Leland's hide away/computer room.

Now: We rented a bigger house that's in better shaped and all the kids got their own room. Getting them to sleep is SOOOOOOOOOOOO much easier, but there is no space for my blue closet beside in the garage which is packed with everything else that was in the extra room in the other house, too, plus everything else. So I am working on getting my stash used and reduced and reorganized that I can enjoy it again and actually find what I am looking for when I look for it. But that is a work in progress.

I don't like to admit that the last move left such a chaos behind - we are expert movers after all! - but Sew, Mama, Sew! is asking about our fabric stash, yours & mine. And through them you get to peek in lots of others fabric stashes and see what they are stashing away.

• What do you usually sew?
  I started out with quilts in all sizes and girls' dresses, now more little things for decorations and whatever pops in my head.
  


• When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy?
  If I go shopping for a specific project I just add a little more as what I need, if I just really like the fabric it depends on the price if I take between 1/2 - 2 yards. Usually 1 yard.
  


• Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?
  Both, I try to avoid the fabric sections now because I do have a pretty big stash, but the special fabric I always find when I am not looking for it.
  


• Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?
  I used to wash it right away. Now only of I use it for quilts when I need it.
  


• Do you iron it?
  Before cutting it.
  


• How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)
  By color, a few as collection and as season for fall and xmas.
  


• Do you have any special folding techniques?
  No, just trying to get them similar sized.
  


• How do you store your fabric?
  In my blue closet if I get finished organozid, currently there and in plastic containers and on top of my dryer.
  


• What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?
  If you see something you just fall in love with add it to your stash, it makes you smile when you get to touch it. lol. There are a few stash staples you akways need from white fabric, tan, black, brown, so always have a few overall fitting patterns, too, that you easily can start on an idea without having to run to the store.
  


• When do you say enough is enough?
  Is there ever enough? I reach a point taht I carefully select the fabric I buy now.
  


• What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?
  Let my daughters dig in my stash. lol.
  


• Do you have a current favorite print in your stash? Let’s see it!
  I love the blue print and for right now can't get myself to cut in it.
  

• What’s your definition of the perfect stash?
  The perfect stash is the one I can start digging in when I get an idea and end up finding all the perfectly right fabrics I want in it.
  

"The latest additions to the fabric stash."

More Stuffed Little Hearts

Those little hearts are a cute decorations for the house, I just still try to find the perfect spot for them. I even likethem hanging from a doorknob, but Soren disagrees with me and usually takes my doorknob decorations faster down as I put them up.

All hearts have a pocket in the front so I can a little note, perhabs folded or rolled up and a sweet treat with it for my girls on valentines. Perhabs the striped hearts still need a bow, but I didn't make up my mind yet and like them as simple as they are. I hope you enjoy them, too.

Fabric Bookcovers

Here is my first attempt of making a bookcover with fabric for an old notebook from strips of fabric and some batting. The notebook can easily be exchanged when it is full because it works like a slip cover.


Of course after Chiara saw mine she wanted one for her notebook, too, and how can I say no? So we took the leftover fabric from her heart found some coordinateting strips.

Those are the first attempts for bookcovers but more are in plans if I find the time for them.

Hearts full of Love

Both of my girls were busy sewing hearts last weekend especially Isabell. Look at big pile she made with Oma's help. But she sewed all the bows on by herself and each has a different pearl or bead. She was working really hard all afternoon.

Here is Chiara' heart. Isn't it cute?

Just Yummy

On our second trip to Austin this month, I could not resist buying fabric - my sewing machine is dusted off by now, too - the deals were just to sweet and the fabric just gorgeous. I love it, so much that I can't cut in it yet and it is nicely stack up next to me to look at.

It is so hard to resist buying just all of it, so I had to ideas in my head and pick them out for it. One or two more slipped in the stack, but I can't wait to see how those ideas turn out.

Soren loves all the buttons on my sewing machine, too, and the wheel, and the foot and, ......

CAN'T KEEP HIS HANDS OFF IT!