Patience (just like the G’N'R song … sort of)

I really hate to admit this, but I think it’s time I got a new computer.  This one is, as the saying goes, moving slower than molasses in winter, and it’s driving me crazy.  I know it’s the processor, but I just don’t like getting new computers very much, I get all comfortable and familiar with one and then it goes and gets old.  The nerve! I get sentimental - I still have two of my old computers, and my old laptop is currently the file server for my home network. *sigh*

I’ve noticed lately that when I begin a post I start digressing like that even before I begin the post.  This post is reportedly about home furnishings - I have continued to update things around here after we completely rearranged our house in June.  The next step was curtains and a couple of big pillows for my living room out of some nice fabric I got at Ikea.  Still have 2 more pillows to make.

I titled this project Patience because it took me a while to finish them, because I actually didn’t cut any corners on the project.  Everything got properly measured, pinned, ironed, lined, finished and stitched.  This is very unusual because I have zero patience for twiddly details.  It required many, many deep breaths and some shorter work sessions not to just get irritated and slap things together.  But, I really wanted to produce things where I didn’t look at them funny later on.  You know, the usual head-tilted-to-the-side-because-I’m-pretty-sure-that-seam-isn’t-straight look you give something when you start acknowledging maybe you should’ve taken a bit more time with it.  Or does that only happen to me?

Of course, the ultimate test for all my pillows that I make is the Dog Test.  Audrey is somewhat particular about her pillows (think the Princess and the Pea fairytale), and they have to achieve a certain level of comfort in both fluff and fabric in order for her to approve.  I’m not kidding.  She has rejected a number pillows before.  I test for approval by flopping the pillow on the floor and seeing if she climbs on and is happy.  Here are the results of the Dog Approval Test:

Victory!  You can’t see it, but the pillow cover is open along one side.  There’s a flap inside to cover the pillow liner, and then four ties made from the fabric to close it.  This one is lined because my fabric was pretty sheer, plus I wanted to make it extra sturdy what with all the cats and dogs and husband in the house.  I’m going to write myself some directions for them so I don’t forget.  I made up the pattern as I went along (which did require some seam ripping).

The curtains I made were not true curtains, they’re decorative panels.  One thing Jeff requested was wooden blinds, but our windows are an odd square size.  So instead of forking over the bucks for custom sizing, we bought two and hung them side by side and it fit perfectly.  It’s actually turned out well, because kitty sits in one side and looks out all day.  The panels cover the seam between and the edges.  This is kind of an odd view of the living room, but here they are:

These also feature fabric ties (I coordinated with the pillows!).  I took my time with all the seams, and everything is so straight even this OCD girl can’t see the faults.  I am pleased.

I received kind of a compliment on my home furnishing endeavors a while back - someone has asked me to figure out & probably make curtains for rooms in their new house.  It’s a friend of my mom’s.  I’m waiting to see (MOM) if my dear mother will decide to pick it all out before I even get there.  Not that she tends to go shopping and get a little crazy or anything.  Ah, what’s a blog for if you can’t occasionally tease the mother who reads it?

Oh yeah, I’m livin’ the life …

So I had three things to tell you all today, and when I stopped and thought about them I was very amused. My three things are (1) organic vegetables, (2) a print from an independent artist and (3) something I just made. You can’t say I don’t do what I preach, er, ramble on about on here.

Organic Veggies: At the moment I’m super crazy excited waiting for my first home delivery of organic vegetables. A friend who already has been doing this for some time swears by Greenling for their produce. They are supposed to be awesome for veggie quality. I got two of their “surprise” baskets. The local basket has an unknown variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables from farms in the area.  The other one is the “artisanal basket” with a surprise variety of breads, meats, cheeses etc. from local shops. I don’t know what I’m getting, and I just love that! I have to admit that although I like the organic part, I’m actually more excited about the surprise element, and the fact that I don’t have to go to the grocery store.  I used to love getting home delivery of groceries in Manhattan.

Art Print: The art print is one called Bear Snug (#214 from March 1 ,2008) from Nut and Bee. What, you’ve never stopped by Annette’s stationery shop?  You really should. Her illustrations are some of the cutest I’ve ever seen, and I love checking out her 3x weekly postings of new Sketchbook Sweeties (her name for her drawings). Check out the Whirlipig and the Drama Llama. You’ll succumb to the spell too.

Kitchen Curtain: In addition to all those WIPs from yesterday, I did actually finish one thing, if only because it was the easiest thing.  I have this wierd spot in my kitchen where the 1970s builders decided to put a countertop for some sort of breakfast nook, I assume.  It would have made about 1000x more sense to put cabinets there, but apparently builders and architects can’t be bothered to be, you know, practical.

So I’ve put up 2 shelves (well, my dad did) and made a curtain to hide the area below.  Now it can serve as additional storage without just looking messy.  Plus, I love the stripe.

My mom had a GREAT idea for making this.  I got a pair of shorter pre-made curtain from Target to do this, and she suggested that instead of cutting off the extra at the bottom I should just fold it over so it’s the right length, and just sew in the rod pocket in the middle somewhere. Then you just sew down the sides. If you use a loose enough stitch, you can pull out the stitches later and reuse the curtains! FAB.

Embroidery Day!

Today I’m dragging out some old, old stuff.  Many years ago I got interested in embroidery and went after it with my usual obsessiveness.  I think I like it because it’s really the first crafty type of thing I ever did.  I started this one embroidered bib when I was maybe 6 and finally finished it when I was about 22.  I’ll find it sometime and show it to you.

I did these 3 embroidery pieces when I was 22 or 23 years old.  Ever since then it’s just been stored, doing nothing. You will see I have a certain style - I like organic-ey, rounded shapes, kind of like vines.  I love those shapes, it’s so very much fun to draw and sew!

This next blue/green piece is my favorite of all the pieces of embroidery I’ve done.  Looping vines and 2 kinds of flowers.  I don’t quite know what I’m going to do with it, but who knew I had enough patience to do the satin stitch on those petals!

This last is a foretaste of my last show-and-tell project today … I love the scrolled look of the embroidery.  More curved shapes!

Finally, I had three pieces of Holiday embroidery in the pile that I’d apparently originally intended to be pillows.  I decided they would be one of my projects to finally get done when I reorganized.  I can’t remember the details of what I was going to do originally, so I got to make it up again.

So … here’s my Xmas pillows, in April!  Don’t laugh!!  It’s a 10-year old project finally done!!  I think they turned out nicely, kind of like presents, even if I do have to put them away immediately.

Seriously, regardless of the theme & decoration here, I still faced some sewing fears!  In this case, the red fabric is a really shiny satiny material, very slippery - festive!  I usually avoid this kind of thin, slippery fabric, and this was a good opportunity to grit my teeth and sew with it anyway. I also avoid buttonholes like the plague, and I had to make buttonholes for the envelope closure, and because of the fabric I had to use stabilizer in it.  But I prevailed.