Crazy Dog Lady (Patient Zero) Has Cabin Fever!!

So, Nashville got a little bit of snow and ice this week.  

The view from my back porch.  Ice trees!!!

Combine that with a gnarly sinus/headcold and that put me in the situation of being house-bound for 5 days straight.  Not that I'm complaining.  I love a day off just as much as the next guy.  And you stack 5 together...hell, I'm down!  But by day 5, I was feeling a little antsy.  Usually with that many days of freedom from work, I can be a proper American and go purchase things I don't need or find other trouble to get into.  But not this week.  Nashville is a city ill-equipped for ice.  Also, being sniffly and sneezy kept me pretty glued to the couch and not feeling extra excited to be out in the world or buzzing with creativity.

Chicken Pho>Campbell's ever could be

But yesterday afternoon rolled in and I couldn't sit still any longer!  If I were still 300lbs, I think I might have actually become one with the couch and needed surgical assistance to get up, but I'm a little more lithe than I once was.  My car was encased in ice, so I couldn't leave.  And my nose was a dripping faucet so I didn't want to work on any of my current quilt projects.  Tula Pink does not deserve to have my mucus on her at this point.  I'd prefer she stay clean until I finish my WIPs that bear her name.  So I went upstairs to the craft den to see what kind of miracles I could create.

Betwixt my boyfriend and me, we have 4 dogs.  He inherited his mother's hound dog, Howard.  The other three are all rightfully mine: Finn the muttley Doberman, Willoughby the retired racing greyhound, and Simon the hyper shichon.  If you have ever seen a Greyhound, you know they are very thin and very short haired, so I have always had a habit of making sweaters and coats for Will for him to stay warm.

Willoughby (formerly Dancin' Dudley) was rescued from a track in Florida in 2005

The other boys haven't ever needed outerwear since we live in a relatively temperate climate.  But it is COLD this week.  So I decided to start slapping together dog coats.  I didn't take pictures of my process, because when I do this, it really is like a Jackson Pollack painting.  I use the dog in question to measure and form.  I decided that these were going to be grungy, utilitarian, rough looking quilted pieces so I wasn't worried about finished edges or neat seams.  It's bad enough I dress my dogs, I don't need them to look froo froo at the same time!  And away I went.

I used fleece for the base layer.  The fleece is the one piece that I didn't use scrap or remnants to construct.  It is always easiest for me if I have a solid base layer of sturdy fabric that I can build on to. On top of that I used quilt batting scraps.  Like a lot of sewers and quilters, I don't throw anything away, so remnants were the name of the game.  I made Simon's coat first--smaller equals faster.

Simon, in the nude.

So for his top layer, I used Flannel scraps that I had left over from my nephew's Eye Spy Quilt.  Everything got sandwiched together and held tight with a couple pins and then straight line quilted for a couple passes.  Criss-cross quilting and making sure any free edges were tacked down on the over lapping pieces were really what I was all about.  I wanted it to stay rough looking.  After everything was tacked/quilted down enough, I trimmed the edges of all the layers to match the original fleece base and then used a blanket stitch to finish the edges.  I found an old stretchy belt that was too big for me that worked perfectly to cut up and use as a closure for the coat.  So, I cut it up, attached it and finished off the edges for a fairly functional and fairly quick project.

It's hard to catch him standing still.  But you get the idea.  And after wearing it for a while, he actually liked it.  He got excited when I put it on him this morning, but I think that's because he knew he could go outside and eat more snow.  After I had success with the little guy's coat, I moved on to a new super heavy duty one for Willoughby.  He's getting old and needs some extra protection from the cold.  I used a heavier fleece, extra layers of batting and a corduroy for the outer layer to help repel water and wind.  His went together quickly, but I broke the needle on my machine just as I was getting close to the finish line.  It was time for a new one anyway.  So I stopped for the night.  Maybe I'll take some better pictures and see if Will will play fashion model.  

The upside to my madness in the craft room is that the other two crazy mutts inherited Willoughby's old coats.  So now even Howard and Finn are chasing the neighborhood ruffians all suited up in winter coats.  I'm sure it will give some of the kids a laugh to see those big goofy dogs out in the yard with jackets on whenever Metro Nashville finally decides they'll hold school again.   

Packin' Up Is Hard to Do!

So, I'm in the midst of moving.  It wasn't really a planned thing which, I suppose, is why I feel a little discombobulated about it.  J and I are house trollers--we browse Trulia and Zillow for fun.  Early in our relationship, we saw a dream house that fit both of our needs and personalities to a T!  But we weren't in the position to move to buying and selling a home.  But it did facilitate a discussion about saving money and moving in that direction.  Fast forward several months and now my house is on the market.

But like any good hobby crafter, I am also a hoarder by nature.  So much of my life had to be boxed and placed into storage so that my home is viewable to the potential buyer.  Even my craft room had to be straightened and pared down--which was so hard to do!!  All my scrap bins are boxed away in storage.  Dozens of lines of collected fabric are tucked away too.  I tried to be very selective in what I kept out: only currently running projects that I needed for the holidays, but now I'm finding I may need to venture into the storage locker of doom for scraps.  That or go to Joann's for reinforcements.  Let's be real, I'll probably just go to Joann's.

I am finding it difficult to stay productive during this time of transition.  I feel stressed because of the move.  I also have to be tidy as I go, which is totally not me.  But I have a few more things I must finish before next weekend when I celebrate Christmas with my family...so soldier on I must.  Luckily I have next week off work entirely--so I plan to sleep, eat and sew--nothing more!

Here is my little stone cottage in Nashville

She was built in 1937 and has tons of original charm and detail.

This is my creative space.  Clean and organized for the world to see (a rare occurrence).

And this is what it will look like when I must pack it all away (tears).

I Spy...A Quilter Who Has Upped Her Game

So, I don't think I've made any boasts to be some great seamstress.  I'm pretty much just a crafty gal who likes to make things and who usually says, "patterns/instructions, be damned!"  If I mess up, then it either gets incorporated or undone and redone and I keep plugging along.  Now, I've been dabbling at this quilting thing for a while now.  And I say dabbling, because I mostly just make the tops or start squares and then abandon them. 

The ACTUAL quilting has been highly intimidating to me.  I have been scared that I would have my tension all wrong and get my machine bound up (which can happen on an ordinary Tuesday, let alone when I'm trying to wrangle a quilt).  Or how in the great wide world do you man-handle all that fabric in and out of your machine while you quilt row after row???  My mom showed me the basics of sewing--THIS was not her hobby.  So I have no "over the shoulder" experience to garner ideas from.  But thank Al Gore for the internets!

As I'm sitting in my sewing room, watching a tutorial on how to attach my walking foot (because my first 3 tries were unsuccessful and/or resulted in binding up my machine), I thought to myself, what did all the crafty ladies do before the internet?  How did Caroline Ingalls fix her home ec. problems living in BFE Kansas with no wifi?  I wouldn't have survived.  Or I just wouldn't have crafted.  Maybe I would have read more...

So, I want to quilt.  I really really really want to quilt.  I have all these projects and fabrics and I just need to take the plunge and get over my anxiety of the actual quilting process.  I'm a smart girl.  I can figure this out with the help of the internet and all the crafty ladies (and men) who have come before me.  So, I choose a straightforward project to start.  For Christmas, I'm making my 2 year old nephew, Oliver, an I Spy quilt. You know, I Spy with my little eye...and I am here to tell you that this quilt will provide days of spying! There is everything on here: crayons, gnomes, elephants, anthropomorphic pb&j sandwhiches, stars, cherries, tractors, boats, stars, and on and on and on!

I purchased 5" charms from a couple ladies via Instagram and am in love with the selections they sent me.  These fabrics could not be more adorable! 

Rather than make things more complicated, I just started making squares of squares.  Chain piecing was where it was at for this process--the whole way through. 

So, I'd chain until I ran out of squares and then stop to do the dreaded ironing.  I think I've mentioned before (if not here then on other social media) that seam pressing is my least favorite part of this hobby.  But I did not shirk in my duty.  I pressed all my seams at each step of the process. 

This is my "I HATE ironing" face.

I'm not one to be heavy handed with pins either, but I am particular about lining up seams.  So, I was impressed with how well my final blocks matched up.  They're not 100% perfect at every corner, but pretty good for a block with 16 squares. 

After all the charms were matched and pieced, I ended up with 12 blocks of 16.  Then the dilemma was, do I put them all together and quilt this bad boy or should I try something else???  I read about a quilt as you go method via Aubrey at Southern Fabric about a year ago.  So back to the interwebs I went to track it down.  It led me to this lovely blog that I must spend more time on, A Cuppa and a Catch Up.  I read it but it wasn't quite what I was working with so I mentally took a few notes and kept browsing around until I found something else.  Over at Sew Take a Hike, I found the other parts that make quilting this I Spy project as I went along totally doable. 

After fussing with my walking foot for quite a few minutes this evening, and wrestling my giant roll of batting, I was finally able to start quilting my very first quilt square!!!

Brandy new in the box!!!

  My 16 blocks are about 18" square, so I cut batting squares at 20" to leave a little wiggle room.  I centered my blocks on the batting and did use pins (for safety) in the four corners and one in dead center.  This quilt is for my nephew, but it is so fun and colorful that I chose an amazing violet thread to quilt with.  It really stands out and I'm pleased so far with my choice.

  As I get more comfortable with the process, I may chose to get froggy with my technique, but for now I'm doing diagonal straight (for the most part) lines across the square.  I went low and slow until I was sure I was doing it right and then upped my speed with my confidence level.  By the end, I shouted "SUCCESS" and did a little dance that is usually reserved for my favorite foods.  One down, eleven more to go.  But now that I know it's not a scary process, I have a feeling it won't take me long to finish them.  Then it will just be a matter of joining them and backing with a simple 'stitch in the ditch.' 

Over the last week, I've seen a ton of amazing quilts via Instagram at Quilt Market.  The talent that these men and women have is extraordinary and I admire their creativity and skill.  Maybe one day I can be fancy and create complicated quilts with intricate patterns and amazing stitch work, but for now, I'll be happy to make this warm and fuzzy quilt for my nephew and practice these quilting fundamentals.

Piles of chained squares

Round two: second pile of chained rectangles

Round 3: pile of chained squares (again)

Gots to stay hydrated!!

I'll be back when I have it all done to post an update. But for now, I'll be I Spy-ing away in my hobby room all weekend! 

 

TTFN!

Mels

'Dem Bones

When I say things like what I'm about to say, I feel like I am at least one or two generations older than what I really am.  But man, oh man, do I love Instagram!! Who knew how great it is?!?!?  Not me!  Not until a couple months ago.  I don't even know why I really activated my account, but I've jumped on and found several communities that I LOVE: weight loss surgery, thrifting, shopping, and sewing.  

I enjoy looking at the lovely projects that the men and women I follow make for their families and loved ones.  Some are simple.  Some use found objects and incorporate them into their craft, like the adorable little vintage flower pots/vases that are turned into pincushions--precious!  Clicking and swiping my way through the images on my phone helps tickle my creative fancy and gives me fun ideas.  Like one I forgot to mention in my last post--I'm making my 2 year old nephew and I Spy quilt for Christmas.  I've collected a few hundred charm squares of assorted fabrics to be assembled into a monster snuggly game of look and see.

But last night, oh last night.  Be still my heart.  I stumbled upon a glory that I had to own.  It spoke to the nerd that is deep in my soul.  The nerd that still keeps graduate school bone casts on her desk at the office.  Chillingsworth by Andover.

For those of you that don't know me personally, I studied archaeology in college and worked as an archaeologist for a bit in Florida.  I then went and *tried* to get my masters in Forensic Anthropology in Pennsylvania.  Turns out it wasn't the right field for me, but I still am a bone nerd--all the way.  My favorite bone is the Tibia.  My least favorite is currently the coccyx--since I lost 140lbs its a REAL pain in my ass!

Halloween 2008 with my Mercyhurst crew--Love ya, mean it!

I also made some amazing friends in that program and I love them all dearly.  Wish we lived closer together.  You can never have too many friends close by that can help you dispose of a body!  *Without getting caught*  Science, bitches!

Anyway, apparently the whole Andover Chillingsworth line has been circulating for a while and there are some lovely halloween quilts and such made with this big panel of bony goodness, but I couldn't help but think of all the things I could do with him.  Chop him up and applique him on shirts and hats.  Sew his hand on the back pocket of my jeans! And then, some one #regrammed these pictures:  

AHHH! I died.  The pics are from the Andover blog at:  Andover Fabrics and all the praise and glory must go to Erin at Diedel Bug Handmade, but OMG I will find a way to make something as equally amazing with my panels.  

So I spent a little time on Etsy today trying to find the best price and a momma to support--because one day I too hope to be a little lady with an online fabric store.  I wound up over at Heather's The Fabric Hive .  Ordered several panels and am set to go.  Heather even emailed me a couple questions immediately just to make sure that she got everything to me just how I wanted it.  I love that!  So now I'll either be looking for bag patterns or making one of my own.  Also, I'm open to ideas or suggestions of what I should use the panels for.  I bought 4.  I know I'd like to do an all black/grey/neutral scrappy blanket with one.  Then the others--we shall see.  If you have an idea, shout it out! Send me a pic.  Find me on Instagram @melsischamp and show me somethin'.   This is going to be one of those pieces of #happymail I can't wait to tear into and get going on.  It's scary good!

#WIP (Works in Progress OR Why I Procrastinate)...

I've been struggling in the crafty department lately!  Not even gonna lie.  I have all these ideas percolating in my crafty little brain, and I see all these lovely things online that people make...but when it comes to my down time, I'm EXHAUSTED!!!!

 Some of you who read this may relate and then some may say I don't even know what exhausted is.  I'm an unmarried woman without children who has a fairly cushy desk job--it's more mentally taxing than physically taxing.  My live in boyfriend cooks and does more than his share of the house chores and the only ankle biter I have is my fluffy Shichon, Simon.  But I think the spreadsheets and data auditing at the office have just eaten a little hole in my brain straight through my will to craft.  

That does not mean that I haven't done anything over the last month or so, just that I start something and leave it abandoned in my sewing room as a sad, #wip or work in progress.  I have many of them floating around and I think its about time I get the nerve up to finish a couple.  Two are quilts tops that must be basted and then officially begin their lives as real quilts.  One at my home and the other to go off and live with a dear friend as a surprise gift.  I'm nervous to start quilting them though, because I love them so much like they are right now.  That seems silly.  But they're pretty hanging against the walls.  I don't want to muddy them up.

 I'm a novice quilter.  I'm a figure it out as I go, sewer...so new territory always trips me up a bit.  Finding a place in my little house to baste is also a bit problematic.  I'm not sure where to do it. 

I have a love affair with foxes.

 Maybe on my bed, for the big top, but empty floor space in my home is hard to come by with dogs and furniture and little cottage rooms.  

Then there are the organization projects I've been trying to do.  Like any good hobbiest, I have so much more material goods than I actually ever would need.  So I need places to store those goods.  And organizing my fabric and clearing some out our using it up in a productive way has been on my mind and my to-do list of late.  I purchased two hideous mid-century metal cabinets from a local antique store, Three French Hens in Nolensville, TN.  I love the store!  Great ladies and amazing merch...but these cabinets are rusty and busty and one was spray painted John Deere green!  

Ewwww.

 So they truly needed some love before they could be considered usable.  So I'm working to recover them in maps and old sewing circulars so that I can use them for fabric storage.  I'm using a Pinterest recipe for decoupage

Simon helps, when he can--but he doesn't have any thumbs!  

(watered down Elmers glue) to paste my chosen medium onto the cabinets.

Delicious!

Found these fun maps abandoned at my school.  Someone even used them and drew/highlighted on them. <3

I watch Netflix while I work to stave off boredom.  OITNB was my jam for 2 glorious weeks!

 Once I'm finished, I'll use a varnish from the hardware store.  I could use more decoupage, but I'm not in love with the matte finish it has right now.  The cabinets the perfect size for my room and will help me keep things off the floor and away from Simon!  My favorite thing about this project is the funny little ads that I'm finding in the sewing circular from the 60's.  Women are still so similar in what we buy and how marketing appeals to us.

A monkey?!?! For $20 bucks? WTF???

And while some of my weekend days are spent on the couch binge watching old episodes of The Killing, I also day dream about other new projects I'd like to start all the while my old ones sit neglected right above me in my upstairs craft corner.  Here's the short list:

1. Circa 1934 fabric (Cosmo Cricket) blanket of some sort--I have enough of this stock piled to make a fun front and back quilt...maybe various swoon blocks. 
2. 2 different Cotton+Steel projects:  August and Mustang fabric on hand that I'm drawing up ideas for.
3. I thrifted a ton of purple/blue/stripe mens dress shirts to make a fun patchwork project to be backed with a vintage sheet that I bought on Instagram.

Basically I have a problem with finishing what I start.  Boo!  Anybody else do this too? Am I alone?