2008 December Archive at make something

Archive for December, 2008

PATCHWORK POTHOLDERS

Published

on December 31, 2008

. 14 Comments

I did my best this year to use up fabric from my stash and scraps for my holiday gift making. These potholders were inspired a technique taught by Johanna in the Scrappy String Quilt class. I’ve also been wanting to test out the Insul-bright batting that we have in the shop, which is also supposed to be great in tea cozies, oven mitts and ironing board covers.

One side is made of strips of fabrics, pieced together. In the middle there is a layer of Insul-bright batting and a layer of cotton batting, the back is a single piece of fabric. I quilted all the layers together by stitching in the ditch between the patchwork strips.

I made several different 1″ bias tape strips to do all the trimming. If I had thought the entire project through carefully and considered the amount of time I had left myself to complete these potholders, I would have just sewn them inside out and forgone the need for trimming. Luckily, I like to take the hard road. The bias trim really frames the potholders nicely. I also decided to learn how to do continuous binding and mitred corners using Heather Bailey’s tutorial. I don’t recommend teaching yourself new tricks at 3am in the morning before Christmas Eve, but I am planning on finishing my sampler quilt in the next couple weeks and this made for very good practice.

As I mentioned in my last post, I did hit a major low point around 2am, when I realized that the potholders were taking way longer and going much slower than I had anticipated. I also worried that they would seem insignificant and silly. I was extremely tired, close to delirious. I almost started crying in frustration at the fact that I was so foolish for making gifts. (and more foolish for making them at the eleventh hour) I considered scrooging on Christmas and heading to my warm bed to sleep rather than sew. Instead, I jammed a large piece of chocolate in my mouth and switched over to a simple apron project that took me 45 minutes to complete from start to finish. The satisfaction from that little success carried me through until 5am when I finally completed the potholders and called it a well-deserved night.

In the light of day, I really love how they turned out and hopefully they will be well used in the kitchens that they have gone/are going to live in.

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Published

Karyn

on December 30, 2008

in hello

. 5 Comments

I’m starting to feel somewhat mellow now that the holiday race is over. Many of my gifts have not quite been completed or delivered/mailed, but the pressure of the 25th has finally past. The night of the 23rd, I stayed up until 5am trying to get a few of my handmade gifts completed on time. I’m not going to lie, at about 2am, I was cursing my crafty self and wishing I had gone out and shopped with the masses.

There are a few things I would like to note here for my future self in hopes of avoiding this possible meltdown next year.

The more pieces of fabric involved in making a gift, the more time it will take to make. Small patchwork potholders with home-made bias trim and two layers of batting are not a quick gift to be whipped up the night before giving.

Googling new sewing techniques in the middle of the night makes for a steep, pressure-filled learning curve.

Keeping a plentiful supply of chocolate on hand makes anything less painful.

Switching over to another project that is much simpler will give you the instant gratification and drive you need to get the harder projects done.

Start making holiday gifts well before December 20th! (or celebrate Christmas in mid-January)

That said, I’m really pleased with the things I made/am making. All will be revealed shortly.

Besides all the crazy delicious foods I consumed over the holiday extravaganza, my other standout highlight would be trying Rock Band 2 for the first time. Apparently, I really like to play the guitar (easy level only) and I’m not very good at the drums. I had no idea it was so fun!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Published

Karyn

on December 25, 2008

in hello

. 8 Comments

I’m surfacing momentarily from traveling between Christmas visits and dinners. Up until now the holiday season has been rather blurry! I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you the coziest, cheeriest, craftiest holiday!

FOUND : METALLIC LINEN & CORDUROY

Published

Karyn

on December 18, 2008

in DIY, found, spotted and textiles

. 5 Comments

Okay, this is not my usual ‘found by the side of the road‘ post. This is about discovering something in your possession that you forgot you owned. Like finding a $20 bill in an old purse you haven’t used for a few months, only I think this is much better. When talking to Debbie the other day about her metallic tote bag, I suddenly had a flash that I had bought myself some gorgeous metallic linen when I went to New York over Labour Day. When I went home, I scavenged in my spare closet and pulled out a beloved B & J Fabric store bag. Inside it, I found a yard of silvery linen fabric and also a couple yards of the finest wale corduroy in purplish grey. I can’t tell you how delighted and inspired I was.

One of the things I miss most about living in New York (besides French bistro fare, sample sales, Chelsea art galleries and the Strand) is aimlessly wandering the Garment district, slowly scanning shelves piled high with bolts of delicious fabric. I would often spend hours dreaming up creations and carefully choosing which fabrics would come home with me. B & J Fabrics is one of my favourites. This is where I first discovered Liberty of London fabrics. Just to be near those bolts of fabulous prints made me giddy.

Usually I find that the fabric tells me what it wants to be. The soft corduroy demands to be a dress and the linen a little sparkly top. As I start having some down-time over the holidays, I’ll be ready with my Gingher scissors to cut into these two fabrics and start creating.

p.s. There was a piece on the CBC radio show, ‘Spark’, yesterday about the resurgence of sewing. You can hear my funny voice for a few seconds here. Just fast forward to 12:30 for the part on sewing. The piece starts and finishes with cute audio clips from the 1948 film by Simplicity, “Pattern for Smartness“. It is extremely entertaining.

CITY OF CRAFT 2008

Published

Karyn

on December 16, 2008

in local and the workroom

. 8 Comments

This past Saturday was the big City of Craft show. This was the second year for this wonderfully ambitious, independent show. I was lucky to be able to take part in a small way by doing a one hour free workshop on making a set of fabric-covered magnets. I had planned to arrive early so that I could browse around and chat with everyone and buy myself a couple treats. Of course, Saturday arrived and I wasn’t completely prepared and ended up showing up at the venue as a crowd of people eagerly awaited my workshop to begin. From my second floor vantage point I could see how lively the show was down below. Above you’ll see Becky & I racing to photograph one another. The entire day felt like a race to me. My one hour workshop went by in what felt like fifteen minutes!

When my hour was up, I allowed myself five minutes to rush around the main floor to see everyone’s displays. It certainly wasn’t enough time to fully appreciate all the lovely things, nor to properly shop. If you saw me at the show and I rushed by you like a crazy woman, I’m sorry! I had to hop back in a cab and hurry back to the workroom for a class I was teaching there.

Congratulations City of Craft! You gals did an incredible job and deserve lots of good rest!

The holiday rush of classes is just about done, so I’ve finally been able to start up on my own last minute holiday gift production. Nine days to go! Am I the only one that is WAY behind?

FAVOURITE TUNIC #6

Published

Karyn

on December 12, 2008

in stitchery and textiles

. 15 Comments

I’m in love with the new tunic that I made earlier this week. (Yes, somehow there is time to make a new tunic but not time to start holiday gifts. I am able to rationalize this by saying it is good for my mental state to make myself a pretty top.)

I’ve been dying for a top or dress with a nice yoke and gathering, a la Wiksten for ages. I noticed a very simple one in my new book, ‘Favourite Tunic, Dress, Vest Book’. The fabric is a men’s shirting fabric from DFO. I absolutely adore this grey, stripey fabric, it has such a soft, vintage-y feel. I had bought it a few years ago for some ties and just realized that I should pick some more up before it was gone for good. I got the last 2 yards on the bolt.

The fit and cut of the tunic is really lovely and also roomy. It has a zipper in the back, but I don’t even need to use it to get the top on and off easily. Next time I make it, I’ll just omit the zipper and cut down on my production time! The sleeves were so beautiful that I decided to leave them full, rather than put in elastics. I used my 1/4″ Clover bias tape maker to trim the neckline and sleeves. The really skinny bias tape looks really great. (I take it back, Ayalah. It’s not that hard to work with and it looks amazing.)

To add a little extra sweetness, I trimmed the bottom edge of the tunic with lace. Anabela, I hope you approve!

OMFG

Published

Karyn

on December 12, 2008

in hello

. 6 Comments

I’m posting this mostly because I NEVER remember when Gossip Girl is on and I do like to watch it ‘live’ once in a while. I ventured out into the world outside the workroom on Monday – Pages (stack of magazines), Get Outside (winter boots), King Textiles (stack of fabric) & Lee Valley (legs for my cube)…

I’m not ready for the holidays even though I’ve been spending my days getting everyone else ready for the holidays.

INTRODUCING : LINES BY: DAVIS.

Published

Karyn

on December 4, 2008

in accoutrement, introducing, local and the workroom

. 3 Comments

The Holiday Trunk Show is quickly approaching and I’m so excited, if you can’t tell. I’ve been really busy tidying up the shop and stocking up the shelves with new books and supplies. Handmade Nation, The Gentle Art of Domesticity, Seams to Me, Creepy Cute Crochet and Zakka Sewing arrived a few hours ago. I’m looking forward to spending some time perusing them for new project ideas when I’ve got a few minutes to spare. the workroom will be bursting at the seams with all kinds of crafty goodness this weekend!

I had the opportunity to spend some time with Davis Khounnoraj last week when he dropped by to ’sew by the hour’ and work on his tea towels. It’s really awesome to see the process behind someone’s work, even if it is just the ‘production’ part. lines by: davis. will be selling amazing screen-printed pouchettes, tea towels, hand bags and greeting cards at the trunk show on Sunday. Just another trunk that will be impossible for me to resist!

Are you self-taught? Did you take something creative in school?

Davis : I would consider myself self-taught because I never went to post secondary school for any kind of formal design training. I have been experimenting since I was a teenager with clothing and deconstructing things to see how they were put together. I have always been obsessed with fashion. My dad bought me my first sewing machine when I was 17. I begged and pleaded for it. He didn’t think anything of it, but I remember getting it and being really happy. I think in his mind, he thought I would use it for alterations and hemming. I soon began experimenting with clothing and made bags for fun. I loved being hands on and trying to sew because it felt very expressive and free to do my own thing.

In school I took art and did anything that had to do with art, so I was pretty creative in different mediums. I remember in 8th grade home economics there was a cooking and sewing part of the class and in the sewing part we had to sew these stuffed animals from a pattern. I think I was the only guy in my class who got a high mark. It was annoying because all the guys in my class would make me help them finish their sewing projects. They didn’t even know how to thread a needle.

Tell me about your process. How do you come up with your designs?

Davis : I normally sketch out my designs in my book and then if I really like the design I will draw out a pattern for it as close to the original drawing. I come up with my designs in different ways. If I see a shape that I like, I try to picture it in bag form and go from there. If there is something specific that I want to make, I might spend hours trying to figure it out by making samples and rearranging pieces of fabric until I like what I see.

What has been inspiring you these days?

Davis : Music has been inspiring me a lot. I need to listen to music when I sew because it gets me in the vibe of things. Lately it’s been music and fashion. It sounds very cliche but they go hand in hand and I couldn’t live without either of them. Musically, I’ve been into the Black Kids and in fashion I’ve been loving the new Balcenciaga Spring 09 show and Lanvin’s Spring 09 show. The Lanvin dresses are so effortlessly worn and I’m digging the pastels, shapes and vibe at the Balenciaga show.

Is there a craft or medium that you’ve always wanted to try that you haven’t yet?

Davis : I think I would like to crochet, I’ve knitted in the past but I would love to try crochet.

What’s your favourite guilty pleasure?

Davis : Going on Perez Hilton.com is my guilty pleasure. It’s like second nature after facebooking I think.

What’s at the top of your holiday wish list this year?

Davis : I think a laptop computer is on my wish list! We’ll see.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about your work?

Davis : lines by: davis. was probably an idea in book that happened a few years ago. I never thought doing what you love and sharing it with others would ever be a possibility. I still to this day thank every girl and guy who has bought or appreciated my work. I hope to continue and grow with my work as it evolves every day.

INTRODUCING : PANDACUB

Published

Karyn

on December 3, 2008

in accoutrement, etsy, introducing, local and the workroom

. 2 Comments

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a weakness for Japanese cute, especially the fabric kind. Little Red Riding Hood, Hedgehogs, Lambs, and of course, Robots. I have never known a fabric to cause more of a stir than the Robot fabric. Which, by the way, is on order and I promise when it arrives to make a big announcement so that you can get a piece of it! I discovered Pandacub on etsy in the Shop Local section. Stephanie Caruso makes cute Japanese fabrics even sweeter by turning them into rings, magnets or bobby pins. Load up on these fun accessories at the Holiday Trunk Show this Sunday and you’ll be guaranteed a smile every time you look at them.

What is your creative background? Have you always been crafty?

Stephanie : I studied art and art history throughout high school and university, but never thought of it as a viable career (I come from a family of engineers, so, you know…). I ended up in a career in marketing and communications, so it’s as creative as I can get in my day job. As for being crafty, I think I always have been, but my choice of “craft” changes often. As a kid, my mom taught me to knit and also introduced me to Shrinky-Dinks, papier-mache and homemade play-doh.

How did you come about starting your sweet line of button accessories and selling them?

Stephanie : I fell in love with some really cute fabric button magnets a friend had bought and started investigating how to make them for myself. Unfortunately, I then developed a fabric obsession after seeing all these beautiful prints and ended up with lots of new buttons and nothing to do with them. So I started creating hair accessories and button rings, at first for myself, and then for others. I had already been on Etsy as a buyer for a while, so decided to take the plunge and open up a shop.

Do you have favourite sellers on etsy?

Stephanie : I have way too many favourite sellers on etsy, especially for supplies. But some of the “non-supply” shops I really want to blow my paycheque on are The House Of Mouse, Immortal Longings and Beastlies. I’m also a huge sucker for any shop that sells felt toy food. (I know, it’s weird)

What is at the top of your holiday wish list this year?

Stephanie : A new digital camera! My old one, which I’ve had for years, is quite large compared to the newer, sleeker ones, plus it has a broken battery latch, so it’s held together with a huge rubber band.

INTRODUCING : MR. SKÖNA

Published

Karyn

on December 2, 2008

in accoutrement, etsy, introducing, local and the workroom

. 2 Comments

There is a definite lack of handmade goods for men out there, so when I learned that Reva was planning to make a line of men’s accessories from upcycled materials, I was very excited. Many of you will know Reva as one of the workroom’s teachers, most notably of the popular snap coin purse class. Each of the items in this line have been thoughtfully designed and made with care for the men in your life. The Holiday Trunk Show will be the debut for Reva’s beautiful new line, so you’ll be the very first to see it and buy it in person.

Where did the term mr. sköna originate?

Reva : Well, a little randomly to be honest. When I was setting up my blog, I was trying to find the right name. The word ’sköna’ came to me in a dream. I had no idea what it meant or where it came from but it resonated with me for some reason. I googled it and discovered that it means ‘beautiful’ in Swedish. It was the perfect fit for my blog since it references my Scandinavian heritage and the fact that I try to live a beautiful life.

Originally, I had a different name in mind for my line of men’s accessories. My boyfriend one day suggested mr. sköna instead and it was the same experience of it feeling right so I abandoned my first plan.

What is your creative background? Have you always been crafty?

Reva : I have always made things. We had lots of arts supplies around growing up and more often than not, I was either crafting things or drawing pictures of clothes. In high school, I got into theatre and wanted to be a set designer. At UBC, I discovered I was not that spatially oriented and focused instead on costume design. I have been designing costumes for film, theatre and dance for the last 7 years.

Why menswear?

Reva : I was inspired my boyfriend. He was complaining one day about not being able to find a wallet that he liked. Being crafty, I said that I could make him one. He loved it. I noticed that there weren’t a lot of minimal, design driven, handmade goods for men around so I decided to make some.

I also decided that if I was going add more things to the world, that the items and how they were made would have be as sustainable as possible. I want mr. sköna items to last and not be thrown away in a year. I only use natural materials (linen, wool, cotton, leather) which wear well and can be recycled easily. The 90% of the materials used are recycled, repurposed or thrifted (only thread and elastic are new). Packaging is minimal but nice and can reused. As much of my energy needs as possible are met either through human power (I ride my bike everywhere) or green powered (my studio is Bullfrog powered).

Do you find using upcycled goods challenging? Are there some things you haven’t been able to find for your line that are recycled?

Reva : Upcycling goods is challenging but for the most part, it’s a good challenge. I love going into thrift stores, finding a coat made of beautiful material and imagining what it could become. I love problem solving which is probably why I like the design process so much.

The not-so-good challenging part of using upcycled goods is that it takes a lot of time to find just the right thing. Sometimes it will take days of looking before I find what I want. I generally don’t use recycled thread or elastic because it’s hard to find and it’s often old and not in good shape which shortens the life of the item I am making.

What is at the top of your holiday wish list this year?

Reva : An industrial machine (it’s a wish list, right?), nice earrings and some new cookbooks.