wise craft

family room redo project :: printed curtains

(You may be wondering if I'll ever share our redone family room. I promise I will! As soon as its sunny and tidy in there at the same time.) In the meantime, here's another project from the redo.

I am very much in love with the recently released Lotta Jansdotter Stencils. I knew I would use it as soon as I ran across it in the bookstore. You see, I happen to think printing fabric myself is fun, and Lotta's approach to stenciling feels very free form and doable, not intimidating in the least. This stencil set is a great supplement to her other printing book, but the great thing about this set is that it comes ready to use, with 10 pre-cut, reusable plastic stencils. Which puts it all one giant step closer to actually being used by me! (Because I am not a fan of cutting stencils. I will do it, but I will not enjoy it, probably because I'm usually overcaffeinated.)

When I opened up the family room visually (with lighter wall color, clearing out the clutter, smaller coffee table, etc), the side of the room with sliding glass doors suddenly felt too stark and empty. I decided simple curtains would do the trick, but too simple or plain wouldn't necessarily help fill the space, so that's where Lotta's stencils came in. 

I bought this amazingly lovely, gorgeously plain hopsack cloth from Joann's for about $5 a yard. Am I the last one to know about this fabric? Its cotton, sort of plaster-y natural color, and a simple square weave that feels and drapes a lot like linen, great for curtains. I now love hopsack and I would like to buy at least 100 yards of it please.

Stenciling or printing some sort of pattern on them would help accomplish what I wanted. I used Lotta's leaf stencil and just did an all over pattern in a dark gray*, turning the template a quarter turn each time I moved it down, just to keep the look more random. Later I used another one of the stencils to add just a tiny bit of blue. Done. These curtains will not close often (only during the hottest afternoons in summer) and I'm not lining them, I just hemmed the panels on all 4 sides and attached them with simple clips at the top. (I promise to show them hung soon.)

I can't stress enough how easy and satisfying this sort of project is, and how great this stencil set is. Now I want to find more things to use these stencils on. I'm looking at everything around here as a potential print surface.

*I used Delta Ceramcoat color "Charcoal", and mixed it with Delta's textile medium (which turns acrylic paint into washable fabric paint) and it all worked great, although the hand of the painted areas is a little crispy. Its fine for curtains, but I wouldn't want to wear it.

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Totally off subject, but can we talk about 9 By Design?  About the design team behind Sixx Design. For whatever reason, I really love this show, makes me want a big family. I loved this week's episode and the gym they redid.

sewing 101 series continues at fabric crush

The pillows 101 class was so much fun, let's keep going! This time we're covering our duvet covers with some of the amazing new fabric prints that are out right now. Duvet Covers 101 will cover all the basics for making a beautiful, easy, washable cover for any duvet or comforter. Here are the details:

Duvet Cover 101 (taught by me)

Thursday, May 27 at Fabric Crush

10:00-noon

Call the shop-(206) 432-9929- to reserve your space and get a supply list.

Hope to see you there!

well, yes we do

This came home via an overstuffed backpack last week. I know Ian made himself slow down and concentrate hard to write it. Pen to paper is not his favorite thing, at all (seriously? if he could spell it all out in Lego, he'd be golden).

Ian, you're awesome.

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I spent a lot of time on the Ikea family live site today, found via Holly. Ikea is getting a lot right for me lately.

night knitting

Friday evening, the Seattle weather turned ominous and wintry again...wind, rain, general unpleasantness. It was only temporary, but just long enough to remind me that I have knitting in my basket. I immediately snuggled in, grabbed the needles, and finished another square. Each of these garter knitted squares are roughly 8" x 8" (there are a few that look a little more like a rectangle, but I am hoping the finally assembly will be forgiving.) This blanket will probably be years in the making. But I'm thinking that's not the point this time. It is completely relaxing and enjoyable to knit and not have to count and shape, just knit. That is more the point with this project.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!

sir bob

Meet the newest member of our family, Sir Bob. Sir Bob is a fiberglass Kingfish (also known by some as the King Mackerel), a recent birthday present for me from Peter. I love mounted fish, always have (although I doubt I wanted one as a kid). This one lives in our bedroom above the windows, its about 40" across, fits really well there, I love it! What can I say? Some girls want expensive purses for their birthday. Peter? He gets the gal who wants a fiberglass fish to mount on the wall (in the right colors of blue, of course). That's the way I roll (you should see my purse, soooo not special)

We also tend to name things around here, makes it so much easier to refer to things like this in the first person.

Sir Bob has a couple of announcements to make-

*The random number generator has chosen as the winner of Bird and Little Bird's giveaway.

Elizabeth, who wrote, "Mr. Fox would be right at home here with my 3yo. she thought he was just the best. Thanks for the chance."

Congratulations! Thanks to everyone who entered, don't forget you still get 10% off anything in the store, read details here.

*Peter and I are thrilled to relaunch our company's website today. We have completely updated it with a new logo, and a new project page that shows in much more detail about the work we've been doing. This new website has been a long time coming, feels great to get it out there. We continue to work with some amazing companies and very talented people.

*Thanks for all the book recommendations, really helpful. A trip to the bookstore in on my list!

the books my kids are reading

I wanted to do a post about the books that Emma (11) and Ian (8) are reading these days, so I'd remember. They've always been pretty avid readers, but lately we've all had a harder time finding more in depth, more challenging reads that truly interest them. I try and push them to read outside their favorite genre (manga books, graphic novels, Calvin & Hobbs...), and usually they go along, but the book has got to grab them in some way (they take after their mom, I am a book club dropout). After much quiet, solitary browsing at bookstores, thrift stores,  and online, I've gotten pretty good at spotting books they might like. (Sometimes I even get lucky and they both like the same book.) Right now they both are enjoying series books (such suspense while waiting for the next one!), emphatically do not like scary stories at all, (not conducive to pre-bedtime reading in our house), yet love a simple good versus evil story that ends in a positive way.

(The amazon page will give you a summary of these books better than I could.)

The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy by William Boniface- there are 3 books in this series and I hope there are more in the pipeline, because they are fantastic. Ian immediately loved this series. There are great illustrations sprinkled throughout the text (all in black in white) and I find that makes reading more enjoyable for him. Because Ian's reading level is ahead of his grade level, often the subject matter is too complex in books that match his reading ability (no girl troubles here yet), so I think those illustrations help a read feel less intimidating in some way, who knows?

The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch- Emma is currently anxiously awaiting the 3rd book in this series and can hardly stand the wait. The first book was read aloud to one of the 5th grade classes at our school and it was such a hit, many of the kids bought their own copies to reread. Seriously, the name alone makes me want to read it.

Secret Agent Jack Stalwart: The Escape of the Deadly Dinosaurs by Elizabeth Singer Hunt- I bought the first 2 books of this series for Ian last Fall and he zipped through them in 2 days. They are fairly easy reads, (also have black and white illustrations sprinkled within the text). Ian got several more of these from Santa last Christmas and poured through all of them during winter break. He could hardly wait to go to bed at night! (Our kids read for 30 minutes or so before bed each night.)

 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. Ian got the first 3 in this series for Christmas and quickly decided it was a little too scary for him (something about not liking that the mythical creatures seemed so real). I think he will definitely grow into them though. Emma, on the other hand, couldn't put them down, and has now read them all and is asking for The Demi-God Files  (a guidebook to the series). Andrea wrote a few words on this series over at her blog (which is a great resource for insight into kid's books, by the way).

 

The 39 Clues: Book One, The Maze of Bones also by Rick Riordan. A new series we are starting this week, so I don't know what the opinions about it will be, but given the success we've had with this type of book, hopes are high.

Travels of Thelonious: The Fog Mound by Susan Schade and Jon Buller- a 3 book series that Ian absolutely loved! (Emma read and enjoyed them too, but not with the enthusiasm Ian did.) The book is described as "part graphic novel, part heroic fantasy, its an adventure like no other" right on the cover. I hope there are more to come in this series also. Fantastic illustrations.

American Girl Books- Having these books for Emma to read (or, as we sometimes do, read together) has made parenting so much easier in many ways. As she enters into that lovely 3 year vortex that is middle school, I am sure that she, like me as a kid, just wants to know that her peers are changing (or that they are as confused) as she is. She has found a lot of comfort in these books, and we now have a small collection of them. Emma really doesn't gravitate toward the typical girl stories and books these days, but these, she likes.

Girigami: A Fresh, Fun, Fashionable Spin on Origami by Cindy Ng. Books that have the type of crafts Emma can just jump into are a big hit, and this one has fun new ways to do our current favorite craft- origami.

There's many more, but I'd love to hear what your kids are reading too. Please let suggestions in the comments. (And thank you all for the kind comments about the Hills n Hollers quilt!). Have a great day!

family room redo :: hills n hollers quilt

I'm sure by now you all know that I don't need much of an excuse to make a quilt. And, although I have yet to make a quilt for our kitchen or dining room (don't laugh, it could happen!), the family room redo was just waiting for one to seal the deal. You may remember that I had originally decided to do Denyse Schmidt's Hills n Hollers pattern for our bedroom. But thinking and pondering a little more made me realize that there was too much solid space in this pattern and it wasn't quite what that room needs (I'm actually pondering a postage stamp quilt, but, that's getting off subject...).

I love this pattern. LOVE. Its modern, its colorful (but not too), and it really shows off the quilting stitches beautifully, (I used figure eights or loop d loop stitch). Denyse Schmidt patterns look free form and improvisational, but the instructions and pattern pieces are quite precise, so if you're intimidated by the idea of this kind of quilt, get one of her patterns and let her walk you through the steps (I got mine at Pink Chalk Fabrics). The hills (or surfboards as the ladies at the quilt shop called them) are hand appliqued on. Let me explain. You cut a scant seam allowance around the hill, then using a handsewing needle, you turn back that seam allowance as you applique each hill on.

Sounded doable, at least to me. I applique, I get it.

 

I appliqued a three of them. It took me most of a day. Let me rephrase. I took a really long time to do just a few hills. I just couldn't get the hang of it, or maybe I just didn't want to. I thought about what my options were.

1. Hand applique each hill on (approx. 96) as the pattern required.

2. Trim each hill and topstitch it down instead of applique.

3. Use fusible webbing and attach each hill really well and hope the quilting would help hold everything in place.

I went with option 3. You see, I really have no patience, although I love the look of the hand applique (no topstitching lines). Denyse, forgive me, but I cheated, big time. I fused all of these onto the quilt as well as I could, closed my eyes and looked away as I held out my arms holding the quilt top, gave it to the long arm quilter, and ran.

And you know what? It actually worked! I will have to make a few repairs here and there around the edges with additional fusible webbing, but the hills stayed secure through the wash cycle. And even better, I have a finished quilt. I really don't know if I would have finished it handstitching them all on.

 

I used several of Denyse's Hope Valley prints in the oranges, grays ad pinks because I love that entire line, but I mixed in several other prints and a couple of solids too. I backed it with a blue flat sheet (I do this with most of my quilts because it saves money and washes well). I used Carolina Chambray in a natural color for the background. I also used that for the binding, only adding in a couple of prints randomly.

The Modern Quilt Guild is asking all of its members what modern quilting means to them. As I was making this, I figured out what it means to me...finding a new way to make something traditional, using new tools and new techniques that were not around historically.

There's a great interview with Denyse at Sew Mama Sew. Oh, and don't forget to enter the drawing for one of the beautiful handmade creatures from Bird and Little Bird, you have until Friday.

featured sponsor bird and little bird

A warm welcome to our newest featured sponsor, Bird and Little Bird. Annie is the creator and maker of Mostly Marvelous Mr. Rabbit and Semi-Fantastic Mr. Fox, and not only will she custom make them for you in the fabrics and colors of your choosing, she now offers ready to sew project kits for each of them, as well as  downloadable PDF patterns.  I asked Annie to tell me a little about herself and her shop (because I am nosy and I like to know the back story)-

"I am a part-time special education teacher and mom to a six year old girl. I originally started out making handmade toys that were just intended for her to play with.  I already had a sewing machine (my 21st birthday present, I think) and knew that I wanted my daughter to develop a concept that handmade is special, so it seemed like a natural next step.  I had given up sewing for some number of years before she was born thinking that I was really terrible at it, but when I started making things from my own patterns, I realized that I wasn't quite as bad as I thought.  I just needed the right project!

Bird and Little Bird (my husband's nicknames for my myself and our daughter) really got going about a year and a half ago when I realized that I was making way more foxes than we had space for in our house!  Etsy seemed like a perfect place to find new homes for them and I now sell the animal patterns themselves as well as project kits that include the animal pattern and all the pre-cut fabrics and notions you need to make them.  Putting the kits together is actually really, really fun and they've been a great addition to the shop, I think." 

You can read more about Annie and her beautiful family at her blog.

For the month of April, Annie is offering 10% off anything in her shop (just enter "wise craft" in the message to seller box at checkout). She will also be giving away one of her beautiful creations to one lucky reader, just leave a comment on this post and I'll draw a name on Friday. Winner has been chosen, thank you!

Thanks so much to Bird and Little Bird for offering this giveaway. If you would like to be a sponsor on wise craft, please send me an email and I will send you all the information.

fabrics that feel like spring

Working on a new photo styling project and needed some Springy, homespun-y, pretty fabrics. These are so perfect! From Reprodepot. The two bottom ones are designed by Suzuko Koseki, the author of that Japanese patchwork book we've all loved for years.

(Tif, these fabrics feel very much like you!)

family room redo project :: instant collection

I did plenty of DIY projects in my recent family room redo. It was a good challenge because I had a teeny tiny budget, everything had to count. I thought I'd post about some of the projects. You know, so we could chat about them a little more. The room pictures are forthcoming, I'm still finishing up one project in there first.

In my past projects for Value Village, I often picked up glass jars, so I had these extras around and decided to try and use them. In the family room there are these weird shelves (well, I think they're weird) on the walls and I have never known what to put on them. They seem to be there purely to display things, but what? As I was planning out the room, I knew I wanted some blue on that side, and that's where these random glass pieces came to live, after I gave them a few light coats of spray paint. (Notice I even added in an empty spice jar, to see how well the black print on the jar would do with spray paint.)

I remember a project in an old Martha Stewart about how to paint the inside of glass vases by swirling the paint around. I always wanted to try that, but honestly, this took about 15 minutes plus drying time, which satisfies my need for instant gratification (let's be honest, none of her projects take 15 minutes). The key is several light coats of paint, to prevent drips. So easy! The white one is also spray painted, and once held milk...and the other ones are from Goodwill (I'm in love with the one on the far left), I can randomly add my mossy and woolly rocks (out of the cat's reach). I can pull one down when needed, for those fistful bouquets that will inevitably come through the back door this summer.

 

More projects coming up. And thank you all for your kind words on the Stitch projects, I am so glad you like them!!!