I'm excited to finally share a project that I made last year for the folks at Stitch. I was asked by Tricia Waddell to contribute a project to her upcoming book, The Best of Stitch: Bags to Sew. I immediately said yes, and for once, I knew exactly what I wanted to make. One updated bermuda bag, coming up.
This bag has the same wooden handles of my preppy youth, but this time they are painted, which I think gives them a summery feel on this bag. Lotta'spremiere fabric collection, new at the time, seemed like the perfect palette to create the patchwork squares. I set them on point to give it a bit of a retro feel.
Look for this book out and the end of April, there are gorgeous bags in there (Malka's cover model is on my list to make)
I was thinking about something the other day. Working from home, being my own boss, really is the perfect situation for me. I have the flexibility to be available for my kids when they need me to be, I can adapt my own schedule to fit what happens in our lives and at our home. I can run out to pick up kids from school, it's great!
However, I have also begun to realize that it's very easy to put the needs of my own "work" on the back burner. Before I even realize it, a whole list of things can be listed in front of just getting into the studio and writing, pattern writing, or creating new ideas. It's my tendency to put everyone's needs before mine...for a long time, all the creative work I do has been a hobby, something I did to relax and "get away".
When I turned in the first draft of the manuscript for my book a few weeks ago, the first thing I did was treat myself to a few new craft books. I had avoided purchasing new books that would distract me, and I was in the mood for someone to tell me how to make something. I happily flipped and got inspired for a couple of days, and one of my favorites is Geninne Zlatkis's book Making An Impression. I have been inspired by Geninne online for years, and it was just as inspiring to read about her process of hand carving stamps. And, as luck (and a stocked craft room) would have it, I happened to have some easy carve blocks and the needed carving tool on hand. (I love it when I can immediately jump in!).
