We're Moving!

Now the moment you've all been waiting for... you didn't realize you were waiting for this? Oh... I forgot to tell you. Sorry about that. Here's the scoop:


Ever since the She's Crafty blog was started, the goal has been to get acquainted with the blogging world and hopefully contribute a few things that people would find useful. In addition, we were also preparing to introduce ourselves to the crafty retail world by making some goods and selling them on Etsy. Like all projects, we had a few setbacks. No, scratch that - I don't like the term 'setback'. The reality is that, while Tricia and I collaborated, a few life events unfolded and we decided to tweak our timeline regarding business goals.

One of the biggest challenges has been deciding on a name. We had one, but there were way too many versions already out there. Once we realized that it wasn't right for us, that took us back to the old drawing board. This past weekend we had a good old-fashioned cram session. We were determined to decide on a name that was PERFECT (for us).
So that takes us back to the moment you've all been waiting for...


We are, Tricia and I, Wandering Threads! From this point on, you can access all of She's Crafty on our new (and hopefully improved) blog.

http://wandering-threads.blogspot.com/

So tell your friends, family and blog followers to check us out!

New Feature

Maybe it's because it's winter. Maybe it's the fact that we only have 9 (okay, 7) followers. Maybe I'm looking for a little excitement. Whatever the reason, I've decided to start a new weekly feature.

There are so many excellent blogs out there. Typically, I tend to focus on the crafty ones (of course). However, there are also some VERY entertaining bloggers that I think deserve attention as well. We all need a little humor once in awhile, right? I think so, which is why, beginning today, we will now have...

wait for it...


Friday Funnies (very original, I know)

Each week, we will feature a blog that we find immensely entertaining in some fashion. In other words, at some point, we literally 'laughed out loud' while reading/ watching.

Enjoy!


Our first Friday Funny is... Hyperbole and a Half

The link above will take you to my personal favorite, Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving. However, the entire site is worth perusing. Seriously, I love this blog and I look forward to every new entry! Check it out.

WOW!

So I am very excited. Unfinished Sewing Projects is featuring my baby quilt as this week's Friday Finish! Thanks, Stephanie.

You should really check out the blog. It's filled with great ideas and inspiration!

My Very First (traditional) Quilt!

Tricia, a close friend and co-contributor of this blog, will be having a baby in March and I am so excited! To celebrate, I wanted to make something really special that she could keep forever so I decided to make a quilt. I've played around with art quilts but I've never attempted traditional quilting... until now. Her baby shower was on a Saturday and I got started the Monday before. Yes, that gave me exactly five days to finish.


Of course, like most 'last minute' projects, things went wrong. I finished the quilt top pretty quickly and was pleased with the design. Unfortunately, I didn't have any solid fabric for the backing so I had to go buy some. When I got home with my purchase, I was very unhappy. The fabric was just too rough and the quality didn't even compare to the other fabric I had used. This was Wednesday night and time was running out!

Quilt Top

In a moment of insanity, I decided to design the back instead of using a solid color. I used the leftovers from the top, and again, I was happy with the result but now it was Thursday night (and time for bed). On Friday, I began the quilting process. I didn't think it would take that long because it wasn't a very big quilt (avg. 30"x30"). What I failed to account for were the hours I'd spend staring into space wondering where to begin and afraid to start. What if I screwed it up?!

Quilt Back

I continued to stare at this half-quilt, trying to figure out the best, quickest, least-likely-to-screw-up plan I could think of. The fabric was very busy with a lot of colors and the design I created was very sharp and angular. Because of this, I knew I wanted to avoid basic lines and create a more organic design. However, I also knew that lines would probably be the easiest, and the thought of just 'winging it' scared the you-know-what out of me! Finally, I decided to do circles. If you look at the bottom left corner of the back view, you can see where I started... and where I stopped. I HATED the circles.

Detail of stitching - I even sewed my name and date!

So in a fit of frustration, I made some lines, but I made them curvy, all over the place lines. The result? I loved it and instantly ‘saw’ the possibilities. Now I had the freedom to confidently ‘wing it’ – like I probably should have all along. The finished design was very raw but it was also very me. I’m pretty sure Tricia would have been able to tell it was my gift even if she hadn’t known before she opened it.

'The Unveiling' - Tricia opening her gift

I know there are a lot of things that are askew – the binding is horrible - but as a first effort, I’m pretty proud of my quilt. I’ve already started another one for my new nephew that was born January 16th. This time I won’t have to rush since he’s already here!

She seems to like it - really, I just wanted a reason to post this photo :D

DETAILS:

I made this using the Tweet Tweet line from Moda.

The inspiration for my quilt top came from this tutorial I found on Burgundy Buttons’ blog. It was the first quilting tutorial I read that made any kind of sense to my brain. I also liked that the cuts are 'wonky' as she puts it. For my top, I stopped after the second cut, leaving a three-piece block versus her nine-square block.

The back was my own design. I saw a tutorial on easy triangles from the Fibermania blog and used that technique to make two instead of four - it really was quick and easy!

What I Did On Christmas Vacation

What did I do during the holidays? Well, besides eating too much, I decided to learn a new craft. Whenever I go to Jersey to visit my family and friends, I tend to get out of my creative routine. Things are so hectic, that by the time I drive back to VA I am exhausted. It takes me forever to get back into the normal groove of daily life. And what suffers the most? That's right, my creative projects. But not this year! This year I was determined to stay crafty while visiting.

Unfortunately, I really can't continue my sewing projects while I'm away because there's just too much stuff I'd have to bring with me. That meant I'd have to come up with something portable. And why not learn something new? Hmm... learn a new portable craft... (I'm sure you can see where this is going). Of course there was only one answer - KNITTING/CROCHETING!

Yes, I admit, this was the perfect opportunity to learn some yarn-craft. When I was a kid, my mom tried to teach me how to crochet but I just wasn't into it. Now that I am thirty sev  twenty-eight, I was ready. So, armed with some yarn and a few needles, my mother taught me some basic stitches and here are the results.

The one at the top left was the first one I made (then the brown multi and then the green and tan). The green and tan hat was made for my husband. He promised he'd wear it. We'll see...

Why would I want to take on yet another crafty hobby? A few months ago I posted this. Now I'm not saying that this is going to become my new guilty pleasure, but I have started the designs for my cape!

A Look Back - Christmas Crafting

I had hoped to post these a lot sooner but between the snow and other 'surprises', my plans changed. I ended up spending an extra week with my family in Jersey (which is always nice). Anyway, below are some photos of the Christmas gifts I made. I hope to be adding a tutorial for the Webster Totes shortly!


New Jewelry Roll
This is a 3-zip pocket Jewelry Roll
The original design has 6 pockets total, as each zip-pocket has a Velcro pocket behind it

     

'May The Force Be With You' and 'Little Princess' pillows.



Webster Totes (Lined and Unlined)

Go Girl Pouches (various sizes)

I also made some candles - it's not a complete gift without my candles!

Up Next: What I Did On My Christmas Vacation