Auld Lang Syne

My list of things I need to work on is patiently waiting on my studio desk.  I continue to treat myself by finding projects on hand that get pushed aside when more pressing tasks need attention.  I bought this wool little runner kit a couple of years ago.  The canoe, of course, caught my eye.  The wool pieces came with the kit, and, had the pieces been larger, I would have made the cabin red, with a green roof.  I stitched on the pieces with a hand-stitched blanket stitch over the course of two  evenings.  It made me think back on the old days, when my sewing group did handwork as well as machine work.  My friends that are in an angel sewing guild are pleased.  I backed the runner with another big piece of wool, and did a blanket stitch around the edge.  Years ago, we used computer paper with its perforated edges to keep the stitches consistent.  There probably aren't that many left that would even know what "computer paper" is!  I just went for it...the stitches are perfectly imperfect.  And, I had fun making this little project and remembering auld lang syne.  Jerilynn

Appliqued Sweatshirt Revival

Even though it is the new year, I want to show you something that is old and new:  an appliqued sweatshirt!  How many millions did we all make back in the 90's?  My friend Joani saw the bottom photo of a shirt with a plaid state....Alabama?  (you would think by this time I would know my states!)  I will try to find the blog she saw it on.  Anyway, she had a piece of patchwork leftover from something, and stitched it on the grey shirt (middle shot).  So cute!  I bought a faded red color sweatshirt, and did a flannel log cabin design, with a heart about where our cabin is.  Sweatshirts are hard to find nowadays...  Are we both still living in the past, or are we on the cutting edge of a revival?  Jerilynn

New New Year Jammies

Happy 2015!  I was sitting in my Red Chair in the studio the other day and it scolded me for not blogging much lately.  I have been creating something almost every day since we last chatted, but the pictures would have been a bit boring.  I made over 100 little elf ornaments, dozens of elf wine bottle hats, 60 coasters for the nursing home, dozens of pillows for Idlewild, and at least two dozen washcloth scarves.  I need to get some new ideas into action for Idlewild, Indygo Junction, and for the two middle school girls that I am mentoring.  This time of year, though, is always the time to take a deep breath, put away Christmas stuff, clean up the studio, and just RELAX.  I was on a quest before Christmas to find more red and black flannel for Christmas pillows, and my friend Laura gave me a great tip:  flannel sheets at Kohl's.  I bought a king set, washed them, and cut out a new pair of jammie pants.  I also happened to have a plain white long sleeve shirt around, so I added an appliqued heart.  A nice new jammie set to welcome the New Year in comfort.  I will save the rest of the flannel for next year's Christmas pillow orders.  I just got an email from Garnet Hill saying their double brushed European flannel sheets are on sale.  No plaid, but there is a great ticking pattern....in red, of course!  Maybe I could use two new jammies?  Jerilynn

Snowstorm Jammie Sewing

Three days ago we got the first snowstorm of the year.  Yes, mighty early!  We got about 10 to 12 inches over a 24 hour period.  The first day, I got up and went to the studio still in my red flannel jammies with a cup of coffee in tow.  Several pillows later, I was still in the jammies and decided that was going to be the outfit of the day!  I have been making pillows for the store downtown Cumberland, and they seem to be selling almost as fast as I can make them.  That is a good thing, I guess, but I am running out of that wonderful red and black plaid heavy flannel.  I have looked online for more, but have no idea where I bought it originally.  It is a wonderful heavyweight, almost like a blanket.  Since this batch, I have made 4 more pillow, one a new Santa design.  The snow really gets people in holiday decorating mood!  Jerilynn

What is Old is New Again

I'm seeing plaid everywhere, aren't you?  I had a little pair of Addy's jeans (size 2T) that were too small in the legs, but the waist still fit.  I cut them off below the zipper and added a ruffled flounce of plaid flannel.  I pulled out my Bernina ruffler attachment that I had for my old 1630, and...it fit the Bernina 440!  I was happy about that.  Rufflers are cool to use.  It's a bit tricky to figure out how long to cut the strip you want to ruffle to fit whatever you are sewing it onto, but once you figure out the ratio, it is super fast sewing.  I made Ellen a jean skirt like this about 25 years ago.  Her's had three plaid ruffles, all a different plaid.  Had I known that such a skirt may be in style again in 2014, I may have held on to that.  I have also been remembering some of my smock tops I hand embroidered back in my college days in the 70's.  How fun would it be to have those again!?  And ponchos!  And boots!  I am sure at least those Frye boots would still fit...and the ponchos....maybe not the smock tops.  Jerilynn

Hidden Messages

Let's see if you can "read" the pillow patchwork.  It says "Lijewski" for those of you that just don't see it at all!  I made the towel in the bottom photo (complete with use wrinkles) from the scrap bin that you see in picture two.  The towel was made with a stitch and flip method, using scraps and bits of leftover patchwork.  A couple rows of selvedges finish the top and bottom of the patchwork.  Seeing it in our kitchen, I almost thought the patchwork had a hidden message!  So, I got the idea to free form piece a strip that actually did spell out something.   It turned out too big for a towel, thus the pillow.  The blocks and strips that make up the letters finish about 1".  I didn't want to go smaller.  I only used a school ruler and scissors to cut up little pieces to use.  I wanted an improvisational look in both the towel and pillow.  It was a good exercise in letting go of perfect cutting and sewing.  Quite fun.  Jerilynn  P.S.  Simply glorious views outside the windows today...bluer than blue sky, sparkly water, yellow, gold, red, orange and green trees.  Very thankful for this inspirational place to create!

A Little Elf Doll

We recently took a "look at the tree colors" ride on the back roads to Hayward, WI, a tourist town full of shops and a giant candy and fudge store.  Okay, maybe the ride was to stock up on candy for the long winter that is coming up, but the leaves were a good excuse.  There is a wonderful Scandinavian store there that is a simply must-visit each time we are in town.  I love all the red, of course, but also the wonderfully simple and whimsical Swedish decorations.  I have been loving the bottle topper elves that I have been making, but elf figures caught my eye at the store and I thought I could make one!  We stopped at Bargain Bills in Rice Lake on the way home, and I bought a 3 1/2" wooden doll form.  I cut some red felt to fit the form, stitched on some hearts on the hem, and some snowflakes on the hat.  I got out my glue gun, and in no time at all, I had a new friend.  Of course, I had to spritz him with glitter.  I did some internet searching for wood doll forms, and discovered that this form actually is a female form - narrow on top, but wide on the bottom.  The male wood doll forms are straight up and down.  I like the chubby shape of this elf, so underneath his furry beard he is all girl!  This little guy will be cute on a window ledge with some like buddies, or could be hung on a tree.  Felt, glitter and glue....heaven!  Jerilynn  P.S.  Happy October!  One of my favorite months!