Are You Weary As Water?

Are you weary as water
In a faucet left dripping
With an incessant sadness
Like a sad record skipping
-Ani DiFranco, “Swing”

I have to admit, I’ve been feeling a bit down in the dumps lately. It might not look like it from reading my blog because I’ve been a busy bee, but when I get sad, I try to immerse myself into things like sewing. This “incessant sadness” is mostly due to the fact that I have a persistent case of lyme disease that leaves me so tired and fatigued. (I think I’m competing with the cat with who can nap more.) I need to schedule an appointment with my doctor to start up my fifth round of antibiotics and fingers-crossed they will help this time. I’ve heard of people needing IVs put in and really hope I’m not one of those cases.
Anyway, this exhaustion has left me fighting the urge to close down my shop and blog and simply hibernate for a few months but so far I have been too stubborn to give in. I am however going to cut back on shop updates and stop taking custom orders. As much as I love sewing, sometimes when I’m working on things for the shop it gets repetitive and drab. I’m hoping cutting back the business aspect of Liesl Made will help pump up the creative aspect and rekindle my joy in this medium. I realize this may all sound silly but if I don’t make it official, I’m bound to revert back to putting the shop first—staying up late at night making makeup bags “because they sell” instead of working on things I really want to work on. Or getting much needed rest.
I’ve also been trying to think up something to boost my mood. All I came up with was doing a photo-a-day in September but somehow it seemed to fall flat—it needed some more direction than just *press-the-shutter-everyday*. Then I noticed Bluebirdbaby’s 30 Days of Happiness and figure it the perfect opportunity. It’s the start of a new month, my favorite season is around the corner, and I have big plans for presents for upcoming birthdays and holidays. There is a lot to be happy about. Taking the time to acknowledge and recognize these things is just what I need. And maybe another nap.

Giveaway Winner!

Congrats Casey! I’ll email you now.

Thank you all so much for playing along in my Blog-o-versary Giveaway! And for the kind words. I was sure no one would want my “charming” green kitchen wares.

In shop news, I officially have everything listed in my shop, including that huge stack of coasters and a bunch of new Linen and Lizzy Dish Bag Holders–now in a larger size. Check ‘em out.

Lizzy Dish Table Runners

I woke up super early this morning, unable to fall back asleep due to excitement. Last night I found out what size my cousin’s soon-to-be one-year-old daughter is now wearing. I know, for her first birthday present, I originally planned on the little hearts banner from Stitched in Time, and I even thought of merging that with the banner from Handmade Home but in the end, a cute corduroy jumper is what I can’t get out of my head. So I’ve been up to my usual shenanigans–browsing around for fabrics, patterns and dreaming up my own designs.

Oh, but that’s not what this post is about, is it? I mean look at all the pictures. I’m all off-topic. Can you tell I’m excited?

Onward to the on-topic stuff. I was commissioned to make some kitcheny stuff recently (working on finishing that up today–using prints from Joel Dewberry’s Ginseng line–I’ll share photos when it’s done) including a table runner. So I whipped up a design to show the customer and these are what I came up with. Both have a pleat–one large, one small–of yellow for a little pop. And feature my favorite oatmeal colored linen and Lizzy Dish prints.

I also made up a third for the shop, attempting my first go at English Paper Piecing and I think I’m in love. It’s surprisingly easy and the end result is adorable. Using the yellow-y gold like this makes me think of a honeycomb.
Happiest of Fridays to you all!

My Creative Space.

This week I’ve been working on a *ton* of new coasters.

Also been working on new labels for said coasters. I’d love to get a custom Liesl Made stamp with my little birds logo on it, but for now, I’ll hand stamp each letter with my Inkadinkado set.

And I’m debating what to do with these tiny prints I got. Put them in tiny picture frames? Turn them into magnets?

Don’t forget to enter in the oven mitt giveaway. Comments close tomorrow.

Ramblings About Books.

Guess what showed up in my mail box recently? OK, so the photo above kind of gave it away, huh? Handmade Home. *insert big grin here*
I also got The Prairie Girl’s Guide to Life. Amazon plopped it in my recommendations and it caught my eye. (As did this one but I resisted temptation.) I’m kind of a sucker for free shipping so I figured instead of paying $20 (with the shipping charge) for just Handmade Home, I might as well as shell out an extra $5 and get a second book. I have only skimmed through these two and am looking forward to getting the chance to sit down and really digest them.
Getting *new* books is a treat for me though. I would say ninety percent of the time I order used books via eBay or Amazon Marketplace. That said, I also got Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Lolita—two books that have been on my to-read list for quite a while now.
And speaking of books…
There’s Kindle. I myself am at that snarky stage where I am prejudging it and dead set against it. I will admit this may change. I used to think MP3 players were silly—I mean you don’t even get the liner notes. Then I got a Zune and my opinion did a total turn around. For someone addicted to a constant stream of music and with almost 8,000 songs, my Zune has become the most convenient thing I own. I’m not really big on gadgets. I don’t even have a cell phone. (Well, that’s not true, I have an old one that has no service that I use the alarm clock on because I don’t have an alarm clock.)
I just don’t know about this Kindle thing. The only selling point right now is the search feature. There have been many times I wished I could find a passage from a book without having to reread the whole thing. But that little device voids the look of book bindings on a shelf, of the smell and process of turning a page, the weight and joy of carrying a book to a favorite spot to read.
Do any of you use Kindle? Do you like it?
And what are you currently reading? Anything good?

Vintage Sewing Treasures…

…from Grandma.

My favorite is this wooden needle case. (Is that what it’s called?)

Blog-o-versary Giveaway!

One year ago today I started up my second blog and, after a long sabbatical, announced the reopening of Liesl Made. In light of this one year blog-o-versary, I’ll be having my second giveaway here at my blog. This giveaway is for an oven mitt. It’s made with a second hand green linen, Harmony Art Organic print and solid cottons, two layers of cotton batting and a white organic cotton lining. I recommend machine gentle cycle or hand washing in cold water if needed.

Included is a matching pot holder if you choice to accept it as-is. See, the pot holder is a little crooked but I’m thinking maybe I can call it “charming.” I didn’t notice it until I finished it. (Maybe I should stop drinking when sewing? Just kidding…)

So if you like lovely and somewhat “charming” green kitchen stuff, please play along. (I wont be offended in the least if the winner doesn’t want the pot holder.) Simply leave a comment here on this blog post. One entry per person, please. Open to international folks. Comments will close on Friday and the winner will be announced and emailed.

Custom Make Up Bags.

First of all, pardon the blurry photo. It was awfully humid out.
Anyway, I was commissioned to make a set of make-up bags for bridesmaids recently. They feature a bunch of lovely black and white prints and a celery colored lining. With the left over fabric, I’m planning more make up bags for the shop as well as additions to my black, white and red scrap fabric collection for a quilt I have in my head, waiting patiently for it’s turn to be made.

The binder clips are in the photo because they have become part of my make-up bag making process. I use them instead of pins to avoid the holes the latter can leave behind in the interfacing.
Hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend. Come back tomorrow for a giveaway!

Butcher’s Apron

Recently, while he was cooking in the kitchen, I noticed my brother was wearing a butcher’s apron left over from his deli working days. A little light bulb lit up above my head and I figured it can’t be that hard to make so I inspected it and decided to give it a go. I had a little over a yard of red ticking—the perfect amount, the perfect weight, and the perfect look. I also added pockets because who doesn’t want pockets? In the end, I arrived at a mighty cute apron that I gifted to my Mom because, well, she deserves it. I’m thinking about more for gifts and perhaps a couple for the shop.

Polka Dot Top

I was rooting through my closet for something to wear yesterday when I came across this top I made ages ago from this Burda pattern. Honestly I can’t remember when I made it–last winter, maybe? All I know is that, even though I love it, I haven’t worn it until now because it didn’t fit. I must had misread the pattern and cut and sewed it one size too small. Luckily, I’ve lost a little weight since then and the top actually fits now. Well, sort of. As always, I forgot to alter the pattern for my body type. I’m pretty lucky in the fact that I am fairly proportioned around so I don’t have to adjust patterns too much. But I take this for granted and forget about how long I am, especially in the torso. The bust in this top isn’t quite where it should be and it’s a bit short for my taste. But these are just little things I’ll edit next time because there will be a next time. Me thinks red with white dots.

One thing I did alter on this pattern was the bust detail. I did the original rows of ruffles, but with the polka dots, it ended up looking too much like a clown costume somehow. So I streamlined it down to one row of simple pleats. I also opted for pearl snaps because I have an unreasonable fear of button holes.