Farewell, October.

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.
-Carol Bishop Hipps

Dear October,
You’ve been lovely.
Thank you.
-Liesl

(And happiest of Halloweens to you all.)

My Creative Space

I’m sharing my creative space early this week because my Thursday tomorrow is going to be pretty busy. Two weeks ago, I showed you my nicely organized scrap stacks. The smaller scraps reside one shelf down, neatly hidden in two fabric covered boxes. The big stash is hidden in the closet (thankfully.) Someday I’ll get around to organizing it. And remind me not to buy anymore fabric, as you can see, I have no room for it!

I’m also still working on aprons. The little details make me smile–like bindings all rolled up and ready.

And hand-stamped signatures.

Tonight I work on apron pockets.
Check out what everyone else is up to over at Kirsty’s.

Emma’s Other Jumper

Apparently little girls’ clothes are like potato chips or Lifetime movies—you’re never satisfied with just one.
I haven’t gifted this yet, so I am risking spoiling the surprise, but I just had to share this cuteness before I exploded. I mentioned a while ago about the little pink polka dot jumper I made for my cousin’s one year old daughter. Well, I also bought some blue polka dot corduroy at the time with the intention of making a jumper in the style of the Mini Boden one seen here. It turned out great. And adorable. And sweet. And cute. And all those words that describe little girls’ clothes.

Again I used Simplicity 4711 as a guide for the chest sizing and arm holes—just altered to add snaps at the shoulders and one pleat in the front and one in the back and a little pop of pink. I also made it one size bigger so she can grow into it. (They do grow fast, don’t they?)

Happiness Is…

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
-George Eliot

I really, really enjoyed the 30 Days of Happiness project and have been a little sad that it’s over. It really taught me to appreciate more the simple things around me, to acknowledge what makes me happy and give it credit. I’ve mentioned before here on my blog that I deal with depression. This meant I was very hesitant when I started this project because I had no idea how I would keep the happiness momentum going for a full 30 days. Anyone with depression will tell you how hard it is to see any light when the darkness descends. I’ll admit there were days when I didn’t have the energy to find as much beauty and light as I would have liked to–but I still tried my best. In the end this Happiness Project was more beneficial then I realized.

So, I’ve decided to continue this project just a little different. The postings will be every once in a while (as in, whenever I feel like it, whenever I need a little pick-me-up) and be titled ‘Happiness Is…’

So, Happiness is… the beauty of the Japanese maple outside the front door. It’s all the more special because it’s a tree my Grandfather planted. He passed away before I was born but even though I never officially met him, he lives on in me through stories and his presence is felt in things like this tree.

Today, as I do every year, I press some of these leaves to keep in a box as a reminder that this beauty always returns.

Feel free to do some ‘Happiness Is…’ posts yourself–whenever you find something that makes you happy, meditate on this happiness, soak it up like sun beams and then share it with us. You’d be surprised how your light can warm someone’s day.

And Happy Bench Monday.

Friday.

Good Morning!
I wanted to take a moment to Thank You all for visiting my blog and leaving comments. They truly brighten my day. I’m hoping to reciprocate and visit your blogs this weekend–see what things you’ve been up to on these fine fall (or spring) days.

As you can see in the above photo, the Japanese Maple is really starting to turn. Hasn’t quite reached the ‘bright red’ (and final) stage yet. But I’ll be ready when it does–it’s one the highlights of fall to me.

I wish I had more crafting time because there are *SO* many great scrap busting tutorials featured over at Sew Mama Sew! Once the holiday rush is over, I plan on giving many of them a go. But right now I’m busy working on aprons galore, listing bag holders and listening to Ida Maria. Then I’m starting on some holiday gifts–including, if all works out, a clever idea for some wee kids in the family. Then back to ’shop work’ to make sure I have enough for the Craft Fair in the beginning of December.

What are you up to this fine Friday? This weekend? Exciting plans? Just relaxing? Doing any crafting?

Today…

…will be a good day.

Stacks of Fabric.

You’ll have to forgive me for not posting in a while or getting around to blogs but I have been so busy. And where on earth is October going? It feels like we just started this month.
I’ve been…
…finishing a new jumper for my cousin’s one year old.
…making homemade yogurt.
…prepping for a Craft Fair in the beginning of December.
…coming up with a new bag design for the shop.
…thinking about Holiday gifts.
…watching the blue jay out my window.
…loving the fact that fabric.com considers 42″ a yard.
…sewing 14 (yes, 14!) new aprons and 13 (yes, 13!) new bag holders.
…wondering how many times I’ve posted pictures of stacks of fabric.
Oh, but aren’t they a lovely thing?

My Creative Space

It’s been a while since I played along in My Creative Space. I was busy with the ‘30 Days of Happiness’ in September and just been busy in general so far in October.

I’ve been devoting a lot of my crafty time lately to organizing my scraps and prepping new projects: like make up bags, eye glasses cases, card keepers, coasters, checkbook covers, etc.

In other news: It’s snowing.

The Joy of Snail Mail

I’m big into mail. I love sending and receiving cards and packages. There is a certain joy I always get walking out to the mail box—the anticipation and mystery. I always hope when I ship one of my Liesl Made items out, that the recipient has the same joy.

So how excited was I to find a stack of personalized initial note cards in my mail box from the sweet Teresa of Affectioknit? Oh, very! Perfect for sending a Thank You note to Grandma for all her hard work with the yogurt and that stack of fabrics.

And on the same day, a copy of Veganomicon was also in my mail box. It didn’t take me very long to break down and buy it from when I found out about it. Considering it’s the “Ultimate Vegan Cookbook” how could I not have it in my vegan cooking library? I first noticed it over at Amanda’s blog (you should check out her crocheted cuteness) where she gave it a thumbs up and she’s not even vegan. I’ve been drooling over all the recipes, getting plenty of ideas. Maybe it’s a fall comfort food thing, but I’m drawn to the Corn Bread, Chickpea Cutlets and Autumn Latkes.

Are you getting or receiving and good mail? Making any tasty foods?

Hexagon Eye Glasses Case Tutorial

You know all those little tiny scraps your saving because you consider it sacrilege to throw any piece of fabric out even though you have no idea what you’ll use them for? Well, this project may solve that predicament.

Hexagon Eye Glasses Case.

Finished size is about 3” x 6 1/4”. These fit my specs perfectly, but if you have bigger specs, adjust accordingly.

(First of all, pardon my scorched ironing board cover in the photos…)

You’ll need:
Fabric scraps for the hexagons
Freezer paper (or regular paper if you don’t have freezer paper)
6 3/4″ x 6 3/4″ scrap of heavy weight fusible interfacing
6 3/4″ x 6 3/4″ scrap of fabric for the lining
Needle, thread, pins, iron, printer, etc.

Start by making a template for the case. You can either print mine as a JPG and Word Document. The Word Document should be to scale but if not, and if you use the JPG version, you’ll have to adjust the sizing. There is a one inch scale as a guide. Or draft your own by cutting a 6 3/4” x 6 3/4” square from a piece of paper and round two corners. I used a glass to round the corners.

Next cut two 8 1/2 x 11” pieces of freezer paper. Then print the hexagon templates via Cia’s Palette being sure the image prints on the matte side of the paper. Cut out the hexagons (I used about 30 hexagons—so you need two sheets.) There are plenty of other hexagon templates you can find via a Google search, or as always, you can make your own.

Pin the hexagon to the fabric scrap with wrong side of the fabric facing the matte side of the paper.

Cut a 1/4″ allowance around all edges.

Iron one side down. The waxy side of the freezer paper will help hold down the fabric. Nifty, huh?

Repeat for the next side.

Repeat all around. Remove pin.
(If you don’t have freezer paper, you can print on regular paper, simply stitch the edges down instead of ironing them. A simple Google search for ‘English Paper Piecing’ should provide plenty of info.)

Repeat for the rest of the hexagons in various prints.

With the right sides of two hexagons together, sew the two sides of the hexagon together by hand using a tiny whip stitch.

Open it back up and add another hexagon to the next edge. Whip stitch that one too.

To do this third seam, fold the one hexagon in half to butt the two sides of the other hexagons together. This is so the finished product will lay flat.

Continue for the other hexagons.

For this project, I made do with 30 hexagons. Check to make sure it will cover the whole template. Add additional hexagons if needed.

Carefully remove the freezer paper from all the hexagons.

Trace the template shape onto the interfacing and cut out. Next iron the interfacing on the back side of the hexagons, being sure there is extra on all sides.

Cut off extra fabric. Flip over and iron again.

I forgot a photo for this step because I forgot to do this step but stitch about 1/8” of an inch along the one flat side. This will help keep the hand stitched seams from pulling apart when you turn it inside out later. It’s not absolutely necessary but recommended.

Fold in half, right sides together, and pin. Sew around edges as seen in photo.

Clip rounded corner to ease.

Do the same for the lining, folding in half, right sides together and stitch, except leave an opening at the bottom. (Sorry I forgot a photo for this step as well.)

Turn the outer piece right side out. Use something like blunt scissors or a crochet hook to poke out the edges. Iron out any wrinkles.

Slip the outer piece inside the lining as seen. (In this photo you can see where I left the opening in the lining.)

Pin and stitch around the top. My machine isn’t narrow enough to slip it over the base thing-y, so I had to maneuver it a bit.

Pull the outer piece out through the bottom opening. Don’t tuck the lining in yet.

Whip stitch/Hidden stitch the opening closed.

Now you can tuck the lining in, again using a long, blunt object to push out the seams. You can also top stitch around the opening if you want.

Voila!

(For personal use only, please.)
Questions, or errors, let me know.
If you make it, please share. I’d love to see. :)