Things my family makes: Apple Butter weekend.

Apple butter weekend is an almost yearly tradition in my family.  Though it doesn't involve seams or fabric, making this family favorite does require a great deal of preparation, work and patience.  Here are some images from the weekend:


Snow storm moving in.

Peeling.



More prep work.

Time tested schedule in chalk on the barn wall.  Cider added at 4:40 am.  Apples added from 10:30 - 11:55 am.  Sugar and cinnamon added at 1:50pm.  Canning at 4 pm.

Black walnuts.

Early start - boiling the cider.



Sunrise.

Beautiful morning.



Cider continues to boil.



Snowball fights.



Walks in the woods.

Snow melting.  Adding the apples.







That's right......30 lbs of sugar and some cinnamon.



Awaiting the right color and texture.



The Grandparents approve.

Preparing for canning.



It takes a village.





84 pints.



Apple butter makes just about anything better.



Sweet results.



Waiting 40 years for inspiration.

A while ago, my mother was cleaning out her craft cabinet and gave me several yards of fabric.  One of the them was a beautiful brocade that was hand-dyed with a deep indigo.  When I asked where the fabric came from, my mom told me that it was sent to her by a Sierra Leonean pen pal she had when she was in middle school.

I kept the fabric for a very long time waiting for inspiration to come.  With it being such a beautiful fabric, I had to find the perfect project to put it to use.  It turns out, my mother had kept it intact so long for the very same reason.  It was such a special gift, she didn't want to use it for just anything.

Not long after my mom gave me the fabric, I came across a couple letters that her pen pal, Fatu, had written.  In the letters, Fatu asks about my mother's school, family, and American history.  They are very sweet letters with all the inquisitiveness and enthusiasm you would expect from a teenager with a new friend.  The sentimentalist in me loves that my mother enjoyed the experience enough to hang on to these items for over 40 years.  However, it made the thought of cutting into the fabric even harder.

And so, the fabric remained in a drawer for a long time.  It wasn't until I had an opportunity to create an artwork for a gallery exhibition that I knew exactly what I wanted to use it for.  I felt the best way to utilize the fabric was to pay homage, in a way, to the bond between Fatu and my mom.  Though fleeting, it must have been youthfully genuine and great fun for them both.  Each had a friend half a world away whom they were sharing their story with.

With my concept in mind, I began to work on an embroidered replica of both a letter and the envelope it came in.  The letter I copied refers to the fabric Fatu sent.  She calls it "Yara clothes."  I couldn't find much on the internet about Yara clothes.  My guess is they are named after Yara, a city not far from where Fatu went to school. 

I set out trying to be as exact as possible in replicating the stamps, but in the end, much like with drawing, I found I could be just as successful by giving the viewer the idea of a shape or text .  I didn't need to necessarily copy every image stitch for stitch.

I did, however, want to try my best to capture Fatu's precise and practiced handwriting.  You can tell that she must have enjoyed penmanship.  The lettering is meticulous and yet still has the flourish of a teenage girl.

I'm really proud of the finished products.  They were up for a month last May in an exhibition at the Harrison Center in Indianapolis.  It was an honor to be a part of the show.  I recently gave the embroidered letter and envelope to my mom for her birthday.  It's a wonder that mothers never get tired of the things their children make for them!  I guess I know where I get my sentimentality from......

Reinvention.

I was recently approached by a friend who wanted me to make a simple clutch for a cousin out of some of her aunt's clothes.  But they weren't just any old clothes.  They were custom made clothes from silk obtained on some of her aunt's world travels.  The fabric is absolutely gorgeous......delicate material with really rich, saturated colors.

Here's the before:

I felt extremely guilty cutting into these items.  They were beautifully crafted by someone who REALLY knew what they were doing.  The jacket was precisely machine stitched as well as intricately hand stitched.  Something to marvel at, truly.  After working through my hesitation, I began to dismantle the jacket and skirt at the seams.

Next, I began sewing the exterior pleating and the tabs:

After simply pairing the lining with the exterior, sewing, and turning right side out......the finished product:

I added vintage simulated pearl and gold buttons for a subtle closure. I often pair simple exterior colors with unexpected patterns and colors for linings.....so this clutch was no exception!

Thanks to Carol Ann for trusting me with a project so near and dear to your heart!

Flag waver.

I'm on Etsy!! 

Here's the step-by-step making of the Union Jack pillows that are now on sale at my shop!





Cut pieces.  Iron down rough edges.

Pin.

Sew!

 Attach diagonal stripes.  Bumper sticker for reference.

Pin and sew horizontal stripe.  (White color only!)

Attach vertical white-and-grey stripe, then gray horizontal stripe.

Pin backing to face, sew, turn right side out, and stuff with stuff!

Place on couch.  Sit back. Relax!





The exchange.

Hello and welcome!

Those of you who are reading this probably know about my change in circumstance.  A total bummer, yes.  However, I'm looking to make the best of it!  The way I see that being realized is by fully embracing the things I love (and the people I love)!  Some of those loved things are: crafting, creating, making, doing.....

It's been a goal of mine (for a LONG time) to get an Etsy shop up and running.  Little by little, I'm making strides toward that goal.  One of the first things I wanted to accomplish was creating a logo which would represent my work.  Of course, due to my limited experience with computer graphic design, I decided to turn to a professional.  I met Karli Kujawa Smith through friends and at a few of the Indieana Handicraft Exchanges at the Harrison Center.  I knew her aesthetic from the identities she has created for businesses such as The Hot Cookie and Homespun.  Gorgeous stuff, huh?

I approached Karli about doing an exchange: a bag for a logo.  I was thrilled when she agreed!  We sat down to discuss each of our desires for the final result.  I wanted a simple, straightforward design that would work on the web or in print.  She said she liked menswear fabrics and the pleating that I often use in my work. 

With both of our "wish lists" discussed, it was time for me to get to work.  I found a beautiful brown-grey herringbone suiting fabric to start with.  For the lining, I went with a rich eggplant which was a color Karli mentioned liking. 




See how the lining peeks out?  I love that!  When wearing the bag, you catch glimpses of it as it moves with you.  For the closure, I used a tab-and-button combo that is a favorite of mine.  The buttons are a laminated wood that I found at an antique store.  Lots of character.

If this bag thing doesn't work out, maybe I'll look into hand modeling.

At Karli's request, I added a couple pockets to the lining.  As I don't usually add pockets to most of my bags, this was a good experience for me.  Trial and error, then, success!  I'm pretty pleased with the results. 

The big reveal:

Ta-daaa!

I'm so pleased with the finished product.  I think it manages to be a great combination of tailored and relaxed.  It's structured yet slouchy.  The length of the wide strap allows the bag to hang just below the shoulder: a perfect length for a Chicago gal on the go. 

Working with Karli helped truly helped me explore the design process.  In the past, I've worked with my own ideas from start to finish.  Working for a client helped me expand on my process and the techniques I use.  I truly hope she enjoys using it as much as I enjoyed making it!

And now for the REALLY big reveal:



My logo!  I love it.  Those who were around me when I opened the email know how delighted I was when I saw the finished product.  It's simple and understated.  It manages to be both feminine and structured.....which is what I hope people think of when they see my designs.  I am so looking forward to putting the logo to use.  Thanks Karli!

Thanks everyone for reading.  I really appreciate your love and support. 

I hope you'll stay tuned.....because there's so much more to come!