This is why I craft

Samantha and I have been friends since third grade.  We grew up on the same country road and took turns biking back and forth to each others' houses.  We played Barbies and My Little Ponies together.  We rode the bus together.  Our parents drove us into town to go Trick or Treating and to the local skate barn.  In high school we knew all the words to The Rocky Horror Picture Show and employed ample use of the pause button while watching Cry Baby.  We screamed from the front row when Steve Vai walked on stage and learned that there is a limit to how much cinnamon Aftershock a body can handle.

And as you might expect, we went our separate ways after high school.  Off to different colleges, different states, different paths through Life.  Me:  marriage, house, sheep, kids, chickens, sewing, laundry, baking, pigs, cows and more sheep.  Samantha:  Wyoming, masters, California, doctorate, Pennsylvania, post-doc, Alabama, professorship and then off to almost every continent across the globe.  Clearly one could make a case for Nature vs. Nurture here.  Our similar childhoods are far eclipsed by our distinctly divergent adult lives.  I'm as domestic and settled down as you can get;  Samantha is sampling everything Life has to offer.

And we're still best friends.

So this Christmas I drafted up some unique designs and stitched a collection of souvenir dish towels.  While Samantha doesn't think to stock her kitchen with aprons and hot pads and such, her bookshelf display of Egyptian artifacts is another story.  So I make sure that she's equipped with appropriate kitchen linens.  Each towel is a look back at where she has been.

One of her earliest trips was to Egypt.  This is truly her passion; archeology, rocks and weird ancient practices is where Sam thrills.  If I'm remembering the story correctly, a local man offered Sam's dad three camels for her.  Or was it fourteen?  Also, this Eye of Rah is Sam's first tattoo. First of nine?  For being such best friends, you'd think I could get my numbers straight.

Being that her field of expertise is seismology, Sam has traveled to Antarctica a total of three times for research at McMurdo Station.  Let me tell you, she sure looks fetching in those Stay Puft Marshmellow Man red parkas.  And being a native Wisconsin girl, the frigid temps didn't phase her.  Sometime you should ask her about that cute seal they saw sunbathing on the ice. 

Easter Island was not a research trip, but rather a pleasure stop.  She made the jump over from Chile.  Again, it was the call of the ancient culture that lured her in. She can tell you all about the type of rock that those moai are made from, where it was quarried and why they were erected in the first place.  What a geek.

Oslo, Norway, was the location of the International Polar Year 2013 Science Conference.  The conference was kicked off by the Crown Prince of Norway.  Apparently those polar geologists know how to throw a party!  Anyways, as with most work trips, there's usually time for some site seeing.  The Edvard Munch Museum was a favorite stop for her.  As was Denmark (it was just next door, so why not). 

Again, I think Peru was strictly a pleasure vacation because she was *tired* of having to travel for work-related things.  Aside from the usual tour of cathedrals, catacombs and Incan pyramids, Sam sampled cuy.  That would be guinea pig for us Westerners.  Warning: google search this only if your children are out of the room. 

And this is why I love handmade crafts.  Never in a store would I be able to find iron-on transfers so perfectly matched to the intended recipient.  The towels are not fancy or pretentious.  Just sturdy cotton with simple Aunt Martha-esque embroideries.  But they speak to the extraordinary adventures of an amazing person.  Sam is one of the most good-hearted people I know. And I suspect that wherever Life takes us, we'll still be friends for the next fifty years. 

Aunt Martha is calling...

With even the most cursory glance at that photo, I'm still guessing that most of you will instantly recognize the tell-tale yellow envelope of Aunt Martha's iron-on transfers.  How long have these been around?  How long has good ole Auntie been tempting us with enough embroidery projects to stop up our kitchen drawers and linen closets?  I'm guessing the 1930s, but does anyone really know?  Please start a wikipedia page, Someone!

This little cotton hanky is my very first embroidery project, done at the tender age of 7-ish.  Mom took it fresh off the clothesline, and it never left the ironing board.  Incidentally that was how I learned to iron, by pressing hankies and pillowcases...now I see the connection to my embroidery hobby!!  But I digress.  I picked out four petite flowers to adorn each corner of the hanky.  I picked out four coordinating colors for petals and leaves.  Mom popped on the hoop, and I was quiet and sitting still for at least thirteen minutes.  Then I promptly tossed it aside, with a "see you later!" and ran out to play Barbies with the neighbor girl.  Perhaps that wasn't it exactly, but I do remember these four little flowers, amounting to approximately 47 1/2 stitches each, taking an exorbitant amount of time to finish.  Sedentary hobbies are hard when your only 7-ish years old. 

Mom taught me the running stitch and demonstrated the French Knot a whole bunch of times.  And voila! I was doing "grown-up" stuff, just like Mom.  Isn't that what it's really all about when you're little?  After I tackled this monumental project, I did an ABC cross-stitch sampler of which I have distinct memories.  Mom charted it all out on graph paper, then with a purple invisible marker, she transferred it onto canvas using the kitchen window as a light source.  That one was dated 1982 (as is the tradition when doing samplers), and I finally got to the XYZ in high school, some eleven years later.  What can I say?  Barbie was doing some cool stuff in the '80s. 

But so started my embroidery hobby.  Over all those years growing up, I collected Aunt Martha patterns.  I had a phase in which I was completely enamored with cut-work.  All my thoughts were on pillowcases and dresser scarves and ways to pretty up my bedroom.  Haven't done one yet.

When I married and had my own house, the kitchen was where I spent most of my time so thoughts turned to dishtowels.  And of course no respectable housewife could call herself an embroiderer without having a few Days of the Week patterns in her collection.  I have these Hill Billies and a set of Mammy, but still haven't taken the needle to the towel yet.

 

With my interest in vintage clothing, monograms suddenly seem appropriate.  Yet more patterns in the collection, but at least here I can say that I've done one!  My pink gingham blouse is still a favorite of mine.

And with my latest fancy about peacocks, a friend found these two lovelies at Goodwill for me!  I'm so doing that skirt (as soon as I do some cut-work and a few Hill Billy towels).

I've been lucky to find some vintage patterns, too.  I don't think Aunt Martha will feel jilted.  With her near monopoly on the market, she always plays it "cool as a cucumber."

So naturally with all these cute designs filling up my sewing room, one day my daughter asked to start her own embroidery project.

I found some soft cotton, and together we sewed up a pillowcase.  She chose some designs out of a Dover book of Baby Animals.   I opened the lid on my embroidery floss box, and her eyes went wide with the possibilities.  I showed her how to put on the hoop, how to make a spit knot, and she sat quietly for nearly an hour.  I guess my daughter got some of those "nose to the grindstone" genes from my husband. 

A little bit of pink in their ears, and this beauty is ready for her bed.  Recently she bought Aunt Martha's collection of horse transfers so we're already talking about Project #2.  It will be something to pretty up her bedroom, a larger piece that we can frame or maybe a dresser scarf.  Truly, this is one of the joys of motherhood.  Passing down skills that your mother taught you; making memories for the next generation; insuring that Aunt Martha will never stop printing those yellow envelopes.

My Pin-Up Kitchen Towels

I guess my favorite room of the house must be the kitchen.  I spend a lot of time in there.  Like most homes, it's the hub of activity.  A while back I took you on an official tour, but today I wanted to share my pin-up towels.  I've posted a couple of these in other places so I apologize for those of you who've seen them before.

I cannot take the credit for this idea.  I ran across an article in the Christmas 2012 issue of Country Living magazine.  EllynAnne Geisel, owner of Apron Memories, had shared her collection of vintage towels.  One embroidered towel featured the back view of a lady with a plaid skirt.  One flick of the finger lifted her skirt to reveal her panties underneath!  It was positively scandalous!

My first attempt was this girl holding a wooden spoon.  I used a Vargas pin-up drawing as inspiration for the basic body, and then added the details to make her look like the 'girl next door.'  The red panties underneath are made with a single layer of netting, stitched down with the embroidery.  And the skirt is attached only at the waist.

My second towel was a gift for a friend of mine who dances burlesque, Miss Lolita Haze.  This peek-a-boo technique lends itself perfectly to burly-q.  Using the same body, I stitched platinum blonde hair, no panties and feather fans.  Instead of rick rack edging, I used lush lace.    All that's missing are the rhinestones!

Along came another friend's birthday (Wild Kat from Hometown Victory Girls), and I again tweaked the pattern to fit the recipient.  This time I added a paint brush, pallet and a cherry print skirt to match Kat's kitchen. 

Well, after giving two away, I decided that I needed to stitch up a shepherdess for my own kitchen.  I used fabric scraps and gave her a full dress instead of just a skirt.  And of course BoPeep needed boots and a crook to finish off her outfit. 

By simply changing the position of the arms and the accessories, these pin-up towels can be tailored to any person or occasion.  Embroidered towels are a must for any farmhouse kitchen, but who says they have to feature dancing spoons or grocery-shopping kittens?

Apron Challenge: May

Phew!  I feel like this month is just flying by!  What with goslings, lambs and my daughter's First Communion party, I was happy to find an afternoon to finally get my May apron done.

I wanted to do a flower theme for this month and so went searching for my beautiful Oriental fabrics that I had stashed away for a wall hanging.  I did find flowers in that box, but these Geisha Girls really drew my attention.  I have been saving this piece for something special.  Translation: it's sooo special that it will never get used.  So I bravely took the scissors to it!

I wanted a traditional Oriental style so I opted to do a simple cafe apron out of muslin.  Rows of ruffles and rick rack is not appropriate here.  Simple and uncluttered was what I was after. 

All of the applied fabrics are done using a raw edge applique method.  I simply cut out the shapes I wanted and free-motioned them on.  No edges to finish or turn under.  Although this technique is not new, I had never tried it before.  I tend to like my finished projects clean and top-stitched.  Raw edge methods are just too "devil may care" for me.  But I have to admit that it was easy!  I hope it wears well though.

I also embroidered two circles to balance the black floral and bring out the pink color.  This technique of using a large running stitch is called sashiko.  Traditionally, it is done with white thread on a navy background for purely decorative reasons.

The wide waistband is a light grey floral fusion by Robert Kaufman. 

While this is not my typical style, I do feel like it will get some wear.  Cotton is so serviceable, after all.  Thank you to everyone who has posted in the photobucket album.  Do stop over there to take a look at all the other beautiful creations.

PS. I promise I'll get some lamb pictures up soon, and Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Apron Challenge: April

Phew!  I got this month's apron done just in time!  Hank and I have been busy in the barn getting ready for lambing which should happen any day now.  The old indoor pen needed a little tlc.  We scraped off the layers of compacted poo so we could see the concrete again, replaced some hodge podge boards and gave the whole pen two coats of paint.

Glad that job only happens once a year!

But once we were satisfied that our lambs would be well-housed whenever they choose to arrive, I was back in the sewing room.  This month I dug out some 1930s reproduction fabric and a few Aunt Martha iron-on transfers. 

With Easter Sunday in a few days, I needed this apron for my impending whirlwind of baking (that's sarcasm, by the way).  Hank will grill out a leg of lamb, and I'll be in the kitchen frosting my lamb cake.  I have an adorable Mirro 3D mold from the 1960s.  After frosting, it usually ends up looking like Yoda, but it's an Easter tradition now so what are ya gonna do?  And of course, coloring eggs and setting out baskets is on the weekend To Do list as well.  But back to the apron...

...one little lamb is sproinging...

...and the other is sproinged out and contemplating the nutritional value of tulips.

I lined the pockets with the same rust fabric and had just enough left over to piece together a ruffle for the bottom hem.  I was inspired by some of the aprons posted in our photobucket album and decided to do pleats instead of gathers.  Thank you to everyone who has shared their aprons!  If you haven't yet, make sure to check out all the gorgeous creations from the past months!   I also added small pleats at the waistband, instead of gathering on the apron, for a smoother look.  And no respectable Depression apron would be complete without rick rack.

So in between the barn chores and the egg decorating, be sure to stop and enjoy your family and all the blessings of the Spring season.  I wish you all a very Happy Easter!

Monday Morning Update:  Since originally posting this on Friday, I'm happy to report that this apron got a full two days use over the weekend.  It has a nice stain from making butter frosting, two stains from my afternoon cup of coffee and a healthy dose of cow slobber in the lower corner.  Unlike some of my monthly apron creations, I think this one's a keeper!

Gingham Blouse Make-Over

Okay, so I am that obnoxious shopper who flips through the racks saying, "I can make that.  I can make that.  I made that last summer.  They want what for that?!  So making that when I get home."  But sometimes I have to take off my sewing hat and really crunch the numbers.

[Cost of fabric + notions + pattern + labor = how bad do I really want it] 

Most of the time, some (if not all) of my supplies are thrifted, but labor equals time, and that's a big factor to consider when I have sheep staring in the window of the sewing room, waiting to be fed.  So this is one project where I decided to buy off the rack and make it over.

Project List...again

Just a peek at a few more of the projects I've been working on.  Seems I have deviated slightly from dressmaking these days.  But the winter months just don't inspire me as much.  Maybe a pair of wool pants is in order, but eh, I can get by.  These quirky projects stretched my creativity a bit more than banging out another pair of pants from the old tried-and-true pattern.

Project #1:  My daughter has just decided that she wants to be a vet when she grows up.  This stems from her ever-increasing love of horses.  Oy vey!  Do you realize how much more hay we're going to have to put up?!  Well, for her birthday last month, I sewed up a doctor's bag.  I used scraps of white wool and leftover red bias binding.  It has a magnetic snap in the closure and measures approximately 8" tall by 12" wide.  It was a hit.  Perhaps she can start doctoring the calves . . .

Project #2:  I don't know any farmer who doesn't have bags and bags of used baler twine sitting around the barn.  Seriously, we have 50# dog food bags crammed with the stuff!  Yes, I've seen the Boy Scouts make rope out of it, but I'm just not in the market for lassos right now . . . not yet, anyway.  So I decided to take my crochet hook to this lone spool of twine because I am in the market for more outdoor rugs.

Technically this isn't "used" twine, but one orphan spool is not very useful (for those of you who aren't familiar with the inner workings of a baler, you have to have two spools working together to tie up your bales of hay).  It is a bit stiff, but I don't have to deal with all the knots that would be in used twine.  I'm doing a single crochet and will go until I run out. 

Project #3:  Because my first peek-a-boo pin-up towel turned out pretty well, I had try another one.  This time I went for a more risque pin-up.  This platinum blonde fan dancer has no need for a wooden spoon.  :) 

I perfected my embroidery stitch a bit so the outline is cleaner and her face turned out much nicer.  I also used lace on the hem as rickrack was just too 'domestic' for this beauty.  For a look at the original 1950s towel that inspired these, check out EllynAnne Geisel's blog on her vintage linens.

And as was true with many of the fan dancers of the 1930s, this girl is sans her sheer panties.  I really enjoyed making this towel as the peek-a-boo concept lends itself perfectly to the type of girl.  I think I need to do a BoPeep pin-up with a shepherd's crook next (and ruffled undies).