Stitchify - Crafts and Fiber Arts Inspiration

Merry Thanksgiving to me… Look what I just bought. Oh. Yes.

After reading this post, I was in love with adjustable, three-buckled boots. Just as the author knew her readers would be. Understandably, she didn’t want competition on the style-front, so she declined to name the brand. I cannot blame her one bit. After a smidge of browsing - and while I doubt that it’s the exact same brand - these puppies are flying toward their new momma at this very minute.

I love the cool-weather months and their associated fashions, don’t you?

PS: I’m not telling either. But I know you crafty folks are resourceful.

Amy scored majorly this morning by finding this “Sizeable List of Tutorials: Bags, Pouches and Purses.” It lists FIFTY FIVE sewing and knitting tutorials for every kind of bad you could imagine. This will really get your sewing machine motors spinning!

!Muchas gracias, Amos! !Besos!

I only have to go to one class this week, so let’s say it doesn’t even count. Therefore there are only three weeks of school left until winter break! YAY!!! This has been the fastest semester ever. Yayayayayay! I am registering for classes FOR THE LAST TIME on Tuesday. YAyAYAYYAya!

On Friday I took my BFF Amy to tour the venue for my graduation party while I handed over the signed contract. It was so fantastic to show the venue to someone I love, so they could see why I have been so gung-ho in “I don’t want to tour anywhere else. THIS IS IT!” She was blown away, and my love of the venue was cemented further. Here she is on the patio of the suites that I have booked.

Isn’t it FABU? The big dark building (known locally as “Darth Vader”) is where Amy works. The building where I work is between that one and the direction that Amy is gazing. The Capitol is in the direction that she is gazing, and her husband’s building is further to her left. It’s so fun to be right in the middle of our stomping grounds. I could show you pics of the view of the Capitol, but I want to leave the best parts for the actual party.

GAH! So excited. Ooh - I just realized that yesterday was exactly six months until the party, and more importantly, until I are an college graduat. ;) Heh. Yes yes yes yes! Can you tell that I am pumped that there is a light (and the best party of the century) at the end of the tunnel?

On Sunday I attended a workshop given by Aunt Susan’s (and my) friend Donna on creating journals from scratch. Aunt Bettie was there too, and everyone made really stunning pieces. Here are some of the artists working away:

Here is Donna showing Aunt Bettie the best technique for sewing in the “signatures” (the packets of paper):

And here is Aunt Susan and her fun modern journal:

I hope that you all have a beautiful Thanksgiving and that you keep in mind the importance of what you eat and where it came from (year round).

Thank you Mother Nature for another year of feeding us. I will strive to eat more sustainably in the following year.

Oh - that reminds me! We had our first Andy and Julie’s vegetable garden salad this afternoon! Delicious lettuce and radishes! Broccoli, carrots and onions are growing but not yet ready for harvesting.

Please note that I have revised my notes on Darn Kat’s wallet. Thank you to Carolyn for the tip!

My October in a nut shell:

Midterms BLAH! Papers BLAH!

First harvest from the veggie bed!

Pumpkin carving party! Cheesy scary movies in the backyard on a projector! So fun!

Costume Party

My friend Alison made her own voodoo doll costume. It was so cool!

Now I’m headed back to the Midwest to cheer up my gramps who is sick. My brother and I are going together. Please send my gramps some good vibes. You can direct them to the smack dab middle of the country and they should make it right to him.

O yes!

I Stumbled Upon the most fantastic tutorial on how to repeat a pattern. This is really useful information for applications like printing your own fabric with Spoonflower. Gah! Every time I think about that I get excited butterflies in my stomach. The tutorial was posted on the super fantastic design blog Design*Sponge by illustrator and guest contributor Julia Rothman. Here’s the link - cheggitout!

Here’s what Julia made:

Martha Stewart’s site is bursting with fantastic Halloween decorating ideas. So far I’ve made two of her ideas: Creepy Candles and Paper Mice. I’m also going to be one of her costume ideas, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise. Go check out her site, you’ll love it!

Here are my projects

To make an inexpensive, fabulous black feather wreath you will need the following:

Sturdy floral wire, a black feather boa, a hot glue gun and glue, scissors, pliers, and some sort of plastic or paper to protect your worksurface.

To make a wreath that is roughly 8″ in diameter, cut a 28″ length your floral wire.

Bend the wire into a circle, with a slight bump at one of the ends, for you to hang your wreath.

Twist the two ends together. You will probably need to use pliers.

Squeeze a 4″ line of glue on the wire, starting at the bottom of your wreath. Have your boa close to hand.

Starting with one end of your boa, press the center of the boa onto the bead of glue. Repeat this process all the way around until you meet the starting point.

Cut off the excess boa. Feel free to tack down wild feathers with a dot of glue. Your left over boa will probably be long enough to make a second wreath.

Hang, and marvel!