Author: denise

I have done beadwork for over 25 years and got so interested in jewelry design that I took two metalwork classes at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee from wonderful teachers Deborah Lynn Gold and Marjorie Simon. I can't choose a favorite medium. I love sculptural work and adore forming and fabricating metals, but three-dimensional beadwork is more colorful. I sew a lot! Lately I've been making lots of purses and wallets as well as upcycling used clothing into new items. Lately I've gone back to sewing and refashioning cast-off clothing–mostly men's shirts, into girls' clothing. I also enjoy making handbags and wallets. They are really fun to put together–like a puzzle.

Pirates, plants and pretties

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I spent Sunday with the littles at the Tennessee Pirate Fest. What fun! The boys didn’t want to dress up, but the girl and I got our pirate on. There were funny skits, shows, two treasure hunts, wonderful artisans, dancing, stocks and lots of pirates. The food was good too.

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Little Girl Grand was really stoked to get her first “gold doubloon.” After being in the stocks, it was quite a treat. I think her favorite was the dancing. It probably helped that she had a cute young partner.

We left with wooden swords and a sunburn for Nana (me). That’s what happens when you’re such a fair “maiden.”

If you saw the picture of the Virginia Creeper at Locally Grown Gallery in Oak Ridge TN, the berries were gone a week later. Some critter had picked it clean. Must be tasty little things. It may have been that mockingbird that serenades us there.

I prepped  several items to sew last night and got another Necessary Wallet finished today. I looked at lots of pictures on Google last night to see how other people finished theirs and came away with a different flap style and rivets on the sides. I’m quite happy with it. img_0685 img_0690 img_0687

 

October Enthusiasm

October has ushered in cooler weather, at least for a few days. The highs have been in the 70s and I am in heaven. Well, I would be in heaven if the ragweed would STOP THROWING POLLEN at me, but it’s the best I can hope for right now.

I passed a particularly pretty Virginia Creeper when leaving the shop in Oak Ridge last Thursday and had to stop and take a picture. The berries are perfect.

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The cooler weather has given me new enthusiasm and I’ve finished the Summit Pack by Cloudsplitter Bags and Designs.  I love the look of the bag and it is a great design, but be prepared to sew through very heavy thicknesses.

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I used canvas for the outer fabric and some of the linings and quilting cotton for the rest of the linings. I omitted the card pockets since I prefer to carry my cards in an RFD-proof case.

I had a little trouble following the sewing directions for the top piece and middle piece, but I eventually figured it out. I think it would have helped if the fabric used in the photos had been more of a contrast. Perhaps it’s my old eyes, but I kept getting the outer fabric and lining confused.

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I hate reading directions and rely heavily on photos to get me through, only reading when absolutely necessary. I’m not sure when I started to avoid reading. I mean, I was a writer at one time! (I’m doing it now!) Although, I am slightly dyslexic and that makes a difference. I found the directions helpful, but a little confusing. I think it was probably because of the number of pieces involved. I really did study them before beginning the project–and if you try this bag, PLEASE study it before beginning.

If you are not comfortable sewing complex curves do not try this pattern! A hint: don’t pin curves. I pull the edges together as I sew, just in front of the presser foot. Remember to always stop with your needle down. I will try to get a tutorial on this technique soon–when I learn how to tape the phone to my forehead. JK. I’ve been more successful with this technique than any other I’ve tried. When I started sewing, umpteen million years ago, I spent a lot of time pinning and adjusting only to have puckers in the finished product anyway. Really frustrating!

Cloudsplitter did allow lots of extra fabric to allow for differences in sewing the seams due to fabric thickness, etc. I love how the directions say to just trim the edges to match after sewing! Most patterns have small seam allowances and make you struggle to match them. With the thickness of the layers on this bag you really need that extra.

I actually used my zipper foot for a lot of the sewing because of the thick layers of stabilizer and fabric, even when there was no zipper involved. I also used my bamboo point turner to get over the humps by shoving it under the back of the presser foot to level it out. If you don’t have anything to use like this, try pressing down the front of the presser foot as you sew. Sometimes that works.img_0625

I omitted the second strap tab and I didn’t have a 1″ wide swivel hook, so I just used a 1″ metal rectangular loop. My bag came out pretty well I think.

 

It’s Alive!

Earlier this summer I made the mistake of mounting my phalaenopsis orchid on a tree knot with sphagnum moss and hanging it on the curtain rod. It was okay for awhile, but I probably overwatered, underwatered and soaked it too long just to try to make it happy there. When it started to die I emailed a friend (hi, Carol!) and asked for help. She asked the type of orchid, which I hadn’t really thought about, and then told me probable causes for its impending demise (see above). Yeah.

My phalaenopsis earlier this year.
Phal in 2015

I didn’t really think about the different types of orchids before I bought that one. I think I got it at a big box store or the grocery store. I can’t remember. It didn’t bloom for several years until I moved it to the right window. I was so happy with it that I decided to “help” it even more. Bad move.

So, I’ve been reading and studying different types of orchids. I know all the things I did wrong now. I will try, try, try not to do any of them again. My poor phal died back to just a few living roots. Argh!

This is how I saved her.

New growth!
Phal loves her terrarium.

I put very damp sphagnum moss in a large candy jar that I wasn’t using any more. Then I just set the phal roots on top of the moss. Not down in the moss, just on top. I put plastic wrap on the opening so the lid wouldn’t rust and then the lid. Several weeks later the little Sal Phal has new growth! Look at those sweet little leaves shooting up from the roots! I’m so sorry, Sal, that I almost killed you. Thank you for coming back!

I have since bought a dendrobium aggragatum. I may eventually mount it on the wood knot that I once used for Sal. It is a totally different type of orchid. I will let it stay in the pot it is in till Spring, though. I can’t wait for those beautiful yellow blossoms to appear. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I am still studying my new babies and will keep you updated with my, and their, progress.