I don’t do as much custom work as I used to. I’m happy to to do an embroidered eye quilt in a different colorway or whatever, but I’ve stopped taking most orders that are way far off my usual product line. I don’t like to seem cranky; it’s just that, for me, it’s not cost-effective. I’ve found that the most time-consuming aspect of my business is designing new product, and, in my experience, customers don’t want to pay me for the extra 3 or 4 (or more) hours it would take to, say, fit earflaps onto an eye mask. (No, that it not a request I’ve ever gotten.)

But sometimes, an opportunity comes along that I just can’t pass up, and I make an exception:

This is Trogdor, embroidered in black thread on a red hankie. No, I’m not going to get rich making this kind of thing, but man, was it fun.

I like crafting for weddings. How often can five grown women dress identically without looking absurd? (Apart from uniforms, that is.) These were commissioned for a wedding in Hawaii, providing an unexpected, but wildly appropriate purpose for the Mendocino fabrics!

Once again, lots of work means very little posting. One of these days, I’ll have to stop apologizing for that. I’m assuming no one’s particularly interested in seeing me make the same product over and over again. If I’m wrong, here’s a tip: you can make an RSS feed of your favorite etsy shops! So ever time one of your favorite sellers does a shop update, you can ogle the goods via Bloglines, Google Reader, whatever. Man, this life. It is so exciting!

I’ll also be starting a part-time job soon, which means less time for sewing (boo!) but more time devoted to putting together cute outfits. I really ought to set up my tripod to take pictures of me dressed for work, but leaving that out makes me nervous when there’s a feisty kitty with time on her hands. Maybe I’ll just beg Hambone to snap a pic of me each morning before we head out. Or maybe we’ll say to heck with that. We’ll have to wait and see.

This has been long overdue. After working 7 days a week for almost a month, I had today off. So here’s what I finished today:

- Blocks for the seeing stars quilt-along. I finished the first about a week ago, the second last night, and the third today, so I’m all caught up.

I almost tore block one apart and replaced the center triangles with red, so that each block would be two-toned. But I decided to wait, as I’m not sure that’s necessary. That’s the frustrating aspect of designing as I go - planning ahead isn’t really an option. Thankfully, Amanda Jean really knows what she’s doing, so this quilt-along doesn’t have many frustrating aspects at all.

I’m also proud to announce that I’m done with my cute skirt.

Man, this pattern was easy. I think the flat-felled seams took longer than everything else, put together. Not that the pattern mandated flat-felled seams. I just think they look awesome.

There was definitely a time, back when I was doing a lot of costumes for plays, when I was tempted to rush through garments in order to wear them as soon as possible. I’m happy to report that I’m over that - I mean, if I’m going to put the time into making myself something to wear, I might as well put the extra effort into making it really special. Hence the fancy seams and the bias tape around the hem, which were totally worth the effort. I can’t wait to make another version of this skirt.

And, finally, one of the perks of working in a craft room that is essentially an irredeemable trash pit is occasionally finding some near-finished gem and finishing it off then and there. I was looking for some sashing fabric for a few quilt blocks when I ran across this cheep cheep I had stitched on a square of cotton, like, three and half years ago.

Why the heck did I not finish it then? The hemming was such a minor task compared to cross-stitching a video game character, and plucking out the waste canvas. So I made short work of turning it into a handkerchief, which matches my new skirt.

I don’t want a summer cold, but at least now I’m prepared.

1. sampler blocks, 2. star of bethlehem, 3. log cabin, pink, 4. housedress

Two summers ago, I made some super cute, SUPER pastel quilt blocks in between participating in various swaps and things. I was really ramped up to make a queen-sized sampler, until I did some math, and realized I’d need like, 49 blocks to make that happen.

49 different blocks is not an insurmountable number. But it was enough to intimidate me for 20 months.

My block from yesterday wasn’t exactly what I wanted for the project I’d had in mind, but once I realized it fit in with my summer of ‘06 group, I though, “why not?”

If I make a block every month from now to 49, it’s going to take me like, 5 years to do the top. Oh, well. I guess I can live with that.

I do have a couple of old projects I can integrate into a few blocks, such as the housedress above. That’s left over from a small quilt I’ve been working on since college, and I really like the log cabin-style borders I added. Even though the block still fits with my super soft palette, it seems to be taking the quilt in a new direction. Its no longer so… safe? And it inspired a narrow log cabin border in a Star of Bethlehem block, which I need to rename. Because it features bras and panties.

I don’t know how excited I’ll stay about this one in the short term, but I’m optimistic enough to have made a new tag for the “sweet sampler quilt.”

Hello, A Roll. I think I am on you!

I know you’d probably rather stick a fork in your eye than read ANOTHER post about a crafter’s efforts to de-clutter. I know I would, and it’s what? January 3?

Still, I’ve been trying to get my workroom in order since last year, and it’s a long slog, because most of the “clutter” is stuff I should really just make into something. Seriously, to heck with “Use what you have” month! I need to have “Use what you have” year!

I’m starting with pillows, because they are maybe the bulkiest example of things that are too good to throw away, but are also a really stupid use of valuable storage space.

I realized I almost certainly would have to have a pillow in the correct size to show off the first bit of hand-quilting I ever did. I got this little wholecloth kit when I signed up for a hand-quilting class back in high school, and, after the few hours it took me to actually get the stitch down, I worked on it on and off for a couple of years. Because I couldn’t bear to throw anything away then, and little has changed.

Glad as I am to have kept it, it really got on my nerves when it was time to put it away today. So I didn’t put it away at all. Ta-da:

Now that that’s done, I’ve added two more projects to my pillow to-do list:

1. Turning this bird patch into a pillow cover. The patch was a gift from Deborah of ChicCosas, so I want to give it an extra-cute home, no matter how monumental the task of sorting through my fabric scraps is going to be.

2. The “Birthday Pillow.” I have no idea what made me decide I needed to group a bunch of Sublime Stitching designs together in a cute little birthday vignette, but I can’t remove the design from the muslin, so a redwork birthday pillow I shall stitch. This will probably end up as a gift (provided I meet someone as pink as I in time for her birthday) or will take the place of the birdie pillow cover on special occasions.

Wait - do special occasion pillow covers defeat the purpose of de-cluttering? Do I even care?

Hi craft fans!

Remember my abc post from last week?

I turned it into this:

I think alphabet Samplers could easily become my new thing. They don’t exactly stitch themselves, but they are a heck of a lot faster than big old quilts!

I’m so glad to have snagged a Mailorder #5, which contains what I hope will be my next sampler project!

And while we’re on the subject of cross-stitch, one of my favorite gifts from last Christmas is the Cross Stitch Motif Bible! It’s really extensive and easy to follow. I especially love that the different alphabets are laid out in a really attractive way - you can just grab your Aida or linen and start stitching!

And finally, I know it’s not a sampler per se, but I really can’t talk about my future in framed needlework without saying how much I love the cute, easy to follow, and very affordable kits by Ms. Julie Jackson of Subversive Cross Stitch! I’m actually going to be working on this one for the remainder of 2007!

I know everyone crafts for others at this time of year, but if you’re going to take some time to make a gift for yourself - and I think you should! I think a sampler is the perfect addition to any home!

xoxo, Jennicakes

Some gloomy weather has been exacerbated by a broken window (my fault, don’t ask!) and while I wait for the glass company, I’m stitching up a very simple sampler inspired by 1. this sampler I saw a few days ago and 2. the arrival of Peppermint Fairy Stitchette patterns!

I don’t want to reveal more until it’s all done, so please be patient!

I know it’s the season for handmade giving, as opposed to, say, handmade self-spoiling, but I hope all of you ladies (and gents) have a cute seasonal project on hand for those days when you just need to say, “To hell with this!”

My abc’s, btw, are from Jenny Hart’s wonderful book, and I picked up my threads locally at Old World Designs Needlepoint Shop.

Time for tea and more stitching!

I really should be getting ready for shows, but sometimes a little side project is the best thing for clearing the head.

These are Sublime Stitching designs on an Eddie Bauer jean skirt I was getting sick of.

I really wish I had time to do every project in Marie Claire Idees.  It didn't stop me from creating a Flickr group dedicated to just that, though…

I'm really starting to love making patchwork pillows.  I think it's the scale of them, the way the embellishment doesn't get lost the way it would on a larger surface.

I don't know why I never got into pillow-making before.  With quilts and eye shades already in my line, it seems weird that I never took this step.  Of course, pillows are bulky for mailing and carting to shows.  Makes me wish I could afford a storefront and just load a settee (or three) with these.