The Flour Sack Dress

Last summer my aunt mailed me some very special fabric. Her husband's family owned a flour mill in Minnesota back in the day and she had inherited the flour sack fabric from that time. And, given that she didn't know of another family member interested in sewing, she wanted me to have it. Well, it has been really hard for me to come up with a project that warranted using the fabric and was also small enough to work. But, while flipping through Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing I came across her flower girl dress and thought of a little friend about to have a birthday. It seemed silly to keep this stowed away rather than turned into something beautiful and useful.
So, I made the dress already. It's pretty cute, I must say. This picture makes it look a little crooked and it is not crooked BUT it is way to small! Yup, the bodice has no zipper, no buttons, nothing to help put it on a small body. Frankly, I think it would only fit on a small, small, small person...not what I had intended. And, come on! Children need their clothes to be easy to put on. I mean, so easy that the clothes nearly magically appear on them. So, I'm disappointed. And I know a special someone that can use this as a special occasion dress but I'm going to be tweaking the pattern so that it can actually function as a dress. Check back on Monday for my book report because this whole debacle is making me think that Weekend Sewing ought to be next on the review list.

Treasures

My mother, aunt and grandmother recently visited us for one estrogen-soaked weekend of fussing, cooking, gossiping and grandchildren spoiling. It was fantastic. On one wine filled evening we got to discussing sewing and making of things and my aunt informed me that she had acquired a slew of vintage sewing supplies when her husband's mother passed away and no one in her family wanted them. And, "Oh, how can I forget"...her husband's family used to run a flour mill had she had authentic flour sacks cleaned and stashed away..."would I like them?" I felt so guilty and certain that there would be actual connected family members upset if these precious things were given to ME so I mumbled some response. Well, lo and behold, just a few days after everyone returned home these gifts arrived in a package on my door. An incredible assortment of buttons and two flour sacks from the 40s or 50s. Oh, lucky me!
I cannot believe the windfall of free, vintage, incredible fabric coming my way these days! It is inspiring me to think about some serious garment sewing, something a little intimidating for me. But the fabric is screaming for it. Plus, it seems to precious to lay around doing nothing but 'stash'. You know?

{The buttons are so fantastic that my son said, "Is that candy? Can I eat some of your treats, Mama?" After he recovered from his disappointment upon finding out they were just buttons, he insisted I photograph him holding 'the candy'. But, as you can tell, I had to hold his hand holding the buttons because he COULD NOT keep his own hand still for long enough. Ah, three is a glorious age.}

A Thing

I have to come to terms with the fact that I just have a thing for table runners. Despite this debacle I'm back at it, making another one. I do like this one alot more, however. And, it's construction is happening the way I prefer it to happen. No real plan, no pattern. Just starting with one portion, then setting it down, mulling it over, and starting with the next.
The green linen bits are vintage from beautiful living on etsy. They are 4 X 6 inches and have little whispers of queen anne's lace peeking in on them...a stem here, a flower there. I should say they were my true inspiration for this. I bought them on a whim and it was pondering what to do with them. I threw in the bits and pieces of luscious natural linen I have and then I ran across this free pdf on Sew Mama Sew for embroidery of a Queen Anne's Lace, it was great timing. But the image didn't quite fit right and wasn't long enough and that is when I realized...embroidery is little more than stitching up an image in embroidery floss. It doesn't have to be a prescribed image. So, I drew my own with inspiration from SMS. That wasn't the hard part. The actual embroidery is trickier (for me, as a beginner). So, I'm stitching and stitching now.
But, it's a happy stitching. I feel like I've been following other people's patterns and designs alot this summer and I kind of missed just going with my own idea, even if it ends up imperfect. And, the stitching seems a great way to greet autumn. I should probably learn to appreciate summer more but I'm always truly happy to see August pack it up and to feel chilly winds start to blow. Happy September.

Speaking of changes, in a distant way at least, I'm a little tired of my usual crafty blogs. I mostly check Angry Chicken, Soulemama, and Sew Mama Sew's blog and I love them all dearly but are there others that people check on a regular basis that you really like? Send them my way if you get a minute, I'm in need of other blog voices right now.

I should add that I also obsessively check at the end of this row, capers and olives, and ten finger workshop but they already know that!

Feeling Scrappy.

My fabric scraps seem to get awfully friendly when I'm not around because it always seems like they have multiplied! In an effort to pare down them down and simultaneously feel good about myself for being so utilitarian as to use scraps for a real project, I decided to make two things from the Seams to Me book by Anna Maria Horner. The first is her tea towel. I cheated a bit and did machine, rather than hand, applique on the leaves but did my own embrodiery and hand sewed the flower tops (fabric yo-yos). It was actually really fun and allowed me to bring some sewing out of the basement and join my husband as we devoured episodes of Mad Men on netflix. (SOOOO good!)

The second project is this scrappy ball. It's exclusively fabric scraps and was actually easier than I expected it to be. Stuffing it with polyfiberfill took a long time but like I said, Mad Men. It's just plain consuming.
And, the boys are both really fond of it.

The Apron Mystique or Thinkin' About it Thursday

I have long considered myself a feminist. At times, even considered myself a feminist in a way that was fierce and off-putting. In high school I wore out a t-shirt that said "Women hold up half the sky". Interestingly, the most frequent question I got about it was "So, what do men do?" I usually answered, "I don't know. I doesn't say." But, what women do or don't do has always been a key component to the ways in which men define themselves. For this reason, I feel like we are all restricted when women's roles are strictly defined.


Over time I've come to feel that feminism, for me is about choice. The choice to be a parent in the best way I can, the choice to follow my interest in sewing for the home and family and the choice to cook foods I love for the people I love. I do it all from a sense of loving to do it rather than feeling it is an obligation or a duty or hoping to appear a certain way to the outside world. I find cooking, sewing, and even baking (!) satisfying to the part of me that needs a creative outlet. I also work outside of the home both for financial and personal reasons.

In this context, feminism for me often moves toward grappling with how to bring broader freedoms of choice to everyone. Sometimes this moves me away from concerns about women; mens' choices are severely restricted from fear of appearing 'gay' and people living in poverty see most aspects of their lives defined for them, particularly if they are receiving welfare benefits. This doesn't come from any feminist theorist and, perhaps, wouldn't pass muster in an academic context but it is where my life's journey has brought me.

So, what does this have to do with aprons? Well, to be honest, I've been a little perplexed about my fixation and love of making aprons. I mean, aren't they the symbol of women's servitude....look pretty and stay in the kitchen! For a while, I just chose to ignore that voice and enjoy making them but kept wondering 'where is this coming from?' I could claim that they are just fun and easy to make, that they require just the right amount of fabric that I can get create with my stash and not have to buy new fabric for a project. All of which is true but it wasn't the full story. I've been making aprons for the women in my family and thinking about the food they make very fondly. I've been putting loving thoughts into each one and purposely making them very feminine. With ruffles and pom-poms and ric-rac, these are not gender neutral aprons. I'm celebrating something purely feminine that joins the kitchen and cooking and womanliness.

But, I think I figured it out. Or at least I'm closer to it. Aprons could be viewed as symbolic of servitude in the kitchen OR recognized as celebrating the amazing things that women do to sustain their families. Because, as it turns out, the work traditionally done by women in the kitchen is pretty important. As childhood obesity, adulthood obesity and the global climate rises, we are taking a second look at food and the importance of food. Just ask Michael Pollan. His recent article in the NYTimes magazine explores, among other things, how eating at home can stave off obesity.
Did you know that the best way to fight childhood obesity is for meals to occur on a set schedule? That's it. Eating at a set time is even more important than what is eaten. And, no, it doesn't matter who mashes the potatoes or puts the napkins on the table. But, for a long time, and without much gratitude it has been women. Suddenly, we are looking back and saying "Oh right, that sweat that used to go into breakfast, lunch, and dinner...THAT was a really big deal."

I'm lucky to be of a generation that cooks for fun and is appreciated for it. My husband also loves to join in the fun. I hope I'm passing this onto my sons...a passion for food. But, the aprons. Well, the aprons are for the uncelebrated efforts of the generations before me and the hopes for the future. And, in the same way that I consider sewing a feminist act, so is cooking. Because, if you so choose, we should all be able to cook and eat good, healthy food.

And, I'm not alone. EllynAnne Geisel, who considers herself an apron archeologist, is collecting apron stories from all around in her effort Apron Chronicles. And Michael Pollan, is collecting food wisdom that has been passed down for his Food Rules. I love when the answers we are looking for have always been there. Others are exploring whether healthy eating is even possible on Food Stamps. If you have a bit of time, check them out. And, let me know what I am missing, what else is out there?

The apron in these pictures, is my latest. It's all vintage fabric, the top half is an adaptation of the Lotta Jansdotter reversible apron and the bottom half is from the Anna Maria Horner book Seams to me. I used ric-rac around the pocket and along the curve of the top. The gingham is from an etsy seller, beautiful living, that is good fun for the vintage hoarder. The body of the apron is from my local yard sale!

And, there is more to come. Got a big apron project brewing!

Repurpose and Refresh

I've been enjoying using old fabric for a new purpose lately. Did finish this Ikea curtain apron for my mother and entered it into the Angry Chicken tie-one-on apron making group--the theme this time is pie making apron (deadline is July 1st, join in it's an easy way to get creative with your stash), which is why this little lovely has an extra blue pocket in the front...for your cherry pitter or whatnot. The other fabric is all vintage from my stash, which always feels good.


Then I refashioned the fabric from these curtains that we no longer need after our house work. I turned it into an art smock for the little man, complete with a front pocket with his name.
This also uses the pattern from Bend the Rules (that book is incredible) and will hopefully come in handy as our little guy ONLY wants to paint these days, coloring is so for one year olds.

Finally, I sewed this design onto a skirt, cut off a Lotta Jansdotter t-shirt I bought ages ago that somehow (I can't imagine how?) grew too small and one portion had a stain. So I cut out what I liked and used the rest. The skirt is a basic jersey from J.Crew, also really old, possibly 5 years but stretchy so I don't have the same problem. This was my first successful sewing with jersey and the interfacing under the design made it easier. Seems tricky to get it so the fabric doesn't pucker up and go wonky. Any advice? I've got about 10 onesies I'd like to reconfigure when I do finally figure this one out.

'Cause every quilt needs a tote and every tote needs a quilt!

This set, a lap quilt and matching tote bag, complete my handmade gift for my paternal grandmother. She is a massive Wheel of Fortune fan and so I'm hoping this little puppy keeps her lap warm while she eggs on the contestants encouraging them to buy another vowel! It's made from my own stash and lots from my vintage swap fat quarters. The tote is really just for fun but I thought it was kind of a nice companion to the quilt and who knows maybe she will take it to the grocery store every once in a while.

This one's for my mom.

I just love how easy and fun the artsy clutch is. This one is made from scraps of natural linen and some of my vintage loot. The interior and the binding is made out of a linen top bought at the thrift store. I decided to do a binding because I put in heavy-ish quilt batting to give it some structure and it was a bit too much for the linen interior fabric. Now, I just have to make something to put inside the clutch!

Also, a much needed call for advice. I'm still at a loss about man gift. The suggestions I've gotten have been great...homemade biscotti and coffee; male toiletry bags; and tote bags for grocery shopping. All of which are great for my husband but the other males are the kind of men that eat big slabs of meat and only want a Barnes and Noble gift certificate. Is it a cop out to buy gift cards and then sew a nice holder for it? The little voice in my head says YES, which might mean I become a cop out. Yikes. See, I need help? Any more thoughts on handmade male gifts?

All hustle and bustle

In a desperate attempt to avoid watching CNN while checking politico.com when it's way to early for anything to mean anything anyway...I'm blogging. In an attempt to get a head start on the handmade holidays I put my time on my own to good use finishing a few projects. (Oh my gosh, PA might just be blue!! Please, oh please.)

I finally got with it and made a tote bag and I fully understand the addition element! They rock and the french seams are great. Thanks Beth! Right now, it is tasked with holding all of my completed holiday gifts. Hmm, wonder what else is in there?!

Plus, got over my fear of sewing corners and completed the scalloped blanket.

The tea cozy is for my mother-in-law (like a true Irish woman she drinks and serves tea as if it might heal all the world's ills). The coffee cozy uses fabric from the vintage swap, which I'm so excited to finally start using. It's for a coworker.

People are good

A wonderful surprise arrived in the mail yesterday. All 50 of the fat quarters from the vintage sheet swap. I was elated. They are so beautiful and I can't wait to find a project that uses some of them.
Here are a few of my favorites. This reminds me of a some kind of Swedish peasant blouse, it's amazing and I'm so impressed that someone was willing to enter it into the swap rather than hold onto it.
I'm also in love with this one. The picture doesn't do it justice at all. It's gorgeous oranges, blues and browns with such a virbant color scheme contrasting with a delicate flower pattern. I can already tell it's going to hard to decide when to use it, it is so special.
I really do have to thank Beth for encouraging me to enter and Crafty Little Beana for hosting. It might have been my mood or the transition to fall but it just struck me as such a hopeful and beautiful experience. That perfect strangers gather fabric that has already been loved and they have enough faith to ship it out in hopes of some surprises coming their way. To have such wonderful fabric arrive just emphasized the care that people took. To top it off, Gail included handmade pins as a thank you. Feels like one big collective crafter hug. Yes, indeed, people are good.

Jackpot

I dropped into a random antigue shop in the heart of the Latino district in New Brunwick this weekend and found a box full of yards and yards of vintage fabric! I gave the owner my name because he said he has more vintage fabric than he knows what to do with. He can't bring it all into the store because there is too much. So, I cut it all up for the swap and I'm getting rally excited.
It definitely veers toward the funky rather than the sweet, which I hope isn't a let down for my swap mates. I also got an assortment of buttons...there were more than I had time to wade through.
This fabric is one of my favorites. Fantastic, right?
Kieran says I'm going to have to stop saying that I don't have a local fabric store. It might be true though it's definitely not your traditional place to get fabric.

(Another) Vintage Sheet Swap

I'm all swapped out from the one hosted by Oh Fransson!, but for those of you interested here's another one that just started! I highly recommend participating. It is so fun hunting down the linens and sheets and you can't imagine what you'll get in return - it's too cool. Looks like this one is limited to a few folks so sign up soon if you're interested. Have fun! (Photo is from Crafty Little Beana.)

http://boutiqueginabeana.blogspot.com/2008/08/time-for-swap-info.html