Making

A happy convergence of wanting to sew a quick project and noticing some dust on the shoulders of a couple of special occasion dresses in my closet had me rummaging through my scraps and fabric stash.

I took the photo this morning on the glass-topped patio table. You can see the cloudy sky and the reflection of the buddleia bush that is beginning to bloom. We ate outside last night accompanied by a pair of hummingbirds busy with the flowers. 
 

The linen came from one very long pieced strip that used to be one of those swoopy window treatments in my living room. I took it down a couple of months ago, washed it, and put it away, wondering if it was destined for rags. Shoulder covers for dresses is a much better idea. I didn't use a pattern for these covers, just traced the outline of a hanger (they fit padded hangers, too) and then cut 2.5 inch squares, pieced them and stitched them to the cover, then trimmed them with ribbon. What took longest was cutting and stitching the squares. The covers are self-lined and by the time I finished all five (the prototype is upstairs already) I'd used up the long swath of linen.

And the hydrangeas are blooming. Our soil is fairly acidic which leads to the bluer toned flowers that I love. I just did a count in my head and there are 8 bushes in various places in our garden. Some are small self-starters from one big bush that I moved last fall.

A few appointments will take me out and about today, but I hope to spend some more time with my sewing machine. There are plenty of scraps left. 

If you sew, do you find the leftover bits and pieces pile up or do you discard the scraps after finishing a project?

Snack Bags and Using What You Have

On my daughter-in-law's wish list (we exchange them for birthdays and Christmas) was the request for reusable snack bags. I've seen them here and there, and had a couple tutorials pinned to Pinterest. So I made a few and asked her to try them out. I can see that I should have done some pressing before taking the photo.

The larger ones have a flip top, and are lined with cotton, not nylon or plastic. They would be good for drier snacks. For the fold top snack bags, I used the tutorial from My Very Educated Mother. They are a little smaller than the pattern, simply because I used fat quarters. 

For the second, smaller bags, I used the tutorial from Laura at We Wilsons.  Again, I tweaked the pattern slightly, making a flap to fold down over the velcro closing. I thought it might prevent crumbs from getting caught in the velcro. These I lined to make them water resistant. But first, this conversation ensued:

Me:  "I need to get some rip stop nylon to line these bags."

Husband: "How much do you need?" 

Me:  "oh, not much, about ...." (and I hold my hands about 18 inches apart)

Husband: "I have some."

He goes downstairs and comes up shortly with an entire tent fly. Yellow. It's never been used because somehow, when we bought our tent, we landed up with two flys. I've warned my children that every snack bag I make from now on will be lined with bright yellow rip stop nylon.

I'm planning to make a bunch of these for stocking stuffers. This is not a secret. 

Have you started making anything for Christmas yet? 
 

An April Poem and a Pillow

Did you know it's National Poetry Month in the USA? I did not until I read Vee's post about it. She asked her readers to share their favourite poem. So, being neighbourly and all, I thought that it would be appropriate for this Canadian to share.

These lines are extracted from Al Purdy's poem On the Flood Plain. You can do a search to read the entire poem, which, I will warn you, contains one word that might be offensive to some.

"Whatever I have not discovered and enjoyed
is still waiting for me
and there will be time
but now these floating stars on the freezing lake
and music fills the darkness
holds me there listening
--it's a matter of separating these instants from others
that have no significance
so that they keep reflecting each other
a way to live and contain eternity
in which the moment is altered and expanded
my consciousness hung like a great silver metronome
suspended between stars
on the dark lake
and time pours itself into my cupped hands shimmering"

These lines remind me to live each day to the full, to pay attention to the moments. 

On a completely different topic, I finished a sewing project the other day.

Many years ago I made a watercolour quilt, and ordered 2-inch squares from Keepsake Quilting. I also cut a large number of squares from fabric I had on hand. When the quilt was complete, I had quite a few squares left over. At some point in the past I stitched them all into 4-patch blocks. Those blocks have accompanied me on a number of moves. I was never willing to get rid of them.

This week, while unpacking my fabric boxes, I ran across them again and decided, "enough!" Do something with them or throw them out. This pillow top is the result - sort of bright and cottagey for spring/summer. Of course, today, when I decided to photograph it, it's raining.  But the pillow brightens things up.

Stumbles and Stitches, a blog written by two crafty friends, is hosting a "Feather Your Nest" contest this month. There's still lots of time to enter and create something. Clicking on the button link in the sidebar will take you directly to the pertinent post.

So, two questions for you - 

1.  What is your favourite poem?

2. Are you working on any creative project at the moment? 

Do share.