Oh Buttercream, I love you so. Not too sweet, but oh so rich and fluffy, creamy, smooth, buttery, creamy, heavenly, LOVELY! Ok, more about the buttercream in a minute.
11 fantastic fabric bags made from scraps of fabric, curtains, stashes, a throw and a nightie. That’s what we made Wednesday night. These little loverlies will get donated to the Bag Share, a . A local shop will get a basket of reusable bags, mostly made from fabric like what you see above, that will sit next to the cash register. Customers can borrow the bags, instead of using paper or plastic, then return them to the store (or another in active in the Bag Share program), for the next person. Extra special thanks to Tracy, Marie, Jen and Julie who stitched it up!
This one is made from a throw. It’s groovy bag – check out that fringe!
This is made from really cool old green curtains. (This is Marie. Hi Marie! She and I are sharing the space, she’s holding art workshops – )
Labels get sewn onto the bags as they are finished.
It was a really fun Sew-cail. We’ll be doing it again, more regularly after the holiday season. While we were able to finish 11 bags, we still got in a few good stories (note the arms in the air) We had coffee, tea and lovely, lovey cake, baked by and partially donated by (Thanks – it was awesome!)
These are the keys. They belong to the space I’m renting with my friend . They open the door to the new lounge. They hang on one of my most favorite fobs, a wire ball given to me from my .
These are the chairs. I immediately contracted goosebumps when Marie and I found them at . Not only were they super affordable, but they are comfortable too! They stack beautifully, leaving lots of room for a dance party
This is the vintage 1940s Industrial Singer that will be up and running soon. Perfect for heavy fabrics, like canvas or leather (yummy!) bags. Soon it will be available for Lucky Stitchers to visit and rent.
And this is the messenger bag we’re making in . This one is mine, made from a thrifted vintage bed skirt. The colors are quite lovely, and seemed so appropriate to make during these summer October weeks.
I had my first LuckyStitchers in the space tonight. It’s always fun helping people learn how to use their sewing machine and stitch up a groovy project of which they can be proud. I’m excited to see the fabric next week for the Messenger Bags we’ll be making. I’ve given them a basic design, and if they’d like they can tweak it, so we’ll do a little pattern making 101 too. So much to learn and it’s so fun when LuckyStitchers bring in their cool, sometimes old, some new machines, with really beautiful fabrics and fresh ideas.
And a reminder – tomorrow is the Wednesday Night Sew-cial and Bag Sew. This bag was made from a nightie. The armholes make perfect sleeves, and the neck, the perfect opening for groceries and other goodies you might need to carry.
We had a birthday to attend to this weekend, for a 4 year old. I’ve quietly promised to use things I have on hand. I found a aqua with yellow dot coverlet while thrifting and a scrap of this red dot and thought they’d work well together (and you know about my aqua and red thing of late…) and I had the from , just waiting to be stitched up…
I initially thought I’d line it, but instead did a little French Seam Action on the inside, and I am super pleased. I’ve got a few more presents to make and I’m going to stick with this pattern. I think I’ll make the handles 2 inches longer, it was a little tight going over my shoulder (but not a 4 year olds…and she LOVED it!). And in case your were wondering the pattern was fantastic, the directions were a breeze and it was a really fast sew. It’s a great shape that’s super versatile. I’m making a wool one next. (stay tuned for pictures)
The party was fun. It’s the first time we actually got in the car and Iz said, “Mom! I had a lot of fun!”. She pretty much always has fun, but it’s the first time she’s said it without me prompting.
led the drumming. Iz was pretty pleased to see her. (she always is)
We spent time jumping off the bench, sliding tummy side down, head first down the slide. Oh the outdoors.
The day before, it was sweltering. It was so hot, none of us could get comfortable. We spent the morning in Northampton picking up the last of the furniture at the kung fu studio, then dropping it off at the new location. It was hot. We left , on our way to for the . The drive on 112 is pretty breathtaking. I think the drive anywhere in New England is pretty amazing. The leaves are changing colors, looks like the trees are catching on fire, but not fully inflamed.
This year was different, Iz is more independent, wants to do so many things on her own. There is no casual strolling, but more following, running and insisting on hand holding when the crowds get to thick or the walk gets too close to the road.
Our little kitty had fun, she got to ring the bell, act like a kitty and see tons of her friends (that’s a funny thing about living where we do, we get to see our friends every where we go, not like the subway, where you barely recognize people from day to day).
We had to leave, it was too hot and too close to nap time. After a bowl of mac & cheese, we headed for the car. But it never goes as smooth as that. The power of distraction is key to happiness sometimes, and Iz was thrown into the air with every step, Rob got a great upper body workout, and she happily got into the car, where after we got going, she fell asleep.
It was a really great and productive weekend. The roof is almost finished. I made a lovely bag, and Iz got to spend both days outside playing and playing. And she got to hold Annabelle.
I made this bag for The Old Creamery Grocery in Cummington, MA. It’s a pair of shorts I never wore (they were a gift, ahem). I cut across the legs to open the crotch seam, and stitched a line across. I stitched across the bottom corners for a flat bottom (ha ha) to the bag. I used the part of the short legs that I cut off to make handles. I actually love it because it has pockets and a drawstring “waist” to help separate the goodies. It probably took me 30 mins or so to stitch up.
Get ready to stitch up your very own bag:
This makes from found items and makes them even more unique by adding a little bit of art.
Come stitch up a bag to donate to The Bag Project: Cooper’s Corner in Florence:
Bag Sew at
Wednesday, October 10 6pm-9pm
Brassworks Building, 132 Main Street, Rte 9, Haydenville (2nd floor above Steenburgh Real-Estate in the building closest to Northampton)
413.695-3092 for more info
was started by . . The bags sit near the register, and customers may borrow the cloth bags to take home their groceries. The bags then get returned to the basket for the next customer. All in hopes of reducing the paper/plastic bag use. It makes sense doesn’t it? And, why buy fabric, when there are tons of clothes, sheets, pillows that are headed for the landfill, when they can be snipped up in such a way that they make perfect bags for toting things around? The Bag Project is catching on. Other towns want to participate. We need 3000 bags by November 19 when the project launches at Cooper’s Corners in Florence. So, come to The Bag Sew on Wednesday, and stitch it up.
My little helper has been busy helping clean the new space for . I have just a few more sewing machines and cutting tables to bring over to the new space. Chairs and shelves to put together. It’s a lovely spot, great light, wonderful brick walls and a wood floor. Great elements for a fun hang spot that’s creative and cosy.
I’ve been really surprised by the warm fall. Although I rather enjoy the heat, it has me a bit confused. Mornings in New England have been chilly, so I throw on a jacket, but when I drive down into town, it’s almost sweltering. I find that I can’t dress as easily as I can in the dead of summer or winter. I can’t remember a fall that has been this warm. It’s kind of creepy. Still, we’ll enjoy it. The leaves are wonderful, and it’s fun to be able to run around outside without getting chilly. We’ll even go for an ice cream.
I love my Volvo. I found it on Craig’s List, January 2006 for a whopping $800. After we left Brooklyn for the Hills of Western Mass, we needed 2 cars. I was living here with an 8 month old babe in the dead of winter for one month without a car. Talk about isolation. I found my lovely Volvo listed in Brooklyn, and since Rob was still working there, he checked it out and handed over the cash for my new wheels. It’s an 1988 Volvo wagon with over 225K miles on it, but we aren’t sure, the odometer stopped working at 181K. Things are falling apart. The plastic inside is so old, it’s disintegrating at quite the rate. The seats are splitting. The hinges that hold the hood on are so rusted, that one broke at my last visit to the shop, and I need to cruise the junk yards for 2 more. But, I feel so safe inside this steel box. It’s big, bigger than a small boat, and when I have 4 studded tires on it in the winter, can handle a snow storm like butter. But most of all I love it because of the independence it means for me and Iz: we can drive and visit anywhere we please.
I took a trip to Ikea yesterday. and I were hunting for storage and seating for the . (We found the coolest stuff, pictures once it’s all put together and in place…) The shelf system weighs over 200 lbs, and we bought 12 chairs, among some other little irresistible things (oh…how I LOVE IKEA!!!). I knew we could get it all into the Volvo. and lookeeeee here! We did! Oh VOLVO I LOVE YOU!!!!
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