Last week for class, they went into the woods.  The kids stood on a tree stump and yelled out their poetry.

When was the last time you did that?

Read more about it here.

I love this chair.  I’ve been thinking a lot about chairs lately.  I love my pink chairs at LuckyStitches, and I’m noticing chairs more and more.  Maybe when the lounge takes off, and it’s time for new chairs, I’ll get a few of these.  Although this would be quite perfect at my desk, the one I daydream about having…

A few other things I like in their catalog:

Wallpaper- not a lot of it, but a smidge, on one wall, would be lovely.

Ornaments, oh ornaments.  I am so looking forward to Christmas.

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 Hilltown Sustainability Initiative. 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 – ArtStar)

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 Marie and partially donated by Bread Euphoria (Thanks – it was awesome!)

LuckyStitches!! xxoo

This line of hats from Zooni is SO CUTE! via MightyGoods

I’ve been catching up on cake + pie and freshly{blended}, wondering if they will be doing their ornament swap this year (I really hope so…I have my idea – just want to get an early start this year – you know madness around the holidays can make them not fun.)

Sixty Six Stitches made Amy Butlers Gum Drop Pillows, and looking at her post, I think I’ll need to make a few! I am also inspired by her quilt made from old wool blankets.

When I was in Seattle, I was able to visit IKEA. It’s been a few years, and it was hard not to throw everything in my cart. I picked up some really cool placemats and some shopping bags (these would fit into my suitcase). But I’ll be going back in a few weeks to pick up some chairs for LuckyStitches, so I’ve been perusing ikea hacker for creative ideas. This bookshelf would be perfect in the new space. hmmm.

I’ve been looking at stacking chairs. Limerick. Easy Stacking Chair. Izzy. HAG. vintage OMK.

I found this post this morning on the Craftzine blog: Inspiration: Craft Blogs.

Oh, I am so eager to re-make my studio. When we lived in Brooklyn, this lovely wardrobe held our entertainment stuff, tv, dvd, stereo, etc.  When we bought our 200+ year old house in New England, it wouldn’t fit in the room where we have our tv.  We were barely able to get it up the stairs into my studio.  It’s got a bunch of dings in it, some heavy duty scrapes.  The dark stain was perfect for our Brooklyn apartment.  It’s not so great now.  (could it be the dark grey faux wood paneling? – perhaps)  It will definitely get a coat of paint.  Maybe cherry red?  to go with the pink walls I’m thinking of?  Maybe a celery color?  or even a camel/gold/tan?  It needs help inside too.  I need some shelves where the tv went.  It’s too big of a space for small folded fabric pieces.  I’ve organized them by color, but they always tumble.  And of course – a fresh coat of white paint.I really need some storage ideas.  Perhaps a trip to Ikea, I’ve got pages tagged in their latest catalog.  I think I need a visit from Erin.  She’s the organizer extraordinaire!

mystudio – 07, originally uploaded by zannestar.

I should have gotten one of these years ago. I actually need 2 more, but there are so many duplicates of colors, I just put them in a box for later. It’s so unbelievably handy. The range of colors I’ve collected are perfect for anything, so unless I run out of something specific, I think I’ve got all my bases covered.

This thread has come from all over. Some from my grammie’s sewing kit, some from when I was sewing in highschool (and they haven’t crumpled in my hands or broken off while sewing!), lots from college and even more from now. When I was in college, I think, I found a ton of thread at a thrift store. A HUGE trash bag full. I still have most of that thread, and carry a bunch of it to classes at LuckyStitches. It’s perfect for sharing with a class and I feel comfortable sharing it, because it didn’t cost a fortune!

The one thing I’ve learned about buying / acquiring thread, is to get the high end. Spend the extra bucks, don’t skimp and buy the bargain stuff. It really makes a difference. And – before you load the spool onto the spool holder of your sewing machine, take off the stickers. It can actually effect the tension!

What to do with the bobbin thread that you have to remove from the bobbin because you either need the bobbin (like me, I should just go buy a case of them…) or some how the bobbin got all wacky when it was wound – and YOU KNOW you shouldn’t sew with a wacky bobbin, you’ll be using your best friend – MS. SEAM RIPPER – to help you finish your project – Well – if I’ve got an extra minute, and I have one of those little embroidery floss cards handy, I wind that thread around an embroidery card. Now, let me just tell you that I only do this with colors I don’t use often and black and white. Why? I hand hem with black and white. I have A LOT of black clothes and if they need a new button or a quick fix, this is the perfect thread.

Ok – are you looking at the nasty grey faux wood paneling. I’m sitting in this room right now, and I have all the lights on and it’s still dark in here. And I’m looking at the walls wondering what color should I paint it? I keep going to a sweet pink with white trim. The room gets a lot of light. Should I go bright pink? Should I go Tiffany Blue? I like color, but I also like the cleanliness of white and light. hmmm….any thoughts?

mystudio – 05, originally uploaded by zannestar.

I (obviously) collect things and I like to remember that I have them – so out they go.

Lots of buttons – mostly vintage. Pictured here are just a few of the jars. The rest are on the shelf on the staircase to the studio. And they don’t just sit there – they actually get a going through every month or so. I always need them for something.

Tons of sewing supplies, notions and goodies. Out in tins. There are more in bins. I pick some up everywhere. You never know when you’ll need anything, and now that I live so far away from supply places, I peruse the shelves when I’m there and pick up anything that might work.

Bulletin Board – full of tear sheets. There were more, but I simplified it a bit. Always changing. What comes down goes into a notebook/sketchbook. I ALWAYS refer to it. There is a reason I’ve kept the picture, I just might not know if for a while…

Can you see the wood paneling? I can’t stand it. So dark. Totally not my style. It will definitely get a coat (or 3) of paint this summer. Now to find the perfect color…

to see all the posts about my studio – click here

For more details about what’s on My Mantle of Inspiriation – click on the photo and read the notes on the image.

So these are a couple of my machines (the rest are in boxes or at LuckyStitches) The one to the left is a Singer 5050. I bought it years ago for my Dad, when I was visiting him and needed to make him drapes. I ended up taking it home. It’s been a great machine since.

The one to the right is a Bernette 238 Serger. Yep. My baby! Long story….While I was in elementary and high school (from 1976-1989), I had saved money. From birthdays, allowance, odd jobs. You name it. I think once I graduated from highschool I had something like $1500 saved. This account had never been touched – I had another account that I used for my paychecks in HS – so this was all mine. I knew exactly what to do. One day, mom and dad took me to the Quakertown Sewing Center (no longer there, I think it is a billards hall…) , I checked out the prices on the sergers and this was the one I could afford. I think it was something like $800+ dollars. Great! That would leave me enough for some fabric too!

I took this baby to college with me. I made clothes for me and my roommate before we would go out clubbing for the night. I made so many clothes with this. Then came senior year. Our project was to design and sew a line of clothing. Everyone loved my serger. My instructor begged me to leave it overnight so others could use it. Big – MASSIVE mistake. Someone broke it. My heart broke! There was no way I could get this fixed. BUMMER! I carried it with me through all my moves. There was no way I was giving this up, after all I had gone through to purchase it.

Then, when Dad was visiting, he took it back to Quakertown and had it taken care of. A while later, it came back to me. AND IT WORKS! I love it. I’ve sewn a few things on it and now that my studio is organized and functioning, I’m sure I’ll be putting my little Bernette 238 to work again.

I’ve been in my studio/home office for many hours today. I spent the am shopping, I picked up a thread rack (finally…), tons of bins and yes…more fabric to work on projects for future classes.

Once my space is in clean and working order, I’ll post pictures. These will be the before as I have major plans for at the least a fabulous coat of paint. Right now, it’s covered in dark grey faux wood paneling. DREARY.

It’s a good feeling, I just wish it was over, but once it’s done, it will be a much more fun place to create it. I’m going to set up a corner for Iz. She’ll have her table in there, markers, crayons, felt. magic in the making.

Now, if only the rain would stop and it would warm up a bit, we could get on with this spring thing!

LuckyStitches – Friday Night Sew-cail, originally uploaded by zannestar.

LuckyStitchers gathered at LuckyStitches Friday night…and we had a blast!

Robin worked on a child’s quilt with fabulous prints from Purl. Tina FINALLY (jeez…I don’t know what she was waiting for) finished her tote bag that she started in the fall. Lex was busy sewing a baby carrier – with baby on her back once he woke up. Erin was busy knitting a bracelet (ooh…can’t wait to see this one finished). Helene was knitting a wool hat (yes in April…it’s for a benefit auction), and then sewed in a fleece lining. Stephanie was adding a loop (to keep her hair in place) to a hat she knit from Knitty. Marie wanted help with her draft of an A-Line skirt.

It was fun! So much fun…I can’t even remember what I worked on. Can’t wait to do it again! I’m planning on having LuckyStitches open almost every Friday for a Friday Night Sew-cial.  6pm-9pm in Northampton, MA.  Check LuckyStitches.com for details.