Gifts must be packed, right?

Well, my dears, while making tons of presents for, let's say Christmas and other numerous occasions, it occurred to me, quite suddenly that gifts, in order to be given, need to be packed nicely, don't they?

Therefore, I started looking around in my studio, and guess what! I found the perfect recipe: nice organza squares, wrapped around one or more gifts, tied with a small bunch of bows, makes the most elegant and intriguing package ever. At least, I think so :-).

I'll let you now enjoy the site of nice packaged goods, one or more, in color coordinated organza. I must tell you that this packing was an enormous success, and people are asking for it more an more.

Am I right, or am I right? :)))

Going ban(d)anas

Now, let me reveal the mystery: I've showed you this, remember?

And I said I went nuts. Well, yes, that is just one sample of going bananas :). The request was for a couple of nice bandanas for my hubby. So I started pulling out some Kaffe Fasset fabrics. The Paperweights and Millefiori and Roman glass, you know, that kind of fabrics. Just some. Well, about 12. Or more. I was thinking "hey, it's going to be fun, the kids can have one or two as well, I also know some friends that will love one..."

So, the selection should have been this at the end. Nice, no?

But then karma came in: from a slip of hand, and a bit of not paying attention, I've cut all of them double. Yes, double. See?

Therefore, I ended up with this.

Do you like it? :))))

Ladies and gentelmen of the jury...

  ... let me defend myself!

I've been accused lately of showing little or no interest at all to the "textile matter", of "quitting the patches", of "running to a different hobby". Well, let me explain myself: I've always told that I have more than one focus, and that I like to do more than one thing :). In my defense, you can see the very motto of this blog (yes, look up, in the title, there you have it!).

Secondly, I didn't quit the patch world. At all. Just that I'm very busy, and the quilting projects tend to run a lot slower and to be much more time consuming than the others (aka jewelry, for now ;) ), that is why you get to see more of the quick products and less of the slower ones.

I have proof to sustain my afirmations:
Some quilt tops:
Boy one:

Boy two

Girl:

quilt sandwich to be quilted, for grandpa ;)

and, not quilts, but (who said it's not possible?) from patchwork fabric (oh, that yummy, tasty, mouth watering Kaffe Fasset....) two skirts for a young lady that requested "summery, colorful, twirling skirts)

aaaannnnnnddddd a preview of my insanity, side, back and front.

Why insanity, would you ask? well, that is a completely different story, that will be the subject of another post....
Till then, have fun and enjoy life!

Thinking...

I was just editing my "wish list", how I like to call the list on the right side that is called WIP, and it's got me thinking. It is not a list with things that are really on-going on my desktop, but things that I would very much like to make.

OK, I'll admit, some are on my tables, in different stages, but some are just ideas. And, because I didn't get as organized as to have a folder/map/notebook/something with ideas, I'm using my side bar to keep track of beautiful things I would like to see coming out of my hands one day or another.

Now, that I'm writing this, at least three more projects are crossing my mind as being forgotten from the list.

Well, this drives me to some conclusions:

- I have to set a up a map/folder/notebook where I could put my inspirations/ideas/would-do things.

- I have to get a little bit more organized: ideas are crossing my mind, but they are quickly flying away, and when I remember, is already one year later. I think I'm getting pressed by the time :)

- I have to struggle more to really finish things. I've noticed that deadlines I can usually meet, even if that means I'm sewing till 6 o'clock in the morning of the day when I should deliver ;). So I guess it would be an idea to set up dead-lines: if you don't make this by then, then you have to let it go. But, on the other hand, isn't that a bit harsh??? On myself?

One friend (OK, Murphy too) said that conclusions are the places where you stopped because you got tired of thinking, but, in this particular case, I think it's a bit different. I was looking for conclusions, because I'm tired of doing things always in the last 5 minutes, because I'm upset of always missing something, because I just want my hobby to grow as a hobby and not as a pain in the ass :). (sorry for the word pain :P). I needed some points to relate to, some milestones to walk further, a line to draw between what it has been and what it will become.

I've been reading a lot lately. A lot of blogs. A lot of ideas. She wrote a bullet list, which I found very useful and pertinent. Someone else said other interesting things. She recovered from "I-just-want-to-quilt-I'm-quitting-the blog-thing", coming back and having fun again. There is more, but these are just the most striking things that stayed in my memory (I told you I need a notebook :D).

The final impression I have now is that one can have fun and do what she likes. As long as it doesn't transform into a "Friday 13" type of nightmare :)))).

The reason I'm sharing all this? No reason, just using my blog the right way: as means to share my personal crafty part of life. This is not a shop, it will never be. I think I'm not good at sales, and I definitely don't want to get annoyed by all the mechanics behind a shop. I want to sew nice warm colors, I want to live my dreams, I want to fly on my clouds, be happy with my loved ones, grow old and wise :P.

Thank you for reading this loooong self-exposing post.

Aaaahhhh, almost forgot!!!! I also have some news for my Bucharest friends: my (surprise) bags are to be found also in a real shop now: Hippie Hippie Shake, in Hanul cu Tei. Open even Sundays between 11:00 and 17:00 hrs.
These are some:

I think I'm hit by a bug

 My dears and darlings, as I was saying, I think the bag bug bit me. Look, this is my holiday luggage. Yes, while all the house was packing ski suits, t-shirts, socks, swimming suits, etc. I was packing: pieces of fabric, shisha mirrors, beads, thread and other necessary tools to keep me busy on the one week ski vacation. 

You may see further proof of my madness, in all colors and variations. 

 Ahem, yes, they are 2 kinds: the left and right ones. The purpose is not to have two the same. Look-alikes, yes, but not the same.

This being said, ladies and gentlemen, I declare the holiday as begun!

Mass production

I've told you I'm producing a mass of items! Here is the proof :)))

And furthermore you may see more details in this slideshow, I thought adding too many photos of the more or less the same thing would be boring, but, in the same time, I couldn't resist showing off with those beauties.

I really enjoyed making them, and I liked them so much in all the color of the rainbow I was about not to let them go... but then I thought "hey, you can always make some more", and I've sent them in their way. They are now about to meet their new owner, a nice lady who makes jewelery. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a blog, so I can't show you her work... that is going to fit into my work and be gifted/sold together :)))).

I've learned that making more items at a time, strangely, takes less than doing one item form start to finish, then repeat. I've learned that practice makes me get shorter times, after repeating and perfecting a procedure.

I also learned some negotiation techniques :P, and I've discovered a lot of wonderful shops on Dawanda platform. Quite an accomplishment, don't you think?

Baby quilts - Christmas edition

Beside regular Christmas items, this year I've had a special order. Three baby quilts, two baby girls, twins, and a baby boy.
The rule was, as usual: to be the same but different. I guess I've reached my goal, I've received a lot of appreciations.

The first plan was to make them naked, but then, since it was a(n) (almost) Christmas gift, I've decided it had to be more festive, so I've sewn some decorative lines, I've added some other bling! elements, and there you have: three little baby blankets, all cotton, all soft, all warm...