March has arrived and so have the first blooms of the season.
Oh, happy heart!
Tag: sewing
Blazing fall colors, dancing peacocks, patchwork quilts turned wonky birds. This week at the cottage… Continue reading
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repurposing vintage textiles
Cottage photos January 1-11 excavation
Hey you guys, it’s been awhile.
Everybody and everything here at the cottage has been ka-put, wonky, torn-up, broken, or sick.
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a week in cottage photos week 12/5-12/12
Around here it has been wet. Which makes not only me but the fur babies go nuts.
I’ve done some decorating and sewing these rainy days.
That Cat says rainy weather makes him want to hang out under the tree.
Me too, and sip hot cocoa.
The Singer has been purring non-stop while I work on making a few gifts.
The sun returned and brought the wind.
The tips of the Hemlock shimmer with rain at the foot of the driveway as my neighbors dash on by.
Early morning sunlight casts a glow on everything.
Betsy beagle and That Cat play chase around the tractor.
Opps the tire is flat. “Let’s get out of here before we get blamed for it!”
My big sister came over and cooked a batch of the most awesome Thai ginger shrimp soup for our lunch.
Nothing like hot spicy soup to chase away the chills.
A week of good stuff, I hope yours has been the same.
See you later, Bye!
Kim
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fringe
I’ve been keeping my heart busy with projects. They are all rocking some fringe.
So in the words of the Junk Gypsies – “If loving fringe is wrong, I don’t want to be right.”
Yes, I’ve been a crafty sewing freak.
This spring I scored a bit of vintage fabric at thrift shops and yard sales. Oh and all kinds of fringe too.
Boxes of it.
Oh Yeah!
I made a pair of curtains for the pool side bathroom door.
Mr. Cottage says I got the ’60’s thing going on here.
Several months ago, I bought a plain little stool at a local thrift shop.
Painted it one coat of Parisian Grey chalk paint, then a coat of Grotto with a somewhat dry brush, so that the grey could still show.
Cut some foam to size.
Played with fabric choices.
Too plain, not the right color.
Nope. Right color, pattern didn’t feel right.
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner.
More vintage fabric.
A pop of ball fringe and the completed project is ready to travel to Coral Cottage South.
I leave you with a few photos from last night. Mr. Cottage and I were mesmerized by the full moon and feeling grateful to live amidst the beauty of the rolling hills of Virginia.
Barely there wispy clouds.
On the other side of the driveway the sun slips behind the trees in a blazing ball of awesomeness.
What projects have you been working on? Do tell.
See you later, Bye!
Kim
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fly strong
I’ve been waiting for my new year, one word mantra to come to me. I was afraid I wasn’t going to receive it. However, as I sat talking with my doctor last week, it hit me.
Strength. Strong.
1. The state, property, or quality of being strong.
2. The power to resist attack; impregnability.
3. The power to resist strain or stress; durability.
4. The ability to maintain a moral or intellectual position firmly.
5. Capacity or potential for effective action: a show of strength.
I want the whole package, Body, Mind and Soul.
My doctor says that my entire body has become unconditioned. That is a polite way of saying I am fat and out of shape.
I will be starting physical therapy again very soon, and then on to an exercise program. I am so looking forward to this.
Not because I am an exercise nut, no ugh I hate to exercise, but my body wants to be healthy.
My desire for myself is to become physically stronger, and for my creative endeavors to be reflective of this too.
I want to convey a sense of strength and fortitude, and the hope of what is possible, even when I create a gentle humble object.
Strength, strong and assured. On that note, a peak at a new design I have completed and added to my shop. I hope that it expresses the strength that is found in delicate beauty.
I have sewn vintage seam binding and new vibrant blue burlap together to form a background for the vintage image of a Lazuli Bunting. Remember those cigarette cards I scored the other week? I’ve transferred them to fabric.
I’ll apologize for the poor quality photos, it is dark and dreary today.
A twig, a wire nest with eggs and a feather for accent.
I have spring on my mind – can you tell?
See you later,
Bye!
Kim
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daddy’s necktie – a creative process
Over a year ago, some friends and I went on a shopping venture, where they helped me nab a big stash of old neckties. I planned to repurpose them into something.
I’ve pulled them out from time to time and thought about making stuff with them, but as of yet nothing has come to me.
Or I just couldn’t bring myself to cut them up.
Or I had some kind of block, or I don’t know – I just wasn’t feeling it.
Recently my dad gave me a stash of his old neckties.
I got to work that afternoon cutting them up and repurposing them into their new life.
I think it was because I could feel a personal bond; I could remember him wearing most of them.
The creative gods said now is the time.
When I create, my heart is the leading force. I need the process, and the end result to be something that comes from my heart, and speaks to the heart.
Fabric cuff bracelets.
Yep, the old man’s necktie – one tie, three ways to smile.
This one I call sun-burst and stars.
I use lots of straight free-flowing stitching to achieve a simple style outlining on all the fabric patches. This is where my stash of fabric scraps come into play.
I added a few basic hand embroidery stars. Vintage buttons from the collection.
Old lace and dreams.
On this one, the necktie is layered several times with, lace, ribbon, free form stitching and dare to dream printed from the computer on muslin fabric.
A golden wing and a smoky glass bead for accent.
Believe features a sweet little key charm and a clear bead.
While I work on these pieces, I not only remember my dad wearing these ties, but I also think of the women in my life that influenced my sewing. My mom, she tried to be very disciplined in her sewing. She was a perfectionist that would spend many hours, tearing out her stitches and redoing them until she achieved perfection. I found her process to be un-fulfilling and swore I would never sew. My grandmother, sewed out of necessity. She repurposed and reused what she had on hand. I think her sewing sensibilities are what I feel the most when I sit down in front of my Singer.
What is your creative process? Do you have a special way of achieving your vision?
See you later,
Bye!
Kim
Visit Night Bird Creations to see more
Moonbeam catching * star wishing * soulful handmade *art for your heart.
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weekend at Coral Cottage
Weekends have taken on a new meaning for me.
Switzerland arrives on Sundays with
food for the soul.
Vegetable Soup and corn bread
Somebody got into the pound cake before their dinner. I’m not naming any names, but that isn’t my hand – just sayin’.
I had mine with my morning coffee – awesome.
Apple cake – I’ll have that with my afternoon tea.
A new thrift store opened near us a bit ago, I’ve been anxious to go.
Mr. Cottage took me there on the way to the grocery store on Saturday.
Fire-up the Singer.
Among my many scores was this skirt.
I removed the zipper, and cut it straight down the middle.
A piece of black binding with orange rickrack machine stitched, and a big bold green button. I’m embellishing with a few embroidery stitches. This will go around the top of the wrap.
Playing with the design.
I’ve pinned into place an old zipper, for extra funkiness, and some green pom-pom fringe.
I’m not done yet.
When finished, I will have a one of a kind new wrap cape, all made with scrap materials.
Switzerland agreed to model it when the project was complete, she just didn’t know what she was agreeing to. Ha the laugh is on you – girlfriend!
My holiday spirit is usually brimming over by this point. Not so much this year.
Plugging in the little snowman to my usb – easy and sweet.
He changes color as the glittery snow falls around him.
Giving up my 25 year tradition of cooking and hosting Thanksgiving at my house.
That’s a tough one to swallow. The rest of the family is taking over this year.
At least this year I won’t have to worry about any of the jokes about turning the oven on – that’s another story.
The sun is shinning brightly today and it looks as though all things are possible.
My friends embellished my cornbread plate will little inspirational quotes.
I like this one for today:
Determination is the wake-up call to the human will.
Hope y’all had a lovely weekend.
See you later, Bye!
Kim
