I love the stretch factor. Nothing keeps you warmer than when you can stretch it tight around you.
Oh....I am seeing possibilities... cashmere baby blankets?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Mommy needs a new blanket!
I have become so fond of wool. It truly is my new favorite thing. I made this throw size blanket and seriously, we needed another throw like well... like... like I needed another sweater. But it has quickly become my very favorite.
I love the stretch factor. Nothing keeps you warmer than when you can stretch it tight around you.
Oh....I am seeing possibilities... cashmere baby blankets?
I love the stretch factor. Nothing keeps you warmer than when you can stretch it tight around you.
Oh....I am seeing possibilities... cashmere baby blankets?
Real Babies Wear Wool
This is Baby E. Isn't she beautiful? Her mom was nice and let me try a sweater on her. Frankly, something I probably should have done much earlier in this whole game plan. But yeah... well... fortunately Baby E looks great in everything.
And this is Toddler O. He is such a handsome young man. He didn't even mind that I tried to squish his 18 month body into a sweater made for a 6 month old. (Wool is stretchy- as seen here.)
And this is Toddler O. He is such a handsome young man. He didn't even mind that I tried to squish his 18 month body into a sweater made for a 6 month old. (Wool is stretchy- as seen here.)
Cashmere... changing my life
And you know that I didn't stop shopping with 40 sweaters right? You got that part right?
Cashmere. Where do I even begin?
Cashmere makes lovely scarves. It is sooooo soooo soft. Heaven really.
I made this cashmere scarf for our Relief Society (Women's Church Organization) Service and Talent Auction. It went home with a very nice lady who now has a very warm neck.
Triggered
So this is the piece that got me in all this trouble. It started so innocent. I had seen some baby sweaters made of "upcycled wool" while in some of my travels at my "day job". I thought "shoot- I could totally make that!" (Those words always seem to get me in over my head.
About a week and 40 Salvation Army sweaters later (deal of the season that week- all sweaters were $1!) this little sweater was done. He now lives with my nephew- Levi.
Well, once you have 40 sweaters... why stop?
Apples don't fall far from the Tree... or so they say
Creating... again... and it feels great!
I was blessed to be born into a family of rich heritage and very talented women. My great grandma worked a crazy quilt topper as she walked the Mormon trail westward. I have pillowcases, towels and table cloths that are finely embroidered by my mother, grandmother and their mothers.
My mother and a good neighbor taught me to sew when I was just seven years old. My first 4-H sewing project was supposed to be an elastic waisted skirt. I can still hear Mrs. Baker's frustration while helping me turn the narrow (and long!) ties on my DENIM wrap skirt, "I said ELASTIC waist!". With their help I finished that darn skirt and added a knit cowel neck pullover that won first place in the children's sewing category at the Idaho State Fair in 1976! I was immediately addicted to sewing (and perhaps competition!)
I continued to sew though high school, assisted much by the talent of women who volunteered their time in the local 4-H programs.
After quitting on the major my dad selected for me (chemical engineering- thanks dad!) I graduated with a BA in Fashion Design with an emphasis in Clothing Construction from Brigham Young University. I actually used that knowledge when I sewed custom baby nursery items for the rich and famous of Miami. My first business- Make Room for Baby.
Over the last ten years well, I've been busy! Other hobbies have caught my eye and distracted me. Sure, every once in a while I would pull out the Nechi machine my mom bought for me in high school and would whip up an amazing halloween costume or baby blessing outfit or quilt or window treatments or some other random item. But truly, my sewing passion had lied dormant.
Until.. late Fall 2008...I bought myself a new sewing machine. It was an impulsive purchase... not a surprise to those who know me well. I did however research the make and model for about 14 hours on the internet (that's a solid 14 hours, no breaks). (It's a Husqvanna/Viking Sapphire 830 in case you were wondering). And I started sewing again. It started with making slipcovers for the furniture in our "new" RV. Then I went in to "spring skirt phase 1". This was followed up by "fall skirt phase 1" in September. And then.... then I discovered wool.
But I didn't just discover wool. I discovered the ultimate- the ability to shop and create at the same time. Bottom line- I became a Salvation Army junkie. Done with Joannes and their stupid 40% off coupons! Done with online fabric stores and their thumbnail images! When you start to look at the thrift store as a fabric and notions supply store- WOW! The possibilities are endless. And that has brought me to here.
Playing with salvaged fibers, fabrics, buttons and rick rack has brought balance back in to my life.... and now I feel an urge to write about it. Why? Don't know. But I will...until I get bored. (I can see my good friends placing bets now.)
So the name...
A few months ago I opened up my cedar chest and was showing my younger girls the embroidered towels, doilies and linens that I cherish. In there was also a poplin shirt that I made when I was nine years old. It is fully embroidered (and so hip for 1977!). (Is it prideful to state here that it also took a First Place Ribbon at the Idaho State Fair? It did.)
So as I showed my girls these items, I asked "who will it be?" "Will it be you?" "Will you carry on the tradition of needlework that has run through the female blood of this family for five or more generations?" I heard an enthusiastic "yes" in unison.
They have not disappointed. They have remained true to that desire. This will be our story.
Oh... back to the name...
When the kids were younger, I used to look at them and wonder "what part of them is from me?" And now, with two teenagers and one just steps behind I see bits and pieces of my former self every day.
Myself in them.... just another girl who happens to be a few years older with a bit more experience- a woman lucky enough to have them call me "mom".
I was blessed to be born into a family of rich heritage and very talented women. My great grandma worked a crazy quilt topper as she walked the Mormon trail westward. I have pillowcases, towels and table cloths that are finely embroidered by my mother, grandmother and their mothers.
My mother and a good neighbor taught me to sew when I was just seven years old. My first 4-H sewing project was supposed to be an elastic waisted skirt. I can still hear Mrs. Baker's frustration while helping me turn the narrow (and long!) ties on my DENIM wrap skirt, "I said ELASTIC waist!". With their help I finished that darn skirt and added a knit cowel neck pullover that won first place in the children's sewing category at the Idaho State Fair in 1976! I was immediately addicted to sewing (and perhaps competition!)
I continued to sew though high school, assisted much by the talent of women who volunteered their time in the local 4-H programs.
After quitting on the major my dad selected for me (chemical engineering- thanks dad!) I graduated with a BA in Fashion Design with an emphasis in Clothing Construction from Brigham Young University. I actually used that knowledge when I sewed custom baby nursery items for the rich and famous of Miami. My first business- Make Room for Baby.
Over the last ten years well, I've been busy! Other hobbies have caught my eye and distracted me. Sure, every once in a while I would pull out the Nechi machine my mom bought for me in high school and would whip up an amazing halloween costume or baby blessing outfit or quilt or window treatments or some other random item. But truly, my sewing passion had lied dormant.
Until.. late Fall 2008...I bought myself a new sewing machine. It was an impulsive purchase... not a surprise to those who know me well. I did however research the make and model for about 14 hours on the internet (that's a solid 14 hours, no breaks). (It's a Husqvanna/Viking Sapphire 830 in case you were wondering). And I started sewing again. It started with making slipcovers for the furniture in our "new" RV. Then I went in to "spring skirt phase 1". This was followed up by "fall skirt phase 1" in September. And then.... then I discovered wool.
But I didn't just discover wool. I discovered the ultimate- the ability to shop and create at the same time. Bottom line- I became a Salvation Army junkie. Done with Joannes and their stupid 40% off coupons! Done with online fabric stores and their thumbnail images! When you start to look at the thrift store as a fabric and notions supply store- WOW! The possibilities are endless. And that has brought me to here.
Playing with salvaged fibers, fabrics, buttons and rick rack has brought balance back in to my life.... and now I feel an urge to write about it. Why? Don't know. But I will...until I get bored. (I can see my good friends placing bets now.)
So the name...
A few months ago I opened up my cedar chest and was showing my younger girls the embroidered towels, doilies and linens that I cherish. In there was also a poplin shirt that I made when I was nine years old. It is fully embroidered (and so hip for 1977!). (Is it prideful to state here that it also took a First Place Ribbon at the Idaho State Fair? It did.)
So as I showed my girls these items, I asked "who will it be?" "Will it be you?" "Will you carry on the tradition of needlework that has run through the female blood of this family for five or more generations?" I heard an enthusiastic "yes" in unison.
They have not disappointed. They have remained true to that desire. This will be our story.
Oh... back to the name...
When the kids were younger, I used to look at them and wonder "what part of them is from me?" And now, with two teenagers and one just steps behind I see bits and pieces of my former self every day.
Myself in them.... just another girl who happens to be a few years older with a bit more experience- a woman lucky enough to have them call me "mom".
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