SNOWBOOKS
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0ILLOWCASE!PRON
APPENDICES
3TARTING9OUR/WN"LOG
2ESOURCES
!CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
)NTRODUCTION
7HEN)SETOUTTOPUTTOGETHERACRAFTBOOK )DIDNT WANTTOCREATE@JUSTANOTHERCOLLECTIONOFPATTERNS )F THATS ALL THIS EDITION HAD AMOUNTED TO ) WOULD HAVESTILLBEENPLEASED OFCOURSE JUSTTOWORKWITH THECONTRIBUTORS BUT)HADSOMETHINGELSEINMIND ASWELL 4HE QUESTION THAT CRAFTERS SEEM TO FACE MOST OFTEN IS @WHY BOTHER 4HE QUERY USUALLY COMES FROM OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES WHO HAPPEN NOT TO CRAFT PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER PONDERED THE COMBINATION OFCORDUROYANDCOTTON ORFELTANDSILK"UT)THINK EVERYCRAFTERREACHESAPOINTWHERESHEASKHERSELF THISQUESTION USUALLYWHENSHESHALF WAYTHROUGH AKING SIZEPATCHWORKMADEOFvSQUARES ORASTHE EMBROIDERYmOSSKNOTSUPFORTHEUMPTEENTHTIME !STHEBACKOFTHISBOOKWONDERS WHYDOWEBOTHER
UP WITH HALF A DOZEN @) WAS JUST CRAFTY AS A CHILD
TO MAKE THINGS BY HAND WHEN WE LIVE IN A WORLD
RESPONSESPERHAPSWITHACOUPLEOF@)DONTKNOWS
WHERE OUR EVERY MATERIAL DESIRE CAN BE FULlLLED
THROWNINFORGOODMEASURE !NDINASENSE THATDID
BY READY MADE SHOP BOUGHT ITEMS /N THE LARGE
HAPPEN!LOTOFUSWERERAISEDINCREATIVEFAMILIES
SCALE )LIKETOTHINKTHATTHE@CRAFTWAVEISAREACTION
ANDOURINSTINCTSWEREENCOURAGEDEVERYSTEPOFTHE
TOTHISWORLDWECREATEBECAUSETHEMASSPRODUCED
WAY"UTWHATWEVEDONEWITHTHOSEINSTINCTS AND
JUSTISNTSPECIALENOUGH"UTIFCRAFTINGISTHEDESIRE
WHAT OUR CREATIVITY MEANS TO US NOW AS ADULTS n )
FORUNIQUENESS THENTHESOURCEOFTHATMUSTLIEIN
THINKTHOSEASPECTSARESPECIALTOEACHOFUS
EVERYCRAFTERnWEMUSTEACHHAVEOUROWNREASONS FORDOINGTHESETHINGS
4HE PROJECTS IN THIS BOOK REmECT THAT INDIVIDUALITY 7HILE OUR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION OFTEN OVERLAP
7ELL YESANDNO!S)WAITEDFORTHECONTRIBUTORS
AND CERTAIN INmUENCES LIKE MODERN *APANESE CRAFT
WRITTENDRAFTSTOCOMEIN )SORTOFEXPECTEDTOWIND
DElNITELY TEND TO DOMINATE OUR INTERPRETATIONS CAN
7HYDOWEBOTHERMAKINGTHINGSBYHAND
VARY WILDLY ! SKILLED CRAFTSPERSON MAY BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE EACH OF THESE PROJECTS EXACTLY BUT A CREATIVEONEWONTBEABLETORESISTADDINGHEROWN TWIST )THASBEENATRUEJOYTOWORKWITHTHECONTRIBUTORS OF THIS BOOK ) @KNOW THEM ALL IN SOME CAPACITY THROUGHTHEON LINEJOURNALSWEKEEPnATRENDWHICH HASONCEAGAINALLOWEDCRAFTINGTOBEACOMMUNITY SPORT 7OMEN USED TO GATHER TOGETHER TO KNIT AND SEWWITHTHEIRFAMILIESANDNEIGHBOURHOODFRIENDS &OR QUITE SOME TIME NOW THESE HAVE BEEN SOLITARY ACTIVITIES PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THEIR @BACKWARDS NATURE .OW WERE RETURNING TO THE NETWORKS WE USED TO ENJOY AND THIS TIME ITS ON A GLOBAL LEVEL THAT CONTRIBUTORS FROM !USTRALIA "RITAIN 0ORTUGAL AND !MERICA CAN CONSIDER EACH OTHER FRIENDS REALLY ISAMAZING 3O )HOPEYOUHAVEASMUCHFUNREADINGTHISBOOK AS ) DID CREATING IT )TS BEEN A LABOUR OF LOVE BUT IF YOURE READING THIS THEN ITS lNALLY lNISHED AND )AMONEPROUDEDITOR7HEN'EORGE(ARRISONWAS ASKED WHY HE FUNDED -ONTY 0YTHONS 4HE ,IFE OF "RIAN HEREPORTEDLYSAIDITWASBECAUSEHE@WANTED TOSEEIT3IMILARLY )VEMANAGEDTHEPRODUCTIONOF THISBOOKSIMPLYBECAUSE)WANTEDTOREADIT)THINK YOULLAGREEITWASWORTHTHEEFFORT
#RAFTERS
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WHYICREATE $ESIGNISMYLIFE)LIVEIT BREATHEIT WORKIT AND
MATERNALRELATIONSHIP)TWOULDRECONNECTMETOMY
MY LIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN lLLED WITH THE CHANCE
OWN CHILDHOOD AND PERHAPS MY CHILD WOULD GROW
TOCREATE!NDCRAFTINGWITHDIFFERENTlBRESISTHE
UP LEARNING THE VALUES OF HANDMADE CREATIVE PLAY
PERFECTANTIDOTEATTHEENDOFALONGDAYlLLEDWITH
BASED ON INTERACTION AND EXPERIMENTATION USING
STEELANDCONCRETE4HROUGHMYCRAFTINGWORK)CAN
HIS IMAGINATION TO FUEL GAMES AND LEARNING RATHER
EXPRESS THE DESIGN PROCESS WHICH IS OFTEN STImED
THAN BEING DRAINED BY MODERN TELEVISION AND TOYS
BYBUDGETANDPROGRAMMECONSTRAINTSINMYREAL
WHICH OVERSTIMULATE WITHOUT ALLOWING THE CHILD
LIFEASANARCHITECT
EXPRESSION
)GREWUPINAFAMILYTHATNATURALLYVEEREDTOWARDS
"ABYCLOTHESANDCHILDRENSITEMSARESOOTHING lLLED
THEHANDMADEnPARTLYBECAUSEOFALIFESTYLECHOICE
WITH LOVE AND TOLERANT OF lCKLE FASHIONS 4HEY ARE
AND PARTLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT ITEMS
PERFECTINTHEMSELVESnTHEIRSMALLNESSANDEXACTNESS
COULD BE MADE BETTER DIFFERENTLY CHEAPER AND
AND THE FACT THEY REPRESENT NEW LIFE NEW HOPE
WITH MORE MEANING THAN A STORE BOUGHT PRODUCT
ANDNEWDREAMS)TISTHESMALL BEAUTIFULLYCRAFTED
-Y MOTHER CONSTANTLY HAD A SEWING MACHINE OUT ONTHEDININGTABLE-ATERIALANDPATTERNSMINGLED WITH BALLS OF WOOL AND FAIRAISLE OR ARAN SWEATERS HALFlNISHED-YDOLLSSLEPTINCUSTOM MADECLOTHES AND SHEETS AND ) COPIED MY MOTHER WITH MY OWN FULLYWORKINGTOYSEWINGMACHINE-YFATHERMADE USTOYSANDDOLLHOUSES ANDPAINTEDLARGEABSTRACTS LAYERED IN DETAIL AND TEXTURE 4HESE MEMORIES INGRAIN THEMSELVES BECOME A PART OF YOU AND LIE DORMANTUNTILONEDAYYOUCANREJOINTHETHREADSIN THEHEREANDNOW 4HE BIRTH OF MY lRST CHILD REAWAKENED THE NEED TO CREATE AND PRODUCE HANDMADE ITEMS FOR OUR HOUSE AND OUR LIFE 3OMEHOW THE PIECES ) MADE WOULDJUSTIFYMYLOVEFORMYCHILDANDCEMENTTHE
/PPOSITESTn4HELABELUNDERWHICH!LISON
!BOVE$ETAILSLIKETHISHANDSTITCHINGMAKEA
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PROJECTREALLYSPECIAL
)REVELINTHEABILITYTOlNDTHEPERFECTPIECES TOCREATEAWHOLE ITEMSWHICHSTILLAPPEALTOME4HEYREPRESENTSMALL
4HE ART WORLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PARTICULARLY
VIGNETTESnANIDEAWHICHHASCONSTANTLYDRAWNME
STRONG INmUENCE ON ME AND )VE ACHIEVED A LOT BY
INALLFORMSOFDESIGNANDPARTICULARLYINARCHITECTURE
EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT PROCESSES OVER THE
) REVEL IN THE ABILITY TO lND THE PERFECT PIECES TO
YEARS&ROMTIMEINALIFEDRAWINGSTUDIO TOSEMESTERS
CREATE A WHOLE WHETHER THAT BE BUTTONS RIBBON
SPENTETCHINGANDPRINTMAKING TOWEEKENDSSPENT
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PAINTING ALTERNATEFORMSOFEXPRESSIONAREIMPORTANT
TEXTURE%ACHITEMWORKSALONEASAPIECE BUTALSO
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GAINS NEW LIFE WHEN PLACED AMONGST OTHERS %ACH
FUTURE WHEN ) HAVE SPACE ALONE FOR MULTIPLE FORMS
STITCH KNITTEDORSEWN EACHCUT EACHPIECEOFFABRIC
OF CRAFTING n PRINTING WEAVING SPINNING PAINTING
WOULD HAVE MEANING AND SIGNIlCANCE AS PART OF A
SEWING )D LOVE TO AMALGAMATE ALL THOSE INTO ONE
WHOLE ANDASANINDIVIDUAL3MALLTHINGSAREQUICK
FORMOFCRAFTSOMEHOW
DONTREQUIREASMUCHPATIENCE TIMEORCOMMITMENT ASLARGERPROJECTS AND)lND)OFTENNEEDTHEQUICK PROJECTSTOSATISFYMYCRAFTINGNEEDSRATHERTHANTHE LONGTERMPROJECTS
INSPIRATION ) AM MOST INSPIRED WHEN APPARENT SIMPLICITY CAN
BAMBOOSLATSWHICHARETEXTURAL PLAYFULANDWHEN
BECOME SOMETHING MORE COMPLEX BY THE DETAIL
LIT STRANGELY ETHEREAL $IFFERENT lBRE TEXTURES CAN
THE PROPORTION OR THE MATERIALS ) CHOOSE TO USE )N
HAVETHESAMEIMPACTnTHEPLACEMENTOFANOPEN
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WEAVE LIKE LINEN AGAINST A HIGHLY FELTED PIECE OF
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KNITCANCREATEDRAPESANDFOLDSAMONGSTTHEFABRICS
PARADOXES)TRYTOlNDINMYOWNWORK7HATLOOKS
WHICH ARE FAR MORE APPEALING SOMETIMES THAN THE
SIMPLE CANOFTENBECOMPLEX ANDVICEVERSA)HAVE
OBJECTTHEYBECOME)LOVEPHOTOGRAPHINGMYWORK
LEARNTALOTFROMTHE*APANESEWAYOFDOINGTHINGS
TOSHOWTHESEASPECTSOFANOBJECTnTHATTHEYARE
nTHERITUALOFTEACEREMONIESMIRRORINGTHERITUALOF
MORETHANJUSTAPOUCH ORANITEMOFCLOTHING BUT
LAYINGOUTANDPIECINGTOGETHERSEWNPATTERNS4HE
CAN HOLD MYRIAD SHAPES AND FORMS WHICH CHANGE
ZEN STRUCTURING OF *APANESE GARDENS ECHOING THE
WITHEACHPOSE
PROPORTIONSOFMATERIALAGAINSTMATERIAL 4HEPROCESSOFCREATINGISANINTERESTINGONE)DEAS 3TRONGESTINmUENCESCOMEFROM*APANESEARCHITECTURE
GERMINATEANDBECOMEINSPIREDTOTAKESHAPE4HE
PASTANDPRESENT WHICHALWAYSSEEKSTOlNDBALANCE
MOST SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ONES WHICH
AND CALM AGAINST ITS SURROUNDINGS EVEN WITH THE
DEMANDMYTHINKINGTIMEANDWHICHCALLINCESSANTLY
USEOFAPPARENTLYBRUTALMATERIALSSUCHASCONCRETE
TOBEDONEINEUREKAMOMENTSOFINSIGHT4HEIDEA
4HERE IS A SERIES OF *APANESE TEA HOUSES WHICH )
GETSTHROWNAROUNDINMYHEAD DEVELOPED MAPPED
AM PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO n HAPHAZARD WEAVINGS OF
OUT CONSTRUCTED STUDIED AND PIECED TOGETHER
4HIS0AGE -ORESTITCHINGDETAIL /PPOSITE 4OP !LISONSBASKETBAGS AREPRACTICALAND ATTRACTIVE /PPOSITE "OTTOM 0ARTOF!LISONS COLLECTIONOFINSPIRING CERAMICPIECES
IN MY STUDIO IS ORDERED CHAOS 0ERHAPS IT IS MORE CHAOS THAN ORDER BUT EVERYTHING HAS ITS PLACE NO MATTER HOW HAPHAZARD THAT APPEARS "OXES OF WOOL OVERmOW ALONGSIDE PILES OF MATERIAL n EACH APPARENTLY UNRELATED AND JUMBLED "UT EVERY SINGLE ITEM HAS A PURPOSE AND A POSSIBILITY 4HERE IS AN IDEA IN EVERYTHING 0OTENTIAL COLLABORATIONS OF WOOL AND FABRIC FORM IN GROUPS AROUND THE ROOM PATTERN AND CRAFT BOOKS AND MAGAZINES FALL OPEN TO INSPIRED IMAGES 4HEY REMIND ME WHAT ) AM CRITICALLYDRAWNTOANDAREPARTOFTHESTEPPINGSTONE PROCESSOFDEVELOPMENT0ROJECTSINVARIOUSSTAGESOF COMPLETIONLIEINAPRODUCTIONLINEACROSSMYDESK THE IRONING BOARD THE COUCH AND THE mOOR !ND IN AMONGSTTHATARELITTLEMOMENTSOFPUREDESIGNETHOS
MYGROWINGCOLLECTIONOFWHITEANDBLACKCERAMICS STITCHBYSTITCH UNTILITISANACTUALITEMmOATINGIN
CLEAR GLASS SMALL TRINKETS FROM FELLOW CRAFTERS AND
BRAIN MATTER 4HEN ) CAN SIT AND START MAKING WITH
MY OWN ORIGINAL ARTWORKS 4HIS SPACE REPRESENTS
ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY ) HAVE LITTLE TIME TO PROTOTYPE
CONTROLOVERMYTIME GIVINGMEANINGTOASENSEOF
TINKERORTHINKTHINGSTHROUGHINREALTIME SOWHEN)
SELF WHICH HAS CHANGED THROUGH THE AMALGAMATION
START)CANUSUALLYWORKTHROUGHEVERYTHINGQUICKLY
OF MOTHERHOOD AND CAREER WOMAN )TS A SPACE FOR
4HE QUICKNESS OF A PROJECT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF
ME WHERE MY VALUE IS ABSOLUTE )TS A REFUGE FROM
THEPROCESSn)LIKEQUICKlXES INSTANTRESULTS AND
TOYSANDCLEANINGANDWORK WHEREMYIDEASCANFALL
INSTANT GRATIlCATION 9ET ) AM A PERFECTIONIST AND )
FREEAND)CANBESELlSHINWHAT)DO
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)DONTCONSIDERMYSELFAPATTERNMAKERnTECHNICALLY
ISIMPORTANTnALWAYSBUYTHEBESTYOUCAN BECAUSE
)AMNOTTRAINEDINTHEARTOFCUTTINGANDSEWING)
ITWILLALWAYSSHOWINYOURWORKANDTHEWAYTHE
FALLINTODESIGNS ANDLETTHEMATERIALSPEAKOFHOW
PIECES COME TOGETHER ) AM LEARNING THROUGH THIS
ITWANTSTOBEUSED-YPIECESAREOFTENVERYSIMPLE
CRAFTING PROCESS THAT LETTING OBJECTS BE THEMSELVES ANDWORKINGWITHTHEMATERIALCANPROVIDEABETTER RESULTTHANINSISTINGONPERFECTIONINDETAILS)BRING TO EACH ITEM A WELL BALANCED SENSE OF PROPORTION COLOUR TEXTURE AND VISUAL DISPLAY THAT ALWAYS PROVIDES A WHOLEn AND INTIMATE DETAILS WITHIN THE WHOLE 4HE PIECES ARE THREE DIMENSIONAL IN FORM ANDVISUALEFlCACY
WORKSPACE 4HEDININGTABLEMYMOTHERUSEDNOWACTSASMY STUDIO TABLE EMBEDDING MY OWN LIFE AND PATTERNS INTO THE GRAIN OF THE WOOD ,ITTERED AROUND ME
IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND ) LIKE THAT 4HERE IS OFTEN
)HAVE.EWWORLDSOFTEXTURE TECHNIQUE IDEAS FORM
NO NEED TO BE COMPLEX 4HEIR COMPLEXITY COMES
ANDSHAPE POSSIBILITYANDDESIREHAVEBEENSHOWN
FROM THEIR CUT OR THE FABRIC OR THE COMBINATION OF
TOME4ORECEIVETHEFEEDBACKWEDOFROMOTHERSIS
PIECES ) LIKE TO TAKE THE SAME PATTERN AND WORK
AWONDERFULWAYTOlNISHEACHPROJECT
IT OVER MANY TIMES LETTING NEW LIFE BE BORN INTO IT THROUGH CHANGES OF COLOUR PALETTE 4HE KNITTED POUCHSERIESTHAT)HAVEBEENWORKINGONRECENTLYIS AGREATEXAMPLEOFlNDINGASIMPLEFORMAND WITH SUBTLETWISTSEACHTIME ACHIEVINGSOMETHINGFRESH 4HEPATTERNINCLUDEDINTHISBOOKTAKESTHEPROCESS ONESTEPFURTHERBYADDINGINEXTRAHANDMADEITEMS LIKESHIBORIFELTINGTOMAKEITTRULYUNIQUE.UMEROUS TECHNIQUESCANBEINCORPORATEDWITHINTHESTRUCTURE AND THIS REALLY APPEALS TO MY SENSE OF WANTING TO ACHIEVEQUICKLYBUTEASILY 4HIS BOOK IS ABOUT A WONDERFUL ONLINE CRAFTING COMMUNITY WHO HAVE OPENED THEIR DOORS AND CREATIVITYTOLETPEOPLEBEINSPIREDANDLETIDEASmOW AND DEVELOP 7ITHOUT THE IMMENSE TALENT OF THESE WOMEN )WOULDNEVERHAVEMADESOMEOFTHELEAPS
"ELOW!LISONSDESK
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ABOUTTHEPROJECT )DESIGNEDTHISPURSEASAPROJECTTOGENTLYEASEBEGINNERSINTOTHEWONDERFULWORLDOFSEWING)TCANBE KEPTSIMPLEANDCOMPLETEDINACOUPLEOFHOURS ORYOUCANINVESTMORETIMEANDEMBELLISHAWAYTOYOUR HEARTSCONTENT 4HISPURSECANBEHANDORMACHINESTITCHED ANDCANBEINTERLINEDWITHACOMMERCIALSTIFFINTERFACINGFORA SHARPSMARTLOOK ORINTERLINEDWITHORLAYERSOFASOFTCOTTONFABRICFORASOFTSQUASHYLOOK 4HEDETACHABLECORSAGEISSIMPLICITYITSELF JUSTLAYERSOFPETALSHELDTOGETHERBYAFEWSTITCHESANDABUTTONOR BEAD FEELFREETOADDSEQUINSORDECORATIVEEMBROIDERYSTITCHESANDWHATEVERELSETHATTAKESYOURFANCY
!MY+AROL ,OCATION0ORTLAND /REGON/CCUPATION3TAY AT (OME-OM $ESIGNER!GE !REASOF)NTEREST3MALL!RT1UILTS !BSTRACT7ALL1UILTS $ESIGN7EBSITEHTTPANGRYCHICKENTYPEPADCOM
WHYICREATE !S MELODRAMATIC AS IT SOUNDS ) HAVE TO MAKE THINGS ) DONT SEPARATE hARTv AND hCRAFTv IN MY HEAD ATLEASTNOTANYMORE4HEREWASATIMERIGHT AFTERCOLLEGEWHEN)WASREALLYHUNGUPONDOING hSERIOUSARTvWHICHREALLYWASNTSERIOUSATALL BUT WAS hARTv IN THE SENSE THAT IT WASNT CRAFTY AND WAS REPRESENTED BY GALLERIES AND PARTICIPATED IN JURIED SHOWS ) GUESS IF ) WERE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEENARTANDCRAFTNOW ITWOULDONLYBETHAT CRAFTOFTENHASAUTILITARIANPURPOSEORHISTORY BUT THATSABOUTITFORME "ACKTHEN )WOULDFEELGUILTYFORCRAFTING BUTWHEN MYNATURALINTERESTBEGANTOSHIFTTOWARDSCRAFTING EVEN MORE ) REALLY JUST LET ALL OF MY HANG UPS GO ) CRAFT AS A RESULT OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES ) HAVE AN INTEREST AND EXPERIENCE IN PAINTING DIGITAL VIDEO AND lLM ALONG WITH MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE ART BUT THESE MEDIUMS ARENT VERY PRACTICAL WHEN )M ATHOMEWITHMYDAUGHTERSFULLTIME SO)DOWHAT) CAN ANDWHATlTSINMYLIFE2IGHTNOW ITSPRIMARILY SEWING DRAWINGANDWORKINGONMYCRAFTBLOG 4HE ARTCRAFT DEBATE ENDED FOR ME WHEN ) REALIZED
GOING 4HE WORST TIMES IN MY LIFE LOOKING BACK ON
THAT ) FELT THE SAME DOING BOTH SO IT DIDNT REALLY
IT NOW HAVE COME FROM WHEN ) WASNT ABLE TO n
MATTERWHAT)WASDOINGASLONGAS)ACHIEVEDTHAT
PHYSICALLYOREMOTIONALLYnBECREATIVE4HATSWHY
FEELING)WASHAPPY7HEN)WORK )HAVENOCONCEPT
)DONTKNOWHOWTOANSWERTHEQUESTIONhWHEREDO
OFTIME)CANJUSTBEABSORBEDINWHAT)AM
YOUlNDTHETIMETODOSOMUCH vWHICH)HEARALOT
DOING AND ) THINK ITS THE ONLY TIME OF THE DAY )
)TS LIKE ASKING ME HOW ) HAVE TIME TO SLEEP OR EAT
AM NOT MULTI TASKING 4HIS BRAINHAND CONNECTION
FOOD)JUSTDO
IS MEDITATIVE FOR ME AND IS REALLY WHAT KEEPS ME
-YMOMSAYS)HAVEALWAYSBEENTHISWAY3HESTARTED
MARRIAGESANDVERYFULLLIVESTHEREISNTALOTOFFREE
CALLING ME hCRAFT QUEENv WHEN ) WAS ABOUT THREE
TIME 7HEN ) DO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ITS USUALLY
AND THE NICKNAME STILL COMES UP EMBARRASSINGLY
ABOUTTHEKIDS4HISISGREAT BUTITSHARD BECAUSE)
7HEN)WASYOUNG CREATINGWASSUCHAWONDERFUL
AMWITHTHEGIRLSALLDAY4HECRAFTBLOGHASKEPTME
EXPERIENCE FOR ME BECAUSE ) COULD DO IT ALONE IT
CONNECTED TO WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING AND GIVES ME
DIDNTREQUIREOTHERFRIENDS4HEREWEREONLYBOYSIN
A WAY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE BIG SHOW AND TELL 4HIS
OURNEIGHBORHOODWHEN)WASGROWINGUP AND)HAD
HASBEENSOIMPORTANTFORMEASANARTIST.OTJUST
ABROTHER SO)LEARNEDWAYSTOKEEPMYSELFBUSYBY
TOGETFEEDBACK BUTTOFEEDMEVISUALLYASWELL4HE
MYSELF ANDCRAFTINGWASTHEMAINONE
ONLYTHING)NEEDTOBECAREFULOFISBEINGONLINETOO MUCH AND KNOWING WHEN TO TURN OFF THE COMPUTER
) THINK CREATING IS ALSO A WAY ) CONNECT TO OTHER
ANDPUTMYHEADDOWNANDWORK)HAVEBEENABLE
PEOPLE ESPECIALLY OTHER ARTISTS AND CRAFTERS !T THIS
TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH FRIENDS ONLINE WHO WOULD
TIMEINMYLIFE ITSSOHARDTOHAVEAREALCONNECTION
NEVER THINK ITS ODD FOR ME TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME
WITHPEOPLEOTHERTHANMYFAMILY)AMINMYEARLY
WRITING AND THINKING ABOUT IRON ON VINYL OR WHICH
S AND ALL OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE JOBS FAMILIES
THREAD ) SEW WITH 4HIS CONNECTION HAS REALLY
7HEN)WORK )HAVENOCONCEPTOFTIME /PPOSITEh,OCATION$EVICEv -ONOPRINTAND
"ELOW$ETAILOFSMALLQUILTh3POTSYv
COLLAGEONPAPER
AFFECTED MY CREATIVE OUTPUT ) KNOW WITHOUT THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM OF THE COMMUNITY ONLINE)WOULDNEVERBEDOINGSOMUCH)TFEEDSITSELF AND)THINKTHISISSUCHAWONDERFULTHING)FEELLIKE ) AM REALLY PARTICIPATING IN LIFE WHEN ) CREATE NOT WATCHINGITGOBY
INSPIRATION )AMINSPIREDBYSOMANYTHINGS-YTASTESCHANGE LIKEEVERYTHING BUTRIGHTNOWTHEYREQUITEECLECTIC )VEALWAYSLIKEDMID CENTURYGRAPHICS TEXTILESAND FURNITURE BUTLATELY)HAVEBEENMUCHMOREEXCITED BY TH CENTURY GRAPHICS LIKE OLD 3EARS CATALOGS FROMTHEMIDS OLDCOOKBOOKS ANDPERIODICALS
MADE QUILTS TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES WARM 4HAT WAS
)LOVEMUSICANDTHERADIO ESPECIALLYTALKRADIO LIKE
THEREALPURPOSEOFSOMEOFTHEQUILTS BUTTHEWOMEN
4HIS !MERICAN ,IFE AND OTHER PUBLIC RADIO SHOWS
ALSO MADE CHOICES ABOUT FABRICS PLACEMENT COLOR
LISTENINGWHEN)WORKISVERYINSPIRING
ANDDESIGN AND)LOVEMAKINGTHESAMEDECISIONS EVENTHOUGHMYQUILTSLOOKNOTHINGLIKETHEHISTORICAL
!LSO ANYTHING DOMESTIC n AS IN FOR THE HOME n IS
ONES THAT ) AM SO IN AWE OF !PRONS ALSO GET ME
REALLY FASCINATING TO ME ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS ROOTS
ESPECIALLY EXCITED BECAUSE ) LOVE THINKING THAT SO
ARE UTILITARIAN BUT THE EXECUTION MAKES IT ART ,IKE
MUCHTIMEWASTAKENTOMAKEAGARMENTTHATWAS
QUILTING)FEELSUCHACONNECTIONWITHWOMENWHO
GOINGTOGETSODIRTY7EWOULDNEVERDOTHATTODAY 7ELL WEDONTDOTHAT DOWE 7EDONTSEWAPRONS TODAY 7E ALL USE PAPER TOWELS AND THROW THEM OUT ) HAVE ALSO BEEN RESEARCHING NEEDLEWORK MORE ESPECIALLYSAMPLERS)THINKTHISINTERESTISDUETOMY TWOGIRLSANDWANTINGTOGETTHEMSTARTEDONHAND SEWINGPRETTYSOON)ALSOLOVETHEFAMILYTREEAND HISTORICALDOCUMENTINGTHATHAPPENSINNEEDLEWORK LIKEBIRTHS DEATHS WILLOWTREES ANDALLTHELIFEAND DEATH IMAGERY ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE THINGS 4HE MORBIDBEAUTYISREALLYAMAZINGTOME
!BOVE$ETAILFROMONEOF!MYSABSTRACTQUILTS ,EFT@&RESH ACRYLICONCANVAS /PPOSITE7EALLLIKETOPRETENDOURSTUDIOS AREALWAYSSPOTLESS BUT!MYDOESNTHAVEANY QUALMSABOUTSHOWINGHERSPACEAS IS
WORKSPACE &OR ABOUT lVE YEARS ) HAD A STUDIO OUTSIDE OF MY HOME AND)WOULDSPENDALLDAYTHERE)CANBARELY REMEMBER THAT NOW 3INCE WE BOUGHT A HOUSE AND HAD THE GIRLS ) HAVE MOVED AROUND IN VARIOUS CORNERSOFOURmORESCENT LITBASEMENT)TISlNISHED WITHCARPETANDALL BUTITSFARFROMIDEAL(ALFOFIT ISAPLAYAREAANDHALFOFITISMYSPACE4HEREISNO NATURALLIGHTANDARIDICULOUSLYLARGEPORTIONOFMY STORAGEISONTHEmOOR /NE THING ) LOVE ABOUT MY SPACE IS MY ABILITY TO WORKINITWITHMYCHILDREN!LTHOUGHHAVINGALONE TIMEISIMPORTANTTOME )AMREMINDEDDAILYOFMY EARLIESTCRAFTMEMORIESWHEN)SEEMYGIRLSPLAYING WITHTHREAD PINS SCISSORSANDOTHERNOTIONS WHICH ARE NO DOUBT TOTALLY DANGEROUS AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEM TO BE PLAYING WITH -Y MOMS OWN CRAFT ROOM WAS NEVER OFF LIMITS TO ME AND APART FROM NOT USING THE FABRIC SCISSORS FOR PAPER ) COULD USE ANYTHINGINTHERE)KNOWTHISISWHATMADEMYlRST EXPERIENCESINCRAFTINGSOAMAZING)WASNEVERTOLD NO AND)KNOW)DEVELOPEDMYEARLYSKILLSBECAUSE OFIT3O WHEN)WATCHMYTWOYEAROLDTAKEALLTHE STUFlNGOUTOFABAGFORTHETENTHTIMEINANHOUR ) JUSTSMILEANDLEAVEITONTHEmOORUNTILNAPTIME
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WHYICREATE 7HEN ) THINK ABOUT MY CRAFTINESS IT SEEMS LIKE THERES AN UNBROKEN LINK FROM NOW BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD)NTRUTH THEREWASAPERIODINWHICH ) WASNT THAT INTERESTED IN CRAFTY PURSUITS ) WAS ABSORBED IN OTHER ACTIVITIES %VEN THOUGH MY CHILDHOOD DAYS WERE SPENT PAINTING CERAMIC lGURINESANDCUTTINGOUTPAPERPONIES THECRAFTING ) NOW INDULGE IN WASNT NECESSARILY BORN FROM THOSEACTIVITIES3OHOWDID)GETTOTHISPOINT /NE DAY ) MADE A HAMSTER 4HATS NOT POSSIBLE YOU SAY ONLY 'OD CAN MAKE A HAMSTER OR MAYBE A MOMMY AND A DADDY HAMSTER IF THEY LOVE EACH OTHERVERYMUCH"UTONEDAY)WENTINTOMYLOCAL CRAFTSUPERSTOREANDDECIDED)WASGOINGTOMAKEMY OWNRODENTFRIEND4ECHNICALLY )ALREADYHADAONE nTHISWASWHEN)WASATUNIVERSITY AND-ONTYWAS MYPERSONALMASCOT APARTICULARLYTAMEANDFRIENDLY GOLDEN HAMSTER BUDDY 4HE CARTOONS )D DRAWN OF HIMHADINSPIREDMETOGO$ ANDTHISWASWHENIT ALLSTARTED4HATWASTHETURNINGPOINT 7HAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A HAMSTER 7ELL YOU SHOULDLOOKFORFELT SOMETHREAD STRINGFORTHEARMS AND LEGS AND SOME STUFlNG !ND THEN YOU JUST START CREATING %VEN THOUGH )D PLAYED AROUND ON MYMOTHERSSEWINGMACHINEWHEN)WASYOUNGER HANDSEWINGTHISFELLOWWASTRICKY)COULDVISUALIZE THE BASIC SHAPES ) WOULD NEED TO GET THE lNISHED PRODUCT BUTPERFECTINGTHEMWASENTIRELYDOWNTO TRIALANDERROR)NTHEEND MYHAMSTERHADTHEHEAD
FROMONEPROTOTYPEANDTHEBODYFROMANOTHER BUT
)BEGANKEEPINGANON LINEJOURNALNEARLYSIXYEARS
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)T WAS AROUND THIS TIME WHEN ) WAS BECOMING THE
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&RANKENSTEIN OF THE TOY WORLD THAT ) DISCOVERED
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n THEY SHARED THEIR IDEAS AND SHOWED OFF THEIR
ANAMAZINGCOMMUNITY
lNISHED PRODUCTS AND THERE WAS HARDLY A HINT OF EMBARRASSMENT 7OW ) CERTAINLY WASNT RUNNING
4HE SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION )M GIVEN FROM THIS
TO SHOW MY FRIENDS THE SILLY ANIMALS )D MADE BUT
NETWORKHASALLOWEDMYCRAFTINGTOGROWBYLEAPS
MAYBE THESE #RAFTSTER PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND
AND BOUNDS &ROM THE lRST TOTE ) MADE A FEW
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TASTEOFAPPROVALANDPRAISEFORTHISNEWCREATIVITY
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) STUDY IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE BUT PRACTICE REALLY DOESMAKEPERFECT)MALWAYSPLEASEDWHEN)THINK OF THE SKILLS ) HAVE TODAY THAT DIDNT EXIST IN ME A MEREFOURYEARSAGO ) LOVE CRAFTING BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A BROAD TERM ) BEGAN WITH A FELT HAMSTER BUT ) NOW SEW DRAW QUILT CROCHET AND KNIT AND ) PRINT WITH BOTH MY LETTERPRESSANDFROMHAND CARVEDSTAMPS)DOTHESE EACHWITHVARYINGDEGREESOFSKILL BUT)ENJOYTHEM ALL #RAFTING FORME ISABOUTTURNINGANIDEAINTOREALITY) REALLYADMIREMYFRIENDSWHOCANSAYTHEYAPPRECIATE EACHSTEPOFTHEPROCESS BUTTHATSNOTTRUEOFME ) LIKE TO DEVELOP AN IDEA BUT ) lND CUTTING FABRIC A BORE IRONINGISHOTANDTEDIOUS ANDSEWINGCANBE FRUSTRATING AND NEVER ENDING %ACH STEP CLOSER TO BEINGlNISHEDISEXCITING THOUGHn)LOVEWATCHING MYPROGRESS ESPECIALLYINLARGEPROJECTS3EEINGTHE ENDPRODUCTANDKNOWING)MADEITnTHATISCREATIVE HEAVEN
INSPIRATION !BOVE!PATCHWORKSTRIPBAG
-Y TASTES REALLY VARY AND EVOLVE FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT AND IT HAS TO BE DOWN TO THE VARIETY OF
"ELOW6ERYPINKBIRDPRINTS
SOURCESFROMWHICH)TAKEINSPIRATION0ERHAPSTHE MOST OBVIOUS OF THESE SOURCES IS THE VAST QUANTITY OFMAGAZINES)BUYEACHMONTH)MSURETHEREARE PEOPLEOUTTHEREWITHUPWARDSOFTWENTYMAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS BUT)HAVENTGOTASINGLEONE)ENJOY MYTRIPSTOTHEBOOKSHOPTOOMUCHTOSUBSCRIBE) DONTCAREIF)HAVETOWAITANEXTRADAYORSPENDAN EXTRAPOUNDnWAITINGFORANEWISSUETOAPPEARON THESHELFISPARTOFTHEEXCITEMENT )HAVEANUMBEROFMAGAZINESWHICH)BUYREGULARLY AND RATHER THAN BEING CRAFT MAGAZINES THEYRE ALL OF THE @HOME AND GARDEN VARIETY ) LOVE TO SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF CAREFULLY AND SOMETIMES NOT DECORATED ROOMS AND SEE HOW EVERYTHING lTS TOGETHER ) lND THAT THE AESTHETIC OF A ROOM CAN INSPIREAPROJECTBYITSELF)NSTEADOFSAVINGALLTHE
MAGAZINES ) BUY ) CLIP MY FAVOURITE PICTURES AND
/NE OF MY FAVOURITE ASPECTS OF THE INTERNET CRAFT
PASTE THEM INTO AN INSPIRATION BOOK 4HE BOOKS
COMMUNITYISTHATWERESOHAPPYTOBEEACHOTHERS
PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO GIVE ME DECORATING IDEAS
INSPIRATION )TS NOT SO MUCH THE lNISHED PROJECTS
FORMYOWNHOME BUTTHECOLOURSANDSTYLESOFTEN
WHICH INSPIRE ME THOUGH THEY CAN CERTAINLY BE
INFORMMYCRAFTINGCHOICES
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3PEAKINGOFTHAT )lNDTHAT)MDRAWNTOASURPRISING
OFPROJECTS)DBEENSEEINGINREDSANDYELLOWSAND
ARRAY OF DIFFERENT STYLES ) FEEL LIKE MY BRAIN IS A
BLACKS4HISISNTACOMBINATION)WOULDHAVEBEEN
6ENNDIAGRAM WHEREEACHCIRCLEISAUNIQUESTYLEn
DRAWNTOMYSELFnNOTSOMUCHBECAUSE)WOULDNT
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) LOVE THE MODERN *APANESE STYLE WHICH HAS TAKEN
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OVER THE CRAFT WORLD BUT ) EQUALLY ADORE THE CLEAN
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PATTERNS FOR A NEW QUILT WHAT WAS ) DRAWN TO
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PRINTDEPARTMENT)MFONDOFTHEPINKSANDAQUASOF
)COULDNTHAVEDONEITALONE
SHABBYCHIC!ND)LOVERETROPRINTS ANYTHINGFROM THESTOTHES(OWSAGIRLSUPPOSEDTODECIDE BETWEENALLTHOSE
"ELOW!FAVOURITEQUILTINSURPRISINGCOLOURS
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APPRECIATE THIS LUXURY WHILE IT LASTS n MY STUDIO IS
BOTH MY COMPUTER AND MY SEWING MACHINE )VE
JUSTABOUTPERFECTATTHEMOMENT
GOT SEVERAL CABINETS WHICH HOLD BOXES OF RIBBONS AND TRAYS OF MY LETTERPRESS TYPE AND ALL MY FABRIC
)N A SENSE DECORATING OR DESIGNING A STUDIO CAN
IS KEPT ON SHELVES IN THE BUILT IN WARDROBE -Y
BE DIFlCULT BECAUSE ITS A SPACE THATS JUST ABOUT
VIEWISSPECTACULAR AND)HAVETOREMINDMYSELFTO
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4HIS0AGE!NNASSUNNYSTUDIO /PPOSITE!VERYGIRLYLITTLEPURSE
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WHYICREATE )VE BEEN CRAFTY ALL MY LIFE -Y MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHERS WERE ALL TALENTED AT A VARIETY OF CRAFTS AND NEEDLEWORK SO MAKING THINGS JUST SEEMEDTOCOMENATURALLYFORME)CANSTILLHEARMY GRANDMOTHERSAY h7ELL )CANMAKETHAT vWHENEVER WEWOULDGOOUTSHOPPINGAND)DSHOWASPECIAL INTERESTINSOMETHING!SKIDS MYTWINSISTERAND ) INDULGED IN EVERY SORT OF CRAFTING POSSIBLE FROM BATHSALTSTOBOOKMAKING FROMWEAVINGTOWOOD BURNING 7E WERE ALSO ENTREPRENEURALLY MINDED WHENITCAMETOOURCRAFTINGAMONGOTHERTHINGS WEMADEPUPPETKITSANDSOLDTHEMDOORTODOOR TOOURVERYGENEROUSNEIGHBORS,ITTLEDID)KNOW THATTHATWOULDBEACAREERPATHLATERINMYLIFE )WANTEDTOBELIKETHEPIONEERSANDMAKECANDLES ANDRAGRUGSANDCORNHUSKDOLLS)LOVEDBOOKSLIKE THE,ITTLE(OUSESERIESAND4HE"OXCAR#HILDREN AND
PEOPLEANDDONTREALLYENJOYHOUSEWORK BUT)THINK
MOVIES LIKE 4HE 3WISS &AMILY 2OBINSON AND EVEN
WHAT)LEASTLIKEABOUTITISTHATYOUNEVERHAVEMUCH
THE 46 SERIES 'ILLIGANS )SLAND -Y IMAGINATION
TOSHOWFORYOURLABOR4HELAUNDRY THEMEALS THE
WOULDBEALLmUTTERYTHINKINGOFMAKINGCUPSFROM
GROCERYSHOPPING ETCAREJUSTANEVER ENDINGCYCLE
COCONUTS AND DIGGING THROUGH THE LOCAL DUMP TO
AND ITS HARD TO FEEL ANY SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
lND CRACKED CHINA FOR DINNER PLATES 4HAT TYPE OF
WHENITNEVERSEEMSTOBEDONE7HEN)CRAFT)END
THINKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF MY
UPWITHSOMETHINGTANGIBLE)HAVESOMETHINGTHAT
PERSONALSTYLEFOREXAMPLE IF)NEEDNEWCURTAINS
SAYS h,OOKWHAT)DIDv
THENMYlRSTTHOUGHTISTOCHECKMYVINTAGELINEN COLLECTIONTOSEEWHAT)CANMAKERATHERTHANLOOK
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)M RAISING THREE KIDS ON MY OWN AND SINCE WE
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MOSTLY SELF TAUGHT AND MY WORK IMPROVES THROUGH
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YOUNGER)F)MAKEAMISTAKE )PULLOUTTHESTITCHES AND REDO THEM BECAUSE ) KNOW ) WONT BE HAPPY WITH IT IF ) DONT )TS ALL JUST PART OF THE PROCESS #ROCHETINGISALSOVERYRELAXINGFORMEAND)lNDTHE STITCHREPETITIONSARELIKETHECHANTINGOFA"UDDHIST MONK ALLOWINGTHEDUSTOFASTRESSFULDAYTOSETTLE 4HE THINGS THAT ) HAVE THAT ARE MOST SPECIAL TO ME ARE THINGS THAT WERE HANDMADE BY MY FAMILY ! QUILT FROM MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER HANDMADE BABY CLOTHESFROMMYGRANDMOTHER ASCULPTUREFROMMY MOTHER DRAWINGS BY MY SISTER AND OF COURSE lRST DRAWINGS AND PINCH POTS FROM MY CHILDREN 4HESE ARETHETHINGSTHAT)HOLDMOSTDEARnALLHANDMADE ALLFROMTHEHEART
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"ELOW#RAFTS NOTIONS ANDINSPIRATIONON#ASSIS
DESIGNLABEL
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INSPIRATION )F MY INSPIRATION HAD A THEME SONG IT WOULD BE 7HAT A 7ONDERFUL 7ORLD BY ,OUIS !RMSTRONG ) TRULY lND INSPIRATION ALL AROUND ME BUT ESPECIALLY IN NATURE )M LUCKY TO LIVE IN A BEAUTIFUL RURAL AREA WHERE )M SURROUNDED BY FORESTS AND RIVERS SNOWY MOUNTAINTOPS AND BRIGHT BLUE SKIES ) GET TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE LOVELY SHADES AND SHAPES OF NATURE RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR ) AM CAPTIVATED BY THE SUBTLE COLOR CHANGES AT DUSK AND THE WAY THE LIGHT AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR PLAYS UP THE VARIETY OF TONES IN FAMILIAR OBJECTS !LTHOUGH WE ARECOVEREDUPINSNOWFORSIXMONTHSOFTHEYEAR SPRINGANDSUMMERAREVIVIDWITHBRIGHTLYBLOOMING WILDmOWERS-YGARDENSAREMAINLYPERENNIALSAND ITSJUSTONEMOREPLACEWHERE)CANSEETHESHIFTOF COLORANDLIGHTASTHESEASONSCOMEANDGO -Y MOTHER AND SISTER AND ) USED TO OWN A mOWER SHOP WHERE ) LEARNED ABOUT MANY DIFFERENT TYPES
OFmOWERSANDGREENERY-YEXPERIENCEASAmORAL DESIGNERHASBEENAHUGEINmUENCEONMYDESIGNS ESPECIALLYTHEPINCUSHIONS)USUALLYHAVEAmOWER IN MIND WHEN )M CREATING ONE FROM FELT OR )M EMBROIDERING)MTRYINGTOGETTHEFEELOFTHEmOWER AND AM NOT INTERESTED IN REPRODUCING IT &LOWERS ALONE SUPPLY AN ENDLESS SOURCE OF IDEAS FOR SHAPE ANDCOLOR #HILDRENS LITERATURE IS ANOTHER VAST SOURCE OF INSPIRATIONFORME)HAVEARATHERLARGECOLLECTIONOF CHILDRENSPICTUREBOOKSAND)LOVEPERUSINGTHROUGH THEM WHEN ) NEED TO SPARK MY CREATIVITY 3OME OF MY FAVORITE ILLUSTRATORS ARE &EODOR 2OJANKOVSKY $EMI %LSA "ESKOW 0ETER 3IS 7ANDA 'AG ,OIS ,ENSKI %STHER7ILKINS AND'ARTH7ILLIAMSTONAME AFEW!FAVORITEPASTIMEISLOOKINGATBOOKSINTHE CHILDRENS SECTION OF USED BOOKSTORES AND lNDING NEWTREASURESTOBRINGHOME ) DEVELOPED AN EARLY LOVE OF ALL THINGS VINTAGE FROM GOING TO mEA MARKETS WITH MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER-YGRANDMOTHERWASAHUGEANTIQUE COLLECTORANDHERHOUSEWASLIKEAMUSEUMINITSELF SO IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN RAMPANT AND SEE DESIGN FROM OTHER DECADES )N THE SAME WAY PERIOD lLMS ARE ANOTHER GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION ) ESPECIALLY LOVE LOOKING IN THE BACKGROUND OF SCENES TO SEE HOW THE ROOM IS DECORATED WHATTOILETRYITEMSAREOUTONTHEVANITY COLOR COMBINATIONS ARCHITECTURE CLOTHING AND SO ON )NSPIRATION FOR ME IS JUST A WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLDANDREINTERPRETINGWHAT)SEEINTOSOMETHING TANGIBLE )MAGES RAIN DOWN LIKE CONFETTI AND ) GO AROUND PICKING UP THE LITTLE COLORED PIECES AND TRY TOMAKESOMETHINGPRETTY)MAWAREOFTRENDSBUT )DONTPUTMUCHCONSIDERATIONTOWARDSTHEMWHEN )M DESIGNING NEW ITEMS "EING IN MY FORTIES )M ONLY TOO WELL AWARE THAT TRENDS COME AND GO BUT GOODDESIGNSTAYSCONSTANT ,EFT#ASSISSEWINGMACHINE WAITINGPATIENTLY /PPOSITE&ABRIC VALUABLEFABRIC
WORKSPACE )TWOULDBELOVELYTOHAVEADEDICATEDROOMFORMY CRAFTING BUT THATS NOT POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW 3INCE WE HOME SCHOOL THE EXTRA ROOM WE HAVE IS USED ASOURSCHOOLROOM SOMYWORKHASTAKENOVERTHE KITCHENANDDININGROOMANDMOSTOTHERmATSURFACES NEARBY)VETRIEDTOCONVINCETHEKIDSTHATWECAN DOWITHOUTTHEKITCHENBUT)HAVENTGOTTENVERYFAR WITHTHATIDEA)HAVESEVERALOLDCUPBOARDSTHATARE STUFFED WITH FABRIC AND RIBBON AND ASSORTED OTHER DO DAHSAND)MALWAYSONTHELOOKOUTFORVINTAGE CANISTERSANDOLDWOODENBOXESBECAUSE)USETHEM FOR MORE STORAGE SPACE )F YOU LOOK IN ALMOST ANY LIDDED CONTAINER NEAR MY WORKSPACE YOU WILL lND ITSTUFFEDWITHSOMETHINGTHAT)USEINMYCRAFTING ) HAVE SEVERAL WIRE MESH CARTS THAT )VE ORGANIZED WITHMYSEWINGNECESSITIESAND)PULLTHOSEAROUND WITHMEDEPENDINGWHERE)MDOINGMYWORK4HE SEWING MACHINE IS ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER AND THE IRONISALWAYSUPHAVINGTHINGSOUTANDACCESSIBLE MAKESITALOTEASIERTOGETCRAFTINGDONEBUTITSNOT THEWAYTOHAVEACLEANHOUSE
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ABOUTTHEPROJECT 4HIS IS THE PERFECT PROJECT FOR A SEWING NOVICE BUT THE lNISHED PRODUCT IS AMAZINGLY VERSATILE AND FUN "ECAUSE THESE SCARVES ARE SO QUICK AND EASY TO WHIP UP YOU CAN MAKE AN ENTIRE RANGE TO MATCH YOUR WARDROBE INWEIGHTSTOTAKEYOUFROMCOOLAUTUMNEVENINGSTOTHECOLDESTWINTERDAYS 4HEPRETTYmOWERBROOCHCANBEUSEDTOFASTENTHESCARFINPLACE ANDITSALOVELYACCESSORYALLONITSOWN "ECAUSETHISPROJECTUSESARELATIVELYLARGEPIECEOFFABRIC ITSIDEALFORSHOWCASINGAPRINTYOUCANTBEARTO CUTINTOPIECES
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WHYICREATE 4HE IMPULSE TO MAKE THINGS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
!S LONG AS ) CAN REMEMBER CRAFT OF SOME SORT HAS
WITH ME -Y MOTHER IS A PAINTER AND CRAFTER AND
BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE FROM PAPER CRAFTS SUCH AS
SO ALWAYS ENCOURAGED MY BROTHER AND ) TO MAKE
MAKING #HRISTMAS CARDS AND INVITATIONS TO SEWING
THINGS AND ENGAGE OURSELVES CREATIVELY ) THINK )
BAGS AND CUSHIONS BAKING CAKES AND RESTORING
MUSTHAVEBEENABITOBSESSIVEANDSINGLE MINDED
FURNITURE WITH MIXED RESULTS FOR THE LATTER ) MIGHT
ABOUT CRAFT AS A KID BECAUSE ONE OF MY EARLIEST
ADD 7HYDO)DOTHISWHEN)COULDJUSTHEADTOA
CRAFTINGMEMORIESISBADGERINGMYPARENTSTOBUY
DEPARTMENT STORE FOR A SIMILAR ITEM 4HESE ARE MY
POTTERS CLAY AND ONCE IT WAS PURCHASED ASKING
TWOCENTS
THEMTOBRINGITOUTTOPLAYWITHOVERANDOVERAND /6%2AGAIN)LITTEREDMYPOORPARENTSHOUSEWITH THOSEUGLYCLAYCREATIONS)MSTILLOBSESSIVEABOUT THETHINGS)MAKE BUT)MGLADTOREPORTTHAT)CAN UNPACKMYOWNEQUIPMENTNOW!ND)EVENCLEAN UPAFTERMYSELFSOMETIMES TOO
4HEREISASIGNIlCANTSENSEOFPERSONALSATISFACTION A SORT OF SELF ADMINISTERED PAT ON THE BACK ONE GETSFROMCOMPLETINGAPROJECTANDSTANDINGBACKTO ADMIRETHERESULTSOFONESHANDIWORK (OME MADEHASMOREPERSONALITY MOREMEANING AND IS MORE FROM THE HEART THAN STORE BOUGHT THINGS #RAFTINGCONNECTSUSTOSOMEOFTHECHARMINGBITS OFTIMESPAST 4HEPROCESSOFMAKINGTHINGSOFTENSEEMSTOHAVE AMEDITATIVE CALMINGANDEVENHEALINGEFFECT ,IKE MOST PEOPLE WHO MAKE THINGS ) lND CRAFTING IMMENSELYSATISFYING-YHUSBANDALWAYSTEASESME FOR@GOINGABOUTTHELONGWAYTOACHIEVESOMETHING 4HE PRODUCTION OF OUR WEDDING INVITATIONS FOR EXAMPLE INVOLVED TWO SEPARATELY PRINTED SHEETS RIBBONS GLUE STAMPS AWAXSEAL ANDLOTSOFFOLDING CUTTING AND GLUING )N OTHER WORDS LOTS OF TIME
/PPOSITE$ETAILFROMABABYSQUILT
!BOVE&IONASSOFTTOYSAREAHITWITHBOTH CHILDRENANDADULTS
)LOVETHECHALLENGEANDTHRILLOFPERFECTINGANEWSKILL !LL BEFORE WE WROTE ON THEM AND ADDRESSED THE
TASTE FASHION AND AESTHETIC 2EMEMBER ALL THOSE
ENVELOPES4OME THISISPARTOFTHEFUNOFCELEBRATING
UNATTRACTIVEWOVENHARD BAKEDBREADWALLHANGINGS
AN OCCASION (ANDMADE DETAILS CAN MAKE AN EVENT
AND GUMNUT PEOPLE CRAFTED IN THE S ) KNOW
UNIQUE MORE PERSONAL AND YES JUST THE WAY )
THATSOMEOFTHETHINGSWEMAKENOWWILLSUFFERA
LIKEIT0ERHAPSTHEREISANINNERCONTROL FREAKINSIDE
SIMILAR FATE CRAFT IS AS MUCH DRIVEN BY FASHION AS
EVERYCRAFTER )NANYCASE FORMEITISEVERYBITWORTH
ANYTHINGELSE(OWEVER ATTHEIRBEST HAND CRAFTED
THEEXTRA@TROUBLETOSEEANIDEACOMETOFRUITION
ITEMSSEEMTOHAVESPECIALPOWERS!FRIENDOFMINE HAS A BABY BLANKET THAT WAS KNITTED BY HER GREAT
3IMILARLY )LOVETHECHALLENGEANDTHRILLOFPERFECTING
GRANDMOTHER )T WAS USED TO RECEIVE ALL HER GREAT
A NEW SKILL 4HEY ARE USUALLY SMALL THINGS BUT THE
GRANDMOTHERSBABIES ANDTHOSEOFHERGRANDMOTHER
CONQUERING OF A CRAFTING GOAL CAN HAVE ENORMOUS
AND AUNTS %VEN MY FRIEND WAS BOUGHT HOME FROM
FEEL GOODMILEAGE
HOSPITAL WRAPPED IN IT 7HEN ) VISITED HER A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF HER lRST CHILD LAST YEAR
4HE SECOND POINT n THAT HAND MADE IS MUCH NICER
SHE HAD THE BLANKET LAID OUT WAITING 7E STARED
nISASLIPPERYONE SOMUCHDEPENDENTONPERSONAL
AT IT WITH REVERENCE 3URE ANY BLANKET THAT PLAYS
THAT KIND OF STARRING ROLE IN A FAMILY IS SPECIAL BUT
WELLASTHEQUALITYOFSOMEOFTHEMATERIAL ESPECIALLY
THEFACTTHATTHISONEWASHANDKNITBYMYFRIENDS
WOOLSANDTWEEDS4HRIFTINGISALSONEEDEDBECAUSE
GREAT GRANDMOTHERADDEDTOITSIMPORTANCE
WEAREBUDGETCONSCIOUS ANDITSIMPORTANTFORMETO NOTLETMYSEWINGSUPPLYPURCHASESGETINTHEWAY
&OR MOST OF US TIME IS A VERY PRECIOUS COMMODITY
OF NECESSARY THINGS LIKE GROCERIES OR HEALTH CARE )
IT IS SO NICE TO RECEIVE SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE
LOVE BEING ABLE TO CREATE SOMETHING FROM AN ITEM
HAS POURED SOME OF HERS INTO +NOWING THAT SHES
SOMEONENOLONGERWANTED"UTMOSTIMPORTANTLY IT
PROBABLYSPENTTHATTIMETHINKINGOFYOUANDWHAT
MAKESMEFEELCONNECTEDINSOMESMALLWAYTOTHE
YOU MIGHT LIKE TO RECEIVE MAKES IT EXTRA SPECIAL
WOMEN OF MY GRANDMOTHERS GENERATION WHO LIVED
7HENANE MAILISTHENORM THEREISSUCHCHARMIN
THROUGHTHE$EPRESSION WHOHADTOTHINKCREATIVELY
RECEIVINGAHANDMADEGIFTORCARD
ABOUTHOWTOUSETHEIRRESOURCESnTURNINGOLDSHIRTS INTOQUILTSANDSOFORTH)THINKWECONSUMEFARTOO
4HIRDLY ) ALSO LOVE HOW CRAFTING CAN CONNECT US TO
MUCH @NEW THESE DAYS AND )D LIKE TO THINK )M
THE PAST -Y MUM TAUGHT ME HOW TO SEW AND MY
KEEPINGCERTAINSKILLSOFTHRIFTINESSALIVE USEFULSKILLS
GRANDMOTHERTAUGHTMEHOWTOKNITANDBAKE)SEW
THAT)MIGHTBEABLETOPASSONTOMYDAUGHTER
WITH A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF RECYCLED FABRIC FABRIC FROM CHARITY SHOPS OR CUT UP OLD CLOTHES ) DO THIS
)TS THE FOURTH POINT HOWEVER n CRAFT AS A KIND OF
BECAUSE ) LIKE THE PATTERNS ) lND IN OLDER FABRIC AS
THERAPY THATISMOSTINTERESTINGTOME ANDDElNITELY
"ELOW!STUFFEDMENAGERIE
/PPOSITE "OTTOM&IONASDAUGHTERMODELSA CUSTOM MADESKIRT
/PPOSITE 4OP0ATCHWORKISALONG LASTINGTREND
3OMETHINGYOUCANTRANSFORMANDHOPEFULLYBREATHE NEWLIFEINTO GIVEANEWUSE 7ITHOUT SOUNDING TOO SENTIMENTAL HOWEVER THESE DAYSMYDAUGHTERISONEOFTHEBIGGESTINSPIRATIONS TOME4HEREARESOMANYFUNTHINGSYOUCANMAKE FORBABIESANDYOUNGCHILDRENBIBS SHOES CLOTHING ANDTOYS!LSO )LOVESEEINGWHATPATTERNS COLOURS AND TEXTURES SHE IS DRAWN TO 4HE TOYS ) NOW SELL STARTED AS GIFTS FOR MY DAUGHTER ) WANTED TO lND SOME FUN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SOFT TOYS FOR HER AND WHEN)COULDNTlNDANYTHINGTOMYLIKINGINSHOPS ) STARTEDEXPERIMENTINGWITHSEWINGMYOWN(AVING ACHILDHASOPENEDUPAWHOLENEWWORLDOFCRAFTING POSSIBILITIES FOR ME FOR WHICH ) AM IMMENSELY GRATEFUL 4HE COLOURFUL FRIENDLY NATURE OF CHILDRENS THEMOSTPOIGNANT$URINGDIFlCULTTIMESINMYLIFE
CLOTHING TOYS AND ILLUSTRATED BOOKS INSPIRES ME
) HAVE OFTEN TURNED TO CRAFT #RAFT HAS ENORMOUS
EVERYDAY
DISTRACTING QUALITIES !S GOOD AS A GRIPPING NOVEL A GOOD PROJECT CAN TRANSPORT ME SOMEWHERE ELSE TURNMYFOCUSELSEWHERE0LUS ATTHEEND YOUHAVE SOMETHING FOR YOUR EFFORTS SOMETHING TANGIBLE AND CONCRETE !FTER THE BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER ) BATTLED FOR A YEAR WITH POST NATAL DEPRESSION ) FOUND THAT BURYINGMYHEADINACRAFTPROJECTWASJUSTTHEKIND OF ESCAPISM ) NEEDED FROM THE CHALLENGES OF DAY TO DAYBABY CARE$URINGTHISTIME)LEARNEDTOKNIT AGAIN AND WHILE MY KNITTED CREATIONS FROM THAT TIMEWILLNEVERWINAWARDS THEPROCESSOFMAKING SOMETHING REDISCOVERINGANEWSKILLJUSTFORMYSELF MADE ME FEEL GOOD )N NO SMALL PART IT HELPED ME THROUGHTHATDIFlCULTTIME
INSPIRATION !SIDE FROM THE USUAL SUSPECTS LIKE COLOUR PATTERN FABRIC MAGAZINES AND THE INTERNET ) lND LOTS OF INSPIRATIONINVINTAGECLOTHES TEXTILESANDCROCKERY )VEHADALIFELONG@THINGFORTHESTRUCTUREDHEAVY WOOLJACKETSANDSUITSOFTHES KNITVESTSAND BEAUTIFULLY PATTERNED WOMENS DRESSES FROM THE SANDS)LOVETHINGSWITHASTORY SOMETHING THATHASBEENSOMEWHEREELSEBEFOREITCAMETOYOU
WORKSPACE 0RESENTLY MYWORKSPACECONSISTSALARGEOLDWOODEN TABLE)TSITSINTHECORNEROFANOPENTHOROUGHFAREIN OURHOME ADJACENTTOTHEMAINLIVINGAREA&ORTHIS REASON ) TRY TO KEEP IT UNCLUTTERED BUT IT RARELY IS /NTHETABLEAREMYCOMPUTER SEWINGMACHINE AND ALLMANNEROFCLEARPLASTICANDPAPER COVEREDBOXES CRAMMED FULL OF THREAD BUTTONS EMBELLISHMENTS PAPER AND OFlCE SUPPLIES AND LOTS OF MY FAVOURITE FAT QUARTERS ) LIKE TO KEEP THEM CLOSE TO ME /N THEWALLINFRONTOFMEISMY@INSPIRATIONBOARDnA PIN BOARD OVERmOWING WITH PICTURES THAT INSPIRE POSTCARDS TEAR SHEETS FROM MAGAZINES PHOTOS AND FABRICSWATCHES(ERETHEREAREALSOSHELVESHOUSING MYCRAFTBOOKS%LSEWHEREINTHEROOMISANARTS CRAFTSERAHUTCH4HISUSEDTOHOUSEOURBESTCHINA BUT ) HAVE CO OPTED IT FOR FABRIC STORAGE 5NDER MY TABLE ARE LARGE PLASTIC TUBS CONTAINING MORE FABRIC &ABRICSTORAGEISALWAYSAPROBLEM
!BOVE&IONASWORKDESK "ELOW&ABRICOFTENENDSUPSQUEEZEDINTOEVERY LITTLESPACE /PPOSITE!BUTTONFOREVERYPROJECT
,IBRARY4OTE $IRECTIONSON0AGE
ABOUTTHEPROJECT 4HISLIBRARYTOTEISAFAVOURITEPATTERN7ITHASMALLCHILD )FOUNDWEWEREVISITINGOURLOCALLIBRARYMORE THANEVERBEFOREANDUSINGTHESAMECANVASBAGSWEUSETOHAULOURFRUITANDVEGETABLESFROMTHEMARKET WASJUSTNOTCUTTINGIT 4HISTOTEBAGISQUICKANDEASYTOMAKEANDCANBEEMBELLISHEDASLITTLEORASMUCHASYOUDESIRE)THASA SIMPLEBUTPRETTYPOCKET WHICHISBIGENOUGHTOHOLDALIBRARYCARDANDAFEWOTHERNECESSITIES4HISTOTECAN ALSOBEMADETOANYSHAPEORSIZETHATYOULIKEnTOHOLDOVERSIZEDPICTUREBOOKSFORCHILDRENORNOVELSAND MAGAZINESFORYOU
(EIDI+ENNEY ,OCATION0ENNSYLVANIA 53!/CCUPATION!RTIST!GE !REASOF)NTEREST3OFT4OYS7EBSITEHTTPWWWMYPAPERCRANECOM
WHYICREATE 7HEN ) WAS A CHILD MY PARENTS WERE ALWAYS WORKINGONONEPROJECTORANOTHER&ROMASFARBACK AS ) CAN REMEMBER MY MOTHER SEWED 3HE HAD JOBS CREATING ELABORATE WINDOW TREATMENTS AND THEN ANOTHER CREATING TINY STUFFED FELT CREATURES AT!NNALEESDOLLFACTORY-YFATHERUSEDTOCREATE LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS THAT AMAZED ME AND HE SCULPTEDLITTLEMENOUTOFCLAY)HAVEMANYEARLY MEMORIES OF MY DAD RECORDING "OB 2OSS SHOWS AND THEN USING THEM TO TEACH HIMSELF TO PAINT ) WAS ALWAYS FASCINATED WITH HIS PROCESS THE BIG JAROFBRUSHESANDTUBESOFOILPAINTS -Y PARENTS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED ME TO EXPLORE MY INTERESTINCREATING4HEYALWAYSBOUGHTARTSUPPLIES FOR HOLIDAYS AND WE HAD FREE USE OVER MY MOMS SEWING MACHINE SINCE SHE lRST TAUGHT US TO SEW !T ONE POINT WHILE ) WAS GROWING UP MY PARENTS
THEMJUSTSO7EWOULDALSODRESSUPOURDOLLSINA
FORMEDTHEIROWNCRAFTBUSINESS *AN *ER#RAFTS AND
SIMILAR FASHION "ESIDES THIS INTEREST IN TEXTILES MY
)ATTENDEDSOMECRAFTSHOWSWITHTHEM)TSEEMED
SISTERSAND)WOULDEXPERIMENTINTHEKITCHEN&ORA
SOSURREALTOMETHEYHADBUSINESSCARDSANDCOULD
BIG PART OF OUR CHILDHOOD WE WERE LATCH KEY KIDS
ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY SELLING THINGS THEY LOVED TO
3O WHENEVER WE GOT HOME WE WOULD TAKE OUT THE
MAKE
COOKBOOKS AND LOOK FOR NEW THINGS TO MAKE -OST OFTHETIMEITWASCOOKIES ORCAKES BUTWELIKEDTO
-Y TWO SISTERS AND ) WOULD SPEND HOURS GOING
MAKEDINNERDISHESASWELL
THROUGH MY MOTHERS FABRIC SCRAPS 7E SPENT A WHOLE SUMMER ONCE ENTERTAINING OURSELVES BY
-YOLDERSISTERAND)WEREVERYCLOSEINAGE ANDONCE
MAKINGOUTlTSOUTOFTHESCRAPSNOSEWINGINVOLVED
SHECAMEHOMEWITHAPRESENTOFHANDMADEPAPER
THOUGH JUST DRAPING 7E WOULD EACH TAKE TURNS
DOLLSSHEHADMADEME)LOVEDTHEMSOMUCH BUT
PICKINGOUTJUSTTHERIGHTFABRICS ANDTHENARRANGING
WEWEREMOREINTERESTEDINMAKINGTHEM INSTEADOF
PLAYINGWITHTHEM7EWOULDSPENDHOURSCREATING
FOCUSEDONCOUNTRYSTYLECRAFTS4HINGSLIKESEWING
NEWCHARACTERS THEBOYSUSUALLYHADBLACKEYESTO
QUILTSANDHOUSEHOLDDECORATIONS
SHOW HOW TOUGH THEY WERE AND THE GIRLS WOULD HAVEDRESSESWITHELOBORATEPETTICOATS7EMADEUP
!S ) GREW OLDER MY FOCUS TURNED MORE TO PAINTING
NAMES FOR EACH OF THEM 4AFFY WAS ONE NAME WE
AND DRAWING ) THINK A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH MY
USEDTOOMANYTIMES7EKEPTTHEMALLINABROWN
THOUGHTSONSEWING PLUSONCE)MOVEDOUT)DIDNT
PAPER BAG UNTIL THE COLLECTION GOT TOO BIG THEN IT
HAVEAMACHINEOFMYOWN)DRIFTEDBACKTOFABRICS
WASTRANSFERREDTOASHOEBOXFORSAFEKEEPING
AGAINANYWAY TAKINGUPHANDSEWINGFORQUITESOME TIME)WORKEDONQUILTSFORAWHILE BUTCOULDNEVER
-Y MOM TAUGHT ALL THREE OF US TO SEW AT A PRETTY
REALLYGETREALLYEXCITEDABOUTTHOSEPROJECTS4HEN
YOUNGAGE/URlRSTPROJECTSWERETHINGSLIKESMALL
)STARTEDCREATINGSOMELITTLEPLUSHTOYSINMYMIND
DOLL ITEMS BLANKETS PILLOWS ETC !ND AS WE GOT
THEY WERE FOR KIDS ) ALSO WORKED ON PLAY FOOD ALL
OLDER THINGS LIKE HAIR SCRUNCHIES 4HOUGH ) REALLY
OUTOFFELT ANDEVERYPEICESEWNBYHAND4HISWAS
ENJOYED SEWING THEN ) DID LOOK AT IT AS SORT OF A
ACTUALLYTHElRSTTHING)SOLDONLINE BUTITWOULDBEA
COUNTRYHABIT3OMETHINGTHATWASNTVERYCOOL AND
FEWMOREYEARSBEFORE)MADEABUSINESSOUTOFIT
-YPARENTSENCOURAGEDMETOEXPLOREMYINTERESTINCREATING /PPOSITE0APERANDFABRICCOLLAGEPIECES
"ELOW"OXESOF(EIDISINSPIREDCREATIONS
)DIDNTGETBACKINTOSEWINGWITHAVENGEANCEUNTIL A FEW YEARS LATER ) STARTED AGAIN FOR FUN WITH MY OWN MACHINE 3OMETIME WHILE STRUGGLING AGAIN WITHWHAT)THOUGHTYOUHADTOSEW )FOUNDASTYLE OF MY OWN ) REALIZED THAT SURE SEWING MACHINES CAN BE USED TO MAKE TRADITIONAL ITEMS BUT ) COULD ALSOCREATETHINGSOFMYOWNDESIGNWITHITASWELL )TSORTOFHAPPENEDBYACCIDENT)WASCREATINGODD PURSESBACKTHEN0URSESSHAPEDLIKEHEDGEHOGSAND ONES THAT WERE SEWN OUT OF DECONSTRUCTED STUFFED ANIMALS ) HAD SOME SCRAPS ) WAS TRYING TO USE UP BECAUSE)COULDNEVERRESISTBUYINGSTRANGEFABRICS AND ) FOUND A LONG THIN PIECE OF BROWN VINYL LIKE FABRIC ) USED THE WRONG SIDE OF THE FABRIC AS THE CRUST FOR A SLICE OF TOASTAND THEN THINGS WENT ON FROM THERE 7HILE ) LIKED MAKING HANDBAGS MY ACTUALLOVEWASNTINTHEACTUALPURSECONSTRUCTION BUTTRYINGTOMAKESOMETHINGODDINTOAPURSE4HIS
7HILE MOST OF MY WORK TIME IS USED FOR SEWING
IS ALSO HOW ) STARTED MAKING PURSES SHAPED LIKE
THESE DAYS ) DO LIKE TO EXPERIMENT WITH ALL SORTS
TOASTERS
OF CRAFTING ) SPIN YARN ) CREATE WITH PAPER AND ) STILL PAINT -AKING THINGS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST FEELS ESSENTIAL TO EVERYDAY LIVING TO ME ) lND JOY INCREATINGANYTHINGWITHMYHANDSWHETHERITBE BAKINGACAKEORSEWINGANELABORATESTUFFEDBEAST OUTOFFELT)CANNOTIMAGINEATIMEINMYLIFEWHERE )WONTBEEXPERIMENTINGANDMAKINGNEWTHINGS ) REALLYFEELITISJUSTPARTOFWHO)AM
INSPIRATION %VERYTHING ) COME IN CONTACT WITH MOTIVATES ME TO CREATE FROM LARGE THINGS LIKE VISITING ART MUSEUMS AND SEEING OTHER PEOPLES ARTWORK TO SMALL THINGS LIKEPEELINGPAINTONAWINDOWLEDGE)AMINSPIRED BYTHECOLORSANDTEXTURESOFFABRIC3OMETIMESJUST THE RIGHT WEAVE OR PRINT CAN INSPIRE A WHOLE NEW PLUSH CREATION -Y KIDS ARE ALSO A HUGE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR ME 4HEY LIKE TO GIVE ME IDEAS AND CHALLENGES -Y OLDEST SON ONCE TOLD ME HE DIDNT THINK)COULDSEWAGLASSOFMILKTHATCHALLENGEWAS ALL)NEEDEDFORINSPIRATION ANDSEWONE)DID
-Y HUSBAND IS A TATTOO ARTIST AND ALWAYS INSPIRES MEWITHTHETHINGSHEISABLETODOONSKIN4HOUGH HEAND)HAVETOTALLYDIFFERENTSTYLESANDMEDIUMS HIS COLORS AND ARTWORK ALWAYS INSPIRE ME (E IS A GREATREMINDERTHATWHILEMAKINGARTMIGHTBEAJOB ITISALSOSOMETHINGWEDOBECAUSEWELOVEIT)TRY TO KEEP PAPER SNIPS IN A BOX THINGS THAT ) LIKE THE COLOROF ORMAYBEAPATTERNORTYPESET)LIKEGOING BACKTHROUGHALLTHESCRAPS!NDWHILETHEYMAYNOT CONTRIBUTEDIRECTLYTOAPROJECT )THINKLOOKINGATTHE OBJECTSINOUREVERYDAYLIFECANBEINSPIRING)NSTEAD OF LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AND SEEING THE JUST THE BACKYARD LOOK CLOSER EXAMINE THE WAY THE LEAVES CURLANDTHECOLORSINTHEGRASS
WORKSPACE -YSTUDIOISAROOMINMYHOME)HAVEALONGBLUE TABLETHATMYHUSBANDBUILTFORMEOUTOFCOUNTERTOP ) USE THIS AREA FOR SEWING AND SOMETIMES EVEN FOR PAPER PROJECTS ) HAVE SHELVES FOR MY FABRIC STASH BUTALSOKEEPSHELVESUPINTHEATTICTOHOUSEITALL )HAVEONETABLE)SETASIDEASAhPACKINGvTABLE/NE REASON ) REALLY LIKE HAVING MY STUDIO SPACE IN MY HOME IS THAT ) FEEL ) CAN WORK WHENEVER THE MOOD STRIKES -ANY TIMES ) HAVE GOTTEN UP OUT OF BED AT AMBECAUSEABRILLIANTIDEAHASFORMEDAND)WANT TOWORKONITRIGHTAWAY
)lNDJOYINCREATINGANYTHINGWITHMYHANDS /PPOSITE 4OP!CROWDOFCUPCAKES
"ELOW!BEAUTIFULOLDSEWINGMACHINE READYTO WORK
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ABOUTTHEPROJECT )LOVEHOUSES4HEREISSOMETHINGABOUTTHEIDEAOFHOMETHATREALLYSTIRSUPGOODFEELINGSINSIDEME 4HISISWHY)DECIDEDTOCREATEAHOUSEFORMYPROJECT )LOVEEVERYTHINGABOUTAHOUSE7HETHERITBETHE ACTUALHOUSEITSELF WALLPAPERS SHINGLES ANDSOON ORTHEIDEAOFHOMEBEINGTHEPLACEWERETREATTO4HERE ISNOPLACELIKEHOME
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WHYICREATE 7HILE )M A SUCKER FOR THE UNIQUE APPEAL OF A HANDCRAFTEDITEM ITTRULYISTHEPROCESSOFCRAFTING THAT KEEPS ME HOOKED "RAINSTORMING NEW IDEAS IS WHAT ) LOVE AND THE THRILL OF AN IDEA COMING TOGETHER DRIVES ME TO THE SEWING MACHINE AGAIN ANDAGAIN)SWEARTHEREISANAUDIBLECLICKWHEN ITALLCOMESTOGETHERINMYHEAD4HATMOMENTIS THEHIGH)CRAFTFOR /FCOURSE)MNOTONLYANvIDEAGALv)DElNITELYWANT TO SEE PROJECTS THROUGH TO CONCLUSION BUT )M NOT ONE TO RELAX AND REVEL IN MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS -Y HEAD IS ALWAYS TWO OR THREE PROJECTS AHEAD OF MY lNGERS)F)HAVEONEPROJECTINTHESEWINGMACHINE ) HAVE AT LEAST TWO OTHERS CUT OUT FABRIC PILED UP FORACOUPLEMORE ANDEVENMORESKETCHEDOUTAND READYTOGO)DONTTRYTOlLLUPMYWORKSPACELIKE THIS BUT ITS UNAVOIDABLE 7HEN A NEW IDEA POPS INTO MY HEAD IT IS ALL ) CAN DO TO NOT IMMEDIATELY
AT MY DISPOSALCHALLENGES SUCH AS MAKING THE
ABANDON MY CURRENT PROJECT )LL LEAVE A PROJECT IN
CUTEST STUFFED KITTY DOLL OR THE PERFECT NOT TOO BIG
THEMACHINEANDGOYANKFABRICFORTHENEWPROJECT
NOT TOO SMALLHANDBAG ORCOMINGUPWITHTHEMOST
BUT THATS AS FAR AS )LL LET MYSELF GO ! LITTLE SELF
BEAUTIFULWAYTOREUSEATHRIFTEDmORALSHEET4OME
DISCIPLINE THEINSTINCTUALSTOPPINGPOINTTHATKEEPS
AWONDERFULLYCRAFTEDITEMISLIKEAPUZZLE AND)LOVE
MY MIND FROM GETTING TOO FAR AHEAD OF ITSELF AND
SOLVINGPUZZLES)TSSIMILARTOOTHERROLES)VEHADIN
THEWONDERFULFEELINGOFHAVINGAlNISHEDOBJECTALL
LIFE LIKEDEBUGGINGCODEORHUNTINGDOWNAFACTFOR
WORKTOGETHERTOKEEPMEINCHECK
APATRONATTHELIBRARY)OFTENTRIPOVERTHESOLUTION 4HERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE ONE KEY IDEA THAT CLICKS
)OFTENFEELLIKE)MTHESOLECONTESTANTONACRAFTING
INPLACEANDMAKESTHEWHOLEIDEAGEL3OMETIMES
REALITYSHOWINMYHEAD)SETUPCHALLENGESTHAT)
ITSTHEVERYlRSTIDEA THESPARK3OMETIMESITSTHE
THENMUSTSOLVEUSINGTHEMATERIALSANDKNOWLEDGE
SMALLEST DETAIL THAT WILL lNALLY MAKE AN IDEA COME
TOGETHER LIKE THE BABY QUILT ) RECENTLY MADE FOR A
AND MAGAZINES CAN BE LIMITING )VE STUMBLED
FRIEND-YBIGIDEAWASTOBASETHEQUILTON'RANT
UPON SOME OF MY FAVORITE DESIGNS WHEN ) WASNT
7OODSBEAUTIFULLANDSCAPES AND)WASTRYINGTOlND
EVENLOOKING4HEPROPORTIONINAGREATPHOTOGRAPH
THE RIGHT MIX OF MODERN AND QUAINT ) HAD STYLIZED
TRIGGERS AN APRON DESIGN 4HE SHAPE OF AN ANTIQUE
TREES A ROLLING HILL LINE AND A NEAT IDEA FOR REALLY
TOYSTARTSMEONATOYSONWHEELSKICK4HEJUMPER
TEXTURAL QUILTING BUT IT lNALLY ALL CAME TOGETHER
A FRIEND MADE FOR HER TODDLER GETS REWORKED AS A
WHEN ) PICKED OUT A GREAT VINTAGE TABLECLOTH FOR
UNIFORMFORANARMYOFBIGFOOTEDBUNNIES/NTHE
THE BINDING 4HE WHOLE SCENE IS SURROUNDED BY A
OTHERSIDE THEREWASTHEQUILTlASCOWHERE)TRIEDTO
BLUESKYBINDINGAND)MlNALLYSATISlEDWITHIT/F
MAKEACLEVERPATCHWORKFROMTHRIFTEDREDSHIRTSAND
COURSE AS SOON AS ) CUT THE BINDING OUT ) STARTED
ENDEDUPWITHACOMPLETEMESS)VEHADASMANY
YANKINGFABRICSFORANEWSTUFFEDTOYIDEA
FAILURES AS SUCCESSES WHEN BRAINSTORMING hOUTSIDE THE BOXv 7HEN )M WORKING A PROJECT ) OFTEN THINK
4HE SENSE OF SATISFACTION THAT COMES FROM SOLVING
OFTHATSCENEIN0RETTYIN0INKWHEN-OLLY2INGWALD
THE RIDDLE OF A NEW PROJECT IS EVEN GREATER WHEN
IS DESIGNING HER PROM DRESS FROM THE TWO CAST OFF
THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION IS SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
DRESSES ANDSHEHOLDSUPAPIECEOFRUFmEDSLEEVE
0OURINGTHROUGHMYSTACKOFCRAFTANDDESIGNBOOKS
TO HER FOREHEAD AND THEN SHAKES HER HEAD AT HOW
4HESMALLESTDETAILWILLMAKEANIDEACOMETOGETHER /PPOSITE6INTAGESTYLEANIMALSONWHEELS
"ELOW!TRIOOFSTUFFEDBUNNYTOYS
SILLY AN IDEA IT WAS 7HILE THE RECONSTRUCTED DRESS SHECOMESUPWITHISNOTORIOUSLYBAD BRAVOFORTHE PROCESS/FTENTHEONLYWAYTOGETTOATRULYCOOLIDEA ISTHROUGHALOTOFTHOSEHEADSHAKINGMOMENTS 4HEFURTHERAWAYFROMMYCOMFORTZONE)TRAVELTHE MORE SATISFYING IT IS TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE A PROJECT ) LOVE TRYING NEW THINGS LEARNING NEW METHODS INVESTIGATING NEW MEDIUMS ) TEND TO JUMP INTO WHATEVER NEW IDEA ) HAVE WITHOUT MUCH STUDY OR THOUGHT ) FEEL THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW SOMETHING IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE THE LESS FUN IT IS4HEINTERNETISGREATFORMEBECAUSEITISSOEASY TOlNDQUICKHOW TOSFOREVERYPOSSIBLECRAFT)GRAB THE SHORTEST ANSWER TO A QUESTION ) CAN lND AND RUN WITH IT ) OFTEN MAKE MISTAKES THIS WAY BUT TO METHEYRENOWHERENEARASDISCOURAGINGASBEING
THE TRENDS AND SIMILARITIES 4HEYRE ROOTED IN THE
OVERWHELMEDBYTHEENTIRETYOFADISCIPLINE!LSOITS
IMAGERY OF MY CHILDHOOD THE CERTAIN INDELIBLE
ALOTMOREFUNIFYOUNEVERKNOWTHERULES
IMPRESSIONS MY CHILDHOOD SURROUNDINGS IMPRINTED ONMYSUBCONSCIOUS)AMOBSESSEDWITHASPECIlC
YELLOW n A BRIGHT SATURATED MUSTARD YELLOW %VERY
INSPIRATION
TIME ) SEE IT SOMEWHERE ) THINK )M DISCOVERING IT FOR THE lRST TIME n IN A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE #ARL ,ARSSON HOUSE IN 3WEDEN A PAINTED WALL IN MY
) USED TO THINK MY INSPIRATION CHANGED WITH THE
%LLE $ECORATION MAGAZINE )T JUST DAWNED ON ME
WIND ) HAVE VOLUMES AND VOLUMES OF CLIPPING
RECENTLY THAT IS THE YELLOW OF THE PAINTED WOODEN
BOOKS FROM THE PAST TEN OR SO YEARS JAMMED FULL
FURNITURE IN MY CHILDHOOD ROOM .OW ) SEE THESE
OF THINGS )VE CUT FROM MAGAZINES .OW OLDER AND
CHILDHOOD INmUENCES ON MY AESTHETICS SO CLEARLY
WISER ) CAN SEE WHEN ) LOOK BACK THROUGH THEM
nTHEILLUSTRATIONSINTHEBOOKS)READ THEPROGRAMS )WATCHEDONTV THEWHOLECOLORPALETTEOFTHES 3OMETHINGSAREMOREOBVIOUSTHANOTHERS SUCHAS THELOVEOFMODERN$ANISHFURNITURETHAT)INHERITED FROMMYPARENTS/THERSAREMOREDEEPLYEMBEDDED AND POP UP WHEN )M LEAST EXPECTING THEM (OLLY (OBBIE THE FOLK ART WALLPAPER PATTERN FROM MY GRANDPARENTS HOME THE SIMPLE WOODEN SHAKER BOXESTHATALLTHEWOMENINMYFAMILYTREASURE THE STYLISH GLAMOUR OF MY -AGIC -ARY PAPER DOLLS THE DUSTYPEACHYPINKTHATMYGRANDMOTHERLOVED ,OIS ,ENSKIANDALLTHESANDSILLUSTRATIONFROMMY MOTHERSCHILDHOODBOOKS ) PICK OUT ALL THE FODDER OF /SCARS CHILDHOOD WITH THIS IN MIND 7HILE ) HAVE RELAXED SOME ABOUT PICKINGTOYSHELLACTUALLYPLAYWITHOVERBEAUTIFULLY
DESIGNED WOODEN TOYS WITH THEIR TIMELESS BEAUTY
WORKSPACE
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GETTING ANYTHING DONE ) SHARE A SMALL HOME WITH
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YEARSFROMNOW
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FROM CHILDRENS BOOK ILLUSTRATION 4HE COLORS ARE
WORKSPACE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE RELAXING ACTIVITIES
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)VERECENTLYREDONEMYROOMORGANIZATIONANDNOW
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)MHAPPYASACLAMINTHERE
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-YNEWBUTTONSTORAGESYSTEM)USEDTOHAVEALLMY
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!BOVE!BASKETOFCUTIES
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WHYICREATE !S LONG AS ) CAN REMEMBER ) HAVE HAD A CRAFTING COMPULSION -Y MIND IS OBSESSIVELY PREOCCUPIED WITH DESIGNING AND MAKING THINGS ALL KINDS OF THINGS ,IKE MANY PEOPLE WITH OBSESSIONS ) TRY TO MASK MY EXTREME INTEREST ) DONT USUALLY TALK ABOUT IT BUT )M THINKING ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME 4HAT LOOK OF POLITE INTEREST ON MY FACE AS ) TALK TO YOU IS REALLY ME WORKING OUT HOW THE COLLAR OF YOUR SHIRT IS CONSTRUCTED AND ENJOYING THE COLOUR COMBINATIONS INTHEPOSTERONTHEBUSBEHINDYOU 7HEN)WASEIGHT )WASFASCINATEDBYASILVERCAT SUITTHATONEOF#HARLIES!NGELSWOREWHENSHEWAS DISGUISEDASANALIENDONTYOUJUSTLOVETHOSES PLOTLINES )WANTEDTOMAKEITSOBADLY BUT)DIDNT KNOWANYONEWHOCOULDTEACHMETOSEW &AMILY LORE RECOUNTED MY MOTHER DARNING MY FATHERSSOCKSWITHELECTRICTAPE4HERECOULDBENO HELPFROMTHATQUARTER 3O)TAUGHTMYSELF &ROM SCRAPS OF ADVICE LIBRARY BOOKS AND EARLY
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OFABOYFRIEND ANOTHERWAS*ONE"AKER AKNITWEAR
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DESIGNER)WORKEDFOR4HEIREXAMPLESASWOMENWHO
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ANDTAUGHTMEALOT
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AT TEXTILES AND CLOTHES ALL THE TIME ) WENT TO QUILT
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EXHIBITIONS ANTIQUE SHOPS FABRIC STORES ALWAYS
SOMEWAYSITWASINTERESTING)LOVEDANDEXCELLED
BY MYSELF BECAUSE ) DIDNT KNOW ANYONE MY AGE
IN COSTUME HISTORY BUT ) DIDNT lND LIKE MINDED
WHOSHAREDMYINTENSEINTEREST,UCKILY )DIDHAVE
STUDENTS4HEOTHERSWEREMOREINTERESTEDINFASHION
A COUPLE OF MENTORS IN MY LATE TEENS AND EARLY
THANCLOTHES4HEYLIKEDTHECONSTANTCHANGESAND
TWENTIES /NE WAS !NNE 2OBERTS THE ARTIST MOTHER
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3INCE THEN ) HAVE COMBINED MAKING THINGS FOR
)HATEDTHEWAYFASHIONGLORIlEDANIDEALIZEDBODY
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AND HAD NOTHING TO SAY TO ANYONE OF A DIFFERENT
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INSPIRATION "OOKS ARE MY GREATEST SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION)LOVETHE)NTERNETFORMAKINGTHEWORLD MYMARKETPLACEANDCONNECTINGMETOOTHERSWITH SIMILARINTERESTS BUT)STILLAPPRECIATETHEEXPERIENCE OFLOOKINGATBOOKS !NTIQUE ETHNOGRAPHIC TEXTILES AND ORNAMENTATION REALLY EXCITE ME 4HE IDEA THAT AN !FGHANI GIRL WILL WEAR THE EMBROIDERED BIB OF HER CHILDHOOD DRESS REAPPLIED TO DIFFERENT GARMENTS THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE FASCINATES ME )T INTERESTS ME BECAUSE OF THE VALUE PLACED IN THE HAND MADE AND THE -YHUSBANDSAYS)HAVEAWHIMOFIRON)CONSTANTLY
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HAVE NEW OBSESSIONS !S WELL AS THE CRAFTS ) HAVE
4HE EMBROIDERY IS IMBUED WITH SYMBOLISM AND
MENTIONED ) HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH JEWELRY
MEANING THAT ENDURES !ND THE LIFE OF THE TEXTILE
BEADING POLYMER CLAY GLASS BEAD MAKING FELTING
IN THE FORM OF DIFFERENT GARMENTS ENDURES AND
DOLL MAKING PAINTING PRINTING BOOK MAKING AND
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THEINDIVIDUAL
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) SPEND TIME DRAWING FROM BOOKS AND IN MUSEUMS
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OF !MERICAN 4RIBAL 3TYLE ALSO KNOWN AS !43 BELLY
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WORKSPACE
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WHYICREATE ) REMEMBER BEING FOUR YEARS OLD WAKING UP ONE MORNINGTOATOASTEDBAGELANDMYFATHERSETTING UPABLANKT SHIRTANDSEVERALBOTTLESOFFABRICPAINT ON THE KITCHEN TABLE FOR MY SISTER AND ) (E TOLD METODOWHATEVER)WANTEDTOTHESHIRT TOWRITE MY NAME ON IT PERHAPS 4O DECORATE IT ) DONT KNOWWHYHECHOSETHISPARTICULARACTIVITYONTHAT PARTICULARMORNING BUT)REMEMBERTHINKINGTHATIT WASAWONDERFULWAYTOSTARTTHEDAY!NDITDIDNT MATTERTHAT)ENDEDUPDECORATINGTHEBACKOFTHE T SHIRTINSTEADOFTHEFRONTBECAUSE)WASFOUR AND AT FOUR YEARS OLD RULES LIKE hTHE TAG GOES IN THE BACKvDONTREALLYMEANANYTHING!LL)KNEWWAS THAT)CREATEDSOMETHING ANDINMYLITTLEWORLDOF PAINTANDBLANKT SHIRT NORULESEXISTED )VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT )M LUCKY TO HAVE CREATIVE
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AND SELL MY CREATIONS 7ITHOUT HESITATION ) CALLED
TEACHER BUTITWASNTUNTILCOLLEGE WHERE)MAJORED
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IN %DUCATION AND EXPERIENCED TEACHING lRST HAND
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SOUNDEDCRAZYANDOVERAMBITIOUS BUT)DIDNTCARE
TEACHING WERE THE MATERIALS INVOLVED 4HE PAPERS
) WENT FULL FORCE AT THE BEGINNING AND STARTED /NE
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AND USE 3O ) DESIGNED THE /NE 'OOD "UMBLEBEE
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AND ALL MY PRODUCTS ARE STILL DESIGNED AND CREATED
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BY ME !T TIMES RUNNING A ONE WOMAN CRAFT
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!NOTHER MAJOR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR ME IS OTHER
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) MUST ADMIT THAT MY CRAFT ROOM IS RARELY NEAT AND
AND)MEANTHATALMOSTLITERALLY
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WHYICREATE &ORME ALLOFMYCREATIVEENDEAVORSAREINTENSELY INTIMATE AND SPIRITUAL ) SUFFERED FROM CHRONIC DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN MY LATE TWENTIES AND EARLY THIRTIES )T WAS AT AGE THIRTY THREE THAT ) DECIDED)WASTIREDOFFEELINGSOHORRIBLEALLOFTHE TIME ANDTHAT)OUGHTTOGETTOKNOWMYSELFBETTER TOFACEWHATEVER)WASAFRAIDOF ANDTOlNDWHAT MADEMEHAPPY )WASFORTUNATEENOUGHTOlNDANAMAZINGTHERAPIST WHOHAPPENEDALSOTOBEANAMAZINGTEACHER AND WHOHELPEDMETOSEETHAT)WASSOMUCHMORETHAN MY PHYSICAL BODY THAT ) WAS INDEED A SPIRITUAL BEING WITH INCREDIBLE CREATIVE POTENTIAL 4HIS WAS THE GREAT TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE ) WENT OFF ANTI DEPRESSANT MEDICATION AND DELVED INTO LOOKING AT EVERYTHING ABOUT MYSELFWHAT ) FEARED WHAT HAD
!TlRST EVERYTHING)MADEORDREWORPAINTEDWASFOR
SHAPED WHO ) WAS AND WHAT ) WAS PASSIONATE
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ABOUT7HEN)GOTSTUCK )WORKEDITOUTBYWRITING
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) LIVED IN A VERY SMALL STUDIO APARTMENT !ND THEN BIT BY BIT )STARTEDTOREVEALMYCREATIONSTOOTHERS
)TWASDURINGTHISTIMETHATMYCREATIVELIFETOOKOFF
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)HADALWAYSMADESTUFF AND)ALWAYSLOVEDARTAND
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WITHTRUSTEDSOULS FAMILYMEMBERSANDCLOSEFRIENDS
AND WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY ARTISTIC MEDIUMS
ANDLOVERS!NDFORATIME THISISWHATFEDME
AND OPPORTUNITIES TO INVENT SOMETHING NEW "UT THISTIMEITWASDIFFERENT)REALIZEDTHENTHAT)HAD
!ND THEN THERE IS SOMETHING TRULY AMAZING THAT
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HAPPENSWHENYOUDISCOVERYOUNOTONLYLOVETODO
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LIFE !ND WHAT STARTED SLOWLY AND TENTATIVELY HAS BECOMEONEOFTHEGREATESTJOYSOFMYLIFE4HROUGH
4HIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME !ND IT WAS A MOST
MYBLOG )HAVEHADTHEOPPORTUNITYTOCONNECTWITH
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OTHER CREATIVE SOULS AROUND THE PLANET !ND IN THIS
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NEVERFELTBEFORE
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!ND SO IT WAS THEN THAT ) VENTURED OUT INTO THE
ANDTHENTOSHAREITWITHATHOUSANDOTHERPEOPLE
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INSPIRATION -Y MIND IS ALWAYS lLLED WITH IDEAS )N FACT ) HAVE A NUMBER OF SMALL NOTEBOOKS IN MY BAG AND LYING AROUND MY OFlCE AND APARTMENT ON WHICH ) HAVE SCRIBBLED SKETCHES OR NOTES OR LISTS OF IDEAS ) AM FAMOUS AT WORK FOR LOSING CONCENTRATION IN LONG MEETINGS BECAUSE ) AM DRAWING SOMETHING OR MAKINGLONGSCHEMATICMAPSOFINTERWEAVINGIDEAS -YCOWORKERSTOLERATEIT BECAUSEGENERALLY)AMWELL ORGANIZEDANDAGOODTHINKERANDCONTRIBUTORTOTHE WORK AND)DOTHINKTHEYVALUETHECREATIVEENERGY) BRINGTOOURSOMEWHATCEREBRALDAILYTASKS 3O)AMNEVERATALOSSFORWHATTOMAKE)JUSTDONT HAVETHETIMEORMONEYFORSUPPLIESORTHETECHNICAL SKILLTOEXECUTEALLOFMYIDEAS)MAKEDOWITHTHE TIMEANDSUPPLIESANDTECHNICALSKILLTHAT)DOHAVE !ND ) GENERALLY DIVE RIGHT INTO PROJECTS -Y MOTHER USEDTOTEASEMEWHEN)WASAKIDBECAUSEWHENEVER
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-Y CATS LIKE MY STUDIO TOO 4HEY ARE KNOWN TO
A LARGE OPENING OR TO THE KITCHEN OR LIVING ROOM
BAT ALL OF MY SMALL SUPPLIES OUT OF THE MANY
7HEN ) BOUGHT THIS APARTMENT IT WAS IMPORTANT
COMPARTMENTALIZED TRAYS ) COLLECT AND PLAY WITH
TO ME THAT ) HAVE A ROOM TO MAKE A STUDIO AFTER )
THEM ALL NIGHT LONG AS ) SLEEP !ND THEY SOMEHOW
MOVED FROM MY SMALL ONE ROOM APARTMENT !ND
LIKE MY SEWING CHAIR BETTER THAN THE BED OR SOFA
SO WHILE IT DOESNT HAVE MANY OF THE AMENITIES )
)TS COVERED IN THEIR FUR AND ) RARELY VACUUM IT OFF
HOPE TO SOMEDAY HAVEA UTILITY SINK WITH RUNNING
-Y STUDIO IS ALL ABOUT ME !ND WHEN PEOPLE COME
WATER REALLYGOODLIGHTING AMPLESHELFSTORAGEAND
TOVISIT ITSTHEROOMTHEYLIKETOVISITMOSTTOO EVEN
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THOUGHITDOESNTHAVEPLATESOFFOODINITORASOFA
FAVORITEROOM
OR A TELEVISION 4HEY LOVE TO LOOK AROUND !ND THAT GIVES ME A WONDERFUL FEELINGxAND MAKES ME FEEL
4WO YEARS AGO ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS BUILT ME A
WELL MOREINSPIRED
WORKTABLEANDCOVEREDANENTIREWALLWITHCORKBOARD SO)COULDPINEVERYINSPIRATIONTOIT4HISISONEOF MY FAVORITE FEATURES -Y STUDIOS NOT VERY BIG SO THINGS ARE STUFFED IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY AND ITS GENERALLY VERY MESSY ) TRY TO KEEP MY FABRIC
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WHYICREATE )HAVEALWAYSCRAFTEDONEOFMYEARLIESTMEMORIES ISSITTINGWITHMYMOTHER WATCHINGHERSEW7E WERE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO TRY THINGS OURSELVES ) STILL HAVE A LITTLE TEDDY BEAR THAT WE MADE TOGETHER WHEN)WASABOUTlVEYEARSOLD)GREW UPSURROUNDEDBYWOMENWHOHADLARGEFAMILIES ANDLITTLEMONEY SOTHEREWERECHILDRENSCLOTHES TOBEMADEANDMENDED HUSBANDSSOCKSTODARN ANDSCRATCHYWOOLLENJUMPERSTOKNIT -YFATHERKNEWHOWTOKNITANDSEWTOO SOMETHING HELEARNEDWHILSTSERVINGINTHE"RITISH.AVYDURING 7ORLD7AR4WO3AILORSWEREEXPECTEDTOBEABLETO REPAIRTHEIRUNIFORMSWHILEATSEAANDEMBROIDERED MANYPIECESFORTHEIRSWEETHEARTSATHOMETOWHILE AWAY THE TIME %VEN THOUGH MY FATHER HAD HUGE HANDS WITHlNGERSLIKEBIGFATSAUSAGES HECOULD
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MY MOTHER EVERY DAY ) TOO NOW PREFER TO MAKE
3MALL CHILDREN ARE INVARIABLY NOISY BLESS THEM SO
RATHER THAN BUY ) PARTICULARLY ENJOY RECYCLING OLD
TOBEABLETOSITINMYCRAFTROOM SEWING LISTENING
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SUMMER
AGAIN HECOULDPAINTFROMTHEHEARTLIKEACHILD3O ) USUALLY COME AWAY FROM THESE SESSIONS INSPIRED BY A LITTLE PERSON !BOVE ALL THEY REMIND ME THAT CREATINGSOMETHINGISSUPPOSEDTOBEFUN SOMETHING THATSEASYTOFORGETWHENYOURESTRESSINGOVERYOUR &RENCHSEAMS 6INTAGEFABRICSAREANOTHERINSPIRATIONFORME)LOVE CHILDRENS PRINTS FROM THE LAST CENTURY PARTICULARLY THES S ANDS)ALSOHAVEACOLLECTIONOF VINTAGEDRESSESMADEBYTHE$UTCHCHILDRENSLABEL /ILILY 4HEY EXCEL AT PRODUCING BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL ITEMS OF CLOTHING WITH COLOURS AND PATTERNS THAT CLASHINTHEMOSTWONDERFULWAY!GAIN )SUPPOSE ITS ALL ABOUT NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ANY RIGID RULESWHENITCOMESTODESIGN 3TICKING WITH THE CHILDHOOD THEME CHILDRENS ILLUSTRATIONISSOMETHINGTHAT)ALSOlNDVERYINSPIRING (AVINGHADFOURCHILDREN WEHAVEAVASTSUPPLYOF BOOKSATHOME )PARTICULARLYLOVETHEWORKOF*ANET
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AND CRAFTING BUT DURING MY CHILDHOOD SHE WAS
AND SPORTED A JAUNTY BERET -Y DOLL WAS ) THINK
CONSTANTLY CREATING AMAZING ITEMS -Y MOTHER
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THE MISTAKE OF LETTING ME SELECT THE HAIR COLOR AND
HIT FOURTH GRADE AND DECIDED TO BECOME A TOMBOY
THEBUTTONSFORTHEEYES7ELL MINEHADORANGEHAIR
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ANDCLEARBUTTONEYES)STILLHAVETHATDOLLTHOUGH
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SHEDOESNTHAVEMUCHHAIRLEFT 4HROUGHTHEYEARS
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MY AUNT HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE VARIOUS THINGS
WAS A LITTLE SCRATCHY 0OLYESTER WAS DISMAYINGLY
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) RECALL AS BEING A TAD CLINGY !T ONE POINT SHE GOT
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COLORS IN A BUSINESS LOGO ) AM EASILY DRAWN IN BY COLOR THE BRIGHTER THE BETTER AND PATTERN AND INSPIRATION ALSO COMES IN THE FORM OF DREAMS OR VISIONS 4HESE VISIONS INCUBATE IN MY HEAD AND IF ) DONT TRY TO CREATE THEM IN TANGIBLE FORMS ) GO A LITTLECRAZY!COUPLEMONTHSAGO FOREXAMPLE )SAW
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WHYICREATE ) HAVE NO FORMAL TRAINING IN ART OR DESIGN BUT ) LEARNED TO SEW FROM AN EARLY AGE AND CRAFTING HAS ALWAYS FELT NATURAL AND BRINGS ME GREAT JOY AND SATISFACTION 7HEN ) GO THROUGH LONG PERIODS WHERE)MNOTABLETODOSOMETHINGCREATIVE )CAN GET PRETTY CRANKY 3O CRAFTING IS A WAY FOR ME TO RECHARGE)DONTHAVEALOGICALREASONFORWHYITS SO IMPORTANT TO ME AND WHAT DRIVES ME TO DO IT OTHER THAN AN OVERWHELMING URGE AND A NEED TO CREATE-AKINGTHINGSJUSTMAKESMEHAPPY ) LOVE HANDCRAFTED THINGS AND THE INTIMACY IN THE EVIDENCE OF A HUMAN HAND 9OU SEE LESS AND LESS HANDWORKINOURMODERNDAYLIVES ANDWEUSUALLY BUY WHAT WE NEED BECAUSE WE DONT HAVE THE TIMEORSOMETIMESEVENTHEKNOWLEDGETOMAKEIT (ANDCRAFTING HELPS ME RECONNECT TO A SLOWER TIME WHEN PEOPLE VALUED THEIR POSSESSIONS AND DIDNT JUSTTHROWTHEMAWAYWHENTHEYBROKE "OTH OF MY PARENTS ARE THE CHILDREN OF *APANESE
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A LOT OF CLOTHING BUT SHE ALLOWED HER TO PURCHASE
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-YMOTHERWASALSOANELEMENTARYSCHOOLTEACHER
ANDMYCHILDHOODWASJAMMEDWITHSEWINGLESSONS
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ABOUT EIGHT -Y MOM TOOK TWO OLD CREAM COLORED
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mAT SHEETS LAID THEM OUT ON THE LIVING ROOM mOOR
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DOLLOFME)GOTTODRAWONTHEFACE SEWONSOME
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)LOVEDTHISPROJECT ITWASEXCITINGANDFUNBECAUSE
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!LOTOFIDEASCOMETOMEWHEN)MDRIVINGHOMEIN
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)VE NEVER FULLY LEARNED THE lNE ART OF TIME
:ENMEDITATIVESTATEANDHAVEANINEXPLICABLEURGE
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n SHE NOTICED )T WAS SUCH A SMALL SIMPLE GESTURE
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ENDSOF THREAD
3TEP4HREE &OR THE MIDDLE PIECE OF THE mOWER FOLD THE FABRIC IN HALF LENGTHWISE ANDlNGERPRESSALONGTHEFOLD
FOLD RAWEDGES 3KIPPINGTHEPINKINGSHEARS FOLLOWTHESAMEDIRECTIONSFROM STEPTWOTOCREATEANOTHERCIRCLE 3TEP&OUR &ORTHEBACKPIECE TRACETHECIRCLE TEMPLATE ONTO YOUR PIECE OF FABRIC AND CUT OUT SEE PAGE FOR THE TEMPLATE 4HEN MAKE v DEEP CUTS vAPART ALLAROUNDTHEEDGE OFTHECIRCLE!FTERCLIPPING @ROUGH UPTHEEDGESABITWITHYOURlNGERS TOGIVEITTEXTURE 3TEP&IVE 3TACK THE THREE mOWER PIECES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER AND TOP WITH YOURCHOSENBUTTON3EWALLTHESE PIECESTOGETHER GOINGTHROUGHTHE HOLESOFTHEBUTTON 3TEP3IX 5SINGTHESECONDCIRCLETEMPLATEALSOONPAGE CUTOUT THEBACKSUPPORTFROMYOURHEAVYCOTTONCANVAS3EWTHE PINBACKTOTHECENTEROFTHISPIECE 3TEP3EVEN 3PREADTHEFABRICGLUEOVERTHEOTHERSIDEOFTHEBACKSUPPORT ANDPRESSTHEBACKOFYOURmOWERTOIT!LLOWITTOFULLYDRY ANDYOURmOWERBROOCHISlNISHED
0ATCHWORK0URSE -ATERIALS &ORTHEPURSE
3TRIPSOFFABRICvWIDE
,ININGFABRIC vXv
)NTERFACING OR TO PIECES OF PLAIN COTTON FABRIC FOR INTERLINING SAMESIZEASLINING
BUTTONS
,ENGTHOFCORDAPPROXvLONG
%MBROIDERYTHREAD
3TEP&OUR 4URNRIGHTSIDEOUTANDSTITCHGAPCLOSED 3TEP&IVE &OLDOVER ABOUTvFROMBOTTOMEDGETOMAKEYOURPURSE SHAPE AND THEN BLANKETSTITCH THE SIDES TOGETHER "LANKET STITCHAROUNDREMAININGEDGESFORASMARTDECORATIVElNISH
&ORTHECORSAGE
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BUTTON
BROOCHBACKPINBACK 0URSE 3TEP/NE 'ATHERTOGETHERYOURFABRICSTRIPSANDWHENYOUAREHAPPY STITCHTOGETHERUNTILYOURPIECEISAPPROXIMATELYvLONG
3TEP3IX !TTACHABUTTONTOTHEFRONTOFYOURPURSEAPPROXIMATELYv FROM THE BOTTOM EDGE AND THEN THREAD YOUR CORD THROUGH YOUROTHERBUTTONANDATTACHTOTHEmAPASSHOWN
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v
3TEP4WO #UTYOURLININGANDINTERLININGFABRICS TOTHESAMESIZEAS YOURPATCHWORK 3TEP4HREE 0UT YOUR PATCHWORK AND LINING FABRICS RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER PLACE YOUR INTERLING ON THE TOP AND PIN TOGETHER 3TITCH TOGETHER LEAVING A GAP FOR TURNING
#ORSAGE 3TEP/NE #UTSIXPETALSANDONECIRCLEFROMYOURCHOSEN FABRICS4HETEMPLATESAREONPAGE 3TEP4WO 3TACK ALL THE PIECES UP AND STITCH TOGETHER THROUGH THE CENTREOFEACHPETAL lNISHINGOFFWITHABUTTON 3TEP4HREE 3EWONTHEBROOCHBACKANDPINTOYOURBAG
,IBRARY4OTE -ATERIALS !LL SIZE GUIDES ABOVE INCLUDE SEAM ALLOWANCES 0LEASE REMEMBERTOALLOWvEXTRAFOREACHSEWNEDGEIFYOUARE MAKINGTHISBAGTOYOUROWNSPECIlCATIONS
PIECESFABRICFOROUTSIDEOFBAG&ORTHISBAG)USEDv WIDEXvTALL4RYTOCHOOSEFABRICWITHAREASONABLYHEAVY WEAVEFORDURABILITYANDSTRENGTH SUCHASDENIM CORDUROY UPHOLSTERYWEIGHTCOTTONORLINEN
PIECESOFCONTRASTINGFABRIC USINGSAMEMEASUREMENTS ASABOVEFORINSIDEOFBAG!LIGHTWEIGHTQUILTINGCOTTONWAS USEDHERE
,ENGTHOFFABRICFORSTRAP ACCORDINGTOYOURDESIREDWIDTH ANDLENGTH)USEDvXv WHICHRESULTSINATHINSTRAP OFABOUTvWIDE!GAIN ITISBESTTOUSEAHEAVILYWOVEN FABRICFORSTRENGTH)FYOUWISHTOUSEALIGHTWEIGHTFABRIC ITISRECOMMENDEDTHATYOUREINFORCEITWITHSOMEIRON ON INTERFACINGBEFORESEWING
&ABRICFORPOCKETvXv
!BOUT v OF v BIAS BINDING !LTERNATIVELY MAKE YOUR OWNBINDINGTOMATCHFABRICUSEDINSIDEBAG
3TEP/NE #UTPIECESOFFABRICASSPECIlEDINMATERIALSLIST
3TEP&IVE 0IN BINDING INTO PLACE ON TOP OF POCKET AND SEW IN LEAVING APPROXIMATELY MM AT EACH END2EMOVEGATHERINGTHREADS
FOLDEDBINDING
3TEP3IX 0INPOCKETTOPIECEOFFABRICTHATYOUWILLUSEFORTHEFRONT OFYOURBAG TUCKINGBINDINGEDGESUNDERTOPRODUCEANEAT EDGE AT TOP OF POCKET 4HIS WILL MAKE A SELF LINED POCKET 3EWINTOPLACEALONGEDGESPUTASIDE
FRONTOFBAG
3TEP3EVEN 0RESSSTRAPFABRICASSHOWNnFOLDINGSTRAPINHALFLENGTHWISE AND FOLDING EDGES IN A FURTHER MM AS YOU IRON 3EW THIS LENGTHTOGETHERALONGLONGEDGE ASCLOSETOEDGEASPOSSIBLE ABOUT MMISGOOD 0UTASIDE
3TEP4WO &OLD POCKET FABRIC IN HALF ON LONG EDGE WITH RIGHT SIDES FACING MAKING A RECTANGLE OF APPROX v WIDE X v HIGH RAWEDGES
3TEP4HREE 3EW UP THE SHORT SIDES OF POCKET TURN INSIDE OUT AND PRESS
RAWEDGES
3TEP%IGHT 7ITH YOUR TWO PIECES OF CUT FABRIC FACING RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER SEWBAGLININGALONG THE TWO LONG EDGES AND ONE SHORTEDGEnLEAVINGAHOLEOF ABOUT CM IN THE LATTER 4HE REMAINING OPEN EDGE WILL BE THE TOP OPENING OF YOUR BAG 4URNRIGHTSIDEOUT
FOLDEDEDGE
3TEP.INE 0LACEPIECESOFFABRICTOBEUSEDFOROUTSIDEOFBAGRIGHTSIDES TOGETHER MAKING SURE POCKET IS FACING RIGHT SIDE UP AND
FOLDEDEDGE
3TEP&OUR 2UN A GATHERING SEAM APPROX MM BELOW UNSEWN LONG EDGETOPOFPOCKET 0ULLTHREADSTOGATHERFABRICUNTILYOU REACHYOURDESIREDSIZEFORPOCKETOPENINGvHERE v
LININGWRONGSIDE
SEW ALONG SAME EDGES AS IN 3TEP %IGHT 4HIS TIME DO NOT LEAVEAHOLEINTHESHORTEDGE STRAPENDSPININPLACE
3TEP4EN ,EAVING OUTSIDE OF BAG INSIDE OUT PLACE SEWN STRAP INSIDE BAGANDPINENDSINTOPLACEAT THE UNSEWN TOP OF THE BAG ON THE SIDE SEAMS 2EMEMBER TO ENSUREYOURSTRAPISNOTTWISTED TOALLOWFORANEAT COMFORTABLE DRAPE
3TEP%LEVEN 0LACE THE BAG LINING STILL TURNED RIGHT SIDE OUT INSIDE THE BAG SO THAT THE TWO RIGHT SIDES ARE FACING WITH THE STRAP SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN 0IN BOTH LAYERS TOGETHER ALONG TOP OPEN EDGE 3EW ALONG TOP PERIMETER TO SECURE BAG LINING ANDSTRAP
4HESE ARE THE CIRCLE TEMPLATES FOR THE &LOWER "ROOCH )NSTRUCTIONSAREONPAGE
OUTERBAGWRONGSIDE
LININGWRONGSIDE
CIRCLETEMPLATE BACKFLOWERPIECE vWIDE
OUTSIDEFABRICWRONGSIDE
3TEP4HIRTEEN 4URNINSIDEOUTTHROUGHHOLEINBOTTOMOFLINING
3TEP&OURTEEN 0RESS BAG PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO TOP PERIMETER 2UN ANOTHER SEAM ALONG THE TOP EDGE 4HIS WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A PROFESSIONAL lNISH AND GIVE EXTRA STRENGTH AND SECURITYTOTHESTRAP
CIRCLETEMPLATE BACKSUPPORT vWIDE LININGRIGHTSIDE
3TEP&IFTEEN 3EW UP HOLE IN THE LINING OFYOURBAGANDEMBELLISH YOUR TOTE AS DESIRED 0OP YOUR LIBRARY CARD IN THE POCKET AND LOAD HER UP WITHBOOKS
OUTSIDEFABRICRIGHTSIDE
4ISSUE#OVER
3TEP3IX 3EW TRIANGLE HOUSE PARTS TO THE ROOF SIDES2EPEATFORINSIDEPIECES
-ATERIALS 3TEP3EVEN 4HEN SEW THE LAST SIDES ON ALL THE HOUSE PARTS2EPEATFORINSIDEPIECES
YARDS OF VARIOUS PRINTS PREFERABLY OF A MEDIUM TO HEAVYWEIGHTCOTTON9OUCANMIXANDMATCHPATTERNSFOR EACHPIECEOFTHEHOUSE
"LACKFELTANDWHITEFELTFORTHEEYES
%MBROIDERYmOSS
3TEP/NE #UTTHEFOLLOWINGPIECES
(OUSE 3IDES v X v X FROM OUTSIDE FABRIC X FROMINSIDEFABRIC
2OOF3IDESvXvXFROMOUTSIDEROOFFABRIC X FROMINSIDEFABRIC 3EE0ATTERNFOR#HIMNEY(OLE
#HIMNEYvXvX
2OOF 4RIANGLE 3EE 0ATTERN 0IECES X OF OUTER FABRIC X OFINNERFABRIC
%YES3EE0ATTERN0IECES !LLMEASUREMENTSINCLUDEvSEAMALLOWANCE 3TEP4WO 4AKE CHIMNEY PEICES AND SEW ALL FOUR TOGETHER ALONG THE LONGEDGES
3TEP%IGHT .OWYOUWILLHAVETWOHOUSES ONEMADE FROMINNERFABRICS ONEFROMOUTER 3TEP.INE .OWYOUWANTTOSANDWITCHTHEHOUSESSOTHERIGHTSIDES OFTHEFABRICAREFACINGEACHOTHER)TDOESNTMATTERWHICH HOUSE IS ON THE OUTSIDE JUST MAKE SURE TO LINE UP ALL THE HOUSEPARTSSOTHEYlTTOGETHERNICELY 3TEP4EN 7ITH YOUR SEWING MACHINE SEW ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGES LEAVING ONE SIDE OPEN 4HIS IS SO YOU CAN TURNTHEHOUSESRIGHTSIDEOUT-AKE CAREFULNOTEWHENSEWINGTOLINEUP ALLTHECORNERSONTHEHOUSE
WRONGSIDES
RIGHTSIDES
3TEP4HREE .EXTTURNTHECHIMNEYRIGHT SIDEOUTANDTHENTUCKHALF OFTHECHIMNEYINSIDEITSELF
HALFTUCKED INSIDE
RIGHTSIDES
WRONGSIDE RIGHTSIDES
RIGHTSIDE
3TEP%LEVEN .EXT TURN THE HOUSE RIGHT SIDE OUT CAREFULLYSEWALONGTHEEDGETOKEEP THEHOUSEFROMCURLING7HENYOUGET THETHESIDETHATWASNOTSEWN JUST TUCKTHEENDSINANDSEWITCLOSED
3TEP4WELVE ,INEUPTHESQUAREOPENINGFORTHECHIMNEYINTHEROOF
3TEP&OUR 4AKE THE TWO ROOF SIDE PIECES CUT FROM THE OUTSIDE FABRIC ANDPLACETHEMRIGHT SIDES TOGETHER3EWALONGONEOFTHE vSIDES2EPEATWITHTHEINSIDEROOFPIECES 3TEP&IVE 3EW TRIANGLES TO TWO OF THE OUTSIDE HOUSE SIDES 2EPEAT WITH TWO OF THE INSIDEHOUSESIDES
WRONGSIDES
3TEP4HIRTEEN 7ORKINGONESIDEATATIME HAND STITCH THE CHIMNEY TO THE OUTER SIDEOFTHEHOUSE5SESMALLNEAT STITCHES AND A THREAD COLOR THAT WILL BLEND IN WITH YOUR FABRIC )F YOU lND YOUR HOLE TOO SMALL ITS OK 9OU CAN CAREFULLY TUCK THE FABRICALITTLEASYOUGOALONG9OU DONOTWANTTHEHOLETOBETOOBIG ATALL 3TEP&OURTEEN 4URN THE HOUSE WRONG SIDE OUT AND lNISH STITCHING THE
CHIMNEY ON THIS SIDE )F YOU CAN SEE THE STITCHES MORE ON THIS SIDE IT WONT MATTER 4HEY WILL BE INSIDE AND NOT BE SEENONCETHEHOUSEISCOMPLETE
WHERE THE EYES WILL GO -AKE SURE YOU ARE ONLY STITCHING THROUGH THE TOP LAYER OF FABRIC SO THE STICHES WONT SHOW ONTHEUNDERSIDE
3TEP&IFTEEN ,ASTLY TURN THE HOUSE RIGHT SIDES OUT AGAIN AND CHOOSEWHICHSIDEYOUDLIKETHEFACEON
3TEP3EVENTEEN 5SEFABRICGLUETOGLUEEYESOVERTHEENDKNOTS 3TEP%IGHTEEN /NCE COMPLETLY DRY PULL HOUSE OVER TISSUE BOX USEONEHANDTOPULLTHElRSTTISSUE UP THROUGH THE CHIMNEY TO LOOK LIKE SMOKE "E CAREFUL NOT TO PULL THE TISSUEOUTTOOFAR
v
3TEP3IXTEEN 5SING RED EMBROIDERY THREAD BACKSTITCH AMOUTH9OUCANHIDEYOURENDKNOTS
v %DGE!
v
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#UTAvXvCHIMNEYHOLEONONEOUTSIDEROOFPIECE ANDONEINSIDEROOFPIECE7HENSEWINGTHEROOFSEAM 3TEP MAKE%DGE!ISTHESEAMEDGE
0ILLOWCASE !PRON
3TEP&IVE -EASUREPIECESOFTWILLTAPELONGENOUGHTOEITHERTIENICELY INBACK ORSUPERLONGTOWRAPALLTHEWAYAROUNDANDTIEIN FRONT,AYTHEAPRONDOWNmATANDFOLDOVERAPLEATONEITHER SIDEOFTHEWAISTBANDSTICKTHEENDSOFYOURTWOPIECESOF TWILL TAPE IN THERE PIN AND SEW INTO PLACE 9OU CAN MAKE THEPLEATSASNEARTHEMIDDLEOREDGESASYOUDLIKE ORYOU CANSKIPPLEATSALTOGETHERANDSEWTHETWILLTAPEONATTHE EDGES
-ATERIALS
THIRFTEDPILLOWCASE
PACKAGEOFTWILLTAPE
FABRICPENPENCIL
TWILLTAPE FOLD
PLEATS
3TEP/NE 7ASHTHEPILLOWCASE IRON IT ANDFOLDITINHALF WITH THE OPENING FACING THE BOTTOM EDGES
DRAWLINESWITH FABRICPEN
3TEP4WO ,AY OUT THE SUPPLIES YOU WANTTOCARRYWITHYOUIN YOUR APRON AND MARK THE SIZEANDPLACEMENTOFTHE POCKETS YOUD LIKE 5SE YOUR FABRIC PEN OR PENCIL TODRAWTHEPOCKETONTHE APRON
3TEP4HREE CREATEOPENING 4O MAKE THE OPENINGS @BUTTONHOLE FOR THE POCKETS UNFOLD THE PILLOWCASE AND SEW THROUGHJUSTTHETWOLAYERS USING THE ZIGZAG STITCH ESSENTIALLYMAKINGAGIANT BUTTON HOLE THE SIZE OF EACHPOCKETOPENINGTHAT YOUVEMARKEDOUT5SESCISSORSORAROTARYCUTTERTOVERY CAREFULLYCUTOPENTHE@BUTTONHOLE 3TEP&OUR STITCHOVERPEN LINES ,AY THE APRON BACK DOWN FOLDED OVER ON ITSELF AND PINTHROUGHALLLAYERSTO KEEPITINPLACESEWALONG THE LINES YOUVE MARKED OUTTOBETHEPOCKETS!LSO SEWRIGHTALONGTHETOPOF THE ZIGZAGGED BUTTONHOLE TOANCHORDOWNTHETOPLAYERTOTHEBOTTOM
3TEP3IX 3END THE APRON THROUGH THE WASH TO GET OUT FABRIC PEN PENCIL ANDYOUREALLSET
0ILLOWCASE !PRON
3TEP&IVE -EASUREPIECESOFTWILLTAPELONGENOUGHTOEITHERTIENICELY INBACK ORSUPERLONGTOWRAPALLTHEWAYAROUNDANDTIEIN FRONT,AYTHEAPRONDOWNmATANDFOLDOVERAPLEATONEITHER SIDEOFTHEWAISTBANDSTICKTHEENDSOFYOURTWOPIECESOF TWILL TAPE IN THERE PIN AND SEW INTO PLACE 9OU CAN MAKE THEPLEATSASNEARTHEMIDDLEOREDGESASYOUDLIKE ORYOU CANSKIPPLEATSALTOGETHERANDSEWTHETWILLTAPEONATTHE EDGES
-ATERIALS
THIRFTEDPILLOWCASE
PACKAGEOFTWILLTAPE
FABRICPENPENCIL
TWILLTAPE FOLD
PLEATS
3TEP/NE 7ASHTHEPILLOWCASE IRON IT ANDFOLDITINHALF WITH THE OPENING FACING THE BOTTOM EDGES
DRAWLINESWITH FABRICPEN
3TEP4WO ,AY OUT THE SUPPLIES YOU WANTTOCARRYWITHYOUIN YOUR APRON AND MARK THE SIZEANDPLACEMENTOFTHE POCKETS YOUD LIKE 5SE YOUR FABRIC PEN OR PENCIL TODRAWTHEPOCKETONTHE APRON
3TEP4HREE CREATEOPENING 4O MAKE THE OPENINGS @BUTTONHOLE FOR THE POCKETS UNFOLD THE PILLOWCASE AND SEW THROUGHJUSTTHETWOLAYERS USING THE ZIGZAG STITCH ESSENTIALLYMAKINGAGIANT BUTTON HOLE THE SIZE OF EACHPOCKETOPENINGTHAT YOUVEMARKEDOUT5SESCISSORSORAROTARYCUTTERTOVERY CAREFULLYCUTOPENTHE@BUTTONHOLE 3TEP&OUR STITCHOVERPEN LINES ,AY THE APRON BACK DOWN FOLDED OVER ON ITSELF AND PINTHROUGHALLLAYERSTO KEEPITINPLACESEWALONG THE LINES YOUVE MARKED OUTTOBETHEPOCKETS!LSO SEWRIGHTALONGTHETOPOF THE ZIGZAGGED BUTTONHOLE TOANCHORDOWNTHETOPLAYERTOTHEBOTTOM
3TEP3IX 3END THE APRON THROUGH THE WASH TO GET OUT FABRIC PEN PENCIL ANDYOUREALLSET
)CE#REAM 0IN#USHION
3TEP.INE /NCE BOTH PUFFS ARE SECURED TOGETHER lLL THE INSIDE OF YOUR mOWER POT WITH GLUE AND GENTLY SET THE ICE CREAM INTO THE POT MAKINGSURETOTUCKTHESIDESOFPUFF"INTO POTSUPPERRIM
-ATERIALS
3TEP4EN 4OMAKECHERRYONTOP0LACEPINKPININTOHOLEOFREDBEAD 3TICKPININTOICECREAM
-INIATUREmOWERPOTvXv
YARDOF&ABRIC!
YARDOF&ABRIC"
QUILTERSPINWITHPINKPINHEAD
MEDIUMSIZEDREDBEAD
&ABRICGLUE
3TEP/NE 4RACECIRCLETEMPLATEONFABRIC!#UTOUTCIRCLE 3TEP4WO 5SING NEEDLE AND THREAD MAKE A RUNNING STITCH PASS THE NEEDLE OVER AND UNDER THE FABRIC JUST INSIDE THE CIRCLES EDGE LEAVING ABOUT A CENTIMETER BETWEEN YOUR STITCHING AND THE EDGE OF THE CIRCLE #ONTINUE STITCHING AROUND THE ENTIRECIRCLESEEIMAGES AND"
CIRCLETEMPLATE
3TEP4HREE /NCE YOUVE STITCHED AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCLE PULL GENTLY ON YOUR THREAD TO SLIGHTLY CINCH UP THE CIRCLE SO THAT IT FORMS THE SHAPE OF ABOWL 3TEP&OUR &ILL THE CINCHED CIRCLE WITH STUFlNG AND CINCH THE CIRCLE TIGHTER UNTIL ITS CLOSED FORMINGAPUFF 3TEP&IVE (OLDING THE CIRCLE CLOSED PULL THE THREAD TAUT AND KNOT IT TO CLOSE UP THE CIRCLE MAKINGSURENOTTOLETANYSTUFlNGGETOUT 3TEP3IX 2EPEATSTEPS FORFABRIC" 3TEP3EVEN 4O FORM THE TWO SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM 3TACK PUFF ! ON TOP OFPUFF" 3TEP%IGHT 5SING NEEDLE AND THREAD CONNECT PUFF ! TO PUFF " BY STITCHING THEM TOGETHER 3EW ! TO THETOPOF"USINGSMALLSTITCHESFROMBOTTOM OFPUFF!THROUGHTOPOFPUFF"
! "
0EBBLE"RACELET -ATERIALS
HANKOFMERINOTOPSFORFELTINGINCOLOUROFYOURCHOICE
4WOvPIECESOFMMDIAMETERBEADINGELASTIC CLEAR
BEADSFORSPACERSMINEAREABOUTMM WITHHOLESBIG ENOUGHTOlTELASTIC
3CRAPSOFSILKINlVECOLOURS PREFERABLY3HANTUNGWITHA DIFFERENTCOLOUREDWARPANDWEFT
3UPERGLUE
"ABYSHAMPOO
'OLDTHREAD 4OOLS
3EWINGNEEDLETOlTGOLDTHREAD
$ARNINGNEEDLETOlTELASTIC
"RADAWL OR OTHER POINTY INSTRUMENT FOR MAKING HOLES IN BEADS
3CISSORS
0OTOFBOILINGORVERYHOTWATER
0OTOFCOLDWATER
3LOTTEDSPOON
4EATOWELS
3TEP/NE 3EPARATE THESE LENGTHS INTO HALF WIDTH WISE AND THEN SPREADOUTlVEOFTHEMONYOURWORKSURFACE/PENUPTHE LENGTHSOFTHEWOOLlBRE TOPREPAREFORFELTING LAYERONE 3TEP4WO ,AY ONE GROUP SO THAT THE LENGTH OF THE lBRES RUNS VERTICALLY AND THEN LAYASECONDGROUPOFlBRESOVERTOP WITHTHElBRESRUNNINGHORIZONTALLY
LAYERTWO
3TEP4HREE ,AYATHIRDGROUPOFlBRESVERTICALLY 4HEFOURTHHORIZONTALLY ANDTHElFTHANDlNALGROUPVERTICALLY9OUSHOULDNOWHAVE ASTACKOFlVELENGTHSOFWOOLTOP3PRINKLEABITOFTHEHOT SOAPYWATERSOLUTIONONTOPOFTHEWOOLlBRES 3TEP&OUR "EGINTOGENTLYROLLTHISGROUPOFlBRESINTOABALLBETWEEN YOUR HANDS AS YOU MIGHT WITH PLAY DOUGH $O NOT APPLY MUCHPRESSURE'ENTLYDOESITATTHISSTAGE 3TEP&IVE
4HEWOOLSHOULDhSTICKvTOGETHERQUITEEASILYBECAUSEOFALL THESOAP+EEPROLLING IFITREFUSESTOCOMETOGETHER ADDA LITTLEMORESOAPYWATER BUTNOTSOMUCHITISSOAKINGAND UNMANAGEABLE 3TEP3IX )FYOUKEEPROLLINGGENTLY ITSHOULD COVERAFISSURE COMEINTOANICENEATBALLWITHNO WITHEXTRAWOOL CRACKSORlSSURES)FACRACKDOES SEEM TO APPEAR THEN TAKE A FEW WISPSOFMERINOANDLAYTHEMOVER THECRACKEDAREA USELOTSOFSOAP ON YOUR HANDS TO hSTICKv THEM IN PLACE +EEP ROLLING GENTLY AND THECRACKAREASHOULDGETHIDDEN NICELY !S LONG AS YOU DONT APPLY TOO MUCH PRESSURE YOU CANKEEPADDINGWOOLTOTHEBALLINTHISWAY 3TEP3EVEN !TTHISSTAGEYOUCOULDCOMPLETETHEFELTBEADBYJUSTROLLING MOREANDMOREVIGOROUSLYUNTILALLTHElBRESARECOMPLETELY FELTEDINTOAHARDBALL"UTFORTHISPROJECTWEAREGOINGTODO SOMETHINGABITDIFFERENT &IRSTLY WEWANTTHEBEADSTOBEMOREOFABUTTONSHAPESO THEYlTNICELYAGAINSTTHEWRIST0RESSTHETOPOFYOURBEAD DOWNWITHTHEmATOFYOURPALMASMUCHASYOUCAN
3TEP%IGHT .OW WE ARE GOING TO ADD THE SILK SCRAPS 4HERE ARE WAYS OFADDINGFABRICBITSTOFELTWITHNOSEWINGBUTTHISMETHOD USESANEEDLEANDTHREAD ANDALSOSHAPESTHEBEADATTHE SAMETIME )HAVEUSEDAGOLDTHREADSOTHAT SILKSCRAPWITHSTITCH WHERE IT SHOWS YOU GET A GLINT OF METALLIC !NCHOR YOUR NEEDLE ANDTHREADINTHEFELTBEADWITH A FEW STITCHES AND THEN BRING THENEEDLEUPTHROUGHTHEBEAD ANCHORINGSTITCHES AND A SQUARE OF SILK "RING THE NEEDLEBACKDOWNTHROUGHTHESILK CATCHINGINANENDAND THENCOMEOUTTHROUGHTHEOTHERSIDEOFTHEBEAD#ONTINUE ADDINGSCRAPSOFSILKINTHESAMEWAY
3TEP.INE 4HE IDEA IS TO PULL THE NEEDLE THROUGH THE FELT SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO FORM AN OVAL BEAD SHAPE AND ATTACH THE SILK SQUARES)@VESEWNTHROUGHEACHOFTHESILKSCRAPSTWOOR THREETIMES CATCHINGADIFFERENTAREAEACHTIME 4HE RESULT IS THE SILK GETS PULLED INTO THE FELT SLIGHTLY 4HE SILK WILL HAVE LOTS OF SHAGGY THREADS HANGING OFF BUT THEY SHOULDNT SHED TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UPINTHESTITCHES 7HILEYOUAREWORKINGONTHEBEADTHESILKWILLGETWETAND CHANGECOLOUR4HEBEADSWILLBEMOREVIBRANTANDCONTRASTY WHENTHEYDRY -Y BEADS ARE ABOUT CM IN DIAMETER AND INCLUDE ABOUT PIECESOFSILK 3TEP4EN -AKE LARGE BEADS IN THIS WAY 7HEN THEY ARE DONE PUT THEMINTHEHOTWATER SWISHTHEMAROUNDANDPRESSTHEM DOWNWITHTHESLOTTEDSPOONTOGETALLTHESOAPOUTOFTHE FELT AND THEN TRANSFER THEM TO THE COLD WATER TO SHOCK THE WOOL 3QUEEZE THE BEADS OUT BETWEEN TO TOWELS TO GET ALL THE WATEROUTANDRESHAPETHEM,ETDRY
3TEP4HIRTEEN ) HAVE USED TWO SPACER BEADS ABOUT CM APART BETWEEN EACHFELTBEAD3O)POKEDASECONDCHANNELANDTHREADED THEELASTICTHROUGH9OUMAYTHENNEEDTOTAKETHENEEDLE OFF THE ELASTIC SO THAT YOU CAN THREAD THE SPACER BEADS 2EPEATTHISPROCESSUNTILYOUHAVEALLFELTBEADSANDTHE SPACERSBETWEENEACHTHREADEDONTOTHEELASTICS
4ESTTHEBRACELETTOSEEIFITlTSNICELYANDTHENTIETHEELASTIC ENDSTOTHEIRBEGINNINGSWITHADOUBLEORTRIPLEKNOT-AKING SURETHEKNOTSARESECUREPUTADROPOFSUPERGLUEONEACH )THENRETHREADTHEELASTICENDSONTOMYDARNINGNEEDLEAND USEMYPAIROFPLIERSTOPULLTHEKNOTSTOTHEINSIDEOFAFELT BEAD4RIMTHEELASTICENDS
3TEP%LEVEN 4OSTRINGTHEBEADS HAVEYOURBRADAWL DARNINGNEEDLE AND TWOPIECESOFELASTIC SPACERBEADS BULLDOGCLIPS ANDPLIERS READY "EGIN BY MAKING A CHANNEL FOR THE ELASTIC IN THE BEADS WITHTHEBRADAWL9OUCANONLYMAKEONECHANNELATATIME BECAUSETHEYWILLCLOSEUPAFTERAFEWSECONDS
3TEP4WELVE 7ITHTHEELASTICTHREADEDTHROUGHTHEDARNINGNEEDLE PUSH THE NEEDLE THROUGH THE THREADING CHANNEL 3OMETIMES ITS HELPFULTOHAVEAPAIROFPLIERSTOPULLTHENEEDLETHROUGH 3NAPTHEBULLDOGCLIPONTOONEENDOFTHEELASTICSOTHATIT DOESNTPULLTHROUGHTHEBEADASYOUTHREADTHEBRACELET
,OG#ABIN 0ILLOW -ATERIALS
FABRICYARDSOFSEVERALDIFFERENTPRINTS
YARDOFCOTTONBATTING
OFPRE QUILTEDFABRICFORBACK
SMALLLENGTHOFRIBBON
3TEP/NE 3ELECTYOURFABRICS4HESECANEITHERBETEN lFTEENDIFFERENT PRINTS TO AVOID REPEATS OR A SELECTION OF lVE OR SIX PRINTS WHICH COORDINATE 4HE FEWER FABRICS YOU USE THE MORE CAREFULLY YOULL HAVE TO ARRANGE THEM TO AVOID PLACING MATCHINGPRINTSNEXTTOEACHOTHER 3TEP4WO 5SING A ROTARY CUTTER AND TRANSPARENT RULER CUT v STRIPS$EPENDINGONTHEWIDTHOFYOURSTRIPS YOULLNEED AROUND 3TEP4HREE 3TARTWITHCENTERSQUARE"EGINBUILDINGOUTWARDFOLLOWING THISPATTERN
3TEP3IX 4RIMTHEBATTINGABOUTANINCHLARGERTHANTHEQUILTSQUARE 3TEP3EVEN "EGIN MACHINE QUILTING THE SQUARE TO THE BATTING STARTING FROM THE INSIDE AND SEW OUT FROM THE INSIDE CONTINUOUSLY TURNINGATEACHCORNER
3TEP%IGHT /NCEITSALLQUILTED TRIMTHEBATTINGmUSHWITHTHEEDGEOF THEPATCHWORKPIECE 3TEP.INE 4OMAKETHEBACK CUTTWOPIECESFROMTHEPRE QUILTEDFABRIC %ACH PIECE SHOULD BE AS WIDE AS YOUR PATCHWORK TOP 4O DETERMINETHELENGTHOFYOURPIECE HALVETHEWIDTHOFYOUR PATCHWORKTOPANDADDTHREEINCHES
"EGINBYSEWINGPIECETOPIECE)RONTHESEAMmAT TRIM THEEDGESTOBESQUARE ANDTHENSEWONPIECE#ONTINUE IRONINGTHESEAMS TRIMMING ANDADDINGTHENEXTPIECE 3TEP&OUR #ONTINUE BUILDING IN THIS WAY UNTIL THE PATCHWORK IS THE SIZE YOU NEED IF YOU DONT HAVE ANOTHER CUSHION COVER TO WORKFROM MEASUREYOURPILLOWINSETFROMONESIDETOTHE OTHER TAKINGINTOACCOUNTTHECURVE ANDADDANEXTRAINCH FORGOODMEASURE 4OVARYTHELOOKOFYOURPATCHWORK YOU CANUSETHETRIMMEDOFFENDSFROMPREVIOUSSTRIPSANDPATCH THEMENDTOENDTOMAKENEWSTRIPS 3TEP&IVE /NCETHEQUILTSQUAREISTHESIZEYOUDLIKE LAYITDOWNON COTTONBATTINGAPIECELARGERTHANTHEQUILTSQUARE ONAmAT SURFACEANDPINTHEQUILTSQUARETOTHEBATTING
3TEP4EN 4AKEONEOFTHEPIECES AND FOLD DOWN THE WIDE END BY v AND ZIG ZAG THIS DOWN USING A CONTRASTING THREAD 2EPEAT WITH THEOTHERPIECE
3TEP4EN 4URN THE TWO BACK PIECES OVER SO THE TURNED OVER EDGE IS FACING DOWN 9OURE NOW LOOKING AT THE RIGHTSIDE3EWAv LENGTH OF RIBON TO THE MIDDLEOFEACHPIECE
h
WIDTHOFPATCHWORK
3TEP%LEVEN 4OlNISHTHEPIECE TAKEYOURPATCHWORKANDLAYITmAT RIGHT SIDE UP4AKEONOFTHEBACKPIECESANDLAYITONTOPOFTHE PATCHWORK )T SHOULD BE RIGHT SIDE DOWN WITH THE FOLDED OVEREDGETOWARDSTHEMIDDLE LIKESO
4HESEARETHETEMPLATESFORTHE"ROOCH)NSTRUCTIONSAREON PAGE
PATCHWORKRIGHTSIDE
v BACKPIECEWRONGSIDE
4HE BOTTOM CORNERS SHOULD ALL MATCH UP ,AY DOWN THE OTHERPACKPIECEINTHESAMEWAY BUTWITHTHETOPCORNERS MATCHING4HETWOBACKPIECESSHOULDOVERLAPINTHEMIDDLE BYATLEASTv0INTHISALLINPLACE 3TEP4WELVE 3EWAROUNDALLFOURSIDE LEAVINGAvSEAM
SECONDBACKPIECEWRONGSIDE
v BACKPIECEWRONGSIDE
3TEP4HIRTEEN 2EMOVE THE PINS AND TURN THE PILLOWCOVER RIGHT SIDE OUT THROUGHTHEOPENINGOFTHETWOBACKPIECES 3TEP&OURTEEN 3QUEEZE YOUR PILLOW INSERT INTO THE CASE THROUGH THE BACK OPENINGANDTIETHETWORIBBONSINABOWTOlNISH
$ESK/RGANIZER -ATERIALS
METERTHICKFELT
FABRICGLUE
EMBROIDERYTHREADANDSHARPNEEDLE
FUSIBLEFABRICFORBACKING
THINTAPEOPTIONAL
3TEP/NE #UT A PIECE OF GRAPH PAPER TO THE SIZE YOUD LIKE THE BOX TO BE FOR EXAMPLE THE SIZE OF THE DRAWER OF YOUR SEWING TABLE
3TEP4WO !RRANGE THE OBJECTS YOU WANT TO ORGANIZE ON THE GRAPH PAPER $RAW LINES TO MARK OFF THE SECTIONS 9OU CANALSOANNOTATETHISSHEET WITHWHATGOESWHERE COLOR CHOICES ETC
3TEP3EVEN %MBROIDEREACHSECTIONWITHTHEOBJECTTHATWILLGOINIT! SHARPNEEDLEWORKSBETTERONTHETHICKFELTTHANASTANDARD DULLEMBROIDERYNEEDLE5SEORSTRANDSOFTHE STRANDED mOSS KNOTTEDATTHEEND9OUCANDOTHEPICTURESFREEHAND ORBYMAKINGADRAWINGTOFOLLOW9OUCANALSOhTRACEvAN OBJECTBYANCHORINGITWITHAFEWSTITCHESANDEMBROIDERING AROUNDFORANOUTLINE&ORTHETEXT YOUMIGHTlNDITHELPFUL TO CHOOSE A FONT YOU LIKE AND PRINT OUT TEMPLATES ) USED BASIC EMBROIDERY STITCHES BACKSTITCHSTRAIGHT STITCH TEXT MOSTOUTLINES COUCHINGKNITTINGNEEDLES PINS THREADFROM BOBBINS SATINSTITCHBOBBINS DAISYSTITCHSCALLOPSONRED BUTTON AND &RENCH KNOTS PIN HEADS DOTS ON IS BUTTON HOLES 3TEP%IGHT 2EMOVETHETAPEMARKINGTHESECTIONS 3TEP.INE 4OKEEPTHETHREADENDSSECURE FUSEAPIECEOFFABRICTOTHE BACKSOFTHEEMBROIDEREDPIECES4RIMEXCESSFABRIC 3TEP4EN 3TARTING WITH THE TWO SHORT OUTER WALLS OF THE BOX TRIM TO THEEXACTSIZEOFTHEEMBROIDEREDBASE2UNABEADOFGLUE ALONGTHEBOTTOMOFEACHSTRIP!RRANGEmUSHANDHOLDUNTIL SET7IPEOFFANYEXCESSGLUEWITHADAMPCLOTH
3TEP4HREE #UT A PIECE OF FELT THE SIZE OF THE GRAPH PAPER ! ROTARY CUTTERANDAGRIDDEDCUTTINGMATARETHEBESTTOOLSFORTHIS 3TEP&OUR #UT STRIPS OF FELT FOR THE WALLS AND DIVIDERS ,OWER WALLS WORKBETTERORELSETHEYGETmOPPY)USEDvTALLWALLS ,EAVEEXTRALENGTHSOYOUCANCUTTHESTRIPSTOTHEEXACTSIZE WHILEASSEMBLING 3TEP&IVE -ARK THE SECTIONS ON THE FELT ) USED QUILTERS TAPE WHICH COMES IN CONVENIENT WIDTHSANDCOMESOFFEASILY 9OUCOULDUSEANYTHINTAPE OR DRAW THE LINES ON 4HE TAPEISNICEBECAUSEITHELPS YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE THICKNESS OF THE WALLS IN FRAMING THE EMBROIDERY 3TEP3IX #HOOSE A COLOR SCHEME OF EMBROIDERY THREADS ! NARROW SELECTIONOFCOLORSCANHELPUNIFYTHEPROJECT)PICKEDOUT BRIGHTCOLORSPLUSGREYANDDARKBROWN
3TEP%LEVEN #UTTHETWOLONGOUTERWALLSTOTHECORRECTSIZE ACCOUNTING FORTHESPACETAKENUPBYTHEALREADYGLUEDWALLS2UNA BEADOFGLUEALONGTHEBOTTOMANDBOTHENDSOFEACHSTRIP 3ETINPLACE PINCHINGTHEJOINTSTOSECURE
3TEP4WELVE /NCETHEOUTERWALLSARESET USETHESAMEMETHODTOGLUE INTHEDIVIDERS
#OUCHING3TITCH
3TEP4HIRTEEN ,ETGLUECURECOMPLETELYBEFOREUSING
&OR-ACHINE%MBROIDERY
7ORKASABOVE EXCEPTUSETHINNERFELTFORTHEBOTTOM4HE THICKFELTISTRICKIERTOUSEWITHAMACHINE
!NY SEWING MACHINE WILL WORK FOR MACHINE EMBROIDERY &IRST DROPTHEFEEDDOGSANDREMOVETHENORMALFOOT5SING A DARNINGFREE MOTION FOOT HELPS BUT IS NOT NECESSARY )F YOUGOFOOT LESS WATCHYOURlNGERS 4HREADITUPWITHANY COLORINTHEBOBBINTHREADANDTHEDESIREDCOLORASTHETOP THREAD 4EST THE TENSION lRST ON A SCRAP OF FELT AND ADJUST SOYOUCANTSEETHEBOBBINTHREADONTHETOP BUTITSNOT ALL LOOPY ON THE BACK +EEPING THE FABRIC mAT AGAINST THE MACHINE MOVE IT IN A SMOOTH MOTION UNDER THE NEEDLE TO MAKETHEDRAWING)FYOUNEEDTOMOVETOANOTHERPLACEIN THEDRAWING SIMPLYPULLTHENEEDLEUPANDMOVETHERE4HE CONNECTINGTHREADSWILLALLBETRIMMEDATTHEEND
5SING A SMALL PAIR OF SCISSORS TRIM ALL THE CONNECTING THREADS
&INISHASABOVE
$AISY3TITCH
&RENCH+NOT
"ACKSTITCH
3ATIN3TITCH
3UMMER4OP -ATERIALS
4 SHIRTSEEINSTRUCTIONSBELOW
YARDOFFABRIC
0INS
4AILORSCHALKOREQUIVALENT
3TEP/NE &INDA4 SHIRTORTANKTOPTHATHASAlTYOUADORE9OUWILLBE USINGTHESHIRTHERETOFOREREFERREDTOASTHEhPATTERNSHIRTv TOMAKEYOURPATTERN SOMAKESURETHATITISNOTTOOSNUG ORlTTED ASYOUWILLNEEDSOMEROOMTOGETTHESUMMERTOP OVER YOUR HEAD $ONT WORRY ABOUT CUTTING THE SHIRT
THAT WONTHAPPENIFYOUARECAREFUL 3TEP4WO 0UTONTHEPATTERNSHIRT7ITHA MARKFORSTRAPS PIN MARKWHEREYOUWOULDLIKE THE TOP OF THE SUMMER TOP TO SIT)FYOUWOULDLIKETHELENGTH OF THE TOP TO BE DIFFERENT THAN THE PATTERN SHIRT TAKE ANOTHER MARKTOP PINANDMARKWHEREYOUDLIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE TOP TO BE $ETERMINETHEPLACEMENTOFTHE STRAPS!GOODSPOTISABOUTAN INCHINFROMYOURARMPIT4AKEA PINANDMARKWHEREYOUWANTTHEOUTEREDGEOFTHESTRAPTO HIT$OTHISONBOTHSIDES 3TEP4HREE 0LACEYOURFABRICONACUTTING SURFACE 4HE FABRIC SHOULD BE FOLDED IN HALF WITH THE SELVEDGES ON THE SIDES #AREFULLY PLACE YOUR 4 SHIRT ONTOPOFTHEFABRIC WITHTHE TOP OF THE SHIRT EVEN WITH ONE OF THE CUT EDGES -AKE SURETHESHIRTISCENTEREDON THE FABRIC 5SING THE TAILORS CHALK MARKvBELOWWHERE YOUWANTTHEBOTTOMOFTHESHIRTTOBETHISWILLGIVEYOUA vHEMALLOWANCE #UTALONGTHEMARKEDLINE
3TEP&OUR &OLDTHEPATTERNSHIRTDOWNTOWHERETHEPINISTHATMARKS THE TOP OF THE SHIRT 7ITH YOUR TAILORS CHALK MARK v
ABOVE THE TOP OF THE PATTERN SHIRT #UT ALONG THEMARKEDLINE
3TEP&IVE .EXT YOU WANT TO DETERMINE THE CENTER LINE OF THE PATTERN SHIRT #AREFULLY LIFT UP THE RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE OF THE PATTERN SHIRT AND FOLD IT IN HALF LENGTHWISE SO THE LEFT SIDE MEETS THE RIGHT 0LACE PINS ON THE FABRIC YOURE CUTTING TO MARK THIS CENTER LINE -ARK v BEYOND THE SIDE OF THE PATTERN SHIRTWITHYOURTAILORSCHALK4HINGSGETALITTLETRICKYWHEN YOUGETTOTHEARMHOLE BUTDONT PANIC"ASICALLY YOUWANTTOCUTA CURVE ALONG THE ARMHOLE ENDING AT THE OUTER EDGE OF WHERE THE STRAPS WILL BE 'OOD THING YOU HAVE ALREADY MARKED THAT SPOT 5SING THAT TRUSTY TAILORS CHALK MARK v BEYOND THE CURVE OF THEPATTERNSHIRTSARMHOLE9OULL NEED TO LIFT UP THE SLEEVE OF THE PATTERNSHIRTASYOUGOTOSEETHE ARMHOLE SEAM 'ET THE PATTERN SHIRT OUT OF THE WAY AND CUT ALONG THE MARKED LINE &OLD YOUR FABRIC ALONG THE PINNED CENTER LINE AND CUT THE OTHER SIDEOFTHESHIRTTOMATCH 3TEP3IX 9OURE NEARLY THERE .OW YOU WANTTOCUTTHEFACING0LACEA PIECEOFFOLDEDFABRICUNDERNEATH THETOPOFTHECUTSHIRT LININGUP THETOPEDGES4HEFABRICSHOULD BELONGENOUGHTHATITEXTENDS ABOUT vBELOWTHEBOTTOMOF THEARMHOLE-ARKANDCUTALONG THEARMHOLES4HEBOTTOMOFTHE FACINGSHOULDALSOBEEVENAND STRAIGHT SODOALITTLECUTTINGIF NECESSARY
FABRICFORFACING v
CUTSHIRTFABRIC
3TEP3EVEN 9OU ONLY HAVE THE STRAPS LEFT TO CUT )F YOU PLAN ON USING RIBBON OR SOMETHING ELSE YOU CAN SKIP THIS STEP AND GET RIGHTTOSEWING9OUNEEDTODETERMINEHOWLONGYOUWANT THE STRAPS TO BE )TS OKAY IF YOU CUT THEM TOO LONG 4AKE A STRAIGHT EDGE AND PLACE IT ALONG THE PIN ON THE PATTERN SHIRTTHATMARKSWHEREYOUWANTTHETOPOFTHESHIRTTOBE -EASURE FROM THE STRAIGHT EDGE TO THE TOP OF THE SHOULDER ON THE PATTERN SHIRT $OUBLE THIS AMOUNT THEN ADD v FOR GOOD MEASURE ,ETS CALL THIS MEASUREMENT 3 FOR NOW 9OU AREGOINGTOCUTTWOSTRIPSOFFABRICMEASUREMENT3LONGBY vWIDETHISALLOWSFORAvSEAMALLOWANCE
3TEP%IGHT 4HISISWHATALLYOURPIECESSHOULDLOOKLIKE
FACINGX SHIRTX
3TEP.INE ,ETS GET SEWING ,ETS DO THE STRAPS lRST &OLD THE STRAPS INHALFLENGTHWISEWITHRIGHTSIDESTOGETHER0INANDSTITCH ALONG THE LONG EDGE USING A v SEAM ALLOWANCE 4URN THE STRAPS INSIDE OUT AND PRESS mAT WITH THE SEAM IN THE MIDDLEOFTHESTRAPTHISISTHEPARTTHATWILLGOAGAINSTYOUR SHOULDERSOTHESEAMWILLBEINVISIBLE 3TEP4EN 7ITHRIGHTSIDESTOGETHER SEWTHEOUTERSIDESOFTHEFACING DO ./4 STITCH THE ARMHOLES 0RESS OPEN THE SEAMS 0RESS THEBOTTOMOFTHEFACINGUNDERvFORTHEHEM3TITCHTHE HEM USINGAvSEAMALLOWANCE
3TEP&OURTEEN .OWYOUREGOINGTOATTACHTHEFACING !GAIN WITH RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER PIN THE FACING TO THE TOP MATCHING SIDE SEAMS AND CORNERS 3TITCH ALL THE WAYAROUNDIE FRONTANDBACKAND THE ARMHOLES USING A v SEAM ALLOWANCE
WRONGSIDE
3TEP&IFTEEN 4AKE A PAIR OF SCISSORS AND TRIM THE SEAMS DOWN TO ABOUT v#LIPTHECURVESANDTHECORNERS4URNTHEFACINGTOTHE INSIDEOFTHETOPANDPRESSCAREFULLY 3TEP3IXTEEN 9OURE ALMOST lNISHED 3LIP THE TOP OVERYOURHEAD/OOH HOPEITMAKES IT(AVEAFRIENDPINTHEBACKSTRAPSTO THEDESIREDLENGTH#AREFULLYREMOVE THETOP-AKESURETHEBACKSTRAPSARE PINNEDEVENLYANDAGAINSTTHEEDGES OFTHEBACK ONTHEINSIDEOFTHETOP 0IN AROUND THE TOP EDGE OF THE TOP %DGESTITCH ALL THE WAY AROUND FOR A CLEAN LOOK #UT THE EXCESS OFF THE BACKSTRAPSIFNECESSARY
RIGHTSIDE
3TEP%LEVEN 0INTHEFRONTPIECETOTHEBACKPIECEWITHRIGHTSIDESTOGETHER 3TITCHDOWNTHESIDESEAMS USINGAvSEAMALLOWANCE 0RESSOPENTHESEAMS 3TEP4WELVE (EMTHETOPFOLDUPTHEBOTTOMvTOTHEINSIDEANDPRESS &OLDAGAINANOTHERINCHANDPRESS0INANDSTITCHDOWNTHE HEM USINGAvSEAMALLOWANCE
3TEP4HIRTEEN 7ITH RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER PIN EACHSTRAPTOTHEFRONTOFTHETOP 4HEEDGEOFTHESTRAPSSHOULDBE IN v FROM THE UPPER EDGES OF THETOP"ASTEDOWNTHESTRAPS
RIGHTSIDE
%LEPHANT0OUCH -ATERIALS
YARDOFOUTERFABRICGREY
YARDOFINNERFABRICPATTERNED
EMBROIDERYmOSSFORFACE
SEW ONSNAPPRESSSTUD 3TEP/NE 4RANSFER PATTERNS TO FABRIC AND CUT OUT SEE PAGE FOR CONTINUATION OF PATTERN PIECES ,INE THE FABRIC WITH INTERFACINGTOSTABALIZE IFDESIRED 3TEP4WO %MBROIDEREYESANDMOUTHTOTHEBOTTOMHALFOFTHEOUTER PIECE!GUIDEISPRINTEDONTHEPATTERNPIECE 3TEP4HREE 3EW THE TRUNK PIECE CLIP AROUND CURVES AND TURN RIGHT SIDE OUT3TUFFTHETRUNKWITHlBERlLL SNIPAROUNDCURVES
TURNRIGHT SIDE OUT ANDSTUFF
3TEP&OUR 3EW THE TOP OF THE TRUNK CLOSED AND USE mOSS TO EMBROIDER LINES ALONGTHETRUNK
3TEP&IVE (AND STITCH THE TRUNK TO THE OUTER FABRIC
3TEP3IX 3EW THE TWO EAR PIECES #LIP ALONG THECURVESANDTURNTHEMRIGHT SIDE OUT 3TEP3EVEN 0OSITION THE EARS ON THE FACE ANDBASTEINTOPLACEABOUTv FROMTHEEDGE
3TEP%IGHT 3EW DARTS ON POCKET PIECES OUTER AND LINING PIECES AS MARKEDONTHEPATTERNPIECES 3TEP.INE 7ITHRIGHTSIDESTOGETHER SEWTHE POCKET PIECES TOGETHER ALONG THE TOP EDGE 0RESS ALONG THE RIGHT SIDEOFTHEPOCKETWITHANIRON 3TEP4EN )FYOUWANTYOURPOUCHTOBESLIGHTLYPADDED CUTAPIECEOF BATTINGTHESAMESIZEASTHEOUTERFABRICPIECE#LIPWHERE THEDARTSWOULDBELOCATEDANDPOSITIONONTHEWRONGSIDE OFTHEOUTERFABRICPIECE 3TEP%LEVEN ,INEUPTHEPOCKETPIECEWITHTHE OUTER LINING PIECE AND PIN IT IN PLACE4HEGREYOUTER SIDEOFTHE POCKETPIECEWILLBEFACEDOWNON THEOUTERFABRICPIECE
POCKETPIECELININGSIDEUP
3TEP4WELVE "ASTETHEPOCKETTOTHEOUTERLINING PIECE 3EW ABOUT v FROM THE EDGE 3TEP4HIRTEEN 7ITH RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER SEW THE OUTER FABRIC PIECE TO THE INNER LINING PIECE ,EAVE AN OPENING AT THE BOTTOM THE BOTTOM PART OF THE FACE SO THAT THE PIECE CAN BE TURNEDRIGHTSIDEOUT 3TEP&OURTEEN 4URNRIGHTSIDEOUT THROUGHOPENING ATTHEBOTTOMOFTHEFACE 3TEP&IFTEEN &LIPTHESEWNPOCKETSOTHATTHELININGFABRICISONTHEINSIDE OFTHEPOUCH 3TEP3IXTEEN 3LIP STITCHTHEOPENINGCLOSED 3TEP3EVENTEEN 3EWASNAPONTOTHEBOTTOMOFTHE POCKET 3EW THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SNAPTOTHETOPOFTHEINNERLINING
LININGTHEELEPHANTFACEIS ONTHEOTHERSIDEOFTHIS
POCKETPIECE
&ABRIC"ASKET -ATERIALS
YARD NATURALUNBLEACHEDCOTTONCANVAS
YARD COTTONLININGFABRIC
YARD 0ELLON 4AILORS 4OUCH (EAVYWEIGHT 3EW IN 3TABILIZER
YARD 0ELLON 0ELTEX %XTRA (EAVYWEIGHT 3EW IN 3TABILIZER
YARD 7RIGHTS$OUBLE&OLD%XTRA7IDE"IAS4APE/YSTER
YARD 7RIGHTS$OUBLE&OLD"IAS4APE/YSTER
YARD 7RIGHTSv7IDE4WILL4APE/YSTER
SET OF 3EW /N 6ELCRO ABOUT A INCH SQUARE PIECE WHITE 3TEP/NE #UTOUTTHEFOLLOWINGFROMYOURMATERIALS
vXvRECTANGLEFRONT BACK #54FROMNATURALUNBLEACHEDCANVAS #54FROMLINING #54FROMHEAVYWEIGHTSTABILIZER
vXvRECTANGLESIDES #54FROMNATURALUNBLEACHEDCANVAS #54FROMHEAVYWEIGHTSTABILIZER
vXvRECTANGLEPOCKET CUTONFOLD 0LACEvSIDE ONFOLDFORBOTHMATERIALS #54FROMNATURALUNBLEACHEDCANVAS #54FROMHEAVYWEIGHTSTABILIZER
vXvRECTANGLEBOTTOM #54FROMNATURALUNBLEACHEDCANVAS
vXvRECTANGLEBOTTOM STABILIZER #54FROMEXTRAHEAVYWEIGHTSTABILIZER
vXvRECTANGLELININGSIDES BOTTOM #54FROMCOTTONLINING
vXvRECTANGLEHANDLES #54FROMNATURALUNBLEACHEDCANVAS
vXvRECTANGLEDRAWSTRINGTOP #54FROMCOTTONLINING 3TEP4WO 5NLESS STATED OTHERWISE ALL RIGHTSIDE SEAMALLOWANCESAREv4HE lRST STEP IS TO CONSTRUCT THE POCKET "EGIN BY OPENING UP FOLD THEFOLDEDPOCKETPIECE/NTHE VELCRO @WRONGSIDEOFTHEPOCKET SEW IN YOUR 6ELCRO CLOSURE IN THE MIDDLEOFTHEPOCKETANDABOUT ³vDOWNFROMTHEFOLDEDEDGE9OUWILLONLYSEWDOWNONE SIDEOFTHE6ELCRORIGHTNOW
)NSERT THE STABILIZER IN BETWEEN YOUR CANVAS POCKET FRONT BIASTAPE SOTHATBOTHFOLDSMATCHUPATTHE TOP "ASTE STITCH TOP EDGE AT FOLD 3EW ON THE 7RIGHTS $OUBLE &OLD "IAS4APETOTHETOPEDGEATFOLD RIGHTSIDE OFTHEPOCKET
BASKETFRONT
,AYDOWNYOURBASKETFRONTONTOPOFA MATCHINGPIECEOFSTABILIZER"ASTEONE SIDEOFTHEPOCKETDOWNTOTHEBASKET FRONTANDBASKETFRONTSTABILIZER
POCKET
!T THIS POINT YOU CAN STITCH IN THE OTHERSIDEOFYOUR6ELCROCLOSURETOTHE BASKETFRONT MAKINGSURETHEFRONTANDBACKPIECELINEUP 3EW THE REMAINING PIECE JUST UNDERNEATH THE POCKET FRONT ONTHERIGHTSIDEOFTHEBASKETFRONT 3TEP4HREE 3EW THE SIDES OF THE BASKET TOGETHER 3TARTING WITH THE BASKETFRONT BEGINSEWINGTOGETHERTHESIDESOFTHEBASKET TOGETHER RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER $O NOT FORGET TO INCLUDE THE STABILIZERTOTHEBACKOFEACHCANVASPIECE#ONTINUESEWING UP EACH SIDE UNTIL YOU HAVE A LONG STRIP OF BASKET SIDE BASKET BACK BASKET SIDE ANDBASKETFRONT.EXT STITCH TOGETHER THE BASKET FRONT TO THEREMAININGBASKETSIDE 3TEP&OUR -AKE"ASKET(ANDLES4OCONSTRUCTTHEBASKETHANDLES FOLD IN EACH EDGE BY v AND THEN FOLD THE STRIP IN HALF 3EW AROUNDTHEEDGESOFTHEHANDLE
3EWTHEHANDLESTOTHESIDESOF THE BASKET v INCH FROM THE TOPANDSIDES3EWAvSQUARE ONTHEHANDLEANDTHENMAKEAN 8THROUGHTHECENTERTOENSURE ITSNOTGOINGANYWHERE 3TEP&IVE #ONSTRUCT BASKET BOTTOM 4HE lRST STEP TO MAKING THE BASKET BOTTOM IS TO SEW DOWN THE EXTRA HEAVY WEIGHTSTABILIZERTOTHEWRONGSIDEOF THEBASKETBOTTOM4ODOTHIS CENTER THE0ELTEXONTHEBASKETBOTTOMAND STITCHAROUNDTHEEDGES
BASKETBOTTOM STABILIZER UNDERNEATH
.EXT PIN THE BASKET BOTTOM IN PLACEAROUNDTHEBOTTOMEDGESOF THE BASKET RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER 3EWTOGETHER 9OUNOWHAVEABASKETSHAPETHATISWONDERFULLYSTABLEAND READYTOBELINED 3TEP3IX 3EW BASKET LINING 4O CONSTRUCT THE BASKET LINER lRST SEW DOWN THE FRONT AND BACK PIECE RIGHTSIDES TOGETHER TO THE MIDDLEOFTHEBASKETBOTTOMSIDEPIECE ASSHOWNBELOW
.EXT PIN AND SEW UP THE SIDES OF THE LINING TO CONSTRUCTTHEBASKETSHAPE
0LACE LINING IN BASKET WRONG SIDES TOGETHER AND PIN IN PLACE"ASTESTITCHAROUNDTHETOPOFTHEBASKETASCLOSETO THEEDGEASPOSSIBLE TRIMSEAM 3TEP3EVEN #ONSTRUCT DRAWSTRING TOP 4O MAKE THE DRAWSTRING TOP OF THEBASKET lRSTMAKETHECASINGFORTHETWILLTAPE-EASURE vINFROMBOTHSIDES vDOWNONBOTHENDS MARKWITHA PENCIL4HEvSPACEATTHETOPWILLBECOMEYOURTWILLTAPE CASING !T THE MARK YOU JUST MADE MAKE A v LONG CUT v DOWN FROM THE TOP ON BOTH ENDS 2EPEAT FOR THE TOP BACK &OLD OVER THIS SMALLRECTANGULARPIECEON TO THE WRONGSIDE OF THE WRONGSIDE TOP AND SEW DOWN AT THE FOLDEDEDGE
3EWUPSIDESOFYOURDRAWSTRINGTOP vINFROMTHESIDES TOLINEUPTHEEDGEOFTHEDRAWSTRINGPOCKET4RIMSEAM
WRONGSIDE
!TTACHONEENDOFYOURTWILLTAPETOASAFETYPINANDCAREFULLY THREADITTHROUGHTHECASING TURNINGANDGOINGTHROUGHTHE OTHERSIDE SOTHEENDSMEETWHEREYOUSTARTED+NOTBOTH ENDSOFYOURTWILLTAPETOGETHERANDTRIMEXCESS
0ULLKNOTTEDENDTHROUGHCASINGTOPUNTILYOUHAVELOOPSON EITHEREND4HISWILLHIDETHEDEVILISHLYUGLYKNOT 3TEP%IGHT 0IN THE DRAWSTRING TOP TO THE BASKET BY LINING UP THE RAW EDGE OF DRAWSTRING TOP WITH THE TOP BASTED EDGE OF THE BASKET 0IN WRONGSIDE OF DRAWSTRING TOP TO RIGHTSIDE OF BASKETLINING0INANDSEWINPLACE 3TEP.INE 4HELASTSTEPISTOPINTHE 7RIGHTS$OUBLE&OLD%XTRA 7IDE "IAS 4APE ONTO THE TOP EDGE OF THE BASKET 3EWAROUNDTHETOPEDGE FOLDING UNDER THE BIAS TAPEWHERETHEBEGINNINGANDENDMEETS
&OLDOVERTHECASINGINTOTHIRDSANDSTITCHALONGTHEBOTTOM 2EPEATFORTHEOTHERSIDE
"OOK#OVER 4HEMEASUREMENTSINTHESEINSTRUCTIONSAREFORABOOK COVERIDENTICALTOTHEONEINTHISBOOK)FYOURBOOKSARE ADIFFERENTSIZE USETHEIRMEASUREMENTS PLUSvSEAM
3TEP&OUR 7ITHRIGHTSIDESTOGETHER MACHINE STITCH BOTH PIECES OF THE mAP # TOGETHER LEAVINGONEOFTHESMALLER SIDEOPEN#LIPTHEBOTTOMCORNERS ANDTURNITRIGHT SIDE OUT
#
ALLOWANCEALLTHEWAYAROUND -ATERIALS
YARDOFPRINTEDFABRICFORBOOKCOVEREXTERIOR
LARGESCRAPOFSOLIDMATCHINGFABRICFORBINDINGSECTIONAND VELCROmAP
YARDOFSOLIDFABRICFORBOOKCOVERINTERIOR
6ELCRO
3TEP/NE #UTYOURPIECESOUTMEASUREMENTSHEREINCLUDEAvSEAM ALLOWANCE
0IECE!vXv #UTFROMTHEEXTERIORFABRIC CUT FROMINTERIORFABRIC
0IECE"vXv #UTFROMINTERIORFABRIC
0IECE#vXv #UTFROMSOLIDFABRIC
0IECE$vXv #UTFROMSOLIDFABRIC
3TEP&IVE 7ITH THE COVER EXTERIOR RIGHT SIDE UP PIN THE mAP TO THE CENTEROFONESIDEOFTHECOVEREXTERIORTHElNISHEDEDGE SHOULDBEINTHECENTER
#
EXTERIOR RIGHTSIDE
4AKE BOTH 0IECE "S AND FOLD THEM IN HALF LENGTHWISE 0IN THESE TO EACH SIDE OF THE EXTERIOR FABRIC MAKING SURE THE FOLDEDPARTLIESTOTHECENTER
"
FOLD
"
h
3TEP4WO /NPIECE! TRACEALINEAT THE TOP AND BOTTOM SEAM ALLOWANCES TO MARK THE CENTEROFTHEPIECE
$
&INALLY PINTHEINSIDEFABRICONTOPOFTHEOTHERPIECES RIGHT SIDEDOWN !
3TEP3IX 3EWAROUNDALLFOURSIDES LEAVINGAvHOLEATTHEBOTTOM CENTER TOTURNYOURCOVER#LIPTHECORNERSANDTURNRIGHT
/N PIECE $ MARK THE CENTER LINE AND DRAW THE SEAM ALLOWANCE LINE ON THE LONG SIDES ON THE WRONGSIDE
3TEP4HREE &OLDOVERTHESIDESOFPIECE$ONTHESEAMALLOWANCELINE ANDBASTETHEMINPLACE0INITTOTHECOVEREXTERIOR USING THECENTERMARKINGSASAGUIDELINE-ACHINESTITCHUPBOTH SIDES2EMOVETHEBASTINGSTITCHESFROM$
$
!
SIDE OUT 3LIPSTITCHTHETURNINGHOLECLOSED 3TEP3EVEN #UTTWOSMALLPIECESOFVELCROAND BACKSTITCHONETOTHEUNDERSIDEOF THEmAPANDTHEOTHERTOTHEBOOK COVER-AKESURETOONLYCATCHONE LAYEROFFABRICWHENYOUSEWTHEM ONE SOYOUWONTSEETHESTITCHES ONTHEOTHERSIDE 9OURBOOKCOVERISNOWlNISHED
VELCRO
3EEPAGEFORINSTRUCTIONSANDOTHERPATTERNPIECE
.EEDLE#ASE
3TEP&OUR 0LACE0IECERIGHTSIDESTOGETHERWITHDIAGONALEDGESLINED UPANDSEWALLAROUNDFOURSIDES LEAVINGASMALLOPENING TOTURNINSIDEOUT
-ATERIALS
0IECE vXvOUTSIDEPIECE
0IECE vXvINSIDEPIECE
0IECE vXvPOCKETFORNEEDLES
0IECE vXvINNERmAPTOPROTECTNEEDLE
vOFRIBBONORTWILLTAPE 3TEP/NE 0IECE 3TART WITH THE mAP THAT KEEPS THE NEEDLES FROM FALLING OUT &OLD IT IN HALF RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER SO IT MEASURES v X v )RON mAT AND SEW A SEAM ALL THE WAY AROUND LEAVING A SMALL OPENING TO TURN PIECE INSIDE OUT !FTERSEWINGSEAM TURNINSIDEOUTANDIRONmAT
WRONGSIDE
3TEP4WO 4UCK IN OPENING AND CLOSE THEN SEW ANOTHER SEAM ALL AROUNDONRIGHTSIDETOCLOSEHOLEANDmATTENALLEDGES
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!CKNOWLEDGEMENTS )D LIKE TO OFFER HUGE THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO CONTRIBUTEDTOTHISBOOKANDEVERYBODYWHOSUPPORTED USALONGTHEWAY.ONEOFUSWOULDBECREATINGAND CRAFTINGTHEWAYWEDOIFITWERENTFORTHOSESPECIAL PEOPLEINOURLIVES -YPERSONALTHANKSGOTO#ARA2ODWAY WHOWASAN ENTHUSIASTICMODELFORMANYOFTHEPHOTOSINTHISBOOK !ND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY INCLUDING MY MOTHER WHOLOOKEDOVERTHEPATTERNSANDMADESUREWEGOT EVERYTHINGRIGHT
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