validation

i tell myself
that i create for myself.
that i just want to make beautiful things,
and it does not matter if people like them.

i tell myself this.
but it could not be further from the truth.

i want people to like what i make.
i want them to HAVE to have a lucends product.

i want them to be moved
by the fabric
the color
the design
or my story.

it is easy to put
my product online.
i don't see the reaction,
good or bad.
it is passive.

it is harder to apply to a show.
first, there is the process.
will they like it?
will they accept me?

then the actual show
will i stand there all day
and not make a single sale.
will people think my stuff i ugly?

today, ph and i spent
the day at artist row at the public market.
it was a perfect fall day.
sunny, crisp, perfect.
and i was validated.

the response to my work
was very positive.
i made some sales.
i gave away alot of business cards.
i met some great people.
i had some awesome conversations.
and i am inspired to keep creating.

thank you to all who support
my creative endeavors.

a new groove

we are in a new groove
here on newberry lane.
c started montessorri
this morning.

he goes 5 days a week
for 3 hours.
he did great!
no tears were shed
by c or his mama.

this means that i can
grocery shop by myself,
run errands,
go to scott miller,
and more importantly
sew, sew, sew.

i have two shows coming up.
one september 18th
and the other november 5th.
both are here in rochester.
i applied to one other show,
and should know if i was accepted
in a couple of weeks.

since i have a lot of
work to make,
i am going to create
a sewing schedule
to guide my creating process.

a definite new groove.

little projects

this weekend
i have sewn a number
of little projects.

things that have been
in my head
for some time.

i needed to clear
some head space
for new ideas.

some of these
may or may not
show up in the shop.

but if for some reason
you wan to purchase
these goodies
shoot me an email.

here we go
a hooded toddler towel
for chace.
i how small the
hooded ones you can buy are
and they are not soft.

a learn to count 

bean bag set for chace.

out of pirate fabric of course.

and last,
the yoga mat bag.
i love love love this bag.
i can not wait to purchase
my yoga mat and take it to class on thursday.
( this will show up in the shop)

it feels good to have these done!

stitching

i havent shared any of 

my creative endeavors lately.

but i have been working

like crazy.

i am applying to some 

shows that will happen this fall.

and am working on 

building the lucends brand.

i have also been stitching

some of my favorite quotes 

by hand.

below are some of the results.

i am pretty happy 

with the way they are turning out.

i will be adding them to etsy, soon.

enjoy.

for finn

i can finally share the quilt i made for finn.
it is not what i had in mind when i found out
i would have a nephew, but i think its just perfect.
perfect for a little boy who was born in the wild state of alaska.

a room of my own

finishing up

i am in a number of virtual quilting bees.
and for the most i really enjoy it.
each bee has different parameters
and guidelines.
they have all pushed the limits
of my creativity at some point.

but for some reason i wait
until the very last minute each month
to make my blocks.

take the above blocks.
they are for the 1st quarter of the 3x6 bee
for this bee, i have to make
6 identical blocks for 6 different people
following their designated color scheme.

if you participate in all 4 quarters
you will have 24 blocks to make  quilt.
good stuff.

here is the kicker.
i have 3 months to make
these blocks.
and i wait until the
day before they have to be mailed.

silly me.
at least they are not late!

athena's clutch

athena texted me one day

that she needed a clutch.

a clutch to hold her

phone, credit cards and stilla lipgloss.

then she started sending

me pictures of what she wanted.

i let it simmer in my brain.

she thought i was ignoring her.

after several attempts

this is what i settled on.

i sent her two, both in her fave fabrics.

one with interfacing

one without.

they were just

what she had been dreaming about.

they will be coming soon

to the etsy shop.

finally....

i created a bag that i love!

i hope you love it too.

you can find them in 

the shop.

the ideas are flowing
so more will be added weekly.

pay it forward

i do not facebook.
although, i am thinking about it
for the lucends shop.

since i do not facebook
i missed the handmade pay it forward
that was going around the last week.

thankfully, i have friends
who facebook and blog.
and blog about facebook happenings.

here is the gist.
leave a comment here by midnight
on friday 1/14/2011.
and i will pick 3 winners.
yes, i said 3 winners at random.

if you win you will
receive something handmade by me.
if you win you have to pay it forward.
you have to make or buy handmade
for someone.

it can me random.
it can be planned.
it can be blogged.
and it can even be facebooked.
( is that a word?)

i do hope you will play along.

bling

because a girl can never have to much bling.

Ipad Sleeve 

caught up

i am finally caught up on all of my virtual quilting bees.

and this feels sooooo good.

now i can focus on finishing up

some of my projects

and work on some new ideas 

i have brewing in my head.

bits and pieces bee made two of these blocks

pins and needles bee

pins and needles bee

3x6 bee 4th quarter. made 6 of these in different colors

if.....

if you missed lucends at the RMSC Holiday Bazaar
or if you live out of town.
you are in luck.

i am loading the remaining
of my inventory onto the
lucends etsy shop.

better still, i am offering
you dear readers
a coupon code.
from now until dec.7th 2010
enter BLACK10
and you will earn 10% off
your entire order.

all the inventory will be in
the shop by black friday.

so i hope you will take a look
and
give the gift of handmade
this holiday season.

craft hangover

i did not think it was possible, but i have a craft hangover.
a serious one.
so serious that i can not think about sewing
much less actually sew today.

i hope this hangover
doesn't last long.
i have bee blocks to make
quilts to put together
and holiday gifts to make.

but i am hungover.

overall, the show went well.
i sold 53 items
or 47% of my inventory.
the response to my work
was positive.

so, all in all a good experience.

i am working on listing
the remainder of my inventory
on etsy.
and should have a holiday shopping
treat for you all soon.

thanks for sticking
with me during my
sewing frenzy.
i am looking forward
to returning to
my regular blog/sewing routine.

xoxo

handmade holiday (aka holiday bazaar)

loot

mom and i had a great time in nyc.

with the exception of the extra

40,000 people there to run the

NYC marathon.

we went to the new purl store.

it was heaven.

it was perfect.

it was inspiring

and it was crowded.

here is some of the loot

i could not live without.

handspun cashmere

echino oilcloth

chunky zippers

66

a glimpse of my work for the holiday bazaar in a few weeks. as of today i have 66 pieces of handmade goodness ready.

sewing maniac

guest post: athena p. "cooper's block"

introducing athena from the family pelton.

As you all know

Luc and I have been making ourselves

a friendship quilt

using Heather Ross's

Far Far Away II fabric collection.

This is my first quilting bee.

And, to be honest, every single block I made for our quilt

was a new endeavor for me.

I tried my hand at triangles

applique

dresden plates

log cabin

and I even gave block design a try.

Lucinda loves stars.

Friendship stars, wonky stars, 8-pointed stars.

You name it, she'll block it.

So I decided, 

if I am going to attempt to design my own block

you know, make one from scratch and all

a star would be most a propos.

And...since all of the blocks we've chosen for our friendship quilt

have a name

I decided to name her block

Cooper.

I guessing I need not explain why.

You'll have to forgive me

this is my first ever attempt at a tutorial.

You'll have to forgive me

this is my first ever attempt at a tutorial.

And I worry I didn't take enough photos along the way.

But as you'll see, this block is REALLY straightforward.

(This block measures 12" finished size. You'll need about 1/8 yard for the main part of the star, and the rest can be pieced using up your scrap collection!)

I started by cutting a 6.5" square piece of paper that I used to make the template for the star, and a 6.5" cardboard template for trimming/shaping. Here's a pdf version of the template I used. 

I then drew the center of the star on the sheet of paper, and added a 1/4" seam allowance on either side.  I cut this free from the paper and used it as a template for cutting my fabric.  

I used the same fabric in each of the four 6.5" blocks. You can do the same, OR get wild and crazy and use a different fabric in each quadrant

Once I had all the center pieces cut, I started adding strips of paper until I had a finished square.

I pressed ALL seams open and trimmed off the excess after each strip was added.

So as to make the most economical/efficient use of my fabric scraps.

I did this until I had all four quadrants made.  

Originally I was going to have the small end of each center piece meet in the middle

but after careful consideration

and some much needed input from my husband,

I went the other way.

And the end result is much more of a wonky star.

Which happens to be much more up Luc's alley!

Once all your quadrants are assembled, 

press all seams open

and trim the block to measure 12" square. 

Easy peasy!

Cheers!