An Old Find

Birth Announcement Project

Okay, so I'm working on an embroidery piece that's 22 years in the making. It's actually a birth announcement for my 22 year old brother. How is this possible, you might ask?


I guess when my mother was pregnant with Brian, she was working on a piece to hang in the nursery. We're talking vintage, totally eighties, complete with a teddy bear and a sort of spooky clown. I can actually remember her working on the piece, sitting on the couch-- the messy tangle of colored thread hanging off her round belly. I would check her progress every now and again, and as any curious four year old, would take my fingers and gently rub them over the French knots and cut loops.

Apparently, she came so close to finishing the piece (it's complete except for the ball on the clown's hat, and the frame), but once Brian was born, she was too busy to finish it.

Now that I'm living at home again, I have a chance to root through some of my mom's old things: unfinished projects, vintage skirt hemmers, fabrics...

I came across the birth announcement and thought I might finish it and frame it so that I can give to Bri on his next birthday, which will be in January. I think the sentimentality of the gesture will be wonderful, as my mother passed away when he was only 12. Even if it only sits in a box, it will be his.

And speaking of old finds...



I found this embroidered piece that my mom made for me when I was a baby. Yeah, that's a unicorn. A little corny I know, but it's actually quite beautiful, and far better than anything I could do at this stage in the game.



Just look at the detail that went into this! My mom was a true perfectionist and an amazing, crafty lady. She sewed, gardened, wove baskets, and was an amazing cook to boot! The best teacher I ever had, even though it was her job. She taught second grade for twenty years before she passed away. And a little part of me knows that I have chosen to go into teaching because she really inspired me. Okay, enough reminiscing.

Busy Week

All last week I worked on projects from my new T-shirt recycling book. I made a nifty pair of legwarmers and a skirt. Who knew I had it in me? In all honesty, these are the most recent clothes I've sewn on the machine since I made this hippie shirt in high school. The skirt, especially, came out awesome. Let's see...

I also finished knitting a pair of really soft mohair legwarmers for my friend, Laura. It was my first project that involved increases, so there are a few blotchy parts, but I'm hoping she won't notice. With all these legwarmers I felt like doing something a bit different, so I started a pair of armwarmers. Can you tell I'm anticipating a cold winter? They're coming along okay so far, and I even left some live stitches to put in a thumb gusset later on. I'm doing them in a really textured off-white wool that has little course pieces of straw-like fiber. I'm super psyched!

To round out the weekend, I watched "The Puffy Chair." Spectacular movie. Anyone who's ever been on a road trip (or been in love) should see it. It has an amazing soundtrack to boot.

Tee-Storm!

I'm super amped about finally having my sewing machine set up. It's been nearly a month and half since Keith and I moved in with my dad and it seems that our things are finally finding homes. Of course, the Singer is set up on the dining room table for the time being...

Last week I bought these two awesome books on reconstructing vintage t-shirts and I'm dying to make a project!

Tease features designs by various members of the Austin Craft Mafia and offers up ideas ranging from recycled t-shirt woven rugs to sushi inspired eye masks. It's really fun and each project pattern is complete with a difficulty level and icons denoting supplies needed. You should definitely check it out.

Generation T is also really cool. To be honest, it was an afterthought: I had the first book in my basket on Amazon, and the second was offered as a reduced rate package. I figured, what the hey!? And I'm so glad I did. It's brilliant. There are endless pattern ideas for revamping old t-shirts and most patterns even come with a variation or two. I've already attacked numerous tees with my Fiskars. Of course, some of those attempts were made late at night, after a few drinks, so they haven't all turned out wonderfully.

I'll try to post a few pics of finished projects in my sewing section once I have some time.