Fear and Peanuts

I pushed myself to go outside of my comfort zone today.  Some people fear public speaking.  Some people fear heights.  I, on the other hand, get a bit (ok, a LOT) anxious meeting new people, especially in places where there are NO familiar faces.  So today I decided to meet that fear head-on and go to a quilt shop open house "sew-in".  It was an informal "meet, greet, sit and sew" event here in town.  I have to admit I had a semi-serious argument with myself on the way over as to whether or not I was going to actually go or not.  In the end I decided that it was important to bust through the fear, and so I did.  I took my most favorite project, my Pocket Peanuts, to sew while I was there.  And lest you think I had forgotten that this is a blog where I share my creative things, here they are!

These are my original Pocket Peanuts.  They are a smash hit with my kids.  They're all shaped like peanuts (similar to Russian stacking dolls), and though they are called peanuts, they are completely peanut free (no allergens here!).  They are approximately 3" tall (1.5" wide) and are stuffed with non-allergenic polyfil stuffing, so they are fun little pocket-sized dolls.  [And in my best announcer voice: "but wait...there's more!"]

These little Pocket Peanuts are finger puppets, too!  They are made with a strip of elastic securely sewn into the seams, so little fingers (and big fingers, too) can wear them.

I have oodles of other things to share with you, but I have to close out this post for now.  I'll be back later with details on my shop opening (!!!!!) and more fun stuff!

Have an amazingly blessed Monday!

:) Caren

My Buckeye Princess

I was invited to be a pattern tester.  And for some insane reason I said yes.  I mean, my work with clothing is limited for a reason, folks!  I see a pattern and I get a headache by the time I get to the measurements and cutting list (yep, same reason I don't quilt).

So anyway, after a couple weeks(!) of thinking over the possibilities for fabrics, I decided to make my little princess dress for a Buckeye - an Ohio State Buckeye, that is.  Yep, we live in Ohio.  And Sunshine's daddy (aka - my husband) is a Buckeye fan.  So I went for the best scarlet and gray I could find.  (Pretty sweet scarlet & gray, though, right?!!!)

So back to the whole pattern testing thing.  I figured out a lot of things through this adventure:

1.  I like to embroider, but only if I know it is actually going to be used/seen (i.e. - on a dress that won't ever fit - why waste the time?).  ps - my embroidery was not complete along the lacing in these pictures).

2.  I get nervous trying to figure out colors/fabrics.  I really can not seem to "picture" fabrics in other contexts.  Funny, huh?  I'm not a "visionary" with regards to fabrics and colors.  I guess that's got an "up" side, too - I get surprised with the end result!

3.  I get REALLY nervous cutting into "good" fabric.  You know, the kind with a designer label.  The kind you can't find at the thrift store or the remnant bin at JoAnns.  (If you're wondering, my fabric is a combination of Rendezvous and Nature Elements that I got from Julie at The Intrepid Thread.) 

4.  My designs typically come from a random idea, story, need, or even a fabric.  Not a pattern.  I am NOT a by-the-book creator.  I'm messy.  I color outside the lines.  I don't measure unless I have to.  I use "whatever" seam allowances.

5.  I get REALLY REALLY nervous about using someone else's pattern.  Especially if I know they're counting on me to follow it faithfully.  My insecurities abound, because I want to do things right.  I know the person who wrote this pattern is wanting my honest input, and I want to give it (and not screw up something she has worked hard on!)

6.  And though I knew this one before: I am only marginally better than  I used to be at sewing in a straight line!

So I struggled a bit with this pattern testing thing.  It is a sweet pattern - and it really did turn out beautiful.  And in the end, it was a good (growing) experience for me.  It gave me confidence not to shrink away from future projects that might involve patterns, exact measurements, and/or cutting into really GOOD fabric!  

Who knows? Maybe I'll try tackling a quilt one of these days...

                                                      

                                       ... but not today ;)

Here's a smile from my Buckeye Princess to you!

:) Caren