Art Junk Girl~

inchin' and quiltin'...

more square-zies...
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I'm still here inchin' along...doing a bit of this and that. I tried some hand quilting this week...can't remember if I mentioned that. It was so relaxing and I liked it way better than machine stitching. I know it's more difficult (yeouch, I did stick myself with a pin), but I'm reading up on stuff and learnin' about small even stitches and such....and the "rocking horse"...I tell you, so much to learn, so little time. It's fascinating though when you find a new project and get to delve into all the particulars. I used to think all threads were made alike, but no, alas, they are not. I got out my vintage sewing jar I thrifted last summer and there were some yummy, NICE threads in there. All I had around here was polyester.. I guess there is a creme de la creme for every pursuit. I know "butter" when I see it, and some of some of the threads in there are butter. Ok, so I'm babbling on here. Oh, and I've been inchin' away on my little squares at night.
As far as the studio, it's comin' along. Starting a new sewing project hasn't exactly helped the situation, but I'll get it all squared away soon. Hope everyone is having a crafty week. I know it helps keep me sane, if there is ever such a thing...LOL. xo Lia

my first doll quilt top!

my first doll quilt
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

Well, friends, the top of the quilt is done and now I'm off to get some binding for it. Oh, and guess what? I'm cleaning out my studio again (shocker!) I was talkin' to my friend, Lilia (fleamarketstudio) and we are doing the same thing. I've had a late hit of "spring cleaning fever" as I was too busy to do any of it before now! I will be taking some before/after pics today and re-vamping some stuff. Do you want to join me? xo Lia

my first 9-patch square...woot!

my first 9-patch square...woot!
Originally uploaded by artjunkgrl.

I did it! Yeah! Now, it was not done with little effort or trips to fabric store to replace cutting tools, or taking apart my cabinet to find straight pins, or having to go get a "ripper" for mistakes or comfuzzlement over how to get everything lined up correctly.

BUT, I found the whole process to be utterly blissful and now that I have my tools, the other 8 patches I have to make should take me less than the day it took me to make this one! LOL> but the thrill is in the challenge. I totally am in awe of the quilting and sewing bloggers because this stuff ain't easy! I also think I owe an apology to my readers who ask me about collage specifics and I tell them it's easy peasy. I was a fish outta water yesterday and although I still think collage is easier than sewing, I had a list of 10 very OCD specific questions about what kind of thread to use, how to hold the blade, etc. etc. Ok, so back to quilting some more today! I looove summer! Yeah! (p.s. I think I had doll quilt insomnia last nite....I couldn't wait to get back to work on it!)

Sew, see you later!!! xo Lia

The doll quilt debacle..

Ok, so remember I mentioned my obsession desire to make a doll quilt in this post/episode?
Well, here's a recap of an actual event in my home, which I named, "the procrastinator's guide to making a doll quilt when you don't know how and when you should be doing something else"...):

1. Go searching for fabric in the art junk "studio" stash..


2. Take out vintage fabric mom gave me and take picture of it for my flickr friends...then decide to join vintage fabric group, because, well, I just need to join yet another flickr group..
3. make neat stacks of fabric

4.Look up tutorial and discover Purl Bee's Tutorial, yes, I'm ALWAYS the last to know...

5. Pick out fabrics and start following tutorial, tracing, cutting and putting in neat piles

6. Stop and collage a page in my glue book with scraps...
7. Decide I don't like the fabrics I chose, and go back to look for more..

8. Decide I don't have cute enough (girlie) fabrics for the said doll quilt...
9. Go back to making squares...

10. get back to junk I have to do...
11. think of plan B.
To be continued...

sewing junk~ shhh....a present for dd

Made this with a jean mini skirt my dd had that I never liked (he he) and she finally relinquished into my sewing cabinet. I've had it in there for a while and thought I'd use some of yesterdays pretty shirt fabric to make it into a little tote for her. She loves purses, has a bagillion of them and won't part with any of them! I think she will like this. I left the botton of it fringed like the skirt was...I made the strap by attaching pieces of the fabric with the waistband part. I also sewed on some vintage buttons. This was "sew" much fun to do. I did it in a "crazy quilt" kind of style, at least that what it reminded me of. There is various stitching and such, used both zipzag and straight. Oh, and I only broke one sewing machine needle and had various other little mishaps but my machine is tolerant of my trial and error type of ways. The sewing machine manual is my friend. I figure that if you get the machine threaded correctly, the rest of the stuff doesn't matter as much. Now, this is all you sewing girls fault, luring me into sewing machine projects now. I blame Hanna for all her craft portal links and wonderful creations that keep me up ooing and ahhing over hand sewn lovelies all night, and the very talented Ruth Rae enticing me with fabric charm ideas to extend my 1 " square love to fabric. Ok, well, I better get offline and go clean up my sewing mess. xxoo Lia