Monthly Archive for November, 2009

OCAC Bag raffle, goodies and other fun things…

Published on November 30, 2009 in Handmade. 75 Comments Tags: , , , .

First of all a huge thank you, thank you, thank you to everybody who purchased one of my OCAC bags this weekend. It was really exciting for me to see people walk away with something I made with my own two hands. Somehow similar to the experience when i see a jacket i designed on the mountain yet a bit sweeter. If that is even possible.
Now there are only 3 bags left! And because tomorrow is already December, Christmas is fast approaching, and ‘Nikolaustag’ is on the 6th of December, i decided to raffle away one of my bags. I’ll hold the raffle on December 6th. You can enter by simply leaving a comment on my wordpress blog – if you see this in the FB note, just click on a pic and it’ll lead you to my blog. I will randomly pick a name out of a hat coming Sunday afternoon.

But that’s not all. Verypurpleperson is also raffling away some goodies over at purplestuff. Hop on over and check it out!

Thank you Janet for this amazing shot!

And if you are into Yoga and live here in Portland, OR, check out the Giving Tree at The Bhakti shop. (BTW they became my favorite yoga studio in town!) They are holding an incredible fundraiser with E X I T I N G prices, including a weekend getaway, massage, acupuncture and other vouchers, and one of my seek one-piece suits! If you are in the area, get yourself or someone you love a ticket and see what happens. Here a link to The Bhaktishop Facebook fanpage.

Barre3 opened their SE studio in November and they are offering a special deal on their 3-month unlimited class series. I love this workout – if you are not a gym hero or yogi, or just want something that will compliment all your activities – this is the place for you!

And something else that i am excited about is the advents calendar i am currently creating for Leona. I don’t want to stuff her with chocolate and sweets – so i am creating felt food for her. Of course i had this idea at the last minute (as usual) so it’s little presents day by day instead of a full fledged calendar. I’ll post pics of her goodies on a daily basis – or at least that’s what i am planning. Next week i will be back in possession of my sewing room and need to ramp up again – my sewing japanese challenge needs some more fuel before the flame extincts…

Whow, this was a long one. Good night for today, everybody…

 

Butterflies in my heart

Published on November 30, 2009 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: , .

This design has been one of my first computer projects in a long while. Yoga Journal ran a graphic tee design competition for their conference series. I felt quite inspired and came up with this design making my own photoshop brushes.
The winning designer receives two tickets for the 2010 YJ conferences and even though i would love to win, I am planning to attend a conference next year – something that i was planning on for years now. I heart yoga!

If you would like to use this design as a print or logo graphic, please don’t just use it without letting me know; Send me an email and let me know what you’d be using it for. Thank you!!!

Bags for OCAC

Published on November 27, 2009 in Handmade. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Last week my parents in law have been in town and i had to convert my sewing room back into our guest bed room. But before they arrived, i wanted to make sure i had my contribution for the student sale benefitting the OCAC (Oregon College of Art and Craft). Inspired by the simplicity of the bags one of my favorite bloggers verypurpleperson made for a sale in Tokyo, Japan, i decided this would be a great project i could manage in time for the sale. I made a total of 14 bags in a real production-style manner.

This is just one example of the Lined Shopper as I used 4 different IKEA fabrics.
Pattern: my own version based on the Charlie Bag from Burdastyle.
The bag is completely lined in natural cotton and sports an inside pocket with compartments for cellphone, pen and purse. It’s great for grocery shopping but i found it works really well just used as purse.

If you are lucky enough to be in town for Thanksgiving week, check out the student sale at the OCAC. It’s on this weekend from 9am-5pm.

5 Aprons and a half

Published on November 15, 2009 in Handmade. 1 Comment Tags: .

5andahalf aprons

The ladies at Leona’s daycare were asking me if i would be willing to make them custom aprons. I jumped right into the idea, made the apron pattern from one of their old ones they all seemed to like, added a 3-compartment patch on pocket, gathered a fabric selections that i thought spoke to their personalities and had them choose their favorite fabric:

From top left to bottom right:
on Ms. Francesca: ‘The accomplished person on the top” IKEA with Denim details
on Auntie Ally: Mermaids by Heather Ross
on Auntie Calla: Metromarket by Metroluna for Robert Kaufmann
on Auntie Val: Full Bloom by Barry J Ackermann for Windham Fabrics
on Auntie Pam: Scull and X-bones by Henry Alexander with Denim details.
on Auntie Erin: IKEA fabric with Denim binding.

 

Bag it please.

Published on November 7, 2009 in Handmade. 0 Comments Tags: , .

bw_bag

Pattern: ‘Everything Tote’ from Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross
Fabric: IKEA

I needed a nice big bag for my Natural Dye class that i am currently taking at OCAC. I had been going there toting grocery bags around to fit everything. I bought some IKEA fabric for bag-sewing purposes. The fabric has the perfect weight and density to make bags out of them. I love the outcome! And am looking forward to use my scraps for little projects i will be making for Leona.

Wardrobe Sewing Challenge – Bicycle top for me

Published on November 6, 2009 in Handmade and Sewing Japanese. 0 Comments Tags: , .

bicycletop_DC

Stylish dress book 2
SBN978-4-579-11226-5
Style A
Fabric: Phillipa, C, Tana Lawn Liberty

I posted about the shirt i made for Leona here. Here is the ‘adult version’ made from a japanese sewing pattern book available through etsy’s pompadour craft cafe. Love the shirt, made it in L. Might make the M instead and add 2 inches in the future. Fabric is absolutely lovely (and has to with that price tag!)

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A new bag for me

Published on November 5, 2009 in Handmade. 0 Comments Tags: , .

diaperbag

Pattern: Amy Butler
Fabric: IKEA

I was in need for a new bag. And a bit bored too. From my apron project that i worked on for the aunties at Leona’s school, i still had 1 yard of IKEA fabric left over. So i decided to sew it up into a boho bag (or is it hobo?- can anyone explain the difference please?) I used an Amy Butler pattern that has been lying around in my sewing room. I omitted the cellphone pocket as i wanted the outside of the bag to be clean and didn’t want to interrupt the gorgeous fabric print. There is a reason for that particular bag though – the bag has lots of internal pockets (which is great!) but i keep loosing my cellphone in them. But i love it. No doubt.

 

Wardrobe Sewing Challenge – Pop Art tops for everyone!

Published on November 4, 2009 in Handmade. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Popart_DC

Leona and I have some new funky tops! Hurray. Quick and easy projects that result in stunning unique pieces are my favorites. Knitting pattern for the hat can be found here.

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Stylish dress book
ISBN978-4-579-11185-5
Style D
Fabric: Over the Rainbow, B, Tana Lawn Liberty

Popart_LC

And a version for Leona with 2 cute pockets in the front and a two-button closure in the back.

IMG_4664

Mama Girl Wardrobe
ISBN978-4-8347-2691-6
Variation of Style 17

Magazines available here and here. And, as you can see, i’ve got a new toy: a tripod and a remote for the camera. That should take care of my lack of photo-opportunities. See you soon!

Ribbed Sweater Jacket

Published on November 3, 2009 in Uncategorized. 2 Comments Tags: , .

rib sweater

A trip to the the Oregon coast was a beautiful backdrop to finally take some good photos of this ribbed sweater from Rebecca 36 magazine i finished in late Spring. It’s a Cotton Yarn jacket with feels warm yet not too hot – exactly right for the temperatures in fall. The front closure is with snaps and i really love the pockets!

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IMG_0567 IMG_0566

These photos – beautiful and moody, arent’ they? They epitomize my state of mind right now. It’s been more then a year now since i left my job and i had been preparing myself mentally to start doing some work again soon. After one year (and no adverse information from the lawyers) I felt the labor and travel permit must be very near. Andy had put on the pressure a bit more at work to find out what the status is. Thursday a week ago he finally got some answers: The application got rejected. What sent the organization into a bit of a whirlwind for a couple of days, put quite a damper on my own plans. There was the talk of trying it again with the ‘specially talented and extraordinary researcher’ application – but so far we haven’t heard from the lawyers again. Originally we would have to leave the country by end of February. With the extension we’d be able to get a couple more months, possibly until August next year.
Nike will give Andy some sort of work to bridge the gap – but we’ll see what will happen, and when. And where. It’s an interesting experience – as i have a hard time not being empowered to make choices for my family, myself and my career. By now, i’d like to do something to support even though i don’t have any desire to go back to corporate america. But i’d like to do something worth while. It’s just how i tick and even though i know that i do so much for my family already. For now, i just have to trust – again – that things work out the way they are supposed to. Have faith that all will be fine and exactly as they were meant.

For now though, i wanted to write something of my chest. I had made up my mind for a while now – i will not continue to work on ‘seek’. Neither here in the US nor back in europe. Too much time has past, too many obstacles in my way – have made me loose steam and interest in the project. Now there is a way for new thinking and new beginnings. We’ll see what happens -i’ll update my ‘profile’ soon.

Jumping into new experiences – Halloween 2009

Published on November 3, 2009 in Handmade. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Halloween2009

This year was Leona’s first Halloween. And somewhat it was my first one too. Not only did i make her my first ever halloween costume – so she could be a Kangaroo – i carried her up the stairs to the neighbors doors and asked for ‘trick or treat’. I was amazed about how much people love this tradition here and i have no doubt that it’ll be one of Leona’s favorite holidays. She even got the treats put in her pouch without having ever to ask anything, i guess, because she looked so adorable. The girls ad JaChiva’s on Hawthorne were even running after us to give her a lovely pumpkin shaped chocolate.

I made the pattern for her costume by modifying a pattern i got for 25 cent at Knitt’n Kitten. I drafted the pieces for the hood, ears and tail from scratch. The fuzzy fabric is from home depot and the Kangaroo tail stuffed with packing peanuts. I kept the pattern and will be trying myself in scanning and uploading it as a free pattern. Anybody interested in something like this maybe for next year?

My friend Barbara made the cute little gnome costume in the lower left corner. She felted sweaters, cut out the shapes for the hat and pocket-belt, stuffed the hat with packing peanuts and wore it over a borrowed gingham dress. Leona is modeling the outfit for her – doesn’t she look very dutch in the picture? Maybe because Barbara is dutch?

 

 

 

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