I'm Back

Sorry for the length of time between posts, I am going to try and post more regularly. I am going to jump backing to a sewing project for this post. The halter top pattern and fabric are both by Amy Butler of course I'm sure you're starting to see that most of the fabrics and patterns I use are made by Amy Butler. I am starting to branch out to other designers slowly but surely.




The fabric is from the midwest modern collection and the pattern is the cabo halter . One word of advice when using patterns for clothing, trace the pattern in the size you want don't cut the actual pattern. That way if you change sizes you can still use the same pattern, something I learned the hard way and thought I would pass it on. I now have two cabo halter patterns. This was also my first time working with zippers, this particular top uses an invisible zipper which is a little tricky to work with at first. Once you get the hang of it, its super easy.

Now that I have the creative part of this post taken care of on to other stuff. I took a quilt class over the past weekend and it was loads of fun. Once I get the border and the rest of the quilt finished I'll be sure and post it. I hope to get it finished in the next two weeks. My in-laws are back in the US for a couple of more weeks, we are getting together this weekend for some family fun it should be a great time. Pattie and I have a fun day of girl stuff planned on Saturday while the guys play disc golf, hang the canoe in the garage, and pick up crabs from the fish market for dinner. We are having a crab boil for dinner, yummy. Another thing I am really excited about is spark its a creative retreat in Utah that mom and I are going to. I can't wait only a couple of weeks until we are sparking it up together. Well that's all I really have for this post. Hope everyone has a great weekend, I'm sure I will. I'm going to try and make my next post early next week, until then try something creative.

Happy Anniversary to me

Today Mike and I have been married for 2 years, time has been flying by. It does not feel like 2 years at all. And the best part about today is that we took the day off work and are loving it. Mike's parents are back from Nigeria for the month so we are going to have lunch with them today and celebrate his mom's birthday :). Today's creative post is something I made at a retreat last summer and finally framed it, now I just need to hang it on the wall, baby steps.

Sorry for the glare, I had to use my flash because I took the photo at night. This is made using the house of three welcome banner letters I love it. It was actually quite easy to make, its on chipboard which is similar to strong cardboard, then covered with vanilla cardstock, the letters from the welcome banner are also printed on cardstock, there are a few things printed on transparency paper, and then the rest is just odds and ends to make it all come together. The frame is a 10" x 20" from hobby lobby, there is no glass on it since the front of the welcome sign is a little bulky. I can't wait to hang it in our entry way. Hope you all have a happy Monday and are inspired to maybe make a welcome sign of your own.

As promised

Since this blog is titled creative tales, meaning not just sewing I thought I would finally add some other creative ventures of mine. The first one is something I created based loosely off of a sketch from creative keepsakes magazine.

Generations



This is my version of part of our new family tree, mike and I, my parents, his parents, his maternal grandparents, and my paternal grandparents. This is in our bedroom with our new green wall color in the background which I am loving.

The next scrapbook hanging is from the proposal in Banff, Alberta.


This is Mike and I at lake Annette, this is where we stopped for lunch overlooking the lake. The little pouch attached with the cute clothespins is what Mike carried the ring in on the hike, his mom made it.

The last project for today is a project from creative escape 2009 that I finally finished, the photo is from our engagement session.


Hopefully you have enjoyed some of my other creative ventures, my goal is to provide a mixture of all of my creative tales so I guess we'll see how I do. Hope you all have a great Monday.

I'm back

I know its been a while since my last post. I decided I would mix it up a bit and show you the super cute summer dresses I made for my cousin in laws daughters.




This top one was for the older of the 2 girls and the next one is for a newborn, its so tiny.




I wanted to make it so they looked similar but I didn't t want the fabrics to be exactly the same. I used 4 different Moda fabrics. I just love how they turned out, totally adorable. Its amazing how kids clothes always look so cute, I wish that stayed the same when you get older. The pattern I used for the dresses is from frog legs and ponytails, it is the Caroline pattern. I am behind on photographing my projects so once that's complete I will hopefully making posts more frequently. Have a great Sunday.

Day two

After the first battle with cording you think I would have just left good enough alone, but that would be to easy. I have now added cording to three of my projects, and lets just say the third times a charm. I think I now have the cording thing figured out. Here is the second project that has the awe inspiring cording added to it.

The answer is YES, this is the same beach bag that started my battle with cording. This is the bag I made for my grandmother for Mothers Day. This time the cording was easier to attach since I now have a little better understanding of how to keep it in place. I am really starting to think I need to make one of these bags for myself, I will have to add that to the never ending project list. The fabric for this bag is designed by the ever stylish Amy Butler, you may be starting to see a pattern with my choice of fabric. However, you should all be happy to know that I am starting to drift out of my comfort zone and have purchased some Heather Bailey, Moda, and Joel Dewberry fabrics.

The next post will be my final bag in the battle with cording, well at least for now. I also realize this blog is called creative tales not sewing tales so I will start to add other crafty projects as well. Hope everyone has a happy 4th of July weekend.

Sewing it up

To start of this whole creative tales process I decided to start with sharing some of my sewing projects. Without further delay let the creative tales begin.




The beach bag was something I made for my cousin Kelly. Try to focus on the actual bag and not the messy room in the background. The pattern and material are both by Amy Butler. The pattern is the field bad and tote and the material is Daisy Chain-wildflowers-Navy for the bottom of the bag and Daisy Chain - pressed flowers-turquoise for the top. Sewing cording was an undertaking for a beginner/intermediate sewer. Even though I followed a pattern, keeping the cording properly aligned with the 2 pieces of the bag it was outlining was rough. Lets just say the cording and I are in a never ending battle, and the cording is winning.

These curtains are in my dining room. The fabric is from Amy Butler's Nigella line, nickel primrose. I didn't actually follow a pattern for these it was more of a learn as you go type of process. This was surprisingly easier then you might think, or at least then I thought it would be. The most challenging part of the process was sewing the top, sides, and hem in a straight line. I am sure there are more technical names then top, side, and hem but that's what I am going with. Until the next tale

Welcome

Obviously I am way behind on this whole blogging thing, but I figured no time like the present to start. The goal of my blog is to share my creative process and to gain inspiration and ideas from others along the way. I finally made it to the world of blogging and it feels good.