Organizing and Upcoming Projects

I’ve enjoyed having the extra hour this morning before clocking in. It is still my long day at my real job, but getting a little bit organized this morning was FANTASTIC! Take a look at the peg board room divider that was special built by a friend’s husband. No more scrounging around drawers or dark closets for us!! YEAH!

Supplies TOTALLY Organized

Yes, it looks like a store display, but having everything at my fingertips will save money in the long run by knowing exactly what we already have. FANTASTIC! Thanks, Marci and Vern – you two are terrific!

After organizing, up popped the two unlined original handbags. Hmmm, better put these in the immediate to-do list. Here is “Cherry Blossoms” and “Pretzel Logic”…..

Cherry Blossoms and Pretzel Logic - ready to line with fun fabrics

Want to accomplish one ‘old school’ iPad portfolio this week, so went through the fabrics that had coordinates and decided on the olive green and hot pink/rose cottons. The black silicone skin is still packaged up on the left.

Olive and hot pink cottons ready for some 'old school' styling

And finally, the baby that I haven’t let you peek at yet, is ready to start showing off. This design is very intense with texture – and I LOVE IT! This will hopefully end up very VERY large and have a satchel or old time doctor bag type hinged closure. We just received the incredibly strong 12″ tubular snap hinge purse closures from China yesterday and it should work perfectly. After waiting a month for them to come in, they will be perfect!!! Can we say Mary Poppins with a yarnie leafy kind of flair?

Just a sneek peek for y'all - and it's turning into my fave

Thanks for checking in! With internet working now, hopefully we can keep you updated on some of the things happening in the creative room.

And organization is a good thing – along with the right tools. We’re covered! Happy crafting and we’ll see you soon.

Oct 30 2011

Geometry Lesson & Repurposing

With running the JournalJunction on Etsy, there are days that I need to get my geometry skills honed up and used. So I decided to run with abandon on a project that’s been sitting on the ‘fun’ side of things for months. If you remember back a bit, one of the doctor’s I work for was letting go of some of her little girl’s clothing. And I’ve been hoarding those treasured items for long enough. First item out to repurpose was a darling little knit shirt with incredible embroidery on the front. It is listed over at the Journal Junction if you want more photos.

Base Cutting and Placement of Pocket made from Embroidered Girl's Shirt

Complete and listed - with a very precious photo I keep by my computer.

It was a good morning to be thankful for all God has blessed us with – in so MANY ways. As much as we wish Lily would be here and celebrating her 5th birthday soon, we know she is somewhere far greater…. and that she’s sitting with Jesus or throwing a ball or two around with her uncle. Yeah, have to think of all the good stuff. :)

Blessings to your Sunday! Say “I Love You” – often.

Oct 29 2011

Giveaway on Facebook

Tygerlily has built a Fan Page over on Facebook! If you would like to have your name put into a drawing for a give away when we reach 100 fans, just click the Facebook badge over on the left side of the blog. Then YOU will be entered! Not telling what the prize will be yet, that’s a surprise.

So get on over there and become a FAN! And then get some creating done yourself and show if off over on TygerLily’s fan page. We’d love to see what all you’ve been doing with your crafting.

Oct 23 2011

Personalized School Planner Cover

Skyline of where I live.... Lincoln, NE

Another challenge came down the pike over a week ago from a shopper over on Etsy. I let her pick the main fabric she liked and when the shipment of fabric came in on Friday, it was time to get down and dirty. Geometry skills put in place. Oh, yeah, I didn’t take geometry. Well, let’s put it this way, I had a ruler and my rotary cutter at the ready. Yep, that’s it. Measure, cut. Measure, cut. Measure,cut, sew……….. and here’s the finished entry for her approval.

Special Challenge School Planner Cover

Open Cover with an assortment of pockets tucked away.

Not sure if she will like this or not, but I’m sure keeping my fingers crossed. With me still in the learning phase of using the embroidery module on the new sewing machine, everything personalized takes a lot more time – and THINKING! HA!

So here is this morning’s update. Now it’s time to meet co-workers for the Breast Cancer Making Strides Walk here in Lincoln, NE. It’s a beautiful day and a great cause.

Thanks for stopping by and now GO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE!!! :)

Oct 21 2011

Houndstooth, Tweed, Leather and a YoYo

Yes, a yoyo. A new rendition to an old classic. The red heart object you see in the photo is a squishy rubber heart on an elastic string – a YOYO! This is the gadget that my husband brought home after working his Business To Business booth on Wednesday. Have to say, the guy is pretty good at making it work, too.

But I really wanted to show you the beautiful suiting fabrics that Joann‘s had at 50% off yesterday on my quick trip over there. There will be some very classic and professional type handbags that will come from these. The fabric on the far right is actually a dark brown and will be the lining to the Red Bush Cable Handbag this weekend. It feels like wool, but it’s not. Should be an excellent lining that will take lots of wear.

Suiting Fabrics and a YoYo

The fabric on the left isn’t real leather, but a ‘pleather’ fabric. It’s fairly lightweight and hopefully it will sew up into some great purse handles and even a bow or two. That remains to be seen. But at half off, I purchased two yards to keep in my stash for future projects.

Shipment of fabrics should be here by the time I get home from work. And that just means more orders to fulfill and 48 (almost) hours of TygerLily craft room time. And yes, the TEAM Tygerlily is well aware that half the team will be holed up and working on product. :)

Oct 16 2011

An iPad Cover for Paper Nerds Like ME

Image via Wikipedia

The small trip we took this weekend totally wore me out. Maybe it was just because it caused us to get out of sync, not sure. So no knitting was even looked at today, but I started feeling guilty this afternoon. So off to the sewing room I go and remembered I had just gotten in a gorgeous garden print by Michael Miller. No time like the present, so here is the iPad portfolio for paper nerds – yes, like me!

Old School iPad Portfolio Outside

Open.... with iPad skin attached

It's got a TygerLily on it's tail!

Well, wish there was more to report, but there just isn’t this weekend. There’s a few irons in the fire as usual, but no pictures. But I do appreciate you stopping by and taking a look at what’s happening.

Are any of you paper nerds like me? :)

Oct 15 2011

Fire Bush, Fabric, Small Town America

After having a ‘corporate’ meeting with Team TygerLily last night, the Fire Bush Cable Handbag is going to be left just as it is. Ideas were being thrown all over the place on how to make it better this way and that way, but my artist husband decided that if we continued on, it would be overworked and an artist needs to know when it’s time to stop. Call it complete. Done. So here is the Fire Bush resting and drying on the blender. Hey, it works, we don’t fight it. :)

Upside Down and On The Blender Drying

Up Close Pic of Perfect Felting Process

So this will sit the rest of the weekend and dry, baby, dry. Handles and a deep dark brown lining will top it off at some point.

It appears I need two bags on the needles at all times, so this Reynolds Lopi 100% wool will be next in line. It is an interesting color that is such a dark burgundy that it’s nearly brown. It’s exquisite.

Reynolds Lopi 100% Wool (this isn't purple like picture looks)

This will be going in my one allotted knitting bag today for our mini-trip. One very DEEP cable is going on the front and back of this bag. Still debating on handle treatment.

On the sewing side, the fabric came in for the diaper bag my hub ordered from me for a gift. Baby isn’t here yet, but they know it’s a girl. I fell in love with this on Fabric.com:

Diaper Bag Fabrics for Gift Giving

And a special order came in overnight on Etsy for a planner cover. So while getting that fabric ordered from Fabric.com I came across some wonderful new items in their store and threw them in my cart. Hey, I had a 15% off coupon and there’s no time like the present.

Fashionista Lacey Beige

Moda Architecture Aqua

Kashmir Floral Pumpkin

These have coordinating fabrics coming also, but you get the idea. Think I’m in love with the pumpkin………. iPad folio, here we come! None of these were the special order, but Amy Butler fabrics were her choice. The buyer has good taste!

Thanks for reading my ramblings this morning. Hopefully a lot of knitting will get accomplished this evening along with a little tour of small town, America. Keep an eye out, things are popping around here!

Oct 9 2011

Introducing the iPad Portfolio – For Paper Nerds Like ME!

Yes, it’s finally done and out of my head. The challenge has been met, and I believe this was an honest and perfect start to a new product in the Journal Junction Etsy shop. Here’s the progression once it got out of my head and on to the cutting board……

Fabric that was chosen by a possible buyer..... you just never know - she might buy it!

Silicone iPad glove getting its Velcro on.

Fabric placed in silicone glove to hide that nasty Velcro!

Getting the final measurements done on it....

Sitting Pretty - ALL DONE!

LOGO

iPad fit into Silicone glove

Holding GREAT no matter what position the portfolio is in.......

It’s a done deal! And it’s time for dinner with my personal chef. Thanks for checking in on what’s happening. And one more thing, paper is a NECESSITY! An iPad is great, but paper is still better. :)

Oct 1 2011

Goals, Lists, Nerds and a FREE Knitted Headband Pattern

Two days of no plans other than TygerLily projects. It’s a long list, but there’s been progress. Some times I wonder if this passion of mine is a blessing or a curse!

Golf club cover yarn has been wound into balls. We do this by hand just like mom did back in the day. I know there are tools out there for this but will save those $$’s for something else. So the Peruvian wool is ready to start knitting with.

Want to ~~get through one more hank of Burly Spun on Season’s Royal Messenger Bag~~ this weekend. Hancock Fabrics had a divine oriental brocade with a perfect design that will end up being a very soft and slick lining for it. So far I’ve managed to work through maybe one third of my goal. Progress! – (accomplished)

With six tote bags that have been special ordered, the goal is to complete just ONE this weekend to show the buyer. I am pretty stoked about these and can’t wait to share their design. No yarn used on these though, totally done in fabric and iron on vinyl.

the ~~Steeples bag~~ is totally ready for the sewing room!!! The leather strappy handles came in a week early and they are screaming at me to get this bag complete! Paisley corduroy will make a great cushy lining, too. (accomplished)

And then the big project….. The new iPad portfolio design that absolutely has to get done. Once it’s perfected, there will be many more ready to roll for those nerds like me who want the ease of the iPad, but just can’t give up paper and pen. There’s something rewarding AND cathartic about using a PEN!

Last, I wanted to share a great FREE pattern I came across the other day. With the fall chill in the air and winter coming up, this would make a great weekend project for all you knitters out there.

Cascade Yarns Headband FREE knitting Pattern………

Pretty cute, huh? Would be awesome worked up in some team colors for tailgating.

Aug 19 2011

“Singer”-ing In The Rain

Last evening we experienced some weird storms. The wind had a howl out here in the semi-country that sent chills down our backs. Yes, it was that eerie. The sky had colors to it that only spelled trouble. There were many homes left without power because of it. But no, not our home. We had power, which led to this story.

I love storms, the sounds, the colors, the whole package. Bill watches for awhile, outside, but can care less after he’s evaluated the situation and can fall immediately to sleep. But not me. I don’t want to miss anything so it was hard for me to fall asleep. While he was gently snoring, I snuck the remote control from his hand and yes, I started flipping the channels. All of the sudden I see the word “sewing” through my 10 year old ‘bed’ glasses and turn the TV channel to see what this sewing show was all about.

Oh oh. It wasn’t a show. It was the Home Shopping Network. I tried changing the channel, I really did. After watching for about 10 minutes, and scolding myself for even entertaining the idea of a new Singer sewing machine, the remote took control and we (the remote and I) located Murder She Wrote on The Hallmark Channel. That’s a safe show, and relaxing for me. But oh, the temptation to check back to HSN. The sewing machine they were promoting at that point was the coup de gras (sp). My dream machine was on TV! Oh, Lord. Help me. Bill is sleeping. It’s a deal that can’t honestly be passed up. What do I do? With my mind now in full blown overload, I started rationalizing. You’ve done it, you know you have. :) Like, if I stop this subscription, do this, manipulate that and that other, push selling my product a little more…… yes. To the computer I go. I’ll explain, beggingly, to Bill in the morning and ask for his forgiveness, and a little support.

Before I show you all what this monumental purchase really was, I believe that I’ve aged enough to show you the progression of the sewing machines that have been a huge instrument to one of my passions. So a little “Singer”ing Down The Road seems quite appropriate!

When I was a little girl, my grandmother would babysit me on occasion. Oh, how I loved those days. She taught me how to boil chicken (ick), make scrambled eggs, crochet potholders, and sew on her little 1939 Singer Featherweight sewing machine.

1939 Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine

This is not an actual photo of her machine, but this is the model. The real deal is neatly stored in the basement with its original case and attachments box. This was not a fancy machine by today’s standards, but the Featherweight did its job and did it well. Straight stitch only, forward and reverse, visible rubber belt on the side, manual tension knob. Down and dirty and get it done style. It was the perfect machine for my grandmother to teach me some great basics.

On the other hand, my mother had a newer model Singer machine at home. I could not find an accurate picture of her machine, but this picture is fairly close. My sister still has this machine TO THIS DAY and it works like a charm.

Likeness of Mom's Singer Sewing Machine from the 1950's

I loved sewing and learning on mom’s machine, too. It could do zig-zag stitches and winding new bobbins was fun! Nothing was computerized and everything was manual. And the Barbie clothes that got made on mom’s machine…. oh, the memories. I think back now on how I ever managed making those teenie tiny clothes as it certainly doesn’t interest me at all anymore. :) Mom was a trooper teaching, and using all the patience the good Lord gave her while instructing and encouraging me to continue on and to KEEP BUSY. Mom’s machine would stare and glare at me every day all the way through high school and sing along with my mom during summer when there was no school, “Well, Karen, what are you going to do to keep busy today? What have you planned?” My mother, nor the machine, would ever just leave me alone to do just nothing. Mom would never allow there to be even one idle moment in my life as a kid. And being the tail end in a family of 5, I’m fairly sure mom was just tired and let the sewing machine do the babysitting! :) But I was very content with my friend made of metal, levers, bobbins and spools.

The first thing Bill allowed us to purchase after we were married in 1976 was a Singer sewing machine of my very own. It was tough making the $18 a month payments, but the original Futura II was a purchase that lasted nearly 30 years.

Futura II (circa 1976)

When it gave up the ghost (while making a beach bag from a beach towel) I rushed it to the sewing machine hospital where they pronounced it DOA. NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Not my baby! I still had stickers and appliques glued to the front of it from when the kids were little. It made a gazillion clothes, toys and gifts. Gosh, that was one heck of a machine. My mom warned me when we bought it, “It sure has a lot of plastic on it. I sure hope it lasts.” Moms, you just GOTTA love them. :)

Bill understood my depression and sour attitude after losing such a vital piece of who I am, and helped scrounge up around $200 to get a bare minimum machine to get us by. It was not a good time in our lives for another expense to happen, but somehow this part worked out. It’s a decent machine, but it just wasn’t my Futura II.

A few months ago, the conversation came up as to how nice it would be to have a machine that would embroider, do some serging, etc. Just some extra little fun things that would bring some of my organizational pieces over at the JournalJunction on Etsy a bit more personality. Bill was pretty receptive and understood how it could kick things up a little bit. And we knew it would be pricey, to say the least.

So back to Home Shopping Network and last night…….. sometime late September some nice gentleman in a truck will be dropping this off for me……..

Futura Quartet All-In-1

This baby will do everything! The extras that were thrown in on this 1/2 hour deal last night made it well worth the next five months of flex-payments and me pushing our product even more. At a retail value of over $1600 (no, I did NOT pay that amount) we’ll be able to actually SEW without incident: vinyl, plastic, leather, jersey, knits, velvet of all kinds, embroider designs and alphabets/words, free-form quilting (looking forward to that one), computer generated designs via USB cable (oh boy) and last but not lease……. ready? A ZIPPER FOOT! I have looked for over 6 years for a zipper foot that would fit what I have now and there is absolutely nothing on the market. Do you see the big gray frame in the fore ground of the photo? That is a hoop that has a 6″ x 10″ area for……. embroidery, initials, monograms, etc. Look at what else it can do…..

Photo input - embroidery output

It’s going to make me look like Elizabeth Taylor! :D No, really, just kidding. HA It will take a photo from your computer and do some digital magic and send it over to the machine to embroider. I will probably never use this feature, but I’ve said never before and been proven wrong.

I double checked this morning to make sure all this wasn’t a dream, and it was for real. They have my order. Today this package has been marked up $200 from last night’s deal. What are the chances?

………..and during lunch, I received notice that another sewn portfolio from the store had sold. God is so good. And so is my husband for not committing me to an insane asylum. :)