Thursday, August 27, 2015

Sewing Room “Art”

Painted Burlap

I am redoing my sewing room, well really I am turning the den that has slowly been taken over by sewing into an official sewing room.  In honor of the 1 year blogiversary I made a Sewing with Rascal wall hanging on burlap wrapped canvas.  I looked into getting a canvas professionally made but it was more than I wanted to spend, so I looked around Hobby Lobby and found a burlap wrapped canvas on sale for less than $10.  I used Picasa to create a template big enough for the 12 x 24  canvas.  It’s really easy using the ‘Make a Poster’ function which cuts the image up into  8.5  x 11 page size sections that can be taped together once printed. 

Picasa Make a Poster

Once the logo was printed and taped together, I put a piece of Graphite paper between the paper and the canvas.  (The paper is torn to center the logo) 


DSC_0282 DSC_0286
 
Then I traced the logo onto the canvas, just like tracing in elementary school.   

DSC_0291 DSC_0295

Once everything was traced, I used a paint marker to color.  I only needed black and yellow so it was simple, but it would be fun to make a multicolor project. 

DSC_0302 tracing on burlap

Done. 


Another art project for the sewing room - I wrapped fabric around corkboard and stapled.  Then attached to a 27 x 33 frame and added a big metal safety pin held by pins.

Sewing Room Art






































oh, and I found a giant ruler at Short Sheets that poor Becky had to get the both of us home in her car.

 
 
 

stay tuned for the sewing room re-do, even though it may be a while ...

Monday, August 24, 2015

Sewing with Rascal is 1 year old today!

 

sewingwithrascal_logo_blogiversary

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since my first blog post on August 24th, 2014.  The 1 year milestone made me ponder and reflect, what was I thinking, why did I ever start a blog, why do I continue with it, and most importantly - why didn’t someone stop me? 

Why’d I start the Sewing with Rascal blog?

Not to sell anything, I have a full time job totally unrelated to sewing.   The simple answer is because I wanted to get my clothespin bag pattern on Moda Bakeshop.  Moda prefers a website they can review your ability to write and photograph sewing projects before they will consider your submission.  

The real reason is because I wanted to share ideas and enthusiasm about a hobby for which I am passionate.   I had enjoyed quilting for many years then a group of sewing friends invited me to a sewing retreat at Whistlestop.   The retreat was a tote bag class taught by Sue Jones.  Sue had such an enthusiasm for sewing and taught me new sewing techniques unrelated to quilting.   I began making all kinds of totes, bags, purses, wall hangings, pin cushions, you name it and thus, eventually, the clothespin bag.  bags_and_hagsThe tote bag retreat is where I started calling our little group Bags and Hags (I’m the only one that thinks it’s funny)

Why do I continue with the blog?

Sewing is more enjoyable when you have friends to share your ideas and projects with (thank you Bags and Hags!)  Those friends also include the internet community of sewers (um, is that the right word ? ).  It is also family/friends that enjoy reading about sewing even though they don’t personally sew.  People seem to enjoy reading the blog and this requires new projects on a regular basis.  Mostly keeping up the pace is fun, but sometimes it is daunting. I enjoy receiving feedback from readers and it makes the hard work worth it.  Thank you to everyone that sends me comments and suggestions!

Additionally, Sewing with Rascal is a creative outlet for me.  I get to use skills from work (I am in the computing technology field) in a creative way and I also gained a new creative outlet in photo taking.  I learned to take photos for the blog, something I had never done.   I’m sure my photos aren’t technically correct, but I try to make them aesthetically pleasing.

Here are my favorite posts from the 1st year:  
Clicking on picture will take you to the  to the post.

nana74

Nana’s Quilt
DSC_4210
Geff’s Honey
Ivey_clothespinbag
Moda Clothespin Bag

  I would love to hear what is your favorite(s) !

Blogiversary Giveaway 

I’ve decided to have a giveaway in celebration of my 1st blogiversary!   The winner will be a randomly chosen reader of Sewing with Rascal.  

Here’s how to be entered for the giveaway :

– if you already signed up to receive emails on the blog, then you are already entered!  No further action required.
- or subscribe to Sewing with Rascal emails before Sunday Aug 30, 2015 ( Sign up to receive emails on the right top of blog )
- or send an email to [email protected]  before Sunday Aug 30, 2015 and tell me how you follow Sewing with Rascal.  For instance, via Bloglovin or other blog subscription services or just checking the blog manually etc  

What is the giveaway? you ask..  a gift certificate and a few surprises from As Seen on Sewing with Rascal

Good Luck! and Sew On.

Rascal

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Trunk Full of Treasures

Look at this crazy quilt I found in an old trunk at my brother’s a few years ago.  He lives in the old family homeplace built in 1897.   I suspect the crazy quilt was the handiwork of my great-grandmother Sarah Jennings Herrell.  She was born in 1876, married and lived in the farmhouse from 1906 until her death in 1939.  Crazy quilts became popular in the late 1800’s.  Crazy quilts were seemingly random shapes with needlework on all the seams. 

crazy quilt DSC_0134

Several of the shapes have an embroidered “S”  I believe for Sarah. 
I believe this maybe S for Sarah Jennings Herrell She lived from 1806 to 1869  could it be that old? more letters


This postcard block looks like S Jennings to me.  

This one looks like a letter - see the stamp in the top right corner. I can make out the S. not sure if it is Jennings ...

S for Score! Bunches of old quilts and quilt blocks in the trunk too.  There are feed sack quilts from the early-mid 1900’s.  There is a wool quilt, a denim(maybe from overalls) quilt and a few “I don’t know what you are made of ” quilts.  None of them are masterpieces but I love them because they are old and made it all the way to the 21st century with our family.   

DSC_0164 DSC_0195 DSC_0078
DSC_0136-001 DSC_0167-001 DSC_0142
   
This is a different long rectangular piece that is backed in paper.  There is a piece or two of newspaper but I could not find a date a whole set of these Dresden plates.  They were sewn together with a sewing machine. There was a whole stack of these blocks.  Some are on an off white background and some is light pink



 Herrell Family Homeplace  
DSC_0276 grannys