Got Around To It

I am one of the many spending just a little too much time every day surfing the lovely pictures of Pinterest.com. Here's a time I used the inspiration of someone else's cute idea and finished a project. After gathering used embroidery hoops in various sizes from the I.D.E.A. Store (a local "garage sale for crafters" venture which turns donations into extra money for the Champaign Schools Foundation), I have decorated a wall of my sewing room with snippets of some of my favorite fabrics. A bead of glue on the backside of the frame allows the fabric overage to lie flat. The project was super-easy, and I can see cute applications in the kitchen, a bathroom or a kid's bedroom. How many circular frames does one person need in a house? I'll let you know.

Pot Project

I recently went to IKEA, and on my list of things to search for was glasses or pots. I need a water-tight base for a smaller fabric basket. I envision something that holds a plant, cut flowers in the summer or pens and pencils on a desktop. Most IKEA pots have no drainage hole in the bottom, a fact that is annoying if you intend to plunk dirt and seeds straight in. But, as a sleeve for a random 4" African violet or cyclamen from the grocery store, it's perfect. I will set to work sewing baskets to fit my pots.

Party Favors

When folks stroll past my booth at the farmers' market and express the feeling that they just can't choose which fabric they might like, I frequently respond that the reason I bought the fabric to begin with was I couldn't decide which one was my favorite. I have the flexibility to use a different pouch every day of the week, if I want. In truth, I don't use the things I make for myself at every opportunity.
A recent exception is the treat bag pouch I made for my son's birthday party. We picked the whatnot to go in the pouch and then trolled the internet for wizard-themed fabric to go with the Harry Potter party theme. It's open to debate whether 9-year-old boys will have use for a zippered pouch, but I liked making them.

Succession Plan

I currently buy fabric and zippers as if I will sew pouches and purses forever. Someday, though, something else will appeal. Maybe I'll return to quilting or learn to follow through on ambitious gardening plans. I could even learn to cook. (It could happen!)
Waiting in the wings to make proper use of supplies on hand is my youngest child, K. She often asks to learn how to make whatever I'm working on. Or, she wants the fabric scraps for another project that involves either Barbies or lots of tape or both. She and I finally sat down and made a standard zippered pouch. She completed all the steps with only slight workspace modifications.

Marimekko baskets

I am wild for Marimekko fabrics. Usually, I am drawn to the reds, but the tone-on-tone combinations are also wonderful. This pattern in reds is great; I like it in greens; even the purple variety appeals.
If you are related to me, you likely got one of these baskets for Christmas. They are a good size for videos, books, stacks of Wii games and the like. I also bet this size would work to contain hats and gloves by the front door or dog leashes. I am mulling over making a smaller version of a fabric basket that could sit on a desk or dresser top.

Kindle Fire Cover

Did you get a Kidle Fire for Christmas this year? It's a very cute size for a pouch. This one is padded and closes with an elastic corner band so your new gadget won't fall out. Let me know if you need one!

Resolutions for a New Year

Welcome to 2012, a year surely filled with zippers and more fabric. I certainly plan to continue siphoning the majority of my free time for sewing. To stay focused, I've made a few craft resolutions:
-make more fabric baskets; maybe some will be pieced or have features like dividers or exterior pockets
-explore the Community Fab Lab for items to use in projects beyond beads
-try a new craft fair or farmers' market venue
-load up the www.inmyvastsparetime.com web site with new items
-use more linen
-find new fabric patterns (the first installment is photographed)

One Last Market

The Lincoln Square Holiday Market is drawing to a close. This Saturday from 8 to 1 is the final meeting of food, treat and craft vendors. I have enjoyed an excellent booth location just over Santa's right shoulder and facing the multi-story Christmas tree. I've been sewing like a little elf this week to offer good selection to shoppers. I have fabric calling to me for other projects, but it will have to wait for 2012.

Candy Cane Basket

Ebay is a fantastic source for special fabric; I have recently been treating myself to pieces of Marimekko fabric in shades of red, purple and green. I used a delightful pattern of red and green dot fabric to make holiday candy cane baskets. A little larger than a drinking glass, this basket would also work as a vase cover.
I sold a few of the baskets last week at the Lincoln Square Holiday Market, and I'll bring them again this Saturday to my booth next to the huge mall Christmas tree. Of course, any leftover baskets can be put to use on my own holiday table.

Cuff Baskets

If you haven't checked out www.pinterest.com, you should. It's a site full of virtual bulletin boards you and your friends create to showcase interesting photos found online. Of course, craft ideas abound. An unstructured fabric basket is one idea I pinned on my "crafts" bulletin board. When I couldn't stand it anymore, I tried making my own. It turns out canvas-weight fabric works wonderfully. Though flopsie when empty, these baskets hold their shape when full of the many whatnot collections I have. Bright fabric from IKEA makes baskets good for kid things; I'm bringing a few to the Lincoln Square Holiday Market this Saturday to see if others agree.

Working in Bulk

It's quite possible that I am pursuing sewing right to the edge of obsessive hoarding. If I like a fabric, I'm tempted to buy it in all its color options; I order zippers 100 at a time. I feel productive storing away a finished pouch with tens or dozens of other pouches to be taken to the Holiday Market.
My friend G is a school social worker, and she designed and ordered pouches and canvas bags for her annual convention again this fall. The completed custom order was a satisfying outlay of a whole mess of zippers and rectangles of fabric.

Lincoln Square Village Holiday Market

The boxes are out, and I'm dusting off the display tables in the garage to prepare for the opening weekend of the Lincoln Square Village Holiday Market in Urbana. It begins this Saturday and runs Saturdays from 8am to 1pm through December 17th. I will have a booth there all 6 dates this year. I'll have a few holiday-themed fabric baskets, clips, and gift card pouches added to the "all season" pouches and bags I make for the outdoor farmers' market. All are invited!