Working in series

When I was getting ready for my first craft show I discovered that I work best 1. under pressure 2. within boundaries and 3. with a theme.

For the spring show I chose the theme "Garden Party" and tried to make all the pieces (aprons, totes, notecards and more) fit within the theme. I also tried to make several of each piece aiming for quantity rather than perfection. I found this approach worked really well for me. I created 4 half aprons and liked each one I made more than the previous as I refined my ideas as I worked with the fabric.

For Handmade Parade (only a few weeks away!!) I'm working with the theme "Cozy."  It's a concept that's been rattling around in my head since I bought all that wool in Chicago. My recent tv cozy craze fits in as well.

For spring I made aprons, for autumn/winter I'm making scarves. I'm really trying to do something different with each piece and finish everything I start regardless of how much I hate it part way through.  I have one scarf complete and two in process. I hope to make at least 5 but I've been doing a lot of hand sewing so we'll see. 

It's also relevant to note that I never wear scarves of any variety and have no real sense of how they should be. I welcome any feedback on this. Long? Short? Wide? Skinny? Heavy? Light? Colorful? Neutral? How 'bout some of each?

Above I have a short pink scarf, woven wool on one side, knit wool on the other and bound with cotton. I made the oversized wood button from a block.  (please ignore the fact that I'm in my pajamas in this photo).

I am also working on a brown scarf seen above in progress that is ruched (sp?) and backed with fabric from a sari I bought in India several years ago and finally cut up. 

The gray one is a wool suiting and I'm working on some embroidery ideas based on the conversation I had with Biscuit this morning about who is related to who. Baby E's mommy is Aunt Michelle and Woolis (Uncle Luis) is Baby E's daddy. Aunt Michelle is daddy's sister and so on. Trying to explain the family tree got me thinking about drawing one in the style of a biology class pedigree chart. So the scarf is both sides of Biscuit's family tree (abbreviated to immediate family).  Not sure how it will look in embroidery but I'm going to go climb in bed with some cheap wine and a tivo'd episode of the Daily Show and get embroidering. We'll see.

Comments

[Swistle]

I never wear scarves either, so I'm no help there.

Pretty fabrics! They DO look cozy.

I love the family tree idea!

[claire]

what is that really fun yellow rouched/ruffle? I want it. Don't know what it i, but I want it!

[anita]

Just a suggestion: i love to wear scarves, but, I would want them longer and skinnier...and with something other than wool on one side...something soft to go next to your neck, not itchy. Love the button!