Capering About

My next sewing project. Wish me well!
I'll post images soon.

Become a Fan

Fiber Notion has been an ongoing source of inspiration for me since it opened a little over a year ago. It's a wonderful playground for creative types seeking bangles, spangles, buttons, appliqué, glue, felt, fabric, patterns, cord, and other items to take their creative projects over the top. The store is literally overflowing with goodness. Become a fan (it’s fun), and get updates on courses, events, and special offers.

… get your craft on!

Basic Training

Q: What are your favorite books for beginning seamstress?

A:

1. Sew U :: Wendy Mullin with Eviana Hartman Easy to understand, great illustrations, patterns included
2. Let’s Sew :: Nancy Zieman Comprehensive, clear, great for all ages and stages
3. The Best of Sewing with Nancy :: Nancy Ziemam Technical, great time saving tips
4. Magazines: ReadyMade and Sewstylish (it folded but you can still get back copies)
   

I await your listing of additional resources.

A-side and B-side

I scan fabrics, like I scan photos. These I scanned on both sides. The tactile quality feels so domestic.

Butcher Apron for a Cookie

A friend of mine just moved into a new house and has no free time for sewing, so she let me borrow several vintage patterns from the 70s, hooray! This one made me pull out my scissors the fastest-- a butcher apron, how cute.
I made views B & C. They are adorable and comfy...I think I created something great! I'll be sure to share photos when I wear them.

80s Recollections

I can still remember this childhood moment. It was Easter and my mother was up all night making me this coat, hat, and a white eyelet dress. Before church we hurried off to have a photo shoot.

This is one of many treasured childhood memories because it says a lot about the woman I am now. I am still a huge fan of coats, tights, and [single-strapped] Mary Janes. And soon I’ll be able to sew a coat!

Check out the white maxi piping—my mom has skills!

Cookie 5: Scrap Sketches

I am working on a series called Scrap Sketches. Each of the 4 sketches will be composed of various textiles, paper, thread, metal, and/or plastic. Through this exercise I hope to discover more about shadows, silhouettes, and patterns and of course the relationship between textiles and graphic design.

Cookie 3: More than Scraps

At this point it should be pretty clear that I have a fascination with using rescued textiles and finding new ways to use old things. This is a scarf that I made as a birthday present from a bouquet of cottons, silks, wools, and spandex. Most of the fabrics come from Fiber Notion but some of them are from unwanted clothing that begged to be reused in a fresh way.

Here is the correct entry with image *smile*

Yellow Cotton

Horary!!! I got an e-mail notification that my business cards will arrive soon!

On the 22nd day of July, I was shopping at Mood Fabrics and bumped into Christian Siriano winner of Project Runway Season 4. If I would have had a Creative Cookie business card I could have handed it to one of my favorite designers and told him how fierce he was. Instead he got a coy smile as I quietly continued to shop. Next time I’ll have something to offer but for now I’ll take it as a lesson learned on preparedness.

The Colorful Bug that Bit Me

“I’ve been bitten by the _______ bug” is what a person might exclaim when a new and exciting form of creative expression enters their life and they become smitten. Last Wednesday it became clear that the fabric bug had bitten me.

That morning I got to work and read my “daily good stuff” Daily Candy New York and DailyOM. Daily Candy’s feature was a group of sample sales and one of them caught my eye. It was for Lulu Dk on September 17-18. Lulu DK is a textile designer with playful graphics and color choices that I like. I stored the information in my head and thought, “Today and tomorrow are hectic. There is no way I’ll make it to the sale”. Lunch came and went and I kept working, still wondering, and telling myself that I was too busy. As the day progressed, I thought about the sale from time to time.

By 3:00p I could not contain myself any longer. I had to go. I checked HopStop.com and became aware that the bus was the most effective way for me to travel. I headed to Madison Avenue for the short ride uptown. I arrived at the location. A stylish woman greeted me and instructed me that the sale was in the back, and there it was, one box of fabric leaning next to a bookshelf. I thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me”. There were other products to purchase that Lulu DK produced, from the fabrics, but only a small amount of fabric to buy and it was $29 per yard. A few minutes later I returned to the street and headed back downtown on a very slow bus.

Somehow I retuned to work in a chipper mood about my decision to attend the sale. Shouldn’t I have been bitter? I purchased nothing and my little jaunt would cost me an extra hour in the office. I sat in front of my computer and pondered the question: Where do creative urges come from? Why and when do they happen? What is the best way to harness this energy into something special?

If you’ve been bitten, I’d love to hear about it…

Flatbush Frolic

This Sunday my wonderful co-designing partner, Jennifer, and I will be at the Flatbush Frolic selling tote bags made from rescued upholstery fabrics. Come & check us out.

Please wish us a dazzling debut!!!