99% Inspiration

What motivates your creativity? I would say that I have a variety of motivators and they vary in their motivational intensity. For example, the colors, texture and (dare I add) even scents of supplies can inspire me. Something as simple as a glance at my threads can make me want to create. Touching a pile from my fabric stash. Flipping through patterns.


Yesterday I was filled with the longing to create. But it wasn't so much the materials as the company. Friends can inspire and motivate me much more so than my craft and sewing supplies. Whether its the ideas and feedback I get, like from my friend, Rae, or the promise of spending time working together on a project, like with Stephanie.

Kent had to work third shift this weekend due to a big project at work. Turns out I just can't seem to end my day when he's not around. So here's what I was creating at 1:00 am. They are a prototype of a project I thought I might find I enjoy making for craft sales and such.


Can you say "Aaahh"? I think baby shoes are just the cutest things. I already have changes to make to my design but the first run was very promising.


And while Rae and Stephanie and I were out for a luncheon and visit to the knitting store, I found a knitting project to fill that need for a portable creative activity. I love the colors of the yarn, it has a nice feel and was only $6.50 for the skein, which will make the hat from the free pattern I got for purchasing the skein. Yay!


It makes me think of trees and rivers and night skies...


And last evening Stephanie and I tried our hand at matching "hobo bags". We had fun working together and it's not an unattractive design. I just don't know if I'm the type of girl to carry such an open purse. I'm thinking it might work really well to hold that new knitting project.


And uber inspirational is the conversation I had yesterday with some friends after church. I'd taken along the shoes to get some feedback and turns out there are several of us who would like to figure out how we can turn our creative urges into a little pin money. We are going to get together soon to throw all our ideas into a pot and motivate and inspire one another. Yup, I'd have to say that friends are 99% of my inspiration.

And for my creative outlet...

I'm so proud of my latest completed project. I picked up a cross-stitch that I'd started in 1998? I decided to complete it for my new kitchen, wherever that may be. I'll be making a kind of "hope chest" to put together some new things to look forward to when we finally move. Here is the completed piece! Ta-da! I want to make a frame for it like one I made for a quilted interpretation of our mountain sunset. I used a soft wood and then put it through the bead blast cabinet in Kent's shop to give it a very weathered look.


And I spent the afternoon at my sister's, enjoying some conversation and company. While Kathy sorted through kitchen cupboards, sorting through what she wants to take when she moves, I used her enormous island to cut out a dress. I really like this pattern, even more so after reading the directions. The top edge of the bodice gets a drawstring and the waistband gets a double drawstring. So even though it appears to be pretty fitted, you can adjust it as need be. I wonder if that was actually a common practice in the days when this dress would have been in style. It sure make it versatile over a range of measurements. Of course my hope will be that I'll need to cinch it up tighter with time.


And here is a sneak peak at the fabric I'm using. It had a border with roses that have the look of being oil-painted. I cut the pattern out so as to capture roses on the right and left front yoke, the sleeves, and the hem. Kathy had a great idea to cut the front yoke pieces so that I can hand applique the leafy bottom edge of the rose clusters onto the bodice. I'm looking forward to getting to work on this.


And of course I always need some hand work for the evening. Since I had such success finishing the 12 year old cross stitch. I decided to work on the one my friend, Mindie, had given me when I last visited. What you see here, with the exception of four words, was stitched by her. Now I'll finish it and whenever I look at it, I'll enjoy knowing it was worked on by both of us.