Ever since I can remember my Mom has been sewing. She would make my clothes, make clothes for herself, place mats, table cloths, table runners, you name it she sewed it. I hate sewing. I have tried it many, many times. I not only took the required home ec sewing class in school but took a sewing class outside of school. I think my Mom may have had hopes I’d be a sewer too or perhaps it was just the thought that girls should all know how to sew. My husband can sew and, when we met he was building pet beds out of logs and sewing the pet cushions himself on this ancient looking sewing machine that I likely would have thrown across the room. My friend Tricia use to take buttons and needles out of my hands to sew them on for me because I would frustrate the hell out of her trying to do it myself; quite like when she’d try and type it would frustrate me. I am good at typing. Tricia is amazing at sewing and good at listening which is one of the reasons she made my wedding dress.
This all said, aside from the brief stint I did making pillows one Christmas when I lived with my friend Vicki I haven’t touched the sewing machine until Spring Break when I made myself a purse! I decided to make it at Mom’s because she had all the tools and when I say tools I mean, the good machine, the proper ruler with weights so the fabric doesn’t shift and most importantly, to me…the seam ripper thing that pulls every stitch you just did incorrectly OUT! Yeah, I ripped that purse apart several times before it was complete all the while my poor Mother sat in a hospital bed! I think a part of her was happy I was back at her place sewing and the other part was laughing as I told her how many times I ripped apart my purse!The good news is I managed to finish the purse, love it and it is totally functional for not only my wallet but my camera too and the best part…it has yet to fall apart!!!
Anyway, Mom no longer sews clothes although she’s been seen mending things but her passion is making quilts and she makes beautiful quilts. I am lucky enough to have a few but always enjoy going to her place and finding out who is getting which quilt for a gift for their birthday or Christmas! I have always wished I could quilt. Whenever I go into the quilting store with my Mom I am always captivated by the color of all those fat quarters tied up in bundles looking sooo much like bundles of paper I’d like to tear up and stick to journal covers. At that moment, as I am looking at all that fabric I wish, for just a second, I could make a quilt. Then, like a needle pricking my finger I am brought back to reality knowing full well I’d never get past making that first square.
As much as I know I will never make myself a quilt I still love the idea of quilts and how randomly some of them are pieced together. When Pam came to visit she brought me a present. It was the most perfect gift ever; a big bag of paper ends. As soon as I opened it I was delighted by all the different bits of paper put so perfectly together. It reminded me of the fat quarters found in the quilting store. The texture of these pieces all different, the designs amazing, the colors placed together perfectly. I was not wanting to use them as I loved them so much. Pam urged me to “use the fucking paper” and so I decided to make my first project to reflect my version of a patchwork quilt. I loved using this paper. It went on so well, no bubbling, it tore brilliantly and, before I knew it, my covers were made.
This journal will not be available in my Etsy shop but WILL be available to purchase September 18 & 19th at the 2010 International Village Gifts & Crafts Show along with many other one of a kind journals and canvases I have been busy creating. Soooo, mark the dates on your calendar and come by and say hello!
We decided my wardrobe would consist of a paper dress that I would make to wear. We hit the thrift stores looking for a shell to attach paper too and found a navy blue slip. We figured it would do the trick. Next step, I needed a dress form. Thankfully, I know an amazing seamstress. Tricia was my maid of honor and also the creator of my wedding dress. I remembered she used a dress form all those years ago. I made a quick phone call to Trish and the dress form was mine to use and the excitement was starting to build.
The day of my photo shoot was truly a day I will never forget. It will be etched in my brain until my dying day. Not only was this a fantastic opportunity but it was being done with my childhood best friend. We were giddy like school kids but, as if we could read each others minds, professional to a degree. He had a job to do and so did I.
My big worry throughout the morning was whether or not I would be able to get the dress on. I figured I’d either get it on and would get stuck trying to get it off OR I’d get stuck trying to get it over my shoulders. You don’t have 15 years of gymnastics behind you without having wide shoulders! My shoulders did get in the way but we decided to cut the dress up the side and I’d hold it together throughout the shoot. It worked out fine.
My face tends to show a lot. I often can’t hide how I’m feeling or what I’m thinking as it reads like a book. Glamma managed to capture a classic Kathleen look on my face when I don’t like something. I think this was the time in the photo shoot I was suppose to take a self-portrait.
Her concert was last Wednesday and I took the always fun 
After talking to a friend of mine who is a good friend of Jann’s it was decided I would make Jann a sketch book. She is an artist as well as a singer/songwriter. It would be perfect for her art or if she wanted to write. I took a photo of hubby’s guitar and then turned it hot pink, I tore out words from paper that I knew would be meaningful to Jann as well as other scrapbook style paper. My dream was to give it to her in person. I tried to win tickets to the Meet & Greet she was having but didn’t. I knew Michelle & Dusti were meeting with Jann after the concert so I asked Michelle if she could give the book to Jann on my behalf. She said sure but wanted me to realize my dream of giving it to her in person. So…after the concert, Michelle and Dusti told Glamma and I not to leave they were going to ask if we could come back with them. Two minutes later my cell phone rang and the answer was “YES” and I do believe I peed a little with excitement. I composed myself and tried not to giggle as I tend to do when I get really excited and nervous. There she was sitting casually in a cozy chair tired from her amazing performance. We were introduced and although Glamma had not met her either she had heard a lot about him from our mutual friend and also knew of me. I handed her her gift and she knew all about the books I made through our Twitter connection. She was so genuine when she opened it, so thrilled it made me feel so good. My nervousness completely dissipated after meeting her as her presence is full of warmth. As she is funny on stage, she is funny in person too! Glamma, who knows me
so well, knew I must have that photo but would NEVER ask for it offered up the idea. There was no hesitation from Jann, she just grabbed me and hugged me as if she’d known me for years.
Patricia got allllll her stuff set up and by the time she finished we knew Suzannah obviously liked living on the edge and would show us her goods on Saturday – at least we were reallly hoping she would. Saturday morning came, we all arrived and so did Suzannah at 10:05. We were starting to fret but I’d had an email from her at 1:30 a.m. and it told me she was busy sewing and would be there. It was a good thing she arrived when she did and her set up was as easy as opening a magic bag of tricks. We un-folded the table she brought and poof all the stuff appeared on it like magic which was great because the doorbell went at 10:45. Of course I yelled, “NO early birds this isn’t a fucking garage sale” and thank goodness it was our first customer who was also family to Patricia! Gotta love family…well some of them! 11:00 a.m. chimed and the doors opened to a steady stream of wonderful people. 
I’ve had a busy week. My friend 
I’m also thankful that my Grandma made it to her 90th birthday and received a corneal transplant on that day. I’m happy to report she’s recovering well and gearing up for her party. Her guest book has been completed and can be viewed 
