I have been missing writing about my own crafting endeavours and adventures, and as I don’t yet have the energy or drive to re-invigorate redcurrent, it will have to lay dormant a while longer until I figure out its future. In the meantime I thought I would do an occasional post here at whipup on my weekend making and doing, experimenting and learning journeys into the realm of the handmade.

This past weekend was a busy one for crafting, I actually spent one almost whole day in my craft room. First I was commissioned to make a skirt with matching bag for my 6 year old daughter (the matching hat, belt and underwear will have to wait till another day). I used a simple tried and true vintage skirt pattern, that I have made over and over again, this skirt can be sized up, sized down, used with heavy winter fabrics or light cottons for summer. The trick with sizing is checking the waist measurement (pattern can be found at here).

I also made a pair of lounge pants for myself, I used the pattern from Amy Butler’s new pattern book (see review here). These pants are super easy and comfortable. I used some really light cotton that I purchased last year with a plan to make pants, and finally I have a pair. Will be making a couple more of these.

And the other major project I got going is this baby quilt top and back. I used the log cabin pattern, (see how to work a log cabin design here) now I usually steer away from patterns when making a quilt, my haphazard methodology is not usually suited to strict structural design where accuracy is essential. I like the element of chance to be a major part of my quilt making, I like a quilt that involves improvisation, which is why I am drawn to fun quilts unfinished business quilt design and to the log cabin quilt design. The great thing about these sort of patterns, is that they are more a method of working than a pattern as such. You cut-sew-iron, cut-sew-iron, and the pieces do not have to be exactly the same, in fact if they are not the same all the better, it adds to the charm and uniqueness of the design. (see this gorgeous example of a modern log cabin quilt by Keiko Goke, and an example of improvisation in log cabin quilting with this vintage quilt, features in this article and here is thelog cabin pattern block for you to give this design a try.)

[Consider this (long and, sorry!, wordy) post a Public Service Announcement to anyone making their own holiday gifts this year]

I don’t know about you, but I tend to make most of my holiday presents. One year I was working at an upscale specialty grocery store and was walking one of the customers out with her truffles and champagne and other imported iterms, when the subject of gifts came around. When I mentioned that I was making all of my gifts, her eyes turned to sadness and she placed a $5 tip in my hand.

I hate how sometimes I feel guilty about making my own holiday presents. It’s ludicrous! I’m a crafter! But still, each year, there’s a part of me that is worried that my gifts may not be as well received as flashy store-bought ones. Even after all my writing and shows and presents, there is still a part of me that sways to the beat of consumerism. The fortunate thing is that this materialistic side of me is waning, determined to beat the odds.

My handmade gifts are not only a present to the reciever, but a present to myself as well. Each one teaches me a little bit more and makes me think about who’s going to be given the present in question. Each year, the creation of handmade gifts allows me to revel in the goodness that others have brought into my life.

As I was perusing Art and Fear earlier today, I came across this:

“The world displays perfect neutrality on whether we achieve any outward manifestation of our inner desires. But not art. Art is exquisitely responsive. Nowhere is feedback so absolute as in the making of art. The work we make, even if unnoticed and undesired by the world, vibrates in perfect harmony to everything we put into it- or withhold from it. In the outside world there may be no reaction to what we do; in our artwork there is nothing but reaction.

The breathtakingly wonderful thing about this reaction is its truthfulness. Look at your work and it tells you how it is when you hold back or when you embrace. When you are lazy, your art is lazy; when you hold back, it holds back; when you hesitate, it stands there staring, hands in its pockets. But when you commit, it comes on like blazes.”

If you’re out there making holiday gifts right now, keep trusting in yourself, so beautiful things can follow.