My First Craft Bazaar!

I have been sharing with you some of my research and work on figuring out how to sell some of the stuff I make.  Making is very much ingrain in me.  It is part of who I am and I have been sewing and crocheting as a creative outlet and a stress reliever for many years.  Making for others was quite a challenge.

WithoutDirections

I needed to approach the process differently.  Instead of creating simply to please me, I needed to also incorporate thought about what would please others.  Since I sew for a pre-teen girl, this is not an entirely new concept, but the scale in which I thought certainly changed.

Being that this was being advertised as a 'spring' bazaar, I thought I should make the colors quite light and spring like.  I also was drawn to fabrics and yarns that had elements of the new Pantone colors of the year; serenity and rose quartz.

WithoutDirections

My oldest daughter got in the act too. She made some bag charms out of her collection of beads and small plastic animals.  She actually sold two and when we have a garage sale later this year, she plans to set of a table with her charms to see if she can sell more.  She of course gets the money from her work.

I intended for the aprons to be my main items.  But I ended up only making six.  They still were my most expensive item and they certainly are pretty.  I used my dress form to display one and I think that did class up my booth considerably.

reversible apron

Surprisingly, the baskets were the items that I had the most fun making.  I found it to be incredibly soothing to continually stitch around each basket.  Work has been quite stressful and this was the perfect way to relax in the evening ... it did not even feel like work.

nesting merino wool baskets

My mother even sent me a few things that she thought would round out my display.  She made quilt pieced snack mats (a mini version of a place mat for a cookie and coffee) and some micro-bowls (a 100% cotton fabric bowl to place your dish in for a quick re-heating in the microwave; a bowl shaped hot-pad),

Snack mat/ Rug mug

So how did I do trying to sell all this loot?  Well OK.  I did not have a lot of traffic to my table, but I did make a few sales and a lot of people seemed genuinely interested.  And frankly I had a blast just chatting it up with the people walking by and the other vendors.

So what now?  I am not exactly sure but I had enough fun that I am sure that I will figure out another way to sell my goods.  Of course I will let you all know once I have figured it out.

***UPDATE:  Well, I had been prepping to open an Etsy shop but was a little nervous about being ready so I didn't yet commit.  But hours after posting this I decided to jump in so I now have an Etsy shop.  I will be taking it slow, but who knows what will happen.  I will at least learn a lot.


If you are interested in hearing more from us, there are a couple ways for you to keep in touch!
 

Quilts for Grandchildren

Hi this is M.  In my real life I work to pay the bills and I relax by quilting. Well I have been on a mission to finish a bunch of projects. I had a couple of quilt tops for two grandchildren done and since I was planning a visit to Alaska I thought I would finally finish them.

But since my daughter added to her family I had to make one quilt more. Three quilts quilted in less than two weeks. I also squeezed the work during the evening, since I ended up going out of town the weekend before our trip. 

Fun quilts fun kids.  

So the two year old got a pink quilt with sheep and lots of dots. The 9 year old finally got her African animal quilt (fabric she picked out several years ago). The 5 year old boy got a quilt with cowboy fabric and quilted with horse heads.

So  Major Mom tells me I need to blog for each quilt  but since I finished them all together I am talking about them together.  

But I have 6 grandchildren. The youngest of McH came with us. He had a very sad face grandma didn't have one done for him.

So Major Moma I have lots more to blog about!!

Back from the Brick Wall

   Hello everyone!  M here. I haven't posted in a long time.  I admit, I took advantage of Major Moma's willingness to keep up on the blog....  and got out of the habit  of blogging.

Well what happened?   Well I bumped into one of these:

Yes the brick wall....I creatively hit the wall and found myself frustrated.  I wanted to make a simple quilt for a friend. But I couldn't get the colors right, couldn't get the pattern right, couldn't think clearly.... 

It was supposed to be a simple fun quilt to help a friend get better....

so I went simple and just made it simple with simple colors.

Cute huh?



then I took a quilt class on a 5 yard quilt...  only 5 fabrics!  that is so weird for me.... 


made this one...

then this one,

now working on these.....

Now I am feeling better....  back on the horse again


If I could only figure out how to rotate the picture.

Now to get them quilted!

What do you do when you hit a creative brick wall?

Visiting Project Run and Play

Today, we are guest posting at Project Run and Play!  This is Without Directions' first guest post and I (Major Moma) am quite excited. 

You see, PRP is a big reason why I started blogging.  My mother (M) sent me a couple of links to bloggers that were participating and I after weeks of watching each designer and sew-along lady come up with amazing projects, I just knew that I would have to play too.  So, when the next season started, I opened a flickr account and started sharing my sew-along projects. 

That was great, but there just is not the same feeling of community when you don't have a blog to tell the story behind the outfit.  And after much prodding by my mother and sisters, we decided to run a blog together.  And thus, Without Directions was born.

For our guest post, M and I talk about why we have sewn for our children.  And for your viewing pleasure there are lots of flash-back photos.  Lots of my older ones as toddlers, and even better, lots of Winocologist, McH, and Major Moma from our childhood.  Yes, there are some great 70's and early '80s fashions!

Sampling of the retro photos!  McH and Major Moma

So please, stop on over and check it out!

Sewing Love

M here,  today my blog will be a montage of pictures and thoughts.  It's easy to to be a little self serving in a blog,  especially when you like to show what you make or create.  But really....  why do I craft?  I suppose there as many answers to that as there are projects.  Mostly I do it because it is fun. Sewing relaxes me, and when I am feeling stressed concetrating on matching opposing seams on a quilt helps me get my emotions in control.

But lately,  I have had several friends with life challenging illness, and my reaction?


First of all I have been praying.  Not the vague please God bless me and mine.  Or the even vaguer and useless "sending good thoughts your way"  But praying...  God please heal my friends, their families, my mom.   God please grant them the strength to go through these terrible times.  God please grant them the peace that they will need to walk through this valley of shadows....
Then I sew, or crochet, or anything I can think of with a needle.



My friend is going to start chemo soon... what was my first reaction?  Well of course she will need a cuddle quilt.  I guess that started this whole train of thought.
 

14 Years ago my dad fought his last battle, I remember spending long hours at the hospital with him and my family. I had to have something to do. So I embroidered... and when dad passed, I put these away.

I am ready now to put them in a little quilt for a little boy in honor of my dad. 



Another friend had some serious health issues a few years back. When he was in the hospital, and we were so worried  I prayed and I sewed... and when he came home I handed him this.

My best friend in the whole world is a quilter like me.  We have shared many a battle together.  She always had a dream of making a quilt for her brother,  but life intervened, and she has lost most of her vision.  Her brother, also my very good friend has had some serious struggles,  so I thought why don't I finish that for her and for him... so I sewed and had a great time finishing up my friends project.

 So a couple of weeks ago,  Mom fell ill and was in the hospital.  During the time I spent with her I had to have something to do.... so I got some bright colored yarn and made some hats... and this little girl loves them.

All of this,  was yes, meant to show some of my projects.  But I like to think about what my motivations are when I make things.  I guess the process of creating helps me to deal  with some of my  life's circumstances

Why do you craft?  How do you deal with life's difficult issues? Does using a needle and thread keep you sane? 

Liebster nomination!!!

One of the really fun things about sew alongs, is "meeting" other bloggers.  I (Major Moma) love seeing the personality of different bloggers come through in their creations.  For example, the pattern remix that is week one of every PRP always is interesting.  We all have the same starting point but come up with completely different things.  And in this "getting to know" each other process, we discover blogs that we normally would never know about.  And, things like this happen:  One of the lovely ladies, Sally at Daisy Chain Creations, that sew along at PRP nominated Without Directions for a Liebster award!

What is a Liebster Award?  "The Liebster Blog Award is an award given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers, most of whom have less than 200 followers (or have been blogging for less than 6 months). It is to show newer bloggers that they are appreciated, and to help spread the word about new blogs. It was created to promote appreciation and recognition among the blog world. Liebster translates to “dearest” (or favorite/best) in German. It is also known as the Love Blog Award."

It's been fun to get to know some bloggers better and a great way to pass on the love.

There are some rules though:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2.  Answer the 11 questions given by the nominator.

3.  Create 11 new questions for those you nominate.

4.  Choose 11 new blogs and link to them in your post.

She did specifically mention me, Major Moma, because I am the one that participates in PRP.  Though I am the most frequent poster in this 4-woman blog, I am certainly not the most interesting so we are going to share the lists of eleven thing/questions/blogs amongst us.

And like the question/answer post we did from Luvin' in the Mommyhood, we will color code the answers.

M

Major Moma

McH

Winocologist

Random Things:

1. Major Moma's oldest kid and McH's youngest kid are the same age.  They are actually 4 months apart and McH wanted to name her child, if a girl, the same name that Major Moma wanted to name her unborn girl.  Luckily, McH's child turned out to be a boy and they did not have to go to blows to choose who got the name.
2. When Major Moma was about 4 years old, someone asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up.  "I want to be a firewoman, policewoman, doctor, veterinarian, live on a farm, and have 13 kids."  Astounded by this list, the person asked, "If you are all those things, who will take care of the kids?"  Without batting an eyelash, Major Moma replied, "My husband."  So how did that work out?  Well, Major Moma is none of those professions and does not live on a farm, but she does work full time while her husband manages the household and is a stay-at-home-dad.
3.  Major Moma has graduated from universities on both coasts.
4. Winocologist has attended both mime and circus school
5. McH has always wanted to visit Maine but has not yet made it there.
6. M has 6 grandkids and 1 granddog.
7. All of us sew, but we sew different types of things.
8. M used to 'cruise the bay' on a cotton candy pink scooter with matching helmet.
9. Winocologist is absolutely a city girl and has lived in cities on both coasts of the U.S.A., and the Midwest.
10. Major Moma loves to run as long as no one is pressuring her to go faster.
11. McH married her high school sweetheart.
12. M is very involved in an amazing organization called Days for Girls.  You really must check it out.  Did you know there are girls all around the world who are unable to finish school because they do not have access to decent feminine hygiene products?

Questions asked of us:

1. What's your go to place when you are stumped and need a solution when it comes to sewing/crafting?

• The book Vogue Sewing. 

• Dude. Google.

• Bed; I go to sleep thinking about it, and then wake up with the answer

·       I go for a walk.  There are a lot of crafty stores and great ideas all around where I live.

2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

• India.  I would love to go somewhere that is completely different than the U.S. and experience a non-western culture.  And why India then?  I have been attracted by the colors, sounds, and food that have eeked their way into US media.

• Russia. While my hubby and I were stationed in Germany we always intended to go to Russia, but never got there. I think we would love the deep culture and strong people.

• Africa, I went once and Africa is deep in my heart. 

• Malaga, Spain.  I have been itching to run away there.  The history and mixing of cultures fascinates me… And lets not forget the SHERRY!

3. Who taught you how to sew and what do you wish you could ask them now?

• My mother ... and I ask her questions all the time. Right M? 

• My mommy. She bought me my first pair of good left handed scissors after I stabbed myself in the leg with her righties.  I don't ask her questions about sewing because she is too way crazy advanced for me and cares about things like corners meeting and I don't.

• My mother, she was an amazing semester...I remember her making clothes out of hand-me-downs and my clothes never looked homemade. She started sewing with knits before it was popular, and taught me that a really good sewing machine is more important than a new refrigerator

• Gramma taught me.  Mom never had the patience to teach me.

4. If you were able to pass on your love of sewing to someone, what is the first thing you would tell them/teach them?

• Don't be afraid of mistakes and enjoy the process. 

• Only God is perfect so chill the heck out about it.  Oh, and color choices make your project look either old and dumb or modern and amazing. Pick wisely young padawan.

• God may be the only one is perfect, but doing the fundamentals will make all your work better. If your fundamentals are in place then people are free to enjoy your work and message.

• DON’T START QUILTING.  You don’t want to end up with a sewing room like M.

5. What is the must have by your sewing machine/craft table when it comes to snacks?

• Something not messy. 

• Coffee.  Is that a snack?

• Love a cup of tea, other than that no food in sewing room.

• Wine.

6. What is one time period you wished you lived in, if only for the clothes they wore?

• Well, I keep thinking of the antebellum time (1860s) with all their hoop skirts and layers of fancy fabrics.  But really, only a select few in the upper class really got to dress like that.  So for us ordinary folks, I would like the 1940s.

• I am a huge fan of Victorian romances, so 1860-1890's more specifically 1880's fitted bodices with bustles.

• 60's mod, I never had the body or money to wear it when I lived it...

·       If I were upper class in France, it would be the late 18^th century.  I love the colors and patterns.  Everything was so extravagant.  However, I don’t think I would want to be a French aristocrat in the late 1700’s.  What a waist of good hats!

7. Favorite thing to do/favorite hobby, non-sewing related?

• Running 

• Writing.

• Cooking

• Eating

8. If you could indulge yourself in something sewing related, what would it be and why?

• Sew with fine luxurious fabrics.  I love the feel of silks and fine wools on my hands as I sew.

• A sewing table. All my crafting stuff is in the space under the stairs. I am like the Harry Potter of sewing.

• Oh I need a Babylock serger that I can thread easily...my current serger hurts my eyes

• Sewing lessons… I’m not as good as the rest of them.

9. Milk or Dark Chocolate? Why?

• Dark.  Because... it is better. 

• Dark. Because it isn't tainted with milk fat.

• I don't discriminate between chocolates; all are good.

• Dark.  Because it fixes the craving without having to eat the entire bag.

10. What is the funniest thing you have seen or heard lately?

• My son saying "Take that!" to his sister after passing gas and her replying, "I'm not taking it!" in a singsong voice.  I know, high-class humor.

• My nine year old on the way home something "Every time I Google image something I always get men. Like yesterday I Google imaged "banana" and I got a bunch of pictures of men. Except when I Googled ancient German artifacts and I got bologna" Yes we checked his parental settings on the computer...

• I have the funniest husband, he jokes about everything all the time.

·       This is weird… I’m constantly laughing in life, but I can’t think of a single funny thing that has happened.

11. Sunrise or sunset?  What is your favorite time of day?

• Sunrise:  I love new beginnings. 

• Sunrise. I am a morning-ish person.

• Sunrise, especially when it is clear and Mt Baker is all pink with the sunrise

• Sunset:  If I’m awake for a sunrise I have been awake for way too long.

11 Questions for our nominees:

1. What is something challenging you did that you felt really good after doing it?
2. Other than the one you live in, what is your favorite U.S. state?
3. What book are you currently reading?
4. Are you a 'city mouse' or 'country mouse'?
5. Coffee or tea?
6. When fighting with your significant other, do you walk away or want to talk it out?
7. What was the best thing you have ever eaten? Where?
8. Name one cause you really care about.
9. What is your favorite outside activity?
10. Where was your best family vacation?
11. Do you use your "good" dishes often or only pull them out when the occasion is really special?

Great blogs we read (our nominees for the Liebster):

The rules say we need to list 11 small blogs that we love.  Unfortunately, we don't have that many.  Not that we are too picky or our standards are unreasonable.  It is just the combination of two factors:

1) We are busy and have to limit our time on the Internet browsing, so limits are made so we don't lose hours of productiveness.

2) Some how the blogs we have looked at are big.  I guess all of you like the same ones as us.  So, if you are reading this and you have a "small blog", feel free to leave a link to your blog in the comments so everyone can check you out too.

Rachelizms -  A blog about writing and living

Humble Brewer - A blog about a pastor who enjoys brewing beer in his garage ... think modern day monk. :D

CathGrace - A sewing/crafting and family blog.

clouds full of rain - A sewing blog I just recently came across and am so impressed with right now.

Nitty Gritty Love - Michelle, the blogger at this site used to be at the blog My Kite Dream and recently switched over to a new format.  Her posts are always so funny but also very real.

A Winter Quilt.... In red and green

Ok I love Christmas. I decorate my house,have a big tree and each year add more ornaments. That being said, December 26 I am done. I might take the entire week between Christmas and New Years Day to put everything away, but the day after Christmas I want my life back to normal. Until this year

I am trying so hard to get my unfinished projects done. I have been moving this quilt around in my sewing room for 2 years... Always meaning to get it finished and having other projects come first.



I machine embroidered blocks and made scrappy 9 patch blocks. I took a class where we exchanged Christmas fabrics,and used every last bit of Christmas fabric I had. The top made me happy, until I moved it around for two years.

So I finished it between Christmas and New Years. I really did a minimal amount of quilting,just enough to hold the sandwich together, I would have liked to do more, but this quilt is DONE!

So it went on my bed, it is no longer a Christmas quilt but my new Winter quilt. I am going to enjoy each cuddly inch and enjoy the bright red winter colors.

Hats for Grandkids!

Hi, this is M, and I love to make hats.  I love to crochet, but I do have a limited attention span.  A quick hat is just the ticket.  So  I recently took a trip to Virginia  and had to have something to do on the plane.

Fortunately my grandkids in Germany wear my hats.  I have been seeing pictures of them wearing ones I made earlier(made during plane trips)  and I decided that they all needed new colorful ones for the cold winter in Germany.  Besides bright colors always make the winter a little brighter.

My winter is a little brighter, seeing them wear these warm wooly hats. Eli what is your favorite color?  "I like all the colors Grandma"    Ok and I found yarn that filled that bill.

So is this just a self serving show off of my handiwork?  Perhaps!  At the very least this is a self serving show off of two of my six grandchildren... cute and wearing hats that I made.

Well I have to get back to the crochet hook,  I have a project to finish to send to a friend,   A Hat of course.