Copycat

Yes, I’ve been neglecting my blog. I’ve been neglecting a lot of things but I’ve been having a great summer doing it!

Just got back from seeing Julie & Julia with my eldest daughter, who is here visiting. It gave me the idea of working my way through a sewing book. I have completely lost my sewing mojo and perhaps this would force me to DO something about it. What do you think? And which book?! If you have any suggestions, please make sure the book is well-edited and doesn’t have too many corrections for me to check up on. That is something that frustrates me to no end! So, um, help?

LittlestCatHead’s Creation

LittlestCatHead has been taking a screenprinting class on Sundays for a few weeks. She’s thoroughly enjoying it. Her print is of a cat. Of course. She printed two cats in different colors on some muslin. I added some fabric scraps and turned it into a pillowcase. She loves it!

I can haz pillowcase?

Print close-up

2009 Craft Fair at Mama’s Minerals

We just got back from the craft fair. We left a bit early because it was getting windy and things were flying off the table. Also, LittlestCatHead had been there with us since 8:30 and I think she was at the end of her tolerance. She did well, though, I must say. The sun was blistering for about an hour and a half so she got underneath the table and read a book. I’m very happy with how we all did, moneywise. We didn’t quite reach our goal but we did so well for our first craft fair.

Craft Fair, Family Style

If you are visiting this site for the first time because you took my business card today, let me welcome you and thank you for your interest in Cat Head Creations. I will be spending my evening uploading pics of what I had for sale today and also posting new items on my etsy site. Hope you find something you like!

In flux

I’ve been neglecting my blog for quite some time. We flew off to San Francisco to see one of my step-sons graduate and to meet up with family we haven’t seen for over a decade. LittlestCatHead got to meet her step-grandmother and another of her dad’s brothers for the very first time.

Also, I’ve been feeling like my sewing is quite amateurish. I feel I’m not progressing fast enough, learning enough new techniques. I’m not taking risks. I’ve been focusing on getting ready for my first craft fair and I’m not satisfied at all with what I’ve made. I feel like I’m right on the edge of something. Ever feel that way in your sewing or crafting journey? I’ve got to move forward or try something different.

Another Sample

I’m calling this the Ie Bag. “Ie” is one Japanese word for “house.” There are others but this one seems to fit best here. It’s much smaller than the Kali bag, at only 6 1/2 x 8 in. I used coarse Japanese linen and a random Japanese cotton fabric from Kokka.

Home Sweet Home

Lining

Music to sew by: Gorillaz, esp Dare

And again, I hate WordPress. WHY is it making every second pic on here BIGGER?!?!

Collaboration, baby!

Momtastic and I are teaming up to create a line of outfits and co-ordinating bags for tweens. I made a sample of a bag in a style I’m thinking of using for the line. (Line is as yet un-named. We’re still thinking!)

I’m calling this the “Kali” bag style…for now, at least.

Kali

Kali lining

Kali bottom closeup

Pattern: my own design
Fabric: Alexander Henry and Kaffe Fassett and some random fuschia stuff from Jo Ann’s
Music to sew by: The Decemberists newest album, last track (My Fave!)

PS-I have no idea why the second pic is larger than the rest…I resized them all and messed with code…but alas, I’m not savvy enough to fix it. Just deal, okay?

Sewing music

What do you listen to while you sew? Or maybe you like silence?

Lately, I’ve been stuck in a retro mode. Okay, honestly, I’m always in a sort of retro mode. Right now, what I play often is either Django or Tricky (esp his first album).

Want some samples? Here you go: Tricky’s Makes me Wanna Die and Aftermath…Django’s Nuages, Djangology, and Sweet Georgia Brown.

Let me know what you listen to!

Fair Prep

I’m making stock for the craft fair at a local gem/mineral shop. Space is free so I thought, why not?!

Didn’t have much time today so I only made two things. Both of these have outer shells of Japanese linen. I like the embroidered flower on the teal one! (Speaking of embroidery, I taught LittlestCatHead to do a French knot today and she did it perfectly! She also free-hands embroidery. No pattern for this girl!)

For Craft Fair

Beads from the 1800s

Lining

Linen with embroidery

Close up

My favorite little extra touch of ribbon

Lining

And now for something completely different. A Raja with a huge head.

Perspective

I made the skirt LittlestCatHead is wearing. But I mainly wanted to show you what Raja likes doing most: lying on his Mama.

Raja Mama

Zakka!

Isn’t that just fun to say? I’ve been wanting to buy a zakka book for a while now. What finally hooked me was borrowing Dagmar’s book Zakka Sewing a few days ago. There are so many gorgeous cute projects I want to start. I figured I might as well have my own copy! Watch this space because the book should arrive any day now.

Easter Basket

I took a class at my favorite hangout HipStitch in order to make this Easter basket for LittlestCatHead. It’s filled with goodies: a roll-up pencil case (in that sparkly elephant fabric), a bendy bunny (courtesty of Walgreens’ seasonal aisle), a felt zombunnee (and his innocent victim), a worry doll in a sleeping pouch, a zipper pouch in Japanese linen, an Easter pillow for her favorite stuffed animal Kitty, and some of her favorite chocolates.

Easter Basket

Zombunnee's eyes are red with blood lust!

Please excuse my messy desk