D’Anjou Mermaid

She’s very fresh, in a springtime sort of way.  She frequents streams and small rivulets, preferring those with orchards around them.  She likes the dappled shade and occasional piece of fruit, pears in particular.

When feeling frisky, she’s not above throwing an overripe windfall at the congregating birds.  The crows in particular keep a wary eye out.  She has a mean fastball.

D’Anjou Mermaid: size 6 seed beads in a crisp pippin apple green as the base, accented with alternating bands of  yellow / white cremesicle drops and green/yellow petal beads.  Everything sealed with a slide lock clasp.  Snap!

Did I mention this mermaid is slender and petite?  She must be, as her bracelet is less than 7 inches tip to tip.

Asymmetry Repeated

Another take on the Vogue 8737, the asymmetric top.  I really like how the words and phrases wrap around hither and yon.  Thankfully I won’t be the one trying to read any of them!

Once again, I used some of the good stuff, a beefy rayon knit acquired from a local quilt shop, of all places.  They have a small selection of garment fabric, but it is high quality, and I am thankful for that.

I think this fabric has been aging in the stash for well over a year.

Not much to be said about the sewing.  All the seams were sewn on the serger, then I used the coverstitch to hem everything and tack the facing down.  I still haven’t decided if I want to try this style with a neckline binding.  For now, the facing works fine.

The fabric, however, I really, really, really like.  I have saved all the leftovers, and hope to squeak out one more top – probably short sleeved or sleeveless.

Anything Goes

Goes with Anything

I finally finished this bracelet last weekend.  All it needed was a closure, so of course it sat around for weeks waiting patiently to be clasped.  Finally, it’s done!

I think the colorway, a dove grey and ivory goes with anything.  Long time readers may recognize that this is a duplicate.  I have made this exact bracelet, in this exact color before.  The original was absconded with by GrandMeow, so I decided to make up another for moi!  I found that I missed having something so neutral to wear.

Circular herringbone stitch with size 8 Toho triangles and grey drops, sealed with a nice strong magnetic clasp.  Much easier to close one-handed.  Toho triangle beads have sharper angles than the Miyuki, and I like them better because of this.  I have read that Miyuki has come out with sharp triangles as well, but haven’t been able to find them locally.  Sharp triangles – I wonder if that means they’re snazzy dressers?

The Process

Someone a while back left a comment asking to see my tools, and know more about the process involved in making beaded jewelry.  This post is dedicated to them; I hope it answers their question.

The photo above is pretty typical.  I’ve finished the beaded sunflowers in the center of the mat, and now I’m auditioning other bits to go with them.  What isn’t captured in this photo are the boxes of beads scattered around on the floor behind me, some open, some closed, all holding potential.

The boxes are generically labeled (findings, focal, artisan) but mostly selections are done by memory.  I know I have something in an X color way, and maybe a Y size, so I dig around until I find it, then onto the mat it goes.  If it doesn’t fit, back in box.  This is repeated until I have enough pieces to work with.  That’s the stage of the above photo.

After that, it’s putting bits next to other bits (bits being a technical term, of course) and auditioning them.  Does it work?  Look different this direction or that.  Maybe flip it over, does the back work better than the front?  Eventually everything comes together, and I am comfortable with the plan.

Other times, I’ll get things strung, and realize it’s just not working.  That’s when the scissors come out, and everything is cut apart to try again.  If I reach this stage, the focal usually goes into a box to hibernate for a while, as I’m frustrated with myself and in need of a break.

Right now, this piece has either a sunflower or yellow cab theme happening.  Not sure yet where that is going.  For the truly observant, those are antique glass buttons as the center of the sunflowers.  I really want to incorporate that large oblong button, but haven’t yet figured out how.

Sprightly

C’est Moi!

Or rather how I’m feeling these days – wanting to sew but skeletal at the same time.  This is a quilt from Janet Winston, I believe.  Someone, please correct me if I’m wrong.  I just love the bright, sprightliness of it.  Doesn’t hurt that there is Day of the Dead incorporated either.

I think there was a total of 2 hours of sewing at Casa Thunderpaws over the weekend.  Not nearly enough, but there you have it.  Instead, there was a copious amount of baseboard molding refinishing and cabinet door scrubbing (thank you Murphy’s Oil Soap).  Not bloggable endeavors at the best of times.

That said, I think I have found my birthday present, and will be sending Prince Charming on his way to Stitch Nerd shortly.  Aren’t these just lovely?  You can customize both the cotton and wool sides.

Pressing hams for the avant garde sewist!

Once More

too the machines, Faire Abercrombie!

I know the quote is from Shakespeare, and if it were not quite so late, I would look it up.  Maybe Henry the V?  I seem to recall a film version with Kenneth Brannaugh.  I also digress.

Anyway, there was still some of the good stuff from Mood left over, so I thought why not a warmer weather rendition.  HotPatterns Plain & Simple T in the V-necked version.  This is a high V neck, so quite modest.  I will probably lower the V next time I make it.  The short sleeved version also has very short sleeves.

Not that I could have made them any longer.  The blob of fabric in the photo to the right is literally all that remains of the deconstructed jersey.  That’s all!  A little bit of bits.  Lack of fabric is also why I chose to bind the sleeve hems.  There just wasn’t enough fabric to turn up and hem properly.  Let’s call it a design feature!

Plain & Simply – the Good Stuff

Flora flaunts The Good Stuff

Last year (was it really last year, as in 2011?) I made a resolution to “cut into the good stuff”.  Cant’ say that happened often, but I think this top counts, as I did cut it out in 2011.  The last week of, but hey, it still counts, right?  This is Hot Patterns Plain & Simple T in the bauteau neck style.  I believe Trudy & Jeremy have recently re-issued this pattern, making a few tweaks to the fit and length.  I have the first edition.  A First Edition Pattern.  Amazing!

Since I’ve made this pattern before, there’s not much to say about the fit.  It does.  With such unusual fabric, a simple silhouette was called for.  3/4 sleeves, so I can add jewelry if desired.

The fabric is a really cool quasi-deconstructed knit from Mood.  You know the place – where the childish and arrogant of Project Runway shop.  Anyway, the fabric is two separate knits that are tacked together, then by some process (chemical, I think) the outer layer has been removed.  It is very easy to sew, and feels quite soft on the skin.  Cotton / rayon perhaps?

I did toss it in the wash before cutting out, to allow for shrinkage.  This created some number of tails that needed to be snipped off, lest I look like leftover streamers from a New Year’s Eve party.  Simple enough to do, and it also meant I could customize the fabric a little bit more.  I have no idea if the fabric will continue to degrade with successive washings, but that’s part of the fun!

Let the Adventure Begin

Happy New Year!
Let the Adventures Begin

You may well be wondering why there is an image of a house on this site.  Well, are you wondering?  It’s because Prince Charming and I signed on a loan to finally build a house on our retirement “dirt”.  That’s right, if all goes well, this time next year we will celebrate the holidays in our new home.  We will leave Cactusville, cats and possessions in tow, and be settled into our Last Homey House, to paraphrase Tolkein.

We’ll be moving to a small town outside of Reno Nevada, with views of the Sierra Nevada mountains, as well as the Pine Nuts.  A place we’ve wanted to be for ages.  We’ll have 4 seasons, which will be a first for Prince Charming. as he is Cactusville born and raised.

I alternate between shock, awe and absolute terror.  Cactusville, and our house here, is the longest I have ever lived anywhere in my life.  It’s been a good home.  Nurturing and Kind.  Full of Love and Laughter.

But the house is a tri-level, and as is frequently pointed out to me: It is built for young people.  With a fantastic elementary school literally next door, perhaps it’s time some young people actually live in it.

As things progress, posts on Thunderpaws Threads may be a tad disjointed.  Rest assured there will be still be sewing, and cats and updates and, did I mention sewing?

Happy Meow-A-Daze

Puck and Max wish everyone Happy Meow-A Daze

Everyone else at Thunderpaws Tribe wishes you and yours the best for the Holidays, and a wonderful 2012

Resting Moon

Moonbeam Urn

A couple of weekends back, Prince Charming and I went to our local Art Faire.  This year the quality of the artisans was much higher than in the past, or so it seemed to me.  We found this urn, and both of us agreed it was just right for Claire, our moonbeam kitty.

Doesn’t it look like a new moon shedding skant light, maybe on ocean waves?  It is so Claire – mysterious but not at all threatening.  You can almost hear the waves lapping, or the clouds passing in front of the light.

As is our tradition, we keep the ashes of our tribe, and when they pass on, find something special in which to house them.  I think she’s happy now that her ashes have a final home.  Sleep well, Miss Moonbeam.