Quilt Reveal

Am I used to blogging? Apparently not. The following was ready to roll, but I didn't pop back over here to Blogger Land and hit "publish" after I posted on Instagram.  @debi_threadwest

I wonder, though: Is it necessary to duplicate content? Or, is blogging better for other things? TBD.... Meanwhile, a few snaps of the promo process for my first quilt pattern, Homebody Blooms. Available as a PDF instant download in my shop: www.threadwest.com

Table tableau, with a "binding bun" rolled onto a vintage clothespin.

A table topper in progress, using the Homebody Blooms Option Two fabrics.

I've had the vintage cream pitcher for decades, and had forgotten about it;
shows I've loved little acorns for some time. 

Quilt flimsy (for the uninitiated, it's the quilt top before quilting).

 

Rebranding in progress

Many of us have had devastating blows during the pandemic--both directly and indirectly--and my family is no different. I won't go into details, but those blows have taken me away from home for long stretches at a time.

I still love designing handbags, and still love The West. (Hard to tell, as I've neglected both my shop and this blog since...everything.) I’m so much more than the western stuff, though. Recently, I followed a thread of an idea that led me to purchase software for quilt pattern design. What a fun and challenging journey it's been!

My first quilt pattern, called “Homebody Blooms,” will be ready for release soon. The recent fabric collection—Cozy Up, by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics—inspired the design. It's a fabulous group of fall-feel fabrics. And, if you've already stored your Team Autumn hat for the season, no worries! I love playing in EQ8 (Electric Quilt, for the uninitiated), and am doing mock-ups of my Homebody Blooms pattern in other fabrics to share with you for inspiration. (Think I'll start another one with a Christmas theme.)

The binding's ready (wrapped around the vintage clothespin in the photo), the flimsy's at the longarm quilter's, and the pattern is with testers now. A PDF download will be available soon in my etsy shop. Stay tuned for some sneak peeks! 

So. Time for this cowgirl to put those blows behind her, pull herself up by the bootstraps and drive this herd of ideas—both western and non-western--to market.

Junction

Life is a map of crossroads, and my map over the past couple of years looks like graph paper.

We'll catch up in spurts as I resurface. Here's a list of what's on my blog horizon, followed by what Junction is (in my book):

➱ When Thread West items will be for sale again
     (and whether they'll be on etsy, or somewhere else).
➱ Studio makeover!
➱ My best friend, her departure from this world, and the handbags she left behind....
➱ Transparent Tuesday. Or, Technique Tuesday. Decisions, decisions....
➱ Permission to quilt
➱ Singer Featherweight in the house!

Once upon a time, I mentioned that I'd share news of my writing, trips out west, and glimpses of life beyond my handbag designs. It's about time I started.

My short story collection, titled Junction, includes both western and mystery stories. Two never-before-published stories are included, and I'm honored that the western, "Tinsel Town," was a finalist for the Western Writers of America Spur Award in Short Fiction. I was presented with the award during the WWA annual convention, held last June in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The collection is available in print edition, as well as several e-book formats. Publisher: Crossroad Press.

Think Spring

It took hours this weekend to figure out how to make a clipping mask template in my ancient Photoshop Elements program for grouping photos. I think I finally have it. It was snowing again and I needed something bright to remind me that spring will be here. Eventually.

What's what:

• Top photo is a sweet tote I made for my granddaughter out of a dress she'd outgrown. Such a fun madras plaid. See the cute pockets on the sides? Even though the dress was a child's size, it was gathered--too wide for a bag, unless I wanted to remove and re-stitch those pockets. Perfect time to incorporate Mexican pleating, a technique I discovered years ago. I seriously want to use it on more items!
• Middle left is interior of the tote, with a pocket and four pencil slips. So exciting to take a scrap of fabric to the store and find the perfect coordinate. If you're a seamstress, you know the feeling. Since it's a busy little print, I added a slice of lime to the pocket top so Miss Lydi could find it more easily.
• Middle right is a flower I made from organza and glitter netting using the singe technique. Have you tried those? Amazing fun. (BTW, netting doesn't singe. Trust me on this.) Love, love that vintage button I was auditioning in the center, but ended up using Swarovski crystals instead, because I wanted to see how they'd work on sheers. Gave the flower to my daughter, who loves green. Her neck of the woods is experiencing yet another blizzard today, so I'm thinkin' she--along with much of the country--needs this booster shot stat.
• Bottom left--another for granddaughter, who shares my love for ballcaps and bling. I made this a couple of years ago by combining two clipart images to create an iron-on sheet with Swarovski crystals. As I say in my Thread West shop: They wink at the cowboys so much better than imitations. ;-) Miss Lydi still wears the cap and totes the tote. I never thought about the colors in the bag and the bling matching till I put this photo collage together. Will ask the girl if she's worn them at the same time....
• Bottom right. In keeping with Spring and butterflies, a Mother's Day card I made for my daughter a few years ago. It got lost in the mail between MI and MO, finally arrived a month later. I'd like to know where those butterflies flitted to in between....

Stay safe and warm....

Wednesday's West: A Touch of Tombstone

This year, I'll post more bits and photos from life in the West. Mind, I don't live in the West physically, but I (1) grew up on an Oklahoma ranch, (2) journey out West when I can, and (3) have snippets of western decor from around the house to share.

Reenactment (June 2008) of the Gunfight at the OK Corral.

After Mr. E and I attended the reenactment, we joined friends on their acreage outside Tombstone for a wonderful visit, an evening cookout, and an amazing star show after dark. (Our friends hadn't yet built on the property, so they flew into Phoenix and rented an RV in order to enjoy their piece of heaven on earth for a few days.) Next morning, we took in the town. As I recall, Mr. E and I spent another night at a B&B in town, then drove up to Scottsdale to attend the Western Writers of America convention.

This photo is a view from that acreage:

Mr. E and I in front of the Wyatt Earp House and Gallery (I'd love some of that heat and sun right now. This Michigan winter has been a mean one....)
Two personal history notes:
1)  Mr. E had been to Tombstone before, doing research for his novel Bloody Season, which was published in 1988.
2) See those Tony Lama boots I'm wearing? They were my dad's when I was a girl. He passed them along to me before he died, and I'm so very thankful they fit.

Fussy Cut Friday (or, Some Things Never Change)

I'm still fussy cutting fabrics in order to match patterns. Loving it, though, especially with my latest pattern: The Craft Corral. If you don't need a tote for knitting, crocheting, or embroidery projects, it's quite handy as a Car Caddy, too. And--are you ready for this?--it has 15 pockets! This will likely be the first pattern I create in .pdf format to sell for other seamstresses to make.

Yes, I said "seamstresses." Cannot get used to seeing "sewers" used in reference to women who sew. I mean, where I come from, sewers are something entirely different....

Blogging is not my forte (just in case you haven't noticed). I won't go into the reasons why, but one of them is the sheer time it takes to upload photos. When I add a listing to my etsy shop, it can upwards of 45 minutes to load 5 photos. A few months ago, I decided to make some changes, and try to find an easier way to upload photos. I gave in and purchased a smart phone, with hopes that it would improve my Internet life out here in the country. Not only did it not, it won't even receive calls while I'm in the house.

I'll add more photos to this post in the morning. (It's A.M., and during two cups of coffee, I uploaded additional pics.) Adding three took several minutes, and this ol' cowgirl is gonna turn in.

 

Fussy Cut Friday

I'm calling this post "Fussy Cut Friday" because it's Friday. And I'm fussy cutting. The reality, though, is that it's Fussy Cut Friday every single day in my studio. A look at the Sold segment of my etsy shop will quickly reveal that my most popular designs are those made from fabrics with Navajo motifs, like these:

I spend a lot of time cutting out my patterns--one panel at a time--in order to center those motifs. That means I can't stack fabric and cut out, say, four makeup bags or Card Corrals at one time.

Even though the fabulous group of fabrics pictured below doesn't have a featured motif, each one still has to be fussy cut, in order to keep everything centered.

Another thing about these fabrics? There are four different prints. Looks like more, doesn't it? So, even though the design doesn't feature a single motif, the items made from these look completely different, depending upon which direction I lay out the fabric. That's cool, because it gives you more choices; at the same time, I have to make sure I don't have it facing the wrong direction, or it's back to the cutting board for me! The two large makeup bags shown below (2 views of each) are from the same bolt of fabric! Like I said: Cool.

It's not just the Navajo designs, either. Check out the purple guitars:

Bless my heart, it took an hour to upload these photos. Internet challenged, here in the sticks...which means I should go back to fussy cutting. Make your first weekend of 2013 a great one!

Thursday's Thread: Sliced Bread

The best thing since sliced bread. Truly. No more poking my fingers with pins. No more bunching and distortion of fabrics. Thank you, Clover, for Wonder Clips. They make me happy, happy, happy (a nod to patriarch Phil over at Duck Dynasty).

Wednesday's West: The Resting Place

June 2008: Road trip from Michigan to Scottsdale, AZ, for the Western Writers of America Convention. We meandered, both before and after the con, soaking up Southwestern atmosphere. Fascinated by Fred Harvey and his work, I checked out a couple of his hotels during the trip.

Here's La Posada ("The Resting Place") in Winslow, Arizona. When I hear "Winslow," my mind starts playing the song, "Take it Easy."

I love that the architect for La Posada--as well as several other landmark hotels and lodges--was a woman: Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter.

Let's call this a teaser post, rather than a lazy one. When I can get a better connection (in-the-sticks challenged), I'll post more photos and link up to some history.

New Year, Another Chance

Sometimes, simple changes are the best. I flipped my cutting mat for some new scenery. From green to yellow. Simple. New. Ready for 2013.

A simpler approach to blogging, too, with hopes plans for success.

Happy New Year, with gratitude to my many wonderful customers for a wonderful 2012!

Red Hot

They say we're breaking temp records today, and I don't doubt it. Even with the central AC unit fighting for all its worth, my upstairs studio is red hot. In keeping, here's a look at some of the red hot fabrics I recently bought out West:

The one on the left has been seen in two other colorways in my shop, made into Card Corrals.
Those will be back soon.

This is just about the most gorgeous faux leather I've ever seen!
(Here's hoping my sewing machine can handle it.)

Paisley...I'm always drawn to it. I'm anxious to see what other fabrics in my stash go with that small red print.
Candy Moulton (dear friend and the new executive director for Western Writers of America) once told me that she loves bear fetishes. Ever since, they make me think of Candy.
I'm thinking of pairing this wonderful print with the brown tooled-leather cotton....

A fabulous Navajo print in four different colorways!

If I had a six-shooter concho...

Some of my handbag designs include conchos: A skull wearing a cowboy hat, rope-edged circles with Spanish Crosses or awareness ribbons or western stars, ovals with Southwestern designs.... I guess it's a good thing I haven't sourced and used a concho depicting a six-shooter.


Check out this article about a Florida teen who was detained by TSA because of the six-shooter design on her western purse:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/florida-teen-detained-tsa-design-her-purse-221835034.html

I don't know where to begin re: this incident, but Mr. E. and I experienced the same thing several years ago. We were flying from Detroit Metro to attend a Western Writers of America convention, so Mr. E. was wearing on his lapel a tiny pin of a silver Old West pistol with turquoise inlay grip. The threatening weapon pin was 1.5 inches long and thinner than a credit card.

After the agent made him remove it, she actually pinched the grip between the tips of her thumb and index finger, held it up, and said, "You could use this to hold up the plane."

We had two options: go back and put it in our checked luggage (resulting in missing our flight), or it would be confiscated.

It wasn't a pricey item, but it held fond memories for Mr. E. He had purchased it in the Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum gift shop while attending the Oklahoma City WWA convention in 1991. Allowing it to be confiscated wasn't an easy decision, based on principle. In the end, it was confiscated, relinquished to avoid missing our flight and all the headaches that entails.

Sometimes, I wonder who's enjoying that little silver and turquoise six-shooter....

BOO!

Brushing this off from a couple of years ago, because it bears repeating:
Me, myself, and I (the one who wears all the hats at Thread West) wish you a safe and happy Halloween.

Etsy Front Page!

Remember that Card Corral? The Navajo design with colors that remind me of Santa Fe? It made the front page of Etsy. A real honor. I'm beyond excited. Much thanks to the Treasury curator, Kimberly, of 14xbags!

I'm Trendy. Who knew?

Sandra, a fellow Etsian who blogs at A Little More Than Life, kindly included one of my Card Corrals in her Sweet Finds segment. Today's subject: geometric trends. If you like geometric design, you'll like checking out her choices. Thanks, Sandra!

Five Six Seven Eight...

When I hear that music beat, prepping one to move at a certain pace, my mind always sets it in quick-time. But, my body? Not so quick. Both mind and body got derailed with a trip to the hospital (no serious worries to report), and I got a bit behind on everything, including reporting features in treasuries. Numbers six, seven, and eight for my Navajo Card Corral in Santa Fe colorway. (That particular card case remains popular. Wish I knew the secret why....)

Side note: When I asked my daughter for a reaction to "five six seven eight," she said, "Who do we appreciate?" I'll tell you who: All those who have shown some love to Thread West. Thanks, everyone.

"Navajo Traveler," curated by B0nafide Vintage. Thanks, Kate...


"South X Southwest," curated by wetlaundry. Thanks, Lynsey...


"Part of the Tribe," curated by SprocketDynamics. Thanks, Jessi...

Five Golden Rings...

Fifth Treasury for my Southwest Card Corral, and it feels like Christmas!
Curator: Starfly Creations. Thanks, Starla, for including this in "The Beauty of the Southwest."

Remembering Toots...

Today would've been my mother-in-law's 93rd birthday. After being called "Mom" for much of her life, she asked when I married her son that I call her by her nickname, "Toots." Her mother usually called her "Tootsie." Toots passed in 2002, having lived an amazing, adventurous life before health issues forced her to slow down.

To give you an idea:

• Among her babysitters were Al Capone's croupiers in Chicago (Her earliest memory was looking up and seeing a man pacing a balcony, holding a tommygun.)
• She was one of the youngest spectators--if not the youngest--at the Dempsey-Willard fight in Toledo in 1919. Nobody thought Dempsey could win, but Toots's parents had a hunch. They hocked everything--including their baby girl's toys--and bet it on Dempsey. They lived for a year off the winnings.
• She dated a member of The Purple Gang
• She won the lottery (not an obscene amount, but enough that she felt comfortable buying steaks once a week for the family)

She didn't like to have her photo taken, and I had hoped to scan a snap from her younger days, but my scanner is on the fritz. When that issue's addressed, I post a nice photo of her...

When she married Leauvett (nickname: Lutz, pronounced "Loots") Estleman during WWII, they bought an 1867 farmhouse. It didn't have electricity or plumbing, and materials for such things weren't to be had during the war. She made do, and after a young life of being hauled all over the map by a gypsy mother, she stayed put in that farmhouse for the rest of her days.

Toots enjoyed crafts and sewing, and while I was talking to Mr. E. a few days ago about this being National Sewing Month and how his mom would've loved that, he revealed that her toy sewing machine was still around somewhere. Would I like it? (Trust me, he knew the answer to that one.)

It's the little red Sew Master, parked in front of my treadle machine. Both need TLC, and I'm currently researching the proper cleaning materials to use before I tackle them. (Use the wrong stuff, and you ruin the decals.) It's still hers, really; I'm simply the caretaker. But, I know she would approve, and that means everything.

She was resourceful, and fun, and tough. She's missed every single day.

The Card Corral: Treasury #4

 The Card Corral did it again. Chosen for the Treasury titled, "Tribal Inspired." (Last row, #1.) Curator: WhiteFoxDesigns117. Thanks, Shannon!

Fortunately, Somebody Figured It Out...

The sewing machine, that is. On this date in 1846, the sewing machine was patented. (I've been sewing all day, and almost forgot to post a note about it.) There is controversy over who actually invented the sewing machine, and if you're inclined to read about it, you'll find a great little article at Wired.

My go-to machine is a Husqvarna Viking, and I bought it in 2006 with winnings from a bet with Mr. E. while we were road-tripping to Cody, Wyoming, for the Western Writers of America convention. I had made a handbag to donate to the Homestead Auction, and had faced many challenges getting that Pendleton Wool bag sewn with my ancient, no frills machine. (Sometime, I'll tell you about that bet....)

 

Here's a photo, taken shortly after we arrived at the convention hotel. I was about to take the bag down to the gathering place when I realized that I didn't recall photographing it. Mr. E. quickly snapped this pic of one road-weary cowgirl with the blinged-out bag. The retro rodeo print band on the front is sporting more than six dozen Swarovski crystals, each handset by me. I love me some bling!

This week, I have a great little sewing machine to show you. Stay tuned....

Enjoy the rest of your 9-10-11.