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Native Woman Sews, Crafts, Writes, and More

Found This Week

December 13, 2014 by Tsoniki Leave a Comment

FoundThisWeek

I can’t write anything in this collection of what I’ve been looking at this week without mentioning the series finale of Sons of Anarchy. Here is a finale recap on Vulture. I loved the ending. I have long been a writer – I’ve kept a diary (when I was young, like 10 years old) and a journal (what I’ve called it since high school) for most of my life. What is lost is what I wrote on my computer during two years of college, unless it’s hidden on a hard drive in storage, but I haven’t gone looking. Anyway, I am fascinated with the writing and the story of SOA. Yes it’s Hamlet on motorcycles, but it’s the characters and the development and the changes and the writing of Kurt Sutter’s that draws me in. I’m very satisfied with the ending – Jax did several things to do the one thing he always wanted to do, setting the club on a good path and saving his boys. How about you – satisfied that Jax is gone and the boys are with Nero on a farm?

Whew. The last few episodes of this series were just too good.

This minion pattern for a pincushion is so tempting to make.

I love Christmas and making things around the holidays. Check out these Star Wars Snowflakes you can make! And here’s a book of patterns if you would like more inspiration!

Snowflakes

Filed Under: Found This Week

Accuquilt Holiday Gift Finder

December 12, 2014 by Tsoniki Leave a Comment

Accuquilt.com Holiday Gift Finder

Part of my enjoyment of the process of quilting is that I like cutting fabric out.

Before we moved overseas, I made several of my own quilt kits. I matched fabric to a pattern and cut everything, packaged it all together so I wouldn’t forget the name of the pattern the fabric was for, and packed these in a luggage piece that came with us. We didn’t know when our own stuff (technically our HHG – household goods) would arrive so this was a great plan since I also brought my sewing machine with us. I loved cutting the fabric up and seeing the squares and rectangles all stacked nicely.

Of course this all took a really long time. I made at least seven quilt kits, maybe more. Since that time, I realize that I still really like cutting fabric out, but it would be so nice to have something that made that part of the process go a little faster. Check out the Accuquilt Holiday Gift Finder, a link I’m sending my husband, because I’m not allowed to make my kids cut all the fabric for me. Well, I suppose I’m allowed, but that’s just not nice to make them my little minions.

Did you know that in French, minion means darling or sweetie. The first time a Grandma called my youngest a minion, I didn’t know what to think, but even he just smiled at her. Later I found out it is a term of endearment. So I suppose my kids are minions after all.

Filed Under: Craft Gift Ideas

013: Nicholas Ball: Quilts From The Attic

December 11, 2014 by Tsoniki 2 Comments

Head over to iTunes and subscribe to Me Being Crafty so you don’t miss an episode! You can also subscribe on stitcher.

Welcome to episode 013 of the Me Being Crafty podcast, where we explore creativity in your life.

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In this episode I talk to Nicholas Ball of Quilts from the Attic. We have a great conversation about not being afraid to just try something. Nick has been quilting for just a few short years and recently he made a drastic turn in his style – from simple hst’s or square quilts to really impressive paper piecing. His Vegetable Patch Quilt has to be seen, it is stunning!

Nicholas Ball

I met Nick at the Fat Quarter Retreat in London over the summer and I am so glad I sat down at the same table he was at. I remain struck by his revelation of making and how that has made him into the designer and quilter that we all see. I love when people have that moment! Thanks again for being on the show Nick!

Where you can find Nick – Quilts from the Attic on facebook – Quilts from the Attic on pinterest – Quilts from the Attic on instagram (don’t miss out on Nick’s instagram feed – guessing at the veggie he’s working on is fun)

Nick has a great attitude around quilting – don’t be afraid to just do it. Simple advice, which can be hard to follow. We can be scared to cut fabric, scared to mess it up or not put it together right. But you can’t have successes until you have failures – and even so called failures in quilting often end up looking great. Don’t be afraid to not follow a pattern, to save the small scraps of fabric that you have and just try. The quilting community is welcoming so don’t be afraid to jump into the community too. Nick left a comment on a post about a quilt and ended up being a part of the NGAQB (No Girls Allowed Quilting Bee). I love that one comment led to him finding a whole new group of people. Making connections can lead to really fun projects, so I encourage you to explore your favorite social media and find more people. Reach out and comment on a new friend’s photo or join in on a swap.

Listen to episode 013 and let me know when you were afraid but did it anyway. I hope this is something that happens often! Lately I realize I am braver than in the past and more willing to try things, and in the end I am happy with what I was brave about and made.

Leave me a comment and let me know how you were creative today. Me, I’m making a mug rug for a swap!

Filed Under: Podcast

012: Sandi Sawa Hazlewood: The Crafty Planner

December 9, 2014 by Tsoniki 4 Comments

Head over to iTunes and subscribe to Me Being Crafty so you don’t miss an episode! You can also subscribe on stitcher. Play the podcast here at the end of the post.

Welcome to episode 012 of the Me Being Crafty podcast, where we explore creativity in your life.

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In this episode I talk to Sandi Sawa Hazlewood, of The Crafty Planner about her start in the quilting community. Sandi started out creatively in the scrapbook industry, teaching classes and learning about color and what works with what, even though her Mom is an accomplished quilter and having the influence of a quilter right around her in her Mom.

Sandi

I was able to attend one San Diego Modern Quilt Guild sew in when we were living in the area which is where I met Sandi. I wish we stayed in SD for a longer amount of time because the local guild always looks like they are having so much fun! Thanks again for being on the show Sandi!

Where you can find Sandi – The Crafty Planner facebook page – Sandi on twitter – Sandi on instagram – Sandi on flickr

Sandi jumped right into quilting headfirst after stopping at a local quilt shop on vacation. She bought five yards of fabric and hasn’t looked back! We talked about the process of making and of being creative in today’s world of instant sharing online. It is so easy to get caught up in the new quilt a week or new project every few days, but do not let that make you feel badly about what you are creating. Everyone is creative at their own pace and everyone is in the middle of the process at some point. Share your messy space, share your half finished project. Let’s get back to enjoying the process of making.

Listen to episode 012 and let me know your process of creating. Are you slowing down and enjoying what you are doing?

Leave me a comment and let me know how you were creative today. Me, I’m working on my to do list.

Filed Under: Podcast

$25 to the Imagine Gnats Shop

December 8, 2014 by Tsoniki

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Welcome to the Me Being Crafty stop for the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day! I know you have a lot of places to stop by, so let’s get to it!

Here at Me Being Crafty I have a podcast published twice a week (every Tuesday and Thursday) and you can subscribe via iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app. You can also listen directly here on the website.

I’ve interviewed awesome people like Julie Dueck of The Intrepid Thread, Anne Sullivan of Play Crafts and the Quilt Design a Day group on facebook, Heather Mann of Dollar Store Crafts, Rachael Gander of Imagine Gnats, Andrea Rennick of Quilti, Rebecca Roach, Andrea House of Tickled Peach, Alorha Baga, Alison Dutton of Alison Sews, and Tracey Wirth of Swell Sewing. I have a new show tomorrow, my guest is Sandi Sawa Hazlewood of the Crafty Planner! She and I have a really great conversation about the process of being creative so I hope you tune in!

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I’d love to have you as a guest on the show! If you have something creative to share, please send me an email or leave me a message! I am interviewing a wide range of creative people – quilters, sewists, shop owners, Native American bead artists, musicians, and I’d love to include you in that list.

I also post Crafty Quickie’s – a quick post that tells you about something you can’t miss out on – a book to read, a quilt tutorial, something you have to see. Those can all be found here:

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Me Being Crafty the website and the podcast are both about being a creative person and how that adds so much to my life, and to your life. I’ve been a creative person forever, I learned how to sew and quilt from my Mom and Grandma, and how to do beadwork from my Grandma. Like many Mom’s out there, I created and crafted with my kids from the time they were old enough to do so. I have loved the process of teaching them new things and I really enjoy watching them be artists without prompting from me.

I’d love to have you as a listener of the Me Being Crafty podcast! And now, for the giveaway.

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I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate to my friend Rachael’s shop – Imagine Gnats!

To enter the giveaway:

1. Leave me a comment answering this: Who would you like to hear me interview?

For up to three extra entries:

Like the Me Being Crafty facebook page

Leave me a rating and review in iTunes – click the itunes link, the Me Being Crafty podcast will open in iTunes on your computer and click “ratings and reviews”

Leave Me A Message with your comments about an interview (and I might even include it in a future episode!)

Leave me a separate email for each extra entry! This is open to international shipping, but this is just a gift certificate for the shop, you will have to cover the shipping charges, unless what your purchase plus shipping falls at $25 or less. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you! Rachael has a great selection of fabrics and patterns available, you don’t want to miss out!

Filed Under: Fun Links

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