A peek inside the studio

My studio window, originally uploaded by -syko-.

My son who has had a bad version of the stomach flu is finally up on his feet again. And he eats again! I hope we have had our amount of winter illnesses for this year now. Me and little E went out to play in the snow(!) and to catch some sunshine(!) and I thought my studio looked quite fun from outside. I'm making a Spring/Summer collection of house ornaments, my first project on the new sewing machine. I had to start out with something safe and easy. Which was completely silly of course, since I've been sewing on Bernina's all my life (well, nearly). I haven't tried the BSR system yet, which is an automatic stitch regulator for free motion quilting, I'm sure I will have a lot of use for it. The machine also came with a two sole walking foot for quilting. This I can't wait to try out, I've heard it is really good for larger quilts. Aurora is actually my first sewing machine, the one I've been sewing on until now belongs to my mum so it was about time she got it back. Even if her first Bernina from the 70's is still going strong.

I had an order for a shoe bag waiting so while at it I made a few laundry bags for the shop too. I got the romantic paper it is displayed on from Elvina, a very nice shop and cafe here in Turku, they sell danish home-decorating stuff, on-line as well.

Did I mention that I love my new sewing machine?

Hello from the sofa

Featured on Sew, Mama, Sew!, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day! I enjoyed my day in Helsinki very much, but I came back with a cold :( I want to get back to you soon to show some pictures from my visit to Pulu and above all show off my brand new Bernina aurora 440 (which I've been too tired to try out yet). Now I will proudly direct you to the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog, my quilt was "quilt of the day" on Thursday, and I will head back to the sofa (I would do the happy dance if I wasn't so tired...). Check out the other featured quilts of Sewmama's quilt month, they have picked some gorgeous pieces of art!

Thanks for your comments on my crochet post, my collection of wonky stars is slowly growing!

New hobby

New hobby, originally uploaded by -syko-.

Since I saw Alex of Moonstitches crocheted hexagon blanket I have been wanting to try crocheting myself. I have knitted a lot, but crocheting is new to me. I needed something to do at night to be able to think of something else than my work. Which I love, but when you have the TV sofa in the same room as your studio it sometimes becomes a little stressful (need to hang a curtain in between). So I thought it was time to start a new hobby. I got this Norwegian wool yarn (Robust) on Saturday and am now working on star number six. I am hooked (haha!) I am using this pattern, since I don't own the Japanese craft book Alex was using. Check out this flickr group for more hexagon love!

Tomorrow I will go to Helsinki (alone!) to visit Pulu and to see my brother, the print maker. He will print a Springy postcard collection for me! I will also ask him to make a print of the bike for me. If it works out it will be available in the shop later.

Cloudy inspiration

wip, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I do have a lot of orders in line waiting for my attention and I AM working on them, but sometimes I have to take a break and follow an impulse. This cloud here is one of those. Got to use this lovely raindrop fabric from Blank textiles, that's been burning on the shelf since I got it. I love the feeling of inspiration, when an idea just pops up and has to be tried out. I think it is a similar rush people get when they take drugs. But don't worry, I don't need any, my brains do their job so well. I also love working as a factory, those days that are just ordinary and grey and all ideas have rained away I am very happy to have a pile of cushion-covers-to-be to take care of. The cloud is going to fly on a cushion too.

Here is another umbrella art quilt for the real optimist :) It's in the shop too.

At last

Lap top sleeve, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I am very happy to have friends that like my creations. Sometimes I am treating them very badly. This lap top sleeve was ordered in October and I finished it today. Sorry Tom! I really hope it fits. Tom is big E's godfather so I decorated it with appliqué of her drawings. His business name is Musta kirahvi (eng. the black giraffe) so a jungle theme was quite accurate. He is also a talented graphic designer and illustrator, click over to see his work! AND he has illustrated Djungeltrumman's record covers, one of our family's favourite bands :)

Interactive project stage 5

Interactive project stage 5 finished, originally uploaded by -syko-.

I want to thank you all for your creative ideas for the interactive project! I got so many good suggestions I decided to count them all in the draw this time. Originally it was meant to be the ten first, but hey, I set the rules and I do want you all to play with me!

The winning suggestion this time was given by paperfish who said: i am seeing her with a bicycle in the picture, like she rode to the country on her bike and in the basket is her fabric stash and her sewing machine is magic and works anywhere! I hope you are satisfied with the result, it was VERY challenging, I have never sewn a bike before. Nor did I think I would be able to draw one. But fabric and thread works wonders with my drawings, it continually surprises me. Click here for a close-up of it.

I am posting the rules here again if you want to play with me, next round is 6/10!

I will:
1. wait until I have got (at least) ten suggestions for the next motive
2. draw one of them
3. do my best to do as you wish using fabric and thread (and buttons?)
4. go through 10 stages
5. draw a winner among all the people who has come with one of the ten first suggestions at any stage

Feel free to join in! Can't wait to see what my next task will be! You can see the whole process in my flickr.

Gertrud and friends

Gertrud, originally uploaded by -syko-.

A quick note to let you know that Gertrud here and her friends are up in the shop, which from now on will be updated on a daily basis. Next week there will be more cushion covers with shoes.

Next post will be on the interactive project. I have been sewing a bike (oh, my was that a challenge)! Have a great weekend everyone!