Walk Carefully: Deadlines Ahead!
I have come to realize that no matter what kind of complicated electronic equipment, spiffy calendars or clever alarm systems are available to keep us on schedule, we all will be forced to work against the clock at some time during our lives. Deadlines are something we all deal with, some being quite simple, like getting out the door in the morning, some are more complicated.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Is it over-scheduling, a lack of the learned response "No" or an innate desire to see how far we can push the proverbial envelope? I can honestly say that I have actively participated in all of the above. Let's break it down a little more.

Over-Scheduled Stitching
The term "over-scheduling" is very common these days. They talk about it on the radio, in the newspapers and on television saying we must not over-schedule ourselves, or we will become burned-out, no good to our family or ourselves. That sounds ominous, but I actually have proof of that exact syndrome when related to a hobby. I used to do a lot of cross-stitch when my children were quite young as it was something that I could take with me. Cross-stitch is not too expensive, and since I'm not a perfectionist, I could change up the pattern whenever I messed up. This was an important factor, as concentration was broken many times through the process of watching children practice and then participate in every sport and school activity one can imagine.

I loved cross-stitch and made some beautiful pieces that now hang in my home or were presented as gifts to friends and family. The fact is that now that the children are all grown up and therefore no longer require the same amount of time from me, I have not picked up a cross-stitch pattern in years. The thought of it sends shivers down my spine. I believe the entire blame lies with over-scheduled cross-stitching!

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Does Every "No" Deserve a "Maybe"?
The word "No" has been given a bad rap, I believe. Anyone who has had 2-year-olds anywhere near them knows that "no" is something children learn fast. They clearly state their intention to not participate in whatever it is you want them to do. They do not give you an explanation; they simply say "No!" when they are too busy, too tired or just hate doing something. When do we as adults seem to lose the ability to turn down a request of our time?

There are people who still seem to retain this ability, but for a lot of us, we simply cannot muster up the "No" response when asked to do things we would really rather not do. These events usually involve something we know we do not have the time or desire to take on, but we feel guilty for any number of reasons. It could be for a good cause, the opportunity might not present itself again, we have the fabric anyway, it will be good experience, etc. I think it is about balance and being honest with ourselves. Do you really have the time to add one more thing to your schedule? If you are looking for another way to respond when asked the next time, I can tell you that I have used the response "Maybe" a couple of times lately. It gave me some time to think, and I was then able to respond clearly with a "Yes" or "No."

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Pushing the Envelope
I have found that if I think back over the years I can come up with five or six names of people who have had a great impact on my life and my work. In all cases I know they saw something in me that I did not see at the time. This is where pushing the envelope comes into play; if we do not try and extend ourselves, we never know what could have been. By pushing the envelope, I mean trying something outside your comfort zone, taking on something for the first time or working against a time deadline. You will be amazed at what you are capable of when push comes to shove.

Once you have done this a couple of times, you will hopefully learn to establish some kind of line that you might not wish to cross again if you found the stress was too great. However, the feeling of exhilaration when you complete a project or task that even you did not know you were capable of is truly something great and just might move that line a little further along. Either way, give yourself a pat on the back for trying, make a note to yourself about the experience, and most importantly, be sure to reward yourself with a nap or a trip to the fabric store.

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Inspiring Chickens
I must say the Chicken and Egg topic was a hot one this past month. I have heard from many of you and must tell you it was a true pleasure sifting through your responses. I especially loved the ones involving fabric picked up at thrift stores -- whether you were purchasing actual yardage, or taking apart garments and home decor items to scavenge the fabric to create something new.

I thought you might enjoy a look at one of my projects involving a thrift-store find. I purchased an ivory cotton bedspread from my local thrift store and used the Nancy Zieman's Trace 'n Create Bag Templates, which I enlarged to 150 percent on a copy machine, as my pattern. I laid the pattern out, taking advantage of the intricately woven design on the bedspread, and cut out the enlarged version of the Savvy Plus style of bag. Next I gathered my supplies (thread, scissors, a needle and a large jar of buttons), found a comfortable chair and started stitching. Once the buttons were attached, I completed my bag, adding a pop of color with a rich green and pink print lining. Voila! Don't you just love a good thrift-store story, especially one with a happy ending?

Due to space limitations, here is just a sampling of the responses we received. Thank you so much for taking the time to write.

What ins pires me? The fabric comes first for me. If I go with a pattern in hand, I never seem to find what would work for it. --Tammy

What inspires you? Sometimes I will see a fabric or print that speaks to me and I have to work out the best way to show off the design, and sometimes I go looking for something to make a specific item. --Cathi

I just read the newsletter and thought your answer was well thought out. I find so much material at thrift stores and estate sales the egg frequently comes first. My fabric stash is quite large but it is amazing how many times I find a fabric (just yesterday) that goes with a fabric I bought a couple of years ago. --Sindy

What inspires me? I find fabrics tend to "speak" to me and tell me what they want to be. So like the art of sculpting or bonsai, it is a matter of cutting/pruning away all that is not of the essence. --Michele

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Denim Delight Bag
If you find yourself at the thrift store and not sure what to make with the piece of denim you've found, why not try the Denim Delight Bag by Linda Turner Griepentrog?

Denim Delight Bag Design by Linda Turner Griepentrog Denim is always a winner, no matter your age or lifestyle. This hobo-style bag holds all your everyday needs in casual comfort. Finished Size 14 1/2 x 14 inches Materials 1/2 yard 44/45-inch-wide denim for bag 1/2 yard 44/45-inch-wide cotton print for lining 1/2 yard medium-weight fusible interfacing 1 pair 23-inch-long flat braided leather handles with rings 1 child’s leather belt (22 to 24 inches, buckled length) All-purpose thread to match denim and lining Light brown topstitching or jeans thread Size 80/14 denim or jeans sewing machine needle Chalk marker Pattern tracing paper Basic sewing tools and equipment Instructions Project Note: All seam allowances are 1/4 inch wide, unless otherwise specified. Enlarge the bag pattern (Figure 1) on pattern tracing cloth. From the denim, cut two bag bodies, one 2 1/2 x 15-inch strip for the straps and one 1 x 26-inch strip for the loops. Turn under and press 3/4 inch at the upper edge of the bag body pattern piece and cut two bag bodies and one 6 x 6-inch square for the inside pocket from the lining fabric. From the interfacing, cut two bag bodies. Assembly 1. Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the denim bag bodies following the manufacturer’s directions. 2. Turn under and press 1/4 inch on three sides of the lining pocket square. Turn under and press 1/4 inch at the upper edge and then turn again and press for a double hem. Topstitch the hem in place. 3. Center and pin the pocket to one bag body lining 6 inches from the upper edge; stitch in place along the side and bottom edges. 4. With right sides facing, sew the lining pieces together, leaving a 5-inch-long opening in the bottom seam for turning. 5. Turn under and press 1/4 inch at each long edge of the 1-inch-wide denim strip for the belt loops. Fold in half lengthwise with the pressed edges even; stitch 1/8 inch from the long edges, using jeans thread in the size 80/14 needle. From the strip, cut nine 2 1/2-inch-long belt loops. 6. Turn under and press 1/4 inch at each end of each belt loop. On the bag front and back, draw a positioning line with the chalk marker 3 1/2 inches from the upper raw edge. Position the loops on the bag body as shown in Figure 2. Topstitch in place at each short end. Use a short narrow zigzag stitch and backstitch at both ends. 7. For the strap loops, turn under and press 1/4 inch at each long edge of the 2 1/2 x 15-inch denim strip. Fold in half lengthwise with the pressed edges even; tuck a strip of fusible web between the layers and fuse. Stitch 1/8 inch from the long edges, using jeans thread in the size 80/14 needle. From the strip, cut four 2 1/2 x 3 1/2-inch pieces. Loop each piece through a metal loop of a braided strap and machine-baste the ends together 1/4 inch from the raw edges. 8. Position the raw edges of the strap loops at the upper edge on the right side of the bag front and back 3 1/2 inches from the sides (Figure 3). Take care not to twist the straps. Baste in place. 9. With right sides together, stitch the bag side and bottom seams, leaving an opening in the bottom edge for turning the bag right side out. Press the seams open, but do not turn the bag right side out. 10. Insert the lining into the bag with right sides facing and stitch the upper edges together. Make sure the strap loops are smooth and flat between the layers before stitching over them. Turn the bag right side out through the opening. Turn under and press the lining opening edges and edgestitch them together. 11. Tuck the lining into the bottom of the bag and press the upper edge. There should be a 3/4-inch denim hem allowance. Topstitch 1/8 and 1/4 inch from the upper edge, catching the strap loops in the stitching (Figure 4). 12. Thread the belt through the belt loops and buckle, pulling in the bag fullness as desired. From Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes. Copyright © 2006 DRG. All rights reserved. Click here for a printer-friendly version.

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