Karin Jordan Studio

Happy Easter from Leigh Laurel Studios!

 

Simple Sewing Pattern: Hoppy Easter Bunnies

Craft patterns and tutorials are my latest obsession. There are some fantastic ones available on Etsy, and in the books that keep me company on the shelves in my studio. It’s wonderfully easy to download patterns, print them and be ready to go! I do purchase patterns; however, there are many available for little or no cost. Free patterns are typically simpler and less involved, perfect for when I’d like to try something new and only have a few hours. My latest favorite is the one for these little bunnies that I made for the kid’s Easter baskets. The pattern was designed by Suse Bauer of RevoluzZza in Berlin. She has two variations to choose from; I chose the less complicated one because I wanted to use busy prints with colorful ric rac trim. Be sure to embroider the face before you sew and stuff! The ric rac is simply glued on as a last step — if kids try and rip it off I'll add a small stitch on the back. 

 

Every Friday I hope to have a new free pattern or tutorial for you, including some of my own designs. Stay tuned! 

Hoppy Easter! May you find all of your hidden eggs.

xo Karin

 

 

Craft with Kids: Hope and Greenery in a Takeout Box

Basil and calendula seedlings enjoying their sunny window. Annabel (age 3.5) helped me put the pellets in the continers, plant the seeds and water them. 

Kumquats defiantly grow in New Hampshire in March. There was also a lime but it found its way into a gin and tonic.

A calamondin orange, aloe, sago palm, cyclamen, gerber daisy and a ceramic frog share the sunlight.

I grew up with March in Portland, Oregon. Since college, I’ve been trying to get used to March in New England. My parents would call from home and complain about having to mow the lawn. I’d look out the window while hearing this gripe and WISH I had a lawn to mow instead of having snow to shovel and ice to contend with. As a compromise, and for some ‘green sanity,’ every year I grow seedlings in March. I need the green. This past winter I saved takeout containers from our various Thai and Chinese orders. With a few seed packets and a package of peat pellets, there were sprouts — and the hope of spring — emerging in a few days. Annabel checks their progress daily.

 

 

Bedazzled by Old Sweaters

 

While I was pregnant with our first child, I took up knitting again. We traveled several times a month for Jason’s work so I chose a baby blanket that was made up of knit squares that would be easy to work on on airplanes. I would try to finish a square or two on each trip. 

After the blanket was done I wanted to make something else for our baby daughter, so I picked another pattern from the same book, Natural Kntits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding. This time I chose a yellow bird with orange felt wings. The process was enjoyable, but I was frustrated not only by how long it took but by the amount of concentration it required. 

Then I discovered that you could upcycle an old sweater and make critters quickly. I copied several patterns from Bobby Dazzler’s book, Make Your Own Misfits, and went to the local Salvation Army. For $50 I came home content with two armloads of merino wool and cashmere sweaters in interesting colors and patterns. In a single weekend, I’d made a few creatures. This made far more sense to me and felt like a much greater accomplishment, especially considering I was now responsible for a small child 24/7.  

My husband hugged me on his way out the door this morning. I must admit that while wrapped in the warmth of his cashmere sweater my immediate thought was: Oooo, this would make a fantastic bunny; I wonder when it will wear out. While I’m waiting for his elbows to wear thin, I have collected 107 images on my Pinterest board entitled, Upcycled Sweaters. Please visit!

Enjoy!

Karin

        

 

Creativity in Fits and Starts

It came as a surprise to discover that as a stay-at-home-mom, there would be days I wouldn’t be able to brush my hair or teeth until 7 p.m. When I was used to nearly two decades of grab-the-keys-and-go, it suddenly took as long as an hour to get out of the house. 

In ‘free’ moments, I keep up with friends on Facebook and email and steal a few moments in my studio. I love being alone to ponder and create and surf online for additional inspiration. In fact, I don’t just love it. I need it. My goal is to divide my time between research and design, production, and organization. 

Today I finally took the time to organize my embroidery floss in Ziploc snack bags, each numbered and put in order. The plastic bins with bobbins you can buy for relatively little money are lovely, but I don’t have the time to sit and wind hundreds of colors of floss on bobbins. Plus there are always loose threads that have already been split that need homes, too.  

I am learning to be creative in spurts. Sometimes all I have time for is ironing a few pieces of newly-purchased fabric. If I can’t win the pre-dinner battle, then at least I can smooth out a few wrinkles with a hot iron. There are lucky nights when I enjoy dreaming in vivid patterns and colors. It's an even greater thrill when I'm fortunate to remember enough in the morning to be able to make notes. Being creative with interruptions is proving challenging, but it’s wonderful to have a project or three to get back to. It keeps me going through the rest of the day when I find things coming out of my mouth such as, “Who spit cookie into the heat vent?” Alas, it’s all good.