D Whynn Designs

October, Really?

So for whatever reason, I realize it has been approximately six weeks since I last posted and the last thing I leave up here is a photo of a big, ugly, long-legged spider. I should certainly be eligible for the How To Turn Away Any Traffic Your Blog Might Attract award for that one. 

What happened to September?  Seriously?

And the exact same thing is happening to October.  Gone before I know it.

The Hubby and I did take a little road trip the first part of October in honor of his birthday and our anniversary.

Afternoons looked much like this:

And the first morning the sun rose like this:

There was time for knitting -- I hadn't picked up the needles in eons.

And the second morning looked something like this:

There was plenty of good food and good drink. Beach time. Relaxing time. A stop at the cupcake bakery for a chocolate peanut butter birthday cupcake.

A view from the restaurant something like this:

What would one expect from morning three but this:

But as all good road trips go, it was over in a flash and back to reality before you now it.

I've have been working on tons of projects, loads of gorgeous new fabircs, a Christmas tutorial for a quick project which I'll be sharing this week, and new patterns that are a heartbeat away from being printed.

No more long term spider pictures.  I promise.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The Thrill of Finishing . . .

. . . . a project by the deadline is many. 

First of all, exactly that - the project is FINISHED and you made the deadline.

Second, the gift of time. Suddenly it seems like you have so much free time since every one of your waking thoughts and actions are not consumed by I've got to get that done.

Third of all, I always clean up my machine area, put away the presser feet, clean up the threads, change the needle, oil the machine if it needs it as well as my cutting table area. Put away fabrics and scraps, put away all the rulers, pencils, markers and pins.

And Best of All, is getting to start a new project. This recently finished deadline project sort of just appeared so I do have some half finished projects on the backburner but I'm also excited about allowing myself to start something new - the thrill of cutting into some brand new fabric and sitting down at a clean machine and sewing area.  Only to promptly mess it all up again but you know the feeling.

On a slightly different story, I also needed a photo of myself by the last day of August. One of my children who shall remain nameless (the SON) has a real eye for photography and a nice camera as well so I asked him -- weeks in advance. Sure, he says. The last day rolls around and no picture. He wants to take it at this time and I want it taken at that time and so on until I say NEVERMIND, I'LL GET YOUR SISTER TO TAKE IT.

So I ask the Sister to please, just take my picture. Her response is a massive, giant, shoulder shaking SIGH as if I had just asked her to come up with an alternative fuel source and oh, by the way, can you do something to jump start the economy as well.

Said sister and I head down to the cross walk for the photo shoot and all the while I'm starting to work up to a Mother Rant. Now my kids are 18 and 20 so by this time in ilfe I've pretty much perfected the Mother Rant. I don't call on it too much but if I need it I can work up a doozy.

Something along the lines of ........ rarely ask for ANYTHING. . . . if it were for either of YOU TWO. . . .make it a PRIORITY. . . . IF I could do it MYSELF. . . . .

So now we are in the midst of the dysfunctional of all photo shoots ---- "You aren't smiling ----- I AM TOO smiling." ..... "You look mad -------- I AM MAD." ......... "Your hair is blowing-----------JUST TAKE THE PICTURE." .....

For some reason I glance to the right and there, in the sea grapes is this:

 

This is the largest, most colorful most awazingly creepy spider I have ever seen. We start looking around and there are at least, AT LEAST 12 of these guys hanging around. They are as big as my palm. The picture does not do them justice.

All of a sudden the photo shoot turns into a RUSH job because it is kind of creepy posing next to all those creatures. As I'm forcing a smile I keep thinking of them crawling on over . . . .

We head home and I download at least 30 some odd most lousy to ridiculous to a few mediocre photos of me and then get on to the important stuff like Googling the spider.

He is a banana spider. He is not agressive but will bite if he feels threatened. They are the largest non-tartula spider. The North American banana spider is not venomous but the South American banana spider bite is poisonous. If they feel threatened, they will bounce so voilently that their webs will shake --- and they are huge beautiful webs.

Since my fascinating spider run-in on Sunday, I find myself thinking about them all the time. We've had a ton of thunder, lightening and rain all week and I keep wondering if my spiders are okay . . . .

Fifth grade science report on The Banana Spider brought to you by Google.

We'll skip the results of the photo shoot - the spiders are way more fascinating.

My sewing machine is clean and I've got new fabric to cut!

No Doubt About It, It's A Small World

I'm not going to write a post about the subject of Copyright. There are many excellent articles and blog posts out there on this topic.

What I am going to write about is using my patterns to make products to sell for your personal and financial gain.

To me, the design process is a very personal one. It starts with an idea in my head, my idea; a vision, my vision; then a sketch, then figuring out if it's possible to make it work, not only for me but for others.  Prototypes, numerous ones that hit the trash.  Yes, that's fabric, batting, threads and time in the trash because it's just not quite right.  Often many times.

When it is finally "right", more samples are made, photographed each step of the way. There's downloading and Photoshopping and then hours of writing, reviewing, critiquing and rewriting.  Finally the printing, the folding, the bagging - the paper, the cardstock, the ink and once again, the time.

Most designers state right on the pattern how you can use their designs.  Mine states "For Personal Use Only" and then "Questions? Comments? Email me". And then right there on the pattern is a working email address.

I purposely left my usage statement pretty broad based - because I'm willing to talk. Tell me how you want to use it, where you want to sell it - I'm willing to listen.

So my advice to you is if you like a designer's pattern, and believe it would provide business opportunities for you, ASK the designer first.

Because that very same internet that provides exposure for you to sell your handmade goods made from my design is the very same internet that I'm surfing on at Oh Dark Thirty in The Morning on what is already panning out to be a not such a great day. And when I come across MY designs without giving credit where credit is due and without permission, then I find it does nothing for my not such a great mood anyhow.

You wouldn't come to my house and take one of my kids and claim them as yours, so please don't claim my designs as yours.

Ask. Email me. We can chat.

Practically as Exciting as Winning the Lottery

Well, probably not the Lottery, but still pretty exciting.

Yesterday, mixed amongst the bills and junk mail was this:

Yep, a package for me.  Now you have to admit that is pretty exciting.  Double exciting since it was my "Back to School" week and I had been whining and triple exciting because I knew what was in it.

My very own Notetaker designed by Candy of Candied Fabrics.

I came across Candy's blog a few months back during one of those evenings of blog hopping.  Candy is a very talented quilt artist. She makes art quilts, 3-dimensional works of art, bags, journals AND she dyes all her own fabric.  She has an exceptional way of blending colors and design to make a truly beautiful work of art.

A while back Candy made a large quantity of Notetakers containing Eco-friendly notebooks for a trunk show.  Turns out she had a few left, listed them in her Etsy shop and I was lucky enough to snag one  before they are gone.

I haven't sketched in mine yet.  It's kind of like getting new fabric -- I have to look at it for a while before I can bring myself to cutting it to it!  It's the perfect size to fit in my bag and take it where ever I go for those moments of inspiration!

If you are looking for a gift for someone or a gift for yourself, think about one of these!

Oh, and not only does Candy dye all her own fabric (that still blows me away), she also goes camping -- in a tent ---- in the wild --- without any potties -- did I mention it was in a tent? -- for 8 days.  I'm in awe. 

Someday I may like to try dying some fabric, but the tent camping -- in the wild -- I'll leave that to Candy.

We Interrupt This Blog . . .

. . . . for a brief moment of whining

Okay, then. 

And what's with all the whining you may (or may not) be asking.

Simply because I have to go back to work tomorrow, as in back to school back to work.  It's not the back to work that bothers me so much as the fact that "back to school", to me, means the end of summer - fall is on the way.  How can this possibly be the end of summer when it is only August THIRD. Only three days into August.  We should still have a whole month of long and lazy summer days.

They are forever changing the school calendar around down here. With all the problems in education, constantly switching the calendar around doesn't seem like it's doing much to help the real problems. It is what it is, though, and tomorrow it's back to work in the Middle of the Summer.

Aside from the whining, I've been working on all kinds of projects. Last week we did a big kick-off for Christmas at the quilt shop including all kinds of demos and classes. 

I made these fabric covered take-out food container gift boxes.  What fun!

I don't remember where I originally saw these on the internet so I'm not able to give credit where credit is due.  I did find these super directions at J Caroline Creative and followed those to make my boxes. They are quite pretty and were a lot of fun.  A nice crafty break from the usual.

I even covered some in some Halloween fabrics for those special Trick or Treat gifts for loved ones. No photos, but they were cute.

Have a nice Monday everyone! You know where I'll be!

I Heart the UPS Man

Seriously, I don't even know the UPS man.  We have three dogs.  We're on the "Drop and Run" delivery plan. But on the days when the UPS man delivers packages like these, how can you not heart the UPS man.

 

After lining them all up, sorting them by color, unsorting them by color, matching them up, unmatching them up, folding and unfolding them, it's been a great weekend to be in front of the sewing machine.

 

Hope you are all doing something just as fun this weekend!

A Hero to A Zero

This morning there was a snake in the pool. My immediate thought was to run in and get my son to save the snake. But the snake was being rapidly pulled towards the skimmer while struggling to stay afloat in the chlorine-laden water, and I decided to be all brave and save the snake myself.  I couldn't exactly bring myself to touch the snake with my hands, but I quickly found something to scoop him out with.

I then carried him over to a particularly shrubby, bushy part of the yard and deposited the writhing fella into his new home. The whole while I'm telling myself that this is a great snake spot with bushes and bugs and sun and shade and the other Florida-living varmit.

After my successful snake save, I was all proud of myself - you know, man and nature, my bravery (because he WAS a snake after all, a harmless snake but it's still a snake).

I'm out there in the yard having a regular old parade for myself, patting myself on the back, the whole gleeful self-appreciating bit and I promptly step (barefoot) in a large pile of dog crap.

And don't tell me that doesn't bring one right back down to Earth in a heartbeat!

Pondering on a Sunday

I have this "friend", or perhaps an acquaintance.  Let's call her Cheryl.  Cheryl sews and quilts and enjoys other crafty projects.  Cheryl always asks me to see what I'm working on. I enjoy talking "shop" with fellow sewers/quilters and Cheryl and I will often brainstorm about a project. She offers great constructive criticism. 

BUT at the end of every single conversation Cherly always makes some generic negative comment.  Not specifically about my project but then again it very well could be.  It seems she has to have the last word and it's not going to be a nice one.  It's kind of like you are wearing a new shirt and Cheryl will say "Is that a new shirt?  Not many people can wear that style." leaving you to wonder if you are one of those not many people and are walking around looking like a fool when you think you are looking grand.

I know this is how are conversations are going to end and normally just ignore it. This past week though Cheryl's latest negative general closing comment rubbed me the wrong way. In fact, I've taken it so poorly I haven't even worked on my project, which is almost done and which I know there is nothing wrong with it.  In fact, I'm about ready to put it in the doomsday bin which is ridiculous because I have a ton of time in it. 

Silly.  Really.  I need to move on.

SMART SHOPPING:  The following ad in today's newspaper --- "Breast Augmentation Special.  Buy one breast at regular price and get the second free."

Some purple flowers because they are pretty.

 

Cheryl would say, "Yeah, those grow in everyone's yard."

I think I'll go sew. Really.

Fabric & Pattern Bundles -- For Free

Well, except for the postage.

PATTERN BUNDLE A -- Mostly women's clothing; summer type dresses, tops and skirts.  Medium size.  I don't think any of them have been cut.

 

PATTERN BUNDLE B - Mostly bags from the 3 baggies.  Majority not cut.

 

PATTERN BUNDLE C -- Miscellaneous; Stuffed animals, doll clothes, apron, placemats, etc.

 

FABRIC BUNDLE - First quality quilting fabrics.  Various yardages, cuts, etc.

 

If you see a bundle that you want, leave me a comment.  I should be able to stuff any of it in one of those flat rate boxes that are $8-something or $10-something.  I will be shipping by US Mail.

More cleaning  sewing on the horizon.

Came and Went . . . . . Come and Gone

Which tense is it really?

Spring Break . . . . .Came and Went.

I did make a big long list of things I wanted to accomplish and actually made a fair dent in it. Liked filed the taxes . . . . .

Did some yard work and replanted all the color pots.

 

Birthday . . . . Came and Went.

Racking up the years may not be so grand but the festivities with friends and loved ones are awesome.  My pre-schoolers and their parents threw me a wonderful surprise party (as much of a surprise as you can get away with when 5-year-olds are involved.) Lots of beautiful handmade cards, good food, cupcakes and presents, too.

Family fun was awesome, too.  Check out this incredible present:

  

I immediately had to go out and get myself the How The Heck Am I Going to Learn How to Operate This Thing for Dummies book.

Dinner at home was this:

 

With plenty of this:

 

Easter . . . . Came and went.

Some of us made it to the table first!  Others of us were busy in the kitchen still preparing that food.

 

The Queen of All That Is Fashion off to LA to visit friends and relatives . . . . . WENT.

 

Also made some great progress on some sewing projects that haven't been going well. I'll share those as soon as the sun shines!

Hope everyone else's Come and Gone's have been going well.