Artistic Mother Poetry Tote { ! DONE ! }

When I was in high school

one of the electives for freshman

was Home Economics.

I do not know what I took

but I was a career-minded, intellectual "snob",

and so I laughed when my dad

suggested I take it.

So, here I am:

living on a ranch, raising my kids, afraid of a sewing machine.

Somedays, I think I could use a few Home Economics lessons.

But . . . I have done it!  I completed a tote bag.

To go with my Poetry Journal.

Often I write about birds.

My Grandma Marj was an avid bird watcher

and her favorite bird book was always Roger Tory Peterson's.

So the quote on my poetry journal is from him:

"Birds are eloquent expressions of life and vitality

And watching them makes you feel more alive."

True.

And so is this:

She gave me my first Roger Tory Peterson field guide in 1980.

Like her, I have written the dates and places

that I have a new bird sighting

in my Peterson field guide.

Fond memories

of birds and my grandma.

Bittersweet feelings well up when I hear the call

of a chickadee, a blue jay, the cranes in the spring,

or see a slate colored junco or nuthatch.

I could not have made this tote bag

without my mom.

The machine, many phone calls, rotary cutter and mat,

trip to the fabric store, showing me where to bargain shop,

what kind of fabric to use, selecting thread.

Taking the machine 80 miles to her house

So that she could show me

how to thread the machine

without having an emotional breakdown!

And yet, it is good to do something

I did not think I could do

Or would want to do.

And enjoy it.

So, this recovering intellectual snob,

Who at age 15, planned on being a career woman,

Living in a suburb,

Is now a birdwatching at-home mom,

is an aspiring writer and photographer,

is in love with the man she married 14 years ago today,

 is in love with the kids and lifestyle on this cattle ranch

on the South Dakota prairie

painted with wildflowers,

and she has learned to sew.

{Thanks, Mom.}

Photos & text copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Artistic Mother Poetry Tote Progress ~ New Things in Life

Recent advice:  Do something you never thought you could or would do.

Sources:  Kelly Rae Roberts, Flying Lessons e-course teacher/artist/author

Rachelle Gardner, literary agent

Why?  It is one of the things that will make you a better writer and/or artist.

So here I am, doing new things.

Things like:

Sewing.

South Beach Diet.

(that is a HUGE coming out of the closet for me ~ but it's working!)

Taking an online ecourse and networking with women all over the world!

Posting blogs 5 days a week and promoting them.

Resisting the temptation to compare myself to other:

moms, photographers, writers, artists, business women.

Exercises in being true to me.  Examining what is important to me.

Standing up and being me.

Continuing to embrace my own identity and uniqueness, rather than compare.

Remembering that my victory is in Jesus, my identity is secure in Him.

Small brave steps.  One at a time.

I could write an endless post about each one of these!

I have committed to doing all 12 projects in the Artistic Mother by Shona Cole.

I just watched the movie Julie & Julia.

Instead of French cooking, I am making art.

Shona Cole is my Julia Child.

This tote bag is like Julie's boning a duck.

I have been stalled at week 3, as many of you know.

Sewing a "Poetry Tote" for my "Poetry Journal".

Here is the story.  Instead of matching the fabric to my poetry journal, I shopped in the sale bin and found these lovely greens, which is perfect.  Olive greens were the main color in my grandmother's home decorating palette.  Everything revolved around olive green.    The photo is my Grandma Marj and me in 1974? 1975?  My Grandma Marj lived next door to us, and is the one who taught me about birds.  She is the reason that I know the names of the birds and get so excited to see a new bird. 

The tote. 

Thank you to my mom for giving me for a cutting mat and rotary cutter!

Stripes...hmmm.

I will have second thoughts about fabric with stripes.

Getting them square, in line, frustrating.

Fabric stretches, moves, curves.

Paper is what I usually work with.

It stays the same shape.

I like that.

I do love printing pictures on fabric.

That is fun and I look foward to playing with it.

I do not anticipate quilt making...

well, if I do, it will definitely be CRAZY quilts.

I am not into precise measurements.

So, squares are a challenge.

But . . . I am doing something new.

And I am having fun.

Now, I need to thread the bobbin with my

olive thread.

Good thing I have Sydney to help me!

Last 2 Photos and text copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

First photo copyright Linda D'Orazio.

Artistic Mother Project & Baby Blankets

Fabric Photos

~for upcoming projects~

Baby blankets

I love taking pictures

of the fabric

more than the sewing.

But the sewing machine

is growing on me.

I have been hung up at "Week 3"

in The Artistic Mother by Shona Cole

but I finally got the fabric for the tote.

Now I am ready to go!

Will post finished products soon!

Have a great Thursday!

copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw

Mom, What Can We Do Together?

"Mom, what can we do together?" Sydney asks.

I hope she continues to ask this question.

I hope she continues to want to spend time with me.

I hope she will continue to want to do something together.

We went to our "Bernina Basics" class together on Saturday.  So we learned basic basics.  In the first hour and a half, as both of our stomachs were protesting vehemently for food and our mouths were parched, I took notes on needle sizes and types, thread types, and Sydney listened and laid her head on the table.  At last, we were able to take a break and run to the convenience store together for a snack and a drink.  Ahhh. . . one of Sydney's favorite things to do together is have a snack and this was no exception.  The second half with our satisfied tummies, we learned how to clean the machine and do some basic stitching.  "Let's make a baby blanket for Jasper!" Sydney says.

So we have our first goal together.

A baby blanket.

And after a little mishap with Toby the beagle stepping on the foot pedal . . .

{which I knew how to take care of because of our Bernina Basics class}

we completed our first sewing project together.

Our community is in a baby boom this summer.

So together, Sydney and I plan to make pink and blue

snuggly blankets for the new babies in central Meade County.

Now I am ready for my Artistic Mother project #3 {I think}.

Photos/Text copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.