The Creative Voices

Are SCREAMING at me.... The pictures below (eagle) are of a jacket my mom bought for me on a RV'ing excursion where we wet up to  Oatman, AZ.  This was 20 years ago, but an eagle design is timeless.  I happened across it in the closet recently and the voices started!  After looking at it for sometime, I've determined it is rather the same as the jacket I made for my cousin.  Meaning it was a sweatshirt that has been cut down the front with a V-neck and then the jeans and fabric design added.  Again this was 20 years ago, and I remember it was 55 dollars.    But not my point..... and maybe you can help me here.   The voices are confirming that this is my next project... no problem.  But what they aren't saying is that I HATE to make generic stuff - period!  Sooo then it's "what?" I'm thinking it's paw/cat related... OK fine.... still generic.  BUT I have to make one to confirm my theory on how I'll make it.  THEN, if we have something that is workable, the real product comes about.

I've had this spinning around in my head for about 3 weeks.  I've determined the following (right or wrong).

Pros:

Sweatshirts are 50-50 meaning they are not uncomfortably heavy

Adding the decor in a vest style provides core warmth,  whether it be jeans or quilted fabric (an idea)

The vest style attached keeps the sweatshirt bottom/ribbing stable, doesn't bunch in any one area

Any sweatshirt base color is suitable "I think"

Although I have shoulders like a LINEBACKER, the actual sleeve seams end up half way to my elbows, plenty of roomy room and makes sizing label not vital to fit

Can be  designed with embroidered pet names and cat designs to be a personalized one of a kind item.

Probably more, but I don't have ALL DAY! LOL

Cons:

I'm FRUGAL.  That means I'm not all excited to make a "sample" cat design (you know it could even be a Mythicbells Persians named and designed theme)  So I think I'll make a dog theme with Pugs so that I can identify the process, materials and the like.   

Jeans are expensive, that means that we exchange them for fabric or quilted fabric maybe

I can't get a decent picture from this KODAK camera, so anyone looking at the pictures for color content will think the paw fabric is UGLY and it isn't!

Oh well that's enough... let's just post the pics and see if anyone is remotely interested! 

I'm thinking it's going to be a 45 dollar item or so (depending-maybe a bit more) ...... and IF there is interest, I'll try and go shop for more themed fabric.  

PLEASE feel free to email or at least comment to let me know if I'm wasting my time here....  I never know what to expect.

Thoughts of fabric (paws), design addition (silhouette cat perhaps) front edge binding (striped denim) Navy Sweatshirt.  Additional designs will be added to the front top area, probably paws in some form.  Or if it was an order, maybe cat names..... 

My Jacket (back)

View of the cat silhouette design I stitched out *outline would be the shape
The options shown together *the paw fabric is much more subtle
The front of my jacket.. open to a number of possibilities 

OH I added my Mom's St Patrick's Day stuff on the website!  

Here's a pic

And here we go.....

My first BLOG~

I'll start with sharing the process of my work. The following represents a SIMPLE design, meaning all I had to do was bring in the lettering and a paw pattern. When I actually digitize a design it includes coming up with the artwork, assigning each part of it with a stitch format and establishing what is sewn when. Then a test, and any tweaking that is needed. For this design I've chosen a little key fob that I made over the weekend and will give you a short blurb of what the pictures are.

Photo one, is the design program I use to set up the stitching. Once everything is lined up and centered, I'll copy and paste it to complete two finished pieces, so as not to waste any of the fabric. I'll stitch it all out, and when finished, the two will be matched up, right sides together, and sewn on three sides. Then turned out and stitched closed at the bottom. A loop was inserted prior to the top being stitched to run through the key ring.

Setting up and placing within the large hoop available space.

The back of the fob has the paw design.


The final screen shot on the computer

The design as shown on the machine after being uploaded. This was 3 uploads due to the number of color changes I made. Changing the thread color from letter to letter creates a clean and tight finish.

A view of the start, the outline has been stitched out

The first side is finished.

Both fobs stitched out completely. Now it's removed from the hoop and the top layer of protection stabilizer is pulled.

The finished products.

And I made one (below) for my biggest sponsor ~I think you might know her...... the other? I don't have any plans for it, so if you want it.... email me. The suede is a mauve/lavender color, very pretty, and for the Mythicbells Persians, I used PURPLE and Bright Pink (much prettier in person than with the awful pictures I get from a Kodak camera~)

These are $5.00 each. And can be personalized with anything as long as it is small enough to fit the space. I think the finished piece was 1.75 X 5.5 or close. Feel Free to email me for questions.

This blog is not published for the public, it is only listed on my website. However, if you would like to share it, you may.

I'm planning on posting some of the beautiful pieces that my mom makes. We'll start with some St. Patty's day stuff, since it is coming up and then I'll post some of her precious stone offerings.

I hope you've enjoyed my first BLOG entry and that you will return as I become more confident in my postings.

Blessings~

JAFO