Catching thoughts – DIY notebooks

August 29, 2016 by nadel&gabel

Die Gedanken sind frei. Wer kann sie erraten?  Sie fliegen vorbei wie nächtliche Schatten. Kein Mensch kann sie wissen, kein Jäger erschiessen. Es bleibet dabei, die Gedanken sind frei. When my colleague and me were planning our upcoming student research project we soon came to the conclusion that every student should have a place to write down his/her thoughts, ideas, questions. A “Gedankenfänger” (thought catcher) to keep these things in whatever way, words, sketches, scrapbooked newspaper articles,… It should be small, we decided, […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, craft & DIY, paper • Tags: binding, bookbinding, brown, collecting, Craft, creativity, DIY, easy, kraft, moleskine, natural, notebook, paper, sew, stamp

First steps – Quilted baby blanket

July 3, 2015 by nadel&gabel

Here we go – another baby blanket since this knitted one (which is well loved, as I hear with pride). And I am aunt again! And while the little boy makes his first steps in this world (figuratively, of course), I have already successfully absolved my first quilting project. For a long time I’ve had in my mind to attempt this unconquered bastion of sewing. After buying helpful equipment like a cutting mat, a rotary cutter and a quilting ruler, […]

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, children, decoration • Tags: baby, batting, bias tape, binding, blanket, cotton, fabric, geometric, green, patchwork, pattern, pinwheel, playing, quilt, quilting, sewing, stich in the ditch, toddler, triangle, tutorial

Indigo shibori dyeing … and a tote, a clutch and a pouch

June 5, 2014 by nadel&gabel

I really do enjoy sewing. After a long break when I used my sewing machine only to trim new trousers, I realized this again. If you watched me while I am sewing you would probably not always  assume this – not seldom it is accompagnied with screams of annoyance when I’ve (again) attached two pieces of fabric just the wrong way … but then, when I finally hold a finished project in my hands, it’s all forgotten and I am […]

Categories: At the sewing machine, bags & totes, craft & DIY, fabric, supplies, wallets & pouches • Tags: bag, binding, blue, case, clutch, colour, Craft, dye, fabric, geometric, indigo, itajime, japanese, pencil, pouch, print, resist, sewing, shape, shibori, tie, tote, tutorial, zipper

All my little notebooks

July 13, 2012 by nadel&gabel

Phew! Last class tests corrected, final grades made! During the last days there’ve been a few points of despair and frustration (“Where have you been during our lessons?!” – “Hey, it is your mother tongue!”). I probably wouldn’t have survived without the help of chocolate cookies. Now this work is done and I am so happy and relieved to have at least a bit more time for …  living. And being creative again!

Categories: accessories, At the sewing machine, craft & DIY, paper • Tags: binding, Craft, craft & DIY, notebook, paper, recycle, scrapbooking, scraps, sewing, tutorial, wrap