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The Dreaming Bear Welcomes Two Crafters

10/31/2012

We just got back from an amazing trip to the Dreaming Bear in Marion, Iowa. We received a call a while back from Dori, the owner of the most colorful store in Iowa, asking us if we wanted to do a trunk show and meet some of the people who have come to love our products. Uuuummmmm, yeah!!! We here at Bearmojo love to take road trips, a couple Barq's root beers and a handful of snacks and we are set to go anywhere. We also love meeting the people who share our vision of how colorful and crazy life can be. We have never done a trunk show, and had been wanting to visit the Dreaming Bear again, so we jumped at the chance to hang out with Dori. The Dreaming Bear provided the perfect setting for revealing our newest creation, our Monster Tote Bag. That's right, you too can blaze your own path into the world with a monster on your hip filled with all your basic necessities. Some of our other new items that we brought with us were our Christmas Ornaments, Meeples, Monster Staches, Monster Hats, Scarves and Squidlings. All of our new, as well as old, items were a huge hit and we fell in love with the city and it's people even more.

Thank you to all the great people of the Dreaming Bear, Marion and Cedar Rapids for all their hospitality and graciousness. We look forward to visiting again, and hanging out with all of our new friends.

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Siberian Splash Beast

9/1/2012

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We would like to welcome the newest member of the family. The Siberian Splash Beast. This new creature has been discovered living in the frigid waters off of Siberia. They were dubbed the Siberian Splash Beast due to their playful nature and desire to soak everyone in the boat. Not much is yet known about this furry sea creature, but it is believed that it is a hybrid between a Loch Ness Monster and a Sasquatch, because of the fur. These guys are quick witted and a treasure to have around.

How did we capture and relocate them to the United States so soon after their discovery? Well the truth is that these illusive creatures cannot be captured, but they can be lured and befriended with a couple of strips of bacon jerky. Yes, there is such a thing as bacon jerky, but I find it a little disturbing that this is the part of the story that you question. Whether they are swimming in the frigid water, or sunbathing on a window sill, they are said to whistle slow ballads and have a way with the ladies. Or was that Billy the Kid? Anyways don't feed them after midnight or they get very cranky. We think it is because of the jet lag, and not some silly rule given out with a to-go container of fried rice. And don't ever, and we mean ever...

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What Have I Learned From All This?

8/29/2012

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Top Ten Things Todd Learned

1. Fabric stretches and moves more than metal, wood, plastic and any other building material I have used. This fact both solves and creates problems when constructing a project.

2. Jokes about masculinity are outweighed by the compliments and encouragement from others.

3. My Stewie pants are killer.

4. People who make and sell quilts for a living have a low rate of pay. Seriously, it takes forever to make one of these things.

5. Stepping outside of your comfort zone to try something new is good. The comfort zone is a serious no-grow zone.

6. Spending a few hours here and there working on a project is better than a few hours here and there of the low quality crap they put on TV. Creating something rather than watching a train wreck of a reality TV show probably saves your sanity as well.

7. Knit one Pearl two...wait, that's something else.

8. Find a good teacher or mentor. Having a lifeline to call will help give you the confidence to follow through.

9. Set up a situation that helps motivate you to completion. I chose to make a gift for someone, and let them know it was coming. I also chose to blog about it and put it out there for friends and family to motivate me. Having these responsibilities, and a support network, kept me going from one stage of the process the next. Find out what keeps you on track.

10. Big projects are a bunch of little projects strung together. "How am I going to get this done?", can be an overwhelming and daunting question. But, breaking down a project into the steps can help. As someone once said "The longest journey begins with a single step".

*Bonus Item. It was Lao-tzu, the founder of Taoism, who said that. It sounds like something his mom might have said to him on trash day, but he gets credit for it.

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The Deed is Done, or Doughnut Answers Ad

8/28/2012

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AAAWWWWW isn't that cute? Who would have thought that there was a giant doughnut living so close to us. I think they make a great couple, even though they are a little too sweet when they are together. Hee Hee. I went there.

Finally, there is a part of the process that taps into the manliness of it all. Ok, it's not quite a power tool, but it is a pair of pliers. The truth be told a pliers, like any other tool of a job, has no gender exclusion or inclusion for the user, but I did find it a little odd that it would be used in quilting.

When two pieces of fabric are joined there is a seam allowance that is ironed under this means that a corner could have 4 or more layers in a single spot. So it turns out when tying the quilt I had to push and pull an extra large needle with yarn through multiple layers of fabric. At times the doubled over yarn in the eye of the needle would be less than willing to slide through, and that is when the pliers comes in handy. Yes, I did pull the needle and stab myself once. And yes, it hurt. I didn't cry, but I did bleed a little. So not only did I have to focus on all the other things going on, but I also had to focus on not bleeding on the quilt. Will my responsibilities never end?

The quilt is done, and all is well. While my taste is painted with the crazy colors and visions of the items we usually make, my mother tends to exist on the other end of the kaleidoscope of life and I love her for that. That fact being considered I think the quilt turned out great, and I think she will love it. Come Christmas time my momma will have a nice, new handmade quilt to keep her warm. You know, the cold comes a long time before the gift giving day in Michigan, so I might give it to her early.

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The Front Is Done and All Is Well, or Super Huge Napkin Seeking Super Huge Donut For Long Walks and Cuddle Time

8/22/2012

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Holy Cow!!! The front is done, and it's HUGE. Ok, it's huge compared to the napkin it started out as. After a short hiatus from the sewing machine I was able to get back to finish up the final border. I like the way the long strips of corduroy looks against the alternating blocks of the same material, way to go teacher great idea. After some folding under and attaching the back the final size should be more than big enough for my mom to cuddle up under.

So now the back and the ties are the focus. We decided to go with a pre-quilted back piece instead of an inner batting and fabric since we were going to tie the quilt together, and the fact that I'm a big sissy that needs all the help he can get. :) This, like every other step in the process, is something new to me and I can't wait to get started. The piece of backing is not wide enough to cover the whole back, but sewing two pieces together is. This fact is the main reason that we added the extra border. As my grandma used to say "If you got it, quilt it". Ok, I might have that confused with something else, but that is neither here nor there. One or so more blog entries and I will have completed the journey from novice to novice with a quilt. Then I will be ready to sew the fur and make the monsters... What? I have to make you a purse and a lunch bag first? Andrea is this more training or are you just trying to take advantage of free labor? Somehow I think I might be in for a long journey in the next few months.

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To Border Or Not to Border, That Is the Question, or Borders, We Don't Need No Stinkin' Borders

8/18/2012

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Holy Cow! Check out how fast I have gotten in the past week. I sew like Martha Stewart at an all you can craft Olympic speed trial. I wonder if she crafted much while in jail. Can you crochet a shiv? How about hot glueing your cellmate down so you can get a good nights sleep? Or, making table centerpieces to brighten everyones day? The questions really are endless.

Ok, so the decision has been made. Drum roll please.....BORDER. After looking at the backing material's size and shape, and the amount of fabric left, we decided to go with a 4" border. A solid strip of the tan with a square of the red material in the 4 corners would be a nice look both for tying in a used color and changing the texture around the outside. I attached two of the sides, and will have to finish up the other two sides another day.

What is left? Make and attach the back, then tie it down. My mom requested that I tie the quilt instead of quilting the two sides together. This means that instead of running the entire quilt under the machine to put all those cute little lines all over it I will be using yarn in "tie" it together. A dozen or two spots where you run the yarn through both layers and knot it on both sides. She says she like quilts better that way, but I think she just wanted to take it easy on me. My mommy loves me. :)

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In the Home Stretch, or Oh How My Little One Has Grown

8/15/2012

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After a day away from my project I am back at it. As I pin the final pin and stitch the final stitch the full picture comes into view. I like it! It screams my mom with it's colors and patterns. At this time I would like to notify the Sewing Hall of Fame of my availability for induction. Ok, I may be a little far away from that, but there actually is one. :) Who knew? I did however finish the final two planned rows around the quilt. The final size is 5'4" square. My mom is 5' so it should be big enough, but a little bit bigger would give a little more fabric to tuck up under the chin on the extra chilly nights in Michigan. Fortunately that decision will be made on another day.

So there are the next two steps in the process, and what my fabulous model looks like wrapped up in it. Isn't she cute. All I need to do is decide if it needs another border for a little extra size, attach the back and add some tied points.

It is amazing to see what you can create if you step outside your comfort zone and spend a couple hours here and there on a new project. Of course it helps to have a great teacher to help you.

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Another Day Another Row, or Asleep At the Wheel

8/13/2012

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Another day and all is going well. There is more sewing, pinning and cutting. More ironing and pin pulling, and then I hit the wall. Why are my seams not lining up? How did this row get to be a half an inch longer than the last row? Why do I have to start fighting all this puckering? I was doing so good. Maybe a little nap would help. Ok, I didn't take a nap but I did walk away for a break. As it turns out a little change in the seam allowance adds up over all those seams. Hey, it's my first quilt I can make a few mistakes. :)

A very cool thing happened today. I ran out of my first bobbin of thread. I know it sounds like a little thing, but it kind of give you a little sense of accomplishment going through that much thread. I reloaded and headed back into the fray.

Do to a few minor hiccups I only got one more run done in my short time at the wheel, but I think it looks pretty cool.

And just to let you all know Andrea is hard at work as well. She has been working on Bearmojo stockings to get ready for the upcoming holiday season. Look for them soon on Bearmojo.etsy.com, or contact us through to order one. If you have a favorite color I am sure we can find a cute little monster that wants to come to your home.

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The Quilt is Growing, or One Small Square For Man, One Giant Quilt For Momma.

8/12/2012

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Well, it's day two and all is still going well. Pinning and sewing, unpinning and ironing, pinning again and sewing again does seem to be adding up! I finished two more circles around the center and I am well past the point of leaving it as just a napkin, sorry Brant. :) I did have to undo a little piece to fix some puckering that occurred, but lesson learned and on we continue. Here are a few pictures of how it is looking.

When all is said and done it will have two more rows around it, and be 5' by 5'. Considering my mom is only 5' she should be able to hide under it for an entire episode of my dad's favorite fishing show. :)

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Todd Learns to Sew...Better, or Another Day Another Lost Digit

8/11/2012

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To be fair I have sewn before, but not very well, I made a Han Solo vest for a Halloween costume one year :) So my crash course to learn how to sew like a pro was to make my mom a quilt. My mother, Andrea and myself went shopping for fabrics and decided on a nice mixture of red, black and tan. Andrea was nice enough to lay out a very cool design that consisted mostly of triangles (an easy thing to sew since there are no curves).

Purchase fabric. Check. Design the layout. Check. Read the manual on how to run the machine. Come on, I am a boy after all. And in my defense if I break it I already bought it.

Andrea gave me great lessons on many of the things that I will be running into on this adventure. I can fill a bobbin, load the bobbin into the machine, thread the machine and needle and jam the pedal to the concrete and go. Yes, she also made sure I knew what backstitching was and how to make a seam allowance.

Well with all this new knowledge I am ready to go and start sewing away. What do you mean "Come over to the cutting table and we can begin"? Where's the fun in that?

There's measuring, and marking, and cutting. Wouldn't be a lot easier if I just got a couple of pieces of fleece and tied the ends together? We have fleece right over there. Seriously? 144 squares to cut out? My mom is only 5 foot tall, couldn't we get by with like half that?

So I got all 144 pieces cut out, with a little help from Andrea :) and started pinning them together, sewing them down the middle twice, cutting them apart, ironing them down, then I had to start attaching all the little squares together to make the four square middle. So after about 6 thousand hours I ended up with this.