.The holes got so bad at the elbows that I could no longer put my arm into my studio sweater without catching my hand. You could push a melon through it, it was so cavernous. After years of love, service and being run over by my studio chair wheels a thousand times; the soft, whisper light cashmere cardigan desperate pleas for  help were finally answered. I love this sweater. It was perfect for all weather. I would not dispose of it. I am trying to do a whole lot less of that! Plus I was about to guest teach on behalf of Create and Sustain at University of Berkeley to a class called Politics of What We Wear and I wanted more samples of mending to share with the class. Deadlines always get me going. So....who in your closet is crying for attention? Asking for a some snappy mends and bright yarns to spice up the party? No one wants to land in the dump. Just ask your clothes. 

I am sharing this rustic and imperfect process to let you know anyone can do it....We look at our clothes differently when we really care for them. CAL students were asked by their professor to bring clothes they love and needed to repair into class...Something they would fix themselves. We mended pants, t-shirts, camisoles, stitched designs and sewed on missing buttons and fixed runs. I think they enjoyed the mindfulness of just sitting, stitching and showing a little love and attention to what they wear. Their class discusses issues of fast fashion, the politics of the clothing industry and how can we be more sustainable. A broad topic I was thrilled to offer a small bit about a maker's take on the clothing we wear. 

Shows the simple and imperfect way to make the hole smaller. Using 50wt Aurifil and quilting needle, I pull the hole tighter but not too tight. Second step is choosing a yarn (mine was a ombre hand dye from Australia) with a chunky hand. I needed a bigger needle and took length long pieces and just started stitching up and down, then left to right to create an integral patch. All part of the sweater. I did a few rounds to beef up the elbows and make sure my patch area was beyond the mended hole. Sorry I was so engrossed in making that I forgot to film! 

This is what it looked like before I tied off the loose ends. Below shows detail of the yarn. So pretty right? 

Create and Sustain non profit was thrilled to be asked to share our vision about what that means in the quilting and sewing industry. How are we accountable? What can we do better? How do we spread the word and inspire others? How to we get our suppliers to do better? Be more transparent and accountable? By presenting to a college class majoring in political science is one of the ways. We were delighted to share what we know, dive deeper into what we don't and keep on teaching and doing. The students were engaged, inquisitive and even if they had never even threaded a needle, the jumped in and started sewing. It was thrilling....or at least I was thrilled ;)

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay balanced, laugh and breath deep! And promise me you'll mend something in your closet or goodwill pile to give it new life. Below are a couple of links I like and there are hundreds more! Find one to suit your style. 
Creatively yours,

https://www.katrinarodabaugh.com/classes
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/436989970095625692/  Shows so many samples! 
​https://wrenbirdarts.com/products/sashiko-mending-supplies 
​

Summer has been beautiful... It's time to look back and reflect on a few highlights for this post. Today's focus is on color in nature and quilts...I hope you enjoy this photo montage. It's less about my words and more about what I see. Nature is at the core of my inspiration, what I design on fabric and how I am inspired through quilting. I also highlight makers who are simpatico. Our natural world is so incredibly precious...We must protect, preserve and promise to be better stewards to our planet. 

Summer isn't over yet, I am cherishing the last days of long light before we settle into fall. I still have spaces left in my SKY OMBRÉ MISA  Retreat in La Point, WI on Madeline Island October 4-8. It's going to be wonderful. A week long delicious retreat diving into OMBRÉ SKY using patterns from my book OMBRÉ QUILTS as the colors change on the trees. We will be surrounded by Lake Superior, working in red barns, eating wonderful food and unleashing the mystery of a 1,000 colors at our fingertips! Daily talks about design, learning in-depth techniques on color, value, creating glow coupled with tips and piecing techniques sure to inspire. Please join me. Below is a 5 min video explanation plus I am doing a live Instagram Q&A Thursday at 11am PST so tune in with questions! You deserve this... So treat yourself :)

Catch me on Instagram @jennifersampou...for current meandering! Stay safe and hug your loved ones. Xx

A post on a Monday afternoon from me?? Hasn't been done but I couldn't wait until Friday to send this to my peeps. I am so inspired by this weekend's trip to see the most wonderful quilts (some never shown before) of the incredible Rosie Lee Tompkins: A Retrospective that I have to immediately share it. And shout out that if you can go see this in person...YOU MUST! (until July 18th). BAMPFA is the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive located on the campus of CAL (University of California, Berkeley....Golden Bear territory) and honestly speaking haven't checked it out often enough over the years. One of the silver linings of COVID for me is that when I CAN'T GO somewhere, I really miss it...it's the wanderlust DNA in me. So the first things I am doing with my free time...(starting with celebrating my assistant's 3 month wonderfulness) is rebuilding my creative MOJO by soaking up museums, music festivals and general public hang out seshes with street performances that seem to be popping up everywhere....The Alameda Flea is in three Sundays...Squeal! My soul has wings ready to fly right now! No more moss growing on me! 

Rosie Lee Tompkins is the art pseudonym for Effie Mae Martin Howard, a brilliant African-American quilt maker and fiber artist of Richmond California who is a renowned artist of the 20th century. BAMPFA has a slide show about Rosie Lee that is informative and celebratory, sharing her command of color, composition and finishing one top to go to work on the next. She believed her artistry was a gift from God and her quilts reflect a deep reverence for spiritual life and beauty. Quilters such as Irene Bankhead, often finished her work to become actual quilts.  Eli Leon (1935-2018) an African American quilt collector was a friend and patron who met her at a flea market in Oakland in 1985. Below are all her quilts I photographed while at the museum over the weekend with some details showing her love of velvet, mix of flea market finds, new fabrics and various ephemera used in her appliqué work. Enjoy these if you can not see in person....But if you are hankering to get out of dodge, come on by! Your cotton "I'm Quilt Crazy" socks will be blown off!  Pace yourself for all 30+ images below. CELEBRATE COLOR AND QUILTS!

Until next time. Get out to museums, live music venues, lunch with friends, flea markets and visit your favorite places to soak up humanity, full of inspiration of culture and color! 
​Xx

The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings. -Plato ​

Today's Inspirational Post:
UPCYCLE: NEW: RECYCLE: USE: MIX IT UP.....Interesting combos to create something new and unique!
So you've got some odd and ends stuff around your maker space? Let's incorporate them into a simple tote bag! I will share my most basic pattern dimensions and where my "stuff" came from. Use what you have. Repetition of material works. Make do and see what happens. I don't throw anything out. Yes, I buy/design new and I keep old. I use stuff up. Why "saving the good stuff" for later? "Later" may never happen! (even my mother's wedding silverware has become everyday use)
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Bag Details below after my Maker's Dance break below: Watch and suffer my moves.
Kids welcome the camaraderie. At least I am no Elaine! #SeinfeldRocks

Will is the most fun to play around with when I video a new Maker Dance. He is full of laughter, "Oh My God Mom!" and his darling girlfriend is showing me moves to mimic. I'm down with that kids! They don't want to be in my videos...yet. "You do you mom, we'll just film it.... "

Below are the first ideas using DMC floss made into Valentine's Day cards for my girlfriends. Nice way to explore an idea. Background paper is the printout of my SKY Ombre designs. Sneak Peak: New colors coming down the pipeline! Stay tuned :)

Choosing two different fabrics similar in weight gives the "front" and "back" of the bag interest. Also note how I repeated the design element and used 17 DMC skeins total. More bold on the denim side with yellows and oranges and that important grey/black for a value change. Note as well the muted colors such as beige, tan, peach and pale green. These are just as important as the brights. 

The decision to trim one side and keep the loop on the other side was also easy. It tells the story of before and after. Adds interest and reads more artistic. Same with the strap. I did three rectangle brass links on one side and two on the other. Unexpected is exciting to me. If you have a label with your name on it. Put it on the outside! Tell the world you are a creative and that you make cool sh*t. Note the carry over of small DMC detail on printed Sara Parker side. Like the repetition again. Always looking to put repeated ideas into work. Our minds like that. #creativebrain #cravespattern

That's it in a nutshell. Try something at home. Don't get hung up on the bag  dimensions. Enjoy the creative embellishment and using up your stuff you have around already. Make do and have fun. Then go out and enjoy a meal with friends. Masks off! Drinks Up! Dancing all the way!!
Xx Stay Creative!