I'm Bella. I Make stuff.

I've pondered this "first blog post" for far longer than I care to admit, wondering if it should be about a specific project, or set some sort of goals for the blog, or follow a certain format that I would use in every post. (Seriously, I claimed this url back in December. It's honestly a bit ridiculous how much I debate these kinds of things internally.) Anyway, I've ultimately decided that I would take the swimming approach to this - dive in and hope I figure it out. At least if I don't "figure it out" in this case, it'll just result in yet another dead blog out there in the internet world.

So, I'm Bella. It's a name I chose, to remind me to see the beauty in everything and everyone. Like the Doctor says, "The name you choose, it's like a promise you make." (The Name of the Doctor)

I like to make things. I don't limit myself (okay, I wouldn't know how to limit myself if I had to) to one or two types of creation; I prefer to use any and all means available to me. In fact, one of my very favorite quotes ever is “Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE.” from Joss Whedon. (yes, you might be picking up the fact that I'm also a TV/Film junkie)

Sometimes I Make things in the kitchen - I love to cook, and many of my favorite recipes still have some throwback to the meals my mom taught me as a child. I often cook for community gatherings, spiritual events, celebrations, etc., and my friends and family call me a "kitchen witch," a title I was honored to have bestowed upon me by some very wonderful friends and some very skilled kitchen witches in our community.

 

Sometimes I Make things with sticks and string - I learned how to knit in early 2005, started knitting "backwards" as soon as my teacher left my apartment, but was still creating knitted works. Eventually, I re-learned how to knit the "right" way (there's much more story behind this, but I'm willing to bet most of the people who'd care, were living it with me) and also discovered that I knew how to crochet. I don't think I learned it, and I don't remember anyone showing me, I just picked up a hook and started crocheting.
  


Sometimes I Make bigger things out of little pieces of fabric - I learned how to quilt in the fall of 2005 during a family vacation to East Tennessee. We were spending a timeshare week at a mountain resort, and I took a quilting class. I was the only student, but for about $25 or so, I got 2 hours of instruction on how to piece a block (hand stitching) and layer, quilt, and bind a potholder. I now teach quilting classes at the local Joann's.

Sometimes I Make things with my sewing machine - Yeah, I do a lot of my quilting on the machine, too, but this is different. I sew... most anything that comes to mind or is requested by a paying customer. I've done curtains, purses, tote bags, clothes, roman shades, altar cloths, ritual robes, Halloween and cosplay/convention costume pieces and accessories, clothing alterations, custom pajamas, and more.

 

Sometimes I Make pictures with thread - I like to embroider and cross stitch. I've done much more of the latter and am currently practicing several embroidery stitches to learn more. In some ways, I'd love to have an embroidery machine, but for other things, I just don't think a machine has the right... feel. I'd love to do more with cross stitch, like landscapes or something. I'd like to try needlepoint sometime, the stuff that looks almost like a tapestry or something.

 

Sometimes I Make jewelry - I first started jewelry-making back in 1999-2000ish. I used to make a LOT of jewelry, even set up a little "business," did a few craft shows, some custom orders, some sales to co-workers. Eventually I decided that I prefer making custom pieces with someone specific in mind or for a commission, but I just can't give up my love of beads completely.

  

Sometimes I Make things with everything! I recently did seven multi-media collages including fabric, cards, jewelry, beads, embroidery, ribbon, shells, and all sorts of other objects, and I hope to eventually do a post (or a few posts) about them, especially once I manage to finish the 8th one in the series. (I'm saving photos of those for that future post)

Sometimes I Make things with words - I've been a writer for as long as I can remember (maybe longer, considering my memory loss when I was ten), which is really part of the reason for this blog. Oh sure, I want to show off the pictures of my projects, and I'd love to gather a little interest in my work and get a few sales or custom orders from it, but also, I just like to write, and I love to talk about my projects, so what better way to combine all my loves?

Sometimes I Make things with herbs and oils - After several years of casual interest and aromatherapy use, I spent a couple years in intense self-directed herbalism and aromatherapy study, and I now regularly use (and make to sell) all natural herbal bath soaks, herb & rice/flax filled pillows, aromatherapy oils and sprays, and sometimes custom orders in these categories as well.

So, that's the things I Make. When I'm not Making something, I'm reading, watching movies and TV shows, listening to music (and dancing around to it if no one is watching), decluttering my home and garage, spending time in various social setting with my amazing family and friends, and continuing the study into who I am. Welcome to my blog!