A little of this, a little of that....

Father's Day treats...by Andrew.

I showed him a picture from Bakerella - and he made these all on his own.

Thoughts about my new sewing area...I've actually mended, yes mended two articles of regularly worn clothing this week...all due to having a dedicated and easily accessible sewing area.  It's handy.  Very handy.

Upcycled Sewing Portfolio



Yes, that is a functional pocket.

 The exterior is made from leftover scraps of the brown corduroy Dockers that I cut up to make a messenger bag. The zipper is from Grandma Hanna's stash. The interior is scrap from lining a tote bag last year.

I'm not going to give any instructions...but I will say that the finished dimensions are about 5 1/2 by 9 inches and I used a 20 (ish) inch long zipper. I plan on taking this little baby with me on the plane Monday.

I went to the TSA website and it says that while I can't carry on a meat cleaver or an ice axe, I can carry on "scissors-metal with pointed tips and blades shorter than four inches." I think I'll print that up to show the screeners if they get snippy with me. I'll just fold it up and slip it behind the scissors in the handy-dandy pocket.

Thrifty Me.

I really can't justify buying a new bag to take with me to SLC next week.  I have a few that would work. My problem with them is like that of Goldilocks - this one is too big, that one is too small...I wanted one that was just right.  But I didn't want to go to the store. Or spend any money on it.  I achieved my goal as far as frugality goes...the jury's still out on whether this bag is 'just right'.

All the hardware used in the making of this bag was re-purposed from elsewhere.
All the fabric was also either re-purposed or scraps from other projects.  The discerning eye
might notice the same fabric recently used in my master bathroom.  The dark brown corduroy
is from an old pair of Steve's pants. The little embroidered bit is from an old, stained, doily.



This is the back - notice the colorful strip of fabric that I inserted so as to come out even.
It's almost like I meant to do that.




Ta-da! Here's the front. Like I said, I'm still not sure whether it's
just right, but I'm leaving myself open to the possibility.  I did manage to make it
just the right size to hold a three ring binder...if I was inclined to want to put one in it.



Almost (but not quite) free room makeover.

Just three days ago this room was a pit of despair.  I didn't think to take
a before picture, just imagine a catch-all, a junk room, a downstairs
attic. The best that could be said for it was that we were able to put
a lot of stuff in it - but really, it was:
The Island of Misfit Home Furnishings.

Keira and I spent all of Saturday afternoon de-crapifying it and then,
using things that were already on hand, putting together a new craft
and sewing space.  And an exercise space.  And storage. And a spare
room. Who knew all those purposes could co-exist so peacefully?



We even hung Art. I am especially fond of a self-portrait that I picked up at
Goodwill.  I'm calling her 'Penelope' (with a nose like that, I sort of  have to).

 Could it have been better? Sure. I didn't bother to fill any leftover nail holes...or paint the walls...or paint the cubes (which are pretty beat up)...but I'm okay with it. It's fine, just fine.

Total cost? Four new plastic bins (the ones with paints and stamps) $16 and one closet rod with hanging hardware $8. If I added correctly, that makes just $24.
Having a multi-functional room instead of a junk room? Priceless.

Dirty Laundry...

I'll wager that our household is the only one in this galaxy

(or any other) with a Boba Fett laundry bag. Word.



It's times like this that I'm truly grateful to have the knowledge
and supplies to make my own iron on transfers.



The Empire Strikes Bath is pretty much done now, but I haven't had time to take the pictures...having too much fun (and by that I mean working our tails off) with Keira. I'll try and post pictures tomorrow.

5 x 5, Day 5. Part II



The brown containers used to be green.
And now they're not.



I'm loving the giant brown hook and eyes.



5 x 5, Day 5



This isn't a true 'before' picture - It was the 'I wonder what I can do with
all my unattractive crap stuff that is on full display in my bathroom that doesn't
have a lick of storage' stage.




Time for a little tension.
Rod gazed at the beautiful stranger. He could see her
true potential.




I don't think I'm completely done - but it's done enough for now.
I think I will add some rings to the back so that I can adjust the
length ala Roman blinds.



Ruffle-y goodness.



Work it, baby, work it.

The Christmas 2009 Mens Collection

Reversible - flame print on one side, basic black on the other,  black webbing belt with parachute buckle. Optional "tie" applique on cream canvas.

I made a lot of aprons over the last 2 or three months.  During Christmas break I think I made 10.  Yes, 10.  Three of them were for guys - as you can see modeled here.

I didn't post these before, because they were the last pictures that I took with my old Nikon - before handing it down (up?) to Steve.  He had it with him when he went to Idaho (that's why all the pictures he took of Nathan and Rebekah in their new apartment were dark and grainy) - so I sort of forgot about it.  Until now.

Cruise Control

Steve surprised me with a new sewing machine for Christmas.  As I opened the wrapping paper I was a little dismayed to see the amount of buttons this puppy came with.  It looked complicated.  Within about 10 or 15 minutes I had the bobbin loaded, the machine threaded and started sewing some test patterns.  Turns out it is pretty easy.  You can even push a button and it will sew on its own.  Cruise control.  It is pretty darn awesome.  This machine does not come close to Stephanie's fancy one - but for a point and shoot gal like me, it's just fine.

I don't plan on getting rid of my vintage Kenmore...when my sisters visit we will be able to do twice the sewing.

Aprons, aprons, aprons.

Last week it was purses. This week it's aprons. Don't worry, I'm pretty sure that my recent sewing fetish will evaporate like dew in the Sahara just as soon as Christmas is over.

I made three aprons this morning - before the boys woke up. This evening I managed to finish one and NEARLY finish 3 more. I still have the waistband to blind stitch on those 3. I didn't add any fancy pockets (I've never found pockets either necessary or desirable in an apron). I did add piping to 3. Because I could. All the aprons I made today, except one, are reversible - because that's how I roll.

Craftapalooza

These are the projects I worked on this week - when I probably should have been doing something else.

75%...maybe 80%

Have you ever noticed that the word sewer can mean different things? I find it ironic that "sewer" - a person who sews, and "sewer"-a system of pipes used to transport waste...are spelled the same. I guess that's why we call people who sew "seamstress" and "tailor" - those words just sound better.

It amazes me that I can never get my office/craft/sewing room completely organized. I guess I could if I took all the craft stuff and fabric out...but barring that, I'm not sure it could ever be completely done - and still be usable.

I managed to get most of my office tidied up this morning - emphasis on "most". I have a few smallish sewing projects that I would like to do before Christmas - and frankly, they weren't going to get done with the clutter in the way. Of course, as soon as I start working on my projects...there goes the neatness. I am such a messy sewer.

Apron #4

Stephanie christened this one "dancing in the kitchen". Have I mentioned how much I like the bias ruffle?

I'm getting faster at making these aprons - but I still wouldn't mind having a sewing buddy. Any takers?

Apron #3

Rebekah said "Why don't we do some sewing?" this morning. Yeah, yeah....okay. I changed the pattern that we used for the other two - I simplified it while not taking away from the awesomeness of the bias ruffle. Instead of the fiddly border on the side I just lined the whole thing. No hand sewing(yea!) and a few less steps (yea!). It turned out adorable...I just wish that Suzanne was still here to take the picture.

Butterflies Aren't Free...

...they run $3.99/yard.

I didn't plan on making new curtains for Miriam yesterday. I didn't plan on buying fabric for her windows. I DID plan on making new curtains for my bathroom.

I went to Joann Fabric on Wednesday morning - I was looking for some fabric to go with the new paint color. I didn't find anything that I loved...but just as I was about ready to go the butterflies caught my eye. Miriam has butterflies painted on her bed and she loves butterflies...so I sort of had to buy it. Then make the curtains. Then take them over to see how they looked (also to see if I made them the right length...never a given).

So what did I do about the bathroom curtains? I recycled a white linen curtain that has seen many iterations around my house. It works just fine and I was able to make a 3 1/2 year "Fancy Nancy" happy with the money and time I saved. Totally worth it.

accessorize, part II

Because who doesn't love a houndstooth check?

Yes Keira, I lined the slings - but mostly because that was easier to do than hemming or binding the edges.

I'm done sewing for now. The machine is getting put away.

accessorize, accessorize, accessorize

There's a good reason you don't hear much about one armed seamstresses. It's darn hard to sew with one hand.

I made couple of slings to go with my gimpy arm..I'm not sure Danny quite approves of the cowboy and Indian one - but that's okay - he doesn't have to wear it.

I went to the doctor yesterday - he said that I would probably be in a cast for about 8 weeks. I don't think that counts the 1 1/2 weeks I will have been in a splint. I have to go in for more x-rays on Monday, then I'll see the doctor again on Tuesday - when I will either
a. get a long cast on
b. continue with the splint longer
c. be scheduled for surgery...
The doc didn't want to remove the splint yet - he wants to wait until the bones are a little"stickier" - so they won't just fall apart when the splint is removed. In the meantime I'm in a veritable boatload of pain.

As ye sew, so shall ye reap.

First of all, I blame Suzanne.

I didn't intend to make a blessing outfit for Zachery. I'm not all that crazy about sewing tiny little baby boy clothes. I planned on being a good aunt and buying a darling little outfit.
Weeks ago when I told Suzanne that Keira had opted for a blessing outfit for the baby instead of a birthday gift she suggested that I wait until AFTER Christmas to get it - that way I stood a better chance of getting a good sale price. That made sense since the store I planned on looking for an outfit tends to be very spendy. Little did I realize that Strasburg Children is no longer at our outlet mall - Tommy Hilfiger expanded into their space. I quickly checked out Gymboree, OshKosh, Children's Place, Nautica Kids and Carter's. Some cute clothes, but nothing suitable for a blessing. Tried Kohls and Ross. Bowed to the inevitable and went to Jo-Ann's.

Six hours later....

done.