We Interrupt

This unofficial blogging break that I seem to be taking to bring you a bit of sewing and a dose of cuteness

I reintroduced my self to my sewing machine and pulled out this half finished jumper that had been languishing in my UFO pile for over a year. The wee one has yet to be born and will most likely wear this next spring.

I won't tell you how many times Jack (my seam ripper) and I met under the cover of fabric ... I'm quite a bit rusty. You can find all the details regarding the pattern here. At least this time I had matching buttons.

OK - back to living my always interrupted never a dull moment life.

What's interrupting you these days?

Oh yeah ... I'm not pregnant ;-) This was for a baby shower ... had ya goin' didn't I?

What Have You Been Working On?

I've been working on a skirt

As if I've got all day.

I've been working on a skirt

Just to keep me sane

Don't you hear the alarm clock,

Rise up so early in the morn;

Don't you hear the children shouting,

"Mama, feed me now!"

Mama, feed me now,

Mama, feed me now,

Mama, won't you feed me now?

Maybe I'll have this done in time for summer ;-) 

What have you been working on these days?

What A Doll Wants

My friend who I made the doll quilts for supplied me with these pictures.

The beds were made for her when she was about her daughters age by her grandfather.

My friends dad gave them a coat of paint and my job was to make sure the dolls would be nice and cozy. I was tickled pink to see that they actually fit! Despite having two boy I guess I still know what a doll wants ;-)

Quiet

I had a few of those moments over the past week when I was able to sneak in some Christmas crafting.

A scarf from the amazing Craft Hope book.

One of the two swiffer covers I made (the other I made is for me and would shame me ... it's filthy!). Raveled here.

Doll quilts for a friends little girl.
 

Stash busting never felt so good ...

with pillows from flannel to match.

I actually made it to a chain yarn store and got some more to finish these mitts. That was before I had to take Henry back  to the MD. sigh. Poor kid has just had the wind knocked out of him with this strep throat. He seems to be on the mend today. Let's hope it continues.

Here's to some quite moments to not only finish some last minute projects, but for rest and reflection of our Savior's birth. It might be quiet here until after the new year - I don't know. I'm going to enjoy this time with my family and just be ~ Merry Christmas everyone.

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And in case you are wondering ... no - I did not get my house clean but the sheets on the guest bed were changed. That's what matters - right?!;-)

Yes, Virginia

There is some sewing happening here ...

more scrap busting to come!

Ho Ho Ho

It All Began With

Mom - I have to have a costume for school. I just have to. You can make it.

Oh the confidence my six year old has in me.

I was soooo thankful  that I had already put in some brain power/sewing time into costumes for the boys not too long ago. I quickly pulled up my post for the armor tutorial and proceed to turn my knight into Chief Massasoit.

A half a yard of already strung feathers, felt, and two broken needles

One yard of decorative ribbon and fringe

Lastly, more fringe and felt to add the final touch (see ankles on chief below)

How did you dress your turkey?

Dressing The Turkey

Nothing like a first grade sing-a-long to motivate this mama to whip out the sewing machine. OK - my mom's sewing machine - mine is still in the shop. I still need to make the headdress and a few other accessories for my little Chaska so more pictures to follow ... hopefully with the turkey fully dressed ;-)

One

One cookie

will lead to more cookies.

One less tooth (the first of many to come or should I say go?)



will lead to a bit of last minute sewing

and a trip to Wal-Mart thanks to Rocky's the tooth fairy's generosity.

One smile

will make this Mama's day.

~~~~~~~~~

What one thing is making you grin from ear to ear these days (hopefully with all your teeth - wink wink)?

Speed

I like to take my time. I like to dilly dally - most of the time. I have to admit though - instant gratification has it's place. Like when I felt the need to make something and make it fast. Like in under 30 minutes fast. And for both my boys kinda fast. Speed was of the essense.

Lucky for me one of my sidelined items had most of the prep work done (fabric washed). All I had to do was pull one of Henry's existing pillow cases and make a pattern ... step up to the sewing machine and put the petal to the metal.

Zoom Zoom Zoom.

Henry's bikes are a knit that I had bought in the clearance bin at JoAnn's and John's is flannel of the same origin. The only force working against me was my sewing machine. Time for tune up. My light decided to rock it out to an unfamiliar disco beat. It was a wee bit nauseating. Kind of like driving too fast on a windy mountain road.

Let's hope these new pillowcases help the boys slow down after a busy day and set the cruise control for a long nights rest; and as for my sewing machine ... I think I need to hit the mechanic before my hunk of metal comes to a screeching halt!

Touchdown

Rocky and I loaded up the car with fried chicken and coleslaw, opened up the sunroof, cranked the tunes and headed down the road for a date.

This is what happens when you've been married for a long time ...

you don't bother to paint your toes.

Our destination - the land of orange.

I get almost  as exctited as Rocky when football season rolls around. See, our first date was to a Virginia football game. When the first home game rolls around it takes me back to that sweet tender getting to know you stage. I always get a little tingle in my tummy as we drive down the highway to our destination. I look at Rocky and grab his hand and say "You know what this reminds me of ... " and he says along with me "Our first date". I think I've said that for 12 years now. He knows the routine ;-)

So as you can see - we've had this football gig for quite awhile. Time to take the tailgate up a notch. As I mentioned before, I've had this fabric for a shamefully long time and just never got around to making a tablecloth. The design has gone from elaborite/quilted to what you see below.

Please forgive the ghost like picture. I forgot my camera and only had my phone (of which I took all the pictures in the post with). It was so dark I had to 'doctor' it a bit.  The letters are appliqued and I used a template from Skip to my Lou. This thankfully worked up quickly because the play clock was counting down. I finished with a few seconds to spare ... TOUCHDOWN!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What playbook have you been reading?  Turn the page ... Tuesday is tomorrow!

Sidelined

I had big intentions this spring of making this skirt for me to enjoy all the summer long.

I fantasized in that bloggy way of a grand photo shoot on the beach ... the skirt flowing in the breeze ... the ocean spray at my feet while I relish in the fact that I was wearing something I made.

sigh.

I made it this far before our first Florida trip

Not very impressive.

So much for frolicking.

I got the first tier assembled and gathered; then made it to the second tier when I ran out of thread ... and steam. By that time it was summer Bible school and then off to Florida again.

Bye bye blogging crafty bliss.

Now it's on to a project that I've had the fabric for at least 8 years some time ...

I need to hurry up because our first home game is this Saturday. I don't want this project to receive a penalty for delay of game.

I have quite a few yards to go (ba da bum). What's sitting on your sideline?

Get It While It's Hot

I love these little pot holders. They really are satisfying to make. They do not take much fabric and are simple.

The only glitch so far for me is the finishing. See the little pucker on the right side - I just can't seem to avoid that. I'm hoping that these will see much action so you won't notice the pucker when you are starving and a hot meal is headed your way.

I purchased the pattern (along with a few others) from Keyka Lou. Her patterns are so easy to follow - clear and simple (just what I need). I actually subscribe to her blog - she often posts tips and how-to's that are very helpful and when she is having a sale ... one must get it while it's hot ;-)

~~~~~

Don't forget to visit Living Senses Go Local for some yummy tales and recipies.

I Made It (and I even wore it in public)

Yup. I sure did. I made the Socialite Dress with fabric (Heather Bailey - Fresh Cut) that I originally intended to make dining room curtains out of ... what do you think Scarlet O'Hara would say?

Belted

Loosey goosey

I'm still undecided how I feel about this dress. I love the fabric but I'm wondering if dinning room curtains would have been better after all. The dress was easy enough to make. There is a great review on Sew Mama Sew that was helpful. I had the same problem as the reviewer - tight under the arms.

I made the XS and chose that size based on the finished garment measurements. I didn't want to have a muu muu on my hands. Again, I should have listened to my gut and made the size S to accommodate the girls. It's a little snug across the chest and makes the V in the front pull a little. I also added 3 inches to the length as well. I figured I'm not 18 any more - I know - shocker - and any covering of those unsightly veins would be appreciated by all. The directions required you to hand stitch the V in place but since I do anything possible to avoid hand stitching I zig zag stitched the edge to prevent fraying and edge stitched the top of the V (make sense?).

Despite my luke warm feelings about this dress I did wear it in public - to a party actually. I'm sure this dress will see more social action over the summer; it is quite comfy.

So tell me, what have you May(d) for You! lately?

Who Ya Gonna Call?

You all have heard me whine about having to clean many times before.

I don't like to. Don't think I ever will.

I do however like recycling, saving money and, excuses to sew.

Head on over to Sew Much Ado for a tutorial to make these nifty reusable swiffer covers. I had enough scrap flannel to make three and I think that should do it. I've hit all three: recycled, saved money, and sewed a wee bit ;-)

And remember, when the dust bunnies start a revolt, I'll be pulling out my dust busters ... who ya gonna call?

It's Beginning ...

To look like

something May(d) for Me!

... or maybe just a Muu Muu.

Apple Of Their Eye

A friend of mine is pregnant with her third. They have two boys and now a little bit of sugar and spice is on it's way.


I know what you are thinking ... pink, pink and more pink. Well, nothing against pink ...





I just thought a splash of red might be a bit more refreshing. I'm sure she will get plenty of pink.





Even though this bambino is number three, I'll gander to say she will still be the apple of their eye!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hat pattern here.

Fabric from stash (in other words - no clue where/or what it is).

Felt So Good

Heading to the post office today was not a chore. No. It felt so good.

I was mailing my package for Craft Hope - Liberia Orphan Education Project.

I had a few bumps in the road while making these bean bags (I tried embroidering them first) and had lots of help along they way ...

Yes, those are aquarium pellets. Everywhere.

And yes, those are "embellished" bean bags ... that will teach me to leave my puffy paint out. I should have known that my little guy was itching to get his hands on some again after our last time.

I also realized at.the.last.minute. that I had not included all the colors suggested and that I misspelled 'grey'. An email to Jade (the mastermind behind Craft Hope) quickly eased my anxiety and got me straight. I had time to add some more colors but could leave my color interpretation as is ;-)

I had forgotten that working with felt was so easy. Oh my. My boys are itching for me to make a set for them. And I will happily oblige. They wanted these for themselves. I had to explain more than once that these were going to boys and girls who didn't have a school like they did. These boys and girls needed mommies to make these so they could learn. A hard concept for little ones who haven't known such hardships. Lots of questions and much discussion ... and many prayers for those little ones 'to be able to learn'.

I was able to use some stashed fabric, bias tape and rope to make the bags. I cut the bags 12" across by 14" long (cut on the fold to avoid a bottom seam) and 2 strips of bias tape/rope each 31" long for the ties. I followed this simple tutorial for a drawstring bag and made french seams.

No matter the what the color or shape ... this project felt good indeed.

I Fought The Law

And it sorta won.

I know I know - that's not how the song goes but I'm talking some blogging liberties ;-)

Rocky (that is my new name for DH - he never believed me when I told him that DH stood for darling husband) and I had a Derby party to go to and I needed to make something for May(d) For Me! sooooo ... another sombrero was in order.

The pattern calls for 3 layers of cotton duck (or something of similar weight) for the brim. I decided I would use what I had on hand since I splurged on real linen for the hat; an interfacing that I thought was the same constancy as the duck. All went well in assembling the hat and I liked how it didn't seem so heavy. That should have been my first clue. Here's a before the party picture:

Rocky looks like he is thrilled doesn't he? You might recognize the Japanese Knot bag if you've been around here for a while.

It was really, really, really windy at the party. Other than that it was a beautiful afternoon. The sky was clear and the warmth of the sun was kept in check by the not so subtle breeze. I often cursed myself for wearing a ~white~ slip under my black dress. I had one hand on my hat and well, I should have een holding down my skirt but those mint juleps were so goooood. What.was.I.thinking. Anyhoo ... back to the law and the hat. By the time the party was over my hat had flip flopped everywhere and was annoyingly lying on one side of my face - flat as a pancake. It was totally out of hand. Kind of like this:

Ok. Maybe not that wild ... at least she is still smiling! The way my hat was contorted you could only see half my face - arg! All I could think of was having to undo the whole hat. Jack and I would meet again after all.

That night I sadly set my hat down on the ottoman thinking of the not so quality time we were about to spend together and sighed ... and then something remarkable happened the next morning. It had regained it's shape.

We'll I'll be ... looks like I'm on parole. You can count your stitches that I'll be a law abiding seamstress from now on. Tell me ... are you innocent or have you fought the law too?

Hooters

I finished the tunic from One Yard Wonders on Sunday and couldn't wait to get outside to take some pictures. Only one problem ... yesterday was not tunic weather. When our contractor left today (did I mention that we have rotting wood on the outside of our house?) for his lunch break I changed clothes in record speed, set up the camera and hoped for the best (and that he would eat slowly as not to catch me in the act!).

Ta Da!

Here she is - my hooters shirt.

For once I made a top that fit ... it's a little snug in the hips so I have to pull it up a bit where I belt (baby got back). This was easy to make - I think there will be another in my future. One down for May(d) for Me!

The pictures are poor so I tried to mess with the filters to edit them. I wasn't going back out there for a re-shoot! I thought I was smart because I put the camera in the shade and I stood in the sun ...

Thus the lovely 'highlights' on my shoulders and the illusion of bra straps. Nope - those 'straps' are from my farmers tan. Purty.

Here's a pic of the fabric (that I borrowed from this eBay merchant)



Their shop was the only one online that I could find this fabric that was not the decorator weight but quilting cotton. I bought mine sometime ago from Kris.

Go on ... get some fabric. You know you've always wanted to be a Hooters girl.