frog quilt

This is another project that had been sitting waiting for a due date. The color is so much better in person I really should have waited to take the pic in daylight tomorrow. I liked the frog prints and didn't know what to do with the flannel, I was going to make some pants or something for my daughter but then decided to just do a little kid quilt. You can never have too many handmade quilts on your shelf incase of a last minute birthday present or shower gifts. I might even make a run to donate a few with winter here. There are 2 more quilts waiting to get finished and not sure what I want to work on next. I think the pinwheel one for our bedroom would be best now for the cold winter nights. I really need to find a nice old wardrobe unit to store my quilts and blankets in. Might have to hardcore garage sale this srping

gonna finish my UFO's

So I am going to work on getting some of my UFO's finished before I start some new ones. This dress was started at least a year or more ago for my daughter and all it needed was buttonholes and the buttons which have been sitting waiting patiently for me and a needle. Not sure why it took so long to finish since my machine makes doing buttonholes a breeze. So now that my daughter has grown like a weed this dress is more like a long shirt it will be cute without any bottoms but if I can find some of the same material around, a pair of bloomers would be adorable too. Hopefully it still fits this spring but I guess a cream shirt under would work too. Kids can pretty much pull anything off

gotta do something

I had to go to the fabric store to redo our stools at our kitchen island. We had 4 very nice stools with backs then came along our toddler and a tipsy neighbor and all the backs broke on our stools so for months we had been using then with sawed off backs thinking we need buy new ones eventually. My dh took one apart to see and figured out we could remove the swivel part that held the backs and cut a new wood piece out of plywood and I could recover them and then we wouldn't have to buy new stools. So after I grabbed my 60% coupon for mill end textiles I was back in a fabric store and the big has bit me again. I was able the recover 4 stools for 15.00. I picked up a couple spring type fabrics for my daughter to make something just not sure yet but I promise I will have something to post fairly soon. I still want to make some stockings for christmas since he family doesn't have anything to hang...something I've wanted to do forever

Cleaned my room

My sewing room has been so out of control and I haven't wanted to be in there and do any work. I finally cleaned most of it up yesterday and found my machine under piles of stuff. I am missing it so I am going to dig out one of my many UFO's and do some sewing so hopefully I will have something for you guys to look at. Now I just need to figure out what I want to work on.....

Easter dress

I went to joann''s yesterday and bought some cute fabric for Presley' easter dress that I just decided to make the other day. This pink fabric is just adorable and it was in the clearance section for 2.00 a yard so I bought what was left and figure it will get used for something. I am such a fan of pink and have a hard time resisting anything that is pink! I can't believe how fast Easter crept up and it is even later this year. So I have to whip it up quickly today I need it done asap so I can get her pics taken in it and send out a Easter card for everyone. I have been getting all my cards out either late or on the day of the holiday lately. Well at least they are getting in the mail so that is an accomplishment.

well I finished her dress. It turned out cute. I used this pattern but altered it a little because I wanted more of the bottom to be the pink material. That material was a little more sensitive to work with but I just love the look of it. It is so shabby and romantic. Not that I was going for a romantic look for a 2y.o. but I couldn't think of another word to describe it. I love the look of the sleeves I just left the edges raw I think they will be fine. I am so excited to see it on her after her nap. Now I just have to wait until the chicks arrive on monday and hopefully get a cute pic of her and the chicks for a Easter card. I am sure I'll have to wash it after the photo shoot with chicken poop all over it!!!! Oh well clothes are meant to be worn and get dirty.

urban couture

I bought this charm pack before Christmas. It was my first charm pack so I didn't know what to expect so I decided to cut the 5" squares into triangles and sew them that way. Well I realize that if I want to make any type of halfway decent size quilt I need to buy a few more charm packs. I really love the colors and designs in this line so I need to order a few more packs and I'll have a nice size lap quilt. This is probably measuring about 2x2 right now so not sure how many more packs to buy 3-4 I think?

well it is something

I was out yesterday and found a easter basket for Presley. I found it for $6.99...much better price than pottery barn for kids $40+ bucks for their baskets. On the other side it came with this cute easter egg embroidery. I knew I wanted to embroider her name on it and knew it would fit good on this basket. Decided to do a green instead of a matching pink. I love pink and green together. This is one of my fav fonts it is called curlz.

I love all their embroideries and they have sales all the time. I got this alphabet font for 50% off before christmas and did some pillowcases for my family. Now we are all set for the easter bunny. Maybe I should sew up a big bunny costume for greg to wear.....

nothing

I have not been doing any sewing. I have plenty to finish and hopefully in the next few days I'll be able to get a little time at the machine. I am starting to have some withdrawl from not being able to get any time to sew. I think the biggest thing right now is to get my room organized and cleaned up because it is a disaster area and when it is that messy I just can't stand being in there. I think that is my first goal....clean tomorrow and then maybe the creative juices will start flowing. I hope to have something for you guys soon

practice skirt

So I got my pattern and material in the mail so I whipped out a practice skirt to see how I liked it. The skirt is super simple and it turned out good. I don't like the material so much but it was in my stash and it was cheap to practice with. I didn't want to use my good stuff for the trial run. I will wear this one too but not loving it. It is a fun bright color for summer. I am so excite to make the one with my new material it is even prettier in person and such a soft cotton. I think it will lay much better than this stiffer material I used on this skirt. Don't mind my white pastey legs I do live in MN and only see the sun for about 5 minutes a year!!! Well that and being a strawberry blonde with freckles doesn't help either.....oh yeah and already having skin cancer..... Anyhooo I like the skirt but hoping to make this next one a wee bit smaller cuz I just have to lose a few lbs. before summer!!! I am going to the dentist on wed. I'll ask if he'll wire my mouth shut!!!

bella pants

So since I am waiting on my goodies to come in the mail I needed to get a sewing fix in today. I decided to make another pair of pants for my daughter since all her 2t pants have become high waters. I love this little pattern for a quick pair of pants. It goes perfect with this shirt she already had. I used what was in my stash and my poor stash has become quite depleted which is a good thing because I have been wanting to use up what I have but I have run out of things to make new. 

I couldn't do it!!!

I caved today and order some material!!!! I just couldn't to it for one stinkin' month. If it is any conciliation  I probably won't be getting the material till almost march and it is coming from march's budget. Plus I am making a skirt for me so really it should come out of my clothing budget right???;) Oh How we can change anything to fit our agenda.  I am so excited to see this new material in person. I so wish we had a big material store that carried these designer fabrics.  The one place that carries a good selection is about 40 minutes from me so not super convenient. There is a quilting shop close but they carry very traditional quilting fabrics so I usually don't like a lot of their inventory. Joann's is ok for some stuff but they lack in the fun trendy styles sometimes too. I like going to this one warehouse they have a huge selection and great prices but it is hit or miss with what they have in. I need something more edgy and trendy. I would love to open a little place of my own but in this market I don't dare even think about it. These are the 2 fabrics I bought and I think it is going to make one cute skirt!!! I am hoping to squeeze it out with just the 2 yards. It might be close and I'll see if I need something else for the waistband. I always do a test run with any new pattern on cheaper material from my stash to iron out any kinks. Depending on how much I like the fabric I might order a fat quarter sampler of it for a patchwork skirt for P and we will have our matchy-match outfit!!

10 more days

I have just 10 more days before my new budget for march starts!!! I am already jonesing for some new material. I am still undecided if I am going to make that soiree quilt bigger or leave it a lap quilt. I keep going back and forth. If I do decide to make it a king size it will take all of march and april budget to finish...... With that being said I might just stick with the lap size and redo our bedroom down the road. I really want to start making some skirts for me for summer. I just want to make a few swing skirts because if and when I lose weight they are still going to fit nicely now and later because of the lose fit. If I lose a lot of weight which is highly doubtful all I would have to do is make the elastic waist a little smaller. Ok I just decided to keep soiree a lap size and make some cute summer skirts for me!!! I really love this pattern and finally they have it in stock!!!I have been waiting for about 2-3 months and now I just ordered it. I am going to make quite a few for summer. With different material they will all look so different even though it is the same pattern. I am sooooo excited now. Hurry up 10 days!!!! Maybe my hubby will give me an advance for next month's fabric allowance???

Scrap quilt done

this lil' guy is done!!! I feel like everything is in slow-mo lately. I am not getting in as much time at the machine so things are taking a little longer to get completed. I really like how this little guy turned out. I think it is about 35' square. I will definitely do this design again. I finished it up with all scraps and it feels so good to put it all to use and not waste any fabric. The colors all go so well together too I love when that happens.  I will be donating this lil' guy along with a few more. I just need to get some labels put on so somewhere someone will say "who is this sheila from MN????" I used a white sheet for the back and the white on the front but after using sheets for a few quilts I realize that I just don't like the way they sew as much. They are so dense that the needle doesn't go thru them as easily when stippling and piecing. I will still use them once and awhile but I think I'll stick with quilters cotton for the most part. I do love the softness to the sheets though much more pleasant to the skin. I think tonight I will try to come up with some labels and get them printed on the fabric I have for it. 

embroidering

I spent the morning embroidering for a friend. I did her 2 daughter's pillow cases and easter basket linings. They turned out really cute and now I can pop them in the mail and hopefully she likes how they turned out too. I think I need to make something for Presley for her Easter basket too. This year will really be her first that she will understand a little more about the easter bunny and will love the treats in her basket. I also finished the scrap quilt top the other night, now maybe I can find something in my stash for the back and get that done this weekend. I also need to clean and organize my room again it is getting out of hand and I just don't do as well when my room is a mess I find that I don't want to work in it and the clutter makes me stressed and uncreative so that needs to get worked on. I need the creative juices flowing right now!!!

see the dust?

I haven't had a chance to turn on my machine since tuesday and now it is thursday~~!!! I know that is only 2 days but I feel like it has been forever. I might have time to do a little tonight after Presley goes to bed but it is good tv night tonight so that might not happen. I can't miss my 30 rock!!! If it is a repeat then I'll be at my machine. I have some embroidering to do for a friend so I need to maybe get to that. I want to try to get it in the mail on monday and this weekend is busy already with plans. Somedays I just wish there were more hours so we could get all the things we love to do in. I also am looking forward to longer days with the sun. I hate sewing at night because the lighting is so poor. I love all the daylight that comes in my window it makes sewing so much easier on my eyes. Here in MN it is dark by 4-5pm right now ...well maybe closer to 6 now but only cuz spring is coming...hopefully?? But to have it dark by 6pm it feels like you should be in bed shortly after. I love the summer it is light till close to 10 pm!!! I can't wait! This summer I just might have to bring my machine outside with a long extension cord and soak up some rays. If I ever do that I'll be sure to post a pic

practicing a scrap quilt

Ok since I can't buy anymore fabric for the month I started digging thru the scraps that  I cut up the other day and started practicing a different design. I like the design but I think I have to press open some of the seams where the triangles meet because it was a little more bulky trying to sew over them. I think I'll have to be careful when stippling over those thick parts. I have broken a few needles going too fast over real dense areas before. It is kinda scary when they break cuz sometimes the tip goes flying I almost should wear safety goggles!!!I am just cutting more squares for the border to make the quilt a tad bigger and use up those scraps. It will be about the size of a baby/toddler quilt and I will donate this one to project linus. There is a drop off just down the road so I have a few baby quilts to donate. I found this design in the jelly roll book. I just might have to buy the new one they are publishing. It comes out this summer and I really like this book so I am sure I'll enjoy the new one. Not sure how long if ever it will take my library to get it in. I am hoping to get this finished today during nap time.

soiree in progress

I have done almost all the top I just have a border to put around it and then the top is finished. I have to wait because 1 I spent my budget and 2 the soiree yardage isn't in stores yet I think it comes out later this month or next month. I could try to find something that would go with these fabrics but I think I'l stick with everything being from the same fabric line. I had a little left over and did a doll quilt top too but still have to wait to finish that till I can order the fabric. Now I just need to figure out what one of the 40 different fabrics in the pieces that I want for the border and then binding....then figure out the back!!! I love the colors in this quilt. I am so tempted to make it a king size and use it as our bedspread!!!  Our wall color is a light blue so it looks good with that. I have been wanting new curtains so I think I would use the stripe that is on the quilt. Hmmmmm.....Greg said he likes it even though there is a lot of pink in it so I just might have to buy another jelly roll next month and add to the quilt.... decisions, decisions. I have been wanting pink in my bedroom so now I can have it!!! Do I want to stipple a huge king size??? That task seems daunting. 

It's here

I just got home and this lovely package was on my doorstep just waiting for me!!! The colors are so beautiful and I can't wait to start playing with them. All other projects are taking a backseat for a bit while I give this beautiful jelly roll some of my TLC. I still need to figure out what I'm going to do with it so off to look at the book to make my final decision. I might have to order a couple yards of a couple of these prints and make a summer dress for Presley and maybe a matching skirt for me....we just won't wear them on the same days, well maybe one time for a photo op so I can tease her later in life that we dressed the same.

custom camera strap

So I have seen people do the custom camera strap and have been meaning to make one too.  My strap is different from most I bought this last year and it is so much more comfortable on my neck the original strap dug into neck and was so uncomfortable. So anywho most tutorials are for the basic strap so I had to come up with my own measurements. This was my first try. It fits but now when I make another one I might change a couple things. I have to add another 1/4" because I didn't have enough room to top stitch the one side. It works for now but I know I'll be making a few more to change around. No more boring black strap!!! now I have Elvis hanging around my neck at all times...makes a girl happy!! 

soiree on the way

I am so excited!!! I ordered my first jellyroll yesterday and hopefully it will be here for the weekend. I can't wait to see the fabrics in person I have only seen them in pics on the net but they look so bright and cheery....just what a Minnesotan needs in february after a long cold winter. I haven't figured out what design I want to do yet from the book but it is down to 3. I stopped at the thrift store and picked up a couple more sheets for backings and piecing some projects I have going on. I am trying to finish the top of the whirly butterfly quilt before my fabric comes so I don't feel too guilty starting a new project. that is one of my goals this year is to not have too many projects going at once. I think 4 -5 is a good number to keep WIP at. More than that I started getting stressed and feel rushed that I have to get them all done. So I have spent my budget for the month already and today is only the 3rd!!! It is going to take everything I have to not buy anymore fabric. I have said it out loud here so if you hear me mention anymore new purchases I am sooo in trouble and couldn't make it my first month on a budget. I will have to dig deep for this challenge and get creative with what I have.

organizing scraps

My scrap bins have been getting out of hand and I just didn't know what to do with them until I read an idea from the jellyroll book. It said to cut 2 1/2"  strips and save them for the jellyroll quilts. So I went thru all my scraps and the bigger ones I cut a bunch of 2 1/2"  strips and set them aside for when I decide I will do a quilt with them. I also tossed a bunch of real little scraps that I thought I might use but they were just taking up too much room and I know I would never use them. It is just so hard to toss any fabric. My mind feels so much less cluttered now that those bins are much more manageable. I have a bad cold and just not in the mood to sew but at least I got this done. I think I am going to order the new lila Tueller soiree fabric in a jellyroll and do a quilt I saw in the book. I am so excited to order it!!!

scored at the library

I had the 2 amy butler books on hold and they set them aside for me and then I found a couple more that looked good to check out some new ideas. I love the library lately. I have been wanting to make the wide leg lounge pants from the institches book for quite awhile so I just traced the pattern out and wrote down the instructions to make a pair. I need to get some new material for the project so hopefully I'll be making a pair soon. I need some nice lounge pants for around the house cuz I always seem to be lounging or at least not getting all dressed up on a daily basis.  I was hoping to find something for Presley to make from the little stitches book but it really is for babies under a year so I will return that one without making anything out of it. 

Bright summer dress

I wasn't in the mood to work on my quilt projects so I picked this fun bright fabric out of my stash to make my fave dress pattern for Presley. The pattern can be used as a long top or a dress. Very versatile you can just shorten the hem. My girl is going to have so many dresses for summer. I really should make a few and start selling them on Etsy I'm just trying to perfect my sewing on the serger. I have a few patterns from pink fig and they are all really great and easy to follow. My next pattern that I want to try just came out and it will be great for summer too.  I love how the edges are just finished with a rolled hem it is so quick and easy versus pressing them all under twice and sewing. My serger just zips thru the material. I just have a hard time at the start and finish point and how to secure that?? I am doing what works for now but I know it isn't right. They better call me back for when they are setting up some serger classes very soon. I also love shirring. I want to find a pattern for a top in my size or maybe I'll try to make up a pattern of my own but I'm not too good at that sort of thing.  I do have a store bought dress that uses it so maybe I can try to figure it out from that. I think presley is pretty set on summer dresses/skirts I need to work on some for me. I love wearing skirts all summer. I am SO NOT a shorts girl. I don't wear shorts ever I just don't like them.

thrift store redo

I found this house coat at a thrift store for $2.95 and I really liked the material so I figured I could use it for something. I decided Presley needed another skirt. So this is a tutorial for a 2T/3T skirt using this housecoat. Depending on your child's size you can alter the dimensions. 

I first cut the bottom off of the housecoat at 11". That way I could use the bottom hem that was already done. The width of the piece is about 22" but if yours is smaller of bigger it doesn't matter you will just either gather less or more to match up with the band

For the band  I cut 12" in using the one finished side as a fold and cut 5" for the height. So if you were to lay it flat it would be 24"x5"

Then sew the open side using a 1/4" seam allowance with right sides together.

Then gather the top of the skirt section so it will match up to the band. Pin with right sides together and sew using 1/4" seam allowance. Then zig zag or finish the ends the way you like.

Then press the seam towards the top of the skirt and then top stitch 1/8" around the band.

Then turn the top of the band under 1/4" and press and then turn it under 1 1/2" and press.

Next top stitch 1/8" from the top and an 1/8" from the bottom to create the casing for the elastic. Make sure to leave an opening at the bottom to thread thru your elastic. Use 1" width elastic. Next measure the child's waist and cut the elastic about 1" smaller. Thread thru casing and sew close.

Now your skirt is done. That was so quick and easy. 

My skirt still needs a little more because the housecoat had big slits on the sides and I wanted to close them up for my daughter. So I got creative and used the buttons from the top of the housecoat. Because I am lazy I just carefully cut around the seams so I left the buttons in place and could just sew them down onto the skirt. I got lucky and it had an even number of buttons so I cut them in half so there would be 3 one each side of the skirt.

I zig-zagged the slits shut so it would be easier to pin and sew the buttons down. Then I pinned it to the skirt and sewed very close to the edges.

here is the skirt modeled by my lovely daughter. I just happened to have a matching purple shirt so we are in business!! I do have leftovers of the housecoat but not sure if there is enough for a top. If you have any questions just leave me a message. This is my first time trying to explain a tutorial so hopefully I made sense. If you make a skirt from this tute I would love to see it. Just post your link.