SheSewSassy

Brother & Sister sets

2012-01-24T09:02:00.003-06:00

I have been working on designing brother and sister shirt sets and onesies. I have never embroidered or hooped something so tiny like a onesie before so it was a challenge but I figured out an easier way to do it so that was a relief. I was using the 3 month size, there is the newborn size that is smaller so I'll have to try hooping those. I have a few more designs and also ones that work for brother and sister that are more color neutral. I am trying to come up with color combos that aren't the typical baby colors. I remember when my daughter was small EVERYTHING was baby pink in the stores for size 0-24 months. I wanted bright bold funky colors and it was hard to find. That might not be the case as much I'm not too sure, I haven't strolled around in the baby section for awhile now. I just remember when you opened her closet door it was a sea of PINK. Pink is my favorite color but I have to have more than just that in a wardrobe.

playing with jersey knits

2012-01-22T14:53:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I pulled out some knit material and decided to make a few tops for my daughter. I have been more of a woven cotton girl over the stretch material but it is fun to mix it up. I like to try pushing myself to think out of the box. I love how both turned out. It has also been awhile since I put a zipper in an outfit but it was like riding a bike. I do have a confession, the zipper was easy to put on but I made a huge mistake! I was just about done and I was hemming the bottom and cut the bottom of the zipper off to line it up! What did I do??? I had spent the whole day embroidering designs and embellishing it, and the zipper had no stopper so when you went to unzip the hoodie the little handle flew right off! I was mortified and couldn't believe what I had just done. So long story short I had to zigzag the bottom close, super glue the end of the zipper so it wouldn't separate up from the bottom. After that mess I had to make it look visually appealing so I cut some felt to make a flower and sewed it over my BIG whoops! So it is now a pullover hoodie with a zipper;) It is still cute but not what it was suppose to be. Oh well, I love how there really is no right or wrong way, it is like art anything goes. After these 2 tops I think I might make my way over to the stretch knits area at the store a little more often to see what else I can make.

What was the first thing you ever sewed?

2012-01-21T09:42:00.003-06:00

I was trying to think back to see if I could remember mine and I think it was a pair of shorts in home ec. I just loved going to sewing class in high school! That was the one class I never skipped....lucky for me it was an afternoon class! Oh me and mornings have NEVER been friends. With the help of my home ec teacher we sewed a formal dress for a dance for me. That is me in the little "green" number! I wish I still had that dress. I lent it out and never got it back. Wow that is 22 years ago now! 1990

So what was your very first thing you sewed and do you still have it?

tooth fairy pillows

2012-01-20T15:52:00.005-06:00

For the last week or so I've been working on different tooth fairy pillows. I have perfected the look I was going for. They are all just so cute! I think this is my new favorite thing to make right now! I love quilting so I get a little "patchwork" fix....check.... and I love to embroider.....check, They also don't take too long to make so instant gratification....check! It is a win win for me! They are all posted in my Etsy shop.

I also reorganized my sewing room. It had slowly started seeping into the dining room little by little. My hubby took back the dining room so I was forced to organize and clean out some things to make room for everything comfortably. I think he was more concerned about the noise when I embroidered, it would drown out the TV in the evenings....one does NOT mess with a man and his TV;). I actually love being back in here, my little pink happy place!

SheSewSassy

2012-01-04T09:39:00.005-06:00

My etsy shop is up and running! I have been busy sewing and coming up with new designs. I will be posting new things often, my head has been spinning with ideas so keeping checking back. I just ordered some new fabrics and can't wait to make a few more new outfits. I have spring and summer on my mind even though it is january and cold! Since I'm new to Etsy any tips or tricks or just advice post your tidbits!

SheSewSassy

white ruffle skirt

2011-12-23T10:47:00.001-06:00

I had a bunch of this white fabric and so I wanted to test out this skirt pattern. It is the nie nie skirt from pink fig. The pattern still calls for 2 more layers of ruffles but I like the length of this one on her. The fabric is a little thicker than the normal cotton quilting fabric so this skirt is extra puffy and quite heavy with just the four layers. I have been doing all the ruffles on her clothes the old fashion way with a basting stitch and pulling the threads. It is soooo time consuming. I enjoy doing it, it is almost therapeutic pull gather, pull gather, pull gather. I feel like I go in a trace;) But because it is so time consuming and I'll be making skirts with ruffles for my Etsy shop I bought a ruffler foot for my sewing machine! I played around with it all day yesterday trying to figure out the learning curve for it. There are so many factors that you can change to make more or less gathers or pleats. It is really a cool little foot and I know it is going to save me a ton of time and actually be more precise on the gathering placements. I whipped up another nie nie skirt in black and it took at least half of the time or maybe even less from when I did it all hand gathering on the white skirt.

Last month I got a new machine! I have had my viking designer for about 9 years and my daughter broke the embroidery part on it a couple years ago. I thought about just getting it fixed but it is a floppy disk and I would also have to upgrade it to a USB and so I decided it was also just time for a new machine. I went with another viking, The Ruby and I love her!!! It is so nice to have my embroidery part back. Everything from my old viking I can use on my new one so all the feet and hoops I've collected over the years is not a waste. I am keeping my designer as a backup and if I get really busy I can use it while my other machine is embroidering. It has been so fun! The shirt she is wearing is an embroidered applique rudolph and then her name. So stinkin' cute!

I am hoping to have my Etsy shop up and open in the next week or 2. It is called She Sew Sassy. It will mostly be for girls clothing but also I will have a few random other things occasionally. I am nervous and excited and it has been a few years in the works and the timing is finally right now. I will post when it is open.

skeleton animal fabric

2011-11-16T14:45:00.003-06:00

When we were out shopping my daughter said mom I love this material. So how could I not get it and make a cute dress with it! I also love anything polka-dots so I grabbed this black and white dots to got with it. I made a mistake when I was cutting the skirt part and it didn't get cut on the fold so I had a seam down the middle. Well I was just going to put it in the back but somehow it got on the front so I had this ugly seam down the middle of the dress. I sat and looked at it and decided it had to get covered so I made the ruffle and sewed it down the center. I love how it turned out and looking back many of my mistakes end up working out for the better! It causes me to get creative and it always seems to work out to my advantage! This dress might be a gift for my niece if we happen to draw her name for Christmas if not it will have a home here. It just needs a button in the center of the flower and it is done.

ruffle mania

2011-11-14T14:40:00.005-06:00

This is my daughter's christmas dress. It was a lot of ruffles but I love how it turned out and can't wait for her to wear it. The pattern is the stella dress from izzy and ivy designs. I am a glutton when it comes to ruffles! It is my love hate relationship with them. love how they look but there is just no easy way to do them other than the old fashion way of gathering and pulling the thread. I have gotten quite efficient and can whip out some ruffles quickly. It is true practice makes perfect. After I finished this dress I said it would be awhile before I did another but I quickly made a skirt from the pattern for thanksgiving. I adore those ruffles down the sides.

upcycled jeans

2011-11-08T10:07:00.002-06:00

These jeans had a hole in the knee and were too short in the length but still fit in the waist so I seam ripped open the legs, cut the length and added fabric and a ruffle and presto the jeans have a new identity and another year of mileage left in them. I got the idea from pink fig and just started cutting and pasting;) I love how they turned out and I think I see a few more pants that are going to go under the knife

ruffle pants

2011-10-24T15:32:00.003-05:00

Another great pattern from pink fig! These are the bella pants. The material is a brown suit type fabric from Joann's. I was originally going to make a skirt for me but ended up using it for my daughter. I am all about ruffles and all things girly but I really love it in these basic brown pants. I prefer lots of color but it is also nice to have more dressy neutral things too.

My next project is getting some labels printed up so I can sew them into my clothes. My hubby is always asking which way do her pants go. It is hard to tell the front from the back if you don't know what you are looking for. My daughter is also dressing herself a lot so she knows tags go in the back but when her clothes are tagless it makes it harder. I just need to design something in photoshop and print them out on fabric paper or iron transfer stuff....not sure what would be best.......time for some research.

Halloween skirt

2011-10-17T11:56:00.004-05:00

I just love riley blake fabrics! The colors and patterns are always so perfect! This is called trick or treat. The pattern is a take on the patchwork skirt I just cut some blocks even smaller and left some bigger. I have used this pattern a million times and with all the different materials the skirt seems a little different each time.

This is the same pattern just the blocks were cut a tad bigger. I also did a bunny applique on the tank to make a set. I loved this material!! It is sparkly in the fabric. It is called urban angel by studio e. They had it at my mill end textiles and I grabbed what was left....not much. Pink is my downfall anything that is pink my eyes drift towards and I HAVE to have it. I was so happy to have a little girl because I have a feeling my little boy would be wearing a lot of pink much to my hubby's dismay.

How time flies

2011-10-15T10:51:00.004-05:00

I have been sewing I just haven't been blogging about it. I have been blogging about my bunnies! I show american fuzzy lops and that has been a huge part of my last couple years. Now that fall is approaching I find myself at my machine sewing more. I spend most my time making my daughter clothes and the other time is spent quilting or making other crafts. I made this back to school outfit for her now that she started preschool she needs to be stylin'. The teachers commented on how they all look forward to seeing what she is wearing the next time at school! Those are big expectations to live up to to try and create something new each week;) This fabric is from Robert Kaufman it is a corduroy material and is super soft and lightweight. I love it. The pants are the bella pants. I have used this pattern so many times for pants for her over the last couple years. Every time she wears a pair someone always comments on them I am also a sucker for ruffles! The shirt is from baby gap and I just appliqued some material on it to make it a matching set.

frog quilt

2009-12-19T19:19:00.006-06:00

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

2009-12-18T11:25:00.005-06:00

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

2009-12-16T15:00:00.004-06:00

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

2009-04-29T08:39:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-03T09:08:00.008-05:00

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

2009-03-17T14:47:00.003-05:00

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

2009-03-07T10:59:00.006-06:00

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

2009-03-03T22:07:00.002-06:00

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

2009-02-23T14:51:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-20T11:54:00.004-06:00

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!!!

2009-02-19T17:02:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-18T14:28:00.003-06:00

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

2009-02-16T15:57:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-14T13:37:00.003-06:00

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?

2009-02-12T15:05:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-10T08:30:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-08T16:59:00.004-06:00

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

2009-02-05T13:07:00.005-06:00

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

2009-02-04T13:05:00.007-06:00

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

2009-02-03T17:44:00.003-06:00

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

2009-02-02T12:36:00.003-06:00

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

2009-02-01T15:38:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-31T11:48:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-30T11:58:00.031-06:00

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.

working oh the butterfly whirly quilt

2009-01-29T14:19:00.008-06:00

I am still working on the whirly quilt for our bedroom. I think I am making it a little bigger than I originally planned. I have enough fabric so I think I will try to make it big enough to cover more of our king size bed but not as big as a king size blanket if that makes sense? I am already dreading how big it is getting and all the material I am going to be stuffing thru my machine trying to stipple it. I will be getting a workout for sure. I think I am done with the cutting unless I decide to go a tad bigger once it is all pieced. I should have the top all done by friday night. Then I will worry about the back and what I should do with that. Depending if I have enough leftovers to piece the back or a trip to the store will be in order? I am really trying hard to use up most of my stash and get that all cleared out. Not sure if i will use flannel or just regular cotton for the majority of the back either. So many decisions huh? I have spent my January "budget" for my fabric addiction so either I use what I have or I wait a couple more days till february comes and I have my new "budget" money. I have given myself this budget each month for 2 reasons. One so my stash doesn't keep getting bigger and that I try to get creative with what I have and the other cuz this economy really sucks!!! Don't they know they are putting a huge damper on my hobbies?? Forget the big companies and their bailouts what about us crazy crafters that "need" more supplies!!

Boy Boy birdie quilt

2009-01-28T12:14:00.006-06:00

This is the last of the gifts for the triplets. This one is for the boy. I found this material as a fat bundle at Joann's and used my 50% off coupon so the whole top and binding was only $4.50. The back is from my stash it is not really the typical cotton fabric used for quilting. It almost is more of a canvas type weave but still soft. It was a little harder to work with because it seemed to have a little more stretch to it too. The back got a little bunched up in a couple of spots but once I washed it and it puckered up nicely you can't see the mess up hardly at all anymore. I love when that happens. None of my quilts are perfect from start to finish but hey neither am I;). Now I just need to label the 3 quilts and wait for the babies to come and then they are ready for their new home. It is always a little sad to see them leave my house but also rewarding that someone else will hopefully enjoy them.

baby flower quilt

2009-01-28T11:55:00.005-06:00

I finished this one a couple weeks ago. It also is a baby gift for one of the girl triplets. It is leftovers from my wallflower quilt. The back and binding is a very soft flannel. I really love the colors and the fabric. It is from sandi henderson. I originally bought it for clothing for Presley but I guess it had other ideas and ended up being in 2 different quilts. I think I want to have a couple baby quilts on hand so when I have a baby shower or a friend with a new baby I have one ready to give as a gift in case time is tight and I can't make one right away. Also an excuse to keep sewing.

baby chick quilt

2009-01-26T13:50:00.005-06:00

This is one of the girl's baby quilt to go to my GF that is having the triplets. She is having 2 girls and a boy. I found this material at Joann's and it is just adorable I ended up not getting enough so I had to improvise to make it bigger and it still is on the smaller side but will work. I used flannel for the back and the binding so it will be extra soft on the new baby. It started out being a different design but when I realized I was out of white and the color fabric I had to change plans. It didn't line up perfectly either due to my poor planning but it can't always be perfect. I also did my loopty-lou free hand on it that I did on my valentine's quilt. I want to experiment with a few more free hand quilting techniques. I like the look of the plain stipple but it is fun to mix it up since I get bored so easily!! I love doing the smaller quilts it is so much easier to stipple without trying to get the quilt squeezed into my 7" arm space. Oh how I dream of having a long arm machine. Until I win the lottery my muscles will just be nice and strong pushing all those quilts around.

Wallflower quilt done

2009-01-26T09:52:00.004-06:00

After another trip to Joann fabrics to buy more pink thread I am done with my wallflower quilt. No it is not going on any wall I just named it that because of the big flowers in the fabric. I am really liking the pink thread for the stippling. It gives a little more to the quilt than just white. I pieced the binding and the back with leftovers from the front. I love being able to use up all the extra that way my scrap binds don't get too out of control. I can't believe how much thread you go thru with stippling. I used 3 spools of 250 yards. I think this quilt is going on Presley's new big girl bed. It isn't quite a twin size the quilt measures 66" square before I washed it not sure how much it shrunk?? It will fit fine because she has bed rails that won't allow the quilt to hang over anyhow. Her room is pink and green so it will look great in there.

back in business

2009-01-23T17:33:00.011-06:00

I have been out of white thread and my shipment came in today. They have great prices and great quality. I didn't want to go to joann's and pay 3 times as much for one spool so I waited patiently...which isn't one of my strong suits. Now hopefully I can finish some projects that were on hold. Not much sewing going on this week but hey my house is spotless right now. I love going into the weekend with a full fridge, clean house, laundry all done and put away!!! Now I won't feel so guilty sitting at my machine this weekend. I hope to get few hours by myself and veg out in front of my pretty machine.

whirly for the bedroom

2009-01-20T21:32:00.005-06:00

I found this design at crazymomquilts and knew I had to do a quilt like this. This one is going to go into our bedroom. I am NOT going to make a king size quilt for the bed it is just going to be big enough to cover me and some of Greg but he really doesn't get too cold so it is for my benefit. I keep bringing in our Christmas quilt at night and soon I'll have to put it away until next year but not till I have something to replace it. I picked up the fabrics for this quilt last week when Joann's was having their big sale. The solid cream color is from a sheet from the thrift store. I think the quilt top will have only cost 10 dollars tops with leftovers to spare....I think. I need to finish cutting I just wanted to put a couple squares together really quick to see how it is going to look. Very excited to see it come together. They are big 11" blocks so it will go together very quickly once my cat lets me finish cutting.

valentine skirt

2009-01-18T13:16:00.005-06:00

I had leftovers from the quilt so I made a patchwork skirt for valentine's day. I will probably get a shirt and applique some material with a heart to match. Nothing cuter than a little girl in skirts. I love their little legs. Not sure how well the legwarmers I made will go but I am sure they will blend ok. It is a hard pink and red to find to match. Most pinks are so cool but this is almost a warm pink that you don't see as often. The legwarmers are white and the skirt is more off white/cream. I made it a little big so she can wear it for quite awhile. Even though it is a great valentine's fabric it still works for a daily skirt too and just not for the holiday. Last night I had the house to myself so I got some serious sewing time in. I worked on a couple more baby quilts. I have a bunch of flannel I want to put to use but just not sure what to do. I have used some for pj bottoms and some for rag quilts but what else should I do??? I need some inspiration. I might stop at the library tomorrow and try to find some craft/quilting books to find some new things to try. I could use another pincushion they are always in demand around here. I am always running back and forth grabbing one to bring at my work areas.

elmo rag quilt

2009-01-17T18:13:00.004-06:00

My mom asked if I would make an Elmo rag quilt for her to give to a friend's daughter for Christmas. I really love making the rag quilts. They are so soft and cuddly. They are a mess after the first wash/dryer cycle but are worth the mess. I had my mom wash this one in her machines. The colors are so bright and vivid. The little girl is almost 3 and loves her Elmo so I am sure she will love her new blankie.

ready for love

2009-01-15T14:33:00.009-06:00

Now that my valentine quilt is done I'm ready for snuggling up with it and my dh. I used a flannel cream sheet I got at the thrift store for 2.95. I love it because it is soft and warm and I didn't have to piece it together it was wide enough. I really love the binding too. I used up all the leftovers from the scrap bag and they were each about 5" long so I had to piece them all together and I couldn't do it on the bias because it would have wasted too much fabric and I needed every inch I could get. I just pressed the seams open so when I was hand binding it wasn't too bulky for the needle. The colors and patterns are just one of my favorite valentine prints I've seen in a long time. I also tried something new for quilting it. I have just done the normal stipple random pattern but this time I tried adding little swirls like some of the designs in the fabric. It turned out pretty good but not perfect. Since I really didn't practice the design I just winged it. There are a few spots that I messed up but since the back and the thread are both cream it doesn't stand out too much. Now I just have 3 more tops to quilt and I am caught up. I think I might have to run to Joann's to pick out something for the backs. I don't have the right fabrics in my stash to finish them up....oh darn I just hate shopping for fabric!!!:)

wallflower quilt

2009-01-14T12:01:00.007-06:00

I designed my own quilt. I sat and measured out all the dimensions and had to do a lot of math but I really found it fun and rewarding. It was much more time consuming because after cutting a piece I would sew them together and then cut more and so on to make sure my math was right. I didn't want to do all the cutting and then go and sew and it be all wrong!!! I really love the colors and the bigger prints. Now I need to figure out the back.

I will be doing another one from scratch again...but I need to finish the 4 quilt tops I have before starting a new one....yeah we know how well I do with that!!!!!

not diggin' this quilt

2009-01-12T15:59:00.007-06:00

Ok I went to put a dent in my flannel and came up with this combo and I'm not into it. I like the design just the colors aren't my favorite together. It will still be a nice warm quilt to snuggle with it just isn't going to win any prizes. Flannel is also more stretchy and I had a harder time keeping things even. Towards the end I just wanted to get it done and since I am not liking it too much I really didn't care anymore. It does look better in person.....

I went to Joann's today to pick up batting and they are giving the store away!!! Just about Everything is 50% off. I was so proud I didn't buy one ounce of fabric. I stuck with my batting and that's that. I do want to maybe go back at the end of the week and get something. I should help stimulate the economy!!!!

legwarmers

2009-01-11T14:47:00.006-06:00

I found these cute socks at walmart. They are knee high adult socks and I thought they would make cute legwarmers for P. I cut the feet off and sewed the edges on my machine. I am thinking it would have turned out better on my serger but maybe I will try on another pair. I really like the waviness along the bottom so I think next time I will pull the material a little more while I sew to get more of that look. I did each one a little different so the one is more wavy than the other but not too noticeable. If it bugs me too much I can cut the bottoms a little and resew. They are going to look cute with a valentine dress that I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do for it.

Wizard of OZ quilt

2009-01-09T18:54:00.005-06:00

I just finished this quilt. I don't know what happened but when I was stippling the thread broke about a million times!!! I was getting so mad I was ready to throw it out in the snowbank. I changed the needle twice and that didn't help. I went slower that didn't help. I had bought some new thread and I am thinking that was the culprit. I was able to do the binding during nap time. The back is part of an orange sheet from the thrift store. It worked out perfect. It is a smaller baby quilt measuring about 37x35". It is perfect size for my 2 yr old and she was already snuggling up with it after her nap. I guess we will keep this one and I'll have to figure out something else for the triplets. They aren't due for a little while so I have time. So this is my modified hour glass and I like how it turned out. The random full squares add a little more to it. I hope i don't have more issue with stippling when I do my valentine quilt. I think I have figured out the back and will be using everything from my stash but I have to buy more cotton batting for the middle. I am all out. I have a 50% joann's coupon that I can use in a few days so I will be buying it then so I'll just have to work on some of my other projects. I have some fabric for a valentines dress that I need to start. Maybe tonight after bedtime I can figure out the design I want to do and cut it out.

valentine charm quilt

2009-01-07T15:22:00.014-06:00

So I did exactly the opposite of what I said yesterday. I started a new project before finishing the old ones. I bought the moda candy kisses charm pack and the scrap bag. I have used the charm packs before but never tried the scrap bag. Basically inside the bag is 40 coordinating fabrics that measure about 3" by 40" and are the selvages. It works out great for longer pieces. The charm packs are 5" square so I put them in the middle. I cut 2- 2.25"x 5" strips and sewed them on either side of the 5" charm then cut 2- 2.25"x 8.5" strips and sewed them to the top and bottom so you end up with 8.5" squares. In this charm pack there are 37 squares and I ended up using 35. I also used some off white fabric to use to make the quilt a little bit bigger. I will use all the extra scraps from the strips I cut to piece the binding. I just need to figure out what I am going to use for the back. I have decided that I need to have a quilt for every holiday. Now I have a huge pile of pretty selvages that I need to figure out how to use them. Crazy mom Quilts did an adorable selvage checkbook cover that I might have to duplicate.

v-neck dress

2009-01-06T10:31:00.005-06:00

Here is another dress from the gracie pattern. I am into paisley right now. I have always loved paisley it was popular in the 80's and I am such a 80's girl. It has made a big comeback in fabrics lately so I am loving it. I am trying to find some fun paisley fabric for a tote for me for spring. I love the rolled hem edge on this dress. It saves so much time and I really like the look of it thanks to my new serger I got for Christmas...thanks Greg you're the best husband. It saves so much time when it comes to making clothes. I need to call and get signed up for classes so I can use it to it's full potential. I think I am done making skirts and dresses for Presley for a little while. She is pretty set for spring/summer. I think I want to try working on jean embellishing. I started quilting the wizard of oz quilt and ran out of white thread. How did that happen??? I thought I was stocked up but they are in cream and natural.....no white. I put in an order but it will be a few days before I get it in. I might just have to run to Joann's and pick up a small spool to finish my quilt. I also think I need to pick up some fabric for the binding I am not seeing anything in my stash that will work. I have a couple other small projects that I am working on and my goal is to finish them before I start anything new. That is a huge challenge for me. I get bored so easily and start new stuff before I finish the old. That is a goal for 2009....finish a WIP before starting a new. Unless I run out of something and can't finish it.

Gracie dress

2009-01-05T16:38:00.008-06:00

Here is a dress I did from one of the patterns from "gracie' from sandi henderson. I just need to find 2 buttons and sew them on and it is done. I ran out of material and the bottom should have been more ruffled but I just had to make it the same size as the next tier up. I really love this blue fabric it is not something I usually buy but I went out of my color box and I really like it. Now we just need to wait for warmer weather before she can adorn this lil' cutie. I love the neckline on it even though it was a little bit of a pain to get right. I think I need to find a pattern for a shirt with this neckline for me. I think amy butler's tunic it sort of like it. I might have to try that this spring.

not the way I envisioned

2009-01-04T22:28:00.006-06:00

Ok so first of all it is going to be much smaller than I thought. I don't have nearly as much fabric as I thought I did. It is going to be a baby quilt if best. It also is a modified hour glass because I just didn't like the smaller wizard of oz all cut up so I stopped making triangles and figured I would throw full squares in randomly to see the print better. That is what I get for not pre planning and just jumping into it. It also looks very christmasy with the colors. I think instead of the white I should have used an orange. Oh well a little late now. It will still be cute. The smaller size will be much easier to quilt. I also have a friend that is pregnant with triplets so I need to have a few baby quilts on hand. She is having 2 girls and a boy so this will cover one of them if I don't decide to keep it for Presley. This is going to be a great unisex quilt.

hour glass quilt

2009-01-03T17:47:00.007-06:00

I decided to do a quilt with the new fabric I picked up yesterday. I was going to do a skirt but I have been making so many skirts for my daughter she really doesn't need another one right now. I also needed a change of pace and get away from making clothes right now. I haven't made an hour glass quilt yet so I decided to do one with with material but I felt bad about cutting up the wizard of oz material. I think it losses it charm being cut so small but I think it will still look cute. I just had a 1/4 yard so I had to use a 4.5" square to get the most out of the material without any waste. I am not sure how big I am going to make it. I think I want it a little bigger than a lap quilt. Depending on how it starts coming together I might make it a twin size for her future bed. I am still so up in the air as to how I want to decorate her "big" girl room. She is still in her crib and I hope to keep her in there till at least 3. I am so bad about planning out my quilts i just start cutting and I never really know what it is going to end up as but they always seem to work out. For the white fabric I am using one of the white sheets I picked up at the thrift store. It is a super soft material.

more of my shopping spree

2009-01-02T21:32:00.005-06:00

These 4 fabrics I bought in just 1/4 yard each. I think I will do a patchwork skirt in it. I love the japanese import called wizard of oz in red. I love so many of the japanese imports they have such cute designs. It is a real heavy weight fabric just like a canvas feel to it. The other 3 I think are Michael Miller. I love the primary colors. I might have to get something else for the hem but I will see if I can squeeze the whole skirt out of the 4 prints. I have used this pattern quite a few times and just love it. I love all her patterns. Very easy to follow and sew up so quickly.

1970's vintage sheets

2009-01-02T20:32:00.010-06:00

I was at the thrift store today looking for jeans to embellish on for my 2 y.o. and came across these 2 sets of 1970' looking sheets. They were in good condition and look like they are from either late 60's or 70's. There was just something about them that I liked and usually I am not a fan of the colors from the 70's. I decided to try a quick little skirt to see what I thought. I'm not sure??? Part of me likes it and part of me doesn't. I think if I get a fun shirt to go with it my little girl could pull it off. Maybe a little white apron on top of it might look better. Now I have a ton of the material and all for just 2 dollars so it didn't break the bank. I might cut out a few butterflies from the fabric and some flowers and applique them on a white tee and see if that makes the outfit. It actually looks better in person even though my hubby said it looks like you cut up a curtain and made a skirt.

I made a trip to crafty planet today. They are one of the only ones around here that carry a bunch for the designer fabrics. I spent about 2 hours just drooling over all the beautiful designs. I ended up buying 3 different prints of Sandi henderson's farmers market.

Gathering marathon

2009-01-01T23:33:00.001-06:00

All the outfits I have been making all require so much gathering and I'm getting real good at it. I find it so relaxing just sitting and pulling the gathers. I must be that boring to find gathering so much fun! My new Sandi Henderson "gracie" pattern came in the mail and I have been working on a couple outfits. The instructions are done so well all in color with great pics to show step by step so the very beginners could follow along without any problems. The tiered dress collar didn't go so hot. I put it in upside down so out came the seam rippers and finally after a few choice words I got it right. It always takes me one round of the pattern before I get it right....I am so bad at reading the instructions I just go and before I know it out come the seam rippers. I am just so impatient. The dress also called for buttonholes and it has been quite awhile since I have done any so I actually had to pull out the ole viking manual and read how to do them again. They turned out just ok. I just need to buy a couple buttons to sew on it and then the dress will be done. I made it in a 3T and it fits my 26 month old just perfect so I think I better do more 4T's for the rest if I want them to fit all summer. She is a big 26month old but I am thinking the patterns might run a little on the smaller side. I will have to see how the 4T size works. I prefer them on the bigger side so she has some room to grow.