Drawers are fix, and all is well.

So far I have not been able to catch up on the housework to sneak off to the sewing room.  I was hoping to have my srappy baby done by today but....   

Last week was all about the 'wait' for service men. Electrician, and carpenters!  My hubby had a handy man come in and FINALLY had my kitchen drawers fixed after 4 months of doing without.  The slides had gotten bent over the years of kids hanging on the and I needed 23" slides, when retail doesn't sell odd inch slides.  So, they had to be tricked out, which needed a little more skill than I have.  The only comment I will make about the electrician is ..... I am just glad my week with him is over, he was very nice and friendly but always 3-4 hours late.  RRRR!

Reigning in off that rabbit trail.  Today, I sat down and put all my pots, pans, plastics away.  I had been keeping all my pot lids in a stainless steel ice box but never could find the lid I needed.  Then I noticed my lonely roaster rack for my Calphalon Roaster and had a brain storm, "I wonder!?"  I rarely use my roasting pan, so I turned it upside down and sat my pan lids inside.  "IT WORKS, PERFECTLY"

I was so encouraged by how the cabinet turned out I went on to sort my plastic cabinet.  Tossing out lids that did not match.  I already had a lid holder for the plastic lids.

Okay, done for the time, with the organizing thing. Dishes are done, laundry under control.....I think I will sneak off to sew.  I hope no one notices I am gone......hee hee.

Scrap Quilting

I finished my baby scrappy quilt and had just enough time to spray baste it yesterday before the kids got home and chaos ensued.  Today I was able to sneak up to my sewing room to get my scrappy baby quilt half quilted before swim practice. 

I hope tomorrow I will be able to finish the quilting and binding.

Ready for Quilt'n

I was able to put the frame on the scrap chomper which I named, 'Scrap Happy' now it is ready for quilt'n. 

  I even started in on the scrappy 16 patch baby quilt.

 The blocks are from my Scrap Happy Quilt that just did not look right in the mix.  They do make a mighty fine baby quilt, if I may say so.

Scrappy Time

House work?  What house work? 

I avoided all house work today by being productive in my sewing room.  I had intended to just go straiten a few things, ha! I should have known better.  I am nearly finished with a scrappy quilt top.  I had started it a month (or a few ago) on a Herringbone Quilt using this tutorial by Holly at Bijou Lovely.  My quilt has taken on a life of it's own.  Here are a few sneak peeks.

16 patch - probably make a baby quilt out of these

one of my harringbone blocks

accent block about 20" square

Here is my little helper!  Gathering up my strips as they come out of the machine.  He only yanked my stitches once, not too much of an issue.

My 4 y/o son's helping hands.

It really warmed my heart when I (let go a little) and pulled my 4 y/o son up on my lap.  He wanted to help me sew.  I slowly stitched as he guided the fabric through.  Brought back memories of my childhood, sitting either on my mom's or Nani's lap as they sewed.  I do not remember learning to sew, I learned on their knees.  I cannot tell you how overjoyed I am that all three of my children LOVE to craft and sew.  Each has their own approach but it is a beautiful thing to see.

Gardening

I finally got back to the sewing room today after weeks and weeks of being absent.  

My focus lately has been on our garden the kids and I have planted.  If you want to see pop over to http://myworldhandcrafted.blogspot.com/2013/05/veggies-ahead.html  for my post and thoughts.

I diligently worked on a quilt top that I am planning as I sew.  It is a scrap chomper, and though it is taking a serious bite out of my scraps, I still have mounds left over.  This quilt started out as a herringbone pattern similar to  http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/   designed.  Now, it is telling me to veer off and make it my own.  We shall see how it develops but as I am sewing by the seat of my pants.  I hope to have photos of it soon.  The only way I can describe it is that it is truly scrappy in the pure sense of the word.  No planning in how they are placed, I just tried to keep the lights and darks mixed evenly.  The fabrics range from mainly cotton, poly blends and even a few that are unidentifiable.  I have fabrics from my purchases, my mothers, friends, my grandmother and my aunts, some are very old and some are new.  So fun watching a new quilt top take shape, I cannot wait to see what it turns out to look like.

Silent Auction

It is carnival time again at my children's elementary school.  It is a big deal, the most important fundraiser for the PTA of the year.  This year I am in charge of organizing the 2nd grade's 'Lego' basket for the Silent Auction which inspired me to add my own contribution.   As the Carnival sneaks up on me I took the day to make a crib quilt.  I had no plan other than use what I had on hand and it came together quite easily.  I decided to donate as a little girl's blanket set. 

 

The receiving blanket and spit cloth I had already finished some time ago but I was driven to do this quilt.  It was like it was telling me it needed to be made.

The topper is made from flannel that I had left over from blankets and I backed it in a white on white cotton print.  It is just so soft you just want to wrap it around you.

 

Twin Day

My daughter and her girlfriend of the same first name have decided to dress up alike tomorrow for 'Twin Day'.  Yesterday, her friend came over to size up her wardrobe and to compare.  The realized that they have nothing (that would work) that is identical.  I did not see a reason to go out and purchase a new outfit just for the day, nor could I afford it ('cause it would have had to come out of my fabric budget!!!!).  

I let them know that I would happily personalize t-shirts for them, with supplies I already had on hand.  Supplies contained 2-colors of iron on film, 2-white t-shirts, 1-Circut Expressions and 1-very hot iron.

Here is the success of my labors, kinda Suess don't ya think?

Now, I am just waiting for my daughter to get home from school so I can see her reaction.  Personally I am tickled with my results.

UPDATE:

And my daughter LOVED them!  I even made up these cute little bows to go with them.

Here is the photo of my daughter ready for school.

Flock of Ugly Ducklings...

Funny, over at Simple Simon & Co. they are having a 'Can't judge an Ugly Vintage Pattern by it's Cover' Party.  I am still chuckling first because she had to clarify 'Vintage' for the parameters of the party, and set the 1990's as a freshness cutoff.  Personally the 60's and 70' are my vintage maybe even a few 80's.  

    It spurred me to run up to my stash of newly acquired patterns that I shipped home this Summer from my (maternal) aunts' houses, during my vacation.  Some (most) of these patterns were my Nani's.

Body Suits!?  Especially with turtlenecks and for girls.

While I was digging through their sewing items (rooms) and told them I wanted all their old patterns they were like.....,"What are you going to do with those, they are so old!?"  My answer was almost exactly word for word the Elizabeths' title of her party.  

Pantsuits, Palazzo Pants and buckskin tunic.

 Somewhere stashed in my house I have patterns from the 1950's to the present. 

A re-published Armistice Blouse, really not that bad but very fussy for today.

Prairie Dress re-print, great for the late 70's but would make fantastic jammies now.

 I could only find a fraction of my patterns but even then I could not decide on the ugliest so I snapped some photos of the best contenders, and I kept in mind what I really would use by updating.

Check out the print on the fabric to the left, Yikes!  and I hated that ruffled , fussy blouse back when it WAS in style.

Top, very Groovy but very update-able too!  The bottom two, easy to see an update.  Need a few extra inches in length on the right.  On the left, I can see my 10y/o little girl.

   I hate using patterns because of the tissue paper they print on, the older tissue does not tear and shred as easily, some of my GM's patterns have been transferred to interfacing.  I do not think that I have bought a NEW pattern in the last 10 years because of the tissue and no need.

So, which will be your pick for "Ugly Duckling"?  I think I will have to choose one for myself and make me a new 'do then post, just to prove you cannot always judge a pattern by it's cover.

Spring Break

Spring Break has sprung up and surprised me!  It is the kiddos last day before the break and I have nothing planned so I am sitting here brainstorming. Last night I was surfing around my favorite blogs and Skip to my Lou had a post on the printables that she had her kids practice on at the sewing machine.  My brainstorming has netted me the idea of giving my kids a sewing class where we will make fancy pillow cases.  A trial run of a sewing class I would like to offer this Summer to friends and their kiddos.  We shall see how my patience holds on if my idea will work.

SHOPPING!

There is definitely to the saying, "You can NEVER have too much fabric!"  The JoAnn's near me is moving to a much large location the first week of February, so the store has had a perpetual sale on for a month.  I happened to pop in there today (knowing the close was close) for some hardware pieces.  I had no luck on the hardware but as I cruised the last few aisles of fabric bolts left, I noticed that they were marked down but not quit what I had hoped.  Being never the shy one I asked about the price.  I was giddy when the girl told me that the fabric was 90% off the lowest marked price!!!   Forget my twenty dollar budget, I started grabbing.  I ended up with approximately 75 yards of fabric, some I had been eyeing for months.  Half of my take was originally 12.99/yd originally.  I won't tell you how much I spent (in case it gets back to my hubby - okay, what the hey!) I spent $83 and change and saved over $640.00 by the time I waked to the car.

Corduroy

Home Decor

Cotton, soft from the baby section.

1. Seersucker    2. Home Decor   3. Linen

I am still a little lightheaded with giddiness.  I have all sorts of plans, mainly purses, pillows and jumpers.  I could have easily have filled up the back in of my SUV with bolts but the wallet was already hot.  Most of the quilting fabrics had been picked over or moved to the new store.  I think it will last me the week (plus) till the new store opens.   Only, I forgot, I still have to go somewhere for the hardware!

Hold the Pins

I have so been needing an e-reader case for the Kindle HD.  My old case did not fit the new HD so I gave it to my dear daughter my case.  I saw this tutorial on Sew4Home that I just had to try.  I only had one issue, I sewed a pin head into the main seam and did not notice till I was done with the bag....RRRR!

 Thankfully I was able to get the metal part of the pin out, the plastic is thoroughly sewn in (I did not want seams failing with my Kindle inside!).  I figured the plastic would look like a mini-tag.  *smile*

I lined my bag with a gold floral flannel I had on hand, left over from making receiving blankets.  I figured that it would be nice and soft against the screen.  This is one of my favorite color combinations, Brown and Pink.

I only have to finish the strap (or find one already made).  It fits everything I need, my wallet, phone, kindle, even a pen!

Dotted Run

    I am on a circle run.  First the polka-dots not scrappy circles.  I started this quilt top back on Nov 2012(?) put it down to work on more pressing projects.  Today, I got it out and started the chore of randomly layout the squares.  Somewhere in the last couple of months I have misplaced 2 of the quarter squares.  RRRR!  But the odds came in handy. 
    I had set the rough draft out on my guest bed, got the approval from my daughter (10).  I was worried it was a little TOO wild and crazy.  Let me prepare you, this is not you grandmothers quilt. LOL!   
    

Rough Draft Layout

 Next, my four year old doll baby came in and decided it was a big puzzle for him to rearrange.   EEK!  I caught the scream before it tripped past my lips and smiled, did some quick thinking.  "Miller, You want you OWN puzzle pieces?"  Mommy whips out the spare quarter squares and he is in puzzle heaven.  Whew.

My son's puzzle pieces.

 This is not to say that my 4 year old doesn't have perfect eye for design, he surprises me often, but symmetrical color is not what I was going for.  (-:

WIP

Very loud, colorful and lots of energy.  Certainly a younger person's quilt.

Energize, the new year!

Good morn'n 2013

After a very late night, my kiddos let me sleep in a little, which was easy with the grey damp weather we have had for the last few days.   Happy New Year!    A day to renew.

 I have been MIA most of December, mainly due to all the comings and goings that the Holidays bring.  Not much time allowed into the sewing room (I would be hunted down when I would sneak off).   ----

Yesterday, I rewarded myself by spending most of the day at my sewing machine, even with a house full of kids.  For the a beefy part of the afternoon I had seven little angels running around, squealing, you know all the things little ones do.  The weather was wet and drippy all day so it meant, inside play.  Only one hick-up, 'What happens when you leave your machine to answer the door with a full house of sprites????'

I have a feeling that my four year old was showing his buddy how it works with out mommy knowing.  Only took me 30 minutes to correct.

So, on the last day of the year I was able to finish several receiving blankets and a baby quilt topper.  

I had a layer cake of Riley Blake Polka Dots and a new Twister Ruler calling my name.  The Navy dots on white background was pulled from my stash to make this busy baby quilt.

Here is how I processed through the topper.

 Step 1 -  

Sew layer cake squares (or 10 X10 fabric squares) together into a block.    I had 22 fabric squares, I dropped 2 to make 20 and sewed them in a pleasing random grid of 5sq by 4sq then added a 6.25" boarder.

Step 2

Cut out squares using the Twister Ruler and the guidelines which line up with seams.

         

Step 3 -

Lay out squares, turning so the pinwheels take shape.

Sew one row of squares at a time then take each completed row and stitch together.  

Step 4 -

I added a 6" border, to this quilt I matched the boarder to the outer edge of the pinwheels.  Ready for a good press, quilt and bind.

Ta-Da, now I just have to pick a backing fabric.  Just the excuse I need to hit the fabric store!!!

Banner Day

I finished 2.5 Christmas Banners last week but unable to get photos taken.  Here are two that I just love!  Excuse the bareness of my mantle, I haven't convinced my hubby to get the Christmas boxes out of the attic yet.

I just love how they quickly and cleanly set a festive room.  Even with out the garland.

I also added Claire to the setting, she is our elf that came for a short visit.  My kids are even in on setting her up in situations and taking photos of her.  Even though they read the letter they still don't get that they are to modify their behavior for a good report to Santa.  My kids are still working to get off the 'Sticks & Coal' list.  LOL

My favorite fabric this year has to be the polar bears which are just so whimsical and joyful.

Now for a little tutorial....

Ever have candle sticks that will not sit straight in their holder.  My fix is the corners of little zip lock bags, especially if the holders are clear.

Take a small baggie.

Clip the corners.

Slip over bottom end of candle.

Slip into holder, check fit.

Display beautifully.

I have ready that many people have had luck with cellophane, but it never did more than cause aggravation.  With my Silver or opaque candle holders, I have had luck with tin foil.