Baby Gifts and Big Ideas

OK, guilty as charged.  I get these "big ideas" in my head where I think I can just whip up some cute little things for a gift.  Sure I can, I think to myself, it will just take me a couple of hours.  Yeah, well, the last baby blanket took weeks.  No, seriously.  It sat on my kitchen table half sewn forever.  It was that darn silk binding.  The Chief threatened to "lose" that blanket along with my machine if I didn't just sit down and sew.  I did.  Last night.  Until after midnight.  I resewed some.  I pulled some stitches.  I fussed, cussed and was nonplussed.  I wrapped that baby up with a bow along with a pillow I made previously and some burp rags.  FINALLY!

I just handed it to the lucky recipient and told him to tell his wife that it was at least good enough for their puppies.  Although, to be honest, I let my "babies" Angus and Rocky use all of our blankets, so it isn't as wrong as it sounds.  I am glad to be rid of it, but actually rather disheartened about it.  It was not as neat as the first one - and my skills are lacking big time.  I guess YouTube was a great beginning, but perhaps now I should proceed with a few real lessons?  I like the feeling of creating something from nothing.  I like handing someone something that was made with effort and care.  I don't like knowing if someone handed it to me, I would see the stitching and go "hmmmmm"... I guess we are all our own worse critics, right?

As far as new projects, I desperately need to sew a table runner and we need curtains on a window in the dining room.  I could always use some pillows in the living room.  I saw one with a deer head applique that was really cute.  I need to practice more, guess I should practice on things to keep until the lines are straighter and the stitches are consistent.  OK, its a plan. 

Oh, I did see a damnit doll idea that I love.  I know, one project at a time.  Could have used the damnit doll last night while sewing that blanket, though.  See that should be my first priority - sew some, get frustrated, beat the crap out of the damnit doll, sew some, go have a drink, sew some, have more to drink, turn out the lights go to bed and start again tomorrow....I love to sew, yeah right, I love to sew, sure, sure, I love to sew, wah wah wah............. :(

Full Bib Reversible Apron - oh yes, I did it!!!!!!

Hi there.  It’s a new week, thank goodness!  

I got brave and used a full apron I had on hand as a pattern (or tried to) and I finally used my bee fabric. After some trial and error – I figured out how to make the pocket with a border, sew on straps and make the entire full apron reversible.  I will note at this point that the graphics didn’t transfer as I had hoped.  Every kind of transfer paper that I found had a white background.  I could not find clear paper for the transfer anywhere, which meant cutting out as much as I could and leaving some white.  So, I’m not happy with that part, and if you look really close the strap/apron edge on the right has a tad of white showing – so I didn’t sew exactly straight (big surprise there).  I am making myself a note at this point, NO MORE FABRIC WITH LINES ACROSS.  It’s like a neon sign saying look at me, I can’t sew straight.  L  Also, I did not put a pocket on the other side, I mean enough was enough after all that fuss on the reverse.  If they need a pocket, they can just turn that baby around, right?

(Yes, I realize this needs some major ironing - which it got later, but I was so excited that I finally figured it out - I had to take the picture immediately).

Ultimately, I made a fully reversible apron that was created from scratch with my own two hands and I am absolutely proud of the effort and the final product.  Wonky is as wonky does I guess.  I can live with that.

Next project is a table runner that I am putting together; it’s square and does not hang off the ends of the table and I don’t care if it’s supposed to.  I like it better like this.  Ooo Wee – do you hear that – I’m getting all “sewing combative” in blogland.

Also, I have a really old “family” mirror of the Chief's that needs some work and I’m going to putty, sand, paint and distress.  That should prove interesting.  The Chief was terrified when he saw I bought a putty knife and some primer.  Hee hee, I love that.  I am sooo doing this just to prove I can.  

It’s going to be a great week, I refuse to believe anything else but…

Happy sewing.

Go visit Whimsy Couture

Happy Wednesday!

Well not a lot going on - haven't done any sewing in the last few days, but hope to rectify that this evening when I finally get home from work.  I have 2 aprons that I want to make - I'm excited - I can see it in my head and hope, hope, hope it comes out even close to what I want it to.  Will share later either way!

I wanted to share with you a site that I found, that I think is really cool.  Whimsy Couture Boutique
I am challenged to try new things when I dig around on this site.  So many tutorials and links - I have so much to learn.  Check it out if you have time.  Today, Wednesday is link-up day on their site and they offer you the opportunity to share and stare at all things being created by others in blog world.  I love it, go look.

Happy sewing. 

Another Pillow

Happy Monday!

Well, its been a hectic month - Mom was in the hospital and now she's with us for awhile.  She wants to go home, but well, we will see when.  This is getting to that time when you know what's coming but it's only partly there - know what I mean?  It's going to be tough.  I know that.  She does too, although she just wants to get home.  Anyway - more on that as life goes on, I guess - One Day at A Time - I loved that song when we used to sing it at church when I was little - I can hear it in my head...It's my new "old" favorite song...Do you remember it as well?  It will probably keep me sane at this point...  Well that and sewing :)

The Chief and my 8 year wedding anniversary was this weekend.  We went to Kemah and listened to a band he likes - Ezra Charles - its kinda boogie woogie - bluesy (YouTube him if you like) - it was nice, but man it was hot.  Why the heck the wind wasn't blowing at the beach, I will never know.  We finally gave up around midnight and went and ate Mexican food, had margaritas and went home to crash.  He got me a cobalt blue bird bath for my gift and I absolutely LOVE it.  Its so pretty - I hope they use it.  We have red birds and doves and sparrows, oh and one humming bird, but it hasn't come back.  The Chief is determined to get some - we have feeders everywhere.  Birds are kind of our thing now.  I love looking in our little back yard and seeing them out there. 

I might as well confess now that the Chief sees approximately two movies a week.  I see one usually on the weekend.  If you ever want a personal review, let me know and I will ask him :)  We saw Bad Teacher with Cameron Diaz - she was pretty funny in this.  Anyway, that's about all we did this weekend...

Oh, HELLO, how about the pillow I made?  Yes, I made ANOTHER pillow.  This one was for my husband's boss' daughter who just graduated from high school and is going to Ole Miss.  It was a duplicate of the other one listed before - just different fabric.  It didn't have the UMPH because it was red on red, I have to remember that in the future.  Anyway, here's the photos, kinda of blurry but finished late last night and that's what you get! 

Well, nothing more to report, really.  I am working on two aprons with the bee fabric, which I cut out using another apron as a guide, that should prove interesting.  Will share when I'm done. 

Have a blessed Monday - Happy Sewing!

Julie

Love Frame, Bow Pillow & Bee Fabric - Oh My!

Hi, I’m back.  Kinda like the flu I think I have right now.  Cough cough, poor pathetic whiney me…

Wow, finding time to keep up with this blog is really difficult.  It’s cathartic; you know what I mean, but time consuming.  I miss it either way. 

Well, I have been busy – I made this frame with b/w photos of my grandson for my Mom for a mother’s day gift.  Not a great photo of the project, but it came out really cute in person.  I got the idea from a blogger, but I couldn’t find a four photo frame, so I put fabric in the other squares.  It’s really cute, but I will point out, if I were a sane person, I would have used card stock instead of trying to mess with fabric for the empty frames, but I am a fabric addict now and just couldn’t see using anything but…

I did intend for my Hayden angel to be in half of the photos, but I didn’t get to him in time. Oh well, he will have to be the star in a different project.

I stayed up two nights ago until 1:30 a.m. making this pillow you see below for my stepdaughter, who graduated high school last night and is headed to LSU in the fall.  (Who will not appreciate the effort and will probably toss it on the floor, but I did it and I’m proud of it!)  Also, with 2 nights of no sleep, I’m delirious now, does that even make sense?  Cough cough, tired, sick and whiney again.  Sorry.  

We got back home last night at 12:40 a.m.  I’m beat!!!  I got the idea for the pillow from Liz Stanley at Big Bow Pillow Tutorial.    She got the bow part of the tutorial from someone else (mentioned on her site).  Ok, here’s the deal…I remember the ASVAB tests from high school with those little unfolded boxes and you have to pick a b or c to decide which one it would fold up and look like.  Ok, well after the results were read, they told me to head to a clerical future because I was NOT technical.  Which is true and which I did.  I digress, making that bow as instructed was an impossibility for me.  I finally had to watch a Youtube video for that part and hand sew (which I stink at) the little opening closed.  But in the end, somehow, at 1:30 a.m. I finished the cute pillow and it all faced the right way and looked pretty good.  I would wipe the sweat off my brow now, if I weren’t too tired to lift my arm at this point.  Note that the bow is large and droopy, my stepdaughter is not the perky little bow type, so it came out perfect for her.

Thank God it’s Friday, I mean this sincerely.  I’m beat, did I say that already, can’t remember, sorry.  I have 2 adult bib aprons to make from scratch, which I do not know how to do.  I want them reversible because the cotton isn’t thick enough on the one side, but its really cute fabric from PaperKitz on Etsy.  

Ok – if you know this, please help.  I ordered graphics for the pockets and they are adorable.  But apparently you have to buy transfer paper to print them out on and then iron on…well I’m not mentioning anything, pleading the 5^th and all, but that paper doesn’t work in all printers.  Don’t ask.  It’s starting to feed things again, guess the stick wears off eventually.  I know, I know.  That’s why I’m asking for help!!!

I also have another no sew tutu to make and a baby blanket with satin binding to do.  Sewing projects are like going to the buffet at a restaurant and then filling your plate up and loving it all and wanting it all, but no way you can do it all at one sitting, right?  UFOs are all around me.  Hee hee.  I love it tho.  I am so in love with making something from scratch.  I feel powerful!  Well I would if I didn’t feel so tired.  Choo choo ain’t chugging up any hills today, that’s for sure.  

Okay, nothing constructive to say now, rambling in fact, so I will go.  I just hope you have a fantastic weekend.  Get lots of rest, I know I plan to, for sure.  Hopefully I will have more pics next week from anything I can manage to complete.  

Happy Sewing!!!!

Staycation and Sewing - Its all good...

No big trip for vacation last week, just a staycation - slept a lot, lots of movies.  So nothing really to report. 

I only have a sec, but wanted to share what I made this weekend.  The baby that’s not a baby anymore – got a onsie with a “Cars” tie on it, one burp rag, which he probably doesn’t need, but had to give them at least one and a matching teddy bear pillow with dark blue piping and a minky and dark blue satin bound blanket (grandson Adam is modeling for me, love my baby). 

 I made the blanket really big, so that he can grow into it and hopefully enjoy it for a long time to come. Those things you might call corners, well that didn’t go exactly as I pictured in my head and I finished it with 2 seams up the little point at the end instead of one, to make sure it stayed together.  But hey, for a first attempt, I was really excited.  Adam asked for one, I’m thinking baseball…..and my Hayden angel will need one too.  I love my grand boys!!!

Anyway, I need to make an apron for a friend and a great big lounging pillow for a teacher for the end of school gift, so I’m still going to be busy.   

P.S.  I apparently have an addictive personality.  I cannot stop looking at and buying fabric.  I love love love the retro stuff.  I’m glad my Mom gave me her sewing machine.  Love you Mom!

I'm back - with a vengeance :)

You know when you have one of those weeks and then it turns into one of those months….  Well, that’s where I’ve been lately – sort of stuck in that mode…So, I’ve decided that its time to pull up the ole boot straps and get moving …

This is me moving, HELLO!!!!  Hope you are all doing well.

I haven’t sewn nearly enough lately, so I jumped right in and I traced a shirt, like you see them say on tutorials.  Lay it out, trace and sew – well that’s great unless you actually have boobs and there is a little more involved – hi there – shrugged my new silk, cute little, tank on and looked like I ran smack dab into a window – flat as a pancake and SCARY too.  Hee hee.  Ok, I get it, there is more involved than just “eyeing” something.  I am not sharing that photo, I think the mental picture is sufficient!

Before that little moment of disaster and clarity and amid my “bad” week I had to revert to drawing to get “out” the feelings – I haven’t drawn in a really long time, but this felt right.  See if you can feel the anger in the eyes…I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m really quite an emotional woman – all those female hormones running rampant – look out.  The poor Chief doesn’t stand a chance, serves him right the little ball of testosterone.  

Ok, so I’m back on track, feeling more like me (really, I promise) and I’m back on project.  Which unfortunately has been delayed enough that the new baby isn’t new, the project won’t fit him and this is now a gift for a co-workers pregnant wife.  I do still have to put in the elastic, just sharing before I finish and pack it up.  I found that old retro fabric and fell in love.  I'm glad I finally got to use some of it.

It is cute tho right?  I loved the idea.  Please disregard the fact that I moved the fabric – mid-sew – and it bobbles.  I hate straight lines, no really, HATE them.  I got the diaper cover idea from http://www.dana-made-it.com/ 's Diaper Cover Tutorial and I have seen the onesies everywhere.  I think they are both adorable. 

Now I am going today to get fabric to make a pillow and blanket for the first intended baby.  I’ve been looking at blogs and there are soo many ideas.  If you have a really neat link, share.  I want to try something not too difficult, but fun.

Well I’m back and its going to be a great week.  We are supposed to go to the Memphis in May BBQ contest this entire week (12 hour drive each way), but at this point its pretty obvious that there is literally “epic” flooding there and when we get there, Louisiana is going to get it and we may not be able to get back.  Long story short, we are watching weather today and making the big decision tonight.  Either way, I am sooo off tomorrow for the rest of the week.  I see sewing in my future – yee haw!!!   I really stink at it tho.  I hope practice makes perfect, because that’s all I got folk, lots of practice.

Have a wonderful day, wanna know why?  Because you DESERVE it!!!!