Project 5

This project was inspired by the photos I showed previously. Additionally, with a trip to the mall recently I noticed sweatshirts painted with hearts and cut up. They were cute, but decidedly a bit too young for me.

I searched for a white shirt to use for this project, but didn't find on to my liking. I decided to go for black instead. I debated about using iron-on crystals, but was not sure to how well they hold up with washing. I found this sparkly sheer black fabric and decided an applique was the way to go. Unfortunately, the picture does not show up as well as I would like.

The total project cost was a little over twenty dollars. The fabric for the applique was normally three dollars a yard. The store has a half yard minimum, but I took the whole piece that was already cut (1and 1/2 yards) for three dollars. There is plenty of fabric for another project.

Project4

I referred to a tutorial in my inspiration for this project. They said to use a magazine for the size(pattern). This seemed to narrow in width, so I went a little wider;however, I still think I should have added more width. I cut the leopard fur about an inch shorter and the plush fur about thee inched longer, so that it would wrap around to the outside.

Project3

Project 3 is almost done. I must finish hand stitching the lining to the collar and add a hook and eye closure. I will add another picture when it is finished.

Project 2

Project 2 is finally done! I took a silk, cowl necked sweater I've only worn once. First I cut off the neck. Then I cut the sweater down the center. I found this flower fabric and cut it into strips, then added two flowers between each one and sewed the strip around the neckline. Then I cut the cowl in half at lengthened the sleeves with it.

The flower fabric was about $16 per yard. I bought half a yard and have enough left for another project. So the final project cost me about $4 to make. (I don't remember how much I originally spent on the sweater, but I got it at a discount store...so it was a good price).

Sweater before

Creative Excursion #3

I felt like I had so much to do this week, so I headed out early yesterday morning for a quick excursion...Three hours later...I went to the fabric store. Got fabric for a couple of future projects and picked up some notions I needed for this week.

I found this adorable heart button. Immediately, I made this Valentine's bracelet (less than Five Dollars!)

My inspiration was from this amazing bracelet my little sister gave me for Christmas. It is filled with beautiful vintage buttons. I especially love the dangles.

Don't forget time for yourself! No matter how much you do, there will always be more....

Project 1

It is almost the end of the day, and I finally finished my first project. I picked it because I wanted quick gratification. It was a simple project, unfortunately I waited until today to do all of it. Procrastination will definitely be an issue for me to keep to my goal of finishing one project a week...Here's to happy sewing.

Happy New Year

It's a brand new year, and though I'm not big on resolutions...I have decided that it is time I start doing more things for myself. I miss posting to my blog. I've got so many projects I want to work on. So here is my plan.

I will work on a new sewing project each week and post about it on Mondays. On Tuesdays I will spend a couple of hours just for myself going on "creative excursions." (Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach) This is a time for me to do things I enjoy by myself, like going to the movies, antique store, thrift store, beach or mall. {Mondays and Tuesdays are my days off, so I have time to myself while the kids are in school}. I'll tell you about my excursions on Wednesdays. On Fridays, I'll tell you about what Inspires me, this may be what I will be working on for my nest weeks project.

Look for my first project next week. I think I will keep it simple, like the ruffled apron I spoke of a while back. First things first...I need to take my serger to the repair shop. I think it needs a simple adjustment. It is making a chain, but not pulling the fabric through. Here's the thing, it drives me crazy sewing when I can't finish all the edges. I guess I could do Hong Kong finish, but the serger is so much quicker.

Lesson Learned

I'm so frustrated with myself this week. I went to a local thrift store. There was a great wool coat with short sleeves for about seven dollars. I didn't get it because the buttons were tight and so were the sleeves; however when I was at the fabric store the next day I found and bought great new closures, unfortunately when I returned to the thrift store the coat was no were to be found. I should have known better. I'm sure my daughter could have worn it for years if I couldn't figure out how to make it fit me better. Lesson learned. Don't pass up on a great find. So now now I'm on the hunt for fabric...I'll make my own.

Longing to Sew

I've had a huge desire to sew lately. I don't have a sewing area set up in the new house as of yet, but I do have my portable sewing machine with me. I bought some great fabrics sew sew a couple of aprons, knowing they would be fast gratification; however, Halloween costumes have prevailed. I'm half way done on the first one (I have three to four, depending on if my sister still needs help!). Pictures to follow....Happy Sewing!

One Hour Skirt

Yesterday I linked a post from Grosgrain about a twenty minute skirt tutorial. I thought about it during the day...when I got home I hit my stash of fabric. First of all my skirt took me about an hour to make for a couple of reasons. I didn't use my serger. I had to sew a narrow hem as my selvage was printed on one side with designer information. I also used about two yards of fabric, because I thought the flirty fabric of the skirt would look cuter if the skirt was fuller.

It was a fabulous and quick no-pattern project. I finished in about an hour. It was fun making something so quickly...especially when I have been working on my neighbors cushion covers lately.

I would absolutely use this method to quickly make skirts for my ten year old daughter.

I also have a time saving tip, I remembered in the middle of the night last night, for serger users. In the tutorial she serged the upper edge of the fabric and then folded it down and sewed with her sewing machine. If you fold your casing down and then fold in back to the right side of the fabric(like an accordion fold), and run the three layers through the serger, you have encased the edges and sewn the casing in one step.

More pictures to certainly come. I've been thinking about skirts all morning. I also have an idea for a similar project to make a tube top!!

Sunday Laundry Shirt Dress

The giveaway is over, but I fell in love with the pictures. It makes me want to pull out my dress form and fabric...I love the soft dress paired with the boots. What a great look.

I've got some great ideas about little dresses I can throw on over my jeans when I go out. I'm just not as inclined to wear dresses as much as I did when I was younger...I'm not sure why. Maybe I just need to find the perfect little summer dress.

Here's to inspiring your dreams of summer dresses to come!

"Bug" in a Rug

My newest endeavor. I'm crocheting a rug out of two inch strips of fabric for under my dinning room table. The rug ended up being about seven feet long and seems to take about a yard of fabric to finish a row. So needless to say, I'm finding a use for my stashes of fabric I have failed to do anything with.

My cat lovebug thinks it is a huge cat toy. Every morning I can tell she has been tearing it up during the night. She also thinks my pile of torn fabric not yet rolled into balls, makes a great bed.