Sew, Mama, Sew! October Holiday Sew Alongs

I've mentioned Sew, Mama, Sew here before.  I heard about a fun activity they have going for the month of October, their Holiday Sew Alongs.  If you're thinking of making placemats, napkins, an advent calendar or tree skirt you should have a look and see if it is for you.

Thought for Tuesday: Rickrack

I love rickrack. My mom used it a lot on clothes she made for me when I was small and I've continued to enjoy it since. While going through a drawer of notions I came across this package of pink metallic rickrack today.

Do you notice the word colorfast on the label? Would you really expect this metallic bit of trim to be colorfast? Well, I wouldn't. It isn't meant, in my world, to be used on clothing that you will wash. It is more a crafty trim item in my world.

Now look more closely:

Notice all the pink staining coming through the label? That was what I saw when I first picked it up. In my opinion, no one should expect this type of thing to be colorfast, so why say it on the label...and then see the bleed right on it? Not the best photograph, I know, but it is reasonably easy to pick out if you try. You can see it a little in the other shot as well. This package has never been wet or abused in any way. I picked it up at a clearance and put it in a drawer, where it has stayed for a few years.

Poor labeling choice, Wrights. I love your products, but this makes me question how truthful you are.

Send me a Tote and a Note #3

I swap with Swap-bot!

OK, OK, before you ask why I would send a tote that has Crime Scene Cleanup on it to a perfectly nice lady, let me say that her profile listed quite a few crime shows as her favorites. So in addition to two of my recycled curtain totes I included that one. I hope she gets kick out of it.

Fat Quarters Swap

I swap with Swap-bot!

I think I truly hit the jackpot on this one. My swap partner sent beautiful fabrics, each one perfect for me in some way, along with a delicately woven lace bookmark in my favorite color.

But back to the fabric. Those jungle prints are AMAZING! I'm not a quilter, but I'm encouraging myself to make a mini quilt with them. I have some carved giraffes and other jungle animals in my bedroom that would be so enhanced with something like that displayed on the wall above them. Wish me luck!

2 little hooligans: Fat Quarter Friday

Fat Quarter Friday focuses on quick projects from FQs. I enjoyed the first installment and plan to check in each week to see what comes next.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Eye Mask

Due to the hours I work, I find a sleep mask absolutely essential to getting all the rest I need. We have lots of them around the house as everyone has odd schedules here. This one was a freebie. The elastic slipped out of the seam in one spot, leaving me with only one band of elastic to keep it in place and a long, stringy tail to get tangled in my hair.



Why bother to repair a freebie when I have others? Because #1 it was free and #2 there is no reason for it to be in the landfill when a few hand stitches will make it good as new. Knowing hand sewing isn't easy for me (it makes my wrists hurt) you can see how important I think it is to keep your things in good repair and avoid adding to all the discarded trash on our planet.

Nap time!

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Pink Floral Dress to Pink Floral Skirt

A few days ago my daughter, a size 0, cleaned out her closet and brought me this very pretty size 4 dress from H&M. It was destined for my charity box, knowing it would make some young girl happy to have something so pretty...until I noticed that it had a stain on the front. Also, she had melted the ribbon trim when she'd accidentally touched it with the iron. So now I knew it wasn't suitable for giving...sigh. What to do with it? The fabric was too pretty to let go. My daughter suggested grocery bags, but I hoped to see it have a second life as clothing.

Finally, I decided to remove the ribbon and separate the bodice from the skirt. I thought the skirt wide enough that I could make a summer top from it for myself, a size 16.

Once it was detached I slipped it over my head only to decide it was too snug around the top and made me look squished. But I did discover just how much give the fabric had and decided that with very little effort I could have a bright, new skirt.

All I had to do was iron down along the old fold line and sew a quick stitch all around the top. I can't believe how much stretch it has to it! I saved the usable parts of the ribbon - heaven knows I'm always looking for nice ribbon - in my ribbon stash box. I need to check with my daughter to see if she'd like the bodice as a summer top, otherwise I'm going to scavenge it to make a nice fabric bow to cover the stain. It falls very high on the skirt and I plan to wear a long shirt with this anyway so I will be able to get away with it regardless of whether she wants the bodice or not. If she doesn't, I'll also end up with a very long pink zipper. I'm thinking it might make a fun purse. We'll see.

My Most Cringe-Worthy Sewing Moment

As a method of entry into another blogger's giveaway the question was asked "What is your most cringe-worthy sewing moment?" I smiled while writing my response and decided to share it here with you.

But first I have to mention that I love the blog's title - I
AM CREATING THE LIFE I LOVE. It is definitely what I try to do every day. I hope you do too. We can't depend on others to make us happy. Make yourself happy and share the joy with those you meet.

Now on to my sewing cringe -

My most cringe worthy moment has to do with one of my favorite things to sew - curtains. I really enjoy the long pieces of fabric and the straight seams, but not too long ago I decided it would be less expensive to purchase ready-made curtains from IKEA than to buy the yardage, so that was what I did. IKEA curtains are very long and not pre-hemmed, although they do come with hem tape which I do not use.

I get really frustrated with bathrooms as it seems you can't really buy matching window and shower curtains anymore and IKEA's long curtains work for a shower curtain rod so it seemed to be a good solution...until I tried to work with them. The fabric was so slippery it was an aggravation just to do this simple hemming. When I finally finished, wiped the sweat of frustration from my brow and hung them, I noticed that I'd hemmed one of the shower curtains backwards. But I guess I can't have been too ashamed since it hangs there to this day, several years later. No one notices until I point it out because of the way they're tied back and I have no desire to wrestle with that fabric again.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Why Would I Want Another?

This is my sewing machine. Nothing fancy, just your basic stitches. I got this sewing machine as a gift from my husband in the mid 80's. It is my long-time companion and workhorse. Why would I want another? This Kenmore and I know each other, we know what our likes and dislikes are, we know how to work together. I can't imagine ever casting off such a good friend simply because something new and flashy popped up. The more bells and whistles there are on something the more I scratch my head when I need to use it.

Friends, remember just because it is new doesn't mean it is better.

Hello Kitty Fabric is Now a Pillowcase.

Remember the Hello Kitty fabric I got at Salvation Army? It's now a soft flannel pillowcase destined for Online Angels.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Spidey Strikes Again

More of the Spidey valances projects.

This pillowcase will go to Online Angels.

This is the Spidey gift complete. The letters fit nicely into the matching zippered bag.



This is something I had to mention. I was not thinking happy thoughts when I went to sew in the zipper and couldn't find the zipper foot. So when I was looking at it, inside out, I noticed how beautifully the photos matched up. At first I got excited - it was completely random that it happened that way. Then I remembered I was looking at the inside of the bag and got cranky again. Well, when I turned it right side out it was just as perfect.

That was when I knew God was smiling on me. He reminded me that even if I couldn't find the correct tool He would help me make something beautiful.

Fabric Prayer Cloths

For those not familiar, prayer cloths are made many ways, but what they all have in common is that the maker prays over them while they work, for the intentions of the receiver. The receiver holds the cloth when they pray.

These two are made from fabric that makes me think of heaven. They're simply sewn together right sides facing, with a small hole left for turning. Once turned, they're ironed and topstitched. Some folks add an ornament of some sort. I leave mine plain because handsewing isn't the best for my arm. They may have ornaments added when they reach Online Angels.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Fun Letters

What do you get when you combine the legs of old jeans whose tops you've already used to make purses, some felt you bought for a Halloween costume that never got made and a valance you got for a great price at Salvation Army?




Well, before I answer that I have to share the process, right? First, stack the fabrics up, trace the letters, which can be found at Happy Together, onto the fabric and pin. Be careful to leave enough extra around the sides as your fabrics may shift while sewing and you don't want to find yourself short on the edge of one like I did.



Next, cut them into individual fabric 'sandwiches', sew, then trim off excess.





You get these very cool letters for a terrific little boy who is turning four!






I think they look cute tied up with the jeans seam.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Time Can Be Wasted Too

Have you ever sewn something only to find that it did not work well for your body shape? I know I have and it is one of the main reasons I struggle with sewing from a pattern. I am so frustrated by the waste of time, effort and fabric when my end result is not as useful as I'd hoped.

I've been reading a little about slopers; today this link showed up in my email box. It's a sign, right?

I hope some of the information there - I've just begun going through it - helps keep your crafting time productive and not wasted.

Rice Bag

This is another easy project that makes nice gifts. Make sure your fabrics are natural to lessen the risk of melting or worse, fire in the microwave.

I like to make mine up as a little set, the rice bag itself, a washable sleeve to slip it into and a drawstring bag to keep it all in. This one is a nice purple flannel.

For those who have never used a rice bag, you warm the inner part in the microwave just like you do any other heat pack, then I slip it into the washable cover before use.

I've made tons of these over the years, in all sorts of prints and solids, enjoyed by older folks and children alike.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: More Booties to Share

For Online-Angels' blitz, another fifteen pairs of booties. Lots of boy stuff this time out. Let's see, part of a pillow cover that came apart, fabric from the back of a nice cotton button down shirt my son got a stain on the front of, fabric left from Christmas gifts, excess fabric cut off when I made the shoe bags and a bit purchased from the remnant bin.



Ten pairs I made last week but didn't get to post.




And 12 pairs I made just now after composing this post. The football ones are very timely, I'd say. Not a big fan but wherever you look you can't escape talk of the impending Super Bowl.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: Shoe Bags From Pant Legs

These were the legs of my daughter's old capri pants. The rest had been made into a purse long ago.

First, I cut them to a size suitable for my many pairs of work shoes.

I am on my feet all day long and change my shoes during the day - it's good for my feet to do so. That means I have three pairs of shoes on hand at work plus whatever sneakers or boots I wore while commuting.

I don't want them getting beat up so I'd been meaning to make some bags for a while. When I was going through my stash for bag fabrics I came across these and knew they would not only work but look cute hanging on a hook as well.

The scraps I cut to make them the right length became booties you can see in last Thursday's post. So for one cut and two seams I've got the two pairs of shoes not on my feet set up with pretty little bags to protect them.

Cutie Little Booties

Made from scrap fabrics left from other projects and the ever so elusive high quality ribbing I'm forever looking for in the stores, I enjoy the heck out of making these fun little pops of color for Online Angels.

Waste Not Want Not Wednesday: More Pillows

Another project from the old pillows I pulled out of storage. I loved the shirt, but it was a 3X and no matter how I could picture modifying it to fit me now there was no option that would cut away the stain that was right on the front. Making a pillow cover did the trick. And of course there are the obligatory guinea pig pillows made from the sleeves and stuffed with scraps from other projects.


These took all of twenty minutes to put together. And for all my 'get rid of it now if you can't use it' I'm kind of glad I found this stashed in the attic. The colors are pretty and it makes me smile to look at the shirt. Finding a good use for it will let me smile at it some more.

Halloween Costume Accessories From Too Big Linen Outfit

I love dressing like a Pirate Wench whenever the opportunity arises. I've been trying to stick to period when I make new pieces and had been wanting to replace the stretch velvet accessories I had with some linen ones. While going through the attic I found an old Lord & Taylor linen outfit in size 26. I thought I might refashion it into a smaller size of the same outfit, but then the elastic let go when I picked it up and I decided to just rip into it and scavenge the fabric. Here it is before:


From that nice amount of fabric I made a head wrap, a belt that wraps around me three times generously with leftover still hanging to my knees, a pouch from the linen side of the pockets and the jacket drawstring, some long strips to secure my fake weapons and scope to my belt with, and a nice, long strip to wrap around my antiqued 'rum' bottle. Here they are folded up on my ironing board:



And here they are in action:


I had a great time wearing this, especially at work!