New School Year...New Beginnings

First Day of School! Everyone was so excited this morning! As you can see, Alyssa is losing another tooth. I'd wish it come out, already! It's (the tooth) literally hanging by one thread. She was excited to wear her "Peasantly Cute" top and they both were sporting the denim pants I made!

However, my 16-year old wore a "Guns & Roses" tee, with pin-striped fitted bermuda shorts. She's my skater-girl!

Everyone was up early and ready to go! I know that the novelty will wear off within a couple of weeks. And, I will have to go through 'other' routines to get everyone up and out in time for their buses. But, I will enjoy this enthusiasm now!

This new school year has given me back time to sew for my shops. I've been sewing potholders all day today! If you like, you can find them on my Etsy shop.

Until next time...HAPPY SEWING!

Busy Butterfly

I've been a busy butterfly!

This vintage suitcase has been my 'not so easy fix'. The fabric inside is beautiful and in good condition. It just needed to be cleaned. The leather is water-damaged and I've been scraping the leather off for about two weeks, now. I plan to paint pretty pictures and/or decoupage. Maybe, both!

My next work-in-progress, knitting fingerless mittens with a matching hat. The yarn is from my stash and it's multi-color blue with some periwinkle. For the hat, I will use Lion Brand's Fisherman's Warmup Hat. The same pattern I used for my husband's hat. I think this set will look really cute! (Sorry, for photos. I'm a little tired).

And, some of my back-2-school sewing. A pair each of khaki pants for Charlie and Alyssa; apron smocks for Alyssa and a peasant top. I'm currently sewing jeans for them both. Alyssa's jeans will have ruffles on the bottom legs using leftover fabric from her peasant top. Too cute! (I'll post pics when I'm completed)!

This next project was from a tutorial from one of my favorite sites, Made. This dress was sewn using a mens dress shirt. It was so easy to sew and quick! I sewed two dresses in about an hour and a half. The other dress, I used a mens blue/white striped dress shirt.

Now, that most of these projects are near completion (except, my suitcase); I will start sewing my apron orders...and, still scraping leather.

Until next time....HAPPY SEWING!

First Quilt and First-Time Sewing

This talented 10-year old young lady is my niece. And, this was her very first-time learning to sew. Oh, I would have loved to be the one who taught her...but, it would've been hard to do long distance. My mom taught her to knit and just like her aunt (me), she picked-up that skill quickly! She's a crafty kid.

(and, she's wearing one of the headbands I made for her)

My sister enrolled her in a sewing course and her first project was a quilt. Well, my niece completed the quilt (and, the course) in just, one week!

WOW!

Needless to say, she did a very good job and I am so very proud! I wish I was nearby to take her fabric/craft shopping; hanging out in thrift stores to find things to re-fashion and recycle. I keep in my heart, that we will be able to work on projects together soon!

This blog post is dedicated to my niece, Chelsea. Good job, and...I love you!

Thankful...

A special thanks to my husband and family who believe in my dreams;

thanks to my followers of my blog and my supporters in the creative community;

and, an appreciative thanks to Studio618 for featuring one of my items. Please visit http://studio618.blogspot.com/2009/07/friday-finds-31-jul-09.html or just by clicking on the above highlighted name and check out the Friday Finds.

I am grateful and thankful for the love!

Peasantly Cute!

I made this peasant top for my baby daughter, Alyssa, as part of her back-to-school wardrobe. Peasant tops are really easy to make. Mine is a variation of the Prairie Blouse from Seams to Me a book by Anna Maria Horner. There is also an easy tutorial on one of my favorite blogs, Blueprints.

I purchased the fabric a couple of months ago from Sew It Up. The pink fabric was a coordinating/complimentary extra!

I used less than 1/2 yard of each fabric to make. This top fits girl size 7.

I plan to make several of these tops for Alyssa this school season. I have loads of dark denim and will make some cute elastic waist pants to complete this outfit.

Until next time....HAPPY SEWING!

Fishermen's Warm Up Hat...Finished!

I finally finished knitting his cap and it came out quite well! He really likes the ear flaps! It goes well with his twisted beard! Arghhhh!

Thanks for visiting! HAPPY KNITTING!

Still Knitting...

Hello friends!

I'm starting to get my creative 'mojo' back! I've been drawing patterns and cutting out patterns. I've started working on some hand embroidery; taking your suggestions to make pillows and maybe baby bedding items from the wonderful vintage linen finds. I'm planning on some quilting projects, also...and I'm still knitting!

My current knitting project: Fishermen's Warm Up Hat. Lion Brand Free Knitting Pattern.

I'm knitting this hat for my husband, he really likes it! As you see, he's chosen colors chocolate and off-white. A really nice pattern and pretty easy! Maybe, I'll knit more of these in children sizes, also.

I'll continue to knit more dish and wash cloths in between my sewing and other projects!

HAPPY CRAFTING!

aprons for school

I've begun my back-to-school projects. I have a list of some quick sewing projects and one of them is a cute apron smock. I took my 6-year old daughter, Alyssa to the fabric store to pick out three fabrics. And, these are her picks.


I was able to complete all four this weekend. The fourth fabric (pink) was in my stash.






Alyssa likes them and Mommi likes that they will protect her shirts and the aprons will look cute with her outfits! Now, on to the next project.

HAPPY SEWING!

looking for suggestions

I love garage sales! Who doesn't, huh?

I picked up these beautiful vintage cotton tea towels and an embroidered napkins and placemat set.






My first thought was to make aprons from the tea towels. But, I would like other ideas. What about the embroidered pieces...I have four cloth napkins and four cloth placemats?

I need your help...what should I create using these beautiful pieces?

knitting washcloths and dishcloths

As previously posted, I've been staying up late nites working on quick knitting projects. And, knitting washcloths and dishcloths have given me instant gratification! Here is a 3-piece washcloth set I finished.




One washcloth is half-solid and half-striped; one is half-solid, two-color; and one solid color. I love the vibrant red and yellow colors. That'll wake someone up!



I started on this dishcloth...late last nite, after I completed the last washcloth of the set shown above. I wanted to use more of a 'earth tone feel' for the colors. Let me explain to you where/how I got my inspiration. My husband and I were up pretty early this past Friday morn. We made a cuppa and drove to the nearby woods and lake to sit, look and talk. The yellow represents the sun; the soft green (sorry, doesn't show-up well here...looks more like dusty blue) represents some plant life; and, the caramel represents some dried bamboo in the woods.



Since they've scrubbed the shuttle launch this eve, I'll keep working on it until it's complete. And, who knows, I'll probably start another late into the night. I'm sure!


Until next time...
HAPPY KNITTING!