1000th apron

So, that might be a SLIGHT exaggeration, but I've made a lot of aprons in the last 14 months.  In fact, I've made 11.  I can't believe it's been that many.  I have to admit--I'm burned out on them.  I want to make myself a holiday one, but I'll wait until a really hot summer day to do it.  I also want to make a new advent calendar, but those are the extent of my sewing projects on the horizon for 2011.  I'm sure I'll make other stuff, but that's all I'm thinking right now--except maybe felt play food. 

Here's the 11th apron--made for my SIL Traci.  She picked out the fabric combo from my stash.  I like the combo. 

I kind of wish I'd made the bottom ruffle shorter and fuller, but at least she's tall. 

I tried a new style of pocket.  It's really two pockets from one trapezoid shape. 

Finished!

the pattern pic

Some handmade gifts

So, I finished 3/4 homemade gifts.  Luckily 3/4 aren't due until mid January when we celebrate Xmas with my brother's family.  I still have to finish Traci's gift, but the boys' are done.

For C (C's was in his stocking holding his cars) and Wyatt

Wyatt's filled w/5 hotwheels

One of them is ready for a drive

Here's C's bulging.  Mater didn't really fit--definitely meant more for hotwheels--which is what it will house in our to-go bag.

The colored pencil/motorcycle roll (of my own design)

Holds 1 small motorcycle, 12 colored pencils, and 1 small pad of paper. 

I'm happy w/the way it turned out.  It sort of evolved as I went along.  I couldn't find a notepad quite small enough.  I need to write down some notes about the size I used.  I found 5/8" was the perfect size for a colored pencil though!

Sweaty bands knock off

So, as you know I've  been working out.  I've exercised every day for over a week.  I've been at it hard core.  I have been running, riding my bike, doing plyos, walking the dogs, lifting weights: lots of stuff.  It is making me more motivated to do things--like finish projects.  See this post.

To help motivate myself I got some new workout clothes for the summer/fall time.  I scored a big sale at the local running store, where I got some nice Saucony and Nike stuff.  I also hit up Dick's Sporting Goods and got a couple other things.  It was a bit of a bummer that I had to buy a bigger size than I like to think myself, but I made sure I didn't buy anything that would be too big once I lose a little weight. 

In an effort to spruce up my workout attire, and keep the sweat off my face, I made some knock-off Sweaty Bands.  I love the real Sweaty Bands.  But they are pricey for what they are.  I was able to make 10 of these (some to share) for less than the price I paid for 1 Sweaty Band.  The ribbon at Hobby Lobby last week was half off.  If anyone wants one, let me know.  I've been using them, and they work almost as well as the real ones (that's the awesome thing about the Sweaty Bands--they REALLY stay put).  The elastic I found isn't as hight quality, so they might not last as long, but I can afford to replace them easily this way.

Here are my little beauties. 

I followed this tutorial on Holy Craft  It was really easy.  They take 10 min--maybe--to make.

I want one in every color!

A cute little boy and a bag

Today was a big day.  We discovered C's love of Playdough.  We no longer have yellow and orange playdough, we have yellow-orange in 2 containers (the only colors I let him play with).  We got out cookie cutters, a little roller, and a knife.  He loved it!  I need to get some pics tomorrow. 

I finally finished a bag I'd been making for him.  It didn't turn out reversable like I planned. I followed a tutorial for a lined bag, but not a reversible bag, so I missed the mark.  I should have made my interior reversed of what I did.  I also made my gussets too big, so I plan to rip it apart (just a little bit and fix it.  The gussets were much easier than I expected.  I'd been putting off finishing it b/c I wasn't sure I could follow the instructions.  The reversible side is army green with READ in big letters I cut out of the dino print.  I think I might need to make the straps a bit shorter.  I tried to make the bag smaller than the tutorial (since it was adult size, but I should have reduced a bit more. 

Trying on his bag.  It's definitley too big!

This has been up a long time, but I can't remember if I ever took a pic of the final product

Finally got the bat hung.  I had to use some awkward hangers to get it done.  Need to figure out how to balance out the hangers.

Antique golf club

And just a cute shot from C checking out the playground at Scott's soccer game this week.

Project updates

So I've been working on lots of stuff over the last couple of days.  Working on C's b-day ideas/invites, a crayon roll, and my inspiration board.   So I took all the old photos off the board.  Then I went crazy w/a can of black spray paint.  Then I played w/an aqua can--possibly a mistake--and then back w/the black.  It gives it a cloudy look.  The cork didn't paint well, but the frame did--which is all I cared about really.

Then some pretty, inspirational papers.

As I find some other papers I really like I can add to it.  I just mod-podged the papers onto the cork in a pattern I liked and then mod podged over the top.  I might spray it w/an acrylic spray--not sure yet. 

The crayon roll.   I followed the tutorial on the Pleated Poppy and ended up w/this.  For C's little hands I bought chubby crayons, so they fill up the roll thicker and taller.  I should have adjusted the dimensions, but didn't realize they were taller than normal crayons.  I like it for a first attempt though.  Cute fabric for boys is really hard.  I highly suggest this project.  It only takes 2 kinds of fabric less than a 1/4 yard each, flannel, crayons, a button, and a pony tail holder. 

C and I used it this morning while we had our oil changed and he LOVED it.  He loves having a place for them all, and they don't all fall out while you're using other colors. 

Checkbook cover

Like all projects--I'm not completely satisfied, but it was a learning experience.  I've got to get better at estimating seam allowances.  Math isn't a problem for me, but when sewing is involved I seem to forget a seam to calculate for or don't have it quite figured out how I will assemble.  So frustrating.  Definitely took some reworking and improvising.  It's cute though if not perfect. 

back view

inside view

I hope to be able to find it easier now in my purse since it's not black. 

Shorty apron

This is not only a pic of the apron, but of our scary 1/2 bath.  Consequently--even though the door doesn't shut all the way it is the best crapper in the house.  It has the newest sink and toilet.  Go figure!

can you see the box pleats?   fun to do, time consuming, and takes me 3 pins per pleat-approx 28 pleats in this 24" skirt. 

no plans for this one--just trying out something new.

Who wants an apron?

So I cut this apron out for a particular sister-in-law.  Not sure if she wants it or not.  If you do, lady, post a comment, shoot me an email--whatever--and it's yours.  If she doesn't want it--you never know.  You might just open your mailbox and get a sweet surprise.

Having to get creative w/taking the photo

 close up of fabric. it's kind of beige w/aqua and dark/army green flowers and chocolate brown outlining.  The polka dot fabric is chocolate brown. 

I've really got to figure out something else I like to sew.  I'm going to attempt a checkbook cover.  I just have a plain black cheapy, and I can't ever find it in my purse b/c my purse has dark lining.

Oh and I think I've figured out what I'm going to do w/my giant corkboard.  Hope to work on it tomorrow or Friday.

New house quick sewing projects

Here's my craft room.  I made the fabric boards above.  They are just canvases w/fabric stretched and hot glued on them.  I really like them.  It was all fabric I had and it makes me feel cheery around all that sterile white. 

So I did a couple of sewing projects the first couple of weeks here. 

I recovered our two office chairs. 

I made pillows and bought a slipcover for our inherited sleeper sofa for the basement.

three pillows- 2 for the couch and 1 for the iron bench down there.  These didn't turn out like I wanted, but oh well.  They were supposed to be all green, but I did like I often do--buy too little fabric and cut before thinking things through--even though I think I have it figured out.  That's why they have brown polka dots--b/c the first pillow didn't turn out big enough--so then I had to find enough of another coordinating fabric that would be big enough.  I had to cheat on the back side of one of them though.  The center one was how they were all supposed to look, but bigger. 

We had two ugly old office chairs.  One is blue and it's the standard old $30 chair that we inherited from someone--I think the Dankels.  The other is really comfy and OLD.  It was doo-doo brown and the seat cushion cover was ripped.  These needed a serious update to coordinate better w/our black and white room.

Here's the comfy one. 

Here's the other one.  It has a protrusion from the back of the chair, so the top fits differently.  I wish I'd made it a tiny bit looser.  I got the idea from another blog.  I read her tutorial when she did it, but didn't consult it when I made mine.  I clearly should have.  But I'm pretty happy with them.  Major improvement

I did find a peek at the blue chair before makeover from a pic of our old house.

Retro Apron

Someone out there is getting a new, retro-style apron.  Could it be you? 

One tiny change to the apron: a small black button at the pink point on the pockets.

Valentine's Project

Well, here are the pics.  I'm pretty sure I tried a project way above my skill level.  I don't sew straight very well, so choosing something where things need to be straight proves challenging and leads to wavy results.  I wish I had made it longer.  I thought it was longer.  I'm pretty sure it came out about what I'd measured for, but it doesn't hang loosely, so it seems too short--I have a lot to learn obviously.  One or two more rows of blocks would have been better, but I honestly didn't want to cut any more blocks. 

The overall look.

Bowl o' hearts.  These were fun to make.  I think I'll add some more next year.  I'm not sure if you can really tell in this picture, but the rows have a decorative zig-zag top stitch running over each row, vertically and horizontally.   

Looks pretty good from this angle though you can see the bubbles on the left.

When you can't sew or cut straight you make waves.  Ric rac was a major pain in this.  I think had I not had to add straight pieces on either end for length (which should have been bigger still) I might have been able to prevent the wave more?  I wasn't precise enough on my blocks.  This is what comes of cutting and sewing until midnight.  You make dumb mistakes when you start using subtraction to figure out 5 inch squares instead of just turning your mat around.  It led to a lot of 4.5" blocks squeezed out.  Note to self, slow down, take care. 

I should have just gone w/simplicity my first try.  Though I think this side turned out really cute.  I had a major brain fart, when I got my material for the back side.  I was really incorrect when I asked for 1.5 yards instead of 2 yards.  I had to cut one long piece and then two short pieces and add ribbon as trim to hid my seams.  I think the effect is cute. 

This project used almost an entire spool of thread.  That's a lot of thread!

Newest baby stuff

So I worked on another baby blanket for a high school friend who's having a little boy.  I made a blanket similar to one Colin has.  His nursery bedding is green and chocolate brown w/bunnies.  Not sure of wall colors, so I did this color and made bunny art for the walls.  They aren't framed b/c I had to mail them.  She can choose the ones she wants and frame/arrange them how she likes.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  Some are 5x7s and others are 8x10s.  They are different paper colors/patterns in the green and brown families.

Baby quilt

So, I'm trying to make a small baby blanket/quilt.  You should at this point begin nodding your head and saying, "don't do it, Gina--you know nothing about this stuff."  I made a small quilt top out of random scraps of fabric from my aprons. Evidently I made them too random at first b/c piecing was too difficult, so I went w/more measured pieces, which is still difficult when you're going for a piecemeal/nonsymmetrical look.  I almost have the top pinned together.  If these were quilt blocks I might be able to figure out how to piece it more efficiently, but b/c as I stated it is non-patterened it is a booger to piece.  So I had to pin the whole thing together, and tomorrow I will sew it together to have a top that is in one piece.  I had my cozy fabric (for the other side of the blanket) and ribbons (for the touchy feely part) picked out at JoAnn's today, but the fabric cutting line was huge, and C was in a tantrum throwing mood.  Did you know that the last 3 times I've been to JoAnn's C has thrown a major tantrum.  It's like he knows it's a girly place and he should flee as fast as he can.  I don't know if it's the way it's set up, but he freaks out if the trip lasts more than 5-10 min, no matter what I do to try to distract him.  So, plan is to get the top part finished and then get to a fabric store this weekend and buy needed supplies and finish before next Thursday.  We will see if I make my deadline, but it's a real deadline--a baby shower, so I'm going to get it done.  Any cute baby shower decoration ideas that are simple for a very small shower (like 8 people or so)?  I'm running dry.  The nursery will be pink, green, and khaki w/ sheep.  I'm drawing a complete blank.

Been Busy

Been on a blog drought.  I've been busy working on sewing projects.  Here's one of my projects in completed form.  This was a holiday apron for my mom.  I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.  Here she is on Thanksgiving Day modeling it.