Crisis averted!

My machine, whom I call Sally (I think of her as a cheerleader) decided to work again with no help from me whatsoever. After she broke down, I think her boyfriend broke up with her behind the bleachers (see the high school thing again) she sucked it up, put on her big girl pants and decided to work, once again. Miracles do happen! So, I was able to get an enormous amount of sewing done this month. Thank goodness! I was 2 seconds away from pawning my husband for the money I needed to get her fixed.

I was able to finish all 4 stockings.

From L to R stockings belong to, husband, me, daughter, son.

All of the fabric was from last year’s stockings that I hated once done, so all of that was free, and so were the buttons thread and batting.

I also made 4 clutches on commission (now I can go buy presents for us this year WOO HOO).

One of my kiddo’s Christmas presents this year is a Waldorf doll with all the clothes; a dress, bloomers and a pair of shoes. I had bought everything I needed to make the doll for last Christmas and never got around to it so it worked out great. I still have her PJ's to finish up but I'm well on my way.

Also, another doll (Molly the Dolly) that I did finish last year, needed a new face which turned into a whole new body as well. She had been loved to the point that her face split in two and stuffing was coming from her nose. After many, many tears from R, Molly has been all fixed up again as of this morning. That was a close one!

And last but not least, I made a small cuddle doll for the prettiest red head in town, turning 1 year old today.

I had a very full month!

-Joy

Can't breath can't breath....

MY SEWING MACHINE JUST BROKE!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Joy

Better Late Than Never...Or Is It??

So there was this sewing project that I started in August...
Here's a reminder:

I seem to remember ranting and raving about the absurdity of the pattern I was using... After re-visiting this project (after trying not to look at it for 2 months, 'cuz it kept making me mad) I came to the conclusion that I did not, in any way whatsoever, over-react.  But, what makes me more irritated than a next-to-useless pattern, is a half finished sewing project taking up valuable real estate on my sewing table. 

So......  I got all jacked up on extra strong black tea and went to it.
Here's the finished project!!  In hindsight I could have picked fabric that was a bit more wrinkle-resistant, but my cup is half-full folks. ;)

Ta Da!

-Amanda

Christmas Here I Come!

So another month has passed and onward I trudge. Slow and steady wins the race, but I am quickly finding out that standing still will get you nowhere.

On that note, the purple dress took so long I was spent for the rest of the month. Although, I will say, it was worth it. Once the sewing machine part of the dress was finished, the detailed hand sewing began. And so, in turn, October breezed by in a whirlwind of pink thread and really sore fingers.

So this month is all about Christmas.

Stockings 4 times over!

This is the pattern I used for the stockings although I don't think I will be using the same quilting pattern on the front. http://blog.maggiemakes.com/files/stocking-tutorial.pdf

A few commissioned presents for a friend.

Then, I think I will be able to call November done. On the down side I am a huge over commiter kinda gal so let's just see how much I really get done. ;)

- J

She lives!

Hello world,
Couple of things...

1) No, I have not fled the country.
2) My life is overflowing with Water Polo (My High Schooler), Reading Groups (My 2nd grader) and Lunch/Recess Duty (My 3rd Grader).  Yup, all fun and games.  Literally.
3) Yes, Helga (my sewing machine) has been giving me the 'Silent Treatment'.  (Passive-Aggressive German...)  It's mutual.
4) BUT - I have been doing some 'crafty' things... here's a sampling!

Halloween Fun...
I got this idea from a super neato blog called The Pretty Poppy
Here's the tuturial (of course, mine had to be black...)
http://theprettypoppy1.blogspot.com/2010/07/pretty-little-rosie-wreath.html

Another fun project had me using something I don't think I've used since elementary school!  Remember Modge-Podge?! The bottle even looks the same! 

Anyway, again, the tutorial depicts a very classy finished project - mine is black with skulls... Just keepin' it real...

Yet another great blog: The Other White House

And, the tutorial:

http://fivewhites.blogspot.com/2010/08/modge-podge-pumpkins.html







Before...





And After...!



Well, that's the news for now... hopefully more to come!!

Amanda

Way way way too late.

So I finished the dress with 1/2 a day to spare, but I had to pick, post about it or finish up the marathon training. Guess what lost. So here I am now with one cutie pie dress!

The purple fabric was at the bottom of a forgotten box and buttons from Amanda's stash = $0.

On another note , we decided we can't get 2 patterns done in a month so we will cut it down to just 1.

-Joy

Run away for the PLACKET!!!!

So I guess the word Placket scares the pants off of me! I've started
the Oliver + S dress in size 7, but that is about it...I started it.
All the pieces were cut out really fast, and I thought it would be
really quick. However, it is not fast if you refuse to attack the
placket. I just walk around the table like it's an old boyfriend
(don't make eye contact, it might berate you!). Never mind that I walk
around it 50 times a day, homeschool on it, and feed the kiddos over it. Ignore
it and it just might go away. At this point I would be very happy to
pay someone to sew this stinky thing, then proceed with a bold-faced lie on
this blog ..this is me now seriously considering it . Dang, can't do
it. I thought that it was a sign from above that sewmamasew.com is
doing a month long sew-a-long on this very dress, but the more I read
the more I got cold feet, and there the dress sits. So I've waited and
I've waited ..and now I am here writing this instead of sewing the
placket (I'm not kidding, really scared of the darn thing here!).

On an up note, I did finish the apron a looong time ago, and it's
great if I do say so myself:

I really enjoyed it. The pattern is so cute and flirty and super
quick. I just needed a little fabric and ribbon. That I had, no sweat.
$0

I'm so glad I did that first so I had ample time to freak out over the
word placket! I had never even heard that word before. In the words of
"My Supplier" I need to just put on my big girl pants and deal with
it.......I'm in so much trouble.

- Joy

The day has come (and passed) to declare.....

I'm really having too much fun with this whole thing. It lit a fire in

me I haven't felt in years, but trying to decide what to make is still

rough. I was really all over the place. All the things I had wanted to

do took more fabric of this or that than I had. Apparently I have a

ton of scraps, but not 2 yards of any 1 thing. So I finally just

sucked it up and picked: an Oliver +s dress for Ruby and an apron

pattern borrowed from Amanda. I think the apron will be my favorite

this month.

The dress was a little hard to find fabric for, but at the very end of

the last box, way, way down in the darkness was a ton of lavender linen

(which I don't ever remember having!). And the flower fabric was just

enough for the project; plus I will add a bit of jumbo rick rack to

the pocket.

Ahh to sew again ..I love it!

-Joy

Let the eye-rolling begin...

OK, so technically I didn't exactly finish my second project by the deadline... you got me there.  But, I don't consider it failure per se.  I'm choosing to look at it as an 'alternative success'.  Not to say that I've given up on the skater shorts completely... see?

But, in my defense (I'll be using that phrase quite a bit in this post, just saying...)  has anyone ever attempted to use a pattern from "Hot Scott Patterns" ?!?  Suffice it to say it requires a lot of 'creative visualization' on the sewer's part.  The written instructions leave a lot to interpretation, and the pictures look like xerox copies of a blurry b/w photo. 

And, considering my sewing time is usually at the end of the day when all my 'creative visualization' has been used for things like cutting PB&J sandwiches on the diagonal instead of straight across, hoping that will so completely mess with my kids heads that they'll be duped into eating it without complaint - and trying to figure out how to look trendy and cutting edge by tying scarves creatively around my middle to 'obscure' the fact that my 'cute jeans' are making me look like a Pillsbury biscuit can that's been twisted and the dough is escaping out the middle...

Aaaaaanyhoo...
All is not lost, here's what I have been working on.

Starting with a pair of hand-me-down jeans that my daughter didn't want because they were very plain and boring. (The frugal mom in me was screaming on the inside - 'What is wrong with you girl?! Can't you see quality jeans when you see them?!")  So, a compromise was made, and I decided to try my hand at reverse applique...

Take a scrap of fabric and pin it to the
back, right side facing wrong side,
then stitch in the desired shape.  I
usually sew in an intentionally 'messy'
way.  Sew 2-5 rows, then trim
around stitching.

...then, on the front, carefully cut the
outer fabric (denim) about 1/4" from
stitching, careful not to cut fabric
underneath.

final outcome.  I plan to add about
6-8 more circles, but you get the idea.

  

And, of course, there's ric-rac.

There are two other projects that I'm working on, but they are gifts for two upcoming birthdays, so I'll post those in about a week or so, when they're no longer a surprise!

Now see??  Aren't you proud of me?? 

 - Amanda

My oh my...

We have had a heck of a time signing in to blogging  land and now I'm a bit behind SO this is what I wrote a few days ago:

Almost there now…

Project one done!

$= Free and clear!

This first project went by fast (I was excited to get started on a new challenge) but number two has stalled a little. Thank goodness that I still have a bit of time! I am not worried (yet). 






-Joy

One Down...

One Hot Pink Sassy-Molassy Skirt - Done and done. Then she wore it to church this morning, naturally!

Sassy for Jesus

Money Spent = $0.00
Materials Used:
 - Pink satin from a thrift store purchase about a year ago.
 - Grommet tape - no idea where I got this or why I have it.
 - Bias Tape, elastic and thread from my late Grammy's 'sewing inheritance'. Thanks Grammy!!
 - Ribbon from my gift wrapping supplies
 - and my favorite: pink netting from a laundry bag I cut up a year ago to make a bag for my daughter's    swimming stuff! (It's one of those things you feel foolish for keeping in your 'you-never-know-I-might- use-it-someday' stash... HA!!  I used it!! ) Kind of a victory for fabric-hoarding-justification-making sewers everywhere...

*I also know that JOY - JOY JENKINSON (I'm pointing at you!!) has also completed a project - and while I won't steal her thunder and give away the surprise, I will say, it's amazing... wouldn't have expected any less...*

Now I'm on to making some sweet skateboard shorts for my little man!  Tally Ho!!
 - Amanda

I made it out alive.

Now that a Dear Friend has landed in our lovely town, this whole thing has been a struggle like you can't imagine!

As soon as the plane landed I heard, "I'm buying you fabric for your birthday!"  My head started spinning, and the angels were singing. I swear my feet floated above the floor with happiness until Husband in a very loud voice and big pointed finger reminded us LOUDLY that "You can't do that!! It will break the deal!!!" As I crashed to the floor
(I'm pretty sure something got a bruise), I grabbed the phone on the way down and made an emergency call to Amanda.

It was quickly decided that as long as I didn't ask for it (and I didn't) it would be fine to accept the most beautiful gift ever given.

But....

Today we finally found ourselves in the store that helped create this mess in the first place, and I was nervous. It didn't slow me down though; all the best prints were there for the taking, and with buy two yards get one free, I knew I was in trouble. I got so around the bend that I took Dear Friend with me, and she doesn't even sew (I am not proud of this)!

I managed to survive in tact even though she didn't. I did get home with what I was after and no more. I think I just turned a very pointed corner, but from now on Dear Friend will be called My Supplier.


My present:

My Suppliers stuff:

 - Joy

Fancy Nancy is SO first grade...

*slight change in plans*

Same skirt pattern - MUCH cooler materials... I'm told.

I'm seeing combat boots in our future...

And, by the way, I'm totally okay with that.

and YES, I really have this stuff in my stash.  I'm wondering if there is some kind of psychological analysis that determines what kind of person you are based on the contents of your fabric stash... apparently I have Punky Brewster tendencies...

-Amanda

The Night Before Day 1

Standing in front of my dining room table late (for me) last night already panicking about what patterns to pick, and instead of swimming through my rather large box of loot I’m trying to figure out how to go buy more supplies. Already the night before day 1!!! 

Once the sparkly stars of shopping left my eyes I realized  that  a little excitement and a little fear will take me a very long way. (If that’s not true just lie to me)!

Here we go.....

I love a purse more then anything so the first is this:

Fabric:

The second is a bit tricky, I need to leave a little bit info out because this is a birthday present of a reader, but I will disclose to Amanda....

Pattern:

Fabric:

Yikes! This is scary, do we still have time to bail out, I’m sure I can still get to the fabric store before it closes!!!! 

......Maybe I should just take a nap.....

Joy

The Maiden Voyage

Staying true to form, and in line with the purpose of creating this blog in the first place - we now find ourselves at the inevitable moment when weak justifications are futile and stalling is just plain silly.  The moment I am referring to, of course, is when good intentions turn into ACTION.  Yes, today is August 1st, and per our agreement, today is the day that Joy and I choose our first projects for the month! 

OK, quick review:  Each month, Joy and I pick 2 patterns that we already own using fabric and notions that we also already own - thus spending NO money.  The project(s) must be completed by the last day of the month.  We will be sharing pictures and commentary along the way for anyone who cares. (which means anyone who is as neurotic as we are, and finds this kind of thing actually interesting - you know who you are.)

Here's what I've picked for August:

'Skater' shorts for my 8-year-old.  I LOVE this pattern!!

 Bright Green w/pinstripes!!  Not sure what patch(es) I'll go with, but I've got some sweet options...

 Ruffle skirt for my 7-year-old - who won't be satisfied with anything 'plain'... sooo...

I have OPTIONS!!  This is going to be fun...

OK Joy - Your Turn!!

 - Amanda

First a deep breath

To say we love fabric is wildly inaccurate. Is there anything better than the first moment of walking into a fabric store, brand new pattern in hand, and all the options open--solids, pattern, fleece,silk, interfacing, cording, and dare I say a sale??? Our bank accounts not to mention our husbands have no chance! We can excuse any fabric/pattern purchase. The kids need new pj's, husbands need robes, friends need one more purse. The money we save of course will make it all worth it! The voice of reason refuses to make an appearance until well after we get home and the husband says, "Hey honey what's in the bag?"

All I needed that day was white thread. Amanda's only need was yarn to start a new blanket. But what were we greeted with? A TENT SALE! After an enormous amount of time later, 10 patterns between us, fabric, 1 color of yarn and last but not least white thread, we left...happily.
 
As soon as we got home there were statements of "I have so many patterns I've never made ...there is fabric busting out of everywhere in my sewing spots ...I have nowhere near enough time to sew". The idea was born.

We must pick and declare what pattern (that we already have) will be made each month, and then show up with the finished project in hand. We want to use up what we have, so no money can be spent. We can borrow, swap, barter for anything we need,  but no money... no excuses.

It makes me dizzy just thinking about it!

It's been 10 days since my last unnecessary fabric purchase....

Joy

Coming Soon!!