Category Archives: crafting

Slowly but surely: T-Shirt Quilt

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T-shirt quilt layoutThere I am with graph paper and pencil in hand as I’m trying to figure out where to place the squares. Stayed up a little last night and drew out a layout. Seriously, when was the last time I used graph paper? Probably when I was wearing one of those shirts from college. Hooters… haven’t been there in YEARS. Anyhow, this didn’t take too long.

I moved some shirts around, and I think it’ll be really nice when it’s all said and done. I decided to still use borders and sashing (Unlike the “toocool quilts“, which are still really interesting, I needed a little order), but the shirts won’t all be square. So, I’ll be sewing columns instead of rows. (Like this might mean anything to non-sewers?) Next steps: have to figure out sashing color, and trim all shirts to the “correct” size.

As I was totally engaged in this activity, Ollie was playing Mario Kart. He was also very engaged.

Asleep

Art on the Go

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Ah, my first project inspired by “The Creative Family” by Amanda Blake Soule (www.soulemama.com): An art-on-the-go bag complete with felt pencil case/roll and other fun things that sort of follow the book, but I bought what was in our budget. I thought it would make a good gift. Abby’s classmate invited her to his birthday party, and not that I don’t know much about toys for 7-year-old boys, but I had a feeling he’d like this little bag of goodies and he probably already has a bunch of action figures, cars, etc.

So, I brought out the sewing machine and had some red canvas, cording, felt and ribbon on hand (Abby picked out the canvas color). For the drawstring bag, I didn’t really measure out the canvas, I just eyeballed it with the goodies and hoped everything would fit. That probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but it worked out. Instead of a flat drawstring bag, I thought I’d give it a gusseted corner (I think that’s what it’s called, right?), too. The felt pencil case was straight out of Amanda’s book.

Now that my “test” project is done (I know, “testing” on a gift is not my usual thing), the next drawstring bags I make will be for Abby and Ollie… might do the “shoebag” backpack that a lot of kids use. Sort of looks like a nylon backpack with the string going through the grommets on the bottom of the bag. Perhaps a tutorial will be in the works soon.

The Craft Social

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It might be intimidating to some to go all by yourself, not knowing anyone except for maybe through blogging, to a gathering of over 100 women (and one man) to craft for two hours.

Craft Social

It was FABULOUS!  Really, it was. This pic was at the beginning of the evening.  Attendees either brought a donation or food, and a craft project to do on her own.  There were also crafting stations where you could learn how to do a new project: duct tape wallets, decoupage bowls, paper-decorated clothespins, poloroid slide transfers, beading, and other various crafts.

One of many craft tablesFellow crafters

My magnetic bookmarkPom-pom flowers

I brought a cross-stitch project to work on, but really, I socialized, made a magnetic bookmark, little paper adornments and a pom-pom flower.

Meeting so many talented people and watching them create these beautiful pieces, made me want to try more things!  Hello to Toni at the refreshment area, Margaret, who was working on her applique, Kathy, who writes Merriment Design, Cindy, an event planner and crafter, Alexandra, who brought a scrumptious tart, Debbie and Rosemary, the stampin’ up ladies, Tripp Hudgins, the nicest husband and only man in the group (so enjoyed talking about paper and ink), Beth Engelman, blogger/writer, and Jess Jones, the social coordinator and blogger.

I can’t wait for the next one!

Teacher Appreciation Gift idea

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Last week was National Teacher Appreciation Week.  I’m one of the room parents, so I went out and bought a simple flowering plant (kids are studying plants next week) and printed up this card.

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The little faces were stamped with my pinky and ring finger.  Used washable markers to color them up.  My stamp pads are stored right now since I haven’t been  stamping too much lately, and I didn’t feel like dragging them out.

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Just a cute, simple, heartfelt card.  You can find poems all over the web, but this one was from here.

Hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day!

Completed Baby Burp Cloths

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Here are the finished burp cloths that I wrote about late last month.  There’s a great tutorial here at A Chelsea Morning.

Finished Baby Burp cloths

More burp cloths and baby blankets to make… friends have had or are having babies this Spring.  But first, I want to finish that wine cork bulletin board!

Cup of Tea While I Sew?

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My little pincushions that resemble strawberries are starting to look a little frazzled. When I was sewing my Easter project, I had to turn the cushions upside down, and the things looked like porcupines.  Actually, when I was younger, I thought they were tomatoes, with the green one looking like a not-so-ripe tomato. And then I thought, what is that dangling thing for?

Pin cushions out of control

I’ve bought and collected more pins over the last year as I’ve cultivated my sewing habit. The vintage Sucrets box and Brass Silk Pins box are from an estate sale across the street, and are filled with more pins.  So… I thought I’d make more homes for the pins and borrowed a little book from the library, “Pretty Pincushions”.  There is an easy project that marries tea with sewing, and it happened to be designed by Amy Karol (author and blogger, see her blog here).  Basically, it’s a teacup, stuffing, scrap piece of fabric and glue.

Orphaned Fine China Teacups

I went to a local Salvation Army store (There is a lot of stuff there! Holy cow!) and rummaged through the house goods and found these cuties (65 cents and 45 cents each for the pair).  No saucers, at least none that I could find.  They were all separated.  Out of curiosity, I looked up the manufacturer of the all-white teacup which has a delicate, lacey pattern that goes around the cup.

Norleans White Lace Teacup

A cup and saucer on a site similar to eBay was selling for $8.00, surprise!  So, now, I’m not sure… do I try to resell these little teacups? Is it worth it? Or do I just make my pincushions?

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