A few things...

I love vintage!  Stopped by my favorite used book store a couple of days ago to see whatz new!  I picked up these 3 books:  "Boutique (fashions to knit and crochet)" by Bear Brand and Fleisher Yarns; "How to Make Sleeves - Instructions for Plain, Raglan, Epaulet, Shirtwaist, Cuffs", published by Singer Sewing Machine Company; and "Vogue's Book of Smart Dressmaking", copyright 1942, The Conde Nast Publications, Inc.

The Vogue book includes a free pattern for a new dickey that I will definitely try!

After leaving the book store, I made a stop at the local thrift store and look what I found!  A handmade weaving loom!

And, there was a project already for me to work on!  I found a website that gives advice and suggestions on weaving.  You can check it out here!   I will continue working on this until completion...in between my Christmas projects and other UFOs!

Speaking of Christmas...I finally finished a lap quilt for my Mom!  I've only been quilting just under 6 months and RESISTANCE is FUTILE!  I love it!  A true fiber artist to the marrow!

Check out this Christmas Tree Skirt Tutorial from Piece N Quilt blog!  This is one of my next projects this week.

It  was good getting out of the house and around this week, and finding treasures!  Until next time,

HAPPY SEWING, QUILTING, KNITTING, CRAFTING!

Life, Sometimes...

...happens right in the middle of your creative process!

Hello my friends!  It's been a while since my last post.  Life happened and here's the recap:  daughter's baby shower; mom's visit; and the household having swine flu and the recovery process.  It's been a trying month, but we survived and we're back in stride, again!

Here's mom with the grandkids

I have been working on several projects lately.  Most are Christmas presents.  I recently finished these spa slippers for my father-in-law.  I used a brown microfibre fabric (sooooo soft) and brown braided trim that goes all around the slipper.

 

I've also been working on hand embroidered items like this cloth napkin with strawberries.  Haven't decided who will get the napkins.

 

I'm also still knitting a cotton baby wrap and finishing up a quilt.  It seems that I can get back into my creative world for the moment...until the baby comes!  Hopefully, I can finish my presents in time!

HAPPY CRAFTING!

A Beautiful Weekend With Family

On Saturday morn, we set out to have a picnic and enjoy a day at the lakefront.  We even brought out my oldest daughter (she looks so cute and will be a wonderful mom)!  My 16 year-old daughter was hanging out at Universal Studios with her friends (which beats the lakefront)!

Sandwiches and fruit; sprinklers, playground and watching the boats!

Simple and fun!

Thrifting and Such

Hi all!  It's been a while since I last posted.  Busy helping my daughter prepare for my first grandchild!  I am so excited!  Her baby shower is within a couple of weeks and I'm sewing a special dress for her to wear!

I've also been practicing sewing on my treadle.  There is a sort of coordination and foot rhythm to sewing on a treadle.  Great exercise!  It's so much fun and I think I'm ready to sew a quilt on it soon!

I've also been thrift and antique shopping, and visiting estate sales.  Resistance is futile.

My husband and I had a wonderful day, today in Historic Sanford, Florida!  We ate brunch at a quaint restaurant.  This place is so 'old skool', that plastic (credit/debit cards) is NOT accepted.  Cash or check, or the owner will let you sign an IOU with trust that you come back and pay him.  And, the food was awesome!  We then walked down this cute cobblestone street and visited the antique shops and thrift stores.  We had a blast!

I could not resist this vintage sewing machine in one of the thrift stores.  I took it home, cleaned and oiled it; tested it and it works like a horse!  Someone took very good care!

Last week, we visited another thrift store and I found all kinds of goodies:
I have 3 of the Knifty Knitter (top pic) at $1.99 each!  I need to find one more...one for my middle daughter, the baby daughter, my niece and one for me!

...small container of stones for .69 cents.  Don't know what I'll make, but they will not go to waste.  Large container has zipper pulls of all colors for $1.99.  I can definitely use these!

...pajama patterns for little ones and big girls; and zippers.  The whole lot for .69 cents!

...some wood pieces; balls, napkin rings, thread spools, etc.  This whole lot for .69 cents, also!

...lastly, yarn; both for .25 cents!

I am currently knitting a pair of fingerless mittens in a pretty chocolate, minty blue and brown multi-tonal yarn for a customer.

Thank you for visiting!  HAPPY THRIFTING!

Labor Day Weekend Chill

...and, we did just that, chill!

We took the two youngest fishing. It was so quiet and peaceful at the lake. Maybe, four other people were around.

And on Labor Day, my sewing friend Peggy blessed me with a treadle machine! She and her husband were at my door this morn with two machines. It was perfect! I am teaching my 6-year old how to sew and the Morse (sewing machine) will be great for her and my 16-year old. I spent most of the day, cleaning, oiling and practicing on the treadle. I had fun playing! I realized that sewing on a treadle is going to be a mini-workout!

It was a great ending to a Labor Day Weekend Chill!

Okay, back to reality! Preparation for school tomorrow.

Hope your Labor Day Weekend was relaxing!

A Quilt Story

I am a virgin quilter! I've always wanted to learn to quilt and about a year ago, I borrowed "Kids Start Quilting" from the library to learn the basics. I was able to complete a piece quilt and it came out great!

Last week at my sewing group meet-up, my friend Peggy taught me to free-motion quilt! I was so excited and I worked on my practice piece the rest of that weekend! Now, quilting is becoming one of my sewing addictions!

I worked for Goodwill about 2 years ago, and in that time I met some interesting and crafty people (customers). On their regular visits, we would share all sorts of craft and sewing ideas and projects. An elderly lady who regularly visited wanted to give me her hand-sewn blocks for a quilt. We met each other for lunch and I accepted her offer.

I'm sure the fabrics used were 1960s and 70s. Colorful and bright, and a lot of polyester!

I sewed the blocks together, in the order she had them laid in the basket and then sewed the rows together. 9 blocks per row, 8 rows. Now, all there's left for me to do is batting, backing and knotting.

I am happy I learned the basics of quilting in order to finish this quilt in her honor!

HAPPY SEWING!

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!