Lovely This and Lovely That

Well I said I would “hopefully” post the rest of my Christmas projects on Sunday.  Sadly that lead to posting them 3 days from Sunday, on Christmas day of all days.  To be fair I actually finished making them all yesterday.  I just was a little too busy to post them what with preparing for Christmas eve services a such. 

First up, this lovely top made from a plain t-shirt.  It had been ages since I’ve done one of these and nothing completes a lovely holiday skirt like a lovely dressy top.  I did the usual things I do with t-shirts (remove sleeves, cut sides and necks, add elastic, etc.), but the neck line is slightly different.   I used two types of eyelet lace to embellish the neckline, and I added cris-crossing straps on the front.  I’ve done something similar in the past but with straps that tie around the neck.  By doing them this way I don’t have to worry about tying them just right.  Saves time getting dressed.

Speaking of holiday skirts, I made a couple more this year.  That’s right, not just one, but…

…Two skirts.  They are both very similar in design and made out of almost the same fabric.  Same Edwardian style pattern, but one is red and one is black.  In fact it’s the same fabric I used for the wreath and some of the ornaments on my list.  One might think it is a bit obsessive to have two extremely similar skirts, luckily one of them isn’t  for me.  It is a gift for someone, but I won’t say which one so as to not ruin the surprise for them.  Of course what’s more fun than lovely matching skirts?

Lovely matching hair accessories!  When I made the fabric yo-yos for the wreath and ornaments, I made a few extra to use for hair accessories.

To go with the black skirt I made this lovely headband.  It is trimmed with white lace, black bows, and silver and white buttons.

For the red skirt I made these hair combs.  Similar to the headband except I used white bows and use dark red rose buds instead of buttons.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Eleven down and out.
Have a lovely holiday everyone!

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Pouches, Just Pouches

In addition to the usual gift ideas (like ornaments), I thought it would be good to give something useful.  Something that served a practical purpose while still being pretty.

Something like these lovely, lacey pouches.  Perfect to organize a purse or to use instead of one.  They were quick to make too.  I just cut rounded rectangles from the lacey fabric and some satin and pinned them together right sides out.  Just fold to form a pocket and add bias tape to the edges.  Finish with a snap and it’s good to go.

In addition to the lacey ones, I whipped up these pouches too.  The top one is a simple zippered pouch but with the zipper in the center for easy use.  The two on the bottom are a little more interesting.  They are made of two fabric yo-yos with a zipper between them and buttons for decoration.  A bit tricky to do but worth it.  They will make excellent change purses.  I’m thinking of making a tutorial for them, I just need to figure out how to explain it without confusing or annoying anyone.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Seven down, just four more to go.  I should have them done by Sunday, hopefully.

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Birdies, Roses, and Ribbons

This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosures page for more info.  Thanks!

I had intended to post this Sunday, but time sort of got away from me.  There was a lot to do that day. 

Sunday was the day of the choir’s annual Christmas Cantata.  I had to be up about an hour earlier to prepare for it as well as all the other things I had to do for the holidays.

I wanted to have a special new skirt to wear for the cantata, so I whipped this one out of some fabric I found at Bookman’s for 50 cents.  Great deal. 

It has cardinals and holly all over it.  I trimmed it with matching red bias tape and cream colored eyelet lace.

As an added touch, I decided to whip up a lovely pin to match.  This one was super quick and easy to make. 

I just got four wire stem rose buds and wrapped the stems around a large safety pin.  Yes, that is a safety pin they are attached to, the leaves hide this fact.  To finish I just had to glue some faux pearls to the center of each bud. 

It was just the right thing to complete my outfit.  I’m thinking of making more in other colors.

The skirt fabric wasn’t the only good thing I found at Bookman’s.  I also found some cute holiday print ribbon.  It has the word “JOY'” printed on it.  I got 2 spools for 50 cents each.  I should mention that I used trade credit for the ribbon and fabric so they were essentially free for me. 

Anyway,  I bought the ribbon mostly to wrap presents in, but I thought it would be fun to use it to make a few small gifts too.  So I whipped up a few hair bows.  Perfect to delight a few little girls I know. 

I also whipped up a cute wristband for a certain little fellow I know.  I’m sure they will love them.

Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Five down, Six more to go.  The next two will be up tomorrow.

 

Recommended Supplies

• Victoria Lynn™ Ribbon Roses Bunch, Red
• Loops & Threads Safety Pins, Assorted
• Aleene's Jewel-It Embellishing Glue
• Darice 5mm Loose Pearls-1000PK/White
• Maker's Holiday Satin Ribbon 3/8''x9'-Gray Snowflakes
• Christmas Cotton Fabric-Poinsettias & Scrolls On Red

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Yo-Yos and Buttons

Last year for Christmas I made a bunch of ornaments out of fleece including a bunch of yo-yo ornaments (see Fleecy Ornaments).  Well, people seemed to liked them so much that I decided to make some more this year only with cotton fabric instead of fleece.

Behold!  Twenty nearly perfect ornaments.  Most of them were made from some green or pink and green paisley fabric.  A few were made from scraps of a delightful black Edwardian print fabric.  It’s the same pattern as the fabric used for my wreath but in black instead of red.  You will be seeing more of the this fabric very soon.
Just some fancy buttons and ribbon to make them tree-ready.  Can’t wait to give them out.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Three down, eight more to go.  Some of you may have noticed something a little different with this list.  I am linking the completed items on the list to their posts to make it easier for everyone to look back or check projects they missed.  Just trying to be helpful.

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Here’s Bun-Bun

I  know a certain little boy who has been good all year and seems to like bunnies.  What would make a better gift than a cute little bunny?

How about a bunny like this one?  It came out a little differently than I had planned, but it’s still cute and that is all that matters.  He is made from some remnants I found at a small thrift store.  He is stuffed with actual cotton, has large button eyes, and of course he has a little bowtie for reasons I can’t share right now.

Also he just has to have this little cotton ball tail.  What else could be more perfect?
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

Two down, nine more to go.  The next will probably be up tomorrow or possibly Friday with some good news!

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Wordless Wednesday: A Good Use for Cute Ribbon

 

Before.

After.

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Red and Green

At work we’re having a little wreath decorating contest.  Sounds fun right?  Hence why it’s my first project for the holiday season.  Plain wreaths were provided free for anyone willing to decorate them, that of course includes me.  And everyone gets to vote on them and there are cash prizes for the best wreaths.
Here’s my entry, think I have a shot?  It includes fabric yo-yos made from and Edwardian print fabric and trimmed with buttons and eyelet lace, dark red velvety bows trimmed with rose buds of the same color, and one big bow with a button in the center.  I’m not sure the big bow came out quite how I wanted, but besides that I think it came out perfectly.
Here’s the updated list:

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

One down,  ten more to go.  The next project will be up tomorrow, so look forward to it.

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Bring It On Santa

A few facts.  First, this blog has been very silent when it comes to crafty stuff, mostly due to lack of inspiration (and being lazy with the camera).  Second, a major holiday is looming that offers much inspiration to craft.  And third, nothing motivates more than a to-do list, not to mention that it helps organize all this “inspiration”.  Hence I’m bringing back the sort of old tradition of my yearly Christmas craft list.  And here it is in all it’s glory.
Christmas List #4

• Pouches
• Zip, zip, zip
• Red skirt
• Black skirt
• Bird skirt
• Hair accessories
• Ribbon fun
• Top
• Wreath
• Ornaments galore
• Bun-bun

A decent amount to complete by Christmas.  And for that extra boost of motivation, I plan to have most of them completed by the 15th.  Yep, 10 days.  Better get cracking.

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Wordless Wednesday: Big Charlie Black

 

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Wordless Wednesday: “Hello Mr. Butterfly”

As seen in the Mesa Urban Garden.

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Story Time: Who’s Afraid of the Dark?

It was a dark and stormy night.  A cliché I know, but true.  No one in the apartment but me and the baby, my 5 month old niece.  She was supposed to be asleep in the room at the back of our home.  Nope, she was crying instead, wailing more like it.  It was different however, which is why I walked down the hall a little faster than normal.  People who have spent some time around a baby tend to know what’s wrong by the way they cry.  I’ve spent enough time with her to know that wasn’t a cry because she just wanted her teddy.  It was a cry of absolute terror.

I got to her and tried to calm her down, but she continued to cry.  This was confusing, there wasn’t anything in the room, at least not that I could see.  That’s when I noticed the room itself appeared to be shaking.  Why I didn’t immediately notice this I’m not sure, but it did appear to tremble.  Then I realized it wasn’t the room.  It was the lights flickering, quite violently in fact.  I decided to quickly move the baby to the living room, not that there was any real danger to her, right?

From the living room I could see the light from the back room continue to flicker and then start to fade.  It faded into complete darkness.  This flickering and fading traveled pass the bathroom and down the hall, spreading to all the lamps in each room of the formally well-lit apartment.  The darkness was spreading quickly, and coming toward us.  As the darkness drew closer, her screams grew louder.

It came closer and closer…

…she got louder and louder…

…Closer and Closer…

…Louder and Louder…

…Closer…

…Louder…

…Closer…

…Louder…

…and then…

 

 

 

…Silence.

Happy Halloween!

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Over the Rainbow

All right!  Finally posting something other than a LinkUp.  I have actually made several things over the past few weeks that I just haven’t gotten around to posting.  Sadly none have anything to do with my pink pants.

Anyway, Halloween is tomorrow as we all know, so I thought I should show off what I did for a costume. 

I found this Dorothy costume at a yard sale for $2.  It had several problems.  Too big, too open in back, crooked buttons, frumpy skirt and sleeves, stains, crooked ric-rac, etc., and did I mention that it was too big?  Time to work a little Halloween magic.  So here’s the before…

…And after.  The skirt was an easy fix.  I just had to shorten it by about 4 inches and move the button in the back to cinch the waist.  The top was a different story.  I literarily had to take it apart, chop off a few inches everywhere, and sew it back together.  I also added a zipper to the back so my entire back wasn’t exposed.  Now it fits me almost perfectly.  All done?  Nope.  It takes more than a blue dress to make a Dorothy costume, so time for the accessories.

I found this basket at another yard sale for only 25 cents.  Best deal.  I used some scraps from the costume to make bows.  I just cut strips using my pinking shears and tied them to the sides of the basket.  Easy and cute.  The little doggie was a birthday present from some reaally good friends of mine.  Yep, my birthday was yesterday. 

Moving on,  what’s a Dorothy costume without ruby slippers?  For these I started out trying to make shoe covers.  I’d seen some in stores, but didn’t like the price or the quality.  Anyway, I cut up an old Christmas stocking and used my shoes as a guide to make a pattern.  It was easy enough, but I was having trouble getting a good fit until I realized it would be easier to just sew the fabric right to the shoes.  Luckily I had an old pair of ballet flats that would have otherwise been tossed.  Several minutes of sewing (and one broken needle) later, I had my slippers.  Now I have one complete Dorothy costume that cost less than $5 to make.  Yay!

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Wordless Wednesday: Arachnophobia

Spotted while waking up one morning.

  Relax, it’s the size of a pencil eraser.

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Once Upon a Bag…

A funny thing happened a few weeks ago, I made something and forgot about it.  No not one of my pink pants recons (see A Challenge), really need to get back to that.  My everyday bag has been looking a bit worn lately, so I thought I’d whip up a new one.  I had a shirt my mom dumped on me that I thought would be perfect.

Here’s the before.  The t-shirt had some holes and a few stains in odd places, but it had some sparkly embroidery that was promising.

And now the after.  I cut two large rectangles to sew the body of the bag and cut the embroidery off separately then attached it to the front of the bag.  There just wasn’t enough usable material around the embroidery, so doing it this way made more sense.  I cut strips from the rest of the t-shirt and twisted them into cords for the straps.  I also used some fabric I had lying around for a lining, no photos of that though, not exactly easy to take a picture of that.  Overall I think I did a decent job, except one little problem.  I don’t like it.  The bag just isn’t my style, strange since I made it.  I tried to use it, but it didn’t feel right.  Oh well, at least I can make another one.  I just need to figure out what to do with this one.  Hmm.

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Wordless Wednesday: Hello Kitty on the Go

Sorry it’s been so long since doing one of these posts.  Anyway, this was seen parked at a Goodwill during their 1/2 off sale.

Cute!

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Pants Recon Challenge Round 3

Round 3 of The Great Pants Recon Challenge is finally here.  I’ve been using that word a lot lately, finally.  That’s what happens when you take too long to post things.

Anyway, this time I was strangely inspired by the hems of the pants to whip up something pretty.  Namely…

…flower corsages!

Nothing like something flowery to wear on your wrist.  To make them, I just cut off the hems of the pants and cut each into two strips.  I gathered them on one side and stitched the ends together.  With some fabric circles for the centers and some remnants of lace they made perfect flowers.  For the straps, I just cut pieces from what was left of the pants drawstring and threaded elastic through them before attaching.

Here’s the finished results.  The top three are corsages, the bottom one I made into a matching broach by attaching a pin to the back.

Now up to three finished projects with one pair of pants.

• Flower corsages
• Pin cushion
• Drawstring bag

And here’s what’s left of the pants.

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Time to Catch Up

Except for my blog hop, it has been pretty quiet here.  Okay it’s been totally dead.  I thought I’d take the time to update a little, you know, clear away some cobwebs. 

First off, after months of trying and trying I finally got a job.  Yay!  I start next Monday.  I will be working at a medical manufacturing facility.  It should be super fun, I get to wear goggles and a lab coat.  And hopefully it means I won’t have to stay in motels much longer, another plus.

I can’t remember if I mentioned this here or just on twitter, but I am on Google+ and have been there for quite some time now.  So I have been regularly sharing things, mostly stuff I posted on pinterest, random craft tutorials, and cute animal pics.  I’m a sucker for those.

As quiet as it has been here, it has been even more so I my maze blog up until last week when I finally posted a new maze.  I will try to post a little more regularly from now on.  Keyword, try.

I know I haven’t mentioned this yet, but I am now on tumblr of all places. I find it rather fascinating.  It’s kind of like twitter but without the character limit and more customization.  Plus not only can I post just about anything, I can let people submit things for me to post and even ask me questions.  Feel free to ask me pretty much anything, I have an odd habit of answering almost every question asked of me anyway, even the awkward ones.

And last but not least, I finally got back on track with my crafting.  Yep, another pink pants project is coming up (see A Challenge!!), I’ll probably post it Thursday so look forward to it.

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The Ballad of Beanie the Pincushion, a poem

Beanie was a pincushion, but that’s not how it starts.

He began his life made up of lots of little parts.

First there was a piece of cloth, just a little scrap.

It came from a ragged blanket that would barely cover your lap.

Another scrap was salvaged from a well worn pair of jeans.

They belonged to cousin Phil until he bent over and burst a seam.

The next was from Aunt Marianne, a bit of her finest dress.

She wore it to a barbeque that ended in quite a mess.

Then Grandma’s scarf, Herman’s tie, and Gramps’ old grey vest,

And Jimmy’s shirt, with Suzy’s sock, created quite a little scrap nest.

This bundle was gathered carefully by our dear old Auntie Jane.

She pinned them together bit by bit, no two being quite the same.

She stitched them lovingly together, stuffed it nice and round,

and finished with her finest ribbon, the nicest one in town.

Behold a brand new pincushion ready to do it’s job.

Made with scraps of life, and a little bit of love.

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Pants Recon Challenge Round 2

For round 2 of The Great Pants Recon Challenge, I decided to concentrate on sewing supplies seeing as that’s what I used the last project to store.  What better to go with a pink drawstring bag than a matching pink…

…pincushion.

First I cut three circles from one leg of the pants.  I took two of the circles and with right sides together sewed all around leaving a space open.  After turning inside out and stuffing, I had my pincushion base.  Time for the third circle.  I made that into a fabric yo-yo and stitched it to the top to decorate.  There was still some of the pants drawstring leftover so I cut a piece to make a little bow.  Perfect thing to finish off my new pink pincushion.

Now up to two finished projects with one pair of pants.

• Pin cushion
• Drawstring bag

And here’s what’s left of the pants.

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Basic Black

So yesterday I went to Phoenix Comicon with some good friends.  Yay!  First time ever too, so I decided to make something special to wear to commemorate the occasion.  It had been forever since the last time I altered a t-shirt.  It took me a couple of days to complete mainly because I did it entirely by hand.  Yep, still no access to a sewing machine. :(

So here’s the before…

…and after.

Both of the photos were sadly taken by my webcam since my camera is currently out of action.  Anyway, I used a black t-shirt I’ve had for a while.  I was getting a little bored with it.  I first chopped off several inches from the bottom and cut off the collar.  I cut the bottom hem and used it to make a ruffle for the neckline.  It was perfect for this since it already had a finished edge.  Some elastic, straps or neckties, and the original collar was all that I needed to finish up the neckline.  And to finish the shirt, I just had to re-hem the bottom and used a scallop stitch on the hems of the sleeves.  I learned the stitch from a vintage sewing book, it’s really easy and super pretty.  Someday I should explain how to do it. 

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My Favorite Things: eBooks

It’s has been awhile since I’ve done one of these posts, I guess I kind of forgot

Something I have almost always enjoyed doing is reading.  I say almost because I’m sure I probably didn’t feel too enthusiastic about it when I was just a little kid learning how to read, though I don’t actually remember.  Anyway, I also enjoy using my netbook and downloading all the new goodies I find.  So naturally one of my favorite things are…

…eBooks!

Most the eBooks I have I downloaded from Gutenberg (for free!), but I have found them in so many different places.  Some include:

• Internet Archive—It’s basically like an online library, you can find tons of free eBooks, videos, etc.
• Open Library—It’s similar to Internet Archive, except not all the books are free, though many of them can be “checked out” just like a regular library.  And there’s plenty of classic books to download for free.
• Scribd—this one blends eBooks and social media together.  You can read and download tons of books and share ones you’ve written.
• CNET—this is actually a place to find software of all kinds including eBooks and eBook readers.  Most of the software is free or free to try. 
• Greater Phoenix Digital Library—this is a local resource for me.  Anyone with a library card for one of 10 different public libraries in the Phoenix Metropolitan area can log in and check out eBooks and videos there.  For those outside the area, check with your local library for similar programs.

Now please excuse me, I’m in the middle of re-reading Little Women.  Happy reading!

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Pants Recon Challenge Round 1

For the first part of The Great Pants Recon Challenge, I went with a rather obvious project.  Our lovely pink pants happen to have a pink drawstring waistband, so what would be better than using that to make a simple drawstring bag?  I can use it to store my new sewing supplies (see Breaking Down).

I simply cut off the front half of the pants so I had a rectangle shape that was about as long as I wanted to bag and twice as wide with the holes for the drawstring in the center.  By the way, I removed the drawstring before cutting.  I folded the material right sides together and stitched down and across the bottom.  I ripped out some of the stitching for the casing first so I could sew the seam without screwing up the drawstring’s path.  After all  that was done I just turned the bag right side out and thread the drawstring back in the “waistband” and tied it off.  I had to cut it since it suddenly became too long. 

Now I have a cute pink bag, that’s one pants project completed.

And here’s what’s still left of the pants.

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