May is drawing to a close and I am breathing a deep sigh. May is always a hard month around our house. We had four birthday celebrations; my Momma's, our oldest son's, my father-in-law, and my niece. Then of course Mother's Day and our wedding anniversary, which fell on Mother's Day this year. Add to that the final programs for some activities and the rounding out of the school year and testing for the two still being homeschooled and let's just say it is a bit overwhelming at times. I didn't do much sewing. Hemming this and that. I cut out two new skirts and they are in various stages of completion. I embroidered two shirts that got stains on them last year and have been sitting in my to-do pile to fix, and I embroidered the bag you see above for our youngest son to store some of his music for the piano in.

I am looking forward to June. Not just because there are large white spaces showing on our family calendar, but because we are going on vacation, two weeks out West visiting my in-laws. It will be a nice break from working. I doubt I will get to take my sewing machine with me, but I may try!

Sew Long For Now!

A beautiful buttercup my lovely daughter brought in a bouquet for me from our yard.

My second wee gown finished. I am also working on some more smocked ornaments. This time using ribbon. I finally was able to cut out a skirt and have it together. I just need to put in the waist band and hem it. There never seems to be enough time does there?

Sew Long for Now!

Every other month our local sewing machine dealer has a workshop for those who have purchased machines. At these workshops they show us how to make projects with our machines and their accessories. Last month they featured a wall hanging using the circular embroidery attachment. It was also a feature in issue number 32 of Through the Needle. I loved the sample one. I had the attachment already and several spools of decorative thread, so I purchased the fabric and decided to give it a try. Warning this is not as easy as it looks! You make two quilt tops of pieced 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 blocks. Then you baste them together and decide where to place your circles. You can cut out the size using freezer paper and iron them down where you choose and then reposition them to reuse the same size circle. The first hurdle for me was deciding what size to make the circles and where to place them. Once that is done deciding what thread to use and which stitch to use almost drove me bonkers! Trying to sew circles through two layers while keeping the tear-away stabilizer intact was also a little difficult. Once you stitch a single line of stitching around the circle you cut away the material in the circle and then do any type of satin stitch around. It's similar to reverse applica. For the circle within the circle you do the stitching on the smaller circle first and then don't cut, but do a larger circle around it and then cut out between the two proceeding on to the satin stitching after this.

Next I have to layer the batting and backing to make the wall hanging. It's not really my style and I don't know what I am going to do with it, but it has been a wonderful learning experience for a new technique. I was thinking that my bedroom is yellow with blue trim and it would be nice to use some shades of similar blue for the top quilt and some shades of similar yellow for the bottom and do something similar, but not so abstract looking.

Sew Long for Now!

Have you ever had one of those "duh" moments? Recently, I read an article in Threads March 2010 issue called "Vionnet: Master Geometrician." It spent some time talking about her edge finishes. At one point it was talking about how she cut bias and sewed that to the edge and then in another article I read it spoke of using bias again on heavy material to keep the bulk in the seam down. A few days later our youngest son was gifted with more jeans. I had hemmed a slew of pants for him recently because he has had a growth spurt. When I did the jeans I broke 3 needles in the progress of completing the hemming job, so I was dreading hemming more jeans. As I was contemplating this task one day I had a "duh" moment. I remembered dh having some jeans his Momma hemmed when we were first married. She had used bias tape to do the hem and I had never seen anyone do that. Then again when I married him I had never seen many jeans hemmed by anyone other than the store or dry cleaner, but that's another story. It dawned on me that I could hem these jeans using bias tap to cut down on the bulk. I have lots of bias tape that I was gifted with a few years back. A couple pair of the jeans I cut off for shorts and a couple I left long. I pressed up at least a 1 inch hem on all of them. Next, I sewed bias tape to the right side of the hem allowance and then turned up the hem and folded the bias binding over the raw edge and sewed it down. No broken needles, no hump jumping problems at the seam! Sewing was a breeze and it took hardly any extra time to do the extra steps involved. I am one happy camper. So, tell me am I the only person in the universe who just got this or has everyone always hemmed jeans like this?

Sew Long for Now!

For the past month, one of the big projects I have been working on is a bow tucks bag. I finally finished it. It turned out nice. It has lots of pockets on the inside.

And of course the detail that gives it it's name.



It also calls for one pocket on the outside, but I cut out two so I gave it two on the outside. You can never have enough pockets! I also finished smocking an angel gown, but I didn't take a picture of that before I gave it to the lady who collects them. I started another gown. I would like to do one a month at least. My next big sewing project (besides making shorts out of old jeans for my son) is going to be make me some new skirts and I have some smaller projects in the works.

We got new bees and they are drawing out their own comb. This piece fell off when the boys released the queen yesterday and I was just amazed at the perfect cubes in each comb. I tried to capture it, but a photo doesn't do it justice.

Sew Long for Now!

Last Monday I spent the whole day sewing! It was great, I helped other members of our ASG chapter make soldier bags to send to troops serving overseas. As of Wednesday we had 124 to turn in.

Now I must interrupt for some serious cuteness! I had been missing having a dog. My husband and I had talked about getting two black poodles. Monday afternoon he comes home with the name and number of a lady we go to church with who had 3 month old poodles, 2 litters. We went to see them and came home with a chocolate and apricot. The chocolate is named Smith and the apricot is named Wesson. I forgot how much work house training puppies is!

I did get the pillowcases finished to match the children's pj's I made them. I used the directions at Modalissa's blog. The only snag I had was that I used flannel and the method she showed for the roll method was neat, but the flannel didn't slide very well. It took a bit of an effort to get it flipped. I think I would like to make some using cotton. It was actually fun once you got it flipped!

I also finally cut out my bow tuck bag, now to get it sown up! Wow, I feel I am actually accomplishing something lately.

Sew Long for Now!

I was on a roll and since I finished smocking my 2nd ornament a month ago, I went ahead to finished it up.
I am looking forward to learning to do the other type of ornament in April.

I started on the second bra purse, but my heart wasn't it. My heart wasn't in much because I got a case of the whiney's. Our youngest son was growing out of his pants and shirts so the general and I went shopping in my favorite place - the attic. I had boxes and boxes of clothes saved from our oldest son and I have a friend who has two boys and she gave me the clothes they outgrew. When we pulled down the last four boxes I was amazed that was all that was left. By the time we went through them one only had one box to put back up. What made me so melancholy was the fact that my baby is growing up. He will be 13 this summer and as I watch his body grow into that of a young man it's hard. I will no longer have any babies or children. Our oldest turns 21 this year and so this year is marked by milestones with our two boys. One becomes an adult and one becomes a young man...sigh...I hope they remember the book I used to read to them when they were little, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as your living my baby you'll be."
Off to hem pants for the young man.
Sew Long for Now!

Ok, so I should really be in bed since I have to be at work by 7 a.m., but I finished my bra purse and this is the back of it. I had started to put beads on it and then I took them off. It was just too much for me. I have another bra, I got two in the package I bought and I am thinking of making one more and seeing if I can't embelish it on the machine instead of by hand.
I was excited this week because I finally completely finished one of the smocked ornaments I started 4 months ago. The pattern called for a 3 inch ball and the finished project was too big for that size ball. It seems other ladies at the smocking group had this same problem so I can't chalk it up to beginners booboo. I padded the ball with quilting batting and that made it fit better.

Next month the lady who leads the smocking group is going to show me how to make a different ornament with ribbon.

I also finally got around to washing the material for a spring bag I am making. So maybe this coming week I will get my other smocked ornament completely finished, my bag cut out and worked on, another bra bag worked on, some pillow cases cut out and made, and a bathrobe cut out. I always have more ideas than time!

Sew Long for Now!

What is that old saying about the best laid plans? I have so many plans to do things and then I get so busy they just don't materialize. One of the things I had planned to do starting the beginning of this year was to get back into blogging more consistantly. It hasn't happened. I have been sewing though. This interesting thing above is one of the projects I am working on right now. It's a purse. It's not finished. It's being made out of an interesting object. A bra. It's a lot of hand sewing also. I hope to finish it in the next two weeks. I will post pictures of it when it's done.

Sew Long for Now!

I signed up to sew these post op pouches for breast cancer patients in October. I finally finished them today. I am trying to get some ufo's and mending caught up.

With the New Year, Tuesday has become one of the busiest days here. This morning we all went to the dentist, then I dropped our daughter off at Math class while our youngest son and I came home, him to finish his lessons and me to sew. After I picked her up from Math we all three did chores and I cleaned the bathroom then I took her to violin lessons. I dropped her off and picked up our youngest son to drop him off to meet his Dad for a missions trip meeting and I came home to fix supper. I now await those two returning so we can eat and maybe watch the first half of Return of the Kings, the extended version. We are working our way through the LoR extended version movies this week.

I need to see if I can find a zipper to finish a pair of pants for a lady at church and then attack that mending pile!

Sew Long for Now!

I know I have been missing in action for a while. I have spent the past two months working on outfits to be worn to our annual vintage ball. This is a contra dance for homeschoolers in our area every year right after Christmas. It is tons of fun. My husband really gets into this dance. He loves to dress in the style of the 1800's. He also really wants an authentic outfit. This year I tried really hard to make him one.

This is the vest. The easiest piece I made.

I wanted to chuck these pants more times than I can count. The instructions with the pattern are just beyond comprehension. I finally told him I was going to make them the best I could to look authentic as possible. This pattern caused me many tears and I have seriously thought about trashing the pattern because it was such a pain.

This the jacket. He wanted it in the authentic wool, but I talked him out of it. Since we were dancing indoors and with heat I thought it would be just too hot. There are more than 24 pewter buttons on this coat. I also didn't make the buttons actually function. This piece took me the longest and there was so many more things I could have done to make it more authentic, but time wasn't on my side. I spent more than 6 weeks working on it.

This has been one of the most challenging projects I have done in awhile.

Today to wind down from all this I cleaned my sewing room and worked on hand quilting a fence rail quilt I am working on.

Sew Long for Now!

I am learning something new. Smocking. I need lots of practice as you can see. Worked on some embroidery. Still trying to find time to fit more sewing into my life at the stage. I keep reminding myself life is full of seasons and the season I am in now will soon pass and santity will prevail!

Sew Long for Now!

The quilt was finished and given on time! I was finishing up the border at 1:30 a.m. and gave it to my parents at 2 p.m.! I finally finished a skirt I had been working on for 7 weeks. It usually only takes a day or two, but because life is so hectic around here these days everything takes a lot longer. Christmas is coming too fast and I need to start sewing for that, but I have some embroidery to do for a client. That and mending piling up. I need some more skirts too. Hmm, can I hire a stunt double for my life?

Sew Long for Now!

Here's how far I have gotten. I am going to embroider a big 50 on the top as the cake topper. I am also going to embroider their names and their date of marriage and the date of their anniversary. I also am either going to embroider or applique the berries and leaves to match the material that I am using for the border I need to add. I am missing the names of two great grandchildren because I can't get hold of any one to find them out. Even my Momma doesn't know these names. Close family eh?

Sew Long for Now!

A peek at the wall hanging I am working on, 33 more names to embroider. This has to be done by Oct. 10th...hmmm?

Sew Long for Now!

I wanted to let every know that over at the Mennobrarian she is have a great give away, stop by and look! She has 4 different prizes packages to give away to four different people. Her blog is lovely and is also posted on my blog roll if you need the link.

Sew Long for Now!

PS I have been sewing for the past month, just haven't had lots of time to post. I am working on a great wall hanging for my parents 50th wedding anniversary in a little over a week. I will post about it when it is done. Love and Friendship!

Our little beekeeper turned 12 on Friday and we ran away for a couple of days.
My sewing for this past week consisted of a trip to the fabric store to admire fabric. I didn't buy anything. I am on a mission to find some home dec fabric to make new curtains and possibly a comfort for my bedroom. Yes, we are going to move bedrooms around again.
Sew Long for Now!

This week has had little sewing. Lots of shopping, lots of decisions, but not a lot of sewing.

I made the first batch of salsa for the summer. I used habenero's I had in the freezer from last summer because those little peppers aren't ripe yet. I made a little over 12 pints.

My only sewing project this week was embroidering this sweater for some one. It took over 74 minutes for just the embroidery to sew out. Next week I doubt I will get any sewing in. We are planning a short trip to the beach in honor of our youngest's 12 birthday and our oldest heads back to college next weekend. He is heading into his 3rd year! This year will be a big year for him.

Sew Long for Now!

After spending an enjoyable morning with a friend of mine and her children at the park I came home and dived into finishing the curtains. I did! I didn't line them because I justed wanted something to filter the light. I wanted more natural light to come in. I love them, they are exactly what I wanted. The give the room a cozy cottage look.

I was especially pleased with what worked on this window. We have central air, but the general put a small a/c unit in the window because there are two computers in this room and only one vent and it can get quite stuffy when I have to have the door closed. The small a/c has given us a two fold benefit, it keeps the room cool because of the computers and it also keeps down the noise from the neighbors on this side of the house while I am working. They are lovely people don't get me wrong, they just have a lot of people living there (three generations) and lots of children and for some reason they chose to play really noisy games right under my window. Don't get me started on 4th of July. They went out of state to buy fireworks and they bought some really big banging explosives. I had to work that night and oh the noise when I was trying to answer the phone. Oh well. It feels so good to have completed a project. I probably will not get a lot more done until next week. Tomorrow is the dreaded grocery shopping day and Saturday is the general's day off.

Sew Long for Now!

A few weeks ago when the general had vacation we used it remodeling my office/sewing room. Since I work from home I spend a lot of time in this room. The general built a desk to fit in the corner of the room with shelves above it for me. I didn't like the curtains in the room, but the would do since they covered the windows. I decided since we redid the room to make new curtains. I wanted cafe curtains so I could see the sky from my chair while working. I also decided I needed to find the material to do the curtains in my stash. I found this cute checked fabric and decided it would match. Today I finally got around to starting the curtains. I cut out both sets and began serging and sewing them. This is the only piece of them I got completely finished. I love the way it looks, so much more feminine than what was up there. Tonight I may work more on them. Today is one of my days off. Hopefully, I will finish them up by the weekend. Doesn't it feel good to get in a few hours sewing?

Sew Long for Now!

photo by my daughter

Summer is rolling along. I think often of blogging. I think often of sewing. Lately both have been just a dream. I have worked a lot of overtime this summer. Summer just seems to be passing me by. I definitely am not getting my usual enjoyment out of it. This is the first summer I have worked a full time job in 20 years and I do not enjoy it. I don't like working, but alas I do what I have to. I did get reaquainted with my sewing machine today. For the first time in what seem like forever I threaded my serger and repaired a bag for my oldest and then set up my embroidery machine and put some embroidery on a shirt to cover up where I got paint on it. It was one of my favorite shirts, I had to save it. Don't you just love that about embroidery, you can do little tricks like that with it. I bought a sketch pad at Walmart a month or so ago with the intention of using it to put ideas for sewing projects in it. I finally, got around to starting it last night. There may be hope for me to get myself back in line yet. Cross your fingers, and your toes, and say a prayer!

Sew Long for Now!

Has it really been that long since I wrote? It doesn't seem that long. I seem to be stuck in the fast lane of traffic and not be able to move over to get off the exit ramp, even with my turn signal on.

I finished 20 eyeglass holders for the nursing home and gave them for the June party.

I have embroidered some shirts, worked on some crochet, and did some beading, but I have been so busy getting people in the house ready for camps, going to graduation parties, and such. I have barely had any time to keep up with what every one is doing and this makes me sad. My two sons were in an auto accident. An elderly gentleman hit them and totaled the vehicle they were in. That alone took two full weeks out of my life. I had to make what seem like millions of calls to get everything taken care of. My job (the one I get paid for-grin) has been very busy lately and I have worked quite a lot of overtime. I have been so tired when I haven't worked. I joined Curves with my daughter because I was doing horrible trying to motivate myself to get some exercise and sitting for 8 hours five days a week was getting to me.

I guess the problem is I have been disjointed. I still haven't found my groove with things since the change in jobs last November. I spend time thinking and planning a new strategy for how to get it all done, to have something happen and everything fly in my face and upset my new routine. I thrive on routine, but right now I haven't found one that works, thus I am not thriving. I have to remember there is seasons to our lives and I seem to be in the stormy season, not much different than the weather around us right now.
This is the latest of my projects for the nursing home. I made 80 of these little patriotic pins for them for July. I now face August and have no creative idea of what to do. Hopefully, I will get some time to do some web surfing and come up with something. I have an embroidery project waiting for a customer and clothes to repair for our daughter's upcoming camp week and some one just brought me a shirt to repair for them and ironing to do and...well you get the picture. Does everyone have all these things looming over them?
Sew Long for Now!

A few cards I made this week. I haven't done much sewing except in my mind.

Sew Long for Now!

Greetings! I got a picture of one of the pins I made for the nursing home door prizes. The ladies loved these and I was ask to make a few more, who could say no to such cuteness.

Meanwhile I have started on these necklaces for June's door prizes. I also made 20 bookmarkers. I was thinking with Father's Day being in June I need to find a special something to make for the just the men. There are less than 20 men who come to the party. Any ideas would be appreciated, remember these are men in there 80's+.
And I just have to share what I received for Mother's Day from my daughter!

She spent a long time beading each of these flowers and making this necklace for me, she even made a pair of matching earrings! She is so talented!

I have caught up on my mending again, I seem to end up with a lot of mending around here. I need to finish my quilt. Of course my mind is always thinking of more projects to sew!

Sew Long for Now!

Another skirt finished for me. This one out of a soft brown suiting material lined with a cream lining. April's been a busy month. I haven't done a tremendous amount of sewing, but I have gotten a decent amount of crochet done.
I have crocheted a supply of dishclothes, and because of a swap I participated in I made some potholders also.

The nursing home door prizes got attention too. I made 20 brooches out the above fabric. I made big yoyo's out of the pink gingham and then sewing little yoyo's out of the print, I placed those in the center of the larger yoyo's. I topped that off with a button in the center of the smaller yoyo. The brooches look like flowers, something out of a Mary Englebreit picture.

We put in most of two of our veggie gardens. Still need to add more beans and more peppers.


If you have time stop by Things Least Expected and read the poem my daughter wrote for me. I was so touched and awed by it!
Sew Long for Now!

No sewing accomplished over vacation. I did spend a lot of time running around.Here is one of the pandas from the National Zoo which we visited in DC.

I did work on getting some mending jobs done when we got home. The general has a new zipper in his coat and our little bee keeper has the hem let out of some of his pants. Boy, is he going through a growth spurt.

I cut out two skirts that I hope to work on today. I also started a new project for door prizes for the nursing home's May party. I haven't gotten any further on my quilt though. I hope to work on it soon. I need to get some clothing items done first before I continue.

Sew Long for Now!