Halloween goodies

 

Just a few things for my grandbabies...

 

An apron, cookie cutters, cookie mix, and icing for Miss Oakleigh to make and decorate yummy Halloween cookies for Mommy, Daddy and little sister Brantley.

 



Sweet candy corn for sweet little Brantley.

 



These little orange britches I found at Target matched my candy corn fabric perfectly!

 

 

So...What are you making your little ghouls?



Friday's Favorites

 

~ Warm brownie - vanilla ice cream - chocolate syrup ~

 



Mmmmmmm....

 



Hope everyone has a "sweet" weekend!

I'm on a roll...

 

After reorganizing my patterns I dove into my sewing room closet.

I am tossing or reorganizing EVERYTHING in my sewing room.

 

A few years ago I got on a kick of sewing totes and handbags.

I didn't really use them - just had fun making them.

I found this bin in the closet FULL of bags and totes.

 

Most of them I have blogged about in the past but I had forgotten about this one.

 

 

My flamingo tote.

 

I couldn't resist those cute little flamingo faces so I appliqued a few more at the top.
 Aren't they cute?

 

 

Not only did I forget I made this tote... I forgot how darn cute it was.

Think I'll start using it.........



Friday's Favorites - pattern storage

 

Over the years I have tried many different ways of organizing and storing my patterns.

I started a new way of organizing my patterns yesterday and it already rates for one of my

 Friday's Favorites.

Really...

 All the storage I've tried in the past just really didn't work for me.

I found this idea on U-tube and LOVE it. 

 

I started out with this mess:

 



It keeps them all in one spot, but as you can see below its not easy finding what you're looking for.

Three drawers. Each drawer holds approximately 100 patterns.

Yep.

Do the math..... 300!!!!

I had no idea!

 

Another issue we all have is trying to get those pattern pieces stuffed back into that little envelope once we're done.

 

 

Am I right?

 

Mine usually end up like this...

 

 

Not any more......

My pattern envelopes are now neatly in a binder and easy to see.

 

 

Each pattern envelope goes into a sheet protector where you can see the front and back.

 

 

I labeled each section - dresses, skirts, tops, pants etc.

 

 

Did you notice I said my pattern envelopes were filed in this binder?

That's because I have all the patterns and instructions filed here - in 9 x 12 manila envelopes.

 

 

 I have plenty of room for the pattern, instructions and any photos or information I might want to include with a particular pattern.

 

 

I filed them first by pattern maker and then by the pattern number.

Simple and easy to find.

 

 I still have two more drawers (200 patterns) to go through.

 

 

In the end, I will end up with more than one binder.

  I plan on making separate binders labeled as women's apparel, children's, babies, home decor,accessories etc.

 

 I can now sit comfortably on the couch with my new binder and dream....

 

I LOVE my new pattern organization.

 

 

Linking today to:

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/



~ A little pattern organization ~

After reading Miss Crayola Creepy's post on cleaning up her patterns, I thought it was time...

 



 I have been wanting to reorganize my patterns for some time - just never got around to it.

Thanks for the push Miss Creepy.

 

Only one problem...

 

 I am realizing I have WAY too many patterns to organize in one day.

 I am hoping to show you at least a tiny bit of my progress tomorrow.

 

Until then....



Recycled denim shirt collar

 

I received a comment from Debbie asking how I sewed the collar on my recycled denim shirt.
Soooo...
 I thought I would share with everyone how easy it is to give an old shirt a new look - just by changing the collar.

Here goes...

First, I ironed the collar really flat and traced it onto tissue paper.

I then cut my pattern about 1/2 inch larger than my traced line.

After cutting my pattern out I started in the center and neatly tucked and pinned the extra 1/2 inch under along the edge.

The points are a little tricky, but just keep working it under and around the corner.
You can do it.

Once you have it pinned, take it to the sewing machine and top stitch all the way around.

And, there you have it !

Could it be much easier?

Friday's Favorites

 

~ Sew Pretty Homestyle ~

Some of my favorite sewing and craft books.

 

 

 

Take a look inside....

 

 

Adorable...

 





~ Sew Sunny homestyle ~

 



Pretty things for summer...

 



~ Sew Pretty Christmas Homestyle ~

 

 

             Aren't these little Gingerbread men the cutest?

 

 

How about a cozy little bath...

 





 I just love the Tilda style.

How 'bout you?

 

Recycled denim

 

Remember my last Alma Blouse?

I had scraps left over...

 Anyone who knows me knows I can't let any scraps go to waste.

 

A few years ago I purchased an unadorned denim dress for myself off the dollar rack at a thrift store with the intention of embroidering it.

(As you will see, I never got around to embroidering on it.)

 

It was a nice denim dress from The Gap - perfect condition - ONE DOLLAR! 

 

I have since outgrown it, and passed it to my daughter.

Before passing it down I decided to make a few changes.

 

My first change was making it into a shirt instead of a dress.

Easy enough.

 

 

Using the scraps left over from my Alma blouse, I dressed it up a bit.

 

I added fabric to the collar...

 

 

the sleeves...

 

 

and the hem.

 

 

Here it is complete and ready to pass down to Miss Polly.

 

 

 

 

 I think got my dollars worth.

Whatcha think?

Linking today to:
http://thecreativeitchboutique.blogspot.com/ 

Alma Blouse #2

 

I absolutely LOVE this pattern.

 

 

It's simple and easy to sew.  Unfortunately, I have gained 10 a few pounds since my little accident and I can't quite get the fit the way I like it. Mostly because I hope to lose those extra pounds soon (and then some) and didn't want to take the time to fit a blouse for my weight gain.

 I am sure my original Alma will fit perfectly after I lose a bit.

 

Since my first Alma Blouse was a bit tight at the bustline, I decided to just go up a size larger and grade the waist and hip line down. I think these patterns are geared towards pear shaped gals so this pattern does seem to be a bit too wide in the hips for me. For my first Alma I made a size 12 and I graded the waist and hips to a 10. Other than the bust, it fit pretty well.

Don't get me wrong... it's wearable - just a little too snug in the bust for my taste.

Here's my second try...

I cut the size 14 (for the bust size) and thought I would grade the waist and hips to a 10.
  I was a little afraid of getting the waist and hips out of proportion by going down two sizes, so I only graded down to the 12.
In the picture above you can't tell with my hands are on my hips, but I think I should have attempted to grade down to the 10.

In the picture below you can see I have about 4 extra inches at the hip - each side.

The only other issue I had making the size 14 was the neck line.
It's not so noticeable in the photo, but I am narrow across the shoulders so the size 14 neckline is a bit loose.
 I probably could have taken an inch or so out of the neck line and it would have laid much nicer.

 I think I will hold off making my next Alma Blouse until I get rid of my extra ten plus pounds...
In the meantime, I am working on a little recycle project for my daughter.
Stay tuned....

 

Friday's Favorites

 

My favorite sewing storage.

 



Yep. Bait or tackle boxes.

(I married a fisherman - what did you expect?)

 

They work great for storing my embroidery threads.

 

 

These bait boxes are inexpensive, sturdy and can hold quite a few threads in each box.

 

 

They come in different sizes too.

I use the smaller ones for all sorts of stuff.

 

 

 

When you purchase these bait boxes, they come like this:

 

 

You can keep them together or snap them apart.

 

 

Look how nicely they stack.

 

 

Perfect for fishing tackle sewing supplies, don't you think?