Just trying to take a few photos

Taking photos to share with you can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. For many reasons, but mainly because I have two very curious dogs.  It's like when your kids are young and as soon as you begin a telephone conversation they absolutely have to have your attention right this minute.  My dogs are the same way only its the camera not the phone that causes them to want my attention - right this minute. 

It's even worse when I bring my dress form outdoors.  You see my big dog loves to play Frisbee. And in her mind if you're in the back yard it's playtime.

After one too many photos that included doggie tails and faces I gave up and played Frisbee.

I mean how can you ignore a face this like?

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Just ramblin

Last week, after coming home from a wonderful and relaxing vacation to Wyoming, I began battling a pretty fierce head cold. A week later I'm finally beginning to feel like myself again.
 
I don't know about you, but I've learned the hard way not to sew anything complicated when my brain is fuzzy. Which is why the only thing I've worked on is aprons.

Photographing my sewing projects outdoors will likely come to an end soon as the leaves are changing colors quickly. Which means cold and snow will follow soon. And I don't think it'll be much fun lugging my dress form outside to stage photos.  But aren't the trees beautiful? This is what I see when I look out my front window.

We had a special birthday celebration this weekend.  I think every birthday is special but this is extra-special because it's the second birthday we've celebrated since my son's brain tumor was discovered and removed.  I'm so grateful he seems to have beaten this and is still with us.  He continues to have follow up MRI's every four months (well, once the insurance gets figured out) and so far so good. Keep them prayers coming!.

My son, an avid golfer, was surprised with these golfers, hand carved by my talented father.

Do you receive the All Free Sewing.com e-newsletters? Did you happen to notice a familiar face as Designer of the Week?  Yep, little ole' me.

There are a lot of great ideas on that site so check it out if you haven't done so already.

When my head clears I'll be back to work on my Burda maxi skirt and and the Burda top.

Plus I've got some fun apron designs in the works - perfect for quick gifts.

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Polka dot apron - Butterick 4945

Polka dots.

Who doesn't love polka dots?

When I saw this Anthro apron I knew I needed a polka dot apron. 

I mean, you'd want a polka dot apron after seeing this, right?

Here's mine.  Sweet and simple. 

Pattern: Butterick 4945

Fabric: 1-5/8 yards of black and white polka dot cotton/lycra blend

Time: 1-1/4 hours from cutting to photographing

Pattern changes: Add a self-fabric bow in place of a ribbon bow

Do yo have a polka dot apron?


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Flashback Friday! Tigers and Rabbits 1981

All together now...Awwwww.

It's okay, I already know they're so stinkin' adorable.

Darling son in his tiger costume.

And darling daughter in her bunny costume.

Not JUST costumes, but flannel pjs that were worn multiple times once Halloween was long gone.

Original post from 2007 is here.

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Fresh from the garden

 Don't these look luscious?

 Picked fresh from the garden just a few days ago.

You see, last week while my hubby and I were experiencing cold and snow in the mountains of Wyoming summer was busy making a grand farewell here at home.  The combination of sunny skies and temps climbing into the 80s gave our garden had one last growth spurt.

But what does one do with hundreds of tomatoes?  Why make salsa of course. 

Garden Salsa
1-1/2 lbs tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1  small jalapeno chile, seeded and finely diced
2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
Place all ingredients in a medium bowl. 
From a fresh lime, grate 1/2 tsp. lime peel and squeeze 1 tbsp. juice into the bowl.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

Makes about 3 cups but will only last about two days refrigerated.  Or two hours if you have a bag of tortilla chips and a football game to watch :-)

Good Housekeeping has a video for making the salsa. Check it out.

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Tutorial: Sew Halloween Witch Shoe Treat Bags or Silverware Holders

Just in time for Halloween!

Sew yourself a set of Witch Stocking and Shoe Silverware holders - or use them as mini treat bags.

Download the free Witch Shoe/Stocking template here.

It will open up in Google docs. To print it choose File (located on the upper left side of your screen) and choose print.

Let's get started.

• For each shoe cut out 2 of the stocking (which will be the full template shown in the striped fabric) and 2 of the shoe (which will be the bottom portion of the template shown in the polka dot fabric).

•  Pin the shoe portion on top of the stocking as shown.

•   Using a narrow zig-zag, stitch along the upper edge of the shoe securing it to the stocking.

•  Place a scrap of tissue paper underneath the fabric to help keep the fabric from puckering. Tear away the tissue paper when you're done stitching.

• Machine or hand baste the curved lower edge of the shoe to the stocking.

• Stitch a 1/2" hem along the top edge of each stocking.

• For each shoe holder, cut 2 pieces of ribbon 11" long.
• Pin ribbon to the shoe holder as shown in the photo below. 
• The measurement from the edge of the stocking to where the ribbon makes a "V" on the stocking is about 1-1/2".

• Hand or machine baste ribbon along edge of stocking.  
• Hand tack or glue where the ribbon is a "V".

• Sew buttons over ribbon as shown.

• Place each shoe right sides together.
• Stitch together using a 1/4" seam allowance.
• Leave the upper edge open. (The edge you hemmed earlier.)
• Carefully clip all of the curves.

• Turn right side out and press lightly.

Fill with treats

or use them as napkin or silveware holders to decorate your Halloween table.

Enjoy!

And yes, I got the idea from the mini-Christmas stocking silverware holders I made a few years ago (tutorial here).

This post is part of Today's Creative Blog 

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Fall, fleece and finishing old projects - Simplicity 9822

There's something about the fall weather that leads me to two things: baking and decluttering.  At first glance they don't seem to go together do they? But I think it's about nesting. Getting ready to spend more time indoors as the weather cools down.

As I was decluttering I found this poncho pattern and fabric tucked on the top shelf of a closet. Already cut out and ready to go.

So what to do, what to do...

Do I place it back in the closet? Do I toss it into the donation pile? Do I take the time to sew the poncho?

Sewing won.

I began about 10 am and less than two hours later I had myself a fleece poncho.

Well, actually it's my daughters. I remembered when I pulled it out of the closet that I had promised to sew this for her.  Oops - better late than never, right?

There are only three pattern pieces. The body of the poncho, the hood and the facing.

With fleece sometimes things shift on me so I pinned the edges of the facing to the wrong side. The facing will be attached to the poncho with stitches on the right side of the poncho.

And as much as I dislike basting I wanted the stitches on the right side to be accurate so I hand basted near the edges of the facing to guide my stitching.

The pattern calls for the edges to be hemmed. Since this is fleece I could have left it as is, however I choose to turn it under and stitch.

I even did quick and dirty mitered corners.

While sewing the hem at the sewing machine, when I came close to the corner I folded the corner in to the wrong side (left photo), turned the side hem in and pinned (center photo) and turned the bottom hem in and pinned (right photo).  

The hood is nice and roomy for those times you just need a little something to protect your head from the weather elements.

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Flashback Friday - Halloween 1988 The Unicorn, Pirate and Mermaid

Halloween 1988 - The Unicorn, Pirate and Mermaid.

Lovely costumes aren't they?  All designed and sewn by my creative BFF (the pretty blonde in the photo).  The biggest tell-tale sign that they were designed in the 80s would be that sequined headband.

I was never small enough to fit into her Unicorn costume, but the mermaid costume was one of my favorites. And she was always more happy to loan the costume to me.  Even though I thought I was carrying around too many extra pounds to do it justice.  Sigh, I'd go back and slap some sense into myself  if I could.  

If you're a long time reader of my blog these photos may look familiar. That's because we recently returned from an out-of-town vacation and I'm recycling a Flashback Friday post. The original story can be read on this post. 

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Finishing a long-forgotten top - Burda 11-2008-114

I figured it was about time I finished sewing this top -#114- from the November 2008 issue of Burda.  It's a simple over-blouse with tiny neck pleats, 3/4 length sleeves and an elasticized waistline. Looks quite fetching in the photo doesn't it?

I choose a sheer silk hoping to get the same romantic feel as the top in the magazine.  Many of you might even recognize the fabric as it was one of the Anna Sui silks offered by Fabric.com.

After having this cut  out for almost two years it's finally finished. But I find it a bit blah.

Soooooo, I'm playing around a bit pinning various pieces of trim to the front.

What do you think of the addition of an applique to the center front?

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Antique shopping on a lazy afternoon

I stumbled upon a large stack of vintage greeting cards while doing a little antique shopping on a crisp Saturday afternoon. Among the stack were these adorable late 40s baby cards congratulating new parents on the arrival of their baby. Aren't they sweet?

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Friday Fun

Winter's coming!

Our Abby is such a good sport.  She was very curious about the new hat as I withdrew it from the shopping bag. Perhaps because she's grown accustomed to anything coming out of a bag with "fur" means a new toy for her.

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Banana bread fresh from the oven

Over ripe bananas and a well-loved favorite recipe

With a secret ingredient - fresh lemon zest

Poured into the Pamperef Chef mini loaf pans

Bake until golden brown

Cut open and take in that mouth-watering smell of freshly-bake banana bread.

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Quick & Easy Gift Idea: Turn a purchased flower applique into a headband

Got ten minutes to spare?  (Five if you're really quick.)

Use that spare time to embellish a headband. Or two. Or three.

It really is easy. Let me show you how.

Gather your supplies. This could be the most time-consuming part of this whole project!

A purchased applique (mine has lovely pink and white flowers with pearl accents), felt,  a purchased headband (I found a pack of five at a discount store), a hot glue gun and glue stick.

Determine where you want the applique to be on the headband.   Take note of how much of the applique will be attached to the headband.

Cut a shaped piece of felt to match the part of the applique that will be attached to the headband.  Hot glue the felt to the back of the applique.

Hot glue to one side of the headband.

Cut a piece of felt 1" wide and 2" shorter than the shaped piece of felt.  Hot glue to the back of the headband. The headband will be sandwiched between the applique and this strip of felt.

Ta-da! Done!

This post is part of Today's Creative Blog and Polly Want a Crafter? 

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Just helping a fabric store with their magazine display

While shopping at a local fabric this morning I quickly glanced at the sewing magazines. You know, just to see what was available. Fine, I admit it. To see if the latest SewNews was on display.

Now I ask you. How will anyone see my fabulous sweater on the cover when it's displayed like this?

Think they'll notice the little rearranging I did?

Just trying to be helpful.

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