Halloween Costumes

Ok, here is my finished costume, I am on the right in white/purple for the people that may not know me and stumble across this blog.

It got down to the last night before. I dont know why I put things off so much. It could be because I am so unorganized, that it really takes longer to do something because I have to find everything and make room to do it. Anyway, I would have liked for it to look more Egyptian, however this is as far as it got. At least it did get finished, even if the belt is held on by safety pines instead of snaps like I wanted. It still works!

Halloween Time !

Once again it is Halloween time. For those that dont know me personally, dont know, that it is a big deal at my work. Several People go ALL OUT on their costumes. I kind of like doing that also, or at least, if I'm going to do it, I'm going to try my best. This year, our department has chosen the theme "Egyptian". So I checked out sites on line, collect some photos for ideas, then go try on a costume, for more ideas. The costume I tried on was pretty cute, however it did not flatter my body style, (ie..not perfect), plus, costumes, are just not made quality wise, very well. Or at least the ones I have found. The top of the dress was different fabric than the bottom of the dress. So I figured, well, I could do that. Really with a costume, you can do anything you want, you are the designer. By the way, that costume I tried on was 40.00. Well, it is easier to buy clothing these days than making them. Same goes with costumes. So far, as of today, 10.15.09

I have bought a wig, which by the way also, I though looked hurrendous, (is that a word), anyway, I tried it on for my friend, and she said it looked fine. So I guess the 16.99 wig stays. Next, I found a blouse where I like the top, kind of a peasant style, size 3x, (ha, yeah) only 9.00$ I am a sewist, I can fix things like that. And I have some fabric already in my stash for the skirt part, and my friend gave me some lining white, since it is kind of see thru!. Then on the way home today, I stopped by the local fabric shop, (one of the few left in town), and spent 37.00 on fabric and trim for the neck thingie, not sure what it is called, I will have to google that and get back with you. Anyway, I have the idea in my head now, and the colors, and the trims, so its just a matter of me putting it all together. Now there is no turning back. Ive spent too much money already. Where else would I wear such a thing? So check back again, maybe I will show pictures in progress, or I might wait till the end. But there will eventually be a costume on way or another. LJHUNT cannot show up at work without a costume... its just not right.

Guitar Quilt

This is not quite a quilt yet, its just a quilt top. Started maybe 2 years ago, then stopped. (Sewing people tend to start new projects before others are done) Then picked it up again to finish it. There was less that 30 min of applique yet to be done. Why I had not finished that small part, I will never know. Anyway, Gary wanted to make it into a front of a sound board, something musicians used to absorb sound.?? I guess the basement does not absorb sound. Anyway, its basically a quilt top. I dont know if he will put in into a "soundboard" or not someday. I also don't know if that is the correct term for what it is. LOL

I found the pattern in a book, and I wanted to make it manly colors, and design it cool, so I picked out the black and white fabrics for the guitars, and red for the background. I thought it all kind of popped together. I scanned my fabrics into the computer, then the design, and planned out which fabrics looked good where. When I thought it looked good, I started making it. I think it turned out very well. Much better that the original picture that came with the pattern, greens, orange, and blues.

Bachelors Button

Here is a bachelors button from the garden area. Ran it through a quick-filter, and now its ART !

Not much sewing going on, just a little here and there. Pam, a member of the Stitchin' Sisters was in a motorcycle accident a few months ago, and she has been in the hospital a few times. She is having a rough time recouperating. The sewing group has taken a couple months off, since the weather is so hot, and moral is a little down with Pams condition. We are all praying for a good recovery, and that she can join the group again soon.

Close-up of mini quilt

Here is a close-up of one of the mini quilts. The color is actually like a sage or olive green. It has brown ric-rac, and a purchased bow with a pearl bead in the center, on every letter.

Name Banner

I really don't know what to call them! This is the 3rd one I have made. This was made for my Secret Pal at work. (the other 2 were also). Its like little mini quilts decorated with the letters of the recipients name, then hooked together with floss and beads, then added a little floss at the ends and a ring, wrapped in the floss, so she can hang it. She really liked it. I think this is the cutest one yet! I made it in the color preferences listed on her "secret pal" sheet as her favorite colors, Sage Green and Brown.

If anyone knows of a clever name for them, leave me a comment or let me know, "name hanger" just doesn't sound that clever.

***I've decided to call them Name Banners, since they kind of resemble the "Happy Birthday" banners that you hang, only these are made out of different materials.

MP3 case

Gary got a new mp3 player, so while he was hooking up the software, I made him a case until he could get one at the store. He isnt real keen on showing it around, he thinks its kind of girly. But hey, if he dropped it, it would probably save it, cause it has a layer of batting. Crummy cell-phone pic, but you get to see the case!

Working on things, little by little

I've been working on some more dammitt dolls, and also, I had signed up for the "secret pal" thing at work, (its a voluntary thing, it lasts about 3 mos. at a time), So, I usually like to make a "final gift, so I have been trying to come up with that also. I was going to do the little mini quilt thing, that has the letters of her name on them, that she can hang in her cubicle. I'll put a picture up as soon as its done.. I really need to get on it, cause the deadline is coming, not sure when, but soon. I also wanted to do another mini quilt, maybe 11 x14 or so with a tree, and grass and sky scene, and 5 leaves on the tree that have her and her husbands name, and their 3 kids names, kind of like a family tree, but not quite, just something to put on cubicle wall or to sit on a shelf at their home. That on is not a sure thing yet, it depends on how fast I get the other one done.! I better get to it tonight, as time is running out. Sorry, no pictures this time of sewing stuff.

Its Finished ! ! !

Here it is! All finished, I have to go show it off at work and with my sewing group, then it will be off to Gavin, I know he will love it!

(you can click on the picture to see it a little

larger)

P.S. I received a very nice, thank you note from

Gavins mother, they really loved the quilt, and

said they would treasure it forever.

Update on the quilt

I have now added 5 of their family photos to the quilt, they look really good, should be done real soon!

Trash Truck Quilt

Here is a project, yet unfinished, I call it the Trash Truck Quilt. A friend of mine, told me about this little boy who has cancer, but loves trash trucks, she wanted me to search on his moms blog and find a picture of him, and somehow put him in a picture with a trash truck. Sounded like a good cause for me. But little did I know when I was searching the blog, I got very interested in this little boys story.

He's had cancer for about a year, and his mom blogs about his treatments and their ups and downs, through it all, this little boy just seems amazing, and he does love those trucks! So I thought along with the picture I done for my friend, I would collect more trash trucks from the web, and make them into a quilt for him. Its coming along well, I hope to be done within a couple weeks. Gavin, this is for you. God Bless.

Gavin with his truck

Here is the picture I created when my friend asked me to do this.

Kids

Went to Woodward park today, with my friend Chris and her daugher Amber and children. I had noticed the tulips were in bloom earlier in the week, and knew it was prime time for colorful pictures! My favorite however is one that I turned black and white, with a touch of color. It was actually sprinkling some, then got harder, but we managed to get lots of good shots. Here is my favorite of the day.

Teenagers

Here is a couple of pictures that I have been working on for my friend Carol, and her daugher and her daughters friend Felicia. They really like having their pictures taken. They were going to a dance in February, so me and Carol went out to take some fashion shots of them. Of course I had to put them on a magazine cover, they both wanted Seventeen, so here it is. They really like them. Let see if I can put 2 pictures up and make it look ok.

Not much sewing going on recently

Nothing worth putting a picture up for that is. I did a small repair on a friends coat lining. And I've done 3 of those baby towel things, where you use a towel and washcloth, and sew them together and make a little towel with a hoodie. They are very easy and so useful. Just havent felt like sewing lately I guess. I do have lots of projects in mind. I have a blouse I want to copy, and another pattern from Lois Cutting that I received that looks really easy. But sometimes, I just dont get around to doing much. Some of the Sewing Club girls really get a lot done from week to week, these people have jobs just like me, but seem to get more done. I do like television a lot, there are lots of shows that I like to keep up with. Maybe when the reruns start coming on this summer, I can get more done. Oh and I do have about 8 more dammitt dolls started, just not finished. And a girl at work went to find out what her baby is going to be today, so that will be another project I might start soon, her baby is due July 4th.

Sewing group girls

Here is our yearly photo of my sewing group. We have been together for over 9 years! A few have come and gone, but we are 7 strong at this time! We really have a good time when we get together on Tuesdays, every week! Some do cross-stitch, embroider, sewing, or whatever they are working on at the time. Sometimes we might just come and look at magazines, but we always have a good time! Quarterly we go out and eat instead of sewing.

doll hair

Well today my creative juices were makeing the hair that I put on my "dammit dolls"

I have several ready to add to the dolls. I like them in varying colors. They are made like making a pom pom, running yarn back and forth over cardboard, then cutting one edge, and sewing down the middle. Then cut down the middle, this is enough for 2 dolls. I have a few I wanted to make for my sewing group girls. Here is a picture from previous batch I have made.

This photo is them just laid out, faces have been sewn, hair ready to be added !

photo editing

I also do a little photo editing for friends, right now I am trying to create a collage for a friend, it is of her children saying a prayer before Thanksgiving dinner. Here is what I have so far, but I'm not sure this is the final version. Now if I can post a pic.

(this is the prayer, one of the children

say everytime, its cute)

New at this blogging stuff

Hey all, I am a newbie to all this blogging stuff, very new. never done it, (I guess you would say I am a virgin at it), anyway, I was hoping maybe If I keep something like this up, It would make me kind of more accountable to be doing my sewing stuff. I sew, I guess, you cant tell that by my title. I'm a newbie, remember, I'll have to remember that next time I do something like this.!

New year, hopefully I get more sewing done, and more projects. I'm not quite sure this will be a hit with bloggers, but if it will make me do more, its working! plus it may give me somewhere to post things about my sewing, or whatever I'm working on.

Here we go on a new adventure!

till later, ljhunt