Finished 5 dolls

I cant believe I did not get a pic of them all together, I gave one to my 5 co-workers, but here is a pic of one. 

 I think I will be changing my pattern.  It seem this one has a head, that I have come to dislike, I think I want one with a more rounded head.  So I will try to change that.  That in turn, may change the way the hair is. So keep tuned it to see what I come up with.  I can also make them with the "Dangit Doll" poem.
  If I ever get to creating them faster, I would like to sell some on Etsy, but I would need to have several on hand, devoted to just that.  I don't know that I am that committed. But they are very fun to make, but the handwork does take time. If anyone would be interested in one, feel free to send me a personal message, and I can give you details.  I love to make them all mismatched, I think that makes them much cuter.  I would be open to comments if someone wanted something specifically. Plus, I could always change the saying on the card.  I print my cards on Photo Paper, so they are quite nice and colorful. And a lot of time does go into making them.

T-shirts

I have gotten together with Stacie and Terri a couple of times now. We are slowly moving along on our projects.
  Stacie has cut out a lot of her T-shirts and have them backed with interfacing, acting as a stabilizer. 

They are learning new sewing terms, and even how to use a seam ripper !

Here, Stacie is applying her interfacing to her T-shirt.  (she is OCD, so it has to be perfect !)

 

Here is a picture of several of her T-shirts, all cut out and interfaced.  She is making a huge quilt, so she has a lot of T-Shirts still to work on.  She is loving it, and Me and Terri and Her are having so much fun hanging out, and having fun!

 

 

 It will be a nice big warm quilt when she gets it all done. I think once she puts it together, she will be having someone else do the quilting. 

 

Slowly working on quilt

Working slowly on the previous posted quilt.  I have the border and back picked out, it is a yellow background with some small red dots.  Also going to have a peekaboo strip between the quilt and the border in a dark purple tone on tone kind of print.   These strips have been cut, man you sure have to do some math to figure everything out.  Thanks Carol for you help on that !
   I think I will do a binding of possibly a lime green or a teal blue type of print.  I will purchase that and decide that after the border gets on.

Good Morning Flower Quilt Top Sewn ! !

Well, I had a friend over tonight, well, last night and until this a.m.   We call it an "all-nighter" we made it till  almost 6 am.  pretty long time for "old folks" ha ha.

She was working on a a dog bed, but decided, to make it a pillow case instead.  She wasn't sure, she wanted a new puppy, chewing up and possible ruining a lot of hard work, It was to be what started as a pillow, then you put edges with stuffing around it, so it would be a dog bed, but it looked so darned cute as a pillow, that she made some edges, and made it into a pillow case, I will have to have her send me a picture of it.  It was made with what looked like 1" squares, which is a lot of work. I don't think I would want a new puppy chewing up all that hard work either.

I hemmed a purchased blouse, (it was a little longer than I had wanted), then moved to a quilt kit I had purchased from a Quilt Show recently.  Here is the finished quilt top.

 

It is approximately 42 x57 or so at this point, I will probably get some fabric and make a border around it to make it a little bigger, then a backing fabric, then quilt.  I am so glad, I got the top done! I feel so productive, but really tired at this point in the morning.  I will be going to bed soon, and my husband will be waking up !
  I am excited to try out some stitching I have seen on "Craftsy", some  Free Motion Quilting which I have hardly done any of.

  I also, have some projects, of the "felt hearts" previously mentioned in recent  blog post , that I need to show photos of, and talk about.  Sometimes, this creative posting, does take time to put up, and I get a little behind.   Time for some shut-eye - goodnight.  :)

Heart Garlands

I got a bright idea to make some Heart Garlands for our Cubes at work for our Dept.  It really doesnt cost that much to buy the supplies, especially when using coupons,  The Idea I got from a garland from Pinterest ,  see pic.

Well, I purchased 5 colors of felt, Red, Dark Pink, Light Pink, White and Purple. Made some templates, for 4 shapes of hearts. Nothing difficult yet...  then  I proceed to cut them out, various shapes, in varying numbers on each color.  5 days  later,  and with the help of a coworker, they are all cut out.  I am sure, if I had asked more coworkers to help, they would have, I just have a tendency to take on things for myself.  Is this a Type A personality, or a Type B ? Leave a comment if you know., not that it matters, but I need to investigate this info in depth. Anyway, tonight, I separated stacks by Colors, and by Sizes.  I don't know if it is me, or I  am just OCD or Anal, (not sure if that is the right word) anyway, after 3 hours, I have 13 garlands, ready to sew. 

I first had to separate by color and sizes, then put the exact sizes for 13 garlands, some varying colors, but mostly the same. anyway, Spreading them out, and coming up with a design, I laid them all out, and got them all lined up in a similar yet, slightly different colors, into 13 garlands ready to SEW !!  That is the next step !!

Here is a picture of my stacks.

 

Now they are ready to sew !  I actually came home today from work, thinking they would all be sewn by the evening.   Things just never go as planned.   Anyway,  at work, we are going to make Valentine sacks, like when school children exchange Valentines.  We thought it would be a fun and simple thing to do.  A few of us, have collected things to decorate our sacks.   More pictures to come after Valentines Day

 

UPDATE :-Feb 8,  I will be having 2 coworkers come over, they want to learn how to do a T-Shirt Quilt.  Even though I have not finished one, I do have the knowledge, and the paperwork , and books, to get this done. So we will be doing that soon.   Be sure and check back later for info on that, and for Pictures of our decorated Valentine Sacks, and The Finished Garlands !  !

 

More sewing and  creating so far this year,  yay for me !



I hope 2013 is a productive Year !

Before I can start sewing, I really have to get to my sewing table !   aaahhh, I know all sew-ers are not like this, but a lot are.  I think they are all a lot more organized than I am. My sewing room is a catch all for anything, that I want out of the way of things.  Even though, it was organized at one time, it has not been for a few years.

  I went to a quilt show last weekend and bought some things to inspire me, and make me sew.  One thing I bought is a quilt kit. All the pieces to make the top and binding are included.  It is strips, what could be so easy ?  And all of them are already pre-cut !  It should be about 42" X 56 " when it is completed.  Ok, cannot get picture to upload, will have to do it later.  Oops, I hate it when technology does not go as simple and easy as it should sometimes.

  Well, off to clean off a few more things of that table, so I have room for the sewing machine and my projects.

 

Edited to add picture. 1.30.13

Aug 12, 2012

Gosh,  last post July 2011.  now it is Aug 2012.   I cannot believe I have not sewn hardly anything in the past year.   So am a still a sewist?   I dream about sewing things all day,  why of why, do I come home, and choose other things to do.  Things, deeply, do not mean to me, what sewing does.

   I wish there was something I could drink, and it would make me want to sew.  It is in my mind, all the time,  but never comes to action.  Diagnosis---- ?  I have a couple friends from work , wanting to make some T-shirt quilts from their young childrens T-Shirts, and clothes,  so hopefully, that will happen in the  next for months.  

working on 2 things at once, aaaaahhh

Yes, we sew-ers are muli-tasking, we can have 10 projects open at one time, work on wich ever we choose.!

I am currently working on a SKYLA baby banner for Kara at work, she is due in Sept., and I told her I would make her one.  The color scheme was to be  "John Deer Pink and Pink camo" well, mine did not blend well, so I am making something, I hope will be just as loved. 

Also,  I still have about 15 "dammit dolls" started about 2 years ago, yes, you heard that right,  they are getting closer to being finished. Thought I might take them to work and sell them, people seem to love these "dammit dolls'.  They are a lot cuter than I have seen on etsy, buy I am sure there are others that are just as nice.  so,  ...  slowly buy surely, and put "Farmville on the backburner" I can get these done soon. !
And I'm going to start selling Avon,... another thing to keep be busy.  but at this rate, I have enought fabric, and patterns to keep me going a long time after I run out of any money I may have!!.   thanks Elizabeth for letting us temporarily invade you Sewing Dream Loft, while Vicki is still working on her home. And Clhoe is just a bonus,  such a sweet sweet dog, you are such a good trainer   !!   Unitl next time. sew sew sew.

Too Long

Yes, it seems to be slow process of mine, updated the blog, and the sewing.

This is a project I done about 2 years ago, I found it in my "sewing" folder in my pictures file.

So this is what I have chose to talk about today.

Once again, a story about work. A while back a few people in our department wanted to play the dirty santa for Christmas. I put in my bag for someone else, a "coupon" that was for a name banner, name of their choice and colors, etc. Someone picked it, then it got stolen, so Kellye got it. She wanted a name banner for her daughter. Color preferences, zebra print, hot pink, and turquois.

Here are 3 pictures of the finished project. They seem to always show at the top of my post, no matter where I try to place them.

So, one is the whole banner, name Courtney.

Another is one of the closeup of a letter. Pink backing, that wrapped around to the front, with turquois ribbon, sewn over the edges, that left a nice square of that color on each one. Each letter is sewn around, and this one has purchased trim flowers in each corner. It is sewn together with a pink ribbon behind every letter, and sewn at top of ribbon and bottom, so it could hang nicely

And last, I put a bow of zebra print at each hanging point (there is a circle behind it to hang it with), and a pretty turquoise bow and turquoise ribbon hanging from each one. Her daughter loved it.

Creative Endeavers

This post is not about sewing, or photo editing really. But it is about a creative event. The office I work at, has a committee, that is to boost morale, and a manager, and people from all teams rotate, to help come up with new ideas quarterly, for holidays, and fundraising efforts, and just fun things that does help our office have a fun day, every now and then, amongst all the hardworking that everyone does.

Last month they had a raffle so to speak, for a chance to have a Manager, or Merry Manager at your disposal for 30 minutes to have them do what every you want, maybe go get your lunch, make some phone calls, awful filing, or even boxing up files. So several of the Department Managers, and even some Operations Manager volunteered for this event. There were boxes with their pictures on them, where you could deposit you tickets you purchased for .50 cents. They really should have done this auction style, but this is the way it worked. Every day, people would go shake the boxes to see how many tickets were in them. There wasn't a lot, you could hear that. So I thought, I really needed to participate in this, so as not to make the committee seem like they had failed. I have been at this company going on 9 years, so I new the ones that had been there a while, but there was some newer ones. There was about 6 ladies, and 2 gentlemen managers willing to do this. I really could not think of anything I would want the ladies to do, it just seemed weird, they were managers, and I could not see me delegating to them. I am not good at delagating.

So I decided I would put 2 tickets in each of the mens boxes. One guy was from England, and I had in mind, if I won him, I would just have him sit in my cubicle, and read a book or just talk lightly, so I could listen to his voice and accent. Really, I am serious. The other guy, I wasn't sure, but I put my ticket in. The day came and I won one ! I won Ernie, he had been at the company less than a year, a young guy, who always had a smile on his face. He was an Operations Manager. I thought maybe I would have him put the boxes together that we file things in for storage. If you have ever worked in an office, and around paperwork, it can be difficult to figure out how these boxes fit together. They come flat, and your fold A B etc, anyway, I thought that would take him 30 minutes to do about 8 of these for me for filing.

He had to contact me to schedule this work-time with me. It is close to Valentines day, next Monday, and I have the day off, so me and Ernie scheduled the Friday before that, (which was today). I like bringing cakes, and pastries to share with the people I work with, so I decided, I would make some cupcakes, and Ernie, would put the icing on, and decorate them. So I made 8 dozen mini cupcakes, and brought them to work, and several toppings to sprinkle on them. Ernie did not know what he was going to do. We met in the kitchen, he asked what I had planned for him, I didn't tell him, just yet, I asked him, if he had a good phone voice, then told him we needed to wash our hands, then I handed him a leopard print apron to put on, and told him, we didn't want to mess up his clothes. I paraded him the long way to the cubicle with the cupcakes, then he understood what he would be doing. It was funny. He had never done anything like this before. He could cook, but he was not a baker. His big hands would fumble with these tiny cupcakes, and he knew he had to hurry to get them all done in time.

He started to work on them. I went back to my desk and proceeded to call a few managers and tell them what he was doing, they all had to come and see, and take photos ! Everyone thought this was hilarious, and had to get a photo. I think he really enjoyed all the attention from all the girls, there is only about 6 or less men to about 80 or so women on our floor. So this was my creative outlet for today. He only got about half of them done, but I think it turned out well.

Photos by A. Bond

Thinking about sewing

Me and a friend went to OKC last weekend to a quilt show. At a quilt show, they have things other than quilts. They have all types of vendors, that basically have anything to do with anything with needles, and being creative of any kind, mainly in textiles, (fabric). I got lots of stuff that will be fun creating when I get to them. I have a day scheduled with a friend to get together and work on one of these projects. It is a scarf, that basically you create out of fabric strips, yarn, thread, pieces of shiny fabric, and what every else you want in it. It is not a scarf to keep you warm, it is a scarf for flair. My friend bought a kit, but they did not have a kit, it a color style I wanted. So I need to put a kit together within about 3 weeks. I promise I will post some pictures after we create them. The technique is, you put your items between to layers of dissolvable solvy, and sew all crazy in all directions, basically making all you yarns and fabric into its own piece of fabric. When you are sure it is all secure. you put the project in water, and let the solvy material dissolve. What you have left is a scarf or a long piece of piece together strings, and yarn and fabric into what you will wear as a scarf. They say you can creat it in an hour. Which usually really means 3 or for for newbies. LOL I will attache a couple samples. THESE ARE NOT MY SAMPLES, JUST PICS BORROWED FROM THE WWW. Ours will follow soon. Our get together date is actually middle of February, it the only date we could get together. so be looking for them after that. Thanks for stopping by.

Slacker

Ok, I do apoligize tremendously. What few followers I have, have probably already forgotten about me. Here it is almost Halloween time again, and nothing has been posted since the last Halloween contest picture. Slacker. I really want to get to sewing again, but I think my super pet Boo Boo, is keeping me from it. I am going to play with Boo Boo less and try to get some things done. (Dont quote me on that). I have all these wonderful things in my head I want to create, I spend my breaks at work, reading sewing forums, learning new things, and reading what everyone else is doing, and yet, here I sit, doing nothing with my sewing hobby. My sewing room runneth over with fabulous patterns, and fabric, (although not organized at all), but yet, nothing. But as I mentioned, it is almost Halloween time again, however, our department has gone with the theme of Circus, I believe, so I do have a clown costume I made a few years back, so it wouldnt be something new sewn, but something not shown yet on here! So look for that in the future. If anyone know of any way to get me more motivated to do something, be sure and post a comment.

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.