I'm Still Here

Hey friends!  I know it's been a while since I've posted and I apologize.  I've been busy- moving again, working, and spending time with my big sis.  And visiting family and friends.

Let me clarify on the "moving again."  I moved into a new apartment about ten minutes from the first one.  I also transferred to a new Starbucks- the other was not what I had hoped.  My new apartment is much nicer than the previous.  I love the area and the apartment is great.  I have a small balcony, however a couple hundred feet from a railroad track.  But interestingly enough, you do get used to it.

I have been crafting a little.  Here are some things I've been doing:

The bird pillow was quite time-consuming but so worth it!

I also have some photos I took with my phone:

I visited my good friend, Sunnie, in Ohio and she and I went antique shopping in Amish Country.  These are my treasures.  I also found a cool metal coat tree.

My craft corner in my living room.  It actually looks a little different right now.  I moved my dining room table over there for my sewing (it's a small table).  Then that silly shelf kept falling so it was replaced by a smaller one.

Cookie Dough Truffles.  Yum!

 

I found this table in my sister's basement.  I believe it came from my dad.  It was broken.  I fixed it and now I have a small coffee table... for free.  Score!

I made a couple of pillows the other day.  There will be more of these soon.  I love beds covered in pillows.

So, anyway.  I've got a lot going on.  I need to start taking more photos of my projects so I can share them with you guys.  I'm going to start some posts about how to decorate an apartment, since I've been looking for months for some helpful tips and haven't been able to find much.  I think more and more people are moving into apartments and need some tips.

Oh, and I just signed up for Craftaholics Anonymous Summer 2013 Handmade Gift Exchange!  So, that craft will be posted soon as well.

Until next time,
Sarah

Living Room Craft Nook

I posted a photo collage of some of the things I had made for my craft nook.  I had to give you a little sneek peak of what was to come.  Well, now it's all finished!

The table on the left is dedicated to Nan's scrapbooking, which she frequently uses. 

Then on the right are my sewing things.  I have a Serger and sewing machine. 

Then the cart on the right I got from Ikea and it has all of my fabric wrapped around cardboard to make it look like the bolts of fabric found in the stores (and it's a lot easier to find stuff). 

The boxes under the table on the right have paint, ribbon spools, and other odds and ends. 

Then there's the cake tin stand I made. 

And on the left side of the table is the lamp I made. 

On the shelf above the table are jars full of buttons as well as the bottles I wrapped with yarn. 

Then there's the tie rack I repurposed into a spool rack. 

And the embroidery hoops with various fabrics.  And the "S" is all buttons, and appropriate since my name is Sarah and Nan's is Shirlee.

I think that's it.  I haven't sat there in a while, since I've been making a lot of crocheted baby items, which I can make watching TV.  But I will get back to it sometime.

Striped Skirt

I bought this gray and white striped jersey fabric at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and decided to use it for a skirt.  It's so soft and comfortable.  However, a slip is required since the fabric is a little see-through.  I also decided to place the fabric on a diagonal for something different.  I'm a big girl and I'm not sure normal stripes would look good.  I didn't want to buy a pattern for the skirt either, so I decided to take a skirt I love and use it as my pattern.

I was a little nervous about how it would work, but...

it did!  And I love it.  It's so comfy.  I wore it for the first time not too long ago and it's great.  Except I don't have a lot of shirts to go with it.  Oh darn, I may have to go shopping :)



Goodwill Finds Before and After [2]

I showed you what I made with the cake pans and candle stick.  Now, how about the lamp and lampshade?  Well, yes, I did put them together, but it's not that simple.



Well, red isn't really my color.  So, I changed it a little ;)

 All I did was tear off all of the red fabric and inside fabric to get down to the wire frame.  **This only works with a lampshade that has wire connecting the top and bottom.  If you don't have that then it will pretty much just fall apart and be useless**

Then I cut a bunch of small strips of fabric then tied them onto the frame.  Easy easy!

Again, this is something I put in my craft/sewing nook. 

Goodwill Finds Before and After [1]

One day I went to Goodwill with the goal of finding some things I could repurpose.  And I was successful!

A lamp, a lampshade, a candle stick, and two cake pans.

The first thing I made was a stand with the candle stick and cake pans.

Pretty much one of the easiest things I've made.  The pan that's sitting on top in the first photo had one of those neat things that you turn around the pan to remove a cake easily, while extremely handy when baking it had to go.  So, I just removed that then glue the bottom of the candle stick in the larger pan then glued it to the bottom of the smaller one.  Then filled them with some of my sewing items.  The little baskets in the top one are from strawberries my grandma buys at the Farmer's Market.

This is going into my sewing nook, which I will post soon.

Have you bought anything from Goodwill that you've made into something cool?  I'd love to see it.



A Month of Craft Photos: Day 5

Day 5: Notions

I admit I had to look this up.  I've heard the expression before but wasn't sure exactly what it was.

Buttons.

I used to have hundreds, but now I've dwindled it down to probably 100.  I have three jars- one with colors, one black, and one white.  I love buttons.

Stay tuned for tomorrows photo!

A Month of Craft Photos: Day 3

Day 3: An Old FO

So, like I said in my previous post I wasn't quite sure what an "FO" was so I looked it up and figured it's a finished object.

Here it is: my first sewing project.  An apron.  If you look closely at the craftsmanship, it's terrible!  I did such a bad job, but hey everyone has to mess up on their first project :)

A Month of Craft Photos: Day 2

Day 2:  Craft Tools

I actually use quite a bit, but these are just a few.  A 6 mm crochet hook, scissors, rotary cutter, a hot glue gun, and a measuring tape.  I probably use these the most.  The rotary cutter is a sewer's best friend.  I love that thing.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's: An Old FO (ok, I was trying to figure out what FO was and the best I could come up with was finished object?!  not too sure.)

DIY Kindle Touch Sleeve

I recently bought a Kindle Touch.  I love it.  I've never been a big reader until recently (no, not just because I bought the Kindle).  I mostly have classics on my Kindle right now, like Jane Austen novels, Sherlock Holmes, Legends of King Arthur.  I also have a couple of others.  I love that  you can download samples and read a few chapters before you buy the book.  If you don't have a Kindle, check them out.  You can get one for as little as $79.

Anyway, I made this cute sleeve for my Kindle.  I sewed it by hand because my sewing machine is put away and there's just no room to set it up in our condo right now.

I don't have an exact tutorial, but it's really easy without one.

Cut two pieces of felt about 1/4" (if you're going to sew this with a sewing machine you may need a 1/2" for more of a seam allowance) wider and longer than your Kindle (or iPad, phone, camera- it could work for anything). Then sew together all the edges except the top.  Cut a 3" x 1" strip of another colored felt.  Then cute four circles of felt (getting progressively smaller).  Center the strip of felt in the middle on one side the opening.  Sew the strip so when you close it you won't see the seam (does that make sense?) Then sew a button onto the pouch and cut a slip in the flap to go around the button.  Then sew on your circles with a small crossing stitch in the middle.

I hope that made sense.  If you need some more details or better photos send a message.

Try to make yourself one and let me know how it goes!

A Terrible Blogger

I have to say that I am the worst blogger.  I will post a few at a time then I get busy, or just distracted and I forget about my blog.  Well, I have been busy.  Working A LOT!  And just getting acclimated to California.  I have been crafting, though.  Not really creating tutorials, though.  I apologize for that.  Here's what I've been up to:

Shadow box I made from a vintage flour bag, measuring cups, and measuring spoons I bought at Granny's Attic in Temecula.  That place is huge and I think I spent 2 hours there but I could have spent all day there.

I bought this crate at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Temecula.  It was made there I think from random pieces of wood.  Then I spary painted it black, and then I brushed on some blue paint and it kind of gave it an antique look.  Great place for shoes.  I'm not a fan of shoes around the house.

Our condo was built in the 70's so not everything is very energy-efficient including the fireplace.  There's a breeze that comes through the fireplace (notice how the cover is bulged out).  And so it's freezing in our living room.  So I made this cover to help block the cold.  I put fleece on the inside and some velcro on the edges to secure it.  I plan to put some beans in the top skinny part to make it even more secure.

This is Angel.  And this is the doggy cape I made her.  She doesn't like it much.  But she's warm.  And it's better than the sweater Nan would put on her where she had to put her legs through it.  I'd like it if I had one lol

I bought this tea towel at the dollar store for... $1 lol.  Then I ruffled the fabric and sewed it on.  Cheap cheap.  There's another one I have to do but it takes a lot of time and patience to sew ruffles that small, so I'll get to it some time.

My favorite project so far.  A new wreath for the front door.  I wanted something winter-y.  I bought a wreath form, wrapped it in white fabric I got from the remnant bin, then made a flower from a grey cordoroy fabric I got from the remnany bin and used that for the strips around the wreath, and then I bought some little sparkly sticks, like filler for bouquets (I don't know what you call them).  I love it.

So, that's what I've been up to when it comes to my crafts and sewing.  I really haven't been baking although I think I might make some cupcakes or something today.  I'll try to keep you posted.

A dress on the flesh...

Yes, my title is weird, but hey it's what it is.

I made this dress a while ago.  And I sent it off to the friend who I made it for and she told me she'd send a picture whenever she had her daughter wear it.  So, finally I get on Facebook today and there's a PICTURE!!!  I was so excited.



Oh my goodness I was so excited!  I've never seen anything I've made actually on someone.  I think it turned out so cute.

Now, I can't wait to make more and spread my sewing love :)

Make-up pouches

As promised, here are the photos of the make-up pouches I made for Morgan, a girl from work if you missed the previous post. 

Morgan loves them and I got a couple of orders from some other girls at work.

If you would like one for yourself, or anyone else, e-mail me at sarahe25@live.com.  Tell me the predominant color you would like and if you want cell phone size, make-up size, clutch size.

Toddler Dress

I have a friend who lives in Ohio and she and I actually haven't seen each other since high school or maybe even longer, but we've hooked up again on Facebook.  She's married now and has a little girl who's about 14 months-old.  Her name is Piper and she's the cutest little girl.

Isn't she adorable?!

Anyway, I decided since she's so fashion forward that she needed an original dress from me :)

It took a lot of effort because I did a lot of guessing but I think it turned out pretty well.

I made the dress in a patchwork, and since I had some leftover fabric I thought, why not a headband to match?  And throw on a flower for good measure.  I can't wait until she sees it and I get to see it on her.

Laptop Bag

You may remember this laptop sleeve I made about a month ago.  Well, my mom said she wants one too.  I asked her to pick out a fabric for the sleeve, but when she looked through the back of fabric she found an old fabric backpack that I had tried to make into a tote.  She liked it so I had to make it work.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I just moved the top seam up a little so it was a little bigger and the laptop would fit.  Then I put the brown ribbon in it so she had a drawstring for it.  I was going to sew the straps on it, but I didn't do it before the other, so I was worried I would sew through the drawstring.  I still like it, and my mom does too.

Rolled Rose Necklace Tutorial

The other day I found this rolled rose tutorial, so I decided to make some of my own.  I just wanted to see if I could do it.  And now I am OBSESSED.  I will probably be making a lot of them.

After making about ten rolled fabric roses, I sewed some onto a plain t-shirt for my sister then I decided to make a necklace with some of them.

I bought the chain and the metal loops at Michael's.

The chain comes in one big loop, so you have to cut either end.  And it's enough to make two necklaces.

Here's the two pieces (thanks capt. obvious lol)

Here are the three roses for the first necklace.

I lined them up first how I wanted them to look on the necklace then I sewed them together at the back just on the edge.

Here are all three sewn together.

Then sew a loop on the end of the two end flowers.  I don't know why I used black on an ivory-colored flower.  I'm sure it looks ghetto, but oh well.

Then put a metal loop through each of the sewn loops.

Hook the chain through the metal loop.  Then close the loop.

Tada!  There it is.  You'll have to measure how long you want the chain to be then add a clasp to the end as well.  I didn't get a clasp because a friend of mine makes jewelry for a living and I want to go through her clasps to see what she has so I don't have to buy one.  I know I'm cheap.  I'll add a post about adding that when I get a clasp.

I had Jessica model it for me.  Without a clasp I just kind of hung it on her.

I made this one too.  I can't tell you which one I like better.  I love the colors in both.  I love pink too, so I'm a little partial to this one.

My sister bought this shirt for $5, so she asked if I could spruce it up a little.  I made her some rolled roses and sewed them on.  It looks so CUTE!

She said she can't wait to wear it.  I wasn't quite sure how the colors would work but I think they look good.