I'm loving my new hobby of sewing and crafting... I'm sure Scott wishes I would just get back into scrapbooking and use up the stacks of supplies I've accumulated for that hobby before starting something new. Pretty sure he hates JoAnn's! Actually, he is always interested in what I create, and does a great job hiding the cringe when I walk in the door with another plastic bag that says JoAnn Fabrics on it. :)
The only problem with this new hobby is that it takes time. And time is something that I do not have an over-abundance of at this point in my life. So I'm learning to be patient and prioritize, and working to be a good steward of my time each day. Probably a life-long task, but I'm making strides! Whenever I can sneak it in, I try to create a little something because it makes me smile and relax. There is just something about crafting.... when I'm done with a project I know a little of how God felt when He sat back, smiled at the world He created, and said "It is good." Just wish all my projects would turn out perfect like God's creation did! ;o)
So here are four projects I've been working on the last couple months:
1. A shirred shirt for Brooklyn from a $ .99 boy's t-shirt purchased at Good-will
I originally bought this shirt to make a skirt for Brooklyn using the technique I wrote about in my
Up-cycling T-shirts into Skirts post. However, after I shirred it, for some reason it looked too long on her. Then came the brilliant idea to make a shirt out of it. I cut some strips of material leftover from the headband project to make shoulder straps, and then made a fabric flower out of the same orange material, placing a turquoise button in the center. Isn't it adorable? I just LOVE the orange, gray and turquoise together. And it is definitely long enough that she can wear it next summer.
2. Double-Sided Fabric Headbands
My sister Dorothy requested some headbands while she was home this summer. So using this
tutorial
from "Happy Together," Melissa (another sister) and I cut and sewed ten
different reversible headbands. It was so fun to go to the fabric store
and find coordinating fat quarters to use in making these. For some
reason, I didn't take a picture of them before Dorothy went off to
college, taking her headbands along, but here is a picture of her
favorite! Now I gotta make more for Jackie (yet another sister) in
exchange for some last-minute babysitting help she recently provided.
(they're coming, Jackie... I promise!)
3. "First Day of School" Appliqued Shirt for Brooklyn
The night before Brooklyn's first day of school, I went to set
out an outfit for her to wear. I wanted it to be perfect for all the
typical "first day" pictures that I would be taking. I picked out a pair
of new jeans I had gotten on the clearance rack at Children's Place....
but the only shirt I had that matched it was a boring white shirt....
As I looked at the neat patches on the jeans, I got an idea! How
about applique some matching patches on the shirt? I found some matching
material in my stash....
and used my handy thread collection I received for my birthday to find thread that matched. Can't get any closer than that!
It was fun, quick, and super easy to applique these little
patches on, and add some gathered material to the sleeves and bottom of
the shirt...
and make a cute bow to match, of course!
Waking up Brooklyn in the morning to show her the "new" shirt was
so fun. She was very excited, and this shirt is one of her favorites.
She loves to point out the patches to everyone!
4. Ruffled skirt for Selah
Ruffles are everywhere!!! I've been dying to add ruffles onto something for quite some time, and Selah benefited first. Melissa had given me an adorable pinkish salmon shirt with a yellow tulle flower (from Gymboree!) as a baby gift when Selah was born. Being the smart shopper she is, she found it on clearance! Although it looks nice with jeans, when I noticed it matched some fabric I already had in my stash, I knew it was time to make my first skirt.... with RUFFLES! :-)
I cut a rectangle of fabric 4 times as wide as her waist, and cut a strip of yellow knit 2x as long as the rectangle.
Then I sewed a line down the center of my yellow strip with the longest stitch length on my machine. Taking the top thread, I then pulled it gently until my ruffles were the same length as my rectangle fabric. I hemmed the rectangle on the top and the bottom, then pinned and sewed on my ruffle strip near the bottom edge.
I sewed the short ends of my rectangle together, making a wide circle, and then started shirring the top with my elastic thread in the bobbin (LOVE that stuff!!!)
All it took was about 8 rows, and it was done! That was probably my quickest project yet! :)
Doesn't it match perfectly?!!
Sigh... All done. "It.is.good!"
I'm so thankful for hands that are able to cut, pin, and feed fabric through the sewing machine. "Father, You are so good to me. Thank you for Your blessings!"
