New Frog Suit

Cosmo was my dad's frog. Cosmo spent many happy years in his windshield travelling the country, but heat and sun took a toll. I threw him in the wash and his fabric just fell off. My son begged me to reconstruct him. I sewed a new mouth from felt.I inserted the mouth into a hole in the new fabric.This shows the front and back.I upholstered his head first. I touched up the eyes with a permanent marker and inserted them through holes in the fabric and sewed it around the neck. Then I sewed a new suit and secured it around his neck also. There are some wrinkles in Cosmo's new suit, but it is good enough for my son to play with. He is thrilled with Cosmo!

Here are Kermit and Cosmo sharing a laugh together.

Deals & Coupons - Earn Cash Back When You Shop.

Deals & Coupons - Earn Cash Back When You Shop.: ""
This is a new shopping site I've joined. My etsy shop is listed here. It is completely free to everyone! Apparently you earn money just by shopping through the site. Worth checking out. Anything to increase my shop traffic!

Secret Pocket Hangers

This is a project I meant to do back at the beginning of December, but it never got finished. The article appeared in Aug./Sept. 2009 Sew News- "Hang in There" by Kate Van Fleet. The instructions were easy to follow.

Trace the hanger and add extra for seam allowance.

The secret pocket is a separate, zippered cover.

The zipper is inserted first.

Then sew the sides, leaving the top open for the hanger to come through.

This is the finished secret pocket. The outer, pretty covering is 1" longer and does not have a zipper.

Here are some finished ones sewn from scraps I had. They would be great for traveling and at home for keeping spare cash, jewelry, and extras to complete a special outfit.

New Year Sewing Resolutions

Today is my birthday! So I usually think of the whole month of January as my new year beginning. My sewing resolutions for this year:

1. Sew up fabric I already have.
2. Finish up projects I've already started.
3. Try some new techniques.
4. Slow down and enjoy the journey. Don't be in such a rush to start the next project.

I have already been working towards these goals. I finished up my husband's Gig Bag (and made a pattern for it, available at http://catsongstitchery.etsy.com ) and finished altering a colonial dance gown. Look for more soon!

A Sewing Class is Time Well Spent

I just added two wall hangings to http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsongstitchery/ They are both examples of projects I made while taking a class. I love learning new things and also having a time dedicated to making a project with other like-minded folks. This year our local American Sewing Guild chapter will be offering lots of great classes at low prices. Check out your local chapter. Membership more than pays for itself and I always come away from meetings feeling inspired and not alone in my passion for making things! www.asg.org

Classes Start Soon!

I will be teaching a beginning sewing night class again for Henrico County Adult Education www.henrico.k12.va.us/adulteducation starting Monday, Feb.8. Sign up now- the deadline is Jan.25th!

New Classes Start Soon

Upcoming Classes at Quilting Adventures http://www.quiltingadventures/

Once Upon A Time skirt from Bananafana. (Feb.4,11,25)

An easy wrap skirt with a graceful hemline. (Feb.3,10).

A reversible jacket from Kwik Sew (Feb.23,Mar.9).
A reversible grocery tote by Quilts Illustrated-Penny Sturges (Mar.10,17).
Hope to see you there!

What's New At Cat Song Stitchery-Gig Bag Instructions

My husband made this lovely "O" size guitar and so naturally I made a case for it. In doing that, I wrote an Instruction Booklet on making your own custom instrument case. Available now on etsy http://catsongstitchery.etsy.com . You get 8 pages of instructions and photos for making your own custom ukulele, mandolin, autoharp, guitar etc. case!

Lined with a zippered pocket and a padded handle.

Take your music on the road with a custom Gig Bag made by you!

Gig Bag Instruction Book #110

Stuffed Fabric Gnome

My son loves gnomes, so we were very excited to see gnome fabric at Quilting Adventures! www.quiltingadventures.com We sewed the front and back together, stuffed it and now he sleeps with it every night!

This is the back view before it was sewn. Pre-printed panels are a really easy sewing project for beginners or children who just want a quick, fun activity that won't take forever to finish.

Cat Song Stitchery is now on Flickr

Its true! I now have photos of my work on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/catsongstitchery/

I'm taking any opportunities to get my work seen!

Easy to Sew Apron- First Project of 2010!

This project was so easy, it's hard to believe! I made the whole apron on the morning of Jan.1,2010! I used an old apron and traced the shape onto the fabric (an oilcloth by Odyssea from Quilting Adventures www.quiltingadventures.com ). I chose oilcloth so my clothes don't get wet while I'm doing the dishes; this would also work fine for regular fabric too.

I used 2 packages of 1/2" wide double fold bias tape (no need for hemming). I bound all the edges except the armholes. Simply insert the fabric into the bias tape and sew.
Bind the armholes and create the waist ties and neck loop all in one operation.

I reinforced the ties with extra stitching.

Mitered corners. What better way to start off the new year than with a quick and easy sewing project?!

Donated More Cat Beds

During the last week of Dec., I delivered 4 more pet beds to our local SPCA. I make these using scraps left over from other projects. The top two are worn out and stained t-shirts (turned inside out to hide the stains) stuffed with scraps. I keep a pillow by my sewing machine and just toss any scraps straight in. When it is full, I sew it shut.