Kermit's Fashion Show circa 1977

Kermit and I go way back- when I was a budding fashion designer and he was, well, a frog.  I was 10ish when I made my beloved friend this wardrobe.  My mom found his clothes not long ago and I knew he needed a photo shoot. 

 Here he is in his birthday suit.  You can see that with his large belly and skinny legs (I say this with utmost affection), fitting was tricky.

 He is dressed for his Hawaiian vacation in shorts and a native print tunic.

 Kermit goes western (or should I say Vegas) in gold chaps and a hat.

 I molded the cardboard and then spray painted it gold.

 His floral vest (he is very secure with his masculinity), actually has a dart in the neck for fit.  I think the rickrack adds something special too.

 He has many accessories.  He enjoys wearing his suspenders and tam.

 The tam even has a fabric button sewn on top.

 Every well dressed frog needs a pair of double knit trousers.  Kermit is sporting a hand knit scarf with his.

 My grandfather wore ties all the time so Kermit has 6 ties in his collection. 

 A day at the beach anyone?  Terry cloth swim trunks make frogs everywhere green with envy!

 His vest even has pockets.

 When he goes to the spa, he is looking good in a monogrammed robe and slippers.

 Kermit, a frog of many talents, plays the bagpipes while wearing a kilt.

 Detective Kermit gives a nod to Sherlock Holmes in this coat and hat.

 That hat was not easy!

Hope you enjoyed his fashion show!

Hip Pouch by Jan DiCintio

I missed the 3-day sew along at the beginning of July, but I really like this hip pouch by Jan DiCintio of Daisy Janie.  day 1 , day 2 , day 3  Very well done, Jan, thanks for sharing!  This goes on my list of projects to sew.  It would be very handy when I'm biking and walking!

Book Review: Fat Quarter Fun by Karen Snyder

 I have not sewn any of the quilts yet, but I really like Karen Snyder's Fat Quarter Fun.  The projects look fairly straight forward with clear instructions.  Each quilt has a  choosing fabric, cutting, piecing, assembling the top, adding borders, backing, and finishing sections.

She shows two versions for each quilt, making it easy to visualize different color schemes and sizes.

A Feel for Color Exhibit by Sally Barker

I recently saw this exhibit at the Children's Museum of  Richmond.  Sally Barker recreated famous paintings as quilts full of texture for the visually impaired.  All of the quilts, roughly 20" (just an estimation!) were hung low because it was a children's museum after all.  I enjoyed the visual impact and then I went around again with my eyes closed so I could appreciate the tactile aspect.  Sally Barker not only used different fabrics, but she also used cardboard or something to make some areas recessed and others more prominent.  It was fun to actually be encouraged to touch the quilts because usually it is hands off!  Here are my favorites:

 A Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

 Jane Avril by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

 The Fall of Icarus by Henri Matisse

 Woman Seated in a Chair by Pablo Picasso

 The Red Poppy by Georgia O'Keefe

The Scream by Edvard Munch

Easy T-Shirt Fix Up

So my daughter had this pink t-shirt that I really like (cute shoes!).  She out grew it and, with her permission, I cut the front off.  I centered it on top of a white t-shirt and stitched it down.  This would be great for covering up stains or just for enjoying an out grown shirt.

Multicolor Knit Cape or My Cape of Good Vibes

 I sewed this many years ago (15 years maybe) out of knit scraps, just for fun.  Here it is displayed next to an instrument my husband made.  Here are more of his guitars.

 Emma is helping me spread out the cape.  The shape was dictated by the size and shape of the scraps.

 Here is the other end.  I couldn't get the whole cape in the picture.

 I simply overlapped the fabric pieces, zigzagged and then I trimmed any excess.  That way it looks tidy on both sides.

 Here is the back or inside.  The binding was attached with a zigzag also.  Knit doesn't unravel, so the raw edges aren't a problem.

The appliques are all from the same print knit.  I think they tie it all together.  It was really fun and free to sew.  You could use the same technique to make smaller scarves (I did that too).

Easy Kid Projects

 My son and I did this several years ago (he was probably 5).  I had some scrap fabric laying around (imagine that!).  He arranged the fabric squares and I simply stitched them down with him on my lap.

 He enjoyed arranging the fabric and then later playing with the finished blankie.

This little cutie is by my daughter (again several years ago-8 years old?), sewn from scraps.  I love him!  The fabric actually looks like he has a mustache!

Rat Round Up

 Couldn't let the rats feel left out!  Above is Stripe, sampling the cat food.  They do live in a cage, so they are not out roaming around without supervision.

Here is Cloud, playing Follow the Leader with Alice.  Happy Sewing Everybody!

Cat Round Up

 As what often happens in the summer, when the kids are home- no time to sew!  So here are some cute cat pictures while I work on my mystery quilt.  Alice's cute feet are above.

 Alice looking out back.

 Alice and Emma.

 Emma supervising my etsy shop.

Emma and Alice having a staring contest.  Can't remember who won!