Happy Halloween!

Here is a sewing inspired pumpkin made by my daughter to wish you

Happy Halloween!

More About Chatelaines

A Chatelaine was said to be the lady of a large chateau or an 18th century  chain to hold the house hold keys and tools, I am calling my neck sewing tool pouch , a chatelaine- because it sounds better!  It is very comfortable to wear, and handy with 5 pockets and built in pin cushion. 

Here is one fully loaded!

Jeans into a Chatelaine

I love a good challenge!  My local American Sewing Guild chapter had a denim challenge at our annual meeting.  You had to take a pair of jeans and make something from it.  They didn't specify a size, so I used 12 month old baby jeans.  They had nice embroidery already on them.

 This was all that was left.

I constructed a chatelaine to hold my sewing tools.  There were already plenty of pockets, so I didn't follow my pattern, but I did take the general idea of it.

I added the heart and button in the left picture above.  I also added some fabric from a denim skirt as the backing and the neck section.

There are 7 pockets (the lower right is a flap, but no pocket).  It was a bit difficult sewing through all the layers on the side seams.  If I were to make another one, I would use slightly larger jeans like size 18 months.  Then I would cut off the bulkiest parts.  I am quite pleased with the results, plus I won 1st place for the accessories category!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish you all a very joyful Thanksgiving! 

No this is not a turkey , or a partridge, but a hen with pears on it. 

New Chatelaine Pattern- keeps your most used sewing tools handy!

A chatelaine was the mistress of the chateau and/or keeper of keys and household tools.  I just finished this pattern to sew one yourself!  The chatelaine features 5 pockets and a pin cushion.  I load mine with scissors, flashlight, screw driver, post it notes, pen, pencil, pins, needles, thimble, bodkin and a seam ripper.

It has been a real lifesaver when I teach classes.  I was always ending up at the opposit end of the room from my tools.  It would be quite handy for any kind of craft really.  There are 2 safety straps on the 2 bottom pockets to keep tools where you need them!

As always, free shipping!

I Love Kermit!

I can't wait to see the new Muppet Movie!  I think I'm more excited than my kids even!  Here is my buddy Kermit's fashion show.  Radmegan's needle felted Kermit is adorable and so life like.  Some more kermit crafts from Craftster.  And 279 more Kermit inspired items on etsy ! 

5 Things You Might Not Guess About Me

After reading my blog, here are 5 things you might not guess about me.

1- I LOVE Dr. Who on BBC America.  Can't get enough of him.
2- My favorite foods- pizza, salad and ice cream!
3- So you know I love sewing, but I actually love all kinds of crafting, drawing and creative stuff.
4- I volunteer a lot.  2 different schools, youth group, weblos, SPCA, teach Sunday School, Christmas Mom etc.
5- In spite of the name of this blog, I love birds too, and all animals.  I am pretty much a nature/ animal lover except I do draw the line at biting insects.  Can't say I like them much at all.

Harriet Hargrave

I went to an excellent talk by Harriet Hargrave sponsored by my local American Sewing Guild.  It was a 2 day workshop but I was only able to attend the first day.  I learned so much though!  Harriet has written many books about heirloom machine quilting.  One thing she stresses (and I agree) is to always make a sample block first.  Try out your thread, needle and pattern etc. first, then only when you have all the elements right, start the project.  It saves so much time and fabric later.  She covered setting up your sewing table (correct height etc.), correct thread, getting tension adjusted etc.  It was interesting to hear her take on quilters as opposed to piecers.  Quilters plan the design of a quilt with an eye for where the quilting will be shown to its best advantage.  People who prefer piecing- the quilting design takes a backseat.  Heirloom quilting is all about texture.  Harriet stressed the idea that "the more mediocre quilting you do, the better your quilt looks.  The less mediocre quilting you do, the more mediocre your quilt looks."  So if you don't think you are great at it (and who is starting out anyway?), then cover all the space with quilting and your mistakes won't be as noticeable!  She had examples illustrating this too.  Wonderful speaker to listen to, if you get the chance, see Harriet Hargrave in person. 

First Friday Art Walk on Etsy

I have a quilt featured in the First Friday Art Walk Treasury!  Check it out- http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NjU1MjE3OXw4MzgzNDczOTY/after-the-ballfirst-friday-art-walk

Have a great weekend!

Hanging Shoe Storage

A shoe storage solution was way over due when I decided to sew a new one.  This is my old one that I made 22 years ago from leftover fabric.  I think I randomly chose the size because it holds 4 1/2 pairs of shoes.  4 1/2 !?

The new and improved version holds 8 pairs of shoes.  The back and front is a cotton print and the pockets are a brown upholstery fabric.  This coordinates with the dark wood and blue/green quilt and curtains.

The whole thing hangs from a wooden dowel.  It is so nice to have my shoes off the floor.  Easier to sweep now and I'm not tripping over or stepping on them any more.  My husband's reaction was "you have a lot of shoes!".  Oh no.  I also noticed that I have very boring shoes- 3 pairs of black, 3 pairs of brown, and 3 sneakers.  I think Stacy and Clinton of What Not to Wear would have a lot to say about that!

New Seat Cushions!

 I am on a roll fixing up the house!  I love quick, easy projects with impact.  The kids and husband complained the chairs were uncomfortable and hard.  I sewed 4 seat cushions for our kitchen table from fabric and ribbon I got off the free table at a Sewing Guild meeting.  Love the Free Table!   Basically just a pillow with ribbon on 2 corners.  I boxed the front 2 corners.

I stuffed them with several layers (3 maybe) of leftover batting.  The print will hopefully hide food stains.  Now no one can complain about sitting at the table to eat!