Redux!

It's always nice to get back to something that's gotten away from you.  Like, blogging for instance.  Or some lovely fabric that you bought months ago with the intention of making into something beautiful and unknown.  

But of course, this is how fabric stashes are born, and while a good collection of fabrics is essential for anyone who sews, this method of "purchase fabric, wait for inspiration" can present its own problems.  I often do find the project to match the fabric, and I get all excited about it, and then I realize that I don't have enough because I only bought a few yards on impulse, and I can't get any more because by this time it's been months, possibly years, since the initial purchase, and that particular fabric or print is no longer available.  It's a sad situation.

Imagine my elation, then, when I was able to create this vintage inspired pencil skirt pattern I found on burdastyle.com using only those items found in my personal stash of fabrics and notions!  I didn't have to purchase anything new for this project, not even the zipper.  I don't think I've ever been able to say that about any sewing or knitting project.  

It's a small, sweet victory that I will cherish every time I wear my new pencil skirt.

Apologies, my friends.

Not too long ago I got a new job.  This was a good thing, but it has thrown off every one of my daily routines, and I have neglected my poor little blog terribly.  But no more!

What I need to get things back on track is organization.

I am ashamed to admit that, what with work and multiple Christmas gift projects all happening at once, what little organization there was in my craft area has become completely defunct.  I have faith that I can fix it, though. 

My apartment is tiny, so I need to get creative.  It’s time to go up the walls, maybe even onto the ceiling, like with these repurposed ladders:


 


I really like this wall organizer made from found objects, and I LOVE this idea for yarn storage.  It’s magazine holders placed on their sides on a shelf!  So simple, so smart!


  


My life is going to be so neat and tidy!  That’ll be a nice change for me…

D.I.Y. Holiday Time!

Oh, how I love the Holidays!  First Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and then the start of a brand new year!  But before I can enjoy it all I’m going to need to get all of my ducks in a row.

And I’m going to start with my D.I.Y. gift list!

I always start out the Holidays with the ambitious goal of making all of my loved ones’ gifts by hand.  It doesn’t always work out, but I love the challenge!  Of course, I’m not going to share my actual list with you here, that would ruin the surprise for a few too many people.  But I did find some great ideas to show you.  Just click on the picture for a link to instructions for each project!

You could make and give something useful and practical like a scarf, or a bag made out of neckties:

   

Or how about something fairly useless, but fun?  Like amigurumi baby monsters!  Or any amigurumi, really.  (Amigurumi are tiny crocheted figures, there are many unique patterns out there, and each one has the sole purpose of being adorable):


 

But if you’re looking for something that is sure to be a hit every time, you can’t go wrong with something edible:


 

And as always, you should enjoy making it as much as your recipient will enjoy receiving it.  Happy Holidays everyone!

The cold air has arrived… finally!

And you know what that means…

Sweater weather!!

I have always loved the winter down south.  It gets just the right kind of cold; which is to say it gets cold enough to appreciate staying inside with a cozy fire and a hot drink, but it almost never gets cold enough for snow.  I’ve spent exactly one winter up north, and they can keep the dang snow. 

But the best part about winter is the wardrobe.  Check out this one I was able to pull together:

sweater weather! by fiveohfourrag featuring leather handbags

Nothing beats long sleeves and boots!  I am so glad winter is here, but my sympathies to our neighbors in the north.

Use your D.I.Y. powers for Good: The Pink Slipper Project

This past Saturday I went to a stitch along at the Sew, Sew Darling studio here in New Orleans.  It was a lovely night full of wine, Crunch N’ Munch, and slippers.  Lot’s and lot’s of slippers!

All of these slippers will eventually find their way to women’s shelters across the country, courtesy of The Pink Slipper Project.

The Pink Slipper Project was founded to “warm the hearts and toes of women and children living in shelters.”  They take handmade slipper donations and distribute them to as many shelters as they can nationwide.  It’s a small act of kindness, but it can go a long way for someone who has fallen on hard times.  If you want to participate you can download any of the free sewing, knitting, or crochet slipper patterns from The Pink Slipper Project’s website.  All of the patterns are really simple, so even if your crafting skills are still at the beginner level you can participate. 

You could sew a simple one seam pair like these:




Or knit a quick garter stitch pair like these:





I am currently working on such a knitted pair.  They’re Kelly green, because, and this is important, just because it’s called The Pink Slipper Project that doesn’t mean the slippers themselves have to be pink.  And it’s a good thing, too, because I personally can’t stand that color.  But I’m all for the charity.

Pumpkin Hat!

It has been a little while since my last post, and for that I apologize.  Life’s been a little hectic over here for one reason or another, but now let me catch you up!

Last week I attended my first ever sewing circle!

It was great!  A nicer group of ladies could not have been found, and I will definitely be attending more of these events in the future.  Since this is October, Halloween was the theme of this meet up, and I made a pumpkin hat!



It’s so dang cute, I wish it had been my idea.  But I must give credit were credit is due, and that is with Delia Creates and her post on Project Run and Play.  If you want to make your own hat you can find the instructions here; all you need is a hot glue gun and some felt and your good to go!  And you have options:

  

This was a really quick, easy project, and now I have the ultimate daytime Halloween accessory!  Time for some trick-or-treating…

Remembering “Make Mine Music”

Remember back in the day, say fifteen years ago or so, when the Disney Channel’s line up consisted of more than amorphous preteens singing and going to school in completely unrealistic settings?  Back when they would show old Disney films from the 50’s and 60’s, and all those wonderful old animated features?  I miss that.

I especially miss Make Mine Music.

It should come as no surprise that my taste in music, like my taste in pretty much everything else, is rather old fashioned.  I couldn’t tell you who today’s most popular recording artist are, but I’ll school you all day on jazz, swing, bluegrass, or folk.  And when I look back and think about where this musical love started, I would have to say Disney’s Make Mine Music was a big part of it.  It is a series of animated shorts, done in that classic hand drawn, distinctly Disney style, set to music by The Andrew Sisters and Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, as well as many other popular artist of their day.

This one was my favorite…

The Andrew Sisters sing about love…and hats.

…but they were all wonderful!

Benny Goodman and his Orchestra!

The Kings Men sing a blue grass ballad

I’m glad I could find these on YouTube, because that means they aren’t entirely lost to this next generation.   The kids need culture, lest they all end up reality TV “stars.”