It's Raining Men!

Snowmen that is! I made snowmens, SEEEEEEE!



Aren't they just adorable! I made these 3 lil guys over the past couple of days. I made their scarves and their hats and since I didn't have anything to use as a suitable nose, I had to make some from clay and then paint. I think they all came out so darned cute. I showed my daughter the big one, since it was finished when she got back from visiting her dad, she said " great, more snowmen" LOL! Kids, gotta love'em. They go great with my little trees.



Over my 4 day weekend, I had planned on finishing my 1st pair of harem pants. I didn't finish them, unfortunately. I had to redo the gathering stitches 3 times, i'm on 3 now or is it 4? First try, something didn't stitch right so the bobbin thread didn't want to pull right and I broke the thread trying to force it. 2nd time got almost all the way done with the gathering and thread broke about an inch from the end, UGH! 3rd time, got it all gathered up nicely and was only making adjustments for it to fit in the cuff, broke the dang thread again. You would think by now that I'd throw that thread away, nope, it's still on the dang sewing machine. Here is my little helper, even though he wasn't much help. I love my old sewing machine, isn't she lovely!


So the harem pants are still sitting by the sewing machine. I might try and work on them again tonight, depend on how I feel. So far i'm liking them other than this gathering frustration at the breaking thread. It's such a simple fix, except I really don't want to use my good thread on this pair of harem pants because they are being made from a thread bare bed sheet. I used the sheet so I could get a feel of how to make harem pants before bustin out the fabric I want to use and it'll also give me a pair to practice in at home. Guinness, my sewing helper, thinks the pants are for him to attack.


I'm trying to check the fit here and he was very determined to attack, LOL! I was bending over to once again remove him from my leg when my daughter snapped this pic. I couldn't check the fitting because he wouldn't stop chasing me around and attacking. He's so silly! I finally had to have someone direct his attention elsewhere so I could finish.

Whoa Time Flies!

Wow, it's been almost 3 months since I posted anything. I didn't realize it had been that long. I'm still battling a creative funk that just doesn't want to let me go, period! I hate it. I have a few projects going, most of them are months old too. I need to get pictures of a few things.

I started a skirt some months back, like possibly september. I started on it not long after I finished the sari skirt. I just finished it a couple of days ago but I need to make a few minor tweeks and I'll truly be done. It's a lovely burgandy color, chiffon I think. It's kinda heavy but it's also semi-sheer as well. I also got some clothes altering in over the last few months as well. Hmmm, lets see, what else? ? ? ? Oh I also made a scoodie, which is a scarf with a hood. LOL! I've seen them online alot and they are soooooooooooooooooo easy to make. If your using fleece, no need for hemming WOOOOO! I'm also working on my very 1st pair of harem pants. I'm using an old thread bare bed sheet. I'm not going to ruin some nice fabric or even some muslin to make these, so bed sheet it was. AHAHAHAHA! So far so good, except that I realized I sewed the yoke seam to the front instead of the back, oops and it was to late to take out all that stitching too. I made small pleats in the front and now I have to decide if those are going to stay in the front along with the yoke seam or just turn everything and have pleats on my butt. I haven't taken pics of these projects yet but they are on my to do list.

Here are pics of some of the things i've done these last few months.



Here are the pumpkins that me and the hubs carved for Halloween. I did the bats, he did the skull. These were fun. I found that letting the inside dry out some before pulling the innards out, makes it easier to get the seeds out without all the other goopy stuff sticking. My bat pumpkin has a ghosty on one side and another bat on the other.




Here is another hair accessory that I started, it just needs the clip added and maybe a few crystals or beads and voila it'll be done.



Here is a more recent project, like within the last couple of weeks. It's a door decor made from toilet paper and paper towel rolls. I need to paint it. I found the idea here DIY Recycle door frame decor . I know it's not exact but hey, I like it. I think it's rather cute.




I also finally got around to making a throw pillow for my teenlette. She is very into skulls right now. I made this pillow cover but it is a wee bit big for the pillow that is currently in it, need a bigger pillow.

Repurposed Sari Skirt-Finished

I am almost finished. The only thing I need to do is go back and clip some straggler threads, press a few seams and I'm done, friggity done!

Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I've posted anything to this blog. I'm seriously lacking here, shame on me. Honestly, I haven't really made anything lately, so to speak.

I have been trying to get the DIY (doityourself) forum on tribe into doing project themes. I'm hoping that it would help my creativity and get me a bit more motivated. I'm the head honcho for this so if I'm the one starting it, I should also be participating. So far, I've only done one of the project themes and actually finished. The first theme thing didn't go over so well but I didn't start that one, I just kinda took over. I had something in mind for the project but just didn't get around to it. I still don't have much motivation.

So here are a few pics of stuff i've made in the last few months or I'm currently working on.

Velvet patchwork zill bag:

Repurposed sari:
Before being cut- Pallu





Here is the in works of the skirt I turned the sari into.

Lacy Flowerettes

A few weeks ago I saw a tutorial on making a ribbon flower with the ribbong that has wire running through the edges. I don't remember where I saw it, youtube or maybe a website. I still haven't made one yet. I did however make some stuff using some lace I had. I had some white lace that I dyed using fabric dye, food cloring and antiquing with tea and coffee. I got a lovely shade of purple from the fabric dye, a nice pretty pink from the food coloring and a nice antique color from the tea and coffee. I tried to make green lace but that color of food coloring just didn't want to stay and kept rinsing 99% out and just leaving a very very faint hint of green and you really have to look for it. So that particular piece, guess i'm going to have to buy some green dye, now to just choose the color of green I want.

My favorite is the brown lacey one then
Brown lacey flowerette:


rainbow lacey flowerette:


blue lacey flowerette:

Weekend creation

I finished the last bit of sewing I needed to do on my leather cuff bracelet. It is now done, done, done. I don't think i'm going to add any little extra's to it though it still feels like it needs something. I'll just let it sit and stew for a bit.

edited to add (4-19-10) I gave this bracelet to Zoe Jakes of Beats Antique after the concert at Stubb's in Austin, TX.







I started another wearable piece and finished. Okay, I'm not totally finished, I need to change out all the crystals cause they aren't blingy enough. I used plastic scrapbooking crystals. Yes, I said plastic. I know I should be tarred and featherd for that but, they work so good at the positioning and design. The plastic crystals have a sticky back on them, not a permanent sticky but enough to help with working out a design. Unfortunately I don't have the right size crystals in the color I want to use so I need to get some more. BLEH! If I have to, I can use a back up color but I dunno. I've got so much on my mind right now that it isn't totally thinking straight.

Latest Works

It's been a bit since last I posted. I have some progress pics of a couple of altered headbands and a leather cuff bracelet i'm working on.

Headbands-
#1. Grey satin headband accented with brocade ribbon from Wal-mart and swarovski crystals. I still haven't decided on what else I want to do with this one.


#2. Black satin headband accented with a vintage rose ribbon trim and dome nailheads. I still have a bit of work to do on this one as well.



Leather cuff in the works. This was made from a belt I found at the thrift store. I originally only wanted the medallions and the leather pieces to use in projects. One of the leather pieces I'm going to use as a ponytail holder, it's just the right size. This is, I guess you would call the tongue of the belt, it's the part that the belt connects to, the piece with the holes in it. I was originally going to just throw it out with the rest of the belt that isn't useful but low and behold, it's perfect size for a wrist. I was going to make it a button on cuff but the hole is to small for any of the buttons I have and the shanks on the buttons that almost fit aren't quit long enough. I had to use snaps instead and use the buttons as accents to make it look as if it buttons on. So far I'm very happy with it. I have some more glueing to do and I haven't decided yet if I'm going to add anything extra to it yet.