Making progress- Finishing projects

I'M DONE! Yes, I finished the apron, completely. I gave it a wash and dry and noticed that the flannel fabric enlarged itself. How does it get bigger instead of smaller? Oh well, I'm not going to fuss over it. I know my sewing skills stink but my defense is lack of consistent sewing over the years. I've had my sewing machine for about 15yrs and I've probably used it the equivalent of 1yr or less of consistant sewing. Shame on me, letting my sewing machine sit and be neglected which is probably why it doesn't want to sew a straight line. I really need to take my lovely in and have a tuneup.

So I finished the apron and here it is. close up of adjustable neck strap and the pockets in place. WOO! 1 project down a gazillion to go.







I started sewing on my sewing machine cover last night. I already had the pieces somewhat cut out. I made the rough pattern on graph paper then cut the pattern out from freezer paper. I then ironed the freezer paper to one side of my fabric sandwich and used it as a sewing guidline. I used a quilted fabric and a 2009 Brother Sister design studio fabric called Swirly floral or something like that. I probably should have used a stiff stabilizer to have it stand up better but I don't care, I like it just the way it is though I thought about sewing in a few cuts of lightweight boning to help it stand better. The floral fabric was a clearance fabric and I only found one person that had it when searching for some more of it. I love this fabric and I am by no means a very "FLORAL OR RETRO" person. I look at this fabric and it makes me happy, just like my sewing machine. I expect to have this finished tonight or no later than thursday. After I finish this project i'm gonna start on the kitty bed for my brood.

WIP/Sewing machine cover






I also played around, well i'm still dabbling with it, making a fabric embellished ATC (artist traiding card) with some of the scraps from the floral fabric. I want to make a bigger wall hanging of it for my sewing area but I only have a little bit left, maybe a 1/2 yard give or take some inches. I didn't get a picture of the card, not done yet.

Over the weekend

Lately my creativity has been lacking in the UMPH! department. I don't lack the ideas, I have oodles of them.

This weekend I decided to play with some polymer clay. I removed the clay from around a couple of pens I was no longer happy with and tried thinner clay. I was going to try and do a retro looking pen design but it didn't really come out like I wanted it to. I used a scrap cane that didn't work, browns, black, translucent and white. The pattern did, after 2 extrusions, resemble a bit of a cheetah print, sorta. I covered one the pens I had just pulled clay off of and wraped it and baked it. After baking I did some sanding and then put a few layers of sculpey glaze on it.


1st, I left the pen in the oven to long so it is much darker than it should have been.
2nd, The glaze stuff, just to thick and left streaks. I think I may have applied it to thick. I used a paint brush instead of a makeup applicator, like I normally do.

I do like using the clay thinner than I the previous designs on the pen casing. I think I'll try again on the second one and this time keep a better eye on it. I think I may make up several and offer them in my etsy shop.