creative little daisy

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving....

I'm feeling a little guilty.  I've read about the grand meals you'll be preparing or the many miles you'll be traveling and all I'm responsible for is two pies. Other than that, all I have to do is show up and eat. Twice. First at my aunt Mary's for lunch then to Mitch's parent's house for dinner. I'm not especially looking forward to tomorrow. Oh, the food will be wonderful and it will be nice to spend time with family, but we won't all be together. Alyssa and Mitch will both be working. It's nothing new. Mitch has had the same job for 20 years and they don't take off for the holidays. Any holiday. If his schedule happens to fall on that day, oh well. I'll be missing them but being thankful that it's just for the day. We can enjoy leftovers together on Friday. There are so many who are miles away from their family or who have no family, those who are alone this holiday. Yes, I am thankful to have my family so close.

Brrrr.... It's finally cold outside

Just in time for Thanksgiving, it's feeling like the holidays in North Carolina. Not only is it cold, it's wet and windy. I'm off to curl up on the couch with a bowl of corn chowder (thank you Alyssa) and watch last weeks Grey's Anatomy, love that DVR!

Crafting to resume tomorrow. 

Craft Apron Tutorial

This tutorial is based on my interpretation of the pattern found in Machine Made Patchworks. I highly recommend the book, it is full of great projects. I did not follow the pattern exactly and have no idea what the instructions say, as they are written in Japanese. The apron featured in the book has the patchwork sewn onto a base with the edges left raw, not sewn in strips.

Materials:

• Canvas or other medium-heavy weight fabric for apron body- I used canvas from a painters drop cloth
• Muslin or sheeting for apron and pocket lining
• Variety of printed fabric for patchwork- I used 8 different prints but you can use more or less
• Solid fabric for ties
• Batting for quilting the pocket- I used cotton quilt batting
• A cutting mat, rotary cutter and ruler are extremely helpful but not necessary

Cutting Dimensions:

• Cut one each canvas and lining fabric 12.5 inches by 30 inches, this will be the body of the apron
• Cut one lining fabric 6 inches by 30 inches for the pocket lining
• Cut 2 from the fabric for ties 35 inches by 2.5 inches
• Decide how you want your patchwork pocket to look and cut strips of several different prints in various sizes. This will make the pocket. For the design above I cut 7 strips 6 inches by 3 inches (see either end in picture of finished apron above), four strips four inches wide by three inches tall ( bottom center), one strip approximately 12.5 inches long (red piece top center).
• I use a 1/4" seam allowance for sewing

Step One Lay out your patchwork, overlapping the pieces by 1/4 " until you have it approx 30" x 6"

Once you are happy with the layout sew your strips together. If you want to use the layout I've used, start by sewing the 3" x 6" strips together. (sections 1 & 2)  Next sew the 4" x 3" pieces together (section 3). Once each section is sewn together press your seams. Sew sections 3 & 4 together, trim as needed for sizing, press. This will be the center section, sew sections 1 & 2 to either end. Phew... do I have you completely confused? I think I am.

Once you have that all pieced together cut your cotton batting slightly larger than the patchwork and place the patchwork on top of the batting. I use a temporary basting spray to hold it securely for quilting and I also pin it in several places.

Machine quilt straight lines approx 1" apart across the patchwork. I use a quilting guide on my walking foot, but you can mark the lines with a water soluble pen.

Trim the excess batting and patchwork to fit your lining piece 6" x 30"

Place lining on top of patchwork right sides together and sew across top only. Turn to right side and press.

Place the apron piece (canvas) right side up on your work surface, place the pocket right side up lining it up with the apron bottom, on top of that place the apron lining.

Secure with pins and sew around all four sides, leaving a small (approx 4" section at top for turning right side out). Trim seam allowances turn and press.

Almost finished.

Mark the divisions for your pockets. There will be five pockets. The finished width of the apron is about 29 inches making the pockets approx 5 3/4". I say approx because I stitch the pocket section over one of the existing quilting lines, so they will likely not all be the exact same size. Sew down the division lines, making sure to secure the top of the pocket by backstitching several times.

Now all you have to do is make and attach the straps and you're finished.

Fold the short ends of the straps in approx. 1/2" and press.

Fold in half the long way, press

Open and fold each side in to center, press

Fold again to hide raw edges, press... yes there's lots of pressing. Like my pink iron, by the way?

Repeat with other strap. Sew down the open side and you're onto the final step.

Pin in place about 1" in from the end and 1/4" down from the top of the apron. Repeat with other strap. Sew straps in place and sew across top of apron to secure opening that was left for turning.

That's all folks!

Wear and enjoy.

If you would like to make an apron brilliantly designed especially for a seamstress by a seamstress, check this one out.

One more picture of the cutie

In one more outfit. How do you sew-ers with little girls not sew yourself into a frenzy? I didn't know how to sew when Alyssa was a wee one, so dressing her up, and I did dress her up, involved spending more money than I ever should have. In the four days Taylor has been with us I have made her three outfits and a pair of pajama pants with fabric from my stash and not that much of it.  And they were all fairly quick projects. Like most sewing that involves a pattern, the cutting out seemed to take the longest.

Her parents are on their way home, they were attending a wedding in Michigan. Tomorrow things will go back to normal and I'm kinda' sad about that. Maybe they'll let me borrow her on a regular basis. Three-year-olds are pretty cool.

A very special wedding

My cousin's wedding was beautiful. Not because of the flowers, the only flowers were the bride's simple bouquet of roses. Not because of the attendants, there were none. No singers, no flower girls, just a man and a woman sharing this simple ceremony with the ones they love, promising to love one another as long as they live. I cried. I always cry at weddings, but this one was special. It wasn't about putting on a show, it wasn't about the Kodak moment, it was sweet and simple and about love. It's also the only time I've ever worn jeans to a wedding. It was beautiful.

God knew what He was doing and I am grateful

I was married less than a year after graduating from high school and by 19 I was a mom. I'm sure there were some that shook their heads, maybe whispered that I was too young. I've never felt like I was behind the wheel, so to speak, as far as the direction my life has taken. Not that I have any regrets or would have changed a thing. That's not what I mean, just the opposite. It seems like things have always fallen into place even though I didn't realize it at the time.

I sit here spent, exhausted. My three year old house guest has worn me down. If I ever doubted it before, I am now so convinced that it was a good thing, a very good thing that I had my children young.  If only I had known how to sew back then....

A Christmas skirt with an appliqued tee and headband. Do you think her mom will mind if I send her home with a pile of new duds? Tomorrow, I'm thinking she needs a cute little Christmas apron.

This Gratitude Friday, as much as I am enjoying having a little ball of energy zipping through my house, I am so grateful I had my children young. 

A day of diversions

Taylor, my house guest arrived bright and early this morning. She's three years old and very smart and funny and talkative. Oh my is she talkative. Alyssa thought it would be fun to take her shopping so I made her a shopping skirt and sent them on their way.

Then I got to work on a gift for a baby boy. I discovered something about myself, I like sewing for girls better than boys. I made a patchwork blanket that is backed in chenille, and a matching bib and burp cloth. I guess it's cute enough but I prefer the sweet girlie stuff.

I don't know how much sewing I'll get done tomorrow. I think spending the entire day with the energizer bunny left Alyssa shell-shocked. I doubt she'll be around tomorrow, so it will be me and Taylor. I'm sure we'll find lots of trouble to get into.

I got nothin'

Completely blank here. This daily posting is messing with my head. Oh, I'd have plenty to say if I wasn't on the spot. I need to post early in the day because waiting only makes matters worse, adds to the pressure... the clock ticking away the minutes. Gotta post before I go to bed, gotta get that daily post in.... it's making me a little batty.

So what did you do today? Me? Not much. I finished some things up. Got some orders packaged and ready to ship. Ordered pizza for dinner (I'm such a slack cooker) and here we are. Whatcha wanna talk about? The weather is still unseasonably warm here, but tomorrow is supposed to be cool and rainy.

Oh, did I tell you my cousin is getting married Saturday? He's 52 and has been a bachelor for all but a couple of those years (a brief marriage in his 20s) We're very excited for him. The wedding is going to be a very casual ceremony, in his back yard, which happens to be right next door. I'll take pictures and share next week. 

In other exciting news, we're having a house guest this weekend. She's four and absolutely precious. It will be fun to have a little girl around again. I think she may need to learn some sewing, don't you?

Oh well, sorry to have wasted your time with my small talk. Thanks for the visit. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Wait.... come back. I thought of something. I've had several questions about the kanzashi flower pin. You can find the tut on Craftster. It takes a little practice to get the feel of it but once it clicks they're not hard to make, just a little time consuming.

The craft apron from yesterday's post was based on one from Machine Made Patchworks. I say based on, because I am not sure I am following the directions since they are in Japanese. If anyone is interested in a mini tutorial I will be making another one in the next couple of days and will take some pictures of the process.

Gracie is a little upset with all the attention Toby gets around here. She demanded I put the Santa suit on her and take her picture. Here's my tiny, moody, Gracie-girl (and her silly looking mama).

In the zone

I sat down yesterday and looked over my list of things I needed to get done and felt a little panicked. Determined not to spend the holidays chained to the sewing machine, I decided to get serious about checking things off my list. Today I was in the zone. No one was home that needed my attention (except the four legged ones), so it was all about me and the sewing machine. I finished not one, but two purses and a craft apron. A couple more days like today and I'll have my head above water. That'll feel good. As the holidays approach I am more and more aware that there won't be many more holidays with all of us living under the same roof. It happens in the blink of an eye, really. It sounds cliche, but it's so true. It takes my breath away when I think back. Just yesterday I was just a baby myself. A baby with a baby. Why wasn't I completely paralyzed with fear. I guess you just don't know what you don't know, and that's a good thing sometimes. Now my babies are 16 and 19, trying to find their way in this world, a world that doesn't make it easy. How I love them. How I miss the days when I could kiss away their boo-boos. This holiday season, I hope we can slow down a little and enjoy each other's company, continue old traditions and maybe start some new. Spend less time fighting the crowds shopping and more time making cookies, riding around looking at Christmas lights, making homemade gifts. That's my mission, to make this season special. Oh, I know better than to have postcard images of that perfect Christmas. That'll never happen, but I do want to slow down and enjoy our less than perfect Christmas. Take it all in and make the most of it. Yes, a few more days in my sewing groove and I may be ready to think about doing some baking. That is if the day time temperatures get below 70.

Toby wasn't the cutest pup in the house tonight, and he didn't like it. My niece Juliana turned 7 yesterday and got a puppy for her birthday.

Too much cuteness for one picture, huh?

Are you sick of me yet?

November 13th. 17 more days of daily posts. Maybe it's the pressure of posting everyday, but I am really experiencing writer's block here. I live a pretty boring life, so it usually takes a few days to accumulate posting material. It's beginning to feel like another day, another purse, bla, bla, bla.....

This time in shades of blue with a kanzashi flower pin.

Not to be a tease, but tomorrow's post may have something other than a purse... perhaps a craft apron...Cross your fingers.

Oh!!! I can't believe I forgot about Toby's Santa suit. Yes, Toby has a Santa suit. He's not so sure he likes being Santa Toby though.

Ho, Ho, Ho!!!