Expansion into Wood

For those of you who know me, you know that I bore easily. I require new challenges on a fairly regular basis! So, I've expanded into Woodwork. Now, I've done some basic woodwork, before -- everyone has built birdhouses or refinished a piece of furniture and I'm no exception.

This time, I wanted to try something a little different. So, I'm learning the art of woodcarving, but more specifically, of wood 'chipping.' I think it must be called that because you use small, detail tools to carefully chip away at the wood to put on your design.

So, I started with this: old wood pallets. They are free at a variety of places. Its just a matter of pulling them apart for the piece you want.

Then, I laid out a fairly simple design of words, geometric shapes for a border, and Fleur-De-lis.

And, the chipping began. I quickly figured out how important it was to tap your tool down into the wood to create a boundary to avoid tearing the wood.

After the boundary, I did the basic wood burning. I only have a very inexpensive wood burner, but I found it to be completely adequate. WOW! Be careful when holding your head over the plank. The smoke really choked me. Some areas, I had to go over more than once to get the breadth that I wanted.

Now, its ready for sanding and polyurethane. I need to wait a day or two on this, because I will need to purchase a small rotary tool, like a Dremel to get into those small areas to sand and maintain accurate edges. Also, I've read that it should be wiped well with mineral spirits before polyurethane.



I'll keep you posted! In the meantime, indulge your inner artist!





Baby Quilt

I made a quilt for a friend when she had her first baby, a girl, a few years ago. When she became pregnant with her 2nd, this year, she asked for another. After getting her approval of the fabric, I set to work. One pleasant afternoon making a quilt gave me a sense of accomplishment and helped to take away my unsettled attitude.

Started off with traditional batting. I don't much care for the iron-on. (I don't own an iron.) I don't mind the stretch of this one, and like that it can be manipulated, if needed.


Pinned together the flannel backing and the fabric (cotton-rayon blend). So cute!


Added the quilting in 6" stripes across the fabric, after sewing around the edges.


Pinned up the binding, tucking the corners and pinning carefully.


And, the finished product! There's nothing so cozy as a home-made quilt. Hopefully, this will serve for much more than bed decoration. The corners are reinforced and the stitches are tiny and tight, to add to resilience. It should be durable enough to spread on the floor for 'tummy time.'

No pattern needed. Just cut rectangles.

Check out:

Long Skirts

I've been indulging my love for long skirts in my sewing most recently.

Here's some of the progress:

Its just a simple ruffled skirt with an elasticized waist. Nothing fancy, except the beautiful damask fabric that I got on clearance at Joann Fabrics for CHEAP.

YAY

check out:

New Projects

I have absolutely no excuse for failure to post in any reasonable time frame. I have been working on a few things, but have just been so busy, that I didn't get it up. So, here's a quickie quarter in review:

With the colder temperatures and the weather becoming grayer, I wanted to focus on warm, comfortable clothes for the season. I started with the gray sweatsuit:

Its really yoga/lounge pants with a draw-string waist, plus a pull-over hoodie. I made the hood very deep, so as to be a comfy cover for the whole head (this is great to sleep in and pull over your eyes when its not dark enough or for daytime naps).

Please pay no attention to my filthy sewing room! LOL

Next, I created a nightie in similar fashion (and using the same fabric -- a jersey stretch double-knit):

Both came from the Butterick pattern above.


Then, I decided that I'd like a dress wrap for the holiday season. So, out came the maroon satin, and the same old gray jersey for this:

Ok, I'm not looking my best, here (was in the nightie mentioned above), but you get the idea.

A pretty white, frog, fabric closure at the neck...

You'd be absolutely shocked how warm this actually is with that jersey in there!

Then, I decided that I wanted some coordinates. And, with my recent, unfortunate weight gain, I needed some new tops (amazing how any weight gain drops RIGHT there). So, I used this tiny, navy checked fabric for a simple tunic:

Pattern:

Since I had some leftover scraps, I added a matching scarf (all the rage, this season!)...

And, a matching tote (for shopping):

All in all, it was quite productive. There are 3 skirts cut out and waiting for me to get started on. And, I need to get a new few pair of pants to go along with. I've found a liking for palazza pants (similar to what I used in my brown pants suit):

Super comfy!
Remember: create with abandon! In Paula Dean-esque form: Love from my sewing room to your's.

In review

Since I've been inordinately lazy in posting, lately, I thought I'd hasten (and, make up) by posting a Year In Review....Here are some of the photos of the work I've done in the last year:

Starting with, of course, the gold brocade...the highlight of my collection.

the black and green chemise with the black corset...my first attempts at renaissance garb.

the pirate...

the cape...

the blue summer dress with princess seams and the tie back...

the pirate jacket that was added to the affair...

lets NOT forget the boots...

the tangerine baby doll for fall weather...

the baby poncho

the brown pants set for work

the fairy dress....

the beautiful brocade

kate's angelic lady's mantel

storm's bussled skirt, bodice, and blouse

tammy's irish green

This is not ALL of the items made this year, just a recap of some of the more interesting ones. Next year, I look forward to learning to make SHOES...yep. I've purchased some tools and patterns and plan to work on it in the dark nights of winter :)

until then, be fearless, create, and LOVE.

The Blue Dress

OK, so I finally got off my lazy butt and started back to my sewing machine. The real problem is: I live in a 100+ year-old house without central ventilation. We can only afford to run window air-conditioning units in the one section of the downstairs (where we congregate most of the time), which leaves my sewing room BOILING hot.

The fabric I chose was so loosely woven, that I used a rolled, french hem on the bottom and "Fray Stop" on every single edge, inside. You can see the front panels laying here to await the drying of the "Fray Stop."

This is another view of the drying, while the whole thing was together. It was really a super-simple pattern, completely done in a few hours. I'd cut it out in advance and just had to spin a bobbin in the matching thread color to get started.

This is just before I added the sleeves. You can see the princess seaming in the front. Quite flattering on any shape, if its left just a little big.

This is the ties in the back, which brings it into a flattering fold. There's a slight A-line in the skirt, so that it has a billowy finish at the bottom hem. Floor length.

This is New Look pattern by Simplicity. What a nice, simple project! And, immediate gratification, my favorite kind!

If you like this, check out: