Sewing

Sew the Alphabet: A-H

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Oh-OOOHHHHH! We’re HALF WAY THERE!!!!

OOOOHHH-OOOHHHH We’re Livin’ on a……n……. Alphabet Sew Along!

(no, that didn’t work?)

Welp, at any rate, I’m half way through the “Sew the Alphabet Challenge” with CKC Patterns.

*******EDIT!!!!!! Did you read all of that and say to yourself, “A-H is not half of the alphabet????” Oh my sweet Lord in Heaven above!!!! I have lost my marbles. For weeks I have had in my head that H was the halfway point. It is not. I just now realize that H is the 8th letter of the Alphabet and not the 13th. FUN FACT! Did you also know that when you count up to eight on your fingers, there will be 5 on one hand and 3 on the other? This may make you think you’ve reached 13….but you haven’t, my friend. Nope! You’ve got 5 more to go! …….. ask me how I know 😒********

Thought I’d do a quick recap for ya….since, you know, I started the year off in a whirlwind of blog postings and challenges…and even if I haven’t kept up with all the things, I am still on track with this sew-a-long.

A is for Alyah’s Knit Twirly Skirt.

Blog on it here. Pattern Here.

B is for Brewster’s Bubble Pocket Skirt….

No blog on it……but you can find this pattern from Newborn to adult XL HERE

B is ALSO for Bobby’s Scrap Busting Socks…..

also found in Baby-Adult sizes HERE

C is for Caden’s Storage Bean Bag.

Pattern found here . Man, I really lapsed on the blog post thing, didn’t I.

C is for all of our FAVORITE: Chastity’s Panties….

which are now available in children’s sizes too! Guess who’s got Mommy & Me matching FUNdeez in my house?????

Also…..YOU CAN ORDER YOURS right up there on that SHOP BUTTON! 😉

D is for David’s Knit Shirt and Footed Pants Set…..

um HOW STINKING CUTE is this!!!! I got to make this for one of our daughter’s teachers. Pattern found HERE

E is for Ellis’ Off The Shoulder Top.

LOVE this pattern! It’s available in sizes 2T – 5X too!

F is for Fiji’s Firefly Sleeve Dress .

AKA the dress I made myself for Easter but never wore because I hated the fit. Maybe someone else loves it? Let me know! (Size L/XL) Pattern HERE

G is for Glady’s Graceful Leotard…..

for my little Ballerinas! Their studio only allows black leos with pink tights for class….so we complied, but aren’t fancy sleeves more fun? Pattern here

Last but not least:

H is for Hattie’s….

one of my all time favorite staple pieces….it’s available in doll sizes up to adult XL….and, even though the pattern asks for a bow. I LOVE the overlaid placket look.

THERE YA HAVE IT, Friends!

Half (nope again …) [8/26 OR 4/13] of the ALPHABET complete, and I’m kinda proud. (Nope….pretty embarrassed now)

We gotta celebrate the small victories too, right?!?!?! (Still true)

Sewing · Sewing Studio

Happy Birthday to my Mom…I bought myself a present…

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Today my mom would have turned 71…..but to us she’ll forever be 67…..

until we meet again…

Picture of my mom at her 65th birthday party in 2015

I would love to tell a moving story of how I bought a new sewing machine in her honor, but that just wouldn’t be true. You see, yesterday, yet another one of my sewing machines broke. This happens more often than I’d like to admit.

I have accumulated quite the assortment of sewing machine carcasses in my studio.

You see, when my mom passed away in 2017, I was given the majority of her sewing machines. She had quite a few.

Here’s the thing with machines: they wear out, and they break.

Here’s the thing with cheap machines: they can be AMAZING, until a small part breaks or needs repairs….then they they cost more to fix then they do to replace. My highly probable guess is that’s what my mom did when one of her machines broke down….she replaced it instead of getting it repaired. I’m sure she thought she’d fix them all one day….but, alas, I inherited the whole lot.

I did get a couple of them repaired….in fact the one that just pooped out on me yesterday was one I had fixed about a year ago. And now, I’m just over it.

I use my machines a lot. Not everyday…but I’d say 5 out of 7. I used to be shy about telling people what kind of sewing machine I had because I thought it wasn’t “good enough” You might be surprised when I share my longest lastly machine….

You know the one you can but at every big box store?

Yep, that’s the one!

This was the machine I used for many years, loved, and recommended it to every beginner sewist that asked.

Well, it worked great until it didn’t.

I have been fixing the sewing machines I’ve had for years, and I think I’ve finally had enough.

When the last of my working sewing machines broke yesterday, I did something very uncharacteristic of me. I went online, looked at a few reviews and purchased a new machine in a matter of minutes….and one day delivery means it arrives TODAY.

It was a decision made in a moment of anger and frustration, and I really surprised myself with the swiftness of all of it. Emotions, man. They are a crazy roller coaster.

Think I have some unresolved grief and baggage that I have attached to a few sewing machines I have hanging out in my basement? …….no? Oh good, me either.

Welp, I hope this purchase works out well for me in the long run.

I’m calling it my new “back up” machine, and I think I am finally ready to shop around and choose a new machine that is much more reliable and worth being repaired. “They don’t make ’em like they used to” is what everyone EVERYWHERE tells me. So, if I want a sturdy machine, I know I’m going to have to pay for it.

Here’s what’s on my WishList:

What are you sewing on these days? Any recommendations for me?

Crafts & DIY · Tutorial

Fabric Cross Decor Tutorial

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This past weekend as I was changing out St. Patty’s Day decor with Easter….I realized I needed a new art piece to hang above our mantle.

Thing was, purchasing one wasn’t in the budget….so I went on a treasure hunt in the house.

I found some old frames: one for me & one for Georgia.

We each picked out the fabric we wanted and cut strips out leaving just a few inches on each side of the open frames.

Next up: STAPLE GUN!

I tried getting Georgia to use it, but it packs too much of a punch for her (little scary 😧 to me too, to be honest…you could totally hot glue too) Since we had one, I stapled the strips to the back of the frame to hold in place.

Now to make the cross….flip the frame over and use wire to tie at the place the fabric intersects. Don’t have wire? Got any old bread twist-ties? Those will work too! Or, I suppose string would work as well….wire just makes the next step easier.

And the finishing touch: COMPLETELY up to you! Use some Ribbon and tie a bow, use the wire to add a flower, glue a BIG BUTTON…or like we did: add a broach or pin.

Ours are a little extra special to us because they were our Grandmas’

The Pearl one from my Grandma Flo…

And Georgia’s pin was her grandma’s (my mom’s)

I’m super happy how these turned out. Plus they put an added smile on my heart when I see a part of my family in them.