Machine Sewn Quilt Cards

I made some quilted cards out of fabric scraps. I'm working on several more. It's really easy and fun.
1)I stitch the pieces together,
2)iron them flat,
3)trace a rectangle template onto the wrong side,
4)cut out roughly,
5)then sew all around 2 layers of organic, washed baby wipes (my batting) to the back of the rectangle,
6)cut excess off all layers at about 1/4 inch from the stitch line, trim corners
7)slice a hole in the middle of the "batting,
8)turn inside out, poke corners out carefully,
9)finger press flat,
10)position onto card stock, pin in one or 2 places if you desire (I didn't)
11)sew around edge and keep going inside shape to give quilting effect, overlapping at edge when you want to move to another area
12)and trim threads.

If you have questions, please let me know. I don't know when I'll have the time to add photos.

More Applique Shirts

I made a couple more applique shirts in the style of the Mini-Boden shirts. I got these shirts at the thrift store for 75 cents a piece. Clayton loves them, and we think it's a skidder on the left. Brandt could tell me. He was big into skidders as a kid. (they are used for logging).

Felt Chinese Food

Here is the project I made for Madeline's birthday. I didn't want to post it before she received it. It's been a few weeks, and I remembered it. The pattern is from Bugga Bugs.

Changes Coming

Matt got accepted at Syracuse University for his Ph.D. He wanted to go to Cornell, but didn't get accepted. He hasn't heard from his other top picks: U Mass and U Michigan. So,.... we are going back to Syracuse, NY. That's fine with me! And my parents are really happy about it. Now I have to get a teaching job and find a place to live!

Kimono Dress for Olivia

I used leftover fabric from a shirt I made last year. I love the fabric. I ended up taking apart the original shirt to make alterations. I have never worn it except for the time I took the picture. Maybe I'll fix it this week. I adapted the pattern I got here.

Insane Thrifter

Today, I went to the thrift store and picked up a huge bags of t-shirts marked as rag shirts for $5.99 and it was military discount day, so I got them for 1/2 off. I counted 33 shirts and they don't have stains all over them. That's about 10 cents a shirt. I will use them to make appliques, pj's for Clayton, shirts and dresses. I think I should hide them from Matt. He thinks I'm nuts, but I have some interesting plans for them.

Imitation Mini Boden Shirts

I love the appliqué shirts from Mini Boden.

I thought I could make some on my own using 4 of my son’s current shirts: one from Grandma Thomas and the others from thrift stores. I started by finding some graphics I thought he would like. I found a nice coloring book site called Free Printable Coloring Pages. I also searched on Google Images for stencils and found some nice ones.
Of course, I was thinking I was saving time by finding them on the internet, but I probably could have drawn them just as fast. Anyway, I used Adobe Photoshop to make them a full page in size and printed them out.

Next, I traced the images onto WonderUnder with a permanent marker. I roughly cut out the image. I ironed an old t-shirt first, and then ironed the WonderUnder tracing onto it.

I let it cool and cut along my lines and removed the backing. Next, I placed the cut out onto the good t-shirt and carefully ironed it on.

(For the images with more than one color, I cut out the WonderUnder shapes needed for another color and ironed those shapes onto another colored t-shirt fabric. Then I cut them out and ironed them all onto the shirt.) If there are details, you will need to draw them on with an erasable marker or chalk.

Next, I sewed around the edges. I wanted to get the rough edge effect, so I sewed inside the shape slightly. I haven't washed these shirts yet, but I anticipate a little ruffling of the edges after washing.

I thought the beginning and ending stitch might unravel, so I used a needle and brought the excess thread to the inside and knotted them. I used black fabric paint on the eyes of the octopus.

Strange Bloomers

Last year I was attempting to make something for Clayton out of a kitchen towel. I love making little dresses and tops for girls, but for boys, the possibilities are fewer. I made some aprons out of the towels that boys can use for sure, but tried to design something for a boy. I came up with these weird bloomers (without the ribbon and flower) that were quite large for Clay months ago and now they are just not going to work because he's too mature... ha ha. They fit him, don't get me wrong, but look stupid. Okay, they may still look pretty strange after I added the ribbons and flower, but I needed to fill up a box I am sending to Olivia and Drake... Hopefully, their mom, Sarah, my sister.... will at least give them a try for Olivia. With a white top underneath, she could pull it off.

I had the bright ribbon from my scrap collection (thrifted, as well) and I used leftover yarn and ribbon to make the flower/medallion. The flower came out pretty large, so ended up using it the middle instead of like a large pin on the chest as I originally planned. I think the bloomers are cute, but it seems like my tastes don't seem to fit with too many others. Oh, well. I may continue with the medallion idea for future projects.

Thrifted Thread for Crochet Earrings

(originally posted at Wardrobe Refashion)

In the last few months I have picked up bags of various thread, buttons, beads, ribbon, zippers.... and more from thrift stores. I spent about $6 on this last bunch of embroidery threads and stuff. (When I was at Michael's the other day I noticed the same threads for something like $1.25 a piece.) I must have gotten about 22 skeins of the ones I'm using to crochet with, so I think my purchase at the thrift store was worth it. I wasn't sure what I was going to use them for initially because I don't embroider very much, but I knew I had to change up my fused glass jewelry because I haven't been selling much of it. I had been toying with the idea of adding something like crochet to them and last week I took a look at some of the threads I purchased and thought I could use them like yarn. I have some plain white thread in a large roll, and bought some Kool-Aid with the intention of trying to dye the thread/yarn to use. The thrifted thread was already in beautiful colors, so when I was successful at making some small items, I sketched out some ideas to embellish my fused glass jewelry. I'm excited about the results and if these don't sell, I will wear them! (I still may try dying the thread, so I get a variegated coloration.)

I'm having fun crocheting at night when we're watching television. I like to do something productive when I'm rotting my brain on TV. The last photo shows a nearly finished pair using some cool buttons from a collection that was given to my by my uncle.

Thanks for looking. Next I'll post a goofy pair of bloomers I made from a kitchen towel, thrifted ribbon and a colorful crochet flower from leftover yarn.

-Tamara

Crochet Earrings

from http://yospree.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/birthday-earrings-free-pattern/


from: http://gildedbottle.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-first-blog-and-my-first-crochet.html
from http://www.jpfun.com/patterns/free/jewelry/f107008daintyearrings.shtml



I purchased 2 bags of thread and other miscellaneous sewing and beading implements from the thrift shop in the last few months. I probably spent a total of $6 for the stuff. Some of it is pictured here. I used some of the thread to make some crochet earrings. I don't have the correct crochet hook to make them, but I managed. The blue ones are quite large, but since my hair is getting longer, they might be fine, because they'll peak out of my hair.

I am hoping to create my own designs, as well. It's fun to make them at night when we're watching tv. Which reminds me, I need to get more light in the corner of the room, so I can see better.

Zoo Day

Sesame Street Live photos

I took a lot of photos, but without a tripod, not many came out very well. The characters came over to Clay and shook his hand a bunch of times, but the camera delayed in taking the pictures, so none of those came out.

Shirt refashion Chicago Style

I noticed there's a darker mark in the front of the tie dye that doesn't look too flattering. I guess I know better for the next shirt.

We went to see Sesame Street Live on Saturday. Clayton lost interest and afterward I asked him if he liked the show or not. He said, "not", and then said something that sounded a lot like "bullshit". I'm sure that wasn't what he said, but it sure sounded like it. ???

Pics from Sesame Street Live in next post.

Table Runner in Progress

Here's a current project I am working on. I think I will wait for Clayton to wake up from his nap to continue on it. If I sew full speed, the machine can be pretty loud and it vibrates. Clay's bedroom is right under my studio. So, I'll post the final piece in the next couple of days.