An Upcycled Skirt

for the Princess, from a pair of jeans. The jeans I bought on eBay at least a year ago, for Hubby, but they were too small and he never wore them. I cut them up and turned them into a super-cute skirt for my little gal!




front




back


pockets!

Really just an ad...

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If there's something that you'd like to see that isn't available, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks!

Wardrobe Refashion, take 1

My first attempt at re-fashioning an item of clothing. I bought these khaki jeans at least 6 years ago and haven't worn them in quite a while (they are a little short).

Following this tutorial, I created a skirt that isn't too bad. It isn't fantastic, but for a first attempt I'm pleased.




I cut the legs off pretty high- just above the crotch. I didn't want to have to resew the crotch like Procraftinate did.


Oops! Be careful when cutting the legs off... I cut off a corner of a pocket, too!


I used the legs of the pants to lengthen the skirt- I cut them lengthwise, then sewed them together to form the body of the skirt. Then I lined the body up with the top half, pinned them together, and sewed.



Finished front view photo taken by the Princess


Finished back view photo taken by the Prince. To finish the bottom edge, I carefully trimmed along what used to be a heavy side seam- now it is a nicely finished bottom edge!

My Spoonflower Fun

A few weeks ago I got my email from Spoonflower, allowing me to try out their new site. I'd registered a month or so ago, and they're sending out these emails so that they don't have a barrage of new orders all of a sudden- it's a new company and they'd like to be able to keep up with demand.

I wasn't ready to place my order when I got the email from them, but just a couple of days later I noticed their blog entry, asking for all orders by the next morning if I wanted it mailed that upcoming week. And I did. So I sat down and worked up a little order, stuff that I'd been thinking about- labels. I made labels for stuff that I make for myself and my family, labels for the internets (these say "BlondieSpeaks"), and a quilt label for that massive quilt that will be done soon. I followed all of their directions for colors and pixels, etc, and uploaded my order- just an 8x8 swatch. A mere $6 later, I had my order placed and it was "in process". According to their blog, orders from that week shipped the following Friday, my order arrived the next Monday- so about a week after I placed it. Not too shabby!

I opened the envelope and all of this was in there:



I ripped open the nicely wrapped package of tissue paper to reveal my first-ever custom fabric:



Kim included a personal note, which I thought was a wonderful touch:



Here's a close-up of my quilt label and some of the Blondie labels. Photoshopped to protect my anonymity.



The white writing (which I used on all three designs) didn't turn out quite as well as it showed on my computer screen. The quilt label looks pretty darn great, except the smaller white writing on the bottom- which is kinda hard to read.

I love this method of creating a quilt label, and will likely plan ahead and use Spoonflower for future quilt labels. This particular one has already been sewn into a block and will be used as a part of a pieced back, but I'm sure that it could be appliqued onto a quilt without any problems.

My biggest complaint/concern? Shipping for swatches is $1 during their beta testing period... regularly close to $4. According to the postage label on the package, shipping cost Spoonflower $0.59. While I understand about "handling", this is likely to upset some people. Good to know in advance.

Kitchen Facelift

Before:


dirty, kid-stained chairs




another stained chair and the ugly curtains


the ugly curtain over my kitchen sink

After:


new full-length curtains over the sliding door




the new curtains have a nice strip of dusty purple at the bottom; also notice the newly reupholstered chairs- they have a thick clear vinyl over the fabric (to protect them from my children!)


I made tie-backs for this curtain and the one over the kitchen sink... I love it when they're open!


kitchen window


My kitchen is purple- I love how the fabric matches the paint!


Conclusion:
I love my much-needed kitchen facelift!

Finished Shirt! OR 3835 Take 1

My first attempt at Simplicity 3835 is done! I used a fabric that I love (but haven't had a use for), and was really hoping that it would fit... it does!



I added 4 inches to the length, 2 inches to the sleeves, and a 6 inch slit on each side (for ease of movement). It fits really pretty well! At first I thought it felt a bit snug in the sleeves and chest, but after wearing it for the past 20 minutes or so, I'm quite comfortable. It fits like a t-shirt, but doesn't have the give that jersey knit does- very helpful in putting it on and taking it off...



I wanted this to be a bit long, but I probably won't add quite as much length next time- maybe I'll try 2 inches.



Isn't it purdy? :)

WIP Week

This week I'm focusing on making progress and finishing some unfinished projects.

Being a bit of an overachiever, I'm almost done with all 12 setting blocks for the SQAL. They just need to be stitched together (each block is currently in 3 pieces, I'll chain-stitch them and it won't take long to finish):



This week's block for the SQAL is done; but I didn't like how the last row looked, so I'm ripping out the seam and I'll re-stitch it.


I have a shirt that I started at least a week ago, I'm hoping to get back to it and finish it tonight or tomorrow.


The prince has a project he'd like me to do. He wants a tower to go with the rocket that I made a while back... please don't laugh too hard at my slightly-abstract rocket.


I'd like to make several more blocks for my two-color quilt. I really would like to be making at least 5 blocks every day. The strips are cut, they just need to be sewn together. Unfortunately, I've put this project on the back burner and haven't touched in in at least 3 weeks. Still have a goal of having the top done by the end of this month.... fingers crossed, nose to the grindstone.

Thrift, Schmrift

I keep reading about what other bloggers have found thrifting... many, many sheets seem to have been purchased at thrift shops somewhat recently. These sheets seem to have been used mainly to make quilts and shirts and dresses and skirts.

Thrift shops are fun, no doubt; but I have young kids and they make any shopping a bit stressful- I'd rather not take them with me to look for old sheets and other fabrics.

I KNEW we had some old sheets buried away in a box in our basement, I just needed to dig them out. I was picturing one sheet in particular that I wanted to make a shirt out of, and was hoping to find said sheet in that box. Tonight I went searching and found sheets that not only had I completely forgotten about, I don't remember ever owning!

I now have a pile of sheets, ready to become a new spring wardrobe of shirts (and a skirt, maybe a dress or two... and definitely another pair of lounge pants).

Needleturn Applique

I mentioned in my last post that I had a plan for some decoration for the next thing I will make with 4206... I'm using the tutorial that I found here and here (it's a 2-parter) and am learning to needleturn applique. Joanna did a fantastic job explaining this process and I wasn't hesitant at all to jump right in and try.

I'm doing this project for the Princess' birthday- I'll get a couple pictures in this dress on her big day, then she'll wear it again at her party. I'm basing it on a set of 4 shirts that she received as a baby gift, saying 3 (months), 6 (months), 9 (months), and 1 (year). The months/year part was hard to read, so it looked like they said 3, 6, 9, and 1. She didn't wear them very often, but the 1 shirt was great for her birthday- and looks great in pictures from her party!



So, based on that shirt is coming a "2" dress.

The fabric is cut:



I printed out my design, traced it onto my fabric, and cut it out (leaving a seam allowance). Then I pinned my design to the fabric:





The printed "2" and the fabric I've chosen:



A rough estimate of how the final product will look:



And now- just for fun- pictures of my ancient iron and sewing machine. Because I know you want to see them!


No annoying auto-shutoff feature on this baby!




I started sewing the applique last night, and it doesn't look terrible. Not fantastic, but certainly fine for a first attempt. I think I may run it under the sewing machine when I'm finished, just to make sure that the circle isn't going anywhere- this will be worn by a toddler!

All-Star Dad

Hubby left early this morning to spend the weekend at a conference in Minneapolis and the kids wanted to do something special for him before he left. So yesterday I hurried and made those lounge/pajama pants; the Prince suggested that we make him a star pillow too, and that was super-fast to make. We also made a card that says "You're an All-Star Dad"... then wrapped everything up and put a big bow on the package. I don't have any pictures of the opening because the Prince was in such a hurry for his daddy to open the present RIGHTNOWDON'TEVENGETINTHEDOOR... I insisted that he let daddy get his coat off (but that's all he got to do!). Prince was very excited about giving his daddy this present.


They're a bit big on me- for Hubby, remember?


Contrast stitching on the hem


The card and star pillow that match the pants

Hubby loved the gifts and packed them right away so he could take them (even the card!) with him this weekend. The Prince suggested that daddy use the pillow as a cuddly when he's at the hotel... can you just see that? LOL

Progress and possibly pants

So I'm making a bit of progress on this quilt-



These blocks seem to take forever to make. I don't know how some people can just churn them out as fast as they do! I think my goal of getting the top done in a few weeks might be realistic- it will definitely take a while!

I bought a pattern and am going to try to make some lounge pants. I'd love to make Amy Butler's Wide Leg Lounge Pants, but I don't want to shell out the cash for the In Stitches book just for the one pattern. It's been years since I've followed a pattern (mainly because I'm terrible at it) but I'm going to try this... I'd love to be able to make pants for Hubby, he wears them every night.

If the pants project goes well, I have some nice fabric that I'm going to try to make some dressy pants with- following the lounge pants pattern. I have another dressy pair of pants that is that style and I adore them... why not try to make my own?

First Block Done

After I posted (late) last night, I played with Excel and created a new plan. I'm not sure how to show you an Excel spreadsheet, so you'll just have to wait and be surprised with how this looks as more progress is made.

This is a variation on the Log Cabin pattern. I know that just because I've seen the Log Cabin pattern mentioned all over the internet, but I've never tried it before- I've really never used much of a pattern. This is the most detailed block I've tried, and I think- after a little more practice- that I'll like doing this block.

Blondie's been MIA!!!

But I'm back! I've been posting regularly on my other blog, but not doing so well here...

I do have a finished project to show you! My mom has a set of 3 small hearts made of mini purple patchwork in her first floor bathroom. She found them at a craft show and they're really cute. Unfortunately, that's ALL she has for decoration in that bathroom! I decided that she needed something to match, so I made this:



It is in an 8x10 frame and should look nice with the others. I'll try to remember to take a picture of the mini hearts that she already has, next time I'm at her house. She was surprised by this one, and I think she really liked it. (Yay!)

And finally, she sleeps.

I couldn't help but take this picture for you- she's asleep! He'll sleep through most of her nighttime antics, but she doesn't give in to sleep very easily.



I made both of their quilts (and her pillowcase), they were the second and third quilts I ever made. A Photoshopped version of hers is at the top of this page, in my title bar. He picked his own fabrics, and helped me choose hers... I never would have put tone-on-tone yellow stripes with blue and green polka-dots, but he loved them, and they actually work!