No Brainer Pick-me-up --> Luggage Tags

Every once in a while you need a little pick me up.   Something to get your adrenaline flowing and doesn't require a lot of effort or thought.  I needed one of those.  I kept thinking about all of the scraps I have, and I wanted something quick.

So I figured, Luggage Tags!  Doesn't require much fabric, and I have everything I need here.  Its something I can never have too many of.  And with all of the traveling I've done, and the traveling to come they would definitely get plenty of use.

Of course I didn't want to pay for a pattern, so a "googling" I went.  I came across this pattern: Studio Kat ID Tags.  It took less than 30 minutes to make 3 tags.

I did make a couple of changes when I made the tag:

1. The patterns calls for 8 gauge or less vinyl.  I had a box of sheet protectors that I bought from Staples, so I just took a sheet and used that for the clear vinyl window.
2. The pattern called for interfacing on the wrong sides of the tag.  I did that; but I also had some buckram.  (I had used it in a belt).I cut this to the same size as the interfacing, and then trimmed it down so that I was just barely catching it in the seams.  This gave an additional stiffness to the tag.
3. My tag is just large enough to fit a business card into the vinyl pocket (as you can see in the picture above). The instructions state to stitch the vinyl pocket closed once you've inserted your ID information..  However, I decided to leave it open.  This way I can make some as gifts for family and they can put their information into the vinyl pocket.  It also makes it easy to switch out the id card info if I need to.

Tomorrow, I'll be back on my regular program - garment sewing.

Happy Sewing . . . .

One More Piece of Organization . . .

Well, if you've been reading my posts I've been all about organizing my sewing room.  I've got my patterns, and magazines done.  Now onto the last item my stash.  I have a fabric stash notebook, but I needed a better way to organize the new additions to my stash.

My biggest problem has been that when I buy new fabrics, I don't have a way to track the specifics of the fabric.  Then, as Oprah would say, I had an A-Ha moment.  I'm carrying all of this technology with me, why not make use of it.

When I decide to purchase a piece of fabric; as it is being, cut I take a quick snapshot of the end of the bolt with the fabric description, and of the fabric on the table.  (If its a bolt that doesn't have the information on the end of the bolt then I just turn my recorder on my smart phone and record the information so I can write it down later).

When I get home I just add the picture and bolt information to my fabric entry in Microsoft One-note:

An I-Phone, I-Pad, and Microsoft Office One-note have awaken the desire to become more organized with my sewing time.  The more time I save by organizing, means more time to sew!!!!

Now I'll have access to my patterns, magazines, and stash from anywhere by computer, phone, or ipad.  Yipee!!!!!

Happy Sewing. . . .

By the Pound

Well I finally made a skirt from one of the "by the pound" pieces. It was a designer fabric. The fabric was a light weight sheer chiffon. It was over 8 yards of the fabric and cost me about $7.

I used 3 widths of the fabric, and a light weight brown to underline it. For the waistline I just did 2 rows of elastic: 


I did a one inch deep double roll hem (to add a little weight at the bottom). Talk about taking forever - approximately 180 inches of hemline!

I have a wide elastic belt with metal buckle that I paired up with it:


The skirt is light and airy. I wanted to run around outside and let it just blow in the wind.

I found a black cowl neck top at TJ-MAXX, which worked out nicely:

 BTW, guess what my sister saw at Marshall's in Texas!  A designer dress made from the fabric that I purchased at Michael Levin Fabric Store. 

I think I like the skirt version better.

Happy Sewing . . . .

Jeans in the works

I've joined the "Jeans sew along" on sewing.patternreview.com. My fabric came yesterday. In the meantime, I had some in my stash, that I figured I'd recheck my fit, etc. My pattern is Jalie's stretch denim pants; I so love this pattern.

As usual I had to do my alterations:

• sway back adjustment
• additional width in thighs
• added length at knee, and hemline
• take in at waist

This time I decided to try some top-stitching to make them look like ready to wear. The "muslin" versions are turning out great. I'd like to keep them, but I had just enough fabric, such that, if I try to hem them they'll be too short. I'm thinking, maybe I can turn them into capri's.
I'll have to post pictures tomorrow.

Empty Nest

Well, I dropped my daughter off at college. I am now an "empty nester".






It's strange not to have any kids in the house. Actually, it is way to QUIET! I never thought I'd say that, but it is. So now I'm trying to get a new schedule for my day, one not centered around kids.


In the mean time, the first thing I did when I got home was started digging up the yard. I have rocks along my driveway, and grass was peeking thru, so I decided now was as good a time as any to replace the lining underneath them. My husband thought I'd lost my mind; but I told him it was way too quiet in the house, and I wasn't ready to go inside yet. So each weekend I'll be working on a section of the driveway until the entire thing has been done.

After it got to hot to dig up rocks, I came inside and started sewing. I got my muslin done for my vintage dress (I'll have to include pics later). Then I decided to do something quick and easy. I came across the purse organizer, and decide it would be quick and simple. I had some upholstery fabric that a friend gave me, so I decided to use it. The fabric was reversible.





It was very quick and simple project. It took a total of maybe 30 minutes to do, and has been a real plus in making my purse look a lot nicer on the inside.



Organizer on its side, like it would be in my purse.


After I got all of that done, I decided to clean my sewing room. Its amazing how much bigger it looks when its clean!

I also started back on my pants. I figure since it'll be fall here soon, I'm getting in the right frame of mind for pants.

Pillows and the fabric stash

Well as I said earlier its amazing what you find in your stash when you actually can see it. I had 4 pillow forms in my stash, along with some upholstery fabric.


So from these:





I made 4 of these:

My daughter was happy to see them, she said she was tired of lugging bed pillows from upstairs when she wanted to lay on the couch to watch television. Although, I know she got worried after she saw me bring her a 4th one. I assured her that was all the pillows I had in my stash!