Crazy Patch Vest

I am sometimes very slow to complete projects.  Start and then get sidetracked.....I posted last year in September that I was starting a Crazy Patch project and now it is finally finished.  It is a quilted vest for Lola.
It really did not take me that long, project just got pushed aside for necessary things.  The original plan was to be a complete jacket, but as I put it together, decided that as 'busy' as the prints are, that it would be too much.



The square are all put together with different laces, ric-rac, or decorative stitches.  Then quilted, and the large flowers are appliqued on each side of the front and the back.

 I don't think that you can tell, but I outlined the appliques so that they show on the inside of the vest.

The pants below were made from Burda 9581, size 3.  I purchase the pattern last year but just have not tackled it.  The back has a yok and false pockets.

The front has a fly and really different pockets.  The pockets are shown as patch, or with small zippers at the top.  Patch was easier.  There are pleats at the knee for movement.

The side view show the odd shape of the pocket, and the vented leg.  These are supposed to be capri length and has elastic just on the sides.  I have not tried them on Lola, will take them to her tomorrow.

I have started and out fit for Angela, will also take it for a fitting tomorrow.

Our local fabric store closed about a month ago.  The lady that had owned the store was hoping that someone would buy her out, but the sale never came through.  She still has some stock that she has moved to a storage building at her house.  Yesterday she had a garage sell and of course I went.  She is selling her remaining fabrics buy one yard get 3 free.  You have to take the 3....so that her stock reduces.  If there is not 3 yards left on the bolt, you pay for 1 yard and the next 3 are fee. I bought several pieces of flannel.  Things that can be put up and used years down the road.  I also found several cotton prints that I just could not resist.(hehe) I have trouble resisting most fabrics. 

I have to get really busy sewing soon, or the fabric closet is going to explode.

On to a different topic. 

I went across the street yesterday and picked pears from Doc Rogers house.  He has a tree that my only competition with is the deer and the guys on the garbage truck.  These are just the old hard pears.  They had begun to yellow and mellow and I knew that if I did not get them soon it would be too late

 Several weeks agon, I had put up pear preserves, pear honey, and I created my own version(recipe) of spiced pears as a test.  I love cinnamon so I made spiced pears, using the cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.  They are very good.  I got them peeled and canned this morning.  This whole cooking is salad pears.

Our weather has cooled slightly and we had a small rain early morning.  Made one think of fall, so I put on a large crock of chili.  This is a good staple to put in the freezer for quick suppers in the fall and winter.

It is raining again now......hoping for cooler weather....

Need to get fall sewing started.....starting now.



Let the creativity roll

I have finally gotten my answer to the Explorations Software issues I had creating appliques.  I was able to go to the shop where I purchased the software and took laptop, and embroidery machine.  It only took Kathy 2 minutes to correct my problem when she saw what was happening.

I was soooooooooooooo excited.  I was ready to come home and stitch out the design I had completed.
Needless to say that the first stitch out of the design was not well lined up and I had quite some 'tweeking' to do to get it right.  But, I was determined to complete this to know that I could do the design part.

David(husband) says it looks more like a lollipop than a flower, but the intention was simple, childlike design.
I was please with the result.

These are for Nora Ruth and Alliene.  I told Becky(Mom) that I know that it is late for summer shirts but these had been in the plans for quite some time.....

I have begun some Fall sewing for Angela(daughter) and I have some curtains to get done for Becky and Clif's master bedroom.  I will probably get started on curtains this weekend.

Lots to do, little time.....Need more time to design appliques....Let the creativity roll.

Explorations

I have been on a shopping spree again.  A small fabric shop here in Starkville is going out of business and I could not resist.  I bought up several pieces of gingham and fairly simple prints and dots.  Also, I bought a few pieces of 'scooba knit'.  I made me a pair of crop pants out of the knit for myself and plan to make Angela(daughter) some too.  It was fun to sew for me....and get something to fit.  It was just a simple pair of pull-on pants.  No pictures to show.

I am searching for someone who uses Explorations Embroidery Software.  I purchased this over a year agon and then added the applique, and reshape modules.  I have been working all summer on a simple design to combine applique and embroidery and have not been successful. I have tried to go on the website for assistance, but they do not seem to respond.  The store that I purchased from offers classes but they are usually during the week and not convenient for me.  If you know of anyone that works with these type things, please share my request for help or maybe if you have some links to embroidery design blogs, I could find some assistance there. 

Happy Sewing

Back to School

I have not posted in quite some time.  I have been extremely busy at the office, putting in a minimum of 50 hours a week.  This schedule leave me little time for family, hobbies, or blogging.  I do not see an end to this for quite a while. 

We did take time out in early July to make a trip to Texas to welcome our 5th granchild into the family.  Nathan Lee Scott joined us on July 9th.  He is the first child for our son Greg, and his wife Julie.  They have been married nearly 12 years and getting this little one here has been quite an adventure but Nathan and Mom are doing fine!  Julie will get to be home with Nathan for 10 weeks before she returns to work.  This is great because it gives her plenty of time to bond and develop that special relationship between Mom and Son.  Greg is going to be the 'stay at home' Dad and he is going to be Great! 

I have been busy since I returned from Texas finishing the last bit of sewing that I had to do for the summer. I really did not get much done this year but completed these few items and packed the rest of the fun summer fabrics away.  This will give me something exciting to start on in the gloom of winter next year.

This bright little skirt and T-Shirt was for Lola.  I had bought a new serger in May and had taken a class on the special stitches.  Just had to use what I had learned!  Angela, went wild over this one.  I think this is her favorite.

Since I did the Sea Horse for Lola, I had to come up with something 'beach-y' for Julian.

Nora Ruth turned 3 in May.  Her mom said that she would like a Minnie Mouse dress for her birthday.  She did not have a party for her in May and was going to wait until summer for a 'pool party'.  The party never happened, so I finally completed the dress and gave it to her to play in.

These next 2 are sister outfits.  Becky has purchased the material and pattern for Nora Ruth and gave me a Bubble suit to go by for Alliene. 

Summer sewing is over and it is sad to say, but school is now in session.  Angela's twins, 4 yrs old, started to public pre-K on Wednesday.  Lola's description was we played and ate.  Mommy's description was much different of course because this was the first time to drive up, and not get to take the babies inside to make sure that they safely arrived where you knew you could find them when you returned.  Also, the experience at the end of day was just as frightening for Mom.  She took off work to be home whth Margaret(sitter) when the children arrived on the bus.  The bus should have arrived between 2-2:30  and was an hour late.  Many attempts from Angela to contact school and bus service were fruitless.  Very un-nerving for the first day.  But, bus finally arrived, driver announcing that there had been bus trouble.  Children were fine and happy.

The children have to wear uniforms.  Angela was able to purchase Lola's but Julian is so thin she could not get him any shorts.  Therefore Nana had to come to the rescue.  Also, with Julian not being potty trained, and having the braces on his legs, Angela requested that they be the "break-a-way" type I have made in the past.  This is with the left side seam in velcro.  This makes it much easier to handle as everyone continues to try to get him trained.

So, Nana has completed 5 uniform shorts for Julian, which will get him to late fall.

Now, I am ready to get started on beautiful Fall projects.

Spring Sewing

I haven't posted in quite some time.  I have been sewing but not as much as norm.  I have been working long hours at the office.  During the month of February, I worked on some Christmas quilts for the kids.  Can't post the progress because they would see, but I have had a great time planning and putting this together.  I am not a seasoned quilter so this is a new adventure.

I had a great time planning the project below.  I was pulling fabrics out of the box and Angela(daughter) spotted the small green print and said that she wanted something for Lola.  I was not excited because it seemed very dull.  I visited several material shops looking for something to perk this up.  Success was found @ Heirlooms Forever in Tupelo.  They have a great group of employees and are teriffic help. Together we came up fabrics to make the green print look special.

I have made a few other outfits for all the others too, but they are pretty basic.

Lola will be in a dance recital this weekend.  I had to do some alterations to her costumes.  I took a snapshot, she is not a poser.....always looks a bit scared.  We will not be able to take flash photos at the recital so here she is.

I guess that we are ready for the performance.

2010 Coming in strong

YEA!!!!
I am starting off great in 2010.

I always start more projects than I can possibly complete.(Am I the only one that does this?)  But I started a re-decorate of my bedroom 6 years ago.  I did the wall texturing myself an it took me over a year to complete.  As I took breaks from the painting, I worked on the bedding and window treatments. The bed ruffle was made and it is velcro-ed to the box springs for easy removal/cleaning.  I found the valance material and moved quickly to get them sewn.  It took me 6 months to decide on the drapery fabric.  I decided on a split crown moulding to give more height to the 8' ceilings. My sister was excited over my room and did a special oil painting to include. All this has been enjoyed over the last 5 years but I never felt that it was complete because I wanted to get some throw pillows for accent.  I finally completed the pillows and this project is complete.

This is a shot to show the crown mouldings and the pillows.  Oh, and I know that you can't see the picture very well,  but it was painted by an artist, Roberson, from the Townsend, TN -Smokey Mountain area and it is titled Growing Old Together.  I love the picture and the idea.

These showcase the window treatments, dust ruffle and our baby(old girl) Belle.  She homesteads in our room with us.

I had too much glare from flash because the dark walls have a gloss finish.  But Joy(sis) is very talented and I will cherish this for life.

The next completed project for 2010 is my first ever completed knitting project.  I started this project before I did the bedroom.  I have started many knittings before and never completed any.  Many were tossed in the garbage.  But this is an afghan for David.  He wanted it to be extra long so that when he stretches out in the recliner, he can wrap it under his feet and it will stretch to his chin.  I have worked off and on this for over 8 years.  I had not worked on it in soooo long that I had really forgotten how the pattern worked. I pulled it out to take with me on the trip to Texas in November, I think that I knitted and ripped out on about 8 rows the whole12 hour trip.  I determined then that if it ever got put away again it probably would not get finished   thus the push to the finish.  And it is done!! and I am really proud.....first knitting project complete. 

Maybe one day when it is cooler and I catch him asleep with it on, I will snap a picture to share.

Now, more exciting news.  I have also found a new fabric store.  It is about an hour/half drive from here in the little community of Dekalb, MS off the beaten path to nowhere.  The whole 'town' is abandoned except this "Village Fabric Shoppe".  I have never seen so much fabric in such a small place.  There were aisles that even I could hardly get down.  But, I found some fabrics and patterns to start spring clothes for the "grands" and I will be returning to this place many times in the future.

Even as pretty as these blend together, I had take other materials from my stash to match....so they may or maynot be used together...

And last weekend I went to another sale, Heirlooms Forever, Tupelo, MS.  and this pile of buttons was still laying on my table from that fun trip.  There is a whole bag of Christmas prints for year long projects.

Enough for now, must get some sleep....lots of new stuff to plan for Spring.

2010 will be yet another great year.  Oh, how I love life.

Happy New Year

We have had a great Holiday Season and a quiet entry into the New Year.  Sewing has been very slow.  I do not know what has gone with my time, but the winter season is moving fast and I did not complete all that I had planned.  But I have packed up that season of fabrics and plan to work on some projects for the house and a quilt for Julie during the next couple of months.

 Oh, I just realized that I have not announced that Clif & Becky's new arrival came on Nov. 30,  Alliene Davis Scott. She is a beautiful redhead

I completed the Christmas Pajamas in time to deliver before Santa came.  This first set was for Nora Ruth and  Alliene.

These were for Lola and Julian.

Now I am going to try and get the quilt for Julie completed before next Christmas.  Hopefully before Greg and Julie's new addition arrives in July.  So here is the sample block that Julie and I put together during the Thanksgiving visit.

My project for today is to remove the remnants of Christmas and prepare the house for the New Year, get the fabrics for the quilt washed, and continue knitting on an afgan for David that I have been working on for many years.  I really plan to complete it by the end of Jan.  Lots to do!