Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Late night sewing...

Been making my heat packs lately. Don't know if it is because my fibromyalgia and back pains been re-occuring, or just the fact that it is getting colder. I call them my "warm hugs". I have made quite a few of these lately, even have a production line going. Some are for gifts, some to hopefully sell, some just for me. They really help with all my aches and pains, and sometimes I even have 3 of them going. I usually use them in the morning, at least once during the day, and before I go to bed. In fact, as I sit here now, I have one on my neck. Now though with the cold weather, I use them just so my fibromyalgia doesn't flare up, and to keep my muscles warm.

My chiropractor has some, and was interested in seeing what I make. I made a variety of my favorite sizes. I think the most versatile is the 8" x 30" one. This can be used for the neck, or the low back. You can even warm it up, and use it as a scarf before you go into the cold. My favorite is the shoulder one, it does the shoulders and upper back. I still need to tweak it so it can also be up around the neck.

All of the "warm hugs" are made with the inner liner of a rice/herb blend, and a removable outer cover. Since I use mine so much, I know the benefits of having a cover you can wash. Not pretty otherwise!!!  Here's some pics...... (updated January 1, 2010)


















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Also made a set of hand warmers. Jim's hands get cold a lot, so just this seems to help. Just 30 seconds in the microwave and he can hold it in his hands to warm them. Should also be good inside a glove or mitten. Did a pair of mittens with the heat pack in it; but it was a little bit too tight, so back to the drawing board.

Finally, made a infinity type scarf out of fleece and cotton. Saw the link at Infarrantly Creative . Did a little variation with a bias strip (which I made as a continuous bias strip....still perfecting how to do that easily) with some green and gold trim. The only thing was that I cut the fringes too wide, so I didn't think it layed (laid??) right. Going to recut it and see.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween costumes

Well, the grandkids' costumes are finished, shipped and just got a webcam call before they went out trick or treating. They look adorable. I made the Morgan - the 7 yo's cowgirl outfit and the Tyler, the 4 yo's Spiderman. I entered them in the Pattern review contest, hopefully you'll be able to see the notes there. Here are pics of the costumes before I sent them.

Spiderman is first, complete with muscles. Fabrics used was what I had on hand: Cotton spandex, batting, beige stretch lining, ultrasuede scraps, red flannel backed vinyl. I have more details at Pattern review.com This is the full outfit.





Morgan wanted to be a cowgirl. I based the costume on the picture she sent me. I used a remnant, that's been around FOREVER, black suede fringe bought for 80% off, and pink fringe made from a garage sale ultrasuede remnant. Also lined it with dusty pink lining from my stash, and made a scarf from a remnant that was leftover from making a tablecloth. The boots were pull on - kinda like spats. Very cute.



Here's 3 yo Madison's costume...Cinderella (the one I didn't make) We got her costume from a friend - an awesome Cinderella
complete with tiara, purse, and 2 pair of shoes. I love to sew, but couldn't pass that up. I'd rather spend my time on something else for her.



It was really fun to make it for them, though being far away it was hard to figure out whether it would fit or not. It challenged my creativity. Now on to Christmas sewing.














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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Birthday Gifts for a Great Granddaughter

Gifts for a great granddaughter 3 year birthday. Fabric was from a Jo-Ann's which was moving and was 80% off. Here is the apron and chef's hat.

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And matching crayon roll

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Don't you just love the bee print? The closure is velcro with a yoyo on the strap, and a button over it. Too cute.

Bathroom updating

Forgot to get a picture of the shower curtain and window valance I made; but it was made from an old pink sheet, and 2 different garage sale print fabric. Here's what I did with the leftover fabric.

This is a great update. The towels were from my son & dil's shower 15 years ago. They have sinced gone to the kids/guest bathroom. I just took leftover pieces and sewed them on to the bottom. Really looked cute.

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Another plastic bag holder. Great for keeping the bags in the bathroom to line the trash can, for the disposable diapers. Leftover from the shower curtain and window curtain.

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Head Bobber Stoppers

I just hate to be riding in the car with my grandkids and they fall asleep and their heads start bobbing. It hurts MY back and neck just to look at them in those positions where their head is down to their knees. Ouch!!

Well, when I went to Florida to visit 3 of them, I brought along the pillows that I cut and sewed for them at home. Their jobs were to help stuff, and I finished sewing them up. Here's one of them

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Well, they loved them so much they were using them at home and forgetting to take them in the car. So, we got some more fabric and they helped sew this time. All 3 of them, ages 2, 3 and 7! The 2 and 3yos worked the pedal. I put it on the table and told them to "stop" or "go". Both of them were wonderful. The 7 yo actually did the sewing with my guidance. And, it was a lot easier for their little fingers to stuff the pillows. We just used fiberfill and stuffed until it felt comfortable.

The pattern for them was really easy. I just made a large C shape and cut it out of newspaper, then tweaked it until I liked it. I figured anything had to be more comfortable than having their heads hanging down. Even easier to make it is to draw the outline of the pattern on the top fabric. Place another fabric, same or different pattern stacked right side together- and cut a larger square around it - but not too close. Then, just sew on the marked line leaving a space about 4 inches on the top for turning. After sewing - then cut about 1/4" away from the stitching. This is much easier to do, no shifting. Try it.

It was so popular that I have to make another one for my DIL to use when she is traveling. The tool pattern was one we bought at Jo-Ann's for my grandson. The doggie patterned fabric was one I had at home, and the smiley face fabric was a garage sale purchase - 3 yards for 50 cents!

These were so popular, that I made 3 for our great grandkids. They used it the other day on a 3 hour trip to Chicago and Mom said they loved it. If you have kids, strongly consider making this. In fact, I'll be making more as gifts for traveling friends.

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Plastic Bag Holders

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My daughter in law wanted some holders since the one I made her many years ago had fallen apart. These were true refashion/recycling projects. The fabric were leftover sheet pieces I had in my stash, the white area was from some muslin bought at a garage sale (22 yards for $1!!!) and some trim which has to be at least 20 years old from my Mom's stash. Made several different sizes.
My 7 year old granddaughter made this when she visited us this summer. All fabrics are from garage sales. Even the pink webbed handle was a garage sale find. My granddaughter designed the bag - note the pocket at the corner. She even sewed it too (with grandmom's help) Don't you just love the fabric?

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Crayon Rolls

Made this for the grandkids. Saw a bunch of directions online, and changed mine to add a flap to cover crayons, and added a velcro closure. Have some other changes in mind. Will show later.

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Here's the rest that I brought with me. My grandkids helped me sew them. Their Mom and Nana both took one for their purses to keep the kids amused

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Recycled Sweater Mittens

Saw this at a garage sale. I had been looking for wool sweaters to felt (full) and told the lady that I had planned to make hats, bags, and mittens from them. She went inside and showed me a pair that she had. It was very cute; but I personally don't like how they don't match. I've already had some started, am making for my granddaughter in college. The ones in Florida don't really need it!!!

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Chefs in the Kitchen

Chef Hats and Aprons made from Stash Fabric. All 3 were made with the same fabrics; but styled slightly different. The yellow fabric was part of an old sheet.

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Baby Present

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Mix and Match baby clothes for a baby shower.

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Quilt made from knit swatches and bound with knit sashes.

More Refashioning

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These are the fabrics I brought down to Florida.