Shabby Chic - Bathroom

It's been awhile and I apologize. Over the past five years I have had to have three surgeries on my back, each one during the same time frame, around the first week of September. Each surgery takes a little more out of me and we're getting to the point where we have to admit more surgery may do more harm than good. Except that this time it's been my arm. My left hand has been atrophying and my right arm is losing strength but they aren't quite sure where the problem is yet. Over the past year I have learned that I am more than willing to live without the use of my legs but I will never survive the loss of my hands. So, we're discussing one more surgery and I have been learning to write, sew and do all my other crafts with limited use of my hands. I guess what I'm really trying to tell you is that it takes me longer to finish a project.
I have, however, managed to do just that. My bathroom has been reincarnated and I have evidence. I have managed a few other projects so I should be able to post a while longer.

The toilet seat and tank covers are quilted to look as though they are cartoons

I sewed both rugs by covering old towels

Everything was made from one sheet. From the shower curtain to the seat cover.

The captions pretty much tell the story. The only money I spent on this room was $5 at the Dollar Tree for silk flowers and a basket of seashells.

Found an old wire rack to hold make up, wash cloths, etc.

Someone left framed picture of sunflowers on our free table.

The Case of the Missing Photos

I made a dress last week from three different patterned materials. I took photos of said dress and posted them on www.craftsy.com for the world to see. I thought I also posted them here. This dress is very similar to a dress my daughter wants me to make for her. After telling her to look on my blog I realized I failed  to post them here, or anywhere else online. In fact, the photos seemed to have disappeared from my hard drive as well. I began to wonder if I actually took those photos. Yes, I did, they were on the craftsy site. So, where did they go? I searched all the usual places I keep things and they weren't there. Then I began to wonder, what if it was all my imagination? Maybe I didn't make the dress after all. No, it was in my closet, hanging with the matching headband and purse I made.
Now that I'm 50, I imagine I can feel the brain cells slipping off my gray matter and falling, unnoticed from my ears. Once I could remember the birthdays of all my First Grade classmates. Now I'm lucky if I remember my own.

I did manage to come up with this photo after some searching. As you can see, it's a fairly simple sundress with an empire waist. The skirt is straight which looks fine, but I think the next time I make it I will make a flare skirt. The flare is more comfortable and I feel as though my waist is better camouflaged.

Hey, I just found the photos!  They were where I put them, just not the edited ones you could actually see. Oh well, two minutes in a graphics program and voila!
As  you can see, the belt isn't attached. I did not use a pattern, nor did I have enough of any one fabric to create the dress. Being the creative problem solver I am, I found three different stash fabrics in very similar patterns and colors.

This particular dress was designed and created for myself, but I  will have a few up for sale shortly. Right now I'm still trying to cope with a major infection in my leg and I think it may be time for a nap :0

A Piecework Messenger Bag

Piecework quilting has got to be one of the most time consuming crafts out there. It is intended to rid you of some of your small scraps, and definitely accomplishes its goal. However, it's not simply a matter of slapping a bunch of fabric on a backing and calling it a day. If the fabrics clash or the geometry of the pieces don't come together just right, you have a disaster.

This is the first time I've ever attempted a piecework object and, I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself. I think it came out great. Although it was time-consuming, it wasn't difficult as long as I wasn't working with tiny pieces. I realize at some point I will do this but I'm avoiding it as long as possible. :)
One reader asked how I do a purse flap. She can't seem to figure them out so I've decided that will probably be my first video tutorial. Hopefully, it will still be done this weekend. Since I currently have an infection in my leg, I cannot give any guarantees.

One of the best features in this bag is the pockets. There should be enough to carry anything you could possibly think of, except maybe the kitchen sink.
Because of the patchwork it is difficult to see in this picture but the front has a panel across it with pockets of varying sizes. There are also pockets on the side panels.
That's about it. The bag is available at Yardsellr for $17 - $23 with shipping. You can also contact me to have one custom made.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone! My thoughts and prayers go out to all the military personnel and their families.

A Recycled blouse

I had a blouse that was large enough to fit myself and a fairly large friend.  I cut it up long ago with the intention of making something with it, but I was waiting for it to declare itself. I never work on a piece of fabric, a blank canvas, or an empty notebook without first waiting for it to declare itself. I know that the drawing is meant to be something unique just as I know the piece of paper is meant to be part of a particular written work.
In the time between my cutting the fabric and it's declaration I moved to a different apartment. Somewhere between there and here I lost the sleeves and a significant amount of the blouse. As a result, the fabric turned out to whisper to me rather than make a grand declaration, LOL.

In the end, it worked out. I have a decent top to wear for summer.  I just miss those sleeves!
If you sew often, or even if you're just beginning, you really should check out the links on the left hand side of my post. All Free Sewing has some totally awesome ideas. It's the first place I go when looking for ideas.

The ONLY Dress to Wear When The World Ends

Admit it, if only to yourself, you've thought occasionally about what would happen if the predictions of today had come true. What is heaven like? Is there really a hell? And what, for heaven's sake, will I wear for all eternity?
Well, I happen to have an answer for the last question. I definitely have opinions on the first two but those are ultimately for you to deal with. The last, however, is the infinity dress.
The infinity dress is the penultimate for the one clothing item lifestyle. It consists of a basic skirt, a waistband and two incredibly long straps that enable the dress to become anything you like it to be. I'm afraid, however, if you happen to end up in a rather cold place, you may want to consider a jacket.

These looks are more conservative. The bottom one makes it appear as though you are wearing a scarf.

When I began this undertaking I started to wonder if the project would take the entire eternity. I never use patterns, and it's never been an issue - until now. I've never been terribly good at math but I'm smart enough to use a calculator. I'm just not smart enough to remember you don't try to do math right after you take your meds.

Anyway, I read the instructions as the tutorial states, but my mind didn't comprehend it apparently. Rather than fold the fabric into quarters, I folded it four times and then tried to divide it by 1/4. As a result, I have a rather lovely tutu for an elephant if you happen to know one who needs it.
The other problem I encountered was failing to consider just how much fabric a circle skirt and strips 90" long take. I was planning to use a bedsheet anyway but it took more than the twin sized flat I had on hand. That's okay, I happen to love hanging out in thrift stores anyway.

As you can see, this dress is definitely the right choice if you're planning to wear it forever. Just remember, when you decide to change things around, check to make certain you're not standing in front of an open window with the blinds open. I'm not quite sure those children on the playground are ever going to recover...
I will definitely be making more of these in the future. Also, stay tuned. I'm hoping my first video tutorial will be ready soon. I just have got to remember that staring at the computer while speaking doesn't work. It makes you look - well - a little creepy.

One Step Forward...

I recently received the outline for a book I am to write for a client. As a result, I had to readjust my sewing schedule. I also had to take time to rearrange my furniture because I will soon be putting up video tutorials. I often fail to take into account just how much time things take to organize.

I have been working on decorating my apartment using nothing but recycled materials. The kitchen is done and I just recently finished the shower curtain for the bathroom.
To make this I simply took one large sheet and divided it into six even panels of 18". I then grabbed some strips of fabric, as well as some 6 1/2 " squares and created the curtain. The most painful part of this project, by far, was doing the math. I detest math and I was lucky to pass it all through school. I now think if my teachers would have simply worded the story problems so they related to sewing and design, I would probably have aced the subject.  It's strange how we become convinced we're incapable of doing something for most of our lives, then something comes along to show us we were wrong all that time.
And here is the finished project as best I could photograph it within the confines of my bathroom. Hopefully, I will have the tank and seat covers done soon. I am also half way through a massive toothbrush rug to put on the floor.

All I can say is, if the world really does come to an end Saturday I will be leaving behind one massive "to-do" list.
Somehow, I don't think I have much to worry about. :)

My Latest Projects

Despite having been absent from this blog for some time, I have not been idle. My bags have been popular so I decided I wanted to try out some applique and see how it flies.

From the reactions I've gotten, I'd say I need to make a few more.
As you all know, I have two cats. Both cats try to stuff themselves into a small wicker basket sitting atop my computer desk. Given that they are both growing to be rather large creatures I decided it wasn't going to work. If they aren't there they are usually on top of my fabric stash shelving made from crates.

I have no issue with this until they start playing and one of them falls off. Since it's a bunch of milk crates piled fairly high, I'm afraid they are going to bring everything down with them one of these times and I have a glass dining room table not far from it.
I decided it was time to make them their own beds.

They do seem to be comfortable. At least, Fiona seems to be pleased

But, the majority of the time they still either stuff themselves into a small basket, climb the "Crates of Fabric" mountain, or hang out in the kitchen which I just decorated. I'm not sure Rory particularly likes the taste of the plastic forest, but he certainly enjoys dodging me while I spray him so he'll quit. We've got quite a game going; do you remember those ducks at the carnival that floated back and forth while you sprayed them with a water pistol? Yeah, well, my aim still needs work.