Bags, Purses and Patchwork!

One of my most popular projects is making purses and bags from patchwork. I carry one with me everywhere and always get comments on it. These bags are also for sale and cost $21. They are also made according to the customer's wishes.

Not all bags are made from patchwork, but they are all created using recycled materials. I have a few women who manage to keep me well stocked in material so I think I will have to keep sewing for at least the next 50 years or so :)

This one is made from plastic bags cut into strips and crocheted. I was completely amazed at how beautiful these bags are when finished. You really don't often associate beauty with plastic grocery bags. It's also a fantastic way to keep them out of the landfills. They do take a lot of bags though, so I'm always on the lookout for more. I think Target bags and Hobby Lobby provide the best colors.


It's time to get started on more projects. I think I may need more hours in the day.

Sorry, It's Been Awhile

I decided I would try to make at least one craft item a day; however, I somehow managed to pick things that took more time. On top of that I've been trying to write an article a day to put up on a future site. Add to that mix more pain than I could handle due to a fall. Well, you can see why I've been missing a week or two.
So, today I have hats I crocheted. I love to make hats and am going to try to get one sewn soon. When I was a kid I could wear any hat handed to me and look really good. Not so much now that I'm 50 but that's what happens with age.

The hats I crocheted are slouchy berets. This one is a very simple tam that is simply one basic stitch throughout. It sits on the head much like the popular slouchy hats you see on television these days. I'm selling these hats for $20 and I can make any color you might want. Just email, or message me, with details. There's no extra cost for specially made hats.

This one is a pattern I found on the site www.allfreecrochet.com. I love the flower  It is currently listed on www.listia.com for free. There is a small shipping fee.
Over this past week I also managed to finish decorating my kitchen. I will try to get those photos up soon.

In the meantime, I'm headed back to the sewing machine for a couple of hours, then back to the computer to write. I do like being busy though. The months of recovery from my back injury made me stir crazy.

Cat Pudding

At the beginning of this blog I introduced you to my two feline assistants, Fiona and Rory. Obviously, they get paid well for their services even though said services consist primarily of pestering me while I'm trying to write. In that vein, I was trying to find something that would show them how much I care without having to shell out much money. They already eat well but, Rory especially, seems to think he wants whatever it is I have; often, even if it isn't edible.

I decided I wanted to find something that might make them think they were getting a real treat. I could give them the packaged treats but those aren't anything other than dry cat food as far as I can tell. They certainly aren't a treat that's really different from what they eat regularly. And so, as I was looking for this special treat I discovered Thriftyfun and Cat Pudding.

It is incredibly easy to make, although it took far too long for Rory's tastes. He stood beside me complaining the entire time and even tried to jump up on the stove to help with the gelatin. That kitten is going to lose a few of his nine lives before long. There is a reason for the saying, "curiosity killed the cat."

In the end, I didn't have the heart to make them wait until the pudding set and gave them a taste immediately. I then asked them a series of questions, such as, "would you recommend this to your friends?" and "how would you rate it on a scale of one to ten?" I never did get a response but they lapped it up in no time flat. Fiona finished first so Rory then settled in to a rhythm of taking two laps out of one bowl then two laps out of the other. Not only is he going to get himself killed with his curiosity, he's probably going to go out with a large tummy.

If you do make this for your cat, and manage to get him to fill out a comment card, please let me know.

So Many Crafts, So Little Time

I have so many things going at  the moment it's difficult to know which one I should be telling you about. I finished another skirt, a longer version this time.
These skirts have gotten me some nice publicity. As I told you, www.allfreesewing.com featured the other skirt in their newsletter last week. Well, I got the idea for that skirt from a couple of books I picked up in the local library so I told them about the skirt being featured. To make a long story short, the library asked me to have my picture taken tomorrow to be put in the local newspaper.

In the meantime, I've been working on making my apartment seem more like home. Nearly everything here has been either donated or given in some form or another. While it's been nice of everyone, I have ended up with an eclectic collection of everyone else' tastes. Trust me, I'm eclectic enough all on my own. In fact, one of the items I added to my kitchen last night was a small rug sewn from fabric strips and squares.

To make it I simply gathered all the bright fun fabric strips I could find and stitched them together. I then sandwiched some batting between the finished object and some plain green cotton. It goes well with some of the other changes I made such as putting my dishes out to display rather than keeping them hidden in the cupboards.

I'm still working on redecorating this area so I will post more pictures when it's all done. I will also post the "before" pictures up on my flicker account. When I am done I move on to the bathroom.
Over the next few days I will be working on some articles and ideas for a new website friends and I plan to unleash on the world soon. As soon as it's ready, you'll be the first to know.

In fact, if you're into crafts, and are a decent writer, please contact me. We're looking for people to create articles, how-to's and other informational content. In the near future you will also be able to sell your own creations on the site.
The interwebs feels slightly lonely right now. I do think I'm the only one hanging out in cyberspace while everyone else is watching the Superbowl. Please, don't tell anyone I'm not paying attention, I don't want to be kicked off the face of the earth! In fact, I'll go pretend I'm watching now.

Quilt Block Skirts are a Hit

I don't have anything new today but I did want to share some good news. Yesterday, the editor of AllFreeSewing messaged me to say she would be featuring the skirt I designed in their newsletter next week. This skirt has gotten me quite a few compliments. I'm working on a longer version now since all the women currently interested in purchasing one want the real "hippy" look.
I actually thought I might have it done today but a neighbor needed someone to babysit the cat for the day. Somehow, in the process of taking in the cat I also managed to end up with the lecherous neighbor. They were having work done on their apartment so he needed someplace to stay as well. I wouldn't mind if he didn't manage to leer at me the entire six hours. That much leering has to be hard on the face. All I could think was my mother saying, "if you're not careful, your face is going to freeze that way."
So, if you do any sewing yourself, head on over to All Free Sewing and sign up for their newsletter. If you don't sew, you may want to put in an order for a skirt :).

Another Project Using Retired Sheets

Sorry I haven't been around for a few days. At the end of August I had major back surgery. All the hardware the surgeon put in may have made it possible for me to continue walking awhile longer but it did nothing to alleviate the chronic pain, or the problems caused by peripheral neuropathy. As a result, when the weather gets wickedly cold, as it has been, my back has a tendency to complain - loudly. The past few days I have been lucky to get off the couch and do much of anything.
So, today I decided to show you another sewing project using old sheets. The pajama pants are very popular but leave me with bits and pieces of sheeting that need to be put to use. The purpose of my renovating old fabric is to leave as little as possible for the scrap pile. (We'll use the scraps in a later project.)
Tipnut has an abundance of patterns and tutorials for aprons. Most of us may think of them as something our grandmothers wore back in the old days but they are making a comeback. The economy is bringing more of us back into the kitchen rather than ordering pizza and it's necessary that clothing not get ruined. Who wants to do laundry more than necessary?

To make this apron I used a sheet for the main part of the apron then I made bias tape from an old shirt I had. Bias tape is easy enough to make, but time consuming.

The ruffle for this apron was once a dust ruffle for a bed. I almost prefer making bias tape to attaching a ruffle. Well - almost.

This is obviously the same apron as  the others but I had some ribbon sporting mixed drinks. This would make a great apron for the bartender in the family. Of course, if the bartender were female :). It's always possible to make one for the man of the house. Any of the projects I show are for sale and can be made according to your own specifications.
Speaking of aprons, it's time for me to head back to the kitchen. I'm in the process of making homemade chicken and noodles. I had some thighs in the freezer and they were starting to look - well, a little cold. I either needed to cook them or make some pants for them.

The Skirt

I finished the patchwork skirt late last night. It's not nearly as long as I originally intended but it was my first effort with quilt squares and I was more concerned with getting it right than getting it long. Besides, I can always adjust by adding more tiers or putting strips between the rows.
I'm very pleased with the results of the project - not so much with the photos. I really can't complain though. The woman who comes in is paid to cook and clean, not photograph.

                                                                                                                 Of course, it doesn't help that my bulging belly is obvious in this picture. I also think I had it sticking out more because the skirt ended up being quite a bit wider than I needed. That was easily fixed and it now fits wonderfully. I can't believe how comfortable it is.  I'm thinking if I made two more of these skirts, and two more of the pajama pants I'd be set for life. Well, maybe I'd better find a top as well.
Here is a photo of the skirt itself.

                            So, once I had the size adjusted, it was time to put together the artsy outfit I promised myself at the beginning of the year. Now, this photo I like. I guess I need to stand in front of the cam more often. (Ew, I just realized how bad that sounded...)
I'm not sure what's next. I'm  playing around right now with some small items . But, mainly, I'm sitting here trying to stay awake. Time for a quick nap before I begin work on my novel.