Wah Hoo Wah

What have I been up to lately, you ask? (And by lately I mean the last year that I haven't been blogging?)  I have been sewing mostly.  Sewing tiny clothes for my kids.  Most of the sewing I have done closely follows the patterns which has been a great way to learn and get better.  But I am a little bored with it.  In order to up my game I have set some goals for myself.

First, I want to make clothes with style.  I have been pinning pinning pinning (!) kids clothes that catch my eye.  I plan to copy some and design original things based on styles I like.

Second, I will alter patterns I already have to make the styles I like.

Third, slow down and get all the materials I need/want before sewing.  What happens to me is I get an idea and it takes over.  It is all I can think about...all I can see.  I have no inspiration for anything else until I make what I see in my head.  Sometimes...usually...if I am being totally honest I can't wait to get everything I need and I power through with what I have.  I have a crazy collection of stuff that I have collected in order to combat this problem....have-everything-I-could-ever-possibly-need-so-I-don't-have-to-go-shopping-for-it-when-I-actually-need-it-at-some-point-in-the-future.

Here is an examples of this problem in action:

I had this idea IN MY HEAD for days.  I really wanted black bias tape. I couldn't wait.  I had pink.  I made it with pink.  It's not bad.  Whit loves it.  But it would have been much better with black.  It looks cutesy.  Blah.  It's a win if your kid wears it...right?  I win...I guess.

FOURTH, use what I have creatively.  Get creative, self!  I have so many supplies that I need to use what I have or I am going to have to get a bigger house.  Oy.

Ok.  So.  I have a bunch of clothes from friends and family members that they donated as fabric.  It's taking up so much space.  My brother worked a Lacoste and has about 30,000 polo shirts that he abandoned at our parents' house.  Now I have a few:

and I decided to cut them up:

I used the same pattern as the raindrop shirt...the First Day Dress.  The raindrop fabric is quilting cotton. Lacoste polos are not.  They have stretch.  Blah blah.  I can't even begin to explain how I altered the pattern to account for the difference in fabric.  I did what felt right.

As I was making it all I could think was Auburn Cheerleading Uniform.  That's a problem b/c we are Gators.  I can't have Whit mistaken as an Auburn fan....you know what I am saying?  I was thinking I should iron on "Wah Hoo Wah!".  The only Navy and Orange we wear in this house is UVA.  I digress.  I didn't end up looking like a cheerleading uniform but it did look plain.  Good news...Whitney loved it. I tried to add a little embellishment on the shoulder and took a family vote.  B and Sean were for the shoulder addition.  Whit was not and said, "Isn't this shirt for me and not B?"  Hello sassy and well-spoken three year old and yes...you are right...no shoulder embellishment added.  Don't stop reading b/c an embellishment was added after sassy, well-spoken three year old went to bed. I just have to include these pics of the sassy, well-spoken three year old:

First note: Doing what felt right led to a shirt that fits and is ok.  I would change it a little now that I see the finished product but...woohoo for having learned something in the last year so that I trust myself enough to take a chance and CUT THE FABRIC.  I have a lot of fabric b/c I get scared of cutting the fabric and wasting it.

This (above) is her go-to face.  Anyway.  The shirt is ok but it is boring.  I want to make more interesting clothes.  Leaving it as is would be a waste of a challenge. 

(Also...I struggled to find some bottoms to go with it.  Will have to remedy this problem.)

Ok.  Child with many opinions goes to sleep and I brainstorm and come up with this:

This orange isn't so offensive in real life.  I used my iphone and....well....sorry.

I made this..placket?...thing.  I stretched a strip of fabric as I zig zag stitched the sides to create a ruffle.  It wasn't ruffle-y enough so I gathered it.  Then I sewed the center piece on and then the buttons.  It turned out better than I anticipated.  Woot.

Now let's hope that Whit still likes it in the morning!  (Fingers crossed)

B has requested a boy shirt in these colors.  If anyone has Navy or Orange polos to donate let me know b/c I used almost every inch of both shirts I had. :)

Made it: Rag Doll

Finding gifts for an infant that is not your first born is tough!  Nothing is gender specific at 5 months.  Everything W needs for chewing and playing is already around from the B.  Poor girl never gets anything new except clothes.  I can't make a plastic toy for her to chew on.  I don't want to make infant clothes.  What should the made part of her gifts beeeee?

She might be a little young for a doll but everyone needs a rag doll.  I think it is pretty special to have a made doll from your mom.  Right??

It's far from perfect...but it's a rag doll so that's cool.

I used this pattern as a starting point.  I edited it a bit but it's close to the original.  I decided on felt hair after doing some research about rag doll hair.  The hair is dark brown even though it looks black here.  As for the face...it was the least creepy version of a rag doll face I could come up with.  There are some CREEEEPPPYYYY doll faces out there. C.R.E.E.P.Y.  Google it.  Anyway.  The whole face is stitched on with DMC Floss.

Nice.

The most trying part of this project was the felt hair.  I did it without a tutorial so it took me three tries to get it right...In the end it wasn't that complicated.  I traced the shape of the head (flattened) and then drew the hair around it.  I sewed the hair pieces together (right sides together), turned it right side out and glued it to the head of the doll.  I finished it off by stitching it around the perimeter of the hair.  It turned out way better than I expected based on my poor first few attempts.  Also, I wish I had stitched the face before I sewed the doll together.  Other than that, it was pretty straightforward.

Advent Conspiracy.  Check it out.

Made it: Colorful necklace

I have wanted to make this necklace for a long time.  It took me forever to decide how I wanted to go about making it.  Then I got the materials.  Then they sat forever. Then I strung it.  Then I decided I wanted to go about it differently...so it sat for a while.  Then I restrung it.  Then...I finally finished it. 

I realllly like this necklace.  Lots of color.  I think I will be keeping this necklace rather than gifting it or selling it.  

Sean's comment about it was, "That's different than what you usually make." Thanks.  Sure is.  It's symmetrical...is what he meant...I think.

Because I find inspiration interesting...here is what inspired this necklace.

PAINT dipped.  If I could figure out how to do a paint dipped chain necklace.  I would.  So cool. 

via

via

Made it: Ruffle Knit Scarf

This is the tutorial picture.

So.  This one might be your Christmas present.  I am sorry.  It's going to be on another blog so I need to get a post up about it.

I found a tutorial for the scarf here.  It wasn't a straight forward tutorial.  This scarf is a combination of techniques from three different tutorials on her blog.  It's more of a hassle than anything else.  Totally worth it, though.  I didn't follow the directions exactly but it looks pretty much the same.

It is navy blue knit with gold seed beads.  I sewed the flowers and beads on by hand.  

I have been scared of knit for quite some time.  This was my first project using it and it went surprisingly well.  I think that is because you have to use the stretch while you sew...rather than preserve it.  But, like I said, this was my first project so I could be wrong.

Made It Monday: Bracelets

woven box chains

Until I have more than a few minutes at a time to work on things Made It Mondays will most likely be jewelry.

W is slowly able to go longer and longer between feedings.  She loves to eat.  My 6 week old is in 3-6 month onesies.  Is that normal?!  B was right on the money with sizes by age if not a little behind!

Anyway.  Here are two bracelets I made this weekend.  I used mason line and large box chains.  

Made it Monday: Jewelry

Having a young baby has made my time to work on projects both unpredictable and shorter in length.  It has been perfect for catching up on my jewelry projects which has kept the creativity flowing.  I don't know what it is like for you guys but I get more and better ideas if my creative muscles don't take a break.  Light workout include working on ideas in a journal that I carry with me everywhere.  Heavy workouts are actually carrying out those ideas.

I got the Jewelry for Joey pendants done.  I posted about the Jewelry for Joey earrings last Monday.  The pendant is very similar.  The pearl and bead are larger and the green bead is a different shape.  It is $10 and all proceeds go to the Howell family.

The pendant hangs from two braids and two chains.

These are two necklaces I added to my Etsy shop.  The top necklace is extremely long.  The bottom necklace is a conservative length.  For details go here.

I didn't post much last week.  It is strange how you can miss a blog.  Every alone moment I had last week was used to recover from the terrible twos taking over my house.  This week, as long as the terrible twos allow it, I will be posting regularly again.

Made it Monday Tuesday: STRIPED chair by my mom

So. I recently posted this chair that my mom reupholstered for me and hinted at the intensity of the next chair.  Well, it is done!

Here is the before.  I found it on Craigslist for $25 dollars.  As-is it wasn't THAT bad but I itch for change and the fabric kind of made me uneasy.  The blue was ok...but the shiny chenille fabric creeps me out.  Also, once the flower chair moved in.....it did not work at all anymore.

Boom.

Thankfully, it doesn't scream as loud as I feared.  In fact, it is just right....for me.  I am sure some of you think I am crazy...or you would go crazy with chairs like these.  But I have discovered I feel more sane with more color.  

I am working on a table that will go between the two chairs.  I also need some art to go on the wall between them.

Made it Monday: My Mom Made It - Colorful Wingback Chair (!!!)

I have been waiting for this moment for months.  Months!  I bought this Kaffe Fassett (Russian Rose) fabric in March while I was visiting my parents.

My Mom and I decided it would be awesome to cover my Wingback Chair with it.  I just had to wait until she came to visit in...JUNE.  It was a long wait but definitely worth it.  I am so psyched about how it turned out.  She is the BEST!

I picked up this chair at an auction this winter.  $10.  I had no idea what condition it was going to be in but no one was bidding and....$10...seriously...why not?  Luckily, the frame was in perfect condition.  The fabric was just olddddd. And dirty.

Waiting for its glory moment in my garage.

Waiting...

Waiting....

Waiting.............. .. . .

JUNE!

Ka-chow! (B has been making we watch cars everyday.)

I LOVE IT!  The green background plays out muchhh differently against the green walls than I anticipated.  It actually tones the fabric down.  I love it.  It makes the flowers pop without making the entire chair POP off the wall.  That might have been too much.  I am really glad it worked out the way it did.

Having said that, the next chair you will see me post about will probably pop off the wall.  It might jump out of the window.  I am excited.  And scared.

Some detail shots:

Look at how my mom lined all the fabric up to match.  Impressive.

These legs were originally a cream color.  My mom roughed them up, painted them and then stained them.

I just want to thank my Mom!  What a talent.  I wish I could just strip a chair down and recover it like it was nothing.  I really appreciate her taking the time to not only come up here to help out with B and W but to also reupholster some chairs.  I am so thankful for her.

Made it Monday: Woven Chain Bracelet

What have I been up to?  Small things mostly.  I can't get my butt off the sofa to do much else.  In anticipation of that and the restlessness that would most definitely follow, I stocked up on some jewelry projects.

via

I have seen these bracelets a few places and they always catch my eye.  Thanks to a few amazing blogs  my frame of mind has been slowly changing from, "I like that. but I can't afford it/I'll buy it."to "I like that.  I'll make it."  Slowly.  I saw this on Honestly...WTF and wondered why it never occurred to me to just make the bracelet...?!  Well, I made one this weekend.

I bought the blue chain on sale at Michaels and attached the oversized lobster clasp and jump ring.

I love how playful it is.  I want to make another with a gold chain and more subdued colors.

This weekend I also tackled my first faux finish paint job.  I tried out a faux tortoise shell finish on a small table we have.  I did not have the patience for such a task.  I might have wasted some time and money.  I am 1/2 done and not satisfied.  But since every step covers the last I still have some time to make it look right.  I seem to be terrible with a softening brush.  Hopefully there will be some before and after pictures of that some day.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow it's because I am having a baby....

Made it Monday: Reversible bag.

You can't see it but there is an outer pocket!

I found two awesome things recently.  I found a 1/2 yard of cute fabric perfect for one of my friends and a pattern/tutorial for a reversible bag.  Because there was only 1/2 yard available I tried the pattern out on some cheap fabric so I could make sure I would like how it looks.

Second side....probably going to remain the inside most of the time.  

I was most drawn to the shape of the bag.  I love it.  The bottom uses darts as a way to add depth which I had never done before and like the look.  After reading the comments about the tutorial I decided to make the straps a little longer than the pattern.  As for the size of the body of the bag...some people enlarged it but I decided to go with the given size and judge after.  One problem.  Checking the size on me....8+ months pregnant...tells me nothing about what it will look like hanging on my very thin friend.  Yikes.  I will have to wait a few weeks to judge the size or have another friend hold it up.  In the meantime I have decided the fabric is too playful for a bag and have decided to go in a different direction....stay tuned.

I ironed it twice!  It wrinkles so easily!

Incase you decide to make this bag, here are a few notes!  It did not print to the correct size....it ended up a little smaller.  Instead of reprinting I just made the seam allowances smaller.  It worked out fine.  Also, I think the author of the tutorial used a thicker fabric so it gave the bag more structure.  I used two quilting fabrics and, if I make this pattern again, I will be using interfacing.  Oh..and I added pockets.

Here is the tutorial for the bag if you want to make it!

Made it Monday: Round Table + Skirt

B and his camera  helping with the pictures. 

As if my living room could hold much more color...especially green.  The side table between our two sofas is juuuuuuust too small.  Just enough that I am bothered every time I look at it.  You know that feeling?  "Something is off."  My Mom and I decided a round table with a table skirt would do the trick.  The circle would be a better shape than the current square where our sofas make an L.  The skirt would allow for some colorful textiles!  Instead of buying a new round table Sean cut a 30" table round out of OSB wood and screwed it to an end table that we kept our giant, pre-flat screen TV on.  (see below!)  Once he did that I sewed the table skirt.

What's under the skirt?  That end table the TV is on + OSB table round.

I do NOT recommend trying to make a large round table skirt while you are 8+ months pregnant.  First, I was incredibly limited physically and trying to work with large pieces of fabric was uncomfortable and frustrating.  Second...pregnancy brain.  I minored in math in college....I love math...half of why I love making things is the math in the planning...I can do math!  The source I was using for guidance to make sure I ended up with a round table skirt used formulas (yay!) but one of them was wrong.  Because my pregnancy brain has failed me on other simple math tasks...adding...I was ready to just trust the provided formula despite it making me do a double take while reading it...but it would cut more fabric than I thought it should.  After the frustration of getting around my belly to make a large square piece of fabric I was not psyched to have to start over.  So I worked it out in the most basic ways...pictures..and checked it...checked it again...checked it one more time...asked Sean..checked it again.  I think he might have started to worry about me at that point.  I can't believe how many times I wavered about doing it my way.  Well, I was right....thankfully.  My skirt is the right length.  Phew.  Craft fail avoided!

B inspecting my work and straightening everything out for the picture.

There is a lot of green going on with this table skirt..against a green wall.  It is between two dark brown sofas but I worry that it's too much.  It also makes me realize I am going to have to edit my pillows a little bit.  I went a little nuts with the sofa pillows in rebellion to the reddish brown and brown that we lived in for months.  As the room comes together the pillows are not required to pull so much of the color weight and I may have to tone them down.

With every move I make in the green walled room direction this lamp
becomes less and less acceptable as the i-just-need-a-light-there-for-now
light.  I think it is time to look for a new table lamp!

B approved.

I always consider my decorating adventures a win when Sean has something positive to say.  He is a man of few words so getting an enthusiastic compliment really means something and that's what I got!  Win.  Oh and don't get me wrong.  Sean doesn't insult or trash my choices ever...he just doesn't usually have much to say about things like table skirts.

One more of B just because I can.