back to sewing, crafting & more sewing!

 I hope everyone has enjoyed their Easter & Passover holidays and continues to be in good health.  I've been busy... time has just flown by and I don't seem to be getting too much sewing in.  It's very sad!

I think my mind goes so fast that my fingers can't catch up... there are projects all over this house... from petit fors pinchushions shown on the left to small purses below and greeting cards followed up by a crib toy!

I have a suit taken completely apart so I can refit it to my current size... it's so beautiful that I hate to part with it but the intricate work is taking so much time to rework, and then there's a Calvin Klein black silk skirt that it also very detailed and difficult to take in.  These projects have become time consuming and tedious so I'm trying to take my own advice and put them down from time to time.  Hopefully, they'll be done before they go out of style!

 

having fun sewing lined and zippered small purses! instructions included!

 I'm finally feeling well enough to have some fun sewing again!  Spring hay fever took it's toll this year and left me a little under the weather... after a quick trip to the doc and two weeks,  I'm back to my favorite passtime with some photos and my Springtime gift to you...  instructions to share! 

These little purses are the perfect project to use up all your spare sewing scraps... and sew easy once you've made a few! 

They're the perfect "grab & go" size for a trip to the store or an evening out!  enjoy!

Lined, Zippered Change Purse

This pattern makes a change purse that's 4" x 3 1/4" (10 x 8 cm).  By increasing the size of the fabric pieces and the zipper, you could easily make pencil cases, makeup bags or whatever you need a zippered pouch for.  Our finished size will be 7.5” x 5”… large enough for an evening out!

1 You'll need:

4 pieces of fabric that are 5" x 4" (12.5 x 10 cm)…  ours  will be 8.5” x 6”
1 lightweight dress/pant zipper (generally they're 7” long)
matching thread
sewing machine
steam iron & ironing board

2 Zipper to first side

Starting with the outer fabric facing up and the zipper facing down, line up the bottom of the zipper with the edge of the fabric.  Pin zipper carefully to the long edge of the fabric.  At the sewing machine, use a zipper foot; just avoid catching the zipper teeth with the needle.  Sew along the edge of the zipper teeth.  A 1/4" (0.6 cm) seam allowance is provided.

3 Lining to first side

Place the lining piece, face down, on top of the seam from the previous step.  You'll be sandwiching the zipper between the two layers of fabric.  Sew along the zipper edge again using the same seam allowance.  You will not be able to see the zipper, but you'll feel it against the edge of the presser foot.

4 Zipper to second side

Repeat the last two steps with the other side of the zipper and the remaining two pieces of fabric.  

5Create the pouch

 Fold and press 1/2" (1.2 cm) along the bottom edge of the lining pieces.  Open zipper half way.  With right sides facing and seam allowances pressed towards the lining, stitch around the change purse leaving the folded edge open.  It's a good idea to reinforce (backstitch 3 stitches then continue sewing forward at the zipper and corners.  Turn right side out being careful not to poke the corners too hard. 

6Finish

 Edge stitch the opening shut and tuck the lining back inside the change purse.

still sewing! crafting! gardening... busy!

hey friends!  hope everyone is well and enjoying the beginning of spring... it is beautiful in the Lowcountry!  and yes! I'm still sewing... been quite too busy to blog!  so much fabric, so many projects, lots of ideas swirling around in my head and the days keep closing in on me! 

I pulled out some pleated cream colored silk and made a pencil skirt to wear this spring!  love it... will have to try it on for you because the still photos don't do it justice!  you never know how something will look on until you try it on... resorted to my old favorite skirt & pant pattern Butterick "fast & easy" #B5391.  It's easy to sew when you know what to expect from a pattern.. like a comfortable pair of slippers!

It seems that the designers have been trending on a white, cream & tan palette this season with a little pastel pink thrown in for good measure.

I love it... but now need to pull out some "old" actually, "very old" patterns. I modified Butterick #6116 (Circa 1980) by shortening it and used a beautiful embroidered pale cream linen, lined it with a matted cream satin to make the biased cut flared skirt, hemmed just below the knee... made it this past Saturday & wore it to dinner!  It was a hit!

Now I'm working on pillows, pillow covers, shams and a square table runner... a continuing work in progress! 16 zippers went in on Monday and I have two more to go in the king size shams!   hoping to be done this weekend so that I can enjoy the beautiful outdoors!

In parting,  the Flowertown Festival is right around the corner and the azaleas in the neighborhood are cooperating this year... a small preview for you!



Magnolias in bloom!





getting ready for the festival...






Red maple in all it's springtime glory!



a few camelias still in bloom...









very short season for these delicate blooms!



art & architecture welcoming!





Two great sites for you to add to your favorites!!

If you're at a loss for projects and have piles of scraps just waiting for a quick project or two, I've found a site for you.   AllFreeSewing.com   Sign up and they'll send frequent lists of current fun projects along with tutorials. 

This morning, I've checked out the 15 minute Organizer/Makeup Purse and am extremely pleased with the tutorial!   I found it at tosewwithlove.blogspot.com and absolutely love, love, love it!  hope you have some fun with this... it's a little more sophisticated sewing than my beginners are used to but an "easy" intermediate sewing project!  It may take a little more than 15 minutes & I'm lead foot Annie on a sewing machine!  will let you know!



I'm off to try one & will post the photos a little later on!  hope everyone has a terrific weekend! 

I did try one!  took about 20 minutes, start to finish... like my old method better but this one let's you make the purse wider than the zipper on hand!  it's lined & has a pocket or your ID. I filled it with 2 lip glosses, a note pad, tissues and a pen and still had room left.

As a note, I'd like to share the beautiful pen Mikey made for me for Christmas... of course, it has "pink" crystals and I love it.  I made the case for it so it doesn't get scratched or lost in my purse. 

Hope you all continue to enjoy the weekend!

the trees are starting to bloom.... spring is around the corner!

Spring has sprung in the lowcountry!  the Bradford Pear tree is full of white blooms, the camelias are still flowering,  the redbuds are blooming and soon the azaleas will blossum! 

The earth is bursting with colors and plenty of  sunshine...  and! daylight savings time coming tomorrow night!  We'll each have one additional hour of daylight ... every single day! 

With the advent of Spring... I've been playing with paper!  getting all my Spring & Easter cards ready for the new season...  I love all the pastel papers and sparkley embellishments.  They take me back to simpler times and Easter Sundays with family... cracking Easter Eggs, decadent meals, pretty party dresses, new shoes, Spring coats, beautiful floral arrangements and Easter Bonnets!

I hope you take a few minutes to treat yourself to sweet memories of childhood!  They will soothe your heart on a hectic day and bathe you in a love light for your soul. 

Those moments are much needed today... I have paper, envelopes, buttons, embellishments, etc. scattered over the kitchen table, chairs, desk, floor as I plan to make the rest of my Easter Cards!  My kitchen looks like a cyclone hit it!

And still!  I manage to sew ... a little!  I found this fabric on our recent trip, added a lavender zipper & here you have it... a little cosmetic case!  just couldn't resist! The fabric reminded me of the season.

Sew!  it's doubtful that I'll be sewing tomorrow ... but I will be playing with paper!  I hope each of you takes a few minutes for yourself to do something that makes you smile... read the paper, call an old friend, reflect on life, write a note, knit a few rows, sew a couple of stitches, draw a simple line drawing, plan to paint or sculpt or carve!  maybe just sit quietly and be happy!  .. most of all, be happy.

I finally bit the bullet!

I finally set up my etsy store!  yep!  I posted the baby bonnets on etsy today... will have to photo some things & post them for sale.  It'll probably take until the end of the week... will let you know when I'm up and running at full speed.

available at etsy.com

will see you soon with lots of new photos of new projects!  happy sewing & crafting!

sewing ... fast & feverishly!

I love to sew!  ... and I'm so happy to have some time to devote to my projects.  It doesn't look as though there will be sewing classes this week so I'm totally free to sew & sew & sew! 

I found an adorable "baby bonnet" pattern, made two & then made two more!  The pattern is Simplicity #2908 and I'm stuck on version A.  There are 5 more versions and come in multi sizes... XS, S, M, L.  Hope you have as much fun with this one as I am.



front view



back view



I haven't used Simplicity patterns in a long while.  Now they have "Project Runway" for tots so I bought Simplicity #2265, size BB (4,5,6,6,7).  It's a little different than regular patterns. There are no specific views just choices of bodice and sleeve treatments to be used with the skirt (which can have a bottom banding or not).

Needless to say, the change threw me a bit so I just grabbed the pieces I thought I could use in the size I wanted to make & added my own touches!  The dress above is my first use of this pattern.  I finished the buttons, snaps & bow at "crochet" today & the ladies thought it was for a special occasion... it's a cotton sundress! & pretty cute!  what do you think? 

I'm off to the office to address my sewing machine & think of one quick project before sitting down for the evening!