Summer Classes

I'll be teaching the following classes at Penn Yan Sewing Machines in Penn Yan, NY!

SMARTPHONE WALLET: If you like to travel light with only a wallet and a phone, then this is the project for you. With several options for pockets, you’ll be able to create something that meets your needs. And you’ll learn how to sew a “wrap-around” zipper that completely closes the wallet! This is an advanced class – you should be comfortable working with zippers.

  

THE MARKET TOTE: You’ve probably seen these cute market totes at boutiques. The metal frame and handle makes them easy to tote your market goodies! But why have a basic exterior when you can jazz it up with your own fabric! You’ll learn how to take the existing tote, tear it apart, and use it as a pattern. You’ll also learn how to attach double-fold bias tape!

 

 For more information, click on the "CLASSES" tab above!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. I'm a mom to two cats (who bought me a chocolate peanut butter pie to celebrate! Do they know me or what!?). But today I'd like to honor my mom who taught me a lot of things! She died two years ago (on May 11th) at the age of 85, but her creative yet practical spirit lives on.

Living Room Curtains

A few weeks ago, I ordered some new curtains for my living room. I wrote about my "do I make them or buy them dilemma?" in this post. I ended up buying some online and LOVE them. They did not come without problems, however. They were too long and the hem for the rod was too big - consequently, I hated how they hung.

It took only a little bit of work to go from  the big hem - designed to fit almost any sized curtain rod....

...to the smaller hem that hugs this curtain rod better. All I did was lengthen my stitches and use a 1" seam allowance. Super easy to do.

I then rehung them to determine the bottom hem. My next step was to rip out the existing hem, press it flat, and fold it up. I didn't have to cut any extra fabric. So my bottom hem is about 5", which I'm fine with.

And here they are. It was really sunny when I took this picture! Happy May! 

And if you are wondering, I got the suitcases at the Salvation Army about eleven years ago. My dad added the legs to the huge trunk to make it into a table.

Upcycled Sweatshirt Purse - for sale

If you are in the market for an actual Upcycled Sweatshirt Purse, you are in luck. One of my customers is making them and selling them! YAY! 

Check it out in her ETSY Shop: Fox River Crafts! 

She makes custom purses, so you can send her your sweatshirt and she'll make it into a purse. AWESOME! 

Would you like to make your own? You can purchase the pattern from my Craftsy Pattern Shop!

Not So Pinterest Perfect!

OK, I love Pinterest, but when I see all the pictures of lovely (and large) sewing rooms I have to laugh. The spaces a perfectly organized with everything neatly stored in labeled containers. When my friends see my sewing room, they usually comment on how neat it is, too. But really? My sewing room isn't always that wonderful looking...like right now. 

So if you are feeling a little less than Pinterest Perfect, I'm with you. I have been busy with my full-time (paying) job and haven't been able to sew. That, however, hasn't stopped the piles from growing. That's what I do...when I don't have time to clean and sort, I pile. And here's what it looks like. I've got project ideas, works in progress, fabric (cuddle...from Shannon Fabrics - ready to be made into a pouf!), rulers that I took to a class... So why am I writing this? It's my first free weekend in a long time. I've got work to do!

Living Room Make-Over!

I've taken a bit of a break from sewing to get some projects done around my house. I think the sunshine and warmer temps got me charged up!

Back in October (or was it September?), I painted the ceiling in my living room. I had a new French door installed in the entry, so I had to wait to paint the walls. And wait I did...six months. I had plenty of time to do it. I don't know why, but the urge to paint never came over me...I had trouble picking the color. And I couldn't get past the fact that I needed to paint the trim, too. I hate cleaning paint brushes after using oil-based trim paint!

But two weeks ago something snapped. I finally got around to finalizing a color, emptying my living room, and painting the walls. And last weekend, I mustered up the energy to sand, prime, and paint the trim. And as usual, now that it's done, I ask myself why I waited to so long! 

 

My new dilemma was this: to make or to buy curtains. I've made curtains before and didn't really enjoy it. I wrote about it here. The upside to making them is that they are exactly what I want. The downside is that they are expensive (about 3 yards of fabric per panel plus almost 3 yards of lining) and cumbersome to cut and sew.

I decided to spare myself the agony and, instead, went online to look for curtains. After a quick search, I found these on Overstock - perfect and only $36 per panel! The only problem is that they are a bit too long. 

So tomorrow I'll be hemming them, pressing them, and hanging them. I guess that's where the sewing skills come in handy!

Crazy Boy Pillows...Are Done!

The pressure was mounting when it came to finishing these two pillows. The twins were asking their mom when they would be arriving! 

So here they are! A truck hauling a fan and a pirate ship pulling a sled! Crazy!

I used my Bernina Free Motion Couching foot to create the clouds. I don't get to use this foot that often, but when I do, it's pure joy!

I wasn't really careful or particular when I stitched up the finishing designs on these pillows. I did some fast applique and regular couching with embroidery floss.
 

I also tested out some fancy stitches to create the chain that's used to pull the sled.
















And finished up the fan with some basic free-motion stitching. I drew the circle for the fan cage and sewed on the mark.


Now let's see if I can get them shipped tomorrow!

Crazy Boy Pillows

A few weeks ago, I drove from NY to DC to visit with a good friend who was settling into her new house. She and her hubby have three young boys. I brought my sewing machine and spent a lot of time helping them hang curtains and cozy-up their home. I knew, though, that I'd have to find something for the boys to do. One boy is almost eight and the twins are almost five. 

So we went to work creating pillows! I had them look at some coloring sheets online and they picked the truck and the pirate ship. They traced their designs on to Heat 'N Bond Lite and I cut them out and fused them to the fabric. Once I fine-tuned them, I ironed them to pieces of white twill.

During my visit, I was able to get one pillow done (a truck) but the twins' pillows remain. They left me with specific instructions: The pirate ship needs to be pulling a sled from a big hook and the truck needs to be delivering a fan. 

My goal this weekend is to finish these up and get them shipped. Mom has told me that they've been asking about them!

Cuddle Up! Patchwork Purse Part Two

Today was my first day back to work after a week off for Spring Break; I started the day by driving to work in snow (hello Spring!); then I listened to ten speeches. But I finished the day with a handful of M&Ms and monogramming the Cuddle Up Patchwork purse!

I used some white Shannon Fabrics Terry Cuddle for the monogrammed applique.

Too bad I have 90 or so more speeches to listen to (and grade) or I'd get this cute purse finished! It might have to wait for the weekend.

Sometimes waiting is a good thing - it gives me time to ponder what I'm about to do next. I planned on putting a 3 1/2" gusset all the way around the purse - and maybe a little zippered pocket on the other side? We'll see what I'm in the mood to do!

Cuddle Up! Patchwork Purse Part One

I recently wrote about some awesome new cuddle fabric from Shannon Fabrics. I started to work on the patchwork purse this weekend and have been moving right along. 


I cut 3" strips of fabric and fused some sheerweight fusible interfacing on the back. This stopped some of the curling that often happens with cuddle.

I fused from the back, then recut the strip into a bunch of 3" squares.
Isn't this super cute!? And it's so soft!





 
I decided to switch one square of the cuddle with some plain black (of my own fabric). I then added a 3" strip of black to the bottom.

I have a little bit more black in this one. 

These side panels are 13" wide and 10 1/2" tall. 

Once I got it where I wanted, I added some quilt batting to the back to make it a bit stronger.






My goal for tomorrow is to monogram each side with this monogram...yes, Ellen, it's for you. You can carry it to meetings at Shannon Fabrics!

Love the monogram? It's a free one...from Digistitches!


Stay tuned....