Baggin' It Up!

So about a little over a month ago, I really got into purse making. I did a lot of research on purse making, which is when I really started to learn about interfacing. Anyone that knows interfacing knows that there are SO very many different kinds, from fusible to sew-in, from light to ultra firm. Then there is fusible fleece. Trying to sift through all the information that is out there in tutorials and websites is very overwhelming. I finally discovered some valuable sites and information, and after this I ordered a bunch of interfacing and purse necessities from Jo-Ann's. When the order arrived, I felt like it was Christmas and my birthday all in one.

Beautiful isn't it???

I just wanted to bask in the beauty of all that interfacing and magnetic snaps. And the book that I got is great! Love it. So informative and well written. Check it out here. Also, since this purchase, I discovered the wonderful michellpatterns! Not only are her patterns amazing, she also has amazing advice on interfacing and many other sewing tips and techniques. Every pattern I have bought from her has not me some new sewing skill. Each pattern is like a sewing lesson. She is amazing. Be sure to check her out. Once I have more experience with interfacing I will have to share what I have learned and what are my favorites. For now, I recommend resources like michellpatterns and Lisa Lam, the author of The Bag Making Bible. Here is a link to her blog and specifically, a post on interfacing bags. Hope this helps any newbie interfacers like myself. Yes, I made that word up, I think. :) Happy Interfacing!

Jewels to Give Away!

Check out this giveaway! Some beautiful fabrics! 

Jewels to Give Away!

Skirting around....

So I made this skirt several months ago, but only took pictures of it in March. Yes, and I am only now sharing it too. I absolutely love this skirt! It is my favorite one I have made myself and was a very simple project. The fabric as you can see below has a lovely floral print and is a crinkled jersey knit. I only needed a yard to make it. I used this tutorial to complete this skirt. After completing it, there are some things I might do differently, particularly regarding the side seam. Still it is an easy project with beautiful results. By the way, I got the belt with a skirt a bought from Maurices, one of my favorite stores.

My Skirt!

Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

Be sure to check out this amazing giving away!!! Beautiful fabrics!!!

Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :: *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!     *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *...

Wedding Gifts....

Oh the things you will sew! It seems I can't stop finding and coming up with new things to sew! I cannot believe I haven't even been sewing for a year. Is it this addicting for everyone else? Well since it has been too long since I shared a project, I thought it was time I gave you a glimpse of the first homemade wedding gift I have made and given. At the end of March, two of my childhood friends got married. The groom I have known since birth and the bride I have known since I was 10 and she was around 5 or 6. The wedding was small but sweet, and I saw a few people I had not seen in forever! Anyways, here are some pictures of their gift.

Here they are on display before I wrapped them up.

Here is a picture of the reverse sides.

I also made them some adorable matching coasters, as well (not pictured), using this tutorial for inspiration. I also printed some care instruction labels and tied a pretty bow around the finished products. I was pretty excited with how they turned out.

Reversible Placemats(My very first ever!)

So this afternoon was a sewing first! I made a set of two reversible placemats. I have had this choral Chevron fabric laying around for some time now, and I recently purchased some polka-dot cotton print that is a close match in color. They were easy to make and turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. My mind has been spinning ever since about all the possibilities! Now I am looking at fabric with placemats in mind! Here are some pictures of my completed work on display. Enjoy! :)

Chevron Side!

So homey!

One of each.

Projects from 2012

Though it has almost been a month since I promised to post some pictures of the projects I have endeavored over the past several months, here they are at long last.

One of my favorite projects-Papa's shirt transformed into little girl's dress.

A matching head band. My own creation. 

Hello Kitty Dress! I made the ruffle skirt and attached it to the shirt.

The monkey bib. I am attaching bias tape for the first time! Yikes!

This bib project was my first time working with bias tape and of course, I attached it the wrong way or the cheating way. After this project, I read several tutorials on how to sew on bias tape. I am still learning to perfect it.

First skirt!

As I said in a previous post, my husband and I went to Hawaii in Nov./Dec. and before we went, I made this skirt to take along for the trip. It also happens to be the first skirt I have made for myself! I was quite pleased with how it turned out. I used a cotton print and the lightweight feel was perfect for sunny, hot days in Paradise.

Refashioned Jean skirt.

So I have had this mini-jean skirt for some time, but I do not care for mini skirts. So in an attempt to add length to the skirt, I attached two rows of eyelet ruffles. Kind of feel like a mermaid wearing this, so not really sure if it is "me".

Here is my first attempt at pajama bottoms, and they turned out so cute. I used this great tutorial and highly recommend it!

PJ's for my nieces!

PJ's for my cousin's boys!

PJ's for my cousin's girls!

The heart I stitched onto my cousin's girls' PJ's!

So a couple weeks before Christmas, I decided I wanted to make matching pajamas's for my nieces, my cousin's boys, and my other cousin's girls. I didn't have access to a pair of each of their pajama bottoms to trace for a pattern like shown in the tutorial I referred to above. But low and behold, I received an e-mail from fabric.com with a free pattern for making similar pajamas and the pattern had all the right sizes! I was so excited, and everything turned out great. Next time, however, I will decide to undertake a project like this earlier than two weeks before Christmas. I bought matching shirts from Fred Meyers for as little as $3-something. I monogrammed my nieces shirts but found out how difficult that was, so I added hearts to my cousin's girls' shirts. The boys I left alone. The pattern did not call for buttons, but I added them to the bottoms for fun. One of my cousins has said these are the most comfortable pajamas and so easy to put on. I used flannel from Jo-Ann's to make the bottoms.

Here are the PJ's already to be wrapped, and just in time!

Well this is just a sample of some of the things I made in 2012. I also made several cardigans but I don't have pictures of those.  Now here we are in 2013 and I have already completed many new projects.  I will try to bring you up-to-date on them....eventually. :)