New Things Need a Good Cleaning..

So about a year ago, I was given a nice big bag of vintage zippers. Some new-old stock (1963-1970), some modern, and some of various years that seemed to be cut out of clothing. All of which needed a cleaning!

So I began by putting the 75 or 80 zippers in 2 shoebox sized plastic bins. I soaked them in soap & water, (moving them around with my hands like a washing machine). Then I rinsed them out. I repeated that step a few times til the water ran semi-clear. Then, I just let them sit in a mixture of water, soap and detergent overnight. :)

they look like sea monsters.

extreme close up!

Before I left for work today, I “hung them up to dry”.. flattening them as I went. I figured they’d be easier to work with and just felt cleaner if they dried hung over my towel bar rather than crunched up in a plastic container….

That is about 4 layers deep of zippers!

Next up! A simple sweet find from Massachusetts. While looking for antique shops, we stopped to browse a garage sale. I realized during this trip that I didn’t have a neat old vintage jar to house my buttons (as every good seamstress should have)… so I snatched up this bad boy for $0.50. It took a while to get it open because the orange rubber seal had practically melted to the lid. I wonder how long this thing was closed for…

So once again, a nice wash with soap….

And left to soak overnight….

I can’t wait to organize the zippers when they are clean and dry. And I can’t wait to fill my new jar to the top with buttons! I’ve been gathering for quite a while and my collection has outgrown its little tin.. (AND I just bought some neat buttons off of eBay $ etsy). I hope they are delivered soon so I can transfer everyone to their new home. (until they are plucked, sewn and gifted, of course!)

Happy antiquing, searching and cleaning :)

p.s.- You KNOW you love my awesome crazy floral wallpaper. I do. ;)

My First Crafting Swap!

I’ve seen so many quilting block swaps, fabric swaps, and tons of other kinds of swaps out there. I want to participate too! I like to make things FOR people. :)
So I decided to enter this swap. Round 11: Craft a Surprise for Your Partner.

I chose to use Swap-bot for my first swap. It’s computer generated and simple to navigate and understand, plus it was easy to find. :)

The computer will choose a partner for me, email me their address. Then I craft something that I’m confident in (sewing, drawing, jewlery) and then I mail the completed project to them. And I receive something as well from the person assigned to me. :)

My First Swap!

I can’t wait to get my partner. Sign -Ups end May 5th. Not sure how long after the partners are assigned. :)

Another New Critter named Moxie

I’ve been having a lot of fun creating these square shaped animals. I like using the patterned fabrics, rather than straight forward, brown, pink, white fleece.. etc. They end up more unique, each with their own personality. I’ve been using bits of new and vintage fabric scraps for their tummies, muzzles and ears. Some I’ve used the last bit of that certain fabric, making them one of a kind now! :)

Introducing SquareAnimal #3:

Moxie the Scrap Fabric Bunny


She’s available for adoption in my etsy Store, if anyone has some room for a punky rebel bunny. :)

She’s got some siblings at home that are in the process of being born, haha. So as they get their ears, and legs together, up here they’ll be posted for their “showings” :)

Kizzy & Cornelia on etsy

Cornelia the Bear

and Kizzy the Bunny

COAT RACK SHOP on etsy

Let me know what you think of them.
More to come. :)

More Random Sewing Projects

So.. i decided to create a few little critters. I’ve only got red, burgundy and grey fleece, so an elephant was a good idea. I sewed up a square one based on my new designs these past few weeks. I like sewing elephants. His ears and tail are made with the same fabric as the navigation case I made for my sister a few days ago.

Then I attempted to sew 2 little guys from the new book I bought. Socks Appeal. The stripey guy is an owl made from an ankle sock, and the pink blobby thing is supposed to be a “hamster” (made from an old T-Shirt, not a sock though). HaHa! He kind of reminds me of the Ugly Dolls. They were 100% hand sewn while, you guessed it, watching TV. :) It’s a calming thing for me…

Better pictures of the Elephant to come. He’ll be in my etsy shop soon enough! Hopefully the other Square plush look just as cute as he does. :)

Digital Plush Plans

I always thought it’d be neat to be an architect, and work on blue prints all day. I like to plan things out before i do them 50% of the time. Most of those times, i choose to do it with my sketchbook, or digitally, that way i can see what works, and what might look really really awful, haha.

Here are some of my square plushies drawn out in adobe illustrator. Until i think of better names, say hello to Mr. Bear and Mr. Lion. Front, side and back view, haha.

This is what i do at work mostly, except there are child safety warnings, and a lot of measurements all over the place. This is more fun to make anyway!

As soon as i get my hands on some fleece, IT. IS.ON! :)

* Keep a lookout for more designs in the upcoming weeks! Feedback is always appreciated. I want to know what you like, or what you’d change. You are all my customers! You are always right. ;) *

Jakob’s Quilt, Finally complete!

So Here has been my work in progress for months. I’ve been working on it during the week at night, and Sat mornings.

Click Here for Progress Post #1
Click Here for Progress Post #2

I am SO over this typing thing right now. So… I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

cuttin brown border pieces

cutting back fabric

I used Mountain Mist batting. It was large enough piece that I was able to fold it in two, and double layer it. Warm!

I decided to try some Quilt Basting Spray. Worked really well and it was easy to reposition!

sticky sticky batting

added some pins for stability as well.

small machine... small quilt. Anything larger, i'd need a larger machine

——————
So in between the above photos, and the below photos, you’ll notice steps are missing. I cut the seam binding from the stripey fabric, and embroidered a nice tag for the bottom right of the quilt back. Quilt is complete!

Here are the finished photos. I DO have cell phone pictures of these missing moments, but i figured I’d spare you the all terrible fuzzy, blurry eyestrain.

You are welcome. :)

——————-

The baby’s due date is January 21st. So I planned on having the quilt finished by then. Suddenly, a baby shower was announced. It took place Dec. 5th). I knew i wanted the quilt done by then. (And i did it! Whee!)

I’m really happy with how it turned out. With my first quilt under my belt, i look forward to many more. :)

Have a Lovely Week!
And Happy Christmas Shopping!
And Drive Safely in the Snow!

Quilt Progress Continued!

So i’ve been working for a few weeks, except I’m a few months in, really. I bought the fabric way in advance, and wrote up the plans.. and it all sat there.
I really gotta finish this thing up!

This is my workspace.

i got that desk for $5 at a garage sale! Cha Ching!

Leaves A LOT to be desired. Luckily I’ll have a craft/ sewing room in Ian’s new house!

And yes, i have a Knuckles plush, a duck lamp and a paper robot on my desk. Whats it to ya?

Anywhoo… Here’s some more progress! The photos speak for themselves really. I’ll keep the descriptions to a minimum. :)

When we left off… I sewed my paired pieces together. 1+1=2!

Half Done!

Halfway into the pairs, I tried chain stitching. Feeding the next square into the machine, rather than stopping, cutting threads to separate and setting up again. It made the second half go way faster!

they are holding hands aww..

my machine is spitting them out really fast. Aerial veiw of the back of my machine.

DONE pairing the first set!

laid them out to be paired once again.

2+2=4! More pairing! More friends!

Paired, pinned and stacked!

Chain stitching the pairs to the other pairs... :)

My squares were uneven. 99 squares. so i have some 4's, and some 6's. Finished 6's!

Re-assembling....

It was like a puzzle. i kept messing up!

So i paired the 6’s with some other 6s. and pairs the 4’s with some other 4s… Sewed them up the same way til i met in the middle.

Sewed that right down the center.. Annnd…….. Drum Roll Please!

FINISHED QUILT TOP!

Back view. :)

Next Post will be the border strips… and maybe some basting… Wish me luck. So Far so good I’d say! My quilt is about 1/6 the size of a queen sized quilt. Crib Sized. Perfect beginner project. Hope Sara and baby Jakob like it. :)

Quilt Progress So Far!

I ordered ALL my fabric off Joann.com. Insane deals on cute fabrics. Etsy is loaded with designer and vintage fabric too, but i fell in love with Debbie Mumm’s fabric designs. Most of them are DM. :)

At this point I had taken photos of the cutting process. i bought a rotary cutter, a mat and a neat quilters ruler. I seem to have misplaced those pics! I’ll be searching for them… until then.. fast forward a few steps.

I pieced the cut squares out on the floor. they are all 3 in squares with an additional 1/4in seam allowance all around. :) measure 15 times.. cut once. That took the longest. Over 3 days of measuring to get it right.

not a creative shot at all... meh.

So.. i plan to machine stitch the squares. its for a baby, and if i want it to last a long time, machine is the way to go for me. I put the squares into pairs and put a pin through to keep them together. Also to mark where to stitch.

I watched House Hunters, Bathtastic!, Property Virgins, kitchen Impossible, more Property Virgins and Ree on Throwdown before i was able to finish. Took a long time….

Almost done!

oh so neatly in their rows...

Finally around 10:15pm… i finished. Stacked them up… and went to bed.

What a monster. And this is just a crib sized quilt. 3 times as many squares are needed for a full sized quilt. Glad i started small. I’m nervous to begin sewing…. Wish me luck!

Step #2.. Sewing the squares to their mates.. Tune in soon..

New Etsy Loot added!

I updated my etsy!
FRIGGIN FINALLY. GAH!

Now go look at my SHOP & help me fund my room makeover. :) I need a desk, and paint and a new dresser.