Lazy Day

I've not gotten a whole lot done today. I went to the pool yesterday with my next door neighbor and even though I used lots of sunblock, I got burned. Mostly on my back, back of my legs and chest. I'm pretty sore today and moving around hurts. So I'm using my sunburn as an excuse to have a lazy day.  But even at that I've been doing a lot of planning.  My work schedule is about to change to where I will have more time to do things so I am looking forward to that. I also managed to get my sewing room almost completely organized. Except for a couple of wall shelves I'm set in there so sewing will be on my menu again. I still have my list of projects I want to get completed. I need to dig out my list that I made before I moved, revamp it and get started on completing it.  My scrapbooking area is almost complete. Again a couple of wall shelves and I'll have that done. But both areas are in shape to be utilized so I'll start to be productive. There are several cooking/baking items on my June Bucket List that I'd like to get done. I've been wanting to try these recipes for a long time and I can't think of any time like the present. 

 Bucket list for June -- 
Embroider my clothesline flip-flop t-shirt
Finish Americana Wall Hanging
Catch up my "Project Life" journal
Scrap Cake Pop Baking page
Scrap Carl's Ice Cream page
Finish Paper Bag Christmas Album
Spice cake balls
Orange cream cupcakes
Spicy Parmesan Chicken Breasts
Pizza Poppers

I have started working on a new Paula Vaughan Cross Stitch titled Sunflower Romance so even when I'm laying around watching TV I still have something to do. Here's a picture of the pattern. This one will take me awhile to complete as there are a lot of light colors and it is difficult to work on using lamp light.  My plan is to get framed and hang in my living room.

The last six months have been really hectic. First I moved the beginning of October and my commute to work was a three hour a day round trip. Then my son came up for a week visit and we had a blast. After that Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed to catch up to me before I knew it. The middle of January I was laid off and then the end of January sent to work in Portsmouth, VA. For six weeks I stayed down there and was only home on the weekends. Middle of March I finally came home for good and was off work for about a month. I then picked up some work driving a truck for an asphalt company here in the Valley and that kept me pretty busy. Now I'm back to working at my original position helping out with a VDOT project. Many changes for me in the last seven months and when you don't handle change very well it's difficult. But the Lord has helped me "roll" with it and I'm doing better than I would of without His help. So be on the look out for more posts and projects. I have a lot of catching up to do.

Tomorrow my Explorer has to go into the shop for work. Needs a joint in the front drive shaft replaced, my exhaust system replaced and four new tires. I'll be without transportation for a couple of days but I'll be working from home so that won't be an issue. I've needed to get those repairs done for awhile so I'm glad that I'll finally be able to get them taken care of. 

I'm planning on stepping up on my photography too. I've been taking pictures to document my life. A modified version of Project Life but I"m not doing a photo a day. Just photos for the week. I've got the photos but I've only got pages done up to February. Another addition to my "Bucket" list. But I would like to do a 30 day photo challenge -  just not make a scrapbook out of the pictures. I've found several lists of ideas of what photos to take. I want these to help me get better at photo taking. So I've created a list that combines ideas from several lists. I'm not going to take these pictures in any order.

Photos for June --

Something Green

From a High Angle

From a Low Angle

Something Blue

Something Pink

Clouds 

Food

Architecture

Landscape

Flower

Church Steeple

Night Photo

Fruit
Currently Reading
A Favorite Thing
 

As I complete items from my "Bucket List" I'll post pictures of them. This will help me keep motivated. Motivation is something I have a difficult time with. But keeping a list and putting a line through an item when completed is very satisfying and motivating.  Let's see how it works for me. 

Already started marking off my Photo List.

Photo of the clouds. Looks like a storm may be making it's way toward us. We've had rain several days a week for the last couple of months. I know the farmers are glad to have the rain for their crops.

September Bucket List --

Lord, I believe I can do anything with Your help!.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

My bucket list for September --

Sewing --
Bed Caddy
Embroider my clothesline flip-flop t-shirt
Americana Wall Hanging
Buttons & Bow Quilt
Blue Car Caddy - Mine
Purple Car Caddy - Laura
Black Car Caddy - Carl
Embroider Laura & Mine scrapbooking t-shirts for Scrapbook Crop
Turquoise t-shirt
Purple crepe skirt
Frying pan handle holder

Scrapbooking --
Finish Advent Calendar
Scrapbook Cake Pop Baking page
Carl's Ice Cream page
County Fair page
New Year's Eve page
Grayson's school album

Cooking/Baking --
Pink Lemonade cupcakes
Spice cake balls
Croissant roll cups
Orange cream cupcakes
Spicy Parmesan Chicken Breast
Pizza Poppers

I've loaded myself up pretty good this month.  But that's okay.  Laura & I are going to a Birthday Crop mid-September so I'm going to work on the scrapbooking projects there.  I have to get the t-shirts embroidered before that weekend so we can wear them.  I do have to get some bits & pieces from fabric store to finish up some of the projects I have on my list.

I just have to decide what I am going to reward myself with when I complete all the projects on my list and what will be my reward if I complete half of the list.  The reward for the whole list will have to be something really special so that I'm motivated to get everything marked off.  But I still need a reward if I get half done because that will be less projects I'll have to do later.  I'll have to think on this for a bit - it's a really big decision.  :)

Lord, I place my absolute trust in your power, your wisdom, and your goodness.

Love Out Loud  -- Joyce Meyer

I'm modeling my new pink top that I was extremely challenged getting completed.  I think it fits good and is flattering.  I really like how it turned out.  I do like that I lined it.  The bodice finished nicer than I think it would have if I had used bias tape.



I got a couple of more items done today.  I had journaling left to do on 5 page kits and got all 5 done. I got the page kits from Out on a Limb Scrapbooking.  They have really cute two page kits for a great price.  Check out the website.

 I also got the top of an Americana Wall Hanging I'm making for my mom for Christmas.  My brother, Mark is in the Air Force and I thought she would like something that is a tribute to him.

Each of the stars has a word written on them -- Peace, Honor, Freedom, Spirit, Pride, Life, liberty, Happiness, 1776, America, Faith, Patriotism, Virtue, Courage and Justice. 
The cream colored bordered has sayings written on it --
Across the bottom - (Star Button) Land of the Free - Home of the Brave (Star Button) Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. 
Down the right side - (Star Button) Red for Courage, White for Purity, Blue for Courage (Star Button) It's a Grand Ol' Flag (Star Button) One Nation (Star Button).
Up the left side - With Liberty, Justice for All (Star Button) The Red, White & Blue (Star Button) Long May She Wave (Star Button) Old Glory (Star Button)
Across the top - Stars and Stripes Forever (Star Button) America the Beautiful

The pattern is from a flyer I got from Jo-Ann Fabrics not long after 9/11.  I made one for myself and got it finished in March 2002 in remembrance of 9/11 and those that lost their life that day.

I also have some other projects I did beginning of the summer that I've never posted. 

My daughter Laura was going to be spending a week at the beach so I make her an album to put her memories in.  I just did the front & back but left the inside empty so she can make her own pages.  I used the Cricut Cartridge Life's a Beach and added glitter glue to the center of the sun and along the waves and sand.

I put together a pocket album.  I got the idea out of Cricut Cartridge Fabulous Finds cartridge booklet. I used the new punch I got at the Scrapbooking Expo to make the epoxy embellishments. The punch is made by Epiphany Crafts and comes in a variety of shapes.  My daughter introduced it to me. I gave the album to my daughter so she can have a brag book of my grandchildren.

I made a birthday layout for my grandson's third birthday.  I got really cool sketchbooks by Scrapbook Generations.  What's so great about these sketches is that it shows the breakdown of each page.  I don't have to do any guesswork.  It's great!!

And here's the page I did from the above sketch --

As I special treat for my grandchildren for 4th of July I made Cakes in a Jar.  I used store bought mix and frosting but turned out really good.  I cut circles out of scrap paper to cover the metal lid for decoration. I used red, white and blue sprinkles for decorations.  I got this idea from a website - I don't remember which one.  I have so many small mason jars around from jelly making.  These are easy to make and would be great for picnics - cupcakes are so hard to transport and baking them in a jar makes that so much easier. 

Motivated!!

I headed back into my sewing room to see what else I could do for the day.  And here's what I got done.  An embroidered t-shirt for my granddaughter June.  She will look so cute in this.  But I'll have to get the one done for my grandson Grayson too.  I can't give to just one.

I'm able to now remove another item from my August Bucket List.  I still have quite a few left to get done this week but I'm getting closer. 

My bucket list for August --

Finish pink flowered top

Make bed caddy

Finish Advent Calendar

Make pink lemonade cupcakes

Scrapbook Cake Pop Baking page

Do journaling for 6 scrapbook pages completed

Grayson's car stack embroidered t-shirt

June's dragonfly stack embroidered t-shrit

Make spice cake balls

My clothesline flip-flop t-shirt

Make taco cups

Completed --- Finally!

Thank You, Lord, for restoring my soul and my life, and for leading me

 in the way that is right for me.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I have finally completed my pink top!!  After all the challenges I've had I got it finished.  I think it turned out rather well too.

The neckline gaped open somewhat so I did tack that together.  I love the flattering way cross over bodices are but don't like the way they gape and shows everything. Others don't need to know what I don't have. :)  It's a simple top and a simple pattern but the way my sewing machine acted wasn't so simple. 

 I'm feeling quite accomplished and am ready to get back into my craft room and start on another project.  I don't think I'll get my August Bucket List complete but it's amazing how when I get one project finished it motivates me to get working on another.  Right now I've got quite a few projects on my Christmas list and need to get started on them.   I also have a baby shower coming up for a friend who is having her first baby.  I want something special for that.  I was thinking about a baby album and a quilt.  I'll have to get my behind in gear.

My daughter, Laura & I are attending a scrapbooking crop in September and the theme is Pajama Party - it's the groups 4th birthday so it's a celebration event.  Laura has already requested that I embroider us matching t-shirts with a scrapbooking theme on them.  She wants her t-shirt in purple and I'll do mine in pink.

The Sewing Expo will be here the first week of October and I can't wait for that.  Even though the last couple of years (although I didn't go last year) hasn't had the vendor variety that I've seen in the past I keep going cause that may change.  Laura has already bought the tickets for us.  It's my birthday present to myself. 

 I saw on Embroidery Library a submittal that a customer sent in of where she had made outfits for her granddaughters.  The customer used a "stacked" design on fleece pants & top.  A stacked design is where there are usually three items sitting on top of each other.  What caught my eye was that she put the whole design, I think she used elephants, on one of the legs of the pants then "pulled" one of the elephants out of the stack and embroidered off center close to the hem of the top.  I thought that was the cutest idea.  So yesterday since I was tired and just didn't feel like doing a whole lot I spent a good part of my day playing around with the embroidery software I have.  I've owned it for many years but haven't taken the time to learn it. I have Digitize 'n Stitch & Edit 'n Stitch 2.0.  Both are so easy to use and I figured out how to do the exact same idea that the customer did.  I want to make PJ's for my grandchildren so I'm going to use her idea.  I'll make flannel pants and put the whole stack on the leg and buy blank t-shirts and put part of the design on it.  I may even make a few fleece outfits too. The possibilities are now endless.  Sew many projects, Sew little time.



And Another Challenge . . .

With God's help, I will embrace every new thing He brings into my life.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

Here's my new challenge with getting my top done -- my sewing machine is still messing up.  I just got it back from the repair shop about 2 weeks ago.  After sewing for a short time the top thread gets caught in the "finger" that's in the bobbin area.  So I did my own repair --  

 -- I put a piece of tape over the "finger" and so far that's working for me.  I just want to be able to put the two button holes that are in the front then I'll use my other machine.  It doesn't do button holes as nicely as this machine. Wish me luck!

Well, the tape over the finger is working.  However, because the machine messed up stitching the first button hole, when I restitched the buttonhole the front didn't look good.  Luckily, I had extra fabric and re-cut that piece.  I'm going to do the front different and leave off the buttonholes.  They're just for decoration.  The ribbon loops through and ties in the front.  I think I'm just going to tie a bow and tack it to the front.  A lot simpler.  I am disappointed that I had to use the rest of the fabric.  I was going to use that to make a cute top for my granddaughter.  But being a long time sewer I'll just head to my stash and find another cute piece of fabric. :)   

So the make shift fix has continued to work and I've gotten my pink top almost done.  All I have left is to create a casing for the elastic around the bodice and attach the ribbon to the front.  Whew!! I didn't think I'd even get this far.  It does look quite shapeless at the moment. I do hope the elastic will give it some definition.  I don't want to look like I'm wearing a pink potato sack.

 

Another Challenge . .

Tonight I went to work on stitching the bodice together.  My plan was to get both sides stitched, and pressed then the armholes and neckline top-stitched.  The bodice had other plans.  After I stitched one side together and I went to press it, I found I had this.

Hmmm. Not quite what I had in mind.  This bodice really has a mind of it's own.  So I was back to ripping the side seam out and restitching.  This time I made sure I didn't somehow get twisted up in the armhole.  So now I have one side stitched and pressed.  The top-stitching will come later.

Tomorrow night the adventure will continue when I attempt to get the other side completed.  I'm hoping once I get the bodice done the bottom will go quicker however for such a simple top, this one is causing me quite a few challenges.  I thought the pattern would be a quick and fast project.  That's what I get for thinking. 

Tune in tomorrow for more of the continuing saga of the pink top.  :)

Well I had a challenge . . .

Have I been frustrating the grace of God that is available?  Relax, receive it and let God's grace do for me what I cannot do for myself.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I'm making a real simple top that has a cross over front and empire waist, something I thought I could get done in a couple of sewing sessions  I think it's a New Look pattern. I had already cut out all the pink fabric when I realized that it was see through.  Ok, that's no big deal, I'll just add a lining to it.  The pattern has gathered cap sleeves that are 1/2 way around the arm hole. The pattern shows a bias binding around the neckline and sleeves but the lining will give a much nicer finish to the edges.  So last night I stitch together the bodice and lining and atttached the two together and went to turn it. But the more I tried to turn right side out the more of a knot I tied my creation in.  Now I know this should work - it's how lined vests are done.  I decided to put it down and work on it later. I mulled over the situation in the back of my mind all day today with no result.  On the way home a friend call me - a sewing friend.   The first question she asks me was if I like my new embroidery machine.  I'd  gotten a Brother PE-770 that has a 5 x 7 stitching area several weeks ago.  I had to admit that it is still in the box but I have moved the box from inside my door to my sewing room so I am making progress. Then we started chit chatting about what project she's completed -- a fashion forward Vogue dress made out of a nice knit that will look great on her daughter.  I admire her bravery of working with knits, I still shy away from them even though I've been sewing for almost 30 yerars. I then brought up the dilemma I'm having with my bodice & the turning fiasco and what do you know -- the Lord provided me the answer.  Debbie reminded me that the side seams can't be sewn until after turning.  So today when I got home I went to work ripping out the side seams of the bodice & lining.  Geez, I forgot how much trouble removing serged seams are.  I never seem to find the "magic" thread that just unravels it all.  Once I accomplished this, the bodice turn like a charm. The Lord cares about the small things too. :)  I didn't get to resew the side seams and press it.  That's tomorrow night's session.  But I will say that the lining give the bodice a very nice finished look.  I'll post pics after I sew the side seams & it's pressed.  Having sewing friends is such a blessing.. 

What a Week!!

   This has been a hectic week. First an earthquake on Tuesday afternoon & lots of clean up when I got home from work. Then we had another smaller quake/aftershock on Wednesday night around 1am that woke me up.  And if that's not the highlight of the week, a hurricane hits today.  I've only lost electric once today. Sad to say that messed up the bread I was baking.  But all is not lost. I've used the day of being inside to do fun stuff.  
  
   I've been wanting to try cutting fabric with my Cricut. I made pj bottoms for the grandson that had trains on them and decided to make a tshirt with a train on it to match. I went on You Tube and watched a couple of videos (thanks to all who have posted their "how to") but even with that I had trouble. But I'm not one to give up easy so I kept trying.  Here's my results - I used Boys Will Be Boys for the train and calico fabric I had in my stash.

  I didn't think that the train showed up very good since the outline wasn't defined so I decided to put a blanket stitch around the train.



  I had some trouble with the fabric not cutting well and raveling. I used Wonder Under but a lightweight type. I'm going to try again with a heaver weight & see how that works.  I've got a Robot tshirt to make.

Sitching My Sunflower Quilt

I've begun to stitch my quilt. I've not gotten it done yet - I work on stitching a couple times a week. The hard part is not missing a spot to tie a knot. I have to keep going over quilt to make sure I don't miss a spot.

Sunflower Quilt --

I've had this quilt top done for a long time. I didn't have a place where I could lay it out and pin for quilting until last weekend - you probably can see pins in the picture. It's a twin size Lover's Knot Quilt in a Day by Eleanor Burns. My quilt did take longer than a day to make. This is the project I'm working on this week.  I'm going to use cotton floss and tie the quilt. Then I plan to machine quilt the borders and add the binding. I do have to get more fabric to make the binding with - I didn't get enough but since the backing is cotton classic from JoAnn's I should have no problem finding more - I hope.

Buttons & Bow Quilt --

I started this quilt a couple of weeks ago. The quilt top went really quick, got that done in one evening. Its 72" x 81", I guess that's close to a twin size . The problem I'm having right now is finding buttons. Each quilt block get a 1-3/8" button sewn in the center with ribbon. I'm having trouble finding the buttons in that size in the colors of the quilt. If anyone has ideas where I can find plain, plastic buttons in rainbow colors, please let me know. I'm using a bright pink for the backing, I've got that prewashed and ready to stitch to get the width. I can lay out and pin but can't quilt until find the buttons. I'm thinking of using flannel instead of batting to give my quilt a lighter weight. I've done that before with table runners and worked well.  The pattern is from Fons & Porter Love of Quilting Nov/Dec 2006. I'm planning on giving this to my granddaughter - it'll be awhile before she'll use it.  She's only 8 month old and still in a crib. I know I'll have to make a version in primary colors next for my grandson. It's so hard having grandbabies. LOL.

Here's the picture from the magazine to show you what I mean about the buttons & bows. The pattern uses  chenille but I made mine from calico so it wouldn't be as heavy (and to use up some of my stash.)