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.



It's a tough life . . .

Lord, flow through me and help me be aware of the needs around me that I can meet.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

. . . but somebody's got to live it.

This is Sweet Pea's favorite past-time.  Laying out on the balcony soaking up the sun.  Yes, he is a cat. Not a dog in a cat suit although he is the size of a medium dog.  Probably weighs in around 25 pounds but he's pretty solid.  The funny part is Sweet Pea acts like a dog.  Sits up on his hind legs and will take a treat out of your hand.  Rolls over on his back for anyone who comes in the door to scratch his belly.  Sweet Pea doesn't care if he's never seen the person before -- they got two hands that as far as he's concerned should be rubbing his tummy.  And he's not above flopping down and giving the "pitiful me" look to make that happen. He has no pride.  I am glad that he really isn't a lap cat although at times he feels the need to lay on my chest when I'm relaxing and watching tv.  A time or two I thought I heard a rib crack. Lol.



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.

 

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

Lord, help me to be especially kind and gracious to those who are different than I am.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I've not sat back down to my sewing machine since last Wednesday when I had the twisted armhole challenge.  I'm heading that way next to see what I can accomplish and to listen to my audiobook "Threadbare - A Needlecraft Mystery" by Monica Ferris.  Nothing like a good book to keep me focused on my project.  But then again, I was listening to this book when I twisted up the armhole.  Hmmm . . . Note to self - pay closer attention to what I'm doing when listening to book.  Ok, I'm good.

Today I got the nerve up and attended my first ever MeetUp.com event.  It was a photography event called "Let's Talk Photography" that explained more about Infrared Photography.  I really enjoyed it and plan on attending more.  Next weekend is the photo shoot that corresponds with this meeting.  I'm looking forward to that.  I was really surprised what all can be done when shooting with infrared and how a photo can be manipulated in software to really give great pictures.  I'm excited about trying this out. 

Wisdom.

What is wisdom saying to you today? Are you willing to follow it?

Living Out Lout -- Joyce Meyer

I don't know about anyone else but sometimes, ok most of the times, it's hard to do "the right thing" especially if it's not what I want to do.  But I find that if I do what I know in my heart I should, later I do feel better about my decision and the results I get are so much better.  It's just remembering that when decision making time is here.  Maybe a post-it on my forehead would do the trick? No, I'd either loose the post-it or not look in the mirror to remind me.  So I'll just keep trying and with the Lord's help, I'll get better and better at it.  :)

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.  :)