Sewing

The Mail Caught Up With Us…

A little bit before we left Alabama, I won a give away of a stack of fabric scraps from Pat Bravo at Art Gallery Fabrics. I love her designs! The package caught up with me yesterday, so I got the sewing machine out today determined to make something.

There was one piece of this delicious fabric that measured 12″ X 8″. It told me it wanted to be a purse. So, I sifted through the rest of the scraps, and found this:

DSCN3840 — Brown with various shades of gray and white.

That scrap became the back of the bag and the strap. I needed something for the lining and pocket, and these two yellow scraps jumped up for the part:

DSCN3843 — A girl needs a pocket for those pens and papers!

This one is for me, it is truly one of a kind, as I don’t have any more of the fabric to make another.

I followed the outline of the large floral print to quilt the front. I love this fabric! Thank you, Pat!

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Today’s Project

Karen · 6 Comments

I have had this mini ironing board for about 10 years. I have used it so much that the cover is worn thin and has some holes in it. And it has started to make the things I iron look dirty.

I started looking for a new cover for it a few years ago, but while they do make them for full size ironing boards, I could not ever find one for the table top size in the store. Then, a few months ago, I found a tutorial for making one in a magazine. Today was the day for me to tackle this project.

First, you lay the ironing board upside down onto some batting, and draw around it with a marker. Cut the batting on the traced line. Then, cut the same shape out of your cute fabric, only 4 inches wider all around than the batting.

Make a casing around the entire edge of the fabric. Stitch around starting at the straight back end. Gather at the curved edges to ease in the seam. Leave an opening about 3 inches wide. After stitching, thread some elastic through the casing. Put the cover on the ironing board, and adjust the elastic to fit. Take the cover off, then sew the ends of the elastic together, then stitch up the opening. Put the batting on the ironing board, then the cover, and adjust to fit.

If you want one, I will be glad to make one, $15 + free shipping. Email me and we can discuss the details. I can’t make one for full sized ironing boards because I don’t have one to trace. But if you have a full size one, and want to trace it for me on paper, we can talk!

I found the tutorial for making this ironing board cover in Craft Stylish Magazine. I don’t know what issue it was because I tore out the instructions for my file.

To see more lovely projects, click on the “I Made It!” icon below to go to Everything Etsy’s blog party:

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Mail Call and Doctor Visit Today

Karen · 6 Comments

I have had that style of business cards for a couple of years, but I have been wanting some labels for the things I have been making. I have been participating in the “I Made It” blog carnival from Everything Etsy for a few weeks, and last week, I found a girl who makes iron in labels through there. I don’t have an Etsy store, (I used to, but now I just have my little shop here). I DO buy supplies on Etsy, and have been very pleased with everything I have found there. So, I chit chatted via email with Marcia from Beautiful Blooms, and today, I received the labels that match my business cards. How cute they are! Now if you purchase any fabric item from my shop, it will have one of these labels in it, so you will have a “FabGrandma” original! Woot~! If you want labels, you’ll have to convo her.

So, today was the day for me to go back to the doctor for him to go over all the lab tests he ordered last week. And there is nothing wrong with me. Or so the lab results say. No rheumatiod arthritis. No lyme disease. No nothing. At least nothing that he could find by looking at my blood that could indicate why I was in so much pain up until last week, and at other times in the past. He asked me if the medications he gave me last week worked, and I told him they did. So, he wrote me a prescription to keep on hand for when it happens again. Because I was about to cry, asking him “what if I get in that bad of shape again and I am in Arizona at the Grand Canyon?” He said it could be osteoarthritis, or it could just be inflamation. He couldn’t offer any other explanation than that.

He did X-ray my pelvis to see if he could see anything abnormal about my hips that would cause them to hurt so much. He said he would call me to let me know if he sees anything there. And I am having them make copies of my medical records to take with me, just in case I have to go to that doctor in Flagstaff again. I can’t help feeling a little disappointed that they couldn’t name my enemy. At least they gave me a weapon to use to fend it off.

One thing about feeling not well, is that I haven’t been cooking as much as I usually do. I didn’t say we haven’t been eating much, hahaha. I have always been one of those cooks who wants to make things from scratch as much as possible. Like when I make chicken and rice, I have always cooked the chicken, picked off the meat, and then made the rice, etc. So, I have been using canned chicken instead, and premade chicken broth. And guess what? It tastes just as good, and takes less effort to make. And I can store the chicken in the pantry instead of taking up room in the tiny freezer. I am going to be doing that more often. The added bonus is that I have more time to do things I want to do, like sewing. Yeah. Sewing…..

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A New Sewing Area, And A Give Away!

Karen · 46 Comments

Ok, so not so much a new area, but a new table! I have been searching for a new sewing table for over a year. The one I had was a folding plastic table that was waaaaay to big for the space I have. I had to keep the legs folded up on one side, and prop that side on the dresser. Whenever I had to get into my drawer to get socks or underwear, it was a problem. But I put up with it because the only other solution would have been to completely put my sewing machine and other paraphenalia away every night. And THAT would have been a big pain in the butt.

I don’t have many pictures of the old set-up, because it was not such a pretty site. And you should have heard FabGrandpa fussing about it all the time! He really didn’t like it. That table was too wide, it stuck out into the room too far, in addition to taking up most of the dresser. AND, whenever I pressed the foot pedal on the sewing machine, it made the whole table jump up and down, so that it was difficult to sew a straight seam. (Now I am sure you all don’t believe that since I have been making so many pretty things, but trust me, it was a circus.)

Finding a new table was difficult because it had to fit a very small space. The opening is 43″ long X 20″ deep, but there is a folding curtain about 6″ from the sink cabinet. We can’t take the curtain out because if we have company, we have to be able to close off the bathroom area from our bedroom area, unless of course we are VERY cozy with the visitors. So, the search was on. But I found the (almost) perfect table last Saturday at Wal-Mart, and for only $34! It is 36″ wide, so it fits in the space with room to spare. And at 19″ deep, it doesn’t stick out too far into the room. The only thing that would have made it a perfect table would have to have been if it had a couple of drawers. It DOES have shelves, so that can be remedied. I can now be on the search for some baskets or containers that fit the shelves. I’m thinking shoeboxes that I can cover with fabric.

I’ve been so happy with the table that I have been sewing every day since I got it. And, it is solid as a rock, no jumping up and down while I sew, no battle with the machine to keep it from walking off of the table. It is SOOO much more relaxing to just sew and not have to work so much at it. I made that bag in a couple of hours. It is the same pattern I used to make the ones for my daughters for Christmas, but I played around with it some to make it look a little different. I love the fabric, called Naturology. I’m putting this one in my shop for sale–it will be up there tomorrow.

After I finished the tote bag–I made up some of the zipper bags to match it, they are cute, cute, cute!

And then I made some of the business card wallets, too. Someone I know wanted one of those in purple, so I made those, too.

To celebrate my new sewing area, and also to celebrate the opening of MY SHOP, I am giving away these matching little bags–one zipper pouch and one business card wallet in the Naturology green, brown and cream colors. If you want to own it, here is how to win:

1. Look at my little shop, then come back and leave a comment telling me what you like there.

2. For a second entry, tweet about this give away on Twitter, and leave a comment telling me you did.

3. For a third entry, follow my RSS feed, and comment to let me know you did.

I’ll pick a winner at random on March 30. It would be sooner but I am going on vacation for a week–going to see all my grandchildren, and can’t wait!

Check out more handmade items at the I Made It Blog Party

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A Nice Weekend At Payne Lake Campground

Karen · 5 Comments

This weekend was so nice! I saw the first sign of spring, daffodils! There they were, blooming on the bank by the spillway:

Other signs of spring: Lots of campers in the campground, fishermen in boats on the lake, and teenagers wading in the creek:

And the redbud trees budding:

We spent some time checking all the electric hookups and water faucets to make sure they all worked, because the turkey hunting season starts next weekend, and that means the campground is sure to be filled up. We picked up trash, cleaned out fire pits, and just made sure everything looks good.

I have been doing a lot of product reviews over the past couple of months, trying new gluten free things. This morning I cooked us some organic chicken sausage that was really yum! Tomorrow I’ll be trying out some sweet Italian sausage from the same company for dinner.

And as if I didn’t have enough to do, I have joined a group of writers doing a Write For Ten project. We are given a topic each day, and strive to write for ten minutes on that topic. You can see my efforts here. I’m learning that it is sometimes difficult to write for ten minutes, and sometimes my fingers just fly over the keys.

This afternoon, I did some more sewing: another tote bag in a gorgeous green and brown leaf print:

It has two pockets, one of them divided into sections with spaces for pens or pencils:

It is 18″ wide X 9 1/2″ tall, large enough to hold lots of goodies. I’m going to be making some more this week, I hope. Only 5 more days until FabGrandpa has his eye surgery, and only two weeks before I see my grandchildren!

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New Stuff In The Shop

Karen · 3 Comments

This is not as easy as it looks! I spent a good part of yesterday getting things ready to put in the shop. I think I like making things better than doing the work part of uploading them. It wouldn’t be so hard to do if the internet service I had was better, but the whole day yesterday was cloudy, rainy, overcast; and when the weather is like that the satellite internet just doesn’t work well. Don’t get it if you were thinking you wanted it!

So, I have put some little business card wallets I make with the pattern I got from Kekalou;

some more of the little quilted zipper bags:

and some jewelry I made last winter:

Thanks for taking a look!

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Sewing Again

Karen · 4 Comments

Y’all must think I spend all my time sewing, and you might just be right. I love to sew. But last week I also spent a lot of time on the phone, trying to get my computer straightened out. And one whole day was spent going to Tuscaloosa to get a back-up device “just in case” the computer crashed before I could get it fixed. So between doing all that, and the regular day to day stuff, like cooking and washing the dishes and stuff like that, I was getting anxious to get back to the machine.

I made that little business card wallet up there in the picture. It is so cute! It holds several business cards, a drivers license, and a couple of credit cards and fits in your pocket.

I had an order for a couple of aprons from the guy at the taxidermy shop down the road. He asked for a couple that a man wouldn’t be embarrassed to wear. This one shows his favorite sports team, The Crimson Tide. Whoooo! Roll Tide!

My pajamas finally just fell apart. You know how when you get something like that that is co comfy you wear them all the time? Well, when they came apart at the seams, I tried to remember when I bought them, and it was back in 2005!! No wonder! So I ordered some brown and blue floral print flannel and made myself a new pair. They are so soft! I might just order some more.

Then, I found this pattern for a little wallet with a zipper pocket on the back. It has three credit card slots, a place for paper money, and that zip pocket for change. I’m still trying to decide if I like this or not. What do you think?

And then I made some more of those business card wallets. I’m going to put some in my shop in a day or two, so keep an eye open for that if you want to buy one. These first ones will be a little cheaper because they aren’t perfect, but when I get them right, they will be $7.00 each plus shipping.

We have to go to Birmingham on Wednesday for Fabgrandpa’s pre-op blood work. He’s having cataract surgery on March 12. We were afraid that they wouldn’t get him an appointment in time because we have to leave here April 12 headed back to the Grand Canyon. But, they called on Friday and said someone cancelled! Yay for us!

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Introducing My Little Shop

Karen · 5 Comments

Sewing is one of the things I love to do–I spent all day yesterday making these little bags. I piece the outside, then layer it with batting and a lining, add a zipper. They are very useful for things like cosmetics, pencils, gadgets, toiletries. The smaller brown one in the front is a special request for a medicine bag.

I created a little shop to sell them in, so if you look up to the menu bar above, you’ll see a link for it. Right now, these bags are $8, shipping included, but I can only ship in the United States. Come back often to look, you never know what I’ll be making next!

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