Still working on Christmas

I don't usually do applique so thought I would try something easy. I just hand drew the shapes. I think maybe I need a little practise in the art department. These are flannel appliques and I am going to make pj bottoms to go with the t-shirts.

Also made some vintage style embroidered pillowcases. If you click on the picture you will get a better view of the embroidery.

Aprons

Thursday's Project - I finished the 3rd nightie first. Then I had to do clean ups in the sewing room. It is hard to think when it is a mess. The kids play there too so there where toys all over plus all me thread and fabric scraps. My fabric needed some organization so I could see what I have and what I am going to do with it. I am trying to not spend any more money and "use what I have". I know that really doesn't work well because you always need something - thread, elastic, zipper, buttons, etc. etc. I really don't have the variety in fabric as I would like but I will have to work with it.
I did get 2 aprons done. Not sure what today's project is yet. Kevin is home today and Ethany is sick so she is home too. That may mean I don't get much done.

Dinosaur Boy

"For me!! Oh thank you Grandma."

Little brother to two of the musketeers. The purple musketeer is his mom/my daughter. He was just thrilled with his dinosaur pajamas. Makes a grandma feel good. I think pajamas is on the Christmas list (that's what mom wants). I will need to get on that when I get home.

The Three Muskateers

The Three Muskateers are ready for Halloween in plenty of time. And I am flying back home tomorrow. It has been a busy week sewing but it is all done. I even got the mending done and some curtains hemmed for my son. My biggest problem was that I didn't have my serger. When you have had a serger as long as I have you think you can't sew if you don't have a serger. I had to keep reminding myself these where just costumes.

The Purple Muskateer

The Blue Muskateer

The Pink Muskateer

Preppy Skirt

Just finished this skirt. It turned out real cute. It is hard to see how cute the plaid is in the picture. I got the fabric at Walmart for $1.97 per meter. The $1.97 fabric is always fiber content unknown so you take your chances sometimes but I am always looking for a bargain. I pre-washed it and it came out ok but it does need ironing. Oh well!! I have enough fabric to make a couple more skirts so I guess I better get on that.

Lace masks for Halloween

My daughter and her girls want to be the Barbie three musketeers for halloween. Well there is no pattern so we are going to have to create our own version of the costume. I will be going to her place the week of Thanksgiving to sew. Should be lots of fun.
I am doing some of the pre-work before I go. I embroidered these lace masks and then I am going to do some more lace pieces to embellish the costumes with. The lace masks turned out real nice I think. My embroidery machine is getting a real workout these days!

Housewife Pillowcases

Well I am back where I am supposed to be, at least for now. My sewing machine and serger are unpacked and set up. Now I can get down to the business of sewing again. I have so many ideas and things I should do that I am not sure where to begin.
The first thing I did (because I didn't know what to do first) was to make some housewife pillowcases. I gave them a vintage look with some embroidery and eyelet lace. I like the housewife pillowcase because it has a pocket that the pillow slips into and so the pillow can't escape. I think I will do more of these for Christmas gifts or just to have on hand. These pillowcases also look real nice monogrammed.

Two more

Just finished two more lunch bags. I changed the design a little. I have the lining wrapping around the top edge so the bag looks a little more decorative from the outside. I think this is a good improvement.

Bags I have made

I made these bags about a year ago but thought I would post some pictures of them. They are made of 5 inch squares of fabric that I embroidered.

This one is made of dark green suede fabric with light green embroidery.

This one is a red suede fabric with cream colored embroidery.

And this one is in denim with gold embroidery.

Skort

Started and finished this little skort this morning. It went together very nicely and was easy to make. It is an Epattern I got from YouCanMakeThis.com . It is designed by CarlyC, The Scientific Seamstress. This is the first time I used an Epattern and the directions are very detailed with lots of photos so it would be good for a beginner sewer. I just used some inexpensive fabric I got from Walmart. I will definetly be making more of these. The pattern also has variations for a circular skirt and a pleated skirt.

Market Bag

I have been wanting to make some market bags. I found this pattern free on the internet at Oh, Fransson! I really like free patterns and this is a good one.

Aprons

Aprons, the latest in kitchen fashion. But you need miles of ric rac. (is that how you spell it?) It required more that one trip to the store. Oh well, there is alway other stuff to buy there so it is never a wasted trip. I am working on building up my fabric stash. It is really hard to sew with out a stash. Sorry the picture is a bit fuzzy.

Smocking Project

This is the dress that does not fit anyone. Can't imagine what I was thinking when I cut it. But I think it looks cute on the hanger. So I guess it is just a picture dress! I used a McCalls pattern I had never used before. That was not a good idea. Oh well! On to my next project.

T-shirt design

I saw a picture of a t-shirt and thought it was very cute so I wanted to make one but there wasn't a pattern that was like it. So I thought maybe I could design one myself and this is the result. The yoke on the front is curved downward to the underarm seam. Hard to tell in the picture. Next I think I will make a skirt to go with it.

More Bag Pictures

I finished 8 more bags. They turned out very nice and Alex was thrilled with them. I was thrilled that she was thrilled. I don't think the pictures do them justice.

Fiesta Skirt

I found the directions for making this skirt on the internet so I thought I would try it. It turned out real nice. I also learned to use my rolled hem foot for my sewing machine as the top of each ruffle is done with a rolled hem. Now if I could just learn to take better pictures!!