Tag : sewing

149 posts

It appears that this is how things may be for a while…slow to update…such is life these days. Time keeps ticking away and I’m finding less and less time to be creative. So many fall projects to tackle before its too late.

I’m scrounging for canning lids as I keep getting more green beans. What do you think of my carrots? LOL  I had to pull them up because the squirrels were trying to do it for me.

I also have a couple other canning projects I’d like to try but I either need more regular lids or more wide mouth jars…neither of which I can find anywhere.

I did can some bloody Mary mix and somewhat appropriate sized containers.  It is a homemade, never be able to reproduce since I didn’t measure anything, type of mix. Hopefully its not the best ever. (Please excuse the poor photography and chaotic pantry.)

School is going well. We all seem to be finding a rhythm…although I really should not have said that since I’m likely jinxing myself.

One crafty thing that I actually completed during the past week was this paper garland. Our resource room is tiny…white cinder block walls with 6 doors but no windows…I can’t even make that up. It was originally a storage space of band instruments almost half a century ago.

I really want to dress it up a bit without spending money since we certainly don’t have a budget. I’m hoping that between the 4 of us that current use the space throughout the day, we can make it a like happier. Brighter. A place the kids actually want to come for extra help without being distracted or over-stimulated.

Last week, (I think…it’s a blur) we had some really interesting sunrise and sunsets. A high veil of smoke gave the sky a sort of post-apocalyptic look.

I’ve been suffering with a sore hip or sciatica this past week. Its so frustrating! Hurts to do anything for any length of time. Whether its sitting, standing, walking or laying…it all hurts. I’m sure it came about from my abrupt change in activity when I returned to work. I’d been used to walking 2-3 miles most mornings then puttering around the house and garden. Being barefoot on soft surfaces. Nothing like life now. More sitting, hard floors, shoes, standing, leaning over. When I spell it all out like that, it makes complete sense but it doesn’t make the pain any less.

I did get out for a walk Sunday morning. The trees are so beautiful. There was a slight crisp in the air. I love this time of year. Jeans and hoodies…my perfect outfit.

I’ve made a few more masks as well. I decided when this is all over I’m going to cut apart all the masks I’ve made and make a COVID quilt.

I have done a bit of art journaling as well….this is a current WIP. Of course this was what I should have been doing…but since I cleaned up my space it just had to be done.

As many of you know my art space is in the laundry/utility room. My crafty chaos tends to overflow my actual space and I end up putting things on the washer and drier.

But look…they are clean. Unfortunately there is a really lame reason for my sudden cleanup. The rubber gasket that keeps the water from leaking out the door of my front load washer ripped. Mr. G ordered a new gasket but the washing machine has to be taken half apart of replace the it. While waiting for that part Mr. G came across a video showing a potential hack to “rebuild the gasket with roofing sealant. We are giving it a go since…if it fails…we are right back where we started. I’ll update you next week as it takes a couple days of cure time.

I’m so thankful that he is able to tackle these projects. In the meantime, I had to clean and make a trip to the laundromat.

It’s certainly not perfect but trust me…much better. I tend to end up creating in a one foot square space. So dumb but I can’t seem to break myself of the habit.

This is also madness. All of the scrap papers I had laying about. Ok truth be told…half of this was in the bin to start but seriously. I have a problem.

What are you doing today?

Wowsers! My ADD is in full gear. I want to try everything. So many irons in the fire but not much getting fully finished. Its a self-diagnosed condition and I am not making light of those who struggle with the medically diagnosed form. I’m with ya…I get it!

Where or where to start….

These seem like the perfect way to begin to explain how my ADD is working these days.

I pulled out my sewing box looking for a needle and button thread to reattach a button on J’s shorts. Yes, this would have been the optimal time to teach him this skill but I didn’t think of that until I was done. Perhaps I’ll have to snip a few threads on another one. *insert evil laugh*

Anyway…I noticed a few completed yoyos and several circles ready to sew. Of course, I dive full in and begin sorting through my scraps for pieces big enough to cut circles, then sit down and sew all these. I decided to exhibit a bit of self-control and actually began to tackle my to-do list.

I canned my spicy beans…although 2 jars never properly sealed so those are in the fridge for immediate consumption.

I also made Kimchi for the first time. You can see that I sampled quite a bit from one jar before thinking to document. It is so good! I sort of cobbled together a few recipes since I didn’t have the exact ingredients for any of them. I wasn’t sure if it would taste as good as the local brands I picked up at the co-op but it did! Now I have my fingers crossed that we get another Napa cabbage in our farm share box this week.

Sticking with the food theme…

The summer squash is beginning to ripen, We really enjoy these grilled. I use the grill as much as possible to cook with during the summer. No use heating up the house if at all possible not to.

I came home from my walk yesterday to find this…looks ok since you didn’t see it before. The deer ate a good 1/4 of the plant leaves and stems in addition to EVERY SINGLE tomato on the vine. There had to have been at least 15 maybe closer to 20 tomatoes in various stages of ripening. UGH!!!!!!!

Moving on…no use crying about what is already done.

My walk yesterday morning took me to the lake where I would take the kids swimming when they were little.

The water was so calm. Even the boat launch made for a pretty scene.

The rental craft are always a pretty picture but I was honestly very surprised that they are renting them during the pandemic. HMM…

This week after much deliberation, I decided to reopen my Etsy store. Mini-me said that she’d help me in exchange for a sales commission. I think that is fair and savvy on her part.

I have only gotten a few cards listed so far but its a work in progress.

More works in progress are masks for the family. J will need a bunch for school. They are required to wear them on campus while outside of their rooms. The dining center and any classrooms that require other protective gear are the exceptions. Mini-me will also need more if she will be attending community college as part of the PSEO (post-secondary enrollment option) program. She’s been accepted but her counselor quit two weeks ago. We’re kind of stuck at the moment. She may be starting her senior year at high school then transition to the college classes…who knows?!?!

Too soon? LOL I indulged in a cold beer over the weekend in my Corona glass.

Today I’m attempting to get some of the chores I really don’t like doing so that I can do a few fun crafty things I’ve been wanting to try. I’m dangling the carrot for myself…we’ll see if it works or not.

What are you doing today?

This page I created for A Stitch in Time didn’t start out with this in mind. I was creating a masterboard of sorts to cut apart into postcards, tags etc. Its one of my new favorite techniques.

It is also a great way to use up scraps. A real non-thinking activity. I will often listen to a podcast or YouTube while gluing down my scraps. Its therapeutic really. 

After completely this masterboard this section spoke to me. I decided to cut a 7 x 7 square to fit in my scrapbook journal. I’ve been kind of obsessed with butterflies lately so it doesn’t surprise me that one found its way onto my page.

We have one more day left of June and A Stitch in Time

Art Journal Journey

Hello and welcome to another edition of T stands for Tuesday along with Art Journal Journey: A Stitch in Time.

I have to admit this is my favorite so far of the pages I’ve created for A Stitch in Time. It has three of my favorites: a square page, warm color palette and vintage ephemera.

When working on a challenge I often am stepping outside my comfort zone either by the nature of the challenge or some self-imposed extra challenge. This was not one of those times.

I indulged myself in all my favorites. Old books and postage get me every time. I also mixed in some new scrapbook papers in coordinating colors. I like the mix, it gives it personality.

A good part of my stitching was hidden by the elements I added, but that’s ok. It adds interest. I am also loving these washi stickers I found on Amazon. The delicate botanical addition makes me smile.

This also makes me smile…

My helper as I photograph my pages.

I thought I’d also give a little peek at how my garden is growing.

I had to move my containers that were alongside the garage onto the deck and into the fenced in shed garden.

A deer ate my potato plants down to nubs and started on my summer squash. UGH!

This garden is next to be pest proofed. A squirrel dug a hole between my tomato plants yesterday morning.

Today has me plugging away at my list

What are you doing today?

I created this piece as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the toilet paper crisis of this spring in the midst of the COVID-19 panic buying.  You may be questioning how this is a nod to that so let me explain.

The colorful papers that make up the background of this piece are the colorful wrappers from our “who gives a crap” toilet paper.

Back in January I’d had an ad for Who gives a crap show up on my Instagram feed. I was interested but didn’t jump on the bandwagon however did get on their email list. Little did we know this was going to be a really good plan.  I love that its a little more eco-friendly than standard TP and the company is part of the greater good.

So now back to the piece…

I tore pieces of the wrapping paper and glued it to some printer paper.  I used a bit of paint to blur the details in a few spots to make it feel a little more cohesive. The page looked very 1980s.  I ripped a piece of mop-up paper and stitched it vertically along the page. Over the top I created a loose ruffle of some equally 80s feel fabric.

Since my mind was in that era I decided that some day-glow green mesh on a tag was fitting. Very 80s pastel and geometric shapes…anyone with me so far?

If I’m completely honest, I’m not sure the quote fits the page but the color of the stamped image worked and I’ve had it in my stash FOREVER!

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time on Art Journal Journey?

Art Journal Journey

While cleaning out my closet the other day, I found a skirt I had picked up at Goodwill many years ago. I bought it as a potential interview skirt. I loved the fabric. I never used it for interviewing and I already have a job so over time it just got shoved further and further back in the closet.

Mini-me had shown me a tutorial on a skirt she wanted to make. She wants to learn to sew…makes my heart sing!

When she saw the skirt headed for the donate pile she asked if we could try to remake it. As it happened, it was pretty much the perfect design to easily remake into the skirt of her dreams.

It is so cute…she is so cute in it. I’m guessing this will end up as one of her senior portrait outfits.

Welcome to another edition of T stands for Tuesday.

I decided to make this a twofer post after realizing that I had added some coffee themed tissue paper to my A Stitch in Time themed page for Art Journal Journey.

Art Journal Journey

This page started out to be something completely different but as I continued adding paint and paper elements to the page it somehow evolved. I really need to take a cue from Eileen at The Artful Crafter and take photos along the way.

The substrate was a page from a book…lots of interesting imagery that I thought was driving my direction. I guess I took a sharp right, maybe a left…who knows.

I just kept playing until my page spoke to me…and it said “follow your dreams”

I, of course, added fun and purposefully wonky stitching. I was turning the dial that controls the width of the zig-zag while sewing. It gave the stitching a really unique look.

Won’t you join me for A Stitch in Time?!?

 This week is looking to be a hot one around here. I’m setting myself up with some indoor projects to work on.

These books are for a big project I’ve had in mind for years. I’m finally going to tackle it. There I said it…now I have to do it.

I also arranged and cleaned out my closet. I had several t-shirts that just had to go.

I decided to tear them into t-shirt yarn. I’m thinking these will become a rag rug.

So many possibilities…

What are you doing today?
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