Sewing Lessons

My daughter has been wanting to make a new purse for herself, but she didn't know how to sew. So I sat down with her and taught her some sewing basics. She ended up making this purse.

I think she did very well for a first time project! She sewed all the seams, ironed them, trimmed them, and put in the zipper. She needed very little help. The hardest part was getting the feel for my sewing machine and controlling the needle, the speed and using the foot pedal to make it go. I'm very proud of her!

My sister came over and we had dotee night again. This time my daughter joined in. She made some dotees too! We had such a fun time that night! I made the Oriental one on the right, and my daughter made the other two. I love them all, each and every one turns out so cute!

In just a few more days she's leaving to go back to school. It's bittersweet. I'm going to really miss her.

More doll making fun!

I've been having a great time playing with beads and baubles and oddments and making little dolls. I completed another one. I can't stop! Here is the latest:

She was so fun to make! Tomorrow my sister is coming back and we'll work on some more. I don't know what I'm going to do with these little dolls, but I just have to make them. Something fun and creative to do. I think I'll make my daughter one in her school's colors to take back to school with her. I think my next one will be an oriental one with the red fabric on the right, the picture doesn't do it justice:

Gotta figure out how I'll decorate it. Fun fun fun!

I also finally started getting fabric for my rag quilt. It's the Christmasy one with the trees. The other two fabrics, the pink and the yellow, are to make my daughter some pillowcases to take back to school. Of course I had to buy a ball of yarn while at Joann's, more Sugar & Cream.

She loves the pillowcases I make her. Hopefully I can get at them tonight, that is if she's not using the sewing machine. I've been teaching her to sew! She's making a purse, and has put the zipper in and done a few seams. She's doing great! I'll post a picture when it's done. I'm very proud of her for accomplishing this!

Doll

I got the little ragdoll done. Here's her body before being dressed:

Look at that sweet little face. She was a joy to make.

And here she is completed:

I just love her. It's going to be hard to give her away. I don't know when I'll see my cousin, until then I get to enjoy her! I got the pattern from Bowls & Annies. So much fun to make!

Doll Making

This doll making stuff is fun! I decided to make my cousin a little doll with the fabrics she gave me that were my aunt's. A little keepsake. I got the doll started and her body is done. Her shoes are painted on that's why they are upside down in that cup, they are drying.

Today I'll make her hair with yarn and sew up her little clothes. This could be a new addiction, a fun little passtime to get creative with. The possibilities are endless.

I bought more beads and oddments for making the little dotee dolls.

I found all those beads and the ribbon at the dollar store! That was fun to find that stuff there. Who woulda thunk the dollar store had that kind of stuff.

I have another dotee doll started, but haven't gotten very far on her yet. I'm not sure how I'm going to decorate her yet, so she's patiently waiting to be finished.

No, I haven't been knitting anything since I finished the socks. I haven't decided what to make next yet. So I've been having fun playing with my fabrics and beads and baubles again.

More Treasures!

More treasures to show off!

My sister came over last night and we were going to make little dolls that we found on line called dotees. But before we got to work with our beads, sequins, fabrics, patterns, thread, oddments, felt squares and findings she gave me a birthday gift! How fun does this stuff look:

I love it all! Thank you Sister! Beautiful cupcake bag, I love cupcakes! And beads, sparkly blue and the other ones are dragonflies. And a kitty pincushion. And look at that box . . . cupcakes! I can store lots of little treasures in there. And a beautiful carry-all thing with lots of little pockets inside for safely storing all my little beads and oddments for doll making. I love it, love it, love it all!

We had so much fun going through all of our supplies we didn't get much done but we did get started. She had beautiful fabrics. So fun to look at someone else's fabrics! And the felts she had . . . OMG! Some were sparkly, some were printed. I never saw printed felt squares before. Had so much fun! So we plan on doing it again soon and actually getting something done next time.

Tonight I was anxious to start another one and I got her finished. Meet my first little dotee . . .

Isn't she cute? I don't know what to name her, but I'll think of something. She will get a place of honor among all my treasures.

I like the color, not crazy about the socks

Finally. I finished the socks. I just love the color of this yarn, the sock part and the heel part, love them together. But for some reason I just don't like the socks all that much. There are a few mistakes, but not real noticeable. Maybe they'll grow on me once I wear them.

And I have no idea why it's so hard to take a picture of socks on feet. But it is.

I don't know what my next knitting project will be. Nothing is calling to me at the moment. Maybe it's time for another knitting break and to dig into the sewing stash again. I'm going on vacation in a couple of weeks, hopefully I'll decide by then what I want to work on so I can take it with me. I'm sure looking foward to that!

My daughter had made me an ankle bracelet for my birthday but sadly it broke and I lost it. So, she made me another one today. It's so colorful and I love it! Another treasure.

Treasures

My cousin has been cleaning out my Aunt's house after her death in April. She gave me these boxes of fabrics and yarns that she came across. So precious to me. I keep wondering, "what was she going to make with this stuff?" All kinds of fabs, some old, some newer, the yarns are more of the crafty type yarns. Good for making oddments and things. Even some knitting needles and a couple of crocheted projects that were started. All of these are very precious treasures to me.

I went to a garage sale yesterday and found these little snowmen plates. So cute! I just had to have them since I collect snowmen. More little treasures.

I did fix that little matroyshka doll ornament. I took the white beads off from the bottom portion and re-sewed them on with clear thread. It looks much better.

I went to an estate sale a few weeks ago and picked up this shelf unit. $5! Just had to have it. I'm keeping some of my little treasures on it at the moment. I'd like to repaint it but haven't decided on a color yet.

Are you watching the Olympics? I wasn't home for the opening ceremonies, but saw some on the news. Very spectacular! I do enjoy watching some of the games, such as gymnastics, swimming, diving. I have been keeping the Olympics coverage on the TV even if it's not an event I particularly enjoy as I like hearing about the background of the various athletes, and learning their history. Fascinating to me. I do hope the USA does well and brings home a lot of medals.

And lastly, my most precious treasure, my daughter, will be leaving to go back to college in two and a half weeks. So we've been busy getting some shopping done to get her ready again. The summer has flown by.

Just fooling around

I was fooling around with my beloved Matroyshka fabric and beads and sequins and made a little ornament. I had so much fun making her!

She's my little prototype. I need to get some clear thread, I thought I had some but could not find it. I'll get some before I make another one. It was fun to sit down and play with pretty shiny items. I will make some more before Christmas, they will look so cute on the tree. So colorful!

Three Day Weekends Rock!

I am loving taking Fridays off and having three day weekends all summer! The city I live in is having a big arts and crafts street fair this weekend. I just may have to walk up there later and see what's there. Get some inspiration! There are all kinds of food vendors too. Lots of fun.

I made another apron yesterday with my beloved Matroyshka fabric. So cute! It will hang in a place of honor in my kitchen. This fabric just makes me smile. I used a pattern in The Apron Book. Very easy to make.

I bought some more fabric from an Etsy seller. I can't stay away from Etsy. So much to buy and drool over. The next thing I want to buy is a knitting pattern for some little woodland animals. I don't know what I'll make with this fabric. I was thinking maybe a new sewing machine cover.

I haven't been knitting on the socks much. It's been really hot and even with the AC on sometimes I just can't stand to touch yarn. But my flowers have been blooming like crazy. Look at my pretty petunias:

I love when I'm sitting on the deck and I can see these. So bright and vibrant! Good yarn colors!