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.

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.

Fabulous Fabrics!

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I bought myself some goodies in celebration. Lately I have been totally in love with Matroyshka dolls, or Russian dolls or some call them Nesting dolls. I found this fabric and just HAD to have it. I'm going to make an apron from a pattern in this wonderful little book I got from the library, The Apron Book. A lot of interesting and wonderful information about aprons in the book. I may have to buy it someday.

I also bought some cotton calico and a new jammie pattern to make more jammie pants. I just can't stop making them. They are so incredibly comfy.

Then, I also got some fabric to make the witch for my door for Halloween time, and some bits and pieces of pretty fabrics to make little dolls called Dotee. My sister and I are in love with them and are going to have a craft night and make some. Stay tuned for that. I also found sequins and jewels and glitter and tulle and paint to decorate them with. I need to get some beads also. Can't wait! It will be a fun evening.

I have been working on my socks. I love to sit out on the deck in the evening and knit. I'm almost up to the heel on the second sock. The first one is waiting on old needles that I don't like. I'm hoping to do the heels one after the other that way I can see how much of the contrast yarn I'll be using before I get to the toes. So I'm just moving along on them. My daughter got me those two balls of Sugar & Cream for my birthday. I love that yarn!

And last, but not least, my daughter has been making beaded necklaces and I just had to show one off. I just love this one!

She's been getting very creative and enjoying her crafting time too. She won't have time for it once she goes back to school.

That's it for now. It started pouring down rain a few minutes ago, just pouring. A good time to stay inside and sew or knit or craft. Have a great weekend!