Monday

Hello, Friends!

I have been curiously absent from the blog lately, have you noticed?  My reasons are really not earth shattering, but I do have reasons:

• I started attending early-morning fitness boot camp.  It starts at 5:15 A.M., M/W/F, and I have to leave my house by 5:05 sharp if I want to arrive early enough to keep from getting singled out by one of the instructors to do push-ups in front of everyone.  I am absolutely not the kind of gal who feels the need to put on make-up or even run a brush through my hair anytime before 8 A.M., especially if I'm going to be sweating.  (There is a lot of sweating going on at boot camp.)  However, I really don't like to sweat when wearing glasses, and my eyes just can't handle waking up and immediately getting contact lenses jabbed into them.  So, my alarm is getting set for 4:35 A.M. three days a week.  It's killing me, I tell you.
• So, since I'm getting up super early, I'm trying to make a dedicated effort to go to bed as soon as I get my kids in bed.  Some nights that works better than others.  But it's killing my blogging time!  You know that quiet two hours between kids' bedtime and grown up bedtime?  That's perfect for writing. That time is gone to me, now.  With the wind.
• My sewing machine is giving me palpitations.  Seriously, I have nearly said several naughty words about it in the last week.  My curtain project has been totally derailed.  It caused me to have such a tearful, dramatic outburst on Saturday that my husband was almost moved to hand over the checkbook so I could go get a new machine one.  I was sorely tempted to sob a couple more times to seal the deal, but in the back of my mind I had a sneaking suspicion that PMS might be more to blame than the actual machine.....so I agreed to call a repair shop, first.  After all, it is a vintage machine, and that's so on trend.  I've never been so on trend before in my life.
• I've been on two field trips in the last two weeks, track meets began, it's teacher appreciation week, and we had the Pinewood Derby.  Need I say more?

Oh, also....I started another round of the Game On Challenge.  Considering how many push-ups and squats I've been doing for the last few weeks, I should be seeing some serious results, this time around.  Shouldn't I?  If I don't, that vintage sewing machine might get thrown out a second-story window.  I'm just saying.

Spring Decor: Burlap and Birdies Wreath

I made a spring wreath today for my front door.  Want to see?

It was pretty easy, once I worked out a few details.  These were the basic supplies:

1 large styrofoam wreath form

Burlap 

Fabric Quarters

Ribbon Trimmed Canvas Curtains

Earlier this week, I showed you how I made several things to insert bright colors and a fun pattern into my otherwise neutral décor. 

Remember how that valance was originally a tablecloth?  It was a pretty big tablecloth, but after two pillows and a long valance, I was starting to run low on snowflake fabric.

Originally, I planned to make another snowflake valance to top the window in my dining room (the other end of our large great room).  I played around with a couple of ideas, but finally came up with something completely different.

My Slip is Showing!

Got your attention, didn't I?

I now present....the slipcover project!

 There is a corner of my family room that needs a chair.  Not wants a chair, needs a chair.  Otherwise, it is just a strangely empty corner that throws the balance of the whole room.  Because I'm too cheap to actually spend money on furniture if I don't have to, I've had a wing chair from our front parlor filling the hole.

It's part of a set: two wingbacks and a sofa.  They are the best furniture purchase we never made.  We got them for free from friends in Connecticut who were ready to set them out on the curb.  Would I have made that fabric selection if I'd purchased them?  No, but I am not one to say no to free furniture that looks like it has never been sat upon.  Does that complicated floral pattern match my family room?  No, but I needed a chair and that one had to do.

Finally, one day, after searching online for inspiration, I said aloud, "I CAN MAKE A SLIPCOVER FOR THAT."

And then I nearly passed out from the effort of just saying I could make it.  After reviving myself, I decided that attempting to make a slipcover would be waaaaay more fun than helping the Bionic Man clean out the garage.  Besides, I had plenty of cheap canvas from dropcloths that I could use, without feeling too badly if I messed up and wasted a bunch of fabric.

So, I just kept referring to this picture from the Nester, and reading her blog post about slipcovering throughout the day for encouragement.

By Saturday night, I'd used every pin in the house, nearly said some bad words, had pricked my fingers mercilessly, and had talked my 11 year old into making dinner.  But I'd also made a slipcover!

It really was easier than that description makes it sound, just nerve-wracking for a novice like me.  I laid my oh-so-forgiving canvas over the chair, cut pieces out to "match" the various shapes of the chair, pinned those shapes together on the chair, basted the shapes together just in case the pins fell out, then took the pinned-together cover off the chair and sewed all the seams.  The beauty of the canvas is that there is no wrong or right side, so I could just flip the sewed pieces right-side-out, and throw it on the chair.

The Bionic Man was very impressed.  

As you can see, it's not quite done.  I haven't covered the seat cushion, yet.  I ran out of canvas. 

I need to decide on the length for these curtains in my dining room, so I can cut off the excess and use it to cover the cushion.

 Also, I didn't finish sewing up a couple of the seams before I tried it on the chair.  I was worried that it might not fit.

And, I'm definitely not done with the hemline.  I'm thinking a ruffle would be just the thing, there.  But hey, I've made enough progress now to know that I can do the rest.  I feel like such a smarty pants!

In fact, I'm pretty confident that I could make a slipcover for the other chair and it's matching couch, which live in our front parlor.

What do you think?  Should I do it?  The whole project has me thinking of creamy white board and batten and chocolate brown walls for this room.  Like in this room I found:

mckevitts

Let me know if you are interested in getting more detailed instructions with pictures if/when I slipcover the other chairs.  I didn't have a camera available while I was working, so I have no photographic proof that I actually did this.  Or a means of showing you how, for this post.

Okay, so remember how I told you the waterproof camera died?  Well, like Lazarus of old, it is back from the dead!  Actually, unlike Lazarus, the camera was not actually dead.  We had a package of defective batteries, apparently.  While this means, unfortunately, that I still stuck taking photos with a dumb ol' waterproof camera, it also means that the Bionic Man has started shopping for the kind of camera I want.  Probably because he's so impressed that I made a slipcover.

I'm Slipping

Okay, I apologize in advance for the woeful lack of pictures.  Camera shopping has begun.  I've found the one I want, now I just have to make the Bionic Man think it's the one he wants, too.  But I'm just about ready to bust my buttons, here, so I had to share--pictures or no pictures! 

Guess what I did today?

I slipcovered a chair!

Now, don't get the wrong idea.  I'm no sewing genius, trust me.  Remember?  I can't make anything with zippers or buttons.  I'm clueless.  But I think that is why it has worked out so well.  I just grabbed one of my trusty canvas drop cloths, a bunch of pins, my pinking shears, and dove on in.  No pattern, no clue, no assistance.  It was thrilling, I tell you, thrilling!  I felt like the Lewis and Clark of Upholstery.  (Only they had Sacajewea.  I didn't.)

I did have some guidance from The Nester.  She provided some very handy pictures that guided me along the way.  Like this:

Thanks to the Nester's recommendation, I checked out Pink and Polka Dot for more inspiration and ideas.  Wow, she does all kinds of things with slipcovers!  She even has a weekly slipcover party, where I found lots and lots of slipcovered beauties on which to gaze.

While I saw lots of neat things along the way, the Nester's pictures were my constant companion throughout my day of slipcovering madness.  Speaking of madness, don't ask me to try to explain why I chose a wing-back chair as my very first piece of furniture to sew a slipcover for.  It couldn't be a footstool, could it?

I've shut down my sweat shop for the weekend, and I'll have to finish on Monday.  I've finished the hard part--the body is sewn, but on Monday I need to cover the cushion and finish off the hem.  I'm thinking a ruffled hem is the way it has to be.  Ruffled canvas is such a contradiction that I'm sure it will work.  I'm so excited! 

Easy-Peasy New Curtains

Here's my entry to this week's CSI Project: Pottery Barn Challenge.

I have to admit, I have a thing for the Pottery Barn.  I love the way those catalog rooms look, but I'm too cheap to actually order from the catalog.  So, whenever I can find or make a good Pottery Barn knock-off, I'm a happy girl!

Recently, I recreated the look of PB's canvas curtains in my dining room.  As you can see, my version saved me quite a bit of money (85%), and I didn't have to do any sewing!

I found my fabric at Home Depot.  Yes, I did say Home Depot.  In the paint section.

Canvas drop cloths are cheap (this size was about $10), machine washable, and already hemmed.  When you take them out of the plastic packaging, they look like this:

Canvas drop cloths have a very nubby, natural texture.  They have a neutral tan base color, with tiny. occaisional runs of thread in faint colors.  They are heavy enough to block bright sunlight and offer moderate privacy, but light enough to allow some light to stream through.  They come in a variety of sizes.  Perfect for my dining room!

It took only two simple steps to turn the dropcloths I found into canvas curtains a la Pottery Barn.

When I purchased my canvas dropcloths, I opted to get a little more fabric than was necessary.  I wanted to have a faux valance for a little added detail.  I folded the extra fabric over, making sure that the fold was fairly even, and clipped the panels onto my rod.  (I found the drapery hooks for 50% off at Joann's.)  I didn't even bother to iron the panels--by the time they had hung for 24 hours, most of the wrinkles were gone.

 As you can see, my curtains accent a door to our backyard deck and playscape--very high traffic!

While I love the way the curtains look hanging from either side of the rod, during the day I move them into the center, so that they won't interfere with the back door opening and closing.

I simply tie them together with a length of burlap ribbon--love the way burlap and canvas go together!

I'm so pleased with the way these turned out, that I plan to use a similar window treatment in the adjoining family room.  Thanks for the inspiration, Pottery Barn! And thanks, Home Depot, for the easy, no-sew materials!





I'm linking up here:

Best Dressed

And the winner, in the category "Best Dressed" is.....

(Sound of envelope and paper crackling)


....It's a tie!  A three-way tie!  

Endeavor, Superkid, and Justone had new outfits to wear to church yesterday, thanks to a late night of sewing by their mother.  I started the girls' skirts on Saturday evening.  Trouble is, once I start a project like this, I have to finish it.  If I don't, it sits undone for weeks, months.....even years.  I'm particularly awful with following through on sewing projects.  There was a point late Saturday night when I knew it was now, or never.  So I sewed like the wind, into the wee hours of the morning.

Ta da!  Some of the nominees were more thrilled to pose for pictures after church than others.

I found the sweaters on sale at the Children's Place Outlet last weekend.  I originally bought them to go along with the skirts I'm planning to make for Easter.  But I decided that I loved that bright pop of yellow with the black and white.  I've loved that color combo ever since I came across this:

from Amorology

Now, admit it, my kids would look great with that for a backdrop.  Or maybe they would just blend in.....oh well, I just love that yellow and black combo, even if the Bionic Man does make disparaging comments about road signs.


Sunday morning, I remembered that I promised to make Justone a tie that would match with his sisters' skirts.  (I love that my children are all willing, even eager, to go along with my coordination obsession.  How long will this last?)  I felt guilty that I didn't have something new for him to wear, so I decided to just go ahead and whip together a tie for him out of the leftover fabric.  The ox wasn't exactly in the mire, but a mother's promise was on the line.  I was convinced it would only take me a "few minutes".

Luckily, we don't have to be to church until 1 P.M.  


I should have used this tutorial I found last week, but I was daunted by the 24 sheets of paper it was going to require to print out.  (Which means it was a very thorough tutorial, with lots of step-by-step pics.  I'll use it next time.)  But no, I'm apparently too good for instructions, or maybe just too stingy with my printer paper.  Because I decided, "Hey, how hard can it be to sew a tie?  I can just look at another tie and figure this out, easy peasy!"  Now, from the front of the tie, I might just be right.  But if you turn the tie over, you will see that I most definitely was wrong.


I was too embarrassed to include a picture of the back of the tie.  But it sure looks good from the front, doesn't it?

The girls' skirts were easy to put together, and.....this is a big deal......I actually had a lot of fun making them.


They are basically just twirly skirts, with some easy variations.  I didn't even have to cut out pattern pieces for them or do any gathering.  I just measured my daughters, cut straight lines, and sewed straight seams, and pulled elastic through to make the waistbands.  Seriously, anyone can make these.


I learned to make twirly skirts last spring,  using this tutorial from House on Hill Road.  (Recently, I discovered another very simple twirly skirt tutorial, you can read more about that here.)


The fabric I used inspired the design of the skirts.  When I purchase the black and white floral (which is just cotton gingham, $4/yard), I realized that I was going to need to line the skirts.  I planned to do so with plain white cotton.  As I was just about to cut the lining, I had a Moment of Mad Genius and realized that I could do a super-cute layered effect by letting that lining peek out from beneath the hem of the first layer.  I'm so happy with the results!

Superkid's skirt has a little less ornamentation on it than Endeavor's, mostly because I was running out of steam at 2 o'clock in the morning her sweater has more detail on it.  I used my very last scrap of polka-dot fabric to make my own bias tape for the hem.  That's how much I hate hemming things, I'll make my own bias tape if I have to, just to keep from doing an actual hem.  I didn't actually cut the polka-dot fabric on the bias, since I had very little fabric to work with.    (Is there a reason bias tape is cut on the bias?  Go ahead and let me know if you know.)  I machine hemmed the upper layer of the skirt, then tacked on that black grosgrain ribbon with stitchwitchery iron-on tape.  I love that stuff so much.  We'll see if it holds up through the first wash......I may actually have to sew it on later.  

 Endeavor's skirt is a little more frilly than Superkid's.  That white ruffle is some nifty pre-made trim I found at JoAnn's.  I meant to have enough for Superkid's skirt, too, but I mis-measured and didn't buy enough.  Happy accident:  they look less matchy-matchy.  Besides, it probably won't be long before Endeavor stops letting me dress her in frills and ribbons.  Why not live it up while we can?


Anyway, the premade ruffle is just white grosgrain, and I love the fact that it was already done.  I couldn't make something like that.  Wouldn't even want to try.  Originally, I meant to put it right on top of the black and white polka dot band, but yet another happy accident occurred which caused me to use my unpicking tool just a bit before I decided, "Hey, this might actually look good if I leave a little space between my ruffle and the floral fabric."  Amazing what kind of inspiration laziness can provide!  Again, grosgrain ribbon and some stitchwitchery tape totally came through for me on the lower hem.

It took 6-8 hours to complete everything.  (I designed the skirts and cut the fabric a few weeks, ago, so I did get some sleep Saturday night.)  Total cost: less than $10 per skirt, the tie was made using scraps I already had.  

I am so proud the way the skirts turned out (and the matching tie), and especially pleased that my children were so thrilled by their new outfits.  I'm really excited to get to work on those Easter outfits, now.  But first, I have to alter dance recital costumes.  Those have to be ready this week.


Oh my goodness, I'm in awe.  Ten years ago--even two years ago--I would never have imagined myself writing that last paragraph.  I think I've stretched, and picked up a couple new skills.  

Stand up straight and smile, darn it, smile!

I'm linking this post to 

Made it Monday at the Persimmon Perch

Love: Sew This is Love for Something Special Saturday

Welcome to the latest edition of

Fair Warning:  the rest of this post has nothing to do with Cinderella! 

Just had to throw her song in there to go along with my title.  Humor me!

Sewing.  Oh, sewing.

I have been blessed with several talents, but sewing is not one of them. 

Is this really something to lament?  Some of you might well wonder.  Not necessarily.  Hundreds--nay, millions--of people around the world get by without sewing a single stitch in this day and age.  Why should I be any different? 

Just one little reason.....I have a darling almost 11 year old daughter, who is just as petite as can be.  Too small for the tween dresses, too grown up for the dresses that fit her.  Plus, have you ever tried to find a stylish, modest dress for a tween that looks like it will make it through the first wash cycle?  Let me tell you, they are hard to come by for less than $75. 

Unless you make them. 

Sooooooo.......for the last couple of years, I have been trying to increase my sewing skills.  It is not easy.  Sewing doesn't come naturally to me, and I don't particularly enjoy it.  Let's just say I don't do it to relax.  But Endeavor loves it when I make things for her.  

I've learned several things along the way that have really helped me.  
#1.  I don't like cutting out pattern pieces.
#2.  I have a lot more fun sewing if I don't have to use a pattern; just cut fabric and sew.
#3.  The internet has lots of no-pattern tutorials for people like me.

Right now, I'm working on several sewing projects, and I'll show those to you in a few weeks  days.

In the meantime, I want to showcase some of the blogs I've gone to that have given me great ideas and instructions for easy sewing projects. 

Stitch Market
My friend Nicole introduced me to her friend Reese via Reese's project blog, Stitch Market. 

Reese is a talented seamstress, but the beauty of her project blog is that it showcases some really accessible projects for the beginning seamstress.  Here is a sample of what you'll see on Reese's blog.

Fun aprons

darling dresses

with matching ties for the boys (she offers a link to an online tie-making tutorial).

Reese is incredibly resourceful.  She was trying to find the perfect dress for her eight-year-old daughter's baptism.  She found it, but it was $150 on J.Crew's Crewcut's line. 

Reese found a vintage pattern in her collection, and turned it into the exact same dress....

for a lot less!

There's lots more to see on Reese's blog! 

7 Layer Studio

I discovered Shelley's 7 Layer Studio when I was searching the internet for a tutorial on apron making.  (I have a thing for aprons, I've discovered.)  She has a terrific apron tutorial,

and the unique thing about this apron is that it is reversible!

Shelley writes very thorough, easy to follow tutorials.  She has one for a girl's twirly skirt, and even includes an adaption for adult twirly skirts. 

Visit Shelley's blog and check out the right sidebar for more tutorials on things like ribbon bows, window valances, and more!

Oliver+S

The simplest twirly skirt tutorial I have found--by far--is at Oliver+S.  Oliver+S sells vinatage/retro patterns, but they also offer some free patterns and tutorials on their shop blog.

This is how their skirt looks:

     

 

That ribbon hem is genius, pure genius, I tell you.

This type of skirt is super-simple to make (even I can do it!), and is super versatile.  You can pair it with leggings or shorts, and you have practically limitless possibilities with all the different fabric out there.  Go here for illustrated instructions.

Well, I'm off to apply some of my mad sewing skilz to those projects I promised to show you.

Sometimes, the only thing that keeps me going when I sit at the sewing machine is this scene from one of my all-time favorite movies.  I think of it, laugh hard, and tell myself to sew like the wind!  Every time I sew.

BTW, sorry for all the crazy changing fonts in this post.  I think my computer just may be possessed.