What was once a shower curtain is now a makeup bag

Several months ago, I purchased a canvas shower curtain from Goodwill. I knew that I was going to cut it up to make something. I was planning on grocery bags (but, I have not yet made them!). Anyway - as I was sitting in my sewing room, I noticed the shower curtain still sitting there and decided to make a make-up bag.

I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it or give it away for Christmas, but I think that it turned out cute!

The fabric seems a bit nautical to me, so I decided to embroider an anchor on the front of it.

It has a chunky zipper closure. Can you tell that I stuffed the bag, in order to get decent pictures?? lol

All in all, I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Birthday Gift

One of my dearest friends has a birthday next week!!

I couldn't decide what to make for her (but, I knew that I'd make something). Her birthday is difficult, because it's so close to Christmas - so, how do I decide what is for Christmas and what is for her birthday??

I have seen lots of portfolios or pad-folios online and I decided to make that for her. I didn't use a pattern, just kind of winged it based on the size of the note pad (in this case 5"X8"). I decided to have it close with ribbon and D-rings. I figured this way it is can hold a lot and still close. I put a pocket on the left hand side, as well as a vinyl business card (or whatever card) holder. On the right side there is a full pocket to hold the mini-legal pad.

For stability, I used Timetex between the outside (which is a decorator weight fabric) and the lining (which is quilter's cotton).

While I am sure there are some things that I'll change with the next one - overall, I'm pleased with how it came out!

I hope that she'll like it!!

On another note... I'm still working on the afghan for my mother in law - I'm still committed to finishing it before the holiday is over (and I'm not considering Thanksgiving to be over til I go to bed tomorrow night... lol)!

Christmas gift done and preview of another gift, almost finished

I have finished one of my Christmas gifts for one of my nieces! I decided for the kiddos that I'd make crayon rolls. I would give them that, with crayons, along with a tote bag (which will have their initial on it, in the same fabric as the crayon roll) and a coloring book. I've not yet gotten the bag done, but I did make my first crayon roll. Until I finished, I had forgotten that I had mentioned making one of these before. Mine might have turned out cuter had I remembered and used the instructions! Oh, well........

I made this one using decorator weight fabrics. I used a ribbon to close it up, but I'm thinking that I may try sewing a button on and using some elastic for the boys ones (a little more 'masculine' than the ribbon).

The picture below best represents the true colors of the fabric used!


I like how it turned out - but, I learned several things ...

1) I need to make my fabric wider than to allow only for 1/4" seam allowance (with just 1/4", it makes it kind of 'curl' on the ends once the crayon is in place)
2) I may need to add a 'flap' to the top of the crayon roll - so that I don't have to worry about the roll being tipped upside down and the crayons falling out. I don't REALLY see this as an issue, as the crayons fit rather snug - but, it might be a good idea.
3) I really want to use a thinner ribbon - today I just used what I had on hand.

I hope that the kids are going to like this little gift - it's always so hard to find something that all the kids will like - boys and girls!

Now the preview..... I'm still working on an afghan for my Mother In Law for Christmas. I've committed to myself to finish this over the Thanksgiving break ... so, look for the final pictures soon!!

New pajama pants

I've been saying for a few weeks that I was going to make myself some new pajama pants. Only today did I finally do just that!


I had some old fabric (circa 1980-ish) that was gifted to me some time back and I thought it might be nice to use for my pj pants - considering that I wasn't using a pattern or anything - didn't really want to cut into some fabric that I love! The fabric is a nice comfy cotton floral print. Not really a floral that I'd like - but, I admit, it takes a lot for me to like a floral print - but, I think that they turned out cute (and, even if not cute - they are certainly comfy!).




Mind you, I do have a pattern for some pajama pants ... but, I was too lazy to cut the pattern out! It took some 'tweaking' to get the crotch/rise just right - I'm kind of short waisted. Also, there is a little bit of bunching in the front that, while comfy, isn't flattering.... So ... a few things to be changed next time!

I'm thinking that I may go ahead and get my daughter's Christmas PJs done before thanksgiving - that would be unique, as normally I'm down the wire with them. Last year, I was down to the last minute - as usual - and decided to make pants and then buy a sweatshirt and do an applique on them, using the same flannel as the pants. Those PJs have gotten more wear than any of the others I've made in the years past - so, I'm thinking that I might do that again! Is that cheating? And, if so, is it okay to cheat on making the PJs?? I used to make them sweet little gowns - with monogramming and everything - but, they don't like to wear gowns ... :(

The coolest coffee cup sleeve yet!

At least I think so .......

I was going through the tiny little scraps (I'm not the only one that saves them, am I?) in my sewing room last night and decided to piece some of the cooler ones (leopard print, hand dyed fabric, a jacquard decorator fabric, a cool polka dot fabric and leather!!) and piece them together to make 'something'.

That something turned into the coolest coffee cup sleeve! But, I made it with the intent to put it in my Etsy shop - and, now I'm not so sure! But, seriously - how many coffee cuffs does one person need?

Help me ....... keep it, sell it? keep it, sell it? keep it, sell it? ;-)

And, a new coffee cuff / coffee sleeve / coffee cozy .... for ME!

I was so inspired by the Star design coffee cuff that I made yesterday that I decided to make one for me (I'm also going to add them to my etsy!).

For mine, I decided to use a purple vinyl for the star. I used the same black denim as with the other one, and lined this one in purple (to match the star). I think that it came out cute! Don't they kind of remind you of the Converse products?

Also - I thought that I'd participate in the One-Word meme that is floating around right now! You should too! ;-)

Where is your mobile phone? table
Where is your significant other? somewhere
Your hair colour? wild

Your mother? funny
Your father? gone
Your favourite thing? daughters
Your dream last night? dreamy
Your dream goal? security
The room you're in? bedroom
Your hobby? everything
Your fear? failure
Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
Where were you last night? home
What you're not? organized
One of your wish-list items? camera
Where you grew up? everywhere
The last thing you did? sew
What are you wearing? clothes
Your TV? on
Your pets? sweet
Your computer? lifeline
Your mood? tired
Missing someone? Yes

Your car? dirty

Something you're not wearing? coat

Favourite shop? Target
Your summer? HOT
Love someone? Yep
Your favourite colour? Purple
When is the last time you laughed? today
When is the last time you cried? today

And - just because I found this beautiful picture on my camera recently ... thought that I would share! :) How BEAUTIFUL are these girls??? Be still my heart........

New Coffee Cuffs.... with more of a masculine feel

I have been thinking for a while about trying to make some masculine coffee cuffs / coffee sleeves. And, having been asked by my best friend to create one, today was the day! One is decidedly more masculine than the other, but I think that they both turned out nice. Of course, as is always the way, I can see room for improvement!

This is the first one ... made with skull fabric and a couple of buttons. I think that the buttons make this one less masculine - that said, I'm using it... Worked out great! ;-)

Close up of the button closure

The second one is the one that I made for my friend. I hope that it is well received! I do see where there is room for improvement - particularly with the star - either I should have made a smaller star - or a taller cuff... however, I still think it turned out cute!

Now, I think that I'm going to finish watching this movie!

Cute little vinyl bag, with flower embellishment!

I was, as I normally am in the evenings, reading the blogs that I follow. And, as I was looking at Jodie's (Ric-Rac) blog, I was reminded of a tutorial that I had been meaning to try. She wrote an easy tutorial for making a pencil case. I didn't follow it to the letter, but I definitely used it for inspiration!

I decided to make a makeup/whatever bag. Anywho - that said, mine is a little bigger..... And, I love how it came out.

This picture gives an idea of the 'overall' view of the makeup bag/case/pouch.

This picture shows the zipper .... the purple zipper matches the flower...... see how my brain works? ;-)

This picture is just her to give a better idea of the true colors..... The pictures above were washed out with the flash.

Now I want to make this same style bag out of cotton!!!

Flower power

Today my girls wanted me to make them 'something'. They really wanted me to make them bags today, but I just wasn't feeling up to it. I wanted something small and quick!


As a result of my need for it to be small and quick. I decided to make them little hair clips. We've done hair clips before. But, these are a little different. I used a die cutter to cut the flower shapes and then just sewed them to the clips that I had on hand. As a side note... have you ever bought something, put it away only to NEVER find it again? I bought some new clips a week or so ago and now I can't find them - that annoys the you know what out of me.


Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming ...

The clips. They turned out really cute, I think! And, the girls liked them. I've already made them more in their school colors. Adorable....




I definitely think that I'll be making these for the girls on my Christmas list this year!

Happy Halloween! A little late.....

Whew ... it's over... I love it, but I'm glad for it to be behind me! Between making costumes (til the wee hours of the morning) and helping a friend with a Halloween party (which was so much fun, for the kids and adults a like), I'm beat!

I mentioned before that we were doing the whole Wizard of Oz theme. With me being Dorothy, my oldest being Glenda the Good Witch and my youngest being the Wicked Witch of the West. I didn't have to make the Wicked Witch costume, but I made both the Dorothy costume and Glenda costume.


Dorothy ... I already blogged about the shoes here. They did turn out well, but the sequins did pop off a bit after I wore them. I did modify them a bit from the prior post, in that I added a red satin bow to each of them. I made the dress, without a pattern and just made it as quickly as I could. So, I didn't take the time to 'fit' it to my shape. So, I look kind of boxy in it, but I think it turned out cute as well. I already had the white shirt. I bought a wig and cut it shorter and used ribbons with the braids. All in all, I thought that my costume turned out well.


Glenda ... my daughter was thrilled with her costume. Basically, I reclaimed the bodice from a thrifted dress, added the skirt portion and puffy sleeves. I also made the crown. She already had a wand. Costume done!




Wicked Witch of the West ... I borrowed the witches dress from a friend and bought a hat. Painted her face, added tights and we're done! But, she's WAY too pretty to look wicked.

As we were getting dressed, my girls were already discussing what they want to be next year... That is how it goes in this house! The Wizard of Oz theme was decided on Halloween last year!

This was the scene when we got home from the Halloween party last night ... How sweet.....

Even though it is late...... Happy Halloween!!