I made these spats/leg warmers awhile back for a friend during the holidays last year(yeah, I’m that behind on post/projects to show). I really loved the results of this project and have been hoping to make more this year. I only had one real hang-up on the knit spats and that was due to both my sewing machines did not like sewing the knits. My newest machine seems to do find as long as it’s not a thicker wool so I’ll just have to watch what I pick up from thrift stores and garage sales.

One exciting thing I did learn about from this experience was how to make button holes. Not actually on the spats themselves mind you, the fabric was way to thick so I had to do that by hand. I did do a a lot of practicing using my sewing machine to make button holes on scrap material to make sure my machine was capable of doing button holes.

Next up, finish my xmas stockings and cards.

I started and finished this pattern last weekend.  It’s not technically on the projects page, but I’m counting this as one of the skirts I needed for work.

The project has easy to follow instructions, simple pattern pieces to cut out and the size chart is accurate. You picked  between the 5 different top styles then the skirt is the same for all of them.  I went with D, the cowl neckline with straps.

I used a fabric I found at the local thrift store, it’s a polyester fabric with a little bit of stretch with a black plaid pattern. The fabric cost around $2 and the pattern cost about $3 (think this was on sale at Joann Fabrics when I picked it up) so I’m really happy about the cost

The pattern does call for a zipper to be  sewn into the back of it, which I’m still learning how to do and I’m really proud of how well it turned out.  The zipper is from my stash of zippers I picked up at my local thrift store prices 25 cents to 68 cents.  The dress style I went with also called for an eye & hook which I didn’t have in my stash of sewing supplies (used the last one repairing bras, blah) but I was able to find them for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. Woo!

I will defiantly do this pattern again, in fact I have a really pretty brown fabric with pink polka dots just waiting to be made into this dress. I will most likely use pattern D again. When it’s paired with a cardigan I can easily wear it to work.

I really have no complaints about the pattern, I love the dress I made and am looking forward to making or finding accessories for it. I’m thinking red for some reason and I do have some red fabric and lots of the plaid fabric left over.  Maybe I can make a red purse with plaid lining or a reversible belt.

Any ideas?  I’d love to hear them!

First up was two string art pieces I plan to hang up in one of the rooms.  I took some old hexagon looms and spray painted them black then used red yarn to do the circle pattern on them.  If you are as unsure of what a hexagon loom is as I was, check out this video: weaving on a hexagon loom

The other project I worked on was some cards for a Stampin’ Up.  We had a choice between Wedding or Anniversary cards, I choose to make wedding cards.  Here are a couple:

I used pictures from a free magazine I picked up at a store entrance.  I made eight total but I wanted to show you my favorite two.

First find a pair of pants that fit well in the waist.  It’s okay if they are a little tight in the pants legs, that will get taken care of when you’re sewing it back together.  Just make sure you like how it fits for your waist.

Now take your trusty seam ripper and remove the inside seam so the inside is completly open and resembles a kind of wierd looking skirt that probably doesn’t cover much.

Next flip your future skirt inside out and put it on.  Pinch the front flaps of the skirt closed and pin them in a straight line down.

Repeat for the back.

Carefully take the skirt off so as not to prick yourself with the pins, then take it over to the sewing machine.

Sew along where its pinned taking out the pins as you go.  Once it’s finished put the skirt / pants back on and determine the length you would like.  Mark it with chalk or a pin.  Remove the skirt

Draw out the rest of the line then cut off the excess leaving 1 inch extra for hemming.

At this point I did a top stitch on the front and the back seams to make them a bit sturdier and to give it a cleaner look.

After that trim off the excess fabric and hem the bottom of the skirt, I just folded mine and did a straight stitch, you could also do a blind hem stitch if you would prefer.

Ta-da! You’re done!

**Optional: You can also add a slit up the back or the skirt if you would like a little more movement. When you are sewing the pinned sides makes sure to decide on the length at that point.

This weekend I hung out with my friend Dawnee.  I helped her work on her modeling website and in return she taught me the basics of glass jewelry making.

The image above is the end results of my lesson.  I’m very pleased with the results, especially since it was my first time working with a material that I consider kinda scary.

Not sure if it’s a childhood memory of getting cut on glass, but it is a craft I was a little nervous about trying before I met my friend.  I still think I did pretty good.  I broke the glass into the shapes and sizes I wanted and learned how to use the grinder.

Thankfully I did come out of it cut free and seriously considering picking up another craft hobby.

In my Etsy store I’m hoping to sell handmade jewelry, crochet or knit accessories.  Eventually I’ll also make items such as purses but I don’t want to go overboard and burn myself out before I even begin lol.

I will have one thing that is consistent among all of my Etsy products, they will be at least 80% recycled materials.  What I mean by that is that each item will be made from items I “rescued” from thrift stores and other shops that sell gently used items. So if you order a hat from my Etsy store it was probably made from an old sweater or maybe a skein of yarn someone was going to toss.  Same with my jewelry and other accessories I’m working on.

Here is one of my Etsy products I’ll be selling.  This necklace was made from old hematite necklaces I was given after my grandfather passed away.

When my grandfather was still with us he would make beaded jewelry to sell at fairs.  From time to time he would also get wholesale necklaces to add a little more variety for the buyers.  After he passed away my family gave me most of the craft items and wholesale necklaces.  Originally I was going to try to sell the wholesale items through ebay or craigslist, but it just didn’t sit well with me. Seemed like I was giving up on what he had started off t0 do. I think it was about a year later that I realized I should make the wholesale necklaces into one of a kind jewelry.

It’s kinda therapeutic to take apart something that makes you sad to look at and make it into something brand new.  I really hope my Etsy store works out. It would make me feel like I’m continuing what my grandfather started.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved my 40 year old Kenmore sewing machine, but the years of neglect it went through before my parents rescued it from a yard sale took their toll on it.

I feel very lucky to have had that as my first sewing machine.  It gave me a better understanding of a sewing machines workings then I would of had if I had a brand new sewing machine right away.  Which is why I’ve handed it down to my sister in hopes she’ll be able to use it and love sewing as much as I do.

The first project I did with my new machine was to take an old pair of office pants and turn them into a pencil skirt.  I think it turned out pretty well.

I opened up the inseam of the pants and sewed them together, then hemmed it.  Not the most intense project but the sewing took less than 30 minutes which would have taken over an hour on my old machine.

edit: Check out my new post How to Make a Pencil Skirt from Pants for instructions on making this pencil skirt.

It was a very simple design just a headband with two triangles on both sides. It’s not the best work I’ve ever done but it made me happy to be crocheting again.  At the time I hadn’t crocheted in months because of so much chaos going on in my life.  I never realized what a stress reliever it is to crochet.

Next I made a mohawk hat or Mr T. hat as some people call them.  The hat was made on a knitting loom then I just cut the yarn into 3 inch pieces and looped them onto the stitches.

If anyone knows of an easier way of making the mohawk let me know.  I have to make a unicorn hat next and I’m dreading making the mane lol

Thankfully, I didn’t try to leave any of the cooking till the last minute this year and made all the desserts the day before because at about 11am my parents electricity went out. In fact most of their neighborhood was out. We ended up rushing the food to my apartment to finish the cooking process. Getting the food there wasn’t an issue, I live under 5 minutes from my parents home, just the lack of space I have in my tiny kitchen.

In the end everything turned out well, the 15+ family members sat around in candle light telling stories from their childhoods and fond memories of past holidays till the power came back on around 5:30pm. Had an enjoyable meal and left with plenty of left overs.

Anyways the recipes

Oil Pie Crust

1 1/2 cup AP Flour
1 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Olive Oil
2 tbsp Milk

Mix together the flour and salt.  Next add in the olive oil and milk, if crust is super dry add in a little more milk till it’s the right texture. Wrap in plastic wrap and let sit in refrigerator for at least 15 minutes. Poke with a fork and bake at 350 till lightly brown. Makes 1 pie crust.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
Originally posted to recipelink.com by Elly, Ohio:
http://www.recipelink.com/msgid/312166

Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham crumbs
5 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. sugar
Filling:
3- 8oz.pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
Whipped Cream

Mix crust ingredients together, just till coated and crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 2/3 up the sides of an 8″ springform pan. Bake for 5 min. at 350. Set aside.

Combine cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl, mix until smooth with an electric mixer. add pumpkin eggs, and spices, beat till smooth and creamy. Pour into the crust. Bake for 60-70 min. or till the top turns a bit darker. Remove from oven and allow to come to room temperature, then refrigerate. After it has thoroughly chilled, remove the pan sides and cut. Serve with whipped cream.

Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake Swirl
Ingrediants:
Remaining pumpkin pie filling (above)
1 package of chocolate pudding mix prepared
1 graham cracker crust

Take remaining pumpkin cheesecake batter and put half of it (maybe about 1 1/2 cups to 2 cups) into graham cracker pie crust spread evenly on the bottom add in about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of the prepared pudding pour remaining cheesecake batter on top till crust is filled.  Next take a chopstick/scew/butterknife and make small swirl shapes in the batter moving the object kinda upwards to bring in the chocolate swirl.  Bake the same as the chocolate cheesecake.

Okay it’s after midnight I think it’s been enough for the night.

For Halloween my sister asked me to make her an angel Halloween costume for a party she was going to. We ended up finding a white dress at Goodwill. It had the right silhouette for what she had in mind and was a little a couple sizes too big so we had plenty of fabric to work with too.

Sorry this is the only picture I have of her in the tutu

Originally I was going to make a petticoat to go under the dress to make it more poofy but my sewing machine is old and it doesn’t like a lot of fabrics(including tulle). So I searched around and found a no sew video for a girls tutu on YouTube. I linked to the video below.

My sister ended up feeling the girls tutu was the best part, so the dress became more of a body suit that went under the dress. It was shorten and an elastic band was added to the bottom, also I added a fake corset to the back to make it a bit more form fitting.

The tutu had to be the easiest part of the whole costume. Since then I’ve even made two smaller ones for my little cousins.