new cat behavior

I have been absent from the blog world for a while.  My life was turned upside down around New Years and it's taken me a while to get back on my feet and figure out what I need to do.

First, I've decided to go back to school.  I got married and had children relatively early on in my life so I never finished college.  Finances have determined that I need to get a job, yet without much education or experience, my options have been limited (as well as what those options pay!).  I will be going to a community college and working towards an accounting certificate, then possibly an associates degree in accounting.  Who knows where it will go from there.  Looking through the course schedule I've also been tempted to dive into the world of food preparation/ restaurant management (I love food!) as one of my dreams is to make healthy, great tasting, convenience foods available to the general population.  We'll see.  I'll start with accounting since that has a good possibility of leading to a decent job in the shorter term.

I am definitely planning on keeping up with this blog, although I don't know how often I will have time to post.   I still have lots of ideas, need to be creative, and want to share those ideas and creations with everyone here.  So I'm not going anywhere.  I just may be stretched extra thin for a while. 

One thing I will be participating in is the first Project Recycled.


I am a contestant and will be re/up-cycling weekly until I'm voted off. :) It all starts Monday, January 30th. You can click on the button and it will take you to The T-Shirt Diaries where Robin is hosting the contest. There you will be able to vote (until Friday of each week) on the projects you like best.  I'm excited!

My son has had a pair of Superman pajamas since he was 3 years old.  [These are the same Superman pjs I mentioned in this post about his knight costume last Halloween]  They're a size 4T, so he has worn them even past his 5th birthday.  But the fact that they are now just too small and my son wanting to wear the shirt every single day led me to decide to make a new Superman shirt, but more durable than the printed version he had before (that was cracking and peeling off, yuck!).

My kids happen to be on a superhero kick, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to get a head start on Halloween costumes for this year.  Also adding to the timeliness of the project was Michael's (arts/crafts store) having a 2 for $5 sale on their blank t-shirts.  (This was back in July so I'm not violating my Stash-busting September pact, and I gave myself a little loophole in my project-acquisition fast to allow for a project here and there for the kids... don't hate!)  So I picked up a bunch of shirts with plans to transform them into something my kids will LOVE (and hopefully will last for a couple years at least!) plus a shirt for my husband. My son will be Superman, my daughter Wonder Woman, and my husband Batman. Me? I don't know yet... I will rant about the lack of female superheroes later on. 



Note: I apologize for the lack of photo quality below... but I hope you can follow the idea.

I started by pre-washing all the shirts. I cannot stress enough how important this step is! Things get really messed up when different parts of clothing shrink different amounts, or at all (like in the case of embroidery and appliques). Just launder them as you will launder the finished project.

Then for my daughter's Wonder Woman shirt I had to alter a child's small shirt to make it even smaller ('cause size small is meant for kids 6-8 years old). I traced a shirt that fit her well (use a non-stretchy shirt because even though these t-shirts are knit, they do not stretch much at all!), added 1/2" seam allowance, folded it over and cut it down to size.





Then I cut the sleeves off the original t-shirt and cut them shorter.



I don't have photos for the next steps but I sewed up the side seams, sewed the hem of the sleeves using elastic thread to make them gathered, then gathered the top of the sleeve and sewed it into the new smaller shirt.

For the logos I decided to use applique and reverse applique techniques. The Batman and Superman logos each have two layers while Wonder Woman has one layer. I went around online and found logos for the different characters. I re-sized them in Photoshop and printed them out. I first cut along the outside shape of the logo. I used that as a template to trace the shape onto the fabric for both the upper and lower layers of the logos. For the lower layer I also cut a layer of fusible interfacing and ironed it on.



Then using an Exact-o knife I cut out the center part of the logo and traced it on to the upper layer.





I placed both layers centered on the shirt along with a layer of tear-away interfacing underneath for extra stability while sewing and pinned it all down. (Looking back, I would rather use soluble interfacing so the added bulk will be gone after you wash it or soak it in water.)



Then I sewed an applique stitch (wide width and very short length) on the outermost outline of the logo. That will help keep everything flat and in place when sewing the inner lines.



Here's a quick visual with the tear-away stabilizer. It actually has a grainline like paper does, so it tears straighter in one direction than the other.



When I sewed the inner lines I went very slowly (and I still made mistakes! grr). I suggest you go slowly and at the corners, lift the presser foot and reposition in the new direction so you don't end up with a curve when you need a sharp corner. When you're done, carefully lift up the top layer of a part that needs to have the lower layer showing through and make a small cut in the middle of the fabric.



Then using sharp (clean!) nail scissors, cut away the upper layer, getting as close to the stitching as you can without actually cutting the stitches.



Continue with all the parts that need to have the lower layer showing through and you have a completed logo!



And in my case, one happy little boy.



Come back soon for part 2 -- the whole costume, where I will make the rest of the costume out of little more than t-shirts! :) This should be fun.

P.S. As I was writing this post my son came in with a suggestion for my character. I got a great costume idea to go with it. Hooray for spontaneous inspiration!

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I'll be linking up to these fabulous link parties:

 Monday -  Craft o Maniac Monday -- Craftastic Monday -- Amaze Me Monday -- Polly Want 2 Party  --  Tuesday -  Get Your Craft On -- Sew Cute Tuesday -- Tip Me Tuesday -- Tuesday Talent Show --  Wednesday -  Seven Thrity Three -- Wallet-Friendly Wednesday -- Create and Share -- Whatever Goes Wednesday --  Linkin’ with Lil’ Luna -- Thursday -  Strut your Stuff Thursday -- Transformation Thursday -- Thrilling Thursday -- House of Hepworths -- Friday -  Remodelaholic Friday -- Flaunt it Friday -- Frugal Friday -- Weekend Wander -- Show and Share Day -- It's Fun to Craft! -- Tickled Pink Fridays -- Weekend Wrap-up Party -- Catch as Catch Can -- Friday Flair -- Feature Yourself Friday -- Simply Link {Party} -- Pity Party -- Design Dazzle --  Saturday - Saturday Spotlight --  Sunday -  The DIY Showoff Project  Parade --  Sunday Showcase Party -- Creative Bloggers Party -- I Heart Naptime -- Think Pink Sundays

This month I'm participating in T-Shirt Diaries' "Stashbusting September".  All the bloggers taking part are agreeing to not buy any craft supplies for the whole month of September and only use what we have on hand.  Things for businesses are permitted, but not for personal use.

Since it's already going along with my project-acquisition fast I figured I would participate in this as well.  Maybe it will help me stick with it -- I've been tempted for sure!

Stick with me and we'll see what all I can accomplish! 

Sometimes I think, would it really be that bad if I donated him to the zoo...at least for a little while?

I had this cane-back chair I was planning on painting and reupholstering (I found for $5 at a yard sale). It was great. I loved the curve and the cane was in perfect condition (which is rare!).



Well, today my son did this:



With one swoop of a tape measure. Sometimes I am dumbfounded by the level of destruction that this child can inflict on innocent belongings. He just runs and jumps around the apartment hitting, ripping, banging, stabbing, etc, etc.

We need to move to a house with a yard. Stat.

I'm still going to keep it and refinish it... It is just going to take a whole lot more work than previously planned!

I've decided to go on a fast.

A project-acquisition fast.

Why?  Because this is what my creative space looks like right now.  

I have so many things I've purchased (including decor, furniture, fabric for clothing, clothing to refashion, etc) that I just haven't gotten around to completing!  I've decided it's time to actually start completing those unfinished projects (or get rid of them completely).  I'm going to see how far I can get on just the things I have right now.  I will allow myself to purchase some small supplies to help me complete the projects such as buttons, thread, glue, paint, sandpaper, etc, but no new projects to work on.

I especially need to get started on using my fabric stash.  I got a little addicted shopping Fabric.com's clearance section (with free shipping after $35 and frequent 15-20% off total purchase coupons) that I acquired a lot of great quality fabric for awesome prices. The big obstacle right now is making slopers (basic patterns used to create other designs) custom with my measurements so I can start designing and creating clothing that will fit me perfectly.  Being tall has made it very difficult to find anything that will fit me right (so I don't really have many clothes currently available to wear).  Also being "cheap" I find myself purchasing ill-fitting clothing on the clearance racks (like cute shirts at Macy's for $5 each!) with the intention of altering it... but then getting around to doing it is another story!

So.  No more new projects for me until I work through what I've got.  How long will it take me?  We shall see!

P.S.  Are there any other project hoarders collectors out there like me?

I have been thinking a lot about PDF patterns lately.  I've been wondering how people make them, how they digitize them, how they ensure they print out the correct size, etc.  And now I know!  It turns out the website Sew, Mama, Sew!  had Carla Crim from Scientific Seamstress do a series of three posts describing the full process of creating PDF patterns.  She even reveals some resources she uses to make things easier and the very basic software she uses to digitize the patterns. 

Part 1 - Pattern Drafting and Grading

Part 2 - "eFormat" Your Pattern

Part 3 - Writing Instructions and Marketing Patterns

I'm so excited!  I just may end up creating some patterns and selling them on Etsy.  I'll probably start with some childrens patterns while I get the hang of it, then try my hand at womens patterns.  It's also a good way to give away freebie templates for craft projects.  Oooo ideas, ideas!  Happy day!

So sorry for more delays in promised posts!  I was rather sick for about 5 days straight.  Like, seriously ill.  The worst I've been sick since high school (10 years ago).  Two days straight of huddling in bed shivering and sweating with a fever.  Then several days after of violent coughing and sneezing.  Not that you need all the details... but it was intense! 

Now I'm trying to get the house back in order and get my head wrapped around everything I need to do to accomplish that.  Plus just having to keep up with the daily activities and tasks.  I have several posts that have photos taken already and just waiting for the text to be written.

Here's a teaser for one of them:

In preparation for the tutorials for the dress and bolero (no, I haven't forgotten, I promise!) I had to clear off a few other projects in various stages of completion (I think I must have craft attention deficit disorder -- I want to do too many things at the same time!).  But I decided I should actually finish them, instead of just moving them to a different area to sit and wait for me to get back to them... which may or may not ever happen.

I'm going to be putting each project in a separate post so I can fill up the few days it will take me to get the tutorials done.  One of the projects is something I'm going to list for sale on Etsy, so check back to find out what it is!

P.S.  Also in the near future... I will be starting a linky party (have you noticed if some bloggers have stopped having them since McLinky started charging?)  AND I will have another giveaway because.... I reached 100 followers!  Woo hoo!!  So exciting!

Oh, one more thing... go to the sidebar and "Like" me on Facebook!  If you want to :)

I like to browse online classifieds from time to time (okay, since the weather is cold and rainy I've been doing it a lot).  I stumbled upon this vintage children's hutch for $5.  FIVE DOLLARS.

Photos courtesy of the seller

Yes, it needs a ton of work, but I was so excited to find it.  It's such a unique and rare piece.  I have plans to put in a sink (although I'll have to sacrifice one of the drawers, and turn one half of the bottom into an oven.  My goal is to have this finished for my kids for Christmas.  We'll see if it actually happens!  ha ha

I've been browsing the local online classifieds (as well as thrift stores) trying to find some beautiful furniture for my home.

We have furniture that works, and is in decent condition (except for light colored fabric with kids... crayons, pens, spills just never seem to come out!), but it's very modern, stiff, straight line kind of stuff.  That may all be well and good for some people.  I know many people pull off beautiful, very modern homes.  But that's not my style.  I like curves.  Not entirely, of course.  I love the straight lines of molding, pillars and multi-paned windows.  But with furniture curves just seem much more inviting, warm and comfortable. 

So one day in my browsing I came across a photo of four antique chairs and instantly was drawn to the one in the back (I should have saved the photo).  The others were plain wood, but the one in the back was upholstered, carved and gorgeous.  Now, keep in mind I had also recently been to several antique stores and saw some very beautiful chairs similar to this one for $200-$300 (no thanks!).  This one became mine for $35! 

Here she is!

She will be my chair in the room I call my studio.  I have plans to paint the frame white and use a lavender/purple upholstery fabric (if I can find one... so far not much luck).  I have to strip it all the way down to the frame since the webbing is stretched out and falling down, so it will be a lot of work, but I'll post some step-by-steps along the way to help out anyone else who may be tackling a similar project.

It is not only beautiful but very comfortable as well.  You really can have it all!

(With my daughter jumping on it)

I was referred to the site Sew, Mama, Sew! by a friend and the first time I visited they had a link for a free pattern from Amy Butler's new book Amy Butler's Style Stitches: 12 Easy Ways to 26 Wonderful Bags. 


Yes!  This is just the style of bag I've been wanting and looking for, but not wanting to spend lots of money on.  I am going to make mine out of leather (black or brown?) with a blue leather flower.  I'll post as soon as it and my 5 million other projects are done!

Here's the link:
Awesome bag

It should still be there for a while, so go snatch it up!