Wonder Pockets

 This is my practice buttonhole. #34 on my pfaff. 
Notes for next time. There's a hinged place on my pfaff for the IDT buttonholer which also has room for some sample buttonholes. This one is rounded at one end which reminds me of the Singer buttonhole cams that I grew up with.

 I love the buttonholes on this machine. So easy and quick plus they look nice. I can get up to a 9mm width with this machine - reason #5 for buying this machine.  I went around twice for durability.

 These are work shorts, very utilitarian.
Elastic knit waist band for comfort with repeated bending.

I definitely will not be entering these into my county fair (two weeks!).
Nice sewing but I'm not going to waste time with my seam ripper getting it perfect.

 Pocket flaps. 

I serge the top edge. I sew them to the shorts upside down with that serged edge just above the pocket. Flip the flap down and give it a quick press, then top-stitch down - which conveniently hides the serged edge. Not couture sewing - just down and dirty quick sewing.

What did we do before WONDER CLIPS and Sewline Chalk pencils?
That's my top-stitching lines above, done with the Sewline Chalk Pencil. Pencil Girl made me buy one - hence her screen name. One of my favorite notions.

All the seams have double top-stitching as well as down the middle of the pockets which are then sewn on with double top stitching.

Note the use of the mini-clapper, aka Wonder Clip. This 45' angle on the pocket has more bulk and it's difficult to make it stay flat after ironing. I remember the last time I sewed these shorts, I had to use more pins to make the edges lie flat ('cuz wonder clips weren't invented yet). This time - right after ironing, I used a wonder clip and it eliminated the fiddly nature on this angled pocket.

I've finished the first pair except for sewing on the buttons. Cutting out the second pair is next on my sewing agenda. Possibly someone can snap some photos tomorrow.

 I had my son over yesterday for baby back ribs. We sat out on the patio in 100+ degree weather with the clematis shading the top of the pergola and the misters on. It was very comfortable with those misters on. Probably in the 80's under the pergola??   And - oddly enough - the fine mist kept the flies and yellow jackets away from the baby back ribs and fresh corn on the cob and Hermiston Watermelon.

Daughter is home from Ketchikan for a quick wedding weekend. I'll try to grab her to take pretty photos.  Still gonna be hot tomorrow.

Blessed am I to see  both my kids in one weekend.

Sewing Treasure Box

I found this nifty treasure box at a local christmas bazaar . I went one saturday after work and ended up taking photos of things I liked because it was  overwhelming with an inordinate amount of possible handmade gifts.

I kept looking at this monopoly box for my niece who is 17 years old. After work the following Saturday, I went to see if they still had some left.

It could be a sewing kit or a place to put her treasures.

In trying to figure out what I had in stash (from garage saling), I went mostly for what fit inside this box which roughly measures 9.5" x 7.5" x 3" deep.

The ziploc in front has all the pieces to the original Spiderman Monopoly game - good luck ephemera.

Clockwise from the pack of felt and embroidery floss::
treasure box, measuring tape, game pieces, pincushion (making explained), chocolate covered pretzel sticks, a FQ of Olivia the pig fabric (her namesake), snaps, needle book, 6" ruler/seam gauge, 4" quilting square ruler, pad of notepaper from Schmetz needles, red container with threads, pins, small items.

I am undecided about adding a crochet hook/ knitting needles, but need to let go of add one of my pairs of sewing scissors - for the cause.

What else would you add?


 Having a huge clean out sale  in my etsy shop right now.
RunningWithNeedles
Just use the code CLEANOUT2014 to get 40% off everything.

Bad Ass Pinking Shears

These are the far out pinking shears I found last Saturday at an estate sale.
My estate sale 'runner' usually hangs out in the Woodburn area so it was a surprise to see her in the Portland Gateway area.
Which, oddly enough, is near my favorite fabric store, Fabric Depot.

Her sale advertised the usual estate stuff plus YARN. Yes there was boat loads of yarn and just a wee bit of sewing notions.
These are still sharp and I love the blades. They give off that "we mean business" vibe.
$5.00.

 Also found, biggest covered buttons ever.
$2 ziploc -selling the rest of the notions.
I have a purpose for these if I can find the darn tutorial again.

And I just asked my creative friend if she had any jump rings on her.
hah - I find everything at garage sales.

Look at these cool tweezers. One can never have enough tweezers in life. . . or is that sewing machines. . . or is that scissors. . . patterns. . .fabric. . .

10th Spring SewMamaSew Giveaway Day

 Welcome!
Thank you for visiting my giveaway today. I love SewMamaSew's Giveaways even though I don't have enough time in the day to visit all the ones I would love to win.
I enjoy seeing all the other sewing/quilting./knitting/ being crafty blogs that are out there.

I have three prizes for you to win.

Up for grabs are:
 
1.   4th of July combo.  Including a crocheted budweiser beer hat pattern! This is so retro- it's on trend for this 4th!  Daisy Kingdom 4th of July Table topper, 4th of July Vest (V.I.P. Dream Spinners) to sew and embellish, pattern to re-purpose beer cans/your drink of choice.

2.    Seersucker scraps. Fun whale patterned fabric. Kid themed. Hearts and Whales are the biggest pieces - others are cut squares (quilt?). whales spouting amongst stars, Hearts, tiny 1/4" hearts & stars, blue, peach & pink solids and small florals.

3.   Mop Head Doll Patterns. Six booklets to make all the mop head dolls you will desire.

I sew mostly garments and crafts. Last year I was on a crazy bag/purse making kick which I hope to god is finished so I can move onto something else.   I have a modern quilt pattern for our bed that I would love to make and need just time and the background fabrics to start sewing it. All the 'fussy' fabrics are in my possession.
I have been working the day job over 50 hours per week since September and my sewing has been pitiful indeed.
My junior clerk came back this month for a few weeks enabling me to work only about 40 hrs/wk.
This is better but it's still not working.

At 50hrs/wk I can hardly think of anything else except work and keeping my health up.
At 40 hrs/wk, I started 'dreaming' about sewing again;

My dream - if money and benefits were no object - would be to quit the day job and go whole-hog into running my etsy store and sewing for it.  I would have time for my friends again and the flexibility to mesh with their schedules. I could re-institute my wednesday kindle lunches with my mom. My creativity would soar.

What about you? If money and benefits were no object, what is your dream?
Comment  in a sentence or two and I will pull numbers out of a hat on Friday night and post Saturday, May 11th. Happy dreaming.

Please take the time to thank SewMamaSew for coordinating another (10!   10!   10!) Great Giveaway day. To enter more drawings, please click here.

small print: Open for everyone. USA and all the other countries.
Drawing open from Monday May 6, 2013 - May 10, 2013 at 6pm.
Oh- if you have a prize preference, indicate in your comment.
Three winners!!!

Sewing Tool Organizer

#3029 Classy and Clever Computer Case
Gail Kellogg, SVP Worldwide
VIKING CLASSROOM, SHOWPLEX
Thu. (#3029A) 8:00 – 10:30 am, Thu. (#3029E)
11:00 am – 1:30 pm, Fri.(#3029B) 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Experience the fantastic Husqvarna Viking Huskylock S25
Serger to create this stunning and useful case for your laptop
computer. You will learn how to apply zippers with the serger,
use accessory feet to embellish with decorative trim and leave
class with a sophisticated and finished project.
$25 KIT FEE INCLUDES: Two 13" × 18" double sided quilted
cotton, lining fabric, light weight batting, clear vinyl, two 18"
zippers, thread
STUDENT SUPPLIES: General sewing supplies

Description is from the SewExpo brochure.
 I am going to learn how to apply zippers with a serger (?).
All I need to provide is a kit fee and "general sewing supplies".

I don't take a lot of classes so I usually scramble  sewing notions together from my sewing room into a ziploc bag.
Yes.
A ziploc.

But this is SewExpo. I kinda need to look like I sew.

Bernina

VeryKerryBerry

JustSomethingIMade

I explored online and found some inspiration. I wanted to use some Pendleton Wool and make it big enough for a small cutting mat. While a roll would be nice and secure and smaller, the pesky cutting mat wanted to be in on the action.

"Q: I am planning on taking a 3 & 4 needle class and under student supplies, it lists 'basic sewing supplies'. What do I really need to bring?
A: Basic sewing supplies means to bring: Scissors (fabric & paper) pins, seam ripper, chalk, seam gauge, ruler, measuring tape, sewing needles, rotary cutter and mat. Optional: mini iron and ironing pad. And anything else you use that will make your sewing experience pleasurable."

 I laid my basic sewing tools out, figuring out some math numbers on paper.
Then I selected my fabrics.

A vintage Pendleton Wool Wrap Skirt was sacrificed for it's plaid properties (and possibly a chance to win something at the Pendleton Booth).

A nice coordinating airplane print and a neutral off-white.

Airplanes & Pendleton

I made the side-facing pockets with the airplane print. Re-enforcing the cotton by doubling up and sewing a grosgrain ribbon down the edge.
The pockets were custom fitted to the  notion with sewing lines 1 3/4" apart.

Basically, I started with an extra-long blue panel, using up inches as I needed to and trimming the excess at the lower end. Another way to handle this is with an elastic casing, easing in room where you need it.

 You can see where I sewed the pockets flat on the right-hand edge - couple of pleats.

 This is the smooth white fabric on top of the off-white textured fabric. This will become a pocket to store the small cutting mat.

On the left-hand side, I wanted two clear vinyl pockets to hold my small clear ruler and some pins and what-have-you. I edged my vinyl with some bias tape and the vinyl sewed much better this go around. You may remember some vivid cussing with my last experience with vinyl.

 The scissors rest in the pendleton fabric pocket with a piece of that gorgeous ribbon snapped in place across the handles.

So now we have the scissors secured and all pockets done.
I was thinking of embroidering an airplane on the front but decided to head back to simple and just zigzag on the up-cycled Pendelton Label.

I've misplaced my finished product photo but by that time the light had gone except for the Ott light at my sewing table.

Basically, I have a notebook with handles that will lay flat when opened.
Should be easy to take along.

I can tell I am feeling better because the different design elements went easily together with a minimum of hand-sewing (Scissor securement had to be hand-sewn because I forgot to do it before I sewed the pocket together.)

I'm ready to figure out zippers and sergers.






Sewing tool organizer tutorial images.

2012 SMS Giveaway Winners

 The WINNER of the first giveaway is Maureen Hayes. She's been notified and as soon as she sends me her address, I will post all the sewing goodies to her.
As far as the caramels are concerned, it appears she has numerous allergies, including dairy, but she can re-gift those.

I asked entrants to name their favorite Christmas Carol and it was all over the board compared to 2011 and 2010, when O Holy Night won both years.
But - because I mentioned it, had everyone scurrying to nominate more than 58 other carols!
A little nudge  *wink*wink.

For 2012, Silent Night came up 33 times whilst O Holy Night braked at 8.
Mary, Did You Know was a surprising tie with Carol of the Bells at 7 votes.

I find numbers very intriguing as well as people's behaviors so this 'contest' was definitely fun for me watching voters name any other carol except O HolyNight. There were a couple of entrants who also could not believe O Holy Night won the last two years.

Several voters threw out two or three titles. I particularly loved this one from Tricia: "I would say a tie between Silent night and The First Noel. I always sang the first to my oldest and sing the second every night to my youngest."

All in all, Silent Night stole the show.
Thank you all for entering. I'll be back again for the May Giveaways that SMS hosts.
(did you know SMS is from my neck of the woods? About a 30 minute drive away  - if they had a brick & Mortar store)

Keep reading for the winner of my second giveaway and some fun Christmas Carol videos.

 GIVEAWAY TWO for my airplane towels went to Miss Enota from Minnesota. Rhymes.
She also has been notified and I'm off to pack these up along with some apple cider caramels.

I am making another batch of caramels this weekend so I can fill all my packages that need to be mailed Monday in order to have a chance at arriving before Christmas (read Sweden, Finland, Germany & Japan! plus one for Nephew's unfortunate birthday on the 18th of December.

It's Christmas Day Family Force 5

Santa bring me a dinosaur-Funny Christmas song by Bob Brown

Barenaked Ladies - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings"

olivia newton john silent night

SMS Giveaway Day - post 1

SewMamaSew - a great online fabric store from my neck of the woods facilitates the best hordes (hoarders) of givers ever. I have participated several years and have met new blogging friends along the way.
<<>>
I did the whole random number thing and it picked a low number. #3.
Candy from Candykins Crafts.
Thank you EVERYONE for entering this drawing.
Please take a minute to plug SewMamaSew on Facebook for facilitating this week of fantastic giveaways.

Here's one of my giveaways.
A big bunch of vintage sewing treasures. Buttons, eyelet trim, seam bindings, rick rack, snaps, self-threading needles. I took the photo before the light faded but I will (most definitely) find more vintage fun stuff to load up the package.
Whatever fits in a priority flat-rate envelope will be sent to one lucky sew-er.
I took some photos but will fill that envelope to the brim with as many notions and sundry as I can fit inside (haberdashery for those folks on the other side of the pond)

If you haven't been here before, I love to haunt garage sales and I find more vintage sewing goodies than I can possibly use. You can see some of it for sale in my etsy shop and many of my creations feature my finds. I live with an airplane, a lab, a husband, an acre of flowers and the kids rooms house my growing collection of machines and fabrics and crafty stuff.
I tend to ramble on about whatever is in my head.

To enter, leave me a comment  telling me what type of sewing machine that you use (the most) and why.
I am thinking of buying a new machine for Christmas. I sew just about anything - from airplane cockpit covers to tiny little purses. Cute clothes for my nieces. I don't quilt a lot but use the quilting in some of my creations.

Open to anyone - International too!
Open until Friday evening (25th) when I stumble home from work and turn on the laptop.

Winner will be determined by total randomness and please make sure your e-mail is accessible.

Please check out SewMamaSew for more wonderful giveaways.

*****>>>>>Kathy here commenting on her own blog:
I find it fascinating that the majority of you sew on old, cheap machines.
Which I do too. A 60's Singer that does great and occasionally on an similar-decade Riccar. Nothing fancy - just the straight stitch and zigzag.

Definitely food for thought on do I need one with more fancy doodads?

However, I did splurge and buy a Bernina 1150mda Serger  a few years back.   I have no clue as to how I got along without it before. I absolutely adore this serger.

Colton Grange

Friday Rummage Sales

I think I love Rummage sales the most because of the sewing & crafting stuff.
This one was  here in Colton, Oregon
Canby is a tad south of Portland, and Colton is a tad south of me.
It was really a gorgeous fall day for a drive in the country.

Found this box of sewing goodies for $2. When I saw the charms above - three packets full, I was sold. Well - the button jar was worth it, Yes - all of the ribbons - let's just say the box was worth it.
Grandmother Stover's - Cincinati, Ohio.  Have you heard of them? - just the cutest little charm packs.

Dauschounds, lassie dogs, scotties, poodles, bull dogs. Way cute.
Way cute times three packets.

There was a wall hanging. Possibly hand-screened. Instantly I was thinking - cool bag.
What else could I do with this fabric? Ideas?

When I got home, my Marionberry Syrup was waiting for me.
My neighbor makes Glenmore Farms Jams, Jellies, & Syrups right here in Canby, Oregon.
Marionberry Syrup is my favorite and I get a case every year. Do I actually get to use it?
No - thanks to my lectin intolerance, I am staying away from all grain flours so there is really nothing to drizzle Marionberry syrup on. 
Most of the jars are given as gifts to my favorite people. My  nephew, Ian in Minnesota, gets a tad testy if he doesn't have his red sauce.

This Namaste Pancake Mix, by the way, is really, really good. Add eggs - or not. It has Rice, tapioca & arrowroot flours, rice milk powder, cream of Tartar, baking soda and ground vanilla bean. All fantastic if you are suffering from gluten intolerance. Namaste makes a fantastic Spice Cake (add the carrots for a fabulous moist carrot cake) mix as well.

For all that I named this blog after my super intelligent dog, Rocket, he hasn't made too many appearances yet. Here's  where he sleeps while I am at the computer. His safe cave.