Wish You Were Here

 It's still snowing in St. Paul, Minnesota.
But here in Oregon, in the Willamette Valley? Sunshine - all day long. My daffodils have started blooming, the dwarf Iris's are amazing, the winter heather is going gangbusters and our snowdrops might be the closest thing to snow we get.

       February Storm « CBS Minnesota

canby, minnesota

cardinal. winona, minnesota

And, now for our Oregon show:

dwarf iris

anenome

christmas cheer rhododendron

crocus

Sewing Class & Estate Sales

This is just a teaser on something I am working on. It has been a real bear to put through the sewing machine but I am at the last step and then it will be finished.

 

And this is what I scored at a recent estate sale. These are just the items I bought to resell. The other half didn't make the photo as they have been squirreled away already.

A lot of patterns; vintage - quilting- clothing. Four sewing books by Nancy Zieman, fabric blocks, lots and lots of quilting helpers. This sale was advertised as having Singer sewing machines and quilting items. Strange  that there was no fabric at this sale. It must have gone elsewhere.

Oregon Pillows

 SewMamaSew is sharing some pillow techniques and inspiration during the month of February.
This Oregon pillow is very tempting.
Or - I could make one for my sister in Minnesota and she could make me the one for Oregon.

It's the beaver laughing his head off that gets me.

 Or, we could plunk down $149 and just buy the darn things.

State Pillows.
State Park Pillows.
Lots of Pillows.

Dude, Where's My Car and I Finished My Taxes

I'm probably the last person in Oregon to discover Dude, Where's My Car.

Totally stupid - you cannot help laughing.

Which is good.

I 'discovered' the video after reading this post by a blogger called Stitches and Seams.
She made her boys bubblewrap space suits. She SEWED bubblewrap.

My taxes are done, signed and mailed and I just gotta say, "god bless President Obama" for making my tax refund so bountiful.  If you have kids in college - you will also have cause to bless the president.

This weekend is a holiday for me on Monday so I plan to work on a bag that I started last week in a sewing class and also sew a boy's pillowcase for SewExpo - happening in just two weeks!

Heart Pops

I have made three batches - so far- of these zippy heart pops.

Missy Sophea

 Missy Sophea and her new sister, Ella.

She will probably wear a long-sleeve white top underneath for the 'winter' months. 
Or, maybe a black top - don't you love those tights?
The temperature rose to be 48' today!

Photos taken with android phone and sent to the proud great-aunty.

Mini Pompoms

 OMG - are these cute or what?
Well - they are actually a disaster in clothing construction because they MELT if the iron gets'em.
They are so stinkin' cute though.

 This is a dress I have been sewing for my great-niece, Missy Sophea, who is two years old. I used a New Look 6473 pattern but made quite a few changes. I believe all clothing needs pockets - so I designed this cupcake pocket.

 I also made a smaller opening at the neck instead of buttoning it all the way down. Sitting on butt buttons can be similar to a Princess and the Pea experience. All I did was to lay the back pattern piece on the fold and cut out. Then I slit along the fold about 5 inches or so from the top edge. I then bound this with some 1/4" bias tape.

 This pattern also has some cute shorts and pants. Tamara Bostwick, who saved me from the missing instructions - a possible fiasco -  made the top.

 I found a ton of rickrack flower tutorials on the web. Here, here, and here as well.

 New Look 6473 utilized a slit opening at the hem line. The designer put a ribbon bow at the apex. I fanned it straight and sewed my mini pompom trim around.

I'll post pictures when I get them of Missy Sophea wearing her orange dress.



First post is here.

Second post on the orange dress.