The project that almost ended up in the scrap pile...

Have you ever been so mad at a project that you were about ready to take the scissors to it... and rip to shreds?  Well I had this great idea in my head for a sheer dress with a mermaid hem... spent hours on french seaming... and when it was done... I HATED IT!  The neck didn't want to lay right and the arm holes were to small... and it just made me want to scream...

 After couple days... I came back to it (with a heavy heart and plenty of sighing) Oh, those french seams wasted on a useless garment!  As I laid it cross the table... getting ready to toss it into the scraps... It came to me!  Don't let it go to waste... turn it into a skirt!   So I carefully lined up my seams... pinned them together...

 And took my scissor to that awful dress... It was very satisfying...

 Off came the top... and I felt some triumph as I threw it into the trash...

 I made a very simple casing for some wide elastic... and sewed it to the "skirt"...

 And now you'd never know that this wasn't what I had intended all along...

Not the best picture ever... but it does show the mermaid hem...

So, before you cast a failed project into the trash(along with all your time and effort)... See if you can repurpose it... you just might be surprised...
***Jennifer

Fall Has Arrived On My Door Step...

It's here! It's here...  Fall has finally arrived to my neck of the woods!  I love the crisp sunny days, the vibrant colors of the changing leaves, and eggnog lattes!  Every year we visit a local farm to pick out pumpkins and gourds to decorate with...  We have a blast going on the hay ride...

Visiting the pumpkin patch...

 And going through the Corn Maze...

 I also bought some dried corn to add to my wreath...

To make this wreath... I started with the grape vine wreath I made last year...

 To this I added clipping from the yard...  I used the dead stalks from Lambs Ear, Thistles, and  Hawthorn branches...

 I wove these into the wreath... twisting the ends together as I went around...

In the Fall the kids and I also love to pull on our boots... and go foraging in the neighborhood...  They get such a kick out of displaying our finds on the dinning room table.  So far we have pods from some trees, acorns, and pine cones...  We also love to gather leaves, and press them between magazine pages...

On one of our walks I found this branch laying across the sidewalk... I of course brought it home and hung it in my window...

 I love all of the moss and lichen clinging to it... and couldn't resist adding a couple of birds...

Such fun!  I hope you are enjoying the change of seasons... are inspired to show your Fall colors... and warming up with an eggnog latte.  Cheers!

***Jennifer

Owl Purse...

If you haven't gotten hooked on Pinterest yet... your missing out!  I am constantly finding ideas and inspiration there.  I saw this Owl purse a while back...

I knew someday I was going to recreate it!

The final push to make it came when I found some scrapes of leather at a garage sale... and then some polk a dot fabric and vintage buttons at a different sale...  After getting home I found a multi colored knit in my fabric stash that brought it all together... and knew it was meant to be!

The pattern making for the owl took up a whole day...  After I decided on the size I wanted... I slowly drew out the pieces layer by layer... until I had achieved (to my eye)the owl in my inspiration picture.  Using different colored paper helped me visualize how I was going to use my fabrics...

After some debating I realized I needed one more fabric in the mix... so added the dark floral print, and then carefully cut out my pieces... I also used iron on interfacing on all of my fabrics to give them some stability...

Then it was just a matter of sewing on the pieces layer by layer...

The finished product... I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!  The vintage leather button eyes are perfect... and I also added some wooden beads to the strap...

I am officially ready for Fall with my new purse...

***Jennifer

KCWC... Sew Happy... Day7...

The last day of KCWC is here... I'm always a little sad to have it come to an end, it is such a good motivator to get stuff done!  This year was especially fun, because I had a friend join the challenge with me (she sewed up some pretty adorable stuff... you can check it out here) ...  Even though my final hour is done, the wheels are still turning in my head... I am happy with the 3 sewing projects accomplished... but, I might find the time for a few more this winter...
Here is a glance what I did...

 Snap front blouse... and corduroy skirt...

Love  all the detail on the shirt...

 Boy's pajamas... Top... and Bottom...

 Love the vintage car fabric...

 Sleeping Beauty's pjs... Top and Bottom...

Love the gathered hem on this vintage pattern...  It allows some growing room...

 

It has been a fun and productive week!  (Although I have to admit making pajamas felt a little like cheating... not very creative.)  Best of all... my little fashionista is very happy with her new outfit...  and my son keeps telling me how cozy his new pajamas are...

Happy Sewing!

***Jennifer



KCWC... Sew Happy... Day6...

Well... Somebody else wanted to join in on the pajama party... so my last project for KCWC is pj's for the girl...

I used  this vintage McCall's pattern...  (Also the first one this week that I didn't have to alter!)

I used a printed flannel... and a purple knit...

This pattern is really easy to sew up...

To save time... I used loop closures... instead of making button holes...

Gathered sleeves are really easy...  Just sew on a piece of elastic across the bottom, before you sew up the  side seam...

 

All that's missing now are the pants!  That should be simple enough to finish in my last hour...

Happy Sewing!

***Jennifer

KCWC... Sew Happy... Day5...

Day5 already!  Where has this week gone?  I am happy to report that today went a little smoother...  The pants from yesterday now have a matching top... 

Making my son a proud owner of a new pair of pajamas....

 To give the pj's more detail... I put the facing on the out side... and cut it out of a different fabric...

 I also added a fold up cuff... so as he get taller... he can just unfold the cuff...

He really likes them...  And I love the car fabric...

I did have to make one small adjustment...  The neck opening for the pajamas seem to big(I had to safety pin it for the pictures)... so I added a loop and button... Sew simple... he he he...

I now have 2 projects under my belt for this week(you can see the other one here)...
Will I be able to squeeze in one more?  I guess we'll just have to see...
Happy Sewing!
***Jennifer

KCWC... Sew Happy... Day4...

So... Day4 is here for KCWC, and I feel like I have a pattern curse looming over my head...  As I started on my project for today, and was getting ready to cut out this pattern...

I found I had all the pattern pieces for the pajamas... accept the sleeve... seriously... I after double checking it really wasn't there(and some serious grumbling to myself)...  I cobbled one together that worked...  I guess that what I get for buying this pattern at a rummage sale for .25...



I used this vintage car fabric and pair it with a red knit...

Since my time was used up by pattern making... all I got done today were the pants...
Hopefully tomorrow will be more productive...
Happy Sewing! (grumble... grumble)
***Jennifer

KCWC... Sew Happy... Day3...

Hip Hip Hooray!  The First outfit is done!  And we're only on Day3 of KCWC...

The shirt you saw the other day...  Is now perfectly paired with a corduroy skirt...

 It looks a little blah... just sitting here on a hanger, but it's really cute on....

The pattern is also the same one I used for the shirt... Which meant it also had to be re sized(because my daughter is a size12 and the pattern is vintage)... but there were only three pieces, so not as involved as the shirt...

 I am pocket lover... so any time they can be added, I'm all in... 

And I must love my daughter an awful lot... because her skirt got a zipper too!

It fits perfectly...  I have to pat myself on the back for taking the time(usually I'm toooo impatient) to measure and size correctly... It really does pay off.  Who knew!

 Snuck in another picture of the cuff... So cute!

 It is a great shirt un-tucked too... You can really see the rounded hem...



Yep... I really love this girl... and her new outfit too!

Now to sew something for the boy... hmmm...
Happy Sewing!
***Jennifer