Sunday, July 5, 2015

BUSY WEEK AND SOME 4TH OF JULY PICTURES!

Well it's Sunday evening July 5th and I can hardly believe it.  Another week has come and gone, another month has come and gone, and another 4th of July has come and gone as well.  Time continues to whip by, and sometimes I really would love how to figure out how to slow it down some. But I do know from experience that it will seldom happen when you are busy.  And this last week I have been just that.  I started out last week with getting my new machine back, but before I tried it out I had another project or two for my old machine as I wanted to continue to use my walking foot. Now my new machine also has a walking foot, but I really didn't want to take the time to learn how to use it when my old one was sitting right there with the walking foot already on it.  Soooo my first project of the week was to make another blanket for Claire.  Now I told you about the "comfy" fabric in my last post and how I made a blanket for Melody's SIL with it, pairing it with a soft flannel. But this time I wanted to pair it with another comfy fabric.  There were several coordinating fabrics to chose from, I still had some coupons, and curiosity if the walking foot would work as well as it had when using the comfy with flannel spurred me on.  It did make the blanket a little more expensive using TWO comfy fabrics instead of just one, but with coupons it was still pretty reasonable.  So here is my assessment. I won't do it again, lol.  With both fabrics being the slippy sliding hard to work nightmare that "comfy" is, EVEN with the walking foot it was just fiddly and hard.  It was difficult to even pin it in my opinion.  Took me WAY longer then I really had to spend with all my other projects still on my list and staring me in the face.  And it turned out only OK.  It is somewhat uneven, and not totally perfect which is the way I like those blankets to be, but being how this is just going to my daughter and granddaughter, I decided it was good enough.  I am very sure NO ONE else would notice a thing anyway.  It is super, SUPER soft, will be very warm come winter, and the colors in the fabric are just GORGEOUS.  Let me show you....

I HAVE TO SAY THAT THESE PICTURES I'VE TAKEN THIS WEEK ARE JUST NOT GOOD.....SOO NOT GOOD AS A MATTER OF FACT THAT I HONESTLY JUST  SHOULD HARDLY EVEN BOTHER.  BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET OUT MY CAMERA AND TAKE SOME BETTER ONES SO YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT THAT THIS FABRIC IS FABULOUS!
After I whipped up a final gauze swaddler for Brooke,  it was FINALLY time to test my machine out. I had SEVERAL embroidery/applique projects I wanted to do for both Brooke [the SIL] and for Claire.  Let me just say this....I am not sure if my machine has EVER worked as well as it is working now.  I was positively giddy, lol.   Now I was just making burp cloths, so it's not like it was really all that critical or anything, it's just that I enjoy it so for some reason. I am very sure most people would not bother to take the time involved in embroidery and appliqueing for something that is in essence only going to be used to wipe spit up and who knows what all, lol, but I REALLY REALLY enjoy doing this.  My daughter has told me that there is those occasions when she wants a "nice" one [such as going to church, the doctors, a friends house, etc.] to have and use, but she might just have said that because she knows my fetish obsessions desire to make them.  Anyway, I started with Brooke's. The theme she has chosen for her nursery is of woodland animals, so I had some fun ideas in mind.  Let me just show you what I made.

I USED A SOFT WHITE FLANNEL FOR THE FRONT OF THESE, AND A LIGHT GREY TERRY CLOTH FOR THE BACK .  I FINISHED IT UP WITH THE CUTE WOODLAND THEME ANIMALS IN A COTTON ON THE BOTTOM.  THIS LITTLE APPLIQUED RACCOON TOOK ME QUITE A WHILE TO DO, AS HE IS SMALL AND DETAILED, BUT IT WAS A REALLY CUTE DESIGN I THOUGHT.  I FINISHED OFF THE EDGES IN A DECORATIVE EMBROIDERY STITCH FROM MY OLD MACHINE.  I  MADE THESE BURP CLOTHS A LITTLE LARGER THEN THE OTHERS AS WELL,  THEY ARE 11 INCHES WIDE, AND 22 INCHES LONG.

AND HERE IS THE FOX....A LITTLE QUICKER TO MAKE AS HE WASN'T QUITE AS DETAILED, BUT HE IS PRETTY CUTE TOO I THINK

I CONSIDERED MAKING AN OWL FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL ONE FOR BROOKE, BUT I WANTED TO PUT HIS NAME ON SOMETHING,  SO I USED A FUN FONT, AND DESIGNED MY OWN DESIGN FOR THIS ONE.  NOW THAT I HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO WORK EVERYTHING ON MY MACHINE, IT WAS REALLY PRETTY EASY.
 Then it was time to do Claire's "special" ones, lol....

I THOUGHT THIS WAS ONE OF THE CUTEST DESIGNS I HAVE EVER SEEN!  LOL  AND WITH THE LITTLE CROSS IT IS PERFECT FOR HER CHURCH BURPIE, LOL.  I WILL ADMIT I HAD TO DO THIS ONE TWICE,  THE FIRST ONE HAD A COUPLE OF MISTAKES I JUST COULDN'T ROLL WITH.  IT WAS NOT CENTERED RIGHT, AND THE BURP CLOTH ITSELF WAS NOT BIG ENOUGH [I WAS TRYING TO MAKE ANOTHER FABRIC WORK WHICH I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF LOL]  I WAS REALLY GLAD I TOOK THE TIME TO DO IT AGAIN, THOUGH IT WAS SEVERAL HOURS OF WORK,  THE BACK OF THIS ONE IS WHITE TERRY CLOTH

JUST A LITTLE CLOSER LOOK.  I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD ADD THAT ALL OF THESE COST ME ONLY THE PRICE OF THE DESIGNS, AS I USED SCRAPS FOR THE APPLIQUEING AND FABRIC I HAD IN MY STASH.  THE DESIGNS COST AROUND 3 DOLLARS

THIS ONE WAS  IN ESSENCE FREE, LOL, AS I ALREADY HAD THE BIRDIE DESIGN.  I PUT IT ON A ONESIE A WHILE AGO ALREADY.  LOVE THIS FONT FOR BABIES AND KIDS. I BOUGHT THIS ALPHABET FONT QUITE A WHILE AGO TOO. AND THE EMBROIDERY ON THE EDGE IS ALSO FROM A DECORATIVE STITCH ON MY OLD MACHINE.

NOW THIS ONE IS REALLY DIFFERENT AND STRAIGHT EMBROIDERY....NO APPLIQUE OF COURSE.  AND THE DESIGN CAME WITH MY MACHINE SO IT WAS ALSO TECHNICALLY FREE,  LOL  IT WENT SOOO FAST TOO COMPARED TO THE APPLIQUED ONES  ANOTHER DECORATIVE STITCH FROM MY OLD MACHINE.  I HAD JUST LEFT IT SET UP WHILE I WAS USING THE EMBROIDERY ON MY NEW MACHINE, AND PUT THESE TOGETHER WITH MY OLD ONE USING THE WALKING FOOT.
ISN'T IT DIFFERENT?
And then weeks and weeks ago I had found a pattern with woodland stuffed animals on it and I bought it when Joannes was offering Simplicity patterns for a buck, figuring IF I felt like it I might try making an animal or two for Brooke.... if I could make them out of fabric in my stash.  That was a lot of IF'S I know, but figured worse case I had an eighteen dollar pattern for a dollar that I might use someday, lol.  And since I always seem to have a supply of the fiberfill stuffing on hand, I figured it wouldn't cost me anything to give it a try.  Here's what I have to say about this....They were WAY bigger then I thought, and their appliqued faces called for felt.  But I didn't have any felt that would work in my stash, so I just used cotton and then used wonder under to attach them, and a machine blanket stitch to finish them up.  They came out fairly cute, but I don't think I will be making them again too soon.  WAY WAY WAY too much work, and FAR from perfect, lol.  Let me show you....

THE ARMS ON THIS FOX WERE SOOOOO SKINNY THEY WERE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN RIGHT SIDE OUT AND STUFF, BUT I FINALLY GOT IT DONE

AND THIS LITTLE RACCOON HAD SEVERAL LAYERS TO HIS FACE, AND HIS HEAD SEEMS KIND OF BIG TO ME AND IS LUMPY ON TOP,BUT THERE HE IS, LOL.  I HAVE NO IDEA IF BROOKE WILL LIKE THESE LITTLE THINGS, OR WANT TO USE THEM SOMEWHERE IN HER NURSERY FOR DECORATION, BUT IT'S ANOTHER THING OFF MY LIST THAT I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY, AND COST ME ONLY THE DOLLAR FOR THE PATTERN, AND OH QUITE A BIT OF MY TIME TOO, LOL

SEE HOW MUCH BIGGER THE RACCOON'S HEAD IS? LOL

Hubby was off on Friday so we enjoyed 3 days together.  We worked some of it, played some of it, and enjoyed a wonderous barbecued chicken dinner at my oldest son's house on the 4th of July.  I loved every minute of the whole week-end.  But since this is long, I am tired, and I have MANY things to finish sewing and doing before Melody arrives on Thursday, I am going to pop off of here and jump into bed.  I hope to post once more before she comes, but we will see how i I do getting things done.  Hope you all had a great holiday week-end celebrating this wonderful country, and had a have a lovely week.  Blessings to you all!  Debbie
LEFT OVER FROM THE JERSEY SHORE VACATION...LITTLE DONATELLA IS JUST SOO CUTE HERE I HAD TO SHARE1

AND HERE SHE IS AGAIN ON THE 4TH OF JULY!


SAM ON THE 4TH....CAN YA JUST SEE THE FUN ON HIS FACE.  GUESS HE JUST HAD A BALL!
MELODY AND CLAIRE

THEIR LITTLE FAMILY....LUKE WASN'T FEELING THE PICTURE, LOL

CODY WAS READY FOR DESSERT

CLAIRE LOOKS AS IF SHE WANTS TO SAY, "MOM, THESE BOYS ARE A LITTLE WILD YOU KNOW."  LOL

SWEET CODY!


10 comments:

  1. I made a doll for DD when she was about 5-6 with a dress that matched one I made for her. That was a lot of work, so that was the only stuffed toy I've ever made. Whew! I'm curious as to what this fabric is that you're describing as slippery and soft. I admit that I only work with flannel and quilting cotton, so I haven't a clue what this could be and am curious. Sounds like you had a wonderful 4th of July weekend.

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  2. More fun stuff coming out of your sewing studio, Debbie!! Kati is sitting here beside me and she loved the fox! :) Of course, it's always fun seeing pics of your adorable grands!

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  3. Oh MY! You certainly have been busy! I love them all, and they are absolutely perfect.

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  4. You gets so much accomplished!! My goodness. I love looking at your pictures and I just love that embroidery.
    I am so glad you had such a great fourth of July and a really nice weekend. How is your shingles doing?
    Have a lovely day,
    Kim

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  5. OMG!!! Debbie you never cease to amaze me with your talents! Everything is absolutely beautiful, I can only imagine the satisfaction you get when you finish a project! Like I said you truly have a ministry of blessing others with your gifts and talents, and that is why God gives them! Love the family potos too!
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  6. You are a force to be reckoned with! So glad that the new machine worked like a dream...phew! It makes sewing much more fun when things are working well. Love the new blanket...I am sure that it will be cozy warm for Claire. I like the little animals...sorry that they were not as much fun to make. Your grands are so cute! Is the crew back from the Jersey Shore?

    Guess what I made today in the heat of my upstairs sewing room? You were my inspiration...a sewing machine cover! It's a bit wonky, but will be just fine for who it is for.

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  7. Everything's cute-the Grands and all of your sewing.
    I love the woodland prints and embroidery, Debbie!

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  8. Adorable post, Debbie, and those babies ... growing too fast.

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  9. Adorable everything!! How lucky all these kids are that you sew!! They are so darn cute, each one...

    Hugs!

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  10. Debbie, all I can say is Whew! You are one busy gal, but I know you love every minute of it. And those pictures - nothing like precious little ones. I so enjoy seeing them. Thanks for sharing your sweet ones with us.

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!