A mens grey sweater.......

My roommate asked me if I wanted a light grey sweater that he had shrunk in the wash....I was like "heck ya, I will take it." I showed it a while back with some other fabric that I was going to put with it to make a bag. But then it changed. I cut the sleeves off and then cut it up the middle and it started looking like a vest. The edges were felted but I zig zagged them and it gave it a rolled hem look. I love baby pink with grey so I felted and looped it along the edges. I had this knit shirt I had picked up when I was having a fat day...You know that kind of day when you have no business shopping and I bought a size extra large. The reason I did it other than feeling like I was extra large that day was the ribbon roses and button embellishment...I ripped those babies right off...Take a look at the finished vest....


















I am not sure what I am going to do with it but this may be something that I sell....It really is pretty and it is flattering on too....

The sleeves became a felted purse. I made the strap out of a belt that has silver loops on it. I love it too, but I am trying to make things to sell so I am trying not to look at it right now. I want to put my things in it but I am showing restraint.































I am making my oldest daughter a bag and socks in greens and purples. I beaded these little bracelets for her that match the bag colors....It is fun to play with beads. I have had these for a long time and just had them in a little jar. In fact I think the lamp glass beads I got in some kind of swap....



















The little charms I pulled off some old jewelry from a garage sale a couple of years ago. I think she will like them.

I also finished my first PAIR of socks...I was like a proud mother running around the house in my socks. If you knew how many times I tried you might feel a little proud of me too. I deserve a point for persistence...Obsessed I was...obsessed...I used Deborah Norville yarn and I actually don't care for it much. I like the colors but it is very flimsy, stretchy. I have some bamboo yarn that I got for Christmas that is going to be the next pair.















Please ignore the white legs and focus on the socks...the beauty of the socks...
















I also found an atc that I made and misplaced. you know, for safekeeping. It is fabric that I painted then stitched...I like the boots. To me they look like doc Martens and that makes me think of my girls.....








And I finally saw a daffodil today....so for real, Happy Spring...xoxox Melinda

Ok, I remade the dress....

I forgot to say in the last post that the pattern is wonderful. For most of you I just know it would go together in an hour..For me? I just get challenged because my mind races ahead of the pattern. Now I understand why I flunked out of Home EC sewing. All I made was a wrap skirt for God's sake. Pathetic I know. Just wanted Peekaboo Patterns to know that I am really grateful to have won them and it is challenging me.
So I pulled out some fabric scraps and re cut the pattern using the 18 month size and by gosh it worked. I did change a few things construction wise, but I even got the ruffles on the right side! Woohoo....I decided not to use Easter fabric (I did have some) because Ava could wear it more...I am guessing she will need a t shirt under it for the next few months...














Here is the bodice....I had some pretty soft tulle so I dressed up the bib a bit and this time I left the armholes unadorned.













Here is the whole dress..The wind is blowing a piece over but I left it that way because that is the back of the dress and I used a different fabric. This time I am very happy with it. It turned out very clean and is sewn nicely.
A neighbor who I barely know the other day asked me if I sew...She is a police officer. I said yeah, that I love too and she asked me if I could use a serger....She brought me over a brand new one...For free. Her mother passed and had never used it. She doesnt sew. During the time my stuff was in the garage she noticed my sewing machines. I am trying to overcome my fear and use it. I had it going the other night and was doing pretty good. I want to make reproduction vintage clothes so it was like a miracle falling out of the sky!


After playing with the serger, I finished the March table runner...Again I used scraps and did the simplest runner ever. Someone who has never quilted could make this I promise. You sew the strips onto the batting (for me an old towel) and backing fabric and it is quilted as you go...I played with stitches and just had fun...












After you are all done you just trim it up and bind it....I make my own binding but they even sell it all made up at the fabric stores...This runner was one hour from start to finish.












It really is the easiest and if anyone would like directions, I would be happy to share. I had some super thin ravelly yellow gingham and I ruffled it and made a giant flower. I like it a lot and it looks like March on the Oregon Coast to me...the daffodils poking up and adoring the sunshine. Now here, in Utah, as I was sewing on the binding I looked out the window and it was snowing....but I could smell Spring waiting behind the snow. We havent had much of a winter so I really cant complain.

I have been all excited for you all to see the wreath and runner project together month by month.... I had no idea if they would even match because I did them at different times.

Ok, so going backwards, Here is March.


















February:


















And January:














I knew that I wasnt going to be able to do a lot of swaps because of finances and I just wanted to give myself a challenge to keep me creating so the Wreath and Runner every month is my way of staying in the creative mode. All of these things cost very little. I don't think there is anything that cost over ten dollars. Most of it wayyyyy less.
Creativity as an outlet has become so important to me lately, It literally at times keeps me living. I am suffering really bad from PTSD and depression. It is a hard thing to share on a blog but maybe it will help someone else. I am on a bunch of medication (me, who hates to even take a baby aspirin) and still every aspect of my life has suffered. Work is almost impossible and I have a 9.50 an hour job. they want to fire me but are afraid because I have a documented medical condition. Some days thinking about washing my hair sends me into a panic and I go back to bed. So add that into the equation when talking about getting myself to work. I am afraid to answer my phone, when I hear a siren I have to call every member of my family and then go hide for a while. It is a terrible way to live. I feel good in my sewing room though, so as long as I have this and it still makes me feel something I know I will be ok.

My dad is in the hospital again. He was in the same hospital in Portland in February and my kids paid for me to fly home. He is having heart issues again and they are waiting to do surgery and I am a wreck. In fact, no work today. I am just shaking every time I think of dad. I could use your prayers guys...For strength and for Peace...I have lost my strong..Cant believe I ever had it. I so look forward to your comments on the stuff I make and sometimes it really keeps me going. Thanks so much for your friendship and support!!!!!!!! xoxox melinda

The Dress.....

I have been doing three things....Trying to work, (I am not doing well I am sorry to say.) trying to knit a whole sock, and working on an Easter dress for Ava.


The knitting thing? I got the sock loom and I have knitted three different single socks but I kept making a mistake so I would unravel it and start over..I am thinking that I finally have it down so now I need to finish this one and shoot for a pair...Such aspirations...


I won three patterns from peekaboopatterns.com and I downloaded one of them called "the Harper" to make for Ava. I promised myself I was going to follow the pattern exactly. Well, I did and then I added embellishments, which I don't think disqualifies me for not doing the " exactly thing"...If I don't use a pattern, I could whip up some kind of outfit or dress in 3 or four hours.


















Following a pattern?
We are talking FIVE days my friends....really! I would guess that I have at least 14 hours in this dress...Why? Because I cant follow a pattern so I would start over. Anyway here it is done.




















You undo the button placket to put it on and take it off and the precious little bodice is lined.












I used a crinkly violet silk for the main body of the dress...I love this fabric. (translated this really is me thinking "what a nightmare to sew"} I was thinking about making Jace a matching vest out of the lining fabric and a bow tie out of the silk....















So sweet and lovely just like my little princess girl. Only one problem. It won't fit her...Yeah, you heard me....won't fit. I made the 9 month size instead of the 18 months...Can I hear ya say "Dumbass" Yep, that would be me...I hope the second one is easier........xoxoxo melinda
(know any 9 month old girls?)

snowy mountains, glitz prom and ice princess....

On my last post, I asked you guys what a little pile of fabric and trims reminded you of. I did good! Well except the prom part but winter formal might've fit right in too.
I played some catch up and made my January table runner and obviously I captured the snow, winter and ice look I was trying to get with the fabrics. This was another no pattern thing. Just for fun, I really tried to use all textures and several kinds of fabric to get the snow, ice thing happening. I used some cotton, pale blue chenille, silver lame' and panne velvet. Now if you are a perfectionist quilter, I wouldn't recommend it...If you are a "lets try it and see if I like it" kinda girl, it is really fun...the fabrics are going to curve and move and I had a lot of fun doing all kinds of quilting on it...So here it is..For January, "Icy roads".





After I get both March projects done I will post the January runner and wreath together. I never even looked at the wreath, but I am pretty sure it will be a good match.

As for March, here is my wreath...Although it isn't a wreath really, it is a hanging basket...Got the flowers from walmart, two stems for a dollar, the basket I had, I had the little Easter tree in a pot and the whirligig I also had. The front of the basket has a piece of an old birdhouse on it. This is the second time it has been upcycled. For two years it was Liv's fairy house but the winds took off the roof...I swear it's true. Maybe the fairies were battling the Wicked witch of the west. I also glued dollar store green fairy dress up wings to the back.
So here it is. Total cost 4.00.











When I went home for a visit I found out that all my friends had Labs too and no one really believed me as to the size of my ginormous pure bread yellow lab. The are normally about 70 pounds and fairly short. Add height and about 100 lbs to that number and you have my precious little boy Cooper....Just to give you perspective.....










Last of all, a goofy picture with a wonderful hat...I am the goofy part. Sherry W. made this for Olivia who is going to be thrilled! I didn't know if I could get Stacie to get a picture of her in it. So here I am doing the ole' point and shoot thing at myself.....I think I look very glamorous! (just kidding, really) I do however think this hat is the most adorable thing I have ever seen. They sell animal hats in the stores now, but I tell you this outranks all of them!!!!! Thanks so much Sherry...You are the sweetest thing ever....










I looked at this picture while I was posting and what a dork I am...I am willing to throw my dorkiness out there though... xoxoxox melinda

Been gone for a while!

On the 17th, I got a call about 10:30 pm that my dad was being taken to a cardiologist by ambulance to Portland. Because of my PTSD, I immediately freaked out and didn't know what to do.

I stayed up all night just freaked out to the total limit. Meanwhile, Julie, bless her little heart called my kids and they bought me a round trip to Portland.

So Julie, her two little ones and my niece Emily and her little guy flew that evening.

I could tell it made my dad feel less anxious with us there. All three of my kids showed up too and the grand kids. Despite the emergency it just felt wonderful to see them all in one place.

I stayed with dad in the hospital, and he scooted closer to me so he could hold my hand. He is very undemonstrative and it warmed my heart that he wanted me to stay and that I was a comfort....

Outside calm and peace, inside terror, anxiety, adrenaline. (no I am not talking about dad, I am talking about me!!!) But the good news? I was convincing and got him all nice and rested.

The nurse let me know that the next morning they were planning a triple bypass and thought he had some pretty bad heart damage. We all held hands including the babies and said a prayer for dad...There was a visiting expert cardiologist and he was able to remove one blockage with the angio and able to put stints in the other two...Dad went home two days later.

On the drive home to Rockaway I had a total melt down...Just got in a really bad place...Then things kind of settled down...

Julie and I worked like maniacs trying to make the living room livable...He had been remodeling and it was chaos. I caught him outside cutting moulding the day he got home...


Once we got that done I saw some friends that I haven't seen in years....My bestest friend from high school came and got me and took me to Cannon Beach and we laughed and I cried. Then we laughed some more and it was so much fun to have a friend where I didn't have to be one way or another...I could just let it all hang out baby. She knows I am crazy and is just fine with it.

Then the next day my friend Maureen came down and we went to a local motel and had a sleepover...We met when we were ten years old and have had a very close friendship since then..Although I have secluded myself from everyone, she was the first one I heard from when Don left me....Here we are at ten...















No, she is not a giant, she is the normal sized one thank you very much.

I was just a little pea.


Then here is one at 15....She lived in the Portland area, but I lived in Rockaway and you could here us shrieking all the way in New York when we realized we had the same cheer leading outfits just different colors...We had just got them and this was before school started. Her dad always said he wore ear plugs when we were together...


















And last of all, here we are standing on the porch of the house where I grew up. this was about a week ago.















We have decided that 50 is the new 30 and let's skip the forties all together..You are welcome to join our progressive thinking little club if you like.


I also spent the night with my little Andrew who is my ultimate little sweetheart!















I got to give him some one on one maga love........He is such a wonderful boy and he misses me as much as I miss him. It was hard to say goodbye.
When I got back, I lazed around and could hardly move. I am just now getting some energy back. I did do February's journal page. The monthly prompt was "Appreciation".
This was done down at dad's house with colored pencils and markers.
























Before I left, my partner for the accessory bag swap had just gotten her package, and I had gotten mine. We had emailed back and forth and this was her first swap ever.

She doesn't have a blog......yet. We had fun just enjoying the process and getting to know each other a bit. She wrote me the sweetest letter too. Here is what she sent me.....













Not one but three little bags...All with zippers. Margaret, I promise because you have inspired me, I am going to start using zippers...I mean it's not like bungee jumping or anything...at least I hope...
I love that they are bright and pink and I used them when I went to Oregon...The big one is for make-up, the medium for prescriptions and the little one for change..They were much admired by everyone cause they just are so fun! Then look what she had them stuffed with..What you wont see is the chocolate...she bought me a dark choc. bar, lindt truffles and reeses pieces and they are gone...




















All I can say is HOLY CRAP WOMAN!!!!!! (and did I mention the chocolate?) Thank you, thank you, thank you Miss Margaret for a wonderful swap....
Now here is what I sent her...and she professed love too although my package was all handmade....



















Clay buttons and she said she had the perfect jacket to put them on!













Her zipperless accessory bag. This was one of those "fast and easy" patterns that took me four hours and never did look like the pattern but I like it anyway. So there you stupid pattern maker people.

I also sent her the green neck cozy in the blogger header...She told me her daughter tried to make off with it!










Again, Thank you Margaret for being such a good listener and so generous...I will post these on the fliker site for both of us tomorrow...
I started one project tonight...This is after I had a little energy left after taking the last two days to get caught up on cleaning, laundry, unpacking and grocery shopping...
Here is a little peekie....what does it remind you of? I would love to know so I know if I am capturing the right feel?












Happy March! I want to see the daffodils! xoxoxox melinda