Did you hit the Simplicity Sale?

I told myself NO! then I went and looked and yes, I bought a few. sigh. What am I going to do with myself? Ok, in my defense, the Simplicity paper patterns were $1.99. How can you NOT buy at least a few? Add to that, if your order is less than $10, they add a .75 cent fee for something or other, so I HAD to surpass $10. Right? (please agree)

I love jumpers, so am expanding my assortment of jumper patterns. I especially love them in the winter with warm tights. Somehow, to me, it's warmer than a pair of pants.

Love blouses - can't have too many!

Just thought this was kind of cute - probably for next summer.

I want to make some knit dresses for winter, that I can wear a vest with. I have a great vest pattern for sewing and am also knitting one. Hopefully, it'll get done!

Just liked this one, no reason.

And I got 2 nightgown patterns, I do love pretty nighties, but I only have 1. I need to get on that!

So much sewing I want to get done, so little time!!
I do have my dress form all set up and 'functional' I think. I'm working on a blouse right now, and I'll see how it fits her and how it fits me, to see if I need to make additional changes on her. I'll let you know!

What are you sewing?

Score at the Thrift Store!

I read other blogs and see the cutest projects made out of pillowcases. The authors blithely report, "Oh just get them at the thrift store, I pick up a few every time I go!" Well, every time I go to the thrift store, the pretty ones have already been GOT! Because nothing is left except None or Ugly.

This must have been MY day :) I also found 2 dust ruffles, each 100% white cotton. One with an embroidered edge all the way around, and one with a lovely crocheted edging. No rips or tears, all completely usable. I know they don't show up white, but they are!

And some hand embroidered dresser scarves -

There were a few other things, but these were the Best Buy's of the day! I'm not quite sure yet, what I'll be doing with them, but idea's are buzzing around my head like crazy, so I'm sure you'll see bits and pieces of them here and there!!

Crocheted Rocks?

When I first read this post on the PurlSoho blog The Purl Bee, I was intrigued. What an amazing idea. Immediately I wanted to make some, but I'm not really the rock hunting type. I had my slippers on, and it was too hot to go tromping thru the yard, looking for flat rocks. So, because art inspires, I decided to make my own rocks, with polymer clay!

So, I got my rocks done, and I set about to crochet a cover. I used Valdani embroidery thread I got from The Raspberry Rabbit, 

I started by following the pattern given on The Purl Bee, but then, drifted off into doing my own thing. I only have 2 'rocks' finished but I'll finish the others eventually. I wasn't sure what to do with them, but I think I'll put them in a shadow box that I've been working on, but haven't showed you yet :)

Then, to show you the up to date pictures of my blouse -

Testing and Sewing

Well, I wanted to do some kind of embellishment on this blouse (New Look 6732) This is my second blouse from this pattern. I haven't taken a picture of the first blouse, although I do like it and have worn it twice. It's in the laundry, or else I'd try to take a pic of it now. You'll have to wait for it.

Anyway, I have had this gray grosgrain ribbon for ages, and it didn't come to me brand new, it was part of a box of unknown sewing supplies I bought. I love buying those, you just never know what treasure will be in there :)
So, it kinda sorta seemed to go with this blue blouse, but I didn't want just the ribbon. After letting the blouse hang there for a few days, I decided what I wanted was a very thin ruffle to sew alongside the ribbon. Something unfinished.
But I thought I should test that theory first, before doing a big thing to my blouse and then having to take it all out or worse - shoving it to the back of the cupboard :(

So, I made 3 test ruffles -

1. one with a completely raw edge
2. one with a raw edge but a straight line of stitching 
3. and one with the raw edge zig zagged 

This is the 'just out of the dryer' shot and the next one is the 'freshly ironed' shot :)
You'll probably have to click on the pics to see the 'big version' but my vote is for the zig zagged edge. Your thoughts welcome!

Lookie what I got! :)

I recently participated in a doily swap with the crochet group I belong to online. They have several swaps each month, but since it was my first, I decided to start with the Mini Doily swap first (4" - 6"). I'm nearly famous for biting off more than I can chew :)

The first one, and then the picture of where I put it in my china cabinet. That pretty cup is destined to be a pincushion.

Well, my awesome partner, Annette Sanko (who by the way designs the prettiest crochet baby/doll clothes and sells them in her Etsy shop SugarBabyToes ) she sent me TWO doilies!!!! I sent her a measly just one.

This is a very special little figurine from Willow Tree, my daughter gave it to my husband for Fathers Day one year, or it may have been his birthday ( i can't remember) just for being such a great Papa to Jack and Dad to her. It deserved a beautiful, hand crocheted piece just like this :)

And the crepe myrtle is in bloom - it's so pretty :)

Sometime this week, I'll have a new addition to my sewing room! A dress form - it's my first one, and I'm SO SO so so excited!!!!! I've been clearing space for her, I can't just cram her in a corner, as if I had one! No, she needs her very own special place to live.

But I had to move things out, and what better place than the dining room! I told Mike, "It's not very Better Homes and Gardens." And he replied,"Well, we're not BH&G people, so who cares?" :) I love him so much - he doesn't care if my sewing room slowly takes over the house.

I've been busy, busy sewing little diapers, and knitting little socks, and making bibs, and baby blankets and looking at patterns, etc etc.
We'll be going to Idaho in Sept for the birth of our newest Grandson, Evan and my son and his boys will be visiting from Alaska at the same time - it'll be a wonderful time. I haven't seen my Alaska boys for 4 years!
So, I'm working on making little giftee's for all the kiddo's - Grandma can't show up empty handed :) Not showing any pictures of those, because we all know little boys love to read Grandma's blog!!! lol (not)

More later - I'll try to make it sooner rather than later :)

You are cordially invited

to join us at Crafty Swapping Friends a Yahoo group where we swap a hand made goodie every month, we play Bingo :) and we have so many craft and gift ideas, you'll flip! Come and play with us :)