Sam Sews

Valentines Embroidery

2012-01-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

Valentines Embroidery for DD#2 & the Grandson

Embroidery design from Embroitique

Sam

This is My Sewing Space

2012-01-13T07:19:00.000-08:00

Badge Reels

2011-12-22T17:20:00.000-08:00

Made 20 sets of these buttons with a badge reel. They finished @ 1.5 inches!

Very Cute.

Sam

First Official Up-Cycle Shirt

2011-12-20T18:50:00.000-08:00

My daughter bought a t-shirt for the baby and it wa suppossed to be a 3T size, but it fit more like a 18 months. (and it was short sleeved too...) Well, the baby REALLY likes Elmo! So? What is a Nana to do? I cut Elmo off the old t-shirt & appliqued him onto a shirt that fits! I see a lot more of this in my future as it's super simple. I did not zig-zag stitch - since it's a knit fabric & will not fray, I just straight stitched with black thread in the black areas of the Elmo design & left the edges raw.

At first I tried to use steam a seam on it. That didn't work so good because I could not iron on the Elmo..So? What did I use? Quilt Basting Spray! It's temporary & will wash out.

It really came out adorable & I can't wait for the baby to wear it this week.

Sam

Candy Wreath

2011-12-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

Was surfing the internet for Homemade Christmas Ornaments & came across these Candy Wreaths. I thought; "Slf, you can do this!" So i did.

I stopped at Michaels on my way home for a wire wreath form, the large green one was all I could find there. I was reluctant to use a coat hanger, as some of the people on the internet said that the coat hanger wire was not heavy enough to support all the candy. We have these wires left over from when we built our garage 4 years agao (in alabama) and they are used to hold insulation in/up while you put drywall up (like on the ceiling). This metal wire is pretty heavy. I don't know the guage, but i had to bend the hooks to connect the wire in the VISE ! And then Prince Charming finished bending the wire into an acceptable circle.

You can see the size difference in the first picture on the kiddy table.

Before I even went & found the wire, I spent some time tying ribbons on the candy. That's only ONE bag you see here.

It looks sort hairy here, but it's a 1/3 done now.......(the ribbon will be trimmed off)

Some ribbons trimmed & about ....what? 80% done?

Done! This is about 1 & half bags of candy.

I think the bow could have been larger, but it's what I had on hand. Looks a little bland against the baby gate! But it turned out exactly how I wanted it too!!

I want to make one from Butterscotch candy & then maybe one from Cinnomin Candy & Peppermints together. Seen them on "floral" websites & they want a BUNCH of money for them.

Sam

Not A Successful Night

2011-12-02T20:25:00.000-08:00

I wanted to embroider a few things for my niece tonight. I wanted to make 2 t-shirts & a hooded towel. Well........I got 1 t-shirt done & then ATE the 2nd one, then I embroidered the hood part of the towel & then tried the 3rd shirt, which would actually be the 2nd...are you following??? Well the machine ATE that one too.

So I figured I was done for the night. It's after 10PM & my eyes are burning.

I figure my errors are due to not using the correct stabilizers.......My machine does NOT like sticky back stabilizers. Gums up the needles....so I have to do something else. Find something else......problem is? I have a BUNCH of this stuff. Yay!

I will post pictures if I can get the tot to model my creations tomorrow.

Good night all.

Sam

Hooded Towel

2011-11-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

I spent a LAZY day today, not doing much of anything. Once I did get around to moving around some, I decided to try & make some hooded towels. I made more than 1, but I'm only showing this one.

As you can tell, I did NOT have a co-operative model. I did try, he did not wish to participate.So I gave up arguing with a 2 year old and used the next best thing. A trash can & a ball.

I wish you could see this IRL. It fits his head so nice and since I put a little pleat in the back of the towel it gives him lots of room for the towel to wrap around his shoulders.

Sam

Veteran's Day Embroidery

2011-11-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

For those who served,protected, and fought, and for the heroes that died - so that I may remain FREE. Thank You!

Sam

More Embroidery

2011-11-04T18:23:00.001-07:00

I worked a 1/2 day today & then spent the afternoon doing some machine embroidery on these bibs (bought bibs from Target - perfect BLANKS!)

These are the Faded Glory brand Onesies from Wally World - these turned these out BEAUTIFUL!

I made all of these for a friend's baby - baby is in the hospital @ Vanderbilt. Been there since he was born. These things seemed to brighten the parents day! I thought that they came out really nice!

Sam

Trick-Or-Treat Basket

2011-10-30T18:05:00.001-07:00

This is the trick-or-treat "bag" that I made for the baby. I wanted it to be useful when Halloween is over.........this is a MINI Marketbasket. This thing was incredibly DIFFICULT to hoop. The tape thing is there to give you some sort of size comparison. This is not a big "basket". I won't be doing many of these!

It came out really cute!

Sam

Dish Towel Housewarming Gift

2011-10-30T18:04:00.001-07:00

For a co-worker that just bought her first house

Sam

Monnogrammed Towels

2011-10-30T09:15:00.001-07:00

Below you will see my very first attempt at monnogramming towels. They are NOT perfect, but they still look nice. Did them up for a girl that I work with that got married yesterday. This font was in the package for "perfect placement guides" - I would have liked something less girlly but the recipient is young & she'll appreciate them none-the-less. I used it becasue the font was specifically designed for towels - lots of underlying stitches. Made all those loops lie down flat! No pokies.

Towels from Target. Nice & soft - but they didn't like even the "light tacky" stabilizer being torn off. What I did not tear off, I told her to just wash & let it come off on it's own. Hopefully it will.

Sam

Recent Sew-Out Trying it on a BAG !!

2011-10-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Been doing just a little embroidery. Trying out fonts.

I bought this bag @ Michael's craft store today. I think you're supposed to paint on it. I was daring........I didn't even use a stabilizer. It was so thick by itself, I nearly could not get it hooped.

Sam

Fiddling Around with Software

2011-10-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Thursday night (see below post)I embroidered a shirt for the little man. Well, the FIRST shirt I tried to embroider, I failed to rotate the design & put the ribbon on upside down. Let's just say that at 10 & 11 o'clock at night, you can't get that tight little embroidery design OFF a knit shirt. Just aint happening. I could not bring myself to throw the shirt out, so I saved it to "play" around with a monogram.

I got a new embroidery software program called SewWhat-Pro (recommended by my buddy Leslie!) and I made the biggest monogram I could fit on this little 3T shirt.

Below are my efforts! Had to bribe him with a cookie to put it on.

Breast Cancer Awareness

2011-10-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

Friday was Breast Cancer Awareness Day @ the Day Care Center. they wanted everyone to wear pink shirts. Well, it's a little hard to put pink on the little man, so I used a small pink ribbon from Hope Yoder's site & embroidered a clip on button for my daughter to wear, and put the same little pink ribbon on a shirt for the little man.

Ghoulfriends

2011-10-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

This is my 3rd attempt at machine embroidery. It's a "sew-out" so we all know I didn't do it perfectly. I think it could have been just a tad lower on the front. On the REAL one, the t-shirt will be black.

I owe a huge thank you to an unknown gentleman on an embroidery forum. He told me how to "fix it" and it worked!

Didn't it turn out cute????

Sam

2nd Embroidery Attempt

2011-09-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Heavy Sigh here.......... I am going to have to do some homework on stabilizers.

This is a baby wrap t-shirt for a baby that is going to have heart surgery on Wednesday. He probably won't be able to wear it becasue he'll have another surgery in 3 weeks. but I wanted to make it anyway. I deliberately set it that low & deliberately chose that style of t-shirt because of the baby's sensitive skin. He'll be exactly 1 week old on Wednesday & I bought this embroidery design especially for him.

Sam

Consignment Sales

2011-09-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

I am fortunate that my youngest DD does NOT have a hang-up about ONLY having brand spanking new clothes on my grand-son. Truth be told? She can't afford to be picky.

In our area - Middle Tennessee- there are multiple "consignment sales". They are held about 2 or 3 times a year. Generally before winter & before summer. I go to a few that are local in the city where I live. This weekend there were 2 and we hit them both. I'm cheap so we went on 1/2 off day. It was busy! I spent roughly $70, and I bought 22 pair of pants (mostly jeans) and probably 1/2 that many shirts. We got a yellow rain slicker (Land's End $5), a heavy coat (Old Navy $3), and a light jacket/windbreaker (I don't know the brand). Our 2 highest ticket items? the $5 rain slicker & a girls purple bicycle for $6. The bike is for a co-workers neice. The prices I have quoted are what we paid AFTER the 50% off. We got some sweaters & long sleeved shirts too. All in all, except for shoes (which I won't buy used) and socks, the little man is SET for winter. and my daughter is HAPPY with the purchases.

At these sales the cothes are separated by sex & then by size. They are organized, and pretty clean. I like the one @ the church, becasue they have the kids that belong tot he church volunteering & they help you out to the car, hold doors & really just act nicely. Southern hospitality at it's best.

It's too bad there was not anything like this available when my girls were little. I could have saved a BUNCH of money. I don't really like sorting through stuff @ yard sales....so this type of "event" satisfies me. In & out quickly.

You should see if they hold some like this in your area! i think theres a web-site called "Consigning Time" & she offers some sort of "instructions" on starting one. (not me! I don't have enough desire to "do" that type of "business")

Sam

First Embroidery Attempt!!

2011-09-05T17:36:00.001-07:00

This is the *NEW* machine! It's a beast & right now, she & I are not best friends - I'm working on that!

The next 2 photos show my first attempt at embroidering. I used a design too big for the shirt I had - and I got more than half done & sewed the back of the shirt to the underside of the embroidery. I had to cut it apart to get the shirt out of the hoop...

I decided I needed a confidence builder - and put a crazy pumpkin image on an old kitchen towel/napkin. SUCESS !! It came out SO cute too!

Sam

Happy Dance!

2011-08-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

I get to pick up my new embroidery machine tomorrow!!!!!

Sam

Goodie For Me!

2011-08-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

Goody or Goodie. Eother way,I score.

This Friday I am attending an Embroidery Mart. I have never been to one, I am hoping it's a trade show for............EMBROIDERY MACHINES!

I have been wanting an embroidery machine for about 2 or 3 years. But since I believe in paying cash & living debt free..........it's been a little wait. It's not like I NEED one.......so , it's cash or not at all.

I am not buying a sewing machine with embroidery capabilities. I want a single head embroidery machine. I would like to have 12 threads, but It hink I'll likely have a 6 thread becasue of the cost. I just don't need another "sewing" machine & I don't want to be limited by not being able to hoop some items becasue of the flat bed of a regular type sewing machine.

I have been looking at the Janome MB4 @ a local shop in the city closest to where I live. I it has 4 needles/threads. The pictures that I can find show 8 spools of thread, but it's got 4 needles. On SALE these jobbies are $6700 plus tax. I have seen the Brother PR650 for $7000. So I am holding out for the trade show & see what my options are.

I know that there is not a lot of involvement on THIS blog (sewing & not quilting) but if you have any ideas on what's good/bad pros/cons on a single head embroidery unit, I'd like to hear what you have to say. I posted , on Sewingmamas, a similar question & so far, have not got any responses. That was very discouraging as I was really looking for some answers from folks that already own a machine.

Anyway.......wish me luck. Whatever I end up getting, I'll post a picture!

I have been getting allt he names of the kids/grandkids of my neighbors so I can make stuff. Told them I need guinea pidgeons to see if what I make has the AWE factor I am after! My list is a tad longer than I thought it would be - though i am not complaining! I am so excited! Incredibly excited.

Sam

Granny Apron ~ AKA: Sassy Little Apron

2011-05-07T19:43:00.000-07:00

I asked Prince Charming "What do you think of this apron?" He says: " Looks like a Granny Apron..." Okay, thanks honey!

The pattern is called "Sassy Little Apron" by CabbageRose Designs. These aprons were all over the Paducah show last week. And the adult pattern was sold out. I bought the childs apron pattern while at the show & got the adult pattern on-line @ etsy.

These colors are WAY out of my box - just wanted something bright , colorful & totally unexpected.

Here is my attempt at the infamous bathroom shot. Ia m not a photographer.

The front of this pattern says " This twirlly, girly little apron is so, so slimming!" Uh, not so much. Maybe on someone that's a size 4, but not a 12/14 !
ha ha ha

Ugh! I'm thinking it wasn't such a good idea to take these pictures on top of some of my quilts - a little busy.........

Sam

Bit The Bullet

2011-04-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

I cancelled my subscription to Ottobre. I only had it one year & I also ordered a BUNCH of back issues....but that's not what this post is regarding!

On the Sewing Mama's website, someone posted the *new* Ottobre link & I looked at it & liked the issue - but I'm unwilling to re-instate my subscription as I have not done much sewing for the grandbaby.

So? What do I go & do? Get on etsy.com & order the new issue of Ottobre & 1 metre of some knit fabric to make the baby a shirt. Which knit? Ha! The monster trucks of course!!!

I also ordered the 2 new patterns from Fishsticks & Fries. A new Raglan-T & Lounge Set. I love, love love the raglan & I am inclined to make the SAME shirt she shows on her website witht he Michael Miller guiters??? SO CUTE !

Sam

Guitar Strings

2011-03-07T14:43:00.000-08:00

I have really long hair. all one length. I don't wear it "down" much as it gets in the way.(since my real job during the day is at a desk...) Normally it's only down when it's wet. Then I braid it or screw it up in a hair slide or large clip. Clips, or barettes usually end up pulling my hair.

This is somehting I bought off etsy.com.

It's made of recycled guitar strings. How cool is that? I think the sellers shop is "stringcycle.etsy.com" Not positive though. It is more rigid than I expected but it DOES bend to conform to my (nicely) shaped head.

Did you know? It's not easy taking a picture of the back of your own head? Well, no it's not.

Keep in mind, my hair has been in a french braid all day & I just put this on to see if it would hold ALL my hair, even in a braid. Turns out, it does. I like it.

They make some with beads on them too. I asked for a red one, but the seller hasn't contacted me yet.

Pretty cool! (for the hippee in me...)

Sam

Cake-Pop Flop

2011-03-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

this picture was obtained off some random blog on the internet - they did a GOOD job - I wanted MINE to look like these!

Ok - I like to make cupcakes & I'm probably going to stick to cupcakes. Bigger palette to decorate on. I tried, in vain, to make Cake-Pops this week. I wanted to take them to work & show off how cute they are. Well, my Cake-Pops Flopped. I followed the instructions - even froze them - but I dipped them, they fell off in the chocolate.....I was SO angry!!! I just threw it all out. Sticks, melted chocolate, cake-pops.

Maybe I'll try again. I still have a LOT of sticks left & lot's of the melting chocolates. Maybe I'm better off making truffles from them.......I don't know. I just know they didn't work for me.

As you can tell, I'm being a sore loser. I don't OFTEN not succeed in crafty ideas. Makes me angry when I fail.......Oh well.......humility never hurt anyone did it?

Sam

Baby Space

2011-02-13T14:41:00.000-08:00

This is an area in our bonus/family room. I bought the 9 cube shelf unit @ Target. Target has this item in black, white, brown, pink and blue. We got the brown becasue we figured that LONG TERM we could get more use of it. Those little fabric boxes hold & HIDE a lot of stuff. You can't believe what is in those jobbies! The table & chairs (the white ones) are a Pottery Barn score off Craig's List last year.

I plan on getting 2 more of these cube organizers for the baby's room after we move him INTO his own room. We're holding off on that little move until we have the roof finished on the shed/barn. Right now I don't want to store anything in there until the roof is complete. Because right now , it leaks. The roof is only plywood & tar paper. I can't (don't want to) store all my unused , dearly loved, no longer needed STUFF in there without the roof being complete. The furniture in the room he'll occupy is antique - I just can't bring myself to put it out there until the roof is complete. You know?

Anyway - his room will be right next to the master bedroom & he isn't sleeping through the night every night yet......so I'm not in any hurry to get him in his own room!

Sam

PS That door behind the little table is an un-finished room. It will, one day, be a bedroom & bathroom. Normally I wouldn't block a door! But tis CUREENTLY doesn't go anywhere!

Pattern Book

2011-02-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

Because of Jackie, I bought this book.

She twisted my arm!

Actually, all she did was make a great long sleeved shirt with a front placket for her son. I have never been able to get one of those RIGHT, can't ever seem to figure out the instructions. So when she showed the book - I hunted one down off etsy - came all the way from Japan in a week. (How come I can mail something from TN to CA & it takes longer than that??? )

Anyway........I don't speak any other language than English, and probably not THAT as well as I should. There are no words printed in English in this book. And I didn't look hard enough to see if there were none......but the pictures are GREAT ! Pretty sure I can figure it out without the English printed word. These are not line drawings, or sketches, they are actual photos of the process.

I can not say that I am going to crank out polo shirts for the Tank as he has SO MANY clothes. DD#2 works as a pre-school teacher (in a really nice area outside Nashville...) and she has a parent or two that are giving her hand-me-downs. the Tank has more clothing than he can wear. I just can't see spending my time sewing for him to add to the "pile". You know? but you know, the well will dry up (so to speak) and I can get cranking.

He needs sleepers. I NEED to go to JoAnn's & buy some fleece & make some up for him. THOSE he can use. But in 2 months, it will be too warm for sleepers!! Oh well, can't win all the time, right!

thanks Jackie for the book idea. It is a wonderful addition to my collection.

Sam

PS: I am not absolutely positive I have her name correct or even spelled correctly...so forgive me if I got it wrong. But the LINK is correct!

PSS: And just becasue he's SO cute, and bats those baby blues at me & gets away with EVERYTHING, here is the Tank!

He's standing infront of my unfinished Ocean Waves Quilt

Melted Snowman Cookies

2011-01-05T18:15:00.001-08:00

I have seen these cookies on various blogs during the holidays & decided I'd try them! Most of the directions showed using sugar cookies. I didn't want to MAKE any dough so I used what I had & that happened to be gingerbread. I had bought 2 rolls of it @ Kroger. Froze one of them. Used the other for these cookies.

Super easy. Extremely easy. Bake cookies. Melt frosting, spoon frosting on the cookies - microwave marshmallows for NO LONGER than 15 seconds - butter your fingers - put marshmallows on the frosting. Decorate.

Told ya! Easy! 'Course I didn't take a whole lot of time decorating these, I just wanted to SEE how they would go together.

I'll be making them again.

And just because he's cute!:

Sam

Mum Cupcakes

2010-09-19T18:59:00.001-07:00

My 2 sisters and nephew & his wife & new baby & ....well MY FAMILY was over today for eats & greets & here are some cupcales that my 2 daughters made.

Do you remeber the "Hello Cupcake" book? Well this design is from thier new book called "What's Up CupCake" (I think)

Mum Cupcakes! Aren't they CUTE ?????

Sam

T-Shirts

2010-09-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Anyone want to enlighten me on HOW to get a 9 month old to "pose" ?

Pattern is by Fishsticks & Fries. This is the t-shirt from the larger "layette" set. Sized 18 months. I think I need ot go bigger.

he would not model. Too much going on. I am dog-sitting the grandpets and the grandbaby was very interested in them.

The Ooga fabric is advertised as Halloween - but there is absolutely nothing on the print that is pumpkins or halloween related. It's just ORANGE. Got it on ebay from a seller named "cankormanz" or something really similar. She has a website too called printknits.com

My grandbaby is a doll. H'ell melt me everytime with those big blue eyes.

Sam

Patterns

2010-09-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

I ordered a few new patterns over the weekend. 3 of them. All from Fishsticks & Fries. I got the larger "layette" pattern, the skivvies pattern & the newest t-shirt pattern.

I was really frustrated with my attempts at a lap-t (envelope neck) t-shirt for hte baby. I tried to draft my own & flopped hopelessly. While I may be able to sew - I HAVE to have a pattern. I need more then just a picture.

Always been like tht for me.........

The shirts I made the baby in January were the size 12 months from the layette pattern - but they were 12 months. #1 he's outgrown them. #2 the pattern only goes to 12 months. The new pattern goes to something like a 5T !

I need to make up a bunch of those & then I'll go back to the other one witht he raglan type sleeves.

Still have not taken pictures of the bibs I made. The baby must like the terry cloth, he keeps shoving them in his mouth. But then, he might be teething. Doubt it. DD#2 & I have decided h'ell walk before he gets teeth!!

Sam

Ack ! See? I make Mistakes

2010-08-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is one of my more UNSUCCESSFUL attempts at making a shirt for the baby. the knit was thin, I fought with my cover-hem machine, my DSM kept skipping stitches....it's a mess. I am glad I was using the cheap stuff. Also - this is about 2 sizes too big for him too!! I think the pattern runs "true-to-size" I traced an 18 months size, and it's GOT to be the real 18 months size. Not some little bitty 3rd world country 18 months size.

I think I'll go back to lap-t's.

Sam

T-Shirts/Onsies

2010-08-16T10:40:00.000-07:00

The girls & I got together last night & painted onsies for the grandbaby. This is something that DD#1 had us do at the baby shower that she threw for DD#2 in November. But, SURPRISE SURPRISE, the baby has outgrown ALL of them.

We used various methods. Just painted stuff on them & then also used that freezer paper stencil technique. Once we got the hang of it, DD#2 painted her company logo on her work shirts!

I have some more ideas for additional shirts, but it will have to wait.

I will post pictures when the lighting is a little better in the bonus room.

The ladies at the daycare center probably think we're nut-jobs for sure!!

Sam

Just Because........

2010-07-11T11:21:00.001-07:00

I think he's the cutest baby EVER !

Recieving Blankets (from You Can Make This)

2010-07-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

I have purchased a bunch of patterns lately from the www.youcanmakethis.com, but the pattern I used today was FREE. You know? You just can't beat FREE.

Did you ever feel that the recieving blankets that you BUY are a little on the small side as well a little thin? Well, as anyone that reads my blog(s) know.........something you MAKE is always better. Not always less expensive, but cetainly BETTER.

I used the free receiving blanket pattern off the YCMT website & made 3 so far today. One DD#2 claimed before I could fold it up! That's flattery at it's finest. Anywasy........all are from flannel. 2 pieces flannel. I also edged them all in rickrack. Since I decided that the burpcloths were more trouble then I wanted to fool with, I made the receiving blanket pretty large. About 38" X 42".

#1 has black flannel with monsters on it. Monsters are neon colors. It's backed with bright neon green flannel & edged with orange rickrack. #2 has fire trucks on the front & red flannel on the back, edged in yellow rick rack. #3 is yellow ducks, backed in pale yellow flannel & edged in baby blue rick rack. I have some blue fabric (not lfannel) & baby blue flannel that I still lack macking. I have enough of the ducks & the firetrucks to make a 2nd blanket of each. (I didn't get a picture of the monsters with the neon green backing! It was in use when I got the camera out today.)

Did you know? Rick rack is expensive! The kind you buy by the YARD is! It took just under 6 yards of rick rack PER blanket. I paid $1.98 for the smaller rick rack & $1.24 for the larger. I am going BACK tot he store where I got the $1.24 & see if I can get some to match the firetrucks & ducks.....(that was an unintentional rhyme)

They are really soft, really cute, and BIG. DD#2 said that they'd last a kid till they were 4 or 5. I keep telling here that there ARE advantages to sewing.

Sam

Travel High Chair (AKA: Sam's Sumo Seat)

2010-06-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

I have an antique high chair that I bought 24 years ago, when DD#2 needed one. I really never liked the plastic ones.......anyway - as beautiful as the high chair is, babies slide down in it. Even with the seat strap. So DD#2 & I searched around on the 'net & found a travel high chair. I really didn't like the models that wrapped around from front to back & I didn't like the ones that slipped over the top of the seat........so we found one that we liked & created a prototype.

Here you see the "finished" product. It isn't much to look at....

Sit the baby on the bottom............

Lift seat part up, Wrap the left side to the right , with rough side of velcro UP.

Wrap the right side of seat across the the left, flip down seat.

Seat functions perfectly!

Keeps baby from falling side to side, or forward

Back View.

We used this seat @ Cracker Barrel in one of their highchairs, we used it in the shopping cart @ Lowe's & again int he shopping cart @ Wal Mart. Functioned just perfect. From the photos that we saw on the internet, we can use it on all types of chairs. It also folds up smaller then the cart cover my DD#2 bought from Target.

I used an old bed sheet for the prototype & will likely replace it with something a little more attractive, but for right now? It works great!

Sam

No Will Power

2010-06-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

My grandson is ONLY 6 months old. but I bought something he can't use until he's 2. TWO.YEARS.OLD. That means Christmas of 2011. it's going to be delivered this week! I am SO excited!

I bought the Little Tykes TRUCK !!!!

When my daughter was 2 we bought her the Little Tykes Cozy Coupe. She'll be 24 years old soon & they STILL make that little car. It was her very most favorite toy EVER. If this little truck makes the grandbaby as happy as her car made her, it will have been money well spent!

It's going to kill me to keep it in storage waiting........

Somrthing else I found on amazon.com.......was costumes by "Melissa & Doug". I have dreamed of having a dress up chest with costumes & everything for make believe........the costumes on amazon by Melissa & Doug are SO cute! i can't wait to start getting them for the grandkid(s). but, AGAIN, those will be something for the future...he won't be able to play with them until he is 4 or 5. YEARS old....... I am going to be the coolest Nana!!

Sam

Other Building Ideas

2010-04-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

Let's see if I can get the photos where I want them in this post.....

Long Term Building Projects MIGHT include the following items:

Images above, are courtesy of Land of Nod.

Ever seen a "Land of Nod" catalog? Absolutely cost prohibitive! I don't like the "shelf" part too well, but I really like the storage bins.

DD#2 - says that the #1 TOY that the kids love are the kitchen appliances. That role-playing has no gender barriers. Both boys & girls play with the kitchen set!!

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids.

My favorite DIY website (of course) www.knock-offwood.com has free wood working plans for a kitchen set that is VERY similar.

Then MAYBE, maybe, maybe...a table & chairs set. I like the idea of the little storage bin under the table & under the chairs. (the chairs with the storage are not shown in this post)

Image courtesy of Land of Nod.

Like I said, LONG TERM building projects.

Obviously all these items are geared toward children. All of them would have to stay @ Nana & PawPaw's house because if we make them for one grandchild, I feel that (in order to be fair to all future grandchildren) we'd have to make multiples!! Well, that & I just don't think that DD#2 has the space for all this bulky furniture. Well - they would if they turned thier garage into a playroom!

I hear my feather pillows calling......time to go to sleep.

Sam

Working on Christmas

2010-04-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Nope, not gifts to give. Gifts to GET. Prince Charming has agreed to build some (some? HA! more than some!) cabinets for my sewing room. Prompted by the free wood working plans available from Ana @ www.knock-offwood.com I have been lamenting on how nice it would be to have all matching furniture. At least LOOK like it matches. DD#1 & I are building a desk set - but I think all THESE cabinets wold be a larger bite than we can handle.

The photos above are courtesy of Pottery Barn. I am wanting a combination of these modular units. 3 of the bottom drawers, 3 of the open cubbies that house 4 baskets each, and 3 of the cubbies with doors. They all stack on top of one another, and 3 high is as tall as I want to go. So that's 9 (YES NINE) units. I'll have the drawers on the bottom & then I'll stager the open & doored units.

Then I would like a cabinet, similarly designed, for my cutting table. It's 36 inches wide, I figure there could be one side of drawers & the other side can be a cabinet with pull out drwaers for my serger & coverpro machines and maybe the snap press. Thanks Pam for that sliding shelf idea!!

Lastly, I want a cabinet, with doors, custom sized for under my ironing station.

I will paint all of them. I will also paint the table legs of my sewing table & the green dresser the same color as all the NEW stuff. All of it should look like it all belongs together.

The best part? Prince Charming didn't even blink when I kept saying...."AND". His ONLY comment? He is not painting. That's okay with me!

Pam said she knows the perfect cream color for them all. I was contemplating black, but with dust / dog hair / and fabric lint & threads, decided black was not a very good choice.

I am SO happy! As soon as he has my hope chest completed, we're going to start on my storage solutions. Yippee!!!

Sam

Prize Ribbons

2010-04-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

These are not quilted, so I posted them on THIS blog. But the ribbons ARE for a quilt show.

The light blue one, was my first. Then I made the other 5. Fooled around on the internet to figure out how I wanted them to look.

There is a card stock paper back so that stuff can be written on there, as well as a little hanging loop.

They really look nice. I took these pictures after 9:30 PM, so the lighting is really awful.

So? Whatcha think?

Sam

Pillow Cases

2010-03-30T06:22:00.001-07:00

My quilt guild is making pillow cases for charity. I made 10 of them last night.

Did you know that making pillowcases really isn't too exciting? Even if they do have Scooby Doo on them.............

Ia m glad that I am done with them .

Sam

Patterns

2010-03-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Jalie Patterns

I ordered these on the 7th, got my shipment notification on the 8th. I got them on the 24th. Held up in New Jersey ......I'm guessing customs.......but WHY?

Jalie had a buy 3 get 1 free deal going. I still have .......oh 8 maybe 10 more on my "want" list. But they are a bit pricey to buy all at once. It's not the price of them that puts me off, because you get like 27 sizes in each pattern. It's the shipping!

Sam

My Oldest Niece & My Grandbaby

2010-03-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

DD#2 sewing bibs for the baby.

Grandbaby in the pen with a shirt on that I made for him. About as modeled as it's going to get!

Now! THIS is my oldest niece. She really likes babies. Eian got a giggle from her. I wish you could see her blue eyes.

Funny thing, genetics.....

I hope DS#1 see's this post!

Know what? ia m ONLY 8 years older than my niece! Ha ha - I don't feel quite so old when I put it int hat context

Sam

Filing Cabinet / 2 Drawers

2010-03-15T05:00:00.001-07:00

I will try to post a photo this evening, but I don't know if that's going to happen because I have a very busy Monday!

In my previous post, I showed you a blog that Ana White has called "Knock Off Wood". Well, DD#1 & I decided that we REALLY like the Pottery Barn desk set, but refuse to pay the price. Well, "refuse" is a relative term. We just can't justify the expense.

Prince Charming, as you well know, is a Prince, but his project list grows DAILY! So DD#! & thought we would try our hand at furniture building. Besides, if Ana in Alaska can do it, I think WE can. An added bonus is that Prince Charming has all the cool tools. And I mean COOL.

Have you EVER used a "Track-Saw" ? SWEET ! Much, much better than a regular circular saw. He has a compound miter saw with a laser light...........pneumatic nailers (framing & finish) and everything else that goes along with having a "shop". I asked him if we could play in his shop & he said yes! I also told him that if he wanted to play on my longarm machine that I'd show him how to use it. He laughed that off, I don't think I have to worry about that, but hey! You NEVER know.......he might be the next Jamie Whallen.

ANYWAY - DD#1 & I got the frame for a 2 drawer file cabinet nearly completed. We ran out of 1 X 3 boards, and we have to special order 12" drawer slides. MDF is pretty heavy! But it looks good. It's not without some minor imperfections, but it still looks good!! I am proud of us. No arguing (which we really don't do much of anyway) and no injuries.

Y'all NEED a track-saw!

Sam

Following a new blog!

2010-03-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

http://knockoffwood.blogspot.com

I was hunting for woodworking plans to make a children's kitchen set. The ones @ Pottery Barn are alittle more than pricey!

Sam

Broken Bobbin

2010-03-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

I bought my very first sewing machine when I was 16 years old. That was in 1980.

It is the only sewing machine that I have that has a "free arm".

Last night while sewing the baby jeans (see below post!!!) the thread ran out & I reached down to remove the bobbin case & the little pigtail flippy-do thing just broke off & the bobbin fell apart in these 3 peices.

I was too busy at work today to leave early enough to try & go to a sewing machine shop to see if I could order one.

I sure hope that is all I have to do.........

I do not need another machine, I hope I can fix this cheaper! And I hope shipping costs more than the part does. Though I won't hold my breath.

Yes, i tried to put it back together by myself. No luck. One of the little nipple type ends on the pigtail flippy do thing broke off & it will not sit back in it's little slot securely.........Darn it, I hope I can find another bobin case. I just can not give up on this machine. Besides that........we have a HISTORY together.

Talk to you all later, I hear my feather pillows calling me!

Sam

Baby Jeans / Recycling (or UP-Cycling?)

2010-03-02T18:58:00.000-08:00

So, I know they can be purchased a whole lot cheaper, but i was itching to MAKE something.

Prince Charming had a pair a jeans that I hadn't thrown out yet & I used a Kwik Sew Pattern #3374. Heavily modified. I combined the back top yoke with the back leg & then combined the front leg with the back leg to create one piece that I used to center the jeans leg seam on the baby jeans.

In these photos, all I lack is the casing on the top for the elastic. I used an old denim shirt for the snap placket & to reduce bulk (since the jeans are so thick) I think that I will use the same denim shirt for the elastic casing.

The pockets are a little too large, but if I cut them smaller, I would have lost the Levi look - though I wish i had sewn the little red tag on the right back pocket. I didn't think about that until I already had them sewn on. And there is a mock fly too.

Oh My Gosh!! A Snap Press is SO stinking handy! I pressed those little suckers on there in under 10 minutes and I only messed up once.

DD#2 will be here the weekend after next & I will try them on the grandbaby then. IF I don't mail them to her first.

Already worn out, already broke in, already have the wear holes for a wallet. Should be very comfortable for the baby. We'll see!

Sam

The Lowly Ice Cube

2010-02-28T15:51:00.000-08:00

Ha !

This really works, try it.

I watch a lot of HGTV because well...#1 I like it #2 I like to have some sort of "noise" on while I am sewing & my sewing "room" is directly across from the TV. So I "watch" it while I sew. I sew a lot........

(sorry ladies, I don't have little children at home anymore, so I NEED some background noise)

Well, on one of the issues of Designed To Sell ( I sure wish I could make $2000 go as far as they do!) They were moving furniture around & you know those little divits that furniture leaves in carpet? Well that Sabrina Soto says that if you put an ice cube on it & allow it to melt, that after it's dry, you can just go fluff it up.

Well guess what? It Works!

I swapped some furniture around a month or 2 ago & the nighstands are different sizes & I tried that little tid-bit & I am happy to report that there are NO divits in the carpet anymore. An overnight success. Amazing. I have some upstairs in our bonus room from the old TV stand that I am going to hit next.

Silly me, too bad I didn't know this before. I lived in my house in Alabama for 10 years looking at those stinking divits in the master bedroom from the previous owners. TEN YEARS people!!!

Oh well, I'm smarter now.

Sam

Gandbaby's Red Hair

2010-02-27T11:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the grandbaby has his Momma's red hair. Of course wearing yellow accentuates his red hair. Those are HER tresses you see in the photos, mine has paled somewhat...'course mine was never THAT red, but you wouldn't know what color it ever was to see it now.. Ha Ha Ha

Oh! And his eyes are still blue.

Sam

Onsie Painted by Auntie #1

2010-02-27T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well, it will always be Auntie #1 because the baby Daddy is an only child, and the baby Momma only has one sister...

anyway - this is a onsie that my DD#1 painted at the baby shower that she threw for DD#2.

Here is the grandbaby in his RAWR!! Onsie.

Sam

Modelded Shot

2010-02-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

I have a few other pictures, but I have to get them off my camera first.

#1 - The brown shirt with the giraffes is TOO SMALL. The pattern said it was 6 months size. You can see how short the sleeves are on him - 3/4 could work on a girl, but not a boy.....

#2 - The other 3, I made in size 12 months. They fit him perfectly.

#3 - Either the pattern runs small or the baby is big. He is only 10 weeks old.

This is a cell phone shot of the grandbaby in his bouncer in his crib. Wearing one of the shirts that I made for him.

Sam

Super Bowl Lap-Tees

2010-02-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

This is what I sewed on while Mr. Manning was chunking that ball around Miami.

I still lack finishing the sleeves of the 2 on the right, they will not have the contrast binding, just the fabric turned under.

I also still lack trimming all the edges.

These are all size 12 months, supersoft, and ADORABLE !

I hope that they become the grandbaby's favorite shirts.

Sam

Lap-T With the "GOOD" Fabric

2010-02-07T10:22:00.000-08:00

Here is a little Lap-t that I made for the grandbaby. The pattern is from Fishsticks & Fires and this is 6 month size. I am going to cut out a few more today, but I think I'll trace the 12 month size and make them short sleeved for him to wear them this summer.

My stitching is not perfect, but it's SO adorable & soft. I love this fabric. I think I got it off ebay. Can't remember....

You know, 20 years ago, when I was sewing for the girls - I could have cranked out MORE outfits with more variety than I ever did. Acess to the internet for shopping and "outfit" ideas is absolutely endless........I loved what I did then & I enjoy it even more now!

BOLO for more tomorrow!

Sam

Smelly - Feeling Better - I think

2010-01-31T10:02:00.000-08:00

** Had the cat back to the vet on Monday the 1st. Braved all the slush on the roads....They took off the cone & removed the drain tube out of his head. I was surprised at how well he behaved. The vet-tech used some antibiotic soap & a towel & ROUGHLY scrubbed his head & he leaned into it! While he was good & pissed off, I had them trim his nails too. So now he's home & recooperating - his shaved head & neck reminds me of a Friar Tuck hair cut! Oddly enough the whole abcessed area is all dried up & healing very nicely.......No clue how it got there. I just hope that these "things" are not going to be a regular visitor...? **

He really hates the cone. It leans on his "wound" and it bothers him a LOT, but I am sure he would have his head torn up without that cone.

We go back to the vet tomorrow. Weather permitting........

Speaking of weather. We have not had additional snow - but after I scraped the snow off my car , it had to run for an hour & 15 minutes to melt the ice off the windows & doors.

I hope I can go to work tomorrow!

Sam

Snow

2010-01-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

View is front door looking out towards my driveway!

View is - back deck looking across the yard - I fed the birds

View is looking out basement/garage door - out across the neighbors' yards

Ok people. This is TENNESSEE, not Michigan.

I live approximately 30 miles west of Nashville. All this snow started about 9 AM on Friday the 29th, and it let up last night. We got about 5 inches. The forcast was for more snow - but I think it went more east. I'm not pouting about that.

I just hope it clears up enough for me to go to work on Monday. I left early yesterday & I have a LOT of work that I would like to finish. I hate having left over work! Hate it.

Anyway - enjoy the photos. I was in my jammies - probably won't get out of them all day! - and I wasn't going outside in my jammies to get better photos.

I hope I can get all that snow off my car.

Bourbon hates it. the "snow" has sleet under it & sleet on top of it, so when he walks on it, it breaks like ice & he does NOT like the sound or the feel. Prissy @ss dog........

Sam

Smelly Cat & his Cone

2010-01-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

Sunday night, our cat, Smelly Cat, jumped in my lap & wanted to be petted. He's old, I petted. I was rubbing his head & felt this lump.....didn't seem to bother him. Monday it was bigger. I already had Wednesday off to go to the eye doctor & ...another appointment & I decided that I would take Smelly to the vet.

Prince Charming & I discussed that if it was a cancerous tumor, I would have to have him put to sleep. I didn't really want to do this, but the cat has had a GOOD life & he's 15 now.......Got to the vet & she took a syringe & drained some JUNK from that lump - she said it was an abcess. GAG. I mean HUGE GAG.

I told the vet that if it were a tumor, we'd need to talk. She said that the only way she could determine if it was a tumor was to cut the abcess open & see if there was anything "hard" in it. Being "hard" would indicate a tumor. Well, it was simply an abcess. They shaved his head (think skin head here....) and cut 2 incisions in the abcess - drained it then LACED a drain tube through the holes. Then they put a cone on him.

Smelly Cat is NOT happy. He is baffled how to walk around with that cone on......his balance is a little off. and it's not due to any type of pain meds. Due to his age, they didn't even use a local anesthetic. He yowled & yowled.......I felt like a jerk, but between Sunday & today that lump doubled.

He didn't want to have his picture taken!

Sam

Grandbaby Photos

2010-01-23T08:22:00.001-08:00

Y'All can suffer through it!

Here are NEW pictures of the grandbaby. These were taken last Sunday while @@#2 was here to visit!!

Sam

Bit the Bullet

2010-01-22T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I bit the bullet.

I went & bought myself a one year subscription to Ottobre!

Sam

Electronic Woes

2010-01-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

Oh woe is me! the DSL has been down all week. Couldn't post, or anything.

I have done ZERO crafting or sewing. I can't say as much for the BUYING.

One of the fabric stores in Nashville was having a sale. I bought 3 "Oliver & S" patterns, one reversible apron dress (to make a few dresses as gifts), and 2 Kwik Sew patterns to sew jeans for the grandbaby. And 5 yards of super duper heavy denim. And a pair of 5" knife edged Ginger scissors. (I already have a pair, but I either: lost them or stuck them in a safe place & can not find them)

I bought the denim to make dog beds. A German Shepherd has really long, sharp toenails. When he fluffs up his dog bed, he is tearing holes in it. So, I am contemplating sewing up one large ehough for him. Poor Briscoe, the GS, he is so tall & so long he looks like an elephant riding a mushroom when he sleeps on that dog bed! Very comical! But he really likes sleeping on it! ( yes, I know! Trim his nails......You have any idea how hard it is to hold down a 95 pound dog when he DOES NOT want his nails trimmed? Never mind that he's the most passive dog I have EVER owned.........He does NOT like his nails trimmed. Period.)

And 2 weeks ago - I bought MORE stretch knit from JoAnn's Fabrics in Franklin. Grandbaby needs to grow some, needs to grow out of all the clothes he has so I can sew him Nana Made clothes. itching to do it. But he's got so many clothes right now......he'll outgrow most of them before he ever wears them. I guess that's because I bought too much? Probably. Most likely......but I didn't buy new!!

Sam

Thursday night S & S

2010-01-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

This is what QB1 & I made tonight.

This is a prototype - as I don't like the thin bias tape. I plan on making it again but we'll use the wide DOUBLE fold bias tape so we only sew on it ONCE.

Cute, isn't it?

Sam

Mud Room Bench

2010-01-07T05:45:00.000-08:00

TOY CHEST

BENCH

Prince Charming has made a bench for an area of our basement/garage that we use as a mud-room. Don't really have a ROOM, just an area that is bumped out in the garage where I park my wagon.

My part of this project is still pending, as I need to find a store that I can buy 4" foam from & then make a seat cushion from it , cover it & make basket liners to match.

It's beautiful. I will get photos posted soon. Even without the pad & the basket liners. It sure corrals a lot of junk. We didn't get RID of any junk, just hid it. For me? Out of sight is more comforting then all piled up.

He also made a shoe/boot shelf to go next to it. I can't see how it will stay clean. It looks great & functions beautifully. But I can't keep it clean & I am not going to try very hard TO keep it clean anymore.

but, boy-OH-boy, am I MUCH happier having all that mess corraled! My best bud Kat told me that it was too nice to have down in the basement/garage. Oh well.

Prince Charming started another project too. He is making #1 of 4 cedar/hope chests. #1 will start it's life out as a toy box for GS#1. All he lacks right now is the top (& then staining & sealing)! It is awesome. Gorgeous. He wants to deepen the pattern for the next 3. Why 3 more? Well, my peeps, 1 for me, 1 for DD#1, and 1 for DD#2.

After that? Prince Charming is going to try & build a matching bookcase for the chest he made for GS#1.

Yes, I'll post pictures.

I have TOTALLY been neglecting my blogs......

Sorry!

Sam

P/S - it's snowing here - it's freezing outside & i ALWAYS bring the dogs in at night.

Grandson #1 in Ooga NCBE

2009-12-29T16:35:00.000-08:00

These photos are of grandson #1 on the day he came home from the hospital.

DD#2 dressed him in the Ooga outfit that I made for him.

These photos are much more clear - as you can tell - he is just a few days old in these pictures.

The one with the his Daddy's arm is priceless.

Sam

Baby Outfit

2009-12-28T05:40:00.000-08:00

This is a really rotten photo. I forgot my camera when we went to see DD#2 & SIL#1 on Saturday 12/26. This si the only photo of the baby that I got! And I had to take it with my cell phone........

This is an outfit that I made for him!

It is the NCBE layette pattern in 0-3 mos size. He is only 2 weeks old in this photo. He won't wear it too long!

Sam

Baby Hats of Fleece

2009-12-24T19:38:00.000-08:00

I got a pattern for fleece baby hats off "youcanmakethis" website.

I whipped these up tonight. Both within 30 minutes.

I think the 2 tone hat is a little too big for a newborn to 3 months & it's not multi-sized. But I think i can manage to downsize it. It still lacks a snap!

Too Cute!

Sam

Rare Comodity in TN

2009-12-24T19:33:00.000-08:00

Before Thanksgiving I told DD#1 that pumpkin was scarce. She bought 4 cans. NOW? You can't find ONE can. Not anywhere.

Well, i feel very lucky because NOW I can make a pumpkin pie for Christmas Dinner.

Bless you DD#1 !

Sam

Borbon Got a Hair Cut!

2009-12-24T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here is Bourbon with his *new* hair cut. Since he's an inside dog now....I decided to have him cut with a traditional Springer Cut with a Skirt. It will take about 6 months for his skirt to get long enough to be really noticible.

Isn't he adorable?

Sam

First Post

2009-12-24T07:08:00.001-08:00

Well, I decided that I would create a blog for all my "other" sewing projects that are NOT quilting.

My blog for my quilting can be found here: www.samquilts.blogspot.com

Stay tuned for all the sewing I plan on doing for 2010!

Since the arrival of my first grandbaby, I have been aquiring fabric & patterns (hoarding is more like it...) for BOYS. Wow, you know that sewing for boys is boring? Yep, pretty much boring. The sky is the limit on girls, pink & frills & princessy stuff.......but boys are just a little different. So? I have been buying patterns & fabrics.

Not so much for sewing now - as the mini-munchkin has more clothing then he'll ever wear before he's 18 months old........but for when he's walking.

I joined a sewing site called "Sewing Mama's". I have gained a lot of sewing-for-boys ideas off there! Also - found a GREAT magazine that I would REALLY REALLY like to have a subscription too: Ottobre. It's Danish or Finnish or something like that. They print them in English. I have bought several back issues, and plan on buying as many of them as I can afford. They are awesome. Lot's of tracing though.

My last trip to JoAnn's I bought myslef 2 patterns for skirts & 3 different tyes of denim & twill for pants & skirts. I like them long & you just can't buy them like that anymore....

So! Stay tuned for Sewing With Sam!

Sam

Sam Sews

Valentines Embroidery

This is My Sewing Space

Badge Reels

First Official Up-Cycle Shirt

Candy Wreath

Not A Successful Night

Hooded Towel

Veteran's Day Embroidery

More Embroidery

Trick-Or-Treat Basket

Dish Towel Housewarming Gift

Monnogrammed Towels

Recent Sew-Out Trying it on a BAG !!

Fiddling Around with Software

Breast Cancer Awareness

Ghoulfriends

2nd Embroidery Attempt

Consignment Sales

First Embroidery Attempt!!

Happy Dance!

Goodie For Me!

Granny Apron ~ AKA: Sassy Little Apron

Bit The Bullet

Guitar Strings

Cake-Pop Flop

Baby Space

Pattern Book

Melted Snowman Cookies

Mum Cupcakes

T-Shirts

Patterns

Ack ! See? I make Mistakes

T-Shirts/Onsies

Just Because........

Recieving Blankets (from You Can Make This)

Travel High Chair (AKA: Sam's Sumo Seat)

No Will Power

Other Building Ideas

Working on Christmas

Prize Ribbons

Pillow Cases

Patterns

My Oldest Niece & My Grandbaby

Filing Cabinet / 2 Drawers

Following a *new* blog!

Broken Bobbin

Baby Jeans / Recycling (or UP-Cycling?)

The Lowly Ice Cube

Gandbaby's Red Hair

Onsie Painted by Auntie #1

Modelded Shot

Super Bowl Lap-Tees

Lap-T With the "GOOD" Fabric

Smelly - Feeling Better - I think

Snow

Smelly Cat & his Cone

Grandbaby Photos

Bit the Bullet

Electronic Woes

Thursday night S & S

Mud Room Bench

Grandson #1 in Ooga NCBE

Baby Outfit

Baby Hats of Fleece

Rare Comodity in TN

Borbon Got a Hair Cut!

First Post

Following a new blog!