National Sewing Month continued

A few more things I've done in the last week or so....

National Sewing Month

September is National Sewing Month so I thought I'd post a blog with pictures of some of my recent projects.  Most of these have been posted already to Facebook so you've probably seen them but here is a nice summary!

Halloween project I am working on that is 1/3 complete....stay tuned!

Flannel PJ pants for Olivia that did not come out right so I'll be making them again!

Taggie blanket made for a friend's baby - first embroidery "Jake"!

Olivia's outgrown jeans turned into a skirt

Learning to embroider - this one was before I figured out how to center my designs!

Applique watermelon added to Olivia's swim cover-up

Fall towel for my Mom - fabric edge added and monogrammed with "L"

Thrift Store Finds....

This weekend was the Grand Opening of Missions Thrift Store.  It will be open open two Saturdays per month at my church and the proceeds go to missions trips.  Olivia's twin from another mother and his mother invited us to come along with them for some shopping fun and here are my finds:

The Olivia-sized adirondack chair and table up top were a cute find for $20.

This Caterpillar Rocking Toy apparently retails new for $90 but I rescued him for a cool $7.50!  He's seen better days but I think once I take a vaccum to him and spot clean, he'll be good as used!  LOL!  Of course one of his antennaes is coming unsewn and he's missing foot rests and some little toy that goes in his back pocket but hey, who needs all that stuff??

And, a bread box for $5.  Wow, Shannon, that's a really BIG bread box!  Why yes it is but it won't be for long because I've got plans for this baby that do not involve bread!!  Stay tuned.....

Also, I finally finished something I've been wanting to get to for a while - a hairbow holder for the little girl.  She is finally getting some length on her hair so I wanted the bows to be out so I'll remember to use them.  I  bought the O plain and painted it green to match her room  and bought the jungle animals ribbon, which did not photograph well ,  to go with.  (Note:  I have since moved this to her room and it is against yellow paint there and I think it looks better - I'll have to take another pic soon!)

Serious Transformation....

Today my fabulous sister-in-law worked her Martha Stewart magic and transformed our office/crafting/junk room/guest room (yes, it's all in one room!) and our kitchen pantry.  Just to be fair I should tell you that some of the work you see in the after was done by me before her visit so all of this was not done in one day but these are still accurate befores and afters for the areas overall.  Here are some pics that will amaze you!

First up is an overall shot of the office, before and after:

Next is my bookcase, before and after:

Now, the office closet, before and after:

Plus a pic of my new pegboard that is over my sewing/crafting desk which my wonderful hubby spray painted and hung for me (this color does not seem to photograph well but in person it's really nice):

And, lastly, the pantry, before and after:

Linking up to Org Junkie's link party for Week 29

1st Birthday Party! (part 2 - the birthday girl)

1st Birthday Party! (part 1 - decorations)

Refashioning/Upcycling

One of the things I am really interested in with sewing is known as refashioning or upcycling.  These might actually be two different terms but if so, I have no idea what the difference is so I just use them interchangeably.

At anyrate the terms refer to taking something that you already have or something you buy really cheap and making it new or different.  You can do this with any belonging but in my case I am interested in doing this with clothes.  I do NOT aspire to be any sort of designer or to even make my own clothes, I just like playing around.

So, here is a new creation - t-shirt with a refashioned neckline.  To accomplish this I bought two of the same shirt from Target's 75% off clearance rack.  They were probably $3/each so for $6 here is what I made.

Before:

After: