Fresh Linens

Freshly laundered linens...and he thinks they're "fresh" for him!

Love that sun-dried smell...guess he does too.

till tomorrow,

debi

Sunday Thoughts

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!
Psalms 139: 1-6

Organization - clearing clutter

I have worked hard the last couple of days and the piles that had been placed outside the doorway of the sewing room have been dealt with.  Since all the girls are gone I now own the upstairs.

This large open area upstairs belonged to the girls when they were home, which now seems like years and years ago. It had been set up with a TV area on this end of the room and a study area with a desk and a computer on the other end of the room.  Now, I'm using it for craft storage and an art studio.

I have shelves and bookcases along the one wall with all my craft books and supplies.

I don't have all the drawers labeled, as yet, but that's next on my list.  I tackled each pile sitting on the floor by first separating out like things and putting them into stacks.  Each stack was given its own bin.  The bins will each be gone through one more time before they are finally labeled.

It feels tedious, but makes the larger chunks feel more manageable.

Embellishments, scissors, tools...all are in one place now. 

The one big project yet to complete in this room is finishing the trim on the edge of the couch.  I did slipcovers last year, but haven't added my ruffle to the edge as yet.  It is much more apparent now that it's "unburied" from the stuff that was sitting on the couch.

The opposite end of the room is set up as an art studio.  My husband and I both have a drafting table and our own cupboard for storage.

Once again, I unburied some projects that have not been completed, but they are now in the appropriate area just waiting to be finished!

The sewing room also got further organization.

Books and sewing magazines in their appropriate place.

Bits of this and that have their own home now.

I love all the large rick rack stored together.

Sweet baby shoes with vintage handkerchiefs.

More storage jars for buttons, pins and small bits of lace.

I have some of my favorite vintage tablecloths and tea towels hung for a "visual" vacation and inspiration.

Old spools all seem to belong together.

My favorite bit of inspiration is my name tag from the Paper Cowgirl Art Retreat.

I also got the grandkid's room organized also.  There has been only one bed in here and there was a large cupboard for their toys...however now the toys are stored on shelves in the closet and I have room for each of the kids to have their own bed.

It's been very cathartic to go through each shelf and box and to actually throw some things out!

I have things that still need more organization within their boxes or bins, but I feel like it's now in manageable pieces and the job is not a huge, overwhelming task to be done.

I still have the guest room closet to go through, but most of that belongs to Emily and it will go home with her!

This small chest is my next project...it will hold some more supplies in my sewing room!

I won't have time to get to it until the end of October...got some vacation time coming and I'm going to enjoy just being away!

I want to thank Hollace who is always an encouragement to me!  She's the best and if you haven't met her you can stop by her blog and introduce yourself!

Her blog is Hollace the Mopsy.

Well, another long week, but I feel so much was accomplished!

till tomorrow...

debi

Grocery Bag

I downloaded the pattern for this grocery bag awhile back, and finally made some time today to sew it up.

You can get the .PDF download for the pattern from Burda here.

Once you have the .PDF file downloaded and are ready to print the pages, be sure to check NONE in the Page Scaling box...otherwise you won't have a pattern that fits together nicely.

When you have your pattern taped together you are ready to begin.

The bag in the picture looks like it was made from shirting, or some other light weight fabric however, I chose a pretty striped drapery weight fabric, which I'll give you some hints about later.

The nice thing about the grocery bag is the fact it folds so nicely into it's own little pouch.

Now on that note, below is the flap side of the pouch.  All the edges are serged, but in making future bags I will be sure and finish this edge nicely, add trim and/or even add a snap.  This would have to be done before it's all sewn together. 

The second thing to note about this small pouch is the weight of the fabric you choose.  Since my fabric was much weightier than the fabric pictured, in the future I would need to make the pouch a little larger so I don't have to "fight" to get the bag shoved in back into the pouch!

The pouch is sewn right into the side seems, so you cannot lose it...it's always there!

The bag is a nice size and I know it will come in handy for my future trip to the "fresh fish market".  (but more on that later!!!)

I have been on a mission lately to get rid of "useless" things.  I have become merciless in cleaning out my "spare" rooms.  Being an empty nester I find it's easy to fill the rooms up with excess "stuff".  I want to feel that I have space where I sew and create. 

I began earlier in the week working from the window side of the room.  I began by going through each drawer, cupboard, box, etc.  I started moving the stuff in the room that was not going to stay to just outside the door. 

Afer several days of work, I still have a few "piles" in the room, but those are mostly projects in process!

I found some unfinished items that I will complete before the end of the month and I prepared some new things that are cut out and ready to sew.  I hope to finish "National Sewing Month" strong...but now I have to clear away the doorway of all the stuff I carried out!  HA!

So, till tomorrow...

debi

Sunday Thoughts

..."Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6

Sunday Thoughts

Psalm 121

I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

Another Project Completed

In May, 2009 I told you about my Canton Shopping Cart.  I have used my cart on many a trip to Canton.  It is invaluable and can make all the difference when you are shopping the more than 100 acres of vendors!

I was recently contacted by Miss J inquiring if I would be willing to make a liner for her cart...but in another color?

Of course!

Today, I completed the project.  Miss J's wants to have the new liner for the next First Monday Trade Days at the end of this month.

I changed up a few things...like adding a big pocket under the handle.  You can easily slide your small items into the pocket to prevent them from getting lost in the bottom of the cart.

I turned the loops into the inside of the cart and used Velcro to hold them in place so it would look more finished from the outside.

The small pink ribbons hold the front and back in place...but the best addition is a foam piece I placed in the bottom of the cart, between the two liners.  It never seems to fail...my first purchase in Canton always seems to be something fragile!  This will help soften the ride for the breakables as you bump along the roads at Trade Days.

I like the pink and yellow fabrics together.  I had three complimentary pieces, and used them all to finish the cart.  Hope Miss J is happy!  She'll be able to buy all kinds of goodies this month!

Happy shopping Miss J...

till tomorrow,

debi

Vintage Suitcases

I recently picked up these two small suitcases at a little shop in East Texas.  Both of them were in pretty sad shape.  Sometimes when you find them they've not been treated kindly.  Spills, mildew, mold...not good...but not to worry.

I clean them up and pull all the guts out to make them as good as new.  

Both of these cases had seen better days!.

The small square suitcase was made of wood, but lined with paper and fabric.

I pulled out all the lining and the paper that was glued inside.

 I was able to use the paper pieces as a pattern to rebuild the suitcase.  I cut new cardboard inserts and recovered them with fabric.  The elastic of the small pocket was totally ruined, so there was nothing worth saving.

I had some really cute stripped fabric in my stash that I wanted to use on the inside.

Just a small note (if you want to try this for yourself)...when pulling apart a suitcases, just note which piece you pull out first.  When you get all your pieces cut to size you will put the suitcase back  together using the last piece you pulled out first.

When creating the pocket, I used the selvage edge of the fabric to create a "ruffle".  This fabric was really heavy, so it will hold up nicely. 

The small train case was actually lined with paper rather than a satin fabric (like most suitcases.)  There was nasty mildew in the bottom, so it really was better to pull everything out and start fresh. 

I used a metlasse' on this case.  I had two complimentary pieces that added some contrast between the top and the bottom.

I can just imagine this small case filled with treats for a guest room!

Soaps, toiletries, wash cloths...

Both suitcases were thoroughly cleaned on the outside, then some vintage travel stickers added to give them a bit of a "round the world" feel!

I know a lot of people buy old suitcases as decoration, but I also like to refinish the inside.  There are so many uses for them, but not if they are stinky and dirty inside!

Two more projects completed!

Till tomorrow...

debi



Sewing Projects!

September is National Sewing Month...so I guess I better get sewing.  I have several projects I want to finish before September passes by!

Today I finished a lamp that's been taking up space in my sewing room.

Sad!

But, a few hours and a little bit of sewing...

Completed!  I did line the fabric and settled on a ruffle to finish off the top.  I think it turned out cute.

P.S.  Don't tell Emily, she doesn't know it is finished.

Till tomorrow...

debi