Peach Lace Top

Ok finally coming back from not blogging! LOL I finally got the end pictures I needed. I was also on hiatus from my knee but I am officially done with back PT just in time to start knee PT. blah! This is a sewing project that just sort of randomly happened the other weekend. I was rearranging the big ole fabric stash and I came across a piece of beige lace. And I began to think... I just finished a top with a lace insert and was wondering what other refashions I could do with this lace. It just so happened that part of my fabric stash tumbled in the closet and some of it was on the floor (yes I know I have a lot of fabric!) and I found a piece of peach knit. Up to this point, I had no idea what I was going to use this peach knit for, I don't have the skin tone to wear it separately. But underneath the beige lace it would be fab!!!

Next question, well what should I make? I have limited amount of this beige lace so no dress and a skirt maybe pushing it too. If I used all of the lace I could have a top, sort of like kimono style. That is what I aimed to do! I thought I had enough width with the top for sleeves and the length was right at 25 inches which could work for a top. Fingers crossed and a hail mary and off I went!

First I evened up the lace so it was not crooked by folding it in half. Next I took the folded material and placed it on top of the peach knit and cut it out to match.

When I even it out, I pinned the material together so it won't move!

Next I opened up both panels. I need to have a finished seam on the arms and bottom b/c if I did not sew the panels together it may hang weird. I sewed every side together. Fold the material over in half to prep for the next part.

To create the neckline and turn the fabric right side out. I folded the fabric together and measured 6 inches by 6 inches from the center point. Cut it out. Note to self 6 inches deep is fine for V neck, 6 inches wide is a bit too wide for my work comfort. It made a perfect square. Wish I would have done 4 or 5 inches. Still workable though. :) Turn the fabric right side out and iron down all the seams to let it sit correctly. Yes Natasha wanted to watch me make a mess of things!

Next I needed something at the waist to cinch it in and also create arms. I thought about elastic but had issues. Thought about not putting anything around but that wasn't going to work either. What I wound up doing after measurement after measurement, scratching my head like a monkey I went in 6 inches on each side followed by 10 inches up. Anything else and I had no sleeves or it would not fit across my chest. To add a ribbon that would stay I added button holes with my new sewing machine. Man I love 1 touch button holes it is amazing! Actually this was the first time I have ever made a button hole in my life. Not bad huh?

Next I added some cream satin ribbon for the waist through my nifty button holes and I was done! It actualy worked out this shirt, holy cow! Oh yeah forgot to mention, I sewed down the top of the shirt by top stitching. Making a hem would show more skin. I covered up my stitches with some champagne beads I had in my stash. The colors blend really well together. They are hard to see but add a subtle bling to it.

I actually really love the back.

So that is a +2 for fabric points. Guess who is coming to 100? I can't wait to post the 100 mark with my fabric points! I am going to also keep a tally on how many refashions I have done and crafts too and will put it on my side bar soon. I like seeing numbers!

XOXOXOXO,
Lauren

So the adventure continues

Well I haven't posted much on the blog and there is a reason for that... A month ago I hurt my knee. I fell on it, don't want to get into details about it but it hurt badly. It never swelled up nor was the bruise bad. I thought it would just go away and I'd be better. It never did, I could not get my knee to straighten and I had a limp going. I fianlly got in to see the orthopedic (after begging and pleading for an appt), xrays were clear so I scheduled an MRI. Turns out I have a couple of small tears in my knee but they are not bad enough to warrant surgery and having it scoped out. Worst one is the MCL. It is torn and strained. I now have a Robo knee... a wonderful hinged knee brace which I am still trying to get used to being on. But it could be a lot worse! I start pt on wednesday, just as my back pt is being about over (last week today!). So between that and the meds for anti-inflammation which have messed up my sleep cycle. I have been slightly off.

Good news, while resting my knee this past weekend (and not going to New Orleans)I sewed a lot! All I need is the end pictures and I will be ready to post! :) I have mostly refashions and a few sewn projects. I do have another baby shower coming up (wahoo!) so more baby gift ideas coming up!

Hoping to not lapse any more with blogging! :)

XOXOXOXO,
Lauren

Handmade Jewelry Thursday 8.18.11 Pearls and beads set

Wow I have made it for another installment of handmade jewelry thursday. Wow what a record for me! Today I took on a jewelry making kit. "pure Innocence"

I made the earrings first.

Then I went for the bracelet and necklace. There was no directions so this was a pain in the rear!

I did not receive enough head pins to make the other earrings (but didn't care for them either) nor the necklace.

It wasn't bad but this was my first time making loops with pins. It is pretty hard. I was not exactly a fan. But once I got going, I could go pretty fast but every now and then I'd get stuck for a few minutes. It was less painful than the chain maille but not as easy as sewing lol!!!

XOXOXO,
Lauren

Iron Craft #33- UFO (un finished object)

Iron craft challenge this week was UFO or Un-finished object. Where do I begin with unfinished projects? I would say the hardest thing about this project was not finishing one of my projects. It was picking which one I should finish!

After much thinking I opted to finish this felt project that I was going to give as a christmas present. I purchased it from Hobby Lobby last year, it was normally $40 but I got it for a really really good price (it was like 90% off!).

I hit the wall after I started the penquins. I opted for glue and fabric paint. The sewing/embroidery I don't really do well.

I have been working on this project non-stop and feeling like I was going no where. OMG I got no other crafts or sewing or refashions done this weekend. I was solely doing only this felt project. Here is the end product.

I sort of edited it. I did not like the dangling snowflakes. It would have never made it with my cats. I also attached more of the letters together and used hot glue. The directions called for only a "few stitches" to attach the penquins and letters together. Yeah that would not have worked. The hot glue reinforced it. I also wished Bucilla would have had 2 penquins on each side instead of 3 and 1. And I am glad there are no snowflakes-less is more!

So glad this project is finished and over! I need a break from felt projects (though I have 4 more kits- 2 antique cars with Santa and 2 snowmen christmas card holder). I need to like sew something or refashion something. This took a lot of time!

XOXOXOXO,
Lauren

Deal of the Week!

Wow when this happened the other night, I was floored and so excited about the sale I got at Michael's! I don't feel so bad because I have been having a hay day with them regarding my needlepoints being framed. It is a really long story... Don't want to get into it! But here is my deal.

I saw this needlepoint (even though I have just sworn them off b/c of the framing ordeal) in their sale rack. It was marked down 1/2 off to $15 but it had an orange sticker which meant take 50% off that price so these grape coasters would be around $8.

Nope, when the cashier scanned it, it rang up $0.01!!! For some reason, maybe it was an old product, maybe it was keyed in wrong or what.. but it was a penny!

Here's the kicker, since it had an orange tag, I got 50% off of it. So the penny came off the needlepoint and wound up being $0.00 (AKA FREE!)

God I love a good sale! I think part of it may be due to the fact they are going to be moving stores soon. Maybe they just want to get products off their hands. Either way I do not care, their loss is my gain!!! :)

xoxoxoxo,
Lauren

Preserving Family Memories

My parents came to visit and I got my grandmother's hope chest. My mom was looking to get rid of it but I could not part with family history. I never knew my grandmother, as she passed before I was born, but I know that she was into sewing, crafts, and paint by numbers. So you can say creativity and arts/crafts is genetic.

My family does not have many ties to America as both sides immgrated not too long ago. My polish side has a few more years as they came through Ellis Island. My cuban side (my father's side) just recently came to America when my dad was under 10. They did not have much so we don't have many heirlooms on that side. Both sides are pretty frugal and didn't buy much so there is not much to pass done.

What I have left from my grandmother is her hope chest. Inside we have some vintage table cloths and napkins. I was excited to see what was in there. My mom went through it and spared some of the family heirlooms. And essentially I traded my rescued dog for the hope chest. I love you Miss Lopez, but I work too much to take care of you. And you will be spoiled rotten with my parents.

Here is what I have... (warning it is long!!)

TABLECLOTHS!

- Florida and its cities

- Hawaii

Has holes :(

- Cream

has odd stains!

- white (very faint pattern- but in good shape).

- blue flowers

- red flowers

- cotton blossoms

Doilies!!

Lace Mats. Mom said some where for under lamps

Furniture runners

Miscellaneous- 3 vintage purses

Oh yeah and a crotched coverup. She wore this in bed while she was sick so when people came to see her, she still looked nice and no one saw her in her PJs. Unfortunately this has a lot of stains.

What I am adding is the Alpha Delta Pi t-shirt quilt I am sewing from my college days. It brings back memories from college and that was very happy times. I hope to have a daughter who will follow in my footsteps and become an ADPi when she goes to college. It is not done yet but I expect it to be done by the end of the year.

Here's Natasha playing in the hope chest and me busting her. She had a field day playing in it while I was organizing and taking pictures.

Now to clean everything up and try and see if some can be salvaged to their original beauty. This may take some time and some research. Many of these items are over 50 years old!

Here is to preserving family memories. :)

XOXOXOXO,
Lauren