Upcycle

I bought a new machine recently at the Matha Pullem Market in Dallas.

It was shipped to me in this HUGE box.

My grandson loved it!  The handles on the box made for great peep holes.  My husband taped it up and made it into a Fort.  

Our house was built in the 60's so the box would only fit into the front door and not into any of the other door ways.

This picture is taken of it on top of the car, getting ready to be transported to his house by my husband.  They just live in next neighborhood about a mile away.

I told my grandson to get his Mom to spray paint the box and leave the black band with Ellisimo BabyLock on it so that could be the name of his fort.  

Inspiration Board

I consider one of the most important things in a sewing room to be an inspiration board.  I use mine for sayings, project ideas, reminders, receipts until filed, pictures of family, etc...

36" x 46" with frame

So, I require a LARGE Inspiration Board

I knew I wanted a large one so I went to my attic.

I found a large frame that had been up there for over eleven years.

Yes, it was covered in dust and required some major scrubbing to be acceptable.  I love the frame though and had been saving for either of my girls when they get their own place.  It was just one of those things I just couldn't let go of!  Way too many possibilities of which I didn't know until now.   :)

I had Home Depot cut me a piece of plywood to fit 1 inch larger than frame.  I stuck 12 X 12 cork board bought from Office Depot to the board minus 5/8 inch all the way around.  My reasoning there is one inch board came out to be 1/2 inch all around larger than frame. On top of that I put thin batting I already had.

Sorry I didn't take pictures.  I was doing this at 10:30 at night and had not had dinner yet.  I was on a roll.

The purple linen I already had in my stash and had 3 1/2 yards of it.  It is a heavier weight like for bags.  I figured minus 40 inches wouldn't risk not having enough for another project someday.  

Plus, it was in stash, meaning it might be a long time before being used!  :)

On this project, I can say everything went BRAVO!

I stapled gunned the fabric on.  The board and cork fit perfectly into the lot.  By allowing 5/8" around board for the thin cork, it made it fit perfectly in frame.  

Using small nails I nailed to back of frame.  

I am now ready to Inspire myself!

Dress

SIS BOOM  Pattern

Front

Back

This project got started late summer of 2012.  I got the dress all cut out and ended up working on gifts for others and never got it made.

I have now made and worn.  I love the pattern and how it turned out.  My husband is not into the print, he is a solid man, but I love it!  I am into all the new modern designer quilting cottons!

Sis Boom patterns allow for tall so they work out great for me.  I am 5 feet 8 inches and that is her longest length.  Therefore, I do not have to do the alterations.  It comes as a PDF and is very well drafted.  I shortened two inches and had to take in below bust down to hem 1/2 inch total.  I did this on the side seams.  The pattern has a long zipper down the back.  I made the size 6.

There was no mention of interfacing, but having experience, I put light iron on interfacing in the neck facing as well as the waist band.  I can't wait to make another.  :)

Jodie

Before and After

BEFORE - yuck

As you can tell my ironing board is embarrassing!

I decided for my new sewing room, I needed to tidy things up a bit.

My first project was recovering my ironing board.  I did this before even getting my all my machine collection  over to the studio.

AFTER - better

It looks a little dizzy at this angle, but I am real pleased with it.

I left the previous padding on and used deco weight Premier Fabric to cover.

My thinking here was, I already had it on hand and stability over time would be better than quilting weight or plain cotton fabric.

I laid the board down on its'  back and cut the fabric around allowing for tuck and fold for elastic.

This was really simple and highly recommend it to anyone just to spruce up the sewing room.

Jodie

Beginning

Here I am beginning my first post to start out my new Studio Name.  

I have changed from a sewing room and moved on to a small home I own that I am using for a Studio.

I will be using this place as a meet up of Right Brain thinkers, in hopes to join in the fun of sewing, 

crafting, painting, handwork, and pot lucks around laughter.  You name it, my place is up for it.  

My previous blog was and is ButtonsCreates and I will keep it for my various crafting for now, but plan to move all of my postings to this site as time allows.

This has been a long coming dream!  I will keep you up on the details and share with you what I am doing as well as friends.

This has been my house my daughter lived in for college.  I will be updating landscaping as well.  I want it to be very welcoming!

Wish me Luck!!!

Jodie

Repurposed Frame

Another jewelry frame it is!  This time it is oval.

I have two daughters, so making for one and then making for the other is a given.  

It maybe different things, but always going back and forth.

There is a great story behind this frame!

Do you recognize this from the 70's decor?

My daughter's boyfriend was selling his house and throwing these frames with mirrors away.

He had redone the bathrooms in the house and there were two of these in the hall bath.

When I saw them, I had to have them.  "I too was thinking, these mirrors (are just like the beveled I had once given to Goodwill myself), back in the 80's refinishing a bathroom.

(As I have gotten older I have come to appreciate the old much more.)These mirrors were heavy.  I had them stored in my attic thinking I would repurpose them someway.

I was in my attic a couple of weeks ago and accidentally broke one - well naturally I knew what to do.

      jewelry frame

I primed and sprayed this frame knowing her new bedroom and bathroom were turquoise.  The color is a little off with the towels, but right on with her bedroom and other belongings.

We picked this color by iPhone images.  She lives 6 hours from me.

This time I put felt all around the back with glue.  It was difficult getting the wiring staple gunned in a clean oval shape.  I had to wear heavy gloves and do some light hammering.

I felt like the felt would protect the walls from any scratches.

She has filled it up quite nicely don't you think?

JodieLen

Tote Bag

Saturday I spent the afternoon at our lake place sewing because it was raining and that is what I like to do.  I love it at the lake when it rains.

I have been thinking about this tote bag for over two months for an exchange and I had to delve into

it, to get my creativity going.  Sometimes I am just blank.

I looked at a grocery sack and just drew on newspaper and added a few inches in length and in handles.

As I was cutting it out I thought, "I ought to put an umbrella pocket on it". 

I don't recall ever seeing one, but wouldn't it be nice to have a tote with a spot for your umbrella.

It was raining, remember, so I was kinda thinking in that direction.

Here's a close up with lining in pocket.

The way the sun is shining Sunday afternoon it gave off a more turquoise tint, but it really matches.

I boxed off the bottom with the bottom of pocket in seam for a little more stability.

I pre-washed this fabric, because I wanted it to be something easy to grab 

for shopping, picnic, grocery, baby....

Here is a view from the side.  I was shocked I got the pattern matched up as good as I did.

I felt like the inside needed pockets as well.  I already had planned to make those.

I have so many bought bags with no pockets inside and I gripe every time I use one of them.

This is three pockets made with one long piece double sided.

I sewed it on before assembling lining together and put on opposite side

of umbrella pocket for balance. :)

The middle pocket has a pleat so it can hold more with smaller width pocket on each side.

The bag turned out reversible, which was not my original intention.  

The leaf print is decor weight fabric and the bandana type fabric is quilting weight fabric.

These next three pictures are my fake lake ducks and my new friend, that must be someone's pet.

This goose came up to me a couple of weekends ago and let me pet it and it got in my lap!

I was shocked and happy the dogs were inside!

Here he decided he needed a nap.  You can see my rock duck in background.

Jodie