Sew Pretty Sewing Room Part III: Sewing Silhouettes

Yesterday I shared my 'Sew on and Sew Forth' wall hanging.
I loved it, and it looked beautiful on the wall, but there remained some empty wall space
 and my creative juices were still flowing.

So, I continued on with the theme of sewing silhouettes.

 

With some old thrifted frames,

 

 

...some pretty scrap book paper....

 

 



...some black printed silhouettes, scissors and glue...

 

...you get....





 

 

....

 

 

 

These lovely little art pieces!

I have to say...the scissors silhouette is one of my favorites.

 

This was a pretty easy project.

The only challenging aspect was cutting out the paper in the tiny spaces, like between the scissor handles and between the chair legs and arms of the seamstress.

 

It is hard to see the scale here, but these are mini pictures,

making them that much more adorable.

That concludes my sewing room projects.
Tomorrow, we'll bring it all together as I reveal my new little sewing space! 

{Spotlight} Skirting the Issue: A Sew Along

Hey y'all, I have something to share with you today.
Have you found your way to the blog Simple Simon and Company by chance?
I recently did, and while I've been too busy to really peruse their sight,
I did come across something I wanted to share with you.

They are hosting a sew along called
"Skirting the Issue".

Here is how it works:
Make a skirt, a pillowcase, a blanket etc. and donate it to a local charity, or mail your finished project to the gals at Simple Simon who would be happy to bring it to a charity for you.
 

Skirts will be going to foster homes, usually tween and teen girl sizes are in short supply.

Pillow cases go to hospitals and children clinics...this would be a great opportunity to use up any fun, whimsical and childlike prints you have in your stash!

Also....
They are giving away prizes to those who participate.
Lots of great gift cards, but get this, they are giving away a new Singer Sewing machine!!





To be eligible for the prizes, you must upload a picture of your completed project(s) onto their Flickr group album by the 18th of August.

 

I think this is a great idea for a sew along.

I'm hoping to be able to do it myself, but I haven't committed yet because my schedule has gotten pretty busy. But I didn't want any of you missing out on a fun opportunity.

 

For more information, here is a link to the Fact Sheet, a link to the post about the giveaways,

and another link to the initial announcement post.

So, do you think you will participate?

Sew Pretty Sewing Room Part II: Sew On and Sew Forth Art

 Part II of my sewing room project....what to do with that empty wall?

Honestly, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.

My inspiration came from, where else, Pinterest.

Have you seen this on Pinterest?

An adorable use of fabric and an embroider hoop.

A much cheaper, homier feel than expensive framed wall art.

Not to mention it is completely personalize-able.

Next, my main inspiration came from this fun digital poster.

You can find it over at  Compulsive Craftiness.

Her hubby designed it for her sewing room,

and she gladly shared it with the blogging world so you could do the same.

While this poster is so much fun, I just wasn't feeling the chevron.

I know, I know, it is so 'in' right now, but I've never been one to swim with the tide.

So I decided to blend the elements from these two inspirations and make my own version.

First step, I went to my local thrift shop in search of embroider hoops.

There were none in the craft section to my dismay, but when I wandered through

the home decor section, I saw these sad, outdated pieces. 





They were 25 cents each, you can't beat that!

I just stripped off the fabric pictures and lace...easy.

After searching the web, I found a sewing machine image that suited my fancy.

I printed it out, then traced it onto a clear plastic folder sleeve.

Then I used our projector to illuminate the outline onto my piece of fabric.

I laid my fabric on top of the sleeve so the image shone through, then traced over it.

I traced the design backwards so that when I flipped it over, the marked up side wasn't showing.
 







Then I cut my machine out.

Setting that aside, I went to cut out the fabric for my hoop.



Isn't this print just gorgeous?!

We found it at our local, old style dry goods store.

They have a beautiful, albeit, little spendy collection of fabrics.

We splurged and bought a yard of this print.

I followed the same method of tracing and cutting out the circle of fabric

as used when I cut out the paper for my tins.

After searching through all our computer fonts and coming up less than satisfied,

I decided to trace the font used on the poster.

That scrolling 'and' was key to the flow of the design, so there was no way around it.

I accomplished this by blowing up the poster image, and actually tracing the text onto my clear sleeve by holding it up to the computer screen.

Unconventional, yes. But, hey, it worked!

The poster text was actually solid, filled in letters.

I just traced the outlines and decided I liked the look.

I used my projector again to lightly trace these letters in pencil onto my fabric.

But I wasn't done yet...
 

  Using brown craft paint, I traced over the pencil lines.
 



After sewing on the machine silhouette (I used a straight stitch on my sewing machine),

I was able to trace the 'and' over it and paint it as well.

I painted the 'and' in a shade of pink that complemented the fabric and would stand out against the solid brown sewing machine. Once the pink was dried, I outlined it in brown.



And this is how it turned out!

Don't look too close now, or you will notice that my letters are a bit crooked.

At first it really bothered me, but I liked the overall result so much, that I was pretty forgiving.

While I had the fabric out and the machine warm, I whipped up a matching pin cushion.

This adorable little tin was thrifted for 10 cents.
I secured the cushion into the tin with hot glue.

And there you have it!
Well on my way to getting my sewing space all set up.
Check in Thursday to see what else I made! 

Sew Pretty Sewing Room Part I: DIY Tin Storage

Hello readers!

 

Remember when we repainted the sewing room in May, how I told you I was

ready to get started pretty-fy-ing it?

 

Well, I was true to my word, and now I'm here to show you what I did!

 

Since I did several projects, I'll be splitting them up into a series of posts.

 

Today, Part I, will be about solving my storage problem.

 

 

As you can see from this before picture, there isn't much space to work with here.

 

Before

 

 

By the way, that French door came down.

It is ok, it's partner is broken and needs some fixing anyway,

so besides being in the way, it was awkward and alone.

One day though, we will fix Broken Glass door, they will be reunited, and we will put them up again....

 

Moving on.

 

Obviously I don't have room for shelves of fabric, but I'm fine with keeping them in a tote

in our library and closet....at least for right now.

 

But there are other sewing necessities that needed a home and easy access.

An easy and cheap solution could be found at my local thrift store...discarded tins.

You can find lots of Christmas tins like these that are looking for a home outside of the holiday season.

Other than being ugly, there was nothing wrong with them...so the fix was obvious.
They just needed some pretty scrapbook paper and homemade Mod Podge.

All you need to make homemade Mod Podge, is some white Elmer's glue and water.
Put some glue in a cup or container that you plan to work with.
Keep adding water until it gets to an easily spreadable consistency, but not too watery.
There is no science...I just add water until I like the look of the mix.

See the small mark all the way around the traced circle? That will be your cutting line.

The most challenging part is doing the tops.

It just takes a little time and figuring.

First, measure the lip of your lid- write down that number. Mine was 1/4 inch.

Next, lay your lid down on the wrong side of your paper.
Get the lid as close as you can to the bottom and side of the paper.
This is where the lip measurement that you wrote down come in to play.
Using that measurement, measure 1/4 inch from the side of the paper, mark a line.
Now measure 1/4 inch from the bottom up, mark a line.

Now when you lay down your lid, get it lined up right next to those marks on the side and bottom.
That way you know you are getting as close as you can into the corners,
reducing as much waste as possible.

Next, trace around the lid.
Now measure 1/4 inch out from the circle you just traced,
making marks every so often as you go around.

Cut out your circle along these marks.

Now, to make the paper lay down flat when you glue it down,
go along your circle and cut notches about every 1/2 inch or so, stopping at the line
you drew when you traced the lid.

When you glue your lid down, just line it up and lay it right on top of the traced circle.
Fold down the notches around the lip, pasting as you go.
It gets a little messy and takes some time, but it makes for a smooth finish.
 

 

These were my finished products.

 

 

 

We had a metal shelf that fit perfectly under the folding out table of the sewing desk.

My once ugly tins can now enjoy a second life serving as storage for

buttons, elastic, ribbons, fabric scraps and the like.

 

Next, I'll show you what sort of things have made their home on the wall behind my machine!
Come back Tuesday!

Fixing Too Big and Stretched Elastic Belts

There is a phenomenon that I have yet to discover the answer to...

why elastic belts lose their elasticity when stored hanging up.

 

I have several elastic belts, and I used to hang them up on my belt wrack in my closet.

It wasn't long before I noticed they were getting way too stretched out to wear.

 

Sad day.

 

So take it from me, don't store your elastic belts hanging up!

The best way is it roll them up and set them on a shelf or in a drawer.

 

 

But...do not fear.

If you have, like me, already 'ruined' your elastic belts,

or even if you have some that are just too big...

there is a solution!

And an easy one at that.

 

 

First, try on your belt and fasten it where you would like it to be.

 This is not where it fits, but where you would like to wear it,

 the notch you prefer and the amount of tail you would like to leave.

 

 

 

 

This is where I wanted to wear my belt...I don't like much a tail.

 

 

With your belt still fastened, turn it around so the back is in front.

Take in the extra stretch of the belt, tightening to what feels comfortable to you, and pin it together.

 

Now, all you have to do is take your belt off,

put the rights sides of your belt together, and sew where you have it marked with your pin.

I did a double seam and zig zagged the edges.

 

Try to make your seam right in the middle back of your belt.

 

Now try it on, make sure you like the fit, and if so,

chop off the extra length of belt right next the seam you just sewed.

 

Ta da!

Now you have a belt that fits!

 

I did this with three of my elastic belts, it only took about 15 minutes.

 



As long as you don't mind the seam in the back, you have a great quick fix!

This would even work with fabric belts and sashes. 



Thrifted Sewing Patterns!

Now that I know how to sew, I get excited when I think about all the lovely things I can make!

A whole new world of possibilities awaits me.

It also means...I have started hunting for patterns!

I hadn't payed attention before, but one day when I stopped in at our local thrift shop,

I noticed they had a whole basket full of sewing patterns.

Most were old and outdated,

but low and behold I found these lovelies!

I got 5 patterns all for $1!!
(Yes, oh observant one, there are only four pictured.
One was a mess of papers stuffed into a baggie..so..no picture.)

 

And get this....3 of the 5 were untouched!!

They hadn't even been unfolded!

I was excited....

and the best part...



...is this adorable retro dress pattern!

It even includes the pattern for the cute little bolero jacket!

How fun is that?!

This is another cute, simple pattern...very versatile with top,

pants, and skirt options.
 



Ok, the dresses for this pattern are way shorter than I wear my dresses,

both on top and on bottom,

but I love the style, the cute details and many variations.

It just needs a little length tweaking.

This is another thrifted pattern, although it didn't come with this batch.

I discovered another thrift store previously unbeknownst to me early last month.

And let me tell you....they have a treasure trove of patterns!

This was one of many that wanted to come home with me...I could have filled a whole bag!

Once again, this pattern is untouched.

Isn't the dress sweet, flowing and simple?

That dipping V needs some changing, but nothing a little modesty panel wouldn't fix.

I just love thrift store finds, don't you?

Now, to find some pretty fabric for cheep....

What have you found lately?