Owl Bags

I made these cute little owl bags for my girls.  The pattern is from The Perfect Handmade Bag book. Really like this book. I've made several bags from it.  Of course they have their own design ideas.  I really like the fabrics they picked out.

Owl a little crooked.

Ruby wanted the pearl handle on her bag.

Layla wanted buttons on her bag and snaps on the inside.

At first she wouldn't smile so I had to make her laugh. She can't wait to show it off tomorrow.

Ruby's dress

I picked out this lovely fabric for Ruby's dress. It's called parasols. She really loves it but.

Instead she picked this fabric that was originally a ladies dress. So I cut it up and here it is. Didn't have enough for the collar or the border, but this really adds to the beauty.

Can you tell she really loves sit.

Layla's new frog dress

It's been a while I know. Over the past two months I've had 2 root canals, 4 crowns, a bad sinus infection caused from one of the crowns. In a few weeks I'll have one of my wisdom teeth extracted or I can have another root canal and crown. Decisions, Decisions. Today I had the last root canal and I'm feeling pretty good right now. It's time to do some sewing.

Yesterday I made this dress for Layla.  Don't know if you can see the frogs, but they are cute. I used an old Butterick pattern 3118 from the 70's. The pattern is a size 10 and I took about 2 inches from each side.  I got it from my Mom and I'm pretty sure she made it for my daughter at one time.

The fabric is Prince Charming-Frog Prince by Trula Pink for Free Spirit.

My little beauty. Hard to believe she will soon be 9 years old.

My Thrifting Adventures

This thrifting adventure is for 2 weeks worth of 4 different Goodwill stores, 4 other thrift stores.

First of all this little metal table brings back memories of  the 60's.  One of my aunt's had one similar when I was little. It comes apart easily to store. Perfect for the grandkids.  (Maybe now I won't have food on my bed).

I plan on putting this in my shop. The original cost was .25. It doesn't have a year on it. I'm guessing '50's.

I love the cheese tray. Just found it yesterday searching the thrift stores of Charlotte Ave. in Nashville.  I guess the side tray is for crackers.

I also found this tablecloth on Charlotte. Fits my table perfect.

I had this for a few weeks. Perfect for my dining table. My brother always needs a toothpick.

Vintage Embroidery Idea

Made this necklace from a piece of embroidery scarf.  I added a small ribbon just because I thought it needed something else.

These frames came from Joann's.  Pretty cheap.  It has 2 pieces of glass and the little frame.

Just lay the frame on of embroidery. Draw around the piece and cut it out. Put between the 2 pieces of glass and add the frame. There you have it.

Tutorial for Sewing Machine Cover from Pillowcase

Heather from The Vintage Sheet Blog ask that I do a tutorial for a pillowcase sewing machine cover. It should be similar to the one I made here.  Here is my finished product.

Start by picking a pillowcase you like.  I like the ones that have borders.

The finished size should be 24.5" long and 18.5" wide. On this pillowcase I trimmed 5.5" inches from the top. (This will depend on the size of your pillowcase.

Then trimmed 3" off the side.

Turn inside out and sew .5" seam across the top and down the side. Then trim the corner.  Turn inside out and press.

I found some embroidery pieces from an old dresser scarf and cut out each individual one.  Position and  zig zag stitch around all the edges.

Here's a close up.

Cut 4 pieces of ribbon 9.5" long.  Measure down from the top 6" and measure bottom up 6".  Then sew the ribbon on the back side of the pillowcase.  (Two on each side of the pillowcase.

It should look something like this when you finish.

Tie ribbons in a bow and you have a sewing machine cover.

Hope you like.

My new ironing board cover from a sheet

I found this amazing Rowenta ironing board at Goodwill for $4.99. The cover was a very stained white.

Here's the new one.  I used this beautiful sheet (probably not vintage, but I love it). I just measured the old one and added about 2 inches all round.  Turned it under and sewed  for casing, then added the string that was inside the original.

More refinishing of chairs

Once I got started I had to put a soft bottom on everything.

This chair was a cheap glider I had in my sewing room for years. It was an awful gray that was peeling.

I moved in to my living room and made slip cover for the back and seat of the chair. Took the arms and the stool top off and tacked them in place.

I had two stools in my dining room with straw bottoms. Just took the seat off like the dining chairs added batting and the bottom back on.

I had these two ikea chairs in my kitchen. Refinished them with some thrifted fabric.

Had 2 stools in my husbands room. I used some fabric that was left over from a bag project.  On these two stools I used one of the old cushions from the kitchen and tacked it down.



Tutorial for refinishing a chair bottom

I got this awesome fabric at Old Time Pottery (didn't even know they sold fabric. Got 6 yards for $25.00.  The batting is rather expensive. I had a coupon at Joann's and it was still $10.00 a yard. I bought 4 yards. It was plenty enough to do 6 chairs.  I pieced some together and made 4 more seats for some stools. When I finished I sprayed the bottoms with Scotch Guard.

I have 6 of these dining chairs and decided they needed a little extra something.  I had cushions on them, but they never seem to stay on.

The bottom had 6 screws.  I only put 4 back when I finished, that was enough to hold it. 

I laid the seat on the fabric and allowed about 2.5 inches all the way around

I laid the seat bottom onto the 1/2 inch batting (made for cushions) and traced around. Then cut it out which was kind of hard to do.

Then lay the fabric, right side down, then the batting, then the chair bottom (upside down). Pull the fabric taught and add a tack to the middle of each side.

Cut the corners diagonally.

Turn the middle to the corner.

Then neatly fold each side to the middle.

Then tack each side.

Tack all along the edges, pulling the fabric taught.

Screw bottom back on. I loved it.

I went a little crazy with this fabric and refinished several things.  I'll show you tomorrow.