Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Share a skill
When I moved to the Sacramento Valley from the Sierra mountains, I had too much stuff, too little house and a yard with what was once flowers. I didn't know how to deal with a yard. I knew how to deal with pine needles. I didn't even own a lawn mower.
To the rescue, my energetic neighbor-lady. She didn't loan me her lawn mower... She mowed my lawn for me. And in return I reupholstered her dining room chairs. When I was pruning("hacking off") my rose bushes, she took the pruners away from me and fixed the roses and they lived,( as a matter of fact they bloomed like crazy that spring). And I made a cornice to go over her vertical blinds that matched her dining room chairs.
We had a pretty good exchange going. I couldn't get a weed to grow and she didn't even own a needle or thread. So we traded favors with each other, and it worked out really well for the both of us.
When she told me I had more talent than "Martha" and she wished she could do crafty things, I told her she could... she said no, I said yes, she said no, I said yes, then I took (drug) her to Michaels craft store. Heeheehee I won that one, and she made me house plant starters so I could learn how to care for growing things.
It was the start of a great friendship. We have laughed our way through more projects than I could list. What a Grand time we had! Here are a few pictures of just a few.
Mellies Quilts
Pocket Pillows
Oil Painting
Making soap
The plants in my kitchen window.
Oh, how I wish I would of taken pictures of all of my plants and all the landscaping she helped me to do. She even taught me how to keep my pool clean and chemically balanced! We did so many projects, including stained glass, which she is a whiz at. I have to admit that I am still Leary of an art form that requires butterfly bandages as a basic supply. lol Every holiday a new set of projects,decorations, gifts and goodies.
I had indoor jungle sized plants and she bought glitter and paper by poundage. We hit all the fabric sales as well as plant sales. We cut up scrap clothing by the hefty bagsfull and she made a quilt. My climbing rose was taller than my roof!
When I first met her I never dreamed we'd be such a fabulous team. She all outdoorsy and me such a indoor girl. All because she came over and offered to mow my lawn. I sure do miss the days when we lived close enough to "play" together. Whenever you are ready Mellie me girl, the craft room is waiting.
So, if you know someone who could benefit from a skill you have, volunteer to help them out. Or even better teach them what you know. You never know it could turn out to be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Share the craftiness!
To the rescue, my energetic neighbor-lady. She didn't loan me her lawn mower... She mowed my lawn for me. And in return I reupholstered her dining room chairs. When I was pruning("hacking off") my rose bushes, she took the pruners away from me and fixed the roses and they lived,( as a matter of fact they bloomed like crazy that spring). And I made a cornice to go over her vertical blinds that matched her dining room chairs.
We had a pretty good exchange going. I couldn't get a weed to grow and she didn't even own a needle or thread. So we traded favors with each other, and it worked out really well for the both of us.
When she told me I had more talent than "Martha" and she wished she could do crafty things, I told her she could... she said no, I said yes, she said no, I said yes, then I took (drug) her to Michaels craft store. Heeheehee I won that one, and she made me house plant starters so I could learn how to care for growing things.
It was the start of a great friendship. We have laughed our way through more projects than I could list. What a Grand time we had! Here are a few pictures of just a few.
Mellies Quilts
Pocket PillowsOil Painting
Making soap
The plants in my kitchen window.
Oh, how I wish I would of taken pictures of all of my plants and all the landscaping she helped me to do. She even taught me how to keep my pool clean and chemically balanced! We did so many projects, including stained glass, which she is a whiz at. I have to admit that I am still Leary of an art form that requires butterfly bandages as a basic supply. lol Every holiday a new set of projects,decorations, gifts and goodies.
I had indoor jungle sized plants and she bought glitter and paper by poundage. We hit all the fabric sales as well as plant sales. We cut up scrap clothing by the hefty bagsfull and she made a quilt. My climbing rose was taller than my roof!
When I first met her I never dreamed we'd be such a fabulous team. She all outdoorsy and me such a indoor girl. All because she came over and offered to mow my lawn. I sure do miss the days when we lived close enough to "play" together. Whenever you are ready Mellie me girl, the craft room is waiting.
So, if you know someone who could benefit from a skill you have, volunteer to help them out. Or even better teach them what you know. You never know it could turn out to be the start of a beautiful friendship.
Share the craftiness!
Monday, August 22, 2005
Days Fly By and Janine vs. Vinyl
Wow!
How could so many days of passed so quickly? Busy, busy,busy days. Cabaret is in full swing and four nights a week I am washing scrubbing and mending. Have you seen it yet? No? You will have to hurry, next weekend is the last weekend. The actors are good. The play, sexual, funny in parts and heart wrenching. Worth the fifteen dollars.
While I have been busy with Cabaret, I have still been sewing some small things. Pot handle shaped pot holders for my Mum. Also, a vinyl window in my great-nephews crib toy, so that it is safe to put pictures in for kisses and coos.
Speaking of the vinyl..GRRRRRR. That stuff sure is a cusser*. Have you worked with this stuff? In the first place, I'm not entirely sure vinyl is something we should be sewing. LOL
It sticks to EVERY surface of the sewing machine, and itself and still manages to slip and slide on fabric like satin right sides together. No pins. Clothes pins don't work and neither do paperclips. Tape. I used tape, it mostly worked.... Ahhh. 'Till I had to get the tape off...grrrr again. Then all the sticky was left behind (should of used the blue tape).
But hey, with the tape you can get it to move under the presser foot. But you still need to use tissue paper because the vinyl sticks to every other part of the sewing machine. ( think window clings) Once you are all taped and tissued you can't see the vinyl to know where you are sewing because, well because ... Its clear.
It all worked out, finally. Project for the cutest Great Nephew in the World, complete and baby safe.
However the seamstress (me) was feeling like the underdog, rumpled and otherwise disgruntled. How could I go from the "Oh sure Mum , I can fix that . No problem", to @$%$&@^vinyl$^&(@22747 !???
I felt defeated. I had so many ideas for using the rest of the HUGE piece I bought for the 8x12 inch project. Bree had ideas too. She sat cheerfully on the other side of the table telling me we should make dirt proof purses or "something". The look I gave her sent her off to Cabaret a little early that day.
So, I sat at the table and glared at the remaining ROLL of vinyl that is left behind after the "baby proof window" is complete. Now what? Purses or the garbage. Oh, was the garbage option tempting.
But I just couldn't give up that easy. So, I asked myself. What have I learned?
Tissue is a must, blue tape not pattern tape. I bought the heavy stuff and learned why all vinyl bags have bias tape. You can't turn it successfully and have it lay correctly,' cause you can't iron it. Ok. Now see what you can do with it. I set out to make a small bag (for Bree) with fabric lining. I used 'bum bum bumbaaa' Glue stick ( instead of tape) and tissue. I don't know if the glue stick would work for every project, but it did for this one.
It turned out cute, no cussing this time and Bree likes it. I don't think I will ever make slip covers outta this stuff but, I can work with it. Vinyl IS tough. But I was tougher. This is the toughest "material" I have ever worked with... made velvet, chiffon and lace seem like a walk in the park by comparison.
If you have any tips or tricks on working with vinyl, please feel free to let me know. I still have most of a ROLL left.
Well, until the "run' is over and I can take more pictures of the projects we are working on ...
Joyful Creating.
* Cusser= Anything that can incite an otherwise, sane, rational, patient, sweet natured, seamstress to cuss/curse/ swear, with a skill she never knew she possessed.
How could so many days of passed so quickly? Busy, busy,busy days. Cabaret is in full swing and four nights a week I am washing scrubbing and mending. Have you seen it yet? No? You will have to hurry, next weekend is the last weekend. The actors are good. The play, sexual, funny in parts and heart wrenching. Worth the fifteen dollars.
While I have been busy with Cabaret, I have still been sewing some small things. Pot handle shaped pot holders for my Mum. Also, a vinyl window in my great-nephews crib toy, so that it is safe to put pictures in for kisses and coos.
Speaking of the vinyl..GRRRRRR. That stuff sure is a cusser*. Have you worked with this stuff? In the first place, I'm not entirely sure vinyl is something we should be sewing. LOL
It sticks to EVERY surface of the sewing machine, and itself and still manages to slip and slide on fabric like satin right sides together. No pins. Clothes pins don't work and neither do paperclips. Tape. I used tape, it mostly worked.... Ahhh. 'Till I had to get the tape off...grrrr again. Then all the sticky was left behind (should of used the blue tape).
But hey, with the tape you can get it to move under the presser foot. But you still need to use tissue paper because the vinyl sticks to every other part of the sewing machine. ( think window clings) Once you are all taped and tissued you can't see the vinyl to know where you are sewing because, well because ... Its clear.
It all worked out, finally. Project for the cutest Great Nephew in the World, complete and baby safe.
However the seamstress (me) was feeling like the underdog, rumpled and otherwise disgruntled. How could I go from the "Oh sure Mum , I can fix that . No problem", to @$%$&@^vinyl$^&(@22747 !???
I felt defeated. I had so many ideas for using the rest of the HUGE piece I bought for the 8x12 inch project. Bree had ideas too. She sat cheerfully on the other side of the table telling me we should make dirt proof purses or "something". The look I gave her sent her off to Cabaret a little early that day.
So, I sat at the table and glared at the remaining ROLL of vinyl that is left behind after the "baby proof window" is complete. Now what? Purses or the garbage. Oh, was the garbage option tempting.
But I just couldn't give up that easy. So, I asked myself. What have I learned?
Tissue is a must, blue tape not pattern tape. I bought the heavy stuff and learned why all vinyl bags have bias tape. You can't turn it successfully and have it lay correctly,' cause you can't iron it. Ok. Now see what you can do with it. I set out to make a small bag (for Bree) with fabric lining. I used 'bum bum bumbaaa' Glue stick ( instead of tape) and tissue. I don't know if the glue stick would work for every project, but it did for this one.
It turned out cute, no cussing this time and Bree likes it. I don't think I will ever make slip covers outta this stuff but, I can work with it. Vinyl IS tough. But I was tougher. This is the toughest "material" I have ever worked with... made velvet, chiffon and lace seem like a walk in the park by comparison.
If you have any tips or tricks on working with vinyl, please feel free to let me know. I still have most of a ROLL left.
Well, until the "run' is over and I can take more pictures of the projects we are working on ...
Joyful Creating.
* Cusser= Anything that can incite an otherwise, sane, rational, patient, sweet natured, seamstress to cuss/curse/ swear, with a skill she never knew she possessed.
Friday, August 05, 2005
E-bay and Away
After reading Bree's post about e-bay, I got all excited and went to see what there was to see.
Boy oh Boy! Did I find some really cool sewing necessities, and some not so necessary sewing items as well. I saw a great deal on a new mid-range sewing machine and now Bree's new machine is on the way , thanks to her hubby who thought she should have a machine of her own.
Side note: Bree has been sewing on my 16 year old Brother sewing machine. It does have an LCD readout, 1 step button hole and about 25 other stitches with all of their variations. But, It also has a much repaired cord, (kittens love that sewing machine cord) some tension issues, and despite logic, I think that machine is just used to me. So, Bree has suffered using the" ol' Girl", and has earned an machine of her own.
While I was looking around, I found a machine... a machine I don't already have, a machine that I had never heard of before... Really! Be still my little seamstress' heart. So, I Google, "Coverstitcher" to see what it does. Oooooh stretch knit, cool edging and the much coveted (by me) chain stitch. Let me state as a disclaimer that previous to finding this machine, I had bid on 3 other regular machines that were "steal of deal" and was promptly out bid... So, I bid. But in the back of my mind I do not for one minute think that I will be the winning bidder. Yeah, yeah ... I am.
So for $100.00+ $24.00 s&h , I will be the new owner of said coverstitcher.
After that, I went to see what I was getting. As I should of done to begin with. I found out I could get a brand new coverstitcher, same brand and model, for $150.00 with free shipping! Yes, I am kicking myself a bit for that one. Considering I did research on embroidery machines for about EIGHT Months before, I decided on a SE3, which I shopped for the best deal I could find , taking me another Three Months before I brought that baby home. I wanted a blindhemmer for over Two years before, I started looking around for one. That was another e-bay find. Bree and I did that one together. First I decided I would not pay more than $150.00 for one, HA HA. Then I bid on said baby lock blindhemmer. " RESERVE NOT MET" grrrrrrr! So, Bree sweetly said to me..."You hem all my stuff for me, how about we go 50/50." So, set our limit and put in a larger bid... Same message. Now it becomes a challenge. The other bidders and that darn reserve not met. We broke the limits we set three times before we finally won, at well over $ 300.00! We did still save over two hundred dollars on a new blindhemmer.
Ok. I have learned my lesson. I WILL control my itchy "confirm bid" fingers. I will at least find out the "new" price before I bid and I will really, really, try to not bid more than I first set as my limit.
Now, Hubby and I have to be out of town until Tuesday. I would rather be home waiting for the postman/UPS with Bree.
So, I am away , I will report back and let you know how that coverstitcher works.
Happy Creating till then.
Note: Coverstitcher arrived broken. I was refunded - shipping. I still am thinking of getting one. Just not yet.
Boy oh Boy! Did I find some really cool sewing necessities, and some not so necessary sewing items as well. I saw a great deal on a new mid-range sewing machine and now Bree's new machine is on the way , thanks to her hubby who thought she should have a machine of her own.
Side note: Bree has been sewing on my 16 year old Brother sewing machine. It does have an LCD readout, 1 step button hole and about 25 other stitches with all of their variations. But, It also has a much repaired cord, (kittens love that sewing machine cord) some tension issues, and despite logic, I think that machine is just used to me. So, Bree has suffered using the" ol' Girl", and has earned an machine of her own.
While I was looking around, I found a machine... a machine I don't already have, a machine that I had never heard of before... Really! Be still my little seamstress' heart. So, I Google, "Coverstitcher" to see what it does. Oooooh stretch knit, cool edging and the much coveted (by me) chain stitch. Let me state as a disclaimer that previous to finding this machine, I had bid on 3 other regular machines that were "steal of deal" and was promptly out bid... So, I bid. But in the back of my mind I do not for one minute think that I will be the winning bidder. Yeah, yeah ... I am.
So for $100.00+ $24.00 s&h , I will be the new owner of said coverstitcher.
After that, I went to see what I was getting. As I should of done to begin with. I found out I could get a brand new coverstitcher, same brand and model, for $150.00 with free shipping! Yes, I am kicking myself a bit for that one. Considering I did research on embroidery machines for about EIGHT Months before, I decided on a SE3, which I shopped for the best deal I could find , taking me another Three Months before I brought that baby home. I wanted a blindhemmer for over Two years before, I started looking around for one. That was another e-bay find. Bree and I did that one together. First I decided I would not pay more than $150.00 for one, HA HA. Then I bid on said baby lock blindhemmer. " RESERVE NOT MET" grrrrrrr! So, Bree sweetly said to me..."You hem all my stuff for me, how about we go 50/50." So, set our limit and put in a larger bid... Same message. Now it becomes a challenge. The other bidders and that darn reserve not met. We broke the limits we set three times before we finally won, at well over $ 300.00! We did still save over two hundred dollars on a new blindhemmer.
Ok. I have learned my lesson. I WILL control my itchy "confirm bid" fingers. I will at least find out the "new" price before I bid and I will really, really, try to not bid more than I first set as my limit.
Now, Hubby and I have to be out of town until Tuesday. I would rather be home waiting for the postman/UPS with Bree.
So, I am away , I will report back and let you know how that coverstitcher works.
Happy Creating till then.
Note: Coverstitcher arrived broken. I was refunded - shipping. I still am thinking of getting one. Just not yet.
