the kids

A week late, but here's Halloween:

Ellie went as a character she created for her comic book, "Super Kitty".

This was the final costume choice after many, many other ideas. It started with Princess Leia about a month ago. I was thrilled - I already had a pattern from when Glenn was Obi Wan Kenobi, she had the perfect hair for the buns, and I could make Trixie an ewok suit (no one loves a theme more than me). As soon as I showed her the pattern, she informed me that was not the Princess Leia she wanted. No, she wanted to be the bikini-clad, Jabba the Hut's slave version of Princess Leia. Over my dead body. I rejected several other inappropriate choices before we both agreed on this one. I made sure to pick a sparkly fabric for the cape to appease her a bit. I also love the mask, which I'm certain my mother wore to a costume party in the 60's.

The first letters I drew for the "SK!" on the back were rejected. She was quite clear that they needed to have VERY POINTY ends.

Trixie got this number as a birthday present. There's really no topping spandex and tulle.

I realized that this is the first year I didn't get a photo of Glenn (or force him to take one with his sisters) before he took off with his friends. He did the bare minimum that would still get him candy - a werewolf mask with his regular clothes.

One for the kids, one for mom, one for the kids, one for mom...

bag o' badges

Have you seen the American Express commercials with the frowns and smiles?

I picked up this bag on the Target clearance rack this past weekend. (It's from the Converse One Star line.)

Shouldn't it have its own spot in one of those ads?

Now it's happy.

Now it's fit for a grown up who's still a girl scout at heart.

Small bits of hand sewing like this are all I've been up for lately.

I promise not to wear it with the skirt.

thrifty thursday

This treasure was found last spring. I moved it directly into the basement studio and promptly forgot to take pictures of it. When I would remember, it was always evening and the light down there is bad enough during the day...

Forgive the poor picture quality, but here she is.

A White sewing machine in the cabinet from the late 30's.

It's hard to see, but the foot pedal is actually a knee controlled pedal that's mounted on the right side of the cabinet.

The machine looks like sculpture to me. I love the light and the shape of the stitch regulator. (Which would also be a great screen name.)

When the machine is set up, the top portion of the desk opens up, adding counter space to the left and right. It splits where the left sides of the drawers are.

These are the attachments that came with the machine. (I have them sitting on some leftover foam to keep them from rolling around each time I open the drawer.)

The original instruction manuals were in there too. I also bought this book recently and hope it will prove invaluable with tips on how to use all this stuff.

It runs, but I need to have a technician come out and service it as well as replace the cords which have dry rot. Until that happens, I'm not too comfortable having it plugged into the wall.

I thought I'd put this one up today because I'm finally getting my sewing mojo back after not feeling well for about a month. Next week Chris and I head to NYC to visit my brother-in-law and his girlfriend, B. We'll also get to see with blackbird and K. A stop at Purl Patchwork and my other favorite haunts should have me inspired and raring to sew when I get home.

selvage cuff

I could have sworn I posted this project over the summer when I made it. When I put up the Waste Not, Want Not quilt I was going to reference this as my "starter project". A quick look at my archives and then my picassa account proved it didn't exist in blogland.

So here you are, the project I used to get my feet wet before starting the selvage quilt.

Like a lot of you who have accumulated a decent amount of selvages, but are afraid to just begin, I decided I should do something with less of a commitment.

A simple rectangle of muslin is the base (just as with the quilt blocks). This is where I played with how closely I could edgestitch my strips and how I wanted to balance plain and printed pieces. You can see on this project I chose to elimate any of the actual fabric print.

After the selvage piece was put together, it was sewn right sides together with another piece of muslin with an opening on one long side for turning. Do the usual thing - clip corners, turn the cuff right sides to, and press that baby flat. I closed the opening with two rows of edgestitching, added some vintage mother of pearl buttons and snaps for the closure.

My cuff measures 3" by 7 1/2" when laying flat. I'd suggest a narrower width for anyone wanting to make their own - 3" is too large not to take the widening of the forearm into account, so my cuff is tight on one edge. I also have a small wrist, so you'll probably want to add some length the other way.

A dear friend arrives tomorrow from Dallas. I'll be taking a little break to have some girl time with her.

the kids

This year's visit to the pumpkin patch:

Trixie wound up chosing a more reasonably sized one. Ellie's outweighs her. Next year there'll be a new rule - you must be able to lift your choice.

We did manage to grow three pumpkins in the backyard this season. Two were attacked by critters early on. One medium sized, but still green, pumpkin is safely housed in the basement waiting for it's big debut next week.

a bunch of barrettes

I made these a few weeks ago and never got around to posting them:

They're a great way to use up ribbon scraps - each barrette only uses about 3" at most. The barette bases were bought at Hobby Lobby. The first picture has the kind with the spring hinge, the ones below are are the clip kind (you can see them better in the third picture). A little bit of adhesive like E6000 or Amazing Craft Goop on each end holds the ribbon in place. The ribbon is folded around to the back of the barrette about 1/4" on each end. To keep the glue from sealing the barrette shut, I clipped them onto wax paper while they dried.

Instructions for these can be found in Button It Up:

I think some of those liberty scraps on a covered button would be great for my hair.

thrifty thursday

I don't think I can count these as true thrifty finds. How about "awesome finds that were reasonable priced at a cute local boutique thursday"?

A shoe rack that's perfect for my closet.

And a vintage shopper that holds bolts of fabric in the studio.

Love those red wheels.