More little projects…

Well now it’s after Christmas and my sister has her strap I can post pictures. And now is when I realize that the only picture I took off it was with my phone…bummer. Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’ll send me more pics ;)

For this one I decided to add a lens cap holder. That’s the extra piece of colorful fabric on the end you can see-on the green back. It’s gathered a little and got some elastic so it’s easy to put the cap in and then fit your fingers to get it out. The cap was just slightly wider than the strap itself so that’s why I had to make it extra big and gather it. I made it up-and I think it worked out really well for my first one! No more losing that cap in a random pocket or somewhere worse!

She had forgotten I was making these, so she was completely surprised at Christmas :) Perfect :)

I knew my mother in law would like a strap too, but she doesn’t have a camera with a strap like this. She wanted one for her camera case but I wasn’t able to get the measurements for it before the trip.  She sent her strap home with me so I could finish her gift.

This is her well used strap. I decided to not only make a cover, but replace the strap itself…

I just got some new strap and the two clips from Joanns, and sewed it together. I could have re-used the old clips-they were just fine. I was worried though that for some reason I wouldn’t be able to sew it together right, and then I would be out of a strap because I cut the old one apart…so the old one is still whole.

Because this was a strap for the case instead of the camera, it is about twice as long. I was worried about it slipping, so I made just a tiny stitch on each end to hold it in place. That way it will stay, but is also possible to remove if necessary.  I am happy with how it turned out. I thought about making it a little narrower, but I was afraid I couldn’t turn it right side out-and there would be less of the cute fabric!

Hope she likes it!! It’s all ready to make it’s trip to Idaho via USPS.

just a stitch at at time

it’s so hard to find the time to get everything out and sit down and create stuff.  I recently found time and was able to complete yet another (and best one so far) camera strap. This one though, I cannot post pictures of because it could be a Christmas gift for someone special who I do not want to see it. I’ll just have to save the picture for later :)

I also was able to mend some of Josh’s pants. Surprise: I’ve never mended anything before except a hole in a smock for work-where the seam had just torn. The pants turned out alright and will hopefully last a bit longer! (we’ll see how good they turned out after they go through the wash…*fingers crossed*)

I also did some work on my bay window curtains. I discovered I could sew the rings on with my sewing machine and that made the process so much faster! I’ve been putting off doing some final hand sewing-I really hate that part-but now it’s done. I’ve been thinking of some touch ups I’d like to do to them-maybe adding some buttons or some hidden snaps where they could use some help hanging just right when pulled up (they’re loooong roman shades) They will mostly live up but if I ever want to close the window I can!

Stuff :)

See, I have been working on a little bit of stuff!

This is the same camera strap-I just really like it :)

I made some baby stuff…these are burp clothes made with cloth diapers and embellished with flannel and ribbon…

These are also more burp clothes…whole different technique though. Flannel backing….

and thinner cloth diapers to soak stuff up. I made 6 total…

 

This was a little set I made…I think they turned out cute…
It’s a wipes case, diaper case, and changing pad… The changing pad is held together by the little elastic and folds nicely into a compact travel size. It unfolds and has a nice towel side for the baby to lay on. The ‘scrunchi’ is attatched so it won’t be lost.

Well that it for now. i’m partially done with some binky clips, they’re cute but not finished.

Another one!

No, this isn’t the only thing I’ve been up to. I’ve made some other stuff too…I’ll take pics. All I’ve got right now are cell phone pics and they aren’t so great. This one was also a cell phone pic but it’s okay.

When I started this camera strap I wasn’t sure if it was going to be another ‘practice’ for me or an actual gift. Overall I’m happy with how it turned out so someone might be getting it in their stocking! I’m planning on making more as well. I’m afraid this is going to be like my purse and shoes theory-you can’t have to many.

i {MADE} something! :)

Wow so I actually sat myself down and followed instructions and made myself something. :)

I have decided I really want to improve my sewing skills, and learn to quilt as well. I have sort of a goal to do this just so I can get better, and also when someday I do have kiddo’s, I will already be decent at making things lol.

It’s been a while since I actually threw anything together. I’ve got plans for baby stuff and what not, but I haven’t actually put all the things together yet.  Well, I used some leftover fabric and some new fabric and made myself a camera strap!

It just fits over my regular one for my digital SLR camera. It’s got some mistakes but that’s okay-next time I can fix those :). overall I am happy that I finished it, and that it turned out cute, and that it is functional!  Not quite 'gift’ quality, but I’m much closer to that now.

If you can’t tell, the front is gathered, covered with 2 ribbons down the center, and backed with a padded damask material.

After this picture I actually took it back off, fixed a few things, and ironed it flat. It looks better now. Maybe I should take another picture?

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So for my sewing machine I recently purchased 2 new accessories. I got a walking foot and a free hand quilting foot. I have played with them both and think they will both be great. I actually used the walking foot to help me with the gathered fabric on this project today. The quilting foot will take some practice before I’d use it on a ‘real’ project, but I think I can get the hang of it and enjoy it.

drought

That’s about the only word I can think of to describe my craftiness of late.

In July Josh’s mom Jackie was able to come and spend a few days with us. That got me the motivation to turn a messy storage room into a guest room. I sorted through boxes, got rid of stuff, put stuff away, and moved storage elsewhere. We got a queen bed, got a frame, and put it in there. I found a tiny dresser and night stand at Goodwill. I also found a little ugly lamp there too. Okay-it was all ugly lol. We moved things around to make stuff fit-the new stuff along with a tall fan-that room just likes to be hotter in the summer than the rest of the house-a bookshelf, and a gun safe. Magically it’s all in there somehow. I  totally scored at walmart finding a pretty comforter set on sale and sheets for the room. It just happened to match the existing window treatments and even the paint on the tiny dresser. I also found a small old mirror to top the tiny dresser and a little basket from another 2nd hand store. I painted the night stand and lamp and dressed the lamp and basket up with some ribbon and scrapbooking flowers. All I had left was something I wanted to hang on the wall, which I finally have finished on the computer but haven’t sent to be printed or purchased frames. Oops.

The room was a total transformation and served its purpose well. Now it’s just a spare bedroom with the occasional pile of stuff on the bed. I haven’t taken any pictures-so I will try to do that.

That was my big craft project of the summer. All I’ve been doing is working and working and working. Time off is spend with Josh on his adventures or catching up on much needed rest.

The garden has pretty much all died except for some peppers in pots on the deck.  Too bad we have to do the work to prepare it for next year! lol.

I have started a new project-painting the deck. It looked horrible. All the paint has chipped and faded. Yes, paint. The previous owners painted it red. Then the sort of repainted it when we moved in-with really crappy paint. Hopefully the paint I got-specific for this-will last a bit better. I’ve painted a lot but still have a lot left to go. I haven’t had any whole days to devote to only painting the deck-and some of my planned painting days turned into rain days. I’m working on it though! And when I’m done it’s going to look great. It already looks so much better even though its a mess.

Next is…yes..finishing that curtain project. That same ol’ one. It’s so nearly done. I don’t know why I haven’t finished it. I guess just all those other little things have come first, like work, school, cooking dinner, etc. lol. But I will do it before I start my next sewing project-which I am totally ready to start-so that is my new motivation.

After the curtain, I am going to make some baby stuff. A girl at work is having a baby boy in February and I have planned a few things to make for her. I’ve already scouted out the instructions, made the plans, and purchased the fabric and supplies. BUT I cannot start cutting and sewing until that curtain is done-so guess what i’ll be doing soon!

Don’t worry-I’ll tell you about the baby stuff-later. :) It will be fun (hopefully) and cute! (also hopefully!)

slacker

My spare moments have lately been going to school work and gardening! I miss my craft stuff though…

I have some plans…next is to just find the time! I need to get back into some sort of routine and get some stuff done so I feel like I can take time for crafty creativity…

THINGS TO DO FIRST:
* Finish cleaning up spare room
* Do some all around spring cleaning: closets, cupboards, shelves etc.
* Clean up/organize my office
* Tear down some old wallpaper!

THINGS I WANT TO MAKE:
* Finish the last details on that one kitchen curtain-and possibly add a couple fun ideas to all of them I’ve thought of since making them…
* Make some front room curtains
* Make something for bedroom windows-ours and guest
* Make something for livingroom windows
* Make myself a small camera case for my little purse camera!
* repair a pair of josh’s shorts..they have a hole
* choose some fun ideas from other crafty blogs or previous posts!

Well I’ve got lots of ideas and chores to keep me busy…gotta find the time! Any tips?