No Updates

It has been extremely difficult for me to keep up with two active blogs. While I haven't updated this one since May 2007, I assure you that I am still crafting.

I would like to extend an invitation to you to visit my "real" blog: the sky is pink. Here you will find all my usual crafty things mingled with my family life. If you are interested in my sewing projects, you can hop right there through this link.

I am planning to update this blog again in the future but, right now, life with six small children is too hectic to manage two blogs.

Thank you for your continued interest in my sewing projects.

-Lera

smocket

A smocket from Alicia's free pattern. Sewn from a vintage sheet, lined in white cotton (with a matching pink pocket).

wrist cuffs

Using the very last of my fat quarter scraps: three wrist cuffs.

This was all that was left of my fat quarter.

fabric ball

A fabric ball for the baby with a jingle bell inside. (From this tutorial, using my fat quarter.)

doll apron

In an attempt to use up every scrap of my fat quarter, I made a doll apron.

hand towel apron

A waist-apron made from a thrifted vintage hand towel. Dark brown bias tape is sewn across the top of the apron and is used for the ties.

zippered pouch & card holder

A zippered pouch and mini-card holder using the rest of the fat quarter. The card holder was based on this tutorial.

head scarf

A head scarf for a little girl. It is trimmed in bias tape with a bit of elastic around the bottom of her head for a nice fit. This was made using my fat quarter.

bag

This bag was made following Linda's Lotus Bag tutorial. The outside fabrics are white quilting cotton and Alexander Henry's "lemon blossom." The lining is the white cotton with a "lemon blossom" pocket. The handles are leather saddle straps, which Linda sells in her etsy shop.

onesie and softie

An appliqued bird onesie and a bunny with ribbon ears and tail for Sawyer (bunny was made from my fat quarter).

apron & tote

For a little niece's birthday: a flowered tote and a Martha Stewart kitchen towel apron from this tutorial.

Easter Outfits

Each boy (including Joe) had a matching Easter tie. They are made with light blue fabric with small, random white polka dots.


Since Sawyer can't wear a tie, I appliqued one onto his onesie and made him a pair of matching pants.

Spenser had an A-line dress with cap sleeves (Simplicity 4557) and matching panties (Simplicity 5374). I had a matching skirt (Simplicity 5505) and we both had matching headbands.

totes x 5

Four totes for birthday gifts. I used yellow floral, Alexander Henry's Mocca print, a shoes and handbag print, and vintage Smurf fabric. Each is lined in white cotton.
And a tote for myself to double as my mini-diaper bag. I wanted to replace my Christmas tote, which I've been carrying since mid-December. (This one is Michael Miller's Dotty Dot fabric.)

two three-tiered skirts

From Simplicity 4252 two three-tiered skirts for Sewing Seeds. I imagine two sisters or little friends with coordinating skirts. Here is a link for a tiered skirt tutorial.

appliqued tees

A lion for Jack and an alien in a spaceship for Mason, both using my fat quarter.

tote and tissue pouch

For a friend's birthday, a tote and a tissue pouch. Sewn from Alexander Henry's "Apples + Pears."

In January I declared that this year was "the year of the tote." The birthday gift of the year is a tote, unless previously gifted.

two crowns

The pink crown was for Carter's classmate's birthday and the green is Mason's. And, I used my fat quarter.

small drawstring

A small all-white, eyelet drawstring bag for a friend.

a zebra wristlet

A small wristlet lined with fuschia fabric. This was donated for a youth auction at church.

appliqued onesies and pants

elephant set
inchworm set

snail set

Three spring outfits for Sawyer: appliqued onesies and matching pants. I made these pants by tracing an existing pair of his pants and adding seam allowances (see this tutorial).

grab-it bags

From the Better Homes & Gardens magazine Quilts & More: Grab-it Bags

The pink bag is Amy Butler fabric. I followed the pattern exactly for this bag. Well, the best I could, as I really had a hard time understanding the sewing of the handles.

This bag is from a thrifted sheet. I altered the pattern and am still not sure how much I like it.

Changes for bag #2:

1 - Made bag larger.
2 - Interfaced pockets, made larger and closer together.
3 - Sewed pockets lower on lining. (Things are popping out of the pocket and bag, i.e., my cell phone and lip gloss.)
4 - Sewed lining handles longer than exterior handles to see if they would sew together better. They sewed together easier, but still not pretty.
5 - Used fusible fleece instead of cotton batting (thick seams), but the bag is too stiff.

It seems the weight of the contents of the bag has put stress on the handles and they look stretched and wrinkly (pink bag). It's also a difficult bag for a mom to carry around with kids in tow. So it's cute, just not very practical.

Fat Quarter Challenge

Are you up for a challenge?

Join the Fat Quarter Challenge.

The object of this challenge is to see how many things you can make using one fat quarter (or an equivalent size piece of fabric, 18 x 22"). You will have one month to complete this challenge. All projects must be completed by April 15, 2007. At the end of the challenge, there will be a giveaway. It will be random. Everyone who participates will have her (or his) name entered into the drawing.

Are you interested? If so, leave a comment or email us. Lori even set up a flickr group for the occasion. And there's a button for your sidebar.

Here's a sampling of what I've made from one fat quarter:

bib and burp cloth

Matching bib (Simplicity 5374) and burp cloth. The cotton matches the ribbon blankie/taggie, the back is baby blue chenille, and it is sandwiched with a layer of cotton batting.

ribbon blankie / taggie

A ribbon blankie or a taggie. This blankie has all kinds of ribbons sewn between the layers so the baby can chew on them. Some are satin, some are grosgrain. The front of the blanket is a soft, stretchy, minky-type fabric, which I embroidered with the recipient's name. The back is cotton and it is sandwiched with a layer of cotton batting.

The next time I make this, I will also use cotton twill tape with the ribbons.

baby bib

A simple baby bib (Simplicity 5374) using leftover fabric from my skirt. I decided to add a touch of red, so I machine embroidered an "S" for Sawyer. The back is white chenille and there is a layer of cotton batting in between for extra absorbency. The snap is kind of pearly.

bingo prizes

6 tissue pouches and 4 zippered pouches/wristlets which were donated to a local nursing home for their bingo prizes (through a church service project).

tote and matching tissue pouch

A tote and matching tissue pouch made from Marcus Brothers Storybook Garden Collection Little Red Riding Hood. It is embellished with red rickrack. The handles are 1 1/2 -2" cotton webbing/belting.

dish towel apron

A personalized dish towel apron for my niece, using this tutorial. It's a Martha Stewart kitchen towel, which is very heavy and sturdy.

tote and tissue pouch gift set

Personalized for a beloved niece (Alana) for her 10th birthday. Sewn from unbleached cotton with a patchworked floral thrifted sheet. The handles are 1 1/2 - 2" cotton webbing/belting.

diaper & wipe carrier

A diaper and wipe carrying case from this free pattern. The pattern was quick and easy. I used a ribbon and vintage button closure instead of the velcro they used. I plan to make more in the future, but I will make it a little wider next time. It's a little tight for the wipes that we use. (Two in diapers = large wipe container.)

skirt

Another Simplicity 5505 skirt. It's so easy. I can't stop myself from making these. For less than $10 and under 40 minutes, I can have a new skirt. This one is hemmed in red bias tape.

micro-bead pillow with case

A white satin micro-bead pillow with a Alexander Henry Bangle Dots pillowcase. I found the bag of micro-beads at Walmart. They were a pain to work with because they were very static-y and made a giant mess. At first I overfilled the pillow and had to take some beads out. That was another mess.

rocking chair seat cover

A zippered, washable seat cover for our family-heirloom rocking chair. The pad is sewn from wide-wale brown corduroy and Alexander Henry's Kleo in chocolate brown and Bangle Dots fabrics with Bangle Dots ties. Used a pre-cut chair pad from the fabric store as the insert.

puppet theatre

A doorway puppet theatre, made from blue duckcloth. It is supported by two curtain tension rods (one at the top and one below the window's opening). The rods are stuck through sewn casings on the back. Embellished with red and white striped "curtains."

snowmen feet

Old 2004 version:

New 2007 version:

And a closeup:

Blue duckcloth with white, craft paint footprints of each of my children. They have brown "stick" arms; an orange "carrot" nose; and black "coal" eyes, mouth, and buttons all in three-dimensional fabric paint. There are sparkly, iridescent puffy snowflakes in the sky. And at the top there is a sewn pocket casing for a wooden dowel rod and ribbon for hanging.