Sewing in My Sleep

My little shop on Etsy is keeping me pretty busy since I jumped on the jewelry roll train. I have sold near 150 of them since mid-January and though things have slowed a bit they are still steady sellers.

A friend commented that I "can probably make them in my sleep now" and if it wasn't for the sharp objects required, that might be possible. I stab myself daily when awake so sleep-sewing could prove deadly. I am expert at removing dabs of blood from fabric.

However, even though I make the same thing over and over, I still find it thoroughly satisfying.

This ugly wrinkled bit of brown Kraft paper is my trusty pattern. It is the second one I have made.

I know that I could just measure rectangles and cut them, however since I am not ALWAYS alert, there is too much chance of mis-measuring and this works better for a semi-sleep state.

           I think these run the gamut from gaudy to gorgeous without being too much or too little.  

If you sew, do you always want the challenge of working on something new and challenging? Or do you  find just the process of sewing satisfying in itself?  I admit to being the second type.  That is probably why making these and selling them is something I love doing. As a retired person, I want to support my sewing habit without the concerns of screwing up!  

Now, if I could just think of as many blog topics as jewelry roll designs!

Blogging Excuses

When I began this blog I promised that I would post once a week. Promises! Promises!

I am glad that I can manage once a month now. Here's why.

I am lazy.

I was away on a trip.

I got sick.

I have nothing to say.

I have nothing new.

And no one really cares!

But I will show you what I have stitched up with the fabulous Liberty of London fabric I bought in LONDON.

They are in my Etsy shop at:
shttps://www.etsy.com/shop/CherylThimbleFingers

Winter Sewing Slowdown

I don't know if I can blame it on the extremely cold winter we are having or just lack of imagination, but I have not been turning out much in the sewing department. Since sewing is my escape from cooking and cleaning you might think I would have been busy whipping up magnificent dishes or deep-cleaning the bathrooms. WRONG. Time is just slipping away and I have very little to show for it. 
Except this:

 What is it?
I saw this on my wanderings through Pinterest.

 I clicked on it hoping to find a pattern or a tutorial but it only led to where I could buy it. It looked pretty simple so I set out to DIY. I only needed about a 1/2 yard of fabric and thought the car print was perfect for my grandson. I found another print for grand-daughter but then realized this cannot work for a child in a car seat with the chest straps and buckles. I'll save it until she is out of a car seat which may be ten years since she is so tiny!

I wish I had thought to document the entire process but this will have to suffice. I dragged out some foam rubber scraps and cut them into strips about 18" long. I made one 4 inches wide and the other 2 inches wide and stacked them to create a sort of mound. I wrapped the "mound" with some quilt batting to smooth it out. I did not use the fuzzy backing shown in the picture above. 

I made a tube of the fabric with a flap attached to the side seam. Leave the ends open. The hard part is getting that inner stuff into the outer cover. To facilitate this, put the stuffing into a plastic grocery bag and shove and pull it through. The plastic will help it glide. Fold over the ends and sew across. 

My lack of foresight required that I attach the Velcro by hand since the tube was already made. Duh!
This flap now folds around the back of the seat belt and attaches easily. All of the padding is away from the child's body so that is serves as a cozy pillow but doesn't interfere with the fit of the belt.

The road test proved successful. He likes it and it went home in Dad's car. Note the bear's trousers. These were made when Teddy got left behind at Grandma's house and he requested that I make an outfit. I made sleep shorts for both child and bear that match although child did not get the neck bow.

I find all sorts of great things to make for girls but not so many for boys and at 6 1/2 he is becoming more conscious of appearing "girly". Although I think those florescent pants might lean that way or are they just gaudy?

ADSD - Attention Deficit Sewing Disorder

I have a diagnosis. Not officially but through years of self-study and dawning realization the verdict is in. I "suffer" from ADSD - Attention Deficit Sewing Disorder.

Disorder is always part of sewing:

But the inside of my head is sometimes in disarray. I start one project and then jump to another. I home in on one style and suddenly switch to another. 

Sweet and old-fashioned

to contemporary

to "antiqued".  From pillows to aprons in retro style

to who knows what style.

Then it was bags. Zippered pouches:

with faux leather

with birds and quilting 

Zippered wallets

Novelty bags with snap closure and texture

Beach bag

Travel tote

And we can't leave out the wine bags.

Which inspired the wine aprons

And then came towels.

 I even veered off into technology and whipped up a semi-successful iPad cover!

Maybe 2014 will bring new inspiration for entirely new sewing projects. I may actually try tackling clothing for me again although I really dislike thew results I have achieved in the past.

Mastering the Seam Ripper

Another week of posting a day late. Maybe it is becoming so regular as to be normal. Also becoming a regular thing is the heavier use  of my seam ripper.

Some of my favorite tools. The ribbons help me find them when I lay them down somewhere. The pen is a Frixion pen that erases with heat.

I used to have difficulty with it and would generally revert to just pointy little scissors. Lately some of my projects have been giving me such fits that practice is making perfect. Too bad the sewing isn't perfect.

Here is what I mean:

I have been making these great foldover wallet/purse organizers. I have completed quite a few of them that I sold at two shows and are now in my ETSY SHOP. But just when I was really getting into it and able to work more quickly the whole thing went cock-eyed. I mean literally cock-eyed. I failed to take a photo before I wielded the seam ripper because I never thought it would be a blog topic so this photo is a reasonable facsimile of what would happen when zipped it up.

On the right is the item I

am making from the book

Zakka Style by Rashida

 Coleman-Hale.

I made my own paper pattern
as I really hate to constantly measure all the time.

I am cutting very carefully and I am NOT rounding off those corners until the very last when I sew on the binding. I even BASTED the zipper on which did make the machine sewing go a bit easier. I don't care what anyone says, sewing zippers can be a real pain in the butt! This application is especially tricky and as in most instructions it is glossed over quickly.



Here it is finished and it is better but I am not completely happy with the binding. 



 But on the up side, I am happy, happy, happy with some of the new fabrics I have added to the stash. Take a look at these greeny-yellow, gray and white. The bottom two are House & Garden Cloud 9 organic cottons from Joann Fabrics. What a surprise to find them there and just when I had some 60% off coupons!

 The fabric with the pod shapes was ordered from JennSki for Moda from the designers Etsy Shop. I had a fat quarter I had snagged somewhere and used it all up.

 

P.S.

AND then frustrations aren't enough. Blogger gave me all kinds of fits today while posting. I had to upload the pictures several times because they would disappear on me!!! I really love sewing and computers but maybe I just need a nap today.