PIllowcase Dresses

Hi There!

Have you heard about the latest craze, for little girls?

"Pillowcase Dresses"!!!

Got my pattern from:
Maya*Made.

But, to be honest, there are TONS of web sites with tutorials on these cute pillowcase dresses!

I just made 3 dresses in 2 days - coulda done them faster, but I made them from scratch AND I had other things going on, too.

Here's the polka dot one...



And this evening, Princess Sophia came over with her Mommy (my sister) and modeled her new dresses. *grin*

And here's her "Cats 'n Dogs" dress. This one, I added some dangly beads to it.



The Princess LOVES dangly beads! *grin*

And this one is made from fabric that my friend, Elaine, sent me.... I had the lace and it just seemed "perfect"... *grin*

Doesn't she look like a true Princess?!?!?

LOL

Had a BLAST sewing these.... quick and easy - that's what I like!

Rosa

Hi There!

Last Sunday, I finally got the "To Do's" out of the way. You know what I'm talking about...

The:
Gotta Do's
Haveta Do's
Wanna Do's
Need to Do's

And, I allowed myself to FINALLY out my unassembled Dear Jane and continue putting her together.

Oh MY - but it IS rather comical when I look at my sewing skills... way back when!



Just LOOK at those un-cut seams!!! At time, I didn't think it was important and didn't bother trimming my seams to 1/4 inch!

Oh well.... I'm not even going to try and think about this!

Gilbert wants to put it on the Longarm and do each block and triangle up.... fancy smancy - that's HIS job now. I've done mine. *grin*

Here I am sewing up the muslin framing. Gilbert INSISTED that I do scallops on her!

And this week, I pulled out a pre-quilted baby quilt, from Wally World and sewed on the binding.... Another UFO, in my books!

*grin*

Okay, some of you might cringe at a pre-quilted quilt, but if you're going to give this to your cousin's friend's granddaughter... honestly - do you REALLY wanna spend a lot of time and money for this gifty?!??

And here's our first international order....

Turned out pretty nice, IMHO!

Gilbert did a pretty good job with the back too, eh?

That's it, for this evening - I'm EXHAUSTED!!!

Sewing Clothes - YUCK!!!!

Hi There!

Don't know if you're like me but, after a few years....

You forget "stuff" and
you absolutely HATE sewing clothes!!!!!



I think the last time that I had sewn clothes, was probably when I was in my 20's and I absolutely HATED it then!!!! What would possess me to think that I, would fall it in love with sewing clothes, now, at MY AGE?!?!?!?!?

'Cept for the fact that I had COMPLETELY forgotten how much I DESPISE sewing clothes - pull out instructions, pull out pattern pieces, iron pattern pieces, cut OUT pattern pieces, pull out fabric, find the grain of fabric and pin pattern to fabric. Once again, pull out the scissors and CUT out fabric, re-read instructions (for the 100th time), mark fabric with fabric markers for appropriate "marks", un-pin and start sewing. OH WAIT A MINUTE! You forgot to change your sewing machine needle to a different postion and HOLD THE TRAIN - you didn't buy interfacing 'cause it wasn't listed on the "requirement" list, yet it tells you to sew it!!!!!

And this is only HALF of the procedure! And, I like to say that Walmart (and others) bust their BEHINDS to sell clothes - why bother sewing them, eh?!??!

Anyhow, last year, I went to visit my sewing mentor and Aunt, to help me with this darn collar. My Aunt, who has made TONS of clothing... even made a few wedding dresses, couldn't figure this one out!

Finally, last week, one of our Longarm quilting clients, who happens to also be a seamstress, suggested what I should do with this collar and SHE AGREED that it was a ridiculous pattern - as far as collars go!

And here's the kicker - you ready for this?!?!

I'm the stupid one that OFFERED to make this, for my sister!!!!

WHAT WAS I THINKING!?!?!?!???

Anyhow, once again, pick me with a fork - I'm DONE!

Now, let's all bow our heads and mutter a few grateful words, under our breaths, and carry on with "Quilty" stuff!!!

Have a great Sunday!!!!

Rosa

Weekend's Agenda - 18 June 2010

Hi There!

Decided to share with you my weekend plans.

Didn't find any major activities noted on my.....
(see picture below and try to guess the word, before scrolling downwards)



"I Pod"

Yep, I try and mark down our "activities", on my I-Pod.... and other than a Graduation celebration this afternoon, picking up (possibly) some groceries and doing my bestest at avoiding housework (dishes and laundry and such nonsense)....
looks like I'll have PLENTY of time to play in my Sewing Room!!!!

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend!!!!

Rosa

Small's so-kay too!

Hi There!

"Bertha", our Longarm Gammill
can accept 'em small, too!

This wall hanging is about
26 square inches and
Gilbert managed to quilt it
fairly quickly, this evening.



It was a quilt kit that my
Dear Jane Secret Pal
gave to me, a while back.

It has 3 stash fabric ladies
and they're ADORABLE, IMHO!!

I decided to put THIS fabric on the back.

You could almost call this a reverible wall hanging,

And NOPE, I can't call this one "finished" till I do it's binding and add a label...

Thanks for reading my blog!

Rosa

Fancy Smancy Pillow Case Tutorial

Fancy Smancy Pillow Case Tutorial

Pink band's measurements:
8 inches X 22 inches - (2 of these)

Lime (mini) band:
1-3/4 inches X 22 inches - (2 of these)

NOTE: these 2 will be a bit bigger than the actual pillow case. I'll explain why later on.



Pillow case body:
26 inches X 20-1/2 inches

(NOTE: your typical fabric measures WIDTH WISE 44 inches or so. Fold your fabric in half. Try to cut as close to the selvage as possible and you should get 26 inches or close enough to make a nice pillow case body.)

Fold the pink bands in half - iron them.
Fold the lime (mini) bands in half - iron them.
Place, lime green band on top of pink band - raw edges together.

Sew 1/4" to the edge.

Flip upside down and sew (1/4 inch) onto right side of pillow case.


Repeat for the other pillow case edge.

Then, and here's an IMPORTANT tip....

Go BACK and sew a "zig zag" line.

This will stop the fabric from fraying and creating those nasty bird's nests, every time you wash your pillow cases.

Iron the lime (mini) band towards the pink band.

Sew your pillow case, right sides together.

Trim the extra fabric for the lime (mini) band and the pink band. I found it was easier to have these 2 strips bigger and then, trim the extras off, afterwards.

Once again, go BACK and sew a "zig zag" line, on both sides of your pillow case, to avoid future frayings.

And here's a picture of me, with my pillow cases...

And here's another picture of my pillow cases:

Pink band for me and Gilbert gets the bright lime band.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Rosa

Pillow Cases!!!

Hi There!

Yesterday I decided to make 2 more pillow cases.

I like to make them the same way, each and every time... according to MY method.

My method?

I pull out a pillow case that my friend Jo sent me, take the measurements and try to re-figure out how to make them, once again. And, as I only make these pillow cases every 2 years (approx.), I forget each and every time!

LOL

Sooooo, I told myself that I'd write myself a Tutorial, for the next time and HEY! Why not share my method with my blogging friends, eh?

*grin*




Tutorial coming right up....

*grin*

Rosa

Girlie Wisdom!

Hi there!

A friend of mine sent me this, via email, recently and I absolutely ADORED IT!!!!

(Note: My bestest one is #11, although #13 comes in as a close 2nd! LOL)

Enjoy.....

Rosa

**************************************************
Girlie Wisdom !

1. A friend of mine confused her Valium with her birth control pills... she has 14 kids but doesn't really care..

2. One of life's mysteries is how a 2-pound box of chocolates can make a woman gain 5 lbs.

3. My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely.

4. The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5. The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does.

6. The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.

7. Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today..

8. Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness..

9. I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together and setting fire to my knickers'.

10. Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!

11. Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' .....Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

12.. The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

13.. I read an article that said the typical symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast. Are they kidding? That's my idea of a perfect day!

Calais, Part Deux...

Hi there (once again)!

Managed to grab 3 patterns,
while I was in Calais, Maine, USA,
in Mardens.

Thimbleberries - Forest Floor Throw,
for $2.99



And Elaine got me into
"American Jane" fabrics
and I picked up 2 more patterns...

"Hole in the Barn Door"

And "Animal Sounds"

Both of these were only $1.99 EACH!!!!

With all of these wonderful Longarmed quilty projects that Gilbert has been doing for me, I have TONS of things to "bind"....

Anyhow, I have now (sewing machine) BLINDED a total of 8 place mats plus 3 thingies to put under a hot pot, or whatever. *grin*

A closeup of one of my place mats.

And another closeup of the back of my place mats.

Now, I have 4 more, of the same series... at work. I'm doing the binding by hand.

Have a great week!

Rosa

And Gilbert had a dream.....

Hi There1

Okay, you know when you have a REAL stupid dream, wake up and tell your better half?

Well, about 2 months ago, Gilbert told me that he had a dream about these bright, colorful, flower powered kinda.... pillow cases!

LOL

Anyhow, I promised him that we would go look in Calais, for some colorful fabrics.



Gilbert's not your typical man -
You know, your black, brown and navy blue kinda man?!??!

He LOVES colors!!!!
*VBG*

Anyhow, I only managed to make ONE pillowcase today -
we had a MAJOR learning curve with "Bertha"....

Nope, don't really wanna go into details,
'cept "Bertha" didn't really behave today...
We had to spend the good part of the day
with her, unfortunately.....
and it wasn't a pretty picture, either!
LOL


Well, here's a picture of my one and only (so far) pillow case.... done with the blue flowered fabric.

Got some more pictures to share and
more blogging to do.

Hopefully, by this evening I'll be all set to blog again.

Later 'gators!

Rosa

Trip to Calais, Maine, USA = FUN!!!!

Hi There!

Took a day off today and Gilbert and I headed off to Calais, Maine, USA to pick up some bobbins that we had ordered for "Bertha" (AKA the "other" woman in Gilbert's life - LOL).

Bertha requires MUCH bigger bobbins that a regular sewing machine.... but honestly, with Bertha's size and if you were to put things in perspective, the bobbin should probably be the size of a car tire rim! LOL

Thankfully it isn't - the 36 bobbin postage would have KILLED US!

LOL



Gilbert saw and fell in love with this bright, fluorescent T-Shirt! Of course, we had to bring it home with us! *grin*

(muttering to herself, "I've never seen a man with so MANY T-shirts!)
LOL

Then, and even though we're technically still supposed to be on a diet, we decided to fill up our empty peanut butter container with Dove chocolates.... yet again!

Hmmmm.... Okay, just ONE chocolate per evening won't be too bad, right?!??!
(help me out here, PUH-LEEESE!!!)
LOL

One of my buddettes sent me a Tim Horton's coffee card, which we promptly used for 2 coffees, once we got back home!

Thanks my friend!

Oh? And see the strips of fabrics, in the forefront of this picture? Well, she printed out a WHOLE BUNCH of Civil War diamonds, for our Star Table Topper project!

Here's our very FIRST "international" quilt order!

The owner gave us full permission to do what we want to, with this one. In fact, she kept insisting that it was an "ugly" quilt.

Gilbert and I BOTH think it's a darling quilt!!!!

And wait till we're finished "zinging it up", with "Bertha", our Longarm Gammill - You won't even recognize it!!! *VBG*

I received a copy of Jo Morton's newest book, from a friend that ordered "2" of these, by mistake.

Aren't "I" the lucky recipient?!??!?!

And then, because I didn't have any "blue" to make our Star Table Topper project, she sent me some of Jo Morton's fabric - the same IDENTICAL one as in the magazine!!!!!!!

Elaine.... YES I'm blessed, to have such marvelous friends AND this wonderful piece of fabric, too!

*SUPER HUGE GRIN ON MY FACE*

I hope you ALL have a wonderful weekend!

Gilbert and I should be "longarming" this weekend....

Rosa

Gifties and Brain Worms...

Hi there!

I received a lovely package, from a blog contest.

*hanging my head in shame*

I've been so incredibly busy that I haven't had a CHANCE to share pictures with all of you....

I was the runner up (2nd place) on the "Mother's Day Drawing", thanks to "Nothing Says Lovin' like Muffin". Thanks Muffin!

(As a footnote, I just read that Muffin has recently gone to meet her maker.... Have a safe trip, Muffin and may you be forever happy!)

My friend Elly, send me some more "diamonds" (more on that later) and she added a few gifties in her package.

A lovely postcard! She had visited this castle.




(Remember - you can click on my pictures to see them bigger.)


And I just LOVE this coaster!!!!

It's by Edward Monkton and I will be bringing it to my work. I just know that I'll smile and think of Elly, every day when I set my cup of coffee on it! *VBG*

Well, since "Bertha", our Longarm Gammill, has taken residence at our home and Gilbert's been spending quality time with her - and NO! I'm not jealous, either! LOL - he's had the internet radio on, in that room. He usually listens to 60's and 70's music, which I enjoy as well.

Anyhow, THIS tune played a few times and is now firmly planted into my brain!

WARNING - YOU COULD GET AFFLICTED AS WELL !!!!!!!!!!!

Song: Jeans On
Singer: David Dundas
Circa: 1976

Rosa
P.S. If the song gets stuck in YOUR head, don't say I didn't warn you! LOL