OK, so your have learned how to sew. You took a class, you watched at Youtube video, or you just read a "Sewing For Dummies" book. Whatever your method was, you have reached the point where you would like to try out the things you have learned. I know for me, once I have seen all of the options, I want to actually do some practice. That way, I can assure myself that I know what I am doing. The "knowing what I am doing" part doesn't happen that often, but it is worth a try. So, the questions is...NOW WHAT???
Well, I am glad you asked, because that is the topic for today. Easy beginner sewing projects. If you google "easy beginning sewing projects", you will get around 900,000 to 1,000,000 results. WOW!!! I don't know about you, but that is way too many for my little brain. So, I will give you 3 projects that you may want to try:
1. Simple Square Curtains
Notice the word SIMPLE. We are not talking about a valance or a draped curtain. We are talking about a simple square curtain. They are easy, because you are just sewing straight stitches. There are no twists or turns. You cut a square, make a pocket for the rod, and then put a hem. That is it. I would not try this with fancy curtain fabric...yet. My first curtains were made with 200 thread count sheets. That was even better. No cutting! Just stitch together and thread the rod through. Also, make sure that you are using a solid fabric or a fabric that doesn't matter what direction you hang the curtain.
Here is a good video to get you started:
Simple Curtains Part 1
Simple Curtains Part 2
Here is a great blog to help as well:
Sewing 101: Curtains
2. Pillow Case
Seriously, a pillow case is very easy. The best ones are all the same fabric. Once again, a simple square, and this square only has 3 seams. That is even better. You can find measurements for a standard pillow case online. Measure 2 squares, sew them together and there you go.
This is a great video to help you:
Easy Tube Pillow Case
3. Tote Bag
The last easy sewing project is a tote bag or purse. You can make these any way you like, but the easiest way is just a square. Cut some fabric into 2 squares and then stitch up the sides and bottom. Well, that is not all, but it is really very easy. Try these links to help you:
Easy Tote Bag Pattern
I hope this is helpful to get you sewing. Don't be afraid of new patterns. They are surprisingly easy, and you will be so excited when you are done. Good luck and happy sewing.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Friday, January 2, 2015
Welcome in the New Year with ZIPPERS!
Welcome 2015!!! It is great to start the New Year fresh. I love new beginnings, because they give you a sense of purpose. New beginnings give you a hope of things to come. It is like starting on a new smocking or sewing project. I see, in my mind, the picture of the end product. Sometimes, the end product is nothing like the picture. There are a few times, it turns out BAD. Those are great projects for the "circular file" (trash can). A lot of times, it turns out better than I thought. Those are the projects that end up on all my Social Media sites. Why? Well, bragging when you create something beautiful is a little fun. Seriously, it is nice to create something you think is lovely and have others comment on it as well.
So, if you are frightened away from sewing projects due to zippers, just stay calm. There are sites and other sewing geniuses out there that can help you. Once you figure out the zipper, making outfits and those lunch totes are so much fun. Good luck, and send me your zipper hacks.
Years ago, when I first started sewing, I would come upon a pattern that called for a zipper. "AHHH!!!" That would scare me away from that particular pattern. For a long time, all of my outfits came with either buttons, or one piece. I admit, was terrified of the zipper option. However, the best way to get better at any sewing skill is practice, practice, practice. I did practice and I did see some success, but buttons were so much easier. I mean, I have a machine that sews the button hole and the button for you. I just have to be there to work the foot pedal. There came a time when I could not avoid the zipper skill any longer.
A while back, my kids needed new lunch bags for school. Well, I have one in Middle School, and one in High School. Did you know that the lunch bag community does not create lunch bags for older kids? I could find all sorts of "child-like" lunch bags. I could find little lunch bags that would fit a small snack for my High School son. However, there were no lunch bags that would fit my needs. I thought, "Surely, I could make one of these things".
So, I went on a search on the Internet for a lunch bag option. It was there I was met with that pesky little thing...THE ZIPPER. Most all lunch bags need a zipper to keep things fresh or cold. It was now time to conquer this thing. My search led me to the Zaaberry blog. This is a great site for tutorials. I found a great tutorial for an insulated lunch tote. It was so easy to follow, and it had a great way to do the zipper. WOW!
I used the site to make a few lunch totes. I actually put the zipper in and it looked good. I still have to do some more practice, but I am not scared of the zipper anymore. Now, I put those things in some of my kids romper outfits. Here is one:
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| Orange Chevron Romper |
So, if you are frightened away from sewing projects due to zippers, just stay calm. There are sites and other sewing geniuses out there that can help you. Once you figure out the zipper, making outfits and those lunch totes are so much fun. Good luck, and send me your zipper hacks.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Getting Caught Up
How do you feel when you have a lot to do? Do you make lists? Do you stay on one task until it is complete? For me, it depends on what I am doing. If I am cleaning house, I tend to let some ADD take over. I end up starting things in 3 different rooms. I do eventually get the house clean, but there is not a system. Now, with my smocking, I tend to stay on one outfit until it is complete. I don't know why, but I have a hard time moving on to another order when I have one started.
Now, that Spring is past and my orders are complete, I feel like I have accomplished a lot. Yet, my brain is still thinking about the next idea. I just can seem to stop the desire to make cute things. This week, I feel the need to make a new dress and try out some of my embroidered t-shirt ideas. I did finish one t-shirt idea. I love the way it turned out. What do you think?
I have actually worn this one. I made this after seeing the movie. By the way, great movie. There are a few other ideas floating around in my head from that movie. I have yet to get them on a t-shirt, but just wait. I will have some samples before you know it.
My other projects for the season has been sister dresses and BFF dresses. The sister dress are a ton of fun and I love getting customer pictures. Here is one:
I love the smiles and the matching green chevron fabric. I hope these two little ones will be able to wear these for a long time.
My next order was for a friend of mine. Her daughter and her daughter's friend wanted matching dresses. My friend LOVED the flip flop dress. So, we decided to make a green chevron dress and a aqua chevron dress. They turned out lovely. I do not have pictures of the girls in the dresses...yet. I need to get my wonderful husband to put on his photographer hat. He does such a great job. Anyway, here is a picture of the dresses that I took.
Yes, these are for older girls. One dress is a size 7 and the other is a size 10. However, I made them long, because the girls are tall. I admit, I was worried about the aqua dress, but it is great.
Now, I am sitting here updating my blog, and thinking about another sun dress. I have it planned out in my head. Let's just hope that the finished product ends up looking like the picture in my head. That would be awesome, because this picture in my head is great.
Finally, if you have any ideas that you would like to see, let me know. In fact, you could post them right here in the comments. You could also post them on my Facebook page if you like.
Have a great Monday, and a blessed week. See you here next week.
Tracy
Sewing Sweet Pinterest
Now, that Spring is past and my orders are complete, I feel like I have accomplished a lot. Yet, my brain is still thinking about the next idea. I just can seem to stop the desire to make cute things. This week, I feel the need to make a new dress and try out some of my embroidered t-shirt ideas. I did finish one t-shirt idea. I love the way it turned out. What do you think?
I have actually worn this one. I made this after seeing the movie. By the way, great movie. There are a few other ideas floating around in my head from that movie. I have yet to get them on a t-shirt, but just wait. I will have some samples before you know it. My other projects for the season has been sister dresses and BFF dresses. The sister dress are a ton of fun and I love getting customer pictures. Here is one:
I love the smiles and the matching green chevron fabric. I hope these two little ones will be able to wear these for a long time.
My next order was for a friend of mine. Her daughter and her daughter's friend wanted matching dresses. My friend LOVED the flip flop dress. So, we decided to make a green chevron dress and a aqua chevron dress. They turned out lovely. I do not have pictures of the girls in the dresses...yet. I need to get my wonderful husband to put on his photographer hat. He does such a great job. Anyway, here is a picture of the dresses that I took.
Now, I am sitting here updating my blog, and thinking about another sun dress. I have it planned out in my head. Let's just hope that the finished product ends up looking like the picture in my head. That would be awesome, because this picture in my head is great.
Finally, if you have any ideas that you would like to see, let me know. In fact, you could post them right here in the comments. You could also post them on my Facebook page if you like.
Have a great Monday, and a blessed week. See you here next week.
Tracy
Sewing Sweet Pinterest
Friday, April 4, 2014
OH NO! Guess Where I Have Been?
I have not kept up with my blog. Yes, I am a bad blogger. I am not even sure you could call me a blogger, since I don't blog on a regular schedule. Maybe I am a half blogger. Who knows? I know I am at a loss for words. Therefore, I have not been posting.
Since my last post, things around the sewing room have picked up. My projects have fallen into the deep hole of CHEVRON. Chevron is the big fabric choice of the year. Everything, from dresses to scarves, comes in some color of chevron. Who would have thought years ago that people would make fabric that has the same pattern as this guy's shirt? If you think about it, the chevron pattern is just like Charlie Brown's zig zag.
Seriously, I have been enjoying working with this fabric. It is so cute with the colors. I have also been messing with the bishop dress that has a solid white at the top. Here is my finished product that I managed to figure out.
The picture on the left is the front of the dress. The picture on the right is the back of the dress. This was not too difficult, once I figured out how to pleat. The only bad part was that I broke a few pleater needles. Man those things are expensive. I have been thinking about possibly writing a post about how I made these, but that will take some time to get my thoughts organized.
Of course, once I finished this dress, I had someone interested in purchasing this one for a niece. The best part is my customer needed this dress to have a little sister dress to match. So, here it is:
Now, these flowers on these dresses are so cute, but they are hard on the eyes to smock. Each flower is a combination of at least 2 or 3 colors. I spent the day making sure I got each row correct, but they turned out so very cute. Also, if you notice the big sister dress has some little critters that join the flowers. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I also named each flower. My daughter thought I was crazy. Hmmm, I guess I might be, because, after these dresses, I moved on to Flip Flops.
The Flip Flop plate is another one of my favorites. I just love the way the smocking gives the dress a summer look. It reminds me of the beach. This dress, however, was not going to be a bishop. I wanted to try a pattern that I have not made. OH MY! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun this one was, and how sweet it looked on my little model. So, I will let the pictures tell you.
Seriously, this dress is so adorable. It is a halter dress and has two ties in the back. I already have an order for 2 more. They will be for 2 BFF's. One is going to be like this one, and the other is going to be in a Turquoise Blue. Do you know how hard it is to find Turquoise Blue Chevron? It is like looking for a lost treasure. However, I did finally find my fabric. So, now I just have to get smocking.
In between the girls outfits, I had a customer that requested a romper for a little boy. I don't know if you know this, but there is little to choose from for little boys. However, this customer made a great choice. The pictures below are not the finished product, but they are almost complete. The outfit just needs some buttons on the back and my favorite zipper in the legs instead of snaps.
I loved these trucks. Seriously, boys of all ages love trucks. Even my husband. He just had to sell his truck and get a smaller car. He is still missing that truck. This outfit is for a 2 year old boys birthday. He is going to be super cute sporting this at his birthday party. Can't you just see it?
OOPS, I almost forgot another one of my new items. This is a top with string ties and denim shorts. This one has Alice smocked on the top. Once again, I had a great model for this outfit.
This is thanks to some cute little friends and a great photographer. My husband is amazing.
So, if you are interested in any of these outfits, feel free to contact me through my etsy shop, through my Facebook Page, or just comment right here. We can then begin to create something special for you and your little one.
Sewing Sweet Etsy
Sewing Sweet Facebook
Before I forget, I am also now on Twitter. You can follow me here:
Sewing Sweet Twitter
Since my last post, things around the sewing room have picked up. My projects have fallen into the deep hole of CHEVRON. Chevron is the big fabric choice of the year. Everything, from dresses to scarves, comes in some color of chevron. Who would have thought years ago that people would make fabric that has the same pattern as this guy's shirt? If you think about it, the chevron pattern is just like Charlie Brown's zig zag. Seriously, I have been enjoying working with this fabric. It is so cute with the colors. I have also been messing with the bishop dress that has a solid white at the top. Here is my finished product that I managed to figure out.
The picture on the left is the front of the dress. The picture on the right is the back of the dress. This was not too difficult, once I figured out how to pleat. The only bad part was that I broke a few pleater needles. Man those things are expensive. I have been thinking about possibly writing a post about how I made these, but that will take some time to get my thoughts organized.
Of course, once I finished this dress, I had someone interested in purchasing this one for a niece. The best part is my customer needed this dress to have a little sister dress to match. So, here it is:
Now, these flowers on these dresses are so cute, but they are hard on the eyes to smock. Each flower is a combination of at least 2 or 3 colors. I spent the day making sure I got each row correct, but they turned out so very cute. Also, if you notice the big sister dress has some little critters that join the flowers. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I also named each flower. My daughter thought I was crazy. Hmmm, I guess I might be, because, after these dresses, I moved on to Flip Flops.
The Flip Flop plate is another one of my favorites. I just love the way the smocking gives the dress a summer look. It reminds me of the beach. This dress, however, was not going to be a bishop. I wanted to try a pattern that I have not made. OH MY! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun this one was, and how sweet it looked on my little model. So, I will let the pictures tell you.
Seriously, this dress is so adorable. It is a halter dress and has two ties in the back. I already have an order for 2 more. They will be for 2 BFF's. One is going to be like this one, and the other is going to be in a Turquoise Blue. Do you know how hard it is to find Turquoise Blue Chevron? It is like looking for a lost treasure. However, I did finally find my fabric. So, now I just have to get smocking.I loved these trucks. Seriously, boys of all ages love trucks. Even my husband. He just had to sell his truck and get a smaller car. He is still missing that truck. This outfit is for a 2 year old boys birthday. He is going to be super cute sporting this at his birthday party. Can't you just see it?OOPS, I almost forgot another one of my new items. This is a top with string ties and denim shorts. This one has Alice smocked on the top. Once again, I had a great model for this outfit.
This is thanks to some cute little friends and a great photographer. My husband is amazing.
So, if you are interested in any of these outfits, feel free to contact me through my etsy shop, through my Facebook Page, or just comment right here. We can then begin to create something special for you and your little one.
Sewing Sweet Etsy
Sewing Sweet Facebook
Before I forget, I am also now on Twitter. You can follow me here:
Sewing Sweet Twitter
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Attack of the White Stuff
They said the snow would come. I didn't believe it. Why? Well, if you live in the South long enough you begin to see a pattern. Snow is predicted. Everyone goes crazy and stocks up milk and bread. The kids get excited. The snow doesn't come. This time, however, it looks like they were right on the prediction. It started snowing yesterday morning and didn't stop until around 3 or 4 PM. Then, it started again sometime this morning, and, as I type this at 10:30 AM, it is snowing pretty hard. So, we are stuck inside, because as we know in the South the roads will be bad. Also, most people here are not use to driving in the snow, because it rarely happens here. So, inside we will stay. Well, unless we get the urge to go have a snowball fight. Hmmm...I wonder who will start that. LOL!
While we are inside, I am trying to keep my hands busy on a new bishop. I must admit that I had great plans for a cute green and white chevron bishop smocked dress. After fighting with my pleater yesterday, I am not sure how it will look in the end. I am not sure why, but sometimes my pleater has a mind of its own. Actually, most of the time it is O.E.(operator error). Despite all of my struggles, I managed to get the dress pleated. The smocking will be flowers and the dress will be sized for a 2 year old. The goal is for a 2 year old little girl to have something special to wear this Spring.
What do you do to get ready for days inside? Do you cut out a new pattern? Do you get some yarn for crochet? There are several things a "crafter" can do to avoid boredom. Mine would include the smocking, sewing, and crochet. So, when I get bored with my bishop pattern, I may find myself making a hat or scarf. Who knows? Post a comment below and let me know your favorite "snow day" activity.
Also, before I forget, I am running a special in my shop for the month of February. Here it is:
Easter is a long way off, but this dress takes some time to complete. Therefore, I am offering a deal. Pre-order the dress below by March and receive a $20 discount. Just enter the coupon code PREEASTER, when you purchase this dress in my shop. Hurry, the offer ends on March 1st.
Just click on the name of the dress and it will send you to my etsy shop. You may purchase this dress there. Are you not a big fan of white? That is fine. I can customize this dress to fit the colors you would like. It would make a great Easter dress, Spring dress, or Flower Girl dress for a wedding. Just send me a message via etsy and I can get started.
Don't forget to post comments about what you like to do on a Snow Day. Have a wonderful day and stay warm and inside, if you are near this storm.
While we are inside, I am trying to keep my hands busy on a new bishop. I must admit that I had great plans for a cute green and white chevron bishop smocked dress. After fighting with my pleater yesterday, I am not sure how it will look in the end. I am not sure why, but sometimes my pleater has a mind of its own. Actually, most of the time it is O.E.(operator error). Despite all of my struggles, I managed to get the dress pleated. The smocking will be flowers and the dress will be sized for a 2 year old. The goal is for a 2 year old little girl to have something special to wear this Spring.
What do you do to get ready for days inside? Do you cut out a new pattern? Do you get some yarn for crochet? There are several things a "crafter" can do to avoid boredom. Mine would include the smocking, sewing, and crochet. So, when I get bored with my bishop pattern, I may find myself making a hat or scarf. Who knows? Post a comment below and let me know your favorite "snow day" activity.
Also, before I forget, I am running a special in my shop for the month of February. Here it is:
Easter is a long way off, but this dress takes some time to complete. Therefore, I am offering a deal. Pre-order the dress below by March and receive a $20 discount. Just enter the coupon code PREEASTER, when you purchase this dress in my shop. Hurry, the offer ends on March 1st.
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| Garden Tea Party Dress |
Don't forget to post comments about what you like to do on a Snow Day. Have a wonderful day and stay warm and inside, if you are near this storm.
Friday, February 7, 2014
OH NO! I am LOST!
Ok, my husband and I have been discussing getting rid of our AT&T U-verse cable. We really like the DVR thing, and being able to watch when we want. The problem is, it is expensive. We think we could save some money if we did things another way. Our family is not a huge TV family. We only have like 3 or 4 shows that we watch, and 2 that are favorites. The others we most likely could get by not watching. So, on to research.
We started by looking into Netflix. We signed up for the one month free trial. WOW!!! The amount of shows that are available is amazing. We found a bunch of old episodes of shows we watched as kids, and some new ones we had not seen. We also tried Hulu Plus for a few days, but that was not much different than the Netflix. Actually, Netflix gave us more options. We are still in the process of trying to decide what to do, but for now the Netflix stays and the U-verse is on its way out.
One of the new shows that we found is Dr. Who. If you don't know, Dr. Who is a show from the BBC. It is about a man that is a time traveler. My kids loved it. There are a few references to lifestyles that are questionable to us, but for the most part it is interesting. Now, I told you my kids loved the show. Me, on the other hand, became addicted. I just keep watching. I am totally lost in a huge time vortex. OH NO!!!
Maybe I can get Dr. Who to come and save me. LOL!!!
Seriously, I have spent time watching this show, but I have also been busy. I did manage to complete one dress and started another. Below is a picture of the first one. The second one, began with a great idea, but it is not working out the way I had planned.
So, I decided to put the second one aside, and wait until I have had time to think about the finished product.
Now, that I have put that one aside, I purchased some Green Chevron. I have 2 ideas for 2 different bishop smocked dresses. My plan is to have them ready by Spring. Flowers and Flip Flops. That is the idea that I have.
So, if you ever get addicted to a show, make sure that you have something to work on while you are lost in the show. By the way, the dress in the picture is available for sale on my Etsy shop. It can be purchased there, or you can custom order one of my other outfits there.
We started by looking into Netflix. We signed up for the one month free trial. WOW!!! The amount of shows that are available is amazing. We found a bunch of old episodes of shows we watched as kids, and some new ones we had not seen. We also tried Hulu Plus for a few days, but that was not much different than the Netflix. Actually, Netflix gave us more options. We are still in the process of trying to decide what to do, but for now the Netflix stays and the U-verse is on its way out.
One of the new shows that we found is Dr. Who. If you don't know, Dr. Who is a show from the BBC. It is about a man that is a time traveler. My kids loved it. There are a few references to lifestyles that are questionable to us, but for the most part it is interesting. Now, I told you my kids loved the show. Me, on the other hand, became addicted. I just keep watching. I am totally lost in a huge time vortex. OH NO!!!
Maybe I can get Dr. Who to come and save me. LOL!!!
Seriously, I have spent time watching this show, but I have also been busy. I did manage to complete one dress and started another. Below is a picture of the first one. The second one, began with a great idea, but it is not working out the way I had planned.
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| Bishop Smocked Dress |
Now, that I have put that one aside, I purchased some Green Chevron. I have 2 ideas for 2 different bishop smocked dresses. My plan is to have them ready by Spring. Flowers and Flip Flops. That is the idea that I have.
So, if you ever get addicted to a show, make sure that you have something to work on while you are lost in the show. By the way, the dress in the picture is available for sale on my Etsy shop. It can be purchased there, or you can custom order one of my other outfits there.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Guess What I Did This Week...
I would like to say that this week I worked very hard and accomplished a lot. That is not the case. I had great plans for this week. I was going to finish an outfit and get it listed on Etsy. I was going to get my meals planned and grocery shop for the week. Then, on Tuesday, it happened.
They predicted snow. The whole town got so excited. The kids, my kids, were anticipating the calling off of the school day. We woke up. Not a snowflake in sight. At around 11 I got a text from my daughter saying that they were letting the kids out at 12. Seriously??? Once again, not a snowflake in sight. So, off I went to wait in car lines for kids. We came home and relaxed. Well, I took a nap. LOL! Still, no snow. At around 3PMish, there were snow flurries coming down. Well, I would really call it that. You see, I am originally from Ohio. This was more like micro snow flurries. A friend of mine on Facebook described it well. She said it looked like little gnats. She was right. However, it continued and was constant throughout the night.
By Wednesday morning, we had snow dusted all over our back yard. It was not that big of a deal, but the ice on the roads was serious. See, in Ohio, they would have had salt trucks out as soon as the snow started falling. In the south, they do not. Why? Well, it is because we do not get snow that often. They do not use tax payer money to buy up a bunch of salt truck that may or may not be used. That equals icy roads that do not thaw and people driving on them that are not experienced with driving on ice. I was very thankful that they did send the kids home early.
Why?
Well, my sister and her family live south of us. They were absolutely not ready for the storm they received. They schools did not call off early enough. The snow hit fast and hard. They also do not have the snow/salt trucks there, because, once again, snow is rare. She and her husband left for work and picking up the kids at around 11 in the morning. At 5:45PM, I received a text from my sister that she and the kids were finally home. There were also people and kids in other areas that did not make it home until 24 hours later. WOW!
So, I was thankful for my time at home and getting here safe. We relaxed and I worked in spurts. I did accomplish finishing up some smocking and back smocking of an outfit that is still in the making. I hope today to get some work done on the sleeves and put the top together. Be looking for this new outfit on my Etsy shop. Also, if you are need of some custom made dresses or outfits for your little one, or if you need a baby shower gift, stop by Sewing Sweet Tracy or my Facebook Page. We can get started making something special for you and your little one.
They predicted snow. The whole town got so excited. The kids, my kids, were anticipating the calling off of the school day. We woke up. Not a snowflake in sight. At around 11 I got a text from my daughter saying that they were letting the kids out at 12. Seriously??? Once again, not a snowflake in sight. So, off I went to wait in car lines for kids. We came home and relaxed. Well, I took a nap. LOL! Still, no snow. At around 3PMish, there were snow flurries coming down. Well, I would really call it that. You see, I am originally from Ohio. This was more like micro snow flurries. A friend of mine on Facebook described it well. She said it looked like little gnats. She was right. However, it continued and was constant throughout the night.
By Wednesday morning, we had snow dusted all over our back yard. It was not that big of a deal, but the ice on the roads was serious. See, in Ohio, they would have had salt trucks out as soon as the snow started falling. In the south, they do not. Why? Well, it is because we do not get snow that often. They do not use tax payer money to buy up a bunch of salt truck that may or may not be used. That equals icy roads that do not thaw and people driving on them that are not experienced with driving on ice. I was very thankful that they did send the kids home early.
Why?
Well, my sister and her family live south of us. They were absolutely not ready for the storm they received. They schools did not call off early enough. The snow hit fast and hard. They also do not have the snow/salt trucks there, because, once again, snow is rare. She and her husband left for work and picking up the kids at around 11 in the morning. At 5:45PM, I received a text from my sister that she and the kids were finally home. There were also people and kids in other areas that did not make it home until 24 hours later. WOW!
So, I was thankful for my time at home and getting here safe. We relaxed and I worked in spurts. I did accomplish finishing up some smocking and back smocking of an outfit that is still in the making. I hope today to get some work done on the sleeves and put the top together. Be looking for this new outfit on my Etsy shop. Also, if you are need of some custom made dresses or outfits for your little one, or if you need a baby shower gift, stop by Sewing Sweet Tracy or my Facebook Page. We can get started making something special for you and your little one.
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Passing on of a Family Skill
Well, I almost forgot to blog this week. Wait! I actually did forget to blog last week. Oops! Well, I will just start this week out right. So, here we go...
Family traditions are amazing. Most families have traditions. They can be holiday traditions, seasonal traditions or just plain old traditions. They are things you get use to doing. Sometimes, they are things you want to pass down to your children. Sometimes, they are things you want to start in your own family.
However, family skills are different than traditions. Family skills are things that whatever you do, you want to make sure someone in the family passes that skill on to the next generation. That is what has happened over the course of a few years in my family.
Several years ago, when my daughter was small enough to sit on my lap, I would have her help me sew. She would come to the sewing room and sit on my lap as we guided the material through the machine. Now, she didn't know, but I was trying to pass on the love of sewing to her. Then, after many times of sitting on my lap, I had her practice. She finally got the hang of sewing simple 5/8 inch seams. I then, had her sew some fabric squares that my Grandmother had cut, but never had put them into a quilt. None of the squares matched or would be the kind of thing you would put together, but it worked for the time. As she was sewing these squares, I was filled with emotions. There was my daughter, sewing together squares that her Great Grandmother had started to use to create something. It was amazing.
Well, after this my daughter attempted to make a pillow case dress. She took a long time to finish, and it was obvious that sewing was not something she loved like I did. However, she really wanted to learn how to crochet. Well, I am left handed. She is right handed. Do you see the problem? So, I had her sit with my right handed sister, and had my sister teach her the skill. My daughter did a few stitches, but never really got the hang of more than just a simple chain stitch.
This past Christmas, she took off. I sat with her again and showed her some basic stitches. She learned to single crochet, to half double crochet, to double crochet, and to turn the work. I was so amazed at how she worked at this crochet thing. She even finished a scarf. Was I proud? You better believe I was proud. After the scarf, she and I started to each work on a beanie hat. She finished hers before I finished mine. Below is a picture of her scarf. We do not have one of the hat just yet. The scarf is listed on etsy for your purchase.
If you follow the link on the picture in the middle, it will take you to my Etsy shop. There, you can buy this great scarf from my daughter. She is so excited to have her first item listed. I am so proud of the work she is doing. She is currently working on another scarf that is pink and she has decided on her own stitching. It should be another wonderful creation.
Family traditions are amazing. Most families have traditions. They can be holiday traditions, seasonal traditions or just plain old traditions. They are things you get use to doing. Sometimes, they are things you want to pass down to your children. Sometimes, they are things you want to start in your own family.
However, family skills are different than traditions. Family skills are things that whatever you do, you want to make sure someone in the family passes that skill on to the next generation. That is what has happened over the course of a few years in my family.
Several years ago, when my daughter was small enough to sit on my lap, I would have her help me sew. She would come to the sewing room and sit on my lap as we guided the material through the machine. Now, she didn't know, but I was trying to pass on the love of sewing to her. Then, after many times of sitting on my lap, I had her practice. She finally got the hang of sewing simple 5/8 inch seams. I then, had her sew some fabric squares that my Grandmother had cut, but never had put them into a quilt. None of the squares matched or would be the kind of thing you would put together, but it worked for the time. As she was sewing these squares, I was filled with emotions. There was my daughter, sewing together squares that her Great Grandmother had started to use to create something. It was amazing.
Well, after this my daughter attempted to make a pillow case dress. She took a long time to finish, and it was obvious that sewing was not something she loved like I did. However, she really wanted to learn how to crochet. Well, I am left handed. She is right handed. Do you see the problem? So, I had her sit with my right handed sister, and had my sister teach her the skill. My daughter did a few stitches, but never really got the hang of more than just a simple chain stitch.
This past Christmas, she took off. I sat with her again and showed her some basic stitches. She learned to single crochet, to half double crochet, to double crochet, and to turn the work. I was so amazed at how she worked at this crochet thing. She even finished a scarf. Was I proud? You better believe I was proud. After the scarf, she and I started to each work on a beanie hat. She finished hers before I finished mine. Below is a picture of her scarf. We do not have one of the hat just yet. The scarf is listed on etsy for your purchase.
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| Brown/Blue Scarf |
If you follow the link on the picture in the middle, it will take you to my Etsy shop. There, you can buy this great scarf from my daughter. She is so excited to have her first item listed. I am so proud of the work she is doing. She is currently working on another scarf that is pink and she has decided on her own stitching. It should be another wonderful creation.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Ruffles, Ruffles Everywhere
So, here it is the end of the week, and I have not posted a blog. Oops! I almost forgot. Have I been busy? No. Have I misplaced my computer? No. I have just been lazy.
My work this week has centered around one of my favorite customers. She is always pleased with my work even when I am not. The task this week was to make some denim ruffle pants. She didn't ask for a monogram on the ruffle, but I thought I would give it a try. It turned out great. The pants were so very cute. I had a hard time seeing them go. She also wants a darker pair of denim pants. So, next up is the darker pair. Denim is such a great fabric for pants. Denim goes with everything. So, without going on too much, here are some pictures.
You can pair these pants with just about anything that I make. All of the bishop dress that I make can be shortened to a top and be paired with some cute ruffle pants. If you like these, you can customize your order. Just post a comment here or on my facebook page. You can also send me a message on Etsy.
The other news for the week is that I started a Twitter account. You may follow me there if you would like. @sewingsweettrac
My work this week has centered around one of my favorite customers. She is always pleased with my work even when I am not. The task this week was to make some denim ruffle pants. She didn't ask for a monogram on the ruffle, but I thought I would give it a try. It turned out great. The pants were so very cute. I had a hard time seeing them go. She also wants a darker pair of denim pants. So, next up is the darker pair. Denim is such a great fabric for pants. Denim goes with everything. So, without going on too much, here are some pictures.
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| Come in sizes 6 mo. to 18 mo. |
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| You can customize them to your liking. |
You can pair these pants with just about anything that I make. All of the bishop dress that I make can be shortened to a top and be paired with some cute ruffle pants. If you like these, you can customize your order. Just post a comment here or on my facebook page. You can also send me a message on Etsy.
The other news for the week is that I started a Twitter account. You may follow me there if you would like. @sewingsweettrac
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Baby It's Cold Outside
So, today it is currently a whopping 16 degrees. The high for today is supposed to be 25 degrees. Yep, that is a little chilly. Do we have snow? Absolutely not, but we do have cold. What about where you are? Is it cold? Did you get some snow? Enough to build a snowman or play? Let me know.
On this cold day, I am thinking of ways to warm up. You can have hot tea, hot chocolate, coffee, soup, grilled cheese(yes, that was my lunch today), and many other things. One thing that keeps me dreaming of warmer weather is some of the bright clothing that I have made in the past. So this blog will be a view of some Spring and Summer colors. Here is Sewing Sweet Spring and Summer in pictures:
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| Drawstring Cinch Sack |
If you follow the links on the title of each outfit, it will take you to Etsy.com. You may purchase the items with titles there. You may also post a comment here and I will get in touch with you for pricing, sizing, and material choices.
Stay warm today and enjoy the colors of Spring/Summer.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Happy 2014!!! So, we celebrated the New Year the same way as always. We watched the ball drop on Fox New channel. It was pretty uneventful, but it was a blessing to watch with my family. I pray that you were able to spend the New Year with your family. I also pray that 2014 brings you a year full of blessings.
So, this is the first blog of the New Year. Hmmm...What do blog about??? That is always the question.
Today, I am going to write about my creation yesterday. For a while now, I have been making some Infinity Scarves, or Tube Scarves, or Endless Scarves. They have so many different names. When I make these, I notice that there is several inches of material left over. Well, being me, I can't help but think, "You know there is something that can be made with that left over material" For a long time, I had no ideas. This Christmas, I was making some of these scarves for my mom and mother-in-law. It finally hit me...HEADBANDS. A headband is just simply a smaller infinity scarf. WOW! I seriously can't believe it took me this long. So, yesterday, I began creating a headband.
It started out pretty simple. Then, I tried the first one out. Bummer! The first one looks good, but I can barely get it over my head. It is so very tight. Well, maybe it is just my big head. So, I gave it to my daughter to try out. She couldn't even get it on at all. So, back to the drawing board.
It seemed to be that the material stretched, but the stitching kept one side from stretching. OH! That is right. I was using the wrong stitch. DUH! A straight stitch doesn't stretch. So, out comes the manual to the sewing machine. Did you know that there is a stitch for stretchy material(LOL)? Yes, I know dumb question. I did know this, but I had forgotten.
After changing my stitch, I had better success. The next 2 headbands turned out great. One was still a little small, but would work great for a young girl. The other one was good for an adult sized head. I do still need to work with the size a little, but I have a good start. Check out the pictures, and post a comment here about what you think. Enjoy!
Other colors and styles to come. The other big news of yesterday is that my daughter finished her first crocheted scarf. She had decided a while ago that she wanted to learn to crochet. We had some bumps in the road in the area of learning stitches, but she has got it down now. Here are pictures of her first finished product. I am a very proud momma.
So, this is the first blog of the New Year. Hmmm...What do blog about??? That is always the question.
Today, I am going to write about my creation yesterday. For a while now, I have been making some Infinity Scarves, or Tube Scarves, or Endless Scarves. They have so many different names. When I make these, I notice that there is several inches of material left over. Well, being me, I can't help but think, "You know there is something that can be made with that left over material" For a long time, I had no ideas. This Christmas, I was making some of these scarves for my mom and mother-in-law. It finally hit me...HEADBANDS. A headband is just simply a smaller infinity scarf. WOW! I seriously can't believe it took me this long. So, yesterday, I began creating a headband.
It started out pretty simple. Then, I tried the first one out. Bummer! The first one looks good, but I can barely get it over my head. It is so very tight. Well, maybe it is just my big head. So, I gave it to my daughter to try out. She couldn't even get it on at all. So, back to the drawing board.
It seemed to be that the material stretched, but the stitching kept one side from stretching. OH! That is right. I was using the wrong stitch. DUH! A straight stitch doesn't stretch. So, out comes the manual to the sewing machine. Did you know that there is a stitch for stretchy material(LOL)? Yes, I know dumb question. I did know this, but I had forgotten.
After changing my stitch, I had better success. The next 2 headbands turned out great. One was still a little small, but would work great for a young girl. The other one was good for an adult sized head. I do still need to work with the size a little, but I have a good start. Check out the pictures, and post a comment here about what you think. Enjoy!
Other colors and styles to come. The other big news of yesterday is that my daughter finished her first crocheted scarf. She had decided a while ago that she wanted to learn to crochet. We had some bumps in the road in the area of learning stitches, but she has got it down now. Here are pictures of her first finished product. I am a very proud momma.
Friday, December 27, 2013
And here comes 2014!!!
So, while I am thinking about the New Year and my business, I am thinking about some changes. My etsy.com shop has seen little to no business in a while. My husband and my dear sister-in-law continue to suggest that I blog. Well, since I am not so great at this blog thing, I have not posted anything in a very long time. Also, it is all so very confusing to me, and I seriously have not taken the time to get into this whole blog area. I guess that I am trying to start out the New Year with a more consistent "blogging" habit. Is that what you call it??? So, here goes.
The following are questions that I always have when blogging. "What do I blog about???" I mean what can I tell you that you would want to read or hear? Do people really want to hear about the projects that are currently in the mix? Do people want to hear new techniques? I hope not, because I don't have any. Do people want to read about the show or movies that I watch while smocking or sewing? Do I blog about blogging? Can you do that?
After I go through several minutes, hours, days, etc. of this, I end up blogging about my outfits or my sales. The other result is, I just stop and don't blog. Why? Well honestly, sometimes I feel it is a waste of time. I don't see much traffic here, and I have other things to do. Also, I go back and read it several days later. BIG MISTAKE! The re-reading leads me to question all that was written. So, once again, I give up.
So, here is the plan for the New Year...
1. I will post a blog entry once a week. No more, and, hopefully, no less.
2. I will blog about what I want to blog about. If it is not a great blog, then I will just try to blog something better the next week.
3. I will try not to get discouraged. Seriously, no one wants to read a blog that is filled with frustration.
So, there it is. If you follow this blog, and I would be surprised if you did, I ask you to keep me accountable. Let me know when I have missed a week. Keep me up to date on the things you are interested in hearing. Comment. PLEASE, comment. That is the only way I can improve this blog.
As I close, I pray that all of you have had a wonderful Christmas and God will bless you and your family in the New Year. Happy 2014!
The following are questions that I always have when blogging. "What do I blog about???" I mean what can I tell you that you would want to read or hear? Do people really want to hear about the projects that are currently in the mix? Do people want to hear new techniques? I hope not, because I don't have any. Do people want to read about the show or movies that I watch while smocking or sewing? Do I blog about blogging? Can you do that?
After I go through several minutes, hours, days, etc. of this, I end up blogging about my outfits or my sales. The other result is, I just stop and don't blog. Why? Well honestly, sometimes I feel it is a waste of time. I don't see much traffic here, and I have other things to do. Also, I go back and read it several days later. BIG MISTAKE! The re-reading leads me to question all that was written. So, once again, I give up.
So, here is the plan for the New Year...
1. I will post a blog entry once a week. No more, and, hopefully, no less.
2. I will blog about what I want to blog about. If it is not a great blog, then I will just try to blog something better the next week.
3. I will try not to get discouraged. Seriously, no one wants to read a blog that is filled with frustration.
So, there it is. If you follow this blog, and I would be surprised if you did, I ask you to keep me accountable. Let me know when I have missed a week. Keep me up to date on the things you are interested in hearing. Comment. PLEASE, comment. That is the only way I can improve this blog.
As I close, I pray that all of you have had a wonderful Christmas and God will bless you and your family in the New Year. Happy 2014!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Winding Down The Summer
Well, this week has been lazy and busy. Our mornings around here have been a little on the lazy side. Sometimes it is nice to just do nothing, and my kids LOVE that option. All of the sports practices moved from in the morning hours to the afternoon. Also, we are getting ready for school to start. So that means, pick up schedules, make sure we have supplies, and figure out teachers. I have my first kid going off to High School this year. I really thought I would be more nervous, but he is ready. My second kid will be in 7th grade, so it is no big deal. Also, kid #2 LOVES school. Yep, that's right, it is my daughter. They both do very well in school and are learning so much.
Since that has been the schedule this week, I have not done a lot of creating. Last weekend I did make a little boy romper that turned out very cute. I had plans to start a smocked Christmas dress, but that has not happened, yet. As I sit here typing, I hear rain coming down. That means, no running for me. I guess instead I will start on that dress. The material is in the sewing room just waiting on me to get my act together.
On the up side, I sold my Back to School Apple outfit this week. I am so excited for the little girl who will have this to wear on the first day of school. This has always been one of my favorite outfits. I just love how it screams "FALL".
I also delivered my first "Books of the Bible" bag to my nephew. He was so fun to watch. I think he liked the bag better than the books of the Bible tiles. His mom, my sister, helped him pour all of the tiles out and try to put them in order. That was fun to watch. Soon he will be reciting those books like he has known them all his life.
Today my promotion is a clearance item. This is a great Spring or Summer outfit. I know, Spring and Summer are over. However, this could be bought on clearance and worn next year. This outfit features some very cute flowers with smiling faces and a few Spring critters. The pants have a matching ruffle at the bottom. I am selling it on clearance to make room for some Fall and Winter items in my shop. The original cost was $50, and it is priced now for $25. That is HALF OFF. WOW! Follow the link to my Etsy shop listing in order to purchase.
Since that has been the schedule this week, I have not done a lot of creating. Last weekend I did make a little boy romper that turned out very cute. I had plans to start a smocked Christmas dress, but that has not happened, yet. As I sit here typing, I hear rain coming down. That means, no running for me. I guess instead I will start on that dress. The material is in the sewing room just waiting on me to get my act together.
On the up side, I sold my Back to School Apple outfit this week. I am so excited for the little girl who will have this to wear on the first day of school. This has always been one of my favorite outfits. I just love how it screams "FALL".
I also delivered my first "Books of the Bible" bag to my nephew. He was so fun to watch. I think he liked the bag better than the books of the Bible tiles. His mom, my sister, helped him pour all of the tiles out and try to put them in order. That was fun to watch. Soon he will be reciting those books like he has known them all his life.
Today my promotion is a clearance item. This is a great Spring or Summer outfit. I know, Spring and Summer are over. However, this could be bought on clearance and worn next year. This outfit features some very cute flowers with smiling faces and a few Spring critters. The pants have a matching ruffle at the bottom. I am selling it on clearance to make room for some Fall and Winter items in my shop. The original cost was $50, and it is priced now for $25. That is HALF OFF. WOW! Follow the link to my Etsy shop listing in order to purchase.
Girls Pink/Blue/Green Smocked Flower Pant Set Size 4- CLEARANCE
While you are there, check out my other items that are for sale. There are some very cute dresses and a few items for baby boys.
As I finish up, I want to give a shout out to the Etsy Amazing Etsians team. They invited me to their team this week and WOW has the traffic to my etsy shop increased. This group is so very encouraging and has been a great help. Also, the EtsyKids Team has been helpful, so shout out to them as well.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Hey, Hey We're The Monkeys
This past weekend I was all over the Monkey theme. A friend of mine has a daughter that is due soon. She wanted a outfit for newborn baby boy to wear home from the hospital. I gave her a few choices, and the picture below is what she wanted.
This turned out so very sweet and I fell in love with Mr. Monkey. I have made this outfit with long sleeves, but this is the first short sleeved version. I really like the long sleeves, but the short sleeves look great. I may try this one again. We will see if there is any interest.
So, after making precious outfit #1, I decided that Mr. Monkey needed to be on another gem of an outfit. So, I made the one you see below.
This one turned out even better. It is a 0-6 months size. Can't you just see your newborn baby boy wearing this home from the hospital or for those first pictures. I love this monkey. He just looks so sweet. Also, the colors of this one turned out great. It is a brown plaid, and fully lined with cream batiste. I just have to add buttons and some snaps.
So, now that I have grown attached to Mr. Monkey, I am toying with the idea of doing him in girl colors. So, I guess he would be Ms. Monkey. I am thinking that a pink monkey with a white face would be very cute.
Well, I do have to put Mr. and Ms. Monkey aside for a few days. I am wanting to make a Christmas version of the dress below.
This dress is one of my favorites and it always looks so beautiful. I just know that in Christmas colors it would look awesome. So, be looking for pictures and listings on Etsy for this one. I can't wait.
So, after making precious outfit #1, I decided that Mr. Monkey needed to be on another gem of an outfit. So, I made the one you see below.
So, now that I have grown attached to Mr. Monkey, I am toying with the idea of doing him in girl colors. So, I guess he would be Ms. Monkey. I am thinking that a pink monkey with a white face would be very cute.
Well, I do have to put Mr. and Ms. Monkey aside for a few days. I am wanting to make a Christmas version of the dress below.
This dress is one of my favorites and it always looks so beautiful. I just know that in Christmas colors it would look awesome. So, be looking for pictures and listings on Etsy for this one. I can't wait.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Let's Get Cleared Out For Fall
So, it is time to do some "Spring" cleaning. I know it is the end of Summer, but I need to make room in my sewing room for newly created apparel. So, some of my creations are going to have to go to good homes. All of the items that are listed below are being sold at a 50% discount. Also, if you order $35 or more and enter the coupon code SCHOOL2013 at the check out, you will get a 20% discount. Make sure to make your purchase soon. This offer will not last long.
Here are the items:
Here are the items:
Teal Garden Tea Party Dress Sizes 4
Yellow/Green Lemon Lollipop Short Set Size 1T
Girls Pink/Blue/Green Smocked Flower Pant Set Size 4
Tote Bag
Baby Girl Blue/Green Sundress Set Size 3 to 6 months
Back to School Girls Apple outfit - Size 6
Don't forget to come in soon this offer will be gone before you know it!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
"Let's Hear it for the Boys"
It was an exciting time in my life. I was pregnant with my first child, and could not wait to be a mom. The big question that was asked of me at the time was, "Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?" We thought about it a little bit, but honestly we didn't have any strong feelings either way, so, off we go to the big ultrasound. They asked if we wanted to know, and we said, "Why not?" We were told that our first child was going to be a boy. Well, now that we knew, it was time to get things ready. The big question that is always on the mind of a mom to be is, "What is my child going to wear home from the hospital?" Every mom wants that outfit to be special.
That is what I have been working on this week. Special outfits to have baby wear home from the hospital. I have made some beautiful Bishop Smocked Dresses for newborn girls, but not many boys outfits have been constructed on my sewing machine. This week, I had the great pleasure of making the outfit below for a friend of mine. She has a grandson on the way.
I have made this particular outfit before, but it was long sleeved. I think I like the short sleeve. I thought the monkey was so cute that he may be a part of some other outfits.
Mr. Monkey has stole my heart. His little sleepy eyes are so cute. Today, I decided to start a bubble romper for his 2nd appearance. The romper is in a brown plaid material and the monkey will be displayed on a cream appliquéd circle. I am still trying to decided if the outfit will have sleeves or not. What do you think?
Christmas has also been on my mind today. I know, it is several months away, but in the children's clothing area, you have to start thinking early. You want that special outfit for your child to wear in the family pictures. Right? Every little girl needs that beautiful dress. So, I am working on something to incorporate the Christmas color theme. I don't want to leave the boys out of the picture, so I may be recreating the outfit above in a Christmas theme. However, I am not sure what kind of embroidery to stitch. Do you have any ideas? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
That is what I have been working on this week. Special outfits to have baby wear home from the hospital. I have made some beautiful Bishop Smocked Dresses for newborn girls, but not many boys outfits have been constructed on my sewing machine. This week, I had the great pleasure of making the outfit below for a friend of mine. She has a grandson on the way.
Mr. Monkey has stole my heart. His little sleepy eyes are so cute. Today, I decided to start a bubble romper for his 2nd appearance. The romper is in a brown plaid material and the monkey will be displayed on a cream appliquéd circle. I am still trying to decided if the outfit will have sleeves or not. What do you think?
Christmas has also been on my mind today. I know, it is several months away, but in the children's clothing area, you have to start thinking early. You want that special outfit for your child to wear in the family pictures. Right? Every little girl needs that beautiful dress. So, I am working on something to incorporate the Christmas color theme. I don't want to leave the boys out of the picture, so I may be recreating the outfit above in a Christmas theme. However, I am not sure what kind of embroidery to stitch. Do you have any ideas? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
A Back to School Item that You Just Got to Have!
This Summer, I have learned to make Cinch Sacks. They are also known as Drawstring Bags. They are loads of fun and have so many options. You can make them in all sorts of colors and fabric choices. Here are two samples that I have made:
The Barrel of Monkeys sack is $15. The Auburn sack is $20. If you are interested in having either one monogrammed or embroidered with a name, it will cost $5 more for each monogram or name.
Do you have a favorite team? Well, these bags can be made with fabric from your team. Auburn, Alabama, USC, Clemson, Florida, etc. These may not be your favorite. Who is your favorite team?
These bags can also be monogrammed or embroidered with a name. Appliqué is also a nice touch. There is no end to the possibilities. I have played around with the idea of making these bags in school colors. What do you think? Would your child like a bag that shows school spirit?
How about a Cinch Lunch Sack? When shopping for lunch boxes for my kids, I have found it hard to find one that is big enough for the food they need, or big enough for the water bottle they carry. I know, most people probably send juice boxes or Capri Sun with their kids. I tend to send water. Yes, it is a little boring, but it is healthy. Also, I know most people have their kids buy lunch, but imagine the money you will save having a cool lunch bag. We took the time the other day to total up the cost of lunches from the time a child begins Kindergarten until they graduate High School. It was a little difficult. Here is what I can tell you: 1. Lunch for one day at school is $2.10, 2. Multiply that times 5 days and you get $10.5, 3. Multiply that times 4 weeks in a month and you get $42(I am aware that some months have 5. I just picked 4 because most have 4.), 4. Multiply that times 9ish months and you get $378, 5. Multiply that times 13 years of school and you get $4914 that you could spend on lunches over the course of your child's school life. WOW!!! What do you think you could do with $4914? Having a Cinch Lunch Sack for you child will save you money, and you can actually fix what your child likes to eat. Now, I have not made a sample Lunch Sack yet, but that is my plan. So, let me know if you are interested in saving your family some money on lunches.
The Barrel of Monkeys sack is $15. The Auburn sack is $20. If you are interested in having either one monogrammed or embroidered with a name, it will cost $5 more for each monogram or name.
 |
| Barrel of Monkeys Sack |
 |
| Auburn Sack |
Do you have a favorite team? Well, these bags can be made with fabric from your team. Auburn, Alabama, USC, Clemson, Florida, etc. These may not be your favorite. Who is your favorite team?
These bags can also be monogrammed or embroidered with a name. Appliqué is also a nice touch. There is no end to the possibilities. I have played around with the idea of making these bags in school colors. What do you think? Would your child like a bag that shows school spirit?
How about a Cinch Lunch Sack? When shopping for lunch boxes for my kids, I have found it hard to find one that is big enough for the food they need, or big enough for the water bottle they carry. I know, most people probably send juice boxes or Capri Sun with their kids. I tend to send water. Yes, it is a little boring, but it is healthy. Also, I know most people have their kids buy lunch, but imagine the money you will save having a cool lunch bag. We took the time the other day to total up the cost of lunches from the time a child begins Kindergarten until they graduate High School. It was a little difficult. Here is what I can tell you: 1. Lunch for one day at school is $2.10, 2. Multiply that times 5 days and you get $10.5, 3. Multiply that times 4 weeks in a month and you get $42(I am aware that some months have 5. I just picked 4 because most have 4.), 4. Multiply that times 9ish months and you get $378, 5. Multiply that times 13 years of school and you get $4914 that you could spend on lunches over the course of your child's school life. WOW!!! What do you think you could do with $4914? Having a Cinch Lunch Sack for you child will save you money, and you can actually fix what your child likes to eat. Now, I have not made a sample Lunch Sack yet, but that is my plan. So, let me know if you are interested in saving your family some money on lunches.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Dave Ramsey Wallet
Have you taken the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class? We have, and we are living mostly debt free. The only thing we have left is to pay off that dreaded mortgage. That class was the best thing for our marriage and our children's future. We are still teaching them about all things F.P.U. That will take us some more time.
Did you get a F.P.U. wallet? We did. I tried to use it for a while, but I did not like the envelopes. While I was at the store, the flaps on the envelopes became very annoying. So, I found my own wallet that had some dividers and added some small dividers. This has been very helpful. However, my wallet is starting to tear up, and I need a new one. The only problem is, I can't find one that will work. Also, we are getting out kids involved in the process and they are needed a way to keep their categories separate.
I have looked on Etsy and other places in order to figure out how to make a wallet. Most of the ones I have seen are fabric versions of the envelopes or several zipper wallets together in one big one. These would work, but I think I can do better. So, today I am going to try to work on my version of the Dave Ramsey wallet. The main things are it needs to be practical and fashionable for my daughter(yes, she is at that age). I am pretty sure that I can get it figured out, but my concern is the zippers. Zippers are not always user friendly when comes to sewing. So, wish me luck. With any luck, by the end of the weekend, I will have a finished product that the girl will enjoy.
For those of you in the midst of the F.P.U. journey, I send you my Debt Free motivation. Get there and you will never go back. It is wonderful on this side of the mountain. Come on over, we have no stress, no debt, and a lot of FREEDOM!
Did you get a F.P.U. wallet? We did. I tried to use it for a while, but I did not like the envelopes. While I was at the store, the flaps on the envelopes became very annoying. So, I found my own wallet that had some dividers and added some small dividers. This has been very helpful. However, my wallet is starting to tear up, and I need a new one. The only problem is, I can't find one that will work. Also, we are getting out kids involved in the process and they are needed a way to keep their categories separate.
I have looked on Etsy and other places in order to figure out how to make a wallet. Most of the ones I have seen are fabric versions of the envelopes or several zipper wallets together in one big one. These would work, but I think I can do better. So, today I am going to try to work on my version of the Dave Ramsey wallet. The main things are it needs to be practical and fashionable for my daughter(yes, she is at that age). I am pretty sure that I can get it figured out, but my concern is the zippers. Zippers are not always user friendly when comes to sewing. So, wish me luck. With any luck, by the end of the weekend, I will have a finished product that the girl will enjoy.
For those of you in the midst of the F.P.U. journey, I send you my Debt Free motivation. Get there and you will never go back. It is wonderful on this side of the mountain. Come on over, we have no stress, no debt, and a lot of FREEDOM!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Playing Around
OK, I finally was able to have some fun today. I have spent the last few days trying to make a knit dress for my daughter. It was not successful. Knit is a horrible fabric to use, when sewing clothing. The most difficult part is cutting and matching up seams. Needless to say, the dress does not look the way I wished. It will work for my daughter to wear for awhile. The lesson I learned...Don't let her pick out the material. She has not idea what to use when making clothing.
After all of that, I decided to play with my embroidery machine for a while. Also, I saw that a friend of mine was making Infinity Scarves. So, I tried one, and it was so fun and easy. I was thinking that it would be fun to make scarves for the people that I know at David Lipscomb who are in Social Clubs, but I don't know all their colors. So, basically, I just played with some ideas. I am attaching pictures of my fun at the bottom. Also, check out the link at the bottom to my friends shop. She makes some very cute items.
Lovely Leaf Crafts and Designs
After all of that, I decided to play with my embroidery machine for a while. Also, I saw that a friend of mine was making Infinity Scarves. So, I tried one, and it was so fun and easy. I was thinking that it would be fun to make scarves for the people that I know at David Lipscomb who are in Social Clubs, but I don't know all their colors. So, basically, I just played with some ideas. I am attaching pictures of my fun at the bottom. Also, check out the link at the bottom to my friends shop. She makes some very cute items.
Lovely Leaf Crafts and Designs
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| Monogram Font |
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| Monogram on Green |
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| Infinity Scarf |
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| Close up of embroidery |
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| School Bus Appliqué |
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