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Channeling grandmothers

29 Dec

What happens when three TV remotes (and only one fully functional) are combined with three rocking chairs, dining table and chairs, two ottomans plus one TV? …CHAOS!

First things first.  All the remotes are restored and fully functional.

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The next part channels grandmothers talents to make “holsters” to hold the remotes between uses.

We found three worn finger tip towels.  I cut them down the middle to get proportions to match and hemmed cut edges.  The short sides are sewn together.  Fold over half to make pocket and sew sides.  Sew two sets of antique snaps (if I had been home I would have used Velcro) to be able to secure “holster” over arm of chair.

Ladies and gentlemen, this project was much easier than explaining TV remote controls to my grandmothers.  May they rest in peace, not knowing.

 

 

 

 

 

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Love this from Spoonflower

1 Dec
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2016 Lemon

2016 Peacock

2016 Peacock

Linen-Cotton Canvas Ultra:  Fat Quarter with 2016 calendar.  There are dozens of designs available @ spoonflower.com

Finish the edges with rolled hem.  Easy, beautiful, dual purpose (tea towel and calendar).

I may prepare my own design for 2017.

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Better than a Scavenger Hunt

24 Nov
Office assistant Eve: "Don't you have something better to do?" We are sewing items for Days for Girls International

Office assistant Eve: “Don’t you have something better to do?”

We support Days for Girls International with donations of items for kits.

Days for Girls International

Lessons learned from preparing 4 shipments of feminine hygiene reversible, tri-fold flannel pads and liners with wings, pockets, PUL and snaps.

In order to make hundreds of pads and dozens of liners from dozens of yards of flannel and cotton print at home on a single sewing machine:  STAGING is essential for sanity in my attic sewing room.

Notion 1:  DfGI suggested purchasing flannel in 2.5 yard increments.

Problems:  Shrinkage after washing. Fabric twist.  Variations in width of 4″ (bolt to bolt).

Consequence:  Enough remnant strips and blocks to make two twin size coverlets.

Lesson 1:  Buy flannel in 4.12-4.25 yard increments.

Beautiful flannel (left) plus batik cotton (right)

Beautiful flannel (left) plus batik cotton (right)

Lesson 2:  After wash & dry, cut one yard at a time, then cut (4) 9″ strips, then cut strips into usually 8″ blocks.

Lesson 3:  Stack flannel 8″X9″ blocks right sides together.  Bag 8 pairs of blocks in gallon size ziplock bags for easy counts, grab to sew and go…  (Plus the ziplock bags are available for the finished kit.)

WIP Flannel blocks staged to cut corners

WIP Flannel blocks staged to cut corners

Notion 2:  Pack shipping boxes when sewing complete.

Lesson 4:  Use shipping boxes for Work In Progress!  Saves a LOT of space, especially since the boxes fit in closet.

Shipping box first used for Work In Process (WIP)

Shipping box first used for Work In Process (WIP)

Just like all elves this time of year, Elfcroft is completing the items needed for kits delivered all around the world (over 70 countries).

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Follow up Friday Photos: IChing No. 63 and 64

20 Nov

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I Ching No. 63 After Completion

The Elf in Elfcroft has the sewing machine humming making functional gift bags.  These gift bags are also known as shower caddies to be given to the women residents of Wheeler Mission this Christmas.  I used outdoor fabric (water and mildew resistant) from www.fabricguru.com.  Four outer pockets surround the center opening.  25 yards (54″width) made 75 shower caddies.

Ready for delivery

Ready for delivery

I Ching No. 64 Before Completion

The last two years we filled back packs with socks, gloves, scarves, etc.  Several years before that we filled tote bags.  Our choice this year are these homemade bags.  Bath products to fill the shower caddies will be provided by friends and coworkers.

I read a comment that there was an error with the I Ching translation.  “Before Completion” should be 63 and “After Completion” should be 64.  This is not an error.  Completion in this case refers to work.  The interesting concept  is that work-in-process (WIP) has multiple completions.  I could have chosen to show rolls of fabric for “Before” and the finished shower caddies as “After”.  BOLO for a future post with the empty caddies as the “Before” and filled with gifts “After.

And here you have it!  I Ching No. 63 Another After Completion

Our leader Kathy
Gloves, socks, etc with great friends
Jennifer directs
Mission accomplished: 72 shower caddy gift bags for the women at Wheeler Mission

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Scavenger Hunt

18 Nov

 

As I read “20 ways to organize your craft space”by Laura Gaskill, I kept thinking “scavenger hunt” because I knew I could find these concepts here at home.  One thing leads to another….I turned it into a quiz of sorts and scored myself at 85 of 100.

  1. Sort yarn by color   X
  2. Stand paper rolls in basket (with yoga mats)
  3. Place loose paper in drawers
  4. Tools/supplies in clear bins w/lids
  5. For large paper:  art portfolio
  6. Stack fabric on shelf by color
  7. WIP in totes or baskets
  8. Stash fabric in wire drawers  (discarded wine rack)
  9. Hang fabric in closet (standing towel rack)
  10. Arrange spools on thread rack
  11. Hang tools on peg board   X
  12. Attach scissors to magnetic rail (store in case)
  13. Small items in lidded glass jars
  14. Paint brushes in open container
  15. Handled baskets for frequently used material
  16. Tiered cake stand as portable caddy   X
  17. Pop-up sewing corner  (permanent)
  18. Put storage on wheels  (moving men sliders)
  19. Desk/dining table double duty  (coffee table)
  20. To do list chalkboard wall (bulletin board)

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Office assistant Eve: "Don't you have something better to do?"

Office assistant Eve: “Don’t you have something better to do?”

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Yoga Mat Bag Project: Crossing the finish line?

3 Nov

I purchased several boxes of yoga mats left unsold from a holiday marketing promotion.   That would be a total of 65.  The mats come in bold blue, green, purple, pink and gray.   18 got custom bags and found good homes.  Leaving 47 in the closet.  (7 will stay in my stash for the time being.) 40 mats now have matching bags to be donated to a local women’s shelter.

Two boxes, twenty each

Two boxes, twenty each

The inspiration for Yoga Mat Bags came from One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins.  Yoga classes are one of my favorite activities.  Making bags for mats… natural synergy of my interests.  Now that I engaged phase 2, the best, delightful part of sewing yoga mat bags is working with 20 beautiful colors and patterns of fabric.

Fabric samples in 20 different colors and patterns

Fabric samples in 20 different colors and patterns

Yoga mat bag Project
Bags include new mats

Bags paired new mats

From Dec 2013—–>to Oct 2015  Not much happened because my stitched service was dedicated to Days for Girls International and a “shower caddy” project for Wheeler Mission.  Thanks to Pimla Ponderings to nudge me to complete UFOs (unfinished objects).

 

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Spoonflower

4 Aug

Dreamed of creating custom fabrics?  Checkout spoonflower.com

I first read about Spoonflower in 2010, uploaded images, ordered swatches….outstanding!

They have been very busy over the years adding fabric options.  This is the short list:  Cotton ultra, Satin 100% polyester, Performance knits, Jersey, Light weight canvas, Twill, Faux suede…the latest product introduction is Sport Lycra.

They also offer opportunities to create custom wall paper and gift wrap.

What would look good in “bark”?

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Friday Photos: IChing No. 63 and 64

31 Jul

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I Ching No. 63 After Completion

The Elf in Elfcroft has the sewing machine humming making functional gift bags.  These gift bags are also known as shower caddies to be given to the women residents of Wheeler Mission this Christmas.  I used outdoor fabric (water and mildew resistant) from www.fabricguru.com.  Four outer pockets surround the center opening.  25 yards (54″width) made 75 shower caddies.

Ready for delivery

Ready for delivery

I Ching No. 64 Before Completion

The last two years we filled back packs with socks, gloves, scarves, etc.  Several years before that we filled tote bags.  Our choice this year are these homemade bags.  Bath products to fill the shower caddies will be provided by friends and coworkers.

I read a comment that there was an error.  “Before Completion” should be 63 and “After Completion” should be 64.  This is not an error.  Completion refers to work.  The interesting concept  is that work-in-process (WIP) has multiple completions.  I could have chosen to show rolls of fabric for “Before” and the finished shower caddies as “After”.  BOLO for a future post with the empty caddies as the “Before” and filled with gifts “After.

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Stitched Service

9 Jun

The Elf in Elfcroft has the sewing machine humming making functional gift bags.  These gift bags are also known as shower caddies to be given to the women residents of Wheeler Mission this Christmas (just over six months from now).  I use outdoor fabric (water and mildew resistant) from www.fabricguru.com.  Four outer pockets surround the center opening.  Twenty seven are completed…Forty six more to go.

Showercaddy5_IMG_20150520_182815_277 copyShowercaddyredIMG_20150531_184451_706 copyShowercaddygreenIMG_20150607_205332_577 copy

The last two years we filled back packs with socks, gloves, scarves, etc.  Several years before that we filled tote bags.  Our choice this year are these homemade bags.  Bath products to fill the shower caddies will be provided by friends and coworkers.

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For the love of color, pattern, texture and girls!

14 Apr

Made for Days for Girls International to distribute globally.

daysforgirls.org

Drawstring bags

20 Drawstring bags

These fabric bags are packed with two liners with PUL layer and wings, eight reversible tri-fold flannel pads, two Ziploc gallon size bags, wash cloth, soap and panty.

Sixty liners shown here.  The goal was to make no two alike from bold colors and patterns.

Selection of reversible, tri-fold flannel pads

Selection of reversible, tri-fold flannel pads

Eight different flannel pads per kit

Eight different flannel pads per kit

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