Project: Recycled Sweatshirt Jacket

So I saw this pattern in the last Keepsake Quilting catalog and it inspired me. Why couldn't I take an old pullover sweatshirt and make it new? With only the dismantled sweatshirt as my guide, I jumped into the process of recycling clothing - which I actually love to do, with shirts and pants that no longer fit or have holes, but this added a whole new dimension. When I adjust shirts and pants, they still look like the original...this looks like something completely new!

The more I look at it, the more of a NFL stadium style jacket look it has...I don't like stadium jackets (no offense to anyone who does), so I'm thinking it needs a bit of tailoring, some darts maybe to give it shape, etc. But I need to consult my sewing advisor (Mum) before I do anything with it.
Despite that whole stadium jacket thing, I am quite proud of myself. I took my time, I ripped out any mistakes and fixed them rather than saying screw it and leaving them (which I have been known to do...often...because I'm too lazy to fix it).
The arms made me want to scream, though! I finally got them on and remotely, kinda sorta looking the same (though one is a little bigger than the other).
I was very happy with the collar and the front trim - it was much easier than I thought. And to personalize it, I added my own label! I probably should have done a lining, since the inside is, uh...raw seam ugly, but I'm not that advanced in my sewing yet.
So that's what's new from the sewing room. I think with the next one, I'll play a little more, definitely add darts before I finish it, maybe make the front a little funkier (like with the pattern that inspired me) and make it a little more artistic...I'm very drawn to circles and circular patterns right now - like this and this and this. But the next will be in blue (I already have the fabric picked out).

Things I Could Be Doing If We Had A Snow Day

Things I could be doing if we had a snow day, or rather a snow half-day (we’ve already got a pool going as to if and when the Governor will close State office buildings):

1. Finishing Maddie’s quilt – Thirty 12”x12” blocks are done and stitched into rows. Now I just need to stitch the rows together and clip the seam allowances to make it a rag quilt.
2. Layer and pin John’s quilt
3. Make seasonal pillow slip covers for the throw pillows on the couch
4. Bake
5. Play in the snow with Sadie
6. Read
7. Finish the swag of greenery that I’m making for the office mantle
8. Nap

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Yesterday, I did make myself the tree skirt that I’ve been wanting. And I did it without a pattern. I love those kind of projects, especially when they turn out really well!
As you can see, it has been Nymmie tested...

and approved.

Projects In and Out of the Works

A sneak peek at the tote I made for the Muslin Tote Swap. It'll soon be on it's way to Melissa in Portland, OR. I don't want to completely give it away, so just glimpses. The fabric is sparkly, the handles are shiny and the buttons are all the way from Portugal courtesy of Paula.

Shiny green handles and matching buttons (look, tabby toes)

the pocket
New Faery Tree Creation tags! I've wanted to make new tags to put with all of my creations for a while now and just didn't find anything that worked for me. But this weekend, I stumbled upon this image in a crafter's book of images and I loved it! It just worked out so well. I fabric glued it in and used sparkly fabric glue around the raw edges.Here they are up-close:

And an update on Juli's lap quilt:

From this... To this...
I wanted to unfold it to show it off...but I was glared at - and nobody can stare ya down better than a grey tabby who knows when you're about to roust her from her cushy spot!

The quilt isn't finished totally (about 90% finished though). I'm going to "attempt" a free-motion quilted butterfly in the center of all the 12"x12" squares, then do the binding. I need to practice the free-motion. Machine stitching motifs is not one of my strong suits.

Anyhoo, that's the latest haps from the studio (read dining room table) of Faery Tree Creations (someday I'll actually get some creations made and into my Etsy shop...someday).

Latest Finished Projects

At the end of May, Julie posted some wonderful photos showing the "signs of summer". It was this one in particular that really created the spark of inspiration for me. I could totally see this picture in fabric. I didn't want to copy it, but just draw inspiration from it to create my own piece. This is the result:

"Pomegranate" - 30" x 18" completed late June 2007

Base: solid green cotton, layered with scraps of green print cottons and a layer of pale green tulle and free motion quilted to hold everything in place

Branch: brown crinkle rayon easy appliqued over base (easy applique = fusible web)

Leaves and Pomegranate: scrap cottons, lightly stuffed with batting, quilted and stitched to base

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And the headbandana that I mentioned earlier...I finally took pictures! Bare with me, they aren't the best of picts, esp. the first one - where I forgot to shut off the flash and well, I look psychotic.

It's a headband...

it's a bandana... it's a headbandana!

I love headbands and bandanas, but they always slide off my head. It annoys me to no end that I'm constantly fixing them. But this...this I love! It seems to really stay in place and I can adjust the width of the band just by folding it or accordioning it (which is the way that it is sewn at each end).

I just made another pair of capris (no picts yet) and am working on a pair of wide leg linen pants for my sister. I'll have to get her to model them for me as soon as I finish them.

Until tomorrow...have a lovely evening all!

New Bag and Office Art

So I know I said I needed to show off my new pants and the headband/dana that I made, but it was so cloudy this morning that the lighting at home was horrible for taking pictures...but I did make this bag last night on a whim and without a pattern. I love the fabric, but I forgot to add pockets to the inside lining (oops!). It still works and it holds a lot of stuff! I have a book, an organizer, a wallet, a camera, sunglasses case, keys and a zipper purse of things that I don't rolling around the bottom of my purse all tucked in!

Also, we have new art work in the office! Yippee, it's fabric and fiber! It's the work of a group of five artists. They are Catherine Worthington of Brunswick, Natasha Kempers-Cullen of Topsham, Katherine Harman Harding of Freeport, Stephanie Green Levy of Brunswick and Mary Allen Chaisson of Harpswell.

Some of my favs:

"Green Spirit" by Natasha Kempers-Cullen

work by Stephanie Green Levy

work by Katherine Harman Harding

"Jewels" by Mary Ellen Chaisson"Magic Moment" and "Life Energy Celebration" by Natasha Kempers-Cullen
close up of "Life Energy Celebration"
"Walk on the Moon" by Stephanie Green Levy
"Village II & III" by Catherine Worthington
(these two little ones are my definite favorites of the exhibit!)