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Sunday, August 15, 2010

Painting Furniture, Making Soap & Sewing

SOOOO....

Yeah I know, dial up is lame but it's all we have out here in the sticks.
(Don't want to pay for satellite.)
Anyway, I have been quite busy painting furniture, sewing & making soap.
Fall shows are coming up so soap is definately needed.

Where to start?
OK, sewing.
Heather & I & had been looking at vintage aprons at Canton's First Monday Trade Days
but didn't want to pay the prices they were asking. (Heather is my oldest girl.)
So I told her I would make her one

I was at Big Daddy's Flea Market a few days later & ran across this quirky fabric
It screamed APRON FOR HEATHER so I bought it.

QUIRKY FABRIC
I don't know if you can make out the theme, it's tropical destinations text & pictures.
I got her measurements over the phone, Heather doesn't sew, so measurements were kind of sketchy!
So, as you can see I got out the rotary cutter & mat, no pattern, just out of my head, decided on length & width, waistband & ties & went to town! I squared up my fabric,  cut out all the componets & headed to the ironing board. Got out my hem guage to measure & pin all the stuff that needed measuring & pinning, pressed it all down & I was off to the sewing machine. When I sew I do it in an assembly line fashion,
lining up all the componets & sewing one after another, (a chain) never lifting the pressure foot. What you end up with is a long line of pieces all connected. (No thread waste) just clip them all apart & start your next chain. This is a quilting technique that I find quite handy. Now it's time to assemble all the componets,.AKA apron. I put everything where it needed to be, added some grosgrain ribbon at the waist & hem for a little diversion &
VIOLA,   APRON FOR HEATHER!!!

HEATHER'S APRON
I have a cute little cell phone pocket to add once she gets here for the fitting.
CUTE CELL POCKET WAITING FOR HOME
 
 
 
 
 
 


THIS SKIRT to
THAT SKIRT
I found this skirt thrifting & made it into that skirt. I know, I need to get better with the camera!!! I took the length off, turned it sideways, made a panel from it, then added it to the front to make a wrap skirt.

   I have also been collecting buttoned shirts to make into cute grocery shoppers. (really cheap at garage sales) I'll post when I get one done.
On to the paint projects.  
I did the piano bench & Steve is working on the chairs.
The piano bench was falling apart so a little glue & clamp action was in order.
SAD PIANO BENCH
HAPPY PIANO BENCH



PRETTY  CHAIR WHO HAS 2 OTHER SISTERS
 1950'S?

RUSTY CHAIR FOUND IN SHED
LEFT BY PREVIOUS OWNERS
                         
Steve is also working on this cute bench Heather got for me about 10 years ago.
SOON TO BE YELLOW BENCH
SKIRT ANNETTE BOUGHT ME
NOT SO SURE IF I LIKE IT

I guess tie dye is not my forte!!!
Should I keep it as is, or bleach it out & try something else?

Ginger & I went garage sale-ing Saturday and found some great stuff!!!
Denise inspired me to start collecting patterns & such. Don't know what I'll do with them.
Did find this cool pattern booklet. CIRCA 1963. (I was 10 at the time.)
What do you think Denise? Should I erase the pencil scribbles or just leave them?

WEIRD FIND
Till next time.
Bonjour

4 comments:

Amber Mann said...

Boy, you have been a busy bee! The vintage-y fabric looks really neat, and the before-and-afters are awesome. I think the skirt turned out really cool. I can't tell what color the dye is, but I think you did a great job of dying it. And tie-dye is very in, for whatever that's worth.

heather said...

no, i dont sew. lol. measurements are not my forte. luv my apron mommy. thank you

Unknown said...

Amber,
The colors are green, yellow & blue. I'm still not sure if I like it!!
Thanks, I tried really hard on the apron for Heather.
I found some Homer Laughlin coffee cups at the flea market, $2.50 for 3 cups, alas no saucers. I did some research & they appear to be from a Hotel/Restaurant line from about 1960. (Still researching) I'll post some pictures in a few.

Unknown said...

Heather,
Glad you like the apron.
Mom