Mini, Christmas Stocking Gift Bags And Tutorial

So....

We had a great day at the festival on Saturday which means I've been busy

making more products for our show this weekend.

I sold a few aprons, lots of soap and related bath products

and all but four of my cuff bracelets.

Needless to say, I'm a happy camper.

I put a lot of time and effort into the things I create so it

feels wonderful when a customer likes my handmade items.

Yesterday, in between canning and cooking

I found time to do some sewing.

These are little Christmas stockings that I market

as gift bags, big enough to accommodate a soap bar or two,

bath oil, body butter ETC.

They're a unique alternative to the standard gift bag.

I free-handed the pattern, pinned it to my fabric,

cut it out and got to work.

I do these in an assembly line fashion, grouping

like colors together to minimize thread change outs.

If you would like to make some of these for gift giving

here are the directions.

Supplies:

2 - 9 ¾” length x 8 ½” width pieces of fabric

2 - 6” wide x 5” long contrast for cuff

1 - 11” x 1” grosgrain ribbon for handle

My finished stocking measures more or less, 8 ¾” long x 7 ½” wide at the bottom and 5 ¼” wide at the top.
I drew the pattern freehand so yours might vary.
All seams are ¼”

Draw your patterns, one for the stocking, one for the cuff. Pin pattern to fabric and cut.
The top width of my stocking is 6” so I cut my cuff 6” wide x 5” long.

Directions:

1. With right sides together, pin and sew each cuff to top edge of stocking front and  back.

2. Press seam towards cuff.

Attach cuff to stocking.

(If you’re going to embellish the stocking with ribbon, buttons ETC, do it now).



Sew on ribbons, buttons, beads ETC.

3. Press under ¼” on the cuff top edge. (It’s easier to create your hem line at this point).

4.Open out the pressed hem line and with right sides together, pin and stitch stocking front and cuff to stocking back and cuff  (I zigzagged the seam also).

5. Clip seams almost to stitching line at curves.

6. Fold cuff in half towards the seam where you joined it to the stocking body

Attach handle.

7. Position your ribbon in the center of the cuff sandwich, with the raw edge

overlapping the seam about ½ ”.

8. Pin in place.

9. Fold the stocking toe towards the top, out of the way, bring the other ribbon end down and over the bottom and up to meet the other end of the stocking cuff sandwich .

10. Pin in place like you did with the other end of the ribbon.

11. Pin the rest of the pressed cuff edge over the seam.

12. Turn the stocking right side out and stitch the hem in place. (It was easier to sew this way).
At this point it looks like you attached the ribbon upside down, you didn’t.

13. Turn stocking right side out and fold the cuff down which makes the handle on top.

14. Press.



Handle at the top.



More stockings



As to the canning.....

My Hubby does not like me to blog about our food!

BUT...

My grandson Brian came over to help/learn to pressure can food.

He learned the basics of canning meat and stock/ broth

and helped/ learned how to make a chicken pot pie from scratch.

I sent him home with the pie and a few other goodies.

(I forgot to photo the pie).

Don't tell the Hubby!

I'm off to do more sewing,

till next time, teach the kids some skills.

Bonjour

Good Day At The Market



Mucho Soap!

So....

We were finally able to get back to the Waxahachie Farmer's Market

after two weekends of rain outs.

Not complaining... Just saying!

We're reaching a whole new demographic at this venue,

not just the handmade craft seekers. Actual customers that want

the more natural alternative to the store bought soaps and bath products.

Bon...

We've only been at this location a few months but we are

experiencing a repeat customer base here as well,

and as a bonus we're also getting more,

my sister, mother, friend told me about your products, referrals.

How cool is that?

You know you have a good product when you get referrals!

So I'm totally happy/thrilled/grateful about this aspect of our venture!

Eight years of serious dedication is starting to pay off.

On another note...

Since I am currently not employed/ punching anyone else's clock,

I've had more time to create in other ways.

I do love to sew, bead, repurpose, imagine...



Mini bag

Today I sold two aprons and a mini bag.

They are on their way to Japan!

Thank you lovely Japanese ladies,

who oo-ed and awed over my sewn creations.

I am so grateful!



Apron

The other apron didn't get photo-ed, that I can find, but thank you Sue

for the fabric/valance on this one!

Grilling tomorrow, still too hot for inside cooking.

50 cents each for large, colored bell peppers and 50 cents for a 12 ounce tomato,

$3.oo for the sweetest cantaloupe.

Still working through that half, grass fed cow!

Till next time, be grateful,

Bonjour

Rose

SO....

I'm still at the sewing machine, (I love my sewing machine)

but this time I'm making dolls.

I think handmade dolls are cool. 

 On the one hand you have the mass produced dolls,

bland with no personality, all the same faces, clothes, and they smell funny...

On the other hand you can use one doll pattern and come up with

so many variations of handmade dolls, no two look alike.

And who says the body has to be a plain muslin fabric?

Why not black, or brown, or in this case yellow with flowers?

Scan the pattern to vary the finished size, use crazy yarn for the hair,

tiny roses for the eyes and mouth....

The possibilities are endless!

So, here we have it, or should I say her?
ROSE


Rose




Her clothes



Her skirt was a blouse that I picked up at the thrift store.
I really liked the pin tucking and thought I might use the piece for a bag.
Rose had other ideas!
Her eyes and mouth are little roses, and, as you can see,

her hair is a flaming red!

Once I had her body finished she pretty much told me
how she wanted to be dressed and how she wanted her hair done.

My husband said she looks like she has a Port-wine stain.  

 (flat purple-to-red birthmarks made of dilated blood capillaries.

These birthmarks occur most often on the face and may vary in size.

Port-wine stains often are permanent (unless treated).

That never even crossed my mind as I was laying out the pattern pieces.
I chose to put that flower there.
Perhaps the powers that be directed my hands in anticipation
of a little girl with the same birthmark finding Rose.
And if that occurs I'll give her Rose.

Miss Ivy

I sold Miss Ivy at my last show to a middle aged woman,
I'm just saying....

Well, my sewing machine is calling....
Who cares if the grass is knee high and the floors are full of dog hair!
I need to create.

Blogger is underlining things and generally not doing as I command.
So.... I'm just gonna hope for the best and go with it!

Till next time,
Bonjour

I'm Laptop Challenged

OK....

I admit it, I have no skill with this laptop!

I'm typing away, I look up at the screen and

my text is all jumbled up or completely gone.

It took me 30 minutes to write a simple Email last night.

My, oh my, very frustrating..

Things have been very weird around here of late but I'm

embracing the changes and trying to go with the flow!

 NOT!!!

Read,

  Terry is a control freak and does not

like change unless it is initiated by her!!!

 Anyway....

My shower curtain of 8 years really needed to go

but me being the frugal (cheapo) person I am

wanted something really cool at little to no cost.

I was browsing the recycle box at work

 and found a catalogue from Garnet Hill.

(Pricy clothing and home decor).

Spied this shower curtain ($78.00) and knew

I could replicate it at less than a third of the cost. 

 

Pricy Catalogue Curtain!

I already had the fabric,

the pink fabric was from a secondhand store score

and the peace sign fabric was purchased a few months ago at

Wally World for $1.50 a yard.

The floral top and bottom fabric
are leftovers from I don't know what!



That thing hanging in the middle is a lei

 from my sister's b-day party!

My Version

Close Up

I found a liner at Ross for $3.99 so now I'm good to go.

 Ivy and Spike like it,

but....

No Face, Jamaica and Voodoo Girl are noncommittal.

What do you think?

 

Till next time,

Bonjour

 

Sofa Completed And I'm Still Here

Recovered Sofa

I guess I'm a heathen, cause I'm still here!

I was a little concerned today,

I knew I would be LEFT BEHIND

but,

what about my loved ones?

Would they be gone?

Everyone I know is still on Planet Earth,

so, 

I guess the nut doesn't fall far from the tree!

Really!!!

On to the sofa.

I purchased a total of 13 yards of fabric for this project,

1 bolt of each print. ($22.50 plus tax)
I like to purchase more than I need just in case I screw something up!

Happens, believe me...

I did all the cushions and pillows in the sham method to eliminate zippers, 

and still had enough fabric to make throw pillows
and cushions for the park bench.

In a previous life the seat cushions for the park bench

were the back cushions on a second hand love seat .



Park Bench

Even had enough fabric left to cover one of the chairs on the front porch! 

The pillows on the park bench and the front porch chair

were 50 cents each at the thrifty shop.

Free front porch Chair

What to do about the other chair on the front porch?

The cushion for this chair was purchased from Wally World

about five years ago....

Really bad shape but the top half was savable.

Snip, snip....

Another fifty cent pillow combined with the savable top half and,

VIOLA!



Other free chair

The covers for this chair were pillow shams given to me by my mother- in- law.

(Yeah, I know, I need to paint the front porch ....again).

So here we have it,
the deck is in useable condition,
(AKA entertainment worthy)
complete with seating for twelve,
dining area for six, bath for one, and dominoes for two.
Nathan always kicks my a.. at dominoes!!!

Lower half of deck

You're welcome to come over for some B-B-Que and dominoes,

just get here before July!!!
 
Till next time,
Bonjour

The Gathering Apron

OK...

I told myself, self, you've been cooking every weekend for weeks,
poor Nathan has had enough of making fried pies,

it's time for a break.....

Time to sew something,

time to tend to the herbs,

time to view the sun rise,

 in other words,

me time!

This last weekend I did all of that and them some.
(Still baked some sweet breads and made a pan of enchiladas though).

Oh well....

I took Nathan to his other grandma's this weekend
leaving me with plenty of uninterrupted sewing time.
(I did send along one of the sweet breads though).

Anyway...

There have been pictures and talk posted of sewing aprons,

cute aprons.

Brendie made the cutest apron for Sue

 and she posted links to apron projects.

I want a new apron!

Mine is really looking ratty so I had an excuse for a new one.

After much searching and clicking back and forth,

 I found the apron I wanted to make,

The Gathering Apron









The purpose of this apron is to be able gather your veggies, eggs, fruit, herbs...
whatever in the front.

You thread the waist ribbons through buttonholes in the hem,

 gathering it all up into a pouch that you tie at the waist.

Very cleaver!!!

The main fabrics and ribbon I purchased  about three weeks ago

especially for this project and the accent fabrics are from my stash.

I mostly followed the instructions,
but.... 
I don't do button holes!!!

Hum...

I know, I'll make belt loop thingies, that should work.

Yep, it did!
(I made the belt loop thingies out of the blue ribbon).

And I could make it reversible.

Yep, I did!

I still need to finish the other side with the ribbon and the belt loop thingies.

I like it, but....
 what's up with the blue again?
Am I changing from a green person to a blue person?

I feel better now that I've done some sewing
but,
I'm a little concerned about the color shift....
I'll have to do a little research in my color book to figure it all out.



 

Almost forgot to tell you....

After our cooking marathon last weekend,

 Nathan and I went to rest on the front porch.

He wandered off and came back with this plate

of freshly picked strawberries and lemon balm leaves for me to snack on.

He did the arrangement himself.

I'm so impressed, he knows the rule of three!!!

 

He's so sweet, I'm glad he puts up with me!!!!

(When you start rhyming it's time to quit).

I hope you're having good times too.

Till next time,

Bonjour

The Post Lady Always Rings Twice

Well....

The post lady never rings twice because she knows

I work, and I don't have a doorbell.

And if it's been raining, she doesn't come down my driveway,

she just throws my packages toward the sign.

I have a sign at the soon to be gate, that says, Blue Sky.
(Yeah, we named our property.)

Anyway, this package was small enough to fit into the mail box,

so ringing wasn't necessary.

A package for me, I ask my husband?

I'm not expecting a package, I say!

From Kentuckey he says.

Hand it over, I say.

Has to be Sue!

Oh yeah, a package of goodies.

Sue is very talented when it comes to needlework,

she has much more paitence than I do.

Crochet doilies, hot pads, pot holder, check keeper, pot scrubby, fridge magnet,

and bookmark, at least that's what I'm going to use them for.

Thanks Sue, I wish my photos did them justice!!!!

Well it's 11:00 and I need to go to bed.

I have to get up early and return to the surreal world, AKA work!

Oh yeah, there's a guy at work who told me,

"I'm not preparing for the apocalypse,when the world falls apart,

 I'm going out to your house to get all your food,

and if you don't give it to me,

 I'll kill you, then eat you"!!!!

TRUE!!!

I was dumbfounded, didn't know what to say.

How scary is that?

How would you have reacted?

More on that next time.

Till then,

Bonjour

Sewing The New Placemats and Napkins

FABRIC WAITING TO BE TRANSFORMED

OK......

The holidays are over, the festive adornment is put away......

Plain dining table now!

What's a girl to do?

Sew of course!!!

4 placemats, 4 napkins and 1 table runner to be specific.

Are you ready?

What you need.

Sewing machine (optional, but very useful)

Thread

Fabric

Rotary cutter and mat (optional, but very useful)

What you do.

1. Cut 8 rectangles 15 1/2" X 12 1/2 " (mats)

2. Cut 8 squares 10 1/2" X 10 1/2" (napkins)

3. Cut 2 rectangles 21" X 11 1/2" (runner) 

4. Place 2 of the placemat rectangles right sides together and stitch a 1/4" seam around all 4 edges, leaving a 3" opening in the middle of one of the seams.

5. Remove from the sewing machine and press to set the stitches.

6. Clip corners.

7. Turn right side out through 3" opening.

8. Press again, tucking in raw edges on the 3" opening.

9.Top stitch close to the edge around the whole rectangle.



TOP STITCHING ALMOST DONE

10. Continue this same process for the rest of your placemats, then move on to the napkins, then the runner.

FELIX LIKES!!!

VIOLA

You now have beautiful table top adornment!!!!

I made my placemats from a different fabric on the back because

I didn't have enough of the rose fabric for both sides.

The napkins are a little small for this same reason
but look very nice folded in half.

The napkins and runner match the placemat's back fabric.

(runner not shown)

This project was quick and easy and you might
even consider adding some ribbon trim to the edges.

The rose fabric used to be throw pillows and
I don't remember what I had the swirly fabric for.
Fabrics come and go here, today curtains,
tomorrow throw pillows, the next time placemats.
I never get rid of fabric!!!!

I've also been working on a quilt.

WISHING TO BE A QUILT!

HAPPY SEWING.
Till next time,
Bonjour