Monday, January 30, 2012

A quick project

I saw this quick sewing project on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/pin/84653667965434844/ and decided to give it a try.  The quilting of the lining took a bit of time, but otherwise it was an easy sew.  Mine is being used to hold pencils, and cell phone, or whatever by the bed.


I'll make a few changes if I make more to make them just a bit sturdier.  

That's it for this time...

Monday, January 16, 2012

China hutch door remake

Years ago one of my sister-in-laws gave me a set of old china hutch doors.  I love a good treasure!  During our two moves since then I've thrown a lot of things out, but never could get rid of those doors.  I kept thinking they would be so beautiful as SOMETHING.  It has taken 19 or so years, but yesterday I had an idea for one of them.  Here it is ... china hutch door remade into a necklace holder!  The pictures aren't the best, but here is a peek.
The old door.  I thought about painting it, but decided to clean it up and keep the natural color.

I used decorative paper for the backing behind the glass and grid work.

Add some small brass hooks and there it is -- a way to hang necklaces so they don't get all tangled up!

I'm hoping it doesn't take another 19 years to figure out what to do with the other door.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Trying a new Blog look ... and a project.

I find it interesting that I can be quite satisfied with my room arrangements at home staying pretty much the same.  Growing up, I used to love coming home to find that Mom had switched the furniture or the rooms around.  Every time I visit her the furniture is arranged differently.  (I love it, Mom!) She is an interior decorator at heart!  I enjoy changes, but don't have quite the same motivation to try a new way.  I've been doing this Blog for over a year and up until today was still using the same header and format.  Finally, it's time for a change.  What do you think of the new look?  Any ideas from my readers of things you would like to see here?

My first project of the year was to make a hanger cozy, a design from the Joel Dewberry book I've been working through.  I used some fabrics from Mom's scrap box, and am overall pleased with the project.  I would make some changes to make it more practical for me if I do another one.  Perhaps making it longer, with deeper pockets to hold my growing collection of scarves!
This went together quite easily.

Opps -- got a bit uneven at the bottom.

The instructions did not tell how to leave an opening for the hanger, so I sewed it and then used the seam ripper to open up a spot.

I love the automatic button hole function on my sewing machine!

Monday, January 2, 2012

A new year -- 2012

Part of the new year celebration for me always means to reflect on what has been, and to plan for what I hope to see in the year ahead.  Yes, plan.  The older I get, the more I realize that simply stating a resolution is not enough.  We have embarked on several "journeys" this year that have taken intentional planning.  Learning to play the harp was something I really didn't plan for a long time to do, but when I began lessons I soon learned that it will take a daily time of practice to accomplish what I hope will be a beautiful sound.  The practice is slow, labored at first, but I find as I practice a piece, eventually a melody begins to emerge.  The playing becomes a bit easier, a bit more automatic.  This is so true for many new ventures in life.  I find a lesson in that thought; that change, new situations, new challenges are like that.  They feel labored at first, a feeling that tries to take the path of what is comfortable.  The joy, however, is in practicing and listening for that melody to emerge. That is what I look for in the new year -- the melody that comes from new challenges and experiences.

On a "creative" note... a few pictures from some holiday sewing fun.

Two machines ready to sew...and a messy table.  Somehow when I sew there is fabric everywhere!

The finished bags