I'VE NOW HAD TO ADOPT THE NEIGHBORHOOD !!!!!!!

Several days ago I decided to work on some little summer dresses for a couple of granddaughters and found that most of fabric stash pieces was more than I needed for the little dresses and I am really trying to scale back my stash.  Now I have plenty of ways I can downsize my stash, I could donate or throw out my scraps, but that is so unlike me.  So, I knocked on the neighbors door and asked if I could also include her daughter in my sewing ventures and did she know any younger girls.  She was a little shocked, probably not an offer she has ever had before and she did know a little one.  Yesterday she came and picked up what I had finished and today I continued sewing.

It feels good to be putting all this fabric to good use and apparently I'm not done sewing yet !!!!

WHAT TO DO ?????

I have been wanting to make some items requiring appliques, not just any random applique, but licensed appliques.  Upon searching for what I wanted I found the items were quite expensive, way more than I wanted to pay.  Now you all know that I save a lot of random items and pick up things when I can get them on clearance.  I love a good clearance sale.  Most of my clearance and saved items I never have an immediate plan for they just go into my stash and wait to be used.

That is exactly what some of my items accomplished for me today when I came up with an "inexpensive" way to accomplish what I wanted.

I dug through my many stashes and came up with

 

a hat and some stickers, took them to my printer and made some copies of what I wanted.  I then pulled out some iron-on fabrics that were in yet another stash.

 

 

I used two different kinds for my test subjects only because I am not computer savvy and could not figure out how to reverse my images, but after a few attempts I finally figured out how to make my own iron-on appliques.

 

 

These are merely my test subjects, but I now have the knowledge I need to complete my new projects and for pennies, instead of dollars and that always makes me happy.

 

  For disclosure purposes I will not be attempting to use any licensed items on anything for sale, but only for my personal use.  One thing to remember if you make anything for sale is not to use licensed items without permission.

 

 

I'M SEEING ORANGE........

Why am I seeing orange, well if you remember I made all those hoodies for grandkids at Christmas and it seems one of those guys has grown more than I anticipated.  Although, his hoodie fit he wouldn't be wearing it long and I wanted to give him one that he could wear for a few years.  I made a trip to my local fabric store and they didn't enough of his orange fabric on the bolt to make another hoodie, so I came home went on line and ordered what I needed.  Now I always round up on the yardage I need and I did the same with this, knowing I would have yet another scrap of fabric, but I would rather err on the side of caution.  Well my package set for a week or so until I opened the bag and found a note that said they included the end of bolt.  That means if they have less than a yard of fabric on a bolt after filling an order, they will include the extra.  After I measured my fabric I realized the end of bolt was just 3 inches short of another yard, at $14.99 a yard this a real bonus.  I fretted because I knew I  would end up with way too much fabric to toss.  Now, my dilemma was what to do, remember I am trying to reduce my stash and I had made my new grandson a hoodie at Christmas with my extra, so I went on a search and found a couple of brothers who will look real cute in their new hoodies.

 

For the last couple of days I have been making orange camo hoodies and for the cost of two zippers and some scrounging through my fabric scraps I was able to get three boys hoodies for the price of one.  Thank you Joanns.com.

WINTER STORMS...................

It is winter in my part of the country and we have had a lot of snow, that combination keeps me indoors most of the time, but I don't want to talk about the weather, I want to show you what I have been up to the last few days.  I have been attempting to clear out some of my fabric stash, apparently I have way more than even I realized, but I have made good use of a few pieces.

 

As you may remember I made quite a few hoodies for Christmas this year and it seems I have become obsessed with them.  I like to take what I have learned and create my own design.

  Before I go out and purchase new fabric I wanted to perfect my work with fabric in my stash.

 

I have had many requests for hoodies and flannel shirts over the last few months, as well as some furniture re-do's.  Actually have several pieces in my garage that I will have to work on as soon as we get some warmer days, even though now I'm not sure I want to, but I have already committed, so I will fulfill my promise.

 

I make things simply because I really enjoy what I do, I don't do it to make money, it would then become a job and perhaps not quite so much fun.  I love making items for my children and grandchildren as well as for myself and of course, the hubby would feel left out if he didn't get something too.

 

I turn down most requests to make things for people simply because they don't want to pay for it.  My grandfather had always told me to charge twice what your materials cost for your time, well in the case of a flannel shirt, the cheapest I can get materials is around $25, but normally runs $40-$50.  At that cost when I quote someone $50 for a shirt, they cringe and if I can't find the supplies on sale, I have just made it for nothing.  In the case of a piece of furniture, paint may only cost $10 and even if I take into account the amount of wax and other supplies I use, it could be as cheap as $15.  Well I can spend 20 or more hours over the course of 4 or 5 days on a piece of furniture.  If I calculated cost of materials and time on these projects, even at minimum wage most people don't want to pay for something you just "made", but if they purchase it in a store they don't normally question the cost.

 

Not sure why I've been ranting on about this, but I guess my message is the next time you see something "handmade" remember the person who made it has spent countless hours on it and has paid for all the materials they used and you are often buying a one of a kind piece of furniture or a designer piece of clothing.  I like to think everyone who makes things are all artists and deserves the respect of buyers.

 

 

HAVE I SAID "I LOVE ORGANIZATION" ??

Being the first of a new year always finds me cleaning out cupboards, closets, etc.  One has to wonder how all the stuff just seems to breed in your home.  As I was doing some kitchen cupboard cleaning I found I had an entire cupboard dedicated to plastic grocery bags.  Now, I enjoy recycling everything I can, but even I had to admit there was no way I was ever going to use all those bags and they were taking up some much needed real estate in my kitchen.  I had to make a change !!!

It didn't take me long to remember a little project I had done a number of years ago and knew it would solve my "plastic bag" storage problem.

I gathered a few plastic liter soda bottles (always have plenty of those, I love Pepsi).  Washed them out so they wouldn't be sticky.

Gathered my supplies, some glue, the bottles and a fabric scrap I had on hand.  I chose this particular fabric not because of the color or design, but the fact that it is water resistance and easy to clean.  I plan to put this on the inside of a cupboard door, so what it looked like wasn't as important to me as it's function.

 

Once I cut down and assembled my two bottles, I glued the fabric to it and let it dry for a few hours

 

 

Hubby sees this drying and wonders if I'm making a "rocket ship" (ha).  Once everything was good and secure I took a couple of thumb tacks and installed it in a cupboard door.

 

 

Now I can no longer horde hundreds of these bags and I'm a little more organized !!!!!

 

The best part of this project was it was made costing absolutely nothing using recyclable parts for recyclable items !!!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!

I can start 2015 the same way I started 2014 disappointed that my lottery numbers weren't drawn, but hey, if you don't play you can't win so I will keep playing and look forward to my day.

2014 is coming to a close and I know I haven't posted much on this blog the last few months, but I have been quite busy.  As you know I enjoy making most of my Christmas gifts and 99% of those gifts have to go out in the mail.  This year I started early and finished early which left me with lots of time to enjoy the holidays.  I did have to make myself some party outfits and I seldom do that for myself so it was quite a treat and now that my party season has come to an end I have started my New Year's tradition of taking a box to each room to fill for the donation center.  I am quite pleased with myself this year as I don't have much to donate which means I didn't bring much in this past year, which was one of my 2014 resolutions and one I will carry forward.

For 2015 I have been thinking about what my resolution was going to be and of course the first things that come to mind are the eating better, losing weight, etc, etc, etc, but those are everybody's resolutions and I wanted something different, so my 2015 resolution will be "to live better on less". 

I love making lemon drop martini's and have perfected the perfect "lemon drop" and although I only make a few a month and you are wondering what this has to do with my new years resolution, well it's the difference between "Smirnoff" or "Grey Goose".  See, using Smirnoff  makes a decent "lemon drop", but using Grey Goose makes the perfect "lemon drop".  Grey Goose Vodka costs almost 3 times what Smirnoff does, but I have learned over the years that if I don't waste my resources on having too much I can afford to have the "perfect".

My wish for the New Year is that everyone has all they need and only want for what they need !!!!!

I NEED HOSTESS GIFTS ?????

My thoughts this morning was on the month ahead and the planning of all the visiting and parties that will be taking place during the holiday season.  With all the planning came the idea that I needed some hostess gifts.  Whether I'm planning an overnight visit or attending a holiday party I like to take something to the hostess.  An easy idea is a bottle of wine, but then that is a normal idea and I like to think out of the box, so instead of hitting up the store for some bottles of wine, I hit up my stash of saved wine corks.

Added some beading supplies and spent the afternoon crafting the perfect hostess gifts.

Some fun little "wine cork" tree ornaments.  I will be wrapping the boxes with some pretty red ribbon and will be ready for all my holiday partying.

LET THE HOLIDAY SEASON BEGIN !!!!!!

I love the holidays, it's the time of year when you can just let your imagination go and allow your inner child to come out without anyone judging you.  When decorating for the holidays we all think snowmen, reindeer and Santa.  I have decorated with these things in the past, however I do limit the amount of decorating I do these days and I love making my own decorations and using unexpected finds. 

Remember some of my latest "junk" finds, an old worn pair of cowboy boots.

They have been sitting in my craft room since I brought them home, just waiting for a new use and alas, I have found a new use for at least one of them.

 

An unexpected wreath for my door that just screams HAPPY HOLIDAYS in a Montana way !!!!!

 

 

AWAY WE GO.....

We have all seen the movies and pictures of people loading up their belongings and heading west.  Sometimes I think the hubby was born in the wrong century, but his skill and love of the old west allows him to bring these images to life.  The most recent acquisition to the gallery is a beautiful "Conestoga Wagon".

 

 

Adding another gallery and the possibility of a few more art auctions in the coming year, he has been busy creating.

WINTER AND FOOTBALL !!!

It's winter up here now and one of my favorite things to do is watch football and of course I have a favorite team !!!!!

And we all know how I love to sew and the two just go together......

TIME TO GET OUT THE WRAPPING PAPER !!!!!

I have been working hard to get all my holiday items ready to ship out.  It's early for me to be this prepared, but I know if I'm ready for the holidays I can enjoy the month of December without the "holiday" stress.  The outings, parties and maybe a road trip or two, I'll be free to pack a bag and go.  Of course, old man winter plays a big part in any plans I may make, but with a warmer than average October and colder than average November I don't know what December will bring, but I'll be ready.

Now I'm going to spend a few days wrapping and stuffing boxes.

 

I always purchase my holiday supplies after the holidays each year and I like to wait until everything is 75% to 90% off then I stock up.  Having all my supplies on hand certainly makes for more stress free holidays.

EXCITING NEWS AT OUR HOUSE !!!!

I have shared in the past about the hubby's hand carved wagons.  We show the wagons in several galleries and art shows throughout the west and this year all his hard work has paid off.  The C.M. Russell Auction to benefit the C.M. Russell Museum has accepted one of his wagons to go to auction this year.  The selection committee notified us a few days ago and the reality is now beginning to set in.  This is a very prestigious honor for him and something he has been striving for for years.  This is the wagon that we will hand deliver to the museum in a few days so that it can be catalogued and photographed for the big auction in March 2015, where people from all over the world come to purchase the art work for sale.

 

I don't have this wagon at home, so I took a picture of a picture to share and I don't think it turned out too bad.  He works on his wagons for several months and has to produce a few more before March, so I am pretty certain this winter I will be tucked away safe and warm  while he works.   I am so proud of him and all his accomplishments. 

 

I have sat through art auctions with other artists while they waited to see if there was a buyer for their piece and what price would be paid and have witnessed extreme tears of joy as well as heartbreak.  Don't know which side I'll be on in March, but it'll be exciting times !!!!

CHRISTMAS WILL BE HERE BEFORE I KNOW IT !!!!!

As I have been making gifts and preparing for the upcoming holidays it stunned me when I realized it had been a year since I last made a flannel shirt, but I went ahead and finished up the one I was working on.

 

It also had me reflecting on the last year.  I will have one less shirt to make, having lost a brother-in-law this year, but I will celebrate the birth this year of a new grandson and can spend my winter with my wonderful memories of the summer spent with my children and grandchildren.

 

This time of year I have dreaded the last few years knowing it's not long before snow covers the ground and I have to begin the winterizing process of not only the house, but my wardrobe as well.  I start to plan trips to warm parts of the country and I always discuss with the hubby spending the winter in warm weather, after all what's that travel trailer for, but then reality sets in and having spent 8 months in that trailer a few years ago we both know we would be bored stiff in no time as we do both enjoy being at home.  This year I am trying to appreciate all four seasons and will do my best to embrace the snow that's coming, however, don't expect me to ever enjoy being out in it.

READY FOR THE TRICK OR TREATERS

Adding to some holiday décor I made a new "Mummy" wreath for my door.

 

A standard straw door wreath wrapped with some strips of white muslin makes the perfect mummy body, I then hot glued some wiggly eyes and a little bat I found in some of my holiday stash.  I hope it doesn't "scare" all my little trick or treaters.

I LOVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON !!!!

I love the holiday season, for me it starts with Halloween and continues until St. Patricks Day.  I love to celebrate each holiday with something special and I love to decorate for each of them.  As I have said before since I no longer have children at home I don't do much these days, but it just wouldn't be the season without a little something.  I was in Michael's the other day and was looking at all the Halloween items in the store, but even with the markdowns purchasing something new just wasn't something I wanted to spend my money on, so today I dug in my many stashes and came up with a plan for a scary fun centerpiece.

After digging through my holiday decorations, I came up with a few things and added my new spider candleholder.  I like to pick up fake flowers at clearances and yard sales.  After I got all my treasures gathered I got out a can of black spray paint, some wood scraps and Styrofoam.  When I was finished painting, gluing and decoupaging this is what my Halloween centerpiece looks like.

 

I spray painted all the flowers, wood and Styrofoam black, glued some decorative paper to the Styrofoam and decoupaged  and aged some scrapbook paper to a scrap of wood, added a few pumpkins and a BOO !!!!

 

I'll make a new wreath for my door and I'll be ready for all my little and big trick or treaters !!!!

FOR THE BOYS.................

I have said many times how much I enjoy sewing for my granddaughters, but there are boys in my life as well, big ones and little ones and I like to get an early start on my gift giving, so I have worked in a few "boy" things in the last few days.  My inspiration was a trip to Joann's and when I found this fabric I knew I could find a use for it.  It's a water repellent sweatshirt fabric and I believe it will wear well,

 

So I decided on a hoodies for a couple of young men and even though "Maryann" doesn't often get to model boys clothing for me, she did her best for this job.

 

 

I think "my boys" will enjoy !!!!

MORE TREASURES !!!!!!

Really trying to take advantage of the last few yard sales and auctions this year, however, there are two more auctions next weekend and I may just have to attend.  Have gotten pretty picky about what I bring home with me as I am still trying to clear clutter and finish projects, but there are just some things I can't pass up and have got lucky on my last few "junk" outings, so thought I would share a few of my treasures.

 

It's almost Halloween and who can't use a spider candle holder and oh the possibilities of a "new" pair of old cowboy boots and some large wooden spools.

 

I just love vintage stools, they all have such great potential.  Not sure what this one will end up as but I know it'll be great !!!!!

WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING.................

Since our little snowstorm last week our weather has been picture perfect fall, perfect little breezes, perfect temperatures and lots of sunshine.  I should be taking advantage of all these gorgeous days and working on my "junk" projects.  I know winter will be setting in soon and it will be too cold to be outdoors sanding and painting, but instead I have been opening windows and have been holed up with my sewing machines.  I seem to go in spurts and when the sewing bug hits me I tend to stay with it for days and sometimes even weeks.  I'll just wait and see where this spurt takes me but in the last few days this is what I have accomplished.

Now even "Maryanne" is ready for fall and maybe a few ball games !!!!!

PASSING ON THE LOVE !!!!!

All my kids and grandkids have their Granny made 49er wear except for the newest addition to the family.  When that thought hit me this morning I knew I had to find a remedy so I headed to my fabric stash and at the end of the day I ended with this.

 

 

It's never too early to pass on some 49er love  !!!!!

IF IT'S OCTOBER..................

I suppose I'm learning if it's October I get to see snow, woke up this morning to a slight mix of rain and snow, but the slight mix has now turned into a snow storm and it is coming down nice and white.  I am not a fan of the white stuff, but try to stay positive so I guess after such a busy summer I will have plenty of time to stay in and work on my many, many projects.  Did attend an auction last week and obtained a few new items, however, I am not going out to the garage this morning to take pictures, so you will have to wait to see them, but here is a picture of  my snow as it is just starting.