Purse update

Here is the inside. I made a pocket with velcro to secure a checkbook. This is the front. The idea was on a blog called A Tadd More. Tammy Tadd was the original designer. I made mine out of denim and changed the size and the shapes of the flap and the purse shape.

There are times when I hold my purse up against my body because of being in a crowded place. This back was made to show that it looked like something too. Thank you Tammy for the inspiration. I stalled making it several times just because I didn't have the confidence
to complete it. It is done now.

I plan on making some Hobo purses now with flowers for the accents on them. I have tons of denim and several Family and neighbors want one. I will post when I get more made. Chris

Necessity the Mother of Invention

If you are a Modern Woman you know what this little tool is. It is a dusting handle for a throw away dusting product on the market today. I ran out of the covers for the tool and decided I need to be inventive. I went into the sewing room and all the scraps I have pulled out some polar fleece leftovers from a coat for my granddaughter. I thought this is soft and should pick up dust. So I designed well played with a couple pieces until I came up with a duster cover.

I made it so I can pull it on quickly and it can be washed and dried in the dryer.

I also found out it works better if I use a little Endust on it before using it. I let the Endust dry and then dust away. Surprising at how handy it is. I made a couple for my neighbor. She loved it. Also it is a green project. The polar fleece is made from recycled pop bottles and I am using the scraps for washable dusting covers. No more throwing away to be filling the landfills up. I think I will make a cover for the floor wet mop so I can dust the floor with the dry cover. I have a pattern to use the Peaches and Cream cotton yarn to knit a cover for scrubbing the floor that is washable also.
Off to the sewing room to make a ruler cover to use for the mini blinds also. Take a tube of fleece and slide over the ruler and slide between the slats to clean mini blinds. I guess I had better get to sewing. Chris

Nothing planned for today

Today is Wednesday and I have nothing planned other than to do as I please today. The weather is gray and more rain to come. I went to a antique and used furniture store in my home town the other day. I saw many neat ideas and some beautiful used furniture. This store sets the furniture up into small room like settings. There were dolls, pictures and furniture and also piles of fabric. As I looked farther I found eyelet lace. I make doll clothing and also childrens clothing and it comes in handy to have it so when you sew early in the morning you can embellish something without waiting until the stores open. Each of these larger bolts were only $2 and the smaller was $1.50. If I went to the fabric store we would be looking at about $20 of eyelet. Didn't get a chance to look for buttons. A lot of times they are in Mason Jars and it is fun to go through a jar of old buttons. I did that a lot as a kid. My Grandmothers both sewed and they had jar after jar of buttons. We live on a bank of a river and about 6 miles up stream there was a button factory. They used the shells to make buttons that were sold in the stores. Sometimes as a kid you could find a shell with a button shape cut out of it. The shell wasn't right for more buttons so was discarded.

Not far from here about 30 miles was a garment factory in the 50's. I can remember my Grandmother going to this factory and walking in a back door. She would come out with a big box of fabric scraps. The fabric that was cut off of the bolts and the patterns were cut out had scraps they couldn't use. They would cut layers and layers at a time and she would buy the fabric by the pound and use it for quilting. I have a quilt top she used the fabrics in to make the pieces she used in this quilt. It cost her next to nothing to get this fabric and she made quilts for all of us when we were kids. She didn't use garments that were worn for her quilts, but instead went to the garment factory and got scraps from new fabric. This was all when fabric was only 36inches wide when new. When I was going through this resale shop I remembered going to this garment factory and also the button factory I had heard about when I was growing up. Another factory I remembered in this area was a Freeman Shoe Factory. You went by the factory in the hot summer and you smelled the shoe leather and the polish that was put onto the shoes when they were completed. Times gone by and things have changed so much you don't see the sights and sounds of the old days. Chris

Parts and pieces

Here is the latest handiwork. I needed a new purse. Can't afford the one I like. You know it was a knock off, but goes against my principle to pay to much. So I started to come up with ideas. I saw on another blog a purse that was colorful and decided I really didn't like tha materials and the flap wasn't to my liking. So I got some blank paper and a pair of scissors and started to cut. The details I have added are to make it look like a Spring purse. The band around the two lighter shapes is going to be the darker denim. Oh yes these are recycled jeans. The embroidery floss was some my Mom had left over. The buttons were leftovers from a sewing project. And of course the scraps I have been working with. I haven't decided on lining yet. Made this so far and my Mom said it was to fancy for her. So have to make a toned down type for her. Step DIL came and she wants one. Neighbor wants one.

I might be trying to find more flower patterns today and seeing what different designs I can come up with. A larger bag is wanted also with all the dodads on it. Kinda fun to do something different. Hope everyone had a Good Mother's Day I know I did. Chris

Mothers Day

I hope everyone has a nice Mother's Day. If you are not a mother you have one or have had one. Remember the warm and loving hugs and the person whom wiped off the tears when you skinned your knee. Mothering can come from and Aunt, Grandmother, sister or your Father or brother. Nurturing is the key word here. I am honoring my Mother today with making a Corned Beef Brisket. Not a traditional meal, but one she likes. Chris

Where have I been and what was I thinking

I have been in the yard, at the hospital and on the road for months. Not in the sewing room. This quilt is done but for the borders and this is the fun part. Doing the applique to put the finishing touches on it is the fun part. Guess I had better get it back out and try and get it done. This is the other thing that is almost done and a couple days of working hard would finish it. Today isn't the day, have to go to Clinton, Ia and pick up my Mom's sewing machine. It is about 40 miles to there and then lunch has to happen. Nothing opens up until 10 am and your day is half over with.

Jeff is better today. Yesterday after and outpatient procedure was a little iffffyyy. But up and doing today. Have laundry going and the rain has quit. The sun is out, but windy and cool. Better than 90*F and humidity up in the 89%. So I will take it and enjoy the ride to the Machine Shop. Chris

Hubby Home already

We are back home. He is uncomfortable, but it will pass. I am trying to keep quiet so he can rest. We will have to go through this for awhile longer before they can do repair surgery to correct the problem. The Nurse and the Dr. we very nice and it took longer to wait and have the shot they gave him work than actual time it took for the procedure to be done. Suppose to be a nice day and rain this evening. So maybe he can get outside for awhile later and enjoy the sunlight. Chris