Owl backpack I sewed for Sophia

I made this owl backpack for Sophia with my Serger. I completed it December 30, 2009.

I learned lots of new things my serger can do with this project. One thing I learned was that I can make  appliqués with it! Wow! What a huge discovery! Who knew that making pockets and things like eyes and a beak would teach me how to make those. While making the eyes and nose I realized that it is rather tough to make circular shaped appliques on a serger but not impossible.

I think with more practice I will feel a little better about making appliques to add details to things I make. Maybe I won't have to make them more than once to be satisfied with the results. All in all it was a fun little project to make and I learned a lot. I am glad it turned out so Sophia could enjoy it.







Here is the back view of the backpack. The back has a reinforced small handle in case she wants to carry it like a tote. There are also the backpack straps so she cam carry it on her back with whatever she wants to carry inside it.








Inside the backpack is a small pocket. Pictured at the top of the flap is a buttonhole loop.  I thought it would be fun to see if I could make it and well I am happy to conclude that I completed it.



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Mizzou blanket

I made a surprise Mizzou blanket and matching pillow with my serger for Scott. He is a huge football fan and loves watching and cheering for Missouri. He has no idea and doesn't read my blog so he will be surprised.
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Scott's holiday scarf

I brought home this gorgeous fabric that I found in the remnant basket at the fabric store. I had no particular idea in mind about what I would do with his fabric. I just thought it was pretty and figured I would think of something later. I pulled it out if the bag and my husband loved it. I barely unpacked it and he said, "Ooh I would love a scarf out of that, but can you make it a little thicker so that it will be warm?"  I thought for a while and suddenly it came to me to add a fleece backing and turn it into a nice warm scarf. Well, here it is.

I made this on my Serger after changing the neutral threads I normally use for seams. It took me quite a while to change the thread but I finally succeeded and am happy with the results. I hope Scott loves this scarf as much as I do.



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Scraps can become a cute little doll blanket

I made a baby doll blanket out of some scrap flannel from the fabric store. My daughter chose the fabric out of the remnant basket at the fabric store. I wasn't sure what we would make at the time but she wanted it and it was marked down. Here is what it became.  Unfortunately, I can't get this photo to turn the right way so I guess it will be sideways.   The pillows are on the right rather than at the top.

Fabric Wine Gift Bags

I made about ten if these little wine gift bags with my serger in a few hours for my husband to give away at work. Everyone was excited to receive a nice bottle of wine wrapped in a home-made gift bag. Some received CDs wrapped in smaller versions of the drawstring bag.

The current topics people who are environmentally conscious talk about are "recycling" and "going green". I think they are good ideas, although I admit I am guilty of not recycling often enough.

One thing I bet the environmentally conscious people never think about is all the wrapping paper and trees they kill at christmas time.

Everyone is starting to use recyclable grocery bags to "save the environment.". I challenge you to think about this idea. What about using recyclable gift wrapping in the form of fabric gift bags? It is super cute and saves a lot of waste and paper at Christmas.

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December 18, 2009 Why am I starting a blog about my hobby?

I decided to start a blog about my sewing projects to help me organize my thoughts and keep a record of what I make. I have always had a love for sewing. The fact that you can turn one flat piece of fabric and some thread into an amazing creation or a cherished gift still surprises me today. It is amazing the things one can make with a sewing machine and a serger. I love mine and wish I had more time to explore all their capabilities.

I can remember as a little girl wanting to learn how to sew. I truly believe my Grandma Consolino was the inspiration for my love of the hobby. As a young child I can remember sitting and watching her make amazing things out of yarn as she crocheted while I sat next to her. I can also remember her using this neat looking machine that she called a sewing machine. Not only did she fix hems of my pants but you could make clothes, crafts, and even household items with just some scraps of fabric.

I remember sitting in my bedroom thinking "How do you sew?"  I had these little cardboard sew around cards with holes pre-punched in them and would spend hours pushing the yarn through the little holes with a plastic needle and taking them out and trying again. When I began playing with dolls and Barbie, I would wish for a few scraps of fabric to play with to make the simplest of fashions. I loved fabric and fashion and found it occupied most of my thoughts. Although I never told anyone what I was thinking about, I knew that someday I wanted one of those magic machines that Grandma and Mom had to play with and try out for myself.

Now, I mention my mom had one of these sewing machines too however, I don't remember as much about the clothing she made for me because I was just a baby when she made things for me. I can remember her sitting at the machine and repairing clothes and making a craft here or there.  She recently gave my a sweet little one piece outfit she made fore me to let Sophia wear however, I am sad to say Sophia was a bit big for it and I didn't want to ruin it so I simply put it away to keep.  One craft item I remember her making with me was a stuffed bunny or cat. It was somewhat yellowish in color with tiny flowers on the fabric and she showed me how she sewed around the edges and then turned it right side out and stuffed it. She proceeded to stitch the hole shut and it became a little stuffed animal. Wow!

So you can see my love of sewing started way before I had a machine or the ability to use one. I always wanted to take a sewing class in high school but my schedule didn't allow for it. I did take a very basic sewing class once where I learned how to use the machine. I can remember picking out fabric made of very light denim to make a dress. I don't know whatever happened to that "dress". I am sure that I probably never finished it or wore it.  As a child I didn't finish many crafts I started.

I have alway wondered what if I make this or that.  So when I asked my parents for my own sewing machine I knew the possibilities were endless of what I could learn.  With some inspiration and a simple curtain pattern I made curtains for my apartment and then made coverings for my ugly couches.  I will never forget how tough that was.

When I graduated college I received my first serger.  What is a serger you say?  Well, let me tell you it is machine that not only can you finish your sewing seams professionally but you can make neat designs you can't do on a regular sewing machine.  With 4 needles working simultaneously, you can create masterpieces.  The serger sews so much faster than a sewing machine that one can finish projects in about a quarter of the time.  I still use my old beloved sewing machine for straight stitching and top-stitching but am amazed as I watch DVD's and read books about what the serger can do.

I hope as I self learn that I can keep a record of some of the fun things I make as an inspiration to myself for future projects as well as a way to remember some of the fun simple things that taught me how to use my magic machines and just a little thread and things.