November Update

A lot has happened since my last post.  Things started evolving and I started working with applique and quilting techniques on my items.  I've also polished up my work a bit - the more you do it, the better you get!  I have an Etsy shop now and am continuing to create items to list.  I did my first craft show Friday and learned so much about presentation, displays, items that sell quickly, etc.  Here are a few of the items I've made lately using recycled clothing. 

 One of my favorites, a hippy purse made with carefully selected pieces of fabric which were sewn onto a black base.  I also added some beads, sequins and such to make it more interesting.  Note the buttons on top - they were cut right from a blouse. 

I covered wooden beads with fabric and made a bracelet.  It's light and really fun to wear.

 I also love making fabric baskets.  They are so light and easy to carry around.  I keep my materials I'm working on for the current project in this one.  Scraps, scissors, thread, needle, etc.  I'm hoping these will be a big seller for me.


Well, til next time. 

Music Bag Chaos Tamed

Cool Runnings to All!  My music bag was totally out of control.  Both my husband and I use this bag and we have different styles to organizing it.  The result is a creepy little chaotic mash up.  So I decided to make a bag organizer similar to my purse organizer.  I had to invent as I went, but for my first attempt it will work.  I decided to take an old pair of jeans, cut off the legs (save the top part for a jean purse) and use that for my foundation.  I cut the seams open, and then joined them together lengthwise.  Then I found some yardage of purple fabric in my closet.  I tried to follow the same principle as the purse organizer, and it almost worked like I envisioned.  I sewed jean pockets onto the back before stitching the whole thing together

First, look at my before picture:

Now the after:

I have room in the middle for the other items, but wanted you to see the main organization.  Note:  the microphone was recently given to me, so I plan to sew a better mic holder for it.  It makes me happy to look in this bag now instead of panicking.

More photos:

 

What I learned from this project: 

1.  Make the foundation bigger in height. 

2.  Use a firmer fabric for the inner pockets.  I used batting to help strengthen in, but it stills seems a bit flimsy.

3.  Use a good sewing machine.  I actually ordered a new sewing machine because each project I do takes three times as long as it should because of stitching problems.

4.  Sewing jean legs together would probably work better on straight legged jeans rather than bell bottoms.  

5.  Instead of just wondering and trying to wait for the right time and right fabrics, jump in and do something.  What you learn about patterning, experimentation and instinct are really, really helpful

 Although the final product isn't as fashionable or pretty as it could be, my object was to get things quickly organized.  Soon I'll be posting pictures of pretty things again.  :)  And next time, I'll take pictures of the steps, in case you create something similar. 

Purse Organizer

I found a great video on YouTube (I'll post the link below) that demonstrated sewing a cool purse organizer out of recycled clothing.  I used a huge jean dress I got from Salvation Army (it was about 25 cents - $2.00 a bag), and a huge sun dress from Goodwill (25 cents).  I cut two strips (look at the video for exact directions), as well as a strip of batting to pad the pockets.  I figured out which items I wanted in my organizer (phone, gps, brush, pens, notepad, etc, and marked the size.  A hint - make them bigger than you think you'll need unless it's a flat item.  I also sewed a jean pocket onto the back for extra storage. My sewing machine is still a very sad affair, but I managed to coax it into sewing it all together.

Sorry for the crude presentation - the pictures could have been better, but you get the idea.  I just curl the organizer around and it leaves room in the middle for my wallet.  Now I won't be so reluctant to change purses because of the chaos.  I'm happy with my first attempt and learned a lot:

1.  Make pockets wider for larger items.  Even pens need a wider pocket than you'd think.
2.  Follow Jennifer's directions and you'll have success  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_-uDs9cYKg
3.  If your sewing machine is old, have lots of heavy duty needles on hand.  I broke two.  But then again, it      could be me.
4.  Hide your cats because they will have a party in the fabric, making it quite a challenge to sew, cut and iron.

I'm going to try this organizer out and get new ideas for the next one.  I plan on making an organizer for my keyboard and band stuff, as well as a backpack organizer for my girlies.  Today is a good day.

Getting Back on the Saddle

I've been pulled away from my blog to do other projects, but am ready to get back on it.  I have been collecting many fabrics from thrift stores, Salvation Army, Goodwill and hand-me-downs.  I will be making super cool grocery tote bags, purse totes; cell phone, ds, gps and kindle pouches; placemats; and purse organizers.  Plus I'll continue with re-fashioning old style clothes into modern, wearable ones. 

I made a bunch of cell phone and Nintendo DS pouches for my daughter's event at school.  She sold every one.  Here are some examples:

All the pouches I made were from clothes I had gotten from thrifting.  Most of the items were about 10 cents to 25 cents each.  Each pouch I made, I got better and better.  To take it to the next level, I'll need a new sewing machine.  LOL.  But the main thing is using my creativity and inspiration, because it sparks me up enough that my whole family notices.   

Two Wrongs Make a Right

Well.  If I had known I was going to mess up like this I wouldn't have picked this project for my first one.  But hey, that's life, right?  I figure you can learn from my mistakes.  Plus, necessity is the mother of invention - at least that's what I've heard.  So, first, I cut my jeans too low.  Plumber low.  I also cut the top off the zipper.  oops.   After knashing my teeth a few minutes, I decided to make a new waistband (or should I say hipband) out of the one I cut off.  It wasn't wide enough for my hips, so I took leftover jean material and made a makeshift extension so it would have a little wrap around look.  Here is how it is at this moment, but I plan to embellish it a little to hide the chopped up look.   I just need to add heavy duty snaps to the band, as well as the flap if I can't fix the zipper.

This is how it will look after I add snaps

Then I cut the legs into a capri-style length, and hemmed them on the sewing machine. 

My first project is nearly done and I learned a lot. 

1.  Double check before cutting.
2.  Be careful not to cut the top off a zipper.
3.  Use stitch witchery to hold band in place before stitching.
4.  Have extra sewing machine needles on hand (I broke one in this project).
5.  For any future waist wrap band creations, I'll buy a larger size jean for the waist band. (I'll use the excess
     material to make a tote).
6.  Don't despair after making a mistake.  There is always something you can do with the project.
6.  Play calming music while sewing (rather than metal, which was what I had on)

Tonight, I'll post a picture of me wearing the capris, as I sip my wine in celebration.

Soon Come

I have to get a new heavy duty needle for my sewing machine before I can finish surgery on the jeans.  Haven't made up my mind whether I will sew belt loops on the risque too-low-rise jeans or if I will sew a new cool band to raise it up a little.  I'm leaning toward the former.   In the meantime, I'll sip some red wine and contemplate.  *sip*

Waistband Be Gone

Happy Monday.  Today is my rest day, but wanted to post the pics of my  $0.25 jeans transformation.  I began by cutting the waistband off.  Felt really good about the height, but they may be tooooo low.  oops.  I've got some ideas to fix it.  Hey - it's my first transformation, so it's all about jumping in, come what may. 

                                                  Jeans before surgery:

                                                      Off with her Waistband

Tomorrow - the finished project