A new creation

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Projects, projects, projects

I used the tutorial from here:

http://jonag.typepad.com/stop_staring_and_start_se/2008/12/your-christmas-gift-from-mean-apron-in-an-hour.html
to make this apron and actually I made two aprons, 2 towels and 2 potholders. One set was for a gift for a good friend and one set was for a gift exchange. The monogramming was done on my embroidery machine and Ilove this design that also stitches the snowflakes. After doing these I wanted to do a half dozen more for other friends and family but hello! I will have to remember to make some for next year. Time is just running out.

JOEY

Slipper Swap

I participated in a slipper swap (see button at right). I got my package off in the mail on Saturday and my partner received it TODAY. Pretty impressive for the USPS. The pattern that I was going to originally use got lost somewhere in my sewing room :( So I used the pattern from my "Sew Pretty Homestyle" book. I really like the way the slippers turned out. And after seeing them, my daughter wants us to make 5 pairs to give to her girlfriends for Christmas. That's so exciting! Both that I get to sew more and that I get to sew with my 15 year old daughter.



Check out my other flickr photos of the slippers. I had once seen that you can use puffy fabric paint to make a non-skid surface on the bottom of slippers and I used this idea for this pair.



JOEY

These Only Took 4 Years To Make

I had this idea to make stockings from thrifted sweaters and off to the thrift store I went. But I got stuck at only 4 sweaters and I neeeded 5 stockings. I wanted them to be a little larger than normal too so I really needd the 5 sweaters. Therefore, the 4 sweaters were tucked into a bag. To sit and sit and sit. I did think of them every Christmas. They moved with us to. First to our rental while our house was being built and now at the new house. Last year I finally found another sweater and finished the stockings and am just thrilled how they turned out. Just Thrilled! (Except, we've also added a dog and a cat and I need two more small stockings for them. )

Then my husband suggested that I make a tree skirt out of sweaters to match the stockings. So off to the thrift store we went last weekend. I actually found a throw in the cream colored knitted sweater look but there really isn't enought material in it to make a tree skirt. I'm really just hoping it doesn't take 4 years to make the tree skirt.

Oh, by the way. We don't have a fireplace or a mantel of any sorts and I found this faux mantel at a local craft sale that like 7 women host INSIDE their home with every room filled with crafts to purchase. I love it, I love it, I love it. (The craft sale and the faux mantel)

JOEY

Music To My Ears

Ok, I added some music to my blog but you have to go ALL the way to the bottom of the page to listen to it. I can't figure out how to get it to post with this post. But I did make a play list and post it to my blog. I'm excited about that but frustrated that I can't have it with this post. Anyways, enjoy some of my favorite music.

JOEY

Assembly Line Sewing

Assembly Line Sewing
Originally uploaded by joeysews

I have some orders for some bags (yea!). This is about all the assembly line sewing I can do. This is two bags of the same pattern. It's the Amy Butler "frenchy" pattern. I love that pattern. I have gotten a few orders in the last week and am so excited. I love to sew and I love making extra money (although, it always feels like it goes into the checkbook and from there I don't know where it ends up). But at least I get to sew.

I also have an order for 10 pairs of lounge pants made from "vintage" sheets. I have that order about half finished. They are coming out so cute. Each one I make I think "ooh, these are my favorite" then I make another pair and "ooh, THESE are my favorite"!

And then I have a long list of items to make for Christmas which involves more assembly line sewing. I had it planned out where I could sew on Saturday for 8 hours but that hasn't happened yet. And how many days til Christmas? and how much time do I need to send stuff to the West coast to arrive by Chriistmas? Did I mention I love to sew? I really do there's just not enough time!

JOEY

For ????

McCalls 5697
Originally uploaded by joeysews

I just love this pattern from McCalls and I wanted to make this jacket for our local quilt guilds holiday fair but didn't get it finished in time. Actually, I still don't have the buttons on it either. It's a size 7 ( would probably fit up to size 10) Might send it to my niece (lucky girl) but will have to ask her mom if it's her style- you know how girls can get picky!

It is made from a sheet I thrifted at a local thrift store and here's a funny thing. It's from IKEA. We don't even have an IKEA in Colorado (but I have heard rumors of one coming to Broomfield - anyone???). It's funny how these things just seem to find me and at the right price too. I think I spent $3.

I've made two other jackets with this pattern but this time I made the flouncy sleeve version - ooh, I really like it.. I want to make more, more more. I want to try one with a lining. Hmm, will have to think about how to adjust the pattern. Ok, off to the drawing board for that one.

JOEY

Aunt Pitty Pat's: Cozy up by the Fire.... House Slipper Swap

Aunt Pitty Pat's: Cozy up by the Fire.... House Slipper Swap

That's my next swap. Sounds like fun and I love slippers and coffee. Deadline to enter is November 14th so you can still join too. And packages are to be sent out by December 12th. Quit making excuses and sign up. Come on, it'll be fun.

JOEY

One of My Favorite Tools

"Wallies"
Originally uploaded by joeysews

I have had plenty of items ruined by using my scissors to push out corners. I believe I won this tool at the Pueblo West Quilters. I love it. It's for turning corners and sometimes I use the rounded end to flatten rounded edges. It is amazing. I don't think I've ever pushed too hard and made a hole in the fabric.

Go get one of these. Although, I'm not really sure where to go to get one but I'm sure your local quilt store or craft store would sell them.

The "wallies" I made to put in our Quilt Club's boutique. They are cute and convenient. You can slip your i.d. and credit card and a little change inside and put it in your pocket or just use it as a small wallet in your purse. I hope they sell. Our quilt club alsot gets 15% so I feel like I'm helping them too. It's a win/win situation.

JOEY

Being Thankful

I haven't posted in awhile because I just haven't had time to get a good picture. The girls and I are sharing the one camera and so that usually leaves me at the end of the list for getting the camera. But they take awesome pictures so I like them to be able to use it.

So I thought I'de write about what I'm thankful for: (of course, I am blessed with my husband and kids and family and friends but beyond those blessings this is what I'm very thankful for now.)

1) My husband's job. Although it's sucky the hours that he works. With the news of our economy right now I am thankful that he HAS this job.
2) Our health - always our health! I realize how our health can affect us so suddenly. And we just welcomed a new baby into the family (a great-nephew! not my new baby!) that even though he gave us a little scare, he is healthy)
3) Our Cars - two of them are barely holding on and I am thankful for everyday that they get us to our destinations. (Update: one is down :( - ugh!!!!)

I know there is a day coming when I won't have the kids around to take my camera. But strange as it may sound, I am thankful that they are around now - and it's ok if they take my camera - One day I will have all these things and no kids around and that will be sad. So take the camera!!!

Taylor Reservoir Park is beautiful. And we saw alot of it. We drove around for two hours trying to find the kids' PaPa. I was so happy when we saw him!!! He was ok, he knew we were ok - let's fish! The rain held out until the next day and then that wasn't much either. We slept in a tent (reminder to self: Need airmatress) brushed our teeth outside, built a fire, hunted for firewood, saw deer, played games in the camper (during the rain) and fished. Could've only been better if we were able to stay another night. I mean, no cell phones, no computers, no home phone with 3 teenagers makes for some memorable times. (ahem, hence the video above).

See my flickr for more pics of the trip.

JOEY

McCalls 5697

McCalls 5697
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

This jacket is made from brown (hello!) fleece and lining and accents with pink/brown houndstooth corduroy. The buttons are with 1 1/8" covered buttons. The pattern has four different variations and I wanted to do the variation with the flounce sleeves but didn't get enough of the brown fleece or the houndstooth. So I went with the straight long sleeves and I do love the button tab detail. Will take this to show my quilting friends and then off to my niece.

I am working on a similar jacket for myself - Actually, bought the pattern last year - but still love it. Just need to find some material and with my selections being Hobby Lobby and Walmart it's pretty slim pickins.

Hope to have it done for this winter.

How I Feel

Cars needing repair, sewing machine breaking, embroidery machine breaking, cordless phone dying, computer crashing, embroidery smart box not working, Big screen TV went out . . . I could add at least another half a dozen, I'm sure!

But . . . I did fix the sewing machine and embroidery machine! And the computer has allowed my "messenger" to start working again - woo!hoo!

I am only able to do my "posts" from my daughters' laptops when they're not doing school work i.e. myspace, messenger, facebook.

I though they said bad things come in 3s. Well mine was to the 3rd power. I do have to be thankful for our health! Can't complain there and thank goodness! I stumbled across the article re: plane crash in Arizona which killed the pilot and the husband and wife onboard are in critical condintion. It has touched me immensely. Click on the pink button on the right top of my blog and read more. I can offer prayer and know that prayer can bring miracles.

No Tv, sewing machines, phones, cars . . . we are healthy so I'm done complaining.

Ahhh!!!

I have lived in Colorado almost my whole life. I've been to Manitou Springs at least once every year for the last 20 plus years and never noticed this sign! It's an actual street sign. Ahhh! I should have MADE Lewis take his picture with me. Not that he doesn't LOVE me, he just HATES pictures.

By the way, we had stopped in Manitou on our way back from Breckenridge. Took the kids to the penny arcades. They seriously have games you can play for a penny! I love the old buildings, the wood floors and pinball. My Fav!!! Oh, ok, maybe skeeball is my Fav. Goodtimes. Goodtimes!!

New Camera

New Camera
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

NOT taken with my phone camera! Yes!! I got a new digital camera. Purchased at Walmart on clearance (cause that's the only way I would have bought it) I've been having a lot of fun playing wih the different settings and it's so fun to delete if I don't like the pic. This picture was taken when it was actually dark outside. So I was pretty impressed with myself (well, the camera).

I'm so torn . . . sew? take pics? sew? take pics? sew!!!!! sew!!!

JOEY

Say "Cheese"!

Breckenridge

July 2008

Me and my girls. All of us spent 3 days in Breckenridge. It was relaxing. I love having the whole family in the car. Now that they're older (and now 2 of the 3 drive) it's hard to find time that we're all together. Sad to say this was like the only vacation we had this summer. Cody and Brittney both had jobs so it was hard to arrange get - a - ways. We are planning a camping trip for Labor day weekend. I really hope it doesn't rain on us the whole time. Oh well, if it does, I guess we spend the whole time in the tent together. Not a bad situation when you have 3 teenagers. Gotta enjoy 'em while they're around.

"Blowfish" shoes

"Blowfish" shoes
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

I took my girls to the mall last night and I found these "blowfish" shoes. I really, really like them. (You should have seen the poor salesman's face when I took the pic) My girls already think I'm crazy and a total embarrasment to them. What can I say, they're teenagers!!!

They are now my motivation to sew lots of stuff to get ready for the 4th of July Craft Booth. I need to make money to buy them.

Come and see me at the Pueblo West 4th of July Extravaganza and help me buy these shoes!!!!

On the ride home, I looked at both of the girls and had this overwhelming sense of pride. I got super lucky, our kids are good and I realized they are good people! The world will be a better place with them in it!!!

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap

Vintage Sheet Fat Quarter Swap
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

These are sheets I will be cutting into fat quarters for this swap

http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/2008/05/vintage-sheet-patchwork-swap.html

I'm not totally sure what I will do with the fat quarters I receive . . . Maybe a quilt? A Bag? An Apron? Probably depends on what the fat quarters I receive look like.

Any suggestions?

JOEY

He Did It

Graduation
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

Our first one to graduate. We are so proud of Cody. My mom came from Oregon (after moving out there 11 months ago) and my sister came from Washington with her family. My mom flew but my sister and famly drove with a diesel truck and a fifth wheel filled with 4 wheelers. Lewis' family all came (most from Pueblo) with one sister and family from New Mexico. We also had family join us from Frisco and Denver and many family friends from Pueblo came. This was all very exciting for us. We bought WAY too much food (except for cake, which we only had a small piece leftover) and now we will be eating hotdogs and hamburgers for the WHOLE summer.

Cody is going to start a community college in the fall and will work this summer for a local landscaping company. His girlfriend's family took him the last few days to go fishing in the mountains.

Two more years till the next one graduates!

(Check out lots of pics on my flickr page (see to the right, click!)

Two Posts in One Day!

Lovin' the lunchbox pattern
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

Two lunch boxes too! I made one for my little sis who will coming next week for my son's graduation from high school and one for my friend who will be taking care of my dogs while we are gone to New Mexico this weekend to see Niece graduate.

I made two of these yesterday! I think it took me just over an hour from cut to finish! I just love the pattern and the way they come out. I would like to try to make them with the iron on vinyl but would have to travel about an hour away to purchase it from JoAnn's. I am wandering how well they will keep their lunches insulated, just hoping they put them in the fridge if needed.

Pattern is from here:
http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/vintage-pillowcase-lunchb.html

I see many more lunchboxes in my future! They are great gifts!

Busy Busy Busy

Ok, so I actually have some followers that have been wandering why I haven't posted. That was a surprise to me! Well, a couple of reasons 1) My son is graduating next week!!!! 2) family is coming for the event 3) my husbands been home recovering from surgery and 4) I thought I was going to figure this whole "posting" thing out to make my "posts" cuter (but NOPE, not yet) Anyways, thought I'de just tell you that I'm so excited that people actually look at my blog and my pics on flickr. And hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be on a more regular schedule of posting! (and hopefully get better at it) Thanks for reading, friends! Joey

I want it!

Oh Fransson Lunchbox Swap
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

I finished my lunchbox bag today. I was nervous about making it that I actually made one BEFORE this one. So with that under my belt I was able to build up enough confidence to finish this one. My swap partner likes orange. I hope she likes the floral print. I must say, my sewing skills didn't fail me on this one. Everything came out great, if I must say so. I actually took pics of the interior as it looks just as good as the outside.

Check out my other pictures on my flickr site (link to the right - yes, just click on those teeny tiny pics - it'll take you right to my page!)

This was so much fun! Can't wait for another swap. And that Oh, Frannson! She's genious! I used her pattern/tutorial for my bag. Amazing she is!

http://www.ohfransson.com/oh_fransson/vintage-pillowcase-lunchb.html

I'm a Winner!!!

coffee cup
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

I won the drawing over at HeatherHalesDesigns!

http://heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/april-vogart-pattern-winners/

So many things are coming to thought! I can't believe I won, I never win! Oh my gosh! She's linked to my bog! I have a blog?! I better get some better pictures taken! I better get a camera! (all so far have been taken with camera phone :( I better get more sewing projects completed. And oh my gosh, there are so many things I want to start sewing!

I have been so inspired by pictures posted to flickr and by the blogs I stalk (look to the right!). This is so much fun. I'm also really wanting to learn how to spice up my blog page. I'm still learning all this (might get the kids to help me if they didn't think I was such a dork!)

Anyways, thank you Heather (see I don't know how to have your name highlighted so that when people click on your name they're directed to your blog, so I put it in like this!

http://heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/april-vogart-pattern-winners/

Thanks Blog friend! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now for some coffee and some blog stalking! Go Me!!

Pueblo's Quilt and Stitch Expo Purchases

frenchy bag
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

They had Amy Butler patterns and fabric at the Pueblo quilt and stitch expo this past weekend. I could barely breath! I bough her "frenchy Bag" pattern and two yards of her fabric. I was able to make two bags with the use of a few remnants from my stash for the lining.

I've recently joined the Amy Butler group on flickr and noticed someone was wanting the bag to be roomier. So I decided to modify the pattern and added some darts to the corners of the bag. It helped give it more room and wasn't that much more sewing.

Amy Butler fabrics are amazing! I have been a follower of her for 3-4 years. Our local fabric shops don't carry her fabric or patterns so I've called upon my sister, who lives in Portland, OR, to visit the shop nearby her house to make purchases for me - and she does. And she buys more stuff for me to make for her or my niece. She probably thinks it's work for me but really it's just lots of fun!

Quilted Mug

quilted mug
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

I've been wanting to find some coffee mugs with lids that have the inserts but haven't found any. Well, A popular coffee shop has them but then they're $15. Anyways, my friend Danielle found these at Hobby Lobby. Wish it had a lid. I think my mom will like it for her soda. I will be sending it to her.
It was super easy to do. I took the coloring insert out and traced it onto interfacing then sewed the pieces of fabric onto the interfacing. Finally, I bound the edges. Fini!!
My mom will probably be cursing me out as I think to wash it she will have to seperate the two pieces everytime and then reinsert the quilted piece. I was thinking about finding some glue/caulking to make it water tight! Ooh, and I do love going to Lowes!!

Give-Away

I really enjoy Heather Hales Designs (see in Favs list to the right) and she is hosting a giveaway http://heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/april-give-away-request/ . She is also looking for a "fluffy cake" to embroider. Check it out. Her embroideries are so adorable and the combinations she puts together are so refreshing.

All Dog's Done

all dog things
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

Finally finished the burps, bibs, onesies and blanket. The flannel is from JoAnns with dogs printed on it and I used brown and yellow solid flannel. I really think they came out cute. Funny thing is that after I had purchased the fabrics for this project the front of my next JoAnn's add had this fabric on the front made into a dog bed! A dog bed, not cute little items for a dear, precious newborn baby!! Maybe they should have used my pic (HaHa). Anyways, a month after I purchased the project is done. I will take it to "SewNShare" at my quilt meeting on Monday and then the gift goes to my friend.

puppy onesie closeup

puppy onesie closeup
Originally uploaded by joeysews5

Just getting a feel for how to post from my flickr page. This really is a lot of fun and I feel so smart! I might be boring you now, but I'm working on "knocking your socks off" with my cute stuff!!

I found a Puppy!!

For my family members, No, not a real puppy, a puppy to embroider. I know they were probably saying a few choice things about how I do not need another animal. Probably because I spend too much time sewing and not enough time with the animals. Well, I do have a Yorkie and she does get plenty of attention. Probably because she likes to be in my sewing room with me. I am making a blanket, burps, bibs and these onesies for a friend who is due at the end of next month. I will post the whole set when I have it all done. I was looking for an embroidery pattern of a dog and found one. It's from Aunt Martha's Hot Iron Transfers #3989 "Bonnie Bonnet Too". You'll have to look really hard at the pictures because it's mainly of "Bonnie". The puppy is at the bottom. There's also a really cute bird eating seed. I hope to use that design on something too. Don't know if I'll embroider any of the Bonnies but her polka dot dress is adorable. Can just imagine doing countless french knots. (Would make my Grandma proud!)

One Lucky Girl (that's me!)

For our 19th Anniversary (Yes 19 years!) my hubby surprised me with a little getaway to a cabin in Woodland Park. It was a short stay, since both of us weren't able to take any time off work but It was wonderful!

On our way, we stopped in Old Colorado City to purchase something for dessert for our dinner (two pieces of chocolate from the candy shop) and we had parked next to a cute little shop I had eyeballed walkig to the candy shop. So on the way back to the car he asks "You wanna go in there?" Well, if You want to. Silly!!! Oh, I could barely breath! Probably 100% of the items were handmade. And handmade very well at that. Everything was just so adorable! I had spent plenty of time looking at these necklaces so he noticed and bought one for me! It looks kinda like fabric to me so I really like it and it's reversible but I rarely wear it on the red side. One of the daughters wanted to wear it and I wouldn't let her and I share everything. I really like it!!!

Easter Stitchin'

Started making one Easter Egg and said I would not make anymore. Well, ended up making 8 eggs/8 chicks and 5 bags. I was addicted and couldn't stop myself.

The Snows!