this weekend

I get a four day weekend every week since I work part time. It's not a weekend if I don't make something or at least accomplish something. It's Monday, the last day of my "weekend" and I have done some straightening up in my studio. I also screwed up my serger again. It just came back from the repair shop. I put something too thick under the foot, broke a needle and now the needles keep coming unthreaded. I'll have to get the manual and try to figure out the problem.

My biggest accomplishment: cleaning the refrigerator and going grocery shopping. My sweet hubby assisted with both these tasks. I just can't do it alone anymore. I tore my achilles' tendon almost a year ago. Every step I take is painful so I have really slowed down. The doctor says I'm getting better and a year isn't too long for recovery of this kind of injury.

2 days of every weekend I go for physical therapy. It is only an hour of therapy but the whole going and returning, etc. take 2 hours. Plus, now I want to sit in the hot tub after so that adds another hour.

I want to create. I have a big jacket making project in mind. First, the studio has to be tidied up so I can get to my cutting table and my sewing machine.

So, I'm feeling a bit frustrated today.

Scrappy Flower Pins

Inspiration for my pins came from several venues. I love recycling projects. These pins provide me with ways to use up scraps of fabrics, orphaned earrings and buttons while playing with colors and textures. I carry the makings in a big box so I can craft the pins while I spend time with my Mom watching the boob tube.

SCRAPPY FLOWER TUTORIAL

My scrappy flower pins are a great way to use up bits of leftover fabric and orphaned earrings and buttons.
The pins have 2 to 5 layers. I love to mix different textures and colors of fabric. They are like potato chips - you can't have just one!

My tutorial shows how this particular pink scrappy pin is made. I used 3 fabrics - tulle, open weave cotton and a regular cotton. Cut the strips according to the following measurements. I used a rotary cutter for the tulle. I just tore the cottons. I like the fraying that I get this way. The loose threads lend an organic look to the finished pin.

This is how I cut the strips:

Strip 1 - approx. 1 1/4" wide by 18" long
Strip 2 - approx. 1 3/4" wide by 13" long
Strip 3 - approx. 2 1/4 " wide by 22" long

The gathered strips turn into the pictured rosettes.

Sew a running stitch on each strip along one long side. Pull up to gather. Meet ends and sew together. Be sure the gathers are arranged evenly.

Sew (or could glue) the circles on top of each other - biggest to smallest.

Select a center for the flower - orphaned earring or button, pin, pendant, etc.

Attach the center piece through all layers of the flower. Buttons are the easiest to sew on. I also sew on earrings or pins, often I will remove their backing to have the item lie flatter.
You could also simply glue the center.

I chose a pink yo yo from my stash.

Sew (or glue) the yo yo to the back of the flower to cover the stitches and to help support the petals.

Attach a pin back - I use an adhesive backed pin and then also put in a few stitches for extra security.
Attach the pin above the center of the flower so it will hang nicely on clothing.

Here is the pin livening up a plain black jacket.

The scrappy flowers look great on hats. Either pin it to the hat or sew it on permanently.