April 16, 2017: getting ready

I've been preparing for my move to Portland for almost a year now.  Most of my stuff has either been given away, donated or packed up.

To get ready I made my dog, Sweetsie, a harness so she can sit in her carseat during our trip across country.  Then I made her a raincoat for Portland's rains.

She doesn't have the proportions for ready made dog clothes.  I could never find a harness to fit her.  The smalls are too small around her chest.  The mediums are way too large.  So I used her long and thin measurements to make her one.

I tried a doggy raincoat from Amazon.  It fit her but she wouldn't move.  The hood smooshed down her ears.  So I made her one from what fabrics I had on hand (not packed yet).   I used turquoise oilcloth from Mexico lined with fleece for the body of the coat.  The coat is made from one of those heavy plastic bags that pillowcases or napkins are sold in.

The secret to making a doggy raincoat is to make the hood detachable.  It's easier to construct and fits over the ears better.

Sweetsie will wear it but she's not too happy about it.  But she hates the rain so I think she will learn to appreciate it.

2016-10-28: Cheshire Cat Vest

The completed project

There's a great thrift store near my house- Texas Thrift.  It's on Fondren just south of South Braeswood on the west side of the street.  The items are tagged with different colors, depending on when they were received.  Each Monday one of the tag colors is selected to sell for only $.99.

There is always good stuff to be had there.  I Last week I found 6 shirts nice shirts for Bert at $.99 apiece.  On another Monday I found this gray Disney t-shirt with the Cheshire Cat.  It was too small for me but I loved the cat.

Before

Cutting out the good parts

 After washing the t-shirt I carefully cut out the cat and most of the spooky-looking tree.

I then appliqued the cut-out to the back of a raspberry-colored hooded vest.  The entire cutout was outlined in black so I only needed to use black thread in a zigzag stitch to apply the cat to the vest.

I'm very happy with the result.  Plus I already own a cheshire cat hoodie hat with matching mittens and a cheshire cat fanny pack with a tail.  I'm ready for the cooler weather plus the ensemble would make a great Halloween outfit, too.

After

October 1, 2016: My Poodle Shirt Refashion

I bought a t-shirt from The Mountain that had big poodle face on it.  The shirt was light gray.

After

I lowered the neckline and shortened the t-shirt.  Then I dyed it pink and added a big silver bow.

Now I have a shirt that looks like my little Sweetsie-poo! 

 I think my grandkids will enjoy looking at their Grandma wearing this silly shirt.

Sweetsie and me

September 29, 2016: Refashioning

Before - short tight dress

On September 10 I led my sewing group to a couple of thrift stores.  We went to fulfill a group challenge.  Each member was to buy a piece of clothing at a thrift store and then refashion (upcycle) it into another piece of clothing.

I remade several tops last weekend but I'll just show you one a day.

This first one was the simplest.  I bought an size XL sweater dress that actually fit me on top but was too tight and too short for the rest of me.


I cut off the bottom of the dress where it started narrowing.  I tried adding
lace to the bottom edge but my lace wasn't stretchy so it just didn't work.

I didn't really need to finish the hem since it was a knit and wouldn't ravel.  I just did some stitching at the side seams so they wouldn't come apart.  Then I used the bottom of the dress that I had cut off as an infinity scarf.
I think it came out cute.  Unfortunately the best photo of me wearing it is red-toned but you can get the idea.

After- hem is visible

May 16, 2014: The Tiggermobile

Last year I bought my bright orange Subaru Crosstrek.  It's only been just this past week that I finally have gotten around to giving it some personality.

The interior is orange and black so the car really wanted to be a tiger.  I found a Tigger bobblehead on ebay and put him on the dashboard.  The steering wheel sports a tiger fur cover that I got at a dollar store.

The car needed some exterior tiger striping.  I didn't want to go overboard with the decorations.  I just put black and white stripes on the hood, outlined the headlights (the eyes) in white and added black eyelashes.

The rear view mirrors (the ears) have black and white stripes plus I added black pin striping along both sides of the car.  I ran out of the white striping but I've ordered more.  Then I will add a white stripe to the black ones on the sides of the car.

I made a long striped tail on the rear of the car that extends around to the gas cap cover.  Wrote out "Tigger" in black and added a white Tigger decal.

Now it looks like MY car!

 

 It makes me smile every time I get in it.  Plus, I see other people looking and smiling at my car, too.

Everybody needs a giggle once in a while.

May 14, 2014: Pink Poodle Mannequin

I have saved searches on ebay for "poodle" and "pink poodle fabric."  That's how I found a pink poodle costume in size 3T.  I don't remember exactly how much I paid for it.  I do know that it was less than $5.00 total.  The best time to buy costumes on ebay is from January to August.  Nobody wants a costume during those months.  (Right now it's almost summer so sweaters and coats are the bargain items.)

How could I NOT buy this pink poodle outfit?  But then, what to do with it?  I decided to make a mannequin to fit the costume.  She is constructed from pvc pipe and fittings, cut to size.  Her head is a large styrofoam ball that I pushed on to the pipe that formed the neck.

I bought some pink shoes at a thrift store.  I cut styrofoam to fit into the shoes and jammed the leg pvc pipes into them.

I made some small pink mittens for hands and glued them to her "arms." I thought she would look cute as a "butler" type mannequin so I gave her a lightweight tray to hold.

There's never a dull moment at home when you have 3 cats and a dog.  Luckily I didn't put anything breakable on the tray.  The cats jump onto the tray and knock down the little stuffed puppies.  They try to play with them but my real life pink poodle, Sweetsie, swoops down and runs off with them.

The costume is completely removable.  Maybe my new baby granddaughter will want to be a pink poodle for Halloween when she reaches 3 years old.  I would just love to see her wear it!

Sweetsie

I have entered my Pink Poodle Mannequin and my Pink Poodle Telephone in a contest:  Craftys/Awards that Celebrate Crafts.  I would really appreciate it if you would go their website and vote for one of my projects!  http://thecraftys.com/

2014/02/26: My Poodle Telephones!

This past weekend I finally got around to doing some crafting/sewing. 

I found 2 old-timey phones in the trash in my building.  Of course, I immediately thought of poodles!  These phones both are in working condition.

I had a couple of the fuzzy tubular scarves that I purchased at Goodwill.  These tubular scarves make crafting easy.  I removed the handset and cords from phone #1 and painted around the number buttons with white acrylic paint.  Opening up the pink tubular scarf, I inserted the first phone.  I folded under one end of the scarf, leaving about 6-8 inches of excess fur at the back of the phone.  I cut off the excess at the other end.  Then I glued and folded the scarf around the phone, cutting small holes for the number buttons and the cord openings.  I carefully glued around these openings.

I then took the handset and inserted it into the remaining portion of the scarf.  I took the excess on one end and pulled it into a rubber band, forming one ear.  On the other side I made a loose covering for the spiral cord.  I folded up and hand sewed the cord cover so it wouldn't be so bulky.  When I tuck back the cord it looks like another ear.

I inserted a piece of balsa wood into the bottom fur cover and glued it to the underside of the phone.  I glued a clothespin with its base to the wood and glued a large pink puff ball to the top of the clothes pin. Then I pulled the excess fabric over these pieces, taking a rubber band to tie the end of the clothespin to form the pouf of the tail and securing with a few stitches.

I added some doll eyes and lashes that I already had in my stash, used a button for the nose, glued in a felt tongue and tied a bow on an ear.
 I attached the handset to the phone base and plugged in the phone cord.

Now I just need to figure out how to make the phone bark instead of ring!

I decided my pink poodle phone needed a mate.  So I covered the phone #2 with a blue tubular scarf.  I took some photos as I worked on it.  This phone was a dark brown so I doubled the scarf over the phone to cover the dark color. 

The handset and cord were permanently inserted into this phone so I had to work around them.  I left the brown spiral cord uncovered and made both ears the same way by cutting off a piece of scarf. pulling the excess fur and gluing the fur onto the handset, folding it as necessary. 

I wrapped both end of the fur with rubber bands to form the ears. 

I made the tail from the excess fur on the back side of the phone - securing it with a rubber band and some stitches.

I cut out white felt ovals for the eyes (no more eyeballs in my stash) and sewed on black buttons with white thread for the pupils.  The nose is a button.  The tongue is red felt.

Aren't they just the perfect couple!

July 7, 2013

This has been a very long weekend.

Thursday was the Fourth of July.  I celebrated by having a manicure/pedicure.  The only place open was Walmart.  I have orange nails to match my car!    Then I went and visited Mom.

On Friday afternoon I had my third date with a man I met online.  He had been very sweet to me.  I'd get texts or emails from him all day long.  He wasn't pushy and had lots to talk about.

Friday night  I played trivia with one of the meetup groups.  We won first prize.  I contributed one answer.  What field was Margaret Mead famous for?  "Anthropology!"  I was doing terrible on all the other questions.  But I enjoy the people and the game.

On Saturday I had just made my lunch and Lupita called and came over.  We had a great time - went to 2 thrift stores, saw "World War Z" and had Chinese food for dinner.  She is a lot of fun to be with.

Today is Sunday and I have almost completed a maxi dress that I'm making for my trip to Hawaii.  Somebody gave me the fabric and it looks very Hawaiian.  I'll post a picture when it's all finished.  The directions came from another blog and they are super easy.

I was supposed to go to a club with another meetup tonight.  I'd rather sew than be stuck in a crowded noisy place.

It's good to do what I want to do.

Seabrooke jacket

I took a class from Emma Seabrooke on making a jacket from knit fabrics. Unfortunately, there was only enough time in class to do the mundane sewing chores - cutting out, pressing on interfacing and binding. Then there was all this machine basting. I think I could have left my sewing machine at home. It would have been simpler and easier just to baste it by hand.

I forced myself to finish it at home. The class was $35, the kit was $45. It turned out to be an expensive jacket. It must have taken me another 8 hours to finish it. The jacket's claim to fame is the meeting of the curved pieces in front. To showcase that, I trimmed the pieces with black binding and added a frog closure. It turned out pretty.

I don't care for the turquoise sweater knit fabric that makes up one panel in front and the entire back. It is so flimsy that it seems cheap. The other fabrics are slinky knits. I don't think I'll ever make this pattern again. But if I did, I would use heavier weight knits.

Latest projects

I made a top from the red lipstick knit fabric that I bought from "Mood Fabrics" in NYC. I also created a handbag from a pair of size 2 DKNY red jeans that I bought at a thrift store. The bag went together pretty quickly. I finished it at the retreat. When I got back home I added the yo yo's, rhinestone hearts and silver steer charm. The bag holds a lot. It's lightweight and is comfortable to carry.

Maker Faire

I went to the Maker Faire in Austin 9/18/08. It's a gathering put on by MAKE and CRAFT magazines.

It's hard to describe. There are robot makers, food makers, art cars, art bicycles, a clothing swap meet, vendors, instructors, etc. The demos for sewing arts were pretty lame - like how a serger is different from a sewing machine.

I went into one building to sit down in air-conditioned comfort. 3 women of different ages strolled by sporting purple hair. I wish I had known that it was a dress-up event. I could have worn my pink poodle costume.

I attended the little fashion show at the end of the day. How can I put it? It was different. Mostly the items were re-made from thrift store purchases. Some were put together at the swap meet. I will upload the photos that I took.

The faire was a bit un-organized. The site map was incorrect. It was difficult to determine when the various programs would take place. Forget about trying to get something to eat and then find a shady spot in which to consume it.

Overall, I had a great time. I was with kindred spirits who were sharing their work and knowledge. My husband even enjoyed it. He spent a long time talking to an artist who works in styrofoam and concrete.

Giving old shoes a new lease on life.

Here are a pair of my brown clogs going through the stages of being covered with cat fabric.
As you can see my big toes poked holes through the leather. I repaired the holes with duct tape, used modpodge to stick down the fabric. Later, I added torn strips of brown silk and ribbon for more interest. I finished with a few coats of spray-on clear gloss.

This is a great way to give life back to old shoes.

My hole-y brown clogs are now the cat's meow!

Tools that come in handy are shoe trees, binder clips, dull pencil, paint brush, bowl of water, hot glue.

I made shoes to go with my top!

I made the top out of a knit houndstooth print, added a flower. Then I covered a pair of my old shoes with the same fabric. Voila, I match!