Sewing for Christmas

I never know whether to laugh or cry when I get a request for a sewing job around Christmas.  Today is the 8th of December.  I was told that that's plenty of time to do her project, for Christmas.  Sigh.   Today makes me want to close the shop, then this afternoon I got an email asking about my digitizing two logos.  One is going to be super easy, it's just letters, but I needed more information about size and font, so I sent an email back.  I did tell them that due to the holidays if he needed his job done before 10 Jan, there would be a rush charge.  I can order the shirts, that way when I get bored after Christms rush, I can do shirts.

 I need 40 more lace ornaments.  Three more tote bags, a purse and misc zipper bags.

No Cable

This morning I woke up to no Cable TV.  I tried to call the cable company, but of course I had switched my phone to them too. No Phone.  I grabbed my cell and called.  Someone cut the cable line while digging in our area. It took until 4:20pm to get the cable back up. This is my front yard. Who is digging before 5 am in the snow and cold?

I sewed all morning.  I had three machines going at once.  Of course no pictures.  But nothing is finished, so I'm not worried about it.  Tomorrow, I'll post pictures when I'm finished. 

I was running around trying to find my dongle, for my embroidery software.  I keep leaving it where I'm not!  I needed a lanyard so I could drape it around my neck as I go back and forth from my laptop, desktop and the sewing machines. I started to look around to make me a lanyard, when I noticed that the one I made for my camera was perfect.

My Camera needed a new one, this one while nice, wasn't hardy enough. I saw someone had made a camera strap with a little pocket for the camera lens cover.  I want to make one like that.  So the lanyard got detoured to my dongle.  It's perfect.

Genealogy Monday

Today was email and Genealogy Monday.  I sent about 25 emails.  I am the Director of our Family History Center and I needed to update my Patron list.  I printed it off yesterday and brought it home.  I then used my email book for a local genealogy group to update my list with emails.  I then individually emailed each person with a form letter about why I was emailing and new changes coming to Family Search.org. The ones without emails, I called.  Now I'm getting reply emails to verify their addresses and phone numbers. 

I've been on the computer all day.  I tried to sew, but I was so distracted that after marking placements for embroidering pockets I wandered out of the sewing room. 

I ordered a few things, then the daughter flounced in and told me she was going shopping. Then wanted to know what I was looking at. I flipped my Explorer shut as she walked up, can't have her see me ordering Christmas stuff. Then she picked up a catalog and proceeds to read it to me.  Yes the catalog is cool, ThinkGeek.com. But It's like when someone reads you the Comics in the Sunday paper after you read them.  Quite annoying when she's 20 almost 21.  I find all sorts of gifts in this catalog, for my twenty something kids and even the Hubby's co-workers.  A few years ago all of his co-workers got plush germs for Christmas.  I growled at the daughter and she started to walk off with my catalog. I demanded it back and told her to call me if she's coming home for dinner.  She flipping asked me if I was hot flashing and she ran up the stairs.  She forgets I know where she sleeps. 

Grrrrr Argh, The beatings will commence until morale improves. (Mine)

Scrub cap

I made this scrub cap for my Hubby's co-worker. It's a sage green, almost khahi green.  I embroidered

Paul, the big 60 in the center of the cap.  The picture was really bad, because the restaurant was dark.  I used my iPhone without a flash.  The birthday boy is on the left and Hubby is on the right.

 This morning was normal Saturday chores: laundry, grocery shopping, etc.  After I finished putting up all the groceries I headed for the sewing room.  I got the bathmat to finish the embroidery.  It was tough, the bobbin didn't like me.  Then I folded the ratty towel together and stitched the sides, leaving a section to turn it. 

At this point the Hubby wanted me to run to Target with him, he put together the fake Christmas tree and wanted a new power strip for the tree and my angel for the tree topper is old. He wanted a new tree topper.  We found a glittery star.

I trimmed the towel with my pinking shears and then turned it right sides out.  Top stitched the edges to close the opening. I really like how it turned out.  I just need to wash it and throw away the old rug in the upstairs bathroom.

I also cut out a few tote bags for Monday.  I need to run and get purple zippers for one of the totes.

Sew and Tell Friday

I love Sew and Tell Friday at AmyLouWho's site. Every Friday morning I check my email, then pop over to see what Amy has done this week.  Even when I don't have anything to post.  Finding myself checking through the day and all weekend long as sewers like us post what they worked on this week.

I have been in a slump.  I tell my husband and kids that when they feel sick, they will feel better to get up take a shower and get dressed.   There is a scene in one of my favorite Sandra Bullock movies where she's grieving for her husband and her sister shows up, climbs under the covers with her. Tells her to get up, brush her teeth and take care of her girls.  This is what I decided to do, figuratively of course. To just get up and start sewing.   Yesterday I sewed another scrub cap for the Hubby's co-worker who is turning the big 60.  I'll take a picture at the birthday dinner tonight, and post it tomorrow.

After embossing the HIS towel, I decided that both my boys needed towels for Christmas.  They are both in the Army.  Boys always need fresh towels.  When (yes when) they get deployed overseas the towels are yucky. So I embossed their names on Khahi colored towels.  Before you asked I just got them for $5 at Walmart. 

Yes my Hubby named his boys, Conan and Shon.  Each of his kids are names after Irish Kings and Queens.  It makes it hard to find things with their names on them, like pencils, key chains, etc.  But I know that because their names are unique their towels won't get lost in the laundry.   I tried to upload more photos and Blogger kept locking up, So sorry only one photo of the towels. 

Saturday I'm going to make a new bathmat for the boys bathroom and then do wash cloths for the boys. I have the machines all set up and ready to go.

When I tried to wind the bobbins, they were all weird because the spools of thread are large too large for the sidewinder. I stuck the spool inside a plastic cup to hold it from wobbling and falling on the floor.  The bobbins were still messed up. I wound the thread from bobbin 1 to bobbin 2. It worked so much better.  I had tried the pre-wound bobbins but you can't always find the right color. 

I spent most of the last two days in my sewing room and I can't believe how much better I feel.  I made a list and I'm checking it twice. Running errand became a chore, because I didn't want to shut things down, but I had to go to the dry cleaners, they are now closed over the weekend.

Day 2 of the Original Sewing Expo

Okay, yesterday I wrote about my Embossed towel I stitched yesterday. I gave another classmate  from yesterday the directions on how to digitize the embossed design.  First class today was Beyond the Basic's in 4D/5D Professional software.

I learned so much.  Then as class broke up the lady in front of me overheard me and Mary talking about the embossed towel.  She asked if I had the directions, but I had already given my copy away to another lady.  So we talked through the directions and she was going to see if she could get a copy of the directions, from Diana Cedollia. Love that lady, she was so sweet and loved teaching us the new software. She demo'd the same project in both 4D and 5D at the same time. Flipping back and forth from window to window.

My second class was after lunch, making a laptop case.  I'm not a quilter, but I learned a couple of new techniques in this class.  First we embroidered the back, then strip pieced the front. Second was to make a block, I can't remember the name. After sewing the three pieces into one long strip. The hard part was fusing the tricot fusible to the three pieces. I had not pressed the seams in one direction. So I pulled the fusible back off,  pressed the seams again and the fused it again.   

 After basting to a duck canvas, we folded up the bottom (or front) and then boxed the corners.  Repeated for the lining.  The lining is slid inside the main bag, basted and then using bias tape, binding the raw edges.

 The three steps I have left, to bind, to place the grommet and then sew the tie on the front,

 Today was my small shopping time, I bought some threads, filled bobbins, an oil pen. Plus one splurge on a piece of red flowered fabric, so a skirt or maybe a hawaiian shirt for my annual trip to Vegas.

I'm going to post my towel and my laptop bag on the Amy Lou Who's Sew and Tell.

Day 1 of the Original Sewing Expo

Today was great I took 3 classes.  First was a presentation about digitizing by Diana Cedollia. She demo'd 5D and talked about the new changes.  I met some new ladies.  I am the kind of lady who talks to strangers in the  grocery store.  I talk to every one.

Second class was a hands on class about embossing, taught by Diana.  We set up the towels and walked through hooping and then started the embroidery machines to stitching.  Then Diana demo'd in 5D how to make and embossed design.  She answered a bunch of questions.  I got an extra copy of the handout for one of the ladies from this morning.

I'll post pictures of my towel tomorrow. I left it in the car is the parking garage. I walked around the very reduced expo hall.   Last year it was twice the size as this year.  Favorite booths are here, but... 

Third class was with Debra Bohn, who teaches 4D/5D software.  Even though I use my software all the time, I always learn something new during every class I take.  Today I learned how to set up an embossing, how to align buttonholes, and to use stitch editor to change an existing designs fill patterns.

Today, I was reminded that last year I got a call about the shooting at Ft Hood.  My son is stationed there and while I know the anniversary was last week.  Today is Veteran's Day. Thank your favorite Vet, or even your non-favorite Vet.  They will stand a little taller for it.

Original Sewing Expo

Today was the day before classes for The Original Sewing Expo.  I took Diana Cedollia's Serger Bootcamp classes.

The first class was all about learning the serger.  We made a bunch of samples.  I liked it, but Diana said that when she teaches the class at home, she takes 2 days versus 3 hours.  Each student brought their own machine, so every time we tried something new, Diana checked with each of the 19 students to see if they knew where the button was, or the dial.

After lunch, I switched to a Babylock Evolution serger.  I've been wanting one. Now I want it even more, but I need to wait. We finished two projects. This time the class was smaller, with 9 students. The first project was a sweatshirt.

I like the weight of it and I learned a few new techniques.  The second item was a tote.  It was interesting, she used the tucked in boxed corner technique that I use on my favority tote.

I need to stitch the hole for turning the tote inside out, and top stitch the top.  But it was really nice to finish two projects, and not come home with more UFOs. 

Tomorrow is two digitizing classes and one embossing class,  we actually leave class with an embossed towel.

I'm back

I'm sorry I was lost, but I'm not gone forever.

I was reading at Made by Rae about Celebrated the Boy and I got excited.  I sent the ladies an email about my idea.

But I can't chat, because I'm supposed to be packing for Minneapolis.  I'm going to the Original Sewing Expo, 11 - 13 Nov.  It is during hunting season around here.  Last year it was opening weekend of hunting season, so once your Hubby left for hunting, you could join the ladies sewing.

I will try to post while I'm at the convention.  They have rules about pictures at the Expo Hall.  I got caught last year, and asked to put up my camera.  iPhone to the rescue.

Okay really, I gotta go.

Day Three of IEC

Yesterday was fabulous.  I had a basic digitizing class with Terri Hanson of Terradon Embroidery. She is also from Minnesota.  She gave me a few good hints.  There was another lady in the class who also has 4D Pro, who was not happy with her software.  I helped her a bit, but I think she's going shopping for new software. 

After lunch Edie W, showed us how to print on fabric.  She talked about different brands of fabric sheets for ink jet printers.  She also showed up how to use Bubble Jet to make our own fabric sheets.  

I roamed around Evansville for a bit, stopped at Toys R Us for the grandkids.

Today, was all about embroidery.  My first class was Edie's Fun with Mylar class.  

After lunch, I had class with Reen, from Embroidery Garden. We made a small pumpkin coin purse in the hoop.  Putting my stuff away, I climbed in the truck and went to the mall for jeans and dress pants for my Dad.  He's tall and skinny, finding 36 inch inseam pants is hard.  Then I found the Joann's looking for more pirate fabric. 

Of course, Red Lobster was on the menu.  I came back to the room to watch Project Runway, but I guess I have to watch on the Internet tomorrow, because the hotel does not have Lifetime.    

Day One of IEC

My day started at 5 am, I was on the road at 6 am. 

I drove past Evansville, IN, to Ft Campbell KY.  My oldest son is stationed there.  We talked him into waiting on his car, until he found out what was going on at his first duty station, could he be deployed right away.  The answer is not until May 2011.  The deal we made was that I would bring his car in Oct when I came to visit my Dad. My dad lives 4 hours east of Ft Campbell. 

After finding his unit, I started to unload the car from the Tow Dolly.  I was startled when a sergeant asked me if I was repossessing the car.  I laughed and said no, I'd be a bad repossesser. Then I told him I was delivering the car to my son.  He offered to help me unload it.  After visiting with the boy, I dropped off the tow dolly and headed north again.  I'll stop back when we have more time together next week.

I made it to Evansville in time for the opening ceremony and first class.  Mary Young taught basic digitizing, called "Where do I start?"

 Mary is helping a student try to ungroup lettering.

Class was spread out, due to power plugs.

Mary and a couple of new friends. Darlene, sitting next to me is taking her part-time embroidery and quilting business to full-time.
 

On the Road

7 am Bemidji

9:15 pm in El Paso Illinois, 20 miles north of Bloomington.

Well I'm packed and ready to go.

Yesterday my husband traded me time to bake potato rolls for helping me hook up the tow dolly and load the car.  I made three batches of rolls, for a BBQ at one of his co-workers. Every time we go to a cookout or a holiday dinner I get "Can Carol bring rolls?"  I'm wondering if my Husband is not starting it and they just agree.

The first batch didn't seem to want to rise, so I warmed up the oven under the bowl and placed it closer to the vent.  Twenty minutes later we were ready to roll out the dough. I should have taken pictures, of my three big bowls rising on top the stove. I make a batch and set the timer, then make a batch and set the second timer. This gives me 10 minutes between to roll out the first batch til the second batch is ready. The three bowls or batches gave me five tinfoil trays of rolls.  Each try has 20 rolls in them. 

I left one tray at home to be nibbled on and took the other four to the BBQ.  One of the youngsters was sneaking rolls, when he thought no one was looking.  I had given his Mom the recipe, but telling someone that they take 3 hours to make, slows them down.  The dough rises twice for an hour each (2 hours).  Mixing takes 15 and baking takes 25 minutes.

Between I packed my sewing machine and I hope everything I'll need for the Conference.  I packed my laptop and digitizing work to bring with.  I packed my audio books, and muchines.  The Hubby helped me load up the son's car with all that he wants me to bring him.

POTATO ROLLS



1 Tablespoon Yeast

1 Tablespoon Sugar

½ Cup lukewarm water


· Mix together and set aside. To speed the yeast activation set over a bowl of hot water.



1 Cup scalded milk or canned evaporated milk, (Dry milk – reconstituted)

1 Cup hot potatoes (can use reconstituted potato pearls or potato flakes)

2 Teaspoons salt

½ Cup margarine

½ Cup sugar



· Mix above ingredients and let cool until lukewarm

· Add 2 eggs and yeast mixture

· Knead in 5-6 cups flour (2 cups at a time) until not sticky (Can use Kitchaid or Bosch mixer).

· Cover and set aside to rise (double the size) for 1 hour

Rises faster in a warm place/close to warm oven

· Mix down and roll out to about ½ inch thick. Cut out rolls, with circle cutter or glass.

· Place in pan (touching) (20 to pan). Set aside to rise (double the size) for 1 hour

· Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown

· While rolls are hot butter the tops.

Shirts for me

Getting ready for my trip I decided that I need some t-shirts embroidered.  I like this one best, because the variegated thread goes from lavender to pink. Plus I have always loved the geometric look, reminds me of my youth and drawing with pens and the gears.  I'll remember what that is called at midnight tonight.

I used the Sewing with Nancy Place and Stitch book. You lay your shirt on the book to figure out the neckline, then you open your software with the neckline embroidery (basting stitches). I copied and pasted the neckline, because it only gives you one side, lined then two up and flipped one over,  Then I browsed my bazillion stitch files for something cute, but not to old. I added the first one at the center of the neckline, then copied the rest up the collar. I didn't go all the way to the shoulder for two reasons: 1: my hair covers the shoulder area and 2: the way I laid it out on the hoop would not let me.  LOL

So after I finished these two, I started to look for more shirts to do. I found was some white shirts with stuff on them already.  I let the teenager rummage through the pile and she took two.  This is what she left - a mess on my bed. 

I had to run some errands, so I stopped at Fashion Bug and got a bunch of shirts On Sale. It was buy one on clearance get the second clearance $5.  I got 6 shirts.  Three of them are perfect to decorate: 2 white and one teal green. Plus a cute tunic with lace, then a blue t-shirt, with a weird fabric flower thing and a nice black 3/4 length sleeve with hot pink swirls.

I have plans for the fabric flower covers t-shirt, but you have to wait until tomorrow for the before and after pictures.  The Hubby called and said he needs another scrub cap with Pirate stuff on it, because one of the guys is having a rough day and needs to growl at another office. Grrr Arrgh

Getting ready for Indianna

 

  

I've been working on Projects for my upcoming trip to Indiana.   You can't read it very well but it has the name of the conference. I choose a grey thread that blended in the denim.

I'm excited about going to the International Embroidery Conference in Evansville IN.

I added tons of pockets. There are four upper pockets with two lower on the top by my hand, and three upper and three lower pockets on the bottom, closest to the cutting table. This flower burst pattern has been on the stash pile for over a year now.  There is also the same pattern in a plum/purple color.  My daughter liked the blue with the denim, but she frowned over the plum. (she's my artist child) The fabric might become my working out the kinks fabric, because it's a nice home dec weight.  I had a problem, I cut the boxed corners the wrong size. I wanted it to be narrower.  This made the bag almost square. My travel cadoodle plastic box fits inside the bag perfectly, even with the corners oversized. I can also slide in rulers, my soda, etc.  This is going to become a good going to sewing class bag.

Every Tuesday morning I have to go read Tool Time Tuesday by Sew Many Ways. Karen always has some interesting ways to use different items from a hardware store in your sewing room. Plus I want her sewing room, it's 12' x 24'.  Today Karen took two side tables and a hollow core door and made a new desk. I did something similar with my cutting table.  Karen is 5ft 3/4 inch and I'm 5ft 8 inches. So we have similar problems of normal furniture not being the right height.  My cutting table, one from Joann's with the folding legs, which kept trying to fold up and one of the legs became bent. I bought two cubby bookshelves from Target and a bunch of the fabric drawers. I slid then cubbies in place and flipped my table on top, then literally pried the legs off, my husband had glued them.  Then I flipped the table back over. One side of the table is hanging down, but I'm looking for the perfect hinge and bracket to hold up the rest of the table, but still allow me to fold it back down. I put a lot of my stuff in the fabric drawers, but I ended up flipping them on their side so I can see what's in them.  Until I find the right method of labeling the boxes.

My cutting table fixed.

Like my model

I asked my husband to model my newest creation and he looked at me like I was crazy. I found a new model in the garage. I think he's kind of appropriate. My husband has been visiting the surgeon monthly for the last six months and This should be his last checkup visit. I thought a nice gift was in order. Hubby thought it was funny and liked it, but would not wear the scrub cap.

Butterick Pattern 4946 was fast and easy

I used the scraps and made two more Name tag holders from Reen at Embroidery Garden, for the Disney trip. Yes I gave in and booked the trip in January to Florida. Here in the Great Northwoods of Minnesota the end of January and beginning of February are known for being cold (50 below zero cold). Florida in January is good. This is our anniversary present to us. The name bagde holders are made in the hoop. I also made some travel folders. A long time ago I was given a plastic folder that I use all the time to hold the trip papers; flight reservations, hotels, car rentals, the maps, and then all the receipts. My plastic one is great, but I only have one. I have four trips coming up and I need a folder for each trip. I could have made it totally out of fabric, but the file folder method works for me. I sprayed the back of the folder and laid it on the fabric and pressed. Once the fabric was in place, I covered an extra piece of the file folder for use as a pocket. I stitched across the bottom of the pocket and then stitched up one side of the folder catching all layers in the seam, across the top and down the other side. This will be perfect for holding all my documents in one place for each of my trips. I need to make a few more, but I liked how it turned out. I can cover the inside of the folder too, but maybe next time. The file folder added just the right amount of firmness. I cut the file folder the right size to hold a bond sheet of paper folder in half.

Buried under hats and shirts

I've been buried under hats and shirts. I just finished 18 shirts in 3 hours. a shirt every ten minutes.

Just so you don't think I've only been working on shirts and hats. I am going to an Embroidery Conference in Evansville IN. I made a name tag. I hate the plastic things or the "Hello my Name is" sticker ones. I found this great design on Embroidery Garden's website. Of course I modified it. I'm going to make some of the original design, she added a plastic pocket to the front for the name tag to slide into. A second additon is the pocket on the back. I love this thread fabric. These are my colors, red and green. The design has a great sewn button hole to add the clip snap thing for a retractable badge holder to.

I also finished another bag for my mother-in-law for Christmas. It has her name on it, using my quick tote tutorial. I also cut out two more bags from a yard of demin I had in the stash pile. I found a nice blue for the straps. I also cut out a surprise bag. I haven't decided who is going to get this one, yet. It's going to be a cross between the quick tote and the big market bag. I have black cordura for the bottom, and the perfect fabric for the body of the bag. I have an embroidery design I made that I want to put on it, but I'm debating, because then I will not want to give the bag way.

I got my Original Sewing Expo package in the mail for the 11 - 13 Nov trip to Minneapolis. I have a hard time picking classes. I need to check in with my travel buddy to see if she can still go. Plus the Hubby wants to go on a trip, so after I get back from dropping off shirts and hats, I'm going to be knee deep in Delta.com for travel arrangements. Our anniversary is coming up and he wants tickets to Disney World. Plus he's working overtime to make sure I can't say No. Isn't he cute. I haven't said yes, but like a kid, he's decided that if I don't say No, then it's Yes. He's plotting and planning; driving me crazy with his plans. Every day is more plans. Got go here, eat there. etc. I'm going to keep him, even the kid part of him.

Finished scripture Bag

I finished the bag for my friend's autistic son, this afternoon. I want to bring it to him tomorrow at church. I made it a touch big so he can cram his cars and such in the bag. I placed my scriptures in the bag to make sure everything worked. That's why the bag is standing on it's own.

I made notes and doodles and I worked on the bag. I decided to square off the corners versus the curves.

My hubby wanted me to add a bunch more embroideries of Robots, by Dakota Collectibles, but I wanted to finish the bag in time for church tomorrow.

So now is time to type up my notes and plan which photos to take while making the next one for the tutorial. My notes have color choices, start and stop numbers inside the embroidery designs.

CTR and Scriptures

I began to draft a new Scripture bag. Sunday I found my youth to give the new case to. I find it's easier to have someone in mind to make a bag. Christian turned 8 this summer and needs a new bag, I had been wanting to make him one. So I asked him Mom, and she asked him his favorite color. He is Autistic, so lots of textures. So today I cut out the pieces and embroidered his name in primary colors and then I put the letters CTR together from a puzzle alphabet. The puzzle is the autistic symbol, like a pink ribbon is for breast cancer.

The puzzle alphabet had the letters filled in, but I decided I liked the look and feel of just the blocks without the lettering filled in. I should have stopped and not stitched out the black border. Because of my putting the pieces together, the border wasn't just right. I also should have used matching thread in the bobbin. The duck cloth holds embroidery, but in a few small spots, you could see white bobbin thread.

CTR stands for the saying, Choose the Right. I liked how this will make this pocket pop. The colors are poppy red, bright blue and daffodil yellow. I'm going to add a Velcro closure to the pocket, to hold his music player. The music in his ear helps him sit for longer times at church and school. So far I like the duck cloth much better than the cordura. I'm debating whether to have the zipper the same as the last bag or long like my hubby's bag, the zipper goes all the way to the bottom of the bag to fold out holding the scriptures.

There is a storm rolling in from the Dakotas and the hubby and I are taking the kids to the movies, so finishing the embroidery and cutting out all the parts fit well for today's project.

Shirts and more Shirts

Today was a very productive day. I finished lots of shirts. Some for a friend for the Annual All School reunion., the hot pink on the black shirt is great.

The red T-Shirt started as a joke, when I was going to my son's graduation from Army basic training. I told my mother-in-law that I was going to make shirts that said Proud ARMY Mom in Air Force blue. Many of you don't know that military service runs in the family. We have two son's in the Army, a son-in-law in the Navy, my Husband retired from the Air Force and I spent 15 years in the Air Force. The boys' grandfather on their Mom's side was a retired Marine E-9 Chief or Top. So the red shirt says Proud ARMY grandma, but is in Marine red and gold.

Then my Husband who is on vacation, while our son is here, bough some t-shirts and asked me to put more tanks on them. The son on leave is an Abraham M1-A1 tank driver. So two more shirts.

Then our daughter is going to work for my friend at the new game shop and I made her two work polos. I also had one more polo for another friend for his shop.