Christmas Stockings, round 2

So today I tried to be crafty. I really really did, and I succeeded a little bit.

This morning I threw a load of pre-stitched fabric in the washer for it's prewash, as well as my kids' coats they covered in sidewalk chalk, and my favorite jeans. All came out out well, but I really should have done this yesterday since I had to putz around (i.e. get my sewing bag packed) until the washer was done so I could swap things over to the dryer and run upstairs to get my shower. Yes, again, things I should have done yesterday.
So, me and my Stitchin' Bitches (a name my mother actually came up with) got together today for part 2 of out monthly sewing date to continue working on Christmas stockings. Well, they got there at 9am (we met at Amber's House), and I was there at 9:15. I had enough time to drop my stuff off, give hugs, and then right back out the door I went and back tracked my way past my house and the the boys' school to pick up one of my boys for his dental check-up. I was later than I wanted to be so he was already in Fine Arts, so the lady in the front office had to call around to a few classrooms to find him. Once she found him it took what seems like forever for him to get to the front office. We back track past our house and Amber's house to go to the dentist office. He had a great check-up (was more well-behaved than many adults) and ending up only having a tiny cavity on his already loose baby tooth, so no big deal. So, back to school he goes (passing Amber's house and my house on the way). Drop him off and then I get the task of swinging by Mom's house to get the snacks she wanted to bring to our sewing date at Amber's. Good thing Mom lives right around the corner from me. So, I swing by and pick those up and get back to Amber's house. Whew! Finally!

Got set up, got something cut out, and Amber's machine starts jacking things up.
Re-thread. Try on test fabric. Good.
**skippy stitches*** on project.
Change thread from cotton/poly hand quilting to polyester. Try on test fabric. Good.
**skippy stitches*** on project.
ARGH!!!!!!!
Bring out the screwdrivers and sewing machine oil. Do a quick once over. Good.
Try on test fabric. Good.
**skippy stitches*** on project
ARGH! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Vile machine!
"Try changing the needle, it may be too big," suggests Mom.
Change needle from 14 to 10. Size 14 needle was facing the wrong direction (flat was not to the back).
**head desk**
Try on test fabric. Good.
**sews nicely on project**

So, yep, I should have made myself a super hero cape. Well, maybe.

So, the Christmas stocking I was working on today was a white vintage Christmas fabric quilted onto white felt. I'm not even halfway done yet, but I'm pretty impressed with the results. If I would have used batting too it would have been much cuter.

We took a break for lunch after 1pm, and the next thing I know it's 2:10pm and I have to pack up and head home since the boys' get home from school between 2:35pm and 2:45pm. As promised, I checked over their folders and agendas, saw all was in order and they brought home everything they needed, so it was out for ice cream we went before we started homework.

Now, here it is 9pm. I'm sitting here on my couch listening to my husband's video game and trying to muster the motivation to go iron and fold the fabrics I pulled out of the dryer this morning. I'm babysitting again tomorrow (and the boys' have a half day), so we'll see if my machine even gets unpacked let along plugged in before I'm off on Thursday.

Until next time...

New fabrics and finishing projects

So yesterday, I finally got around to plugging in my sewing machine after taking it to my LSS to sew stocking last week. What helps get me motivated? Loud music. When I have the house to myself, I crank up Slacker Radio (slacker.com) on my husband's computer (it's in the center of the house and has a nice sound system) so I can hear throughout the whole house and get to work. If the kids and hubby are home, I turn on the Slacker Radio app on my phone and use my headphones.

After plugging in my sewing machine I finished putting the Velcro on the orange dog jacket I made (I'm still unsure if I want to add the number 20 on the back), fixed a zipper seam for one of my neighbors, and pre-stitched a bunch of fabric (two trips to the fabric store worth) so I can pre-wash it. I also finished crocheting a granny square blanket for the little girl I babysit. It's going to be an early Christmas present.

I have yet to start sewing any doll clothes since the outfits I made for the three costume swaps. I'm just not motivated right now. I set aside a few outfits that have been sitting in my Etsy shop, and they are headed to some charity gift baskets for little girls all over the country thanks to two American Girl collector message boards I frequent. The gift baskets we do are near and dear to my heart since my mother and I were recipients of a Secret Santa once year when I was a kid.

Well, it's off to wash the new fabric. I wonder if they'll inspire me....


Until next time...


ETA: 
With online shopping in full swing for the holiday season, how about a coupon code for my Etsy shop! Use 
coupon code 1STSALE25OFF to get 25% off your order from now until November 30th!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/GomunkCreations

Three days in a row! Say it ain't so!

I'm hoping that this isn't post overload since I have been such a slacker lately.

So, I spend most of my Friday nights attended a weekly scrapbooking crop at one of my local scrapbooking stores. I may not get a lot done there, but I do get more done there than I do at home, and cropping with other folks is so much more fun.
So, this is what I made this past Friday night:

These are name banners for one of my neighbors two kids. They are 3 and 1. Each tag is 7 1/2 inches tall. are they not too stinkin' cute?

The first one I made was back in June. I made the above one as a replacement since this one was torn up by another little girl:

The first one I made, also back in June, for the little girl that I babysit:

So, yep, that's what I've been up to lately.

I'm hoping that tomorrow brings some creativity since today didn't I would like to at least plus my sewing machine back in since I haven't even plugged it back in after my sew-a-long this past Tuesday.

Until next time...

Happy Veteran's Day!

I am a veteran. My husband is a veteran. My husband and I both come from families of veterans.
My husband and I were both in the Air Force, which is how we met. We didn't work together, so there was no conflict of interest. The way we met was through a mutual friend since he and I were in different squadrons. We've been together for 8 years as of December 1st.

My mom was in the Navy. So I was a Navy Brat for a few years. My step-dad was in the Air Force for 23 years, and retired January 1st this year.

My mom's parents were both in the Air Force, which is how they met. My grandfather had fallen down a flight of stairs (he worked in Air Traffic Control) and my grandmother was one of the nurses that took care of him. They married shortly after.

My husband's mom was in the Army. My husband's dad was in the Marine Corps.

I have an aunt and 2 uncles (both on Mom's side) that were also in the Navy. My uncles both retired after 20+ years.

My husband has uncles that were in the Marine Corp too, and his grandfather (his mom's dad) was also in the military (I think the Army).

So, as a veteran and a member of family of veterans, I say to you: Happy Veterans Day!

My kids know about Veteran's Day and they know about the veterans in their family. When they popped out of their beds this morning there were shouts of "It's Friday!" "Happy Veteran's Day!". So, I asked the boys, "Do you know what to do when you meet a veteran?". "No ma'am," is the response I got. I said, "You shake their hand and you say 'Thank you for your service to our country'." So thinking they would do that at school today, I was surprised when my 8 year old said "Hey Mom!" and stuck his hand out for a handshake. I shook his hand and he proudly said "Thank you for your service Mommy!". Things that make you go "Awwwww".

Here's some picture of me and my vet when we were in Basic Training. He went in January 2001 and I went in November 2001.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, have a good laugh at those BCGs (Birth Control Glasses)

Catching up my blog and my sewing (pic heavy)

Here's the truth: I haven't been blogging because I have barely been sewing.
September and October were filled with sewing for three Costume Swaps (AG over 18, AG Playthings, and The AG Dollhouse). Here's what I made:

For my assignment on AG Over 18, this is Kaylee the mechanic from the series Firefly and movie Serenity. 

Here's the inspiration:

For AG Playthings I made Mulan's training ao and I also made her guardian Mushu:

Inspiration:

My clay skills are more geared towards doll scaled food, but I don't think I did too terribly bad on Mushu:

He broke during the baking process, so I have to glue his legs, tail, and butt back on. His head is where I think my best work. I could not get his arms to work for me, and once he was done baking I got the wonderful idea that I should have used toothpicks as armature for him. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.

For The AG Dollhouse, it was pretty easy. Well, the idea was easy. The fabric, well, it was knit, so it presented a challenge. I overcame the challenge brought on by the knits fabrics, and cranked out not one, but three Star Trek uniforms.

(Please excuse the organized chaos that is my sewing bookshelf.) 

We have Security in red (you never want to wear a red shirt when being beamed down to a planet), Science and Medical in blue, and Command in yellow/gold (funky shade of green funky fabric in The Original Series). Oh, and the badges are accurate to the show:

Inspiration came from The Original Series (that I haven't watched) and the Star Trek movie that was released in 2009 (they have an unnamed sequel coming out next year according to IMDB.com)

The Original Series (with Shatner and Nemoy)

Star Trek 2009 (I love Simon Pegg! Great casting decision!)

In other sewing news, I've made a dog coat (last month):

to match this car (race simulator now):

And my most current project (as in the day before yesterday):

I made it with my Cricut. Well, I cut the Christmas tree out of the fabric with my Cricut, ironed the fabric to the felt stocking I made, and then applique stitched around the Christmas tree negative. The Christmas tree that was cut out is on another stocking that is in the process:

Oh, and in non-sewing related crafty news, I took a painting class at a local shop called Bottles N Brushes, and I made this:

It's acrylic on canvas. I plan on making the dress out of silk (I have the perfect polka dot silk in mind) and tulle; doll scale of course.

In Scrapbooking, I scraplifted (ever so slightly) a layout to make this: 

And then I made Turkey themed Artist Trading Cards (ATCs):

(Yes, that's real machine stitching you see there)

And this ATC, from one Tim Holtz stamp:

This 8x8 layout was part of a challenge one crop night (the week before Halloween). Pick a Teresa Collins Halloween paper, a random Halloween paper, a random embellishment, and a Halloween sticker and make a layout with it all.

I'm still not happy with mine, but everybody else loved it.

Oh, and the theme for October's ATCs was breast cancer awareness. My boss and I worked on the idea of this one together, and it is pretty dang awesome:

The ta-tas are part of a small pom-pom trim. The background is camo fabric adhered to plain white cardstock and then spritzed with Glimmer Mist.

This was a quick personal challenge with the new Fall seasonal Tim Holtz Distress Inks and some $1 Halloween stamps:

The witch and the trim at the bottom are from the same wide ribbon that was in my boss's ribbon stash.

This is the last real and completed layout I made (August):

My ultrasound from when I was pregnant with Noah, my youngest, who is now 6. I think it needs a little ink on the yellow letters to help them "pop" a little bit.

Okay, that's it, I'm all caught up now. If you've made it this far in my post, I appreciate it. :)

Now, to attack my sewing table since it is covered with so much stuff that I can't see the top of the table. Eeek!

Until next time....