Busy

Now that the weather is finally starting to head toward spring, I have been a little busier outside. Yeah! Even though I haven't posted for a while, I have been busy with the crafting. I found a "new" fabric store. Quilter's Exchange is a recycled fabric store where you can bring in fabric you no longer want and she will pay you by the pound and then she resells it to others. I bought 2 lovely fabrics and the first one I turned into a variation the JJ Blouse from Burdastyle.

I left off the ruffles on this one as well as the sleeve bands and lengthened them just slightly. I used pearl snaps instead of buttons. One of my least favorite things to do is make buttonholes. I'm not sure why because I don't really have trouble doing them, but I like snaps so much better.

Here is a close up of this fabric that I find slightly retro and a little bit Japanese. This is one of my favorite tops right now. I recently purchased a black cardigan on clearance and they go together nicely.

I also tried my hand at dyeing just before St. Patricks Day. I found a silk/cotton blend cardigan in my wardrobe that I have only worn a couple of times because it was a very boring tan color and just wasn't a very flattering color for me. It is now a fabulous green that was perfect to wear to work for St. Patty's. I have already worn it twice and been complemented on it both times. More of this is in my future for sure.

Baby Gifts

I have been making baby gifts lately. Seems like everyone is having babies these days. The Fleece blanket and hat is for hubby's boss. I bought a kit 50% off after Christmas and the blanket was way too big for a baby so I cut it down in size and was able to make a matching hat from the extra. I still have more left and hope to make hats for the 2 big sisters as well. The sweater was for a coworker and I used The Einstein Coat pattern. All garter stitch and very easy. The recipient loved it. So much fun to craft for girls. My teenage boys just don't appreciate it. I finished the blouse I had cut out from the last post. As soon as I get pictures downloaded I will show you. I used the JJ blouse pattern from Burdastyle with a few minor changes. This pattern fits me well and I think it is a very flattering shirt for me. Makes me feel good. That's what it's all about, right?!

New Store

I had some time to kill before I had to be at work the other day so I stopped at a new store I noticed recently. The sign said Quilters Exchange. Inside I found the most pleasant lady and lots of beautiful fabric. It was all folded into coordinating piles on shelves. Some were already measured into fat quarters and some you could buy by the pound. All of it was recycled from someone else's stash. I love the concept. You can take in the fabric you don't want anymore and she will weigh it and pay you for it. It is a little more costly than your big name branch store, but I would rather support the little guy and buy recycled. Of course I had to buy some fabric and I already have a blouse cut out of the one. I hope to get it sewed up today and then I will post a pic. The best thing is she will cut you whatever you want from a couple inches to yards if it is available. What a find.

Am I ready?

The same day our Cinder was injured, Enza was surrendered to the animal shelter. Is it fate?

The boys think she's a keeper, hubby is still grieving, and I am not so sure i am up to dealing with a puppy. She is only 4 months old and look how big she is. She is awfully good for a puppy. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

On to refashioning. I have been rummaging through my refashion pile after getting some ideas. Still wishing I had a dressmakers dummy to help out with proper proportions, but I'm making do with what I have. This one is 2 t-shirts that I hadn't worn in quite a while. The pink one I was just tired of and the grey one was too short in the arms and the torso. I just added long sleeves and added a band to the bottom and then tried my hand at reverse applique. I've aready worn it to work once and I like it alright. I'm a little thicker around the belly and hips than I want to be and I have to pay attention when adding to the bottom of shirts so it isn't too tight at the bottom. It will receive a few wears I'm sure. Not in love with it but that's o.k. I was just in the mood for something "new". The cold winter is dragging me down so "new" clothing options are wanted to help perk me up.

This one was a short sleeved mock turtleneck shirt my mom gave me. It was pretty shapeless, so I used another shirt that I like the shape of and took it in on the sides and cut off the mock neck and turned the raw edge under. I took a button down shirt I had made a few years ago, that was just a hair on the tight side, took the collar section off and added to the top. I then added the sleeves and the shirt tail to the t-shirt and there you have it. I also wore this to work yesterday. It will also receive a few wears. I have a few more in the stash that will receive some type of treatments. Not sure what yet.

Trying to play fetch with the puppy at the same time as typing isn't easy. She can't decide between the squeaky toy and the tennis ball. She keeps trying to figure out how to carry both at the same time. Hilarious. I think today maybe I will try to finish knitting a pair of socks. I am in the mood to snuggle under the blankets so that is what I will do. Maybe tomorrow I will get to the sewing room. I really need to get the mojo to make some new pants. Stay warm and creative.

RIP Beloved Friend

We unexpectedly lost our beloved protector and hubby's best friend. We are all in shock. When the boys were younger and hubby and I were both gone, they would let her in the house with them and they would feel safe and secure. She was such a special member of our family and we are so glad we had this winter with her and let her spend it in the house with us. It is so hard to believe she isn't here with us anymore. Just as unexpectedly we have already added a new member. A coworker of hubby's was at the animal shelter and they had just had a German Shepherd, 4 mo old puppy surrendered to them. The boys and I went to pick her up and bring her home to see if she would be a good fit for us. I think she has helped the boys tremendously with the hole that Cinder's passing left. Hubby is another matter. He is not sure he is ready for a puppy and just wants his dog back. It has been a hard couple of days. Today he spent time with Enza and I think he will feel better about her soon. He just needs a little more time.
Then she did this, just like Cinder used to at the time the boys usually come home from school. It was a little freaky. I wasn't looking to get another puppy right away, but she needed a good home and the boys already feel like she belongs here. Her paws and legs are huge, so she may end up being quite big. She is only 4 months old and already this big. The other 2 dogs are not thrilled, but seem to tolerate her so they will be fine in time. Say a prayer to help heal our hearts.
I will save my recent refashions for the next post.

Sunshine!

Yeah, the sun is shinning and it makes my mood waaaaay better. I have had a terrible cold, thus the blog silence, and I finally feel among the living again. I finished knitting another baby sweater and only have to sew the buttons on so I can gift it tomorrow. I will post that pic soon. I haven't finished my cardi yet as I seem to be working on smaller projects instead. most of them are finishing up so hopefully I will get back at it soon. Made a few more pair of underwear and repaired a few items. Not very exciting but needed to be done and is also productive. I have some new refashioning ideas from wardrobe refashion site and can't wait to give them a try. Can't seem to get up off this chair and get busy though. Bean and ham soup in the crock pot and I need to get bread dough mixed up to go with it. We'll have to wait and see if the boys eat it. I will leave you with a picture of a sock doll I made recently-no one to gift it to yet but now there is one ready if I need it.

PJ's

My rework pile just got a little smaller. Last week I was thinking I needed some new PJs but then I remembered I had some very lightly used ones that just didn't fit the same after being washed a couple times. I hate rolling over at night and feeling a draft up my back because the top is too short. Or how about when the flannel pants shrink 3 inches after being washed? I had some fleece and knit scraps in my stash so I added a few inches to the bottom of the tops and let the hems out at the bottom of the pants. I also had 2 pair of flannel pants that were just a little too tight after being washed to be comfortable. I unpicked the side seams form the waistband down about 6-8 inches and inserted a wedge of fleece. I now have 3 new pair of pajamas. There are still 3 sets waiting in the pile, and hopefully I will get those finished tomorrow.

The top on the left is a t-shirt material and I wear it with some pants from another set that the top has some "lace" on it that didn't wash well. I cut the bottom off that top and added it to the yellow one. Now it coordinates with the pants. Perfect. The set on the right is flannel and I added strips of fleece to the top and the pants to lengthen both. So glad I have these as they are telling us another cold air mass is headed our way at the end of the week. Here is a close up of the cute snowmen and cats on these PJs. Aren't they cute? Purple is one of my favorite colors.

Since reading about refashion on the blogs, I have amassed quite a stash of clothing items waiting to be re purposed or altered. I think hubby is getting a little concerned about what I am saving all this stuff for. Some items have turned out better than others, but all have been wearable. Most have been tops/cardigans. Unfortunately I have gained a few pounds this past year and I need to take the time to sew up a few pairs of pants. This is a more involved undertaking and I can't get myself going on this. Hopefully soon. I have one pair almost all cut out and several yards of fabric for other pairs in my stash already. I need some days off without hubby home. Tomorrow is such a day, so we will see what I accomplish.