Friends

This week some of our good friends moved away. Far away. The boys and I have spent a lot of time talking about what that means, and how we will try to stay friends.

As a going away present, we made writing folders with some blank postcards to color and some with our address already inscribed. I looked at this tutorial on Soulemama, and made something similar. I started with quilted thrift store place mats, so my measurements and edges are different.

I hope our friends write, and I hope they have a wonderful adventure.

Travel safely folks. -Polly

Bags and Bags

The weaving is done. The silk scarves are dyed. I just hope to make one more bag before Saturday. Maybe one more after that. Perhaps one more after that.- Polly

Vacation Recap

April vacation involved so many nice little moments. A visit to Grammy's

that's 26 magnolia leaves collected if you were wondering.

I spent some time on creative pursuits.

The boys spent time on creative pursuits.

Lovely start to finish. Now, the final stretch until the real deal of Summer Vacation. -Polly

Labels

I need to have some labels. I need to order them soon, but I cannot decide if I like any of these well enough. The longer it takes me to decide or rework, the longer it will be before I have labels ready. I am hoping to put these on bags, and maybe sewn scarves. I don't think they will be soft enough to go on woven scarves. Any suggestions? -Polly

Me and my Singer.

I am infatuated with my new old Singer. I am sure no cross words will ever come between us.

We made a bag together.

And another.

And another. I do believe (singing) we were meant to be together. -Polly

Singer 301

I have a new sewing machine! It is not brand new, but it is new to me, and I am finding that I just love it. Here are two tidbits from the instruction manual. -Polly

"This smooth running machine-of-tomorrow will

amaze and thrill you with its versatility and ease of operation."

"Most materials require only guiding for best sewing results.

However, the miracle fabrics such as nylons, dacrons, orlons,

blends with various rayons..., also require support in the form of

holding the material taut at the back and front of the needle..."

My Little Etsy Shop

My little Etsy Shop is alive again. Hooray! -Polly

Current Sewing

Some practical sewing has been taking place here.

Also some painting is underway, the results of which I will show you another time. -Polly

Teacher bags

We got to know some wonderful teachers this year. These are fairly awful pictures of the bags that I made for them at the end of the school year.

I started with this Simplicity pattern. I adjusted it so that the bags would be fully reversible. These are very easy to make! Much easier than patiently teaching little boys. Thanks Ladies! - Polly

Little Projects

I have some small projects going that appeal to my thrifty nature. I cannot stand to get rid of even the tiniest bits of interesting cloth. Making these little buttons helps to reduce my scrap pile. I really like the way that the shape of the button crops the fabric into a little image. Because I did not want to buy plastic or peat trays and pots for starting seeds, I tried using the eggshells that I had. I figured that if eggshells are good for compost, maybe they will break down nicely if I plant them right into the garden. I do not know if this is an accepted gardening practice, but it has worked well for me. I crush the eggshells as I plant the seedlings outside.

-Polly

Tomatoes are growing

My tomato pincushion pile is growing. -Polly

Before and After

I have a unique opportunity to show a before and after here. Almost never do I think to photograph the item of clothing or cloth that a project starts with. This finished scarf may look familiar if you have been reading along here. Now I have finally listed it in my Etsy shop. Happy April! -Polly

Not For Sale

I have several new scarves to show here, but they are mostly not for sale. This dyed silk one I am donating to an auction for my children's school. This one also will go to the auction. It is the first of the scarves to be sewn entirely on my new old machine. No electricity used!

This blue stripe and purple combination was trouble from the start. The stripe is cut on the bias. The purple layer is a very floaty silk that I dyed. It wanted no part of that shifty stripe. I love the color combination, but the seams are not as flat and consistent as I would like. I think that means I get to keep it.

This purple scarf was much friendlier to deal with. It is for sale in my Etsy shop.

-Polly

Sewing Machine!

Just look at what followed me home this weekend. I have a new old sewing machine! I believe it is a Singer 66. I have not yet determined it's age. The serial number is only somewhat helpful. The best part is that there is no plug. The treadle works smoothly and quietly. I am ready to step back in time, but first I have several emails to return. As usual, baby steps here. - Polly

More Scarves Finished, More to Make

I have finished sewing a few more scarves. This one is made from a cotton striped shirt, and a piece of very fine floral silk. This is the last of the red paisley with a striped wool twill. I hope to have both of these listed on ETSY in the next few days.

And, more wrinkled silk was acquired yesterday. Right now though, the weather is too nice for indoor work.

-Polly

Three scarves finished

Maude is green wool and silk paisley. Eunice is quilted cotton.

Clara is made of the same green wool as Maude, but this time with a brown floral silk.

-Polly

Silk for scarves

Here is my big pile of silk cloth to work with. It looks like scrappy bits that just tumbled from a bag because that is just what it is. Now comes the fun part of pairing colors together. When the sewing is done, I will have a better inventory of scarves like this one. These aren't woven by me, but they do get my blue square trademark.

-Polly

Warm Curtains

After visiting a clever friend I realized that I needed to make window coverings out of old quilts. This weekend I turned this bedspread into four curtains that seem to help keep out the cold. The pom poms were immediately recognized as cannon balls by my two resident pirate boys.

Several years ago I started to make a play quilt, but I put it aside when my littlest outgrew the idea before it was finished. Yesterday I cut it in half, finished adding scraps of cloth, and covered two more drafty windows.

-Polly