T-shirt for Carson from leftover nursery fabric... Isn't the colored shirt so much more fun?!?
Onesie & pant set for a friend's little girl ("C" on front & heart on bootie)...
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A Couple More...
A few more of my recent projects...
T-shirt for Carson from leftover nursery fabric... Isn't the colored shirt so much more fun?!?
Onesie & pant set for a friend's little girl ("C" on front & heart on bootie)...
T-shirt for Carson from leftover nursery fabric... Isn't the colored shirt so much more fun?!?
Onesie & pant set for a friend's little girl ("C" on front & heart on bootie)...
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Art of the Applique
I have a new sewing obsession - APPLIQUEING.
I first dabbled in this fun little technique a month or so ago when I made some camo monogram shirts for all the kiddos at the Dove Hunt. I have since changed my approach and made several things that I happen to think turned out pretty cute. The 3 flaws with my original approach were the following:
1. Straight stitched the applique, thus letting the natural fraying occur around the edges. This is still a perfectly fine technique, but to give a more polished, boutique look, I've started using a zig-zag stitch around the edge instead. I sometimes go over it twice to give a heavy, embroidery machine look. This makes a BIG difference and makes it look less artsy-craftsy.
2. The letters were too big. Smaller is better and less cheesy.
3. White shirts just don't look as professional as a colored shirt. This isn't really a flaw from before, I was just using onesies and shirts Carson never wore. White is fine, I just prefer a color. More interesting.
Here were some of my originals:
Onesie using an old Texas A&M DU shirt and camo shirt of Andrew's
Close-Up (I do like the rough edges on this one)
Tie T-Shirt with leftover nursery fabric
Close-Up
Hudson & Kimberly in their camo monogrammed shirts (Letters are WAY too big and a colored shirt would have been WAY cuter...this a last minute project with LOTS of mistakes)
And here are some of my newer projects using the different techniques described above.
Camo "T" and "L" Monogram using a pair of Andrew's shorts (Still wish I had a colored onesie...soon... I'm almost out of these that he never wore.)
Close-Up
Free-Handed Duck using an old DU t-shirt for the wing and Andrew's shorts for the body
Rangers shirt for Carson using the logo printed on t-shirt transfer paper, ironed to a scrap of white fabric, then appliqued to red shirt
Close-up resembles a patch
Free-handed duck for Baby B using purchased fabric and some random pink button I found in my button bag
Close-Up #1
Close-Up #2
What's so fun about appliqueing is that you can create ANYTHING with a little creativity! There are a lot of templates and patterns on the internet for different things, but you have the freedom to change it up. Different fabric prints can also completely change the look...just take those two ducks above for example.
If you have or are going to have a kiddo, don't be surprised if one of these shows up in your mailbox. I'm just having a BLAST making them but need LOTS of practice! I'm still trying to master the art of getting the curves looking pretty. That's the hardest part, trying to turn the fabric without it puckering. The next kiddo will NOT have a first initial that is one big curve! That's why you don't see many things for Carson. If anyone has a project for me, I'd love to give it a shot!
I first dabbled in this fun little technique a month or so ago when I made some camo monogram shirts for all the kiddos at the Dove Hunt. I have since changed my approach and made several things that I happen to think turned out pretty cute. The 3 flaws with my original approach were the following:
1. Straight stitched the applique, thus letting the natural fraying occur around the edges. This is still a perfectly fine technique, but to give a more polished, boutique look, I've started using a zig-zag stitch around the edge instead. I sometimes go over it twice to give a heavy, embroidery machine look. This makes a BIG difference and makes it look less artsy-craftsy.
2. The letters were too big. Smaller is better and less cheesy.
3. White shirts just don't look as professional as a colored shirt. This isn't really a flaw from before, I was just using onesies and shirts Carson never wore. White is fine, I just prefer a color. More interesting.
Here were some of my originals:
Onesie using an old Texas A&M DU shirt and camo shirt of Andrew's
Close-Up (I do like the rough edges on this one)
Tie T-Shirt with leftover nursery fabric
Close-Up
Hudson & Kimberly in their camo monogrammed shirts (Letters are WAY too big and a colored shirt would have been WAY cuter...this a last minute project with LOTS of mistakes)
And here are some of my newer projects using the different techniques described above.
Camo "T" and "L" Monogram using a pair of Andrew's shorts (Still wish I had a colored onesie...soon... I'm almost out of these that he never wore.)
Close-Up
Free-Handed Duck using an old DU t-shirt for the wing and Andrew's shorts for the body
Rangers shirt for Carson using the logo printed on t-shirt transfer paper, ironed to a scrap of white fabric, then appliqued to red shirt
Close-up resembles a patch
Free-handed duck for Baby B using purchased fabric and some random pink button I found in my button bag
Close-Up #1
Close-Up #2
What's so fun about appliqueing is that you can create ANYTHING with a little creativity! There are a lot of templates and patterns on the internet for different things, but you have the freedom to change it up. Different fabric prints can also completely change the look...just take those two ducks above for example.
If you have or are going to have a kiddo, don't be surprised if one of these shows up in your mailbox. I'm just having a BLAST making them but need LOTS of practice! I'm still trying to master the art of getting the curves looking pretty. That's the hardest part, trying to turn the fabric without it puckering. The next kiddo will NOT have a first initial that is one big curve! That's why you don't see many things for Carson. If anyone has a project for me, I'd love to give it a shot!
Why? Wednesday
I did a lot of driving {alone} this weekend to Dallas and back, so in the quiet my mind started wandering; therefore, I have lots of random thoughts for you this week.
Do people still do the Boot Scootin' Boogie? I totally forgot how it goes.
Do they ever clean out a concrete truck? If so, how?
Why will a James Taylor song instantly calm you?
Do people actually take "The Texas Hammer", Jim Adler, seriously? Who would hire this guy at their attorney? He's so ridiculous it makes me laugh.
Why are Spanish-speaking sports announcers and radio DJ's so much more enthusiastic than their English-speaking counterparts?
Why do people speed up AFTER you pass them?
I don't get it... Billboards with lawyers talking about suing lawyers. Kind of makes you guys look bad too, don'tcha think?
How long does water stay in a water tower? Does water go there before or after it's been purified or whatever the city does to it so we can drink it?
Why are pepperonis right out of the bag so delicious?...way better than when on a pizza.
What happens to all the old trailers? Oh wait, NOTHING! They just get left where they are.
Why do some cars/trucks seem to have a personality? There are definitely cars/trucks that look MEAN when they are coming at you in your rear view mirror. There are also cars that look really nerdy and seem to be driving slower than they probably are. Little bitty cars just give off this illusion that they go slower than others.
Why do things that are crooked SERIOUSLY bug me? I can't stand it. I might have a problem.
Why does the HIGH setting on windshield wipers give me anxiety? I HATE it when it's raining so hard that I have to use them. It's something about the sound they make... it's kind of violent and out of control. Oh, and just driving in blinding rain doesn't help.
Where do all the fish go when lakes get really, really low? You'd think they'd be easier to catch if they were more concentrated. Or, did they die?
Do people still do the Boot Scootin' Boogie? I totally forgot how it goes.
Do they ever clean out a concrete truck? If so, how?
Why will a James Taylor song instantly calm you?
Do people actually take "The Texas Hammer", Jim Adler, seriously? Who would hire this guy at their attorney? He's so ridiculous it makes me laugh.
Why are Spanish-speaking sports announcers and radio DJ's so much more enthusiastic than their English-speaking counterparts?
Why do people speed up AFTER you pass them?
I don't get it... Billboards with lawyers talking about suing lawyers. Kind of makes you guys look bad too, don'tcha think?
How long does water stay in a water tower? Does water go there before or after it's been purified or whatever the city does to it so we can drink it?
Why are pepperonis right out of the bag so delicious?...way better than when on a pizza.
What happens to all the old trailers? Oh wait, NOTHING! They just get left where they are.
Why do some cars/trucks seem to have a personality? There are definitely cars/trucks that look MEAN when they are coming at you in your rear view mirror. There are also cars that look really nerdy and seem to be driving slower than they probably are. Little bitty cars just give off this illusion that they go slower than others.
Why do things that are crooked SERIOUSLY bug me? I can't stand it. I might have a problem.
Why does the HIGH setting on windshield wipers give me anxiety? I HATE it when it's raining so hard that I have to use them. It's something about the sound they make... it's kind of violent and out of control. Oh, and just driving in blinding rain doesn't help.
Where do all the fish go when lakes get really, really low? You'd think they'd be easier to catch if they were more concentrated. Or, did they die?
Thursday, October 6, 2011
My 'Lil Pumpkin
Yesterday he went to school in this sweet little smocked pumpkin outfit (thanks, Blake!)...
He didn't come home in it. It came home in a Ziplock... you do the math.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Why? Wednesday
1. Ever read a coupon? It says for vendor (or whatever) to send redeemed coupons to some address. Think there is someone at the grocery store that has that job specifically....to sort and mail coupons? Fun stuff.
2. What is it about wagons? Kids LOVE them! Clearly this is Carson's new obsession.
3. Why do I always think of great questions during the day and then can't remember then later? I think I need to carry a notebook in my purse.
4. Why do ants seem to multiply after you kill them and they come back somewhere else? And, where do they go? We've got this line of them going across the driveway and they just disappear when they get to the edge? Weird.
Speaking of ants, check out this work they did on a Nilla Wafer...
I came back after church and it was just the bottom shell with no insides. Those critters are hungry!
5. Why do eggs stick so bad to stuff? If you forget to rinse out the cup or glass used to scramble them, it's like glue.
2. What is it about wagons? Kids LOVE them! Clearly this is Carson's new obsession.
3. Why do I always think of great questions during the day and then can't remember then later? I think I need to carry a notebook in my purse.
4. Why do ants seem to multiply after you kill them and they come back somewhere else? And, where do they go? We've got this line of them going across the driveway and they just disappear when they get to the edge? Weird.
Speaking of ants, check out this work they did on a Nilla Wafer...
I came back after church and it was just the bottom shell with no insides. Those critters are hungry!
5. Why do eggs stick so bad to stuff? If you forget to rinse out the cup or glass used to scramble them, it's like glue.
Just Drivin' (sort of)
Amanda - this is for you!
This is how Carson rolls in his 4-wheeler from Nana... it's a rough ride! He seems to think it's pretty funny though.
...and I love his sign off at the end. So sweet!
This is how Carson rolls in his 4-wheeler from Nana... it's a rough ride! He seems to think it's pretty funny though.
...and I love his sign off at the end. So sweet!
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