So Sew

Believe it or not, I do actually do more around here than clean and homeschool.  Well, not very often, but sometimes.  And since I am single parenting for the moment, I am trying very hard to find a few minutes a day to myself- or at least to my own projects.  Aside from 34 Weeks of Clean.  You know, to maintain my sanity and all.

So I have rediscovered the sewing room.  It is usually covered with Ashton's projects (she is a paid seamstress after all) but she is also a pretty good sharer.  She carved out a space for me in her "new" area so I was determined to get back to one of the things that brings me joy.  My goal has been an hour of sewing a day.  I admit I have not been able to meet that daily, but goals are good to have right?

To spur myself on, I bought a 365 day Quilt blocks calendar.  I love it!  Each block varies in degree of difficulty and there are several sizes represented.  To give myself some breathing room I decided to only do the days with 8 inch or 10 inch blocks.  I completed 12 this month!  For someone who hasn't sewn in a while, I am pleased.

Here is a sampling-

In other sewing news- of course, Ashton!  She is busy doing her daily seamstress work, was blessed to be able to bustle a wedding dress for a friend, and is working on a quilt or two of her own plus refashioning wedding dresses to sell.

Yes, refashion.  Like this one, where she has taken the skirt off one and is layering lace on it.  It was a project I admit I was skeptical of, but boy is it exceeding my expectations.

She also has two dresses at the dry cleaners that will be ready to go soon.

And about three in the works.  She loves restyling vintage dresses and hopes to soon be able to start blessing brides-to-be with new and amazing dresses.  Keep her mind if you know someone that might be interested.

And she surprised me with a few new pin cushions just for fun!

That's about it from here- just wanted you to know that this homeschooling, clean-crazy mom does have at least one other interest.  :)  Crazy, I know, but true!

Do you sew or have another hobby you love?  How do you find time in your busy day to get it done? Really, I would love to know!

Blessings,

Sewing Through August

Ha!  August and September, that is!

I am just going to tell you right upfront that none of the projects I am showing you are mine.  Big surprise, huh?  NOT!  I do have several waiting in the wings if I can ever find the time to get myself in the sewing room and turn on a machine.  It is seriously pitiful, ya'll.  I have big aspirations, but just cannot seem to find the spare time.  

I am going to figure it out!  Eventually.

On the other hand, my seamstress daughter is busier by the day.  Hour, maybe.  She is now the only seamstress for a local dry cleaner.  (Did I tell you that already?)  She picks up work three times a week and does a two day turnaround.  She had become quite the expert in hemming pants and replacing zippers.

She also sent this cute outfit to a cousin.

And taught a friend how to make a jean skirt out of jeans.  

And finished her sister's Eowyn (from Lord of the Rings) dress.  Yes, that is all hand embroidery.

Oh, and has continued to work for a friend who sells beachwear.

And made herself a shirt one day because she liked the fabric.

And still does custom orders for people as well.

Hmmm, maybe my lack of sewing is not about the lack of time, but the lack of space for me in the sewing room.

Yes, I am sure that is it!  ;)

yep, my space!

Blessings,

Did I mention she just got a job at a local Bridal shop sewing for them?

Sewing to Summer: May Projects and a Confession

First, the confessions-

Hi, I am Michele and I am a sewing failure.
Or maybe, Hi, I am Michele and I am a sewing wannabe!

Either way, you get the point.  Once again, my little fingers have been busy doing just about everything BUT sewing.

Ashton's little fingers, on the other hand, have been busy once again.

Good thing, or else this would be a really boring post!

She has been hired by one of the local dry cleaners and is doing alterations almost daily!!  She loves every minute of it.

The embroidery project finally became a shirt -

She made a shirt for her sister -

See?  Ashton - yay!  Momma - Fail!

Blessings,

Sewing to Summer - March Projects

We are excited to be linking up with Jennifer at Milk and Honey Mommy for her Sewing to Summer series.  Because of our recent Unexpected Move, our sewing was slowed down a little.  The good news is we (OK, my daughter) gained a new, clean sewing room out of the deal and has started to settle in.  Good thing, because just this week a local dry cleaners began giving out her name for alterations and she had her first customer come by with a few projects for her.

What I really want to share with you this month though is one of her personal projects I got her into. She loves when I have these great ideas for her to try out.  Haha.  Hey, I have to live vicariously through somebody, 'ya know!  I stick with quilts.  

I saw this cool pattern...

and just knew her brother would love one!  As it turned out, everyone wanted one and so she started with her brother and sister since the sizing was the closest and would not require such major adjustments. Brother wanted sleeves, sister wanted just the vest, so they have slightly different looks.  Now we are all in line for fleece pullovers, especially now that you can get some good deals on winter fabric.  Seeing as we had several inches of snow twice this week, I am assuming winter is still going to hang around South Dakota for a little while longer!

As for my projects, well let's just say that this one...

still looks exactly the same.  Hey, I have been busy hanging pictures!  But next month, I assure you I will make some progress.  Or at least lie about it! ;)  One thing I really want to do is put initials on our cloth napkins for each family member.  I will let you know how that goes.

How about you?  Are you busy sewing or do you have summer projects waiting patiently at your sewing machine?  We would love for you to link up with us and share what you are doing!

Blessings, 

Head on over to Milk and Honey Mommy to see what are people are sewing!

Multiple Projects!- Sewing to Summer

Now that my daughter is living back at home, we have gotten back to sewing.  Well, she has been sewing all along but when she is not around I am just not as motivated.

I am not sure really what got her started with sewing.  We were blessed to have two separate people in Wyoming that helped teach her a lot of the skills she has.  She also had a home economics class in which she made her first quilt.  I taught her a few additional quilting skills, but most she picked up on her own.  She was also blessed to be hired at a costuming shop on campus where she attended school for a year and a half and learned from a wonderful teacher and mentor there.

Between all of that and running an online sewing business as well, you could just say this-girl-sews!  I have fun sewing.  It is her passion.  Which explains why she is good at it and makes money and I do not.

It also explains why she works on multiple projects at one time.

Multiple!

Let me show you-

A formal dress that she designed.  Yep, she designed it.  Drives me crazy when she does that.  I want to just find a nice pattern and be done.  She wants to be original.  Ugh!

And this quilt she is working on.  Actually she came upon the blocks at a local antique store and is now putting them together for a quilt for me.  Ok, it is a quilt for her, but a momma can dream, right?

And then there is this project for a friend who is working on a business endeavor.  Can't give away his project yet, but when he gets famous, I will let Ashton share with you about her tiny role in it!

And then there is this....

Well, that is mostly my project, but it is a secret for now.

See what I mean!  Multiple projects!

We are so excited to start linking up monthly with Jennifer at Milk and Honey Mommy for her Sewing to Summer Series.  If you have a sewing project, or two, you would like to share, I know she would like to have you join us.

Hey, maybe next month I will have a finished project to share as well.

If Ashton will let me use her machine!

Blessings,