Home Life Lately 8/6

Here are some recent domestic goings-on:

 

Last weekend I finally cut scalloped shorts from some bootcut jeans I got at Goodwill! I measured the cutoff length against my favorite shorts, then used a scrapbooking border template to outline the scallop pattern in chalk. (I find chalk much easier to work with than a fabric pencil.) After cutting the shorts, I applied fray check to the edges as a finishing touch. I also wanted to stitch a hem for extra security, but my attempts to follow the scallop pattern with the sewing machine were disastrous. Thankfully it only took me one side to realize that it wasn't going to work, and I just ripped it out. Fun fact: I've probably ripped out and re-done 75% of the hems I've sewed up to this point.

I'm happy with the shorts, but if I had it to do over, I'd cut them a little longer. My favorite short shorts work because they're not fitted tightly to the leg. But jeans are, so now I have an unfortunate muffin-leg situation. I'll just have to remain standing when I wear these! :P

   

After months of waffling, I gave up on my shrilly wheezing Hoover vacuum and bought a Dyson Animal cordless stick vacuum. My friend Stacy loaned me hers for a test drive, and I fell in love. But the painful price tag still made me hesitate. Then Emily alerted me that Costco had them for $70 off, so she ordered one on my behalf and we're all living happily ever after. I love vacuuming any old way I want, instead of following a strict pattern dictated by how far the cord will stretch (and tripping over/re-extending the cord multiple times). I can take it anywhere, including out to the car, so I don't have to wrestle with those vacuums at car washes anymore. I can get under cabinets and tables and into tight spaces with no problem. And it's so quiet - I literally had to wear earplugs when using my Hoover, even though it was barely over a year old. This Dyson better have a longer track record! #firstworldproblems

   

I harvested my first eggplant last week! (At least two more will be ready soon.) The resulting Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes and Feta was fantastic. All ingredients were homegrown except the cheese, and I felt like a pioneer. I also made Watermelon and Feta Salad for the first time (where has it been all my life??), so basically I'm going through feta cheese like Greece is about to fall off the map.

Craft and Garden Update

I've had a crafty few weeks. Here are some things I've made!

Because I seem to need front-door decor for every month of the year, I made this cute semi-patriotic wreath based on this tutorial. The wreath in the original post is burlap wrapped around a foam or straw core. However, on the day I made this, I didn't have time to go to multiple stores. So you're looking at a twig wreath form wrapped in burlap-look upholstery fabric from the Garden Ridge $1.50 remnant bin. I wrapped it around and secured it with hot glue. It's not as picture-perfect as the original, but it works for me!

If you just want to learn how to make the felt hydrangeas, that tutorial is here. Felt flowers have become my go-to. They aren't trying (and failing) to look like real flowers, and they're cute, cheap, and easy to make.

Since I got my sewing machine, most of my projects have proceeded as follows:

- Pin a bunch of tutorials for what I want to make
- Settle on one; buy and prepare supplies
- Read tutorial thoroughly and discover that it's too confusing or labor-intensive; try another
- Repeat several times
- Panic because I don't have adequate supplies for other tutorials
- Finally, choose whatever I can understand that won't require me to go back to the store

Making a new table runner for the console table in my living room was no different. I had pictured something more complicated, with a border, but ended up using this Simple Table Runner Tutorial from Cloud 9 Fabrics. It's a clean, basic reversible design – all you have to do is sew with wrong sides together, pull right side out, and topstitch it. Very manageable! Even so, it took me at least two hours to create this large rectangle. I'm ready for my McCall's Sewer of the Year award now.

My old table runner was brown, and too dark once I got hardwood floors. So it makes me happy to see this cheery design. The fabric is from the outdoor section at Hancock. I topstitched with blue thread to make it more interesting.

Finally, here are my tomatoes after TWO WEEKS:

Again: TWO WEEKS. I even checked the calendar to make sure it hadn't been longer since planting day… and it was a late planting at that. Wholly Cow indeed!! The tomatoes aren't the only plants taking off. I can practically see the cucumber vines growing, and something has shot up next to them that's not a cucumber. Possibly one of my watermelons from last year! It's all very exciting… for me and my dad.  :)  Looks like I need to learn to can for real!

My battle with birdseed-thieving squirrels has been well documented on this blog. Yesterday my dad provided me with a new weapon that may end the backyard war forever:

This feeder is weight calibrated for birds, so if squirrels land on the ledge, it closes. It has a secure top that even my dexterous local squirrels can't take off. I should have gotten one of these years ago, instead of spending literally hundreds of dollars (over time) on birdseed that never made it to the birds. Victory! (I hope.)

Fashion Friday

It may be finally, officially spring, but we were under a winter weather advisory last night. I suspect true spring will take its time getting here this year. Womp womp. But I'm still thinking ahead to spring attire!

Scalloped lace dress // Stretch tank dress

I've been pleasantly surprised by Old Navy's dress selection the past couple of years. I'm very tempted by both of these, but I'd have to try them on first! Old Navy dresses that look great on the model often look terrible on me.

Loft // Banana Republic

Two takes on black and white stripes. I've pinned some version of the Loft dress for several seasons now, so maybe I should get one already!

Black flower eyelet // Turquoise diamond eyelet

I'm loving Loft's array of eyelet dresses (though they're all too expensive at the moment). I'd probably choose the turquoise one. We brunettes really rock the turquoise.

This gorgeous ensemble is from the spring Ruche lookbook. I'm not into that bag, but I'd like one of everything else, please.


On the homemade fashion front, I haven't been sewing much. A friend asked me to help her make some seat cushion covers, and I've been dragging my feet on that project for about a million years now. (Sorry Tessa! :() But if I ever finish those, I want to try my hand at a skirt again. I have enough skirt tutorials to keep me busy well into summer. The last one I made came out okay, but I'm not sure if it looks okay on, so I haven't worn it anywhere. Anyway, my first warm-weather sewing project will be this Scalloped Shorts Tutorial. It's cute, unique, and looks like it can be finished in an hour or less. Win-win!

Sewing: Girl and Boy Onesie Set

I recently completed another sewing project. My friend Nell is expecting triplets - two girls and a boy! I wanted to make something special for her baby shower. When I saw this "Easiest Onesie Dress Ever!" tutorial on Pinterest, I knew it was the ticket. Since Nell is a proud Auburn alumna, I decided her team colors would be perfect for the skirts. (Bama fans, you have permission to avert your eyes. :))

I completed the onesie dresses in one evening, and enjoyed myself, but learned two important things:

1. Gerber onesies from Target run really small, so get a size up if you want the item to be worn at a specific time/age.

2. To make a onesie dress wearable for longer, you should sew in an elastic waistband. The tutorial did not mention this. I only found a brief suggestion of it in the comments, after my mom informed me that I should have put one in. Apparently a "real" sewist would instinctively know this, but I'm an amateur, and I didn't want to start over and possibly be unable to do it right a second time. The dresses will still work.

After more Pinterest research, I decided to make a matching tie onesie for the boy. Ironically, this simple applique job was more difficult than making the dresses. I struggled with this necktie tutorial for a while, then tried this one. I just couldn't get the "knot" onto the collar of the onesie without jamming my sewing machine and creating a huge mess, and the interfacing confused me. In desperation, the night before the baby shower, I cut out a basic bow tie shape and sewed it onto one of my spare onesies. It looked cute, but the edges started fraying almost immediately. I decided the whole gift would have to wait until I could finish it right. So, the next week, I whipped out this basic bow tie in five minutes! Definitely the way to go in the future.

Since I had extra time and fabric, I also made a couple of burp cloths from this tutorial. It was really easy! I'd definitely make these again. I had already bought flannel backing for cloths, so I didn't use a towel like she did, but that would make it even more convenient.

I think Nell really liked the outfits, and I hope the babies like them too! :) Looking forward to meeting you, A, B, and C!

Parsons Chair Slipcover

It took me almost three months, but I finally finished sewing a slipcover for the parsons chair in my office/craft room! I used this tutorial. Technically, I didn't even finish it myself - my mom added the "skirt" piece for me after I sewed it on wrong TWICE. The skirt also came out too short. But the slipcover is done and on and it's good enough for me, so...

I bought the parsons chair on sale a couple of years ago, and my cat Peach quickly made it her personal scratching post. At first I tried to stop her, but I'm already vigilantly protecting all my other furniture from her claws, and honestly, I gave up on this one. Besides, I figured I would want to change the look later anyway. This fabric is from the outdoor section at Hancock and I think it's perfect for the room!

My other cat, Gandalf (who prefers clawing carpet over furniture), loves to hang out with me while I sew. He came right over to give the newly re-covered chair a head-butt of approval. ♥

After taking these pictures, I had to cover the chair in clear contact paper to stop the cycle of destruction. It still looks fine, but isn't the most fun to sit on. I'll probably replace the contact paper with vinyl or something. Fellow pet owners, any better furniture-protecting ideas?

One more project done. Yay! :)

Summer Fun and Crafts

My brother came home for Memorial Day weekend! On Saturday, we and our parents went to Beech Lake, about an hour and a half away. I wish there was a nice lake close to Memphis, but at least this lake is better than the Mississippi mud pits. It was a pretty fun day - I tubed and Jetskied a little, but mostly sunned myself on a float and caught up on my magazines. Good times.

Monday was an expensive day. I finally ordered a bathing suit from Land's End:

I don't think any woman enjoys swimsuit shopping, but it's borderline impossible for me to find one that fits correctly for under $100. So I was thrilled to get this cute top AND a coordinating striped bottom for a total of $53! However, I quickly found something to eat up that savings:

My $5 sunglasses from last year are falling apart (surprise?), so I decided to branch out and get something a little nicer. These are from Kohl's, and I admit it - they're J.Lo. I generally avoid aviators (having worn non-sun aviator glasses throughout my Awkward Years), but these made me feel very glam. I also fell in love with this straw-look summer bag, which seemed reasonably priced next to the $120 Club Monaco straw clutch I've been longing for. When I tried them on together in the store, it was game over.

To protect my new shades, I sewed a quilted sunglasses case using this tutorial (found on Pinterest, of course). It's the first reversible case/sleeve I've made that came out correctly on the first try! Progress!

 

It's time to take down my spring wreath and put up a summer one, so one of my goals for the long weekend was to make a (fake) lemon wreath! I'm pleased with how it turned out, but sadly, the lemons are too "tall" to fit between my regular door and storm door. I guess I'll deconstruct, display the lemons in a bowl, and find something else to put on the wreath. This was my first attempt at covering a wreath form with moss ribbon, and FYI, wrapping around is not the way to go unless you can afford a lot of moss ribbon. I barely had enough to cover the front.

That's the latest from this Popsicle stand.

Making A Ruffle Scarf

One of the best things about learning to sew at this point in time is the abundance of sewing tutorials out there. I have enough intriguing projects on my Pinterest Sewing board to last a long time (although I WILL have to look at a real pattern one of these days). This week I made a ruffle scarf from this tutorial!

Gandalf loves to help with creative projects. ♥

I bought three T-shirts at thrift (to make three scarves - why stop at one?). I love these colors. The instructions said to use "knit," so I made sure all the shirts were blends and not 100% cotton. The yellow and gray were plain men's T-shirts, but the fuschia is a women's shirt. You can't see the silver airbrushing on the side or the weird gathers, but trust me, it's a nice fabric begging to be made into something less garish. (Sewing is already changing the way I look at thrift clothes. I'm more aware of the quality of the material, not just the garment itself. There's a lot of potential there!)

This was a good beginner project because it gave me a chance to experiment with different stitches and tension settings. Basically, you cut off the T-shirt below the sleeves, cut it in half longways, "open" each half at the seam, and stitch those together to make one long strip of fabric. Then you fold or pin the strip in thirds lengthwise and do long "basting" stitches along the fold. This is the basic ruffling method. It was easy enough, although I had to keep moving the fabric to make sure it didn't ruffle back on itself. You go over the folds twice with the basting stitches, then again with a normal stitch to secure. Then you're supposed to rip out the basting stitches, but I figured, why bother? I was happy with the final product and didn't want to mess with it.

I've gotten rave reviews on the scarf and can't wait to make more! The others should go faster now that I know what to do, but this one only took about an hour anyway.

Peach wasn't so thrilled with it, though. :)

Sewing 101

My mother has been sewing since the age of ten. She made a lot of my clothes as I grew up, including my senior prom dress. Although she tried a few times to teach me sewing, my perfectionism and her natural genius were a terrible combination. It was too frustrating for me to struggle for hours on something she could do much better in five minutes. I didn't see the point.

A few years ago, I became interested in sewing very basic things. My mom helped me make a fleece pillowcase for a cat bed, and a wall hanging with pockets to hold hats and gloves. Using the machine was easier than I remembered. Over time I thought of more and more sewing tasks I'd like to be able to do. Then, a few months ago, I went to a crafting event hosted by a few women from my church. At one station we made scarves out of old T-shirts. I immediately saw many possibilities for the craft. Lindsey went to her sewing machine to bind up my scarf for me, and I thought, If I had a sewing machine, I could do things like this at home. That's it. It's time. So, knowing that my mom would be thrilled, I asked for and received a sewing machine for Christmas. :)

Crafting wasn't my only reason for wanting a machine. My fashion creativity has exceeded what's available for my budget and difficult body type. I see something, get inspired, and have an instant, specific mental picture of what I want. Then I waste many hours looking for it, and usually don't find it at all. I don't have delusions of making my entire wardrobe, but bringing a few mental pictures to life myself will be easier, cheaper, and more fulfilling.

I read good reviews of The Colette Sewing Handbook, so my mom added that to her gift. After reading it, I've concluded that while it is helpful, enjoyable, and beautiful to look at, it ought to be called The Perfectionist Sewing Handbook. The overall message is that if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right the first time. Buy top quality supplies. Make several cheap drafts of your garment until the fit is exactly right. Take months to make one item if you need to. While this is how I've operated for most of my life, nowadays I'm a little more low-key and don't mind learning from mistakes. (Plus, if the clothes are that fitted, what happens if you gain a few pounds? That's a new motivator.) My mom read the book before giving it to me, and told me not to be discouraged or feel pressured by it. She also said that in a lifetime of sewing, she's never used (or, in some cases, heard of) some of the recommended supplies. In any case, I'm happy to learn from both my mom and the book, and figure out what works for me.

Project #1 was a second fleece cat bed. My two cats have fought over the existing one since I made it. This was the most imperfect beginner project ever - just a square of fleece over a square pillow from Hancock's. I cut out the fleece using eyeball measurements (Gandalf was laying on it at the time), sewed three sides, flipped it, and put in a zipper. The zipper was backwards the first time, but my mom showed me what I did wrong and I fixed it easily. I felt like I had climbed Everest.

Project #2, completed Tuesday night, was a cover for my new Kindle. This pattern was also very inexact, adapted from a laptop cover pattern I saw on Pinterest. I used a measuring tape and tried to abide by the formula, but the cover came out a tiny bit short. (The mathy aspects of sewing will be my Waterloo.) I also didn't realize I needed a special tool to apply snaps, so I had to use Velcro dots instead. It'll do until I can make a better one. Preferably from a pattern meant for a Kindle. I have plenty of this fabric and batting, so I plan to make a camera case from it too.

As you can see, I'm purposely starting with simple, four-sided projects. :) Once I get more comfortable with those, I'll try basic garments. By spring I should be able to handle an A-line skirt. We'll see!