casserole carrier or......

"tater trailer"as I call mine due to the cutest vintage trailer fabric ever!

I meet with a few friends once a month to sew for a few hours at night and this is the project we chose for this past month.  After reviewing many tutorials we chose this one over at 2littlehooligans.  When we meet and agree on a project it is always interesting and fun to see how we each make it our own, so one of us chose to not quilt the layers just like in the photo, she finished her project first.  The other 2 of us, myself included wanted to quilt, it took us longer for that step, Then when it came to the handles we each had our own style again, one stuck to the tutorial, and I made my own based on the knowledge I had from make straps for other projects, we also added a little handle closure thingy to help keep the handles together when carrying.

This project can be fast and it one for the gift pile, now I need to have an excuse to use it........

doily table runner

I am sure you have seen these doily runners popping up all over blog land and pinterest, well it was time I got one!  I have a box of lace and other sewing treasures that was given to me and I thought I remembered a number of doilies in there so I thought I would check it out....well I not only had enough for me I had enough for my friend to make one and probably a few gifts to come.... well here is my rendition, I sorted them out according to size, color, and style.  Then alternated for the layout, we probably fiddled with the layout for a few hours, then I decided to zig zag mine together, some others tied them but that was a little to tedious for me on this project, I was needing some instant gratification that day! So when you're shopping yard sales or antique stores and you see a pile of doilies...pick em up! (do you see my new Bernina in the back? thanks to my honey ;x )

free pants!

I have been gone for a long time I know.... but since I got my iphone I surf and check email on it and don't turn my computer on every day like I used to so.....I don't blog :( BUT! I have been sewing and have lots to share so here is what I did today and am excited about so the free pants go first! So there are shadows and my pics arent the best but thats what you get when you have to take pictures of yourself in the mirror.

Saw this pin on pinterest and knew I had the perfect pair of frumpy pants to try it on, they were going in the goodwill pile so if I ruined them I wouldn't care. So I tried them on inside out and started marking just like in this blog post, then I pinned the fabric together and sewed a straight line just as instructed in the mini tutorial.  It took me a few tries at the crotch and hips but I got it, I am a mother of 5 and have some teenagers (don't want to look like I squeezed into one of their pants!!! that's hilarious just to think about...I have unfortunately seen moms that look like this) so the supper tight look is not for me, but I think you will agree with me that this is a HUGE improvement! So examine your closet and I bet you will find some paints or skirts that are in need of an update.  This does not take any major sewing skills but if you are a little timid you can brush up on some sewing basics and tailoring skills here on Burda, they have great how to's