Banyan Leaf Curtain and Towel

I sure hope you didn't lose any sleep over the anticipation of the shower curtain and the matching towel. After I took this picture I realized that it isn't all that showy or remarkable. I like it, but I am not sure it is so "blog worthy". The fabric is an outdoor fabric designed by Susan Sargent. It was pretty pricey, so instead of buying enough to do a 70" x 70" shower curtain (standard size) , and buying 4 yards of 54" fabric and seam it together, I bought just 2.25 yards and made the curtain narrower. It works fine, because this is on a shower, not a tub. I still use a plastic liner inside, although I think it may be fine without it. Using my Bernina V6 software, I designed an embroidery that is like one of the banyan leaves in the curtains. The banyan tree is a really cool tree! There is a HUGE one in the courtyard of the place we used to rent at the beach in Florida. Lots of cute little lizards played on it, and it was a nice shady spot. So, when I saw this pattern on Susan's website, I thought it would be a subtle addition to the bathroom that had the beach sand tubes on the wall. Themey, but not toooo themey. I also bought a mermaid hand hooked rug from Susan Sargent and it looked pretty stupid in the bathroom. A plain green one looks just fine. I had just a little of the fabric leftover and I made a very tiny valance for the window above the shades. Not too much of a valance fan, but the fabric was so expensive that I just wanted to use every bit of it! I hate to tell you this, because of the cliff-hanger from yesterday, but this very exciting story has another chapter. See you tomorrow! Jerilynn

A Little Bit of Sand, A Little Bit of Dirt

Yay! The digging for the cabin addition started today. As you can see from the picture, there is snow on the ground, but we have been assured that it doesn't matter. Now it is starting to seem more real. The gas got turned back on in the cabin, so now we even have some heat! No water, though, until the new basement is dug and the walls put up. Pretty exciting stuff. Usually this time of the year we are visiting the sugar sand beach of Gulf Shores, Alabama (second tube-o-sand from the left). This year with the building going on, and the health of my folks, we decided to forgo the beach and stick around. I found the test tubes at CB2 in Chicago. They have a little hole in the back to fit over a nail. I have collected bit of sand from some of our favorite beaches and thought this was a good way to display it. I made a shower curtain for this bathroom out of an outdoor fabric that has banyan leaves on it. I will show you the curtain and towels I made to match tomorrow. I hope you can sleep tonight. Jerilynn

I Keep Clean Wearing an Apron

Yesterday's afternoon class was a holiday apron. What really made me want to take this session, however, was this silly little , little apron! The apron and little apron were printed on a fabric panel. We cut them out and then lined them with a coordinating fabric to make them reversible. Even the little one can be used on either side! It could fit a doll, but I think it looks great on the Joy soap bottle - the bottle even fills out the top! It is so silly and goofy. Now I am thinking I need to make more little aprons...wine bottles need them, liquid hand soap containers need them. I am sure this new production of mini me cover ups will really make my children wonder about my sanity. How many would you like to order for Christmas gifts? On our new wood floor update: this morning I noticed the floor( the NEW hardwood floor) in front of the fridge was slightly warped. Yep. The fridge was leaking enough from the ice maker hook up that the floor got wet and warped. Very bummed. Have no idea what next. So, tomorrow when we go in to pay for the floor, we will need to order two more boxes of wood and set up a time for the installer to come in, tear up, and put new boards down. This is not good. Jerilynn

Snap Happy with a Bit of Bling

This was this morning's project at Sew Holiday 2010. It is a 7 1/2" x 6 3/4" pouch from the pattern Snap Happy by Stitchin' Sisters. This uses 3/4' metal carpenter measuring tape as the "snap" in the top facing to open and close the pouch. The kits were all pre-cut, so all we had to do was the sewing! Most of the students used an embroidery of an open daisy-type design. I decided that since I have an embroidery machine at home, I would let the other ladies use the machines at the class and I would just use some decorative stitches to stitch the layers together. Plus, as you may know, I have been in a bit of a decorative stitch mood. Two of the teachers had a stash of hot fix crystals and we could use some to bling up the pouch. Now, those little crystals have been around for quite a while, but all of a sudden, I just think they are just what I want! No, I haven't put them on everything. Just here and there. The construction was pretty fast and I think I would like to make more of those little pouches. The pattern has several other sizes, and instructions to make almost any size you want. The trimming of the metal measuring tape wasn't too hard - you just need strong scissors that can cut thin metal. Duck tape is then wrapped around the cut end so that it is not sharp. I hope Carl doesn't notice a missing tape or two. By the way, I was pressing something today and the iron caught on fire! Sparks, fireworks, then fire. I didn't get hurt, nobody did. It was just a bit scary. I am so glad that I am here visiting with you tonight. Plus, my pouch was happy to be photographed in the Red Chair. Jerilynn

My Next Sewing Machine Needs Spellcheck!

Tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow afternoon I am attending the 2010 Sew Holiday Workshop at Sew Complete. What fun! We make three different projects, kits all cut and ready to go, AND get fed! Dinner tonight was a yummy Many Bean Soup (fiber is VERY important for women of age). We get breakfast for tomorrow morning's class, and we get lunch for the afternoon session. Tonight's project was a big bag using the Double Diamond Ruler and a pattern by Jill Hix, Double Diamond Tote. I decided to be "creative" and program my machine to stitch out Sew Holiday 2010. Well, for some reason, a "J" got in front of the "S" in Sew. I didn't notice it until I had stitched the WHOLE strap! I laughed so hard and had the rest of the class in "stitches", too. I corrected the spelling for the second strap, but I have a feeling that this tote may just be a favorite project tote because of the crazy handle. I was using the Bernina 440, which doesn't show the whole line of what is going to be stitched...at least that is a partial excuse. Was I trying to write JERISEW? Who knows. You know, we always wonder what sewing machine manufacturers are going to come up with next - each new model has tons of new features. Well, I think I may have to request a machine with Spellcheck! Sew...I am back home, in the Red Chair, with a glass of wine, looking forward to another sewing day tomorrow. Isn't making stuff just the best fun? Jerilynn

Iphone Cozy

My daughter-in-law, Katie requested a cozy for her new phone. I looked in Ravelry and found several options, and decided to give the "sock" look a try. I used some sock yarn that I had on hand and size 1 double pointed needles. The instructions, here, we brief, but easy to figure out. They said to close the bottom with the Kitchener stitch, which is usually used to close toes when you knit socks. I am not sure that I am a Kitchener expert yet, but the closure did turn out pretty good. There isn't any Velcro or button keeping the case closed - jut the ribbing should be enough to keep the sock in place. This only took a couple of hours...pretty cute, I think! It was nice sitting in my Red Chair, just relaxing and knitting. The new floors got done today and they look really good. We worked hard getting stuff put back in place. I did a little decluttering at the same time. A good day. Jerilynn

Am I Too Old for Steampunk?

This bracelet and earrings are made from some wonderful beads that I bought on Etsy from a seller named Loupiac. I love her stuff! I will say the usual "the picture does not do the beads justice" remark. But, it is true. These beads are fun shades of gold, red, burgundy and orange. I used some fittings from Vintaj Natural Brass. Have you noticed the Steampunk trend in beading? Well, maybe you aren't a beader....so maybe you haven't noticed the trend. I have read that Steampunk is the intersection of technology and romance - Steampunk jewelry designs usually are not symmetrical, and have chains, charms, quirky components. Little pieces of art. Well, the above bracelet is not Steampunk, but does use some Vintaj brass, and Vintaj Natural Brass is used quite a bit in Steampunk designs. Their website is fun to look at. Also, check out Loupiac's other beads. I would love a set that she has on her site now called Alchemy, but we'll see. I have made a few pieces of jewelry for the Dancing Bird Art Gallery in Cumberland, WI, and the first necklace I sold was almost Steampunk, maybe a little punk but not much steam. It had chains and charms and I gave it a clever name, but for the life of me, I can't recall what it was. Guess I better keep better records. Jerilynn