Pay It Forward!!! Get in now.

As most of you know I'm a big believer in it's better to give than recieve so I how could I not jump on this....... it's the best of both!

Pay it Forward (PIF) what a wonderful idea. I learned of this from http://shellsspecialty.blogspot.com/ where I signed up to be a receipent. (P.S. by following the PIF blogs I ran across several cool blogs!! It was a fun treasure hunt!)

So here's how it works, the 1st 3 folks to respond to this comment that they want to participate will receive a surprise crafty something in the mail between now and the next 365 days. The catch is you then post on your blog and offer to 3 folks. Seeing how only family really has this link and probably only 2 read it, I may need some help passing the word to fufill my commitmment of 3. LOL! What fun!

Glasses cases

Sew I'm not quite done with using up all my "HUNKY" scraps. Today I used them to make cases for my glasses. The other is used with pink Elvis fabric. I had bought a cute pink & chocolate polk a dot case from the Austin Stitching Studio. Luuuuuuuved it, but it was just a little to tight and was warping my glasses slighly. She had made them originally thinking of readers glasses. Sew while taking a curtain class recently at the Austin Stitchin Studio, I asked Ann (great sewing teacher) about them and she gave me the skinny on the quick directions. That's what I love most about Ann's style she likes projects that are quick and cute. I love going to her "Ladies Night" she host once a month as all the ladies there are spunky and fun, as well as avid sewer's and I'm always picking up tips and great ideas. Check out her site and the Ladies Night -its a great! www.austinstitchingstudio.com

Morgan's decoupage jeans

Sew my neice recently visited and had these jeans that she doesn't like so well because the top of the jeans didn't fade with the rest of the jeans when washed. Sew I said I might be able to help...... let's pick out some fabric from my stash. Sew we did and here's what the result got us. I had seen the pattern for jeans similar to this on www.youcanmakethis.com by the Brassyapple. This is my 1st try at it, I tried several different ways to keep from having a bit of slack in the applique pieces but I haven't perfected that yet. I wish I was a better photographer because you can really see the details of the fabric on this pic. Hoping to get a photo of my neice wearing to replace this photo with in the near future.

Hunk Pillow Cases

SEW much going on since Thanksgiving weekend. We had a great time with family over the holiday and then the following week was the mad rush to get ready for the Christmas Stroll that the Graham family participated in. Being my 1st event and being involved on this level there was excitement and anxiety out the wazooooooo! Working the booth was the most fun, meeting people and hearing their comments about the goods made by our family members. The big items that sold at this show where Hunk Holder's (pot holders of shirtless men - see Holly's blog for photo on my friend & family list), Hunk Pillow Cases pic attached and little girl hair bows! What a combination right! Needless to say we sold of out of Hunk Holder's & Pillow cases and even took some special orders for more. There where so many other handmade items that where awesome so we are creatively looking for ways to market them as they will be hits when we figure out this key.

Blud Plaid - Handcrafts Unlimited Shop

While working the craft show we had the opportunity to stroll thru downtown Georgetown square, who knew all the finds between shops and food!! SEW my new favorite store is Handcrafts Unlimited on 8th. It's a store where all items are made by artists 50 years of age or older and they receive 80% of the profits! I have found some great deals there like Santan's new winter blue plaid jacket. Once Christmas is over I can't wait to attempt to make more of these, and some for the big kids too!! My cuz Holly sent me a free pattern she found online that looks very similar to this. Will post when I get around to it.

Sew I actually have a gift ready far before the deadline, a first for me.! I think I'm more excited about being ahead of the game than the purse. I'm always rushing to get gifts made at the last minute. (The receiver never looks at this blog, so it's safe to post) This bag is made with the Moda Mary Englebright Christmas fabric. I used a purse pattern I picked up from Craft-O-Roma but altered it a bit. This purse is bigger than the dimensions recommended and the embelleshmints with yarn are not included in the pattern as well as the interior pocket I added. How can you have a purse with out an interior pocket?? The pattern was quite easy to follow and I would recommend it for anyone looking to make and finish a project in one day/afternoon. Just remember to add the pocket!

Sew I have been itching to try my hand at upcycling. Cousin's Holly & Alisha talk about it often and then I went to the Maker Fair in Austin recently and it was all the rave. Go Green! Sew my WSM (wicked stepmother) recently gave me some boxes to go thru for potential upcycles. This was one of her sweaters. When I saw the sweater a little girls dress immediately came to mind. I didn't want to work on any of the projects I had today so I thought well lets see what we can do with that sweater. I appliqued the flowers on the knit top, which was tricky for me. I had practiced with my Mom a couple of weekends ago when I was in Dallas and found it very frustrating, this time I used a fusible web to help hold it in place which helped a lot but I'm still not completely satisified with the finished look. Practice makes perfect sew I shall try some applique's in the future. This project took me less than 2 hours. Yeah for upcycling! Starting with prefinished garments takes less time and is less expensive. I'm pleased with the outcome for the small investment of time.