Another Heart Shirt!!!!

I had these sweatshirts cut and ready to be trimmed out years ago and FINALLY go to them!!!  This , of course started out as a black sweatshirt, I didn't cut any of the bands off just cut it down the front, surged and top-stitched down.  Then I found my bags of old lace and trims and went to town!!!  Last November when visiting Ben and  Melissa their neighbor Nellie Jo gave me these darling heart shaped crocheted pieces and other shapes, I appliqued them on the sweatshirt and then used buttons, pearls and other trims to finish it up.  I think it came up kind of cute!!!  You could do all kinds of thing to these shirts,  I considered using lace as a stencil and paintings  the whole jacket and them appliqueing over that, but time ran out and I want to start wearing these guys on Tuesday!!!


Thursday night Taryn , Brittany and I went to the Melting Pot, it was restaurant week here in Madison so the locally owned ones were having specials!!!  The Melting Pot features  fondue  and it was really great!!!  They have this nifty flat burner in the middle of the table and we started off with a cheese, spinach and artichoke fondue, they served that with apples, bread, chips and veggies very good!!!  We each had a different salad, they had several choices, all were delish.  The meats were beef, chicken and white shrimp,the broth we chose was Mojo, Caribbean spices,garlic and citrus yummo!! plus veggies that included mushrooms, brocolli and red potatoes.  The dessert was really spectacular, we chose the Ying and Yang dark chocolate and white chocolate in the Ying and Yang shape very clever!!!  Then we had bananas, strawberries, rice krispie treats, marshmallows, pound cake, cheese cake and brownies!!!  It was a whole meal.  I was really impressed and would go again in a heart beat!!!!

Yesterday Dave had the day off and we spent the whole day running around, we started with an early movie, It's Complicated,  we found it quite funny but of course it's our age group so we had a good laugh.  Then we headed to Waunakee for Dough Boys pizza, our friends Bob and Jo got us onto their Buffalo Chicken pizza, the best!!!  We lucked, out as a group of High School boys arrived and ordered the Buffalo Chix pizza and I was worried we wouldn't get any but they put it in last and the kids had to go back to class, had the whole pizza to ourselves, no din din for me!!!!  Then we toddled over to St.Vinnies and we got some finds, pants were 2 for 1 so I got some great jeans and yoga pants, they'll never see yoga but they sure are comfy!!!!  Dave got 4 new shirts so we're stylin'!!!
Then we headed home and packed up our dogs for a walk in the cold and hit a few more stores and the grocery and home to hang out, cold again!!!  I sure hope this 0 and minus is about over.  We're heading back to the 20's this next week.  Livable!!!

Ben and Mellisa just called they are in St Louis and leaving early tomorrow for the honeymoon in Mexico, they will have a wonderful week!!!!

Happy Valentines Day to all!!!

Valentine Sweatshirt Jacket

Hard to believe it's Valentines Day in 3 weeks or so!!!  Time flies when your sewing!!  This project is not unique in any fashion.  People have been creating one fun project after another with the simple sweatshirt, it's amazing how they can be turned into beautiful jackets and toppers!!!!!  This is super simple and I only did this becuase this cut up sweatshirt has been hanging around for years!!!  I took Martha Stewarts idea of using corragated cardboard, cut in strips and roll up into shapes, hers were just circles to look like flowers, I choose hearts for Valentines Day.  So I cut the strips 12-15" long and 2-3" wide, rolled up and taped to resemble a heart, very primitive!!!!  Then I put some paint on a paper plate and used the rooled up cardboard like a sramp and went to town.  Then I painted pink poka dots randomly over the shirt.  Then I serged down the front and neck, topstitched  to clean finish.  The neck got big so I pulled a red ribbon thru and tied a bow instead of buttons.  Then I did a running stitch along the front and neck with embroidery floss.  And we have a Valentines sweatshirt/topper!!!!

Now this stamping with cardboard could be fun for note cards, Valentine cards or postcards.  You could stamp out a table runner, napkins, tableclothes, it is endless what you can do!!!  Perfect for kids, little to no cost and very effective.  Add more color do in pinks, purples, reds etc.  I think this is a  brillant idea and think of all the shapes and things you can roll up!Now I have some darling  lacey hearts I'm going to put on a black sweatshirt, hopefully before this Valentines Day!!!  And a customer brought by 2 big boxes of tins from cookies etc.  Can't wait to play with them, they are great for storage and gifts and  this list goes on!!!


We're in the midst of rain and dreary, however makes for great sewing and cooking days.  I hit my favorite resale, Puttin on the Ritz here in Middleton on Friday and found some great cook books, hopefully I'll get the cranberry scones made tomorrow morning.  Plus I got a brand new Tupperware microwave cooker thing not sure how it works but great to use in the microwave, I'll look on line!!!  And I got the Julie Julia book, the movie was such fun so glad to get the book too.

Winter is not over but the days are longer so there is hope!!!

January Sew In Mittens and Hats!!!!

Friday afternoon a few of us from Sewing Guild got together and whipped up some hat and mitten sets for school age kids in our area that are going without.  We made the hat and mitten sets out of fleece and they turned out very nicely, hopefully kids will like them!!!!  We have been doing charity sewing all along with our Sewing Guild but lately have met so many more folks doing this kind of sewing for people all over the area, it might be sweater mittens, the blanket projects, bags for the troops, preemie items, knit items the list goes on and on.  It's refreshing to know how many people are digging in and helping others!!!  It really feels good to give!!!  I've always said you have to give to get!!!

My friends Bob and Jo have been very kind helping me do this web site and blog and now they have put one together for my son and daughter in laws roofing business in Lake of the Ozarks.Above & Beyond Roofing    They donated over 2,000 cans of food to a local food pantry, they gave 100 cans of food for each roof they did in the month of December, check their site pretty impressive.  What one small , local company can do is just amazing!!!!

The shop has been super busy with tons of drop offs, I'll sew all weekend in hopes to make a dent by Tuesday.  This week I also took a bit of time and cleaned out two trays that were really bothering me!!!  When my son Brandon was home we have to hit Harbor Freight, his favorite hang out next to Delaneys a salvage/junk store above Sauk City.  I found these plastic storage bin containers and thought wow those will really work for the sewing stuff.  The one is needles, thimbles, different feet, and a few odds and ends, all that had been collecting dust in a tray now nice and neat.  The next one I used for zipper parts, much easier than little baggies.  So these units are everywhere but a few minutes will make your sewing alot easier!!!

Stay warm and Happy Sewing and Giving!!!!

Where Does the Time Go?????

It seems like Christmas was just  last week but it's already January 7. Our son has been home for nearly 3 weeks and we take him back to Missouri on Saturday.
He's been shopping, so we'll be filled  up!!!
Funny how the weather has been,  it's the same temp in Arkansas as it is here in Wisconsin but it's 17' less in Missouri
This weekend it will be warmer in Wisconsin than Missouri, hard to believe!!!
 We had 6+ inches of snow today and now the wind has picked up, Wisconsin can be a pain in the butt!!!!

This week a customer brought in a pair of sweater mittens, they are  made out of recycled wool sweaters, and cute as can be!
I gleaned a pattern and made them in fleece,  they are not bad!!!
I think with a pair of the stretchey knit gloves they will be perfect. Double layer fleece adds to the warmth.
I like the sweater mittens but they are so bulky.



Then I got back to the ties and made a shoulder bag.
I like this bag a lot, big enough to hold lots, but not a tote.
I used velcro for the closure.

I have a jacket I'm going to embellish next with ties that should be fun!!


Well, we're off to Mo. and I'll have more to tell when we return!! Happy Sewing!