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Monday, May 31

Fun Stuff!!!

It's been really busy, a big thanks to Bob at Robertswebworks, he has done a fabulous job with the website thus bringing all kinds of business!!!  So, for any of you thinking about a website please contact Bob he does a beautiful job!!!!!

The first pics are a creation by my  friend Carolyn, she found some vintage carnival print and made this cute skirt and purchased a black T and embellished with handmade yo- yo's.  Plus the yo- yo's coordinate with the skirt ruffle.  Skirts are so much fun because they are easy to whip up and much cooler for the summer.

Now the tut on pillows!!!!!
Here are some pillows I made for a customer out of her bark cloth, boy did they turn out cute, valances completed the project, and her living room looks great!!!

The pillows and the trick is the corners.  They are straight forward, flap back, flange style pillow with pre-made pillow insert.  I cut the pillow top and then the backs with extra fabric for the flaps, you can use velco I just made the flap deeper so no Velcro was needed.  Then I sewed the sides, I always sew a back tack where the flaps overlap due to the stress of inserting the pillow.  Then when you sew the top and bottom turn your seam inward and sew down.  I did not do any trimming of the seam as this is what makes a nice square corner.  Once you start cutting the corner away and pulling it out you have a great chance for holes and fraying.  You really don't have to do much picking to square this up, just turn it out and press.  This method can be used for any square corner, if you decide to trim the seams be very careful as the fabric in there is what holds the corner so nicely.
So, there is the trick of the day, not a new one but one we often forget!!!!

I actually got out a few prom dresses and am doing so fun creations which I will share when they are done.  I just picked up the new Altered Couture and Belle Amoire which are my favorite mags, they have such interesting works of art and give me inspiration.

  Time to call it a day and fix some brats!!!!  A Wisconsin tradition for most summer holidays!!!!

Monday, May 24

Work Work Work!!!!!

I feel just terrible I haven't posted anything thing since Mother's Day, I have been down under sewing up a storm or Stabbin Rags like Mad!!!!  This has been a very busy spring and I love it!!!  Oh yeah, I do my share of complaining but in a good way!!!  I'm very happy to see so many new faces and working on a variety of garments, mostly bridesmaid and wedding dresses.  The wedding industry is booming and no let up in sight!!!

Last Saturday our Sewing Guild took a road trip to Sun Prairie and Columbus!!!  Our first stop was the Fabric Fairy in Sun Prairie, what a cool shop in an industrial area, with fabric and a sewing lounge.  A sewing lounge is just that machines, sofas, magazines, all the stuff to hang out and create!!!  This started out as an online fabric store with tons of cute children's knits and expanded from there best I can tell.  Lots of bamboo fabrics, diaper fabric, notions, trims, elastics, items you don't find in the chain stores.  A must go to visit and/or visit the website!!!  Call ahead they have limited hours and you will need directions.  Sorry I forgot my camera so no pics!!!!!

Then we headed for Columbus because one of our members has a darling shop there called the James West Gallery.  She has a line of sewn items made from vintage fabrics, table clothes, linens , etc called the Red Thimble, she has a website with those names.  Plus a ton of other really nice items, jewelry, hand bags, photos, art, mosaic items, candles, popcorn on and on!!!!!  Columbus is a great town full of antique and fun shops.  We of course had lunch and it was an old fashioned drive in called Mullins Short Stop, picnic tables, great burgers and frosty mugs of root beer or pop, fries were great too!!!  What a fun day, 8 of us started out and 6 ended up in Columbus.

And Sunday I finally got the garden planted.  My husband worked like a dog getting it tilled and fixed up for me!!  And I love that saying worked like a dog, I have three dogs and they've never done a lick of work, that's all wrong, they are the laziest bunch I've ever known!!!!  So now with the hot weather and rain on the way we should have a great crop of veggies!!!

So that's all I know this week, got lots of ideas whirling around and no time to play!!!!

Friday, May 14

Mother's Day Weekend

What a great Mother's Day Weekend!!!  Dave and I headed out Thursday afternoon to the Lake to meet up with my folks, from Arkansas and the kids, who live at the Lake.  We got to Brandons late and I dropped off Dave and Dakota and headed to Ben's, my folks were up waiting for me!!!  a lot like when I was 16 years old, some things never change!!!
We had a great weekend shopping, entertaining, being entertained and eating, we love to cook and eat!!!  and shopping for food is always a treat!!!  Of course in Missouri they have all kinds of good stuff!!!  but here in Wisconsin we have cheese and Clasens Bakery, which is a must have!!!!  Each trip I have to get sourdough rye bread, morning buns and crispies if they have them???!!!  A coffee cake does well too, the we have to get Merks cheese???
Friday night we had Ben and Melissa's neighbors over  and Saturday we were invited to Brandon's former neighbors, we ate at the Asian Hibachi grill and had Mother's Day at Brandons for dinner and a pontoon boat ride and a professional photographer, compliments Melissa and Ben, to save the day in print!!!!Roses, great food and family made the weekend a real treat!!!  A big thanks to our kids!!!!
Mom and Dad had a safe ride to and fro, they checked out a senior housing apartment at Lake and decided it's not for them, yet!!!!
We got home and back to the grind, lots of sewing to do!!!  The to do list is overwhelming so I'm not going to think about it, first things first!!!  Back to StabbinRags!!!!!!

Dog Days

Dog Days
When is Dinner? Hope we don't get Vegetables again.