Back to School

 This was a project that my 9 year old grandson and I did together. I had him learn to use a measuring tape and ruler and come up with how much of everything that we needed. He is very good in math. I had him get on the internet and order it all himself. We found what we needed at Seattle Fabric.com . This is the front.

 This is the back. We had a backpack of mine that we copied the pattern off of. He did some of the pattern pieces. I did the sewing, but he took some scraps and had fun seeing how the machine worked. We talked about the needle sizes and then the different feet, like the one needed to put in a zipper. The two way zippers throw me for awhile until I remembered that You Tube has everything. Sure enough they did. My grandson also picked where the colors were to go.

 This looks way bigger then it is, but it is a coin purse to put in his lunch money for the backpack.

These were two organizer bags that I copied off of some I have for travel. He likes to carry little cars or cards that he collects and this will keep them separate from the other things he carries.The cost of the fabric and other things needed did not really make it particle to make many of these, but the learning and togetherness was worth it.

New Room

 Thought you would like to see some of the new sun porch. The room measures 14x27. At one end we have a sitting area and eating. We have a 1/3 of acre and the backyard is garden. The windows make it so nice to see the garden area now. I have five fountains and fourteen trees. Mostly fruit trees.

 The other end I have my sewing and work area.

I am so happy to line up my machines like this. I haven't been able to stop sewing since we have completed the room. It is just so easy now to get things done. The other thing we like is that my husband can sit in the sitting area and work on his laptop and talk to me while I am at the other end.

My Hat

 I thought you would like to see the finishing touches of my hat. This is the lining and grosgrain ribbon and my label at the center back of the hat.

 I put a velvet ribbon around the crown of the hat. The ribbon underside had red that looked nice with just a hint of color turned up in the back of the hat.

Truly a Wonderful Day

This is my friend Judy from Minnesota that came to visit me today on her trip to California. We went to high school together and have stayed in contact all of these years. This is the first time she has visited me at my home. It was so good to see her.

Shirt and Hat

Poke-a-dots are in, so I ordered some fabric from Gorgeous Fabrics. It is a wonderful soft jersey.

 I have been reading on several blogs that sewers like StyleArc patterns because they fit so well. This is my first try at their patterns. This is Eva Knit Top.  I ordered the wrong size, so I had to enlarge it, but now I know which one to order. The directions are adequate, but simple. I did have trouble with the neckband figuring out what they meant in sewing together at the bust line. I sewed it together by hand after sewing the neck band  was on. There is no way that the hand stitching doesn't show. Next time I will be sure to sew the bottom half of the neck band together before I sew the neck band onto the shirt. I do like the pattern and will make it again.

 Then I made this hat. The pattern shows it for a man, but it is the style that women are wearing too.

 I had some brocade and used horsehair interfacing and then lined it with some scarps of rayon fabric. I think it turned out very well. I had to make it twice as the crown of the hat was too high for me. It doesn't take much material, so now it will be easy to make another one from scraps left over from a project.

Style

I haven't worn this hat for a long time. I made it quite some time ago. The necklace I bought in Turkey. The outfit I purchased at a estate sale. The print reminds me of a abstract camouflage.

Fashion

This is my latest attempt at trying to wear something new. I found some shorts, short skirts, tights and jewelry at a recent estate sale.