Houston, I Think I Have a Problem!

Last summer Dear S set up a table in our unfinished basement for me to sew in.  It never was perfectly organized but it worked . . . till winter came and it was too cold to spend time down there.  So my sewing machine moved upstairs with my notions and some fabric.  The bulk of my fabric stayed downstairs.  Then crazy things in life happened (nothing serious) and the basement became a holding cell for all the things we didn't have time to put away. (Great example: the closet under the basement stairs is where we store our holiday decorations.  But for 4 months all the Christmas decorations sat in the hallway.)

All that stuff was piled onto my sudo-organized fabric.

Fast forward to this summer.  Grandma and Grandpa are coming in 3 weeks.  This year they will stay in the basement "guest room".  (The first time said guest room, unfinished 2x4's and all, will be used.)  So I have a basement that needs serious work.  And I am doing it.

And through the course of doing the work, I realized that I have TONS of fabric!!  Obsessive amounts of fabric.  I have a problem!!!  A very serious problem.  (Dare I breath the possiblility that I am a *gasp* hoarder? Or compulsive shopper?)

So, here is my challenge to myself:

I will not buy more fabric until I use or give away the bulk of my stash.

A few minor adendums:

a)  If I have a specific need, ie Halloween, I can buy more.

b)  If I find cotton knit on the cheap, I am totally picking it up.  I can't find it anymore and I L-O-V-E that stuff.

c) Wish me luck. I usually buy a few yards every time I go shopping!

There you have it.  Yesterday as I was "cleaning" I found several yards of fantastic 1970's print.  They are screaming for a maxi-dress.  But they are so bright they might be offensive.  Do I dare?

I will post pics of my new sewing space once we get it all cleaned.  It won't be pretty.  Not like Robyn's.  But it will be a space that I can sew and hopefully teach D how to use her machine.

Worry-Free Jewelry*: Friendship Bracelet Grown-Up

Do you remember the Friendship Bracelet I showed you a while ago?

Well, look at how it grew up!

We were heading to a rodeo and the theme was Tough Enough To Wear Pink.  Well, my mom is a breast cancer survivor, so she brought over pink fabric for all of us to wear. 

 D used the friendship bracelet method on three strips of fabric to make her hat decoration. (Her strips were about 1.5 inches thick and 2 yards long.)

 

I turned mine into a scarf/necklace.  We used thicker strips of fabric, probably 5 inches each.

Then today I was at an event and I saw a bundle of string that was for balloons.  I thought, huh, that would make a totally cute necklace if it was twisted.

I took kite string.
And put the kiddos to work.

I used two yards lengths.  I separated my two oldest kids about two yards apart and sent little L wrapping the string around their hands.  See how their hands are held up?  We went 15 times, so that total there was 30 strings.  Then D and I started twisting.  I wanted it to be really tight.  Then I followed the steps just like in the post.  And WAh LA new necklace that looks amazing but it is worry-free*!

Dress it up and be oh so chic.

Here is the reason why the pics were taken inside:

I was getting blown away.   (I was holding my shirt down so I didn't look like I had wings.)

*OK, what is worry-free jewelry?  Have you ever had a kid break your string of beads?  Have you ever had a kid gnaw on your costume jewelry and you wonder what are they ingesting?  Have you ever broken your necklace yourself because you were being a mom?  Or being active?  Worry-Free Jewelry is an answer to those woes.  Easy to make, and easy to fix.  (And usually cheap). 

Crafty Juices Were Flowin'

Yesterday was a rare day at my house.  Everyone was home and we had no where to go.  Bliss.

Add to that the creative energy that flowed through our house.

The two boys, Mr and J, worked on J's pinewood derby car.  Good masculine creativity.

The girls and I worked with one of my favorite mediums, fabric.

First we taught Little L how to make yo-yo's.  This kept her focused and it was so fun to watch her sew.  She made up stories about her yo-yo's.  They were all fairies and the little one needed constant babysitting.

Then we pulled out Princess D's new sewing machine and she made her first item, a pillowcase.  She loves sleeping on a Euro-Square pillow, so that's what we made her.  She was so proud and I let her do it all herself (which was kinda hard).  I did use the rotary cutter and cut it out--I'm not brave enough to trust her with that yet.

I had hoped to sew D's bed skirt too, but I had a nasty attack of carpal tunnel and I couldn't find my hemming foot.  So I was the only one who didn't make anything.

After I tucked the kids in bed I pulled out my glue gun and flowers and made some simple hair clips.  Nothing fancy.  Little L tucked Mr. into bed and came down and helped me.

This morning I found this:

My girls had created their own combinations.  They put mine to shame, but the Mama in me is proud.  Look at the use of texture and color?  They mixed in ways that fashion and trend wouldn't dare, but these girls could rock that look. (And who I am to force my girls to stay on trend and not branch out?)

I guess I better create more opportunities for my kids to be creative, cause the juices are flowin.