When the Sewing Table Migrates to the Dining Table...

...you know it has to be serious. :)  After all my patterns were cut for Shameka's vampire cape, I had to move to the kitchen table because my little sewing table just didn't cut it for the long, slippery layers of sateen.  I think I used more sewing pins completing this cape than I have for my entire life....Home Ec included!

In the end though, it all turned out fabulously!  Here are a quick few shots of the finished cape:

I also finished Linda and James' picture, which actually ended up being right on time for their engagement.

Both of them loved it, which was my goal :)

Stay tuned for one more painting!

Machine Embroidery

It all started when Shameka asked me to make a Slytherin (Harry Potter) cape.

Now, I'm making her a vampire cape for Halloween, and I was attempting to find a good way to put a blind hem on the edges of the cape.  I dug out my bag of sewing stuff and found the manual for the Janome my grandma gave me before I left for Florida, and I noticed that there were a LOT of feet that went to this machine, all for different things.  I started reading more about them, and then I got extra-curious when I discovered the darning foot.  (Not what I had any idea what darning was in the first place either, I had to continue reading!)  I've always been fascinated by hand embroidery and my grandma was very proud to show me her embroidery machine that you put hoops in and it sewed for you, but I was curious how people managed to get large, intricate designs that weren't already patterned.  They were ORIGINAL machine-embroidered pieces.

Imagine what you find when you actually read the manual for your electronic devices.  I found out how to attach the darning foot to the sewing machine and I started playing around with the settings and....VOÍLA!  Kayla's in DEEP trouble now....she just discovered how to machine-embroider.

Granted, this was just a bunch of little test loops and scribbles, but now I'm starting to think of its applications in terms of jewelry, using washable markers, etc.

...Yup.  I found a new craft to add to my arsenal.  Dave was just chuckling at me in the background, but he's decided to stay away from the kitchen table for a while since I tried to recruit him as a temporary dress bust!

A little help from Grandma(s)

This past weekend for Labor Day and also last weekend, Dave and I headed up to Eclectic, AL to go visit my dad's parents.  The scenery on the way up was gorgeous, and I got a few roadies (no not drinks....road photography shots) on the way.

We had a fantastic time both weekends, and Grandma Al and I couldn't help but play with our stamps.  We made a huge dent in my stamp books, and I have made huge progress on sorting a giant bag of stamps that has been sitting in my stamp box for a couple of years now.  There were a few stamps that I had so many of that I debated whether or not I should make jewelry pendants and bracelets out of them! :)  I also grabbed a really cool shot of the leather plant in their saltwater fishtank and a few interesting cobwebs in Grandpa's workshop.

Nori had her spat with Kingston (their Doby) and Alex & Trouble (their cats), and though she gets along fine with the other kitties it'll take her a little longer to get used to Kingston, especially since he likes to chase.  After all, he is probably ten times her size!  Nori is getting bigger by the day and now takes up the entire windowsill when she lays up there when we're in the office.  Here are a few shots of her over the past couple of weeks.

When we got back this weekend we took a trip to the commissary and the BX for food and necessities, and I also picked up an extendable curtain rod.  Sometimes I'm eternally grateful for Née teaching me how to sew, because I sewed up the end of an old wall hanging and made a curtain for our linen closet at the end of the hall.  The sewing machine is definitely getting some good use!