UpDate

Well-- I haven't forgotten about Blogging... just been very busy the last few days!
My youngest daughter had her 13th Family birthday party on Friday the 16th (she is having a Sleepover Birthday Party this next Saturday the 24th ).
My husband belongs to the Garner Coon club and this last weekend was the Arkansas State Youth Championship Hunt. Click here to check out their website.  The club House is across the road from our house... so I was over there ALL DAY on Saturday-- 11am Saturday morning till 4am Sunday Morning! It was  alot of fun!

Then after I slept awhile-- Sunday was Cleanup for the Birthday Party and the Coon Hunt.
I have started adding some items to my Etsy Shop and plan to have a lot more listed by the time I head to bed tonight.

And I haven't forgotten about the Cricut Expression Cover... That is still on my To-Do List for later this week.

Happy Sewing!

Adventures in making the Cricut Expression Cover

Well-- I will learn to not say " I will post an update tomorrow" when "tomorrow" is on the weekend!

I DID manage to get some sewing in-- just didn't have time to post about it until today.

This is the only pic I took of Attempt #1 at making the dust cover. I basically cut a rectangle the dimensions of the width across the top of the machine and the length I measured from back to front (bottom of machine at back, over the top and back down to table on front). Then I cut 2 rectangles for the ends (width and height of the machine). I sewed it all together and attached elastic to the bottom. It basically looked like a long shower cap for the Cricut! It was not quite long enough  and a little short on the front-- so back to the drawing board.

I then began searching online for a guideline, instructions, Something to help. Found a few ideas... and this is the one I used. It had a good basic pattern and instructions. But this was not for the Expression, so I had to do a litte measuring and figuring.

I had more of the Brown material I had used on the "shower cap" so I started again. Cut out the large rectangle for the body and I actually had a pattern for the ends this time! This is a pic with the 3 peices sewn together and showing one end.  I then "tried it on" and it was still a little snug. The "width " measurement I took was across the bottom, but about 1.5 inches from the bottom the machine gets wider. I can easily fix that by adding a 2.5 inch strip of some yellow random dot material.

So I cut the cover with the rotary scissors... about 1/3 of the way from the left side and proceeded to add width.

This ALMOST fixed the problem...but I still needed some extra width at the 1.5inch from the bottom point. See it pulling?

Also, I wanted a snugger fit on the ends.  So... I decided this was just a learning experience anyway, so I started pinning and sewing!

The result is below.

I added a little vent to the contrasting strip ( it's like I did to some jeans way back in the day!)  I also cut down the heigth of the ends. I like the way the ends are nice and snug now... but still not happy with the need for a little more room at the widest point across the front.

Have my pattern making gear out and with what I've learned from making this one, the next one will be perfect! My plan is to make my OWN pattern and post a tutorial on the correct way to make a Cricut Dust Cover. I guess today has been a mini-tutorial on how I learned to make the Dust Cover.. LOL!

Another new thing this weekend is I signed up at artfire.com and opened a shop to sell fabric and handmade items. I will have the link tomorrow to my shop and some items in it.~~Meant to do the same thing on Etsy-- but they were down for maintenance-so will  do that one later.

Thanks for Stopping By and Happy Sewing!

Mending, Rain, Homework and Swine Flu!!

What a day!!
Here in Arkansas it has been raining since about 3am this morning... and the temp is continually dropping.
Makes me want to get a book and lay on the couch all day!

But -- that just isn't a possibility. My 15 y/o asthmatic son has been diagnosed with Swine Flu-- he is fine  but has been out of school all week. We have been doing homework-- but did not have his Civics Book so I have helped him look things up online. Have had a nice refresher course in Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branch-Concurrent Powers-Rule of Law-Spremacy Law, etc...
:)

As for my sewing progress-- I got all of my mending completed last night!! YAY!
I felt I had to complete that before I could sew any project... the husband had several (5!) pairs of work jeans in the pile-- so I know he's happy now!
My next project will be a cover for my Daughter's Cricut Expression she just received as an early birthday present. ...Man I am loving this thing-- can do so many different things with it!...
I am just measuring and will make a simple slip cover with elastic around the bottom. Also think I may add a pocket on the back side for the cord to go in.

Will have pics and an update tomorrow!

Take Care and Happy Sewing!

First Blog

I have come up with the idea of Blogging about my sewing/craft/projects to keep me motivated! If I am giving updates... then I need to have real progress!! ... that's the idea anyway!LOL!

I have sewed since I was a very young girl... can remember getting a stool to stand by my grandmother to watch while she sewed.  Love making people clothes-- absolutely hate making doll clothes! they are just too little! Love making useful things... I have made many "hunting accessories"  -- small game bag worn on the belt-- hunting vest-- knife holder for the belt, etc... (For this reason I have lots of camouflage material)

So to motivate myself to get started I have made a list:

REASONS WHY I SHOULD SEW_SEW_SEW!!!!

• I have WAY more material than one person should have... (have thought about selling some on Etsy or eBay... just can't bring myself to it!)
• I have idea books, patterns, patterns and instructions printed off a different websites--
• LOTS of embellishments and notions and elastic and zippers and thread --
• I have a new Kenmore sewing Machine and a Singer Serger--
  
• My kids are getting older--so no toddlers to run after--
• I am not working at the present time--so I have PLENTY of time--
• Christmas coming up-- plenty of time to make several presents--
  

So here goes! Wish me luck!