Saturday, August 20, 2016

Wedding Finish #2

My SIL in Guatemala is a Snoopy fan.  Maybe obsessed would be a better word.  I hate to say I contributed greatly to her collection when she was younger.  Well, for the wedding she had a Snoopy in a tuxedo and a plain Snoopy.  She wanted the plain Snoopy to be more bride-like and then the pair would sit on the gift table.

After we finished the Welcome pennant, my MIL got out the box of odd ribbons I had left with her when we moved to see what we could use for the Snoopy bride.  We were originally looking for a ribbon for Little S's hair for the wedding, but now it had turned into a treasure hunt.  Little S had a lot of fun digging around in the box. Brought back a lot of memories of projects I had worked on when we lived in Guatemala.  She picked out everything that was white - ribbons, lace, beads and even tiny flowers!  Then she found a tiny blue flower bouquet.  Perfect.

We had a little bit of tulle left from another project that I used for a veil.  I cut an elongated oval, which I folded not in half, but at about one-third so that the veil appear to have 2 layers.  I attached the folded end to a circlet of beads, leaving a bit of fold sticking up for effect.  That stayed on the head because it fit under Snoopy's ears.

Then the bouquet.  We picked out the worn parts of the blue bouquet and added a pretty white bow.  Then added a ribbon on the back to tie to Snoopy's arm.

It came out great.  It also made me very thankful for my glue gun back home.  But working with just needle and thread allows for a level of detail you might not get otherwide.  It really makes you aware of how things are put together.

Showing off finishes with Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Stash Report 081416

Due to the Grand Reconfiguring I didn't get any sewing done this week, but I did have fabric out.  In my efforts to compact my "stuff" as small as possible to make space for Little S to live in harmony with the sewing room I got rid of more fabric that I knew I wouldn't ever use.  I also apparently still had a bin from my mother that I had not gone through.  I was pleased to be able to condense more and also to put some of my mother's things in a a more appropriate place so that I will see it and use it.  I think overall I did well.

While all the flat surfaces are clear I am taking advantage to work on getting some scrapbooking done.  As soon as R gets back I will have to fold up the big work table to make space for Little S's mattress.) I rue the day my sister taught me about scrapbooking.  A woman cannot serve 2 hobbies.  Quilting always comes out ahead, so the photos are always waiting.  Unfortunately the girls are more interested in having their photos properly arranged than yet another quilt.  

Progress:
* A pile to maybe sell since I believe it has value.  I have hung on to some things for too long.  Vintage pillow cases, jacket professionally made from a quilt, old quilts that have no meaning to me??  R will help me with that in the future.
* A pile to donate since I can't see much real purpose in it.  Not quilting fabric. 1.5 yards
* 2 queen size sheets I was saving for backings went to my sister for curtains in her new house. 12.75 yards

Update: She returned the sheets so I am backing them out of the report as used and they'll go back in the stash. Too bad.  

Hmmm...  I need to finish some quilts so I can get some real backing numbers!  Backings definitely make a big difference.

Stash report revised on 090116
Fabric Used/Out This Week: 1.5 yards
Fabric Used/Out in 2016: 52.02 yards


Fabric In This Week:  0  yards
Fabric In 2016: 31.54 yards
 

Net Used 2016:  20.48 yards

Staying accountable with Judy over at Patchwork Times.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Wedding Finish #1


We went to my SIL's wedding  in Guatemala.  She is much more than a SIL and an aunt, so it was a momentous occasion.  She planned for hydrangeas for her flowers and at the last minute saw an idea online somewhere for a welcome bicycle with hydrangeas in the basket.  Their original letters were too big and there was just too much going on for her to concentrate on the project. 

Mind you - we are in a small town in Guatemala and there are no craft stores so we had to work with what was available.  Perfect for me - The Queen of Make Do!  She had the burlap and amazingly I had never learned that word in Spanish after having lived there nearly 16 years.  I made the triangle template first, then worked backwards to get the right size letter.  The little librerias carry an odd assortment of stuff and they were able to find blue felt for the letters.  Just sitting over coffee after dinner I got the letters cut and glued on.

The next day was the real test.  She wanted it to be just like the picture, but I didn't want to make burlap binding to hang them with.  So while she was a work, my MIL and went to the libreria to see what we could come up with.  Thin blue cording that was just the right color.  So I made a simple casing and we threaded the cording through.  Perfect.

Old bicycle from the groom's father, hydrangeas from a local woman, basket from the market, pennant and VOILA!  It even stood up to a pretty good rain just before the wedding started.

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict to show off finishes!