Thursday Updates From a Slow Week

The Headache

It’s been a quiet week here on the blog which is not like me. But when headaches hit and won’t split, the computer is the last place these eyes want to be. And yes, the head is better this morning, so I wanted to share another challenge that has my interest piqued.

My supervisor said she found a handbag at The Dressbarn and thought it could be something I could duplicate. OK. The challenge is on, and she hasn’t purchased it yet. So I looked on the Dressbarn website this morning and found two bags I would love to try at some point using suiting and leather fabrics. These are just too cute:

Dressbarn Handbag #1

Dressbarn Handbag #2

I thought first about going to Goodwill and finding a suitcoat, either men’s or women’s style, to upcycle for this project. But then I pulled out the Joann’s flyer for this week and they have their suitings on sale for HALF OFF! And with all the other coupons I have, I am hoping for a very successful trip to Joann’s after my meeting this morning.

As far as the Prairie Cable Bags, there are still 2 on the needles with no progress this week whatsoever. I guess that makes me a headache weenie, right? :) Hopefully this coming weekend there will be a lot of challenges and orders completed.

btw – I ordered a book in Japanese off of Etsy. I don’t read or speak Japanese. But there was some charting for knitting in this book that I know I CAN read. :) The book should be here this weekend, so hopefully some new inspiration will arrive with it. There are wool yarns that are begging to get made into something unique!

Feb 26 2011

Gearing Up for MARCH MADNESS!!!

I believe that March will be my month for hunkering down and getting serious about recycling, upcycling, designing, and generally getting some product done.

So in getting ready for my BIG month coming, Goodwill advertised a HUGE sale ending today. Got in the boo-boo-bug and slushed my way over to the neighborhood store and ended up bringing home a garbage bag full of sweaters, jumpers, ugly dress suits and ties. Why you ask? Because they wanted stuff out of their store and some of this stuff will make perfect bag linings, photo backdrops and yes, the bags themselves! I can’t wait to dig in as the ideas to make these boring sweaters into something fun and useful are swirling around in my head. Just look at this pile……..

Sweaters to Recyle into Bags

See the ugly purple jacket under the sweater pile? Don’t think I’d even wear this as a joke, but the embroidery on it is out of this world. And texture? This baby has got it going on. The picture in my head of this bag finished is outstanding. And yes, there are two Christmas sweaters in there, but don’t gals like to sometimes carry a seasonal bag? hmmmm But wait, it gets better……

Golf Vest

You got it! It’s a never before worn knitted golf vest. See the price tag still attached? You are reading it right. It says $84.00 and it’s a Pendleton. What a fun spring bag this will make. My dear husband said when he saw it, “Why don’t you just wear that one?” Um, well honey, number one… I don’t golf. Number two, it’s stinking ugly! :) But that’s just me.

Yesterday’s errands found me at Joann’s and Staples. Weird combo, but it works for me. Staples discount bins were out of this world. And Joann’s was Joann’s, it’s always fun there. But I did find fat quarter bundles for 25% off, so these are going to make some fun little stuff to put IN your bags or totes.

Tools and just plain good stuff....

As I write this, my dear one is still rummaging through the pile of sweaters wondering why I don’t just wear them! I spent some big bucks, too, and found a Husker tie I thought just maybe he’d like to wear to work on Fridays. But if he doesn’t wear it, it’s going to get recycled into something else if he doesn’t watch it. tee hee

So bring it on March! I’m ready for you. Let the ‘madness’ begin………….

And happy creating, everyone!!!! Thanks for stopping by.

Feb 12 2011

Nuttin’ Special

After a few weeks of non-blogging, today you will have the ‘privilege’ of seeing how the weekend is going so far. After a couple loads of wash, and of course playing a couple of games on Facebook, the organization and projects started to get tackled.

#1 – Shortening two pairs of pants. One of the being jeans (which I totally HATE to shorten), and my dress slacks because God made me short. This is the before pic, but believe me the projects are complete and ready to wear.

Pants on the ground......

#2 – Got the sweaters I was going to give to Goodwill put together to recycle into purses at some point. And I was going to give these away? What was I thinking?

Possible Purses from Sweaters Project.... hmmm

#3 – All items from Sam’s finally put into one place for easy grabbing for my sewn planners/portfolios. Sam’s was the BEST place to find paper products!

Portfolio Supplies just itching to be put into my planners!

#4 – Joann’s gave up all their Husker fabric to ME!!!!!!!! na na na na naaaaaaa na

Husker Fabric is all MINE!

#5 – Gathered all the extra little flowers and blings together all ready to get ironed onto future planners. Now they are in one spot. Hmmmmm, one place? Now that’s creative.

Fabric Iron-On Flowers and BLING BLING!

#6 – So the sewing was organized, now that pesky drawer of baby bamboo needed a little help…. ahhh, this one felt GOOD to get done. Here we go, BABY!

Every color of Aunt Lydia's Bamboo #10 (you know it's my fave)

#7 – Time to sew. Only 3 planners and a few aprons were cut out and ready, so a planner got sewn while watching “Wuthering Heights“. Now what better way to spend an hour or so, huh?

Olive and Peach Flourish Combo - Etsy Bound

As you can see, I forgot my business card yet again. sheesh

Well, I’m off to finish a hat for a co-worker….. try and do some more on the Winter Special Olympics scarf (I’m not loving this one)…… and get my hubby safely on the road to his next gig in his newly SHORTENED jeans! And he’d better like it, too.

Happy Creating!

Oct 10 2010

Goal Setting

A new week is here which means new goals for the TL (me). There may not be a lot of designing going on, but then again, who knows what will happen.

Goals for week of 10.10.10

1. Cut and sew at least one apron

a. track exact yardage as patterns ALWAYS call for too much to save money

b. track time spent on project to calculate charge for possibly making aprons for others

2. Figure out how to UpCycle THIS! It is screaming some sort of fun tote and it’s another thing I cannot seem to throw or give away as it’s a hand-me-up from my daughter. It does not fit me anymore. Go figure.