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my (not so) creative space

car cover mending

Severe weather is finally here in Nebraska and my creative space is filled with some not-so-creative sewing.

In the Spring, we stuff blankets under this cover to protect our car from hail. We got lazy last winter and left it on all year. The Nebraska winds nearly shredded it to pieces.

Now the weather radio alarm is going off and all we’ve got is a giant rag. I grabbed some canvas from my stash and started sewing patches. I gave up after fixing the biggest holes. It’s good enough to hold some blankets in place. That’s about it.

My husband asked if I could use the old cover as a pattern to sew a new one. Ha! I’ve taken on some crazy projects, but I think I’m going to pass on this one.

garage sale find: The canvas came in a tub with a bunch of muslin. I almost tossed it because it had spray paint stains on it. Now there’s hardly any left. I’ve made all sorts of heavy-duty patches with it.

Creative Spaces have a new home. Stop by and play along!

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silky eye pillow

A few nights ago I sat down in front of the tv and couldn’t find anything to watch. My daughter was already in bed and my husband was downstairs working out. I decided to flip through some of my craft books for an easy project. I was really tired so it had to be really easy.

silky eye pillow amanda soule handmade home

I found the perfect project in Handmade Home: a silky eye pillow scented with chamomile and lavender. I had it finished and ready for the stuffing in no time. The next day I bought the herbs, came home and made a few more.

silky eye pillow amanda soule handmade home

stash: I had everything I needed in my stash except for the herbs. A quick online search showed that most people used flax for the stuffing. I had a big bag of sushi rice in the pantry and the small round grains worked perfectly.

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thrifty find: fabric book panels

Remember all of those hours I spent thrifting without finding anything to wear? Well, I did find something cool on the way out of one store: a huge box of brand new quilting fabric. I couldn’t resist a little peek and what did I spy? Books!

fabric books

I don’t know why I haven’t thought of making fabric books before. My daughter had a few and loved them. She’d crumble them up, chew on them, drop them on the floor and after a run in the washing machine they’d be just like new.

thrifty second thoughts: Last week, I was proud of myself for not going overboard and buying the whole box. After doing a little online search, I wish I would have bought a few more.

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my creative space

fairy dress

In my creative space this week, I altered this cute dress to fit my daughter. She hasn’t been that interested in dress up clothes, but there were a few times at the children’s museum that wore a dress almost exactly like this.

I snagged this one at the thrift shop, even though it was a few sizes too big. I took in the shoulders and body, but left the skirt as is.

fairy dress

She was really excited when I brought it home and couldn’t wait until it fit. Now, of course, she doesn’t want to wear it. Maybe I should call it a Fancy Nancy dress instead. If that doesn’t work, it can always be transformed into a twirly skirt.

What’s happening in your creative space this week? Play along over at Kirsty’s.

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heading back into the closet

wardrobe refashion linen skirts

The Thrifting Fairies must have been on Easter vacation last weekend. I did a lot of trying on and left with a lot of nothing. It made me think that refashioning what’s in my closet might be a better way to spend my time. So, on a trip up to Omaha, I grabbed two skirts and my seam ripper.

First to come out were the bulky pockets. Then I unpicked the waist and elastic casing. This week I’m going to take in the sides and insert a zipper (yikes!). Currently on the chopping block are these two linen skirts. Stay tuned!

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finished: lots of waistbands

princess and the pea

I’ve been going through skirts and adjusting elastic waistbands today. It doesn’t make for interesting blog or picture opportunities. However, I did adjust the waistband in one of my daughter’s new twirly skirts and it is pretty darn cute. Don’t you love the fabric?

princess and the pea

Yesterday we spent some time at the library and I found an Easy-to-Read version of The Princess and the Pea. I have a feeling it’s going to become a favorite around here.

What did you finish this week?

skirt: My friend made this for her daughter and it turned out too small. We are very lucky and grateful that she passes these cute things on to us.

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wardrobe refashion: reverse appliqué saves the day

reverse applique tshirt

This is one of those shirts that has been saved over the years because of sentimental value. Every time my husband makes a recycle/donate pile of old t-shirts, it always makes the cut — even after the giant hole. I decided I’d fix it up for him. It’s way too thin to be worn much longer, but it can at least be made into something else if he wants.

reverse applique tshirt

Believe it or not, this is the first time I’ve done a reverse appliqué. I figured it would be the best choice because the fabric was already ripped. I filled in the peeling letters with a Sharpie marker. I’m still mending the holes above the letters. (Just when I thought I was finished sewing up holes!)

stash: Blue fabric from another shirt I’m planning to upcycle.

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finished: a whole bunch of holes

mending holes

I’m really excited to finish off a large portion of the big to-do pile, although it doesn’t make for exciting blog material, that’s for sure. How on earth my family manages to put so many holes in our clothes I’ll never know.

The photo is actually a friend’s shirt. This is the second time someone has asked me to fix the same kind of hole on a new shirt. It’s like the manufacturer didn’t have the ends held together while sewing up the sleeve.

Is it just a coincidence that I’ve seen two of these shirts recently? It’s been so long since I’ve bought a brand new t-shirt that I just don’t know. I would expect a $22 t-shirt to be made with a little bit more quality control, wouldn’t you?

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the little engine that could : season three

handmade train applique

I know I’ve complained about this before, but why do manufacturers make train, car and dinosaur shirts so gender specific? My daughter loves all three and she loves red, pink and purple. I hit the jackpot a few years ago when I found a white, new with tags, gender neutral train shirt at a garage sale. It was a size too big, but she wore it all the time with her sleeves rolled up. The next year it fit perfectly.

This year, it’s too small. I suggested maybe we pass it on to one of her friends who loves trains. “But Mama, can’t we just sew the train on to another shirt?”

I put this project off, but she kept bringing it up. I may be finished with it, but my daughter isn’t ready to give it up. In fact, she art directed the whole project, choosing the pink shirt and suggesting the border. After she got over her disappointment that I didn’t have any pink ric rac in my stash, she picked blue to match the puffs of steam.

She’s very proud of her new shirt. I’m happy that she’s happy. I think this might be the season finale for this little engine, though. After this, it’s going on a tote bag.

project details: I positioned the ric rac in place with a glue stick before stitching it on, which allowed me to fudge the corners so they matched. Worked like a charm! Also, I didn’t fold over the ends. Just lined them up and sealed them with a little bit of fray check.

almost two years ago: My tutorial on ruffling up a boy’s t-shirt. I wish this would have worked for the train shirt, but my daughter is growing too fast!

behind the scenes: I’m finally seaming the baby blanket. Can’t wait for the big reveal!

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favecrafts blog hop: st. patrick’s day outfit

summer twirly skirt

Tomorrow my daughter’s preschool class is having a St. Patrick’s Day party and everyone has to wear a green shirt. Over the past week, we’ve gone from her insisting on wearing her only green (too small) gumdrop shirt to her requesting an entirely new outfit. She rarely asks me to make her clothes, so of course I jumped at the opportunity.

four leaf clover shirt

She really wanted a green shirt and legging combo, but when I found this cute clover/flower fabric in my stash, she agreed that a coordinating skirt might be better. (Phew!) I’ll try to get a better photo of the top tomorrow, as I didn’t finish it until after the sun went down. I think both of these will get lots of wear over the summer, hopefully not always together.

The FaveCrafts Blog wants to know what you have finished on the 15th. Check out other finished projects and post one of your own!

project details: Green shirt from Target, thrifted fabric and ribbon from my stash. Lazy Days Skirt pattern from oliver + s.

tiny four-leaf clover pattern: Don’t forget to crochet up a little luck for yourself and friends. They work up super quick! My pattern here.