zipper bags

i love little pouches to keep my often harried life organized. i wanted to experiment with zippers, so i thought these would be an easy way to start. i made a 7x7 pouch with a 7" zipper using this. one thing i forgot to do was trim the zipper ends...just a little note. whip some of these up for make-up, pencils, or in this case baby food.





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polka dot skirt

after not really successfully making the pants i had in mind for matilda, i redeemed myself with another skirt. i made the ruffle trim with this tutorial. the fabric was repurposed out of a tea towel. love the ditsy print. i really like the way it turned out. i may add a pocket later.

what i would have done differently was to fold down the top of the ruffle to keep there from being a raw edge. lesson learned.





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a skirt for matilda

remember i told you that i made a skirt for matilda? well, here it is:





matilda looks so darn cute in it, the icing on the cake. i was so happy with the way it turned out, which never happens.



i used pink embroidery thread to sew a button cluster i the corner.



i finished the seam with chocolate brown piping (surprisingly easy!), even though i don't know if i did it right!

i am on a sewing kick again. i think i'll whip up a few of these and then maybe this...

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Decorating Craft Spaces

Because I am not fancy enough to have my own craft room (my husband has taken over our free room!) I have to carve out a space for my creative exploits.

I moved my sewing desk in to our bedroom and we added this beautiful wardrobe for craft storage (fabric, stamps, scrapbooking materials, etc).









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Special Offer for Homemade Grits Readers

The kind folks at Fabric.com are offering a $5 off coupon from
April 18th thru April 25th. There is no minimum purchase and the coupon is a one time only coupon. Use code bloghomemade. Happy sewing!



source: Cluck Cluck Sew


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Sigh

Relationships...complicated boogers aren't they? I feel like relationships of the female variety are especially complicated. Anways, this week I've been missing one relationship more than I can ever begin to say. It's been a year since Mama Lou has been gone from this world. I hope she is having an absolute ball in heaven. They certainly are lucky to have her.

There is not a day that goes by that I don't miss her, regret not talking with her more, regret not taking more trips to visit. My heart is heavy with this sadness. Sadness that Matilda will never meet her.



I promised myself and Mama Lou that I would learn to quilt so that I could teach Matilda. I didn't know I would fall back in love with sewing. It breaks my heart that I couldn't have caught this bug sooner, that I can't pick up the phone to pick her brain or tell her about great websites or fabrics, that we gave away so much of her tools that I would love to use in her honor. C'est la vie. Everything I make is because of her. I love you.

You just never know what will happen. Hold on tight to your loved ones.



source: kindawonderful


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Oh Crafty Day!

I am very lucky to have a crafty husband (read: Magnolia Leather Works %20 off sale), who doesn't mind going to Joann's on a rainy sunday. It was there that I made future crafty plans and withheld my efforts of a project a day. I can't go too much in to this project until a later date, although I can tell you I finished it much to my satisfaction and I only had to use the seam ripper once!. Here's a tease:



Uh huh that's right. That's my sewing machine. Thank you youtube for helping me get that blasted thing threaded. I'm a little rusty, but it was kinda like riding a bike.

As far as my status is concerned I am feeling much better about life. It's amazing what a few days (and two days off) can do for your mental state. I was very fortunate to have a sweet visit from my Kate who is soon to be a married woman. See below.



She brought me iced coffee and the sweetest birthday gift. Those Kiefer girls sure have my number. I can't wait to show you the beautiful necklace I received from Claire!



Charley Harper salt and pepper shakers. Kate also got me the neatest table butter dish from Le Creuset.



The butter crock keeps soft, fresh butter ready to spread for 3-5 days. Love it!

I can't wait to show you my newest accessory supplied by Sam Graham...

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