3-tiered Skirt

I was looking at my clothes and realized I never shared my tiered skirt I made last year.  It was a pretty easy skirt to make, my husband found the material on clearance at Wal-Mart as a kit for chair pads.

I really should make another and do a tutorial for ya'll.  Is that something ya'll would be interested in?

Are you wondering yet where we were?  LOL

We were at Dinosaur World in Glen Rose, TX.  That's the day I found my Franklin.   Which BTW, is a Franklin Vibrating Shuttle.  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/01/treadle-sewing-machine-and-winner.html

It's a great place for photos, otherwise not worth it in my opinion.  Kids would probably enjoy it.

It was the only cold day we have had, today was in the 70s in TX!

Job 41:1 ¶ Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?
Ps 74:14  Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
Ps 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
Isa 27:1  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.
Dinosaurs are even in the Bible!

We went to the Creation Science museum which was just down the street, and it was a lot better!

My husband refused to put his head in the dinosaur's mouth so I had to do it!  LOL
Overall the best part of the day was the junk shop.  I am going to drive all the way back to the junk shop on Saturday to see if they have any more sewing machine cabinets left so that I can get one for my Janome.  Wanna go with me?

Here's a better picture of my skirt.
Happy hunting!
Missy

Surviving Off Grid Documentary

Can you imagine living without having to ask for anything from utility companies, grocery stores and supplying everything you need yourself?  Well, it can be done!
Have you heard of the book Surviving Off-Off-Grid by Michael Bunker?  It is a really good book and if you are an Amazon Prime member you can get it free on Amazon for your kindle right now.  Don't have a kindle?  That's ok, you can download a free kindle app either onto your phone or computer.  If you are like me and am not a prime member, don't worry, you can still get an ebook for only $6.99.  Of course it is also available in paperback too.
Even better than that, how would you like to see a documentary done on the book?  I have a good friend who is trying to raise the support to film a documentary on it.
This is the first film of it's kind, wouldn't it be awesome to be on the ground floor of such a great documentary?
"Our goal is to produce a 60 minute documentary DVD based on the Amazon.com bestseller Surviving Off Off-Grid: Decolonizing the Industrial Mind by Michael Bunker. The documentary will include interviews with the author as well as other well known individuals in the agrarian lifestyle community. This film will be distinguished from others in the genre by exploring the concept of living off off-grid. Whereas many folks in the survivalist community discuss escaping the electrical grid by creating one’s own personal grid with solar or wind power, this project will explain the concept of living without an electrical grid at all. This idea revolutionizes the concept of survival from being able to merely survive until everything goes back to "normal", to actually learning to thrive without using electricity, and other modern "necessities".
In addition, the documentary will describe how civilizations throughout history have declined when they left their agrarian roots and engaged in over specialization and urbanization. The similarities between these historical civilizations and the modern industrialized Western world will be explored, with an emphasis on warning of the consequences that occur when a society leaves its agrarian traditions.
Writers, producers, and directors have already been identified. The cooperation of the author of the book in promoting this project through his network has been secured. The only thing this project needs to go forward is funding. More information about the book on which the documentary will be based can be found at the off off-grid website: http://www.offoffgrid.com/
The documentary project has an aggressive schedule and is targeted to be completed by the summer of 2012."
If you would like to be a supporter go here:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/offoffgridmovie/surviving-off-off-grid-decolonizing-the-industrial
There are all kinds of neat things you can get if you help to back this film.
Be sure to pray about it and see if this is something God might have you do!

Birdhouse Quilt Update 2!

First, I wanted to show you that I got my Janomes!!

The one on the right is my old one that I have been borrowing, my friend said that I could keep it! So excited because this will be the one I take to sewing circle and classes. It will also be nice for when I am working on two projects at one time, not to mention friends can come over and sew and not have to bring their machines.   The one in the middle is the one I'm keeping, it is computerized. I have been so busy I haven't had a chance to sit down and play with it. The one on the left is the one I'm giving to my friend Marie. She is the one we are making the quilt for. I took her machine out and was sewing on it, it is very nice too.  I am almost done with mt first UFO challenge for the year.  I did not realize she was picking different numbers and just started with the first on my list.

Last week I had to cut the sashing for the quilt blocks.

I used my bias ruler which is 2 1/2 inches wide to measure the sashes.  I cut over 90!

I laid a king size quilt of mine on the floor to keep the pieces clean and to guide us in the size. We put 10 blocks across and 10 blocks down. We had several ladies help quilt over 100 blocks!!!

I think that block placement was the most time consuming, and most difficult part of the evening.  Can't you tell by the look on our faces?  We didn't want too much of one print or color next to each other. 

We had fun trying to decide where all the block pieces should go. We were throwing blocks across the quilt to each other. 

Chrystal is helping decide where to put the blocks

Kristi tried to hide behind her quilt blocks she was sewing together. She is using her daughter's Hello Kitty Janome, it is a great beginner sewing machine.

Here is Pam sewing a row of quilt blocks together.

We are not exactly sure how Lauren managed to sew her pieces like that!  LOL
My friend Skye was also there helping to sew and cut.

.

This section will be in the middle of the quilt, I just sent it home with Cara to applique more birds like the one above.

This section will go to the left of the middle section.  It will have another one to the right.
We sewed 10 rows which ended up being 90 inches, I miscalculated, they were supposed to be 100 inches.  Hmmm, gonna have to rethink this.  The blocks had to be cut down to 8 inches and I forgot to add in the seam allowance!  LOL  That's ok, I laid one across my bed and it hung over by a couple of inches on each side.  Friday we are going to sew the rows together, then add a 2 1/2 inch border the same material as the sashing.  We will then add a 4 1/2 border of a real pretty yellow and blue flowers.
We will have one group working on that and the second group working on the back since it will have to be pieced some too.
We are almost finished!!  Our deadline is March 1!  For more previous posts on this quilt go here:  http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2012/01/birdhouse-quilt-progress.html
Happy quilting!
Missy

Essential oil bag tutorial

I have been super busy!  In between working/organizing the bird house quilt, cleaning my new treadle sewing machine, researchine my treadle, blogging, trying to clean my house and everything else a house wife has to do (who says homemakers don't do anything all day?) I made a bag for my friend Cara to put her essential oils in. Cara is a good friend of mine and is full of knowledge about essential oils.  I try to learn all there is to know, but then can't remember it, so I just call Cara when I need her help.  Here is her blog  http://e-oils.blogspot.com/ it is a great place to get information about essential oils and how to use them.  A lot cheaper and with no side effects than traditional medicine.  You can also buy oils from her website here http://stores.mybutterflyoils.com/StoreFront.bok
About a month ago she showed me a picture of a carrier and asked me if I could make one.  I looked everywhere and could not find a tute on making one (grant it though, I'm a terrible internet researcher!) so I decided to try to make one myself.  I made a lot of mistakes, but I now know what to do differently next time.  I'm going to make myself a small one to carry in my purse. (if I can ever find the time!)

Be sure to read the entire tutorial before starting to sew!  I forgot to take pictures at first, sorry.  I found about 5 different patterns to use together.  You can use as many or as little prints as you want, but I really like black, red and white.  I took my two main pieces for the front and back and cut them 12x15 1/2 inches.  These measurements are for the size I wanted, but you can make it any size you want.  First add a lining, more info on that farther on down.
The picture above is the pocket, I took the two main pieces and folded it in thirds.  I wanted the middle section for the oils and the bottom section for two pockets and nothing on the top section.   I measured across the material and added about an extra 1/4 in.  I made the pocket 5x12 1/4 inches.  I then sewed them right sides together and left an opening to turn it. 

I left the opening at the bottom and then sewed it down.  I then attached it to the bottom of the inside fabric and sewed up the middle to make two pockets. Don't worry about a little (little is the key word here) overlap, it will not be seen when the inside and outside fabric is sewn together.  I did make the pocket about a 1/4 inch shorter then the fold because I wanted the red contrasting fabric between the two blacks and the bag needed room to fold over.  This pocket is for band-aids, tweezers, oil guides, etc.  Next time I think I will add Velcro to the pockets to keep things from falling out. 

Next, I wanted the middle section a contrasting fabric also.  This section is to fold over the oils in the middle before closing the bag up.

Here is a picture of what it will looked like finished with oils in it.  I cut the middle the width I wanted then laid it down until it overlapped to decide how long to cut it.  I cut this strip 5 x 25 inches.  You will need to cut two pieces.

(Please do not look at my tacky chipped fingernail polish!  How embarrassing!)  I sewed the two pieces together wrong sides and then turned them and ironed the edges down before I sewed it together.  When I sewed it onto the inside fabric I sewed around the entire length to give it a more finished look.

This part I will change next time.  I sewed two pieces of felt under the middle strip to give cushion to the oils.  Next time I will cut an inner lining for the entire bag (felt, flannel, batting, anything will work).  Be sure to sew the lining to the inside fabric BEFORE sewing anything else on.  I then sewed the middle part on top of the felt.

I used elastic to hold the bottles in.  I made the top row for regular size bottles and the bottom row for small bottles.  Notice the two different sized elastics?  I also made a bigger size at the end for the carrier oil or spray bottle.

 I did make some of the elastic too loose.  Next time I will mark each piece where I want it to go.  I zig-zagged the edges of elastic then using a straight stitch , sewed up each piece using one strip of elastic for each row.  I just sewed along the bottom or top of the elastic until I got to the next part that I needed to sew up.  You can do that if your thread blends in with your material.
Remember that all of this is being sewn to the right side of the inside fabric only.  You don't want all those sewing marks seen on the other side.

Next you need to decide where you want your elastic.  You will want one piece on the inside and one piece on the outside, use a ruler to help guide and make sure it is straight.  Leave enough room at the top to be able to sew your two pieces together.  I would recommend at least a half inch.

It is really hard to pin down Velcro so I used washable glue stick to hold it in place until I sewed it down.

When you sew down the Velcro, I would recommend using white thread, the black looks awful!!  Here it is almost finished.

If you are going to add any outside decorations, sew them on now before sewing the inside and outside fabrics together.  I added a ribbon.   Leave enough room for the sewing, I would say about 1/2 an inch from the edge. 

I then put the right sides of the two main pieces together, make sure your Velcro is on the right ends!   I started sewing around the edges, starting and stopping at the middle sections since I did not want to sew down the middle flaps.  I then turned it wrong side out and ironed down the edges folded under.  Cara did mention it would be nice to have a ribbon so she could fold the bag one more time to put in her purse.  I would add those now to the middle of the backside of the black middle section.   Now sew around the entire bag. 

Here is the back of the folded bag, with oils in the bag.

And here is your finished bag, filled with oils and ready to go with you!  Ready for any emergency you might have!
Happy sewing!
Missy

Pinterest

I'm having internet problems for the past couple of days.  When I click to either open or close a webpage my internet stops working on me.  Whether I am looking at a blog or trying to open a FB link from my mail - does not bother.  It is taking me forever to get anything done, and I have a terrific tutorial to post for you, but I can't download any pictures!
While we are waiting on my husband to fix my computer (he's working overtime right now) I wanted to let you know that I finally bit the bullet and am on pinterest now.  I still haven't quite figured out what happens when I follow people yet though.  I'm still learning.
This is the best way I think of to describe pinterest.
Remember years ago when we would cut recipes, home decorating ideas, fashion ideas, crafts and stuff from magazines and then sort them into folders?  Well I think this is the same thing, but instead of paper and scissors we find something we like on the internet and "pin" it onto a "board".  The pinning is the scissors and glue and the board is the folder!  Talking about using less clutter!  In fact I am making a dress similar to an idea I pinned to one of my boards right now!
Please follow me, I'm pinning apron tutorials (did you notice that page of mine is gone?) I'm pinning them now instead.  I'm also pinning recipes I want to try and sewing and quilt tips, ideas and patterns.  Not to mention ideas for my new house in MO.  I just started a board for treadles also that I will be pinning resources and pictures to.
You are welcome to follow me! 

Have a great day and if anyone has any ideas on how to fix my internet I am open to suggesetions I have internet explorer and I'm afraid I have a virus.

Missy

Antique Quilts and a thimble

I found this thimble at the American Country Mall I was at Saturday when I bought my treadle sewing machine.  I found it in a sewing box and was not interested in the sewing box and asked how much for just the thimble.  She said I could have it.  I'm not sure if I was more excited about my thimble or my treadle!  LOL  I had to make myself take it off my finger for church Sunday!

You can the seam where it is joined together at the back.  Don't you love the pretty red flowers?  The best part is that it fits my skinny fingers and is tall enough for my fingernail!  Those short, stubby, fat thimbles you buy nowadays never fit and so I never use them.  I'll use this one all the time!

Look at all of the pretty antique quilts they had there. 

This next one is very unusual.  You can see it laying to the right on top of the other quilts.

Here is a better view.  I wish I knew the story behind this quilt!

It looks like someone either drew or painted birds on this quilt.  I had to take a picture of the penguin.  There was also an owl and a flamingo!

Here is the booth where I found my treadle sewing machine.

They also had a Singer, the next one was from Sears, and I'm not sure about the other two.  Next payday I'm going to see if maybe we can buy one of these other sewing machines so I can have a place for my Janome.  Even though my treadle has the best cabinet I plan on fixing it so I can use it.

Here is a spool holder, but only small ones fit in it.  It is sitting on top of a green sewing machine cabinet.

I love the color!

Isn't this lamp adorable?  I'm kind of an odd person, I love craft/sewing rooms that are full of color and fun, yet I love the antiques too!  I would never paint an antique.  I'll have to find a way to blend the two when we move to MO next year and I get my sewing room.
For those who were wondering about my machine yesterday, I got an answer on details about my machine.
Thank you for window shopping with me today!
Missy

"What a beautiful sewing machine and cabinet. Your machine is a Franklin Vibrating Shuttle with 'Scarab Decal' manufactured by the Domestic Sewing Machine Company for Sears, Roebuck & Co. around 1914 or so. It was based on Singer's very succ...essful and popular model 27. It was a considerably lower priced alternative although nearly identical in quality, design and construction to the Singer machine except for the hand wheel and the decal set. The cabinet is original to the machine. Enjoy your beatiful find!!"

I was so exciting about getting this ifnormation!