Feed bags to tote bags

I have joined the feed bag bandwagon! I have made more than just these three bags. These are the only ones that I took the time to photograph.  I love using things I get for free to create new things. 

They are tough and washable. I scrubbed them with dish detergent and the water hose before sewing them! 

The last time I was in TSC, I noticed a pretty fish feed sack! I don't feed fish, but my Dad does. I'll have to request that he use that brand!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Making gifts and an overnight trip

 I don't really have any photos of the overnight trip. I went with  my SIL to drop my nephews off at their summer camp for the week. As you can see, they didn't wait for us! They were anxious to get checked in. This is the oldest nephew's third year to attend and the younger nephew's first year. You can see how hot and dry it is. The grass is all crunchy! We stayed with my SIL's Aunt Jan that night. She is so much fun. We then shopped a little in Austin before heading home. We spent a little time at "The Domain" shopping center. We spent our time mostly in the M.A.C. store and a Sur La Table. We passed through the Macy's. We arrived home late Friday evening. My niece had a Regional swim meet the next morning. She placed 1st in her division in breast stroke, 2nd in butterfly and her freestyle relay team placed 1st. There will be a trip to the state meet in Corpus Christi in a few weeks!

 The week before the little trip, I was busy getting a wedding gift ready. I wasn't able to attend the celebration, so I sent the gift with my oldest son. The gift consisted of an apron from her Uncle's jeans, an embroidered tea towel, a cookbook of family recipes and a chicken feed bag tote bag (I forgot to include it in the photo). I have a stack of washed bags and plan to make more.

 Here is the apron on its own.

 A close-up of the embroidery. The pattern is from the Hobby Lobby website.

 I decided to include quotations about "family" in the cookbook of family recipes. I was thrilled to find polka dot looseleaf binders and polka dot border paper at Wal-Mart.

 The bride is a fan of "The Office" so I included some Dwight Schrute quotations!

 I used black and white polka dot for wrapping since the invitation was black with white print.

I've got a long to-do list. Hopefully, I'll get something done and have more to share soon! The Double Toe Jam is also coming up! I will be going to Waco to attend with several others from my clogging group!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Sewing with old jeans!

At the beginning of summer, my hubby and I cleaned out our closets. We had his blue jeans in several closets from the beginning of our marriage! I took several large bags to Goodwill, but I also kept plenty at home for sewing projects.  These are the first of my projects. I use the bottom of the legs to make the baby bibs. The next bibs will be for girls with pink bandanas.

I used the back of the jeans for the apron. Part of the legs were also used for the ties. I plan to use the front of the jeans for another apron. 
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Sew Happy!

 I had seen this pattern at the local Quilt Guild show. They are sold at "Sewing Machines By B and B" here in my hometown. (Quilt Plus online also carries the patterns and handles.) I finally purchased the pattern a few weeks ago. It was sitting on my cutting table while I tried to decide if I should use scraps of fabric from my stash or buy fabric.

In the meantime, I ran across this absolutely adorable embellished T-shirt at Make It and Love It. Of course, I pinned it. (I am so addicted to Pinterest now!)

THEN, I found a cheap inexpensive black broomstick skirt. I like the idea of a monochromatic outfit since I am short, but I don't like the way black affects my face! SO I decided to use the t-shirt embellishment idea in colors that flatter my coloring on a black t-shirt.

 THEN, I decided to make my purse coordinate with my shirt! Instead of piecing the purse and quilting it, I used a piece of black woven cotton for the purse and lining. I added the flowers just like on the shirt. Then I used my machine to stitch swirls mimicking the design on the flowers. (The purse does have traditional weight quilt batting in between the layers of fabric. This all needed to be stabilized.)

 The handle is really neat because I unscrew the knobs and remove the purse to wash or replace it with a different one.

I'm so happy with both of the projects. Now I just need somewhere to go so I can wear my new "ensemble".
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

 We had a low-key Independence Day celebration with our immediate family and a few of the boys' friends. Of course, hot dogs were the main menu item along with potato salad, coleslaw, chips, beans and cake. Lucky for us, our town's fireworks display has been moved closer to our house, behind our mall. All we have to do is sit in our front yard and look down the street for a spectacular view! I love it! No traffic to contend with and a bathroom nice and handy.

After seeing Anne Marie's old party barn banners made from bandanas, I decided that my patio needed some in red, white and blue for the 4th of July!

To make my banners, I cut each bandana into 4ths to give me 4 triangles. I straight-stitched along the raw edges so that they could unravel just a bit. Then I folded the top edge over my string and straight-stitched again. I did stitch up over the string on each end of each triangle to keep it from slipping along the string.

I hope everyone had a blessed Independence Day. I will end with a few borrowed words.

"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases. If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it, and if it stops moving, subsidize it"-Ronald Reagan 1986

"The inherent vice of capitalism is an unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is an equal sharing of the misery."-Winston Churchill

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

P.S.

I changed my post editor to the "Updated Edition"  under settings. This seems to have solved the issues I was having with links, text color and size. Yippee!

Cats and Independence

The kitty has really grown since we got him. He is also VERY active. Taking good photos of him has become quite challenging. He moves too much for the low-lighting in my kitchen. I can even keep up with him using a flash!He likes to run in circles around the island with the dogs following.

He and the dogs have become wonderful playmates! The down side is that the kitty then has the odor of doggie breath about him!I just finished a set of napkins. I found the idea in Martha Stewart's Living magazine. You can also find the idea online. I googled "Martha Stewart's seersucker napkins" to find it. (Even using "compatibility mode" after updating my browser, I still can't change my font color or size or use the link button. Suggestions would be appreciated.) I couldn't find striped seersucker, but I also liked this design. I have been getting ready for Independence Day by putting out my Patriotic Pretties! I wish I could say that I made him, but I won him at Bunco!My feather tree is decked out in red, white and blue. They are glass and many have been broken through the years. I need to watch for Hobby Lobby to have the Patriotic stuff on sale!

I like this candle that was a gift.

I just finished this banner. I have more "pretties", but I haven't taken pictures of everything yet. I've been busy making salsa, mustang grape jelly, and re-arranging. We took my teenager's futon out of his room and moved the twin bed from my craft room into his room. Now I have tubs that WERE under the bed but no where to put them!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

7th Christmas Cookie Exchange!

My SIL and I hosted our 7th annual Christmas cookie exchange party this year. We happened to have matching skirts and joked that we wore different blouses so that others could tell us apart!

The cookies filled my dining table!

My crystal rooster presided over the cookie table surrounded by Christmas light bulbs that belonged to my husband's grandmother.

Another table held the cookie recipe booklets, apron ornaments and more cookies.

I was told that the ornament aprons also fit Barbie dolls!

These are the cookies I made this year. I originally wanted to try decorated sugar cookies. After quadrupling the eggs while doubling the recipe for the first batch and then setting the oven to 250 degrees instead of 350 degrees and having part of a batch slide off the cookie sheet while I was removing them from my bottom oven, I decided to switch to a less time consuming recipe.

We served appetizers, punch and coffee.

Everyone was given a bell necklace to wear. If caught saying the word "cookie", the necklace had to be given to the person who caught you.

We gave prizes for getting the most bell necklaces, the best cookie presentation, and the most spirited outfit. (We voted to decide the winners.)

Every year my husband asks me if it is worth all the work in preparation. I say "definitely"!

Blessings,

Lorilee

Finished! At Last

These were my old curtains. I made them shortly after we moved in 11 years ago.

I decided to make new curtains several weeks ago. After much agonizing and asking my mother-in-law for decorating advice, this is the result. The brass looking beads remind me of the nailheads on our sofa and loveseat.

I finally decided on a simple shirred top.

I went floor length this time and added sheers.

This is the what you see as you walk in our front door. My sweety is on his "side" of the sofa.I sit on the other end to blog, watch TV or do needlework!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Pattern Collecting!

I guess I should call myself a pattern collector. I don't sew all that much, but I have quite a few patterns. Hobby Lobby has their Simplicity patterns on sale for 99 cents each-limit 10. Hey! I only bought five! These tote bags are cute. The outer part can be interchangable.

Of course, I couldn't resist anything about aprons! Miniature aprons--how cute!

Vintage aprons are so awesome!

Even the pattern envelope looks vintage! Cool!

SIGH! Little aprons for little girls! I think we should start young! I also looked at fabric because I am thinking about new curtains in my living room. I have to go back to work on August 13, and I am STILL working on 2 casserole carriers and the tutorial I promised. I think I am running out of time! I guess there's always next summer.

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee