Recycle Jacket into a purse

For the past couple of years the sewing industry has been recycling everything - we've been doing the jeans into purses for ages now. The new twist for the last few years is Men's Jackets.

The fashion industry is a knock-off world, we get an itch to do our own. It was so much easier than I thought. I've had this Jacket hanging on my to do pile for some time. (my To Do sewing stuff hangs on my walls).



I took the easy route I opened up the jacket and placed my pattern pieces right on it, pinned them and cut out the fabric and my lining pieces all at once. It went just as fast as cutting out regular fabric.




I incorporated a pocket into my back pocket piece:






Give it a try with any pattern that you have, it's so easy!

I added it to Made by you Monday - I hope there is no rule about adding older posts - If there is please tell me?

August Sewing Group

Well needless to say August has been an interesting month for me. So interesting that I forgot to send out an Evite for the Sewing group.

I'm not sure why, I had the project all drafted, and the sewing instructions in my head, that's ever as far as those get. I write them down on paper as I'm instructing the class. Then they eventually turn into actual PDF patterns fully illustrated with instructions and digital pattern pieces.

My loyal student Erica invited us over for Dinner on Monday, and she just happen to ask what time sewing group started tomorrow? Um at 5:30 PM" I said followed by "you are free to come over and sew I have the patterns drafted and ready to go, but I didn't send out an Evite so you will be the only one sewing". She was fine with that!

And she came over and she sewed these really cute baby shoes!



Other sewing:



Erica your skirt finally has a zipper! This was procrastinated because the fabric around the zipper was shredded, I finally made it work!

This is a bag pattern that I have been working on for a while, I think I finally figured out the right size small messenger Bag!





So now I have two more items to add to my list of PDF patterns to finish, Yay for me!

I'm being Sued for a Credit Card debt.

I was served a summons early this month on an old credit card debt. Being the procrastinator that I am I just now went down to the court house to try to file a Notice to Defend, so that they don't make a judgment against me just because I didn't reply to the summons. That has happened to me before with the IRS I didn't reply and then 4 months later $3500.00 disappeared from my checking account one day, just like that.

We like most of the Nation have been having money problems for some time. I had one Capitol One credit card that I missed a couple of payments on and that put it over the limit, then the fee's started piling up. I always sent what I could but never managed to get enough money to bring the balance below the Credit limit, so all I was paying each month was fee's. I called and ask if they could raise the credit limit just to stop charging me the fee's that I might manage to bring it current, no way. I asked them to get rid of some of the fee's so that I might manage to bring it current, no way. I got frustrated so stopped paying, thinking they will send the account to collections and I'll start making payments with out acquiring all the fee's. It wasn't even the interest that I was disputing it was all the fee's!

I fully intended on paying the debt, but I was never contacted to make payments. I could have been because I moved twice in one year, but if they found me to serve me a summons why couldn't they find me to send me a collection letter registered or otherwise.

Back to the Court house - like I said I just went down there to try and file a Notice to Defend, and there isn't anyone there that can point you in the right directions, to say here is the form you need to fill out and that is the line that you stand in to file it and this is how much it's going to cost you. Nothing they pointed me to the Legal Library! I already did all the darn research I could online - I know what I need to do. I just don't know how to do it!

I contacted a few attorneys but I guess they are not interested in helping me not get railroaded by a big company or a crazy collection agency with a sue happy attorney! I guess $5,469.78 is small potatoes! And my 30 days are up August 29, 2010.




What sucks the most is that I have paid off all the other debt, I have two credit cards that still have a balance but they have been current and on time for over a year now. So much so that I got a PreApproved Credit Card offer from Capitol One saying "We lost you as a customer, we see that you have been working on your Credit and would like you back."

Irony!! Hate it!

My new Wheels.

My mom bought me a new lawn mower. Yes, the roles in our house are completely back wards. I'm ok with that, I don't like to cook and clean.

She was getting tired of paying $20 to have someone take care of her yard and that was just the front yard - the back yard was starting to look like the cornfield of weeds.

Now I just need a new weedeater and to figure out how to fix the sprinklers because I'm getting dry patches, the entire lawn is getting wet, maybe not wet enough for this heat.



Don't miss my Doggie in the window.

Now off to do some sewing I have a couple of projects I want to finish today and a wedding dress that needs alterations.

Day 31 of the 31 Day Build a better Blog challenge

I have learned a lot in 31 days, But more importantly I think I have established a routine for my blogging.

Day 31 is to "Develop a Plan for your next Month". I think my plan is going to be to do it again. That way knowing the tasks that will be required of me ahead of time I will be able to better prepare, to really work on building a community, to really put the time and effort into finding other bloggers in my niche to be blog buddies with.

I'm not a very social person, I actually find it hard to socialize. I'm a very down to the facts type of person. I don't really know how to small talk. Twitter has helped to see how you don't need to say a whole lot in order to reach out to others.

I do want consistency for my blog, so I'm going to pick days that I speak about sewing, knitting and other crafts, days that I spotlight other blogs that I like (I really liked that challenge), and days that I do MeMe's (now that I know what those are).

My monthly post have gone up these last two months, and I'm hoping to keep the same rhythm I don't know that posting everyday is an option for me at this point because of my time availability, but I do plan on working up to that.

I would like to thank the http://theblogfrog.com/757946/forum and all the wonderful people that supported me and each other!

Meet me on Monday

Early in the year I was a little bummed about turning 40, Until I came across this blog Never Growing Old! and her Over 40 Bloggers List - then I couldn't wait to turn 40! She does a Blog Hop on Mondays, Today is my first.



Questions:

1. What is your favorite dessert?

Chocolate anything Chocolate - Olive Garden used to have a Chocolate Lasagne cake - I was so sad when they stopped serving it.


2. What do you wear to bed?

Long T-shirts. I can't do pants even if they are the light weight PJ's, and socks or long sleeves are out of the question.

3. Do you get regular manicures/pedicures?

No, I recall only one Manicure in my life and have never had a pedicure. I wore nail polish for a brief period in High School but have not worn it since.

4. Did you play any sports in high school?

I ran track and cross country in High School. I don't run anymore, I do walk the dog every morning about 2 miles.

5. Do you have an iPod?

Java you are not the last person on the planet to not have an iPod, I don't have one either. There just aren't times when I want to have music in my ears, not even when I walk the dog, I love to take that time to think, and organize my day.

How I taught myself to knit.

On my last knitting post Christina from C + C Marriage Factory asked how I started the process of teaching myself to knit.

So today I will review a few of the knitting books I purchase and used to learn.

The first book I bought was actually a kit, 'I taught Myself Knitting Beginners Kit' by Boye.


They had it on sale at Michael's. It came with every thing you need to get started. I read the book and tried to work my way threw the examples. I didn't get very far with it. There was something about it that just didn't draw me in. The illustrations clearly showed what I was supposed to do, and the written direction made sense, but my hands just wouldn't do what the book was telling me to do. But it was a good price for all the items needed to get started, and I wouldn't have thought to purchase them separate.

So I tried a different approach I have a few friends that knit, so I asked them to tell me what I was doing wrong. That's when I learned that every person knits different, That was crazy. They all hold there yarn different, they all pick up a stitch different, they all wrap there yarn different. I got even more confused. There is the English way to knit and the Continental way to knit, and everyone has an opinion as to which way is best. A friend finally told me, 'Do what feel best for you'.

The first thing I decided was that I was going to knit the English way, then I went and found knitting video's on YouTube. There are plenty of then on there. I tried to go find the one's I used in early 2008 but I couldn't. I did find those from theknitwitch to be better than some of the others there now. The video's a clear not shaky and you can clearly see what her hands and the yarn are doing.

I started to get the hang of the knitting at that point, but I didn't want to knit in front of the computer for ever. I forget things quickly, when I don't use it often. So I went on the hunt for another book. I sat in the middle of the isle in a book store and read all the How To knitting books there were.

Then I found it 'Stitch 'n Bitch The Knitter's Handbook' by Debbie Stoller.


I fell in love when I started reading, yes reading she actually talks to you. Tells you about the history of knitting, examples of knitting supplies, explains the yarns. Gives you life stories. Then I took a look at the step by step illustrations and they were clear, I could see the placement of the fingers in regards to the needles and yarn, and which way the yarn was going. I took it home and that book doesn't leave my knitting bag.

Plus she mentions the knitting software company Cochenille that I work for!!! I was excited, I knew she had purchased it, but at the time 'This famous knit designer called to place an order' I had no interest in knitting. I really missed out.

I didn't know I had a Secret to 31DBBB challenge

I'm having an anxiety attack it's 8:24 am and they haven"t posted the question for Day 27 in the SITS community on the Blog Frog.

Ladies (and a few Gents I believe) you see it has become an obsession, but truly I was just ready for it. There are things in life that come to us at the right time. This Blog challenge came to me at the right time.

Plus I haven't been up to date the whole time, I did get behind around Day 16 or so, and I was about 3 days behind and I didn't like it. I really really wanted to put everything I had into this challenge.

My Secrets:

1. I don't have kids - well I do but they are 26, 22 and 19, only the 19 year old is currently at home.

2. I don't cook and I don't clean. My husband is retired from the US Navy after being in for 22 plus years - he says something like "22 years, 4 months and 16 days" those aren't the numbers but you get what I mean. He cooks and cleans, and does a really good job at it.

3. I have to be up at 5 AM not matter what (I take care of my mom she has Devic's Disease and there are things she can't do for herself), so I moved in next door because she didn't want to go in a nursing home, and really she is well enough not to have to, My little sister and I take turns caring for her.

4. In order to stay awake I take my dog for at least a 2 mile walk every morning. That is a great way to wake up, and feel energized.

5. When the challenge started I told myself that I would walk straight to the computer after walking the dog! Period! That's usually about 6:30 AM.

6. I print out at least 2 or 3 days of the challenge and I set them on top of a folder, as I finish the task, I move those pages into the folder.



7. I read ahead at least 2 days, because the tasks are 15 minutes a day if you have prepared yourself for the task, either mentally (by knowing what you are going to do) or physically (by doing the research and homework for the task).

8. I write my Blog Post if it is required of the task, I don't blog for all tasks.

9. Then I post on Blog Frog, I go check out and comment on at least the post before me but I usually do 2 or 3 before me! I like that part I would love to do more, But I have limited time.

10. Then I twitter, oh I love the twitter, I spend all my time following those links everyone tweets. Again I would love to spend more time on this but I just don't have it. I did set myself a goal to do at least 2 or 3 people interactions before my time runs out.

Then I go to work - I work from 9:30 to 4. Then at 4 I go visit Mom again don't get back from there until 5:30 or so. My husband has dinner ready we eat. And then I either sew or knit or finish what ever craft is calling my name. I have way to many unfinished projects, That's why I'm adamant that this one is not going to be one of those unfinished projects.

And then in bed by 9:30 no matter what!

Help Mommy Words Help Kids with Muscular Dystrophy!

Please go visit Brittany @ 'Mommy Words' she has a wonderful blog and she is being arrested! As she put it "I am being arrested for doing good! I am going to be put in jail here in Charlotte in August 25th to help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The money I raise for my bail will help to provide health care, therapy, research and summer camp for children with this terrible disease! There is no better reason to go behind bars. My imprisonment helps provide hope and happiness to families and children struggling with MD. My bail will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry’s Kids."

She needs your help she's half way there! Great job Brittany! We don't want your husband to go crazy while your gone. So lets hope the money comes in early and you won't be gone for to long!

I'm 40 years old

I turned 40 years old yesterday. For about half the year my family kept asking me what I was going to do for my 40th Birthday.

I had wanted to go to DisneyWorld in Florida. I put that as a plan in the back of my mind and started saving, the savings didn't add up to much. Then my brother asked if we wanted to go to Hawai'i. My daughter had never gone (neither had I but it really wasn't on my To do list) and my husband had been to all the Hawaiian Islands except for the Big Island which is where my brother was suggesting we go. I agreed we went and had a wonderful time - there are plenty of blog post to prove it.

So after that trip I knew that there was no way we would be able to go to Florida for my Birthday, heck I still can't seem to recover from Hawaii.

I put my Birthday out of my mind, didn't make any plans or invite any one over. Then finally my sister said on Sunday we have to at least have cake!

Sure but I want Chocolate! We have never been able to buy chocolate cake for Birthday cakes because my mom doesn't like chocolate cake. They bought me a chocolate cake and then they made vanilla cupcakes.

It was great, all you need to mark a big occasion is family, friends (that come even if you invite them last minute) and chocolate cake.

We lit the candles 3 times one for me and then for keegan because he just has to blow out the candles and his tia lets him do anything he wants and then poor chris started crying so he got to blow them out also.





Then there is always someone trying to make you have cake on your face, I'm not a joker so none of the adults tried it. My nephew Adrain wasn't scared of me - he told me to smell the cake because it smelled funny, mind you he wouldn't smell it first, so I smelled it just for kicks but only because I knew the frosting was slick and wasn't going to make a mess out of my face! He got a real kick out of it. He has kind enough to take the candles off of it first, that kid is growing up way to fast!



Tell me what did you do for your 40th Birthday or what do you plan to do for your 40th Birthday??

Featured Blogger

As I go through the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge with the SITS Girls on the Blog Frog community. I learn to apply things that are basic human knowledge and that apply to life that you wouldn't think to apply to a blog.

Day 22 is Pay Special attention to a Reader.

For everyday Darren Rowse explains the task and then he explains why it works. For this task there was a sentence that really made sense. "many bloggers who build great blogs actually go out of their way to make there readers more famous."

I love this - When ever life is going wrong for me and things just seem like they are falling down around me, I stop and think "who have I served today? yesterday? this week? this month? this year? If I can't think of more that just a couple of things It means I'm to wrapped up in myself. When I'm to wrapped up in myself then I'm not serving my purpose, I'm not serving my family, I'm not serving my neighborhood, I'm not serving my community. We are not here to be alone. (As big of a loner as I am and like to hide) It's just not the case, and we will be reminded of it!

As I started to reach out to other bloggers and visit and join other sites, to see if my blog was needed and if it was something that I needed to continue for a purpose (since my time was slowly diminishing with other responsibilities) There were more than a handful of wonderful people that reached back.

Today I would like to feature one of them. Maria from BubbleGumAndDuctTape. I love how her blog also has a wide variety of crafts, and small snippets into her life. She has shown some crafts that I would have never thought of! She has wonderful instructions for those items that she shows you how to do.

I also feel a kinship as she is just starting out but unlike me she started out by reaching out! What a wonderful example. If she is a small blogger and not afraid, then neither am I!

Go on over to her blog and see for yourself.

Digital versus Conventional Scrap-booking

About a year ago I decided to give Digital Scrap-booking a try. I thought to myself everything gets done much faster on a computer, Right? I came to realize that wasn't case, at least not for me it wasn't.

I do graphic design I have Adobe Photoshop CS2 - I've been working with Photoshop for about 10 years now. I would say that I'm quite proficient at it. So what is Digital Scrapbooking they are graphics and photos and you bring them together, Right?

Wrong there is an art to it, at it has a higher learning curve than I thought.

First of all when you buy Digital Layouts some come with one file and the layout is there! Just erase what you need and place the photo on a layer below it. Done, Yes, if you like the layout the way it is. To be honest I've never liked anything the way it is.

Then there are Digital Layouts that come with a folder and each image is it's own file - I thought Great this is for me. Again not what I thought. If they are all JPG then you have to clean around them.

There is nothing in the descriptions of Layouts that explain to you exactly what you are getting, I guess it's one of those If you are buying this then you must know what you are doing.

I did get the hang of it, and thanks to the SBE Newsletter I didn't have to invest money while doing it - each month the Newsletter comes with free layouts again some one page files and some folders, you never know what you are getting.

The one benefit of Digital Scrapbooking is space you save it all on your computer and if you want to print it and put it in your book you do and if you don't you don't. There are no additional stamps, pens, color pencils, paper packets and all kinds of other stuff to store.


I like Conventional Scrapbooking. I like it because the design process feels different. You are working with your hands (not just clicking with a finger). You can feel the paper, the detail of using the color markers, pencils or different color inks on a stamp. I have to admit I like going to the store and acquiring more 'Stuff'.

Learning to Knit Flash backs

I started this blog as a way of holding myself accountable to the task of learning how to knit!

Getting Started

I quickly realized that blogging as well as knitting needed time and dedication.

Knitting Woes

Then there is nothing like get sidetracked in the middle of learning a new craft with a different aspect of the same craft.

Going from hand knitting to Machine Knitting

And there were plenty of Woe's with that aspect of the craft as well.

Universe is against me

I felt like I was never going to learn to knit with all the things that happened in the beginning.

My trial in persistence.

But I was victorious.

I Knew Stubbornness was a positive trait.

I knit a garment.

Review Knitting goals.

I was so happy that I had learned enough to feel good about writing a tutorial.

How to knit a bag.

Time has eluded me this past year, but I am determined to get back to Crafting and Blogging!

Here's my sneeze page I think I caught something over at the SITS community on the Blog Frog!

Looking for a wedding gown!

Looking for a wedding dress can be overwhelming, and some personalities make it even worse on themselves.

The first thing anyone should do is pick one person to help you. Make sure it is a person that has similar taste as you, and is willing to be honest with you.

Start by looking through magazines:



Ripping out pages of things that catch your eye. Yes, I said things not dresses. It can be a theme, a style, a shape, the color, the waistline, the length anything that catches your eye. Make sure to write on the paper why you ripped it out because you will forget.

Then put it all together somewhere I like to make design boards for the brides that come to me for a dress:



If you are going to purchase a dress off the rack try to make something that you can carry with you when you go shopping. Visit as many dress shops as you can and try on as many dresses as you can. Take a camera with you just in case you come across something that you like (if it's a dress detail in a shop you will need to ask if you can take a picture), if they don't let you then pull out your small design book and start sketching if you don't sketch well give it a try anyways and write a detailed description.


If you are going to buy something from the internet, make really really sure that the company has good recommendation. Make sure that you can return the dress if you don't like it. If you are going to contract someone on the Internet to make you a custom dress again make really really sure that you get recommendation that you can contact. I've had two brides purchase a custom dress online and come to me and ask me if I can fix it because it didn't look like the picture they saw on the internet and it didn't fit at all.

If you are going to hire a seamstress to make you a dress, also make sure that they show you pictures of past work and they can give you a recommendation sheet of people you can contact. More than likely the process will go as follows:

First an initial consultation (some charge for this some don't) - if you made a design board bring it with you - they will love you for it! They might still make there own but at least you've done a lot of the leg work.

Then they will call you with an estimate (they might ask you to come see them for this), I do if I know the person is only asking me for an estimate - if they are seeking several estimates I ask them how they want me to deliver the estimate usually by email.

If you decide to hire the seamstress you then need to visit them for Measurements. Most Seamstress ask for half the money at this point. (Don't ever pay them in full until you have a dress on time!)

A short period later they will call you in to do a test fit (this might be the actual dress or a muslin). Most of the time I do a Muslin (a mock dress) just in case the neckline is to low or not the right curve, stuff like that then I can just cut into the fabric while they are wearing it and they can see how it will fit. If the dress is simple I some times jump right into the actual fabric.

A 2nd fitting of the actual dress if any changes were needed or the First fitting of the Actual dress.

Don't be scared to tell them any hesitations that you have! The sooner in the process you speak up the easier it is to change things.



This is my 'Solve a Problem' Post for my 31DBBB challenge I can't believe it took me 4 days to remember where my knowledge base lye! Man I have really lost my focus!

So much to do, So little time

I woke up today with a determination to finish all these little projects I've got laying around the house. They are all over the place.

One of my friends was given a Mac mini and it had stuff on there that shouldn't be on a computer with or without kids in the house. So I've had it sitting in my office since before we left for Hawaii, I guess it's been at least a month.




This one got done! Reformatted and Reloaded!

I cleaned off the cutting table in the garage before it got hot, and since it's been over 100 degrees for over two months now, that was a while ago! I started cutting and knotting the ends for a simple quick blanket, by the way I've had this fabric since Lexi was born in Feb '09.



Not done!

Got side tracked, I remembered I had some pendants that needed bails. I was side tracked because the E6000 was sitting on the other table in the garage.




They have bails, not sure when they will get photographed and listed on Etsy, so I guess this one is a partial.

Speaking of Jewelry I think I have the youngest Jeweler on the planet (my niece Lexi):







I've been trying something new with the camera, I have the 55 to 200 lens on it even though I'm in the house, I'm always scared of getting up close to what I want to take a picture of, I always feel like I'm going to miss out on the surroundings or something. That is not the case I love these pictures.

It then got to hot to go back out to the garage so I remember I had a jean bib that I was going to embroider,

It's still sitting on the ironing board, because I couldn't find the embroidery fonts book to my sewing machine.



and the side track there, was that I started cleaning out my sewing desk drawers.



I did finish something else this week, I finished a simple LDS Temple dress, you want the BUT, well I'll give it to you anyways. This fabric, zipper and embroidered collar have been sitting in a bag, in a plastic bin being carried back and forth (I've moved 3 times since I bought them) The person to guess how many year ago gets a Free turtle pendant (pictured up there)????



Needless to say I have way more projects than I have time to do them all! I think I need to win the lottery, don't they say Time is Money!!

Get cash back for shopping Online at Ebates

Several months ago I started wondering were I wanted my blog to go, as it had no direction (still doesn't). I have now given my self permission to go all over the place and that just makes me happy, no longer a chore, or task or to do list. Well currently it is a to do list as I'm participating in the 31 Day Build a Better Blog challenge in the SITS community on Blog Frog.

Today in the Frugal Living Community on Blog Frog I came across this Post:

"Ebates wants to give you and every blogger a free iPad, or even send you and your spouse on a 7-night Hawaiian cruise! And the best part is that your readers are going to thank you for it.

Ebates pays you cash back every time you shop online. What's the catch? There isn't one! Online merchants pay a commission to websites when they send them buyers, and Ebates simply passes this commission back to you! We pay shoppers millions of dollars every year.


Want to buy something from Old Navy? Just go to Ebates first, and you'll automatically get 10% cash back (this week) on whatever you purchase.

There are thousands of stores to choose from!


We're so excited, we have our own referral program and this month we're launching our biggest bonuses ever! If you refer 50 people to Ebates who make a purchase over $20, we'll send you a free iPad! We think every blogger, no matter the size, has 50 readers who would love to know about 3% cash back at Target or one of our thousands of other stores. If you refer 300 people, we'll even send you and your spouse on a cruise!"

And who doesn't want an iPad or a Free Cruise.

But that isn't really why I'm posting about it here. I was excited to here you could get cash back for shopping online. I hate mall's I do all my shopping online. And now all I have to do is go to Ebates first and then from there enter the online store I want to shop at and I get cash back!!!



Sounds good to me!