Monogrammed Jeans

Over the years I have made lots of monogrammed pocket jeans as gifts.

Now I have the pleasure of sewing for our grandchildren!

(click on image for larger view)

Gavin is showing me his sand art.	Gavin's pants
Is Vivian is modeling her jeans?	Vivian's jeans
Here is Alex wearing his Star Wars shorts and purchased onsie where I have added a fabric applique from the Star Wars fabric. I don't have a photo of him in his jeans....yet.	Alex's jeans

Regarding the notes in my photos...

I add notes for myself with the hope 

that the next time I sew with the pattern I might be more efficient...

we'll see how that idea works out.

I found a new way to display images side by side in blogger.

A great big thank you to Sharon Brennan for sharing her tutorial  on 

Inserting Images into Blogger Side by Side.

Update, June 4, 2018...I noticed the images were elongated when views on mobile device.
I reset image size to small. By clicking on image you can see a larger version.

Thanks for visiting.

Wildflowers on Oxide Backgrounds

Here you can see I have revisited the distress background technique

demonstrated by Richele Christensen on the Ranger blog

using three oxide distress inks:

cracked pistachio, peacock feathers and abandoned coral.
Stenciling was done with sequin waste (circles)
and the cut outs left after die cutting the flowers
with frayed burlap and hickory smoke ink.
Sponged the edges of the layer with vintage photo ink.
I added color to a piece of muslin fabric
by dipping it into the spritzed inks on the craft sheet.

Then I stamped the sentiment on top
and used a mini stapler to attach it to the turquoise layer.

This background here ended up being more green.
The Stampin Up lady stamp was stamped in vintage photo
then sponged in peeled paint around the edges
and old paper ink in the center.

Used Tim Holtz Wildflowers #2 dies for the black flowers for both cards
and twine and raffia as embellishments.

Thank you for visiting!

Vivian and Dino Tail

Just has to share these photos of the dino tails that I made for Gavin and Vivian.

More about that sewing project here.

Vivian's daddy attached her dino tail and she was a good sport about it.

Gavin was not interested in wearing his.

He was into playing with his cars and trucks!

Thanks for visiting!

Dinosaur Tails and Spikes

It's dino sewing time here. I made these dinosaur tails for our three grandchildren.

When I learned that dinosaurs are the theme for Gavin's 3rd birthday I just had to make these...

one for Gavin, one for his sister Vivian and one for his cousin Alex. I'm afraid Gavin may be the only one who will actually wear the dino tail. Vivian is 15 months and Alex is almost 1 year old.

I used parts of both of these tutorials to sew these dinosaur tails:
Jessica's Running With Scissors blog post
and
Carol's A Crafty Cat blog post

I took this photo for my own reference in case I want to make more of these later!

Drew the tail pattern similar to Carol's using the fold of the fabric.
Added my strip of 5 spikes to the cut side, sewing them in when I sewed that seam.

Cut 2 rectangles 4" wide by 12" long for the straps. With iron, press in half as a guide for adding a 1" x 10" strip of fusible interfacing to the wrong side. After sewing, turning and pressing the straps, pin evenly to sides of tail. The spikes will be the top of the tail.

Cut a 7" circle and pin it to tail, right sides together. You will be pinning the circle over the straps, which should be pinned down. You can machine baste if you wish.  Divide the tail opening and the circle into quarters, marking with a pin. This makes it was easier to match and sew. You need to leave an opening to add fiberfill.

Sew the 6" strip of Velcro to each strap before you fill tail. Test out the overlap so you sew the Velcro on the correct sides where straps will join.

Hand stitch the opening in the circle after you have stuffed the tail with fiberfill.

Now for another dino project...

I added the green felt spikes on Gavin's birthday shirt after seeing
Larissa Another Day blog post 
showing how to add dino spikes/scales to a top that is already made.

Cut diamond shapes from felt. I just made my own diamond pattern-
you can see the diamond folded in half in the picture of the red felt spikes.
I made a second, smaller pattern to cut fusible interfacing for the inside of the spikes.
After fusing, mark the center and sew along center back.
So EASY!! I'm hoping the felt will survive the washing machine!

Thanks for visiting!