Sunday, February 7, 2010

Project 2010 - Week 1

I am tired ~ too much cheering during the Super Bowl, I guess. :) This should have been posted on the other blog but I will keep it here for the time being. This week was good. I was able to complete a few things and I will show pictures ... not because they are the most amazing things you will ever see, but because I hope to motivate someone and keep myself honest with this challenge. So ... the first little project was an adorable little dress I made for Miss Molly. I used a pattern I had purchased a bit back {Grandma Lola's Dress by the very talented Chitter Chatter Designs} Lindsey posted a pic on her blog so you can go have a peek there and see how adorable Miss Molly is! It was sooo much fun to make and it takes less than a fat quarter! I do have a few of those around here!

The second item I did was transforming an old skirt - at least 8+ years old. I always loved the fabric and color but never the cut of the skirt. Seriously. I am 5' 2 3/4" on a good day. What was I thinking?? It was the fabric and the color - I loved it! So I chopped it off at the bottom and cut 4 - 2 1/2" strips from that piece. Next I stitched those strips together and ruffled that long piece. I opened up the side seam a little and set in the ruffle for about 4" and then slightly curved the edge and as I brought the ruffle out of the side seam and just sewed it around the bottom of the skirt. I curved the back at the corner and brought it up to the seam - tapering it in a bit. That was it! Now I have a skirt out of fabric I love to look at AND wear!! It just makes sense, right? And as a little bonus I found these adorable little open-toed, sling back sandals at Payless. $19.99. Cheap & Cute!! They are going fast if you want a pair!



Saturday we went through closets and hauled out at least 5 huge bags to the DI! Gotta love that feeling! Just for fun I poked my nose in one of Emily's and pulled this top out. There was a yellow stain on the front and it didn't fit her any more. I LOVED the fabric and wanted to see if I could figure out how to make a pleated headband. It was pretty easy as you can see in the photos and I think it turned out pretty sweet. And I still have the back of the shirt to work into something...

The piece I used for the pleated top of the headband was 10.5" x 12.5". There are abou 6 folded pleats. After you serge or turn under and hem the two long edges, you fold it like a fan - just like you did in first grade. Press the edges, pin and then using the hem edge of the shirt, I inserted the pleated edge into the small opening. Each tie measured about 9 inches. I knoted the ends. If you wanted to use elastic you could insert in into the salvaged hem piece and pull it through with a safety pin - extend both edges of the elastic out the ends of the casing and carefully join the pleated portion to either end.
I don't think I will get very high marks for this tutorial.



I asked Em if she would model for me because I thought I was too old to wear headbands and I have pretty short hair. She assured me that no one is too old to wear headbands. Well as you can see in the crazy photos below - headbands make you fell quite young and spunky! I found out why the girls are always in the den for hours laughing hysterically with their friends. It's "photo booth" on our mac. Holy cow people. I was laughing my head off and I was all by myself. I found some pretty funny pictures in the archive so since I was posting some silly ones of me, I wanted some company! If you are every bored or need a good laugh, come on over and we'll have a little photo shoot!
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Last Sunday I decided to pull out a box of photos and memorabilia from a trip Mark & I had taken to Pennsylvania way back in 1999. It was long past time to get these memories into a book. It really didn't take much more than an hour or so and I checked something off my long list of things to do! Great Sunday night activity and I have plenty more projects along these sames lines to keep me out of trouble during the upcoming year.


That was Week 1 of Project 2010
How did the rest of you do?

13 comments:

The Jacklins said...

Love the what you did with the skirt...and the headband is adorable!! Good work! The shoes are darling and may just be a valentine's present to:me from: me!! HAHA!! Your photo picts make me laugh!

Rarely David usually Lisa said...

Great job, Leisa! What a great way to fix your skirt! And quite resourceful to use that fabric for a headband. I would like to make some headbands for Laken. Did you use elastic on the underneath?
Thanks for all of your inspiration! Looking forward to many, many more things.

deerhollow said...

No elastic - just the ties I cut from the hem of the top. You could use elastic though. Probably easier on and off.

Jenny said...

Dude. You are kind of amazing. I keep coming back to the blog to look at the skirt you made.

I finally finished sewing up this one side of a blanket that needed to be sewn for almost 4years now. It took less than 5 minutes, including machine setup and takedown time. I also dejunked and read these books I needed to take back to the library. Does that count? I think reading library books that you've been meaning to read should count. Obviously, these were much less glamorous projects.

Kris said...

Oh, you are amazing! Isn't winter such a glorious time to get indoor things done? I, too, have been hauling carloads to DI. Today was old sheets...I saved the flat ones but gave away about 10 fitted. I've gutted our little library with Marci's help and am actually caught up on the quilt project for tomorrow! Not loving the cold, but loving winter.

Lindsay said...

Wow! You are amazing! You inspire me.

coolmom said...

I quit! What was I thinking? Lisa, you are too amazing, but really, I do have a couple of things I might try before I really quit. You were really having an awesome week!

Shauna said...

Way to go girl, I am excited to watch your progress and maybe I will get something done as well.

deerhollow said...

Jenny ~ I think anything on "the list" should count! We are just checking things off, using "stuff" up and enjoying the process of creating . . . whatever that might be! My food storage is glaring at me and I think it is a scary proposition. One of these weeks I will be taking it head on. But I am not quite ready for that one . . . yet! Yea for all of us!

Jake Lindsey Molly Owen said...

good heavens-I have the most talented, creative, hip, artistic, fun, motivated, dedicated, imaginitive, inspiring woman as my mother.
You really are amazing, Mom! Thanks for taking the time to share your accomplishments with us! You inspire so many people!
Love you! xo

Linda C said...

You inspire me Leisa...and you're so cute and happy. Can I be like you when I grow up?

Unknown said...

Love the skirt and the shoes. Red is the best color ever!

Scott Flinders said...

Wow! You are so creative and talented, it's amazing.