Handworks Crochet and then Some!

So I finished my coat refashion embroidery project.. just in time for it to warm up! But that's ok.. I'm ready for spring!!! Anyways.. I can't decide... no flowers up top on the lapel or should I add 1.. or more.. what do you think???? Here's a close up of the embroidery.... love the 3d flower effect! And the extra large design was pretty easy thanks to the grand hoop my Pfaff 2170 uses! I added new buttons.. the old ones were tarnished gold... and ugly. I had so much fun re fashioning this coat! And I think it looks great...its exactly what my coat closet needed.... if I could just decide about the lapel.... Here's another pair of boots I embroidered... these were $3 at a thrift store... perfect for embroidery projects! The butterfly is 3d! I've got lots of compliments on these.... I also added a applique 3d embroidery flower to the recent purse I just made... I think it adds a little more style to it. Recent crochet projects finished.... A bolero... because ...

I LOVE this bag.... Its another Ellen Medlock pattern. Its called the Karma Bag! My mom and I both took a class at the sewing expo 2 yrs ago and made one... but I didn't like the fabric they gave us so I gave it away.... and after 2 yrs I finally get around to making another one... In fabric I do like! This is vintage fabric from the attic of my great aunt in Nashville.... Mildred. The inside is lined with some adorable Scottie dog fabric I bought at Jo anns .... left over scraps from a wrap I made my mom for Christmas one year. The EXTRA awesome thing about this bag is its exchangeable because of the way the hardware is made.... just twist off two of the little tips... slide this purse off another on... twist caps on and you're off with a different bag! Now I gotta make some different bags to go with this! Which should help my ailing purse wardrobe.... cause I really love this bag! My B-day was last month (big 36!) and this is what mom gave me.... An adorable and much ne...

Here is the tunic I made a couple of weeks ago.... I took an extra couple of inches off the sides to give a better fit since I don't like super loose tunics. Believe it or not this is not embroidery.... its a decorative stitch on my Pfaff machine!!! One of the "maxi stitches"!! Love it!! On the cuff too.... This is an Ellen Medlock pattern... I love a messenger bag for everyday use. Its perfect for everything I carry, plenty of room for extra pockets and big enough for a book (in case I'm waiting on my son to get done with one of his lessons) I used a faux leather type fabric, appliqued on a Mola' I bought in Panama.... And lined it in a fabric covered in hearts!!! lol!!! Hey.. it was close to Valentines day when I was making it! On the embroidery machine I'm working on a wool navy coat I bought at a thrift store... I've had it for awhile but couldn't figure out exactly how to re make it. Then I saw this in a Jenny Haskins magazine and knew... thats t...

This OOP Mccalls Pattern uses 2 afghans to make a coat... and I just happened to have 2 afghans I was getting ready to throw in the 'go to Goodwill' box. I'm so glad I didn't! I got the pattern at Goodwill for a dollar, the afghans for $10 a piece about 2 yrs ago.. so I feel like I got a heck of a deal with this coat... Plus its just so cute... and warm! The pattern was SO easy! I serged each piece after I cut it out so it wouldn't fray. The hardest part was sewing these 2 thick layers together. I used a denim needle after I broke a regular one and had no more problems. I also added a loop and large button for a closure on the front. Next time a find a cute afghan I would like to make the skirt in the pattern too... wouldn't that be awesome for a winter skirt!

Well, it worked! My little vintage pattern worked for my poodle raincoat!!! yay!!! It was super easy! The pattern had this little belt thing that went around the body and buttoned.. I changed that. Which cut some bulk out of the front of the coat and made it easier to button!! Look at the cute.. easy pockets!!! I do plan to make this in another fabric because I love hooded coats!!! This should keep me dry during the rainy season of Panama! Since we're traveling this weekend we thought we should go out for a bit last night... check out my Bald Man 25 lbs lighter!! I'm so proud of him!! And check out my cute felted bolero to the right! One old Goodwill sweater+ some fancy yarns+ a felting machine=a very cute, unique accessory! I love felting stuff!!

LONG POST! What I worked on yesterday... lets see I'll start with this.... I am embroidering my Bald Man a shirt.... he's lost 25 lbs now (yay! Raw!) and alot of his clothes are not fitting! This shirt was plain and I'm trying to make it Fab... so far he's loving it! He needs nice, one of a kind stuff to wear too! One of the many wonderful things about having an embroidery machine is while its working and doing its thing... you can be making other things... more things!!! I love multi-tasking.... You can't really tell to the left but this is an outfit for Rach... she wanted a wrap skirt and shirt out of the left over fabric from her costume... she didn't have enough for a shirt but I had this light wt. brown stretch in my stash... then coordinated the decorative stitch on top and bottom... now she has an 'outfit'! I'll post a pic of her in it soon! Also while the embroidery machine was busy I cut out my next "me" project.... now ...