Handworks Crochet and then Some!

I am done with The Bald Man's denim jacket I was making... yes, I can say it because I already give it to him! I couldn't help it... 5 full days of work on that jacket and I wanted to see him in it! So he's extra happy today. I will take pics tomorrow and blog about it soon. In the mean time I have taken a small break from Christmas sewing to make myself a bustier! I had a sewing lesson over the summer about making one and I'm just now getting around to it! Here's what I have so far: Its Burda 7982 View C. I'm using a black eyelet fabric, lined with denim, Both fabrics have a slight stretch to them. I am going to put boning in it and a side separating zipper if I can find one in the size I need. The pattern didn't call for boning... but how can you wear one of these things without it? It won't hold anything up without it!!! I have also been reading Bridal Couture. There is a section on building one of these. I'll be adding a grosgrain ribbon around ...

Simplicity 4020! I love this pattern and this is the second time I've made this version of it. I used some of the fabric I bought down in Panama with this one. Last time I made it up in a lovely gunmetal grey stretch velvet.. for a holiday look. I wanted a more casual top this time. I did lengthen the sleeves bit and raise the shoulders so it wouldn't be as low cut. This pattern is super quick to go together! This is New Look 6321. I made two sets of these PJ's just alike... one for me and one for someone I can't name just in case they should look on my blog! I appliqued the heart using Steam a Seam then put a decorative stitch all around it. These are great PJ's and so comfy! So even though The Bald Man thinks I look 12 in these and laughs when I put them on I still love them!!! Are you ready to see the cutest purse ever???? I mean EVER!!! Check out Indygo Junction Sweater Bags. Made using old wool sweaters, felted and cut up into cute recycled purses! I love this...

I know its hard to see on this red mannequin... but here is the progress of the Rhythm/Salsa dress I am making for a competition dancer here in town.... I have a ways to go on the top and I have to completely cover it in crystals! Its going to be gorgeous on her!!! This is the first time I've made a dress like this!! Its very exciting to me... I go this fabric at the wonderful Gail K's. The Lycra fabric was pretty reasonable at $12 a yard... but the netting I'm using was $20 a yard!! Thank Goodness I didn't have to use to much of it to get the effect I wanted. And I can't wait for Rach to put her bellydance costume on that I made her last week!!!! I want to post it so bad! Punch Needle! Yes, I love to punch needle lots of little designs and I never have any clue what I will do with them! Here's what I'm currently working on.... and here is my new punch needle toy!!! Its seriously cutting my time in half because I don't have to keep putting new thread i...

I seriously have so many pictures to post since last time I blogged! I have made several tops/dresses... I bellydanced at the restaurant.... I went to ATL.... Tons of photos!!!!! I will post soon... I asked The Bald Man yesterday... "what has happened to all my time?" I swear it seems like I have none! Sewing, food preparation/preserving, gardening, my son, bellydancing, yoga, Bald Man... yep... these things take time. But here's a punch needle I did a while back and forgot to post... I have no ideal what I will do with it .. much like all my other punch needle projects. I love to do'em though....

Finished jeans!!! I love'em! The pic on the left is a little blurred but you can see my off to the side button and loop! And how I distressed them. Below is a pic of my total Friday night outfit! I made the top I'm wearing last year. I made the shrug too. I made it about a month ago. Back pocket details! Spade back pocket with a flap and hot fix rhinestones! My mothers day breakfast!! Eggs Benedict!!! On a whole wheat english muffin, claw crab meat, asparagus and a great sauce! The Bald Man can sure cook!!!! And here is the shirt I made Bald Man a few weeks ago! With all his good cooking , keeping me in fabric and machines he deserves some shirts that fit him and are actually comfortable!! Ofcourse the embroidery designs were done by my Pfaff 2034... I figure if I not only make my Bald Man clothes that make him happy and help justify the serger and sewing machine... by adding embroidery that helps justifies the embroidery machine... and will help in my pursuit for an upgraded ...

Another BWOF top from the March issue. Check my review for details on Patternreview. This was an easy top to make.. I adore zipper tops!!!! I got alot of compliments on this last night! I finished my punch needle jeans!!! And wore them out to. Punch needle is so fun and I've recently discovered someone makes an electric punch needle!!! Here's a couple of pics from last night at the restaurant. You can see in the pic on the left people got a little crazy!!! But thats ok... they were making it rain all night! Which goes in the 'tip money for fabric' fund!!! whoo hoo!

I started working on a new punch needle project last night while the Bald Man yelled at Microsoft for 5 hours about Vista.... It seems Vista has decided that it will not recognize my Pfaff card station USB device. It worked perfect for about 3 months, then all of a sudden... just stopped recognizing !!! I loaded my software on to an old lap top with XP and it worked.. so its not Pfaff .. Its that evil Vista!! Anyways... this punch needle kitty appears to be peaking up out of a pocket. I want to make a felted purse with a pocket on the front and applique kitty peeking out the top. I'm going to Goodwill tomorrow with one of my 'sewing challenged' friends and hopefully will be able to find the right sweater to go with it. I also worked on 4 dolls yesterday and will finish them up today! Back in the day... early to mid nineties I was very much into fabric painting. I painted (mid nineties ) this dress I wore to church for Easter. Its Noah's Ark and little painted anima...

This is a pair of jeans I'm "upcycling" by doing punch needle embroidery on one of the bottom legs... the back pockets and alittle on one of the front pockets. I'm using metallic embroidery floss so it has the effect of looking beaded.. which if I were doing this with real seed beads it would take forever! I've worked on it for 2 days on and off while me n' the Bald Man have been watching my Project Runway season 2 DVDs. Which I have to say my Bald Man is really getting into .... and he said he didn't want to watch them because we already knew who won! He knows he likes watching all that drama! hahaha

The Expo!!!!! WOW! I never imagined it would be like this... and its only our first day here!!! Here to the right is the product of the first class me and my mom took .. isn't it an adorable purse?? It has a large pocket and a cell phone pocket inside.. a nice monogram applique'... and the best part... the handles easily slide off and onto another purse... so you can make interchangeable purses!! Its called a Karma Bag!!! Too cute. I can't wait to make more... it was very easy. I made this cute rug hook "mug rug" at one of the vender's booths. Its not completely finished on the back... it was a fun quick project. This very nice man at the Expo had all this gorgeous fabric!!!! I say he's very nice because this is very good quality fabric that was not expensive... This fabric here is more amazing in person... stretch lace on the far left... the one on the right is stretch too, but very textured.. its so awesome! Here we have a beautiful stretch white, red a...