quilt kit giveaway!

I entered another quilt giveaway by Kati Cupcake
If you enter, make sure you mention me!

Presser Foot: Shirt Skirt

Presser Foot: Shirt Skirt

Here is an awesome project from one of my favorite sewing blogs - it's a fantastic way to re-purpose a man's dress shirt! I can't wait to make myself one - and of course some for the girls! :)

Simone

The New Home Economist

It's Sunday night and I've just finished baking some pumpkin/oatmeal cookies and cheddar'n chive biscuits for my kids' lunches tomorrow. Before doing that I took out the seams on a top that I picked up at a garage sale but that didn't fit the way I liked - so I'm re-fashioning it to something I'll wear. My mom dropped of a few pretty pillow cases out of which I can make dresses for my girls and the top that I started making out of fabric from an ends bin at a tailor's shop is sitting on the table by my sewing machine. In the backyard I've got a garden growing with potatoes, lettuce, mesclun mix, carrots, onions, cucumbers, beans, peas, swiss chard, pumpkins, zucchini and 6 different types of tomatoes - it's my first garden, and I'm amazed at the gratification I'm feeling as I see everything grow day by day.

After all of that I have to say that if you would have told me that I would be doing any of this two years ago I would have laughed out loud! I was working full-time in a job that I loved, on the career path that I wanted and priding myself on being a woman of the times. The thing is, "the times they are a changing!". 12 years ago when I was home with my first child the sense was that if you stayed home rather than worked you were anti-social, unskilled or strange, now, many families are facing the decision of whether to continue paying for childcare - towards which more than half of most womens' salary goes or to stay home and economize to make up for the difference in income. This, paired with the movement towards living green has brought about the rise of what I'm calling the "New Home Economist".

You may doubt what I'm saying, but take a moment right now and google "apron" - see how many new designs and patterns have recently sprung up for aprons - I would have died before being seen in any such domestic attire just a few years ago - now they are all the rage! Now google "refashion" - I'm telling you, today's home economist is sewing up a storm, using vintage, used and reclaimed fabric to design clothing and home items for herself/himself and their family! Think - Maria in the "Sound of Music" remaking the curtains into clothing for the VonTrapp kids - she's the model for thousands of refashionistas all over the globe! The "New Home Economist" is also cooking and baking from scratch rather than using pre-packaged foods. They are feeding their families organically grown foods and composting as well as recycling. I'm not saying we're all going to be 50's housewives again... I'm just saying that as we rejected the image of the 50's housewife we lost somethings that we are finding again, and the earth and our families are the better for it! I'm not saying that Home Economists will all be women, but I'm a woman and I'm proud that I'm able to make this contribution, and that I'm able to see it as a contribution (which is a big deal for a woman of my generation) I'm saying that there are less jobs, less money, and more crap in our food... so things are changing - they have to change... and this is one of the results!

Because of this I'm predicting that soon you'll be seeing a return to more traditional home economics classes in school boards across the continent. Living green and surviving well in this new economic climate are closely linked to thinking economically on the home front - so from now on, I've decided that I'm going to reclaim the old title of "Home Economist" as my own and take pride in it. This is something the feminist in me would have resented and rejected, (and did resent and reject) but now I realize the benefits of living a life of economy, and also the strength required to live this kind of life. I suppose I've grown up and realized it's not all about me... There is "life" to be found in this kind of life... hmmm - don't tell my husband!!!

Here are some of the things I've started which are impacting for the better the greening of the earth, our financial position and my family's health;

- planting a garden and growing everything organically
- saving jars in order to preserve much of what I grow in order to feed our family through to the next growing season.
- re-purposing fabrics and sewing them into clothing for myself and my daughters
- buying fabrics from second hand stores and yard sales in order to make not only clothing but funky purses, blankets and other household items (including an apron!)
- buying less processed food and baking and cooking more from scratch.
- learning how to fix things rather than simply throwing them out and buying something new.

I propose that we create a movement - or join the movement - and start petitioning the government for tax benefits for those families in which one of the life-partners chooses to stay home and take on the role of "Home Economist". Whether it be income-splitting or a tax benefit, I don't know what form it should take, but I do know that this transition into single income families is happening and that there should be some change to reflect this. The "Home Economist" is a valuable member of society impacting all areas of life and I for one am proud to be one!

Simone

The Reversible Bag I Made for Myself.

Here it is - a large bag to tote my stuff around.

My new sewing machine!

I got a bernina 830 this weekend! I'm so excited - it's in perfect condition! It came with all of the accessories, a desk and stool, the carrying case, the manual and I only paid $95CDN! It's awesome! I was shocked when I saw it on kijiji and was even more amazed that no one had bought it yet! Check out the link if you want more info on these - they sell used for between $350 and $800USD.

Here is a review of the machine.
Here is a current ebay listing - same stuff I got, but I also got a bench and desk.

How to Make Your Own Underwear - CraftStylish

How to Make Your Own Underwear - CraftStylish

Frustrations of small town living!

Today I'm a little frustrated with living in a small town in Northern Ontario. The frustration stems from having little access to some of the little luxuries - like fabric stores with lots of selection... I know, I was spoiled living in the city all of those years. But now, I got a charm pack as a gift from my sister - a beautiful Moda pack by 3sisters called "Aviary" I want to get another one - so that I can have more of those gorgeous fabrics in the quilt I'm making for my room - in fact, I'd like a few more, so that I can do matching shams, but I can't get it anywhere around here! I'm hoping to find some when I drive down to Toronto next week to take my mom to her medical appointment. Here's hoping!

Ugh - headache!

I have a huge headache today - probably due to the pressure system change in the weather. I still managed to score 100% on my Algebra test today... going to lay down now!

I entered this Quilt Giveaway at pigtails and snails

Beach Shorts!!!

I bought this fabric called "Carnival Bloom" by Michael Miller, to make something for my "almost 13" year old daughter. She didn't want a skirt, so I decided to try to make her some beach/town shorts. I grabbed a pair of her favorite capris and used them as a pattern of sorts - except that the shorts tie at the side and the capris have a zipper front. Tell me what you think!

More pics of recent crafts

Here are
some socks I knit - soo soft!


Here is my first attempt at quilting or sewing for that matter in several years. It turned out okay considering I had no idea what I was doing! I didn't know what fusible webbing was, and didn't know how to stiffen the appliques so I soaked them with hairspray then let them dry so that I could machine stitch them on... LOL I can't believe it worked!

I made a little mat with the leftover fabric.































Here are the stockings without stuff in them and here is a bag I knit and felted - it's sort of funky don't you think?

Some crafts I've completed in the last year.

I made this yesterday as a gift for one of my youngest daughter's friends. It's reversible. My first ever attempt at sewing a bag. It was fun! Now my girls want one!







































The dress is made from pillowcases and is very comfy.














This quilt is my first ever and was made for a friend's first child. Unfortunately he died shortly after his birth - what a tragedy!

These are the stockings I knit for my family for Christmas. I'll upload a better photo so you can see what they look like when they aren't stuffed with loot!

Giveaway at Crafty Girl's Workshop

Check out this great giveaway at Crafty Girl's Workshop if you love beautiful fabrics!

Simone