Chenille Dishtowel - scrap/stash buster project

A few weeks ago I was visiting a dear friend and she was so excited to show me this very awesome project that one of her sisters had created.  A chenille dishtowel!  So clever and handy and useful - just my idea of a perfect little project to use up odd pieces of leftover fabric (or that random piece of fabric that you really don't know what you were thinking when you acquired it).
When I got home I googled for a 'how-to' and what do you think?  The first link I found was to her sister's blog with the tutorial right there!  So marvelous! She has lots of clever and nifty things on her blog - you should absolutely check it out!  Olive Leaf Journal

So on to my attempt.  I randomly grabbed some fabric and roughly cut a big rectangle for the back then layered the 3 slightly smaller pieces on top.  I used my walking foot and stitched through all the layers in a diagonal row pattern - trying to keep them roughly even without measuring or marking.  The next one I make will absolutely have more real measuring and perhaps some marking. I then used my big shears to slash through the top 3 layers between the stitching lines - being careful to NOT cut the back piece (light purple w/ flowers).  After I had the cutting finished, I folded/pressed and stitched the backing as a binding.

Then I tossed it into the wash with a few times with other laundry to give it the chenille effect.

It came out great and I mailed it off (as a surprise) to my friend for her to use since she was the one who had given me the idea in the first place. :-)

Now I need to make a few for myself.

Happy sewing!

Sheer Window Scarf/Curtain

Made these for J's bedroom - 3 windows.  Blue is the exact match of the paint color on 2 walls in her room "Caribbean Sea"

We bought 9 5/8 yards of sheer fabric, cut it lengthwise and did a french seam to join the two lengths.  Then I used my rolled-hem foot on the machine to hem the long raw edge (close to 40 yards of hemming!).  We measured it out for the 3 windows and cut & roll-hemmed the short ends.
The fabric runs up into 3 loops across the top over a black rod - spread to cover and a bit of painters tape rolled backwards to hold the slippery fabric at the top of the rod.

J is very pleased with her new window treatments - definitely a grown-up room now!

Summer Dress 1

After a disappointing search for appropriate summer dresses for Jess, we opted to make our own instead.
We found some 'cheaty' fabric that was already smocked at the top and was long enough to be modest so all we had to do was run a quick seam & hem and add some wide straps at the top.
This is the first of two like this that she'll have for the summer. I will post photos of the other one once it is done.

Deck Cushions

This is a partial sewing project and partial general project.
I found the furniture on craigslist and it was just what I wanted for the deck.  We were in dire need of something more substantial than the flimsy plastic Adirondack chairs we'd been dealing with in years past.  With about a half-dozen cans of white spray paint and a few hours of work - Jess & I had them spiffed up nicely.

Then it was time to tackle re-covering the cushions - they were a very faded and worn red floral so I dug out some random remnant of duck cloth left over from teaching a sewing class tote-bag project and was thrilled to find one piece long enough to cover both cushions. 
Of course Jess is horrified at the pattern and thinks it's hideous.  I think it's cheerful and fun and ...really... for deck cushions that will be sat on, feet on & probably dog'd on ...I don't much care what it looks like as long as it's clean and not dreadfully worn.

I think this may qualify as a post linkable to a very cool blog I follow:

Apron Inspiration - cross post

This is a cross-post from my other blog.
Awhile back I was noodling around at Like A Warm Cup of Coffee and she was doing an apron give away from Flirty Aprons.  You have to check them out - they are sooooo cute!
I did not win the freebie, but was inspired to dig out a pattern I had bought back before Christmas to make my own!  So when my Mom came up for a visit on Saturday, we hit the fabric store and I splurged and bought some GORGEOUS Legacy quilting fabric to make myself a pretty apron.

My daughter J has been hanging around with me in my sewing area and says I will be stylin' when I make dinner in this beautiful creation! 

And one of the side benefits is that I love to sew anyway and with sales, coupons, & discounts - my apron cost $12.50 to make.