Valentines Around the Corner

Yesterday I was not very happy with my slow pace. I only made one item, an upcycled pink t - shirt made of 95% cotton and 5%  spandex which gives it a nice smooth feeling with a comfortable stretch.
The shirt measures 34 inches at the bust with a back neck length of 23.

The red heart is cut from another t - shirt and backed with a heat bond fabric. I handstitched around the heart and attached a black button to the center. At each side I embroidered an "X."  The heart patch reads as, "X O X." Pure love LOL.  To my eyes the pink is a nice soft hue, but from this side of my monitor, it appears washed out and faded. 

Maybe a good time to consider taking photos in the day and in natural light.



New Project Finished

Ok, so I didn't work on the project that I wrote about in my last post. BUT I did start and finish a new project. What is it you ask? Well, it's a crocheted purse.  The purse was crocheted last year. And since I wasn't up to lining it, it just sat patiently on my sewing machine (the place where many projects go to die LOL), only this project lives and I think I did pretty good.

The lining I chose is a tan calico with tiny crimson flowers and tiny green leaves.  I've never lined a purse before.  An unlined crocheted purse is akin to buying a carton of milk with the bottom open; useless!

For decor, I crocheted a matching flower and attached a vintage mother of pearl button near the handle. And viola!  See the photo.

I hope to do other styles of purses in summer/spring colors as well.

See this item offered for sale here at http://www.etsy.com/shop/DarlingAndDaughters

Quick Check In

Just checking in to say, "Yes I am surprisingly still here." LOL
Currently, my ETSY shop, Darling and Daughters has seven items available;

two crocheted neck scarves, one vintage velvet hat, one hood/scarf combo and two Victorian capelets or capes.  Here's a pic of the hood/scarf. Got to get back to the grind! Hope to write more tonight.

What Should Happen Today

Good Tuesday morning. Because I am not old enough, I spent the entire day yesterday thinking it was Tuesday LOL.  Leave it Microsoft and my Dell to clue me in.

Last night while digging through my fabric shelf  (yes, after 35 years of sewing, I am reduced to owning a meager "fabric shelf")  I found a large black piece of cotton that features cowgirls. My daughter picked this piece out for a blouse that I never made.  The new plan is to use this fabric as appliques on a black t-shirt.  In fact, this fabric would work for a variety of colors of shirts, but alas, I don't have all those colors available to me.

I will be digging through my sewing notions for a clean, flat piece of Pellon Iron on Interfacing. I say, clean not because I don't care for my things but no doubt my interfacing is wadded up in a ball in a plastic shopping bag.  

Above you can view of photo of this fabric along with two lengths of lace I crocheted. Later, I will check back and report if I actually succeeded in pulling off  this plan on this "Tuesday."

Beatrix Potter and the Hope of Benjamin Bunny

Cold and cloudy today. No matter, my work keeps me busy indoors. Watching Beatrix Potter, one of my favorite authors. The clothes, the accents, the lovely homes! I love it all. What I do hate is how her family did not think much of her talent or business acumen. But, of course, this was par for the day as a woman over 30 was expected to be married with children nipping at her heels.

Nipping children is also wonderful, I miss that part of my life actually! Beatirix defied convention and dove right into her writing and painting to become one of our most beloved authors.

Where could I go if I had half the gutts and stick-to-it-ivness of Beatrix? That is exactly what I intend to find out as I can't get any lower to the bottom than I am right now.

DAY ONE, NEW ME, NEW DAY

At least that what I hope for, a new me. If we can't improve ourselves or our lives, what's the point? I am trying to be more hopeful this year. Centerainbly can't be less hopeful. Trying to come with Etsy policies, photos, items, etc. There's much to think about but it will pay in the end.....I hope!

My New Year's what peaceful and shared with a nice friend.

I love Sean Penn as an actor. He's fabulous! Now WGN is showing a Sean Penn movie, thought I'd seen them all. It's about a guy who is retarded and raises his daughter, Dakota Fanning alone. 

Another fab movie is his Woody Allen movie, where he plays a banjo player who enjoys taking dates to shoot rats at the dumps. LOL.  The title of this movie escapes me now...of course it does. LOL  

Hip Hip Horray for a New Year!

Here we are at the end an old year. I am ready so ready to shed the last 364 days like a snake skin and get on with a new skin! The other day, someone asked me to tell them what I usually do on New Years. I was about to say, "I usually do nothing." But then I stopped myself.

The truth is that many  years, I do not plan a special event. No matter, something life-changing usually happens and usually has nothing do with my conscience efforts.

A big memorable New Years was the year I begged my OBGYN to call me after midnight while I was hosting a huge party. I knew I was pregnant, but I needed to hear it.  Yes, the bunny died and the party was a smash up success!

A few years later,  during New Years week, I quit drinking. I didn't make a resolution to quit on that special day. It just happened that way. And thankfully I've stayed sober for decades!!!

My weight was bothering me the next year. So it happened that after coming up with countless excuses,  I finally joined Weight Watchers and lost that pesky 21 pounds.

I received a marriage proposal on New Year's during the loudest, craziest party I've ever attended (this time it was not my party).   Yes, I did accept.

Plans for tonight include a simple, but enjoyable evening with family and friends. And that's just fine by me. Once again without consciously thinking about the time of year, it just so happens that I am starting 2012 as the proud business owner of  "Darling and Daughters Mercantile" where I will sell upcycled clothing, originally-designed and vintage clothing as well as collectible items.

In my next posting I will talk about the word "upcycle" and various other topics that may or may not pop into my head.