Bobbin Storage Idea

I just thought I would quickly share with you one of my own little sewing area storage ideas.

This one happens to be one of my favorites.

Now I know what you're thinking. A box of chocolates may seem like a natural sewing area requirement, but that is not what this is. Well....it used to be a box of chocolates, but that was quite a long time ago.

Now it is my fantastic bobbin storage box. I am able to keep several bobbins of the same color thread conveniently together in one of the former chocolate heart nesting spots.

It doesn't hurt that sometimes I look at it and think, "Oooo, chocolates".

Goodwill Basket Purse Redo

So I took my mother to her local Goodwill store yesterday so that we could drop off some items and, of course, pick up more items. As I was perusing the basket section, I saw this sweet little basket purse that was desperately in need of some love. For $0.50 I had to take it home and at least try to fix it up a little.

Here's some before pics of the sad little purse.






It's difficult to see, but the elastic that was holding the basket together was pretty much shot. The plastic flower on top was one of the first things that had to go. I replaced the worn out elastic with some heavy gauge crochet thread. I wanted to add some kind of a liner to it, and I was originally going to use the cute floral fabric shown in the photos, but I saw that my mom had cut some adorable blue plaid short sleeves off of a shirt of hers and I thought that would be perfect as a liner. It was also a lot less work since all I needed to do was to stitch up the cut opening of the sleeve. The remaining opening was already hemmed and ready to be used. When I finished stitching up the cut opening of the blue material, I placed it in the basket and stitched it in place around the basket opening. I also added two small stitched through the bottom of the lining, just to secure it to the bottom of the basket. I also used some of the blue thread that I used to stitch the bottom of the lining fabric to weave around the little loop that goes around the button.

  

I think it turned out to be a pretty cute little purse. It fits my wallet, keys, and my phone, which sometimes is all I really need.

For $0.50, some thread, a recycled shirt sleeve and a little time, I think it's a pretty good investment.

Denim Sandbag Recycling

I was perusing the Sew Mama Sew blog this morning and I saw a post there for a contest about reusing various materials such as burlap and denim. I was trying to think if I had reinvented any of these materials lately, and then I remembered my blue jean sandbags. Yes, I said blue jean sandbags.

Rutilated Copper Necklace Tutorial

Today I thought I would share how I made my new favorite necklace yesterday.

I received my pair of copper rutilated quartz, faceted pear briolettes that I ordered from the Lyramare Rocks Etsy shop on Saturday and couldn't wait to use them to make a necklace.

 



Aren't they pretty?

Bakers Rack Upgrade

Seeing as how this is my first post, let me begin by saying hello and thank you for visiting my blog. I think, like many other bloggers, I have a wide variety of lofty goals for this blog, but I think an appropriate first post should include a dedication. My father used to tell me that I should write a book, since I've had so many experiences and seen so many things over the years. A book always sounded like a noble goal, but it also sounded like the kind of goal that you put on your bucket list. It would be sandwiched right up there between running a marathon and skydiving. Not that those aren't achievable goals but, like their literary list mate, they seem a little impossible when you're standing at the starting line or looking out the open doorway of the plane. So I think I will try to use this blog as a beginner book and I will try to post my ideas and my experiences (both crafty and otherwise) one day or one chapter at a time.

With that in mind, I'd like to share one of my more crafty experiences with you. I hope it will help inspire you to consider recycling some home furnishings of your own.

I bought this little bakers rack at a garage sale about a year ago for $10, I think.