The CSI Project's Paint Challenge

I've decided to participate in this challenge.

This week's theme was paint.

I don't often use paints, so I only had two projects to choose between:

our family art and the Star Wars shirt.

I've opted to enter the Star Wars shirt that the Little Man and I made a few months ago.

Here's the original "How He Did It Video":

Great Instructions for Beginning Hand Sewing

 

Check out this great tutorial at Sew, Mama, Sew.  It teaches Hand Quilting, but it starts with the most important and basics of steps—knotting the thread in your need. 

A Family Art Project

We have lived in our house for 10+ years. 

The same pictures over the piano have been in the same frames for at least 7 years (the Big Girl’s one year portraits!). 

I was sick of them. 

I was sick of the heavy antique brassy looking frames, I was sick of the same old stuffy pictures, I was sick of dusting them, I was just plain ol’ sick of them.  And while I’m at it, I should also mention that I was sick of dusting the “collections” of eggs, ivory elephants, and photos on top of the piano. 

So, we I needed something different.

I decided to let the kids and my husband create the new piece to hang over the piano. 

My request was quite simple really:  Go pick out your favorite color from the paint wall at Hobby Lobby. 

Well, I really should have known better. 

I just knew that the Big Girl would pick turquoise, the Little Man would pick red or orange (and I was holding out for red), and the husband, well that’s another matter.  Let’s just say I’m grateful he didn’t pick forest green or beige, because those are the only two colors he wore for the first 5-6 years I knew him!!

Here’s what we wound up with:

a beachy turquoise (it was that or lime and I’m so relieved she went with her first choice),

orange (remember his first quilt?)

golden yellow (it’s about the same color as the kitchen walls), and

purple.  PURPLE!!!!   What the heck?  Oh well.

So, we set to work.

I sprayed my canvas (picked up with a 40% off coupon from HL) with my new favorite color: 

Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch Heirloom White.

Then we taped in our design. 

Now, normally at this point, if a blogger were showing you the steps in a process, they’d show you a picture of the taping process. 

But not us.  Nope. 

Because I was too busy explaining to the hubby that,

“No, we are not going to just put the tape down the center of each side and make it symmetrical.” 

Really, what was he thinking? 

Anyway, after the canvas was taped off, we took turns painting our own squares. 

Purple (Again, I ask myself, “Purple?”)

Orange

(In this picture, the BG turq looks green because somebody painted their yellow in the square she had already claimed.  I offered to trade, but she wanted that square, so she just painted over it with 3 coats!)

After it was dry, we ripped off the blue painter’s tape.

Here’s our new art:

   

It’s wonderfully loud and obnoxious and bold,

but like someone pointed out—it’s just like us!

 

 

 

Easy Pillowcases

This is a pattern I teach all my new sewing students, no matter their age.  It’s a great way to practice sewing a straight seam and it’s so much fun to see the finished project.  If you’ve never made a pillowcase with these instructions, the middle steps are going to seem quite strange.  Just trust me.  It works.   You can find the instructions here.

Braggin’ Time

We’re counting down the days ‘til Summer Break (only 7!!!!!) but until then, I thought I brag on the kids just a little bit:

I don’t have any pictures, but the Big Girl competed in her first Louisiana Music Teachers Association Piano Rally (Northwest Louisiana Region) and WON her division. In case you were never forced never had the opportunity to participate, she played 3 pieces by memory, sight read 2 pieces, played scales, arpeggios and triads in 3 keys and took a written test. So, this was a really, really super-big deal!!! I’m so proud of her. She’s only been studying piano since July last year and she has a wonderful teacher.

The Little Man tested for Kindergarten at a local magnet school and BLEW THE TEST OUT OF THE WATER!!! Of course, we already knew he’d do fine, but waiting for those stinkin’ letters to come out was the pits. He’s excited about kindergarten—I think—but I can’t imagine what I’ll do without him at home next year!

BG had another art piece displayed at ART BREAK this year. Her art teacher said she always has a great stack of work and it’s hard for her to decide on one entry.

LM is still working hard at his karate class. He is one of about 8 little boys just starting out. They are so much fun to watch (when they listen, which is most of the time.) He promoted to the next level in his little kid class in April and in two weeks, he’ll test again for promotion.

Girls’ Sewing Class

Girls Sewing Class

in the Shreveport/Bossier City area

for those finishing 1st – 4th grades

learn to make a pillowcase and an elastic waist skirt with trim

June 1-3

2-5pm

contact me for more information.

A New Tutorial Page

Check out the new link at the top of my page!

Great Tutorials

This page is a list of tutorials on my site (and others), like this one showing you how to make a vinyl beach bag.

 

Through my camera lens…

Dinner!

New in the Etsy.com Shop

Just in time for summer

 

you can find these red, white, and blue onesies

in my etsy shop.

 

www.etsy.com/shop/personalitychildrens

 

Fun Beginner Patterns

Looking for a project perfect for a beginner?  Try one of these:

 

Two great things about this pattern: 

The instructions are written for a brand some one brand new to sewing.

The pattern teaches you how to embellish your skirt—something most “learner” patterns leave off!

 

This purse would be perfect for the summer.  This pattern is designed to teach you how to sew.

If you looking for easy home dec projects to get you started, try these Sewing For Dummies patterns.

 

Happy Sewing!

 

A Name Change…

Introducing the

So-Cute-I’ll-Have-To-Get-Coffee-Everyday

Coffee Cozy

Yep. 

Same Cozy,

New Name.

Thanks Jess!  And Happy Belated Birthday!

The Easy Way to Gather Fabric

This is not the way I’d teach you to gather fabric if you took my sewing class.  This is not the way most authors would tell you how to gather fabric.  But…if I have a long ruffle to gather, you can just about bet, this is how I will gather the fabric.

I’m showing you how I gather fabric with my computerized machine.

1.  Place fabric under needle and lower presser foot.  Take one stitch and then backstitch.
2.  Set your stitch length to the longest setting possible.  Tighten your top thread tension as much as possible.  If you have a manual machine, just turn your stitch length dial to the longest setting.  You may also have to Increase you tension on your upper thread tension dial.
3.  Stitch and watch your fabric gather on its own.  At the end of your fabric, do not backstitch.
4..  Remove your fabric from your machine and adjust your gathers according to the length you need.  To tighten the gathers even more, gently pull the top thread.

I find that using this method on my machine gathers my fabric to about 1/3 its original length.  It is easy to tug it as tight as 1/6 the original length.

Easy, isn’t it?  The most important step is still to come: 

Do not forget to reset your thread tension to its usual setting.

Happy gathering!

Did you ever notice…

Did you ever notice…

• how Moms are never in the picture?
• how the older you get, the smarter your Mom is?
• how you are starting to say all those things Mom said and that you swore you’d never say?
• how your Mom lets your kids get away with everything you never could?
• how your Mom passed the Meanest-Mommy-Ever award down to you?
• how important Mother’s Day is now that you’re a Mommy?

Happy Mother’s Day Momma!

(the only picture I have of my Mom this year because she’s always behind the camera. and in this shot, she’s not even holding one of my kids!!!!)

Upcoming Sewing Classes in the Shreveport Area

For Kids

June 1-3 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Mornings	Beginning Sewing For Girls (1st thru 4th grade)	Email for Details
June 7-28 Monday Mornings	Sleepover Sewing (Beginning Sewing for 10 and Up)	LSU-S
June 24-25 Thursday, Friday Mornings	The Next Step Sewing (1st thru 4th grade)	Email for Details
July 1 Thursday Morning	Sewing your Bedroom Basics (Pillows, Curtains, etc.)	LSU-S
July 19-23 Monday-Friday Afternoons	Wardrobe Re-Fashion for Tweens	LSU-S

For Adults

June 8-29 Tuesday Mornings	Needles, Nuts and Bolts (Beginning Sewing)	LSU-S
June 8-29 Tuesday Evenings	Shirt Making	LSU-S
June 26 Saturday	Purses	LSU-S
July 6-27 Tuesday Mornings	Sew More (Beginning Sewing II)	LSU-S
July 6-27 Tuesday Evenings	Needles, Nuts and Bolts (Beginning Sewing)	LSU-S
July 9-10 Friday and Saturday All Day	Sewing Workshop:  Christmas in July	LSU-S
July 26 Monday Afternoon	Sergers	LSU-S
August 2 Monday Morning	Knits	LSU-S
August 5-26 Thursday Evenings	Refashion and Alterations	LSU-S
August 7-14 Saturday Mornings	Sew More (Beginning Sewing II)	LSU-S

Through my camera lens…

An Ah-Ha Moment

Upcoming Sewing Classes in the Shreveport Area

For Kids

June 1-3 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Mornings	Beginning Sewing For Girls (1st thru 4th grade)	Email for Details
June 7-28 Monday Mornings	Sleepover Sewing (Beginning Sewing for 10 and Up)	LSU-S
June 24-25 Thursday, Friday Mornings	The Next Step Sewing (1st thru 4th grade)	Email for Details
July 1 Thursday Morning	Sewing your Bedroom Basics (Pillows, Curtains, etc.)	LSU-S
July 19-23 Monday-Friday Afternoons	Wardrobe Re-Fashion for Tweens	LSU-S

For Adults

June 8-29 Tuesday Mornings	Needles, Nuts and Bolts (Beginning Sewing)	LSU-S
June 8-29 Tuesday Evenings	Shirt Making	LSU-S
June 26 Saturday	Purses	LSU-S
July 6-27 Tuesday Mornings	Sew More (Beginning Sewing II)	LSU-S
July 6-27 Tuesday Evenings	Needles, Nuts and Bolts (Beginning Sewing)	LSU-S
July 9-10 Friday and Saturday All Day	Sewing Workshop: Christmas in July	LSU-S
July 26 Monday Afternoon	Sergers	LSU-S
August 2 Monday Morning	Knits	LSU-S
August 5-26 Thursday Evenings	Refashion and Alterations	LSU-S
August 7-14 Saturday Mornings	Sew More (Beginning Sewing II)	LSU-S

A Handy Resource

Ever wondered what exactly “four-way stretch” means on the back of that pattern envelope.  What about “chintz”, “faille”, or “tricot knit”?  Check out FabricLink’s Textile Dictionary.

Show Your Coffee Some Love

I love my coffee. 

So much that I have my special little mug.

And a coffee cozy of my own.

Now you can have one too.

 

www.etsy.com/shop/personalitychildrens

   

Dresses, Dresses, Dresses

Dearest Vogue,

The dresses this summer are super cute.

I really like this one:

And this one:

And this one:

Two problems: 

1.  I don’t need dresses.

2.  According to your little table,

the only ones figure-flattering

to a rectangle like me

are like this one:

Umm…No thank you. 

My Nita has plenty of those

without me needing to make more.

Might I suggest some

super cute separates next time. 

Maybe separates that are as cute as this:

    

Sincerely,

Salinda