Make Is The Word

Injuring my knee in October meant I couldn't finish the redo of the sewing room which meant I couldn't do any sewing for Christmas gifts.  I was really bummed about that.  I did all my shopping online but I needed a gift for someone that I don't know that well.  All I could think of was to make her a lavender sachet.

With a prayer and a pain pill, I went upstairs and went to work.  I had to move boxes and tote bins, clear off the cutting table and sewing table and then remember where I had put all my supplies.  Once I found everything I needed it didn't take long to make the sachet.

While I was choosing the hankie, buttons and lace, and coming up with a design, and then sewing it together, I felt like I was where I belonged.  My knees were killing me, but I was so happy to be in my room doing what I love to do.  I can't wait to be able to make again.  I have so missed it the last two years and that's why I've chosen "make" as my word for this year.  I have so many ideas for things to make and this is the time to make them.

What do you want to make this year?

Have a great day!

xo Annette xo

10.  sparkly icicles

11.  pops of red berries on a gray day

12.  lessons learned

13.  the desire to create

A Pink Sachet

As you may know, I've been working on three sachets my sister asked me to make.  The white one is here and the red one is here.  I've finished the third one and it's pink.

Just as with the other two, I used the corner of a vintage hankie.  I used vintage mother of pearl buttons, rick rack, lacy trim, decorative machine stitching, hand stitching, french knots, seed beads, and a gossamer bow.  It is stuffed full of lavender and smells divine!

My sister will be giving these as gifts and I hope her friends like them.  The next project is gift card holders that my daughter requested.  I'll show you those when they're finished.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

A Red Sachet

After my sisters bought all the lavender sachets I had in my shop, one of them asked me to make three more. The first one was all white and you can see it here.  This red one is the second one.  

I used the corner of a vintage hankie that had this embroidered flower attached to it.  I added french knots and vintage mother of pearl buttons.

I also added french knots to the point of each scallop.  I like how that gave the scallop a little more definition.

I really like how this sachet turned out.  It's bright and cheery and makes me happy to look at it!  I'll be sad to see this one go.  I've started on the third one.  It's pink, my favorite color!

What kind of craftiness are you up to?

A White Sachet

When making plans to meet with my sisters over Thanksgiving weekend, they asked me to bring the lavender sachets I had on hand because they were interested in giving them as gifts.  I took all I had and they bought every one of them and asked for more!  This is the first one I've made.

It is all white with a lace corner from a vintage hankie, some pearl beads, decorative machine stitching, embroidery stitches and french knots, and a yo-yo flower with a vintage mother of pearl button for the center.

One down, two to go...

  

Sewing Room Happenings ~ Blogtoberfest Day 7

Happy Friday, dear friends!  I know it may be Saturday for some of you, so wherever you are I hope you're having a wonderful day.  After running errands I will be working in the sewing room.  Here's a sneak peek at a project I started yesterday.  I won't tell you what it is, because I have to save something to show you next week!  Isn't she pretty?

Here's another gift tag.  I'm really enjoying making these.  I've been looking for Christmas cookie cutters to use as patterns for some holiday tags.  Last year when I was ready to make cut-out sugar cookies I couldn't find mine.  I still haven't found them and I haven't found them in stores yet.  In the meantime, these are fun.

And here is a set of lavender sachets.  I really like the gray and yellow color combination.  These are plain and simple and will be sold in a set of three.   They smell so divine!

I've set the target date of October 18th to reopen my Etsy shop.  There is so much to do before then, but I'm panicking excited and trying to stay focused! 

Are you working on anything exciting?  

An Apron For A Bracelet

A couple of months ago, my bloggy friend Patty from My Life Under the Bus and The Junquerie on Etsy, asked me if I would make her a custom apron.  After explaining what she wanted and agreeing on a price, I told her I would be happy to make one.  Not long after that she asked me if I would be interested in a trade.  She had made a bracelet that I just fell in love with and she would trade the bracelet for the apron.  Well, I jumped at that suggestion!  Who wouldn't want this bracelet?

I waited for Patty to send the fabric and I just couldn't believe what came in that package.  I couldn't believe how wonderfully decorated the envelopes were.  I felt special before I even opened it up!  There were two envelopes.  One contained the fabric and the other was full of goodies I wasn't expecting.

There were the sweetest paper dolls and these wonderful teacup prints 'wrapped' in toile.

Don't you love this wrapping?  I was just in awe of it.  It is a page from a book and Patty did a tutorial on book paper that you can see here and here and here.

.
These little note cards were in there!

And then of course there was THE bracelet!  This bracelet won a Facebook contest and you can have one of your very own because there is one in Patty's Etsy shop, The Junquerie!  My photos don't do it justice.  Trust me when I say it is simply beautiful.

Patty wanted a full apron that she could wear to do craft shows.  She wanted the skirt to be ruffles and she wanted pockets on the inside so she could use them for money at the show.  Isn't that just a great idea?    This is what I came up with.

I also made her a lavender sachet to let her know how special she is to me.

Patty was one of my very first blog followers and has been a constant source of encouragement and support.  I was happy to make her an apron and even more happy to have one of her original bracelets.

Thank you Patty for everything!

Be Yourself...A New Sachet

I've been in the sewing room again and created this new sachet.  I used what I had and chose simple muslin for the front and back .  A gauzy type fabric chosen for the embroidery with pieces of lace, old and new, vintage buttons, a sheer piece of aqua fabric, lots of beads and a bird charm make up this pretty and feminine lavender sachet.

This is my favorite part.  I love how the beads seem to spill out from the buttons and the bird looks as if it is soaring towards a cloud.

The darker vintage lace gives contrast and the vintage buttons seem right at home there.

This corner has a combination of hand and machine stitches and is accented with seed beads.  The sachet is filled with French lavender and smells divine!

So what have you been working on?

Today I'm joining in Show and Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home

Blogtoberfest ~ Day Eleven ~ Pink Hope, A New Sachet

I think everyone knows that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Chances are you know someone who has been affected by breast cancer one way or another.  I have relatives, know freinds and friends of friends who have battled this terrible disease.  Some are survivors and some are not. 

It is estimated that 2.5 million survivors live in the U.S.  That number should be higher and I believe that someday it will be.  It is up to each and every one of us as women to know the facts about this disease and to have regular mammograms and do regular self exams.  The sooner a lump is detected the better.  Here are three sites for the latest information:

American Cancer Society

Susan G Komen for the Cure

National Cancer Institute

I have created a lavender sachet to honor those who are fighting this battle.  It is my sincere wish to offer hope to someone who needs it.

Have a wonderful Monday!!!

Blogtoberfest ~ Day Eight ~ Black White and Red

This is my newest lavender sachet.  It's a little quite a bit different from the other sachets but I think I like it.  I used part of a vintage hankie, a vintage button, beads, lace, tulle, decorative red machine stitching and red hand embroidery.  The back is a black and white print.  It's still growing on me.  What do you think, honestly?

I hope you have a fabulous Friday!!!



My New Love

Making lavender sachets has been fun and satisfying from the beginning.  It's one of those things that is quick to make from start to finish, so you see a finished product in no time at all.  When I first started, it would take some time to pick out the right fabric to go with the vintage hankie and then figure out which part of the hankie fit best.  Then there was the measuring and making sure corners were pointed and centered and everything had to be perfect.  I didn't mind doing any of this. 

When I decided to donate two sachets for a fundraiser, I wanted them to be different from what I had always made.  I looked at the fabric stash and chose two colors of scrap fabric.  Next, I looked at my stash of everything else and just started pulling out things like lace, buttons, ribbons and beads and just started layering everything together.  It didn't matter anymore if it wasn't perfect.  In fact, the more imperfect it was, the more perfect it became!  It was like someone told me I could color outside the lines and it would be okay!  I have truly loved this new process of creating!  It's okay if no one likes them....I have discovered something inside of me that I didn't know was there and THAT is exciting and inspiring!

These two sachets are my newest creations and are in my Etsy shop, So Many Memories.

I have always believed that I wasn't creative.  That I needed a pattern and instructions, and I couldn't come up with an original idea.  For once, I don't mind being proven wrong!



I've Been In The Sewing Room

I have been busy lately and actually have something to show for it!  My blog friend, Alyssa, from Alygatr's Everywhere, sent out a request for handmade items for a fund raiser her husband's company is having.  I was so happy to make a donation and I'm really excited to show you what I made! 

First is a set of two reversible placemats with a fall theme.  I figured the fall leaves and colors would appeal to more people than everyday designs.

Next is a lavender sachet made from some scrap fabric, a piece of vintage lace, decorative stitching and little pearl seed beads. 

 And last is another lavender sachet that I so enjoyed making.  For a long time I have loved the layered, torn and tattered look and have been thinking of ways to use it with the things I make.  I chose another piece of scrap fabric, vintage lace and buttons, embroidered a piece of gauze like fabric and stitched it all together.  It came out like this



I've made some other goodies too, but I'll save them for another post!

What have you been working on?