Monday, July 4, 2011

Tool Boxing

Right after I organized last Spring, I treated myself to a few new things. I got a new Janome DC4030 PR sewing machine! The 'DC' stands for Décor Computer. Sweet. This bad girl can sew through multiple layers of fabric like denim or canvas. So far I've made a dress, more seat belt cozies and other stuff I still have to photograph. I got it at Ray's Sewing Machine Center where I learned how various feet for your machine can help make sewing so much easier and closer to perfection... yeah I went foot shopping and needless to say, I'm looking forward to being able to sew whatever I want.

Janome 4030 PR Sewing Machine Accessories

I also invested in some large spool threads to make use of the old overlock, which I discovered is CLOSE to impossible for me to thread at night! It was getting late and I kept thinking to myself, "THIS is why they've invented 'easy-thread' machines". It's ok though... I finally serged my way through the 'alterations' pile and I made a little black top, among other things. Since I've never actually threaded one of those newer easy to thread serger machines, I completely forget about what I might be missing once I start sewing with this robust bad boy.

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Last, but not least, I finally got a set of Denise Interchangeables... a very large Denise in a Della Q Double, to be precise. I thought about purchasing the knitting set by itself and then getting the Tunisian crochet set at a later time, but you get a few extras with this big set that you can't get if you buy them separately. I have not been able to put down my needles since I got it!!! I tend to knit tightly in the round, so I really appreciate the smoothness when transitioning my stitches around these circular needles. I've already finished two things and am on my third project. A neat trick I discovered is that 'picking up stitches' is 1000X easier when you swap your knitting needle tip with a crochet hook tip of the same size, pull your new stitches through and then switch it back to a needle tip when you're ready to knit them... Take that, you stitches!

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IMG_0666 Corona

Monday, April 18, 2011

Craft Area Organization

I got organized last weekend! Living in a small condo, I've resorted to storing my supplies throughout the place - a little of this here and a little of that there. I'm lucky enough that my living room has a nice sized corner with a view for me to have the things I use most close by.

Judyswag's Corner
Beads everywhere.

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To the left...

Judyswag
the right...

Livingroom/ Craft Space
and the rest of the room...


Thursday, April 14, 2011

Seat Belt Covers for Grownups

I've been in need of a seat belt cover for quite sometime. I looked around on Etsy and could only find cutesie ones for children or ones made out of sheepskins - not really my thing! How hard could they be to make? Hmmm...not difficult at all, actually. I had a remnant of this fuzzy white fabric which is softer than kittens and a cotton fabric which matches my car's interior...some Velcro squares and I just added a hundred and one comfort points to my commute!



In other news, I finally threaded my serger sewing machine this month. I made a few headbands with scrap fabric while adjusting the thread tensions. I also managed to make a top. I don't have pictures of that yet, though I did get some shots of some necklaces I made last month...


Black Glass Necklace DOD Necklace Preview

Now I just need a vacation so I can have time to make more of everything :o)