Sewing Wizardess

New Place to Write

WizardGir1 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:15:00 GMT

Since I have been having issues with this blogsite, I am posting here.
I will most likely post more often if I know that I won't have so many issues to work around to get started.

See you there!

A Little Gift For The Tree

WizardGir1 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Isn't this such a cute pattern!? I decided it would be a perfect little hand made gift for my mum for the holidays. I found the pattern here.

My mom is a member of a quilting group, but she's the one who crochets at their meetings. She just might want this pattern to make for the gals in the group next year.

Technology

WizardGir1 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:15:00 GMT

I am still unhappy about the design of this blog, so I keep switching it. Until I am satisfied, I am going to keep at it. I get really frustrated when other's blogs take a long time to load, so I'm trying to avoid that with my own. This site isn't as easy to work with as blogspot.com. I have considered moving to them for my Sewing Wizardess blog. Sigh. I'm not certain, yet. Anyways... lots of stuff I could be doing other than sitting here to get cranky at technology. Cioa.

A Creative Day

WizardGir1 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:33:00 GMT

Lalalala... I love being here! Today I had to get creative, or go insane. I made two items that will be highly functional for me. A hat with added ear flaps and a cell phone carrying case from a crochet sample that I had tucked away. I knew that I wanted my cell phone case to be bright in color so I wouldn't lose it, if I set it down and when I saw this bright yellow sample, a light-bulb went off in my head.
Here are my crochet sample choices.

I decided to go with the sample on the far right. I just folded the square together with the right-side facing inward, and sewed the seam with a whip stitch. I turned it inside-out to finish off the yarn.

The case turned out a little longer than the phone, so I had the idea to make a drawstring close.

AH HAH! How cute for an easy and basic cellphone case. I could embellish it with beads or appliqué. "Could" being the operative word. I probably won't do that.

Next, I attached ear flaps to a had that I knitted on the Knifty Knitter knitting loom that's so hot on the crafts market right now.

I made a couple of squares using the same pattern that I am using for my afghan. I attached them with a whip-stitch, also.

I marked the back of the hat with a blue bow and used Fray Check on it so it wouldn't untie.

So for needing to be creative, I was! I problem solved a couple minor issues I was having. It's just nice to be able to craft something up quickly and be more comfortable in life.

Happy Sewing!

The Only Sewing...

WizardGir1 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:15:00 GMT

The only sewing I've completed today wasn't sewing, really. I made a patternreview.com block. This entry is my attempt to integrate it onto my online journal. In the past, I have considered myself "techy" enough to figure out how things work. I'm having a difficult time with this blogsite. Grrr... I have so much more to learn, I see!

So, it looks as though I've successfully completed my mission--getting the pr.com block up on site. I'm headed for bed. Working at this goal pooped me out! Haha.. Until next time...

Happy Sewing!

Acrylic Doll Face

WizardGir1 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:44:00 GMT

Oh good, I could finally make some time to work on my doll!

I started embroidering the doll face and I just did not like how it was coming along.
The flannel fabric is a loose weave so it doesn't embroider very sturdy.
Tugging the thread with any degree of firmness is disastrous. This is where I stopped.

I decided to make a new face.
I grabbed my 6B drawing pencil and a couple different rulers and stencils to choose from.
There are the stencils I ended up with.

I traced whatever shapes looked doable for features.
I just went with whatever groove I was in.
I wanted an oval nose though!
I saw a doll with an oval nose when I was researching doll features and fell in love with an oval shaped red-lined nose.
The next photo shows what I ended up with.

Okay, so the nose looks circular in the drawing, but it's really more oval.
I used Windsor and Newton acrylic paints for the medium.
I read somewhere that you could also use fabric paint, but I didn't want to spend more money.
I just grabbed what I had.

It was fun to paint her face and watch her come alive.
I'd forgotten to draw eyebrows and eyelashes, so I did it while the eyes were drawing.
They are crooked but I like that. It makes her all that more original and sweet.
I like how the heart turned out. When I was little I used to play with "My Little Ponies" and they always had some neat image printed on their behinds. That's where I came up with the idea for the heart.

Anyways, back to...After the paint was pretty dry, I brushed on a coat of polyethylene. I wanted the features to reflect light and I was hoping it would make the paint more durable. I need to wait 24 hours before touching it. I have worked with the polyethylene before, so I know the importance of waiting this one out. It is very tacky and will leave finger prints, if I don't wait. Sigh. I will wait.

All right, I'm going to get this posted online. Time for work! Until next time...

Happy Sewing!

Under Construction

WizardGir1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:02:00 GMT

Due to the issues I was having with my font, I have decided to redesign the blog layout. I will continue posting, but changes will occur and it might look funky until things are settled. Thanks for stopping by!

Sophie Decisions Made

WizardGir1 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:57:00 GMT

So Miss Sophie continues...

I focused really well this morning so I am able to post what I've completed thus far. I finished cutting the patterns out thoroughly--even the head. I thought I wasn't supposed to, but after reading the directions, I learned that I am! I was a little weirded out over cutting the individual patterns out of the box it was printed within because the box contained the only grain line. I decided to draw my own grain line on each pattern piece. I lined the pattern grain line up with my cutting mat grid-line to use as a guide when drawing my own grain line in. If I am going to make more dolls using this pattern, I want all the information there.

As you can see there are markings for darts on the head in the photo above. The directions said that I should trace the markings onto my fabric, but this is something new for me. When I attended sewing classes at the technical college, the patterns we used had punch holes in them. We marked the holes with a pencil on the fashion fabric and then connected the dots with a ruler, after we removed the pattern. Well, this is just tissue pattern paper and easily torn, so I don't like making holes in it. So, I picked up some tracing paper. 5 colors come in the package--orange, white, yellow, blue and red.

I chose to use red for my tracing color. And I used a cheap tracing wheel that comes in a beginner's kit. Sorry that the photo isn't the best quality. I'll try to get a better photo next time I use the tracing paper.

It worked well enough, but you can't touch the marks too much or they disappear. I thought it handled like chalk. The package said to wipe it off with a damp cloth, but I brushed it off with my hand and that was sufficient. I like using tracing paper. I will use it in the future.

Anyways, moving on. I have all the pattern pieces of the doll cut out. I decided to go with the flannel fabric. I ran into a slight problem though. The pattern instructions suggested to use only 100% polyester in order for the iron-on facial features to adhere permanently. Well, since I was considering embroidering a face as an option, I will have to now. I really would like a permanent face. Haha...

I do have some of the head sewn together, but I have no photos yet. I am not sure whether I want to embroider the face after the doll is sewn together and stuffed, or to embroider it now. I have two faces cut out so I could practice. I think I'll research online to learn what other artists have done with their dolls.

Okay, that's all I have time for today! I plan on working on Sophie a little more over the weekend and I'll post those next steps. Until then...

Happy Sewing!

Sophie Rag Doll

WizardGir1 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:19:00 GMT

It's been a few days since I last posted. I haven't been inspired to finish the shoulder bag strap yet, so that's still on the back-burner. I still only have the two beaded strands.'m not pushing to finish it. Although, because I refuse to focus on it, it will become a project that causes me stress sooner or later. Haha...

The whole reason for starting this blog is to energize myself and create motivation for sewing projects. I keep my blog in the forefront of my mind on a daily basis, and when I don't have something to post, I make myself do something. This is working well.

Now that said, I began another doll project. This is a "Sophie Rag Doll".

She sure is cute. This will be my second doll. I have some flannel fabric in an off-white color that I am considering for the doll, but I am undecided. I wonder if the pile of the flannel fabric will interfere with transferring the facial features from the iron-on. I haven't worked with iron-ons before. I thought if it didn't stick as well as I would like, I would embroider her features as the alternative.

There aren't many pieces to the doll, so I don't imagine that it will take long to make; however, I plan to take as long as it takes to achieve top-quality stitching and construction. I want this doll to last. Well, I want her to be able to last through my cat dragging her off of my work-table through the house. That's what she did with my other doll. Haha... Naughty Kitty!

I want to mention that in the photo above and to the right, there is a pattern that looks similar to a gingerbread man. That is not a gingerbread man; that is Sophie's dolly. How cute is that!? A doll who has a dolly. I think I will finish the mini doll in the end. I can match her to Sophie, or make a contrasting dolly. Sooo many choices!

I plan on get the fabric ready for tracing, at the very least, tomorrow. If I can get a little further, I'd like to cut out the pieces. I'll see how time goes. I keep in mind that great sewing begins with extremely careful and precise cutting. All right, it's after 11 pm. I will close this entry now and hopefully post tomorrow. Sorry if the color of the font is messed up once more. I am having major issues getting a consistent black color. Okay, more tomorrow!! Until then...

Happy Sewing!

Beaded Shoulder Bag Strap

WizardGir1 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:05:43 GMT

I began my beaded shoulder strap for my shoulder bag yesterday. I really have no idea what I'm going to do with these strings of beads. My initial idea was to string many different strands and then braid them, but I'm not certain anymore. I was playing around with twisting and looping the two strands and realized that many options are open to me. I could sew little flowers onto them! I could go further and make a beaded butterfly and sew it onto the strap. If I kept going, my ideas would really be endless. This is part of my creation process that I struggle with. I don't define exactly what I would like for an end result and I get stuck...brainstuck. I was hoping that by posting these basic strands, my creative juices would flow to the point of "goal". So here's what I have so far. Hah!

I'll will post the next steps I take to complete the strap, but for the rest of tonight, I will CROCHET! I have 11 squares of 75 completed. Slowly but surely, I will get to my finishing point. Until then...

Happy Sewing!