~~~SEWING my way to POFQ ~ American Girl outfits & Custom Park Bags! ~~~

[VBAndrea]

Sorry I'm so behind on my report ladies....

Okay, NEW sewing-learner here! My mom (who readily admits she just knows the basics) has been working with me. Being new, I didn't even know the needle COULD break (or could even be changed). She mentioned she only changed the needle if it breaks (and she said it happens, and usually at the worst time). I think back eons ago, she took a home-ec class, and I don't know how much practices have changed over the course of "eons".

I did see a needle cushion at Walmart the other day, but wasn't quite sure what it was for ... but now it sounds like it's a way to keep track of needle usage?

So how do you log your needle hours? And are you sure this isn't some ploy from needle-making companies to pilfer your hard-earned/sewn dollars?

It was recommended to me on the disbout thread to change needles after every couple of outfits, which I sometimes do and sometimes don't do. I just can kind of tell if the stitches are starting to look iffy it's time to change the needle. Some needles last me forever. I'm too cheap to change needles too often!

showed Megan your AG collection and she was and quite impressed! she wanted me to show you here AG area.....Jim had made her closets from crates we got at Michael's, he added a dowel for the rod

she has taken great care of all the outfits this way!!

I love Megan's collection! I hope to eventually get a little set up like that for Alexa. I like the wardrobes D had as well. Also saw one I liked on AG site but wasn't happy with the $350 price tag

D.... I would love to see all your AG furniture too.

I second that -- please post some pics for us.

You mean this tomato?

The kids were nice enough to push all the pins down into it for me. Huzzah for me for buying pins with the rounded ball on top!

Okay, so it's actually Mom's pin cushion, but I did buy the pins in it.

I've looked around for cutesy pin cushions. Nada. They're ALL tomatoes. ALL. I would have to order one online (which I may ... since you can see MY pin cushion, hanging out with mom's).

He's so little! I swear, if I put a pin in him, someone will get hurt. So he sits in my little singer box (that I mentioned on my PTR) to look adorable. Because he is adorable ... he's so tiny! And I have a fascination with tiny objects. (My needles are too big for him.)

Anyway ... I've not had any issues with the tomato. Maybe mom has flattened it enough? It never rolled away when I was making those purses.



Here's the needle cushion I saw at Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Singer-Machine-Needle-Pin-Cushion/19398722

It's PINK!


So glad that you're excited over V's new machine!

My kids do the exact same thing with my pincushion -- every single time I reach for a needle they have all been *mysteriously* pushed in (I do not have a tomato though, I made a pincushion that's supposed to look like a flower -- note I said "supposed to" as it really doesn't.

..since he was a USN academy guy he learned how to fold things "correctly" so I don't and haven't for about 26 years now...heheheh....puts up groceries also....same type of thing.

My dh (USNA as well) does his own laundry too and if I try to help I never the get the t's or shorts folded correctly. Mine is not anal with groceries though -- I wish he was but he's not.

 

[DMGeurts]

Happy
Thanksgiving
everyone!​

I hope you all have the most wonderful day today, filled with family, friends and food. If you are traveling - please have safe travels.

I apologize that I don't have timet to respond to everyone, but as you all know, I am awake a bit earlier than normal to work my dreaded Thanksgiving Day at Target...

I managed to finish all my prep baking yesterday... 2 loaves of beer bread, Garlic-garlic dip, 2 heaping pans of make ahead mashed potatoes, and a slightly modified (new) recipe for green bean caserole (since we all hate it, and Uncle Bri came all the way from Europe, and I am told this is his fav dish). Then, as I was going to bed at 5:30pm last night, Josh remided me that I forgot to make pumpkin bars. ACK!! So, the girls and him stayed up last night and made them.

I also finished the applique on the bag I am working on, and started assembling the interior. Then, an hour before I was going to bed, I realized that I forgot to make the potholders for my SIL for Christmas (we are exchanging while they are here today), so, I got them all cut out and Victoria is quilting them for me - she was almost done when I went to bed last night. Couldn't have done it without her help!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving - and enjoy your day!

D~

 

[mphalens]

I was just thinking, "I should send D~ a message before I go to sleep - I know she's up and AT WORK "

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving today! I am thankful I have such an awesome friend in Minnesota that I've actually gotten to meet in person Hopefully NEXT time we'll get to do some sewing together, instead of just goofing off at Target

 

[cogero]

D~ Happy Thanksgiving and I hope your shift goes quickly. Boo at Target for making you work.

Can't wait to see your creations.

 

[miprender]

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

 

[VBAndrea]

Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great time with your family today.

Must run and finish packing and try to make an outfit for dd's doll really quickly!

 

[dianemom2]

Happy
Thanksgiving
everyone!​

I hope you all have the most wonderful day today, filled with family, friends and food. If you are traveling - please have safe travels.

I apologize that I don't have timet to respond to everyone, but as you all know, I am awake a bit earlier than normal to work my dreaded Thanksgiving Day at Target...

I managed to finish all my prep baking yesterday... 2 loaves of beer bread, Garlic-garlic dip, 2 heaping pans of make ahead mashed potatoes, and a slightly modified (new) recipe for green bean caserole (since we all hate it, and Uncle Bri came all the way from Europe, and I am told this is his fav dish). Then, as I was going to bed at 5:30pm last night, Josh remided me that I forgot to make pumpkin bars. ACK!! So, the girls and him stayed up last night and made them.

I also finished the applique on the bag I am working on, and started assembling the interior. Then, an hour before I was going to bed, I realized that I forgot to make the potholders for my SIL for Christmas (we are exchanging while they are here today), so, I got them all cut out and Victoria is quilting them for me - she was almost done when I went to bed last night. Couldn't have done it without her help!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving - and enjoy your day!

D~

Happy Thanksgiving to you too! I hope your shift at Target isn't too bad. Hooray for you having a great family who pulled together to help you get ready for today!

 

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

HAPPY Thanksgiving!!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Happy Thanksgiving!
how wonderful Josh and the girls chipped in to help you so much!

Enjoy having your family together today!

 

[cogero]

D just wanted to thank you for the make ahead mashed potato recipe. I think they are going to become a new favorite. Can't wait to bake them

 

[karebear23]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

D- I hope work isn't too crazy for you!

We had a nice day just my parents, DH & the kiddos.

I am teaching DD how to sew .
She did very well today & made her doll a skirt! I'm hoping to have an assistant soon .

Everyone don't get too crazy shoppping! I think I'm doing all mine online this year!

 

[DMGeurts]

Thanks everyone for the Thanksgiving well wishes.

Work was annoying. When we were done with the truck and working freight (3 hours early) they kept coming up with menial tasks for us to do. Finally, I said, that it was Thanksgiving and we would like to go home to be with our families. They finally let us leave 2 hours early.

I came straight home, and Josh forced me back to bed... I slept for maybe a half hour, then something woke me... so I dozed for another 2 hours.

All of the family arrived - it was wonderful. I think that everyone enjoyed themselves - the food was AMAZING - Josh did a super fantastic job. We tried to send leftovers home with everyone - but I think we did a sucky job of that, because we still have a weeks worth of food here. I was never more thankful to take off my jeans and throw on my jammie pants last night - I felt so stuffed that I couldn't sit up straight.

The best part, for me... I know this is really crazy. But showing Josh's step-mom my sewing room was just a thrill. See, it was her old machine that I dug out of that closet - and to show her this room was really indescribable. She thought Patience was gorgeous - and couldn't believe that she was my main machine. Mr. Rocket is just like the one she learned on in home-ec... So she particularily enjoyed seeing him, with all of his attachments. It was just really neat seeing how much she enjoyed my space - even though it's small, it's still a cozy place to create in.

I couldn't go to bed soon enough last night... I was soooo tired. I am up early to work today again - hopefully the madness will have died down by the time I get there. I plan to come home this afternoon, and hopefully nap a bit, and then work on my latest bag. Despite not having any time to work on it this week - I've been able to sneak up there for an hour here and there and make some decent progress. I still plan to finish it this weekend.

For those of you that are waiting on my tester bags - I wanted to keep a few items behind so the family could see what I've been working on. You should expect me to mail them sometime this coming week.

I hope each and every one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with good family, good friends and good food.

D~

 

[cogero]

D I know you are probably at work with the crazy loonies out shopping today. Hope it isn't too crazy but I want to tell you again we loved those mashed potatoes. They were even a hit with the inlaws.

Can't wait to see what you have been working on and you feel up to sewing later.

 

[mphalens]

I hope you survived and the crazies weren't too crazy!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

D I know you are probably at work with the crazy loonies out shopping today. Hope it isn't too crazy but I want to tell you again we loved those mashed potatoes. They were even a hit with the inlaws.

Can't wait to see what you have been working on and you feel up to sewing later.

I hope you survived and the crazies weren't too crazy!!!

Phew... I survived...

Well, the verdict at our store... It probably wasn't worth it to open at Midnight. We were very, very swamped from Midnight until about 2am... and then there was NO ONE in the store at all from 2am until about 9am - then we got busy again. Most people that were scheduled for that time frame were sent home. We would have done better, had we just opened at 4 or 5 like we normally do - then we would have been steady all day, rather than such a large slump.

I got home from work at noon... and basically went straight to bed. I slept until 4:30 and got up for a while, I wasn't feeling well. Not sure if it was the combo of my meds/not eating, or what. But once I talked myself into a small dinner - I felt better. I went back to bed at 7:30 and slept all night long. I finally feel like I am somewhat normal again.

I am off of work today and tomorrow - I plan to finish up this bag - hopefully today, but maybe tomorrow.

Chiara... I've been meaning to ask you... Did you have the time to get that Singer 99 sewing yet?? I can't stop thinking about the one we got for dd... I am just in love with that little machine - it's so cute, and I can't wait to see her sewing on it.

Marianne... I will got stalk your PTR... But I can't believe you leave for WDW today... D~ is so jealous. I thought, for sure, you'd beg me to hop into your suitcase - but I doubt there's room with all those customs. You know, I could have come along and finished up your customs for you.

Anyways... I Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I spent most of mine in a stupor - but it was fun.

D~

 

[cogero]

Nope the 99 is still sitting in the case. I have just been swamped with things. I haven't even been sewing for my trip in 29 days

 

[mphalens]

Phew... I survived...

Well, the verdict at our store... It probably wasn't worth it to open at Midnight. We were very, very swamped from Midnight until about 2am... and then there was NO ONE in the store at all from 2am until about 9am - then we got busy again. Most people that were scheduled for that time frame were sent home. We would have done better, had we just opened at 4 or 5 like we normally do - then we would have been steady all day, rather than such a large slump.

I got home from work at noon... and basically went straight to bed. I slept until 4:30 and got up for a while, I wasn't feeling well. Not sure if it was the combo of my meds/not eating, or what. But once I talked myself into a small dinner - I felt better. I went back to bed at 7:30 and slept all night long. I finally feel like I am somewhat normal again.

I am off of work today and tomorrow - I plan to finish up this bag - hopefully today, but maybe tomorrow.

Chiara... I've been meaning to ask you... Did you have the time to get that Singer 99 sewing yet?? I can't stop thinking about the one we got for dd... I am just in love with that little machine - it's so cute, and I can't wait to see her sewing on it.

Marianne... I will got stalk your PTR... But I can't believe you leave for WDW today... D~ is so jealous. I thought, for sure, you'd beg me to hop into your suitcase - but I doubt there's room with all those customs. You know, I could have come along and finished up your customs for you.

Anyways... I Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I spent most of mine in a stupor - but it was fun.

D~

That really stinks about it not being worth it for your store to open at midnight! At least if it'd been worth it . . . well, no, there really was no reason for them to open at midnight!
I hate that so many stores opened so early this year. I miss black friday when it just meant getting up at 2am . . . all of this having to go somewhere on Thanksgiving Night to get the deals just ruins it for me


And hello! I was waiting for you to arrive with your suitcase? You're not coming with me? I even had DH make extra coffee this morning in anticipation of your arrival!!!! I think if you hop a flight out of MNO you can definitely still get here before we have to pack the car and hit the road

 

[DMGeurts]

Nope the 99 is still sitting in the case. I have just been swamped with things. I haven't even been sewing for my trip in 29 days

Ack!!! Girly... Just like I told Marianne - you can't let real life interfere with your sewing.

That really stinks about it not being worth it for your store to open at midnight! At least if it'd been worth it . . . well, no, there really was no reason for them to open at midnight!
I hate that so many stores opened so early this year. I miss black friday when it just meant getting up at 2am . . . all of this having to go somewhere on Thanksgiving Night to get the deals just ruins it for me

I know what you mean... totally ruined it for me.

And hello! I was waiting for you to arrive with your suitcase? You're not coming with me? I even had DH make extra coffee this morning in anticipation of your arrival!!!! I think if you hop a flight out of MNO you can definitely still get here before we have to pack the car and hit the road

Would have been nice if someone would have told me... Since I am such a polite girl - I would never show up uninvited... If I didn't have to finish this bag this weekend... I'd be on a flight to your house right now... I am sure your DH would love to have a Diser with on your family vacation - I'd even set my sewing machine up on the nightstand right by his pillow - he'd feel right at home.

OK... So, I set up a new Picasa album - I know that for all of you, all of these pictures will just be the same as all the others you've seen before. But I don't think my PTR will last forever, and I want other people to see what I have done - so when I am making custom items - they can browse through my albums to get a feel for my style. So far, it is just my park bags in these albums - but I do plan on adding a section for my doll outfits, as well. So, I am hoping you all can go check out my albums... maybe leave some comments if you are so inclined... but mostly, I'd just like some feedback (left here, of course)...

https://picasaweb.google.com/106454751194238569668

D~

 

[mphalens]

Totally took your suggestion of finishing packing and whipping up my pirate easy fits for myself. I finished putting everything in bags, etc and had it ready for DH to put in the car and I still didn't know what to grab from my closet to wear with my pirate Micky shirt. The Florida v FSU game was still in te 3rd quarter and I knew DH wanted to see the end, so I grabbed the fabric and spread it out on the table. As I pinned the pattern to the fabric the teams took the field for the 4th quarter and as I sewed the waistband closed and turned the pants right side out they were getting ready to blow the whistle to end the game quickest easy fits ever

Now we're in the car and headed south!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Totally took your suggestion of finishing packing and whipping up my pirate easy fits for myself. I finished putting everything in bags, etc and had it ready for DH to put in the car and I still didn't know what to grab from my closet to wear with my pirate Micky shirt. The Florida v FSU game was still in te 3rd quarter and I knew DH wanted to see the end, so I grabbed the fabric and spread it out on the table. As I pinned the pattern to the fabric the teams took the field for the 4th quarter and as I sewed the waistband closed and turned the pants right side out they were getting ready to blow the whistle to end the game quickest easy fits ever

Now we're in the car and headed south!!!

I was just kidding about the Pirate pants... Can't believe you pulled that one off. Great job!

Safe travels tonight... I'll be thinkin' of you guys. And have fun - kiss Mr. Duck for me.

D~