12 inches and 6 1/2 hours later! NEW HAIR!!

I honestly don't remember the last time I was as excited about anything as I am about my hair change. 

Of course when you haven't changed your hair since 2014 (the first time ever!) AND you've never changed the way your hair frames your face, there's a lot of questions and doubts. 

"What if I don't like it?" 

"What if I LOVE it?" 

"What if everyone who knows me hates it?"

Oh. My. Word.

I was scrolling through Instagram yesterday when I saw this picture.

See here

I thought "Oh, that's cool." Until I had looked at the entire photo...then I freaked out!!!!

That's me, bottom row, second from right!! On a wall in NYC!  

The Red 'N' White Striped Dress was my seventh sewing project, fourth dress and my first time sewing with knit fabric. I think it's cool that my favorite dress was picked! What am I saying...this entire experience is COOL!!!

My week is made!

-'- Jewel

May Stashbusting (Ha!) Overview

Well...the month of May has been horrible in the Stashbusting aspect but in everything else, exciting and fast! 

I graduated from High School, Saturday. We went to Texas, eariler in the month, to visit Samantha and for Kimberly's graduation. We met up with our cousin in San Antonio, (who happened to be there for a conference) went to the Alamo and walked around the river walk. Also, while in Texas I bought fabric...yep...there's where it got me. :-|

The bought breakdown:

2 yds. of Adorable Teal with Navy Polkadot Cotton on sale for $4 a yard at Hobby Lobby

2 yds. of Chevron Printed Duck on sale for $4 a yard at Hobby Lobby

2 yds. of Pink Design Printed Duck on sale for $4 a yard at Hobby Lobby

2 3/4 yds. of Blue Fabric bought at Ropa for 30¢ a pound

2 1/2 yds. of Bright Striped Cotton bought at Ropa for 30¢ a pound
Total: 11 1/4 yards.

The busted breakdown:

1 yd. Red & Blue Moons in a White Sky Blouse

Yep.

That's it.

One blouse. One yard. The stash is up over 10 yards! Sigh...

When I was a wee one, it was easier for me to add rather than subtract. I guess, that still stands true! haha ;)

-'- Jewel 

March Stashbusting Overview

I'm sitting here at my sewing desk thinking over the last month of sewing. :)

In the month of March I busted (used) 16 5/8 yards! ...I also bought 10 yards of fabric.

The break-down of the purchased fabric:

• 2 yds Deep Red Cotton at $5.94. Needed to finish TaMera's Easter skirt.
• 2 yds Hot Pink Knit at $1 (thrifted)
• 1 yd Light Green Knit at $0.50 (thrifted)
• 1 yd Black Polka Dotted Jersey at $0.50 (thrifted)
• 1 1/2 yds Gray Knit at $10 for a skater skirt for Kimberly.
• 2 1/2 yds heavy woven fabric at $1.25. (thrifted) This fabric isn't very cute, I don't have a plan for it, and I should have left there.  The only purchase I slightly regret. :-l

Even with the fabric I bought, the stash is down 6 5/8 yards!

Here's March's fabric busters:

• 3 1/4 yds. Oh, So Many Flowers Skirt for TaMera.
• 1 yd. Looking Green Skirt.
• 1 yd. Yellow Gingham Blouse
• 5 3/8 yds. In the Navy Skirts 
• 6 yds. TaMera's Easter outfit (Not counting the 2 yards I had to buy) 

All in all, I am pumped about what I got sewn and excited about April! (Partly because it's my birthday month) 

April's theme is Vibrant Colors. Great time to use that hot pink knit!

Happy Sewing!

-'- Jewel

2015 Stashbusting Sewalong

Today, a sewing blogger I follow, posted about a stash buster that she had just pledged to do and I thought it would be a great thing to do, myself! Considering, I have already used two fabrics from my stash this year! (One I just finished today! :))

I am starting three months late...But there is no better time then NOW! :)

You guys are going to be my accountability so here it goes...

"I, Jewel, commit to using 12 pieces of stash fabric in 2015. I also commit to not buying any new fabric/patterns except for lining and some notions until I have made at least six projects from my stash."

I know, I will probably be able to do more...I just have no idea what the rest of the year is going to be like. So much "new" coming for me, I'm not sure when I'll be able to sew. That's the reason I chose 12 pieces, one for each month!  A somewhat easy goal for whatever my schedule will be.

I looking forward to telling you all about it! 

Talk to you soon! 

-'- Jewel

To find out more about the sew along visit the Stashbusting Sewalong 2015 Headquarters HERE!

The Sewing Desk & Knitting Area

TaMera had stored her yarn in a vintage suitcase for 6 months. It worked, for the first month or so. After that, yarn was getting tangled, needles lost, and just a big mess.

Time for some reorganization!!

I went out to the shed and got the shoe organizer and upcycled it to a yarn organizer. 

(Maybe, turning it on it's side doesn't quite count as upcycling...but. ;)) 

It fit perfectly in the space between the desk and the bed. Her skeins of yarn are in the slots and finished projects in the crate in front.

Above the yarn organizer, sits a basket with the smaller balls of yarn, our books and TaMera's knitting cases.

Our friend Peggy gave us the set of Complete Library of Needlecraft books! 

They have sewing, patchwork, applique, knitting, crochet, hook arts, embroidery, needlepoint, rug making and macramé. I excited about digging in and learning about all of the different kind of arts you can make with needles! The set also make our craft book pile look a lot more impressive!

Right above them, is my Complete Guide to Sewing. (Slightly, hidden by TaMera's knitting cases.)

 TaMera's knitting needles are now stored in a vase on the desk. 

And I leaned something new...my Mom owns a serger. I really had no idea until I found it in the storage room.
The serger has found it's place on the sewing desk. Patiently, waiting for me to find out how to thread and run the machine. I'm thinking Youtube to the rescue! lol

There are five different Thrift Store Scores, I haven't shared with you yet hidden in these pictures.
I better get on that! :)

-'- Jewel

On the road

This morning, I went to get my picture for today's photo challenge category "On the road". It was fun to go out and just take pictures. Something, I haven't done since October. 

This is the photo, I shared on Instagram and you get to see the rest! :)

Happy Saturday,

-'- Jewel

All photos: iPad mini

99¢ Simplicity Patterns? Oh, My!

Because, I went out and bought the patterns I wanted. I feel like I can tell you that Hobby Lobby has Simplicity patterns on sale for 99¢ this week! :) 

I picked up the following patterns:

Three dress patterns. Two of them are vintage "Jiffy" reprints. 

A vintage "Jiffy" shirt reprint. (Jiffy patterns have two or three main pattern pieces)

A vintage 11 1/2" doll (Barbie) reprint.

And a steampunk jacket costume pattern. I have a really cool idea for this! You'll have to wait and see what it might become!

Hurry in and check out the sale!

Smiles,

-'- Jewel

Repurposed Water Bed into Shelving

Dad and I have been working on organizing the shed. Rearranging, adding shelves, getting rid of stuff and trashing old boxes! Yay!

Last Saturday, we made some shelves. Using scrap wood and the frame boards from our old water bed. 

(Before)

Getting the supporting boards measured!

This little brown board is my baby. I cut it all by myself! Dad taught me how to use the chop saw and some other kind of saw. Hand saw? Maybe? Lol

We are only going to put light stuff on this longer part. With that in mind, we made an "extension" on the back of the shelf, to make sure nothing will fall behind.

Ta-Da! They aren't fancy, just functional. Perfect for the shed!

I think it looks cool, with the different colors of stained and unstained boards.

Smiles,

-'- Jewel

A storm is a brewing...

Had to share these clouds! Wow! You should of seen them in person! Spectacular!

(Photo taken with iPad mini; out of the car window going 45mph. No, I wasn't driving ;))

-'- Jewel

Two Signs Of Spring