Still Making Belts

So the other day I wanted a purple belt to match my shirt, and twenty minutes later I had one.  This newest crafting obsession actually has some worth. The purple one even has a hook to hold my keys or that cute little Chapstick holder that I've been meaning to make for the last two years.
 
I thought sewing this loop for the swivel hook would be a pain, but it was quite easy.  I sewed the webbing loop with the hook on it and then twisted it around so that the seam would be on the inside.  Next time I shall try it with the matching ribbon on top. 

I'm still experimenting with these belts.  For the one below, I put ribbon on both sides which worked out well. 

In keeping with my new year's resolution to use up the stash, I've also been trying to make do with the hardware I have on hand.  I used up all the one-inch d-rings like the ones on this belt:

and rummaged through the stash to come up with two different pieces I had purchased for bag-making. I think I may like both these even more than the d-rings for the belts.  Never could figure how to use the first ones below for bag handles, but they work really well for a belt.

I sewed the webbing around the two lower loops and use the outer loops for closing the belt.  The second one, below, is the same basic design except that the center piece moves. 

You can loop the belt end to the inside which gives a nice flat, clean look without that belt end waving about. I'm not a big fan of that end piece hanging out.  Depending on the pants you are wearing you might be able to get that end to tuck into a belt loop but sometimes not.   Looping to the inside will always keep the end out of the way. 

Belt looped to the inside--nice look IMHO

I also decided to spruce up the two store-bought cloth belts I had hanging around with some ribbon.

I think Brian is getting a bit fearful that I may start embellishing his belts with polka dots or boats, so I'm moving on to something else tomorrow.  I have a ruler to make circular quilts (Jaybird Quilts maybe?) that's been sitting around for a couple of years.  Time to put it to work!   

  I shall leave you with a few things learned from all this ribbon belt sewing:

• I  have stopped using any Wonder Under or Steam-a-Seam.  I found it easier to just guide the ribbon as I sew it on.  It is especially easy when the ribbon is the same width as the webbing.  The iron-on stuff also creates small puckers at times.  The puckers aren't significant and don't show when the belt is bent around your waist, but why add to the cost of making these if you can avoid it.
• While I usually use a long stitch when sewing on ribbons and such, I shorted them up on these to a 2.5 or 3 setting on my Brother machine.  It looks better and seems sturdier to me.

Ribbon Belts

In wandering about the internet looking for ways to use of the massive amount of ribbon I have purchased, I found this link for webbing belts with ribbon sewn on top.  They used military buckles which are nice but more expensive than my d-rings and square rings. 

They also put on belt tips. Love the look, and I have some on order.  However, I used nylon webbing and just singed the edges with a lighter to prevent fraying.  In fact I singed the edges of the ribbon to prevent them from fraying as well.  The site suggests sewing close zig-zag stitching if you don't use belt tips, but the one store-bought cotton webbing belt I have like this just has the end folded over and sewn.. 

For one of mine, I put ribbon on top of ribbon to get the look I wanted. Love it!

Whether using a tip or not, you can start the ribbon on the reverse side by a few inches like this:

so that you will have the same ribbon showing when you have the belt "buckled" as you can see below.

I started this project with the idea of just using d-ring and only used the square ones on the black belt because I didn't have any black d-rings.  I found I kind of like the square rings better because of the straight line it gives rather than the slightly scrunched effect of the d-rings.

These would make great kid's gifts for both boys and girls.  With girls you get to make some fancy hair bows to match.   Did I say I had too much ribbon?  What was I thinking!  I may not have enough. 

Partial Credit

Brian says I only get partial credit for my attempt at Valentine's Day decorating because I reused the Christmas snowman.  What???? I thought it was genius.  It's artistic recycling.  

 This puts a real damper on my idea of turning those hearts into shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day. 

Using Up the Stash

I have two sewing goals this year:

First:   I am going to try to make a significant dent in the stash---again.

Second:  Try new things, both projects and techniques. 

Soooo, first project:

The Gardening Apron!

Thought this apron might be better than my usual practice of ruining clothes digging in the dirt.  Used up some of the fabric, button, and ribbon stash--triple win.  It's my usual apron pattern BUT sewing ribbon on top of the webbing for the neck and waist straps was something I've been meaning to try forever.  Turned out to be easy, too.  Made the design on my Silhouette.  Close up of the little frog button: 

I even put on a nice big divided pocket rather than leaving it off  as I would normally do in my usual rush to just git 'er done.

Gotta have pockets for the clippers and such

Also used stash items for this plastic bag holder and dish drainer set for Keegan.

Oh, look!  A tiny bit of ribbon used for the hanger as well

Made the bag holder reversible in the same fabric as the drainer clothes.

Love the terry and cotton fabric drainer idea I found on Pinterest. Need to make some for me.  Why is it that we tend to make nicer things for other people?  This is my plastic bag holder...

Pathetic little thing thrown together out of desperation one day when the bags were threatening to overflow.  She used to have a sister, "Such Trash", hanging nearby who disappeared.  Sometimes my husband doesn't like my crafty ideas.

Happy Holidays!

Consider this your Christmas card!  I texted this photo to everyone on my phone list telling them to start humming Jingle Bells before reading my holiday message. So much better than writing out all those cards. I'm also hoping it will start a trend so that I won't have to read the tome-like missives that have grown so popular over the years.  Maybe I'm just jealous because mine would have said things like "Keegan hasn't bitten anyone in a week, and gosh, we're excited about that!" or Kyle got thrown out of the choir for faking singing which is such a hoot, right!" or "Kiefer refused to play any sports this year.  He can't possibly take the time away from video games."  

Still lovin' the chalkboard door. This is the best way to make a snowperson and the only way you will see me making  one.  I feel like I'm seven again playing with all this chalk, and my snowperson looks like a seven-year-old created it. 

Got the new tree up!

Went with a new lighted tulle tree skirt from Pinterest because this new tree is much narrower and lower to the floor than the old one.  My old tree skirt (also known as all the stuffed animals the kids accumulated) just wouldn't work.  You can see that original tulle pin here. 

I was surprised that it took twelve yards of fabric to fill out the area under my skinny tree.  Kinda elegant looking, though,  isn't it!

I turned my old tree skirt into a cell phone charging station.  Too much???

Most importantly, 

WISHING YOU A HAPPY, FUN, RELAXING, MAGICAL HOLIDAY!

The Hand Embroidered Gingers

I promised Sandra, who is a ginger by the way, that I'd show her some of the hand embroidered gingers I've been accumulating.  The goal is to make a quilt eventually.  I'm trying to give each one a different shade of red hair.  This next one will have to be a centerpiece.  She looks like a bit of a hussy which is probably why I'm particularly fond of her.

I'll be changing the floss I am using for her hair because I recently found a bright red, slightly furry embroidery floss with bits of metallic fiber in it that I think will be perfect for this little floozie's hair.  Can't remember the Etsy shop that sells these, but I'm sure I can find it if someone is interested.  Now, if I could just find some boys to add to the mix.  Let me know if you see any out there on the interwebs.  Should you care to draw some, I'll be your first customer! 

Quick Peek at the Christmas Aprons and Towels

Okay!  After sitting around wasting time agonizing about which fabric to use, what colors, which embroidery designs, I've finally gotten busy with the aprons.  I decided months ago that I would make unisex aprons for my three kids and their mates or, as my son  likes to say, their counterparts. This apron is for one of the girls.

I'm using a heavier-weight denim which is making sewing on the straps a pain with the multiple layers of heavy fabric.  I've ordered some nylon webbing that I may end up using instead.  The embroidery design is from Urban Threads, and I'm quite happy with it.

There's a theme going here believe it or not.  This design goes with the "you wash, I'll dry" designs I put on sets of white with denim blue trim kitchen towels.

Design is from The Embroidery Library

I have a set of yellow towels to match the yellow apron design and teal towels for the apron designs in teal.  I do hope this is making sense.  It's after midnight here.  I probably shouldn't be allowed to put things on the internet at this hour.  Feel free to let me know of any errors.

Moving on!  The last couple will be spending Christmas in Mongolia which will give me a few more weeks to stress out about colors for them.

My latest setback is this design which I planned to use of the guys' aprons.

It just looks wonky cuz it's hanging wrong.  

First, it turns out that most people have no idea what this means.  For those people, the urban dictionary defines it as being a response to a statement that something cannot be done.  Example:  "You cannot possibly do that recipe.  It's too hard." Response "Challenge Accepted"  To me, it seemed like such a male response to cooking--the men in my family anyway.

 Second issue with this design is that all those curly lines look too feminine to me now that it's on an apron.  The shiny embroidery thread further adds to this problem.  My daughter's counterpart (I can't believe i just typed that word) is a weight-lifting, motorcycle-driving mechanic. Only his tools can  shine.  Any suggestions for a replacement design or quote would be most appreciated.