Rosie bed

As Ben Franklin said, necessity is the mother of invention...and throw in some great blogging inspiration and you get success!

I am so happy with the results of this project! You see my cute puppy there?? Yes, that one! The one who loves to sleep on the ottoman and falls off in the middle of sleeping and the one my hubby wishes would move to the floor any how???

Well, I came up with an idea to make her a doggie bed/pillow and make everyone happy.

A google search for "dog bed" landed me at www.dogundermydesk.com ...here I found a super cute and easy tutorial to make a fleece dog bed.

Now, to be completely honest I didn't exactly follow her tute to the letter. However, I did harvest her ideas and adapted them to suit my needs.

I just happened to have an old burgundy flannel flat sheet in my sewing room and I thought perfect!

So I cut a biggish hunk of the sheet off and folded it (how to do this is in the tute) to ensure I would end up with two layers. I free-hand cut a sorta circle. Opened it up and found two kinda circles. Then, I went back to the remainder sheet and cut a long strip that was 8 inches wide. I followed the tutes directions here and folded my edges over and pinned the first sorta circle to this strip and sewed. I repeated this with the second. After sewing I turned the pillow right side out.

Now, I have a kinda resolution for 2013...basically I aim to use what I have on hand-force myself if I must- before I buy anything new. So, keeping this in mind I searched my house for stuff I could stuff this bed with. And what I found was perfect!

Last year I made my hubby a T-shirt quilt. It turned out perfect! But I was left with an odd assortment of cut up knits. Why I've held onto them who knows! But in they went for this project. Also, I had an old pillow that was washed and dried but as these things go, didn't fair too well. It was all bunched up and messy. I cut the pillow open and stuffed all that mangled mess into the dog pillow. With the help of a daughter we smoshed around the dog pillows contents until it felt right. then I whip stitched closed the stuffing hole. A big plop on the floor of our new dog bed and our project is complete!!

Our Rosie is off the ottoman and not on the floor! Win win in my book :)

Happy sewing,
Melodee

Flowers in bloom quilt done!

Here is another scrap buster I just finished today :)
I began this very simple 8 inch squares quilt last year some time.
I made the quilt top (from stash material!!! yeah) and received the check fabric as a gift. I laid my two layers onto another and it sat in a pile of I need to get to that soon stuff in my sewing room (ahem...living room).
Like many of my UFO's and WIP's it sat waiting on money to buy materials to finish and how to quilt it.
I made up my mind about a week ago that I was going to do a large flower hand quilted in each block stitch.
Then, sticking with my, I must at least try to find supplies around here before I buy any more plan, I decided to use a purple cotton thread I had lying around.
Now to be honest many would not think to use this particular thread. It is, in fact, the same stuff my grandma's used to make crochet doilies and such years ago. Who cares what the stuff is intended for right?? Right! Not me! I went with it and just love it!!!

Now that this is done my plan is to do some small ---get done fast stuff cause it feels soooo rewarding to see stuff done--- stuff!!!
More later ;)
Happy sewing!
Melodee

Sewing progress

And here we go again ;)

I've been working hard to hand quilt this one up. I'm more than half way done!!

A couple more days should do it!

Happy sewing,
Melodee

At it again :)

I am at it again...working hard!

So happy to be hand quilting again...even if it is an idy bitty quilt.

I had all the fabric on hand so I went out today and picked up the needed batting and a quick google search for images landed me this flower motif and away I go....

I'm planning a week to quilt then bind this one.

Nothing special about the style really, just a bunch of 8 inch squares. But it is made from left over fabrics I've used in other projects...so a stash buster I guess.

Whatever you call it, it sure is fun :)

What are you working on? Bet it's cool too!!

Happy sewing,
Melodee

Craftsy 2012 BOM end

I was going over the blocks from the Craftsy 2012 block of the month and noticed I was one short :(

After sewing up this block I now know why I put this off!!!

I am not a big fan of paper piecing and this block is no exception! But, it being part of the BOM it will be done. I'm determined!!!!

This block is sewn into quarters then together as a whole. This pic is the first and I do have the second complete. My plan is to do another quarter tomorrow and finally finish up on Monday.

Hopefully my finish will be accomplished with no major hiccups... Again paper piecing is not for me :)

Once these blocks are complete I get to line up all the blocks and get the top planned and sewn.... Then onto another top to quilt... But all that for another day ;)

Happy sewing,
Melodee

Sent from Melodee Bourdeau's iPhone

A second life

> One of the greatest things one can do when they know how to sew is mend.
>
> I have this gray thermal shirt that I've had for years and well, it's just my favorite!
>
> Recently the sleeve ends have become tattered and just a mess.

> I decided to cut off the bad and create a new cuff. And best part is, I didn't need to buy a thing to do this.
>
> My husband goes through many a t-shirt and I took one of those cast aways and cut new cuffs and serged them on.
>
> And now I'm a happy lady who has a favorite shirt back in use :)
>
> Having a great day!!! Happy sewing!
> Melodee
>
> Sent from Melodee Bourdeau's iPhone
>

Chapstick Cozy

I just finished up these three super cute cozy's.

 I've had this project on my mind for while now. But wanted to wait until I had the modern ins and outs quilt done before adding more work to my super crowded sewing table...lol it's a real mess!

But...moving on...I first saw this on...where else but...Pinterest!  

I followed the tutorial (see link pasted below) in it's entirety except I used a 1.5 inch D-ring. As you can see from the picture this size worked just wonderfully for me.

I love this project. I won't go all -it's easy peasy- on you but I'm almost ready to. See the issue is really me and not the tutorial. I am a bit of a perfectionist and don't always feel bulky sewing gives me that crisp clean all lined up look that I desire. But all in all I am very pleased with the results! And it took me maybe 20 minutes to cut, interface, and sew these up!

If you like what you see follow the link and give it a try! 

Happy sewing :)

Melodee

http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2012/10/20-minute-crafter-chapstick-cozy-five.html?m=1

Sent from Melodee Bourdeau's iPhone