A New Adventure - Sewing Camp First Projects

In the previous post A New Adventure I told you about the Sewing Camps I taught this summer for kids.  Now I will begin to describe some of the projects the campers made at Sewing Camp.  The first thing learned at camp was to sew on a button.  I told the campers if they learned only one thing during camp it needed to be how to sew on a button.  At least with this knowledge they could fix their shirt or replace a button for someone else.  The buttons were sewn onto their water bottle covers.  We decorated the covers using sharpie markers.  Each camper now had a way to recognize their water bottle during snack time.  The covers were made from simple muslin and batting. Sorry I did not take any close up pictures of the water bottle covers but they turned out really cute. 

The water bottle cover is on the bottle.

 

Our next project was a needle keeper and pin cushion that was hand stitched using felt and embroidery floss.  This project took the longest to finish but the campers did a great job. 

 



Cutting the felt for the needle keeper.

The needle keeper has an inside flap to fit the needles.

Adding that personal touch to the front.

 

From here we moved on to machine stitching.  The beginning project on the machine was a tissue cover.  The covers required the campers to sew a small hem on each side, an inside seam and turn out corners.  Each camper made two tissue covers in a variety of fun fabrics.

 

The tissue covers are pink and orange.

Fun shades of green were selected by this camper.

 

With fun projects like these the camp was off to a great start.  The campers were excited about what they had already learned and looking forward to the bigger projects coming next. 

 

Danna

 

 

2016 -- New Hopes, Dreams and Ideas

Where did the time go?  These last 6 months have just flown by at our house and some of them were a blur.  Late last spring our family received some concerning news.  My mom was diagnosed with cancer.  She had surgery and did 5 months of chemo.  During her chemo months she was strong  but also had every side effect possible.  She is now finished with chemo and finally feeling a little better.

Over these last months I have had the privilege of spending some quality time with both of my parents.  We have shared stories I had not heard in a long time and many new stories and memories about their lives.  It has been the most incredible, sweet opportunity to learn more about my parents and a reminder of how much I love them.  I am looking forward to many more shared memories both old and new.

My hope and prayer for 2016 is to focus on the many blessings I have in my life.  I anticipate a great year of seeking new hopes, dreams and ideas.  My husband has deemed 2016 as a Year of Intentionality.  Meaning we will be intentional about the things we choose to do this year.

One of my intentional tasks will be a diligence in posting on this blog.  I have been busy crafting, sewing and pursuing new ideas these last few weeks.  I am eager to share each project and idea with you over the next 12 months.  I hope you will join me on this journey and share your ideas with me and others.  Let's make 2016 be the best year possible and may all of our lemonade be pink!

Danna

A New Adventure - Sewing Camp

This summer I took on a new project.  I had two sewing camps for kids.  The camps were a product of a desire to share my love of sewing and crafting with the younger generation.  I learned to sew as a child and have enjoyed a lifetime of creative expression.

A greeting at the front door.

One summer my mother taught a friend and I how to sew.  We made several items of clothing and felt a great amount of accomplishment with the completion of each project.  This knowledge opened up a whole new world of fabric, notions and much more.  In the years to come I created some clothing but mainly home décor items.

When my children were small I was introduced into the world of quilting.  Quilting has inspired me to try many new techniques and projects.  In today's world sewing is making a come back and growing in popularity.  The younger generation is drawn to the creative expression and the endless possibilities that sewing provides.

In the camps the kids made several projects using both hand and machine stitching.  The projects were designed around using only a small amount of fabric or recycled items.  This allows for the campers to continue the projects at home with out a huge investment in fabric or supplies.

A great group of girls for my August camp.

The campers had a great time and learned a lot.  But I think I had just as much fun as they did.  In the next few posts I will show you some of the projects we made during camp.  Hopefully this will inspire you to share your sewing talents with the next generation.

Danna

College Graduation Party 2015

Wow, it has been a while since I have posted.  Things around our house have been crazy busy and I feel like I have been on a roller coaster that keeps passing the loading station and goes for another round. 

We celebrated our daughters college graduation in early May but did not have her party until the end of  May to allow all of her friends to get back into town.  The celebration and graduation were landmark events.  She is our oldest child and it seems like yesterday we were walking into Kindergarten and now she is done with college.  Where did that time go? 

 She is one happy graduate!

I did make several items for her party and one that she can later use in her classroom. The celebration was all in purple and white since that is her school's colors.  The first item I made was a "Congrats" book page banner.

Book page banner she can use later in her classroom

 

I used the pages from a chapter book and then various colors of purple scrapbook paper.  The one that says Ms. Webber we will laminate so she can use it in her classroom.  The "Congrats" one I will save and use at our son's graduation party in a few years since his school colors are also purple and white.  Yes we bleed purple at our house.  Different schools but same colors.

 

These banners are simple to make if you want to know how to make one check out these posts Spring is Here and Picture Book Pennants.

 

We used purple pillows and her school afghan on the couch.  We placed her decorated cap and chord on the mantel along with a school water bottle.  

Her decorate cap and water bottle add a punch of purple to the mantel.

 

On the entertainment center we put her stole, family pictures, graduation pictures and some purple filler items. 

 

Pictures of our family and her through out her life.

Her stole with the school seal.

Another water bottle and yarn add the purple to this area.

 

Front porch sign.

The entry table was draped with a large piece of purple fabric with the raw edges turned under.  Simple things can be quickly gathered and put together based around a theme or color.  This process adds just the right touch of fun to the festivities and doesn't cost much at all.  So for your next party base your decorations on a theme and start raiding your closets and cabinets.  Your decorations will come together quickly.



Brother and sister - one school against the other.

Our happy family.

 

As our family crosses another milestone in our journey we are looking forward to what the future holds for each of us.  May your journey be filled with good times and lots of smiles.

 

Danna

Birthday Book Cover Sign

I have been making book cover signs lately for various occasions.  We have had several baby showers at school so I have made signs for the new arrivals.  Check out those signs at these posts Baby Book Cover Sign and Another Baby Shower Gift. 

A teacher at school wanted a sign for a birthday gift for a little girl that loves frilly girl things.  Here is the finished product.

I love her name - Saige it is very unique.

I used scrapbook paper in a fun flower pattern for the top.  The bottom section is covered by a coordinating blue paper.  To cover the seam between the papers I used a tiny pink ric rack.  The with lace at the bottom hangs over the edge and adds another layer of dimension.

The little girls name was added using raised scrapbook puffy squares and gold stick on letters.  At the top I placed a small clothespin covered by an embellishment.  The clothespin allows you to change out what is clipped to the sign.  It is a great way to show off a child's latest drawing or souvenir.  I clipped a small card with a heart and an embellishment that says let's celebrate.

The sign turned out to be fun, colorful and festive.  I hope she will think it is a wonderful addition to her bedroom.  And hopefully it will hold countless pictures in the future.

Danna

New Birds in the Flock

If you have been following this blog and read the posts regarding my classroom at school you will know that I love owls.  Well several weeks ago I received two new friends to add to my flock.  The first was an owl bag that my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday.

My new owl bag.

 

I love the bag and the owl.  She is so cute with her big bright eyes.  I think this will become m new go bag for travelling to my Craft Class to Go parties.  It has lots of pockets and an nice large middle section so it will hold all my office type items nicely.

 

The second owl added to the flock was another birthday gift from a friend at work.  He told me that every time he and his wife see an owl they think of me.  How sweet is that! I know I have friends that when I see certain items it reminds me of them and it always makes me smile.  This large owl is a cookie jar and the colors match perfectly to my classroom.  I am not the cookie baking type so she will probably stay at school for now.  Although she might come home for a visit this summer just in case I get the urge to bake something.  It will be more likely that I will get cookies from the store to fill her up.

 



Owl cookie jar.

 

It is always a nice surprise when you receive a gift that is just right for you.  The next time I see something that reminds me of one of my friends I think I will buy it and surprise them so they will know they are loved.  Maybe you can do the same for your friends.

 

Danna

Another Baby Shower Gift

As I stated in an earlier post Baby Book Cover Sign there are several pregnant teachers at my school this year.  We just had our second shower so I made another book cover sign for the expectant mom.  She is having a girl so I used a pink and yellow color scheme.

The pink and yellow stripe is soft yet whimsical.  Like the last one I made the clothespin in the middle allowing her to change the picture or sign.  To spell out the baby's name I used a series of scrapbook embellishments that were plastic raised squares in various shades of pink.  I then placed gold letters on the squares.  To finish the bottom edge I glued a wide rick rack in pink to the bottom.  The small sign I attached to the clothespin says "Shh, Baby Sleeping".

These book cover signs are great for a baby gift.  They allow the parents to change out the pictures or notes for a different look each time.

Danna