I don't know why I woke up with the idea to make another of my upcycled mash-up tee shirts, especially because it has been so hot here, but I did.
I'd love to be able to design my own clothes, but I can't. Using existing clothes and patterns is something I can do. If you aren't already doing something like this, you might want to try it! Here are photos of my latest long sleeved shirt finished yesterday, and more photos, because once I got started on this topic, I couldn't quit!
I made this ages ago with Vogue #8497 by Marcy Tilton pattern, a knit dress I made in the early 90's, and a thrift store XXL tee shirt (plus the hems of another tee shirt). I had an idea to adapt it to make my long sleeve mash-up tee shirt.
I tested the concept of using a purchased 1 yard knit strip (50% off!) and a thrift store knit turtleneck. I liked the combination!
I adapted the Vogue pattern by overlapping the zigzag pattern pieces to make a one piece front and back. The short sleeve is part of the pattern fronts and backs. It seemed likely I could just cut off the sleeves of the turtleneck and attach to the ends of the short sleeves. Game on!
I scrounged around for another tee shirt to steal the neck ribbing. I found one of my old but not worn out gray tee shirts and amputated the neck ribbing, leaving enough for the seam allowance. It's strange to me how flexible neck ribbing is- it has always worked just fine!
Next I added the bottom of the thrift store tee to the bottom of my shirt fronts and backs. When you cut off the bottom of ready made tee shirts, they are already hemmed and ready to go! I've noticed that people often include their feet in their Instagram photos- Cooper says paws are cute too!
I removed the sleeves at the seams, so I could figure out how to cut the edge. First, I tested how it would work. Then I trimmed the "dropped shoulder" end of the sleeves and sewed them right sides together to my growing tee shirt (sewed the side seams first). I used solid black fabric to make the placket for the "high-low" side seams. All good! But I can't wear it for a few months….
I've had mostly successes with my upcycled mash-up shirts. (I never photographed my one failure.) Here I am with Janie Vangool from Uppercase Magazine at Spring Quilt Market 2016 with my upcycled mash-up shirt, using purchased striped yardage and thrift store tees AND Vogue #8877 (Very Easy Very Vogue) pattern.
This is probably my all time favorite shirt- made with 4 thrift store men's shirts. Is started with the black shirt, because it fit me the best. Then I kept swapping "body parts" and sometimes using them in the "wrong" places. The red checked sleeves came with the button tab feature. Like I said, I can't create my own patterns, but I can play with thrift store clothing!
I even made an upcycled mash-up quilt for the kitties using worn Smart Wool and other fancy socks. The feet had holes, but the "legs" were fine. I flattened out the legs and stitched them to batting to make the quilt top & back (one piece). I stuffed the quilt with an inner pillow made from the hole-y sock soles. Now that's using up all the parts!
This is my most recent upcycled mash-up tee shirt, using 8 of my favorite old but not too worn tee shirts. When I finished it, it was way too big for me, but I found a way to take out 8″ in the width. It's fun – but loud – to wear.
I'll end with this photo- showing me around age 16 with my first upcycled mash-up clothing- a raincoat using bread wrappers. I flat-felled the seams so it truly was waterproof. In the side by side photo, I'm wearing an upcycled tee shirt under the linen overshirt, around age 63-64. It's crazy fun to think I've lived a creative life since a young girl!
Cooper the Cat is "king of the Cal King bed". How sweet of us to provide him with such a nice cat bed!
And, Cooper is still obsessed with fresh corn on the cob. No corn on the cob during the fall, winter or spring, but come summer, Cooper still loves corn!
Living in a "rural" area, it's not easy to find a fresh lemon when you need one, especially in winter. So I buy in bulk, when lemons are harvested in the USA, and freeze the juice and zest. I bought the zester over 15 years ago- it's still sharp and easy to use. The lemon squeezer gadget is new – I found it in Bend at Gingers' Housewares in the Old Mill Shopping Center, across from REI and next door to the Spice Shop. It's heavy (must be good!) and is ratcheted, which means I don't have to squeeze as hard to get the same effect.
I freeze the zest and the lemon juice. One zest package equals "the zest of 1 lemon". Each ice cube is 2 tablespoons. This means we can enjoy lemon-mustard-herb chicken in the dead of winter or almond butter cookies with lemon zest. And much more.
I've been in a bit of a lull since recovering from Influenza B and having another vein procedure. I'm on the mend and starting to poke around the sewing room, even finishing some things, and starting more. Photos coming….
Before flying to Lincoln, Nebraska on April 26, for the national Studio Art Quilt Associates conference, in conjunction with The International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, I started fooling around with these two fabrics and the triangle shapes. I'm in the process of quilting the finished top now— so stay tuned to see how it turned out! P.S. I found the perfect Sulky Blendable thread in my big box of Blendables— white, black and blue!!!!
In retrospect, Pat and I should have known there would be trouble when a woman, who walked on the plane in Denver, had to be assisted off the plane and put into a wheelchair, after coughing her guts out during the flight. Everything was fine for Wednesday and Thursday- a group of us trekked around downtown Lincoln, including going to the Great Plans Museum to see a quilt show and taking Uber to Sweet Minou to buy coffee and chocolate.
Notice the brick buildings and the wide, clean, sidewalks. I waited for people to pass- no the town is not deserted! I started following Sweet Minou on Instagram before arriving in Lincoln and we all agreed, it was worth the short Uber driver.
I presented one of 16 "Lightening Talks". These are fast paced slide shows, with 20 slides, 20 seconds per slide. With 20 seconds between talks, there was just enough time to scoot to the stage and start speaking. I love this format, which forces the speaker to carefully choose what to say. No rambling with only 20 seconds!!! But 20 seconds is quite long enough to say something meaningful. I ended my talk with this image- and thought- maybe my 16 year old self would not be surprised what my 60 something self was getting up to!
But by Friday night, we were both sick with a respiratory illness, complete with severe aching neck and body, chills and fevers, headache, extreme "yuck" when standing up, etc. I missed the private tours at the Quilt Study Center, the banquet dinner and spotlight auction, hanging out in the lobby with fellow SAQA members, meals, and much of Sunday morning. On Saturday afternoon, I did drag myself across the street to Misty's to get a beef burger and fries. I stopped to take a photo of a cool place to hang out on the street corner.
I did get to hear the Michael James keynote speech Sunday morning. Our extra day in Lincoln were spent at Urgent Care to discover we had Influenza B and the hotel lobby and airport. It was a miserable flight home through Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, and Redmond. Then followed the next four weeks of misery with Influenza B and recovery and doctor visits and labwork and inhaler use.
Near the end of May I woke up in the Land of the Living!!! I rustled up a failed upcycled tee shirt that ended up way too large for me. Even though it was the same size as the purchased shirt that I used as a model, it didn't drape at all. The shirt stayed stuffed in the sewing room closet until last week, when I had insight about taking 8 inches out of the width while maintaining the overall integrity of the pattern.
Hopefully, I will stay well!!!
Stephanie, found at spontaneousthreads on Instagram and Flickr, frequently runs random prize drawings. A friend in Santa Fe entered for the two of us, and we each won a prize! This is the adorable package I got in the mail, with an invitation to make a little something. Woo Hoo!
Cooper the Cat loves bowls, boxes, and anything he can get his body into. Check out the meme "If It Fits, I Sits" for more adorable cat photos.
I made another Octagon Bag, for a friend, for Christmas 2016. I did a few things my way, such as mitering the corners for less bulk. I love this pattern (see previous post).
I spent about 10 days in Salem recently. While there, my sister-in-law Barbara and I worked on a quilt for her daughter, whose name starts with — E— what else? Ironing 14 yards of fabric (bolt sale price!) then started assembling Barbara's E blocks. It's huge: about 104″ by 104″ right now. The fully basted quilt (spray basting plus water soluble thread) is home with me, waiting to be quilted. This time I mean it- no more monster sized quilts!
I popped up to Portland from Salem to visit Luke & Colleen. We went to Hippo Hardware, a promised wonderland of parts for old houses. Nooks, crannies, half floors, full floors, scary steep stairs up and down, we explored it all. Outside, I took this photo.
The next day I went to BOLT Fabric Boutique on NE Alberta street with friend Judith. After fabric snooping and shopping, we crossed the street to have a late lunch at Bollywood Theater. Here is our chai tea, waiting for our order of sweet/sour/spicy cauliflower and chicken curry with mini side dishes.
While the cats sleep (two cats- one box), the snow outside slowly melts. David hacked a path to the big tree, for bird feeding, and our BBQ is mostly freed from the snowdrift on our deck. The little birds are back, but it's not quite spring yet, is it?
I first saw this pattern at Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the spring of 2016. I got to buy this pattern at the Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara, California in October 2016. I made the small bag, reversible with Mochi dots in lime green. The outer fabric is a find from Bolt Fabric Boutique in Portland, Oregon. I love this bag! I'm making another bag- will report more when it's finished.
The current exhibit, "Fate, Destiny and Self Determination" from January 20 to April 16, 2017, at the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles features the weavings of Line Dufour. The public is invited to submit a small shape, under 4″ square, made with nonperishable fiber materials. We are encouraged to think beyond the square and make a unique shape. The shapes are due by April 16th. Check out the link to find out more about the exhibit and to the shapes collection growing on a wall.
At the time I mailed in my shape, people from over 26 countries had already sent in shapes!
My shape is a collage put together with leftover stitched thread web constructions (already treated with clear acrylic spray). I'm so happy to be part of this project- only wish I could visit the museum. Actually, I'd love to be able to see the exhibits shown there—- it's a really great place if you are ever in the Bay Area or near San Jose, California.
Before the Snowmageddon Saga begins, I have to start with this photo of a traveling snowman, spotted at the pet supply store in east Bend. Lots of us took photos- what a bright spot in our day!!!
I'm afraid to ask "What could happen next?", because when I asked my husband that on Friday afternoon, we were forced to evacuate our house a few hours later because our carbon monoxide alarm had gone off at 10:30pm. We were told by the 911 operator to walk out now, but when you are in PJ's, and it's close to zero degrees outside and you have two cats, and you don't know if you can go back in…..well, if you're me, you do take time to put on good boots, a warm jacket and try to grab the cats. One went into the carrier while the other hid and was left behind, but after an hour or so, we were allowed back in the house— with the water heater and furnace turned off. Our garage was toxic, but the levels in our house were minimal- the garage got aired out with the door open, and our house similarly aired with open windows and ceiling fans going.
So with trepidation, we do wonder what is next. Here's the story so far: it's been snowing, and snowing, and snowing in Central Oregon. Bend is just about as poorly off as we are in Sunriver. The only reason the fire department could open our garage door Friday night is that we had the garage door opener and springs replaced that afternoon. See The List below.
View from our car, heading out of our garage towards the street. Don't see the street? Straight ahead is the pile of snow from plowing our street, with a snow cluttered driveway and street at the base of the snow hill.
This is the front of our house. The mound? That's David's truck.
This is the back of our house. Notice the snow mound on the deck and roof.
This is the front of our house from across the street. The snow pile in the middle is "common area" on our cul-de-sac.
Of course, we've never seen this much snow on our roof in the over 20 year's we've lived here. Oh sure, we've gotten a lot of snow in the past, but not all at once in a few days. Of course, with all of Bend, Sunriver and the rest of Central Oregon eager to get snow removal, we couldn't find anyone to clear our roof. Then we did- on Friday- and our roof is now clear of snow. But that snow has to go somewhere!
Now the carbon monoxide problem. Our furnace, a year old, will shut down before it vents carbon monoxide, we learned when the furnace tech guy came out Saturday morning ($). He declared the furnace fine and turned it back on. So far so good with the furnace, but the hot water heater is the only culprit left for the carbon monoxide.
And it is old too. We installed it over 20 years ago now. We've learned that is old for a hot water heater but geez, the time has really just flown by without a problem, until now. We'll find out Monday why the hot water heater is spewing carbon monoxide, but we hope it's coincidental/old age and not because of the snow clearing on our roof that triggered the problem by way of the vent. Those guys worked really hard for several hours.
This is the entrance to our house. Our house is surrounded by snow drifts, because like I said earlier, the snow from the roof had to go somewhere. Rain is in the forecast, so we are afraid to ask "what's next", because if it rains and rains and rains, then we'll have too much water. I'm going to do a bit of sewing and wait for Monday to secure a plumber (none available over the weekend)….
And now, for the Christmas Stockings made for my son's family for their first Christmas in their first home.
I ordered fabric from Spoonflower, from "pet friendly", to make the two corgi themed stockings. Then since I'm a cat person, I had to make a cat themed stocking too! Go to spoonflower.com and search by theme, design or by designer. I love the fabrics by "pet friendly" and she says she can scale up or down the patterns, change the colors, all sorts of stuff, if you'll only message her. Next time I order, I'll order something other than the basic cotton, which is a bit on the thin side. It arrived promptly and washed beautifully (I followed their instructions).
I ordered the corgi's in sweaters and the text fabric (eat sploot frap repeat- which means something to corgi owners). I had the cat fabric on my contemporary Japanese (and look alikes) shelf. I rustled through my fabrics for the stocking top band, heel, toe, and lining, but only found one I liked. I hit a local store and found some Christmas fabrics on sale- woo hoo!.
The cute corgi's in Christmas Sweaters turned out to be smaller than I imagined. Spoonflower does have photographs with measuring tapes on two sides, so you can imagine the scale, so I think it was my problem. Next time I will probably order a sample swatch before making the final order.
Meanwhile, I caught Influenza A in Salem, meaning I spent a week in bed without doing any of the family get togethers, including going to Portland to wake up Christmas morning with Lucas and Colleen and my grand puppy Korben, meeting up with friends, or going to the Bolt Fabric Boutique Sale. But, my sister-in-law kept sewing E's all along, as I watched from afar. Her daughter is E crazy and she wants a very specific color story for her new bed quilt. There are two styles of E's with some mirror image blocks. We are calling it "Etaupia" or "Etopia" or???
And now, time for a toes up rest. I'm still getting over the influenza, and then I think I'll be getting over the getting over—- See you next year!