What Ana Does

I recently learned about VISABLE MENDING and I thought it looked so fun, I couldn't wait to try it. I have a few jeans with holes in the knees that just left out of style to me. Perfect for patching!   I have so much fun fabric for hole mending, I didn't know how to decide!  I cut the piece of fabric to fill the hole and used iron-on interfacing on the back to keep it in place.   Then I figured out what color floss worked the best. All while watching the Winter Olympics, of course. I liked the subtle of the navy and cream colors.  I ordered "visible mending transfers" from Etsy. They iron on so you have a pattern to follow. And are water soluble, so they disintegrate once you're done. It was easy and relaxing hand-sewing the patterns into the denim.  I used a few different styles on these patches, to see what I liked the best. The needlepoint acts like a cool pattern but also keeps the patch in place.  Here's the final result! With Pepper looking ...

I've been completely procrastinating on this front porch project, but I made some progress. First, I finished recovering the cushions on the outdoor sofa. Isn't it cute? It just occurred to me that the pattern almost looks wicker. Also, I washed the floor and rearranged the furniture slightly. That table makes more sense in the corner. But really what I learned is that I need to replace that green floral outdoor rug. It's simply ruining EVERYTHING. I think what I dislike about it most is the background is the same color as the concrete. Blah. Also, how easy is it to install a hanging porch light? Like this ? There's a can light in there now, I can just swap that out, right? Related Posts: Front Porch BEFORE pictures Painted concrete?  All Front Porch posts

My weekend in two pictures: Homemade French Vanilla Ice Cream!  Now everyone is my family is getting a ice cream maker for Christmas this year. This is so phenomenal! The Orange Quilt The couple refuse to learn the gender of the baby before the big day. So, perfect excuse to use the orange fabric for a crazy patchwork and continue practicing my quilt squares. Related posts: Other random weekend stories

I snapped this photo just before I sat down with Alice for her first little sewing lesson. And it's possibly the world's most beautiful picture -- of a kid at a sewing machine. Clearly, I need to quit my job and Instagram/Photograph people sewing for the rest of my life.

I finished Leo's comic quilt in record time this week ... could it be because of my new sewing machine??? What I learned on this quilting project: - Cut straighter and sew a little further from the edge and you won't have to fix up any holes between squares later on. Duh, right? - I rocked the mitered corners ... well, all except one. - I machine-stitched in-the-ditch instead of hand-quilting. It felt like cheating but I really like the result.  So nice to feel I'm improving, even if just a little. Off to the next project ....  Related posts: Other quilting projects

Me and My Honey 2003 First, let's flashback to the Christmas of 2003. I was dating THIS guy and out of now where he buys me a Singer sewing machine as a gift. I don't recall ever hinting about wanting one or pointing it out at Target. I really don't. So I was pretty darn surprised when I opened it up. I mean, what BOY buys a GIRL a sewing machine? So, obviously, I married him. Meanwhile, I learned all that I know on my new machine, creating a ton of projects from kid's clothes to curtains. It was dependable, light and very simple to use. And one of my favorite all-time Christmas gifts. Thank you, honey! Opening My Singer So, flash forward to this weekend and my Singer of 12 years throws in the towel, just as I was about to start the quilt for baby Leo. Jammed gears and no ability to reverse join the tension control that gave up months ago. I consult my Mom and she concurs, it's time for a new machine. Oh joy! A few years ago in New Jersey I took a ...

Well, the two quilt projects I've been working on all month are done and ready to get to their respective baby boys. Though they are both far from perfect, they're as good as they're going to get. In this quilting thing, I like how the work is segmented: First, is the creative part where you organize and plan the quilt. I like putting the pieces together and attempt to make them "make sense." It's satisfying to pick a theme and see it go from yards of fabric to a cohesive (mostly) unit. This part taxes my brain a little, as there's no clue that I'm done, it's just when I feel satisfied with what I have laid out in front of me. The second part is construction; sewing those pieces together. Something always goes amiss at this step and I'm usually reworking some part of the quilt. For example, I don't sew the rows perfectly straight, or I've cut crooked or I'm not sewing tight enough and holes emerge between the squares. Sigh. ...

Sunday might have been the best day ever. Both Leah and Alice had playdates -- one away, and one in the house. So they spent the morning cleaning, prepping and talking to each other about their plans. They even built a fort and created a reading club. And, of course, asking me "how much longer" about every 20 minutes. Then, they were out of my hair for hours. I went all homemade-crazy-kitchen-lady and made yogurt (as usual), granola bars and applesauce. And for dinner, homemade chicken nuggets (with leftovers for lunch today). The fridge is bursting with good foods for the week, and that always puts a smile on my face. Dave spent the day cozy on the sofa watching football and folding a mountain of laundry. I really do miss football season when it's over. He did leave the house to do some research on a new dishwasher, which is desperately need. The situation is getting bad -- I'm contemplating hand-washing dishes. NOOO! After dropping off Leah at her BFF's ...

With every new quilt I create, I focus on learning something new -- as well as continue working on all the other techniques that are hard and baffling. Quilting is hard, no doubt! Fish Quilt for Lon This week, I'm making a quilt for Dave's sweet cousin Sophie and her brand-new baby boy Lonnie. She said her nursery is under-the-sea themed, so I quickly found a fat quarter of fish and coordinating fabrics from my own collection -- and got down to work. I'm improving on the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, a part I really enjoy the most. And the binding is getting better. But with this quilt I really tried to get the mitered corners correct. I ended up scoring 50% -- two corners came out perfectly. The other two I sewed to the blanket and had to redo. Seam-ripper to the rescue! I even had some leftover fabric to make a quick pennant to string over the crib. And I might get a little pillow out of it, too. Why not use up all that cute fishy fabric? The goal is to get th...

While I was getting my craft-on, our house was turned into the ocean with this little mermaid swimming around. I made that skirt last year at the request of Alice who is in love with mermaids. Seems to be holding up well. My Littlest Mermaid Side note: Though she loves mermaids, she has no interest at all in swimming lessons this winter. None. Related Post: Sewing the mermaid tale tail

I've cleared the schedule and shoved aside all housework to concentrate on sewing projects I've been putting off this weekend First up ... Circle pennant.  I got this lovely felt at my favorite fabric store in SoHo. And this morning I found a circle cutter at Micheal's. Seems like the perfect union.  The verdict: fail. The flannel is too thick to to cut.  Circle-Cutter and Felt = No Go But it works on paper ... So I'm rethinking my plans.  Imagine the Possibilities!!!  Next ... dolly blanket.  I'm terrified of quilt binding so I'm making this mini quilt and following some instructions I recently found.  I Found Fairytale Fabric - Princess And the Pea for This Side The binding came together a little easier than I expected but the corners were another story. Seam ripper to the rescue.  Binding and Corners - Need to Figure that Out The stitch the the ditch has taken the most time. Are they uniform stit...

Got through my second quilt, trying some different patchwork patterns and edge strategy. So, yeah I learned a lot more but still not there yet. For me, this is the best way to learn. Just keep sewing and trying.  Apologies to the family member who ends up with this attempt. I'll improve. 

Halloween will be here before I know it, and Leah decided last year to be a witch this year. So, we've been hatching a plan together for a costume that includes a long black skirt and some creepy accessories. More on that later. This weekend I wanted to get the skirt started. So I started some research on patterns and watched some how-to videos to get started. The first time I sew anything from a set of instructions, it's a total disaster. It's not like a recipe in the kitchen when you have some confidence you'll get an edible product at the end. I will either cut the fabric wrong or sew the wrong sides together. I have to rip out seams or start over again a few times. That's how it goes. Knowing this, I decided to make a prototype. With some spare mermaid fabric, I measured Alice and started making her a play skirt. It didn't go well. I measured the fabric, cut wrong, measured again, cut again, had to doctor two panels together, sewed once, sewed again ...

I've always wanted to make a simple patchwork quilt -- and maybe work up to "real" quilting someday. I put it on my New Year's Goals for 2014. So I bought a bunch books and magazines, consulted my professional quilter Grams, and visualized the step by step process of assembling and sewing the squares. All over the last six months, at least. I know, I'm a bit strange when it comes to these things. I've also been slowly collecting the various supplies. Tonight, I finally buckled down to create. My goal: a simple patchwork of squares, just to get the basic principals down. I tucked the girls in bed and got cutting. I thought I'd only get as far as the squares, but had time, so I sewed them together. I made a bunch of mistakes (that's what seam rippers are for) and figured a lot out. Before I knew it, I was sewing in the bunting and backing fabric.  Here she is!!! She's not the prettiest quilt on the block, and the fabrics don...

My niece Everett just moved into a new room for the summer and my sister asked me to make curtains with a blackout liner. In purple. I got the fabric quickly approved and set to work. Now, I'm feeling a little pressure to get them done, imagining my little Evie napping in a bright bedroom. Or, perish the thought, a bedroom with ugly, temporary curtains. No! They're almost done!!! It's More Lavender Than It Looks in This Picture

Slowly, over the course of several years, I've been collecting supplies and fabric to assemble my first quilt. It's a goal I've had for quite a while. And being the granddaughter of one of THE BEST quilters in the state of Florida, the skills are in my DNA! On my last trip to Jo-Ann's I found the last puzzle piece: quilt batting. Of course, it's the smallest size I could find ("crib size") and made from recycled fibers -- supper soft! So I've got my book and my fabric pieces and a plan. Now, I just need a free afternoon to tackle it. Quilt Supplies: Ready When I Am

A funny thing happens when you walk into Jo-Ann Fabrics with my kids. They go completely insane. It mid as well be Toys R Us. It's actually worse, because I get a little overly-excited, too. I see and touch cute patterns and my mind starts churning on potential projects. You can probably see my eyes rolling around and smoke coming out of my ears from the amount of creative ideas that are formulating. So let's just say all three of us get a little kid-in-a-candy-store dazzled. Needless to say, we came home with a load of fabric and a Sunday full of sewing plans. Just a Sample of Our Fabric Finds

Because I've been spending so much time on Etsy (doncha love the holidays?), I'm completely smitten by all the handmade dollies available. I've now made it my goal to sew a doll in the next 12 months. Until then, I may have to purchase a few of these dolls -- for research, of course. Related posts: My Etsy Doll page

Last weekend we took the kids to see "Frozen" and we all loved it. The timing worked out pretty well because it was still Hanukkah, so we got to give Alice some "Frozen" gifts, including this adorable Elsa dress. Sure, the Disney store has fancier Elsa dresses, but sheesh you gotta shell out the big bucks. These little pj-like dresses are much easier on the wallet and pretty, too. The Lovely Dress ... and Girl But, hello, Princess Elsa had a long train in the movie. Where's the train? Alice pointed this out immediately.  A trip to the fabric store with the dress to match the color, and we had ourselves a dress with train. Done!  My Fancy Princess Elsa I used Velcro so the train could be removed for washing and running outside. 

I love the look of button down collars. I think they just look cleaner and more put together. I used to only buy collars with buttons -- until I figured out I could quickly sew on my own buttons. I don't even need to make a button hole because I'm not unbuttoning them, making them even quicker. Here's the seriously easy directions. The Shirt! Here's my new flannel shirt (aside: aren't you so glad flannel shirts are back? I'm ready to relive the glory of my grunge days) and the collar is just flopping around, willy-nilly. Extra Buttons Usually, there are extra buttons but, unfortunately, never the same size.  Sleeve With Buttons Luckily, you can usually find a gratuitous button elsewhere on the shirt. Check the sleeves. Do you need this many buttons on a shirt you'll likely roll up the sleeves? Nah. I prefer the smaller buttons, usually not right on the cuff but up the sleeve a bit.  Volia! Hold down the collar and sew direc...