Our Archeological Dig Finds (in our own front yard!)

J. Cosgrove blue bottle is circa 1855-1870 and contained mineral water in its former life. Would be worth big bucks if it were whole!







My Husband decided to use his metal detector in the area where the house slab is going to be in a couple of months (in our present front yard) and hit some sort of pile of old stuff underground. This is the little bucket of stuff that entered the house = there's a lot more in the yard, but these were a few of John's picks. What a large pile of buttons!



Only the front of the bottle survived, but it is a cool find. The South Carolina Dispensary system was a state-run monopoly on liquor sales in the United States state of South Carolina which operated from 1893 to 1907 statewide...pretty neat stuff huh?

Two Rompers -- Ready to Smock

Both of these are taken. You are looking at the front and back view. It is a size 3 mos ready to smock baby romper. I haven't installed the snaps yet on the inseam, but will handle that today after I buy the snaps. All seams are sewn and serged -- fabric is a poly/cotton blended broadcloth.

Robe Embroidery

I added this embroidery onto a ready made bathrobe. The thread in the embroidery matched a light blue trim already on this super soft robe I got at Old Navy. I embroidered the snowflake twice so it would really stand out. I was pleased with the results and should have gotten one for myself too!

Clemson Purse

Another Christmas Present -- she will be the coolest tiger fan at the game!!!

Toile Bag

Another Christmas Present -- Mom liked it!

Drawstring Jewelry Pouch

I got a free pattern online for a jewelry pouch. The inside has 6 pockets and it cinches up to keep it all sorted when you travel -- made 3 of these for presents this year.

Here was the pattern:
http://www.northtipton.com/jewelry.htm

Nativity Lapbook

It's not all the way colored, but you get the basic concept. The girls are working on Nativity Lapbooks -- a small coloring book on the left bottom and a small nativity storybook on the right bottom. When she finished coloring all of the characters she'll have a little nativity playset in the center to act out the Christmas Story on the little barn. The blue part on the bottom will be a pocket to store the characters. I have this little kit in a Adobe Acrobat file if anyone it interested I'll email you all the stuff to print out and set up one for your own kids!

Free Bib Pattern

http://www.poopockets.com/free/bibs/bibs.htm

I didn't use the bias method they describe -- just sew two layers together then turn right side out and topstitch -- MUCH easier! Install a snap and you're done! Now that I get a good look, I didn't even topstitch this duo...even simpler

Talk about quick and easy baby gift! I can see a lot of cute things to embroider on a bib...any suggestions for my next ones?

Adult Bibs

My Grandmother is in a nursing home and she is diabetic so her eyes and fingers aren't as good as they used to be so my mom bought her an "adult bib" at a craft show one year -- I finally got around to copying the idea for my grandma. It is totally reversible, with the same design on the front and back. It was quite easy to make too. I left the one on the right open so you can see how the Velcro goes... I did one for the Christmas season and the other one for other celebrations throughout the year. I think she will be looking good! They are about 18x23, a generous size. I am thinking that it would be good next time to possibly put terry (towel) on the back side for absorbtion...hey, you live, you learn, right?

Pink & Green Pajamas

My daughter had to wear pajamas to school for "Polar Express" day. I came up with these -- don't laugh, but the hot pink fabric is actually made out of a bed sheet...leftover from someone else's project. They said what am I going to do with a fitted sheet and two pillowcases -- I bought them (deeply discounted of course) and used the two pillowcases this summer for birthday presents and then have been using the fabric of the sheet for various projects in past months. I think I have enough for only one more project after this one.

Simplicity 9964 size XS

Ms Jane's Purse

Finally finished Ms Jane's purse. Has a palmetto tree on one side and the name of the dance studio "Palmetto Xtreme." I think she is going to love it. It is very Ms Jane looking with the fringe. The fringe is just some of that wacky crochet or knitting yarn they have out now. Just crochet in a chain and sew directly onto your item...easy and super trendy! I also figured out something with embroidery lately. It looks nicer when you are doing a name to have the capital letter acutally be a font size a little larger than the rest of the lettering...You can see it on the Palmetto Extreme side of this purse. A small thing that makes it just a little nicer.

Monogrammed Towel

Just monogrammed this towel for my friend to give as a gift. I think it turned out nice.

Hollie/Berkeley Purse

As you can see I have gotten a little carried away with the purses lately. This one is a little smaller than the others -- the front is about a 6x8 rectangle -- I think she is going to have a lot of fun with this! I can't remember if I posted it already, but these bags are all from pattern Simplicity 8331.

Cloth Infant Shoes

If you are a sewing person, you have to check out these cloth baby shoes:

http://stardustshoes.blogspot.com/2006/10/cloth-shoe-pattern.html

Christina/Horse Purse

The ladies are going wild over these purses. The front is about an 8x10 rectangle and the bottom is about 3 1/2 inches wide so you can really get a lot into these purses. I am trying a smaller size next for a children's purse -- Maybe I'll get it done this morning before the kids wake up -- not likely! Tried a new, wider ribbon this time, I think it looks nice.

Christmas Lights Purse

This is my holiday purse this year...festive!

Stratford/Carolina Purse

Another one of the same pattern I have been making -- this one is for a Stratford Student, but could also be Carolina! I actually cut out two so if anyone wants one of these (or a clemson one) let me know -- I have one of each cut out and ready to sew ($20) Purse has two side pockets on the inside and a plastic bottom inserted within for stability and washability!

Red Baby Outfit

This is a new outfit I tried out and think it turned out great!

This is a size 6 month outfit with a small portion of the chest smocked. I added the bows because this is for a baby girl. I can make these "ready to smock" too.

Has a nice button closure in the back and all serged seams inside. Also, it sports a snapped inseam for easy diaper changes! And it is already sold to a teacher at Ashley's school for a baby shower.

This is the one I was telling you about Tracy.

More Purses

These three girls are going to be delighted with their new purses on Christmas morning -- My friend Missy bought these for her daughter and nieces, they all have their name on one side and that famous palmetto tree on the back.

How fun!

I think I really like the band of ribbon across the top...really brings the whole purse together.

Madison's A Line Dress

One of the teachers at my daughter's school asked me to make a cute dress for her niece for Christmas -- We couldn't find just the right fabric to make her a Gamecock dress (thank goodness because I'm a tiger to the bone!) so I came up with this one. I hope she likes it.

I used that hand crocheted trim on the hemline of this dress -- I really like the way this comes out -- I am actually thinking of sewing some of this trim around the neck, wrists, or waistline of a couple of store bought shirts -- wouldn't that be cute? It almost looks like feathers.

Striped Shirt

The girls spent two nights this weekend at Grandma's house so I had some time on my hands -- and after finishing the snowmen, I cut out two and finished one of these shirts -- The other one will have to wait a couple of days, real life has set back in -- carpool, dance practice, setting the alarm...

Anyway, I think this turned out cute with the bias cut cuffs and pocket -- size 6 McCalls 4910

If you click and look up close there's an idea for the sewers out there -- I use a little piece of ribbon as a tag in most of the stuff I make (when I remember!) the kids like it, and with elastic waisted pants, it is an easy way to tell the front from the back -- which is virtually impossible without a tag.

Candybar Snowmen

Just in case you thought I went the whole Thanksgiving weekend without crafting -- WRONG -- here they are -- presenting the 50 candy bar snowmen I made for all the kids we know. Take a Hershey's candy bar and wrap with paper, decorate with markers, fleece and a bell tied with a ribbon on the hat. Oh yeah, some lipstick off my index finger as the blushing cheeks, but they don't show well in the photo. The girls helped of course!

These are so supercute -- it looks like a little army just sitting in my room waiting for December to come!

Plaid Sisters and Brother Set

Click on the picture for an up close view of that monogramming!

Believe it or not, I started these after church on Sunday when a lady gave me an idea that she wanted me to make for her son and two daughters for Christmas...I think they turned out really well.

The A-Line dresses have a piece of black grosgrain running straight down and across the dress and where the meet I put a double bow with a button in the center that matches the buttons on the shoulders. They have french side seams because it is not worth the hour it would take to change the white thread on the serger out to black -- so they are really well finished inside too. They are size 8 and size 6.

The little Jon Jon is completely reversable and the inside will match his big sisters for Christmas then once the season has passed, he has a monogrammed jon jon to wear the rest of the year. At least as long as he fits this size 2! I applique/embroidered the little red beetle on the green side -- the red, silver and black areas are actually fabric appliqued on with the embroidery design -- the black is satin, the red is plan broadcloth, and the silver is a piece of that belt from my Halloween costume -- now you know why I love saving fabric scraps = you never know when you will need that little piece of silver!

I will be using this idea again with the ribbon on the dresses -- kinda makes it look like a wrapped present doesn't it?

Criss Cross Coasters

I'll be trying these soon too -- thanks Tracy!

http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/11/crisscross_coas.html

Grocery Bag based lunch sac

I plan to make a couple of these -- I'll post how they turn out after I get around to it -- isn't this a cool idea!?! thanks for this idea little sis!

http://supamb.com/supafine/2007/10/06/how-to-lunch-bag-based-on-plastic-grocery-sack/

Journey Bag

My oldest daughter made this journey bag in school this week - a lunch sack, folded over twice, hole reinforcements and a string -- they named them journey bags because they are studying the Pilgrims. I thought this would be a cool idea for a kid craft then you take them out in the yard and collect leaves in them -- They are worn like a purse, but put it over your head so it won't fall off.

This Year's Dress

I went simple this year -- just whipped these up yesterday -- I think they turned out darling. Had some of the fabric on the bottom that I picked up in February for 25 cents a yard -- can you believe it! Got some light blue this week after I had the inspiration of what to do this year. I didn't want to make something red or green so I came up with these. Nice ric rac along the bottom because the blues weren't exactly the same color -- then found this christmas tree free online, and embroidered it with my Futura machine -- you should visit annthegran.com online you can find almost anything there!
I think we'll sport a long sleeve white shirt underneath -- I think this will be good for visiting Santa a the mall...

More Christmas Bags

More scraps means more of these reusable christmas bags. My youngest had the job of turning them all right side out and pushing out the corners -- my oldest had the job of lacing the ribbons through the tops -- they turned out too cute!

Monogrammed Backpacks

Aren't these cute? My mom got these backpacks on clearance at Wal-Mart for herself and her painting buddies, formerly known as the "Ya Ya Painters," now known as the "Candied Yams." They enjoyed using these backpacks on their annual shopping trip to Hendersonville, NC. All I did was embroider their names on the packs -- aren't they cute?

click on the photo to see them up close

Wacky Ribbon Pants

I'm really happy with how these cuties turned out! I started with a pair of hand-me-down jeans that must have been too long because the entire bottom hem was ripped off in the back...I, the thrifty mom that I am, held on to them waiting for just the right treatment to be able to still use them...Saw this idea on Ebay.

First cut off the jeans in the desired length. Serge or zig zag that edge to prevent fraying. Then you apply the ribbon that is the polka dotted one in my photo. You only sew the top edge of the ribbon and just line up the bottom edge of the ribbon with the serged edge of the jeans. Then you have various widths and colors of grosgrain ribbons in about a 3 inch length. I take a lighter and slightly melt the edges to seal them so they will look forever new even with repeated laundering. Now, you sew the bottom edge of the polka dot ribbon to the bottom edge of the jeans and as you go, you insert the ribbon pieces between the polka dot ribbon and the jeans -- that's it...aren't these fun? I have also seen these made with ribbon loops instead of the short strips, but I think this is easier and cuter!

Missy's Purse

My Friend, Missy, of course, asked me to make her a purse, but didn't know what she wanted -- this is what I came up with -- it has a velcro closure and is lined with two interior pockets...I hope she likes it!

Now that I am finished with this first one, I think I'll run that pink ribbon all the way around the top next time -- jazz it up a little!

Toilet Paper Pumpkins

Now isn't this a cute idea -- I did not make these, but my dear friend did and wasn't she a genius? She took a roll of toilet paper and then wrapped a long orange streamer through the hole enough times to cover the paper - then added a stem make out of craft foam with felt on top and a little pipe cleaner squiggle for the vine -- then set it on a little bed of moss (I'm sure she got out of the yard!) and viola -- recyclable fall decorations...great kids craft idea!

Snowman Smocked Bishop

***Remember to click on the pictures for a closeup view***

I created these two dresses for my friend's granddaughters this month. Haven't posted a lot because making two dresses takes twice as long! I think these two sister dresses turned out so cute. I embellished the snowman with beads for eyes and buttons for a realistic effect. These are size 3 and 12 months with banded long sleeves. I can't wait to see a picture of them modeled!

Favorite Jeans Purse

I took my most favorite jeans in the whole world -- I'm talking about a pair of Levi's that I have been wearing since the mid 1990's and they finally got that hole beside the back pocket and I still wore them until my kids said they knew what color underwear I was wearing...they are officially retired as jeans, but I came up with this purse so they can live on -- I cut the pocket and delicately worked the tag off of them and made the purse from the bigger piece of fabric right under your behind then sewed the pocket and tag back onto the purse. I made some little loops with the seam that runs down the length of the leg and sewed them to the top edge of the purse and tied this fun grosgrain ribbon on for the handles -- I can't wait to use it! I actually don't have to say goodbye to them ... a happy ending to what could have been a sad story!

Christmas Gift Bags

Ran across some old Christmas craft fabric scraps and put them to new use...recyclable Christmas gift bags! Added a ric rac trim around the top of the blue ones so they'd be a little more festive. all in all, it took about an hour to make these once I got everything picked out and cut.

White/Lilac Dresses

These two dresses were designed for my youngest daughter's baptism last month. The purple flowers in the trim were the theme in the smocking also. I was only going to make one for my youngest until my oldest daughter begged for one too -- here they are -- I think they looked like angels!

Lowcountry Scenes Quilt

This project was a collaboration between my Aunt and myself. She, over the years, cross stitched all of these scenes from the Charleston collection and I pieced it all into a quilt and then quilted some simple straight lines by hand. My quilting work was only to highlight the beautiful squares she had made for this project -- I think this is so beautiful!

Quilted tote

It's been a couple of years ago, but I think my mother-in-law wanted a quilted tote for bringing her stuff to work and I designed this one for her. I also embroidered her first name in the center of the block. I think this was fun to make because I got to do anything I wanted. that's always fun

My Favorite

This was one of my favorite quilts. It is only a wall hanging, but I loved the contrast and geometric feel of this one. I think I gave this one to my husband's grandmother a couple of years ago for Christmas --

My Sister's Wall Hanging

How lucky is my sister to have this cool one? I loved making this one! i felt like i was really making a piece of art with my scrap collection -- machine pieced, hand quilted.

Maple Leaves Wall Quilt

Originally going to be a full bed sized quilt, this quickly became a wall hanging -- hand piecing all of the little detail on these maple leaves was too much for me -- but I liked the final result anyway. hand appliquéd hand quilted.

Blue & Green Log Cabin

Made this quilt for my mother-in-law for christmas one year --fell in love with the ease of the log cabin style of quilt -- had a hard time deciding which way to arrange the blocks too. Machine pieced and hand quilted -- with love