Results tagged “penguins” from SadyeBabi's Weblog

I decided that since I got a sewing machine as a wedding gift, I should at least use it for something. So, I had this bright idea to make Christmas stockings (since we didn't have any). Yeah...I had no clue what the hell I was doing. I just drove to the fabric store and found a pattern for a stocking and a pattern for penguin decorations. I had never read the back of a pattern in my life so I had no clue how much fabric I needed. I bought probably 4 or 5 times what I actually needed. I have actually sewn things before, but that was in home economics and I got a kit that had the pattern printed on the back of the fabric. So...this was an adventure.

The living room looked like the fabric store had exploded for a few days. I figured out how to cut out the materials. I do have to say the directions were pretty cryptic on some parts. There was one part where I had to guess and I just hoped it was what I was supposed to do.

I have also learned to love fusible web. I hadn't ever heard of it before I worked on this, but it is one of the most glorious things ever invented for fabric crafts. Basically, you can turn any fabric into iron-on fabric. You just cut it out and stick it between two fabrics and heat them with an iron for a few seconds. And the material is still pliable after you iron it down to something. That's how I attached most the penguin parts:

I think the stockings turned out ok. Not bad for a first attempt at a sewing project. I would hope that my aunt & grandmas would be proud (they were always the sewers in the family).

Last, but not least, I admired the mess I'd made before I had to clean it all up.

Last year for Christmas, John's sister gave me a blow-up penguin lawn ornament. I finally decided to get it out this year. Sadly I picked the night before one of the windiest days of the year. But they looked really cute when I first put them up!

I came home and they had blown into the corner of my patio and deflated. So I had to take them inside. Now they are just a sad lump in my living room...waiting to go back outside. Maybe after the sleet tomorrow the weather will be a little better and I can put them back out. But we'll have to see.

I bought a new shirt last week. I wasn't planning on buying the shirt, but one of my friends sent me a link to this web site saying I should order the shirt. After seeing the design, I couldn't really help myself. Besides, there was the added bonus that he was already ordering stuff, so I only had to pay $1 for shipping. Here's the shirt design:

One of the most amusing parts of the shirt is right below the tag. I didn't realize that threadless.com did this, but it would be really cool (if I were more artistically inclined) to have one of your designs printed because they tell you who designed the shirt, what edition the print is and the title of your design. Plus, it has more penguins on it, so how could you not like that? Also, I ordered a large. The baby-t's can run a bit small at times so I played it safe. I wasn't anticipating the tag to say "girly large." Generally amusing.

I found a few other shirts (Arctic Spa and Penguins on Holiday) I liked on the site, but sadly they don't have my size right now. If enough people request a re-print, they will make them available again (hint, hint).