{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

From SouleMama

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Nineteen

My oldest "baby" is nineteen today.

Birthday wishes to my smart, beautiful, kind, loving, creative, and delightful oldest daughter.

After the Storm

Tropical storm Isaac passed us by, far out into the Gulf of Mexico. A few rainy days, but nothing more.

The only problem we've had from the storm is that our internet is out most of the time (now) and our phone connection stinks, I've called the company and hope they'll have it fixed tomorrow. Or I'll find a different way to get internet.

I did finish the quilt top that I was working on (details to come). Once completed the plan was to spend the next day pinning and quilting it. I even made it to the fabric store before they closed for the storm to get backing fabric. The fabric store, by the way, was packed.

Of course, at some point I realized I had a whole bunch of kids here who couldn't go outside and the kitchen table wasn't going to become available, at least not without peanut butter on it. The quilt did not get pinned or quilted, but is draping a chair in my room so I can enjoy it often.

And then I remembered I'd won a jelly roll of Tula Pink's Birds and Bees fabric from Amber over at One Shabby Chick. To resist would have been futile, so I didn't.

What's one more pretty project to finish?

Oh, there's no white fabric in either of these. Solids, yes, but not white. As much as I love white, and I really really do, it's been great fun drowning in all this color.

What's new on your crafting table?

Weekend Plans

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A few days ago we were threatened with a hurricane.
Now it's a tropical storm.
We were directly in the path of the storm.
Then it was to the west of us.
Now we're back in the potential path.

That's how it goes. By Monday morning it should have passed us, one way or another.

I plan to work on this quilt this weekend. A much bigger project than I'd originally anticipated, but so far soooo worth it.

 Enjoy your weekend. Stay safe, have fun.

Boy Wear

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After making oodles of pairs of shorts for River I decided he needed a shirt. A simple, handsome button down shirt.

If you follow Because I'm Me on facebook you've already seen a little preview of this shirt. I was so excited about it I couldn't wait to share.

The idea of brown with a contrast wouldn't leave me, so brown it was going to be. I was thrilled to find this dark brown and white fabric on sale for $2.50 a yard at JoAnn's, with an extra 25% off on top of that.

I chose orange for the contrast. This orange has very simple flowers and brown dots on it. A good match while still being a little "off the beaten path". I'd considered green or red, but the orange won out in the end.

I had intended for the orange fabric to be the backside of the collar, as it is, and the backside of the button and buttonhole sections, as it is not. The fabric would just barely be visible.

Unfortunately, I cut the front fabric in the wrong place.  I went with it, nervously, not having enough fabric to recut the pieces, and now have about 1/2" of the orange showing up the front.

While the end result isn't quite what I'd planned I'm really happy with it and River loves it. I will make another shirt soon the way I'd originally planned, but in the meantime I have no regrets about this one.

The pattern is Butterick 3475. This was the first pattern I've sewn from in years. I can't stand spending money on patterns so I just don't use them, but I have decided to watch the sales and pick up a few good ones when the prices are right.

I did get a little frustrated with the pattern when it came time to sew the collar and finish the facings, so I did it my own way, adding a little tacking that wasn't called for and some edge stitching that seemed necessary for the shirt to look "right" to me.

This shirt matches none of the shorts I made for River. Problem? Nah, now I have a good reason to do a bit more sewing for the boy.

What did you sew last weekend?
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Chair Pocket / Seat Sack Tutorial

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As promised.

This chair pocket / seat sack is a super simple project, but very fun and rewarding, if you're anything like me you'll feel all Martha Stewart awesome once you've put these on your chairs. (I sincerely apologize for the worlds most craptastic tutorial images!)

Shall we get right to it?

My measurements are for a Kindergarten sized chair. They also work great on Pottery Barn, Ikea, or other small child chairs.

To adapt for larger chairs:

• To widen add about 5" to the total width at the top of your chair back. If your chair back is 16" your piece of fabric will be 21" wide.
• To lengthen ... this pattern will make a seat sack that is about 15" in total height. Personally, I wouldn't make it much longer because you want to be able to reach the bottom, but if you decide to add a little add double what you want to add to the length. For example, if you want it 1" longer add 2" to the total length of your cut fabric piece.

Duck, denim, twill, and other heavier fabrics work best for this project. Your fabric should be the same on both sides, because both sides will be showing.

Read all instructions before beginning.

Cut a piece of fabric 15" by 36".

Hem the two short edges, one to the top of the fabric and one to the bottom. Looking at the fabric piece they will be hemmed to opposite sides of the fabric (one hem will face you, one will face away from you).

Next fold one short end of the fabric down 7", with the backside of the hem facing up, as in the image below. Along the folded edge mark 2" in on both sides. I use a pin, which is then also holding the fabric in place. Also pin 5" down from the fold on both sides.

Stitch down the side, beginning at a top pin (remove pin first) to the bottom corner of the hemmed edge. Have your stitching be 1/2" from the edge when you get to the side pin. Reinforce stitching at hem. Trim.

Edge stitch along your newly created and trimmed seam, reinforcing at the hemmed edge. This "pocket" will envelope your chair top.

Turn right side out and press.

Next create your book/toy/misc. items pocket.

Lay your fabric with newly sewn "pocket" facing you, fold the remaining hemmed edge up. The backside of the hemmed bottom edge should be facing you. Pin in place with hemmed edge 5" from top of previously created fold (or 2" up from other hemmed edge).

Fold bottom edge of fabric up about 1". Pin in place.

Stitch in place, stitching very slightly over top of hem. Reinforce stitching at hem and bottom fold. Trim at hem.

Edge stitch, reinforcing at hem and bottom fold.

Turn and press.

If you make one (or many) of these please share a link to images in the comments, or send to becauseimme@gmail.com. I'd love to see what you come up with!

And then : awe and amaze your family with your organizational and creative genius.

FYI

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How To Take An Elephant Shoe Shopping

1a. Get elephant in Africa.

1b. Tell mother elephant. Have her know it's leaving.

1. Try to get an elephant that will cooperate.

2. Get a baby elephant to be able to get through the door.

3. Get a girl elephant. They're more interested in shoes.

4a. Walk to the store.

4. Go to a store with no glass. At all.

5. Get pink shoes.

6. Make sure the elephant likes the shoes.

7. Let the elephant choose the shoes.

8. Buy cheap ones! Not too cheap though.

9. Make the elephant happy.

10. Bring it back home.

11. Buy peanuts afterwards.

Creative writing. 

Another recent assignment was to write a ransom note using newspaper and magazine print. You really want to avoid having my children kidnap anyone you know!

Needless to say, we're having fun.

School is, however, keeping me very busy. Sewing is happening, but not regularly. Quilts are spending more time in my head than in the machine. Isn't that just the way, though, sometimes with life? As soon as my ideas make it from my head and through the machine you'll know.

In the meantime, with my new found knowledge I plan to take an elephant out for some lovely Manolo Blahniks (of her choosing). Or I might go get the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, I've also received wonderful instructions on how to do that well.

Chair Pocket

I was asked by a friend if I could make seat sacks, or chair pockets, for her Kindergarten classroom. I'd never heard of such a thing, but after a little bit of googling I fell in love. What a brilliant idea!

Basically, a pocket for the back of a student chair to hold books.

Who doesn't need a little extra storage space, especially storage space that doesn't take up much space?

Needless to say, I had to make River one for one of his Ikea chairs. Right now his is filled with his journal, a few reading books, and two cars (two, I was told, is the right number for a chair pocket). I could have made his to fit a little better, but I was ok with it being loosy-goosy.

With a little size editing these could be used on adult-sized chairs too, perfect at the kitchen table or in a meeting space.

These are simple to make, I'll be sharing a quick tutorial later this week so you can make your own!
Update: Tutorial Here!

Shop Sale

 

Click the image, head to the shop, get free shipping with code BACKTOSCHOOL!

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

From SouleMama

*****

Crazy Block Lap Quilt, #2

Second verse, same as the first. But different.

 Shades of yellow, white, and gray.

 Loopy, swirly quilting in soft gray. Black and yellow floral border. Yellow and gray striped binding.

50" by 62".

In the shop.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

From SouleMama

*****

watching the kids work at the sailing center

Crazy Block Lap Quilt, #1

Greens, grays, and whites.

Crazy Nine Patch Blocks.  Mostly.

Big, lap size. 50" by 62".

Straight line quilting. Green dot binding. Gray floral border.

 Gray Ikea leaf print backside with large blocks of prints.

Available in the shop.

She has a friend, in yellow and gray. She'll be here soon.

Wednesday

My computer virus had been removed, thank goodness, and I'm back in business.

Unfortunately (not really), water of all sorts has been calling our names so we've been out of the house and in the pool and the Gulf of Mexico. Not a bad way to spend the last weeks of summer vacation.

Fort Myers Beach

I have quilts to share, pretty ones. And fabric with more ideas than yardage to get busy with. But today we're exploring another beach so it'll have to wait.

Fossilized sharks teeth found at the beach in Englewood, FL.

The giveaway at The Dusty Frame ends today so head over and enter!!

I'm trying to figure out Instagram. You can find me at jody_sanders . Do you use Instagram? Do you like it? What do you like about it? Please share!