A Facelift for Mickey

When I got a new car I took off my cute license plate surround.  I had it for many years and it looked tired.  Most of the color had worn off.  I had put it in a bag and forgot about it - then with all the organizing we have been doing I found it again.  I decided it needed some help - out came the fingernail polish I use for crafting and starting in. 

 You can see how things looked on the first Mickey.  The other two have had the ears, nose and eyes painted.  Quite a difference.  Fingernail polish is lacquer which will not wash off and lasts a long time.  With a built-in brush - painting is a breeze.

 I used a bright red for the words.  It may take two coats but be sure to let the coat first dry - which is actually rather quick.

Here is my finished surround.  I was lucky and found yellow nail polish with a striping brush - really thin and long - which helped when painting around the letters.  After adding a few dots around edge I was done.  I just love how it looks - so cute.  After I put it on my car I will have to head to Disneyland to show it off. 

Why I Was Working On the Kitchen Table......

Well, this is rather embarrassing....My sister and husband came to visit for a few weeks.  Each time they come I have a special task (tasks) that we do....i.e. help Cheryl clean-up.  Today we decided on my work area.  As her husband was putting in a new garbage disposal (50 years old) she and I started in.  We started with the shelves that included fabric at least 15 years old.  The second shelf was already cleared and we are now starting on the next.  We ended up with 11 bags of fabric that we took to Goodwill - they can open up their own fabric store.

 Here it is all cleaned up - but filled again.  This includes some of the ones I saved plus extra from table (see below).  It looks so good - now I know what I have so I won't have to buy any more fabric (yeah right!). 

 This is my so - called work table.  This is why I was working on the kitchen table.  I would get things - stack it on table and forget about it.  I had many avalanches of stuff off the table.  The newer fabric is on the shelves  - at least it's by color. 

 Here is the same table.  Everything now has a home and I know where it is - no more digging through the pile a risk to life and limb.  I can actually put my sewing machine on the table......and work.

 Here it is in all it's glory.  One day, 11 bags to Goodwill, two bags of garbage and 5 storage bins later.

I can hardly wait to get started creating things in my clean work area.  Tomorrow we start on the porch....wish us luck.

Cutie Booties

I have been busy these past few months - I can't just sit and do nothing, so I have been embroidering.  I have embroidered towels, jewlery, and these cuties......

 I used a basic bootie pattern with wool felt.  There is nothing better than the feel of a needle going through felt.  The entire bootie is hand sewn.  I made the shoe lace by cutting a strip of felt, wrapping around a bamboo skewer then basting along the edge.  Remove the skewer and you have a great tie.  The flower is a strip of felt rolled up with a button center. 

 I just had to make a red and turquoise pair.  Same pattern but with a purchased felt flower to which I added embroidered detail.  Add a ribbon for ties and you're ready to go.

 I used turquoise felt for the sole of bootie, sewed around then cut with scollop edged scissors.   Love the look.  Now I just need a baby to wear them. 

These are easy enough to make in an afternoon, maybe give it a try and let me know how you do.