Thursday, May 26, 2016

Downtime = Upcycling

I have spent much of the last two weeks scrambling about as we prepare for our son's high school graduation. We have out of town family coming. We are cleaning the house top to bottom (or at least attempting to do so.) And we still have our normal lives with work, end of school projects, and now college registration.
There haven't been many moments to catch a breath.
But crafting must go on!
Last week my preschooler helped me turn a garbage bag of tshirts that had been headed to the dump into tarn. (Definition: tarn is upcycled tshirt yarn)
Mommy! That's a big ball of yarn!
I then turned the tarn into some bracelets.

I used the opportunity to have some great starter conversations with her about recycling and taking care of the Earth.
This started a spree through the house to find more tshirts. But when she brought this one to me I saw more potential than cutting it into tarn.

I had found this great free tutorial from Nap-Time Creations.
And we turned an old unwanted tshirt into these:


I love finding new life in old projects!
And I'm loving the process of learning new crafting skills as I go.
Go, be creative, and give new life to something in your house. And share your pictures. I would be thrilled to see them.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Spring Means New Skorts!

One thing that I dread each new season with 4 children is the need for new clothes. Shopping for a family of 6 can add up very quickly! So when I'm able to go through my stash and whip up a new outfit that one of my children love it's a great day!


Take this cuteness of a scrap of fabric I found in my stash and combine it with this fantastic skort pattern  on Peekaboo Patterns and you get a very happy mommy and an ecstatic Audrey.


The pattern was super simple and her tutorial pictures are easy to follow. 


I don't work with knits very often, mainly because my sewing machine doesn't seem to like them. But I found this perfectly coordinating piece of pink knit in a bag of scraps someone had given me. I'm super pleased with how the shorts look!


I will admit that my seam allowance was slightly off on attaching the waistband. I needed a smaller width elastic than called for.


The shirt is also from some knit scrap I had. I didn't use a pattern. I drafted my one from a tshirt Audrey wears often. I also added a slight flutter sleeve.


And of course every photo shoot ends with at least one silly picture.


Now time to get back to work designing and filling custom orders. 

But I might need to take another break and make a few more of these skorts for my girly girl tomboy!


Monday, May 9, 2016

Updates from the Wonderful World of AmamammaDesigns

                   
You have not known the meaning of the word tired until you are craft show tired. 
              
             
The month of April was a whirlwind of shows, custom orders, and family life.  

The month of May I am taking some time back from shows because y oldest child is graduating high school! My baby boy is a senior. May now involves extra activities as he concludes his high school career.
                   
But never fear! I am still working up a storm. My Etsy shop is being restocked with new items added weekly. 
        
I am in the process of a top secret project using these wonderful materials.  (More shall be revealed later)
     
And I am designing away. Currently I am working on a child's swimsuit coverup. Crochet peeps be on the lookout for a pattern testing call at the end of the month.

As always I am still taking a limited amount of custom orders.

Pshew!!!!! For someone taking a break I sound rather busy don't I? 
That's the crafter's life! And I'm loving it!