A few interesting reads

     There are some interesting topics being addressed right now at a few different blogs. Here are the links in case they apply to you at all and you're interested.

Funky Junk Interiors is doing a thirty one day series on how to turn your blog into a business.

Ameroonie Designs has a couple really helpful articles about selling at craft shows.

All Things Thrifty has a blogger behind the blog series going on. They are full of a lot of helpful information.

      I've really enjoyed reading these and just wanted to pass them along. Happy Thursday!

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

Sewing tips - Slits

       I recently made a few skirts with slits in the side seams. I thought I'd show you my super easy way of making them. They are very simple to do and give a garment a slightly more professional look. I'm going to skip right to the slit sewing and assume you know how to cut out a basic straight skirt.
      I started by serging the edges of my two panels. I measured down to where I wanted the slit to start and put a pin.

     I sewed the two panels together leaving about a fourth inch on the side.

      I stopped when I got the pin and it looked like this.

      I laid the serged edges flat and sewed them down. ( I switched to a short skirt on the pictures here so don't be confused)

      Once both edges are sewn down, sew a line horizontally across the top of the slit. This helps the fabric have extra stability at that weak spot.

      After hemming the bottom, I have a nice and tidy slit. It is the exact same concept you use when sewing in a zipper.

     These small slits are more for decorative purposes in this short skirt than for function.

     In a long one like this though, they are very functionable. They make it so you don't have to take mini steps when you walk.

      For someone with long legs, like me, they are almost essential. Unless it is a very full skirt, I am almost guaranteed to rip a seam when I walk too fast without them.

      So there you go, give it a try and you'll probably find you like them!

Psalms 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Linking to:
My Girlish Whims
Frugalicious Me

I heart Grey

      I tend to go on color kicks. This summer I was infatuated with everything turquoise and yellow. Now I've moved on to the color grey. I think its a classy color. Can colors be classy? I say yes. It looks so lovely with almost any other color, especially pastels. I. just. love. it.
My latest use of grey was this skirt. I bought the fabric ages ago and finally used it to make a quick skirt. This fabric really makes me happy, it has all my favorites...circles, stripes, grey, white and yellow. It drapes so well too!

        Off topic, but this style skirt is the quickest ever to make. I just use super stretchy spandex type fabric for the waist band. You can see it peeking out here (albeit slightly wrinkled).

        Here's a few more of my latest uses of grey.
       Short shirred, grey geometric print skirt for my Etsy shop.

      Ruffled grey scarf...tutorial found here.

     Satin sash bag...tutorial found here.

     A simple grey circle skirt with elastic waist band...because I need another grey skirt like a hole in my head.

       And, just for the record, I'm really loving these grey boots if anyone wants to donate to the "Abby needs outrageously priced boots" fund.

Nordstrom $239.95

     Anyone else go through fits of color obsessions regularly? Don't be surprised if you see a new color scheme on the old blog here pretty soon! =)

     I've got some fun sewing tutorials in the works and the weather has been gorgeous here lately so lots of painting projects coming soon too! I need more hours in the day!

    

Psalms 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. 

Kitchen Cabinet Doors Look Nicer in Bedrooms

       Really, they do, I'm not lying. The builder who built this house left a kitchen cabinet door sample up in the attic. I needed something other than a Ziploc bag to store my earrings. The obvious solution being, use the free cabinet door to store my earrings and do-dads. Want to see how?
     Here is my door.

     I removed the door and was left with this.

      I cut out a square of wire. This isn't chicken wire, I think its dog kennel wire. Whatever, use kangaroo wire if you want, you just need wire.

      I stapled that with my heavy duty staple gun to the back of my door frame.

     So now it looks like this.

      Next I spray painted it white. You know, spray painting is wonderful for many reasons, but primarily because it is so uncomplicated. I can run out the door and give a spritz in between my regularly scheduled housework and at the end of the day....voila! A completed project that didn't require a large chunk of my day! Really, you should go spray paint something. You'll be a better person.
     Anyway, I added a couple hooks I had lying around to the bottom and that was it. I didn't even distress it or glaze it, might be a first for me! Here she is all decked out in all her jewels (or fake silver as the case may be)
     Please note, this was hung behind my bedroom door and the walls are very dark. The pictures are awful, so use your imagination.

      The wire stuff works perfectly for hooking earrings.

      I might scrounge around and see if I can find another hook to add to the bottom there. I'm not a big necklace collector, but I do like me some bracelets.

     I think it worked out just dandy. I had everything on hand, so it cost me a grand total of $0! Love it when that happens!

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God:

linking to:
Kammys Korner
Not just a housewife
My Girlish Whims
Restore Interiors
Simple Home Life

I'm a happy girl

      I'm a goal motivated gal...I like to have something to work towards. Sometimes, goals are just dreams. Sometimes goals are huge, you know, like that loosing weight goal that probably most of us have. Er hum...moving on quickly.  Dreams and goals keep me from getting stuck in a rut. I think they are great to have, as long as you don't pin your happiness on them. I try to not ever let a goal define who I am. For me, the only thing that should have that much influence is my relationship with Jesus Christ. If a goal was what defined me, I'd be quite the mess when the big "F" (failure) happened wouldn't I? I am all about a goal motivating me though. Motivation is kind of like the double chocolate fudge sundae at the end of a long sweaty run. Oh, I am so motivated there sweet pea! (except that would imply I run...which might be a bit of a stretch)
     So, why all this jibber jabber about goals? I have my Etsy Shop open! Yaaaaaay!

Visit it here.

     It is a goal that I've had for ages and I'm tickled to pieces to have reached it. I know it is pretty small potatoes, and I may not make a cent off of it...but I'm sure having tons of fun with it so far. I mean, I actually have a legitimate reason to hoard fabric now! I plan on adding bunches of more things, so do please check back in occasionally. So why the crazy name? Well, I thought "Morning by Morning Productions Store" was a bit of a mouthful. My father in law is the mastermind behind "Abbtique". It is the combination of "Abby" and "Boutique"...hence the little slogan. "Original design (Hi! That's me!) - Boutique Style (that's the Boutique part) Get it? Its no good if you have to explain it.
     So far, I have mostly these in sizes 0-3 up to 5T.

       And bit of these.

       And some more this and that, some of which you've already seen on here. Right now it is all little girl and women's clothing, but at some point in the future, I want to add stuff for the boys in our lives too. My hubby is really pushing hard for some hunter's orange and camouflage to appear, I don't think I plan on giving him voting rights.
       I might be a little loony choosing now to reach this goal. Two month olds and two year olds aren't super great at being low maintenance, so things can get a little crazy. It's all good, my next goal is to invent a way to pump coffee intravenously...with extra sugar...and a double shot of espresso.
      So, what goals are you working on?


  Exodus 15:2 "The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God..."
  

Ruffled Scarfs Made Easy

       My sister tells me I put ruffles and bows on everything...I deny that accusation...well slightly. I do tend to think most (OK, pretty much everything) things look better with a bit of a ruffle somewhere on it. As much as I like ruffles though, I don't really care for all the work it takes to make one...gathering fabric is slightly annoying to me for some reason. A super easy way to achieve a ruffle, without all the gathering nonsense, is to use elastic thread.

      Hand wind your bobbin with the elastic thread and sew straight lines. It will ruffle up as you go.

      I made these scarfs out of 12 inch wide strips of knit fabric.

     I made three lines, spaced about 3 inches apart, down them with the elastic thread.

       It gives you all sorts of ruffly goodness without any of that hand gathering work.

      I made a cowl neck variation out of, you guessed it, a circle. I sewed vertical and horizontal lines on this one.

       Elastic thread gives such a lovely texture to things.

       You can use any fabric you want, I just like knit because it is so soft.

      Enjoy! =)


1 Chronicles 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

linking to:
Home Stories A to Z
Not Just A Housewife
My Girlish Whims
Freckled Laundry
Simple Home Life

No-sew sleevless wrap

       If you want a fun addition to your fall wardrobe that takes all of 10 minutes to make, this is it! This is just a half circle with two arm holes and that's all.  Ya, I know, here I go again making stuff out of circles...hey it's a great shape...I should have entire week with daily posts on what you can make out of circles. Anyway, back to the business at hand. If you are the sewing type you can easily add some sleeves for a slightly dressier look.

        The curved circle part of it is what makes the slightly ruffled affect in the front.

       I used a novelty type knit for the black, it drapes well and doesn't curl on the edges. I left the edges unfinished. For the white, I used a loose weave knit that has almost a sweater feel. It is so soft! I did a zigzag stitch around the edges to prevent raveling. 
     Here is how you make them. I folded my fabric in half and marked an 28 inch arch. (if you want a longer style, just adjust the measurements. This style is a shorter, cropped back style...more for dressier wear than casual)

      Cut out along the arch and fold the half circle into fourths. Measure 14 1/2 inches from the point on the folded edge and mark it.

     Now make a four inch arch around that mark.

     Cut that out and you'll have this.

     Open that up and wear it with the curved part around your neck. It will make a natural drape.

      If you want sleeves, just trace the arm hole onto a folded piece of fabric and cut out. I tapered mine down to be a fitted half sleeve. It makes almost a dolman sleeve.

      Either which way, its a super easy piece to make. I plan on putting both styles in my Etsy shop, and the shirt too actually. Well not that one, that one is mine and I love it and don't plan on ever parting with it. I want to try a really long version of these...like knee length long. I think it would look lovely with jeans, boots and a dramatic looking scarf for winter.
      By the way, Happy October! Yaaaay...Christmas is almost here!

Psalms 34:1 "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."