Made With Love By Karen

New Sewing Fun!

2009-11-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is my new sewing fun! A fall dress (size 4) and a vest and pants (size 3) in corduroy. Again the trick with the vest is getting it turned from the wrong side out after sewing most of it together. It's tricky, but I was a little more adept at it this time.

The dress is made a a cotton-polyester blend so it will be a little warmer this fall. I had two comments from people who said it looked like a "prairie dress". It has a yoke with 3 buttons in the front which was very easy to put together.

Enjoy your sewing projects because Christmas is coming very soon and the projects will come in handy.

Made With Love As Always,

Karen

Winter Vest

2009-10-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

I had asked myself just what I could do with 1/2 yard of leftover animal print and here was the answer. A warm, cozy and lined vest in a children's size 4. It turned out a little large for it's size, but I still had enough material left over from this project to make a small one in a size 2.

The lining is made with a washable synthetic and the entire project takes approximately 4 hours for an experienced sewer. The tricky part is when you sew it inside out and then turn it right side out through the shoulders and down to one side. I had to be careful not to rip out the seams as I teased it through the shoulders.

I had the option of putting buttons on it, or a ribbon tie, but I opted out on the ribbon and haven't decided about the buttons. It might keep it on my granddaughter longer, as I've heard she like to undress herself now. Ether way, it is a cute and fun project for those who don't have days to sit at the sewing machine.

I used Simplicity pattern #2874 which also has blouse, dress and pants patterns as well as the vest. It's a very versatile pattern.

Made With Love As Always,

Karen

2009-10-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new Made With Love By Karen blog!

I hope you like my new look! Everything you see here has been hand made with love and care. Please feel free to leave a comment or ask questions.

Thanks for your interest in my blog!

Karen

Embroidery And "Bugs"

2009-10-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

As you can see I somehow managed to load my pictures in backwards and have started with the "Bugs" instead of the embroidery. I thought this cute flannel material would make adorable pajamas for my granddaughter. It's made with three little bug buttons on the bodice that are not seen too well beacuse they blend into the bugs on the fabric. There are two more in the back for closure. The pants are made with an elastic waist that can be easily adjusted for size.

The embroidery is the new green quilt block for my granddaughters crazy quilt. The bow on the yellow roses is made with gold metallic thread. The entire project was made using a single thread instead of three. This gave the roses a more textured appearance while still giving them depth. It was difficult to do, but with practice anyone knowing embroidery techniques can do it. This project was made with an iron-on transfer pattern while the colors can vary according to taste. I hope you enjoy your own projects as much as I'm enjoying mine! Happy sewing!

Made With Love As Always,

Karen

Victorian Embroidery Quilt Block

2009-09-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

This is the second quilt square I've finished in a long term project to make a crazy quilt bedspread for my granddaughter. It's going a lot faster now that I've learned most of my techniques. Putting the crazy quilt pieces together is the biggest challenge, since I use invisible thread (yes, it's real!) to hide the stitches while I'm putting the embroidery in. My next block is already put together and I'm working in different shades of green. It has yellow roses in the middle of it, as opposed to the sleeping bunny in the middle of this quiet blue square. Each square seems to take on it's own personality from the color I'm working with. I'm looking forward to doing the red blocks and seeing what develops! Have fun with your projects!

Made With Love As Always,

Karen

"Zebra" Jammies!

2009-09-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here they are! The flannel "zebra" jammies I've been working on. These have been a fun project and the real challenge wasn't the buttonholes, it was the small, size 4 armhole. After easing (gathering) the sleeve, it didn't want to set in there right. But after adjusting the sleeve a little, it fit perfectly. The pants were very easy because they have an elastic waist and all I had to do was thread it through and decide what size I wanted and then sew the elastic together. I had to remember to tack down the seam allowaces so the elastic wouldn't get caught on it. You can do that by basting or using fusion material.

This was Simplicity pattern # 3987. I buy them online through Simplicity and end up not having to pay retail price. Also, Simplicity doesn't charge shipping on their patterns.

Enjoy your sewing and crafts!

As Always,

Made With Love By Karen

Fun With Flannel

2009-09-03T14:49:00.000-07:00

This was a fun flannel project done with some material given to me and a size 3 Simplicity pattern #5382. This is a multi-size pattern that will last until size 6 and has a lot of variations.
I chose the short sleeves because of the amount of material and the pre-gathered cotton eyelet lace for it's softness. The bodice has a facing that covers all the gathering on the inside and it's very soft against the skin.
Other notions include a pearl button, 1/4 inch elastic for the arms and thread.
This pattern was very easy to sew with my home sewing machine. I'm sure my grand daughter will enjoy this on the cool nights in Alaska. I reccomend this pattern for anyone with a moderate sewing experience. Have fun sewing!
As Always,
Made With Love By Karen

Christmas Jumper

2009-08-28T20:37:00.001-07:00

This is my latest project, a jumper made out of cotton material with 1 1/2 yards of lace around the hem band. Sorry the picture is a little faded, I'm not a great photograher, but am still learning.

This was only 1 1/4 yards of material and there were several options in the pattern. There is also a hat pattern if you have the extra material, or pants. I had fun putting this together with a 10 inch black zipper and cotton polyester thread. Click on the picture to get a better detail of the print. These fun and easy patterns are available from different sources, but I choose to use Simplicity pattern #5936 with the lace addition optional (not included in the directions). To add the lace, simply attach it as you're adding the hem band and finish following the directions. Happy sewing!

As always,

Made With Love By Karen

2009-08-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

I finally finished this sweater and got the photo ready to upload. This was a medium difficult project and I don't recommend it for beginners. I'm getting it off in the mail soon to my son-in-law. Enjoy!

A SPECIAL PROJECT

2009-01-31T15:52:00.000-08:00

This is a very special project that doesn't look like much yet, but if you use your imagination you can see my son-in-law's new sweater emerging out of it. I have the left side and the back done and am working on the front. Remember, it'll need sleeves, and ribbing and then the finishing around the neck. This is a one size fits all pattern, so David, you'd better start eating if you want to wear this!
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

Catching Up Time!

2009-01-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I caught you up on wat I've been doing. Aside from writing a very long saga, I made an afghan for my daughter & son-in-law that live in Alaska, and I made some more rosaries (8 to be exact) for a friend. It's kept me pretty busy. Now I'm starting a sweater, but don't have a picture ready yet. I do enjoy making things with my hands and I hope everyone tries something.

Made With Love By Karen

Also visit me: http://www.musingsmemosandmelancholy.blogspot.com

NEW PROJECTS

2008-08-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

These photos are of my latest projects. I've had fun making a lined jacket for my granddaughter who lives in Alaska. This was my first attempt at lining something and it turned out quite good. She'll stay nice and warm!
The bright green shirt was my own pattern because I like a lower neckline and a longer hem. My daughter surprised me with the material and said: "Do something with it!" So, I did!
The earrings are my latest - dreamcatchers (a fiery red, orange & yellow) and the gold medallions with red, faceted 4 & 6mm beads.
I love creating new things and I got the chance with this beautiful turquoise and sterling silver rosary. I used a 24 gauge eyepin to support the use this could get and 10 links of chain for the spaces.
If you have any questions on how to make any of my projects just leave a comment or email me and I'll be happy to help with your own endeavor. Enjoy yourselves!
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

FINISHED QUILT BLOCK

2008-08-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

This is the first finished block in my granddaughter's quilt. It not only has embroidery, but I added a few beads as well. I had a lot of fun making this purple block. My next one is blue... so when I get going with the bunny in the middle, I'll give you a peek!
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

EARRINGS!

2008-07-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

I really had fun making these three pair of earrings. On the top pair, each earring is made with one long piece of thread. Very challenging indeed! The middle pair (actually the one you see) is a half moon with a tiny ball in the middle. That was the hardest part of this entire earring. The other beads were easy. The bottom triangle was very fun to make and dangles freely when you wear it.
What do I do with all these earrings? Why give, sell or just plain wear! The top and bottom pair went to a disabled friend who digs dangling things and the middle pair barely made it off my desk and they went straight into my daughter's ears!
Have fun with you jewelery!
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

NEW FUN "STUFF"!

2008-06-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Take a look at my new fun jewelery! They're great for those summer outings or an evening at your favorite hang-out. I just love these and am wearing these earrings (pic #1) to a party this weekend. Enjoy your jewelery and remember the statement it makes for you!
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

OUR LATEST SALE!

2008-06-13T00:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures I took at our latest sale. This is "The Jewelry Board". Anything I wanted to show hanging I put here. It was especially effective for the earrings in the middle picture which had a bead that can swing back and forth in the middle of it. Really cute and very fashionable! The third picture of the flower piece can be worn with a pair of red beaded earrings or, if you have them, a pair of flower studs. Enjoy your jewelry!
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

Little Birddies

2008-05-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun putting these lavender birddies together. They are small enough for a young lady to wear as a "hang-down" pair of earrings and yet not be ostentatious. They look pretty darn good in my ears too! Actually, the first two pair were made for a set of twins, so I made one with a lavender bead above the birddie and the other, a pink bead. Now, their mom can hopefully tell them apart (unless they switch earrings, of course!).

Made With Love As Always,

Karen

Dreamcatcher Earrings

2008-05-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

This is my latest creation...dreamcatcher earrings! Hard to make but beautiful to look at and to wear! Unfortunately, because of all the silver plating, it's been difficult to get a good picture that doesn't shine back at you and make it hard to see the little turquiose chips next to the silver (plated) feather. I'm also experimenting with other colors....lavender with amethyst, red with ? (something... not sure yet on that one), and, because it's May and my daughter's birthday, green with swarvosky emeralds.
Made With Love As Always,
Karen

I'll be having a gallery for you to browse through very soon!

Beginning A New Quilt...

2008-05-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

These are the beginnings of a new quilt....a Victorian Patchwork quilt... done with material sent from my daughter to make my granddaughter a quilt. I decided that since she had alot already, I'd send her a keepsake by adding beads and special lace. The teddybear is lace from a curtain that hung in my daughter's window when she was a baby. The piece of lace you see is from her Aunt Heather's prom dress when she was in high school (pretty gracious of Heather to let me take the lace off her keepsake!). I'll be continuing to update this project as I work on it (between all my other projects, of course!).

Made With Love As Always,

Karen

Medical ID Bracelets - Beaded & One Of A Kind!

2008-05-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

I think these are my favorite bracelets because I hook them to my medical ID tag and I don't have to wear a chain all the time. Since I made these to my collection I've added some new ones that have the smaller fire-polished glass beads interspersed with silver-plated beads. These are more delicate, and I hope to have a new picture of them soon.

New Baby Clothes

2008-04-29T04:19:00.001-07:00

These clothes were hand crafted for my new granddaughter Jude Avery. She lives in Alaska so she can wear them in the summer with pants and shirt, or, when it's really warm, just as a dress with leggings (until she grows out of them, of course!). I also have a quilted winter bonnet I'm working on that will keep her head warm in those icy winds in Alaska.

More Custom Jewelry!

2008-04-28T20:06:00.001-07:00

These sets are the custom hard to get, but fun stuff. I especially love my Zebra set! Many thanks to ArtByRetta for the photographs and layouts.

Custom Made One-Of-A-Kind Earrings

2008-04-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

These are a sample of some earrings I've put together for this up-coming season. I don't very often repeat the same thing, but these 3 have been favorites of my friends. I only have available what's in stock at any one time, but will sometimes take a limited number of orders.

Always Made With Love,

Karen

2008-04-22T03:01:00.000-07:00

The Victorian Quilt Sampler

2008-04-22T02:46:00.000-07:00

My mother told me to always practice a new technique before creating a new piece. So, before making a new Victorian Quilt as a keepsake for my new granddaughter, Jude Avery, I made the sampler quilt block for practice. It's 21"x21" and almost finished. I pieced it together with invisible thread first, then began stitching the embroidery. The hardest part for me is deciding which stitches to put where to show variety. I'll add close-ups (if my camera allows) so you can see more detail soon.

Made With Love

2008-04-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have traveled many places,
While my fingers danced across the strings
Of my companion - my viola -
How I loved to hear it sing!

Then one day the dancing stopped...
My fingers stilled in crushing pain.
I sat in darkness, never moving,
What was I worth? I cried in vain.

Then I met a remarkable lady...
Blind - needing clothes - who used to sew.
She woke my fingers to their fullest potential...
She challenged me to learn to "know".

"Know" when I could and when I couldn't,
But best of all... at least to try.
Now I sew and bead and quilt...
And I don't sit around and cry.

The time I have is now a gift,
With angels watching on above...
To make a smile on someone's face -
Creating freely and made with love.

4/19/08

Always Made With Love,
Karen