Simple things

Making hair bows might seem simple to those that are handy at such things.  I needed something simple to do while my strength comes back, so I thought about how happy hair bows make the grand daughters.  I never seem to find time to make them and now that I have the time I thought I would share a post that was shared on EverythingSewing by Ann a wonderful bow maker.   Then I found these pictures of some bows done by my friend Jerry after she had followed Ann's directions.  So if you need a little help in making bows, these instructions are just perfect.

Ann, you may have created a monster!!!  


I had just a bit of the candy corn ribbon left after using it in the back tie pillowcase dress that was orange with white dots, so I thought I would see if I could turn it into a facsimlie of Ann's bow. It worked! I still need to practice getting my center knot tight and wrapped tightly around the bow, but for my first practice run, I'm very pleased. 

Making hair bows

1. Cut ribbon to 29 inches. This makes approximately a 4-inch bow. After you make a few this size, you can make larger or smaller bows simply by cutting longer or shorter lengths of ribbon.


2. Fold the ribbon in half lengthwise and finger press this crease.


3. Turn up cut ends approximately 3 inches and finger press crease. These will be the tails of the bow and can be cut later to exactly how you want them.



4. Fold ribbon in half again and finger press crease.


Now to fold the bow. 

5. Starting on left-hand side, bring 1st fold to 2nd fold at a 45 degree angle.


6. Bring 3rd crease on top or 1st crease at a 45 degree angle.


7. Bring 4th crease UNDER 3rd crease at a 45 degree angle.


8. Bring final crease on top of previous crease at a 45 degree angle.


9. Bring threaded needle from back to the front through in the center through all creases.


To crease the bow.

10. Take thread over the top of the bow and behind and with thread dangling, start to pull the thread to make the crease in the bow. 

11. Wrap thread around the bow several times, shaping loops as you pull thread tight and secure thread in the back.

You have just tied the bow. You may have to pull and shape the loops at this point, but as you make more bows, you will see just which loops need a little coaxing.


The center of the bow.

12. I use a ¼ ribbon for the center. I do NOT buy ¼ ribbon to match the bow. I simply cut a 6-inch strip of remaining ribbon to approximately ¼ inch and use the same method as the tales to seal the cut side. 


12. Tie a loose knot in the center of the ribbon – don’t pull it very tight.


13. Put a dot of hot glue on the center of ribbon and attach the loose knot on the hot glue.


14. Hot glue the clip to the back of the ribbon.


15. Pull one end of center tie over the clip and hot glue and trim.



16. Pull the remaining end over the tie and hot glue and trim.



17. Cut ends of tales the way you want them to look and apply Frey Check lightly to the cut ends.


18. If ribbon seems limp, I spray with spray starch and shape as the starch dries.

With a little practice, these bows are adorable and get so easy to tie. 

Hints: I use 1 ½ inch ribbon which to me looks the best. 
Printed ribbon is best to learn with as you can tell exactly which side is which.
I use hot glue but fabric glue can also be used. It just does not “grab” like hot glue does and also does not dry immediately like hot glue.

S

Motivated Monday

Last night I went to bed excited because today would be Monday. why would Monday be exciting?    Because,  it marks the beginning of a new week for me.  Now, I know some say Sunday is the first day of the week and for some it may be but lets go with Monday OK?

Every Monday I will be doing a positive report!!  I was so excited about it I had to ask for positive words that start with an M--my friends at Everything Sewing came through with a lot of them for me.   This last week just hasn't been that good and then I tend to want to get down and we all know nothing good comes from feeling down.   I have constant pain  from acid reflex/heartburn.  Caused from the radiation treatments and although there is medication for it,  it doesn't work all that good.  so then I can't eat or drink.  OK, so enough of the negative 'stuff'

My goal for this week is to gain a pound a day.  This morning I weighed in at 113.5   I would love to be 118 next Monday.  that will build my white blood cells my energy level will bounce back and everything will be good.

Drifting

One of the things we enjoy doing as a family is boating.  It can be an exciting sport, full of speed and thills.  At the same time  on the same boat,  same river it becomes a restful, let go of all your cares place to just drift.   Sunset,  is my favorite time.  Little animals come to the river bank to drink and since we are drifting and making no noise,  they pay no attention to us.

My life is in the driting mode right now,  a time of hectic treatments,  Doctor appointments, blood drawers, we are now driting.     I want so much to get back to sewing and am really upset I didn't get things sewn for Otto,  my first great grandbaby.  I can make lists,  collect fabric and ideas and do some planning.   I can work on blogging, maybe even learn more about it.   So while I drift along here for awhile I will try to learn to enjoy the quiet time.

The Carla coat

I love sewing doll clothes and my favorite pattern designer for doll clothes is .Genine  Just love, love her patterns.   Genine designed this wonderful coat pattern that you must add to your collection.   It makes up so many different ways I thought I would share a few sewn by members of Everythingsewing..

This mink coat just blows me away. It was sewn by Karen.

The hooded jacket was sewn by Genine. Isn't it darling?  

Front and back version of the Euro Jacket, also sewn by Genine.  The next one is my version of the Euro jacket.  Sam was happy with it.

The pattern offers many more versions,  I think it will keep me busy for quite awhile.

Better Then Calgon

Some times we just need to take ourselves on a little vacation  and think about all the beauty around us. Maybe revisit in our minds the good day's and fun times.  
So, that's what I did today.   This picture was taken on Lake Roosevelt, it is such a peaceful a place where you have a feeling everything is standing still.

My next favorite place is Ohme gardens, and it's not to far from where I live.  A wonderful paradise to wander through and pretend the rest of the world does not even exist.

I tend to let my goals of what I think I should be doing, over shadow the fact that taking time to reflect is just as important as all those items on the to do list.  Maybe it's even more important.

Karen got out her whip

Karen knew I was having trouble getting motivated to do our one yard challenge, so she got the whip out and told me her boots were in the closet and if I didn't get with it, I was going to get a boot in the you know where.

We have a new challenge every month on Everythingsewing and this one seemed so simple. Make anything you want, with the rule being you could only use a yard.  So using a half yard for the fashion fabric and a half yard for the lining, I made this little top.  The pattern is called Riley by Bonnie Blue.

Thank you Karen, it helps to have friends that will give you an extra push.