Cleaning out some “filed” emails I came across this one from almost three years ago.  Better than late than never I’m posting another project by my Mom. In her own words:

Hi Tracy,

When I was talking to you about making the jean purse and items for  Paris and Mars, I mentioned that I had also picked up a pair of embroidered jeans that I was going to make something out of for Ally for Christmas.  I finally got around to finishing it up this morning, so as you said to do – I took a picture.

It’s a little bag and a journal holder.  They are both lined with the funky flower print.  The lace ups are from the leg bottoms. Hopefully, Ally will like them – teens have very strong opinions as I’m sure you are learning. This aunt and Mema doesn’t want to be too “uncool”! Speaking of uncool – Got to stop and clean house.  Dad and Folly are off delivering muffins he made this morning to friends at the cleaners, service station, church office etc. and maybe hitting the guy stores (Northern and Harbor Freight).

xxoo to all
Mom

Previously posted projects from recycled jeans

You can run, but you can’t hide from me when I’m carrying the Flip. This latest ambush is with my aunt Jan. For Christmas she made some very fancy embroidered pillow cases for my parents. I can’t imagine sweating and drooling on these masterpieces so I’m guessing they’re ornamental.

I dropped the ball and forgot to get photos while I was there, but I think you can see clearly enough from the video that pillow cases have a lot of detail. Gifts like this really are special, and not just because of the significant amount of time it takes to make something like this. In this (pillow) case it was about 20 hours for the pair.

One year I tried to make every gift I gave, and it just about killed me. Props to everyone makin’ stuff.

The hits keep coming. Mary made a set of potholders from some funky 1970s style fabric for her funky (in a good way) older sister. She used some fabric meant for covering ironing boards in the middle because it’s heat resistant. Beyond that, she freely admits that she doesn’t know what she’s doing, and didn’t have directions. Freestyle sewing!

Photo after the jump.

Mary Earle-Sigler - Funky Retro Fabric Potholders

Check out Asheville Cotton Company.

This Monster Backpack for our nephew is another Christmas creation by Mary. Handmade all the way. Even the bag it’s wrapped in is handmade. She Googled “cute cartoon monsters” to find different ideas and used them as inspiration for her own thing. To make the applique possible she had to simplify the final design. Mary has advanced sewing skillz, credentials even, but she makes it sound simple.

And, she was wrapping gifts in our freezing cold house. Lots of snow this weekend. Not much electricity. Sorry to whoever was calling during the video. We stop for no one.

See some pics after the jump.

Pieces and thread for the Monster Backpack

Finished Monster Backpack

Orange lining in the Monster Backpack

The crafty lady is on a roll. This project is a tote bag made from some salvaged wool that she felted. Details include a fancy-pants interior pocket, and a functional/decorative patch. Curse you moths! No pattern was used. Freestyle sewing!

Pics after the jump.

Some detail pics of this wool tote bag at Flickr.

Felted wool tote bag by Mary Earle-Sigler

Home girl is knocking out the gifts, faster than I can blog them. But that’s not saying much because I haven’t been that active here for a while.

First Mary project I’m posting this season is a couple handsewn critters wallets. One for our daughter and another for our niece. Check out the video for more info. You can see all the pics at Flickr.

Handsewn Critter Wallet - One of Mary's recent craft projects

Paris made this with her grandmother when she was “camp” with them this summer. She claims to have sewn it entirely by herself. She said she made the yellow sweater for the bear because his body was a little lopsided. The grandmother-granddaughter team was making a batch of bears for a charity, but Paris decided to keep this one. She even learned how to crochet to make the green scarf.

Handmade all the way. Keep making stuff.

Mumsy is back in the doll making game after a little hiatus. A while ago she made 20 rag dolls for a charity called Rag Dolls 2 Love, Inc from a pattern they provided. This one here is a Christmas gift for the latest grandchild, Oli, and it’s made from the scraps of another project. She’s a crafty crafter! This handmade rag doll is a combination of the charity’s pattern and her memory of a two-sided doll from her childhood.

From the Rag Dolls 2 Love site:

Rag Dolls 2 Love, Inc was started to put a soft cloth doll in the hands of children who live in countries ravaged by war, are orphaned or infected by HIV/ AIDS or traumatized by natural disasters. In the summer of 2003 as I listened to a report of Palestinian children shot during a raid by the Israeli army, and the death of Israeli children in a bus bombing, my frustration and anger spilled over at the loss of so many young lives.

Find out more about Rag Dolls 2 Love, Inc.

We have been thinking about ways to be more involved in the crafter market. One idea we’re working is providing kits and patterns for some simple projects from pillows to apparel. To start in that direction we decided to offer the fabric panels from our Jackpot Pillows to folks that would like to make their own. Of course, you can make whatever you want with these. And for pillows on the cheap, buy just one panel for each and use some plain fabric for the backs.

Some details:

• 100% organic cotton, 7 oz. poplin
• Panels are 13″ x 17″, with a 1/2 inch seam allowance for 12″ x 16″ pillows

Get them at our Etsy store where you can see all six vintage slot machine icons that are available.

(Click for big)

My mother, Jenny Sigler, made this crocheted and felted purse for my SIL, Kellie. Jenny/Mom crocheted this purse without a pattern, because she is a complete and total risk taker! Then, she felted it by washing it in very hot water. I know nothing about this “felting” but she says the object will shrink by about a third, and that it makes the weave (sorry if that’s the wrong word) of the yarn somewhat obscured. To finish it off she added some grosgrain ribbon to the strap so it wouldn’t stretch out. “Who dares, wins” and I think this purse turned out super-nice.

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