A New Old Hobby

I was a girl who loved taking pictures as a teen. My favorite was photographing the flora & fauna around me, and the woods behind our house was my sanctuary. Life, as it often does, got in the way & I gave up on this hobby in my 20's. But I never lost the love for it. Now technology lets me keep a camera in my pocket, so there's no reason to let my world go undocumented. This blog will mostly contain photos of how I find creative ways to use the fabric scraps (mostly generated in my alterations biz) and other salvaged textiles, my cats, or the nature around me. You can find my reading list here: https://my-reading-list.tumblr.com. I’m also [email protected], and [email protected] she/her

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Found in my Drafts.

(I made this back before Halloween, but finally remembered to post it.)

Based on a crocheted hat I saw on insta, I made a tiny version from a panel of fabric made from scraps.

I made a few more that had loops added so they could be worn as a fascinator.

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20 OOAK Pet Peeves I made for the 2026 Project For Awesome nerdfighter art perk. Made from upcycled upholstery samples.

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Hadn’t really been in a sewing for fun mood for awhile, but inspiration struck a few weeks ago. Since then I’ve made:

An infinity scarf from a collection of fabrics that were cut off of knit garments like t’s, maxi dresses, skirts and pieced together and cut into panels over the last year or so

Some cowl style neck warmers made from the sleeves of some sweaters I made pillows out of a few years ago fora client

A basket full of ornaments from the smaller scraps of those same sweaters.

Oh, and I did make some mini scrappy witch hats about a week & a half before Halloween. I already had the scrappy fabric in my stash leftover from random weekend days of “zone out and sew for a few hours”. On those days, I piece random scraps together, cut it into manageable panels, and toss those into a box for future use.

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Finished up this little wall hanging for my favorite Black Cat Appreciator today.

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A 20ish year old idea finally finds its form.

I’ve had the idea of creating tangible pet peeves for a long time. About a month ago, I finally settled on a stuffy, and drafted a basic pattern. I’ve been on vacation this week, so have had the time to make a few.

These little pals are made entirely (except the sewing thread) of upcycled upholstery samples, zippers, trim, & polyester stuffing from pillows that I washed and re-fluffed using a couple of inexpensive wire bristled pet brushes. I originally planned to use plain felt for the faces, but had the epiphany that the grommets from the upholstery samples would be perfect. There is also a small amount of clothing scrap behind the grommets.

Meet irritatus domesticus

Common name: pet peeve

A generally harmless critter that is believed to have evolved alongside humans as mankind began to gather in larger groups.

Not a typical childhood companion, pet peeves are often adopted by teenagers and young adults who keep them well into old age. Some have many pet peeves that they collect over a lifetime*.

This squishable pal loves hugs, and can even tolerate a bit of roughhousing. It just wants to help you feel better, especially when you’re feeling perturbed.

*Caution: keeping too many pet peeves with similar traits can lead to them forming a feral mob, known as an intolerance, which can be harmful to relationships with your loved ones, & others.

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I got one of your collages for the P4A! Thanks so much, I love it! DFTBA!

Thank you so much! I’m so happy people like them 😊

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More scrap fabric collages.

Similar to the nerdfighter art perk I donated to the 2025 P4A, here are some other collages I finished a few weekends ago. These were really fun to make.

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Future squishy friend is taking shape.

Had an idea that I couldn’t get out of my head that was distracting me from my alterations work. The only solution was to make a prototype. 🙂

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The 2025 Project for awesome livestream has ended, but you can still pick up perks and vote for charities until the 19th. It was an amazing fundraiser, and I’m happy that I was able to donate these 30 pieces for the Nerdfighter Art perk. I really hope those who gets one of these likes it!

Submissions for next year open in October. I wonder if I can think of something else to make by then.

3/19/25 Seeing the notes/tags that these are arriving, and that people like them is making my day! 🥰

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Way back at the end of July, I dug through the latest stash of upholstery samples I had been given, many of which were 24” squares instead of the usual smaller rectangular ones. Realized I could cut them in half and get 3 large tote bags from 2 samples. I chose 8 with designs, and 4 neutrals to cut.

I finally sat down to start sewing them together at the end of August/early September, but the weather was so lovely I spent most of my free time outside working in the yard. I didn’t even look at them again until my winter break, when I stitched the seams, made the straps, and cut out the linings. I did manage to finish one that week as well.

I spent much of this week at home due to a winter storm that left bad roads and ice damaged trees. Other than going out to cut a small limb from a neighbor’s fence, I used most of my time to finally finish these.

Each OOAK bag measures approximately 18x13x6, is fully lined with 2 interior pockets—1 with a zip, 1 without. The zips are new stock, but the lining came from a stash of remnants left from relining a bunch of blazers and skirts for a client many years ago.

I doubt I’ll ever make this style again, since each took 3.5-4 hours to complete. I’d more likely make this size with side panels, using a seam binding instead of turning them through a gap in the lining. The binding would replace much of the edge stitching I did on these to add structure.

As usual, I enjoy the making, but personally have no use for these. I will either donate them to local groups for their fundraisers/auctions , or “selling” them with all money being given to charities or as mutual aid.

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Due to some cancellations and rescheduling, I’m ahead enough with alterations work that I have been able to get the last three weekends off. This past weekend was so nice I spent most of my time outside doing some yard work. On 8/4 it was too hot to be outside for more than a few hours, so after that and some time spent reading, I spent about 4 hours in my “playroom” stitching these.

I’ve had the floral bits gathered up like the black piece in my stash for at least 8 years. I would find them every time I tidied up, then tuck them away again because I still wasn’t sure how I wanted to use them, other than as a dress of some sort. They were originally bits of scarves that a client had me shorten.

I didn’t have a plan when I stepped up to my work table, other than I wanted to make a plan to use some more of the upholstery samples that I pulled the previous weekend. Then I noticed the dark coral velveteen, and knew it would be perfect as a dress form. Free handed the basic shape and cut those out. Since some of the samples I have are 24” square, I was able to cut two 14”circles—to fit 12” hoops—as background. Once I had the dress form stitched to the background, I changed my mind about how the floral fabric should be added.

I’m pretty pleased with how they turned out!

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I’ve got a vacation week coming up in September, so at the end of July, I pulled out my planning notebook. Realized the larger format upholstery samples I have are the perfect size for a slightly oversized tote. Minimal cutting, and each piece will get me either 2 top pieces or 2 bottoms, so I can make 2 bags from 3 samples. I still have to decide what to use for lining, but I have a good amount of cotton sheets to work with, as well as some polyester linings that have been sitting around at my shop for years. I just don’t have the need for them that I used to. I need to double check my lining measurements, as I’ve decided on a different finishing method.

Planning on design on top, neutral for bottom, but will switch that up and do some appliqué on some of the neutral pieces to use as main body with the designs as bottom. I found some reference images and drew up some options. The bottom 3 designs are the likely choices.

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I’ve been on vacation, and have spent a few days making use of fabric I pieced and set aside over the past year or two.

First up is some totes and zip pouches. These were made using some of the same landscape fabric panels I used in a previous post, as well as a green tablecloth I picked up at a thrift shop, and some blue twill I was gifted. The bags are backed & lined with the same fabric as the bottom and straps. Each has an inside zip pocket, and a pocket between the straps on the back. From the remaining cuts, I made zip pouches which will be included with the bags.

I love the look of this pieced fabric. There’s no real rhyme or reason to the color combination, although I did avoid putting similar colors next to each other. It’s been a great way to recycle fabric waste.

I kept notes for future reference in case I opt to make these again.

I also found 3 blocks I made in January. I had tucked them into a drawer, not knowing what I would use them for. I opted for pillows, using some fabric leftover from the Sultan inspired ottoman cover I made in June 2022. The pillows are filled with some reclaimed pillow stuffing that I had previously cleaned and refluffed.

Since carding brushes are pricy, and I wasn’t sure if carding polyfil would work, I tried it with some cheap pet brushes I picked up at Dollar Tree. It took time, but worked rather well. If I were going to do this regularly, I’d invest in larger, better quality brushes or even a drum carder. It will be a good way to revitalize a lumpy bed pillow instead of replacing them.

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A quilter I am not.

Spent the better part of 9 hours piecing some of my smallest precut squares together to end up with this little pet quilt for a friend. It’s wonky as fuck, but her cats won’t care 😹. I started off strong with the centers of the nine 1/2 square triangle blocks, which are right at 1.5”. It’s when I started adding borders and other bits that I lost things. I’m quite fond of the outer pieced borders though. The whole thing is just over 19” square, quilted to 2 layers of polyester felt, then backed and bound with purple broadcloth.

As always, all fabric was scrap, or gifted to me.

Update: Ellie claimed it immediately and made herself comfy.

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Charity sewing today.

I’ve been slowly turning thread clippings and scrap fabric into new fabric for some time. About a month ago, I cut the panels into smaller pieces and added denim so I could use them for zippered bags. My original plan was to make the bags solid on the back, but decided I’d rather hold on to my larger denim pieces for other projects, so the bags are double sided.

Video shows each side and lining of 9 bags, Each of the bags have a side featuring fabric made from thread clippings, arranged on a base layer, covered with tulle, and topstitched. T-shirt yarn was added over the top in random loops and curves. The other side has a landscape design of miscellaneous fabrics, mostly from garments I’ve altered over the past 5-ish years.

I’ll make more eventually. I’ve got plenty of lining material already cut, and my thread bins and scrap boxes fill up fast!

Edit: decided this side needed a little embellishment, so I grabbed my miscellaneous bead and button boxes and did a bit of hand stitching. Not too much though, my hands don’t like it.

Edit #2: ended up selling a few of these and the rest went to a local LGBTQ+ clothing bank. They wanted to put together some makeup kits and requested donations. One of the volunteers was in a few days later to pick up their alterations and I offered the bags. They were excited to have them and posted the bags being filled later the same week.

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Beautifully chilly day, perfect for clearing out saplings growing where they shouldn’t be.

Video is a panning shot along the side of a home with light colored siding. At the beginning, there is an area of mulberry and redbud saplings. As the camera pans, it shows several other sections that have been cleared. There are tools and a small wagon overflowing with trimmings. There are shrubs between the sections.

Changed my mind about the redbud, it will be too close to the foundation. As for the evergreen starts, I meant to say cedar or white pine. Cedar can stay, but pine would be way too big. The pine in our front yard is at least 35’ tall and was nearly the same circumference around the bottom before I had it trimmed a few months ago. I have a cedar that started as a bird dropped volunteer that I allowed to grow several years ago. It’s about 15’ tall, but they don’t get too big around.

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All the leaves found their purpose

In my post last weekend, I showed a pile of fabric leaves I had made from upholstery samples, as well as a small wreath. Today I took the original wreath apart because the gum leaves were too big, and I also wanted to bulk up the fabric wrapped hoop the leaves were attached to.

After I used up the all four rings from the 2 broken hoops, I thought about garlands, but every time I see one, I think “that’s not how tree leaves work!” I really wanted to capture the movement of falling leaves, so I dug out a large piece of tulle remnant I had, and made this wall hanging. I need to pick up a dowel to hang it properly.

With the last of the leaves, I decided to stitch up this quick table mat, and backed it with some wool felt I salvaged several years ago from a damaged coat.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 🙂

Edit to add pic of wall hanging on white background. The tulle virtually disappeared.