Sunday, August 5, 2012

I felt like I was sewing foreeeeeeeever!

Not really, it actually didn't take that long, it was the prep that took a while.
I must say you will be bombarded with a ton of pics.....sorry for that.  I'm a visual person, I like to see pictures and I feel that you will understand it better if you can see what I'm seeing.  I'm a weirdo like that, when people talk I have to see their mouth moving, if not all I hear is mumbles. LOL!!

Okay, now on to the project.  I have been wanting a mat for the entrance to my craft room.  Why you may ask....oh just because.  Well I went on a adventure looking for the right materials to make it.  I definitely didn't want to spend lots of money and I knew I wanted something handmade. By me, duh!! I went to Goodwill, sadly I couldn't find anything that I was totally in love with.  Now I realize I could have gone to Wally World to buy a cheapie for 5 bucks, but what would be the fun in that.  Then I went to $ tree and bought 200 feet of poly rope.  That cost me about 4 bucks. 

When I went to another Goodwill, I found this twin sheet for 3 bucks, it would have to do.  All the way home I thought about how I could snazz it up a bit.
I decided I would make some of the colors pop.  Boy, was I in over my head.   With 3 fine tip markers I went about my merry little way and outlined the green, pink and dark pink prints.  For this twin size sheet it took me 6 hours to finish!
Can you see the change?  It went from Dull to Cheery!
After the (6) hours, my fingers were cramping, my neck was aching from looking down and I had a headache from the permanent marker smell....but I was happy to be done with that.  Now I was ready to cut and tear.  What??  ←  that's what theHubs said....after all that you're going to cut it up.  Yup!  I took the pinking sheers and snipped about every 1 inch along the edge.  Then I just ripped it into what you see below.
Sorry, I didn't take a picture of the part where I tied the end of the rope and the end of the strip together.  Then I wrapped the rope a couple of times to cover it.  To start off the mat I folded the start of the wrapped rope down about 2 inches  (like this ║) then I sewed it together.  Then I just continued wrapping, turning, and sewing.
I used a zig-zag stitch for the whole mat.  I kept the center of the rope and the center of the foot aligned so I could get the zig-zag on both sides.  (╥)
Okay, I'm a lefty and I do most things backwards!! Lol!!  Well, this was totally my fault for not thinking this through.  I'm so impatient sometimes and I pay for it with mess ups like this.  When I was done with my first 50 feet of wrapped rope....I had a curving bowl mat......NOOOOOOOOOO!  Yeah, instead of running it through and turning left I was turning right.  So hence the almost bowl.  I had to start again and I did it correctly.  I took the seam ripper to the bowl and used this piece at the end.  So, it worked out.
See, I'm doing it the right way here!! 
Please ignore the Hobbit feet below!!  Geez, they look like stand in feet for the Lord Of the Rings movies, lol!!  There are shadows around, I don't have cankles okay! My feet are little and cute...so theHubs says, lol!! I love to stand on it barefoot because it's always cool. 
I really love the way it turned out!  Even though it did take the (6) hours to add the color I'm glad I did....it pops right?
I'm really tempted to make a bigger one...who knows maybe I will!  So in total it cost be less than $8.00 and my time. 
I'm glad you stopped by to check out the latest project.  Everyone have a great week.


Linking up at the fabulous parties in my party tab and also at these great places -
Craft-O-Maniac
Watch Out, Martha!
Fine Craft Guild

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73 comments:

  1. That is an intense project!!! Very cool though!

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  2. I love the rug! Looks like you are a very patient person!

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  3. Beautiful job! That's so neat that you made a rug.

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  4. What a lot of work you put into this! But it is beautiful, and you a one of a kind rug! As far a crankles I didn't see any, just shadows. You do have really little cute feet. You should be very proud of your rug, so very pretty! So glad you shared your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best – your creativity helped make the party a success!

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  5. It's party time over at Debt Free Mommy Blog! Please come by and link up your spaces with Making Space Mondays link party #10. I hope to see you there at www.debtfreemommyblog.blogspot.com! -Tabitha

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  6. I love it!!!

    Kelsey
    embracingmessy.blogspot.com

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  7. what a magnificent and special creation!

    Great meeting you @Made with Love,
    Angelique

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  8. Looks great!

    Stopping by from Sumo's Sweet Stuff. Love for you to stop by and return the follow when you can.

    Hosting Mom's Monday Mingle now. Love for you to link up! So far 200 mom blogs ready to mingle.
    www.thenaptimereview.com

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  9. That is awesome!!! And I agree, adding that touch of permanent marker truly made it pop and look great :)

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  10. That is so beautiful! The markers sure did brighten it up! I'd say all of your hard work and sore fingers paid off!

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  11. I think it is truly beautiful! Thanks for sharing at the Creative Corner Blog Hop.

    Holly
    Holly's Stamping Addiction

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  12. Love, Love, LOVE! I'd love to make one myself... I just need to find 6 hours (often a callenge with a newborn). How did you start it off (where you joined the strip & the rope)?
    Sheree
    www.seaweedandraine.com

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    1. Hi Sheree,

      it was really easy! Awe congrats on the new baby!! I just knotted the rope and the strip, then wrapped to cover the knot. then folded the knotted part down about 2 inches against the other side and just sewed them together. I just kept turning and sewing. If you take a look at pic 6 or 7 you can kind of see what I'm talking about.

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  13. This is beautiful. I love it. Your feet are fine, but you did make me laugh. I have a link party tomorrow, and I would love it if you would link this post. It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party.
    I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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  14. Your mat looks fantastic! I've been wanting to try this technique to make fabric bowls but haven't gotten to it on my list yet. Hopefully soon though, 'cause yours looks great, as a bowl or a mat! Thanks so much for sharing at Etcetorize this week~

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  15. This is fabulous! I have always wanted to try to make one - now maybe I will give it a shot!!

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  16. THIS IS AWESOME! you're amazing girl! stopping by from the link up and i'm so glad i did! i love your blog by the way! i can't wait to read more! happy tuesday!

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  17. That turned out pretty awesome, and it sounds like it took quite a bit of work, but it's a cool sewing project that isn't too complicated, it sounds like!

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  18. Wow! This turned out great! I really like the outlining on the flowers! Was it hard to sew over the rope?

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    1. Thanks Laura! Not hard at all, the rope is really soft. I used the needle I would use to sew denim with.

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  19. It's cute - I do those same "errors" too, then out comes the seam ripper - but it looks great!
    JoAnn

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  20. This looks great,
    i would love it if you could drop by our party and share this with us
    http://live-love-laugh-interiordesign.blogspot.com.au/

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for the invite!! I just linked up.

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  21. So pretty and creative!

    Hope you’re having a great Wednesday! Drop by nichollvincent.blogspot.com and say hello!

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  22. This is so cute! But I would be very interested in the bowl idea too. Wouldn't that be great. Great job! Thanks for sharing at the All Star Block Party!

    Holly

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  23. Your projects are very nice,very talented. Stopping by to say Hi from the blog hop. Come visit sometime, tea is cold and no shoes are required. Kathy B. http://www.southernmadeintheshade.blogspot.com New follower
    From Austin TX.

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  24. Wow! That is beautiful! But it looks very daunting. I'd be afraid I'd break my machine or something, lol. Great job!!

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    1. thank you!! the rope is a poly...something, lol!! it is really soft. I just used the heavy duty needle, like if I was sewing with denim.

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  25. Your creativity is amazing. This rug is so unique, I love it.
    Want to follow, but I can't find the box of followers. Help!
    Connie :)

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  26. OMG, you really WERE sewing forever! But look on the bright side, the outcome is simply adorable :)

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  27. Hi Fifi, I see your followers list at the bottom of this page . . . for some reason it won't let me follow. I've had this problem and then came back later in the day and it works great. So, I'll be back and I'll be following as soon as I can. Thank you . . . I was so excited to see you on my list this morning. You have a amazing talent! Have a spectacular weekend, Connie :)

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  28. This does not look easy, but you have done a great job! What a fun mat!

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  29. Smarty pants! That is so cute. Great job! Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  30. Wow! That looks like a ton of work. The end result looks really nice. Well done!

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  31. Wow - that seemed to turn into a much longer job than you thought it would. Still, the end result is good though!! And I personally like hobbit feet, I have to say!!

    Sarah
    http://acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk

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  32. Fifi!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!! WOW!!! Totally worth your time!! :)

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality! :)

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  33. I love this! AND - you don't have hobbit feet, they are cute! lol! I found you at Two Saster's link up.... excited to be following you.. hope you can visit soon.

    -Heather
    stringtownhome.blogspot.com

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  34. You have mad skills! That is awesome! If it makes you feel any better, I have sausage toes...LOL Thanks for sharing at the Pomp Party! Pinning!

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  35. Wow! Great idea - I agree with Jill above me - you have MAD skills! I am lucky to hand-sew a pillow ;o)
    And I like your feet too. My feet look similar and I always call my feet Fred Flintstone feet. Hehe!
    Thank you for sharing this week at the Creative Inspirations party at Embracing Change!
    Stacey :o)

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  36. You are so creative! OMG! I wouldn't even know where to start to begin creating something so fabulous. You rock! I am so impressed. Now I can't wait to see what else you do. :)

    I am your newest GFC follower from the GFC blog hop. If you have a moment and would like to, you can visit me here The Things We Find Inside

    Tami

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  37. Looks like an epic task but it turned out so well.

    A new visitor from Six Sisters' Party and a new follower too.

    I'd love if you popped by some time.

    Sarabeth
    Life of an Agnostic Sunday School Teacher

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  38. I have been seeing these everywhere! Oh but I just adore yours.. the color is gorgeous.. and I don't think I have seen one THIS big.. it looks A-mazing!
    Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party~
    xoxo
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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  39. That is one fabulous looking rug! Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create! <3 Christina

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  40. Love it and even though you have countless hours in it you will have this piece for years. Someday you will forget how long it took and just be glad that you did it. :D Thanks for sharing your gorgeous work on BeColorful this week.
    pr

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  41. Wowzers, that's quite the project! It looks terrific and you should be proud of your hard efforts. Enjoy!

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  42. This is sooo cool!! My mom has has one that she started like over a year ago now that she still hasn't finished. I'm going to tell her how awesome yours is and that she needs to finish hers.

    Thanks so much for linking this up to our Weekend Wonders party! We hope to see you back again on Thursday :) Have a great week!

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  43. I just wanted to let you know that I featured your rug at the All Star Block Party features this week. Stop by and grab your button.

    Holly
    http://fullcirclecreations.blogspot.com/2012/08/its-feature-time_14.html

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  44. Wow, I don't think i would have had so much patience! A lovely job and well done. Btw, what needle did you use? :-)

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    1. Hey Agy,

      Thanks for visiting! I just the heavy duty needle, like for denim. Super easy, plus the rope was really soft.

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  45. Wow! You're a work horse--and I mean that in the kindest way. I love the results and the colors really do pop. Thanks so much for linking up with Making Space Mondays. I hope we see you back again next week! -Tabitha

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  46. What a great rug! Thanks for sharing. Stopping from WW blog hop :)

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  47. The rug looks amazing, Yvonne! I am totally pinning this. thanks for sharing this with us at the Crafty Saturday Party. I can't wait to see what you have for us this week.

    Hugs,
    Lelanie@to-sew-with-love.com

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  48. I would love making this rug, , I always have to do something while I watch tv with my husband( or I fall asleep ) I have made quilts for years, but am 84 1/2 now and said I am not starting any more quilts. I don't have one to put a picture on here as I gave them all away. you do a magnificent job, and I know you spent a lot of hrs on that. but it makes you proud I know. Keep up the good work and I will keep watching and reading. norma

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  49. Fifi, your rug is wonderful! I've been looking at this type of craft in a book I have and wondering if I should attempt it. It really does look intense. Do you think It would hold up to washing? I really need something inside my door and can't find anything I like in a store. Did you use a professional grade sewing machine? The one I have is just a sears machine. Nothing fancy or great. Was your machine able to sew through the rope and the fabric? It wasn't easy to tell for sure in the picture.

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