Random tutorials... My summer must dos from Pinterest --

Seems like the more time I spend on Pinterest, the more things that accumulate on my boards. I want to live in Pinterest land, but seeing as that's not gonna happen I am just going to settle with finally comitting to do some awesome things that have been on my radar for much too long! Maybe by writing a post about them I will hold myself accountable.

Enameling Pennies. A friend of mine made some amazing earrings by using pennies and nail polish...The possibilities are endless!!!

DIY extracts...This has been on my list of to-dos for a while. I recently bought a stevia plant for my herb garden and can't wait to try my hand at my own Stevia Extract.

Baseball bracelet. I've had this one pinned for over a year, and I honestly don't know what is taking me so long. LOVE this.


Fabric Watches....how awesome to use up scraps! I always keep forgetting to look to see if I can find the watch faces without the bands when I go to craft store.

Chevron Table runner. It's no secret I am clueless when it comes to quilting, but even this looks like it may be doable for even me.


Garden stones...I want to have my three year old make one, then add a new one each year :)

Gah!!! So much prettier than the cheap terra cotta pots...and so much cheaper than the pretty pottery ones!

Cloth napkins....This is one I'm kind of ashamed to admit! I've still been using paper napkins, and for no other reason than laziness! I know I can make them uber cheap and they are so much prettier than the Brawny designs but it's not been a priority...but it needs to be! Shame on me.
No tutorial for this one, just inspiration. I knew I held on to all those old ticket stubs for a reason, they were waiting for just this! This would be easy to re create with either something printed on the paper in the shadow box, or as I would like to do but etching something onto the glass.
This is another that has been on my list, much too long! It needs to happen this summer!


 Now, I better get to starting some of these before I find something else to add!

Nursing Cover

I actually love it when people ask "Can you make that"? Because even if the answer is "I don't know" it gives me a chance to at least give something new a shot. I feel like my sewing repetoire is small, and I think it's because I often limit myself to making things in my comfort zone. So when a friend asked "Can you make a nursing cover?" although I hadn't tried, I was actually pretty confident that I could.

I perused several nursing cover tutorials (there are oodles of them)...thank goodness for pinterest, and after reading through a few, I got the basic components down. Really, they were pretty basic. I gathered my supplies and set to work with a few measurements. 

This was my first time using boning and putting on bias tape the "correct" way. I usually just do it the lazy man's way. I see now, I was really missing out. It was infinitely easier and ends up looking much crisper and professional.

P.S. Sorry for the terrible pictures...lots of rainy days and late nights :(

The baby's name embroidered on, per mom's request :)

The only thing I would change, if I make another, is that I would add some interfacing to the strap, the fact that it is merely quilting cotton with a bit of binding makes it feel floppy, and it doesn't stay as firmly adjusted in between the d-rings. I think some interfacing would easily solve this problem.

This was a super duper quick project, maybe 45 minutes of sewing (including the binding) and maybe an extra hour for the embroidery.

Baby shorts

A friend called me yesterday while she was out trying to find some shorts for her one year old daughter. She was frustrated that all of the shorts were around ten dollars. Have you seen how little fabric those things are made of?! Ridiculous. It takes less than a half yard of fabric to make.

So of course I offered to make some shorts! 

I had made my 3 year old a few pairs this year, but the patterns used seemed very masculine. I didn't want to buy a new pattern considering I was aiming to be way below 10 dollars for the project. Then I remembered I had just bought a pattern from peek a boo pattern shop that seemed to fit the bill perfectly. 

I purchased two half yards at JoAnn's of some gray quilting cotton and some girly buttons. Total for the buttons and fabric? 8 Dollars. 

I chose to go with the quilting cotton as opposed to a bottom weight or linen because I wanted something lightweight and didn't want to deal with the wrinkling of the linen. Also, all the linens felt very masculine to me for some reason...weird I know.

I cut all the pieces out and then read the directions...terrible I know. It was then I discovered that the 18 month size ran small. Really?! Ugh. So I decided to go with a 1/4 inch seam allowance as opposed to the 1/2 inch called for in the pattern.

They came out exactly as I had hoped and took a couple of hours start to finish for the first pair. This was the pair that I followed the pattern exactly as written.

For the second pair, I wanted something more basic so I traced the front and back pieces but took a lot off of the leg length. They are just plain Jane shorts but I think it works with the polka dots. I was able to get the pair from the remainder of the contrast from the first pair.

For the last pair I just used some bottom weight khaki fabric I had left over. The fabric itself felt boyish, so I added some pink piping on the side seams. 

Total cost for the 3 pairs? Less than ten dollars. Time invested? Less than 5 hours.

This is exactly why I need a little girl :)

Polka dot love

I heart polka dots.

And turquoise and orange.

And Bows.

 

So, this bag is my new favorite thing. Sadly, I don't get to keep it. I guess it's a good thing  to love what you make, right?

A good friend asked me to make her a new tote bag for work folders, and picked out the aqua and orange polka dots and told me to pick out what ever would work with it.  What works? That lovely Liberty London floral on the inside. I don't even care that it costs nearly sixteen dollars a yard, it's a-mazing! For me to like a floral, it's gotta be pretty special...I'm not really a flowers and pink kinda girl. But, I will make exceptions for something as awesome as this fabric.

The pattern is loosely based on Simplicity 1905, I used the main panel pieces but opted to box the bottom, rather than add the bottom panel. This changed the whole shape of the bag and I really like how it changed the overall look of the bag. I also added a zippered pocket, a slip pocket tends to snag on binders and folders and such.

The main panel is Kaffe Fassett Spots in Turquoise, and the bow is an art gallery solid.

I think I need another for me :)

SMS Etsy gift card winner

Thanks to all who participated!!!

The winner is:  Rebecca!!!

Rebecca you didn't leave an email and there is not one listed on your profile...please email me :)

SMS 241 Tote Winner!!!

Thanks again to all who participated. According to the random number generator. The winner is:

Stephanie at the Quarter Incher.... Stephanie go check your email!!!

Thank you

 

 I am so incredibly overwhelmed (in such a good way) at the number of people that entered in my two giveaways for Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway day. I had a total of 473 entries in the giveaway for my 241 tote and 399 for the Etsy gift card. 

Oh. My. Goodness.

I am absolutely flattered at the incredibly sweet things that people said about my bag and my other projects. 

Seriously, tearfully flattered. 

I'm so, so glad that I took part in this event and and I'm incredibly thankful for EVERYONE that stopped by...even if it was just to pop in for the entry or if you liked me enough to follow me in one form or fashion. Your time and energy is yours to spend, and the fact that you gave me your time and want something I created...wow.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I was trying to respond to all the comments but that's a LOT of emails to sort through...640 actually. If I haven't responded, I really want to, especially to those who were so kind...it just may take a bit ;) Just know that I read each and every one!

I will announce the winners tomorrow...I drew the winners already via a random number generator but I am waiting for a Saturday Surprise...hopefully I can make 2 people's day!!!

Greenbacks wallet

I've had the pleasure of doing some pattern testing for Sara at SewSweetness, so when she asked for testers again, I gladly jumped on board. I'd been wanting a new wallet for myself, so this was perfect timing. Her Greenbacks wallet comes in three different styles, from beginner to advanced. Although I don't consider myself an advanced sewer, I fell in love with the advanced variation of the wallet.


After settling on the fabrics, the cutting and assembly of the panels were easy peasy. The whole process was a breeze until I got around to adding the exterior zipper and binding. Then the bleeding and cursing began.

Sara had warned that the main reason this pattern was rated as advanced was because of this last step. I had anticipated adding the binding by hand, but I underestimated how much of a pain in the arse that is (I've never adding binding by hand before). Quilters actually do this by hand stuff all the time?! Yet another reason I am not a quilter. I used lots and lots of pins and stabbed myself probably about 5 million times. I think I may have lost a pint of blood in the process. Sewing the binding through the heavy nylon of the zipper is what really got me, it HURTS.

After what felt like 7 hours, the binding was on and the wallet was complete! The binding is wonky (that's what I get for not knowing how to hand sew properly). I would rip it out and redo it but I cringe at the thought of more stab wounds so it's gonna have to wait.

The wallet is a serious wallet. I cannot believe how big it is, it's practically a clutch and I LOVE it. It's the perfect mom wallet, and has everything you could need. I love that the zippered pocket is inside, I love that it's in the middle and acts as the divider, I love that the card slots are vertical instead of horizontal, I love that there are card holders on both sides. It's perfection!

Seriously, do yourself a favor and go to Sara's shop and buy this pattern immediately!

241 Tote giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER...THANKS TO ALL THAT PARTICIPATED :) NO FURTHER ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED

To keep the fun going...a second giveaway!!!

The last Sew Mama Sew giveaway week was about the same time I started this blog. I was new to the whole blogging thing, as I still am but this time I want to join in the fun by having my first giveaway!

Who doesn't need a new bag for summer?  This colorful and fun handbag was made using Noodlehead's 241 pattern.

It measures 15" W x 10" H and has pockets galore! There are 2 zippered pockets on the outside, that hold much more than you think possible, and two generously sized slip pockets on the exterior that easily fit in a large pair of sunglasses and cell phone.

The interior also has a smaller slip pocket to further keep you organized. The strap is the perfect length to toss over your shoulder or wear cross body if you prefer.

This giveaway is open to anyone who resides on earth and all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me about your favorite summer activity. I will announce the winner the following Saturday May 11th via email. Please make sure to leave your email address, if you don't have a Google account so I can reach you!

If you follow me, you get an extra entry...just leave another comment letting me know that you are a follower For another chance to win like my Facebook page and leave an additional comment letting me know.

That's 3 chances to win!!!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!!!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER...THANKS TO ALL THAT PARTICIPATED :) NO FURTHER ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED




The last Sew Mama Sew giveaway Day was about the same time I started this blog. I was new to the whole blogging thing, as I still am but this time I want to join in the fun by having my first giveaway! So in honor of Giveaway day I'm giving away a $25 Etsy gift card!

This giveaway is open to anyone residing on Earth, and all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me what goodies you would spend it on! The giveaway will close at 2 p.m. EST on Friday May 10th and I'll announce the winner the following Saturday May 11th via email. Please make sure to leave your email address, if you don't have a Google account so I can reach you!

If you follow me, you get an extra entry...just leave another comment letting me know that you are a follower For another chance to win like my Facebook page and leave an additional comment letting me know.

That's 3 chances to win!!!