Amanda

Day #1 – 14 Day Walk With Christ 2015

March 23, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

Welcome to the first day of the 14 Day Walk With Christ! These last few years we have enjoyed studying a new gospel topic each of the days during this journey. This year we are focusing on serving: serving our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our community. I hope you are able to join in and find ways to see another’s lack and give of yourself. Day #1 – Serving in our FamilyThis is our family. This photo makes it look like we are a perfect family – we all are in our nicest clothes that even coordinate, our hair is perfect, it is a sunny day and we are all smiling. Isn’t this how families are supposed to be?

This is really a better representation of how our family is – especially during a family photography session in which NO ONE wants to be at! Our family is far from perfect. On any given day I am faced with children who are fighting, arguing, poking, pushing, hitting, teasing, touching, tattling, and you get the picture. I have good kids, but somehow they can push each other’s buttons.

I thought this was a good place to start in our 14 Day Walk With Christ. Taking this time to be reminded how the Savior loved and how we should have that same love in our family – especially!I love this quote from Mother Teresa:

Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others.

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24–25; see also Matthew 10:39).

Service Bunnies – Hop To It!

I have been sewing these little bunnies last week for this little idea I had. If you want to make your own, here is where I got the pattern. You can also use store-bought bunnies, paper bunnies, or bunnies you already have.

The idea is to begin with one bunny. Tell your family that the little bunny is going to help bring some love into your home. Ask for a volunteer who wants to begin. That person then takes the bunny and thinks of something nice or thoughtful he/she can do for someone in the family. After that person has done their little act of service, the bunny is placed on the recipient’s bed.

That person is then next for the service task. What they don’t know is that bunnies tend to multiply. Give it a few days and then introduce another bunny. Keep the bunnies hopping around to each person in the family.

Then a few more days, introduce another bunny – until you have more bunnies then you can handle! At the end of the 2 weeks, hopefully there will be a little more peace in your home and the children get to each keep a bunny as a reminder to have more love in our families.

Filed Under: 14 Day Walk with Christ, FEATURED, FHE, serve

Little Love Bunny Pattern by Jennifer Jangles

March 20, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

It’s officially spring! Bunnies are popping up all over the place!

I LOVE spring bunny projects. I have had so much fun making these cute little critters!

The pattern is from the very talented Jennifer Jangles. Her pattern is available to download from her website. The instructions are very clear and it’s an easy project to put together. All the fabrics are from Blend Fabrics. With so many fun patterns to choose from, I mixed and matched their fabric lines to come up with some fun combinations.

I went a little crazy and made 10 of them!!

Instead of hand stitching the nose and mouth, I used the sewing machine. The nose, heart, and inner ears are all appliquéd with Heat n Bond Lite. I used black thread and outlined stitched the appliqué pieces 2 to 3 times each. The black really helps the fabrics pop.

Baby Mufasa is always helping with the sewing projects. I was thinking I might fill one of the bunnies with some catnip 🙂

Once you make one, I bet you have to make more and more! They each have unique personalities!

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, easter, FEATURED, Therm O Web

The Nautical Brooklyn Bag

March 20, 2015 by Amanda 6 Comments

I am happy to be participating in the Crossroads Denim Blog Tour! If you are new to the Jedi Craft Girl blog WELCOME!!!! The blog tour is highlighting Amy Barickman’s AMAZING new line of denim.

Scroll down to see a complete list of all the fabulous bloggers making wonderful projects with this soft & cozy denim. I have loved getting my hands the Crossroads denim and can’t wait to make a skirt, zipper pouch, and throw pillow next! It is the softest denim I have ever sewn with and it comes in so many wonderful colors! The possibilities are endless! When I met The Brooklyn Bag pattern I knew I wanted to give it a little Nautical flair – I am obsessed with all things Nautical if you haven’t noticed 🙂

This bag is perfect for taking on a day trip, as a large diaper bag, as a catch all bag, as a park bag, as a throw everything in it bag and as I want 100 of these bag!!! The construction is straight forward and the pattern instructions were easy to follow. I love the added touch of the rope at the top to act as a piping – gives it such a casual fee.

I followed the pattern pretty closely and added my own appliqué. You can download the pattern here. I traced it on Heat n Bond Lite and ironed it to the center of the bag. I used cream thread for all the stitching including around the anchor.

You can really have fun with the bag lining. I chose this dot pattern from Riley Blake Designs. Here you can see how I divided up the inside pocket.

It’s so cute on the inside!

I also added a little rope fabric accent to the inside of the outer pockets.

I like that the handles are not sewn and then turned, rather there is 4 layers of denim for extra stability. The pattern calls for batting for the main body of the bag and for the handles. Since the denim was sturdy, I did not use the batting. I did find it a bit challenging to gather the outer portion of the bag bottom. With the denim and the pockets, it was pretty thick and my normal thread kept breaking. I suggest strong thread for this part.

I’m ready to go on vacation!! Maybe sailing?

All in all I love this pattern and I can’t wait to sew up a few more!!! If you want to check out all the other amazing projects on the Crossroad Blog Tour, here is the schedule. Also, you can get 20% off your purchase at Indygo Junction by entering xroads20 at checkout.

3/17 Fishsticks Designs

3/18 Today’s Creative Blog

3/19 Cool 2 Craft

3/20 JediCraftGirl

3/23 Sulky

3/24 See How We Sew

3/25 Crafty Planner

3/26 Therm O Web

3/27 Coats and Clark Sewing Secrets

3/28 Indygo Junction

Filed Under: bags, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical

Nautical Purse Scarf Tutorial

March 16, 2015 by Amanda 1 Comment

I think Nautical Week turned into Nautical Life! I guess there are many more Nautical-inspired projects to come! I love wearing scarves on my purses, I should first say I love buying purses!! Sometimes the scarves you buy are too bulky for a purse handle. I wanted to add a little “home sewn” feel to my handbag so I came up with these scarves. They can easily be sewn in under 30 minutes which means you can make as many as you want to coordinate with your look or the season, or in my case, obsession 🙂 I love these basics from Riley Blake Designs.

Supplies:

(13) 5″ squares for patchwork scarf

5″ x 60″ light weight fabric such as gauze, raised swiss dot, etc

(2) 5″ x WOF for solid scarf

4 yards trim, I used small pom pom and ric rac

Begin by cutting (13) 5″ squares

Sew them end to end with 1/4″ seams and press seams to one side. Consider placement. If you are making the solid scarf, sew the (2) 5″ strips together and cut to make 60″ in length. Center the seam in the center so it does not show up on the bow. Bast the trim around the edge. Place right sides together and sew along the basting stitch. Leave an opening in the center of the scarf about 3″ for turning. I curved the corners slightly. Turn right side out and press.

Top stitch all the way around. This will close the opening.

Tie on your favorite bag!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, nautical, Riley Blake, sewing, tutorial

Nautical Zipper Pouch

March 13, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

You knew it was coming! Of course I need a Nautical Zipper pouch to go along with my Sailboat skirt!! I love these fabrics and I am down to only scraps in my stash. It’s called True Blue by Blend Fabrics.

This is a modified version of my original My Favorite Zipper Pouch Pattern version 1.0 and version 2.0. If you would like to make your own zipper pouches here are the instructions:

CUT:

Outer bag anchor print (2) 4″ x 9″

Outer bag red accent (2) 3″ x 9″

Lining (2) 6.5″ x 9″

Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece (2) 6.5″ x 9″

(2) pieces of lace 9″ each

Sew the red fabric to the anchor fabric using 1/4″ seams. Press toward the red. Press these two units to the Heat n Bond Fusible Fleece. Then sew the lace on.

To insert the zipper, follow THIS tutorial. It is from my friend Jennifer. I keep thinking I should write my own, but hers is so perfect. I go to it every time I sew an “open wide” zipper pouch because I can never remember the measurements! Insert the zipper just like she instructs. Once you’re done, it should look like this:

Open the zipper, and place right sides of the outer bag together, and right sides of the lining together, make sure to tuck the end of the zipper in. Match the side seams. Pin all the way around. Sew all the way around using 1/4″ seams, leaving a 3″ opening at the bottom of the lining. Notch all the corners with a 1.5″ square:

Fold out the corners and match the seams. Sew using a scant 1/4″ seam. For more details, visit my post here. Then turn right side out, and top stitch the opening closed. Top stitch all the way around the zipper pouch 1/8″ away from the zipper. To finish the zipper end, cut it at the desired length. Cut a piece of accent fabric 2.5″ x 3″. Fold it like this and press:

You kind of fold it around the zipper and press. Then insert the zipper in and sew around the seams. Careful on the metal zipper!! Here you can see what it looks like. I added a little compass zipper pull. My anchor charms haven’t arrived in the mail yet 🙁

I just love them!!!
Here are a few other of my True Blue Projects:

Filed Under: Blend Fabrics, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical, tutorial, zipper pouch

Sailboat Skirts

March 12, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

This sailboat fabric makes me want to sing…..Sailing, sailing over the bounding main! Do you think I’m going overboard with too many nautical projects? 🙂 hehe

I found this fabric at my local Beverly’s store and I new I wanted to sew skirts. I love how they turned out. For Sally’s skirt I used Tie Dye Diva’s Potato Chip Skirt pattern. I wrote a review of this skirt here. After making it again, It’s still my favorite girls skirt pattern! The women’s skirt is from Amy Barickman’s The Magic Pattern Book. I also wrote a review of this pattern here. It’s such a great A-line skirt with a center pleat and it can be sewn in about an hour! If you check my Instagram this week, you can enter to win both these patterns!!! The winner will be announced Saturday, March 14th.

Here you can see the cute center pleat in the women’s size skirt. For Sally’s skirt, I choose a different fabric for the waistband and for the pocket backing.
Sally’s very serious modeling pose 🙂
I actually made this skirt for me, but I made my teenage daughter wear it for the photos 🙂 I think I will wear it tomorrow!

Having a sailboat skirt looks like so much fun, doesn’t it? (OK, it’s really late and I just ate a lot of chocolate cake)

My cute girls!!

Filed Under: clothes, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, pattern review, sewing

Nautical Key Fob Tutorial

March 11, 2015 by Amanda 1 Comment

I like to make a statement with my key chains. For Christmas I enjoyed jingling everywhere I went with this keychain. Now that it’s spring, I definitely need to be saying “I love everything Nautcial” with my keychain. These make great gifts and you can sew one in about 20 minutes. I used Riley Blake’s Anchor print for the fabric on the key fob. The gray cotton twill tape I ordered from Everything Ribbons on Etsy. The twill tape and hardware are 1.25″ wide and are available at that shop in a wide variety of colors.

Follow my tutorial here to complete the key fob portion.

To make the anchor tag, you need a few scraps of fabric, cotton batting, and some Therm O Web Heat n Bond Lite EZ print sheets. I used an antique metal grommet to attach it to the key ring.
Cut a piece of navy dot fabric 2.5″ x 3″. Fold in half and cut off an angle like this:

Download the anchor pattern here and print it on the EZ print sheets. Cut out around the anchor, iron it to the wrong side of the anchor fabric. Cut out the anchor and peel off the backing paper.

Cut another piece of navy dot fabric 2.5″ x 3″ but don’t cut the angles. Layer them together like a quilt and sew all the way around the tag shape. Then sew around the anchor.

Cut the excess off around the tag.Attach the grommet and put a split ring on.Attach it to the key fob.
Let me know if you like this project! I love to give handmade gifts and this is a great one to whip up in a short amount of time.

Filed Under: FEATURED, gift, Heat n Bond, nautical, Riley Blake, Therm O Web, tutorial

Ahoy! Nautical Composition Book Tutorial

March 11, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

I am having so much fun with my nautical projects – I hope you are enjoying them. I ready to buy a sailboat!!! (haha) I take a covered composition book with me everywhere I go. I have one in my purse for daily notes, lists, etc. I have one I take to church and keep inspirational thoughts in. I have one as a gratitude journal. I have one for my sewing journal where I write down everything I sew, measurements, etc. I know it’s totally old school – but I love notebooks!!! You can see my other composition book tutorials here, here, and here. I change them up each time I make one. This one has lace, an appliqué anchor and writing that I foiled with Deco Foil!

Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies:

1/3 yard fabric for outside cover

1/3 yard for lining

piece of cotton batting

scrap for applique

11″ piece of navy lace trim

Deco Foil in Red

Deco Foil Transfer Adhesive

Heat n Bond Lite EZ Print Sheets

Anchor pattern, click here

Hair Elastic

Button

You can pin to hold in place, or add a little Spray n Bond basting spray. (You can see my I cut my batting with scissors, I will square it up in a minute.) Fold the cover in half and position the lace as pictured. Use the basting spray or pin to secure. Sew in matching thread along both sides of the lace.

For the anchor, print it on the EZ print sheets, or trace to fusible appliqué paper. Cut out the anchor and iron in place.

Top stitch around the anchor. Cut off any excess batting. Find the center of the left side of the cover. Mark and baste the hair elastic in place:

Lay the flaps on the lining fabric, lining up raw edges. The fold of the flaps should be toward the center.

Place the cover on top of the lining/flap piece, right sides together. Pin all the way around. Sew, using 1/4″ seams all the way around. Leave a 3″ opening at the bottom center. Turn right side out and press. Tuck the opening in, press, and top stitch to secure.

Mark where the button should go and sew the button by hand, careful not to catch the flap. Mufasa was trying his hardest to bite off the button!!

Take the Deco Foil Transfer Adhesive and write Ahoy (or any word you want). This totally brought back memories of cheerleading days in the 90’s – we rocked the puffy paint!!! I was bad at writing with it then, and I’m still not that great at it! Let the adhesive dry until completely clear. I let mine sit for a few hours.

Once the adhesive is dry, rub the wrong side of the foil on the letters. This part feels super magical!! The foil sticks to the adhesive only! This stuff is awesome!!!

Now I am left with shiny foil letters!!

Make more than one and give them to your friends!! I will be giving one away on Instagram later in the week 🙂

Filed Under: appliqué, crafts, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical, Therm O Web, tutorial

Nautical Banner Tutorial

March 10, 2015 by Amanda Leave a Comment

It wouldn’t be Nautical Week without a banner! I LOVE Riley Blake Designs. They have come up with the brilliant idea of printing banner triangles on a panel of fabric. For one panel you get 18 triangles – each one a totally different print! You can cut them up and sew them together or you can embellish them. I added a canvas flag with Therm O Web Deco Foil anchors in-between each triangle.

Here’s how you can make one:

Supplies:

Riley Blake Designs banner panal or red white and blue patterned fabric
3/4 yard backing fabric
cotton batting
iCraft® Deco Foil™ – Silver, Red, Silver Star and Blue
Natural canvas
Navy fringe trim
Anchor pattern, click HERE
Spray n Bond®
Scraps of ribbon, lace, ric rac, pom poms and any trim you can round up!

Begin by quilting the banner panel – I quilted mine with loop-de loos.

After quilting the pane, cut the triangles out on the line and top stitch 1/8″ from the edge to prevent the quilting from unraveling.

Now comes the fun part. Run around your house and gather every bit of ribbon, trim, lace, etc. in red, white, blue, gray, and silver. I even ruffled a few pieces of fabric. Use Spray n Bond® to position the trim in place and top stitch on the triangles. This takes a while – I didn’t want any of mine to be the same.

Once the triangles are completed, move on to the flag portion of the banner.

Begin by cutting (16) canvas rectangles in 5.5″ x 6″. Fold the rectangles in half and cut a diagonal line by angling the ruler from the corner to the 1.5″ mark:

Print out the anchors on the EZ print sheets.

Then cut around the anchors and position them on the back of the Deco Foil. Six fit on one piece of foil. Cover with a piece of cotton fabric and press to set. It only takes seconds.

Cut around the anchor and peel off the backing paper.

Position the foil side up, cover with a piece of cotton and press.

Lay out the banner and use navy blue fringe trim to sew the flags together. This mades a long banner – I divided it in half and made two separate ones. It helps if your kitty assists in this process 🙂

Hang around your home and enjoy!!

Here are a few photos of different segments to give you an idea of the different trims and fabrics. It was too long to photograph all together.

I am the Young Women Camp Director at my church and our theme is Anchored in Christ. The banner was a perfect addition to my table scape for our leader meeting!

Filed Under: banner, decorating, FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical, Riley Blake, Therm O Web, tutorial

Nautical Mini Quilt Pattern & Giveaway

March 9, 2015 by Amanda 2 Comments

When I told my daughter I was hosting Nautical Week she said, “Isn’t every week Nautical Week for you?” I had to laugh because it’s totally true!!

I am so excited to announce that I will be teaching a nautical themed modern quilt aboard the Made Modern Quilt Cruise next year in March!

As much as I love to wear sporty nautical wear, I’ve never actually been on a cruise….gasp!!! I am happy to be joining two AMAZING quilters: Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew and Amy Ellis of Amy’s Creative Side. You can read all about the details of the cruise at Stitchin’ Heaven Travel.

Escape to the Caribbean, make new friends, learn a new technique, & sew all you want! How can it get any better? Join us for a 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise! Isn’t this concept brilliant? Quilting & vacationing at the same time!!!

I will be teaching a throw-size version of my Nautical Baby Quilt. Did I mention I love anchors?

Today I am sharing with you a mini version of this quilt – something you can make in an afternoon! It measures 30.5″ square. And even better – you can go to my Instagram and enter to WIN this mini quilt!!

Here’s how you can make one:

Block size 6″ quilt size 30.5″

Supplies:

8 or more 2.5″ x WOF strips of Navy print and Red Print. I used Riley Blake’s Basics.

Fat quarter of navy dot for anchor

1 yard white solid fabric

1 yard backing fabric

Anchor pattern

Heat n Bond EZ Print sheets

1/3 yard binding

cotton batting

Cut the 2.5″ strips in the following dimensions for each block (12 blocks total)

Sew (1/4″ seams throughout) the (3) 2.5″ squares together in a row, pressing toward the dark. Then sew the 6.5″ strips to the top and bottom, pressing toward the dark.

Once you have 6 dark blocks and 6 light blocks completed, have your kitty help you lay them out.

Sew these together in rows.

Cut a 9.5″ x 30.5″ strip from the solid white

Cut a 3.5″ x 30.5″ strip from the solid white

Attach these to the sides:

I added the anchor last, after I quilted it. I didn’t want to quilt over the anchor. I wouldn’t recommend this normally.

After quilting, print the anchor pattern on the Heat n Bond EZ print sheets (or trace it to appliqué paper) and it to the wrong side of the navy dot fabric. Cut out around the anchor. Press the anchor into place and top stitch to secure. Add binding.
Head over to my Instagram and enter to win this quilt!!!

Filed Under: FEATURED, Heat n Bond, nautical, quilt, Riley Blake, Therm O Web

Day #1 – 14 Day Walk With Christ 2015

Little Love Bunny Pattern by Jennifer Jangles

The Nautical Brooklyn Bag

Nautical Purse Scarf Tutorial

Nautical Zipper Pouch

Sailboat Skirts

Nautical Key Fob Tutorial

Ahoy! Nautical Composition Book Tutorial

Nautical Banner Tutorial

Nautical Mini Quilt Pattern & Giveaway

Escape to the Caribbean, make new friends, learn a new technique, & sew all you want! How can it get any better? Join us for a 7-night Western Caribbean Cruise! Isn’t this concept brilliant? Quilting & vacationing at the same time!!!

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