Baby Owl Birthday Favors

February 2, 2013 by 8 Comments

 We made these little owls for my daughter to bring to her preschool class on her birthday.  Remember when we were little and our mothers would bake cupcakes and bring them to school on our birthday?  Not any more – we can’t bring any treats – even if they are store-bought.  We wanted to bring something cute and fun and that most likely wouldn’t get thrown away. 

 We love these little hooties!  Each one is just a little bit different.

 As she handed them to the children, they were so excited to bring home a new friend!!  (they would also make cute valentines!)

Amanda

Filed Under: crafts, gift, owls, sewing

The Bella Clutch from Clover & Violet

January 26, 2013 by 3 Comments

 The cute girls at Clover & Violet are offering this darling clutch pattern for free.  Click HERE to check it out!  I sewed one up last night and the pattern is easy to follow and it is super cute!!  You should make one!!

I didn’t add a strap to mine as I will use it inside my purse.  I also quilted it with batting.   I love how it is puffy and can stand up on it’s own!  I choose these colors because I only had purple zippers on hand – yikes!  better order some more!

Filed Under: bags, sewing, tutorial

Holiday Boutique

December 24, 2012 by 1 Comment
 My 8th grader is going on a class trip to Catalina Island.  I like to have my children “earn” their money for camps and trips.  We came up with the idea of sewing items and selling them at her school’s Holiday Boutique!  We should have started sewing before December but we got it all done! 
…and the boutique was held on the COLDEST day of the year!  BURRRRR!!
 We made all these cute zipper pouches.


 …and Ruffled Tote Bags.  Ella and I split the work almost 50-50.  She is a great sewer, pinner, presser, and ruffler!!  Oh, and she choose all the fabrics!

 We also made taggies, sunglasses cases and other little pouches.  She’s almost earned all her money!!

Filed Under: bags, sewing

Christmas Gift Idea

December 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s my favorite time of year at Bath & Body Works!  Time for Twisted Peppermint everything!  I decided these yummy soaps would make cute gifts for people in hubby’s office and people at school.  So, I bought every soap they had (more than pictured here….yes, I am crazy!)

Then I bought these white dishcloths and sewed peppermint fabric and red ric rac on the bottom.  Super cute!

 I put them in cellophane bags and tied with a ribbon.  I would love to get this gift from someone – and I hope the recipients enjoy theirs!



Filed Under: Christmas, gift, sewing

Thankful Owl Pillow

November 1, 2012 by 3 Comments
I can’t believe it is November!  I made this cute owl pillow out of a dish towel from Joann’s – 70% off!
I love the fall owls – but the fabric was canvas-like – not good for doing dishes…. better for a pillow!  I cut a piece of burlap and cut the word “Thankful” on the Cricut in vinyl.

 I removed the letters, leaving the background for the stencil.  Then I stenciled black paint & removed the vinyl when it was dry.

 I love stenciling on burlap!!  It is so fun & easy!

 I cut the dish towel into a 17″ square (it will fit at 16″ pillow form).  I top-stitched the burlap piece in place.  Then just sewed the pillow.  I added some trim in the seam. 


Filed Under: crafts, fall, owls, pillow, sewing

Quilted Tote Bag Tutorial

October 10, 2012 by 12 Comments

This is my favorite tote bag.  Of course I didn’t invent the quilted tote 🙂  Here is my tutorial for how I made this one.  Hope you love it!

Supplies:
1/3 yard main outer fabric
1/3 yard bottom contrast outer
3/4 yard muslin or other light weight for the back of the quilting
3/4 yard bag lining
1/4 yard handles
quilt batting
911 feather weight interfacing (optional)
1/3 yard contrasting fabric for pocket (optional)

Instructions
Cut your main outer fabric (top piece) 2 pieces 10.5″ x 20″
Cut your bottom contrast fabric 2 pieces  9.5″ x 20″
Sew these two pieces together and press. 

I pin basted my two outer bag pieces and straight lined quilted every 1 inch.  You can quilt how you want it.  I actually used an old sheet for the back of this part – you will never see it – it just adds stability to the quilting.

Quilt both pieces

Cut your lining (2 pieces) 19.5″x20″.  (I had to cut 1/4 inch off the 19.5″ piece because the outer bag shrunk from the quilting.  So mine measured 19.25″ x 20″)  Iron the fuseable Pelon to the wrong side of your bag lining fabric – this is optional.  Once I finished mine, I thought this step really wasn’t necessary.

Next, prepare your pocket. Cut 2 strips 6.5″ x 20″.  Sew the two pocket pieces right sides together.

Sew 1/4 inch along the top and bottom – leaving edges open.

Turn and press.  Top stitch along just the top of the pocket piece.

Pin the pocket band where you want the pocket to hit.  I pinned mine 7 inches from the top of the bag.

Now sew along the sides and the bottom using a narrow 1/8 inch seam allowance.  Then sew lines going down the pocket piece to form the pockets.  I just eyeballed mine.  Some are narrow for pencils, others are wider.

Prepare the handles.  Cut 2 strips 28″ x 4″.  If your fabric is thin, iron fusable interfacing to handle pieces before sewing.  This fabric was kind of canvas-like.  Fold longways and sew along the side leaving the ends open to turn.

Turn and press both handles.  Top stitch both sides of handles.

Now, pin your outer bag right sides together, matching the side seams.  Also, pin your lining together right sides together.  Sew around both pieces leaving the top open.  I used about a 1/2 inch seam.  Make sure your seam allowance is exactly the same for both bags or they won’t match up!

Place your handles as desired.  Use this point to shorten the handles if you want.  Baste the handles on to the outer bag using a 1/8 inch seam.

Push out the bottom of the bag – while it is wrong side out.  Flatten and measure 3 1/2″ from the point and draw a straight line.  Do this to both ends of the outer bag and the lining.

Pin in place and sew along your line – back-stitching to start and stop.

Trim along your seam about 1/4 inch.

You are almost done!  Now the fun part!  Leaving the outer bag wrong side out, put the lining (right side out) inside the quilted bag.  Match the side seams and pin all the way around the bag.  It should line up perfectly.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam all around the entire bag.

Unstitch a little place on the side lining of the bag to turn the bag right side out.

Turn bag right side out and top stitch the opening closed using matching thread.

Press the lining down so the top of the bag is flat (it will want to puff out the top).

Top stitch using 1/8″ seam all around the bag.

You are done!!!!


Filed Under: bags, gift, quilt, sewing, tutorial, tutorials

Animal Throw Pillows

October 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 I sewed these two pillows for my friend’s birthday gift.  I LOVE the print and they look really cute in her grey & blue family room!  Don’t new throw pillows just make you feel happy!!!

Filed Under: gift, pillow, sewing

Pillow Shams for the Rapunzel Room

October 2, 2012 by 1 Comment

 I Decorated Sally’s Room over a year ago with a Rapunzel theme.  I have wanted to make these pillow shams for the past year – and I finally got to it.  What motivated me?  Sally was trying to cut the fabric up & sew them herself!  Yikes – she’s only 4!

 I love how they turned out.  I didn’t want them super “piecy” because I love this fabric so much.  I did spend a lot of time with all the quilting.  The center is quilted in 1 inch lines diaoglally criss-croseed.

The top is pretty much a quilt with binding and everything – it just happend to have a pocket on the back where the pillows insert.  Now I am off to find the floating lanterns and hopefully Flynn Rider 🙂



Filed Under: decorating, pillow, quilt, sewing

Diaper Change on the Go – Baby Shower Gift

September 24, 2012 by 1 Comment

 I have seen different versions of this idea all over Pinterest.  Here is my take on this fun idea!!

 I sewed 5 zipper pouches.  The measurements for the rectangles are 11″x10″ with a 1 1/2′ pleat in the bottom.  They are each lined.  For instructions on making a basic zipper pouch, look HERE, HERE or HERE.  I choose to sew 5 because 10 seemed like a lot!

 Each zipper pouch holds 1 diaper, 1 disposable changing pad, 1 Ziplock of wipes, 1 bottle of hand sanitizer and a trash bag.  This is essentially all the things you need for 1 diaper change.  The idea is the mom can grab one of these on the go and know she is prepared.  As the child grows, you can add in things like baby food, spoon, disposable bib, etc.

 Put them all inside and you are good to go!

 I bought a basket and placed all the pouches in.

Print out a tag & tie it onto the basket

Click HERE for the pdf of the Blue Tag Instructions.
Click HERE for a Pink version

 No, off to the baby shower you go!!

Filed Under: baby shower, gift, sewing, zipper pouch

It’s Apple Time!!

September 19, 2012 by 4 Comments

 I saw these stuffed apples in a magazine somewhere and decided to create my own.  I wanted to have this ready for September 1st – I am only 19 days late!  Oh well – life is busy – isn’t it!!

Here’s what you need to make your own bushel!

Supplies:
fabric – charm squares or scraps
stuffing
ribbon
green and brown felt
sewing machine
hot glue gun

Start by pieceing the front of your apple.  Sew the charm squares or scraps.  This is a great scrapbuster!  Press seams to one side.

Print out this apple pattern and size how you want.  Cut your pattern out

 Layer and pin your apple back, pieced front (wrong sides together) and the pattern on top (below photo)

 Cut around pattern using your pinking shears.  Leave about 1/4 inch allowance from pattern.

 Cut a ribbon loop and a brown felt stem.  Tuck these in between the front and back apples so they catch in the seam.

 Sew around the apple leaving a small opening to stuff.

 I also tried sewing around the apple with the pattern pinned on to help me get a perfect seam.  Use what ever seems easiest.

You can see where I started and stopped, on the flattest side of the apple.

 Stuff then sew shut

 I cut leaves out of green felt and hot glued them on – I ran out of time.  I wanted to stitch detail in the leaf using embroidery floss – but they look OK without the detail.

Hang as desired and give to all your friends!!


Filed Under: crafts, projects, sewing, tutorials