Projects with a purpose

Hi it's Sizzle today. Jules and I switched days so now I have Monday and Thursday for a couple of months until Toots comes home (yeah!).

My creative projects this week and probably for the next few weeks are going to be focused on organizing and preparing for my baby's 1st birthday. Now, you should know that I am not one of those people who goes all out with decor, cupcakes, homemade pinatas etc but I do want to have some cute presents and pictures from her birthday.

The organization part comes preparing to get our house ready to sell. We aren't doing it anytime soon but we have a lot of in-depth projects (tile, resurfacing, painting, back splash etc) we want to get done this summer so we are getting rid of all the non-essentials and all clutter. I already have a pile in my garage. I LOVE projects so I am excited about all the work we have ahead of us but I want to get on top of it asap; plus less stuff = less mess.

Before I get into all the things I am doing to keep on top of things I thought I'd share some pictures of things in different phases.

First a scrapbook page of ultrasound pictures:

Then I started making all sorts of binders for everything. All my pattern books or pdf patterns I printed off are going in here in sheet protectors.

This is my daughters birthday present, I plan to make two dolls so they can play. This one is cut out -except for the hair. Hopefully I will get it done in time - it is coming up fast!

Make sure to set some time away to be creative today.

Sizzle

Refashioned Shirt =>Vest

This Sunday my baby boy is getting blessed at our church. When deciding what I wanted him to wear, I thought it'd be cute to get a white sweater vest for him. But after looking at every store I could think of, and looking online, I couldn't find one anywhere. Eventually one showed up on Gap online, but it was $25 and looked excessively bulky for a newborn.

Amongst my searching I saw this tutorial featured during MADE's Boy Week for making a boys sweater vest out of a man's sweater. So, after that, I also checked every thrift store for a sweater I could use to do that.

Then, last weekend I stopped by a Goodwill next to a house we were looking at, and I found this!

Yes, it was for a girl... but looked just right. And, conveniently, I was on my way home so my mom could help me convert it :)

I used a sweater the same size that I wanted the sweater to be and gauged where to cut down the sweater.  



Then we cut off all the trim which conveniently fit perfectly to where we wanted to use them on the vest. We also cut off the edges of the sleeves. We then cut the body of the shirt to the size we wanted and mom did her wonders re-attaching all the trim etc.

It took some readjusting, but this is what we ended up with. Not bad for $2 eh?

Nursing Cover Tips

So I mentioned recently how I had made the nursing covers from Sew Much Ado.  I made them pretty much as instructed there, but when our mom was here a couple weekends ago we figured out a few tricks to make them just a little better and a little easier.

I was wanting to just rewrite the whole thing, but I really don't have time right now, so you'll want to use this in addition to the Sew Much Ado tutorial.

Supplies Needed:
1 yard fabric - the thicker cottons work great
16” boning (in fabric casing)
2 D-rings (1.5")
I've pointed out some D-rings (on the wall) and the boning (on the shelf) in the picture.  The 1.5" D-rings are usually sold with 4, and the boning you just buy by the yard (or inches...).








As changed above, you do not need 1.25 yards with most fabrics.

Everything I've used so far is about 44" wide so if you cut it right you'll still have a few inches extra with 1 yard.
The sizes you need are:
· one rectangle 28”x40” for main body
· one strip 4.25”x10” for neck strap
· one strip 4.25”x26” for neck strap

  This is how to cut it with 1 yard of fabric:

I keep the whole 44" width so it ends up being 2" longer on each side, which is fine with me.  You can cut it down to 40" if you want, but it's more work :)
Then with the bottom strip, once it's cut to 4.25" wide, just cut off a 10" strip and a 26" strip.  Toss the scrap and you're done cutting.

The Strap:
For ease in adjusting, its nice to have more than just the last few inches of the length narrowed .  Start narrowing it about halfway down the length.

The Straps:
This was the part that we noticed the biggest difference when changing it a little bit and it makes it a lot more functional.  The way I did it, the straps were sewn starting at the edge of the boning which caused the front opening to sag when you wear it.  The straps need to overlap the boning to prevent this.  *So, going back I realized that the Sew Much Ado tutorial actually did say to do it this way, but I didn't notice it from the instructions.  Hopefully this will clarify.

First, sew the boning as instructed, centered along the top edge.  When attaching the straps center the middle of the strap with the edge of the boning like this:

When you fold over the edge it will look like this:

The finger shows where the edge of the boning is. Pin and finish attaching as instructed.
And finish the rest of the edges as instructed.

*You can save a lot of time by not pre-folding or ironing all the edges over before hemming them.  Its really helpful for the top so you know where to sew the boning in, but with the others just press them afterward and they still look great.   

Hope this helps!

Book reviews, patterns for Easter clothes and other randomness

Happy Thursday - it almost Friday- are you excited? Easter is coming and I want to make the kids something for Easter (good sewing practice). Joann's is having their simplicity pattern sale this week so I am heading there to check it out.

If you've ever been to a craft store the week of a pattern sale you know it is almost impossible to look at a pattern book so I search for patterns on-line and write down the numbers of the ones I like so I can just grab and go. Here are some patterns I found that I like:

The first one (above) is my favorite because even the boy stuff is cute. I don't understand why there are so little patterns for boys but millions for girls.

Here is another girl and boy pattern. These would all be cute for Easter.

Have you ever tried making baby shoes? I did from a website pattern and they took me forever! Maybe I need a better pattern or maybe they are just hard because they are so small. I don't know but these shoes make me want to give it another chance.

Oh and I rented this book from the library and I want to order it. It is great. If you sew at all but not ALL the time you forget stuff - like zippers, modifying patterns etc and this book has photo illustrations so if you ever forget you are covered!

Other randomness:

This week I finished watching the Lightening Thief movie and reading book 1 and 2 of the Olympian series. I have to say I thought the movie was okay before I read the book but after reading the book I don't get it. They left out all the GOOD STUFF. They made a totally different storyline. Almost nothing in the movie is like the book. The book is so much better than the movie.

I don't think it will be as hot as Harry Potter but it is good. I think Harry Potter is so unique because it created an entire new world (with history) from scratch.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Love Note Pillow

Here's a fun pillow for a gift, or for yourself! The idea is to insert a love note and leave it on the bed on someone you love. Then pass it around the house - easy way to share the love!


I made it to use as a gift at a Valentines themed game night, but might not be going now so it may be mine! I don't have pictures of everything because the idea kept changing as I realized I didn't know how to do what I wanted... But hopefully it's enough to get the idea.

For materials, I bought 1/4 yard of each fabric, and I still have enough left to make another pillow. (I used the same fabric for the back and the pocket)

*Two squares 9"x11"
*Extra fabric for the pocket
*18" of pom pom trim
*A heart pattern (mine was abt 6" wide and 5.5" tall)
*Fiberfill
Start on the front panel first.
For the pocket, you'll want two "copies" so fold the fabric over (not pictured) and trace around the pattern on the wrong side.

So you have: (ignore the ribbon)
This is the part I kept changing and there's probably better options, but to do what I did:
Place right sides together, sew around the edges (leave an opening), clip edges and the "v" & flip. I then top stitched around it and closed the opening.

Then to sew it to the front panel I sewed over the topstitch line, but don't forget to leave an opening for your note! I inserted this card so you could see where my opening was. I sewed just to the top of each hump so they wouldn't flop over.


With that done, you're ready to sew the trim on and the pillow together. This part I was horrible at, so if you've never done pom pom trim before, I'd read these instructions first (scroll to the trim/sewing instructions). But remember we're just putting the trim on two edges. It's clearer and if I had followed those, I probably wouldn't have felt so incompetent.

So use a basting stitch (and a zipper foot if possible) to sew the trim on one edge first, and then layer it like this. The corner balls kept getting in my way, but the goal is to sew around with a 1/2" seam allowance. (Mine had to be less to catch the edge of the trim.)
Leave four inches or so open on the bottom edge to flip and stuff.
So you end up with this! You can see how my pocket is not really straight, but it makes it qwerky, right?
Then stuff it, and close the opening with a slip stitch. Follow the link for a tutorial. I always forget how to do it...

Now just add a note and give it to your Valentine!

Hearts garland tutorial

Today I wanted to show you how to make a heart garland.  I made up this pattern kindof based on the one I featured on Tuesday but I wanted to make a bunch and link them together.  This is what I ended up with:

Sorry this picture is so dark - it is really cloudy and cold today. 

Here are some closer ones to give you an idea.  Since I made up this pattern I learned a few things and mine didn't turn out perfect but I like the result.  The first thing is the ribbon between have to be short or they twist and turn.  Some of mine were too long so I had to really work to get them to all face forward in the pictures. 

Here is what I did it is pretty easy:

1) I cut two heart shapes out of computer paper

2) I sewed a bunch of cuts of fabric together to get the pieced look but you could just do solid fabrics

3) I traced the heart shapes onto my fabric square (the ones I pieced together)

4) I also traced them onto scrap fabric for the backs

5) I cut them out 1/4 outside of the outline - I cut 4 big and 6 little

6)I sewed a front to a back on the line with right sides together with ONE ribbon on one side leaving the other side open for turning and stuffing

7) turn right side out

8) stuff with fiberfill

9)handsew the opening with the second ribbon in it closed.

10) tie hearts together

note: for the hearts at the beginning and end I sewed the ribbon on the top instead of the side. If you look at the picture you will see what I am talking about.

Done! 

Turning something into something else

I love to sew.

Sometimes I forget how much I love it because I also love fabric.

I love looking at it. I love collecting it. I swoon at quilting stores. I fall in love often and cutting a piece of fabric is like cutting off my right arm. I see fabric as art. I think it is beautiful just on the bolt. I don't want to ruin it but when I make myself I love what it turns into. It still hurts but it can become something that doesn't just sit in a box and look pretty, something I can use, that I can give or that can beautify my home.

The best thing is to turn it into something that will be loved and used.

Still...I want to hold on to my favorites and it is really REALLY hard for me to use it. However, this year I am going to do more sewing. I am going to try another quilt - with triangles, I would love to do a la mode by Thimble Blossoms. The truth is if I made these I would hide them in the closet because the last quilt I made for my boys they left an open marker on it and it bled...sad day...

If you want to sew you can get free patterns at modabakeshop.com or youcanmakethis.com or youcanquiltthis.com. If you don't want to cut the fabric (my least favorite part) you can buy then pre-cut. There are tons of patterns for jelly rolls -2.5 in strips or layer cakes-10in squares (precut fabric from Moda). If you would like to learn more about the bakery lingo check here

I have to get started because this is my fabric stash from THIS weekend:

Here are some more quilting patterns - quilts today are different than they were a few years ago. Doesn't it make you want to sew and quilt?

Fabric Dolls

Hi it's Sizzle and today I am going to share one of my loves: fabric dolls.  You don't see these a lot in stores anymore but they are all over etsy.com. 

Do you know about etsy.com?  It is like an ebay for all items handmade.  There aren't auctions but different sellers but their wears up for sale and you can brouse by item etc.  I have gotten some great stuff of etsy especially for presents and crafting supplies!

My love for these dolls started with this one from the shop i sew lucky.  I loved her and wanted to buy her but these things are really expensive - like $50.  It takes a lot of work and the faces are handpainted so I appreciate the craftsmanship but I am not willing to pay $50 for a doll...especially for myself. 

Then I found this shop and she sells patterns.  I know how to sew and I already have fabric so I can afford $9 dollars for a pattern.  I figured it was a deal - it was a good pattern too just a few things she could have added to make it awesome (like clipping the curves.)  I bought two patterns from her and I think they are worth it.  They have color photo instructions. 

Then I found this a free template and tutorial on Martha Stewart from Emily Martin of Black Apple. I finally made one over the weekend and I loved it. 

This is the doll I made.  I ended up not using the free template because I couldn't get my printer to enlarge it - but I am sure you can.  Many people have used it like Jill at homemadebyjill.  I used the pattern I bought from Bit of Whimsy. 

If you want to make your own you should get the free template - make sure it is enlarged 150% before you start.  Remember to trim the corners before turning the arms and legs right sides out and have fun. 

Homemade dolls take time, you can't just whip them out.  She took me 5 hours to make.  I hope I get faster because I gave this own away and I want one for me and one for my daughter!  Here are some more picts:

I hand painted the face with a tiny paint brush and acrylic paint.  I got my fabric from my favorite online fabric store aboveallfabric.com both fabrics are designed by Lila Tueller but they are from different collections.  These fabrics are 30% off now. 

Easy Quiet Book

So I really wish I knew my sisters had all this magnet board-making skills before Christmas. I struck out every way I tried to make one. Or just couldn't find the right stuff. Then I just ended up giving away magnets without the board... Not as cool.

Anyway, today I'm going to share one gift I made that DID turn out. One of the kids that I watch everyday is 2 1/2 and is always wanting to button his own pants and do his belt. And anytime I wear a sweater with buttons both him and his 1.5 yr old sister are drawn to them like magnets--trying to button them. So, I decided to make a basic quiet book that would have some of those things in it that he could practice with.


This is it:
I used mostly just a pack of felt that I bought at the Dollar Tree. It had 12 or so 5.5" by 8.5"sheets. I cut them to 5.5" x 6.75". The yellow pages I made from leftover felt I had to add more color, but they're "looser" felt (the others seemed pressed somehow) and I didn't like them as much.
a stray button...

A buckle off a discarded shoe...


From a 10 pack of shoelaces at the Dollar Tree:
As you can see, I ended up handstitching most of it -- mostly because I was living at someone else's house for a week and didn't have a sewing machine. I did have felt and thread though, so I did that in my free time and it was rather relaxing... Then later with the machine I just stiched the edges of the pages, sewing the two back-to-back pages together.

I also found a cheap eyelet tool at Harbor Freight so I decided to add those where the rings are and that added a little coolness. Oh, and where I cut holes, like for the buckle, I used a leather punch b/c that's what I had, but probably a single paper punch would be sufficient, and easier. Then I took a toothpick and some mod podge and applied it around the holes to make them a little stiff and easier to stick stuff through.

All in all it turned out as I pictured it. Next time I would like to make the pieces sturdier somehow because I always get nervous when they touch it - afraid they're going to rip them off. I admit, sometimes I hide it when I'm at their house, just so it'll have a little more time to be pretty... Is that bad?

There's a really cool regular-type quiet book here that's worth checking out also.
Quiet Book @ Homemade by Jill (templates here)

Well, that's it for today. Have a crafty weekend, and try out a magnet board of your own!