Projects You'll Love

It seems I've been a sewing maniac lately. Sewing all day long, every chance I get. I love it. It's addicting. I'm addicted.

If you keep up with my Facebook Page, you know what I've been up to. 

Some of you have asked where I find the time to do the things I do. All I can say is that a patient husband and a sleeping baby can go a long way...

Some of you have also asked where I get all my ideas. I have to say, most of the things I have sewn are not original ideas on my part. I often modify them, or change the patterns to suit my style, but every project comes from inspiration. If you take a few moments to surf the web, I'm sure you will be inspired yourself.

Here is a brief highlight of some of my favorite projects I've done, and where I found my inspiration.

My absolute favorite project, you ask? Parents of little girls, you'll love this.

KIMONO DRESSES

This project was inspired by a pattern I ran across on this blog. The original pattern is a simple kimono shirt for children. 

I used the measurements and basic pattern, then added a paneled skirt to the top to make a beautiful little dress. 

The sash, or obi, that wraps around the middle was something I had to come up with on my own. But with a little research and imagination, I think it turned out perfect.

My one-year-old likes to wear them too. Using bold, contrasting colors can make this outfit stand out from the rest.

Attention all mothers! 

Who wants to carry around a boring drab DIAPER BAG, when you can carry one of these?

A fellow sewing mama shared this simple diaper bag pattern on her blog, and it is one of my favorite projects to sew! 

TONS of pockets, inside and out, makes for a bag that's both functional and stylish. What more could you ask for?

Speaking of bags....

Check out these two beautiful bags. Meant for "mommy time" only. 

BUTTERCUP BAG (with matching clutch)

The bag pattern is found here.

And I purchased the PDF clutch pattern from this Etsy shop. I modified it a little, to fit my taste.

PHOEBE BAG

This pretty bag is perfect for a casual date, or a night out with the girls.

Pattern and tutorial found here.

I put my new serger to good use and created a rolled edge hem for this fabric flower, made from a long narrow strip of fabric, then gathered and sewn to the body of the bag.

How about something to put in those beautiful bags?

CHECKBOOK COVER

This was something I needed to make. My checkbooks were laying haphazardly at the bottom of my purse, so I figured it was time to give them a home. And why not make it cute while we're at it?

I found a basic pattern on this blog. I added some interfacing, and a strap with a magnetic clasp to keep my checkbooks nice and compact.

And my favorite feature? I can fit both of my checkbooks inside.

Cute right? And so simple. This project took less than an hour from start to finish, and that's including cutting time.

More inspiration, you ask? Here are a few more of my favorite items, with links to where I became inspired.

BIB and BOOTIES

JOSIE JACKET

HEADBAND with FABRIC YO-YOs

REVERSIBLE NURSING COVER

Next time you're in need of some inspiration, take a look at what's already out there. You never know what you'll find.

Happy sewing!!!

Now go make something, and enjoy the day!

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A Few of My Favorite Things

Happy New Year!

What better way to ring in the new year, than to get started on a few new sewing projects?
New to sewing? Need help getting started? I often have people ask me what kinds of tools they need to start sewing.
Here are some of my favorite sewing necessities and accessories.  

For those who don't know, I only started sewing about 6 months ago. I'm still very much a beginner. But I have had a blast learning how to use my machine. 

I have a basic machine.

A Brother XL2600.

It's a fantastic beginner machine. It has 25 stitch options, more than I ever need, and it's user friendly. So learning the basics is a snap. It's also extremely affordable in the sewing world.

These next few items are invaluable to the average sewer, and can make your life so much easier when it comes to getting your projects started.

Fabric scissors, yard stick, rotary cutter, and a large self-healing cutting mat.

The scissors and yard stick are a definite necessity. You need good sharp scissors to cut fabric precisely, and a nice yard stick to help mark and measure your fabric.

The rotary cutter and cutting mat are extras, but VERY handy in the quilting world. I have yet to make a quilt, but anytime I have some straight cutting to do, I whip out my rotary cutter and cut my cutting time in half!

What next, you ask?

A thread and bobbin holder/organizer. 

This is SO handy. I eventually want to upgrade to a larger size, but this small one does the trick. It keeps all my threads and bobbins within reach. It definitely beats digging through a drawer and dealing with those loose threads getting all tangled.

The next item I highly recommend is a walking foot. 

I use this sucker every chance I get. The foot has dogs that feed the top of your fabric through at the same rate as your bottom fabric. This helps tremendously when dealing with slick, thick, or different textured materials. 

Trust me. It's a life saver.

Know what else is a life saver? This guy. 

He's called a seam ripper. I call him Rip. We have a very close relationship, Rip and I. He can always get me out of a bind.... 

Haha. Okay, sorry I couldn't resist. But really, you can't live without one. No matter how perfect you are, you WILL make mistakes. And Rip here can help tear those misguided threads apart without ruining your project or tearing your fabric.

Get one. You'll love it.

I also recommend getting something to organize your small sewing notions, or do-dads as I call them. 

This one is portable and has a removable tray to help store and organize anything from buttons, to clasps, to pins and beyond.

Don't mind the mess...there is a method to my madness.

PINS. You will need them. Lots of them. 

*I also suggest caution tape to warn those who dare to trespass into your crafting space. My husband's feet have had many an encounter with these pokey things. They tend to get dropped and lost. Don't worry though, you will learn to dance around them as if it were second nature.*  

And last, but most definitely not least, you will need an iron and ironing board.

It's important to be able to press seams and iron your fabric as you go. You will often run into things that need to be adhered with heat, such as fusible webbing, interfacing, and appliques.

Now, this is not a necessity. But I couldn't resist showing off my new toy.

A brand new serger!

A serger is a truly invaluable tool when it comes to sewing. It cannot take the place of a sewing machine, but it is a fantastic companion to it. A serger, also known as an overlock machine, cuts and hems your fabric at the same time, creating a very strong seam.

The inner workings may seem a bit complicated. Four threads are threaded, rather than one. 

I'm in the process of learning how to use mine, but I am so excited to see what I can make with it!

If you decide to take up sewing, be careful. You may become addicted. But it's a wonderful and productive addiction to have! 

May you have a blessed, prosperous, and productive 2011!

Now go make something and enjoy the day!

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DIY Christmas Wall Art

It's that time of year again. The time for fluffy white snowflakes, caroling in the crisp wintry air, mugs of hot chocolate to warm your hands. The time for giving, hoping, celebrating. Christmas is such a joyous holiday. There is something about this time of year that gets me all giddy. Maybe a leftover twinkle of magic I used to feel at Christmas when I was a kid.

Well, it's also time to hurry and finish your last minute holiday home sprucing. If you're like me, you have lots of wall space just waiting for something pretty to warm your room. I like to switch out my wall decor to coordinate with my other seasonal decorations. Remember this painting we did last month? It was a fantastic addition to my wall, that gave the dining room a nice warm feeling of autumn.

Now that we have several inches of snow on the ground, and we've pulled out the Christmas lights, my painting is starting to feel a little out of place. Time for a change. 

My solution was oh, so simple. Pretty, festive, and not overdone. 

Want to make your own?

Here is what you will need:

1/2 yard of festive holiday fabric. You can mix and match prints if you like.

1 large piece of foam board

Raffia, ribbon, or string

Glue gun and glue sticks

Start by cutting your foam board in the shapes and sizes you want your wall art to be. I chose to make mine out of three rectangles, all the same height, with the middle being wider than the end pieces.

Next, cut your fabric about 1/2 to 1 inch larger than the corresponding foam board piece.

With a hot glue gun, glue the fabric tight to each board. Be sure to pull the fabric tight around the edges as you glue, so each piece lays flat against the board.

Take your raffia, ribbon, or string, and cut a piece (or several pieces) long enough to hang your boards at the length you want. Then cut that piece (or pieces) in half, so you have two sides to tie together.

Glue each piece to the back of your board, about an inch or so away from the outside edges.

Then, tie your bow and hang your board. 

Now repeat the previous steps for your remaining boards. 

I chose to hang mine at different lengths, with the bows being at equal height on the wall, and the boards each hanging higher than the one before it.

It's a fantastic, easy solution to add some festive flare to my boring, drab wall. 

I utilized some candleholders and votives I had leftover from my wedding to dress up the table. A little red accent goes a long way.

Elegant. Simple. Beautiful.

Sit back, relax, and take in the holiday season.

Now go make something, and enjoy the day!

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