From the category archives:
just by looking, you’d never guess that the original size of these t-shirts were MEN’S XL. a few snips of my scissors here & there, & the sewing of a straight seam or two, & ta da! new t-shirts my little munchkins can be proud of! for a little more instruction & how-to, go HERE.
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i have to admit, it’s still hard to believe that i’m having a girl. already outnumbered 3 to 1, i was totally prepared to hear that another boy was on the way. so, it’s taken some time to adjust to the fact that this little one will be bundled in a little bit more pink than blue. & to tell you the truth, the thought of all that pink kinda scares me! so i’m starting slowly, i wouldn’t want to overwhelm my senses. this first quilt is actually more blue, with just a few touches of pink… it’s all about the baby steps.
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just putting the finishing touches on my newest quilt. (featuring michael miller’s christmas line, it’s called “christmas with a twist”. fitting don’t you think?) this is definitely putting me in the holiday spirit. i can’t wait to hang this bad boy on the wall.
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here’s a sneak peak at a custom apron i just sent out. besides being one of absolutely favorite apron patterns, i love that it’s reversible… a twofer. hope she enjoys.
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who says you can’t celebrate the “every day”? gather your supplies, break out the sewing machine & let’s make some “happy everything” banners. they are super easy & pretty quick… you’ll be done in no time at all.
supplies needed:
* somewhere between 4 & 24 different fat quarters, depending on how many “different” fabrics you want in your banner (you can get about 6 double-sided flags from one fat quarter, and each banner has about 24 (or 18) double-sided flags total, depending on the length of your bias tape)
* bias tape (which style you use, is totally up to you… i’ve used both single fold bias tape & double fold bias tape… personally, i prefer the double fold, simply because i think it’s easier, but, the single folds over into a really cute & tiny edge. i usually use whatever i have on hand. it should be noted that most bias tapes come 4 yards in length, however some are 3 yards. if you are using the yard variety you’ll have a total of 24 double-sided flags, however if you use the 3 yard variety you’ll end up with 18 double-sided flags)
* basic “other” sewing supplies… rotary cutter, cutting mat, ruler, sewing pins, pinking shears (although not totally necessary) & a sewing machine
fold your fat quarter in half so that it’s measurements are aprroximately 22″ x 9″. using your ruler, cut the fat quarter down so that it is is only 8 1/2″ inches tall… the new measurements (while still folded in half ) are approximately 22″ x 8.5″.
keeping the fabric folded in half (that way, with each cut you’ll actually be making 2 flags, instead of just one!) & making sure the end that you are going to start cutting on, is on a whole number (it’s just easier for me to count when there’s a whole number involved). use your ruler to cut the first side of your triangular shaped flag. (i find it easier to lay my ruler on the lower right hand corner, & angle it so, that at the top it is 3 inches to left of my starting point. make sense?)
for the second cut, start with your ruler at the top (the point that is now 3 inches in from the side) & angle it down, 3 more inches to the left of the center point. for example: if you look at this picture closely (if it’s not big enough, click on it it enlarge). notice how on the right hand side, the lowest corner starts on the 25″ mark… for the first cut, i layed my ruler starting at the 25″ mark on the bottom & angled the ruler up & to the left 3″, so that it ended on the 22″ mark on the top. for my second cut, my ruler started on the 22″ mark on the top, & then i angled the ruler down & out 3″ from this middle point, so the ruler crossed the lower edge at the 19″ mark.
when all is said & done, you’ll have all these pretty little triangle that measures 8 1/2″ tall, & 6″ wide. have i lost you yet?
after you’ve cut the first triangle, you start all over, simply angling your next cut 3″ inches up & to the left…. as you can see (in the picture), the triangles will alternate with the “points” being up on top, & then on the bottom. when you are all finished, you should be able to get approximately 6 (double-sided) flags from one fat quarter.
repeat this same “cutting” process for your remaining fat quarters. remember, you only need 24 double-sided flags (a total of 48 individual flags, hopefully that doesn’t confuse you), or 18 double-sided flags (36 individual) if you are using the 3 yard bias tape.
after all your flags are cut, sew two individual flags together (wrong-sides together, with a 1/2″ seam) so that you have 24 (or 18) double-sided flags. it’s not necessary to sew shorter straight side of the triangle (i’m sure there is some correct, mathematical term for this side, but i have no clue what it is), because that side will be enclosed in the bias tape.
now, this next step is totally optional, but… if you use pinking shears on the long sides of the trianlge (yet another technical term i don’t know), it gives the flags a very cute, finished-looking edge. (click on the picture to enjoy the cuteness.)
now it’s time to break out the bias tape. (don’t worry, we’re almost done!) so what you want to do is enclose the “shorter” edges of the triangles inside the bias tape. it’s much easier (although it takes a bit more time) if you pin the corners of each flag, inside the bias tape. as for spacing of the flags, that’s totally up to you, personally i like the flags butted up against each other, with little or no space in between.
baby, it’s time to sew! after everything has been pinned & you’ve made sure you’ve caught all those little triangle corners inside the bias tape, sew as close to the open edge of the binding as possible. (you may or may not have noticed that one side of the binding is slightly shorter than the other side. it’s easiest to sew the binding, if you sew with that slightly shorter side on top…. and then, ta da! you are all done. your very own “happy everything” banner.
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ruffles, tulle & a whole lot of sass! what more could a girl want? any & every little girl would love baking, dancing or twirly in the kitchen, in this hot little number. & with just a touch of gingham, it’s perfect for this summer’s tie on one apron project.
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today our crafting was inspired. as moms to boys, chelsey & i were feeling the itch to make something cutesy & frilly… perfect for the little girls we don’t have. now, we just have to figure out who to give them to.
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sorry to break the news to you this way jeffy, but i think i’m falling in love. i think the blame lies mostly with carrie, she was the one that introduced us. although chelsey didn’t exactly help, by constantly reminding me how wonderful he was. but the semantics don’t really matter. because it’s time i declare my feelings & intentions to the world. & i’m not embarrassed at all to do so. if necessary i’ll shout it from the rooftops… THIS bad boy has swooped in and captured my heart & i’m looking forward to spending lots of late nights (maybe even a few early mornings, and most likely several afternoon quickies) with him. looking to start a love affair of your own, but don’t want to have to break the piggy bank? check out ebay for deals & steals…. everyone deserves a good fling now & then.
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summer has been crazy, leaving little, if no time, for crafting. luckily, last night we managed to get in a not your mama’s craft night summer session. we’ve done the green edition, we’ve made freezer paper stencils & done mod podge, we’ve played with our food, & recycled t-shirts. so we thought it was high-time we did something with a service-oriented twist. that’s how we happened upon good 4 girls an organization “making the world a better place… one pad at a time”.
you’ve probably already seen the ad campaign sponsored by tampax & always… you know, the commercials that explain that “for some girls in southern africa, getting their
period means missing school for several days each month. that’s because they don’t have access to something many of us take for granted: feminine protection.” wow! to be honest, i’d probably never thought of it before. but i can’t even begin to imagine have to rely on rags, camel skin, or old newspapers.
so, we rallied the forces, gathered some supplies & set about to make as many of THESE (with a few variations, like adding a waterproof layer) as possible. as usual, the evening was full of laughter, good treats & lots of crafting. together we helped make “the world a better place… one pad at a time”. as always, feel free to craft along from the comfort of you own home.
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i originally bought the oilcloth to make a table covering for kitchen table. i figured it would be perfect of all sorts of arts & crafts projects with the kids, nymcn & just about any other time i might need to protect my table. unfortunately i forgot the one rule i remember from 7th grade home ec: measure twice, cut once. maybe it was because i was cutting at 2 am, maybe it’s because am i’m blonde, maybe i actually just measured wrong. whatever the case may be, i ended 
up cutting my fabric way too short – it would never fit my kitchen table. so i had to figure out something to do with all this oilcloth. and then i spied my patio table, with the boring green chair cushions that we inherited, along with the table & chairs, & inspiration struck. so i whipped up a new tablecloth (& when i say whipped, i mean cut it to size), & then sewed up some matching seat covers. i love the buttons smack dab in the center, which help the pillows gather & poof in all the right places. thanks carrie & chelsey for that brilliant idea. now i just have to host s summer bbq, & show off my newest creations…. look for an invitation coming soon to a mailbox near you..
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