a big thanks

As I sit in my house because we have way too much snow outside, I have been able to read all of your comments. Thanks for all your kind words for the trinket keepers. Here are some answers to your questions and concerns:

1 - When you print directly on to fabric like I did on my inkjet printer, it is not color fast. But, there is a way to treat it so it will become color fast and not bleed when wet. Go here for directions. Thanks to the readers who directed me there.

2 - Someone has said that the General brand grommets contain lead. I wasn't aware of this. If that worries you, then you can also buy Dritz brand grommets in the sewing notions section at your local fabric store. I am pretty sure that they have 3/8" because I saw that size online. That size will have a big enough hole that the clip will fit in to.

3 - I got my images for the ones I directly printed on to fabric from my collection of digital scrapbooking images. The one with the vintage toys that says "stuff" comes from KB and friends and is called Cameron's Toy Box. The train image is a freezer paper stencil. I just found a train image on the internet and traced the outside of it on to freezer paper. Once I cut it out, I just ironed the freezer paper on to the fabric and painted inside the stencil with fabric paint. Finding images (like the guitar and train) are easy and you can apply them quickly.

4 - Some of the words like "Pokemon Cards" are printed directly on to the fabric. Other ones like "Trains" I added later with an alphabet stamping set that I inked up with a fabric pen. That's easy to do as well.

5 - Have fun and I would love to see any you have made when you finish. Just email me a photo or send me a link to your blog.

trinket keepers tutorial

If your boys have as many collections as mine do, then you will want to mak at least a dozen of these. I find their little trinkets in the washer, dryer, their pockets, and all over the house. When they were really young they loved to carry their Thomas trains around with them everywhere we went. Then they moved on to dinosaurs, Hot Wheels, Pokemon cards, Bakugan, and Tech Decks. And, now my oldest son needs something to carry his iPod and DSi in. These are SUPER simple. The hardest part which is also the most fun is deciding what cool image, stencil, or applique you want to put on the front of each one. Here is the tutorial for the trinket keepers-

Here's what you need:(2)Outside fabric pieces (see below for the size you will need)

(2)Lining fabric pieces the same size as the outside fabric
3/8" Grommet kit - 2 grommet sets per pouch
carabeener - the spring loaded clip used to attach to belt loop or backpack

Sizes: For each of the little trinkets in our house, I have figured up the sizes of fabric that work best to hold them. You can always adjust according to what trinkets you have!
- 4"wide X 6"high = iPod, Pokemon cards, baseball cards, Hot Wheels, and Tech Decks
- 4"wide X 5"high = Bakugan, marbles, plastic bugs, plastic dinosaurs
- 5"wide X 6"high = Thomas the Tank Engine trains
- 6"wide X 8"high = Show and Tell and DSi

1. First, the fun part...Let's make the label on the front of the pouch. There are so many ways to do this. What I chose to do is print directly on the fabric, freezer paper stencil and applique. If you are printing directly on the fabric, you can buy fabric sheets designed for your printer or just back a piece of 8 1/2" 11" piece of muslin fabric with a piece of freezer paper the same size to give it the stability it needs to run through the printer. I got this idea from a friend and it works great. I am not sure if it is color safe, but we have no plans to wash these. You can go here for a tutorial on freezer paper stencils and applique is easy too. So, add your label and/or image in the center of the front piece of outside fabric. *Update - I have recieved a few ideas and suggestions that will help with making your printed images (from the ink jet printer) color safe and water resistant. Check here for directions and thanks for the help.

2. Now cut out your 4 pieces of fabric - (2) for the outside and (2) for the lining. I am using 4"X5" pieces in this tutorial which is perfect for the boys' little marbles and Bakugan toys.

3. Put your two pieces of outside fabric right sides together and sew around the three sides leaving the opening at the top using a 3/8"seam. Cut the corner edges off at and angle and turn right side in.

4. Take your two pieces of lining fabric and put them together with right sides facing each other. Sew all around the three sides leaving the top open and a small 2" opening at the bottom. Clip the corner edges and leave inside out.

5. Take your outside fabric and place it inside the lining. Right sides should be facing each other.

6. Sew all the way around the top with a 3/8"seam.

7. Pull the outside fabric through the hole of the lining. It will look like this photo.

8. Now tuck the 2"hole of the lining in and sew to close.

9. Stuff the lining back in to the outside fabric and top stitch with a 1/4" seam all the way around.
10. Mark the center from the side edges 1/2" down. This is where the grommet will go. Do that on both sides of the outside fabric since you will need a grommet set per side. Set grommets according to directions on package. Mine are General brand that I bought at Home Depot because I wanted ones that were big enough to hold the carabeener hook. The carabeeners are available at Home Depot, Lowes, Wal Mart and almost anywhere and come in so many fun colors.

11. Fill it up with trinkets and hook the carabeener hook through the grommets. It's ready to clip on to anything!

freezer paper stencils

Ever since I figured what freezer paper stenciling was a few years ago, I have loved how dang easy it is. It's a lot of bang for you buck - especially when you buy the gigantic roll of freezer paper! There are a ton of tutorials out there, but basically you cut your image out of freezer paper with an exacto knife and iron it on the fabric you want stenciled along with another piece ironed in between the layers to stabilize it. Paint inside the stencil with fabric paint and peel the freezer paper away when it is dry. Very easy.

Well, now imagine it even easier. Melissa cut freezer paper 12X12 and put it in her Cricut and cut out images we used as stencils. Much easier than using an exacto knife. We all managed to get a few shirts made for Valentines Day and even a couple extra. Check out her blog to see the ones she made.

shop update (again)

I have more initial pendant charms up in the shop. If you don't see the initial you want, just convo me and I can make the one you need. I am also listing some ball chain necklaces tomorrow.

Melissa has a new pdf pattern up in the etsy shop for the Sunday Bag. It is awesome. I have seen this bag up close and I love it. It has so much room and is so classy. Plus, she added some kits for the fabric scrapbook she made for the Moda Bakeshop last week. Grab the while they last.

check out rae and dana

Both Rae from Made By Rae and Dana from Made are teaming up to provide an entire month of posts just for boys.  These boys need this as far as I'm concerned.  I need this so that my dear boys are reminded that I love them a ton and can just as well make them a little something something like I do their sis.  Today Rae has a tutorial that takes a man's shirt and re sizes it for a little boy.   That means more upcycling.  Dana's making a shirt in 90 minutes.  Now, I wish it was the 60 minute shirt, but since I can get it done in the time my kids are napping (okay, I wish they were still napping), then I still want to give it a go.  Check it out and get excited for more all month.  I have something of my own that I am working on to help in this great cause and it will be up next week.  Let's just say it's super simple, but with tons of options!

custom soldered pendant charms 1 inch

photo from Kathryn at Nannygoat

Thanks to some great friends who nudge me along the way, I am now offering custom photo soldered pendants in our etsy shop. It started because my husband's business partner asked if I could make one for his wife for Christmas. I made him three because I couldn't decide which one I liked best. Then, my dear friend Kathryn at Nannygoat asked me if I could make two with photos of her four children. She just so happens to take really great photos, so they turned out great. So, with their help and the help of Melissa, the custom listing is now there. You have to be patient with me as I try to figure it all out. In the listing I asked that the photos be edited (black and white, any enhancements, etc.)and cropped to ensure you really get what you want. But, if that isn't possible, I can help with that part of the process. As silly as this may sound, I think I need to get going on a set of my own!

my sister

photo via safarisister

sent me these for my birthday. I love them. I love simple silver jewelry. These are perfect. I love the shop (SafariSister) that she bought them from at etsy. The girl makes beautiful jewelry. I just thought I would share.

this is the photo on the pattern not me!

Oh, and this is a picture from the pattern of the vest my mom knitted for me for my birthday. It's from Tahki Stacy Charles' Terra Collection. I had to break the news to her this week that is quite short on me. I am a bit tall and I didn't want to hurt her feelings because I knew she worked so hard on it. Thankfully, she just laughed (because she thought it was funny that I was nervous to tell her) then she asked which color I would like her to remake it in. Cool mom, huh?

And, lastly, my younger sister, Caitlin, gave birth to a healthy baby boy on Monday night. Very joyful.

butterfly love

It's hard to see a blank t-shirt without wanting to add a little something.  She wanted a butterfly, so I made her a Valentine butterfly.  She added the glasses herself. 

shop update

I finished 5 pendants for the new etsy shop this weekend!

sweet baby girl blanket

I made another rag time quilt for my friend's baby girl. I made it a bit larger than the one I made here this summer. I made each strip 36 inches long and anywhere from 3" to 8" wide. The strips on the side are only 3 inches wide. When I helped my mother in law clean out her house in November, she gave me a lot of her fabric so that is where I got the floral flannel, light pink flannel, pink chambray and the warm and natural batting. The pink corduroy came from Wal Mart for only 2.50/yard. The pink floral cotton is Moda's Fruit Cocktail by Chloe's Closet and the stripe is Moda's Bias Stripe by Sandy Gervais (which reminds me of Fruit Stripes Gum). These quilts are fairly easy to make. The tool that I would recommend the most when making a rag time quilt is Fiskars #7 Utility Cutter. It is spring loaded which helps making all the little snips very quick in the blanket. I've heard these are good too.

it's open - the esty shop, i mean

Finally! It took us getting together yesterday and just DOING it. I am so excited because I am in this venture with one of the most creative people I know. Seriously.

So far Melissa (of The Polka Dot Chair) has two pdfs in the etsy shop. One is for The Love Pouch and the other is The June Bag. Both are pdfs files with complete instructions (photos and all) for each project.

I plan on having Valentines pendants in there by this weekend. Wish me luck!

so cold

I am just checking in to report that I can see my breath up in my sewing room. Yes, it's that cold. We are trying so hard to save money this winter on our gas and electric bill. Last year it was outrageous at this time of the year and we usually keep our thermostat at 65 degrees! So, we are just heating the downstairs and that room above the garage that I fondly call my craft room is closed off and freezing. So, until I come up with a good plan to heat up that room or move all my supplies downstairs, I am only to dream about what I would like to make!!

giveaway winner

Thanks to Grace for offering to have such an amazing giveaway.  Truly a prize worth winning. And, the winner is......

#59 - kim

Thank you to everyone who signed up for her newsletter and the giveaway.  Grace has the giveaway winner posted on her blog here.  Check it out and also, Kim I need especially you to  check it out so you can be thrilled and get in contact with Grace. 

 

Click on her button to go to her shop and check out her new birdie print that can be given for Valentines Day or any day.  Sweet. 

snow day and giveaway update

It only takes a few inches to get a snow day here in the country. Plus, with the expectation of freezing rodes, you get another one the next day. So, the kids have been home with me the past two days and it has been full of rides down the driveway in the vintage sled I have for our Christmas decorating and hot chocolate. Not too bad. It's the making up of the days at the end of the school year that stinks a bit. But, nonetheless, it's fun and very very cold.

Giveaway update - it is closed and Grace will pick a winner this weekend. I will post the winner here and she will post it on her blog as well. Exciting stuff.

she knew

She knew of my love for the fish - swedish. I love them so much and I love the fact that Dana over at Made was sweet enough (oh so sweet enough) to send me this surprise in the mail -

Dana's photo from her blog Made

It's a zipper pouch that is lined with vinyl covered red and white polka dot fabric. I was so surprised and delighted with it. She also sent me a bag of red swedish fish that were hiding inside. It was one of the bags she made in last week's SYTYC and also the winner of last week's competition. Check out the tutorial for them here. I am so lucky.

Both of these photos are from her blog too!

I was figuring... I could keep this in my purse and ALWAYS keep it stocked. That way, I will never run out or be sad. Because I relate happiness to swedish fish. Okay, there are other things that make me happy, but this candy brings me such sweet memories. When we were little kids and would go to the mall with my mom, she would take us to the candy counter at the department store and buy us each a few ounces of swedish fish to keep us occupied while we rode on the stroller or walked along side my mom throughout the mall. Very Fond memories. When my little girl first started saying the word candy, she would say "bobby." I think it was because her first candy was a lollipop and all she got out of that word was "bobby" like "lolly." So, when she and I go shopping while the brothers are in school we usually (always) pick up a bag of "fish bobbies," which are swedish fish. So, I think I have passed the love down to the next generation.

Here is my photo of the sweedish fish pouch. Notice that there aren't fish because these little ones (and me) ate them all. But, soon this pouch will be filled again and all will be right in the world. Thanks again Dana.

2 days left for grace's giveaway

Only two more days for Grace Hester's Family Keepsake Print Giveaway. It is so simple to go to her blog and sign up for her newsletter. Then, come back here and comment. I am excited for this one and if you don't win, head to her shop and get one of these sweet personalized prints for your wall. Worth it. Okay, it ends on January 7th. Go down to the giveaway post and leave a comment.

resolutions and show & tell

Kids are back to school...am I the only one who started out by exercising today? I tried to start exercising during December so that when January and resolutions came around, I would already have that one down. I fell off the wagon when the kids were home for two weeks, but I am happy to say that I am back on. Plus, I have no excuse (other than I would rather sleep sometimes) because I have many options in my own home like DVDs, the Wii, an elliptical, etc. Plus, I love the way I feel after exercise and I have to remind myself that although most the time I don't lose weight when I exercise, I still need to do it for my health - mental and physical.

I kept my resolutions super simple this year. This way, I won't get disappointed and give up at any time. No diet ones - just trying to take my vitamins and chill out a bit.

I want to get back to sewing too. I get in to something like soldering and only have just enough time to do one thing at a time, so I don't get to other things I love. I love sewing and want to find some projects that inspire me to get on the sewing train. Is there such a thing? There should be.

Okay - show and tell time, Here are a few gifts that I wanted to share from my friends and family.

Melissa made me this amazing calendar with photos of my family and ephemera. I can't begin to express just how much I love it. I really love it.

My mom knitted (it still amazes me how well others knit) me this gorgeous vest for my birthday. How? I have knitted a potholder and never tried it again. I will take a photo of it this week.  My mom also sent me her version of the block calendar like I made here. She folded her own boxes to put them in too.  She does things so well - quite the example growing up. And, she made us one of these bears with a music box in the back. We had one at our house while I was growing up.

Kathryn made me one of these scarves.  I really wanted one and am so grateful it was gifted to me.  

I have too many generous people in my life and for that, I am blessed.  

the wreath underneath

Here is what the wreath looks like without the cards clipped on. It is so simple. You could make one now and have it ready and waiting for next year. One reader said she was going to make it and put Valentine Day cards/decorations on it. Great idea. Mine is still hanging on the door (although all the other Christmas decorations are down) and I am contemplating whether I want to clip other stuff on to it and leave it up. We'll see.

36

Today turned out to be a wonderful surprise. I didn't expect much (with a busy husband and 3 sons and a 2 year old girl, you just can't expect too much) and they really made a nice day of my birthday. I had a few friends that really made it special too. You might be surprised to find out that one of my favorite presents was the Muppet Show seasons 1 and 2 on DVD given to me by my husband and the kids. I love those Muppets and I have wanted these for a long time, but couldn't justify putting them in my virtual basket as I shopped. We went out to breakfast at a cool restaurant called Wild Eggs here in Louisville. I did a little shopping all by myself. Then, tonight a friend came and babysat the kids while we saw "Sherlock Holmes." I loved it.

Melissa (thanks for the birthday wishes) has posted the soldered post cards on her blog right here. Thanks to you for all the kind birthday wishes. I really do read all the comments and appreciate your words. I love when you tell me that you have tried a recipe and it worked or when you show me something that you have crafted. Thanks for always being such dang cool people in this virtual world. It makes life fun when sometimes it can be a bit hard!!!

So, as the day winds down, I have to say 36 is pretty great.

soldered ornaments

I always have friends that have more confidence in me than I have in myself. To them, I am grateful. I have a friend who asked me to solder 7 necklaces for her friends that she serves with at church and that was a great compliment. I have another friend who asked me to take vintage postcards to and from grandparents and great grandparents, scan them, and then turn them in to Christmas ornaments with solder for her mom, brother and sister. I was a little nervous. If you know me, than you know that this is a common feeling I have. But, I was also excited. I was able to get them done and then, because I liked how they turned out, I made a few for her and her family for Christmas with photos I stole (from her blog) of their recent family vacation.  I, of course, made just a few for myself. Since then, I have ordered more chandelier pendants and made (asked) my husband to cut more glass. It's fun to see something turn out all right after being a bit apprehensive about the whole thing. These photos are the ones I made for my friend with their vacation photos and of the one for another friend.  I didn't take any of the ones I made with her awesome vintage postcards, but hopefully she will post some soon.