pillowcases

What to do with the pillowcase collection I have founded lately? I tried this bag from Martha Stewart and it's cute, but very lazy dayish.Like, you couldn't carry anything too heavy in it, but really cute if you want to throw in a lunch for a picnic. Then, I wanted to make a tote. And as a wise woman once told me (my mother in law), "You can never have too many totes." And since I agree with that, I made this one. The pillowcase was well worn and soft, so I fused heavy craft interfacing on to the back of the outside fabric (the pillowcase). I added some yo yos as well. I love it and can't wait to pass it on to someone who needs one more tote!

cute stuff from burda style

I love all the patterns at Burda Style and this is a new pattern for little girls. Check it out. Photo via Burda Style

good ones from martha

Here are a few of the great ideas from Martha Stewart's website that I want to try soon and I think others should try too:

pillow case bag
reversible purse
kids' bath mits
cute luggage tags
glove animals

i think i've got this down

Yeah, a few adjustments to this (which is this) and I am loving it. In case you're wondering, I added 3 inches to the bottom on the bag on the length, 1 inch to the top of the strap, 1 inch on each side of the bag (only to the pink and brown one, so 2 inches total in width), and the interfacing - which is fusible medium weight and added to the outside and lining fabrics. More pockets and a magnetic snap. So, basically, it's the bare bones of the bag with a twist. The floral bag is for a dear friend and the pink and brown Amy Butler fabric is mine. I have been hanging on to this Amy Butler print for awhile waiting for the perfect project. But, if you wait for the perfect one you will never use the fabric and you have to use it with one you think is pretty darn good instead.

fabric covered magnet strips and magnets

I bought these magnet strips at IKEA for $1 and told the friends that I was with that all you had to do was cover them in fabric and they would be so cute. Well, it was time to make that happen. So, here's how I did it -
this is what you need along with light weight fusbile interfacing.


First, cut fabric to size (1 inch excess all the way around). Cut light weight iron on interfacing the same size as the fabric and iron on to the back of fabric.


Next, brush a coat of Mod Podge on the front and back of magnet strip. Lay the fabric on and fold over the back, smoothing the front of the fabric as you go.


Then, slather more Mod Podge all over the entire strip and fabric adding 3 or 4 coats and letting it dry in between each one.


Done!

Now for those magnets -


You'll need these things - covered buttons, magnets, quick drying glue, and wire snips.


Cover the buttons - my favorites are the jumbo size.


Snip off the back metal loops (I am sure there is a correct term for these, but I don't know it!)


Finally, glue the magnet on the back.


The End.

flea market

Since school has started for the two eldest children in the family, the young ones and I have set up some swaps and playgroups with friends. I called my husband after leaving both my 4 and 1 year old at a friend's house and said that I hadn't been alone in the car in the daytime since I used to go to my OB appointments. And, those can't be counted as alone time because you are touched way too much to call it that! First thing I wanted to do was go out to eat with a friend, which I did. Oh, so nice. Second, go to a place where I don't want to take wiggly people *that would be the 1 and 4 year old*. The flea market! These were a few of the finds I came home with. I am thinking the pillow cases and sheets will be more lounge pants and baby pants. The patterns (there were a ton to pick from) were just a whim. I did pick the three out that I would most like to see my Mallory in. We'll just have to see.

books, etc.

Today we got our book from our mini book swap partner. I don't have their blog address, so I will have to go traditional and send a hand written thank you. It's this book - Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey We haven't read it before and Trevor, who is 9, is really excited about it. It looks wonderful. We sent them My Lucky Day, which is my boys' favorite book. I love it too. I love when I like to read the book we choose as much as they like to hear it. I picked up this book which has some awfully cute ideas for baby gifts. I especially love the circus animals and it gives me more ideas for my onesies, which is what inspired this job -
*ps - check out my friend, Jen's, very cute rag time baby quilt tutorial.

trying a new bag

I have always wanted to try this bag at tiny happy. I did with some scrap fabric from my family room curtains. I love the shape of it and it was so easy to make. I just want to make it deeper and the strap a bit longer so that I can where it like a messenger bag. And, the continuous debate - to add interfacing or not. So, the next bag will probably be deeper and a bit stronger with interfacing. I'll get on that right away!

Nie Nie Day

As many of you know, Stephanie of the blog, Nie Nie Dialogues and her husband have been in a terrible plane crash. Many bloggers are participating in Design Mom's auction tomorrow for fundraising purposes. Their recovery will be long and expensive and any help will be appreciated. You can go to Design Mom's blog bright and early tomorrow and see what there is to bid on. Or, you can participate at One More Moore's blog where Morgan is collecting hand made items and such to sell at a benefit to be held September 23rd and 24th on etsy. Whether you are bidding or donating, any help can only be appreciated by those involved in the Nielson's recovery. I wish their family the very best.

birthday gift

Now when my kids get invitations to birthday parties I get so excited because I want to come up with something to make. Of course, this is a bit challenging when my 9 and 6 year old boys have parties, but I am trying. Freezer paper stencils and Pokemon characters usually fit the bill in those cases. It's really great when they get invited to little girl parties. I guess I get selfish and don't even give them the opportunity to pick something out at the store, but start making something right away and show them what they are giving their friend. Yeah, I need to at least involve them in the process, don't I? This was for Gage's little friend, Anna, and it was so much fun to make. I just took one of the aprons I bought for my kids a long time ago and traced the pattern and then lined it as well. I wanted to find little kitchen utensils to go inside the pocket, but ended up with just a whisk and measuring spoons. My mom made me one of these when I was about 6 or 7 and I LOVED the mini utensils that she had in the pockets. Now, I am just trying to spread that love.

cherry dress

My mother in law was cleaning out her basement and found her stash of fabric. She showed it all to me and told me to take whatever I want. How do you tell a collector of fabric to take whatever she wants and expect her to not look greedy? I just tried to play it cool and really just take a few pieces. One of the fabrics was this cherry print. I used part of a Simplicity pattern (the same one I used for this dress) for the top, but made the elastic smaller since it was a 2T pattern and I wanted her to wear it now. I eliminated the ruffle at the bottom, lengthened it, added a band, and a pocket. It came out pretty much like I hoped and it was SIMPLE - key for me.

the secret's in the sauce

Tobasco to be exact. This salad dressing is so good and so easy to make when you need something quick. It's light and has just enough flavor, but doesn't over power. It's great for a single salad with just enough left over for the next day.

1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup vegetale oil
2 T. sugar
2 T. vinegar
dash of tobasco

addicted

What won't I applique on? I might stop at underwear, but then again, I might not. We'll see. It's just too easy to not add it to all my girl's shirts. I have to stop soon though because she is running out of shirts. I can't think of anything to put on the boys' shirts that they won't cringe at, so in the mean time....hello girl shirts.

tried this too

I haven't been on my blog because we went on a family vacation and I am obsessed with the Olympics. In fact, I might have to quit watching into the wee hours of the night because school just started today and I was wiped out getting the boys up. I have been staying up every night since they started. I just LOVE the swimming and gymnastics. I have decided that I need to start training for something. I haven't decided what just yet, but I think I need to be in shape like these athletes. I think I want to be a runner. Oh to dream! Last week I was in the mood to sew a skirt by following a tutorial I had bookmarked in my favorites. Do you know how many I have bookmarked? It's quite the list and someday I will get to them all...yeah, yeah, yeah. In the meantime, I am in love with this little tiered skirt. So fun. Of course, I made it way too big and have to wait until she grows in to it next year, but just like everything else...it's something to look forward to.

Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

Nantucket Weekend GIVEAWAY!!!!

freezer paper stencils continued

one to keep

I finally realized that instead of just making gifts, I could applique on my kids' shirts as well. Better do it while they still let me!

saved

My husband's company bought some land awhile back that they are building houses on. Today the old farm house was coming down. Now, that does sound sad, I know, but I will be the first to tell you that it wasn't the quaint farm house you are imagining. It had had it and it had no insulation whatsoever and was a mess. They decided not to save it pretty quickly after they bought the land. But, we did go through it and find some old things - like door knobs, a chandelier, etc. - not much, but fun. This morning as the gigantic claw reached up and pulled some of the house down to put in the dumpster, my husband saw a quilt fly out. He had the man stop and found a box that had 5 unfinished quilt tops in it. A few seemed older than others, but they were all pieced and just needed to have the binding put on them and quilted. All that handy work and it almost went in the dumpster. I am so excited about these. The colorful polyester one is by no means an antique treasure, but it is so colorful and will make a nice picnic or beach blanket. So, now I am going to finally have to learn how to bind and quilt. I am afraid of binding - it actually makes me shake, but I will do it. Oh, what a save!

rocket ship and birdie

Babies are popping up everywhere around here. But, many of those mamas are having boys. Each time I make something for a boy, I try it for a girl too. Some lucky friend having a girl will get more than their share from me because I have a few gifts stockpiled now. My neighbor had a baby boy last week, so hence the rocketship onesie and matching pants. I had a pattern (Simplicity 9380) for the pants that called for elastic on the bottom and I like them. But, when I made a set for a baby girl, I used this tutorial to eliminate the elastic cuff and make them more like mini lounge pants. I used a pillowcase I picked up a few weeks ago for a $1 and added grosgrain to the cuff. I wish this outfit was in my size.

Fields of Gold Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Fields of Gold Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!